Opometer number i dunno

[maddog]

You know it, i know it, everyone knows this is going to be a walk in the park.

WIN 3-0 Citeh

[dandannieldanok]

Draw. 2-2.

[BlabyFox]

Am i getting names confused, or did we beat hartlepool 3-0 ealier this season?

[Salieri]

We did beat Hartlepool 3-0 away in the JPT. Ive got a feeling it might not be such a walkover this time. I'll go for a nailbiting 2-1 victory!

[Corky]

2-0 to us.

[Tilley]

I think we'll win, just.

*Waits for calls for maddog's sig to be shortened*

[morris1234]

Hartlepool have proved they are no pushovers in their last few games. They played oldham and were 2-0 down at half time and within the first 10 minutes in the second half, brought it back to 2-2. They then went in front and a late goal from oldham got them a point. They also just gave leeds a good game just losing 3-2 twice taking the lead i think. So just like when we played them i think the last ten minutes is crucial if we are not already comfortably winning. we might be looking at a tight game here. my heart says 2-1 city but my head says 2-2.

[clazkel]

4-0 to Leicester

Fryatt 2, Adams, Morrison

Come on you blues!!!!!!

[Raj]

Im never confident about LCFC.

But if we dont beat Hpool on Sat im gonna ....well im gonna fcuking slap someone really really hard...

I might even slap bellend sebastian if i can reach his head......but you get my gist innit??/

we best win

[maddog]

Get those votes in, keep the optimism going.

[ousefox]

2-0

Fryatt and Dyer

[SamL]

Leicester 2 - 0 Hartlepool

[lavrentis]

Leicester 1 - 0 Hartlepool

Win because we are at home.

[Thracian]

One thing is certain. If Millwall can come here and win then Hartlepool can. Knowing the Yeovil game is off could have the effect of making us desperate for these points tomorrow and that could be counter-productive too.

Much will depend on how adventurous Hartlepool are prepared to be given that their defence seems to be their weakest link.

Our failure to score in match time against Lincoln surprised me and really does make me wonder about Pearson's capabilities as an attacking manager - especially as that's the third time we've failed to score and, with our squad, I don't see why it should happen at all.

Yes, I know it always will. Five times at most this season I reckoned. But something is not right and Hartlepool seem like just the team to show up flaws if they break at pace and in numbers.

The Walkers is no fortress and never had been. While Pearson has an abundance of attacking potential I still think our team lacks cohesion.

Too often we still don't go forward as a team. Our success so far has been based on the speed of our closing down and the predatory instincts of our forwards. But too many players, especially defenders, are making no significant contribution in attack.

Last year's back four contributed 12 goals and 12 assists. This year's has contributed nothing in that way so far. Yes, they're defending okay for the most part but they're too detached when we've got the ball and the resulting lack of sustained pressure will surely give every visiting team encouragement.

With Gradel/Adams and Dyer needing to become front-running attackers much of the time it is vital that Gilbert and Powell push up in support of them and the central midfielders but it's not happening enough and I'm not sure it will.

Nor do we have a central defender who can act as holding midfielder when we have the ball thus releasing Oakley or King to support the strikers more.

Individually these flaws wouldn't necessarily be fatal but collectively it makes us vulnerable, especially at home when we're expected to take the initiative.

Managers pay lip service to the idea of defending and attacking as a team but too often they ignore or excuse defenders who struggle to support going foward while they would never forgive forwards for failing to get back. The resulting gaps make the team disjointed and vulnerable. Especially against better sides like Fulham, Millwall and, quite possibly Hartlepool who seemed to make a lot of chances against us in the Cup.

I wouldn't bet anything but a victory but my head tells me we'll get beaten in the manner of Sheffield Wednesday at home two seasons back, perhaps by 3-1 or 3-2. Our best hope is if Hartlepool, fearing our attack, try to simply defend out the game instead of playing to their strengths.

[maddog]

One thing is certain. If Millwall can come here and win then Hartlepool can. Knowing the Yeovil game is off could have the effect of making us desperate for these points tomorrow and that could be counter-productive too.

Much will depend on how adventurous Hartlepool are prepared to be given that their defence seems to be their weakest link.

Our failure to score in match time against Lincoln surprised me and really does make me wonder about Pearson's capabilities as an attacking manager - especially as that's the third time we've failed to score and, with our squad, I don't see why it should happen at all.

Yes, I know it always will. Five times at most this season I reckoned. But something is not right and Hartlepool seem like just the team to show up flaws if they break at pace and in numbers.

The Walkers is no fortress and never had been. While Pearson has an abundance of attacking potential I still think our team lacks cohesion.

Too often we still don't go forward as a team. Our success so far has been based on the speed of our closing down and the predatory instincts of our forwards. But too many players, especially defenders, are making no significant contribution in attack.

Last year's back four contributed 12 goals and 12 assists. This year's has contributed nothing in that way so far. Yes, they're defending okay for the most part but they're too detached when we've got the ball and the resulting lack of sustained pressure will surely give every visiting team encouragement.

With Gradel/Adams and Dyer needing to become front-running attackers much of the time it is vital that Gilbert and Powell push up in support of them and the central midfielders but it's not happening enough and I'm not sure it will.

Nor do we have a central defender who can act as holding midfielder when we have the ball thus releasing Oakley or King to support the strikers more.

Individually these flaws wouldn't necessarily be fatal but collectively it makes us vulnerable, especially at home when we're expected to take the initiative.

Managers pay lip service to the idea of defending and attacking as a team but too often they ignore or excuse defenders who struggle to support going foward while they would never forgive forwards for failing to get back. The resulting gaps make the team disjointed and vulnerable. Especially against better sides like Fulham, Millwall and, quite possibly Hartlepool who seemed to make a lot of chances against us in the Cup.

I wouldn't bet anything but a victory but my head tells me we'll get beaten in the manner of Sheffield Wednesday at home two seasons back, perhaps by 3-1 or 3-2. Our best hope is if Hartlepool, fearing our attack, try to simply defend out the game instead of playing to their strengths.

They could potentially be dangerous, we have got to get at them from the off or we definately could be in trouble.

They have bagged 9 goals in their last 3 games and were desperately unlucky to lose away at Leeds in the Cup.

I just think we will be too strong for them. As long as we keep attacking.

[Munzie]

Our failure to score in match time against Lincoln surprised me and really does make me wonder about Pearson's capabilities as an attacking manager - especially as that's the third time we've failed to score and, with our squad, I don't see why it should happen at all.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this. To date, he hasn't fiddled with the formation, players or tactics too much and we've made a good solid start. We've been banging in far more goals this season than anyone would have put money on.

We were undone against Millwall by a very sucessfull gameplan that the visting side stuck to. We didn't turn up against Lincoln and I put that down to a non-league event and a changed side.

It should be business as usual on Saturday and a familair line-up capable of getting forward a scoring goals.

[Thracian]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by this. To date, he hasn't fiddled with the formation, players or tactics too much and we've made a good solid start. We've been banging in far more goals this season than anyone would have put money on.

We were undone against Millwall by a very sucessfull gameplan that the visting side stuck to. We didn't turn up against Lincoln and I put that down to a non-league event and a changed side.

It should be business as usual on Saturday and a familair line-up capable of getting forward a scoring goals.

I and a few more expected us to score goals - people like Fryatt, Howard and Dyer were virtually certain to make hay in Division One - but I've still been concerned about the lack of goals/assists from some quarters, about our consistently woeful free-kicks and about our lack of unity moving forward at times.

When I spoke about getting goals from more places like central midfield and the wings I didn't want it to be instead of goals/assists from the back line but as well as.

I'm well aware that we've made a promising start to the season and am pleased about it.

But I'm also aware that we've had it fairly easy up to now yet it is clear that we have to improve certain aspects of our game if we are to finish in the guaranteed promotion place that is surely our target.

That means attending to detail and four things presently stand out as glaringly lacking on top of the general need to attack and defend together:

a) Goals/assists from the backline.

b) Goals/assists from Gradel and the right wing generally.

c) Greater threat from free-kicks and corners.

d) Better retaining of possession.

Of those four the third one is the most important and easiest corrected but they can all make the difference between being in the top two and being in the top six.

[NewquayFox]

City 6. Monkey Hangers 0. You read it here first folks. ;0)

[leicester ghost]

leicester 3 hartlepool 2.

open game,suit us down to the ground.