By Albatross
March 22 2004

Pools didn't receive universal praise for victory over Grimsby, no surprise where the sour grapes come from though. It's Transfer Deadline Day this week, and that could be of importance for our loaned out players as well as any potential incoming signings.

First of all though, I have to say a few words about the sad death of Frankie Baggs. I only had the pleasure of meeting him once or twice, but even that was enough to realise that not only was he a real character, but that he was also a committed supporter and servant of Hartlepool United FC. In his spells as Commercial Manager, host for various dinners and events (not just for HUFC either) and various other capacities - most recently as a host for Executive Boxes at Pools - he came into contact with a heck of a lot of people and it's a tribute to the man that no-one has a bad word to say about him. Rest in Peace Frankie - you'll be missed.

Onto Football matters, and the weekend's victory over Grimsby has provoked mixed opinions. In the view of pretty much everyone connected with HUFC, Pools put in a battling performance in atrocious conditions and were good value for their 2-0 win; however, the reaction of Mariners boss Nicky Law and others at Grimsby reeks of sour grapes - or should that be rotten haddock? Law was quoted on their official site as saying "We have been beaten by a very ordinary hard working team" - which says little for his own players, and indicates that his scouting network leaves plenty to be desired, starting with accuracy.

While most Mariners fans have concentrated on the inadequacy of their own team, you can't help feeling that the occasional comment such as "Its not as if we're playing sides like Wolves or Sheffield Utd any more we're worse than some very poor teams" on their Messageboard isn't exactly giving us much credit.

One of the more bizarre incidents involved Neale Cooper, with the Boss Man banished to the stands. His misdemeanour? It appears to be for being aggressive towards a towel.... you couldn't make this sort of thing up: Ref construes throwing a towel down onto the ground as a big enough show of dissent to justify banishing the manager to the stand. Whatever next - booking a player because he walks in a peculiar way?

The big story to come out of the game as far as Pools were concerned was of course the performance of Adam Boyd. A few short weeks ago he was on his way out of the club, having finally shot his bolt; everyone was talking about him in the past tense, and it has to be said that most weren't exactly shedding tears of sorrow at his proposed departure. However, since returning from Boston for a second time he's apparently got his head down in training, forced his way back into the first team picture, and netted twice on Saturday. One swallow doesn't make a summer, and Boyd needs to prove to the fans as well as the management that this isn't just the latest in a long line of false dawns.

Meanwhile on the Loan Ranger front, Tony Williams was back in the starting lineup for Stockport in Saturday's victory over Sheffield Wednesday, with one Hatters fan saying "Even the Goalkeeper looked fairly solid...." maybe faint praise, but another clean sheet won't have done Taff's chances of earning a permanent contract any harm at all. Jermaine Easter meanwhile found himself asked to play wide right for Cambridge on Saturday following the departure of manager John Taylor; however, it seemed to be a case of "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" as they crashed to defeat at Torquay, Easter having little opportunity to impress.

This week sees Transfer Deadline Day, and although Pools are not currently thought to be lining up a last minute swoop there's always a chance of some transfer action. There are also three games in midweek, and there's a chance that Pools will be just outside the playoff places by the weekend - Bournemouth catch up their game in hand, and a win would see them move ahead of Pools into sixth. Even so, with nine games left to play our season is far from dead yet - and continues to be one in the eye for the pundits.