Just wondering if anyone who went to the Vic today coould answer a question or two.

What was the atmosphere like?
Was Raj there and if he was, did he get abuse?
At the end of the match did the players applaud the fans?

Really good

No

Yes…

pooliebob. Many thanks for your answers. I guess Raj thought the atmosphere might not be as good as you say it was and kept away.

Atmosphere was understandably flat early on and when the barrow goal went in but after that we all seemed to perk up as the players were putting in a shift. Second half was some of the best football we've played this season and the fans got behind their efforts and it ended up a good atmosphere. Players walked around the pitch after the game and most seem to applaud them. Raj was nowhere to be seen that I could see.

Many thanks for that, Mr RichyHpool. Very much appreciated.

I walked through the car park at about 14.35 & there wasn't a single director's car in their allotted parking spaces

Guess they were avoiding potential flak? Or did they all arrive at the last minute?

or waiting for their security bouncers to pick up there tickets.

thought until we scored the game had the feelings of a pre season friendly game and our goal woke everyone up to that second half crascendo of noise. even the normal quiet ones were giving it all they had.

Cheers, Mr Accrington.

By the way Featherstone was applauding the fans at the end i thought it looked like a goodbye gesture.
IMO he has been a rock for this club over the years and good luck to him.

Amen to that.

but would love him to be around just for one more season to receive a testimonial. rate him or not surely he deserves it.

Featherstone is 34 years old, I doubt anyone would offer him more than a years contract at that age, I think Pools will offer him another year though.

Possibly, or he joins one of the local non leaguers, Shields or someone of that type. Whatever the case, I wish him all the best.

we need some form of continuity on the pitch from this season and a completely new team can be difficult to bed in even with a proper pre season behind them all.

We need to let Featherstone go, he's way past his prime and offers very little imo. No pace, can't tackle, has no forward vision, thanks for past service but can't see him getting a game under JA.
Do we need continuity, I'm not so sure. I'd prefer a huge clear out and the manager to start with a clean sheet.

FFS, Really

Yes really. All about opinions. For me Featherstone slows everything down, turns attack into defence, and is horrendous as a holding midfielder for all the reasons I mentioned in previous post.

always liked him from day 1 but he has always been one to split the fanbase on his ability. can see why some do not like him but for some reason his detractors seem to refuse to see it the other way round. not sure though if we do play better or worse with him in the side. think its horses for courses with him as he seems less effective against the big physical sides than the others less so.

Wasn't a fan at all of him, but I thought for 18 months in the conference he was brilliant. One thing you can't question is his loyalty and commitment, which seems to have gone out of the window with half of this squad.

Fans keep going on about him not having pace and his age. He has never had pace so his age and slowing down has nothing to do with his ability as long as he keeps on top of his fitness and avoids a long term injury. Its the training that gets a lot of older players who were not overkeen on it in the first place and not the matches they play in.

Fair Play, Askey will decide after all.