The Poolie Bunker

Good to see Max back between the sticks

Who is playing left back ??? Unless we are going with a back five of Eccleston, Benn. Kougan, Mc Nally, Ilunga, therefore playing wing backs.

Unless Benn plays left back

If it was a back 5 surely John would be in ahead of Benn

It's 4 4 2

Popov up front with Harris.


UTP

Anyone watching the game care to give a half time summary? Are we creating chances?

Not convincing at all, Eastleigh had the best chance of the half. We desperately need someone who can control the ball in midfield.

We were but irs gone really scrappy the last 15 mins. All pools the first 20 odd but we let them back into it and ilinga saved the day. passing needs to improve the second half if we are going to get something out of this. Some parts of the half looked like last seasons fare. even merrick got slack in the end coming for a ball that was never his. officials as per usual.

We have created a few the best falling to Harris but their keeper saved it with his outstretched leg. Eastleigh have also created chances with Ilunga clearing off the line on one occasion after their player had rounded Merrick.

An even game, they are no pushover. Most of our best attacks have come down the left hand side, hopefully Nolan will come on in the second half and add to the creative play.

Thanks to all who have given summaries.

I’m going to say it. Not convinced. Feel like I’m watching same team as last year. Boring.

Hunter is so limited. Backwards every time.

Nice Rainbow 1st half.
Nice Full Moon 2nd half.

Highlight of the match. Christ. Tough watch.

Popov can’t trap wind in this game. Runs a lot. Looks alright doing it.

I just do not understand how one of our most average performers of the last two seasons is now captain.

Pools eh. Never let you down.

Like Sarll football. Eastleigh one of the worst to come to the Vic and we never looked like scoring.

Finding ways to win? Pools still finding ways to lose. Just awful. YET AGAIN. WE ARE CURSED I TELL THEE. CURSED.

Ah well that has put the kybosh on all the new season optimism.

Why did you not come on when we won …?
Three posts, are you Jamie…?

Absolute garbage we never looked like scoring with eleven men silly yellow card in the first half only positive is the keeper looks magnificent let’s just hope this is a one off

Defeat at Halifax and Mr Clark could be under pressure. Every performance looks the same.

High press, yes. But creation of chances and goals hasn’t quite happened yet.

It feels a bit like Sarll football because it is very attritional and ugly on the eye but we look like we’re working very hard whilst we do it. Even before the red card, we created so little and it was generally a turgid affair against one of the worst sides I’ve seen at the Vic.

It might just take time to ‘click’ but the observation I’m making is the football isn’t very good and despite his 4 strikers, the current performances don’t scream goals. Work to do.

Snowy, I was right here when we won. Posted two moments of class. Was at Aldershot, average but won. Thought tonight we would play brilliantly and win. You seem incapable of allowing people to analyse/give opinion on the game when it’s negative but I’m really not sure what was positive about the last 90 mins. Please enlighten me.

Could have been out of sight in the first half but can't turn pressure into goals, nothing has changed. Is Will Harris turning into this season's Danny Johnson. Big defenders will master him and Popov all day, all night and into the next day.

I think that’s a spot harsh. Last 3 games I’ve not seen the ball played in front of him regularly or running onto a chance. Harris is a goalscorer. Looks like Reid did last season though, coming short, trying hard but getting no strikers service, but will score 10-11 whilst doing so. They’ve gotta create chances for the lad.

Popov I’m not convinced by. Stature and work ethic like Oates but with all the effort in the world, doesn’t look much of a player yet.

We need a quality CM alongside Miley, who I thought was good tonight. He’s wasted next to Hunter.

There was nothing positive…that’s not the point I’m making though…I asked why when we won you were absent without leave…but pop up when we get beat to spray your disgust.
You have now been enlightened…happy to help.

You deserve an apology about 6:14 in the morning.

Now I know why I converte to darts as my favourite sport about 10 years ago.

It’s football. And we’ve been shit at it for so long.

Mind-numbingly boring except for a pearler of a shot at the end from them to win it. If this is our team we might as well just accept 12th place now because we’re not going anywhere. Again the midfield is the issue. Defence was barely troubled and we looked a lot better with Merrick in net. Strikers basically never touch the ball in a half decent position because the midfield is absolutely shocking.

Saw someone say Miley played well tonight and couldn’t disagree more if I tried. The guy is absolutely woeful. Several counter attacks broken down because he can’t play decent pass (bare in mind he can’t do anything else either). Hunter might as well not be there, and Sheron, well, he’s Sheron.

Only way we’re in with a shout with things the way they are is if Nolan plays every game until the end of the season. Didn’t score tonight but he’s the only one who I genuinely believe can create something when he gets the ball. Harris, I want to believe he’s a good player, he just barely gets the ball anywhere near the opposition goal.

The positive for me was that the players gave 100% until the end especially taking into account we were down to ten men for nearly the whole of the second half. The biggest negative for me was the lack of creativity in the side. Hopefully as the season progresses we improve otherwise its another season of same old same old

We have form for this sort of over expectation, then disappointment, our crowds start off good then taper off when results don't follow, it's disheartening, most fans can see we lack creativity in midfield and until this is addressed we will continue to lose against average teams in this league. I feel our forwards are feeding off scraps and not sure that the tactics suit our current squad.

If Clark keeps picking Hunter he will lose his job.

Positives high press, good work ethic, defence, goalkeeper
Negatives , stupid sending off, poor passing especially from midfield, lack of quality and creativity in the final third . Clarke said he would put things right upfront . He hasn’t .
We are a bit better than last year but not much. Based on what I have seen over the last 4 matches , top 7 max. Can’t fault the effort . I was saying that all of last year ……..

i said it when he was appointed and i'll say it now - what has Lee Clark achieved as a manager? nothing but somehow keeps getting jobs after achieving nothing!!

I know…but as I’ve given up hope over everything in life else except my dogs, I’m clinging on to my relationship with Pools as it’s too late to change and not as complicated as being married.

Time will tell, but now isn’t the time for the football version of premature ejaculation at such an embarrassingly early stage of the season.

We played half a game with 10 men, how much creativity do people expect? And to put things in perspective we created a damn sight more than they did 2nd half even though we were down to 10.
First half, McKeown and Ilunga were working well together down the left and creating plenty of problems for their defence, it's a shame they were both subbed after McKeown had taken a knock just before half time and Illunga was subbed for tactical reasons.
Popov had a great chance, was fouled in the box but stayed on his feet and scuffed the chance, if he'd gone down it was a clear pen and red card.
Harris should have done better 1st half when the keeper saved with his feet.
We should have had a pen 2nd half for a clear handball, and Nolan should have buried his chance at the far post.
Easy to say we need a creative attacking midfielder, but when your wide midfielders are attacking types in a 4,4,2 it's asking a lot of a single midfielder to do the graft and dirty work.