The Poolie Bunker

what happened, I came out from underneath the CK to see both Collins and Wadsworth berating Horwood Wadsworth was spitting feathers.

I actually think Monkey and Poole could play together but just can't see it it working quick enough for us to stay patient with the system.

What I find must frustrating is that if we are ever leading away from home with say 15 mins to go, we would get pummeled by the opposition and yet last night we simply rolled over for our 'bellies to be tickled'

That, Mr C, is a very valid point and is absolutely what happens. At times we gift teams goals and points, when was the last time we got given 3 points as easily as Tranmere, Wycombe and Notts got them, and when did we last come from 2 goals down to get a result. Yes we palyed well for 25 mins last night but that is not good enough. Tranmere weren't that good, good but not that good, we were just awful.

I agree with everything that has been said about the game last night, we were the better side in the first half and i was looking forward to three points at the end of the night, only for pools to decide to stay in the dressing room for the second half.

That said a couple of things that stood out for me last night, the wrong decisions being made by players on the ball, fist half Poole decided to have a shot from the left hand side of the Tranmere box, if he had looked up Moonkhouse was unmarked at the far post, and by his reaction he was not happy. Luscombe deciding to put in a weak cross when a shot was on especially in those conditions
Another worrying thing that I picked out was the constant bickering between players and management, Hartley having a row with MW over something and telling him where to go, are the players getting fed up with what is going on, on the pitch and does anyone think that if these performances carry on for the next 3-4 games KH may decide to have a change, he has done it in the past.

Looking forward to Saturday, but on last nights performance I am worried what the score will end up.

I noticed the heated exchanges as well Mr Vic. Luscombe was getting it off everybody. Most people agree that the crowd getting on players backs is non productive, now we are seeing it from the staff. Luscombe is a young lad learning his trade. His natural game is going forward trying to create something. He is being asked to track back and defend more. Whereas helping out the defence from time to time is no bad thing there are occassions when attackers / attack minded players simply get in the way. As for Horwood, he was playing out of position and to be honest I don't think he was quite sure of his specific role.

Poole and Luscombe both played there first ever full 90 minutes last night and they will get stronger and stronger the more 90 mins they get under there belt.

I want them both to start saturday and for us to build a team around them but i'm not sure we (the fans) will be patient enough should we go down to our 4th consecutive home defeat.

We dont have a player that stands up and grabs the game by the bollox.

I think both Poole and Luscombe were very weak metally in that second half last night. It was their big chance to impress and neither rose to the occasion.

On saying that, the more experienced players go into their shells as well.

Sam Collins is a quiet as a church mouse.

Monkhouse still plays like he an 18 year old making his debut. Full of enthusiasm at times, but again, not taking the game by the scruff of the neck.

Liddle and Austin are piss weak mentally as well

I like players having a go at each other. It's a mans game and you need to stand up and be counted and you need to have big enough relationships as team mates to be able to do that constructively. You need people to talk to each other and keep people focused and if that involves bollockings then so be it. Good. We have too many quite nice lads who let their heads go down too easily. More poeple like Hartley and Murray is what we need. A nasty streak and aggressive people who'll run through a brick wall to get on the end of a cross or block a shot.

Agreed Tim, its a mans game. Against Sheff Wed I heard MIck and Micky Barron were have a go at each other.
If we concede our heads drop and then if its not pulled back quickly we run round like headless chickens. We need mental toughness and the ability to "grind" a result. Hartley and Murray are the only two who woud put their bollocks on the line-to a lesser extent Horwood but players like Liddle and Austin have looked limp wristed lately. Toughen up!

You kept it quiet you were up Mr Chess

I think we played bad but we were the better team in the 1st half and we deserved a point.

Disagree, we deserved fck all.

I thought Tranmere were really well organised. Maybe our back four isnt as i good as we thought it was. Ive got no problem in admitting Tranmere deserved the three points. They werent even that defensive really. My worry is that Wadsworth still seems uncertain over his first eleven.

this pointing out of the defence for all the problems is a bit over the top....the midfield is and has been for a long time poor....far too slow, not enough protection to the back 4

I think the formation last season when we played 4-5-1 suited the midfielders we had as it meant sweeney had to concentrate on attacking and murray defended with liddle being a bit of both.....liddle is neither an attacking or defensive midfielder and in my opinion if sweeney isn't scoring then he's quite redundant really.....murray is the only one who offers protection but I think you can see even he gets caught out occasionally now.

any team that performs consistently well normally has someone very mentally tough in the centre of the park, as a few of you have alluded to. Players like Mark Tinkler, Tommy Widdrington, and Paul Stephenson at the end of his time here. Indomitable types, very rarely beaten into second place by their opposite number.
Andy Hessenthaler was exactly the sort of midfield general I wished we had playing for us right now and for a long spell to come, as he did at Gillingham. Someone like that always got hold of the game home and away, always up for the nasty stuff, always up for the challenge. Then used the ball intelligently in the heat of battle when in possession. Players like that make all the difference, nice to think we could get one of those for the long run

Yeah, add Willie Boland to that list, never shirked a tackle, won the ball and just looked for a simple pass. Paul Murray is still the best we have in that role at the moment, I think one reason he is getting caught in possession is because other players aren't showing for the ball and he won't just hoof it up the pitch.