The Poolie Bunker

When Landon took over, Pools had played 25 league matches and were on 37 points and had scored 28 goals and conceded 21.

P25 W9 D10 L6 Pts37

Over the season of 46 matches, with the same points return per game, we were due to finish on 68 points.
So a little bit of investment in the right areas, would have in my opinion, set Pools up to have a better 2nd half of the season and a team more than capable of getting into the play offs.

However, in the 18 league matches played since the takeover, Pools have managed to gain 25 points, scoring just 18 goals and conceding 31.

P18 W7 D4 L7 Pts25

Which over the season would have Pools on 64 points using the same points return per game, which we will be lucky to get with just 3 matches left.

We have fallen way short and fans have a right to express disappointment with what has happened under Landon's stewardship so far.

Maybe Landon said the "right" words when he took over, however I think he had written the season off at that point, recruitment was still under the old guard and maybe contracts had to be honoured. Maybe things were agreed in the takeover with Raj to keep most things in place.

However the additions to the squad on the whole have been poor and any chance of a play off position were blown away each and everytime we came close! Was there a reason for this?!?

Many on here wanted a new manager in place in Jan/Feb so we could get things in place well in time for the new season.
It certainly looks like if we are to make a change it will be after the season has ended and we have been through that many times in recent years!

Overall since Landon took over, Pools have gotten worse, where was the surge of improvement, there was none, where was the investment that might have got Pools into the play off and kept the fans onside, there was none!

It now all comes down to what happens next, new manager, big budget, new players? Or Featherstone kept on as manager?

I was in favour of Featherstone retaining the manager's job when Landon took over. I and many others think now is time for a change, a change of players and a change of direction and this time, the right decisions are made.

But this is Pools and we hardly do anything right do we!!!

Fair assessment.
If we don't get improvement next season then we never will.
Consolidation next season only for happy clappers.

We need to hit the ground running under improvement recruitment.

UTP.

We had a brief glimpse of the way forward when Francis was here unfortunately he saw the direction the others wanted to go in and up sticks and left. Should have built around him and kicked the rest to the kerb, Miley aside.

4 games without a goal is really bad, especially the way Pools are setting up to avoid defeat, it’s not sustainable and the flip flap nature of system won’t have looked good to Bromby and team.

Theres no way a well paid football consultancy aren’t going to be talking about a branded ‘pools style of play’ and a set up where managers come in and sing to that tune regardless. And recruitment centres around that style. There is no way Featherstone back to the wall, play for 0-0 is going to be their strategy. Lincoln City are a perfect example of that. I see they win games with minimal possession but are ruthless on counter and quite direct. Built over many seasons. Pools need that and it starts with who they hire for round 1 of implementation as a manager.

The way Feaths spoke after the game, I am fairly certain he will be leaving and it is 100% the right thing for the football club to try dispel the rotten, defeatist, bi-polar internal and external mentality it has held since Dave Challinor left. He doesn’t seem to speak with solutions, just acceptance of us being, quite frankly, shite - ‘didn’t see it coming’ etc. I’m genuinely shocked Loughlin and Stelling Jnr are peddling a narrative that Feaths should stay. The only use case example I think they could look at is Rochdale’s gaffer - a former player cutting his teeth in management - who fell on hard times initially and they stuck with him - and look at them now. But I think Pools need a fresh start all over.

Landon will have a bit of ego. He will want to make a mark. I see no reason why a US businessman would buy us to f us over or not even have a go. The bit that worries me is how much clout he has given the outstanding loans and transfer activity up to now, it really doesn’t scream big investment. Carlisle and Rochdale are both US owned and it’s fair to say they spent big to get where they are now.

On the face of it so far it’s been a damp squib but look at the last 4 games and ask yourself whether you’d invest further in that. Or hold your horses, get the house in order and then go absolutely all at it for next season.

I’m writing this in hope that this is how it unfolds. There’s not a club in the NL up to the premier league that is due a bit of sustained quality and success more than Pools right now. Been so dour and downward trended since Dave Challinor was in the building. Harsh but true.

Landon had the opportunity to make a mark and, for reasons known only to him, he spurned it. Some decent signings which would have given us a better chance of the play offs, although they might not have achieved the play offs, would have gone down well with the fans and perhaps boosted ST sales but to not even try has sent all the wrong messages in my opinion.
It doesn't bode well, especially if most of the old guard remain in place.
Have we jumped out of the frying pan into the fire, I sincerely hope not but we'll soon find out.

He self professes he doesn’t know much on the football side. I presume signings of Caton and Sinclair were Monks and Featherstone stamped. I think an expectation for Landon to banish the whole board by now is a little OTT but I don’t think for a minute this was a concerted effort to try and get promoted this season. It can’t be. If not, yes, we might be facing Raj MK2.
Losing the lad to Scunthorpe is a concern though. It does look as though when Rochdale and Carlisle identified a target (Mani D and Linney respectfully) - they went and got them and paid them enough so they couldn’t say no.
Levels will be set the minute the season finishes. We can only hope.

Think LS has just about got it spot on.
Did not come in all guns blazing, But sat back and observed, Reassured everyone at the club that there would be no change before the season end.
Don,t believe for 1 min he knows virtually nowt about football, He has been travelling back and forth to the uk for years watching football (Premiere Lge)
By his own addmission he has been stalking pools for years.

With regard to running a football club he has taken the sensible option, Employing Bromby.
And i am 100% certain he will follow their advice, Doubt these people come cheap, Just like the brokers he employed to seal the deal for pools on new years eve.

I am expecting big change, That does not mean success but definitely a step in the right direction.
NSD

Well we'll know one way or the other soon enough. Obviously I hope he is successful and we move forward positively. We are firmly in his hands, the same as any other owner.
I just need convincing and to be honest with everybody, I am far from that as we speak. It's his money and he'll spend it as he sees fit and I'll do the same with mine.

I think I'll be giving Tuesday and Saturday a miss, just can't be arsed to go out of my way to be bored rigid again. I think there'll be plenty thinking the same. Fed up with the lame excuses, latest being the uncertainty around the club - only 4 or 5 weeks ago everyone was up for it and excited about the new ownership!
For those who are a bit twitchy about new contracts, why not play out of your skins to earn one? Featherstone himself generally upped his game towards the end of a season so he should understand that.

A lot will depend on what Bromby can bring to the table, what budget they are being given for players? By his own admission LS doesn't know much about football management so hopefully he can set a realistic budget and stable platform for Bromby/new coach to succeed. I think we'll know pretty soon after the end of the season which way its gonna go.

Francis started very well for Pools but lost momentum what with international call-ups and getting himself sent of after the final whistle against Yeovil.

It's also worth saying that he's done naff all since he joined Sutton - no goals, one assist.

Another thing - Pools are Johnny Come Latelys in the American ownership thing. Half the teams in the Prem are owned or part-owned by Yanks, plus 22 in the EFL. There's a few more in the NL too - besides us and York another American has just taken a controlling interest in Wealdstone! Probably after he saw the 7-0

They're not all going to win things, and they'not all going to spend a fortune trying.

I think its starting to become fairly obvious this american isnt going to splash much cash at all, if we go by whats happened so far. We had a major opportunity to reach the play offs, even just getting to wembley and we made zero attempt to do it. I think what would be nice though if we could try and sign some half decent players in the summer and at least make it look like we want to get out of this league, get a proper manager backroom staff etc and start looking like a professional football club would be a start. We have become a bit of a joke and an embarassment last few years, most of us would probobly take now that stopping and being a play off team would be a start. It shouldnt take much this league barring the odd team is dross. A bit of hope will get 4500 through the gates next year, maybe even a bit of honesty, i think will help towards that. Saying qere going to have fun goung for the play offs and then sign kids or rubbish is misleading fans yet again.

The guy at Wealdstone is involved in a number of clubs.

Think we have had every opportunity to reach the POffs, Only 1 person and 11 others stopped it happening.

Look what could have been, Think Raj was about ready to fold.

The recruitment so far has been majority the same as Radgys tenure.
Replace shit with shit and then hope luck plays a major part.

If the recruitment doesn't go to upgrades then we non league forever.

Like the majority on here seem/know we Gunna find out Early Summer how this pans out.

The £22 + £1.50 booking fee is already Takeing it's toll on pissed off Poolies and these next 2 home games will back that up.

Hope n prey don't mean jackshit.

It's now a 1 man show for our future.
We take what we get dealt.
Simple as that.
A quickiish fix or no fix.
UTP.

Anyone who has worked for American companies know they gather all the data before planning their actions. It looks to me, having worked in management for two US companies, that they’re doing the whole full analysis thing.

Smith will have reports and numbers and projections coming out of his ears by the close season. They’ll 6 Sigma it to death and he won’t do a thing before he’s analysed and absorbed them.

I say what a shame the players didn’t seem at times to share in the fans euphoria of this long awaited takeover.
I share Mr I’s view that with people like this taking over we’ve been marking time till change happens, my only regret being it could have been done with more urgency…not to succeed this season, but to be well prepared for next season.

I'm sure NF will have had targets to meet in the short term as an audition for next season, the Yanks live their KPIs, I seriously hope they weren't set so low that he's actually meeting them.

When Landon took over Dec 31st, Pools were in 9th place, 4 points behind Southend in 7th place who had played 2 games less.

I think a simple get Pools into a play off spot would and should have been easily achieved!

Defeats against Woking, Aldershot, Sutton and Wealdstone prove that the management and team are not good enough!

Hopefully the "data" being provided no doubt at a substantial cost, clearly points out the failings in the current system to Landon.
Mind you the fans could provide the feedback for Landon for free!!

There are no official figures available to see what LS is actually worth is there, millionaire/billionaire ?
Maybe not as much as were were hoping for, he must have sanctioned a salary for Liddle know idea why, we appear have gone backward since he was installed.i

Behave, There is only 1 person to blame and the buck stops with him.

That Carlisle game was the mandate to stick with but for some bizarre reason Fevs choose to eliminate it ASAP.

I agree Kev.

It seems there was a vacancy. Elliot Dickman, late of South Shields and coaching Sunderland's U-23s, is now the attacking coach for the Indonesian national side. In December he signed a contract to stay at Pools as First Team Coach till the end of the season. Maybe got a better offer?

Typical that the OS never mentioned it - or any of the local journos for that matter - but he joined the Indonesian set up in late March.

It's just as likely he got the boot from Pools so that another ex player could join the Hartlepool defensive midfield coaching party (Liddle).

Either way I haven't noticed any difference in performances since he left and Liddle started.

Might have been a clash over playing styles that forced him out, very strange there was no official announcement about him leaving?

This was put on the official site shortly after Featherstone got the managers role until the end of the season.

Pools tie down Elliott Dickman as First Team Coach
Hartlepool United are pleased to confirm that Elliott Dickman has signed a contract as First Team Coach until the end of the season, with the Club holding an option to extend.



Dickman initially joined Pools in October on a monthly rolling agreement and has since played a key role under Nicky Featherstone during his interim spell in charge.



Following Featherstone’s appointment as permanent manager last week, Dickman will now continue as a key member of his First Team coaching staff, which has guided the team to four wins, three draws and just one defeat in the Enterprise National League.



Before arriving at The Prestige Group Stadium, the 47-year-old spent more than two decades within Sunderland’s academy system, working across multiple age groups and ultimately serving as Lead Coach of the Under-23s.



He later added to that experience with a spell as Lead Player Development Coach for Newcastle United’s Under-23s, before moving into senior management with South Shields in the Enterprise National League North.



Elliott Dickman, First Team Coach, said: “I’m delighted to sign a new deal with the Club and continue working as part of Nicky (Featherstone)’s coaching team. Nicky has been excellent to work with, and I believe the work we’ve done so far has been really positive.



“His leadership and the culture he’s creating around the group have stood out, and we’re very aligned in how we see the game. He gives me the freedom to coach in the way I believe in and to contribute to the environment and standards we’re building together.



“I’m excited about what we can achieve as a group and the foundations we can continue to put in place for the longer term.”



Nicky Featherstone, Manager, said: “Securing Elliott as part of the permanent coaching staff was really important for us. Since he joined in October, he’s had a positive influence on the group, both on the training pitch and around the dressing room. During my interim spell, his support, detail and professionalism were invaluable and it quickly became evident how well we worked together.



“Elliott is an excellent coach with a strong track record in the game and a real ability to get his message across to players. We share very similar ideas about how we want the team to train, play and carry themselves. I’m delighted he has committed to the Club and I’m looking forward to continuing that work with him.”



Joe Monks, Head of Football Operations, said: “Elliott has been an integral part of the work done with the team since Nicky transitioned into his managerial role. It was a natural step for us to ensure he remained part of the coaching staff. The rapport they’ve built over the past few months has been clear to see and that relationship will be important as we continue to move forward.”



“Elliott brings a wealth of experience and is a well-respected coach in the North East. He has already contributed significantly to the standards we are putting in place across the First Team and securing him for the longer term allows us to continue developing the staffing structure we believe will support the Club’s progress.”

He wasn't forced out. He upped sticks and left. The only clue he'd gone was Feaths mentioning it after the Boreham Wood loss. Money talks.

None of us know, relationships fail in all walks of life. Why no announcement when he'd gone, from NL to International team coach if expect the club go be bigging up the fact he'd been here? Could've been a falling out, could've been related to the Francis falling out for all we know. One thing for sure is something appears to have gone tots up at the club from the point Fev was announced permanent manager. Up till then we were doing well in the league, we were playing more attractive football game on game.

Bigging up? Indonesia are 122nd in the world rankings - just below Togo and above the Faroe Islands

you mean something along the line of fevs and the players deciding to play that night. all through the season we have been bang average at best but all of a sudden a good performance comes out of them. have always thought if you can do it one week you can fo it the next. is that the reason both sinclair and john are with us instead of still being at york. play off contenders by arse, not when you sign a rivals 2nd choice keeper and your main goalscoring threat is the moody reid who only pools think he is a target man.

we would easily get 4,500 through the gates with fev ball id we were winning and even more if we got the results by attacking football with a new club legend banging in the goals. if out new owner is not prepared to invest something in his hobby then whats the point of buying the club in the first place. never got too giddy at takeover time so i,m not wtiting this new chapter of pools just yet.

If LS was serious about promotion why didn’t he say he would pay a bonuses, first one for reaching the play offs, next one for reaching the final and the final one winning the final and being promoted.

Probably too tight with his money when he first took over!
Not that he would have lost any cash if he had offered any bonuses, players are not good enough!

Lets have a vote, Get Raj back in.
C,mon lets do it, FFS

LOL!!!
I said at the time, Raj did well to get out of Pools, he will be well pleased!

Major frustration after LS made the "try for the play offs and have fun", the season has just fizzled out. Hard to believe it's anything to do with contracts running out and uncertainty - doesn't that apply to every player coming to the end of a contract at every club, and why not play out of your skins to earn a new contract out a decent move?
Would've been better in hindsight if he hadn't mentioned play offs or fun and asked for patience.
There were some who thought getting shot of Raj would be a magic bullet at the club, it appears the real problem is further down the food chain?

It really is far far to early to be judging LS and comparing him to Raj. He has only been here five minutes compared to raj so just see what happens!.

63%ish

Maybe Smithy thought a few positive words and a shit load of luck = Success.

Reckon after watching the games from afar on DAZN he's now realised it was just a pipe dream the play offs banter.
And that's why he's brought in Bromby to turn this sinking ship afloat.
Obviously he's been hindered by what looks like all old contracts had to be honoured with no gardening leave.

Now from May the only way is up.

Like I've said previously it ain't a difficult fix.
Fairly basic.
But baby steps ye.
Let's start with staying in the play off mix game 46 next season.

UTP.

that showed in his first game at the vic where the attendance was miles better than normal. just what difference did these new fans expect from the players. johnson scoring a hat trick and walker flying down the wing leaving defenders for dead. like most new managers you get a short honeymoon period before its business as usual.

Did we get any "new manager bounce" (or new owner) at all? We rarely seem to when we change mid season - does that mean the playing squad is just not good enough?
Or is it the case of the new manager not being capable, look at the difference Elliott has made with the group of players he inherited at Gateshead?
I think it's the latter given that we've managed good performances but seriously lacked consistency.

Only if your counting them Kev

still think there has been no difference at all to the grayson/singh days to the new regime. its been another wasted season with only a couple of games worth remembering. think the first match we saw keith curle in the building said it all about a manager bounce. 5 nil home defeat to challinors stockport.

Yep it seems every time we play a team on a shocking run or having a new manager they turn us over whereas we never seem to do it to others. Is there a gypsy curse on us?

a gypsy would be wasting a curse if they put one on pools. being incompatant is enough. you could take a hammering at wealdstone if we managed to do one at the vic.

What year was it the gypsy’s were ‘camping’ in the club car park and were evicted….?
You never know