The Poolie Bunker

Anyone who saw the Woking game can you help. Firstly, a few people have said we created chances particularly before the substitutions. So I was wondering what we did that was different to Halifax because it was pretty much the same line up that created nowt at Halifax except for Ecclestone. Was it him who made the difference or was it tactics. Secondly how did the West Brom loanee do when he came on the second half?

All contributions gratefully received.

We attacked down both wings with Ilunga and Gibson (believe it or not) linking well on the left and Ecclestone and Nolan working well down the left. We also had 2 breakaways through the middle with Popov squandering both opportunities.
The WBA loanee did ok, gets stuck in and is tidy on the ball, but considering we were in Park the Bus mode when he came on it probably wasn't a good indicator of his capabilities.

I thought Deeming looked decent from what I saw, you can tell he's got the ability. I think once he gets used to the national league he will be a good addition.

I think the difference between the Halifax game and yesterdays game was Chris Popov being on the pitch. He could of easily had a hatrick yesterday, his workrate and pressing caused them all sorts of problems and I noticed a big difference when he went off. I thought Sheron and Ecclestone both done really well yesterday. Deeming looked ok when he came, he looks more of an attacking midfielder. It was a shame that Miley didn't take his chance later on when he was clean through. Also I thought Fisher done quite well when he came on, hopefully that clean sheet gives him some confidence.

Chris Popov was great, he pressed and caused panic with the Woking defenders who were not good with the ball. Popov broke down the middle a few times, and the Woking defenders shat themselves. They did not know what to do, and at one point this resulted in Popov going one on one with the defender.

Neo Eccleston was also excellent.

We got at Woking down the wings.

When the substitutions happened, along with Popov going off and the formation change, this all stopped and it became a case of us hanging on.

We played well for the first hour because we played 5-3-2.
The game totally changed when Harris & Popov went off & we reverted to 4-4-2.

Very much appreciate all replies. So good to hear from real Poolies who saw the game rather tnan reading match reports which so often skirt over details which are of great interest. Thanks again.

Miley's breakaway was stopped by a tremendous piece of defending to be fair, Popover had a couple of breakaways the first he didn't look at all confident (possibly because it was slightly right of central and not his favoured side) and allowed the defenders to get back at him, the second brought a good save out of the keeper but imo he should have scored.
Popov in fairness had a great game though and thoroughly deserved his goal, and it's about time we had a bit of luck with a scrappy goal. Great pass from Gibson to Ilunga to create the chance also. 5 goals and I think Ilungas had 3 assists.
Nolan looked up for it and their defence were shitting themselves as he ghosted past them on numerous occasions.
We need to play more with the intensity we showed for about an hour and we definitely need to be finishing a higher percentage of chances. Pace was the main difference yesterday imo.

Popov had a great game, full of running. I'm feeling a bit sorry for Will Harris, looks like he's getting a bit nervy about not scoring, be good to see him get any sort of goal to get him going.

Was Popov playing a different position yesterday? Up until now very few have been impressed by him. Wondering why on Saturday he was so much better.

We played more balls behind their defence to feet for him to run onto and credit to him he made some great runs, never stopped and thoroughly deserved his goal.

his attitude was always fine in the other games he played and was always putting in the effort. it was he looked less likely that the rest to score and hopefully that stroke of luck he got might push him on to better things.

I agree he always looks a willing runner and grafter but on Saturday he was chasing balls on the grass rather than over his head.
Regardless of the level of football defenders hate pace and for the first hour or so we had plenty of it down the wings through Nolan, Ecclestone, and Ilunga, and through the middle with Popov.

Strange that no-one has mentioned the most obvious reasons why we made more chances than we did at Halifax.

First, Pools were at home. Second, and more importantly - Woking are a really poor side, the worst we've played so far this season. Anyone getting carried away with a 1-0 win over Woking should remember that Gateshead beat them 2-0 a few weeks back and the Heed are in as much relegation trouble as they are.

Yes, you can only beat what's in front of you - which we did, just - and a few of our players played really well. A win at Kiddy Harriers on Friday night would be something to get excited about..

It's early days still and as you say you can only play the team in front of you, but without getting carried away for an hour we pretty much dominated the game and created chances they only came into it when we sat back and made some really baffling substitutions. Hopefully Clark will learn from that?
If we can play more often and for longer like we did in that first hour, and crucially put more chances away, we'll win way more than we'll lose.
Decent performances from most of the starters and the replacement keeper in fairness.
A welcome win but hardly the confidence booster for players and fans that it could and should have been. Some tough games and a lot of them this month and we'll have a better idea of what the future could hold. A crucial month for Clark too imo.

I watched the full game on DAZN and enjoyed it . Unlike the most of the Bunker who are entrenched in negativety . The difference between the games was that the passing was a bit better from midfield to the forwards not massively but noticeable . Further Illunga was torturing the right back and centre half taking them both on together . This guy doesn’t lack confidence . Final ball just needs to improve . Popof had a good game and scuffed a few chances and scuffed his goal nobody from pools was complaining . There goaly had a good game and our reserve keeper did too . We played better in first half than second but at least Clarke is bold and not scared of substitutions . Further, after we scored the goal the guy continually screamed at his players to play offensively and get the second goal. Some players took his advice some didn’t so we were forced back . Woking also made substitutions at half time which were positive . Nobody on here give them credit on here because it’s easier to slag the manager off. Featherstone was cautious and Clarke is more bold . I can see Clarke’s identity and what he wants . Still think we need 2 attacking midfielders on loan . IMO we are going in the right direction . Mostly we are playing on the front foot with a high press and battling like lions with high energy . You don’t always get the fluidity with this sort of approach because of the pace . However on my untrained eye I prefer pace and energy to plodding and caution . Off course still we still need mire accurate passing and crosses but Clarkes approach is clear to me in what he is trying to attain . Let’s see after 12 games were we are . Sutton are top and are nowt special

Apologies for my grammar I couldn’t be arsed to amend it. You get the jist …..

no matter how positive, negative or realistic we are can anyone really see a win by more than 2 goals with the present squad. will this be acceptable through the season even if we are winning most.

Will to me. Just be patient Accrington . The pace and energy are light years ahead of last years team and cautious manager . Sometimes when playing with pace it’s easy to forget the basics like accurate crossing and passing . Good players will always take a second to look up and be measured. It will come

People keep saying Woking are a really poor side well I'm not so sure, they came into the game off the back of a good draw against Southend, a 1-0 loss to Hornchurch(who've started well) and a 3-2 win against Flyde. Their goalkeeper is good and they have several players who are decent at this level. No game will be easy this season I reckon.

its not about being impatiant. i never expect pools to win every game but you can have all the energy and pace from some as you can get but we are still going to struggle if our opponents score first especially if its early second half. can see us hanging onto a lead more than last season but not getting a win from coming from behind. there is no point changing the players around and playing a different way. like them or not as individuals i cannot see them improving the team by trying to get them playing differently. it is what it is and its up to us if we want to spend our money watching. would love to be in a situation where i want to attend every saturday but this squad is not there at the moment.

depends who you compare them with. compare us and the rest of the opposition we have played to the teams in the north and south section they,ll be good. compared to the majority of the efl they are poor. the two who walked this division last season are not exactly doing the same this especially rochdale who if things carry on will be up there shorter than we were.

In fact, Boreham Wood are top and they really are special - most people's pick to win automatic promotion.

The 'goals for' and 'goals against' columns suggest that so far nothing much has changed for Pools from last season - we've conceded the joint fewest goals in the division, but only one team has scored less goals than us - (cough) Woking.

But hey, what use are stats compared with impressions?

This is a big part of what Bromby (Maxwell) and Beech spoke about in the summer was the glaringly obvious lack of goals & chance creation in the team. Can only imagine the beautiful powerpoint presentation deck that was put to Landon about how they were going to solve this. Long way to go yet, but definitely work to be done on expected goals / conversion %'s.

Nobody saying there is not work to be done . If we are in the same position after 12 games he will be gone .

I think you're right, he looks and sounded like he's been under a bit of pressure already.

Yes short memory syndrone Hogan . As the leading advocate of Featherstones philosophy of defending at all costs you now jump on the bandwagon of criticising a guy who’s tenure has lasted 6 matches in total. A guy who’s is trying to play offensive football using wing backs with men in the box .ok fellas let’s go back to 1 loan striker with everyone behind the ball. At least Hogan will be happy .

You are a sensitive soul, aren't you? Any perceived criticism really gets you going. It's an opinions board, remember?

The close season expectations have not been met…Hogan is correct, patience is understandably low after our previous experiences.

you can only play with the players you have. there was good reasons why we played with only one up top last season as we only had one striker worth calling that. things might have changed slightly this season but the goals scored and conceeded only show we are closer to playing feather ball than total football at national league level.