There is no doubt that the tactics for weeks have been appalling, toto right back, Featherstone behind the front man and hignett should have addressed the lack of leaders in the summer if he believed that.

But Fleming should be the defensive brain, although hignett did bring him in. I've also said it for years, but why do we always look so weak physically compared to the opposition. Anyone can change there body shape with hard work and advice. Look at bates and Martin getting brushed aside for their second.

We have two fitness coaches on the payroll, two ex professional defenders. We have lost that many games from winning positions, if a player is as out of shape as someone say bates, surely the players should be in five days a week after training to ensure they are in the best physical shape possible.

He's in charge, he takes responsibility. If we were running away with the league he'd be getting the plaudits. It goes with the territory.

“It’s not about systems, it’s about desire and standing up to be counted when the bullets are flying – and that’s myself included.
Read more at http://www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk/news/ ... epUqjyr.99

While he still sticks with his system we are in big trouble, he just cant see it!!!!!

The thing is I don't think he has stuck with his system. Early season we put in some really decent performances (Grimsby, Luton, Plymouth, Carlisle all challenging up top of table) with mixed results. During that time it was the 4-3-3 which included Nathan Thomas, our results were mixed and we had some bad luck with decisions/suspensions/injuries which cost us games and a settled back 4 was impossible. Many fans called for that system to be changed and it seems to me since he started tinkering with it (which is what many fans wanted) the results haven't improved and the performances have become a lot worse. Admittedly Nathan Thomas is a huge factor in it.

If anything I don't think Hignett is sticking with 'his' system as he's chopping and changing it game by game now sure sign of a man in panic. The main issue is a squad with piss weak defensive cover (that is young or fit enough) and no bite around the pitch in key areas. Couple this with a manager who has panicked into changing a system that was producing decent performances early door albeit with mixed results and we have the free fall we have now. Once a manager is trying a new formation game by game you're fucked, if anything I'd have liked him to be braver and stuck with the 4-3-3 which our squad is most suited to.

I'm saying that without any heart or desire doesn't matter what formation you play.

We picked up decent points tally from away games because we set up to frustrate and had Thomas on the counter attack.

I'd love to know how good our away form has been since he's been out, id go pretty damn abysmal, and paired with a shit home record it was always going to end in a struggle

Sums up everything for me.

Well it's part of the equation......