Far too many tonight unless Cassidy is on the pitch it,s pointless, get the ball down and use it better. IMHO!

Thought we played some good stuff at times but I agree the long ball to James is pointless.

We were by far the better side but we do seem to lack something in the final third.

Thought the defence was excellent but Noble was poor for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Probably because he wasn't on the bench. Muir looked tired after 60 mins tonight so I was surprised dinanga didn't get on. That was a poor game with very few chances, when Williams is fit he could be the difference in games like that.

The way Pools set up at the minute has got results but we just aren't scoring enough goals. Nico Muir's hold up play last night was fantastic and Luke James' runs into channels always have the potential to create a chance - even with a clueless ref who took about 70 minutes to start giving free kicks in his favour.

But they're both playing too far from the opposition's box - it's true they are creating openings for runs from midfield but Muir has the potential to score more goals in a season that Woods, Featherstone and Noble put together if he's played in the right areas.

Pools ran out of ideas on the pitch second half and there was no plan B from the bench. Why not bring on Dingana for Woods? The lad scored a bagful of goals in the NL South last season and looks like his natural position is behind a front two like Woods. Seen enough of McLaughlin to know he's not a game changing substitute - he's the right pick for holding onto a lead but not when Pools need to make more chances.

Matty Bates really needs to come up with a plan B for games like last night. We know it's not Cassidy in 5-2-3 because Pools are too easy to score against set up like that. Luke Williams isn't just going to come in and start playing 90 minutes - getting him onto the bench would be a start!

At least the luck is holding for the minute and the unbeaten run goes on. Lost count of the number of times bang average sides like Barrow have nicked 3 points at the Vic in recent seasons and it looked like same old same old when they got a late penalty out of nothing.

The first 20 we started really well with Woods and Noble looking to get in behind then all of a sudden it just stopped, then never looked like scoring since and just punted long balls forward constantly.

To be fair there were half a dozen dangerous crosses into the box after the first 2O minutes, mostly from Donaldson, who had the beating of his man whenever he went forward. But nobody was in the right place at the right time. Muir did get on the end of one but skyed his shot.

It would have been good to see Donaldson get more service instead of the endless high balls out to the left for Kitching to try to win the header.

I'm afraid that the decent start will be history unless we can get Davies and Williams playing regularly and Bates uses the two front men as genuine strikers rather than eager beavers working their socks off at a distance from the penalty area. Muir and James need the wing backs to get forward and create chances for them. Having said that, they each failed to hit the target with the chances they had: Muir hitting over and James going wide so there is plenty to work on. Barrow failed to score but had two players with four goals apiece suggesting that they are set up to score goals whilst we rely on penalties and the occasional effort from mid field. The 'backs to the wall' style employed to stave off relegation needs to be ditched in favour of a much more attacking mentality if the playoffs are our target.

Donaldson had another good game last night, looked razor sharp and our best chance of getting a goal. Would be tempted to stick him up front, if he weren't doing such a good job in his new position.

Did we win any headers last night?

I recently had a problem with a long ball.

Interesting Eddie Kyle has been saying the last couple of home games how well the forwards have played and how hard they are working for the team.

He thinks the wing backs especially Kitching need to get into the final third more as at the moment so the forwards are running the channels too often and secondly we are lacking creativity from centre midfield they aren’t getting little balls played into them in and around the box where they can turn and be in on goal. He reckons Hawkes should be getting used more but mainly we need Luke Williams fit and available as he’s the one who can feed them.

We have started solidly are well in touch with top spot the team will get better the more familiar they get with the system that we’ve only been playing for 6 games (of which our record is 4-2-0).

It’s certainly not time to panic or make wholesale changes. We have good players to come back and I’m not worried about either forward. Christ it’s a step up on the likes of Rodney and Oates.

Ebbsfleet PJ ! Sure Kitching has been the one brought down for a couple of our penalties. Agree on Hawkes but not sure where he could start at the moment , if we keep on winning. Could he play as a wing back? don't see him as an out and out striker, or getting a place ahead of Noble , Woods or Williams,more of a left/right midfielder in a 4-4-2 for me , and therein lies the problem for Josh Hawkes.

We saw the end of that daft 3-4-3 after Ebbsfleet game since we have switched to 3-5-2 our record is as stated. They weren’t my words its what Eddie Kyle was saying and he normally talks sense. He wasn’t slagging off Kitching he was just saying why the strikers are having to do a lot of running and saying they aren’t getting enough opportunities. I think he was suggesting Hawkes in behind the strikers with two of Woods, Noble and Featherstone behind then when Williams is available him stepping into that role.

There is a lot of talk about Luke Williams getting into the team but i wonder how ready he is given lack of matches and injury.
I have never seen him but how good is he?

Agree with that - another option when the away side are playing for the draw like Barrow were second half would be to switch to a 4-3-3 with Donaldson playing as an attacker and Kioso moving out to full back. Sticking with the same formation and the same tactics for 94 minutes never looked like breaking the deadlock last night.

Fair do's. My mistake. I like Eddie Kyle's view of the game , been a long time fan of his.