The Poolie Bunker

To me it just looked like none of the outfield players had any confidence whatsover in their goalkeepers ability or willingness to venture outside of his six yard box.

Seeing as though they see more of him than we do through training every day it's a terrifying thought that we go through the season with this situation.

I'd change keepers without hesitation or second thought.

Saying that, I'd also have Clarky in front of Antwi (and in front of Nelson).

For me, the reasons Antwi and Budtz looked suspect last night were mutually exclusive.

Budtz just doesn't give you confidence when crosses come in, his kicking was awful and his decision making is dodgy.

Antwi gets sucked in far too easily, he tries to make every tackle possible even those that he isn't going to make. I think him and Nelse are far too similar and I think Nelse will get frustrated with him.

Based on last night, I would normally have put Clark straight in for Nelse in order for their partnership to be renewed. However, Boland is out for a month and I would therefore stick Clarky straight in the middle.

I can't see Antwi getting dropped either, I can't imagine Rafa being too pleased with him sitting on the bench for us while on loan.

No disrespect TPP, but fk Rafa Benitez very much.

If it is better for Hartlepool United to pair Clark and Nelson at centre half then DW MUST pair Clark and Nelson at centre half.

If he is dictated to by another team as to who he has to pick then I'm packing it in. We might as well go the whole hog and be a "nursery club" and as far as I'm concerned they'd never get another penny out of me.

Some terrific save from Budz but absolutely nothing sticks. Everything rebounded off him. Terrible in the air from crosses as well. Communication between the keeper and central defenders was very poor, does this suggest a lack of confidence?

I bet they would!

I agree fully about Benitez, but he'll be putting pressure on Wilson to get full use of him and he won't be getting paid peanuts. It would take some explaining to Uncle K why we have an on loan asset on thousands every week sitting on the bench.

I'd be surprised if Antwi got benched and am sure you are the same (even if we both think he should be)

If I knew for a cast iron fact that any player was getting his game because another club told us that he had to play then I wouldn't go back.

I know it sounds hard to believe, but we've had this discussion before about the "nursery club" idea that John Hall was keen on, and the day that anything like that happens signifies the death of HUFC. It might be only the start of a long slow lingering and painful death but I wouldn't want to watch the club I love be slowly strangled so I'd just walk away.

As I've said previously, last night was my first chance to see the boys.

I was quite shocked with Antwi, after reading the reviews on here.
His anticipation was poor, he often managed to get the wrong side of his man, miss the ball and leave him with a run on goal. I saw no sign of this blistering pace he is suppposed to have, is he still carrying an injury ?

I would love to know the terms of his loan agreement, are Liverpool still paying a fair chunk of his wages and
is there a clause about him playing 'regularly'. I can't believe DW and Uncle Ken would be party to the latter, but
it's a funny old game as someone once said.

Saturdays team selection will make very interesting reading, although I've a funny feeling, apart form the enforced change for Boland, the rest will be very much like last nights i.e Antwi, Moore.
Really hope I'm wrong.