Hello and welcome to the latest instalment of my blog here at hartlepoolunited.co.uk.

Looking back at last Saturday's game at Swindon Town and we did great - I think we did all of the damage in the first half and the main thing was to get the win, which we did.

We worked hard in the game, as we have done at home but just not got the luck but that will have to change. We can't keep going without getting a bit of luck in front of goal at home - that will definitely change. We have a few games coming up and if we can pick up a few points, we will be up there in the league.

The midfield is key for us as strikers and it is good to have Ritchie Humphreys, Sweens and/or Ritchie Jones in there to hold that base for us because we can push on then if we have that solid base.

I think we are starting to gel as a team now, everyone knows now what everyone else is capable of and in full flight it will take a lot to beat us.

I think at home there is a different pressure - we want to play really well in front of our fans and we try and do that bit more. Whereas in an away game if we got the ball down the line, we'd probably get rid of it, at home we would try to do something with it. But that will come right - we will come good like we did against Walsall.

Looking ahead to Saturday's game with Tranmere Rovers, it is always difficult playing against a team who have just lost their manager because they have nothing to lose, there is a new manager coming in and they will all have to be playing for their place - it's a clean slate really.

We just need to make sure we play like we know we can and try to get the points.

I've been asked on a few occasions now why I didn't take that freekick at Swindon and the only reason is because the goalkeeper did leave a gap to his left hand side. Ritchie did say that I'd probably hit it over if I took it and he was probably right but if the gap was the other way, there would have been no way he was getting it. But the keeper left a little gap to his left and we thought it was better for Ritchie to take it.

By the way, there is an issue that I have to put out there and it surrounds our Physio. We've come a long way this season but I think the Physio hasn't come far enough!

I have had a dodgy elbow since the Coventry City game and Jimmy (James Haycock) has told me it is fine because I can move it. It's like having a car with a burst tyre and saying there's nothing wrong because you can still drive it.

It's not tennis elbow because I don't play tennis, it's an injury from combat wars and I think Jimmy needs to get on the Internet and find out what it is. I've got two slits in it but it's not ligaments. It's really painful if I knock it or fall on it and I think we may need to be looking into the transfer market for a new Physio if he doesn't sort it out soon!!

There's a couple of new cars at the training ground these days - Browny was obviously impressed with my car and has gone out and got a similar one and Ritchie Humphreys has bought himself a bit of a granddad car, which I suppose he needs with him having the new baby.

Overall it's been a good week at the training ground and hopefully we'll get a win on Saturday and next week will be the same.

I've had a few more questions sent in this week and so here goes;

What do you make of Poolie legend Jeff Stelling calling you the 'Beast' on his Soccer Saturday show? Also, now you've been here a while who is the biggest moaner in the squad?!
Scott Llewellyn

I'd have to say the biggest moaner has to be Monks (Andy Monkhouse) - every morning he's got something on his mind! It can be Gary Liddle too to be honest, he's not the best at training!

In terms of Jeff Stelling calling me the Beast I would love to know where he got that from. He must have been looking around on the internet because that is what they used to call me at Cork. It was a bit of surprise to hear he'd said it and people keep asking me where he got it from. I suppose I can't complain - it would be worse if he was calling me Softy or something!!

Do you think you are the guy to get us 20 goals a season as we desperately need that consistency from a striker this season?
Ian Richardson

That's put me on the spot hasn't it? What a question that is! In Cork I had a few different stints in the team, I'd play four or five and then not be in the next game but here I've had a good run and scored four goals so far. By that ratio it's about one in three which would put me somewhere near the fifteen or sixteen mark. If I can hit that then I will be happy and anything further will be a bonus.

As a child, which strikers or players did you look up to?
Adam Morgan, Hartlepool

Marco van Basten. He just had a bit of everything; he was a prolific scorer in what was a great Dutch team at the time. When I was growing up it was always him who I'd look up to. Later on I guess I watched Denis Bergkamp a lot - well he does have the same initials as me! He was a class act too - a finisher but also a magician with the ball.

It's good to see a new signing playing with a committed and hungry to win attitude like yourself, so I along with the rest of the fans will agree that you have been a great signing. However, I was just wondering what you think are the main differences between the English and Irish League(s) and where do you realistically think we will finish this season?
Wik Morrell

First of all, I just think that's the way I play the game. I will always give full commitment no matter who I play for. Back in Ireland it's all like that because you play for your town and there was always rivalry so you grow up with that kind of attitude. I have always played the way I do now and I think that if I didn't play with the hunger I do then I wouldn't be as effective for the team - I need that high tempo and work rate.

Moving on to the differences in the league, I would say it's to do with the skill level which is higher here. In Ireland the tempo and work rate is just as high because we close opponents down very quickly, but teams perhaps have a weakness somewhere, whereas here you will find teams are more rounded and therefore more difficult to break down. Ireland is quite long-ballish too but we try to play it through the midfield more.

In terms of a league finish, well when I came over Chris Turner told me that he wanted us to be in and around the top ten at Christmas time and then try and be in a position to challenge higher up in the later part of the season.

The way we've started I don't see why we can't hit those targets and be inside that top ten which will give us the confidence to push on. We're nicely placed at the moment and I certainly believe we have the squad to challenge the top eight and then who knows beyond that?

Right, that's it for this week but if you'd like to send in a question for me, email it in to media@hartlepoolunited.co.uk and I'll do my best to answer them.

Enjoy the game on Saturday.

Denis