MadJohn

Going up wasn't on the agenda of a single Hartlepool fan in the summer. Having stayed in this division by one point and then by goal difference in the last two seasons, all we wanted was a season that showed a bit of improvement, a season in which we never looked like being involved in another relegation battle. We're just enjoying the run at the moment, a run that now stands at 7-2-2 from the last 11 games, with seven of those eleven games being away from home. It's such a tight division that anything could still happen, including promotion, AND including that relegation battle. I don't know how to read a table in which Southampton have played THIRTEEN home games and just eight away, while we have played nine and eleven. But wherever we end up in May, 2010/11 will be remembered as the season we got the fun back after a couple of grim years. It's funny that our physical presence is mentioned. I tend to agree, though the fans of Brighton would offer a different view. We beat them 3-1 in our last home game before yesterday and some of the Brighton fans were up in arms about how we "kicked them off the pitch". This from fans of Brighton, one of the more physical frontrunners this division has had in a while. In truth there was nothing too physical about or game that afternoon, we just made sure we were first to every loose ball, and didn't give Brighton the space to play. It's an approach that has worked well in our last two away games that has seen us clinch surprise (to the neutral, not so much to us) victories at Bournemouth and Huddersfield. I agree that strength in depth will be a problem for us. rudemedic you are correct about our substitution yesterday. It was Steve Haslam, the former Sheffield Wednesday and Halifax defender. He has spent much of his career at full back and has played most of his games for us either at fullback or at the back of midfield (where he spent the last ten minutes yesterday after we sent Armann Bjornsson on as a more physical defensive presence). He's not a centre-half, and that is the one area of the pitch where we are very short of cover. It looks like Sam Collins will be out for around four weeks and I would imagine Mick Wadsworth will bring someone in on loan to cover the loss.

Hi all, Hartlepool fan here. Haven't posted for a while... 1. Agreed that Hazell was the best of your defenders yesterday. There were a couple of incidents where he had to get his decision making and his control spot on or he was in trouble. He did well both times. 6. Just shows how biased us football supporters are, because we were of the opposite opinion! Oldham's defenders were VERY consistent when it came to aerial challenges in that the defending player would always get in a sly shove just before jumping, giving himself an unfair advantage. It looked too well-executed to be random; must be down to coaching. It took the referee about 40 minutes to spot it, during which time we were getting increasingly frustrated with the tactic. As for the incident that saw Sweeney and Collins both receive treatment, referess are under instruction this season to NOT make the players leave the pitch if two players from the same side are injured in the same incident. A rare case of common sense reaching the decision makers. The referee got that one right. 7. We started with James Brown up front and Humphreys on the left as a straight swap for the absent Monkhouse. Humphreys was getting little joy down the left so Mick Wadsworth swapped them over and that coincided with us getting on top in the game. For the last hour or so it was Humphreys up front with Brown and McSweeney interchanging on the wings. The general opinion among our lot yesterday was that we beat a good side. Of course you must have played better than that this season but there was still enough there to suggest that you'll cause problems for any side even when off your best. Taylor was one disappointment. After not getting awarded a free kick and arguing to the extent that he earned himself a booking, he spent the rest of the game sulking more than contributing. I notice that's the third recent game that Ritchie Jones has started from the bench. Having left us to seek more regular football has he gone off the boil? I always thought that there was a good player in there but he was just so frustrating. He'd produce one good performance in every 5 or 6 games, but that one performance would be man-of-the-match giving rise to hope that he might just have cracked it, then he'd go missing for another 5 or 6.... Good luck

Jones was signed by Danny Wilson and made his debut on the right wing. It wasn't just Turner who used him there. Personally I thought he was probably a little better suited to a central role, but he was inconsistent in both positions which suggests that "out of position" is an excuse as much as anything. The main reason he was on the bench was unreliable form. Had to love the quote from Paul Dickov: "Ritchie Jones has been Hartlepool's best player for the last two seasons". Really? I wish someone had told us!

More accurately, Johnny, that's why he's been benching in the third division. When I talk about his inconsistency I am comparing him to the rest of the squad. One good game in four or five doesn't get you a guaranteed shirt at any level. He's a long way from being crap, and a number of fans were disappointed (though not surprised) to see him released considering his age and the glimpses of good play we had seen. But he just wasn't quite good enough often enough. I won't talk about some of the odder things I've heard. This is not the time for the rice story or the kittens story. Best of luck...

** and him! We only had Parker on loan. But you are right - we sure as hell rejected him!

Ritchie Jones, eh. There is certainly some talent there, though perhaps there is just a tad less than his agent would have people believe. We were also told that we fought off "a number of clubs" for his signature. Chuffed we was. He scored on his debut and looked to have a few tricks, but lacked a bit of consistency. His best game came against the best team he played against: West Ham in the FA Cup. I've said before that if he could have produced 80% of that performance in 80% of his games he'd have been a great player for us. His inconsistency led to another spell on the bench last season and he looked to have finally cracked it when he produced a superb cameo against Leeds followed by an excellent two-goal performance against Carlisle. I said at the time let's get this lad a new contract and see if we can sort him out. There is talent there but he shows it with baffling infrequency. Unfortunately he reverted to type and his performance at Yeovil (when he was subbed at half-time and couldn't have complained had he been hooked half an hour earlier) had to be seen to be believed! He started just once more and it was no real surprise when he was released. Good luck with him. There is some raw material to work with, but god he was frustrating.

It's difficult isn't it. You don't want to appear disrespectful to all the others who have died, but it simply IS different when he's so young. We had a sad loss at Hartlepool this season. I was on the M42 on my way down to the match at Swansea when I got the call from a mate to tell me that the game was off because one of our squad players, 20-year-old Michael Maidens, had been killed in a car crash the night before. It's obviously not the same situation because Maidens had not built up the affection with us that Ernie Cooksey so clearly had with you; he never got the chance. But there were some emotional scenes; the scarves and flowers piled up at the ground, an incredibly poignant speech read by the PA announcer at the next home game. There were lots of discussions over how Michael should be remembered fittingly and tastefully. It was finally decided that the Goal of the Season Trophy should be named in his honour. In his short career he had scored just once, but his stunning 30 yard effort against Huddersfield was voted the best of 2005/06. Joel Porter became the first receipient at the awards night last month and it was presented by Michael's parents, who found it difficult to put their feelings into words. Whether it's a trophy or a bar or part of the ground, I'm sure you'll all do the right thing by Ernie's memory. Best wishes

Excellent stuff there, Diego. Much appreciated. I'll get the site updated tonight

Hi there, Hartlepool fan here come in peace I wonder if it would be possible for one of you fine people to help me with a bit of information I am looking for. I run a Hartlepool United database-driven website, In The Mad Crowd, and I am currently having a busy summer trying to meet a self-imposed deadline. Our centenary season starts in August and I am aiming to have complete historical opposition lineups and scorers for next season's opponents in place before kickoff in August. It will be a big help in preparing articles for programme, official site etc. I am slowly getting there and have nearly completed my Oldham page: http://www.inthemadcrowd.co.uk/cgi-bin/itm...op=1&oid=74 However, I am missing the data for two matches from the same season 1968/69 - League - Oldham 1-2 Hartlepool 1968/69 - League - Hartlepool 0-2 Oldham If anybody can give me a hand with those two matches (Oldham lineups/scorers) it would be much appreciated. Good luck for the season. I look forward to our matches Best wishes John Phillips