A Hartlepool fan writes...

[saltash seagull]

this thing with starting with bas upfront

the last 3 times he has come of the bench

northampton
southend
hartlepool

he has made an impact why change that?

 

[Albion Rob]

This is an article from The Northern Echo:-

Pools emotions exploited by Seagulls gamesmanship
By Nick Loughlin

Hartlepool United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 2

ON a day when feelings were running high at Victoria Park, emotions spilled
over.

And Danny Wilson believes his Hartlepool United players showed great restraint
in the face of some crass and unsavoury Brighton actions. It would be wrong to
call them celebrations - the mark had been overstepped.

After Richard Barker's 86th minute penalty looked like securing a point, a goal
towards the end of four minutes of stoppage time turned the game back in the
visitors' favour.

Coming at the end of the most difficult weeks for all concerned, it was hard to
take.

And when a Brighton defender thought it would be clever to goad Barker after the
decisive goal, it was too much to take.

It was at best immature and thoughtless, and at worst, disrespectful and utterly
ignorant.

Following an immaculate and poignant minute's silence in memory of team-mate
Michael Maidens prior to the game, the Pools players were heading for a
relatively satisfactory conclusion to the day with Barker's penalty.

In the end, both the game and the classless opponents conspired against events.

"There was absolutely no need for it (the Brighton reaction),'' said Wilson.
"They had won the game which was fair enough. They took their chance very well
and you have to take it on the chin.

"But the last thing you want is to have your noses rubbed in it. Whether you
respond to that it is very difficult.

"But it shouldn't be shoved in your face like it was so I can understand
Richie's anger and I still say that he showed tremendous restraint.''

Tempers also frayed at the break as the players headed for the dressing rooms,
but with the final whistle - one of the few decisive shrills all afternoon from
referee Jonathan Moss - blowing shortly afterwards, came a melee and the anger
and hurt of the last seven days came to the fore.

There's every chance the FA will investigate.

Pools could have taken a defeat, they were behind for the majority of the game,
but not the manner in which it arrived.

Bas Savage, with the same sort of erratic ability as Marcus Richardson and
considered by Wilson as a potential signing last season, rode a couple of
challenges, got a couple of fortunate deflections and curled a low shot into the
net.

Substitute Michael Mackay has a welcome habit of scoring after arriving as a
substitute and he was within an inch of managing it again.

After Barker's leveller, Mackay slid in to meet a teasing low cross. A touch,
any sort of touch, would have diverted in a winner, but the ball evaded him.
Within seconds, at the other end, Pools were hit by a Savage blow.

Wilson said: "It was a poor goal to lose the second one, because we were quite
tight at the back at that time with a full four, but we missed two tackles and
got punished for it.''

Pools were also punished right on half-time, when Willie Boland was sent-off.

Tempers had been bubbling in the 15 minutes before the break. Jamie McCunnie
tackled right back Andrew Whing on the touchline and Whing whinged at referee
Moss, rolling his sock down to show his apparent wound like a little boy showing
Mummy his grazed leg after falling from the swings.

Whing was fired up, but managed to keep his head and he wasn't booked until the
75th minute.

Boland, though, wasn't quite as regulated.

After tangling with Dean Cox, the midfielder took the bait on offer and kicked
out at the winger. Right in front of the officials, it was a futile gesture from
Boland, one of the more fiercely combative - and it has to be said disciplined -
individuals in the game.

Not on this occasion, however and Wilson admitted: "Willie deserved it. You can
go round kicking people and Willie knows that. He let himself down and he his
fellow players down.

"There was no need for it. He had to show more restraint. Maybe he was provoked
before but you have to rise above that.

"He fell into the trap. If he has got a problem with things like that then if I
was an opposing manager I would try to wind him up as well if there was a chance
he would get himself sent off.

"He has to have a calming influence from within and not to rise to the bait.''

Pools, with some of their players clearly affected by the moving pre-match
tribute, went behind when Cox crossed from the right and Ben Clark steered his
header the wrong way and into his own net.

Wilson's side had plenty of possession and played some neat football, but failed
to test keeper Michael Kuipers and the first shot he was presented with was
Barker's penalty, awarded after defender Tommy Elphick made a flying save to
keep out Andy Monkhouse's shot.

The second half, ten against 11, was sheer gung-ho football. Pools attacked
regularly, with the visitors playing on the counter attack and proving a threat
with their attacks at pace.

In the end, it was that nature of the game which caught Pools out and brought
the dramatic scenes.

Wilson concluded: "Of course emotions were running high. But it was not just
things off the field, it was on the field as well.

"It was a roller coaster type of game, we went from high to low and it was
difficult to lose a goal so late.

"But putting things in perspective, it was a great effort from the lads in
difficult circumstances.

"They have had to deal with what has happened this week and then try to put a
performance in.

"They showed terrific character, particularly in the second half, and I was just
gutted for them that we could not even come away with a draw.''

Not really much there in the way of evidence of baiting, is there?

 

[Man of Harveys]

We won, they lost, that's their tough shit.

 

[BensGrandad]

What a load of old bollox when the minute silence ends the game starts and we revert back to normal.

 

[Seagullible]

haven't really commented as not there but does seem they feel we should've let them win or at least not tried so hard. I really feel for the club and particularly the players family but there is a game to win, Bas and our players should be allowed to celebrate but Elphick does seem to have been a bit foolish.

 

[Statto]

BOOOOOOOOOOoo thats you verbally abused again...

Now get your things ready for school tomorrow...

Football and the whole match day experience is to be savored.....

How many times has it been shouted " your Gay and you know you are?" Just because we are from Brighton?

Have you ever shouted abuse in or out of a ground?

Now you are saying your mate "nearly" got physically attacked?

How close is nearly? was he on the same side of the road as you?

Get a life and stop making it up as you go along..

HAHAHA Making it up am I? If you were actually there (yeah right) you would have a dfferent opinon on this subject. The victim in the incident is 17. I suppose you think its acceptable for a grown man to start on a 17 year old kid? I supose its easy to say that from behind a computer screen isn't it Mr Hardman?

I Dont go to to school Btw. Im 23. Going by your punctuation you need to pay a vist there.

Bye bye prick!

 

[El Presidente]

I suppose you think its acceptable for a grown man to start on a 17 year old kid?

It is if your name is JONATHAN KING *paedoperv*

 

[Statto]

Well thats the first time I've seen this thread and I can confirm nothings being made up here. Having stuff said in the street is a world away from banter going on in the ground. What Pat is referring to is another lad with us being barged into and squared upto, having abuse shouted in his face and looking like he was going to go for it till his mate pulled him away. Of course it's not the biggest crisis in the world, but I don't think anyone made it out to be. And maybe having that kind of stuff happen is your idea of "the whole match day experience", but I think some people would prefer to travel to football without it...

Cheers Mat. Wise words from a true Albion fan.

 

[Statto]

It is if your name is JONATHAN KING *paedoperv*

 

[JJ McClure]

That article from the Northern Echo is biggest piece of shit I've ever read. Thank god we've got Andy Naylor.

 

[Bozza]

Another one wrote:

why is my email banned from your site? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? Just in case have an opinion that you didn't agree with.

Ridiculous. Just like that idiot Elphick. Disrespectful ugly little scum bag!

 

[Stumpy Tim]

I think it's a bit harsh to call Elphick ugly

 

[Springal]

I love the fact the Hartlepool fans are getting so wound up about this, is this the most excitement they have had in years or something?

 

[ATFC Seagull]

Don't know if this has been mentioned already, but did anyone see the section on the game on Football League Review (or whatever they call it now) on sky last night? Complete one-sided bollocks, basically suggested that despite their hardships, Hartlepool had most of the game, and Bas went over the top with his insensitive celebrations after a lucky, unearned win. Load of crap.

 

[NMH]

Our best reply to all this, is to play well and win against Luton, and put that game - and all those sour-gripers up there - behind us.

 

[tip top]

Gauranteed the away stand will be a sell out when they come to the withers so not all bad!

What's tho odds of Deano not selecting TE for the return grudge match?

 

[JJ McClure]

Don't think that Elphick needs to worry when they come down here, they won't be able to see him from the away stand anyway.

 

[Da Man Clay]

Gauranteed the away stand will be a sell out when they come to the withers so not all bad!

What's tho odds of Deano not selecting TE for the return grudge match?

1,000,000 to 1 I hope. unless he is injured of course.

 

[Tooting Gull]

There is clearly some bitter double-speak from the Hartlepool lot over this, a last-minute winner for us wasn't in the script and it sounds like they were too wound up all game. And I'm delighted we really wanted to win the match.

But it has to be said our players let down the good name of the club and the fans with their celebrations. It was a day for just scoring the goal, getting off the pitch, and celebrating in the coach. Somene should have a word with them. I don't want to read about my club not respecting the death of a young lad.

 

[Seagullible]

There is clearly some bitter double-speak from the Hartlepool lot over this, a last-minute winner for us wasn't in the script and it sounds like they were too wound up all game. And I'm delighted we really wanted to win the match.

But it has to be said our players let down the good name of the club and the fans with their celebrations. It was a day for just scoring the goal, getting off the pitch, and celebrating in the coach. Somene should have a word with them. I don't want to read about my club not respecting the death of a young lad.

well put