Reckon will be a tough one for Hignetts first game in charge, they lost 3 in last 17 league games and all against top 7 sides.

I did notice the last time we failed in League to score was about 3rd November which is by far the longest current run in the division. Hopefully that doesnt scud it like.

Il go for a satisfactory 1-1 draw with James netting the goal.

Is this the Official Prediction thread?

Ebbsfleet are a decent team so won’t be disheartened with a defeat here. 2-1 to Ebbs, Kabamba with our goal

Only Muttley can do them.

Ebbsfleet got off to a poor start but have raced up the league and represent one of the toughest opposition at this time. I have just managed to arrange a rare trip to see the game so hoping for another great result.

Ebbsfleet 2 - 3 Pools. Kabamba, Noble and Kioso

Gate 1350 with 149 Poolies and me.

Due to my phone being shite I will allow this to be the official thread.

In that case -

2-2 Kabamba, Hawkes

in that case

Ebbs 0 Pools 4.

James, Kabamba, Kioso 2.

I've got the same mindset as Higgy as in we not interested in the oppositions form
Its all about what we do.
Pools to win 3 2 with Kabamba scoring again.
UTP.

We'll do them 3-1.

Hawkes 2, Kabamba,

1082, 178 Poolies.

1-1
Hawkes
86 Poolies

1-1 Kabamba with our goal

be really happy with any draw or win but can see a 2 nil defeat.

3 nil to pools hawkes James and Kakamba. 185 Poolies.

Doesn't sound like the most exciting of games. Maybe Hignett has first game nerves...

The draw is a good result. It sounded like hard work for our defenders but Pools had chances too.

Good point

A clean sheet away from home against a big side is good.

For once in a long time I,m looking forward to Saturday.

Great result, back to back clean sheets with an inexperienced defence too.

Great stuff Hignett!

Happy with a point. That's an average of two points a game in this spell for Higgy. Can't complain about that.

I blame myself for saying we hadn't failed to score in league since November

Will take a point. I fancied us to get well beat on the date of the original game, so a big improvement in a short time. Positives are another clean sheet, following on from finally getting more than 2 goals in a game on Saturday. It cant be easy travelling so far for two games in the space of 5 days, so happy with 4 from 6, it represents steady improvement, with momentum building up nicely. It sounded like a dreadful game on the radio, but listening to the commentary it appears we are now doing a lot more of the basic/simple things right now, that we weren't doing previously under Bates and Money. It was never rocket science and its no surprise that results are now improving.

Another clean sheet when not too long ago we’d have conceded and wearily expected us to. The body language of the players is different too.

Good form under Higgy recently.
I now expect us to finish in top ten which looked unlikely a few weeks ago.
Do that and Monkey of losing more home games than we win for 8 seasons in a row should be of our Backs.

Well done pools!

[quote="kevin pooles gloves"]Good form under Higgy recently.
I now expect us to finish in top ten which looked unlikely a few weeks ago.

so do i but i hope it will not affect who gets retained at the end of the season. finishing 10th is underachieving if you look at the full season and not another late run.

Despite the home side's pressing forward a shade more than Pools, Loach was not required to do much more than collect back passes and catch one cross. The defence put in a solid shift and Pools looked the more likely to pinch a late winner.
My only concern was the lack support for James and Kabamba. They both worked very hard but rarely had a blue shirt within 25 yards backing them up, particularly in the first half.
I believe that Higgy is doing a good job which should see us having a decent run from now on.

Totally agree with you AC.
In my book anywhere below 7th is totally unacceptable.
Get the retained list done properly and top 7 finishes shud be the least of our ambitions.
UTP.

You'd assume Cassidy and McLaughlin will leave because they've been allowed to go out on loan.

The players who are fit and not currently getting a start - Richardson, Newton, Hawkins and Muir - are all near the trapdoor but Hignett has had positive things to say about Niko so he could be safe. He may also have time left on his contract after June?

Of the crocks - you'd have to assume Magnay can get back into the side when he's fit again but is he worth a new contract? As for Williams, even if he starts a few games he'd still be a hell of a gamble.

Kabamba, Raynes, Amos and Molyneux aren't our players so can't be retained, but hopefully a few of them will be signed!

All of the lads who are starting regularly must think they have a decent chance of being kept on - including Featherstone.

Hignett always been a fan of Featherstone and cant see that changing. Not his biggest fan in the world but his game improves under Hignett.

We might see a different Niko now we are giving the strikers more support. I imagine he has another year on his contract aswell but id give him another year even if not.

Id let Cassidy, Mclaughlin, Richardson, Newton and Hawkins go. Magnay can fill a few positions so id probably keep him but its a close one.

Of the 4 loanees, I like Amos a lot, Kabamba and Raynes id also try to sign and probably Molyneaux aswell although if Williams gets fit and can stay fit then maybe we have no room for Hawkes, Williams and Molneaux aswell?

I wish people would stop saying we should have already signed Kabamba etc The guy aint daft, he is putting himself in the shop window with every goal he scores, he would be stupid to sign a deal now with any club. He will wait till the end of the season and sign the best deal possible maybe from a league club. Be nice to keep him like, looks to be enjoying himself. Hopefully he is another who feels Hignett gets the best out of them.

Wonder if Nathan Thomas gets released that he could be tempted to hook up with Hignett again? Presuming he not been the same since his injury although even then I imagine he would have better offers.

I forgot Kitching. That's a tough call in my opinion - I don't think we know what his best position is. I imagine he got more than a 1 year contract?