The Poolie Bunker

Excellent performance last night.

Not just the result, but the football that we played.

The type of football we know that the team is capable of and why we get so frustrated when they don't do it.

Budtz- 7- some absolutely outstanding saves, in fact plenty of absolutely outstanding saves- but he still doesn't do crosses very well

Nolan- 8- good going forward and defending, I wish we could keep him

Humphreys- 7- well played

Nelson- 8- that's more like it Mr N

Antwi- 7- his pace got him and us out of jail a few times but still lets the ball bounce too often for my liking

Brown- 9- he's great

Sweeney- 8- brilliant, his style of play was one of the keys to our attacking last night, he gives us an option of forward passing

Liddle- 8- him and Sweeney are great together

Monkhouse- 7- gives us a different threat down that side and Ritchie is a better player for him being there too but looked at times like he'd not played for a few weeks

Porter- 8- effort and skill, a great combination

Moore- 8- same as Joel, what a good pairing they have the look of.


I was well happy last night and I'm well happy today too.

It didn't even rain on us last night, which was nice.

the balance of last night's team was very good, players playing in their natural positions, to the best effect.
Monkhouse's height and physical presence, as well as his ability on the ball down the left hand side was an enormous difference. Humphreys comes out of his shell when he has a player like that to combine with on the left, and naturally becomes more creative. Ditto Brown with Nolan on the right (I also think if McCunnie and Brown had played there we would have been just as good - it's all about playing people in their best position)!!!
Moore was excellent, Porter left the defenders constantly guessing what he would do next - a pass round the corner, control and turn, which way he would turn with it, a step over, a quick return pass - he's a footballer who constantly thinks about the game and he was in his element with other football-minded and mobile midfielders and forwards. Pools were great to watch going forward for the first time in weeks as a result.
Sweeney put a huge amount of work in, as did Liddle. Both won tackles and headers all over the pitch, and got forward in turns whenever possible to link up with Porter, Moore, Monkhouse and Brown whenever we had the ball. I like that because it means the opposition didn't know which one would bomb on next, and it doesn't completely drain the energy reserves of both players either.
Budtz showed his quality in the sticks, saving us on a number of occasions.
Antwi's pace at the back averted a lot of danger when they counter-attacked, Nelson was better than he has been all season.
It goes without saying that Tranmere are a talented team, they had a go at us every time they had the ball and passed it really well, as did Pools when we had the ball.
Some great attacking football from both teams all night, the best game at The Vic this season for me. Defences are always likely to concede chances when teams attack like both sides did last night. I really enjoyed this match.
More of the same please Pools, there are not many teams in League One with the all-round ability that Tranmere have so I'm a lot happier with the prospect of playing Northampton, Cheltenham etc such that if we play our best team, and our best football, then the three points are ours for the taking.

2 good and accurate posts
Would also like to say to Mr Wilson well done on finding your balls at last and dropping
Barker.
I went into the match (as a lot of people probably did) not very optimistic.
And for the first time this season i left with a hugh smile on my face and still have today.

Outstanding effort from every player -
Budtz - slagged him off a lot this season but made some tremendous saves - 8
Nolan - excellent contribution forward as well as defence - 8
Nelson - was that him with hair??
Antwi - Played his best game in my opinion for us - 8
Humphreys - Mr Reliable - 8
Brown - Tortured there defenders all night - 9
Sweeney -along with Liddel dominated the midfield all night - 9
Liddle - my MOM AWESOME - 10
Monkhouse - Tired towards the end but contributed all night - 8
Moore was awesome chasing down lost causes all night -8.5
Porter - Terrorised there defenders all night absolutely knackered when called off - 9

Wilson - 9 (7 for dropping Barker) and good substitutions.

Now Mr Wilson keep your balls and keep with that team.