The Poolie Bunker

Yes I have to agree with most of the sentiments regarding Danny Wilson but it's about time the players took their fair share of the blame with the exception of Nelson and young Foley and maybe Barron I don't see anything like the drive and passion needed to succeed in this division the amount of fifty fifty balls we lose or don't even go for is embarrassing and I'm not just commenting on today’s woeful display this has happened for the last twelve months.I don't see that a change in manager would get this team doing anything new/better as a team I think they've gone as far as they can go.Target for this season consolidate our mid table position do not get sucked into the relegation fight and root out the dead wood bring in some new faces who I might hasten to add are actually better than we already have (which is easier said than done )then look ahead to next season or maybe even the next one because like it or not there is no quick fix with this lot.

I agree, I really think that Wilson is working with one arm tied behind his back.

Of the players he's brought in only Gibb has failed to impress, Boland and Liddle have improved on what we had which is more than can be said for Scott's signings.

Obviously its frustrating as we're creating enough chances but I don't think its Wilsons fault that he's lumbered with players like Bullock, Effion, Procter, Clarke, Tinks, Brackstone etc who were all signed up pre Wilson and who are no longer up to the job.

He's not been given a fair chance and until he gets a proper pre season with his players I don't think you can call for his head.

Wilson is not completely blameless of course, but he's certainly not the main reason that we're not doing as well as our wage bill suggests we should.

I agree chips our game fell apart as soon as Daly went off and got worse from there, yes he has to take the blame/criticism for tactics and formations etc & things like that but as you've already stated he's got a squad of 30 pros but 20 of those just aren't good enough and no one else wants them so if we can't offload we'd have to terminate their contracts which would cost us therefore reducing our spend to bring players in. So its catch 22 we're stuck with what we've got for the time being and they aren't good enough. Pointing the finger of who is to blame doesn't get anyone anywhere the bottom line is were playing against mediocre opposition at best and we just ain't good enough

i'm sorry, but i thought getting the best out of your players is the managers job??

if he cant do that job [as well as picking his best players, choosing tactics/formations that play to his own strenghths] then get someone in who can!

Salty...just supposing the players don't wanna know, you could be the best manager in the world but once they go out on the pitch, the manager loses any control. the players have to answer a few questions in my mind.

Yes but each of these teams have been able to bring in significant numbers of players, especially Swindon who brought in over double figures!!! Whereas we have lost our best striker (and now maybe joel as well) who has not been replaced for reasons unknown.



Fair enough, completely agree that we should be beating a full strength Barnet side, let alone one with their current injury problems.




In terms of the substitues I can't explain, I wasn't there today but even Sweeney on Poolsworld was a little surprised that Daly was took off for Bullock.




Who's to say he hasn't tried to sign a goalscorer, none of us (despite what some of us think) know what goes on behind the scenes. Liddle is a quality player and at only 20 will improve the longer he's here. I'll admit that from a personal point of view I did not think centre mid was the priority (I personally (as well as the obvious striker) would like a left back, move humph to left wing and then use robson as an impact sub) but there is no denying that Boland and Liddle are much better than Strachan and Tinkler.

However at the end of the day he picks the 11 and he chooses the substitues and so must take some of the blame for performances like today. My only point is that a lot of people seem to think if we ship him out we'll be ok, the problems lie much deeper than that due to the rot that has set in with the players, until we get a fresh bunch (and I'm talking major surgery) then we will continue to stay at this current level.

yeah, but then you crack heads kick arses....or you motivate them get em on your side get em playing for you. dont you?

failing that you drop the useless twats!

dont you?


i'm clearly not a football manager and i never play them gams either.....

Do you want some of my Anadin Extra...?

do you want some of my kapakes...???!

poolyboydave [first line]
I agree, I really think that Wilson is working with one arm tied behind his back.

poolyboydave [last line
Wilson is not completely blameless of course, but he's certainly not the main reason that we're not doing as well as our wage bill suggests we should.

you are not allowed to sit on the fence

I'm firmly wedged in the "Wilson IN" camp, although i'm not so rose-tinted as to suggest he hasn't made any mistakes.

so how much time should he be given?

Have to say I'm starting to waver on Wilson, those substitutions today defied belief

As regards the players, in truth, with the exception of Ali Gibb who was DIRE, I don't think anybody had a bad game, problem is too many didn't have that good a game

What has happened to playing football at Hartlepool, that used to be our strength, playing through the midfield (not over it like we do now) ball to feet etc ?

Watching today I think (apart from the manager) out problem is one thing - half a second - we contantly hold the ball for half a second too long, in that half a second the tackle comes in, the scoring opportunity is lost, the opposition consolidate etc etc, surely a speculative shot on goal is better than no shot at all? Particularly when our opponents consistently come away with the ball & put us under pressure when we are pushing forward so players have to track back to defend - creating greater fatigue?

Finally, how long will gates hold up when
a) we are not winning, and
b) not entertaining

I can't say I have been entertained at a match for 15-16 months, I keep coming back, 'cos I'm one of that sick breed "a true fan", I might say "that's it, I'm not paying to watch this shit anymore" - but I'll be there next home game, like always, many aren't like me (or you out there)
What happens then? well?

I thought it was just me, Gibb did the job expected off him, as you say MJ. Only trouble was that those good crosses were not met, due to the fact that Daly and Duffy had both gone. How does Wilson expects us to score without a forward on the pitch? I don't count Eifion as a forward anymore, and Bullock certainly is not one.

Exactly! so the question is what was the point in bringing him on he was on a hiding to nothing from the start even when he had the ball he looked up and there was nothing to target, as already been said some people need to watch the game he didn't do much wrong in the 20 mins he got

there's some on this board who had Gibb and Boland banged to rights as soon as they arrived...the words journeyman and nothing special come to mind ...never ever judge a player till they've had a good run.... A certain Mr Porter would have been long gone if the same peoples advice had been heeded.....
P.S. and no, they aint all gonna make it, but everyone deserves a chance to see if they have what it takes... I HATE PEOPLE WHO PRE-JUDGE THINGS.

I didn't think Gibb played well, could have been because he had nobody to cross too, but I am entitled to my opinion! As to Bolland, after a slow start he is shaping very well & I thought Duffy did very well, particularly as he probbly had minimal training with the rest of the team

I am NOT blinkered & I am NOT a "sheep" - my view just happens to differ from yours

Now that I agree with, I'm surrounded by moaners on the MH terrace at times, does my head in. Except the officials (who got a fair bit of blasting yesterday, my kids were shocked, they hadn't heard me use words like Idid yesterday before ) I try very hard to save my moaning 'til I'm on here

People near me in the Town End were shouting 'Don't give it to Ali Bongo, he doesn't want it' before he'd had a chance to touch the ball, for f*cks sake.

Is there really any point in screaming at the lino, although I did do it myself, when he (in our opinions) gets it wrong. He's not likely to suddenly start giving all the decisions our way, is he? If anything he will probably think, I'll show the b*stards, and give every marginal one against us.