From today's Fail:

While Pools will be strengthened by the return of a number of key figures at Yeovil, the manager said that he would look at their approach, not just the personnel.

“Is it a case of changing the way we play?” said Hignett. “I like to play good football, expansive football, at times we did that against Stevenage and we were the better side.

“But then to lose in the manner we did, I have to look at myself and see if the way we play is the right way.

“Do we just bash it, make it ugly and get players who are not brilliant footballers but fight?

“There’s a happy medium between that and I might have to change the way I play. It’s for me to think about.

“I hate that way but if it means us being hard to beat and everyone doing their jobs then that’s the way we have to go."

Put it this way Craig, if you pick the same midfield and attack and Pools get thumped again, you might not get another chance to win ugly.

The way he talks here you'd think we were Brazil 1982, all flicks and dazzling flamboyance up front and all couldn't give a fuck at the back. Admittedly I've only seen one game this season (Notts Co. at home) but saw very little (quote) "good football, Expansive football". Why can't he, or any of our last few managers, see the gaping chasm where the midfield should be.

He's said too often this season that he has to play 442 to fit all his forwards into the team, even though he admits it is far from our best formation given the squad we have.
Sven springs to mind
That isn't leadership or good management I'm afraid it is pie in the sky nonsense. It clearly hasn't worked so far has it?

So knowing this was what he wanted to do and knowing the deficiencies in the squad to play that way what does he do? Sign a couple of holding players to allow him to show horn the 4 forwards in? No

Bring in some proven defensive leader to organise them? No

Oh I'll bring in more bloody forwards and see what happens.
What happened Higgy? Yeah wasn't the best idea was it?

Its all very similar to what Colin Cooper did in his pre season - put together an unbalanced squad seemingly with no thought or plan in mind.

That guy from Ossett Town or wherever who is on trial is described as a "combative midfielder" so maybe its finally sunk home thats what were missing but then if he signs him, how does he shoehorn his other 7 centre midfielders in?

Have we actually played the same side and formation 2 games in a row yet? Maybe it would help? As would getting an experienced assistant in to help.

We knocked the ball around for fun in the first half at Stevenage, it was just a shame it was so slow that we never actually got anywhere.

He said that he played the same team 5 or 6 games in a row last season and not to expect it this but he did that because we were winning and playing well, its since then our form has dropped off a cliff. He needs to step up to the mark and make some hard decisions.

I think we signed players based on stats and not there qualities. Deverdics had a great season playing a more attacking role and took nearly all set pieces, whereas when he plays for us he sits deeper and doesn't have the same monopoly of set plays. Amond scored all them goals as part of a front two alongside a target man so I'm not sure why Higgy is surprised that he players better alongside Paynter as opposed to alone like Saturday when the game totally passed him by.