The Poolie Bunker

Been away with work, so not had time to comment.

Im just talking theoretically here, but what if Landon goes, right I am going to invest 'big money' in the summer for a proper promotion push.
I for one wouldn't trust Featherstone to be be in charge of that money, he is far too defensively minded.
It is almost a crime, when we have had a free hit in the remaining games this season to try to push to get in the play-offs (very unlikely I admit but not mathematically impossible) and he insists to play 1 man isolated up top.
He let the one pacey attacking player we have in the squad Francis go and brings in a 34 year old, who hasn't played in nearly 2 years.
Managers are supposed to manage people, if the rumours are correct and Francis was talking out of line, discipline him.
However, for me the post match interviews are most worrying, he stated 7 out of 9 points before the weekends disgrace.
While this is correct, Gateshead were dominating us with 11 men before the sending off!

Sorry we need to clear the decks and get rid of Nicky before next season and get a someone in who has some bottle to give it a real go.

I think he may have inadvertently huffed the players who are currently here by stating that we need improvement to certain areas of the squad, it's a real demotivator for a player currently in those positions to hear that I guess.

“and he insists to play 1 man isolated up top”
He will on the plastic, Saturday.

I,ve listened to more than a few managers in my time, As we all have.
And he is by far the most, Demotivational i have heard.
He has said recently that he has given them both barrels at HT, If so then he is trapped in the past.

Good call, it was evident that several players didn't seem remotely fired up for Saturday's game. Additionally, Feaths had also indicated last week that he planned to bring two or three more signings in after the PL/EFL window had closed which may also have impacted on some of the players mindset. I recall that LS has kept Feathers in place on a probationary basis for the remainder of the season - unless there is a an unprecedented change in recent performances and results I honestly can't see Feaths being in the team managers role beyond May.

Feaths secured the role on the basis of the results gained (primarily against mid table outfits) whilst he was caretaker manager. Most of us were satisfied to see him given the opportunity and he enhanced his reputation with the stunning win at Rochdale which, with hindsight should have been unachievable given the current motley collection.

Since then however his credibility has taken a nosedive with poor team selections and tactics, a seemingly unmotivated squad, over optimistic statements and banal post match interviews, not to mention the seemingly knee jerk reaction of the release of Francis, one of the very few players who could make a difference. The jury is out on Holohan V2 although Sinclair was one of the few who put in a good shift on Saturday.

Blaming the players for Saturdays fiasco by inferring that 'pressure' may have got to them against the 5th bottom side when they had already dealt with two 'pressure' games against Alty and Gateshead simply doesn't wash. REAL pressure in football can be defined by Ritchie Humphreys converting the penalty that could have taken 20k Poolies to the L1 playoff at Wembley (if not for the concurrent bloody rebuild) OR the brave performances of the players who undertook Ronnie Moore's 'Great Escape' from falling into the hole that we are trying unsuccessfully to extract ourselves from.

Finally, Feaths has stated that the players don't need motivating when Pools face the top clubs but don't seem to fire themselves up when we are playing the lowly teams. Aside from the fact that it's his job to see that the players are motivated for each and every game, do Pools not have forthcoming opponents watched? Feaths said that he didn't see the Aldershot performance/result coming - does this mean that no one connected withe club bothered to watch their recent improved performances?

not sticking up for him in any way but have a listen to john colemans interview on youtube. one comment was thats its rare for a team to go out and all perform at the top of there game. that and us being underpar caused the result. its not as if we have not seen similar performances under other managers with bigger scorelines against us. feel expectations have risen from a few poolies just because of new ownership and not what goes out onto the pitch.

I see Smithy as the type of guy to honour the remaining contracts.

Then rip up this shitty script he inherited major style.

This season s over but the Proper Takeover Decisions will happen in May obviously for the better.

Thats why he applied the word Patience.

UTP.

Don't let the rest of the season depress ya kids.
Keep ya chins up and the beer garden season ain't to faraway.


What a Double.

Nice.

the contracts might have been part of the deal when he bought the club and has to honour them until the season ends.

Although we obviously don't know too much about him, I would agree that LS does not seem to be a guy to readily cancel contracts. However, contracts can be bought out to the benefit of all parties as it allows more time for those affected to secure employment in advance of the summer bunfight for players, managerial and coaching personnel.

He could have a chat with NF and suggest he reverts back to coaching, Saving face.
Think LS will have seen and digested the situation and would not have entered the club blind.

He,s known in the past for coming to the UK to watch matches on a regular basis so i think he and his team will have many contacts.

Let's hope so as it's painfully obvious that we need at least six or seven decent players if we are going to get anywhere near a realistic promotion push next season.

Never easy when you come ‘off the tools’ and become the gaffer, comments like what the f**k do you know, you were lucky the same as us the other week.

You’re right Jamie, but sometimes some lads who are respected do get away with it, but it can be awkward for both party’s.

lets say its harder for some than others. a lot depends upon how close and matey he was with the players and can he get respect as being the same old fevs. problem is there will be more than one who takes the piss as i found out myself.

I can't think of any player who's made the step up from playing for a club to managing that club and succeeded.
Ready to be put right though.

have wracked my brains for a couple of weeks now and i cannot think of anybody. its very rare as well to appoint someone direct from the coaching staff and them to succeed as well. its been done but not a raging success though.

Kevin Keegan (yes a bit of a gap in years but he retired in 1984 playing for Newcastle, first management job with them in 1992).

Yeah I was thinking more along the lines of moving directly from being on the books as player or player/coach straight into the dug out as manager.

Kenny Dalglish won the league as Liverpool's player-manager in 1985 (then did a pretty good job after that up until the 90's).

Bob Paisley, player, reserve team coach, assistant manager and then manager for Liverpool Can't get any better than that!

Generally speaking, it was the exception for top players to move into management…the best managers were those who were bang average players in their day, management is a totally different kettle of fish to playing.

But even Paisley didn't go straight from being registered as a player to managing Liverpool, wasn't there nearly a 20 year gap, he progressed as a coach then assistant manager under a fantastic mentor in Shankly. Liverpool had what seemed to be an established and efficient route and career development for ex players I seem to recall.
Fast tracking NF is likely to severely damage any managerial carreer aspirations.

Shankly came in and wanted to keep the current coaching staff.
I doubt if he came to Pools, he would do similar!

different era and i,d guess he,d have to sack more at pools who are involved in the football side than a 1960,s liverpool.

is there actually a curse on the name Featherstone. we have nicky and that small town in yorkshire with that name has lost its RL club thats gone bust.

Ah that's a shame. My one and only trip to watch a Rugby league match was when Featherstone Rovers beat Hull at Wembley to win the Challenge Cup Final. The Landlord of my local pub ( sadly no longer with us was an ex RL player) and he got some tickets and gave me one of them. Great day out. I have watched it on TV but that was the only live game I've been to.
Sad news.

a real local village type of a club who seemed to have a lot of lasses watching them when it wasn,t the thing. In the modern climate having a ground called Post Office Road would not have been a help. Corner of the co op might have been more close to reality.