Michael Nelson is back with his latest online blog, giving us his views on events at The Vic over the past week or so.
If you've got a question for Michael, or a comment on his blog, then email to us on media@hartlepoolunited.co.uk
Mission Accomplished...
"It was a bit of a battle at Fleetwood but we managed to get through it. It was a bit tough going at times on a foggy day with an indifferent pitch but it was all about getting through the tie at the end of the day.
"There are always going to be upsets at that stage of the competition and we just had to make sure we were not one of them."
"Everyone came in on the Monday morning and said that it could have been worse - we could have been in the same position as Leeds."
The Draw For Round Three...
"We were talking about the draw on the bus and who we'd fancy and we said we'd like any of the big four away from home or one of the three local Premier League clubs to make it a bit of a derby. We still got the Premier League tie and we were glad it was at home if it wasn't one of the bigger clubs. Hopefully we can try and provide another upset like the ones at the weekend.
"Butts (Ian Butterworth) has put in an order for some tin hats for the back lads ahead of the Stoke game! In fairness, we play against someone like that every other week - everyone seems to have someone with a long throw in our league. I think Sam (Collins) might be embarrassed to go up and do his throw - Rory Delap might just laugh at him! Sam's in the gym working out building his arms up to see if he can throw it a bit further!"
Double Injury Blow...
"James Brown's is quite a similar injury to the one he did to his other knee the first time around at Hibs. He just turned out, it wasn't a nasty tackle or anything but he knew straight away what he'd done. I was first across to him and he said at the time that it was his cruciate - when you've done it before, you know what the feeling is and what you should expect. We were hoping that it was just medial or lateral but he knew straight away what it was.
"We were really upset for him to be honest - he had a good season last year and had followed it with a good one this year. He was really heading for better things to be honest - I think he had the potential to play at a higher level, whether that be with Hartlepool or someone else. He's had a bit of a setback now but once he is back from this, he'll start on the long road back again.
"With Willie, he's been getting treatment and doing rehab but every time he gets close, there's another little niggle or backwards step for him. Last Thursday it went again and he's had an operation on it now. It's a frustrating time for Willie as well, no one likes having to go in the gym and do rehab work and not get outside. The pair of them will be stuck in for a while but they have the right people there to help them through it and hopefully they'll be back stronger than ever."
Goals for Michael Mackay...
"I was expecting him to be all chirpy about his goals but he hasn't really said much. To be honest, I think the lads have been giving him a bit of stick with the way some of the commentators were calling him the wrong name on TV. I think he was known as Mike Mackay - and as well as that we read some report saying he had just come back from a cruciate injury!"
