Fair Point

Paynter Pen
By Mill House
August 8 2016

Loads of hype, loads of expectation and in the end we had to settle for a point against relegated Colchester.

No arguments the 1-1 draw was a fair outcome after a hectic first half followed by a heat affected second, which was a little bit more sedate.

So what did we learn?

Well, Pools look sharper and better organised than last year, but there was nothing to show to suggest we will set the league on fire.

Central defence looks like an area where a number of players will get their chance until Hignett and Fleming settle on their preferred pairing.

Midfield worked wel, and there's plenty of good players still to get their chance in the engine room where Alessandra looked a particularly good acquisition.

Up front Nathan Thomas ran rings, but his final ball was lacking, and when he did get one passed a defender neither Paynter nor new boy Amond looked likely to get on the end of iot. Nor did they threaten from the many diagonal balls lofted in by Carl Magnay from the other flank.

We looked a little short of pace up front, and the question may be can Paynter and Amond pose a big enough threat as a duo?