I,d replace Amond with Rodney, Woods in for Newton ( headless chicken) must play 4-4-2 !!!

I'd give Newton time to settle in, Woods has had chance after chance and I'd give Amond time to rediscover some form and confidence he might just need a goal coupled with us getting a win to get him going.

If we can't get in another centre half in I'd just go same again, it was an improved performance by all accounts so why chop and change again it helps nobody constantly doing it.

You do realise that would mean Featherstone and Woods in the middle? I think we've tried that and I think it failed... put Deverdics in the centre and Munns on the wing and bring in Donnelly for a centre back

I know he's had some stick but you can't tell me Featherstone didn't play well last night ! I know he's public enemy no1 with some but apart from when he misjudged the ball in the first half he done nothing wrong at all.

Featherstone made a huge difference and will no doubt be a regular under Harrison now.

I know, I know, I dont see as much of the players as you lot, but from I HAVE seen, Feathersone is a proper footballer, and is the best at the club. I know he has weaknesses as well, but others should be tere to cover those.

Anyone that cant see his quailties shouldnt be allowed to attend games.

I get very like your AVI whenever somebody says Featherstone can't play.

STOP GETTING FOOTBALL WRONG

Was good to see featherstone back last night he just keeped the team ticking over but he carnt do everything himself and what he did do was show some of the team how to pass a ball.
Last night people having a go at Harrison i know it was his mistake for the goal however from then on he had a solid game so i accept he does need to improve however amond is never really mentioned and yet tell me what he brings to the team once again last night he contributed very little people will say well he didn't get the service ok i accept that so what do we have a striker who will only contribute if its laid on a plate for him and lets be honest Cassidy showed amond last night what you have to do and should do when your a striker.

Featherstone was by far one of the best pools players on the pitch last night - hes found his level, give him a few more weeks of full game time and he will be the difference for us this season. Newton is an absolute cabbage, did the scouting team/CH not look at any of his previous games or is he one of those that needs to be carried and looks good in a decent team.

Most worrying this is the defence is still shambolic... Harrison is crap... he got released for a reason before and now its showing even more. Laing is a calamity also, how on earth has he played football on a higher level than this. he makes things look so hard. We really do need a few quality signings to get us winning games comfortably. Would love a Loan signing along the same makings of Mirfin/Jackson... even a sprightly winger/midfielder like we had in Jake Gray. We literally are just missing the last few pieces of the puzzle and I think after a couple more games we will get it right and start to put those chances away and win games. Podge needs to sort his head out too and start scoring goals..for once as a pools fan I cant moan about the lack of quality upfront.

Really poor choice of words, it's absolutely embarrassing that players get abuse like this by sections of our support after four games for the club it really is. Mind I heard some of the abuse Toto Nsiala got after 2 minutes of his debut last year from a few knuckle draggers so nothing surprises me.

Newton brings nothing to the table. Not a huge featherstone fan either but I thought he had a good game and has to start again on Saturday.

I'd have Rodney in for Amond and I'd have to find a way to get Munns in.


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I am not saying Featherstone is the new Messi, and I am sure there are better players out there, but in relation to who he is up against for a game currently, he is way superior to anything else we seem to have.

Those that seem to hate him, and hate isnt the wrong word, they can not have played the game to any level whatsoever.

Against teams like Chester I see no reason why munns couldn't play centre mid alongside Featherstone. When we took deverdics off the team looked unbalanced again, munns should have been on for newton. Deverdics was having a good game and munns is a central player! Overall it was much better and if we had decent centre half's we would have had more points by now. I just don't understand how Harrison plays at this level, he costs us goals almost every time he plays. He has a few good attributes but switches off far too often! Needs to be taken out the firing line.

I thought Newton had a much better game last night, bit bemused by some of the comments on players performances, and people call me negative , obviously frustration is getting to some people and its affecting their ability to think straight. I agree with PJ, you cant keep chopping and changing, new players like Newton need to be given a run of at least half a dozen games in the side. Deverdics has been at the club yonks and still hasn't had a proper run in the side, no wonder some of the players look shot. Munns despite touted as the greatest thing since sliced bread , and doing ok pre season , is a regular on the bench now, WTF ! is it with the modern day manager ? or is it just the managers we employ?. We have spent the last 5 years chopping and changing , " Drop Woods for Hawkins " then after Hawkins has a stinker " Drop Hawkins for Woods " FFS! they're all sh*te , but if there is any chance of them being otherwise , it will only come from been given a run in the team.

Not sure about Featherstone been best player on the pitch, thought he contributed little myself, but he did add balance to the side and went about his job in the Featherstone way, with the minimum of fuss, neat and tidy as they say. Obviously he will improve with game time. For the time being , he is the most consistent midfielder we have. I hope Adams isn't missing Saturday , as Donnelly will always be a weakness at left back, thought Harrison and Laing improved as game went on and still hold out in the hope they will get better as season progresses , still think the lack of a decent Centre mid with height puts pressure on them. My real concern last night was our finishing , which was woeful , certainly think its time for Amond to be dropped, he cant say he hasn't had a good run in the side, his form started to dive 6 months ago,who do you replace him with though? . Just to answer the OP , to put Woods in for Newton is just absolute madness, no justification for that whatsoever. Think the manager has got the message regarding the 4-4-2 though

This. Last night was a game Pools would have won easily if any one of the 3 crossbar challenges had gone in. Other than getting in a new centre half, which is the one thing that probably every Pools fan can agree on, I hope CH doesn't change the starting 11 or the 4-4-2 for Saturday, but he seems to be an inveterate tinkerman, so it probably won't happen.

But I don't have a problem with his willingness to get subs on when they still have a chance to influence the game! Munns was a good call last night, injected a bit of energy back into the match when it was fizzling out.

I thought Featherstone had a decent game last night, nothing spectacular just kept it simple.
Amond, once again, didn't impress me. We had three came back off the bar, an instinctive striker would have been first to at least one of them. I fail to see what he brings to the side.
He has obviously done it in the past but we can't afford to wait for the light to come on again.
Donaldson doesn't excite me either. He can't beat a man, doesn't get crosses in quick enough plus he runs into brick walls when he cuts inside and he doesn't look like contributing much to the goal tally. He is willing but very limited.
If we are not going to get any defensive loanees in the near future, put Donnelly in central defence. He can't be any worse that what we've got in there. Get Bates fit as a stop gap until we can get some real centre halves in.
I've got nagging doubts about binning Newton. I think there is something there. I maybe be totally wrong but ................
Cassidy needs a strike partner. What about giving this Simpson kid a go, especially at home.
Now here is a revelation.
Somebody once told me that Scott Harrison was a decent promising striker when he was a kid. How true that is, I don't know but it's worth having a look, especially in this league.

You'd think this season was 20 games old regarding Amond, it's 4 games and people have been on his case since the start of it.

He could be low on confidence, he could be sulking a bit but he's a striker who just maybe needs a goal to get him going again, you know goal something he's scored over 50 of in the last two seasons which is exactly why we need to keep faith in him for more than 4 games especially in favour of relatively untested kids.

What i am seeing pj in amond at present is his all round play and ask yourself what does he do

Does he win headers No
Does he run at defenders with the ball No
Does he set up goals No
Is he scoring goals No

Maybe its time to give him a rest and utilize a different player in his position or elsewhere on the pitch which will contribute more to the team effort in general

You do love an underdog PJ, support whoever everybody else can see is blatantly not up to the task, "give him time", "needs a few games", sometimes it is better to be upfront and say, " You need a month in the Evosticks to get your head straight or you will be sold", an arm around the shoulder works for some but others need a toe up the dirt box.

Do the reserves have a league to play in now?

I take your point PJ but he doesn't look like scoring so talking of 20 games, how many has he notched in the last 20 games he has played.
I saw some games at the back end of last season and I've seen four this season and I'm just not impressed and therefore I am stating that I'm not impressed.
I would love to see him recapture the goalscoring record he had when he last played in this division but, at the moment, he isn't even dropping hints of doing that.
I don't think we have the luxury of waiting time. We need goals, he is a striker responsible for scoring goals. He has to produce or give way. That is the way of it.

He scored 37 goals the season before last in this League, to suggest he's not up to scratch is absurd. You'll be giving us some analogy about when you ran supermarket and loaned someone to a corner shop in a minute.

I think his dip in form came from his shabby treatment from Dave Jones last season when he was dropped, he was actually on the bench for 9 League Games last season but still managed 14 goals for the second worst team in the country.

Yes he is in front 2 now, but it's only had two and a half games together. Surely it's worth a run with him and Cassidy to try and build an understanding, maybe as the team gets a few wins on board they could start to click? As for being gifted a goal I meant a goal from open play which will do wonders for his confidence.

From what people are saying I don't think many believe these wins are that close to being secured.

Most people seem to think Chester wereally our poorest opposition in two decades yet we still couldn't outscore them.

Not sure we're your confidence in these players is coming from.

Hope you are right though

I am saying players will improve with confidence which must be quite low now it's hard to have faith or confidence in a bunch of players who got you relegated but results will pick up, we are not one of the worst teams at this level though that I am confident of.

Is that enough confidence for you?

Amond is a player every other team in the League would take off our hands though.

That's not called for PJ. You're lowering the tone of the discussion. At least you are consistent, i'll give you that, unlike Amond.

It was only a joke, it was hardly abuse was it. Monkeybutt often mentions it when he talks about man management, I am fairly sure he isn't offended.

Who mentioned abuse.
The irony is that, in business, if you don't perform, you have a good chance of being replaced. Amond is not performing, which raises the question of replacement.
You see when people, you included, prove that he can cut it at this level it only adds to the concern.
If he is hacked off, as you put it, which is causing him to under perform, or his head isn't in the right place, as others have suggested, then it poses a question regarding his attitude. Should he be taking a wage for not doing that which he is being paid for. I don't know but I'm sure as hell going to question it.
If he and the manager sort it then fine but until then he is under major scrutiny.

I'd go same again although perhaps try Donnelly at centre back in place of Harrison. The team and formation has to settle. Munns is unlucky in that the formation that's worked best for us doesn't necessarily suit him. I think he looks a good player though and my have to bide his time.

I think it,s time to give Rodney a run in the side up front with Cassidy. Amond has shown nothing in any shape or form for ages and if any other team in our league would love to have him how come we had no offers for him when he made it clear he didn,t want to stay with us in this league. Yes we need Blair at left back instead of Donnelly who could be given a game at centre half instead of Harrison or Laing. That big fat bastard Chester had at the back was what we will come up against a lot this season so we need to play the ball around them cos they won,t catch anyone once they are through on goal.

You rather bizarrely suggested I'd lowered the tone by making harmless light hearted comment, anyway move on from that, I get all of that I'd just be inclined to give him and Cassidy more game time and I'd back Amond to come good. The season is at it's very start players aren't robots they go through peaks and troughs of form in careers and most seasons but I'd always give a player who is proven more time to redescover it than someone who isn't especially when the alternatives are teenagers.

This is a key point. It renders all tactical discussions and talk about who should play up front moot if things like this happen. I've said it on numerous occasions but there's times when we simply don't give ourselves a chance. Take away the daft mistake and we have a 1-0 win that many would argue should have been a lot more comfortable.

It's desperately frustrating that we haven't won yet but I'm still confident that things will pick up. It's not like we've been beaten 6-1 like another team who departed league 2 at the wrong end, last season.

Ah, harmless light hearted comment. Silly me for not recognising it as such. Mental note to self......pay more attention.

Every goal we have conceded so far has been an individual error from one of the two centre halves. I said at the start of the season that Scott Harrison will be the difference between us challenging for top spot, or challenging for play-offs. Turns out he is actually that bad that he might be the difference between mid table or a relegation battle. Hopefully Adams is fit Saturday and Donnelly can play CB, like he should have been from the first game.

On the two blokes shouting at Featherstone - there was one or two behind me who, despite Featherstone not making a mistake until the ball bounced over his head about 30 minutes in, shouted 'oh fucking typical Featherstone get him off'. Honestly baffles me beyond belief what some people watch.

And I am not sure why people are questioning Amonds attitude. I think he has shown a better attitude than anyone on the pitch personally. That despite his understandable anger of not scoring/winning.

Featherstones place in the side will be cemented now and he will be a regular like he has been under every manager for us.

You would think his absence for the first 3 games or so would his shown his doubters how clueless they are but going by comments from last night, they still cant see what he brings to the team.

Beyond help they are.

Currently in therapy.

I'm not saying I dislike you, but I would unplug your life support to charge my phone.

Totally agree. I thought he played well and found his team mates with more passes last night that the whole team did against Dover.

I'd hope now that featherstone is back, because of the way he plays, the defenders will have someone to pass the ball off to in CM that can get us moving. its either that or they just get rid of it into the channels rather than putting ourselves under pressure outside our own box.

For the next game I'd hope that CH sticks with the same side, players like the centre backs and the strikers need to be able to form partnerships and develop an understanding of the other player, this can't happen if we constantly chop and change the side. Ideally I'd rather try Luke George alongside Featherstone as from what was said in preseason, he is a tough tackling midfielder that we need, but until he is ready I'd stick with Newton.

Loach

magnay laing donnelly adams

deverdics featherstone george ( if fit) munns

cassidy rodney ( oates if fit?)

subs, harrison woods amond donaldson, ( rodney /oates)

That is one shite bench.

It,s all we have...isn,t it?

Not about permutations , its about better coaching and fitness , oh and signing a couple of decent players, namely a striker who can win headers and who can put the ball in the net and a midfielder who can put the ball in the net and win headers. Once this happens you will probably find the other players will start putting the ball in the net and win headers. Confidence through winning , its not rocket science.

Thank the lord for some sensible people posting about Featherstone and the qualities he brings. I remember one of the arguments at back end of last season when his detractors were saying 'any professional footballer can make simple passes to teammates'. It seems that in the first few games that 'simple' skill wasn't on show from any players.

Dalton's Haircut, you are my favourite poster on here. That's a good idea for a thread that.

[/quote]
The people constantly on his back- I can assure you at least 90% of them will not have played the game, certainly not beyond a kickabout with their mates.[/quote]

The back four wellying the ball up field and Kevin Dixon belting after it like a loon. You young 'uns have never seen proper football!!!!

Awwww you (*gets all embarrassed and coy)