By Albatross
November 1 2004

After a less than impressive win on Saturday, Hartlepool United found out their FA Cup opponents, took solace in their youth team result, and started preparing for the LDV game at Carlisle. Experimentation is likely - and so, in my view, is a defeat. Saturday's game was no classic, but three points were much more vital. The fact that we won without Boyd and Nelson playing was an added bonus - we may be having to bring the kids in, but they are usually rising to the occasion. While a bit more experience wouldn't go amiss, some of that is likely to come from Ross, Robertson and Clarke as they return to full fitness.

The youth setup certainly seems to be paying off for Pools. A round dozen players that are either still qualified for or recent products of the youth system have appeared for the first team already - and even though three current youth teamers were involved on Saturday, the u19s still recorded a 7-2 victory at the weekend. While there may be concerns in other areas, the work done by Martin Scott, Paul Stephenson, Billy Horner and Ian Kerr with the Youth Team and Centre of Excellence over the last few years is beyond reproach - we have surely never had this quality and quantity of young players at any point before.

Although our win on Saturday lifted us up a few places, the difference between home and away form was thrown into sharp relief. At home we can occasionally play badly and still pick up points; away we can play fairly well and come away with nothing. Saturday's results mean that we now have the 3rd best home record in the division - but also the worst away record in League 1.

Cooepr has indicated that he's considering changing systems, and tomorrow's LDV game at Carlisle is probably the ideal opportunity to try a few things out. There's even been a rumour that the unhappy Nelson may be tried out up front - and I suspect that with Jack Ross rapidly approaching full fitness we may give 3-5-2 a try, with Ross and either Humphreys or Robson as wing-backs. Carlisle will probably take this competition more seriously than Pools - they have after all done well in it over the years, reaching the Final a couple of times - and with a couple of familiar names (Arnison, Lumsdon and maybe even Henderson) in their lineup they will have plenty of motivation. Currently sitting in second place in the Conference and scoring plenty through the likes of Magno Viera (a Brazilian from Wigan according to Soccerbase), Karl Hawley and Andy Preece, it won't be any surprise at all to me if they beat us - especially if we are experimenting.

More interesting is the FA Cup draw against Lincoln. Pools will be glad it's at home, and although it's not an easy tie against non-league opponents there are tougher teams we could be playing than one halfway up Division 3. They will be no pushovers, but especially given our home form this should be a game that Pools can look forward to with some confidence.

Meanwhile, it has taken no time at all following the sacking of Dave Jones for rumours to surface that Cooper may be a candidate to take over. Whether it's going to get any further I'm not sure - there are other managers out of work with a higher profile - but it looks suspiciously like he will be linked to every job going in Division 1. Will this be like Chris Turner all over again?