Some ramblings about last night.

I normally find the postings of Mr Mutley interesting and sensible. But man, Monkhouse was dreadful tonight.

Porter again was superb - is there any other candidate for Player of the Season within a million miles of him. Prior to this year I think I was the only Pools fan who didn't think much of him - how wrong I was. Without him this year we would be Hereford.

I thought Mackay's finish was simply superb- it seems to be when he doesn't have defenders breathing down his neck that he relaxes and finishes with real quality.

I heard some people behind me at the game attempting to blame Lee-Barratt for the second goal. I wouldn't have blamed Gordon Banks for conceding that. I don't think I have seen a football hit as cleanly or as well since Huuuugh against Luton.

I love Ritchie and it really riles me to see so many people write him off but the first goal last night was as has been described. He went to sleep and the striker got in front of him. Part of one of the poorest games I've ever seen him have.

Sweeney looked very good last night but was at his best when bombing on into the box.
Ben Clark (prepares for the torrent of abuse as the Holy Cow is insulted) wasn't very good at all. His tackling and presence are good. His creativity and touch are awful. He got so frustrated that he was twice VERY lucky not to be sent off in the last ten minutes. Even after the referee gave him a full final warning he did not regain his discipline and made two further poor challenges.

Clark and Liddle are both defenders/holding midfielders by instinct who want to sit in front of the back four. They can't play the killer passes. They are never going to score.

It seems to me that there is a fairly bleeding obvious solution here. We have a player who is busking (pretty well) as right back who wants to attack. We have two defenders playing in midfield and creating little - both of whom can play right back.

Without playing very well at all last night we fashioned 4 or 5 scoriing chances. A similar performance will probably be enough to beat Cheltenham. With the way results went last night the target for safety could be as low as seven points. But looking at the remaining fixtures apart from cheltenham and Hereford I don't see too many points. Saturday is a really vital one.

Any chance of playing a central midfielder with an attacking bone in his body, Chris?

Sorry, meant to post this in the matchday forum and I dont know how to move it.

Sweeney will be getting my vote

You talk a lot of sense and should post on here more often.

I'd forgotten about those moments of impetuosity from Clark. I was honestly worried we were going to finish the game with ten men last night. Better take him off my list of players who played with conviction and replace him with Nelson who did some good things I forgot about. That leaves Sweeney, Porter, Nelson, Parker, Mackay who were worth their places.

If we took him off we would have no midfield last night, as Liddle might aswell have not been there. Clark stuck to his guns at least, as poor as he played.

It may be fairly bleeding obvious to you and me but this is Tubby you are talking about

Are we fook - we're talking about Monkhouse.