Indeed.

Rightly or wrongly pretty much every player playing football in Britain knows instinctively how a 442 works and who is going to be where and when.

We have a squad under pressure making silly mistakes.

So bin the tactics board, practice defending as a team and make sure we don't concede. Get Amond or Rodney to play off either Oates or Cassidy and practice their movement to ensure they don't make the same runs. Allow Deverdics to sit deep and use him as the creator in midfield. Magnay needs to support Donaldson down the right because he seemingly can't beat his man but get Magnay to draw the full back, give it to Donaldson and get the crosses in. We clearly haven't got an out and out left winger so we should get one, get fucking Monkhouse from Whitby or wherever he is

Men behind the ball when defending but plenty of pressure on the ball carrier to force the mistake.

Attack quickly and get the opposition back four turned, don't play in front of them because they can do that all day. Amond run in the gap between full back and centre half, Cassidy nod it on to him or deverdics play it over the top to him. Failing that, play it wide between full back and centre half to the advancing right/left winger.

Our current passing style is far, far too slow and allows our opposition to get back into position. I am tired of seeing our forward momentum be ruined by a winger checking his run and playing it back to the full back. Agreed, keep possession but fuck me, we should be looking to go forward quickly when in possession, not slowly.

Fucking job done.

Probably.

If you play direct you don't have to win the first ball, the midfield should be right on the second ball and giving the opposition no time in their own half. That's basic and something we don't do, especially with the fact we play 3 defensive midfielders most games.

Football is only as complicated as you make it, and in most situations the team who wants it more will come out on top, especially at this level.

Seeing a team playing at 60% effort isn't going to win games, that comes from the manager.

too many hartlepool players "going through the motions" as the BT sport expert commentator put it...this must be addressed above all other issues

I watched most of the game yesterday and in my opinion they wanted it more that you did. Cassidy seemed to be your best player but there wasn't much competition for that honour. Saw a much better game on the afternoon.

This grass excuse is wearing a bit thin. It wasn't exactly elephant grass. Shouldn't professional players make an allowance for such things?
Hmm, the grass looks a bit longer than usual, what do I do?

I caught some of your match v Maidenhead yesterday, more out of interest to see how Amond was getting on as there have been a few rumours linking the Imps with him. My overriding feeling was it brought the pain back of the Imps first two seasons in the NL and I can identify with all the frustration in this thread, I've seen it and got the t-shirt on that one.

Every team you play in the NL will be well organised and hardworking, no team will lie down because of your history in league, be it Lincoln City, Hartlepool United, Tranmere Rovers et al.

If I was Danny Cowley I'd be looking at Dave Tarpey, not Almond - Torpey was by a country mile the best player on the pitch yesterday.

~Dave the Cardboard Box

I have no doubt that in a better side who played with width and got crosses in that podge would bang them in. Problem is playing at pools who don't believe in having a midfield or any width then any striker would struggle! I really feel for our forwards feeding on scraps and having to come deep looking f the ball!.

Tarpey is 29 and his day job is engineering so he may not want to turn full time pro.
Under the heading engineering he could be earning anything. He is probably earning more than he would as a full time pro with maybe just five or six seasons left. He obviously enjoys playing for Maidenhead and doesn't rely on football to pay his way. A really great position to be in.
Give us half a million for Amond and I'll deliver him personally to Sincil Bank.....honest !!!!