If you're after a whinge fest forget it. It's about time we analysed just what is going wrong.
From my seat in the stand I see a gaggle of individuals, not a team. I see no pattern of play and a shocking ability to snatch defeat from victory with inexplicable collapses.
There appears to be a continuation of the abysmal limp along form of recent years and an inability to produce a consistent committed performance from the players.
I really don't like pointing out players for criticism but some have me asking how are they on the pitch ?
What is going on, is there going to be a point where it all falls into place or are we in for yet another fingers crossed season.
Is it the players, the management or is there something going on that we don't know about ?

No character, lack mental strength when backs are against the wall, heads go down far too easily (or lose them too easily considering our disciplinary record) no leaders on the pitch. It's time we started signing a few men and not boys.

What we lack, and have done for a while now, is a midfield.

Laurent looks good and Hawkins has developed into a very decent player but we lack the type of player who will afford some defensive protection and steel.

All good teams have someone like that and some play with 2 which allows the forward players to get forward and do their thing in the confidence that there is a solid base to attack from. We don't have this.

When we lose possession up front we are way too permeable and allow teams to get through and run at us unchallenged. Featherstone for my money is our issue. He isn't good enough. Doesn't score, how many assists, he has zero pace and can't stretch a midfield with a surge, no range of passing, can't tackle and we seem to build our midfield around him. Xavi of league 2 my arse.

I know there is a danger of harking back but someone in the mould of Tinkler, Widdrington, Boland or even Stephenson would improve us significantly. Steva may have lost his pace but he could sit in, pick a pass and when a gap appeared he would run through it with control of the ball and commit opponents.

Does having Featherstone bring the best out of Hawkins or Laurent?

We are conceding goals in batches and in quick succession which points to a weak middle. Add to this a defence containing either or both of Harrison and Richards who are just not good enough for this level, and we have a problem.

Porous midfield and a defence that can't defend and we are where we are.

How will it change? When a manager sees it and makes the change.

Chip made a great point last night about Bates, Jones and Harrison all being in the squad and this bordering on being criminal, and that is down entirely to Hignett.

Compounded by him bringing in young lads who he has talked about as adding strength to the reserves!! We need someone to come into the first team and just bloody defend, kick a few team mates backsides when they switch off and someone to lead by example. But ultimately just defend.

Too many sending offs have cost us games and points when we've led in games we probably would have won with 11. When we play 10 men we lose shape and can't take advantage.

To cut a long story short, we lack leadership on the pitch, a manager who is able to structure a team to be solid and organised with a clear purpose, and discipline. We lack a backbone. We lack discipline and not just about the sendings off but people doing the job they are being asked to do (free kick and corner vs Carlisle down to lack of discipline and taking responsibility).

Who takes responsibility on the pitch when we look like we are about to implode? Nobody it seems.

Did Ken Hodcroft sell his car & private number plate to the club or one of the staff? If not, why was the car parked in a club staff car park space last Saturday?

Here's just a wild guess.

He was at the match.

He was chairman for 17 years do you think a switch got flicked the day he left the job and he stopped being interested in the club. It baffles me why people read anything more into that.

It did seem strange that the car was there on the same day as his "beloved Newcastle" were playing at home, but in a staff car parking space?

He car was there because he was!!!

It is not that strange that he was at the match he was at quite a few matches last year. The Norweigans were over last weekend for the annual kick about. After being chairman for that long I'd imagine he still has a few contacts to organise that and get a car park space when he wants to come to a match. Where do you expect him to park near the Raglan!?

Hodcroft still owns the club

Joel porter never replaced we need a midfield general

I do get all the points being made about the midfield but I think it's unfair to single out Featherstone just because he isn't as good as Borland/Stevo/Tinkler etc. it goes for all of them in there in terms of dominating leadership style.

However when singling out the midfield as the main reasons for the failings it's worth noting we have conceded 14 goals from set pieces. I know Bates isn't everyone's cup of tea (I think mainly because he's inexplicably injury prone), but his experience and organization and talking and leadership. If he was fitter he wouldn't be playing at our level I think that's the rub.

Yes, Joel Porter used to boss the midfield in his day. Absolutely legendary midfielder for Pools.

Just a shame we wasted him by playing him up front all the time...

Excellent from Poolietim I would like to add one thing !You get what you pay for! We would all like to see players of Tinkler, Bolland, Nelson etc class but from what I understand that eara were on wages of around £2000 a week our present wages I am lead to believe is around £800 per week. Part of that must go down to the cheap season tickets.

Our season tickets aren't cheap


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Bates started 35 League and FA Cup games last season and was the best player in the back four in most of them. He's a massive, very frustrating miss this season but was well worth a contract extension - unlike Jones and Harrison.

The lack of leadership on the pitch is indeed the main issue and I can only imagine Jones got a contract in the mistaken hope that he'd play enough games to bring some to the team.

The people who have captained the team so far this season are a big pointer to the lack of natural leaders. Feathersone and Amond? Seriously? I suppose you've got to stick the armband on somebody, and they are relatively senior pros, but I don't see any evidence that they are organisers on the pitch.

Paynter is obviously a big character in the dressing room who had an immediate impact when he joined the club at the army boot camp. But he's not getting his game any more and doesn't look likely to force his way back into the starting 11 any time soon.

I don't think the owners can be faulted for the support they have given to the manager. Another trialist got a contract this week; Pools have one of the biggest squads in the division. OK, most are young lads who aren't on big wages, but for an average League Two club (bang in the middle on attendances so far this season) who don't have a rich owner, Pools are probably spending as much on players' wages as anyone should reasonably expect.

Coxall was on Twitter yesterday saying he and Hignett have already got a few targets in mind for the transfer window - no prizes if they are a couple of experienced pros. Let's hope Pools are mid-table at Christmas and have half a chance of attracting them!

i think you must look at the management. He has been allowed to bring a large chunk of players in but seems incapable of getting results, not playing well consistently and not being able to bring decent players in to sort what has to be one of the worst midfields in the country. Also the value for money at home games this season has been non existent infact most games have been pretty boring.

Hubep go back to season ticket prices in the Tinklers etc era and compare them to now! And let's not forget Uncle Ken was subsidising the team also then.