Sept Oct Nov conceded average of almost 2 goals per game ( league only) 16 games 31 against. We scored 22 in those games. If we could reduce the goals against to 1 average and keep scoring the same amount we have we should very quickly climb up the table. In Sept we scored 8 and conceded 14 in 7 games. Oct scored 7 conceded 9 in 5 games Nov scored 7 conceded 8 in 4 games. There is not a lot in most games but the 5 goals conceded against Oxford University students and the 4 at home to mighty Bromley put a huge dent in our goal difference and team confidence. I know I am stating the obvious but goes to show fine margins make huge differences.

I couldn't agree more but it is what it is. We have a back four who just aren't capable of defending at this level. Manni O is ok but the manager can't coach the rest of them into being solid because they're just not good enough. You can see they're really trying - but they just haven't got it. As for the keepers - I'd have Killip back in the blink of an eye over these two (and Killips "whoopsies" used to drive me mad).

To be honest I do not believe for one minute that these players are not good enough. We are playing in the national league which this year is not that strong. You are telling me that 95% of our defenders are incapable of improving or learning their trade. I do not believe it for one minute. Just take stock and think about it. Many of us in our lives had jobs which to begin with we were perhaps not very good at. As an ex civil servant I served in many posts. I had to apply myself in every post, being adaptable, flexible, motivated and proactive. Sometimes I had good managers who mentored me. The buck stops with the manager for me. I know he has had a lot of bad luck but it’s his job to get the best from each player. The best managers Clough, George Graeme , Ferguson, Shankley knew what to do. Good leaders inspire you. Over to you lads. Have a good Christmas and New Year.

Further, with Mani probably being out for the rest of the season the manager needs to devise a system where everyone is involved and is adaptable to stop us from being relegated . I know I am not the manager but training the whole team in how to defend and playing in a system with everyone behind the ball would stop us from conceding. We then rely on the breakaway. I am talking about George Graeme philosophy in the 80s. Yes it’s extremely boring but to be honest I wouldn’t care if we won every game 1-0 and stayed up.

Can we gat over this absurd obsession with Killip.
Would that be ‘save a stunner and let three soft goals in Killip’, the man who Challinor ended up not even
playing.?
There are loads of keepers who could be signed better than Killip, who was at Pools long past his sell by date.
It shows a an astounding lack of knowledge to constantly long for the return of mediocre players when there’s ‘trouble at mill’.
If you need a keeper, do the work and find one.

Killing was a better shot stopper than either of the 2 we've presently got, but both are better dealing with crosses than he was, and neither are prone to as many absolute howlers as fillip was.
To be fair we could play all 3 and still concede considering the amount of space and time our defenders and midfielders give the opposition.

Yes good defenders inspire keepers. I was a goaly and hated bad defending. Every thing our defenders do it totally alien to my philosophy. Drives me crazy

but we never had to cope with the back pass rule and defenders playing short square or back passing across the back line or defenders themselves who think they are ball playing midfield sceamers. very rarely now do you see real good defensive parts of the game its just pools are one of the worst at it. you,ll see every week in highlights videos from the premier league downwards of goals that could have been stopped and glaring errors from keepers that we,d have been dropped for. no team has scored if the ball is on clarence road but they seem petrified of doing it. you might look a donkey for doing it but the bigger donkey is the one caught in posession or ball watching.

Against Wealdstone at times 1 of our 3 CBs was bombing up field, WHY.

Are the wing backs that crap.

In the match (maybe 2nd goal) Fergie gave away possesion on the half way line
Then tried to make up ground, Looked like he was running on the spot.

waiting patiently for our new defender to be revealed. bound to be someone from wealdstone who cannot command a regular place in their side.

Heard its my old neighbour Kevan Smith the superb ex Darlo centre half