Yes at times I felt like saying get the ball on the ground, start passing it about…but…our best players efforts didn’t get us higher than twelfth last season…
Pools now play like a German Tiger tank…not exactly attractive, but very effective.
If it gets us out of this league I can endure it.

Agree Dog But also take into account Madine was has always been a topclass target man aswell as a goal scorer. He may be used alongside ManiD and that would get more possession in the other half and other box. Or maybe ManiD as much as I respect the great man could lose his place and be transferred in January for decent money. See the way I look at it we need to get out this swamp this season not next that may be financially to late, if that means loosing sound players who don't fit the system so be it. It's all about Hartlepool United getting promotion which I personally am convinced will happen. I will stick me knock out and say this will be our very 1st title win.

Yes that was a hard watch, that type of pitch is a leveller alright and some teams will struggle to come away from there with a win. What pleased me was we matched them physically when it became apparent that not much football would be played.

Stephenson stood up against their threat on the left.

Ferguson's delivery is terrible and he gave the ball away too many times.

Hunter was solid and Parkes controlled the backline as he does.

Without Waterfall and Dodds as well this has to be taken as a smash and grab, no problem.

I thought when Mancini came on he looked a different class and was the catalyst for us to hold the ball up in their half which in the end resulted in the goal.

Composure by Joe for the goal and lets hope we don't have to play on a pitch like that again.

When Sloggett comes in I think we will look more balanced going forward and hopefully Madine will get up to speed soon, promising signs.

Kudos to the Poolies who travelled down

PTID

Fair comment. At the minute we are doing just enough to win. Going forward, Pools either start beating teams more convincingly or they start dropping more points. A season of 1-0s and 0-0s isn't possible

(and none of the old '1-0 to the Arsenal either.' George Graham's side slaughtered Sunderland more than once - at Roker Park too )

Yes we absolutely have to improve in possession--defensively its great but going fwd big improvement needed and we do have the players--I think Sloggett and Charman when fit will help-and Campbell is clearly a good player at this level

Mancini if fit as well is a huge difference maker--this is Sarlls job, tighten up defensively and still offer something going fwd--but so far the defensive side and overall commitment is great to see.

Dodds, Sloggett, Charman, Madine to come in and allow us to rotate and keep fresh is also grounds for optimism

Interested what this Robinson lad is like as well

You missed the main man Madine And Waterfall

What a great result tonight, on a truly shocking pitch. 7 points from 9 and NO goals conceded is a dream start. A lot of other teams will come unstuck on the plastic, which makes three points there very handy.

Yes we had a bit of luck- but how many times in recent seasons past have we bemoaned hitting the post or having one kicked off the line at the death?

Good teams grind out results and have luck, which is what we've done so far. Winning and keeping clean sheets breeds confidence.

Let's hope we can put it across Wealdstone at the Vic on Saturday and get the old place rocking again on Matchdays!

Come on Pools-nowt to Beat!

There's no doubt that we could do with a bit more composure in the opposition half, but I'm sure that will come. But when we consider how many teams have come to us and simply bullied us and taken the points, well it looks like we're the bullies now and it's long overdue imo.

Against Southend we hit the post.

last night was bullies v bullies and they didn,t like it. a really hard slog of a watch where football played was in short supply. their only threat was from the non football long throw ins that nearly rescued a point for them. we,d have lost that game last season for sure and still picked up cautions as well. again sarll used his subs correctly and at the right time which is a big help. just hope we do not have to go there again this season in the cup or the trophy.

exactly. that was quickly cancelled out last night. there commentator also mentioned the wind so that would have been something else to worry about. it was hard to tell watching the game on a screen but was that plastic pitch worse or the same as the others as they are not all of the same standard by a long way.