Please let that be the final time we ever see that great useless piece of shit in our shirt.

Fucking mong.

I was Fucking delighted when the fat, useless, arrogant, smug, lazy, mercenary, swaggering Fucking arsewipe was sent off.

Pathetic challenge.

Fine the 'lovely lovely person' 2 weeks

Howard was sent off????

Was he? I'd already left? What happened?

Didn't have the best view of it myself the way he went in asked for trouble. It must be said the reaction of Oxfords players (who dived all afternoon) didn't help his cause. They went on as if the lads leg had been snapped until the red card was produced then amazingly he was fine.

The ref totally lost it late on. Oxford's pen was a heavy touch then dive , then the non penalty on Compton was laughable .

Obvious that he didn't want to be on the pitch, he should be paid off and waved off the fat 'lovely lovely person'.

Can we appeal the red card and it can then be deemed frivolous and extended?

Sounds like a very good plan!!!!

I think the more obvious questions that should be asked is why we're totally played off the park today, except a 15 minute spell in the second half.

worrying giving the consensus was it was a 'great time to play them' as they were supposedly without their 4 best players....long season ahead...hopefully without the likes of Howard

Because we're not very good and only seem to be able to be a match for teams in this division when our players are performing at their very best.

I wasn't there to comment on individual decisions but we can blame the refs till the cows come home, one win in 9, against the bottom team in the league cant be put down to bad refs.

We weren't totally played off the park we were awful first half, shocking in fact but all they did was press us high up the pitch and work hard. Like Wycombe did the other week. In terms of general play they probably scored with the three efforts they had on target. The centre backs both had bad days, Baldwin was awful and Burgess had his poorest game to date by a mile.

We came out and matched what they did at the start of the second half but for some reason can only play at that tempo for 15-20 minutes.

The first half nearly had me leaving. It's rare to see any team play with so little heart. In face they did more work collectively in the pre season friendlies. The passing will be better on the rec tomorrow.

Walton & Dolan doesn't work, the two central defenders had stinkers, Austin was poor, Monkhouse was great second half, as were James and Poole, Duckworth looks a good player and Compton takes two steps forward and three back.

We are the least threatening team in the league from set pieces, are physically weak, have nobody who will stand up to the sort of pushing and diving tactics Oxford made good use of and the players heads drop too easily.

Alienlife that summary is frightening, especially given the physical bullying style Mansfield will likely employ next week.

Franks performance was staggering.

Like someone who was paid to be shit.

I said it a few weeks ago, sounds like we need a Willie Boland in the side in terms of character...demanding accountability and accepting his own...not a perma tan loudmouth like Walton who it sounds like blames everyone else for his mistakes.

For me, Howard has passed from a pretentious and arrogant journeyman to an obviously provocative and deliberately antagonistic individual.

The 3 mins he spent on that pitch was an absolute joke. He wanted nothing more than to find a excuse to wind some fooker up.

He succeeded. I'm fooking fuming.

Walton's performance today was indescribably shite

He was like Roy Keane compared to his performance against Wycombe.

Still 3 or 4 out of ten today though

Walton was more useful than Dolan but that says more about Dolan than it does Walton.

Comptons set pieces are horrific.

Seems to be a lot of focus on Walton when yet again was far worse players on the pitch.

Dolan, Austin, Baldwin and the absolutely shocking franks. We are shit, we must get used to this and hope somehow we stay up and get the useless fuckers hogging the wage budget off it for next season

Don't agree they are similar players Dolan is a fitter more mobile version though. They can't play together.

Walton gave away the ball trying Hollywood when he could have slid a pass in which led to the break away for the second goal, then spent the next ten minutes beating himself up about it .

I'd start Collins next week. Three kids in the back four is a problem.

Baldwin seems very indecisive recently. I'd bring Collins in and push him up to cm over walton.

While I agree the penalty decisions were terrible and think Howard probably didn't need to be sent off, to mention any of them as potential reasons we didn't scrape a point would be generous.

Oxford were a decent side, but were by no means invincible. But then I still maintain that I've not seen us face a really good side yet, but something is so deeply wrong at Hartlepool that we are looking more and more like a team that will be going down.

I want to be happy clappy and positive but 15-20 minutes of good football isn't enough and the inconsistency of our player between halves never mind games would be funny if I wasn't paying to watch professional footballers fail to pass, tackle, cross or shoot on target.

Was a well taken goal their second but so many ways could of been prevented.

Baldwin was shocking today which didn't help. BUt it's so obvious when the opposition get the ball how they are going to carve us open and where danger is going to come from

Worryingly were playing 2 defensive midfielders and this is still the case. When we finally find a creative midfielder how will the defence cope without 2 protectors?

Do you think Walker is a big loss at the minute in midfield?

Shall we consider the possibility that we're not very good? Can we also ponder on the fact that while we cannot buy anyone better then we will remain not very good.

I offer it up, no more than that.

Mr I, in my opinion you've hit the nail square on the head.
Unfortunately we're found wanting. It's not down to a lack of effort, wrong attitude, poor officials (although in fairness today's man in the middle was downright incompetent) or any other accusation folk may level at the team.
The truth is, as sad as it is, is that we're just not very good.

If we go down again then il almost single handily blame Howard and which ever idiot gave him a 2 year deal. We are totally hamstrung by having him here. Fair enough if he had performed more than twice while being here then it would be harsh, seriously how many minutes is it with him on the pitch since we scored a league goal?

Do us all a favour and fuck off.

Getting back on subject the Howard sending off could have a silver lining. With the waste of space out for three games it may make the need to bring in a loan striker even more pressing. We have needed one for long enough this may finally make the penny drop for Hodcroft. And then maybe we can get Monky back out on the left and get Compton on the bench with Franks.

Surely we can fine the 'lovely lovely person'
I would have him in the reserves every week and fined if he doesn't show, the management a d fans can't make him leave but they can make him as miserable as possible while he bleeds us dry

We are witnessing the demise of our football club.

^^^this, sadly^^^

The main problem with Steve Howard is he's simply shite.

Yet still some greeted his arrival as If he was the messiah. I don't know where they have been since he ever pulled on our shirt.

And we don't need a striker no where near as much as we need a creative midfielder.

I can't believe I travelled a two hundred mile round trip to witness that crap today. I might try again after Christmas or maybe I won't. You've won Mr Hodcroft, you have finally sickened all three of us.

I hope the owners were there today and will have seen the shyte we have had to put up with the last couple of seasons. They will now know we have not been whingeing over nothing. Whether they want to put things right on the field is another thing. Removing hodcroft from his post for gross incompetence would be a start.

The worst signing in the history of the club.

The daft fucker has got himself suspended for Sheffield United in the paint pot now as well, the only fucking team he scores against.

He is the best paid player the club has ever had. No idea how much that is but per goal I reckon he's earning more than Gareth Bale, Christiano Ronaldo & Messi ever will.

Flinders fails to make a save again

it should see the end of wannabe manager Hodcroft and fat Green... but I'm betting it won't

Pools have this morning confirmed that they are to appeal Howard's three match ban and ask for it to be at least doubled.

See the official website for further details.

Having seen on TV it was absolutely embarrassing decision. Barely a foul.

Before i comment are you being serious??

Regarding Howard over the moon with the red. Personally wish he bit the lad so a 10 game ban was imposed

Hope it fails then its a 4 game ban