Considering our injuries it was a very positive result. Onwards and upwards and in Askey we trust. JAUTP

This team have something we haven’t seen for a long time….resilience. The ability to battle and dig out a result despite the odds, they are a drilled side under Askey and that means an organised side with a team ethos.
Even when the odds have been against them they battle on relentlessly like Monty Python’s Black Knight when previous teams in recent seasons would wilt all too easily under pressure, …..yet some were there under those previous managers, so it’s basically down to leadership.

We look an awful lot fitter too which helps.

Thought we looked a bit sluggish last 20 minutes yesterday. Combination of those two games and maybe losibg key players, but the team in geberal look way sharper and much more movement.

Monumental result.
Not to be underestimated.
Fortress Vic or is it to early for that crack.
UTP.

Better then Fortress Lethargy Kev

I thought our effort and energy in the first half an hour was very impressive, they were really struggling to contain us as have a few teams this season. We were unlucky not to have a bigger lead after that start.

But there is no way we could have played with that intensity for the full game, which are now usually over 100 minutes in length. The amount of work this team puts in is impressive but we are going to need a squad capable of handling it.

yes we still need a few extra bodies in the building but possibly at this moment less than most teams would like. this gives JA a bit more time to get the right ones in who have a similar work ethic and not panic signings where anything looks better than whats at the club at the moment.

Yep, there's 7 National League games coming up in the next month, including 3 midweek games That's a punishing schedule that will suit teams with strength in depth, that Pools don't currently have. If we're lucky with injuries and suspensions it's a chance to keep the good run going, but that's a big if. Pools need another attacking midfielder in as cover for Crawford and Cooke, for a kick off.

but we need the right ones coming in and not just players for players sake that have to be paid wages for. there will be teams with much larger squads than we have where the starting 11 picks itself and the back up ones are of a poor quality. we aint chesterfield who have few problems in this area but possibly like the majority who will struggle with 4 or 5 players all out at one time.

Lots of energy and pressing for the first 35-40 minutes then sat back for the remainder of the first half. Was this an instruction from management to save legs considering the injuries last week?

Yeah we should of blown them away first 30 minutes, breath of fresh compared to last season. Sign a couple of good players and the top 4 in this league is there for the taking.

I wouldn't worry about that. JA's mantra in interviews is that he only wants players he rates, who are also good characters. Hendrie is another player he has managed in the past.

not all that worried at the moment. i,d prefer us to fall short by having a small squad rather than something i cannot see happening with loads of scrap on the books just for the sake of it. even pools cannot be that unlucky in having another player out for the season and another for 6 months. even suspensions tend not to come all at once and when they do its only 1 weeks rest for them with cautions that could be a blessing for them to re charge their batteries.

My worry is we don't seem to have many in the team who can slow the pace down when we're up against it, Wealdstone did this yesterday in the first half when we were battering them, keeper goes down, followed by spoiling tactics and we lost our momentum.
Our ball retention when up against it is critical, but two passes then someone would give it away, something we need to work on for me.

so we have to join the rest of the fc shithouses then. well i suppose if you cannot beat em its best to join em even though i do not want to pay money to watch that.

Pools ball retention in the 2 games I was at was very good but that was prior to the injuries to Dodds and Mancini,we appear to have gone back to the long ball game bypassing the midfield as we don’t have a decent midfielder who can put their foot on the ball.

Best start to a season for 35 years so I’m not moaning too much, but there’s not an opportunity but a requirement now to add players to the squad of good quality. We tortured Wealdstone for 45 minutes but nearly threw it. JA has done more than enough to prove he can be trusted to return value on a slight increase in budget.

Towards the back end of last season, we had a deployable plan B in Wes McDonald who would come on and carry the ball, beating players and getting shots off. We don’t have the players to switch the system and think we’re now far too light central midfield. Mancini wasn’t quick, but he had a turn of pace to hold and carry the ball when you needed some breathing space or to counter attack.

I thought Umerah did alright when he came on, held the ball up pretty well.

Attacking mid defintely needed , someone with legs, cooke is good but if he plays the other 2 in there have to be runners

Crawford is the real bonus so far, proved me wrong big time every game
This season and good on him !

Mancini had the same change of pace Jon Cullen
Had for us which let him get past players, assume his lack of genuine pace is what made teams at a higher level pass on him as he is an excellent technical player

[quote="loyal_fan

Mancini had the same change of pace Jon Cullen
Had for us which let him get past players, assume his lack of genuine pace is what made teams at a higher level pass on him as he is an excellent technical player[/quote]
far better for the player himself if he is blest with technical ability rather than just pace. they never lose the ormer but pace can go with age and a bad injury and if they cannot re invent themselves they are left with nothing.

The fact JA like to have competition for places should see us bring in another CM and Striker id imagine.

if we had a tricky winger plus another attacking CM to bring on we would certainly be near a finished article for this division (given Dodds and Mancini back in the fold aswell) - you see with teams in this division they always have one player from the bench to bring on and disrupt things or change the game - quite right we had that in McDonald and i think he would of thrived at this level and really gave us another outlet to work off.

Ignoring his bad attitude and tendency to drift right out of a game if he's on the pitch for more than 15 minutes.