Let me just test Kev's theory for a second...

Montpoolier · **Posted:** Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:35 pm

We have scored as many goals as auto-promotion challengers Nottingham.
We have conceded more goals than any other team outside the bottom four.

If we'd stamped out the 15 daftest goals we have given away this season, we'd probably have finished roughly where Brighton (GF:58, GA:49) are now in the table, i.e., just pipped for a play-off place.

So the question is, if our defence had performed this season and we had achieved that finish, without changing anything in our style of play apart from implementing solid defending, how would we be looking back at this season right now?

Mr Ripper · **Posted:** Wed Apr 30, 2008 3:39 pm

Richard M. Head wrote:

So the question is, if our defence had performed this season and we had achieved that finish, without changing anything in our style of play apart from implementing solid defending, how would we be looking back at this season right now?

Through Danny Wilson's eyes.

Montpoolier · **Posted:** Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:07 pm

Nobodys Hero wrote:

some of you are making it sound as though we were very nearly happy with the season.

But it's not what we're thinking, or at least not what I'm thinking. I'm pretty disgruntled with the season but I want an honest reason why.

Imagine we'd played every game like we did at Tranmere, with the same result.
We'd have entertained the fook out of the fans and got relegated. Would I have been happy? Of course not.

Imagine if, in all those away games against the likes of Carlisle, Southend and Crewe where the game was ours to win and we chucked it away, we hadn't made those daft defensive errors and thus finished at least ten points to the better. Would I have been a bit more gruntled? I'm pretty sure I would have. I'm pretty sure most other people would have too.

But Wilson is also responsible for having a defence that doesn't chuck games away, I know. So if he could have done anything at all to improve the season, that's the place he would have had to start. All this flair stuff is only secondary.

Spender · **Posted:** Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:16 pm

Nobodys Hero wrote:

I, and six others, would prefer to see a new manager..

Guess who??

Answers on a postcard please to:

Dripping On Like A Fookin' Leaky Tap Competition
c/o Recycling Villas
Clavering
Hartlepool (or is that Leeds??

)
TitS 42B 1 Big Gut

grabec · **Posted:** Wed Apr 30, 2008 5:31 pm

If the back line had been 'right' then everyone else would have been playing differently, i.e. with more confidence etc etc, so that might have made an immeasurable difference, not just in the 'daft' goals we let in

I don't agree with MJ that the discontent was about results. If we'd always played as well as we could (including managerial decisions), reasonable supporters would have had no come back, even if we'd been relegated

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 37204

MadJohn wrote:

There would be hardly any moaning at all. People would declare themselves satisfied with the season, and almost everybody would be very satisfied with the job Wilson had done. Because I don't believe anyone who says the most disappointing aspect of this season has been the entertainment factor. It's almost all about results.

As Ripper rightly said, last season was about effective football rather than dazzling football. I would argue that Pools have provided at least as much entertainment at the Vic this season as last. We have certainly scored more goals. And our home record stands up well considering the step up in class. Last season we won 14 home games out of 23, this season we've won 11. It's away from home that we haven't delivered. So we have the odd situation where what most people are really moaning about is the lack of progress in the games they have not seen! If we had been nicking scrappy away wins on a regular basis (like we did for much of last season) we would have been in upper mid-table, knocking on the door of the playoffs, and the attendances would have been higher. It has nothing to do with a largely imaginary drop in entertainment levels at the Vic.

Of course people would be happy with the job Wilson has done if he'd got us where we speculate we could have been, but the whole point is he didn't.
You can get away with 'effective' (crap) football if you are getting the results,the tedious 1-0 grind outs are forgetten. If you are not getting the results you can't get away with it. The fans have the consolation that even the though the football on offer is rubbish, if you keep nicking scrappy wins, there's a bigger prize to compensate, possible promotion.
I can't agree that this season has been entertaining and I have difficulty with your refernce to a largely imaginary drop in emtertainment levels, they haven't been that high to begin with for the past two years anyway. I have yet to meet any regulars who are happy with the football on offer and the general consensus is that they're glad the season is over.

TalbotAvenger · **Posted:** Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:49 pm

chip fireball wrote:

with all due respect, what a load of utter bollox.

after 45 games we are where we deserve to be. saying " if only we hadnt conceeded so many goals we would be 8th" is simply stating the bleeding obvious. if we hadnt conceeded any goals we would be top :shock:

hows about that then?

defence starts with your strikers and works backwards. the whole fookin side has underachieved.

the keepers have been a letdown. the manager signed 3 for gods sake and none of them stepped up to the plate.

he signed 3 defenders mcunnie, elliott and antwi and quckly dispensed with the services of all of them, so that 6 bad signings before we get past the defence.

the midfield has been largely pants all season. liddle has been the pick without being outstanding. monky turns it on when he feels like it, boland is past it, foley and robson havent trained on.

james brown was excellent in the two thirds of the season and must surely get player of the year.

the team has shown almost no backbone away from home. ive been to 3 away games in the last 4 months and we threw in the towel in all of them.

there have been some very good home performances and almost as many shite ones. werent you at the brighton, port vale, northampton, cheltenham, millwall etc home games mr mad john ?

wilson has talked crap most of the season and his selections and tactics have been woeful.

id have more time for the bloke if he held his hands up and accepted some of the blame, but he doesnt.

despite his limitations i actually miss barker ffs, at least the bloke has some pride in the shirt.

wilson needs to go and half the squad need to go with him.

Wilson can be summed up by his team selection and formation against the South London massive, Miwwall, why the fook???? :evil: