Down to the manager or circumstances being forced on him?

Maybe a bit of both? time will tell me thinks

33% Yogi 66% circs 1% Lucky charms

We'll find out more when Sweeney and Howard are available for selection again.

Well done Mickey Barron.

a joke yes? very good sir!!!

ps what Poolie tim said...... let's see what happens when the gruesome twosome return from injury

The form started to turn when we beat Sheff U. The injuries to Howard & Sweeney have helped, but that isn't the sole reason. Humphreys and Walton's good form coupled with the defence suddenly looking tighter have helped just as much.

Let's hope Hughes can see that the team is looking pretty decent now and doesn't change it when those 2 are fit again.

So poor form is down to him but he gets no credit for any improvement in form?. How does that work then.

howard and sweeney will only strenthen our squad wen fit

the midfield is looking like what it's supposed to say on the tin.. a midfield!! Once a team can compete right across the centre of the park then that team will always have a chance. Lose the battle in midfield and it's almost impossible to win the game. All the team can do is engage the opposition in that area and it's game on, home and away, against any opponent

Hell, even Humphreys has performed to a good standard in there recently - although we desperately need to replace him for next season - credit where it's due both to him and Walton for improving massively.Also to Baldwin and Franks for stepping up to the mark.

It goes without saying that Wyke is already looking a ten times better player than Howard

Austin has upped his performance level, but when everyone else has done this thern it becomes self motivating to do likewise so I'm pleased for them as players and pleased for us as fans that we have something to look forward to at last going into games.

That really is all we've asked for so long, and it's only now it's happening

as for the comment about Barron.... sorry but it looks like I may have been completely wrong about Hughes. The one change in circumstances at the club was the new manager, and then the gradual change in the playing style. I refuse to believe Barron can take much credit for it, considering he was here during Cooper's disastrous reign, and he was very much in the foreground during Turner's reign... and the football was diabolical throughout that entire period

in other words, it seems very, very difficult to believe that Barron is now some sort of Terry Venables

Concur but they must warm the bench and prove their worth if they are get their chance as Walton is starting to do.

I think you need a bit more than three matches to talk about a form turnaround.
Having said that, JH clearly has some input to the good results. He is the team manager after all, and by all accounts he has fixed the attitude problem.

The worst situation would be for us to come undone (which is something we must expect sooner or later) exactly one match before the injured players are ready to come back.

With regards to Barron I was told something yesterday that fans who sit in the CK can confirm and I have absolutely no reason to doubt who I was told by. But on a number of occasions when Barron has gone off on one of his "shouting" instructions / information to players/team that Hughes has quietly pointed him back to the dug out. Maybe those who sit around the dug out area can keep an eye on that. The way it was put to me is that "It looks as if Hughes is pointing out that he's the boss and it his job to do that" As I say I dont use CK that often so over to the dug out watchers from on here.

I was informed of this at Portsmouth by a well known Poolie, who deffo has inside contacts at the club

So it is for this reason I believe Hughes influence is the major factor, and the fact that Barron's influence has been reduced, as the reason for the change in the style of play and the team looking like it can actually win a game now

This ^^


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Hughes had a really good record before he came to Pools and deserved a little more time and respect and time than what many gave hi to put his own stamp on things. The main thing at the moment is that he appears to have all the players fighting for him.

Like many managers I don't agree with some things he has done but I've always liked him and still think if we are patient he will get things right.

Well if that true, and as I've said I have no reason to doubt it, and you Mr Parmo seem to believe it, then just maybe the so called back room staff strength /hold that has been mentioned on here and other boards a couple hundred times is actually in decline.

Absolutely spot on there Chip. I agree and I think most do, Hughes got his bit of luck that he had bemoaned since joining when Howard and Sweeney got injured.

If it had been Hughes's idea to leave Howard and Sweeney out of the team I might have been more convinced. Likewise while he continues to pick Collins and Humps as first choices leads me to believe he is all wind and piss.
And when was the last time a manager was appointed to a bottom
Of the league team and failed to bring in one new player.
It could only happen under Hodcroft's regime.

mind you I will be seething if Howard and Sweeney get back in the team just cos they are fit

I hope I'm stood next to you when you find out

Oh dear ....oh dear, oh dear, oh dear .........

Any news on when they are due back from injury? Surely he cant put them straight back in can he?

What do Coral's say?

Probably about 1/100 that they go straight back in.

You are a troll and a cock.

The board's first trock?

Trollock if you've ever read Robert Jordan.

Not to the end like, cuz no one can live that long.

According to the official site, Howard is back in training but tomorrow night maybe too soon for him!!!

I refuse to believe that Hughes is THAT stupid to bring Howard back.

He isnt. Is he?

Of course not. No one is THAT stupid. Not even the postivity freaks posting on the bunker now.

I pray it's lions at the circus he's training.

there would have to be a sniper on the Mill Hose roof. There really would have to be

If, heaven forbid, the unjustifiable happens, .... there's no hope.

I was a little worried on Friday, on TTTV's pre match coverage on Friday night they showed SH training, and I was praying it was footage from earlier in the season.

I was just praying.

I'm in optomist mode today, but I don't trust him not to be stupid.

FFS surely he can't come back into the team. If there's a god he'll try and shoot in the warm up and fuck his hamstring again, either that or fall down the stairs maybe. Don't wish him Anything serious like, just a broken leg will do.

It's nowt to do with Howard really, it's down to an outbreak of common sense and the bleedin obvious in team selection by the manager.

Does nobody think that the manager's options will be strengthened if he has the potential to bring Howard off the bench if things aren't going our way?

Like others, I wouldn't be overly pleased to see him go straight back into the starting line up but I do think it's a good thing if he's fit and available to bring on if we need to change tactics or if one of our other strikers (e.g. Wyke) was to get injured.

I agree, im happy for him to be on the bench. Its a different option if we need it but if he goes straight back into the starting line up then this club fucking stinks even more than I already think.

I'm not convinced like.
If he comes on and nicks a goal but his overall performance is still no different from what it has been all season, JH will have a stronger temptation to leave him in.
Or if he doesn't nick a goal, Hughes could say something trite like he just needs a game under his belt.

I don't give a flying fk who is in the team if we're winning matches.

Although I wouldn't be pleased pre-match to see Howard go straight back into the starting line up if we won then I wouldn't have a problem with it.

All of the debate over who should and shouldn't be playing generally stems from losing.

True but two injuries to two of the first players on the team sheet week in week out and an upturn in form immediately afterwards can't possibly be a coincidence. Look at the amount of confidence certain players have gained, and JH made a tactical substitution in the Notts County game which I didn't think was possible up until that point.

If we win tonight and Howard is back in the starting 11 on Saturday, my mind will probably be made up on Hughes...

Whilst i agree with all your sentiments, I think we should all stop stressing about something that hasn't happened yet!

If Hughes rapes my mam and murders my kids my mind will be made up about him