Is it only me who thinks we may be shooting ourselves in the foot by rearranging this match so quickly?

According to the Mail, two of our best players (Porter and Sweeney)are unlikely to be fit enough to play, out league form is not exactly what it should be at this moment in time and who knows what surprises the transfer window may bring. We may even have a new manager in a few weeks time.

The article also states that the reason for rearranging so quickly is for Pools to avoid a fixture pile up towards the end of the season. Without a crystal ball, no one knows what form we will be in from now until May but, if we start putting a run together, surely a couple of games a week will only serve to sustain a run.

Besides, it is unlikely (statisically) that we will progress any further in the FA Cup therefore this could be the only game that we will need to rearrange on top of what is already planned.

I just have a niggly feeling that waiting a few weeks would be much more beneficial to our long term aim of survival.

As I understand it, the Football League told us we had to play tonight.

How can they dictate that we have to play tonight both teams have to agree dont they ? and I agree that we should have left the fixture until later in the season when we have at least a half fit squad

Its obviously in Oldhams interests to play tonight - how many of pools postponed games (I know we dont have many)can you remember being re-arranged within such a short timescale

I concur.

indeed

Unfortunately I agree as well.

I also don't think Pools had any reason to say no to re-arranging for tonight, you can't say no because two players are injury doubts.

If we put a reserve team out I will hate Chris Turner for the rest of my life.

I fully expect to lose and would be over the moon with a point.

If one of Porter and Sweeney plays then the team will almost identical to the one we played when we drew earlier the season and if anything our midfield is stronger than the one we played that day, no reason why we can't get a point and there was me thinking we had a 'never say die attitude'

Maybe Mr Tax doesn't rate Browny though?

Mr Tax certainly does rate James Brown.

Mr Tax also understands the meaning of the word 'almost'.

The game hinges on whether Sweeney and Joel play. Joel in particular as Sweeney can be replaced for a reasonably competent player.

You are only as good as your last game and as I remember it Foley was superb against one of the best teams in the country while Browny was average against Bristol Rovers. Foley is better than Brownie and its about time people believed it.

By 'almost identical' I meant the number of changes will hopefully be minimal from the home game, it'll but certainly be in single fingers anyway! A couple of the changes ie. Robson for Monky and Clarky for Jones in the middle actually strengthen the team.

f that big fat teletubby is playing centre half for oldham we have an outside chance.

But would you use the same description of Asswind if he had joined Pools Mr Chip?.

Ditto.

I remember last season when we played them everyone expected us to get beat

I'm not saying we'll win tonight but we have to give it a go and playing the reserves sends out the wrong message that the first teams not good enough then they'll never win if they think they don't have the backing of the manager

But what right do we have to know? Does your boss tell you when he has rearranged a diary meeting to suit himself? You can't have it both ways.

Lets face it our front two Foley and Mackay wouldnt do much damage in the Conference. Lord knows what is in store next season once Porter leaves, he is to us what Owen is to the Mags. With no money to spend our prospects for next season look grim indeed. Unless our European scouts come up with something LOL!

WERE DOOMED!!! I TELL YOU WERE DOOMED!!!

we realisticly need 2 new strikers and 2 defenders too be in with a chance of remaining in this division.

Single fingers?