The Poolie Bunker

I wasn’t totally surprised about the performance yesterday but was deflated when I saw that our super confident keeper wasn’t playing. The new guy lacked confidence and TBA so would if I had conceded 10 goals in one match . He stayed on his line and didn’t communicate enough with his defenders . Not that I’m blaming him solely . We give away 2 soft goals and in the 1 minute of the 2nd half, Sutton flashed a low ball at pace across the penalty box. The keeper stayed on his line rather than closing the angle down like Merrick does. Fortunately, there was no fox in the box to convert . Meanwhile the midfield couldn’t string a decent pass to any of the forwards. On a positive note we played the high press quite well but when we won the tussles not one of the strikers had any end product . So imo different squad but no end product in the final third . As usual couldn’t fault the effort . How many times did I say that last year !!Featherstone couldn’t solve the goals problem then again he did not have the resources of Clarke . Six out of 9 points I would have taken from our first 3 games but want to see what Clarke is made of. Agree want one or 2 midfielders . I think sometimes when you play a high press and try to cajole defenders into mistakes you don’t lift your head up and think before you pass . It’s all too frantic and rushed . Don’t want be too negative too early as it’s a new team but we need more craft and quality offensively and get our super keeper back as quick as possible . Need a big improvement Friday . Message to the front 6. Lift your head up when you cross the ball and try not to be rushed .

Hope you had a safe journey home.
Long trek that kid

Averaging 2 points a game will do the trick for reaching the playoffs. We definitely need to bounce back with a win against Eastleigh on Friday as Halifax away won't be a walk in the park.

Is there any word on Merricks injury ?

He has a few small tears in his quad according to Clark. He is going to be at Chelsea for the beginning of the week but may make it back for the game on Friday, if not the Halifax game.

Reading between the lines, if he had been a Pools player rather than a Chelsea loanee, he would have played.

Thanks both.
Sounds precautionary rather than serious which is reassuring

At the end of the day Max Merrick is Chelsea's asset and they're going to look after him. I'll be pleasantly surprised if he's available for Friday's game - definitely not counting on it.

Indeed.

After studying the conceded goals on YouTube our keeper is blameless for both goals.
Piss poor defensive errors.

Don't underrate what a long throw into the box can do.
A good gamble better than going backwards which seems to be the 90% thing to do in all divisions nowadays.

UTP

Still a decent start and would definitely take 18 points after game 10.

Keep the Faith

UTP.

seen enough in our other league games to feel this was just a blip. more we have the ball and attack on friday the easier the new keepers job will be

Plenty of comedy watching it though off the pitch…the commentators getting aroused by the ‘electric’ atmosphere of the 1800 crowd…must admit, never a ground with one end that looked like someone was building a rockery.

Their 'expert summariser' sounded like Robbie Stelling on valium.

Aye, they lived in an alternative world and apparently never visited another football ground anywhere if their description of the Sutton Massive and ground faculties were anything to go by..all the time making you think please get me out of this Division of eternal twilight.

they are an alternative fan base who are quite knowledable on things like who is tonbridge angels top goalscorer where we could not give a toss. they are a different breed to us and no matter how long we are down here we,ll never be like them. some have a sack of king edwards on there shoulders about league football and love to see teams like pools struggling.

It’s their big expectation on a low fan base, which is rampant in the M25 promised land and just fail to see the irony.