The players who are not good enough the managers tactics or our expectations to high for this season.

We all know the club needs stability first but it’s bloody frustrating watching that week in week out at home.

Combination I think, midfield is too slow, Kitchen is a liability, James is too lightweight and we don`t seem to have a plan B, Magnay poor today!

The shape would be ok if we had box to box midfielders and a decent striker.

Do we have to keep accepting the reason we are poor is because we nearly went out of business, at least we have that to watch, riveting

I was not expecting anything this season. Until Bates and Players came public and said we're aiming for promotion.
So Now like most fans you change your prospective on the outlook.

I get we were hours from going bust. Still home performance should outweigh away performance. Shouldn't it?

With the players we signed we should be doing way better than we are, last week was embarassing and this week wasnt any better. Using nearly going out of business as an excuse is wearing thin. We have new owners a new team, a new manager everything is totally different to last year. If people are happy with these performances then they are easily pleased.

no excuse for poor performances at home.

Don't think anyone is expecting us to storm the league,just be a bit more positive at home

Pools couldn't have made much money this afternoon. That's got to be hurting the club. Then again poor performance last week. Maybe blame some to weather and start of half term hols.

We reached a playoff spot with most of the points from teams in the lower half of the table. At the time I was pilloried for saying that we were a 'solid middle of the table team'. If things proceed as they have done, that is exactly what we are!
If we had a manager with the nous to set up the team to play a more adventurous attacking game at the Vic and even get fresh legs onto the pitch at the right time, a playoff spot would be possible but I have now given up on that idea after the Kidsgrove match.

We're doing as well as any of us could realistically expect. We've signed some better players but there's still weaknesses in the squad, not just those we were stuck with either.

Whilst I'm not going to say Williams is the final piece of the puzzle, his creativity is exactly what we're missing.

Dunno how many times I've felt like walking out of the Vic in the last few years. Another infuriating display where we gift another ordinary side goals and struggle to break them down at the other end,I'm sure they only had 3 attempts on target all game. Until we get a left sided player and another striker in I don't see us getting in the play offs. Kitching is a weak link in the side when going forward, he simply has no attacking instinct. James has had plenty of opportunities in the team now and never looks like scoring ,he needs dropping.

Today's game was probably one of magnays worst performances for us and Featherstone was horrendous. Bright performance from Donaldson again and I thought McLaughlin was our best central midfielder. Think it's time to mix it up a bit now and give some different players a go,dinanga looks quick and sharp so he needs to start ahead of James now.

Oh and how shit was the ref yet again!

Considering how quick the same ref was in sending off Adams at Gateshead last season for a weak as piss foul at the end we were attacking, the decision in not giving that lad a second yellow today was baffling.

Overall frustrating - I actually thought we still looked positive when 2-1 up, but it was more sloppy play than negativity that cost us today. The back three looked shakey and I think Anderson can count himself a little unlucky that he lost his place in the team.

As frustrating as it is though we have to give Bates a chance. We still should be good enough to keep in touch of a play off place and hopefully sneak in.

If Bennett had not already had a yellow the challenge on James would have been his first definitely, as he already had one the ref bottled it, basically cheated, and let go a challenge which warranted a card.

Agree with above, ref went for a yellow till he realised he had booked him. 'lovely lovely person'.

Clueless facebook wankers are out in force. Some are blaming Raj now. Unbelievable.

Can't see anyone on Facebook blaming Raj. I can see some feeling sorry for him. Unless I've missed on or two comments.
If they blame Raj then have to blame Jeff to then don't they!!

Strange how other clubs can nearly go out of business, then almost immediately totally re-invent themselves and go up the leagues, not us though, no we will use this as an excuse for at least the next 10 seasons. FFS! this Is the National League, a load of shite, we could and should as a club be expecting more and doing a lot better.

According to club website, the game Williams makes his debut has been made all ticket on police advice.

Does anyone believe his debut isn't going to result in a long term injury? This is Pools we're talking about, I have similar views to Glenn Hoddle in that us Poolies must all have been bad in a previous life to deserve this suffering, no other explanation!

Definitely ! I just want to see this debut. It will be one of those I WAS THERE WHEN moments

Virtually every single game the opposition ends stronger, no matter if its sutton, kidsgrove or harrogate, we rarely if ever dominate a second half, this has got to be down to poor tactics, surely teams like kidsgrove arent fitter than us.

Take a look at gateshead they had as many problems as pools in fact they looked like they would not even have a team and yesterday they put 3 past aldershot in front of a crowd of 703 yes 703 and what the point is we can only dream of a 3 nil win.

Something is seriously wrong at pools on the playing side of the club and lets be honest now to even to create 1 good chance is a surprise but to score just 1 goal even against a team like kidsgrove is a treat.

How ever as usual excuses will be made we were unlucky the crowd was low because it was cold blah blah blah the reality is as gateshead are proving have half decent players with a decent game plan you can do well in this shit league we are in at present maybe its just a bridge to far for pools and to big a dream for us supporters.

It's clear that Pools need a couple of reinforcements to really get a grip on a play-off place. A left back and a forward who can at least get into double figures for the season alongside Nico Muir would make the difference.

With the best will in the world Kitching isn't the answer at left back and it's ridiculous that there's no real competition for his place in the squad. Luke James, on the other hand will always be in contention for a place but right now it looks like 5 or 6 goals for the season will be his limit and that just isn't good enough for a side with promotion hopes.

With the wind playing such a big part yesterday I thought when we got in front after half time we'd stay there - very disappointing to let it slip. Kioso MOM by a street but Paddy McLoughlin looked decent - the best I've seen him play in a Pools shirt.

Bates needs to show he can mix it up a bit so if I was him I'd be making changes on Tuesday night,maybe go with

Loach
Magnay Davies Anderson
Donaldson noble McLaughlin kioso
Hawkes
Muir dinanga

Something like that anyway!

We aren,t scoring enough goals with James in the team so it can,t get any worse up front with a change......Can it?

Kitching has to be dropped on Tuesday. I have just seen highlights on Sutton website of their first goal, Kitching left their player unmarked at the back post , then when he realised player was at back post never challenged him and then actually ran away from the action when his teammates were playing pinball on the goal line with the opposition. You must see it, it was criminal.

Apart from having a left foot he offers nothing!

Fair point about the lack of a challenge for the header although two of their players break for the back stick and Kitching is the only one of ours to go with them. Not sure what you want him to do when the ball is on the line and under Magnay's legs - Kitching is not in a position to make a clearance or a tackle without fouling. You might equally blame Davies for not booting the ball and Magnay's leg away. Their two players have less scruples about getting part of our player as well as the ball and able to force it over the line.

Those Sutton edited highlights are biased but underline that they are a decent side who wanted the win more than we did - that's something Bates has got to address.

Kitching wasn't on the line though , that's my point, he was on the edge of the 6 yard box , instead of getting in amongst it. I agree the whole defence contributed to the farce, but at least Davies and Magnay were attempting to get the ball cleared, albeit without much success.

Good work by Kitching to win the free kick for the 2nd.

I think it's right people are questioning the use of the current formation. I don't feel we mounted any significant, sustained pressure on the opposition defence and save for moments of individual inspiration don't look like scoring much. Both our goals had a huge amount of fortune involved and whilst Sutton's 2nd and 3rd goals came from us turning the ball over cheaply at least they seemed to have some idea of how to quickly turn defence to attack.

If we switch to a back four and Bates is worried about us being overrun in the midfield he could still play three in the middle and simply drop one of the forwards. This wouldn't necessarily be a bad move given Luke James, for all his endeavour, surely needs to be benched for a bit. It also might help Kitching having some protection in front of him if he played as more conventional full back.

A disappointing afternoon but ultimately Sutton deserved it. Sigh.

At this point, I wish PJ was here to argue to the far end of a fart with you. I certainly can't be arsed

Who's arguing ?.