Luton vs. Hartlepool

[Aberstone]

I'm at this one so it has a draw or Pools win written all over it.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Having seen the team I'm going for the latter! Cuthbert SURELY can't be being rested?! He's on the bench though, such a strange call. And Smith rotated/dropped after Jones sung his praises a few days ago, very odd.

So now we have a team with no defensive height and noone who can press and tackle. I'm a little concerned.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Weird team being played by us, bit odd dropping Cuthbert and I'd expected Justin back in. Midfield looks powder puff stuff to me. Can't help but think we are perhaps taking this a bit lightly.

Can't shake the memory of the Cheltenham let down and this has all the makings of the same looking at that 11.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Turns out Hartlepool are shocking so no need to worry. That's as bad an opening 13 mins as I've seen from a team this season.

 

[oakroader]

Cmon Doncaster!!

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Hartlepool really are awful. We've barely shown up ourselves but they are something else!

 

[Chief Rocka]

We are utter panshite

 

[Judge Dredd]

Did our best to make hard work of it in the second half but Hartlepool too poor to capitalise. We spent the whole game in second gear really. We'll need to be a lot better in the coming weeks but job done and got to rest a few players too.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Thought we were pretty terrible tonight, far far too much hoofing going on, especially second half. Hartlepool really were awful and personally felt the 3 goals spoke more to their ineptitude than our ability but job done and 3 points. Need to be much better on Saturday

 

[Kenneth E End]

Pretty terrible but win 3-0. Tough school.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yeah maybe pretty terrible was a bit OTT (something you'd know about) but we weren't very good, put it that way!

 

[Hatter86]

OLLIE PALMER.

 

[Bosox]

Tough crowd in here tonight. I didn't go to the game but don't see how we can complain about a 3-0 win. Don't care how bad Hartlepool are, how many times have Luton shot themselves in the foot against the crap teams this season? I went to the Cheltenham game and I sure would have taken a terrible 3-0 win that night.

It was a game they had to win and it seems they took care of business with not much fuss.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Look I said I was OTT ok?!

Just like I didn't think we were that bad against Cheltenham we werent that great tonight is all I'm saying! Lost our way after a decent start which is actually what Jones said as well.

And the first 15 minutes from Hartlepool really needed to be seen to be believed, shocking stuff from a group of professionals really.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Even Simon Pitts said it was pretty bad other than the first 15mins. We won but clearly haven't papered over cracks within the fan base which is good but Jones still waxed lyrical about the performance which is a little worrying. We'll find out this weekend esp as Donny lost tonight so will be chomping at the bit

 

[Judge Dredd]

We actually created more chances against Cheltenham, just couldn't finish and had a freak night defensively. There wasn't a huge gulf in performance levels between the two nights I don't think, we looked sounder defensively tonight although still gifted a couple of clear-cut chances to Hartlepool (the set piece vulnerability is crazy, every game we give at least one free header away from a corner).

I didn't actually think we played badly against Cheltenham for the first half at least, ran out of ideas and steam in the second half. Today wasn't dissimilar to that pattern, but the difference was we'd cruised in to a comfortable lead rather than self-destructed in hilarious fashion.

We'll need to up the levels for what comes next now though. Big, big few weeks coming up, with games against 1st, 2nd, 9th, 3rd and 6th in our next six fixtures. We should have a pretty clear picture of where we stand after those you'd think.


As an aside, tonight's performance from Stephen O'Donnell was in equal parts funny yet tragic. He has completely lost his confidence/bottle when on the ball and now just looks to whack it aimlessly forward as soon as it comes to him. His distribution has always been poor but he has never hidden, tonight he clearly did not want to be on the ball at all. JJ has to start on Saturday.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Also the first goal was really, really, really good tonight, Gambin's assist was class and Hylton's take and finish above the level. Hylton's skill really is sublime at times, he nearly scored a Messi-esque goal in the second half after destroying two or three defenders inside the box before shanking a relatively easy finish in to the Oak Road. Love him.

 

[Carver]

TYPICAL CANNON FODDER.

Bloody useless shites you lot are honestly.

Who next plays Hartlepool? Please don't tell me it's another promotion chasing team.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Plymouth at home

Going down and going bust.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

We actually created more chances against Cheltenham, just couldn't finish and had a freak night defensively. There wasn't a huge gulf in performance levels between the two nights I don't think, we looked sounder defensively tonight although still gifted a couple of clear-cut chances to Hartlepool (the set piece vulnerability is crazy, every game we give at least one free header away from a corner).

I didn't actually think we played badly against Cheltenham for the first half at least, ran out of ideas and steam in the second half. Today wasn't dissimilar to that pattern, but the difference was we'd cruised in to a comfortable lead rather than self-destructed in hilarious fashion.

We'll need to up the levels for what comes next now though. Big, big few weeks coming up, with games against 1st, 2nd, 9th, 3rd and 6th in our next six fixtures. We should have a pretty clear picture of where we stand after those you'd think.


As an aside, tonight's performance from Stephen O'Donnell was in equal parts funny yet tragic. He has completely lost his confidence/bottle when on the ball and now just looks to whack it aimlessly forward as soon as it comes to him. His distribution has always been poor but he has never hidden, tonight he clearly did not want to be on the ball at all. JJ has to start on Saturday.

I felt a bit for SOD but he wouldn't have looked to out of place playing for the opposition last night. I can't see him turning his career back around here.

They interviewed a kid on the pitch at half time and when he said his favourite player was ODonnell there was an audible laugh that went around the ground!

 

[Carver]

Plymouth at home

Going down and going bust.

Oh ffs you'd better park the bus at least!

What the hell is going on with you lot? Usually when a team gets a new manager who is actually heard of they start with a good run.

 

[PoolieTom]

Oh ffs you'd better park the bus at least!

What the hell is going on with you lot? Usually when a team gets a new manager who is actually heard of they start with a good run.

4 games. 3 defeats, 1 draw. 2 goals scored, 11 conceded.

Yes it's early days for Jones, but judging by the starting XI he has picked in each game so far, he doesn't have a fucking clue.

 

[Carver]

4 games. 3 defeats, 1 draw. 2 goals scored, 11 conceded.

Yes it's early days for Jones, but judging by the starting XI he has picked in each game so far, he doesn't have a fucking clue.

I wonder if it was you guys who tried to take Keith Curle off us because apparently a club tried to offer him the position of manager one month ago and he was very quick to turn it down.

Don't worry though because if this league is anything like it has been the previous two seasons there are always at least two other teams who are even worse than yourselves.

 

[PoolieTom]

I wonder if it was you guys who tried to take Keith Curle off us because apparently a club tried to offer him the position of manager one month ago and he was very quick to turn it down.

Don't worry though because if this league is anything like it has been the previous two seasons there are always at least two other teams who are even worse than yourselves.

I don't think even our chairman would embarrass himself that much Jones had been lined up since mid December, anyway.

Yes, yet again we are going to have to cross our fingers that two teams can somehow possibly be worse than us. Unfortunately, I can't see it this year. Newport, possibly. Orient are our only other hope it would seem - but they showed last night they have a bit of fight in them. Unless we sign 4 or 5 out of contract players (and stop picking players who wouldn't get a game on our local rec), then I think it will be the end of our FL status, if not the end of HUFC altogether.

It's a shame, as I think Carlisle will really really miss the derby days

 

[Carver]

I don't think even our chairman would embarrass himself that much Jones had been lined up since mid December, anyway.

Yes, yet again we are going to have to cross our fingers that two teams can somehow possibly be worse than us. Unfortunately, I can't see it this year. Newport, possibly. Orient are our only other hope it would seem - but they showed last night they have a bit of fight in them. Unless we sign 4 or 5 out of contract players (and stop picking players who wouldn't get a game on our local rec), then I think it will be the end of our FL status, if not the end of HUFC altogether.

It's a shame, as I think Carlisle will really really miss the derby days

How has it got so bad for you? I remember in the second half of last season you went on a fair bit of good run and it looked like your team had finally got its act together, but no you're back to being a joke again.

 

[PoolieTom]

How has it got so bad for you? I remember in the second half of last season you went on a fair bit of good run and it looked like your team had finally got its act together, but no you're back to being a joke again.

I could write you a list as long as the bible on where it went wrong to be honest. In short(ish) - Hignett was allowed to sign anyone and everyone he wanted in the summer (as long as they were free of course). We started the season with a squad of about 32 (thirty two!!!) first team players. About 10 of these have never even been on the bench for us, nevermind played a game. We were obviously overspending in that department.

Then comes the saga of 3 winding up petitions being issued against the club. We failed to make payments to HMRC on 3 separate occassions, and if they hadn't been settled the club would've folded. Our chairman seems to find this hilarious, by the way. Our chairman doesn't have a penny, and his corrupt partner has (possibly, alledgedly, maybe) swindled cash out of the club, then done a runner. So our chairman decided to take out loans with two different finance companies (not banks or anyone reputable) to pay off our debts. One company has links to property developers and the other company (akin to Wonga) being ran by a guy who has been banned from being a director of any company because he has swindled cash from people in the past. He made something like 30 grand worth of chocolate 'disappear' in his previous stint as a director.

Anyway, our chairman wants to buy our ground and surrounding area from the council, and now the finance company who have links to property developers own half of the club (you can probably see where this is going). A woman who previously ran this company is Dave Jones' agent. It appears she has brought him in to free up some cash, and probably sell any of our players that may make some cash. This started in January with 2 first team regulars being sold for money, to be replaced by kids from other teams. We've now also loaned another 2 experienced players out to reduce the wage bill further.

And that's only the simplified version. In essence, we are fucked.

 

[Carver]

I could write you a list as long as the bible on where it went wrong to be honest. In short(ish) - Hignett was allowed to sign anyone and everyone he wanted in the summer (as long as they were free of course). We started the season with a squad of about 32 (thirty two!!!) first team players. About 10 of these have never even been on the bench for us, nevermind played a game. We were obviously overspending in that department.

Then comes the saga of 3 winding up petitions being issued against the club. We failed to make payments to HMRC on 3 separate occassions, and if they hadn't been settled the club would've folded. Our chairman seems to find this hilarious, by the way. Our chairman doesn't have a penny, and his corrupt partner has (possibly, alledgedly, maybe) swindled cash out of the club, then done a runner. So our chairman decided to take out loans with two different finance companies (not banks or anyone reputable) to pay off our debts. One company has links to property developers and the other company (akin to Wonga) being ran by a guy who has been banned from being a director of any company because he has swindled cash from people in the past. He made something like 30 grand worth of chocolate 'disappear' in his previous stint as a director.

Anyway, our chairman wants to buy our ground and surrounding area from the council, and now the finance company who have links to property developers own half of the club (you can probably see where this is going). A woman who previously ran this company is Dave Jones' agent. It appears she has brought him in to free up some cash, and probably sell any of our players that may make some cash. This started in January with 2 first team regulars being sold for money, to be replaced by kids from other teams. We've now also loaned another 2 experienced players out to reduce the wage bill further.

And that's only the simplified version. In essence, we are fucked.

Damn and I thought our club was in a mess behind the scenes.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Poolietom has basically hit the nail on the head about the goings on at this car crash of a football club.

I don't think I've ever felt as low as a Pools fan in my life and I've been going since '94, we've had plenty of shite in those years bar a good 7/8 seasons.This time it just feels real, like we are well and truly fucked.

We always get murdered at Luton, the result was always going to be home banker of the season but there's far more important things to worry about, i.e the mere existence of the club.

 

[Carver]

I really do hope things turn around for your club somehow, you have always been one of our greatest rivals and it would be devastating to lose you if you went the same way as Darlo did and we'd be even more isolated!

Just know that there are other clubs who really appreciate your existence.

 

[PoolieTom]

Damn and I thought our club was in a mess behind the scenes.

Yeah, and that's just behind the scenes.

On the field, we have 33 players on our books. Only 11 of those players are over the age of 23. 5 of them are injured and one is out on loan. In defence, our most 'experienced' available player is 23. After that, it's a 20 year old who's played about 3 matches in his career. Last night we had:

a 19 year old loanee in goal
a 17 year old winger converted to a right back
A 20 year old Centre Mid at Centre Back
a 23 year old who we released in the summer 'cause he wasn't good enough, then resigned him, at Centre Back.
a 19 year old loanee at left back

But our manager/chairman thought it was acceptable to let two first team defenders leave in January, and replace them with 3 19 year old strikers.

I'm sure Gateshead and Darlo will appreciate our existence next season when they are taking 6 easy points off us.