The Poolie Bunker

Yes it's only Barnet not Arsenal or Spurs.
Let these cockney bastads worry about the big fish HUFC.

Obviously be a few ecstatic if we drop 2 pts here. For me it has to be a win.
We 12th and been very lucky lately with most of the other teams results going in our favour.

A perfect situation to end this back to back home games non stop failure of picking up 6 pts.

Players seem to have got their confidence team spirit and will to win back. Think LL should be looking to start his best 11. Certainly don't want to do a first half like Tuesday against better opposition.

2 1 win with a few missed chances from Barnet last 10 mins.
Hanging on to a jubilant bouncing Vic after 97th minute.

UTP

1-0 to us with Parkes playing the game of his life in defence. Charman scoring a winner late on in the game after relentless Barnet pressure

All that matters is we win now.
Nothing else will do now, the performance or the goal/goals is irrelevant…3 points, that’s the target.

performances do matter as it gives the players more confidence if they are all clicking and playing well. they might lose the odd games but will win more if they play well together. better than being crap and get lucky with a win. everyone knows that will be a one off and they,d be lucky to repeat that in the future. doubt it will be a draw as they have only had one of those this season.

Going for it means putting on a performance, that’s obvious….you ain’t gonna win anything with a poor performance.

mind you even sarll managed that but only 2 playing sarll ball and overall being poor.

be one of the Hardest games we have faced so far this - but aslong as we dont fold like we did at York we should be fine. Think the confidence and ability is there - team selection and tactics is working to some degree. Just have to cut out the small errors and silly passages of play where we end up trying to do too much and give the ball away or hoof it long to nothing. Parkes was criminal at times the other night with some sloppy passing out - Young really has to be switched on aswell as these like to put the ball into the box and create something when it doesnt seem like happening. They are top for a reason !
Given the lads are pumped and really cheered on by a bouncing Vic i dont see why we cant get into them and shock them. go 2-0 up before the break and perhaps see the game out 2-1. We have to make sure they dont score first. A repeat of Solihull is quite easily on the cards too. Glad Madine and Mancini look fit and ready and the introduction of Lua Lua has been a god send every time hes come on - cracking player, can see why he played in the championship for so many years ! tough game but one i am defintely looking forwards too now - just hope the weather is decent and no sideways rain or wind !

A fine day forecast for Saturday.
At home against Barnet, we have won 7, lost 5 and drew 3.
I remember the must win game, Apr 1997, Pools were 2nd bottom and 1 point from the bottom, but a comfortable 4-0 win secured our place in the league.
And of course our 6-1 win in 2000 just before Xmas.

However I am going for a draw this Saturday and plenty of goals!

A draw wouldn't be a disaster but a statement win is what's required. It could set up our season, especially the remaining home games. Lennie knows this and has called on the players to deliver.

Think Brad Young is going to play a huge part, one way or the other. We've not seen him play a blinder yet and Saturday could be his moment.

Watched highlights of Yeovil v Barnet and it is evident they have a lot of pace in the team so I am concerned Parkes and Waterfall could be badly exposed unless we get our tactics right. Kabamba is always likely to score against us though he made a right balls up of a headed chance against Yeovil. I would frankly be amazed if we win but would settle for a draw.

2-1
Charman and Mani D
3150, 80 Barnets

Gerrintothem boys. Good solid three points please.

Watched them win at Yeovil last night. They have a superb front line all dangerous players. First half was all Barnet but second half a piss poor Yeovil took the game to them and got in their faces and it worked. They really struggled then and conceded a late equaliser before grabbing a last ditch win. Look good going forward if you allow them to have the ball in your half but get caught out on the break and piss poor at defending. They have possibly the best winger in this
league in Kanu and they have Glover who is a very good attacking player. Kanu and Glover create hell by playing one twos in and around the box and it works well. We need to keep these two quiet and not allow them to dictate. Kabamba looked uninterested and lazy ( got subbed ) no way would I swap ManiD for him. Will almost certainly been a high scoring game and I reckon 4-2

Last three home games scored 4 conceded 0. Won 2 but should have been three. Barnet are good but very vunrable away and well beatable. I believe they have lost 3 out of the last 5 away. They score plenty and concede plenty on the road. Get in their faces from the off and they will crumble and that's not wishful thinking. One the other hand let them dictate the play and we done for. Attack Attack Attack

Avoid defeat against Barnet and I will be happy that things really have taken a turn for the better. A win would be great but realistically a 2-2 draw is my guess.

Barnet had to go all the way to Yeovil and now all the way up here on 1 less days rest, so as good as it could be timing wise for us.

Should have charman, Grey and Campbell run themselves into the ground then Mancini, Manchurin and lualua come in for last 30 mins and finish them off

Draw would be a good result but after the hole Sarll left us in really need a win.

Mani O should be on in front of waterfall and as mentioned above I can see our lack of defensive pace costing us

3-1 victory - ManiD, Lua Lua & Madine to score
Kabamba for them

Crowd 3888
45 bees in attendance

I’m still sticking with the 1-0 win but would be happy with a draw. I agree we need to get into their faces immediately from kick off. We need to disrupt their rhythm as they have loads of good players. Our defence and midfield need to be really switched on to have any chance. I don’t mind a scruffy game in this one. The result is the priority. As long as we give everything . That’s all I ask. Parksy and Waterfall give your all and for fucjs sake nobody get sent off.

I was thinking about this too. They’ll have not trained Thursday so only one day of prep for this match. Hopefully that’s not enough to know our strengths and weaknesses.

we,ll be ok if like pools they play poor on a saturday away after a mid week away game. still going for a 1 3 defeat as my predictions seem to be working recently for us.

i,d be very dissapointed indeed if your crowd figure is correct unlike Bluestreakes one giving the weather forecast and how the lads are playing. a crowd of just over 3,000 is a slap in the face for everyone connected with the club especially the players. if that did happen then hope anyone who can go swereves the game will not make comments about our owners lack of backing for the club. as a lifelong poolie i,d think twice if the fans show little interest to get my wallet out.

I'm working tomorrow so I hope that's a good enough excuse for you.
Not that I'd be going anyway...not with raj still there...not getting a penny off me.

I even swerved his Halloween Fare at Merlin Manor the other week.

fine if you have your own principles and will not knock anyone who has them. its ones who are not as principled as you are the ones i have an issue with who call themselves fans but use every excuse not to attend.

Mr A- my crowd prediction of 3888 was more based on the sub 3k crowd in attendance on Tuesday night. I also factored in the time of year- what with Christmas imminent and also the fact that Barnet only ever bring a couple of minibus fulls.

That said given we've won the last two, the team are now being properly coached and seem to be enjoying their football, would hope it will be closer to 4.5k in attendance.

I won't be there, unfortunately due to being exiled in the deep south, as it's a 400 mile round trip. I would be there if I lived in the region. Hope that doesn't make me any less of a fan. I will be listening to the game on Tees instead.

Why don't you pay £9.99 and watch it on DAZN As for it making you less of a fan...You get my full respect along with Accy and Derwent & others for making the long trips when you can. I bet over a season you spend more than we do even if you only attend when able.

They travelled up yesterday after the Yeovil game (never went home), And will be training at Darlo,s gaff today.

I tend to get to more away games than home ones each season. Would have been at Solihull last Saturday but was actually in Hartlepool visiting my Mum, as she's not been well.

I'm still scarred by the trip to Brackley - though in hindsight I did enjoy venting my spleen at Uncle Darren after the match and he duly fucked off!

Will look into watching on DAZN. I considered it earlier in the season, but we were that awful to watch, couldn't justify the cost and pain!
The benefit of listening on the radio means I can do other stuff at the same time.

Think my next live game will be at Roots Hall- for a family showdown - me and my boys in with the Poolies while the missus and the Outlaws in the home end. Would love it, LOVE IT, if we beat them!

We will beat them.

Ya either want to go or don't want to go.
But 2 wins in a row at them prices ain't Gunna automatically produce an Xtra 1000 fans especially in December before Xmas.

Get to top 7 and stay there maybe average 4000 for the rest of the season would be excellent support.
It's non league football and we approaching our country being invaded resulting in a major cost of living crisis. Tax rises galore to pay for them lot.

Lets have a bit of Reality and perspective here.

UTP.

If we win n Halifax don't.
We go joint 7th.
FACT.

Hope that's not the kiss of death like.

Someone gets sent off for Pools early on and I turn ceefax off .

Agree ticket prices look high, but it's widespread not just Pools. Without looking at every clubs price Barnet and Solihull have higher prices than us and York are the same. And, some lower league clubs are charging £20 a game.
Be interesting to know what impact if any higher prices are having on non league football attendances overall.
If we can win today and continue to improve our home form and style of play the crowds will grow, under Sarll we'd have been heading towards sub 3000 attendances by the dead of winter. But we're definitely into the pre- Christmas period where traditionally crowds tend to drop a bit as other seasonal activities take over people's priorities.
It's Pools and its a shit league so anything may happen, as ever I live in hope rather than expectation.

Then the promotion party will definitely be back on our Kev.

Garden party of the century


Don't worry about the Lion n Panther.
They are only trained to attack cheeky neighbours.

Barnet have a terrible habit of playing well in the first half and poor in the second of away games. I honestly see us winning this game but it's imperative we get in their faces from the off. Do not be surprised to see us going 2 up by half time.

Its all ifs and buts how ever for me if he plays a flat back 4 like he did at York i think it will be a long afternoon.

Knee jerk reaction for snowy after 10 mins....

this is going to be a long game, even without a couple of players Barent look very good---well coached and better than us so far......unless we change formations we are in trouble as they have a plan to create and we dont

2 good teams so far.
1st goal either way will be clinical in the final score.

still 0-0 and cant fault effort but Barnet in control, Feather and hunter struggling and out numbered in midfield really needs a change tactically

Tavares and Glover both look very good for Barnet

I will say Barnet look like they have a mistake in them but they are so dominant in midfield

It’s like playing man city. They are all comfortable on the ball. Going to be along match

campbell should be told to just sit on Glover.,...right now we have front 3 pressing, getting passed around easily and then we are short in the middle with 3 players behind the ball and out of the game

Pools finally had 5 mins of possession

we are battling well against a good side....Charman classic does brialliantly to win a hopeful ball out of nothing.....then shanks it to nowhere

Well the main thing is that our defence is solid. Apart from that few half chances. Barnet best team I have seen this season. Would be happy with a draw

Still must be a win.

barnet still looking more likely and lawrence hasnt changed anything

Ball retention wise they better than us.

But next penalty area chance wins the game either way.

UTP.

excellent save from Young after we got it wrong from a corner

lawrence needs to change things NOW...not after we go 1 down

charman putting a really good shift in again