Anyone Think He Will Be Still Manageing Pools Next Season ??

Sadly i do yes !!

Hope im wrong because if im not were in for another long depressing 9 month !!

yes i do and i think he will bring success again
oh you of little faith

no he will be gone

I think he'll stay, but on a rolling contract - a trial, basically. I think it's the only way if we do keep him on.

Read Ken's program notes. It translates into a straightforward answer:

Translation:

It's not been great but there you go, the management and players have not performed as well as we've hoped but not badly enough to sack anyone. Consider this a yellow card Mr Wilson.

Well the fans can issue 'cards' as well... let's see how season ticket sales go.

They cant though Snowy. By the way, I'm not particularly pro Wilson but I'm not rabidly against him either. I'm simply trying to take a pragmatic perspective in that I just don't believe he will be sacked and actually, I don't think taking the past two seasons as whole I don't really think he deserves to either.

I've come to the conclusion he's 'Scotty -Lite'.... whereas Scotty had you pulling your hair out, we now have a damp gas of football techno babble delivered in a monotone Stanley unwinesque 'style' that just frankly bores me.

If wilson stays, crowds will get smaller, he will bring in more inept players, who we will be stuck with, and it will be another crap season, he must go!

i get the feeling uncle ken is sharpening his knife

Hope im wrong but i have a hunch he is here to stay and Nelson will also be released.

If Collins can steer clear of injuries, him and Clark would have to be the preferred pairing at the back. Would Nelson be happy on the bench at Pools?

if Collins can stay fit.

and not rack up too many bookings

He will stay. He'll deserve to stay. Nelson won't be released.

We have changed manager too often over the last few years. It never helps.

Wilson inheritted a team that had been losing for 18 months (an unfashionable truth I know but Pools were dreadful in Cooper's last 3/4 months long before Scotty got hold of us) - he turned the momentum round and has built a team that has not sparkled but has not been in any danger of being relegated at any point of the season. That's solid achievement for me despite having to deal with frequent injuries to the forward line.

Also season ticket sales will have some bearing but not much. IOR put in more money each year than comes in from season tickets anyway. (assuming 1500 x 360 = £540000(for adults) plus 500 x 100= £ 50000 (for kids) = £590,000 from season tickets , IOR put in £750K per year on average.)

Ken will do what he wants - and that seems to be to back Danny Wilson and let him have one (probably only
one) more season to attack the play-offs.

So.....if less money is forthcoming from season tickets, IOR will have to put in even more money in to compensate for lost income surely? Your theory as such, is so illogical, I could believe you're an accountant.

I was merely meaning that at most clubs what comes through the gate is crucial. At Pools it is less so.

The improvement in playing staff and quality on the pitch at Pools over the last 8 years has been little to do with money through the gate - more to do with the 750k a year on top of the gate money that IOR have paid.

The effect that any kind of boycott would be much less at Pools than almost any other league club.

And please go gentle with me when criticising my maths- I don't post often - though I have a little more time since I got paid off from Northern Rock!

By your figures, those season ticket sales are 78% of the amount that IOR put in, although obviously any reduction in sales will not be a total reduction, ie no sales at all. Even so, season ticket sales besides being a sustantial guaranteed income give an indicator of the mood amongst the supporters.
Tell me the Northern Rock comment was a joke.

Where is this 'Wallsall' of which you speak?

Is it near Darlington?

Have we made progress this year? I guess that safety in the next division up is 'progress'. So Danny just about get's Ken's vote. It could have been better if it hadn't been for some of his team selections and tactics. And I haven't yet seen the accounts - the size of the crowds is a real concern. But it still looks like progress from what I can see. If Danny has plausible ideas for making further progress next season, then he'll get another year. He's an experienced guy, so, I'd predict he'll put together a plan to get the nod from Ken.

Progress...? it's the sort of 'progress' in much the same way as giving cannibals knives and forks to eat with is progress, we're missing the big point here, stop looking at the etherical balance sheet and ask yourself... do I enjoy going to Pools anymore, is Saturday still special anymore, is the anticipation there....?
I do not want to waste another precious season as a bemused bystander witnessing the entire emphasis of the game since its inception, switch from entertaining the crowd, to humouring Professor Tinkermann and his theories on the game
The best that can be said of the football so far, is that it gives you impression of being on life support in a deep coma without the inconvenience of being in hospital and that's ...... 'progress'?

As for the likely finishing position in 2007-08, you may recall these comments:

'what annoys me the most is when 90% of fans on the message boards state at the start of the season that they will be happy to finish 20th or above. Then when we show inconsistency and are hovering around 15th place they all start booting off claiming that the club are going backwards and that they want the manager sacking!!! maybe my maths is crap but surely 15th is BETTER than 20th?????' Misterb2001, 2 Feb 2008

'my benchmark at the start of the season, before a ball had been kicked was 14th. i said in the fanzine that was where i expected us to finish and anything less than that would amount to us failing.' (Chip, 3 Feb)

Well it won't be 14th, Chip, but has Danny done significantly worse than that? I don't think so, and neither does Ken. Has the manager of the year for last year become the prize chump of this year? I doubt it.

Let's get real. We are in a much better division than some of the woeful rubbish of last season (eg Boston) and so some of the same players have not appeared to be the world beaters of 06-07. Suprised? And we couldn't sign some of the players we would like because we couldn't compete with Swansea (Duffy) or Leeds (Elding). Surprised?

Danny Wilson is no fool and knows he needs to improve on the position for this year and to get some better players in to do it, not least to ensure the crowds turn up in 08-09, especially the fickle Snowy. By the way, that balance sheet is not an ethereal concept - it's what allows you to employ players and to get the grass looking so nice. We shall finish mid-table this season and have actually scored more goals at home than any other team. You must have missed them while you were at the pie shop, Snowy. The last couple of poor games shouldn't entirely cloud your judgment of the whole season. There has been progress this season. It could have been a bit better. But it's still progress.

You don't see progress? We'll from a Division 2 side, we now have a Division 1 side which is mid-table. That strikes me as progress. Was it achieved with dire football? Some performances in the past month were dire, but we did score 40 goals at home along the way. 'Consolidation' not good enough for you? Perhaps you'd like to invest more than 3/4 million per year and then we'd be able to buy Duffy and Elding and do a lot better.

I likewise feel disappointment because we are not in the playoffs like usual and because we all have a feeling we could have done better with these players. That is not to say there has not been any progress. This is not blind faith. I've been to most home matches this year (including Saturday) and half the away matches this year.

Some players have progressed - James Brown, Gary Liddle have been pretty good in a higher division. Some are about the same - Ritchie H, Ben. Some have shown that they are probably a bit short for this division - Foley (obviously!) and Matty Robson and Michael Mckay and Willie Boland. Porter will certainly go, though partly for family reasons. Brown will go if the money is right, and, for his sake, I don't think we can complain about that, just as we didn't when Boydy went.

If Wilson stays, he will be supported with decent money. Let's hope that, unlike last summer, he can spot some better talent (though I'm not sure I'd count Ian Moore as a footballing failure). New signings will help ticket sales. And the target for Danny Wilson is he must progress on this year, otherwise he's out. I'll be buying a season ticket in those circumstances.

I feel disappointment because the football we've had to watch has been poor (please don't quote the goals scored column again cos you must know what I mean).

That will hinder season ticket sales.

As things stand and with the mutterings that are coming from existing season ticket holders, we will definitely see a drop in season ticket sales. If on the other hand a few positives emerge between now and pre season training such as two or three decent signings and a return of the early bird discount then a lot of people will renew.

I'm with NH (Noddy Holder? ) on this one like.

That is a key for me.

Otherwise the "saving" on paying on the gate doesn't make it worthwhile.

I say it's progress rather than consolidation. Consolidation would be standing still - ie at the level of a top Div 2 side. We're now better than that.

How do I know how much money has been invested? I read the accounts.

Do you not think either Duffy or Elding would be better than what we have on the books? Duffy hasn't done much at Swansea but he was hot stuff in our team. Elding has a fine record and will be a good player at this level.



We flirted with both playoffs and relegation. One is easier to remember than the other as it was more recent.

We never challenged? Did you see Leeds or Leyton Orient away? Did you see Doncaster and Leeds at home?

And if you think James Brown should play the rest of his days at Pools for your benefit then you either have a ridiculously low opinion of James Brown or a fondly exaggerated opinion of the ability of Pools to compete with the Championship teams (or both).



Yes I agree that several signings this season turned out to be poor. But not all. Letting Moore go is not Wilson's fault. He was signed for nothing and went for nothing. It's not good business to have a reluctant employee. We tried to cut our losses and buy something better.



Progress means going up the table significantly. I doubt that 56 points is significant progress. What if we don't make progress? Wilson gets the P45. But on the back of progress in the last two season, why be so pessimistic? You are living though the golden age of Pools. Wilson will get decent backing from the board for next season just as he got decent backing for this year. If he makes a few good signings and they do well early season, the crowd will be there.

He didn't change the team wholesale at the start of the season for the obvious reason that the chaps done good last term and on the whole deserved a run out in the new league (except Taffy).

'Fickle' means someone who says he supports his team but when it finishes up a division up and eleven places higher than last season, says it's hopeless.



OK Saint Snowy, you've got me there. I've no idea what you're talking about, but if it's anything to do with religion, then it must be twaddle.



The shop that sells ethereal pies with canonized mushy peas. Your favourite. You were there when forty glorious goals were scored without you noticing.



As simple as Jade Goodey.

Most would argue that we are a poorer team right now than the one which got promoted. I reckon most sides near the top of league 2 would beat us right now.

[quote]I reckon most sides near the top of league 2 would beat us right now.[/quote]

Heavens above man. You mean Darlo? Traitorous dog!

Are we a worse side? I think the most obvious difference is the standard of the opposition rather than the standard of our players. After all, mostly they are the same players and are playing under the same manager.

I think he'll stay
I think that season ticket sales will be through the roof
I think that he'll be backed with money
I like the new version of Flash Gordon on Sci-Fi channel.

One of the above statements is correct

farking hell, this one looks like it's going to run and run....................

I want to talk about something silly.

Something like Darlo to finish in the top three this season

It's a bit hard to see who's answering whom in this thread, and who said what in the first place; and why are some replies in red and others in black?

Mr Mad, didn't the totting up ban procedure finish a couple of weeks ago. I am fairly sure that after a certain date sometime near the end of the season the FA decide that should anyone who picks up yellow card number 5 or 10 will not face a ban. I think Kevin Davies who plays for Bolton was talking about it after a game a few weeks back in which he was booked and received a 2 match ban, he said something like if he hadn't been booked that game he would have been ok until the end of the season because everyones tally is reverted back to zero.

Well so far we'll be five supporters, sorry, ex-supporters down next season, only two of whom were season ticket holders, so I don't think Uncle Ken will be calling in the administrators yet.

Who said big signings?? Big signings,?? You've forgotten who and where your team are.

Wow I'd like to see that match, with most of the team playing with themselves (apparently not good for the eyesight). You dolt. The point is it's been mainly the same side. The same lads were given a chance. If you look at the team put out for the last match of last season, then 9 of those players were the same players who played last Saturday. Not Dimi (not Danny's fault), not D Williams (good riddance), not Taffy (not good enough in my view and Danny's view), not Bullock (quite rightly released), and not Ali Gibb (ditto). But these same lads haven't done as well this time. Why is that? What has mainly changed is the standard of the opposition.




Actually we were well up until about mid November, 4 months into the season





Hadaway man. I've been a supporter for 40 years or more and stood in all corners of the ground during that time (some now demolished). How about you?

You certainly know what you're talking about, Mr Linighan. Or is it Mrs/Miss/Ms Linighan?

Again you misunderstand and resort to bluster to cover your incomprehension .....'spiritual concept' has no relation whatsoever to religion,....if you don't understand, just ask...I'll explain the concept to you and 'Jade', your role model...meanwhile, feel free to misinterpret.

Ok then Snowy, please give it a go. What do you think you mean by

which is apparently but not a religious concept.

While you're at it, please explain also your quantitative methodology in relation to either ethereality or spirtuality, so that we can all have a go at making fine calculations on the said balance sheet.

The patron saint of something called the 'ethereal balance sheet' accuses me of bluster?

or better still tell us what this statement is about on monday

I'll keep it dead simple, .....'the big picture'...you fail to take in all aspects of this season and concentrate solely on the statistical performance of Mr D Wilson, manager.Theoretically, finishing bottom would have been 'progress because we as a team would have finished higher then last season , but even an anvil could have worked out that it would have been a disaster. It's no good deluding your self that this has been a season of 'progess' .. you words, by the way when it patently hasn't, by creating your own 'ethereal balance sheet' that says it has. There we are...and if that doesn't explain it to you, there's a version with pictograms I've got on standby just in case.....failing that cave paintings.

Chip

My first Pools match was vs Peterborough in 1960 - also, I was told, their first match vs Pools. I don't believe I ever said we went to school together. Most of my school mates had mundane names like Smith and Metcalf. I'm sure a 'Chip Fireball' in the classroom would have been memorable. Picture the scene.

School mistress: 'Smith'

Smith: 'Present'

School mistress: 'Metcalf'

Metcalf: 'Present'

School mistress: 'Chip Fireball'

(Loud Laughing in Class)

Metcalf: 'Please Miss, he's away today playing football for the under school 10s vs Trimdon Reformatory School for Bad Lads'

Only jesting, Chip. Your posts are amongst the very best on this site.

I'm neither wiser nor any better informed on the meaning of the 'ethereal blanace' after that outburst. It's so simple, you forgot to say what is your 'ethereal balance'. But I would appreciate a cave painting of an 'ethereal balance' - will it involve bulls and what they produce like in the caves of Lascaux?

Instead, I say, objectively based on fact, that an 11 place advance up the league structure is 'progress'. I didn't say three places up would have been 'progress' - obviously not, as relegation would take us back to where we started. We are not back to where we started. Another 11 places up next season would do very nicely. It would be further 'progress'.

If we take account of your (equally undefined) 'big picture', then what else might we consider? I'd certainly consider crowd enjoyment. That's rather hard to pin down so it might be more objectively represented as crowd attendance. Crowds are probably a little down this season but not much. Of course, being world beaters amongst the dross of Div 2 equates with more wins and promotion which may be more exciting than holding your own in Div 1, though the football talent and skills on show are certainly better this year. If the crowds were well down, I'd be worried. They're not. As for next season, a few good signings, some jabbering on about the prospect of new talent from the youth team and .... fans are fans.

Shakes head in disbelief? But it is true. Nine of the payers who played the last home match of last season were in the team for the last home match of this season. Give your head another shake and admit it's true.



A 'dolt' is someone who doesn't know what a dolt means. To put it more formally:

dolt (dlt) n. A stupid person; a dunce.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Middle English dulte, from past participle of dullen, to dull, from dul, dull; see dull.]

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doltish adj.
doltish·ly adv.
doltish·ness n.




The majority of the fans want success and attractive football. Has Wilson delivered it - yes for the most part over the last two years, though the last couple of games were certainly pants. My 40 years of experience tell me you have a lot to learn but keep the faith just as I have for 40 years.

I think you have to accept there is no consensus on what position in division "X" is the equivalent of 2nd in division "Y".
Judging progress in such circumstances is a bit of an impossible task.

Finishing in this season's play-offs would certainly have received a unanimous "that's progress". Finishing in the bottom four would certainly have done the opposite. And that's about all you can say.

Next season if we finish significantly higher or lower than this season, we'll be able to make a meaningful statement about progress or retrogression. For now the only statement that is valid is that we've held the advantage we gained last season, and I suppose that's what you call consolidation.

NH

Apologies for anything taken as a personal insult. But I'm insulted you think they are stupid insults. As for hiding behind a name, I don't see 'Nobody's Hero' in the Hartlepool and District telephone directory.

My proposition is that 'Progress' is 15th in Div 1. Relegation is certainly not progress. I quite agree that if we finish just one place above relegation (and may be one point), then I too am wondering whether that is progress. It would be a fine line. But I don't think we'll end up there, and so I think Wilson will stay.

Have individual players progressed? Yes, certainly - Brown, Liddle for two. Other were shown up at this level and will need replacements. But I wouldn't criticise Wilson for trying out in this Division those promoted from last year and who haven't progressed in the face of better opposition. They deserved the chance to see if they could improve, and we couldn't actually afford to do anything else.