COL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTe4VoMFuXw

Good goals all of them. I appreciate it is only the highlights but there appears to be only one team in it. Plenty of goals and plenty of chances and, apart from their free kick, nothing from the home side. Apparently our wall wasn't positioned right. Stamina sapping conditions brought superior fitness into play. The sending offs on another day wouldn't have been given.
Stephenson showing composure above his years by calmly passing it into the net.

Agree.

Me too.

It's amazing how often Nicky Featherstone pops up in their box - that's 3 goals since he rejoined Pools. Making up for lost time or what?

Did we hit the bar three times?

I am no expert on formations/tactics etc but is Featherstone given more licence to get forward with Williams in the team?

You mean Wallace? It looks that way.

Who is going to drop out when Mancini is fit ?

Featherstone should never ever have been used as a holding midfielder, too weak, too slow, can't tackle.
Didn't he start his career as a forward / winger?

possibly the goals and performance helped because we had more pace than they had. it must be a proof to those who say other teams lower down the leagueshave better players than we have and pools would really struggle against them.

You're obsessed with slagging Featherstone off at any opportunity. Among this current shower he's one of our best players - (almost) everyone can see that.

Doesn't look like an answer is forthcoming Jamie, so maybe you can have a stab at it.

biggest question is when will mancini be back and if he has not lost anything with his injury especially confidence.

I imagine we'll go back to the 'box' midfield with Wallace and Featherstone sitting and Cooke and Mancini playing behind Mani D

Who's slagging Featherstone? It's the manager's who've not got the best out of him by playing him so deep for years! He's a different player when he's playing more on the front foot a d we're getting more out of him, and also he seems to be relishing it.
As for my observations about his attributes as a holding midfielder, which bit did I get wrong - weakness, the opposition goes past him as if he's not there. Pace, never had any. Tackling, poor.

Yep, of course I mean Wallace. Sorry "my bad" as the youngsters say.

Obviously Featherstone that’s why no real effort was made to keep him, it was a take it or leave it offer he received for a new contract which he refused. Unfortunately for him he had no offers to speak of and probably resigned on the original offer with a testimonial thrown in

I think I'll just wait and see.

no problems as there is bound to be someone else injured by the time he gets back.

Agree 100% Besides, even when Mancini is fit enough to play, it will take him a long time to get back to being the player he was before the injury if he ever does.

a lot will depend on how much he has still got his confidence. you can show and tell someone how much there injury has healed but not get it out of there head when they are on there own to think it could happen again. having confidence in yourself and ability goes a long way in how you will do in football. best thing to happen to him is an opponent taking him out in a tackle and he gets up unscathed by it.