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Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 6:22 pm
by Jim
It was a scrap from start to finish, pretty awful to watch. Players hardly had any time on the ball. Having said that, we were beaten by a better team today. Hartlepool did at least control the ball and tried most of the time to play out constructively from the back. I can't fault the commitment and effort from our team today, but I felt the tactics were wrong, lumping the ball forward and players like Whits struggling to bring a bouncing, spinning ball under control. We certainly got stuck in and Hartlepool players will know they have been in a game.
Driving home, I listened to Simon Weaver on Harrogate's 5-2 win and he said his aim this year is to play entertaining football at home and give the fans something to cheer. It will be interesting to see how we play at Holker Street and also interesting to see how we play against entertaining, free flowing football at Harrogate.
Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 6:29 pm
by andyg
Get used to it the football in the National league is generally crap and boring trust me.
Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 6:48 pm
by blue nige
Jim wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2026 6:22 pm
It was a scrap from start to finish, pretty awful to watch. Players hardly had any time on the ball. Having said that, we were beaten by a better team today. Hartlepool did at least control the ball and tried most of the time to play out constructively from the back. I can't fault the commitment and effort from our team today, but I felt the tactics were wrong, lumping the ball forward and players like Whits struggling to bring a bouncing, spinning ball under control. We certainly got stuck in and Hartlepool players will know they have been in a game.
Driving home, I listened to Simon Weaver on Harrogate's 5-2 win and he said his aim this year is to play entertaining football at home and give the fans something to cheer. It will be interesting to see how we play at Holker Street and also interesting to see how we play against entertaining, free flowing football at Harrogate.
Agree with everything you're saying Jim!
If we are serious about top 7 ( early days) we'll have to have a plan b when we made changes it got worse instead of better as I pointed out before this game we lack a midfielder to open up teams and a forward who looks dangerous and makes things happen if we don't address these 2 positions it'll be midtable at best ,oh I forgot wasn't it great Carlisle got beat!
Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 7:11 pm
by saltcellar
Referee today at Hartlepool gave 2 minutes added time.
Blew for half time after half a minute of it and the players went to the dressing rooms.
Realising what had happened he brought them back out to play the extra minute and a half.
The referee at Carlisle took the players off for a hydration break.
Neither club had any idea it was going to happen.
Welcome to the National League.
Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 7:45 pm
by Pedro
Well glad Stanway was not in goal.
Mistakes happen and if you are in goal you will concede a goal.
The second goal should have been saved.
The blinding obvious thing was we've not had a proper forward since Quigley.
Cameron did lots of work but pre match the Hartlepool commentators remarked on his lack of ability but put lots of effort in before kick off.
Hartlepool's fan said Harris did very little except get a goal.
I would take that over pure effort with no results.
I thought the referee let us of with our physicality.
If that's the norm ok but I can see us getting lots of reds and yellow cards.
Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 8:00 pm
by donny bluebird
It wasn't great today, but Hartlepool obviously have some momentum after the summer they've had with significant investment and spaffing loads on wages - they'll think they need to win the league.
Disappointed we didn't show any improvement from last year in the final third but I'm sure that will come - the boss hasn't had this group for long, hopefully he can mould them into something given time.
Saying that, I would kill for a decent number 9.
Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 8:03 pm
by Hitthebar22
andyg wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2026 6:29 pm
Get used to it the football in the National league is generally crap and boring trust me.
The noticeable thing about today was the referee.
He was very bad.
Going to have to accept his type of performance throughout the season.
All round, more positives than negatives for me.
Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 8:09 pm
by BAFC1901
Hornchurch is a good opportunity to put in a good performance at home & get our first points on the board.
Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 8:17 pm
by monkeyhanger08
From a pools point of view i thought you looked pretty decent, i think you will be up there, wasnt much in the game at all. Going on last season you were as good as 95 percent of the teams that visited, possibly a little powder puff in attack but thought you looked a pretty decent team. All the best for the season, good to see a decent away following for once.
Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 8:18 pm
by Jonty
donny bluebird wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2026 8:00 pm
It wasn't great today, but Hartlepool obviously have some momentum after the summer they've had with significant investment and spaffing loads on wages - they'll think they need to win the league.
Disappointed we didn't show any improvement from last year in the final third but I'm sure that will come - the boss hasn't had this group for long, hopefully he can mould them into something given time.
Saying that, I would kill for a decent number 9.
The game was low on quality but they got the goals. The second was the knock out punch because we were still in it. Winterbottom will be disappointed getting beat from there at his near post.
All in all I thought it was a scrappy game and the ref was very lenient. Didn't like some of the fouls we were putting in and we got away with more than a few. A massive realisation that we are back in the National League. I can only assume Rose / Reid aren’t 100%. Need them playing.
Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 8:24 pm
by barrowaberdeen
More committed, no lack of fight. The difference up front and we didnt react.fast enough m. One touch, bang. You get what you pay for.
MJ needs to push up. Played better on front foot earlier.
Officials guessed every 50 50. Unreal.
Support was great till Cameron's miss then mostly quiet and stoical.
They were loud in bits, most buzzy have seen it there.
Tapas at the marina the highlight, striker required.
Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 8:46 pm
by Always Ultra
Honeymoon period over?
Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 8:52 pm
by Ziggerzagger
Why did we not start with the proven goalscorers Rose and Reid?,Cameron wins balls in the air but that’s it and his record is poor but Reid and Rose have scored bag fulls of goals particularly Rose at a higher level.Cameron couldn’t get a start for us last year yet plays all game and when we needed a plan B it never happened.
We should have learned our lesson playing big man Aqua as a lone striker and look where that got us?
Team selection wrong today and difficult to work out why.
Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 9:00 pm
by Jonty
Ziggerzagger wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2026 8:52 pm
Why did we not start with the proven goalscorers Rose and Reid?,Cameron wins balls in the air but that’s it and his record is poor but Reid and Rose have scored bag fulls of goals particularly Rose at a higher level.Cameron couldn’t get a start for us last year yet plays all game and when we needed a plan B it never happened.
We should have learned our lesson playing big man Aqua as a lone striker and look where that got us?
Team selection wrong today and difficult to work out why.
They must be carrying knocks and cant go 90 mins. Neither featured for 90 in pre season,
Re: Hartlepool v Barrow match thread
Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2026 9:02 pm
by Bingley Blue
Ziggerzagger wrote: ↑Sat Aug 08, 2026 8:52 pm
Why did we not start with the proven goalscorers Rose and Reid?,Cameron wins balls in the air but that’s it and his record is poor but Reid and Rose have scored bag fulls of goals particularly Rose at a higher level.Cameron couldn’t get a start for us last year yet plays all game and when we needed a plan B it never happened.
We should have learned our lesson playing big man Aqua as a lone striker and look where that got us?
Team selection wrong today and difficult to work out why.
It got us to our highest position in over 50 years.
