The Poolie Bunker

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Be well happy with a draw.

I am going to wait until Saturday at 5pm before i commit myself.
Is there a prize btw?

1-0 to Alty. Pools show resilience but just cant find the net. Alty goal an unlucky deflection.

in the past even with a weak team out we seem to pick up a point there. know we have only played one away game but i have a feeling we might be hard to beat away but not picking up many wins either. dare i go for a 1 all or predict a 1 nil for them.

I've been to the last few there and going over next week as well. We do tend to fluke points there. A couple of seasons ago was one of the funniest matches I've been to - gave their keeper non-stop grief for the whole second half, which culminated in an equaliser. Fair play to him, he actually turned, laughed and applauded us at the end, because it really was that funny!

Still take a point.
But what a statement to send out if we do the win.
Football predicting ain't easy.
Boro yesterday
Most of the fans on Tees were predicting a mauling off the Lions.

the most annoying part is having to go there mid week and not a saturday. do not do mid week games and looking at the fixtures only halifax of the northern away games is a saturday fixture. mid week fixtures always have lower attendances than saturday ones and i,d guess the gate at altrincham will be about 500 less than if this game was played on a weekend.

They've shipped 4 goals in their first 2 games but also scored 4. I'm going for a score draw.

Well as my prediction of 2-0 against Braintree turned out right (I also backed that score so won a few quid), I have enough confidence to have another go, sooooo I'm torn between 1-1 and 1-0 to us and am going to plump for a 1-0 win. Being able to grind out 1-0 wins on Tuesday night is a big asset.

I had another bet, a four timer of Us, Sunderland, Boro and bloody Newcastle. Mags let me down. Our other three, Gateshead, Spenny and the Loids all won as well. Choices eh!!!!!!

will there defence cope against a side where no player has scored a goal yet in open play. need a win before injuries kick in by what i saw yesterday.

2-1 Alty and a bit of a reality check for the happy clappers..

It would be nice, just for once, to let people enjoy moments of positivity without your usual doom mongering. As I have been going since 1952 I know how rare happy occasions have been. I also know how many times these happy moments tend to go sour and bite us on the arse. We don't need people like you to suddenly stick your pin in the good mood balloon.
Just have a think and maybe not keep suggesting or forecasting doom. If it is going to happen it really doesn't need a trailer from you.

Don't think anyone is getting carried away after 2 games, so I'm at a loss as to whom he can be referring to as "happy clappers"?
What is evident though is regardless of if he's seen a player turn out for us, or post match win lose or draw, Loyal will seek out his negatives and make a big deal of them. I do admit that rarely however he does (grudgingly?) at times mention a positive.

Isn’t it a prediction thread ?
Are you able to change the title to have (pools wins only) at the end

1-1

222 Poolies

Yes it is a prediction thread for anyone to take part in to predict the result of the game etc. The spirit of it is obvious and doesn't need changing. It is not a prediction thread to announce the reaction of other members embellished with sneidy remarks about happy clappers etc., That isn't what it is intended for. If I do alter anything it will be the practise of grouping fellow Poolies into categories and labelling those categories with divisive labels. I'm sure you will understand and I ask you for your co operation.
We need more harmony not more division, we have enough of that.

Fair enough…we all
Would like a Pools win I know

Can you pay on the gate?

Cheers.

2-1 win for pools and a bit of a reality check for the sad clappers.

And we all know who wins when division sets in.

Spilt ya drink again.

I'm going to Alty on Tuesday - as ever travelling in hope rather than expectation.

I'll go 2-2 - Johnson & Francis to score with Crawford to get one for them.

Crowd 2142
185 Poolies in attendance

Altrincham 0 Pools 1, Danny Johnson

I can't work pools out at the minute, whether we have just played poor teams or we have actually improved. I'd take a draw tommorow 1-1.

Decent defence but little fire power up front points to a 1-1 draw.

the team certainly looks better than it did 12 months ago and gives you more hope. if only the final ball into the box gets better and start to shoot on sight instead of making extra passes we could have a decent side if injuries are kind on us. a tight game where they,ll get an undeserved 1 nil win and pools have most of the play.

I suggest you read my reply to Mr Loyal. This tit for tat behaviour only fuels division and there is no call for it.

A win puts us at the worst 3rd.
Probably 2nd.
But can still go 1st.

Kevins missed his medication again.

The stage is set, Big opportunity this week to put down a significant marker as I'm sure SG will be emphasising to his players.
Dare we wish for six points. Why not. Personally I think four points will be good but six falls into the excellent category.

Whatever tonights result I reckon this game will tell us that the squad is nowhere near completion.
Needs to be sorted by the end of September.
Should still be a bit of quality floating about to get sorted even if it's 2 Loanies from higher up the pyramid like Clearly.

UTP.

as long as they are like cleary or close to him. even our kids have been an upgrade on some of the loanees we have been stuck with.

Hoping for another 0-0 away from home but I think it will be 1-0 to Alty.

Alty 1-2 Pools onwards and upwards.

Do people know which pub we are drinking in?

Blimey!!

SG sure knows how to keep the back door shut.

Been to the match tonight - thought we were outstanding to a man. Matty Daly was blowing out of his arse a bit after coming on for Benn- though suppose it's to be expected given his lack of a pre season.

337 Poolies in a crowd of just over 1700- great effort. Altrincham are a tidy side and will definitely take points off quite a few teams. Our defence was superb- they all worked their plums off.

Great composure shown by Reid for the first goal after excellent through ball from Miley. AND we scored direct from a corner- (15/8/25 - I was there)!

Cartwright in goal was worth the wait- commands his box well and gets down well for a big man. It's clear to see that the defence have full confidence in him- which makes a huge difference. Probably our best keeper since Trevor Carson -(going on that performance).

Grayson is a top appointment- clearly a man with a plan and has got the players buying into what he wants. They ALL ran their bollocks off, and was difficult to name a man of the match - would have maybe gone for Reid after his excellent finish but could have been Topolaj, McNally, Francis, Sheron or John.

Slightly concerned by the injury to Benn- fairly innocuous, think it might be a hamstring. Which could be a couple of weeks- depending on how serious it is. The squad depth is a slight concern though sure SG is fully aware of what's required.

I was amazed how fit and sharp we look- really pleasing to see us turn the ball over at pace and counter attack with genuine threat.

Nice to leave an away game and be genuinely proud to be a Poolie. A deserved victory on the first half performance. Obviously we had to dig in after the break-(particularly as the away team) but that's exactly what we did, players putting blocks in tracking runners and restricting them to mainly efforts from outside the box.

Trying to keep my powder dry- but when was the last time we started a season with 3 (THREE) clean sheets- if ever?!

Only downside to the evening - was that both goals in the first half were scored at the far end, from where the Poolies were- but not really an issue in the grand scheme of things!

Sets us up nicely for Woking at home on Saturday - beat them and we could be in for a decent season.

Been to the match tonight - thought we were outstanding to a man. Matty Daly was blowing out of his arse a bit after coming on for Benn- though suppose it's to be expected given his lack of a pre season.

337 Poolies in a crowd of just over 1700- great effort. Altrincham are a tidy side and will definitely take points off quite a few teams. Our defence was superb- they all worked their plums off.

Great composure shown by Reid for the first goal after excellent through ball from Miley. AND we scored direct from a corner- (15/8/25 - I was there)!

Cartwright in goal was worth the wait- commands his box well and gets down well for a big man. It's clear to see that the defence have full confidence in him- which makes a huge difference. Probably our best keeper since Trevor Carson -(going on that performance).

Grayson is a top appointment- clearly a man with a plan and has got the players buying into what he wants. They ALL ran their bollocks off, and was difficult to name a man of the match - would have maybe gone for Reid after his excellent finish but could have been Topolaj, McNally, Francis, Sheron or John.

Slightly concerned by the injury to Benn- fairly innocuous, think it might be a hamstring. Which could be a couple of weeks- depending on how serious it is. The squad depth is a slight concern though sure SG is fully aware of what's required.

I was amazed how fit and sharp we look- really pleasing to see us turn the ball over at pace and counter attack with genuine threat.

Nice to leave an away game and be genuinely proud to be a Poolie. A deserved victory on the first half performance. Obviously we had to dig in after the break-(particularly as the away team) but that's exactly what we did, players putting blocks in tracking runners and restricting them to mainly efforts from outside the box.

Trying to keep my powder dry- but when was the last time we started a season with 3 (THREE) clean sheets- if ever?!

Only downside to the evening - was that both goals in the first half were scored at the far end, from where the Poolies were- but not really an issue in the grand scheme of things!

Sets us up nicely for Woking at home on Saturday - beat them and we could be in for a decent season.

Watching last night in the second half I had that old feeling we’re gonna bugger this two goal lead up, but this lot did their job ….which came as a pleasant surprise.

We did start last season with 3 clean sheets so not a huge surprise there, then we drew at home v Wealdstone and lost the next game 3-2 at Woking so not getting carried away just yet, signs are pleasing though and a good result to win at Altrincham who are no mugs.

Great pass and finish for the first goal and a good corner and header for the second. Still not committing myself till Xmas as been there too many times. This is Pools remember.

Well Kettering that would as long ago as .....er last season!

well for once nobody has a reason to gripe about the game. possibly the best away defensive performance i have seen for years with 2 good goals on top. a far better performance than last saturday for me with many of the mistakes made that look to have been sorted out. no man of the match for me as eveyone put a real shift in and did what they are paid to do. just need a couple of extra bodies through the door who are at least as good as what we have.

Just saw the highlights and was impressed with our workmanship performance. Great team effort against a good Altrincham side. Fast as fuck on the counter and well organised at the back. First goal probably up there as contender for goal of the season . Still need some quality up front as I said at the weekend . Can’t fault the effort though. Just a bit worried we run of gas but that’s the managers job to worry about . We need a lot of luck with injuries in a small squad. And the chances of promotion with a small squad are a lot harder . Not impossible I have seen teams do it . However, beating mind we had to play catch up in our recruitment you have to congratulate the manager and of course Raj. Grayson has a type and I like what I see .

you make me feel ashamed when you made the effort to go on that long journey when i live about 50 miles away and relied on DAZN but the game and the result would have made the journey worth it.

Last season whenever Pools came under sustained pressure you pretty much knew a goal was coming. Grayson has got this team so well drilled in a 'low block' (the current jargon) I'm already thinking pressure is meat and drink to these players and we'll probably be alright.

That said, the last 15 minutes was really scrappy because Pools were knackered and had no out ball with only one man left up front. Pools need a forward coming off the bench who can hold the ball up and win cheap fouls. That's not Charman's game, nor Folarin's.

I thought the same thing Hogan, especially when Ferguson when our right side was attacked with Ferguson either not getting tight or out of position. Now you would need a sledge hammer to get through that defence. Well impressed

think we can all agree that we would not have won that game last season even if cleary had play for us. we,d have gifted them at least one goal for a start.