Plymouth Match Report - By Pooielouieaustinstad

Steady 380 mile drive on a Friday afternoon to Plymouth makes a change i thought rather than an early start on a Saturday morning i thought, should be nice and quiet i thought to be able to listen to the radio, keep a check on the Ryder Cup a nice stress free drive i thought.
How fooking wrong can you be when my co pilot tells me to pick him up from the Red Admiral at 11 o'clock "and don't worry, i've only got half a dozen cans as me carry out" he proudly explains
Any way 2 pits stops, 2 spilt cans, and 7 hours later me head is still busting when we finally arrive in Plymouth. The worrying thing is i still can't remember what the fook he's been talking about.
Quick check in and off around the Barbican, i quickly need some of what he's been drinking, but before i go out i have another dilema it's either heads and tails with Bernie 'Budgie' or sleep in the shallow end with me co pilot, fook it we'll just have to stay up.
Oh aye the match, strange team, no forwards but not all bad news, Liddles in midfield in place of Sweeny (couldn't resist)
Well we certainly looked comfortable, looking to catch them on the break, Liddle was breaking everything up covering lots of ground like Sweeny does, but was actually influencing the game and touching the ball. Some slack defensive play though let Plymouth in a few times, Monkhouse, Horwood and Austin all guilty of not clearing there lines effectively but thankfully Keeno kept them out with 3 great point blank saves, it would be great if we could keep him for a season long loan, he's head and shoulders above Flinders.
Second half, i can't remember them having a shot, whlie Monkhouse terrorised them everytime we got forward. Horwood cut a ball back when he should have shot, Larkin cut a couple back when it was easier to be more direct, Monky headed against a post, McSweeney (i think) had one blocked, then cleared off the line, it really was only a matter of time.
And then with about 5 minutes left a rocket from McSweeney flew into the top corner of the net from about 25 yards.
Strange substitution folllowed when really there was no need cos we were comfortable, but Bjornson came on for McSweeney and went centre forward and Behan went out wide right, but we only had 3 minutes plus 5 minutes added time to hold on and apart from a few long punts into our box which Keen caught comfotably the final result was never in doubt.
Hartley did good, Murray and Gamble a little quieter than usual, Liddle was in control of the midfield and Monkhouse was unplayable in the 2nd half.
The final whistle was met with elation by 84 of the 85 away fans, the 85th had just realised the win probably meant a stop at the offdoor and singing blue army all the way home, wouldn't be so bad if he could only remember all the words.
Well we're off to the Orient next and me co pilot is off to Benidorm, i hope Benidorm is ready for him.
Blue Army!

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Yeovil Town Match Report

From pooielooieaustinstad:

Didn't bother with Rochdale report, too much to drink, everyone at Tall Ships etc and didn't think anyone would miss it, but judging by the hundreds of PM's i've had asking for it, thought i'd better start again. Shammy didn't think you cared 

Checked the board before i left, noticed Shammy had done a roll call and was going to be in attendance, so was looking forward to it.
Anyhow 7 o'clock start, with a pick up at jct 21 on M5 should get us there for 12 o'clock,.... wrong, fooking holiday traffic meant the 1st drink didn't pass my co pilots lips till 1:15 and boy did he need it, his throat must have been really sore with all that Bull Shit coming from his mouth for 5 hours.

About 85 away fans and Hangus were the representatives for the club, surely KH and his fellow Hartlepool saviours could have made an effort and arranged for someone to attend in an official capacity? Guess like Gordon Watson once said "this club is so well run it just runs itself" or maybe they are all busy looking for a shirt sponsor.

Same team, same formation as against Swindon, Humphreys back to fitness and on the bench, things are looking good, c'mon Pools nowt to beat.

Started brightly, boydy chasing along the front line, holding play up well, bringinging other players into the game, why he was never used last season is a mystery, but he is looking hungry.
Monkey and Browny getting forward regularly and Murray picking up all loose balls with Horwood bombing forward it was only a matter of time, we were completely dominant. A number of excellent moves came to nothing and we had to rely on a scrambled effort from Liddle off a corner to get the breakthrough, but it was no more than we deserved, we could have been 3 or 4 up by then.
Yeovil weren't in it and barring a couple of really dodgy clearances from Flinders and Gamble losing possesion in dangerous areas a couple of times, it was all Pools.

2nd half saw more of the same, although obviously Yeovil had to start pressing especially after Monky made it 2 with a cracking low drive to the goalies left from about 20 yards after Collins i think chested the ball down into his path from a left wing cross. 
Gamble went off with what looks like a groin or thigh strain, which might have been the cause of him being caught in possesion so often, and Browny went off because he usually does.
Freddie and Hartley slotted in no problem, with Monkey going up front, Behan must be worried.
Yeovil did cause a few scares, but good blocks from Haslam, good saves from Flinders and i think the slightest clearance off the line from Horwood meant another clean sheet, 3 in 4 games now.
We really did make Yeovil look 2nd best all over the pitch and we had them that rattled even the bugler behind the goal was hitting bum notes, during his renditions of Eastenders, Antique Road Show, Rocky and even 2 little boys.

A good 3 points, not for a long time have we looked so comfortable away from home and in reality we should be sitting with 9 points and singing "we are top of the league" but maybe we'll save that song for later, couldn't stand that song being sung in me lug hole all the way home, after finally dropping my co-pilot off at 10 o'clock i really did think I'd gone deaf.

The only dissapointment was that i don't think Mr Shamrock made it to the game, i guess he must have been caught up in that damn holiday traffic. 

Howay all you arm chair fans start gettin sorted for MK Dons it's probably only going to have to be a 5 o'clock start in order to get to Witherspoons for 9, can't wait 
Blue Army

Shamrock's short term sizzlers - Neil Warnock

Born - Sheffield - 1/12/48
Debut - Middlesbrough - 4/8/71


Another player who made an impact in a short time at Pools.
Neil started his career at Sheffield United in 1968, he could not hold down a regular spot so moved on to Chesterfield where the same pattern emerged in out the side. Neil moved on again to Rotherham were he had a great first season but only made 12 appearances the season after.
Len Ashurst then Pools manager took a chance on Warnock in 1971 and it paid off, not the quickest and most skillful of wingers but his strength and commitment made a great impression with the Poolies and Neil got player of the season. The following season he moved up a league to Scunny were he had 3 season and was a popular player but yet again he was on his bike having spells with Aldershot, Barnsley, York and Crewe were he retired.
Neil went straight into Management but it was a grocers shop he bought, keeping his hand in he managed a couple of local non league sides before taking Scarborough into the league in1987. He went from strength to strength managing Notts County and Huddersfield before taking Plymouth up via the play offs. After spells at Oldham and Bury he hit the jackpot on took his home town team in to the Premiership. He was sacked when Sheff Utd got relegated Neil moved onto Palace in 2007 and got them into the play offs.
Warnock is very outspoken and all his sides play good football his remarks about referees have got him into trouble on many occasion but thats Neil Warnock he is like marmite you love him or hate him

Oldham Preview - Do or Die time

By 3Quid

Tomorrow's game against Oldham Athletic at The 'Vic is in serious doubt and faces a 10am pitch inspection to see if the game can go ahead. With the heavy snow that fell last Saturday not shifting and turning to dangerous ice the ground staff at Pools face a race against time to try and ensure tomorrow's game goes ahead.

Things don't look too promising though with temperatures outside now nearly at zero and a forecast of -6 overnight leaving the prospects of the game going ahead, pretty grim.

Referee Carl Boyeson will travel from Hull in the morning to make his inspection.

If the game goes ahead then Pools will be desperately wanting to take all three points with no more action until January 9th at Charlton due to Gillingham being in the F.A Cup 3rd round on January 2nd.

Oldham's game against Tranmere at Boundary Park on Boxing Day was postponed due to safety reasons so no doubt, ex Darlo manager Dave Penney will be itching to get his team back in action with his team also having no game on January 2nd either.

On the pitch, Pools will have Andy Monkhouse back after he was suspended for the Leeds game. Gary Liddle could be a slight doubt after being taken off at half-time against Leeds with an injury.

Score prediction - we've got to win this game. No ifs, no buts. We have to win. And it doesn't matter how we do it!

2-1 to Pools.

Leeds preview

By 3Quid

26 bar a ticket???!!! - a big reason why many Pools fans won't be travelling the relatively short journey to West Yorkshire to watch us vs Leeds at Elland Road on Boxing Day.

A fair few lads i've been talking to are refusing to go there and pay that price to be sat in the corner with restricted viewing and also to line the pockets of Ken Bates and his born-again wealthy football club.

500 tickets have already been sold for the game and any unsold tickets will be sent back to Elland Road but travelling fans without a ticket ARE able to pay on the turnstile on match day. So it's likely Pools will have less than a thousand fans there for the game which is a far cry from September 2007 and our first ever league meeting with Leeds at Elland Road when over 2700 made to 90-mile journey to watch us unluckily go down 2-0 in a game we dominated from start to finish!

On the pitch, Pools will be missing Andy Monkhouse after he picked up a fifth yellow card of the season in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Yeovil. Monkhouse is particularly gutted as he is Leeds-born, still lives there and is a big fan of the club. Jon-Andre Fredriksen could fill in for Monky on the left-wing but the most likely choice for Chris Turner would be to play Ritchie Humphreys in his preferred role on the wing and drop Tony Sweeney into centre-midfield with fit again Neil Austin slotting at right-back.
Steve Haslam and Colin Larkin have returned to training but are not expected to be risked for the game. Ben Clark is available again after a one-match ban for a sending-off at Southend.


Chris Turner told BBC Sport...."I was talking to (Yeovil boss) Terry Skiverton on Saturday after the game and Terry made a good point in that the league is littered with good sides with strong squads, bigger than what they and we are," he said.

"You just get a bit of momentum going and your next three games are say, Norwich, Charlton and Southampton, and that halts any progress for teams like ourselves and Yeovil, in terms of getting maximum points and it's a battle.

"It is a tough league and I keep saying we're punching well above our weight, when you consider our attendances and what we can attract to the club compared to a lot of other teams in our division. But it's enjoyable and we are progressing.

"The second half of the season is a tough start with the away games of Norwich, Southampton and Charlton, and hopefully we can pick up better than what we did in the first quarter because there are some winnable games at that back-end of the season."



Leeds are likely to start with star-man and top scorer, Jermaine Beckford despite a row between him and Leeds gaffer, Simon Grayson after Beckford reportedly threw his shirt at the manager and stormed off the pitch after being subbed in the 1-0 win over Southampton. Beckford though has apologised to Grayson and the bad news for Pools fans is that he will more than likely resume his place up-front on Saturday. Leeds have no other injury worries and have a full squad to choose from.

Score prediction - in my opinion when we play the so-called "big clubs" we seem to have a defeatist attitude that has us beat even before we go out and kick a ball, all the bigging up of our opponents before the game and how lucky we are just to be in the same division as them - i can't see this being any different. Sadly, i think we'll get a proper pasting on Boxing Day.

4-0 to Leeds.

Pools take punt on Gamble

By 3Quid.


Pools have agreed personal terms with Irish midfielder, Joe Gamble who will join us on a free transfer from Cork City according to today's Northern Echo.

The 27 year-old midfield terrier who has been capped twice by the Republic of Ireland will be allowed to leave Cork for nothing after huge financial difficulties for the Eircom League club. Monday was the deadline for wages to paid to the players and it passed without any payment, so Gamble who is reputed to be worth 150,000 euros will join Pools for free!

A great coup by Chris Turner to persuade him to join us if the comments about him from the Cork City fans are anything to go by. The majority of them rate him higher than Colin Healy who was on the verge of joining Pools in the summer and is rumoured to be interesting Chris Turner again.