Pick this ultra positive team from the players we have available then, it’s easy to bang your gums on here but what is your solution? Pick me a better team than the manager.

I don’t think we’re very good at all this is one of the weakest Pools teams I can remember but we’re picking up points. The point yesterday could turn into a good one if we back it up in the home games.

Why do people going on about competing in League Two and last week? We aren’t in League Two we got relegated. A few need a reality check you only have to look at Leyton Orient to see how things could be worse. They’re still like the soft touch we were in the first six games and looking like they could be in relegation trouble. We are a club that’s been on the slide for years it will take longer than a few months to turn it round properly. As it’s stands we are in contention for a play off place.

If we had Watson and Ledger fit never mind our full first team I have no doubts we would be challenging up with the top two. And I’m usually a negative bastard!!

And to be fair he did what people have been saying he should do yesterday, I.e have a more attacking midfielder in the midfield three, but I hardly heard Deverdics mentioned on the wireless.

What a lot of fans don’t seem able to do is give the opposition any credit either. Maybe actually we were playing a half decent side at this level who have some decent form themselves? We need to get out of this “they are only part-timers” and “this is a terrible league mentality. We are in this division for a reason and we won’t just walk every game. We got a point away from home against a mid-table side and we won the last two league away games before that.

The horrific start cost us, not away draws at Borhamwood.

Now a good opportunity to gain some more ground in the next couple of games.

The 11 who finished on the pitch yesterday doesn't sound like the manager was playing for a draw.

In addition to what congress says, playing us is like being in a cup final for most other teams in this league & I suspect that brings a completely different mind-set into play

Like has been said the bad start is why we not yet in a play off position yet.
But we will be when it counts after the Tranmete game.
26 pts from the last 13 games is a decent total considering our injurys.

We have a team that are hard to beat, at times hard to watch but one which is only 8 points off 1st and more importantly 17 points off the bottom two teams.

Most of the squad was changed in the summer and evidence has shown that, with time, they have only improved and hopefully will that will continue.

It’s a points per game average that would have us top by two points had it been replicated over the 19 games not just this 13 game run. I appreciate it’s a bit grim at times and a little soul destroying not beating teams we don’t think we should be playing but are and have to get on with it. It’s not the current managers fault the club is in this position, let’s judge him at the end of this season. Hopefully we’re a better side playing better football in 12 months time but for now I’ll take points over prettiness every single time. As I say look at Leyton Orient, not won in eleven I watched them against Ebbsfleet last night and they reminded me of us in the first six games. Not doing the ugly side of the game well and conceding cheap goals. They could go down the way they are going. Some of what I’m reading if you didn’t know would make you think we hadn’t won in eleven.

I was there yesterday and apart from the almost fanatical support of the guys around me in the seats, there wasn’t much to report. We never looked like winning the game and it was a little depressing.

But it’s not Craig Harrisons fault. He’s doing a pretty decent job with what he’s got and the injuries we’ve had. The players are fighting for him. I wasn’t expecting anything from the game when I realised the back pairing was Laing and Harrison. But I’ll even give those two some credit. They are hard working lads who are trying their best, the both tired towards the end and started looking sloppy, yet Harrison pulled out a superb block in injury time. I actually think there is a player inside of Laing. Think Toto who is now getting rave reviews at Shrewsbury.

We are a little bit of attacking quality from being in the top five of this division, hopefully Cassidy is that quality. After years of decline, it would be naive to expect a quick fix from Craig Harrison.

And the reward for the most balanced sensible post of the week goes to..^

The part about fighting for him is a good point too. It does go a long way and what we have been asking for. If that alone gets us in the mix then that’s fine with me.

We have quite a difficult set of fixtures for December and January. Hopefully the injured players will be back soon. Performances surely will improve? We cant keep relying on loach virtually every game.

I have described what I felt about yesterday's game. I had another think about it today and my opinion is still that it was shite. They had some decent chances to win the game, including a penalty ffs, but didn't take any of them. We, on the other hand, did not have one single effort on target, so it was extremely doubtful that we were going to win it.
Once again it was a game of hoofball on what looked like a very good pitch.
I am prepared to accept the way we are playing if it is the way back to the football league but not working the keeper and failing to create any clear cut chances is not going to get us back to the football league, not now or anytime in the future.
I believe that this league is there for the taking. I have not seen any stand out teams so far.
Because of our bad start our season was turned into a forty game season. That means our emphasis has to include creating more chances and scoring more goals. With the current tactics and squad, I just can't see us achieving that.
Something has to change if we are to challenge the top.
My biggest fear is that our goalie will be on someone's radar and that a bid or bids will appear in January. If the club succumb to those bids our clean sheets will be under serious threat.
Yesterday Boreham's goalie had nowt to do. I'm struggling to pick out a couple of games where Loach has had nowt to do.
It can't go on like this and anybody who is happy is accepting non league football for the foreseeable future, and that is non league football without entertainment. If that is what floats yer boat then fine but I would like to see another spell in the football league whilst I'm still capable of putting one foot in front of the other.
Just my opinion like.

In harrisons defence he has steadied the ship, since the Guisely game. We wont get promoted with this team, but with 2 or 3 good quality signings, the league is their for the taking. We cant keep giving the torquays, barrows and boreham woods chance after chance each game. Its not good enough but somehow he is getting results.

I was going to watch the match on the radio but fell asleep.
Therefore i have no opinion to post at this juncture.
Sorry.

We are never going to have any shots on the opossums goal when at every set piece this season every one of our players are in the box defending it resulting when gets cleared the ball comes straight back.
Leave some one with pace on the halfway line, drawing 2 of the oppositions back.

It also leaves more space in our box for players to get a run onto an incoming cross which is the biggest threat from a set play. The more bodies the less space for that, that’s the theory anyway but more managers probably bring everyone back than don’t these days were every stat and analysed especially at the top level. So it is done for a good reason.

I don’t supppse Harrison is sending the team out to not show much quality in the final third or in possession. We’ve got a method that could be really successful at this level, since the middle of August it’s averaged two points a game, we just have to do certain aspects of that consistently better. Hopefully as the season drags on that will come.

The last goal we conceded in the league was a free header from a corner when we had everyone back in our own box.

That’s the theory it doesn’t mean you’ll never concede a goal from a set play. We have conceded just 8 goals in the run of 1 defeat in 13 games so we’re obviously doing something right at that that end of the pitch.

Yes but we might score on a breakaway if the keeper collects or the ball breaks loose like Thomas did a couple of seasons ago, he outran the defenders and I am sure Rodney would do the same in this division.

I don’t disagree I also think it increases the chance of the ball coming straight back even if you clear the initial ball. But it’s hardky exclusive to Harrison or Pools it’s a very common approach from coaches these days.

And the reward for the most balanced sensible post of the week goes to..^

My second game of the season, last one was Bromley, nuff said. 26 points ground out from 13 games, moved up from 23 to 11th. Continue that and we have 82 points and in the top 3. Seems ok to me after the Coxall years. I'll be making a long trek up to see the Halifax game and Pools in playoff spots. It's all good. Next season in the heady heights of league 2. My head is spinning.

You've summed it up very well, John.
I agree that Harrison chucked forwards on in an attempt to win the game but still we didn't trouble their keeper and that bothers me. Is it because we have very little creativity in midfield? Is it because no one seems to be able to play that decisive pass? Is it because not one of these forwards seems to be capable of running at the opposition defence? Is it because they are not good enough? Or is it panicking without a decisive plan to get at their defence, open them up and create chances? Forwards need to have service or the ability to create their own chances and, most importantly, the ability to take them consistently. These are the attributes that are going to get us back into the FL and, in my humble opinion, that's where we're lacking.
There are three simple priorities.
1. Minimise the goals against.
2. Create chances.
3. Convert a decent percentage of those chances.
We've got number one reasonably under control, thanks to our goalie and opposition strikers but in the other two a lot of work or a change of personnel and/or tactics is needed.
If our priority is to consolidate our presence in this league then we are well on our way to achieving that. However if we want to get back to the FL, then a bit more than was evident last Saturday is needed. If the restraint is money then just come out and say so. I'll accept that, not forever, but at least for the time being.
The players work hard, there aren't any shirkers that I can see but we seem to be devoid of ideas or lacking in tactics or both.
We have only won seven out of nineteen games and yet are still in touch so it won't take a lot to tip the scales.
Each and every one of us have their own thoughts and ideas, I'm simply giving mine.