Pools Reserves are Hammered at Tranmere

By Simian
October 23 2002

Hey I'm not joking. This really was the reserves with a couple of exceptions! Apart from Boyd and Widds the rest were either full time reserves or subs bench regulars. Boy did it show!

Pools lined up in the usual 3-5-2 away line up with Sharpy, Simms and Arno making up the defensive line. In fromt of them were Bass, Robson, Sweeney and MacKenzie. All held together (or not) by Widds. Boydy and Hendo made up the eleven. Meanwhile Tranmere were at full strength.

The line up showed precisely how much Turner values this trophy so with the competition being second rate we fielded a team that was ermm.. "not full strength" After hearing the line-up lets just say that I was not too hopful of a comprehensive victory.

You have to say that Tranmere thoroughly deserved their victory and indeed the margin of it. Despite the effort of this Pools team they were outclassed by a tidy performance from Tranmere. (well de do doh, don't they doh) That said, at least three of the goals were of our own making. The defence was simply atrocious, the midfield was completely disjointed and up front... forget it! Boydy was trying to be too clever all night on what was a very slippy pitch. As for Hendo the effort was there but he was giving away a foot in height to each of the Tranmere defenders.

Sharpy showed clearly why he has been frozen out of the team with a frankly inept performance. The only decent pass he managed was a superb 40 yarder up the wing. Unfortunately it was the wrong wing and the wrong way. The Tranmere winger gratefully accepted this unexpected gift and proceeded to run at the non-existant last line of defence. That'll be 3-0 then or is it 4-0? I'm losing count.

I could go through the catalogue of basic errors that led to our biggest defeat since god knows when ,but much like Chris Turner tonight, I can't be bothered.

Jermaine Easter came on for Hendo and almost scored. Unfirtunately in the main he did his usual trick of running to the ball at the speed of light but not being quite sure what to do when he gets there. Perhaps if he was slightly slower he would have time to work it out.

Erm positives (taps fingers on chin for 10 minutes) The fringe players get a competitive game (not very competitive). We didn't run the risk of injuries for a worthless competition. I went to Birkenhead on a cold, wet and windy Tuesday night and didn't get my car broken into. What a treat!!!