Looks like Nathan Thomas missed training again and I wouldn't hold out too much hope of Billy Paynter playing either after the way he limped off on Tuesday. What DO we do? Ideas...?

Carson
Magnay
Jackson
Bates
Carroll
Oates
Featherstone
Woods
Hawkins
Gray
James

That would be my starting 11 for Saturday assuming Paynter and Thomas are not playing. Oates and Gray up top either side of James down the middle.

This is one we should be looking to win. I'd try Oates in place of Paynter, see how he does - if he struggles bring on Bingham 2nd half. Put Smith in for Thomas.

This is one we should be looking to win. I'd try Oates in place of Paynter, see how he does - if he struggles bring on Bingham 2nd half. Put Smith in for Thomas.

Oates on the left and Bingham through the middle is what i think will happen.

James through the middle and move Gray to the right with Woods or Walker coming into midfield?

An other option would be Connor Smith out wide perhaps? Or Kudos.........

Going by reports on Tuesday Bingham shouldn't be anywhere near the starting 11. I'd like to see Bingham do well and improve like, showed what he is capable of last season.

Well, this is a game of supposition (one or both MIGHT play) but if they don't -

Maybe a 3-5-2 with Rob Jones in a back three, Magnay and Carroll as wing backs and James and Bingham up front. Play for the breakaway goal!

I'd like to see Connor Smith get half an hour at the end as he's been scoring a few goals for the reserves.

Fenwick can stay where he is - yet to score or start for Tranmere.

I reckon Oates should be given another chance up top.

I think Luke James will be absolutely busting for an opportunity to play up front.

I'd put James up font like, Woods into centre mid if fit and Gray out on the right. Smith in for Thomas if he's out.

If Paynter is out Pools' defence is going to be overworked whoever starts up front, because none of them can hold the ball up.

I remember the Salford replay when Smith, Bingham, Oates, Fenwick and Gray all started. Before kick off I thought we were going to murder them for pace, but we couldn't keep hold of the feckin' ball and got tortured.

Oates in the middle as he can jump higher than anyone else, just needs to work on his timing, Blackford on instead of Thomas and Jewson to replace Oates second half.

Thomas only had a bit of a chest infection and was nearly well enough to play on Tuesday so I can't see it keeping him out of Saturday.

Mr Butt why do you always bang on about centre forwards 'jumping' Bingham can't jump, Paynter was terrible early season because he can't jump now Oates should play because he can jump the highest. You aren't watching the Hartlepool Hornets I doubt it's a real attribute Hignett looks for a centre forward very high up in priority I'd imagine touch, awareness, creativity, finishing coming before 'jumping' generally if a centre forward has to jump the service into him in the first place isn't great.

If only Paynter is out I'd go Thomas left, Gray right and James up front. I wouldn't mind Oates up front either purely because he must be the only lad who's ever signed as a centre forward and never played there in an entire season!!

You know when a cross comes in at just over head height and you have to lift both feet up to get to it, picture it in your tiny mind, let me know when

Meanwhile at St George's Park Roy Hodgson is making the final decision on his strikers for the Euro's

"Well boys many of you have had fine seasons in Pwemier League but it's coming down to this Wayne, Harry, Danny, Jamie, Daniel on my count one two thwee.... Jump!"

Occasionally we may have to score from open play you know....

Did you go on Tuesday PJ?

Corrected for accuracy.

How about the seven times the ball was punted up to bingham to make a pathetic attempt to jump and duck, you know when we have James to play off it, I know Paynter isn`t prolific but he gets the odd one, PJ must be confusing us with Tottenham, ball to feet and swift attractive football

There was 2 by the way

Even if he was playing with confidence though is that type of service ever going to be playing to Binghams strengths?

It's not going to be playing to Oates strengths either even if he can 'jump higher' and I dare say Paynter would rather have the ball played into his feet or chest.

Oh and we've scored plenty of very good goals from open play lately.

Don't hold back Jeff, spit it out. What if you've got the answer but say nothing and Pools lose? You'll feel shit and rightly so.

When they came for Bingham, Jeff remained silent;

He could not jump.

Then they came for Oates and Jeff still remained silent.

He could jump but it was not his strength.