Timely Tidings

The best news Pools fans could hav this week has already been delivered. Both Jake Gray and Adam Jackson will be with us untill the end of the season...

Having players in and out on a monthly basisi hardly ever works - just look at Mandron. Knowing that you will be at a club for weeks to come must make a player more settled and lead to a harder working and more spirited side.

Both Gray and Jackson are promising players who will go back to Palace and Boro all the better for having played regular league football as well as the experience of playing in  front of the TV cameras.

Both will figure agaisnt Derby in this week's third round FA cup game - providing it goes ahead. If the Notts County game was off on a previously well draining Vic what chances do we have after this week's torrents? Probably lots, to be honest.

Derby will probably win, but let's hope not too easily, and we come out of the game with heads held high. We need a boost ahead of our seven league games in February which will decide whether we have another tense run in or whether we can relax.