Workman blaming their tools. It says more about the mentality and personalities of the players than Jones for me. The teacher has left the classroom and the children are happy.

Embarrassing !

He was a tool to be fair but I see your point, in all other works of life there are areshole bosses, you learn how to work them, not spit out your dummy and stop trying, you would get fired or disciplined.

Exactly ! dunno how they would cope in the army ?. Jones we all agree was an arrogant silly boy, but the nucleus of these players didn't perform under Hignett and Cooper, the latter who I would imagine is probably one of the most meek, mild mannered, supportive manager you could wish to meet. So it appears they cant perform under a nice guy or a bad guy, only when one of the gang is in charge. Jones would of known that there was a easy street culture at the club that had to be tackled, in that case sometimes harsh words have to be spoken, what do the players expect ? someone to say they are brilliant when they are clearly not. The players clearly didn't like Jones from the off and Jones clearly underestimated the task in hand, as many have before and no doubt will in future.

There is a cancer within the club, both in the dressing room and in the backroom and it needs to be rooted out.

You left out Moore as well, he held his hands up and gave up. We know what they can do, but there's an erratic streak that surfaces on a regular basis. Jones has been a disaster in my opinion, but all the troubles can't be dumped on his shoulders. It sounds as though they were a reluctant crew who knew better..... and a bit sensitive to boot.
It's life, you get on with it.

Thomas did perform under Hignett, brilliantly. He'd scored 8 goals in less than half a season from midfield some absolutely brilliant match winning goals as well.

He's not saying he downed tools, he hasn't been not trying. But being shackled and played out of position at times, and then seemingly told he was crap eroded away at his confidence. The full team have looked beaten and devoid of confidence, it's not been a lack of effort.

One manager got the best out of him and one nowhere near that, you can see why.

I don't think the interview is embarrassing it's more insightful than anything.

I think the interview highlights simply how impotent inflexible and arrogant Jones was.

Fair play Thomas had been superb and looked a different player under Jones.

Given what Bartlett said also, he destroyed any good feeling that was around, rather than build on it.

It confirms what we all suspected.

If Thomas hadn't got injured when he did arguably Hignett would still be manager and we wouldn't be on the verge of going out of the League. The game he did was pivotal we were 2-0 and cruising lost Thomas, Donnelly got sent off and we lose 3-2. That and January everyone must go fire sale and the Dave Jones disaster. Mind if Thomas was fit and still playing like he was Coxall would have flogged him no doubt.

Don't think anyone would disagree about the impact of Thomas before his injury , and he probably holds the key to our chances of survival.

Jones certainly the worst manager I have seen at Pools, I just think there is a bit of player power in the dressing room/backroom that needs sorting out. I wonder if they voiced their concerns to Jones at the time?.

I suppose the buck stops with the Chairman/Owners, they recruit the manager, they lay down the rules ( if there are any ) that is why I have no confidence In it getting sorted out.

People respond in different ways to different managerial techniques. A GOOD manager is one who can identify individuals needs and tailor the approach appropriately.

If Thomas is the type of player that needs a hug then you hug the fuck out of him, because at his best he's unstoppable.

Wonder how much Coxall has lumped on us getting relegated. .

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I think they also forget he is 21 year old as well. A lot of players thrive on encouragement rather than taking the hard line, probably more so for someone that age

The first job of a manager in any industry isn't to motivate people but not to demotivate them. It's no different out in the real world, everyone starts a new job motivated but when that changes you have to investigate not particularly the individual but but who it was that caused the change. This is more so when there is a trend.

Agree with everyone about the need to motivate etc, but do you not think there are potential pitfalls and comebacks, when you have an employee who maybe thinks they are better than they are, who wants constant praise and attention and gets treat more differently than the other employees?. That can have a negative impact as well.

Whilst I applaud Thomas for his open and honest account of the situation under Jones and his willingness not to desert a sinking ship, you have to wonder if that's why a player with his ability and potential at the age of 22 has drifted from club to club thus far.

good articles well said Thomas lets see it on the pitch Saturday.

It seems as if Jones has one system of playing, that way seems to be pretty successful when you've got the right players in each position, but when you need to work with what you've inherited, unless you're very lucky, it probably isnt going to work.

I can't help feeling that if Jones had taken over at the end of a season, and was given a summer to create a squad around his system, then I think we would have seen a much different outcome.

But once it was obvious that his system wasnt working, he should have recognised that and changed the system for the rest of the season to suit the players. Instead he was so far up his own arse that he would rather see the club go down than admit that he might have the wrong approach.

His demeanour while he was here showed how little ownership he felt for the squad, and the frustration that he felt with having to work with what he will have felt were someone else's players.

I would have thought that someone of his age and experience would be able to cope with the frustrations of the situation, protect the team and lead them, exactly like Ronnie Moore did.

Jones is all about himself though, and telling everyone else about how great he is. Utterly devoid of tactical flexibilty and no interest in man management.