Today...

mick ronsons mullet · **Joined:** Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:48 pm **Posts:** 679

Its disappointing that he feels he has to flood our midfield at home against Stevenage. I'll never ever be a fan of one centre forward at home against any opposition apart from maybe a cup game against a premiership side. Saying that, Humphreys didnt have a bad game and played quite well. It doesnt help when our centre halves are lumping it forward with no thought whatsoever. Hartley is the worst culprit of this. On the plus side Murray again was superb and Jack Baldwin looks as though he's been playing league one football for years.

parmo · **Posted:** Sun Mar 18, 2012 2:50 pm

completely disagree with PJ about Humphreys. He was on the pitch to play up front - he did nothing at all in this role to pose a threat to the opposition goal.

derwent · **Joined:** Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:59 pm **Posts:** 12378

parmo wrote:

completely disagree with PJ about Humphreys. He was on the pitch to play up front - he did nothing at all in this role to pose a threat to the opposition goal.

Concurring.
I do agree with him re Monks though.

mouldy old dough · **Posted:** Sun Mar 18, 2012 2:56 pm

Agree at one point Murray won the ball and looked up to release it to richie who was stood 3 foot in front of him.

Yubep · **Joined:** Wed Jan 31, 2007 6:35 pm **Posts:** 25266

Chip Fireball wrote:

bresslaw wrote:

'I'm not going tuesday if he picks the same team....'

Then welcome to the board

A lot of the "fans" that bought season tickets were not diehard fans, they were people who got caught up in the momentum, or people who thought they would give it a go because of the price.

As ronaldo says unfortunately this season we havent really played much entertaining football at home, apart from the spell when James was playing.

I played up at Newcastle this morning and on the way back 2 lads with season tickets said they weren't gonna bother going today. When I asked why one said he couldnt be arsed,the other said he didnt enjoy it.

I'm not defending the people I heard on the way out of the ground, at the same time I can understand why people who may not be genuinely committed may have felt todays game was boring given the lack of goalmouth action.

If we want to go back to 2,300 gates, then yes, you could argue that the attitude should be "fook em."

Personally I think with 5 home games left on the season ticket deal we should be looking to really go for it, but thats just an opinion. I will be at every home game whatever happens, as I have been for 9 out of the last 10 seasons.

Same thing happened at footy today with us chip, lad sat there in the changing rooms at the rec... "anyone want my season ticket for pools?"

he's unemployed, scrambled the money together to get a ticket, qued for 2 hours to get one too, but he's just bored as hell every week.

Yeah you can call him for it n say oh he's just a fair weather fan n we dont want people like this... or you could maybe just say he has a point...

I can see both sides of the argument, but every team has more dedicated fans than others, every team has people who go all the time n a few just now n then, i dont think we should castrate someone n say ere fuck off then we dont want your type what did you expect for £4 a game bla bla...

Over to you lot...

tREE_wiTH_hAMStER · **Joined:** Sat May 19, 2007 11:00 am **Posts:** 20758

Mr Irrelevant wrote:

Ain't it simple? Clearly we are going neither up nor down so Coops is experimenting for the last few games of the season. Come May the dross will be disposed of and a new dawn will rise in August.

But we werent experimenting? Surely experimenting would see Baldwin at centre back? Rowbothom or Hawkins in midfield? Snaith or Hassan uptop? No Humphreys to be seen, etc etc??

tREE_wiTH_hAMStER · **Joined:** Sat May 19, 2007 11:00 am **Posts:** 20758

Ps concurring with about every one of chips posts.

PJ_Poolie · **Posted:** Sun Mar 18, 2012 5:46 pm

I don't think they were the team to throw a load of kids in against in fairness.

Cooper clearly isn't happy with what he is watching, you can tell by his post match interviews but he doesn't feel he has the players to play 4-4-2 I agree with him.

tREE_wiTH_hAMStER · **Joined:** Sat May 19, 2007 11:00 am **Posts:** 20758

PJ_Poolie wrote:

I don't think they were the team to throw a load of kids in against in fairness.

Cooper clearly isn't happy with what he is watching, you can tell by his post match interviews but he doesn't feel he has the players to play 4-4-2 I agree with him.

I agree that they were too physical team to play kids but struggled to see how it could be claimed we experimented yesterday?

I quite like the formation we play to be honest, just needs some pace and a striker in the team for once.

klinger · **Joined:** Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:27 pm **Posts:** 1589

Dunno why people have to harp on about team selections.
Cooper is doing what he is paid for, picking and managing the team.
His number one priority is still getting results.

klinger · **Joined:** Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:27 pm **Posts:** 1589

We were on our way to relegation with Wadsworth, it was obvious he had lost the players, only his mate Paul Murray was really putting any effort in.
Cooper turned that round and got players fighting, at least we can get battle away to get a point now.
Just been really unlucky with injuries to strikers, the lad we got on loan getting injured in his first game sums it up.

The Lightning Tree · **Joined:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:30 pm **Posts:** 5804

I honestly don't know what people want, premiershit football from a team of free transfer signings!! Honestly.
If the guy on the rec who's on the dole feels he's wasted his 100 bar on a season ticket then that's a foooking shame. He'd be lucky to get 2 nights out round the town for that!!!!
We look a far better team than when Wadsworth left.
Cooper knows the importance of getting to the safety target of 52-55 points, as soon as this is achieved I'm sure more of the kids will get a chance.

The Lightning Tree · **Joined:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:30 pm **Posts:** 5804

Oh, and this town is full of not nice people!!
Even at a fiver a game you still can't please people.
Could only happen in Hartlepool :)

The Lightning Tree · **Joined:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:30 pm **Posts:** 5804

I haven't foooking finished yet banghead

We'll probably not sell as many tickets next time round, even at the same price, that's because the town is full of not nice people who think Sweeney should be like Lampard, that Collins should be like Ferdinand and that Brown should be like Van Persie.
Bastards banghead

bresslaw · **Joined:** Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:45 am **Posts:** 2411

'but if the season is going rapidly down the pan...................'

Is that a troll !!!!!!

mouldy old dough · **Posted:** Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:08 pm

Where on your season ticket does it say that every game will be a bimler. Coops was brought in to stop the rot which he has done.
the feel good factor is back and we are sitting pretty in the league its a pity the lad on the rec feels like that but its his time and money.
Onwards and upwards.

marcus richardsons third leg · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:04 pm **Posts:** 446

How on earth were we heading for relegation under Wadsworth? We were in the top half and if the away and form had been switched with the home form there would have been no problem

The Lightning Tree · **Joined:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:30 pm **Posts:** 5804

We'd lost 9 on the bounce with the manager himself stating that he didn't know what to do next.

marcus richardsons third leg · **Joined:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 10:04 pm **Posts:** 446

We had lost 9 home games on the bounce. Our away form was up with the best in the league. Not saying it was the wrong decision to sack him but to claim we would have been relegated is ridiculous.

bresslaw · **Joined:** Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:45 am **Posts:** 2411

errrrr, OK

klinger · **Joined:** Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:27 pm **Posts:** 1589

marcus richardsons third leg wrote:

We had lost 9 home games on the bounce. Our away form was up with the best in the league. Not saying it was the wrong decision to sack him but to claim we would have been relegated is ridiculous.

In my opinion Wadsworth would never have turned our form around and picked up points like Cooper has, we could easily have stayed on the slide and ended up in a relegation battle.
We had no fight or commitment, poor teams were coming to our place and winning games without having to break sweat we were that bad.

ronaldo · **Joined:** Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:53 pm **Posts:** 861

I would rather have Wadsworth than Cooper, but in all fairness Wads did hit the buffers and a change probably had to happen, would of preferred someone like Gary Johnson or John Coleman myself. There was a clamour for Cooper because he is one of the boys, f*ck that, I just want a manager who will help me realise my dreams before I die, a couple of seasons in the championship, a trip to Wembley, a title , and turn some premiership club over in the cup away from home. However until that day Cooper has my full support. On the subject of stayaway fans, 75% of fans are fickle and will only turn up when things are going well, our hardcore is probably 2200, god help us if we ever get down to that amount again but anyone over this amount is welcome in my opinion, no one should be told to feck off or harangued for losing faith, everyone has different pain thresholds.

chunky1988 · **Joined:** Wed Aug 13, 2008 10:33 pm **Posts:** 1066

klinger wrote:

marcus richardsons third leg wrote:

We had lost 9 home games on the bounce. Our away form was up with the best in the league. Not saying it was the wrong decision to sack him but to claim we would have been relegated is ridiculous.

In my opinion Wadsworth would never have turned our form around and picked up points like Cooper has, we could easily have stayed on the slide and ended up in a relegation battle.
We had no fight or commitment, poor teams were coming to our place and winning games without having to break sweat we were that bad.

home form may have turned round, but the complete opposite has occured with the away form. if we had lost 9 in a row away from home under wadsworth he would still be here. the fact is our squad is piss poor and hopefully cooper can get in the quality needed as he has identifed what we need

ronaldo · **Joined:** Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:53 pm **Posts:** 861

End of the day the players are not good enough, there wasnt much between us and Stevenage yesterday other than physical strength, thing is a little difference is a big difference when it comes to success and failure in div2, you could see why Stevenage could go to Sheff U or Huddersfield etc and get a result, yet you couldnt imagine us beating those 2 or anyone else at the top, not strong enough not enough quality. We were singing the praises of the team after hammering Notts Co and getting narrowly beat at Huddersfield, then lo and behold, Notts Co win at Charlton, Rochdale draw at Huddersfield and Walsall beat Sheff Utd. I cant imagine us doing that, I really cant. Even Carlisle who we hammered and probably are no better than us you can imagine making a play off push, because of the quality they have in key areas. We need quality next season, mind you I thought we had that this season in Solano and Nish, maybe we are just cursed.

Jonny · **Posted:** Sun Mar 18, 2012 9:04 pm

@Lightning Tree - The passive football fans aren't going to fall in love with Pools overnight. It has been mostly a disappointing home campaign. Thankfully the form has improved since Coopers return and we are at least trying to play football and the full backs are getting up the pitch rather than just launching it. Plus there is more energy in the team even with yesterdays baffling selection we had more energy than in some of the matches earlier in the campaign. I don't think there was ever even a chance that MW would take us down though, we had clocked up a fair few points and were continuing to pick them up on the road.

@PJ - I fully expected Jack Baldwin to be playing at centre half yesterday after the praise he received the previous week. It is also frustratinggoing to watch a home game with so few exciting attackig options.

@Chip - I hope Cooper has the strength to scatter the majority of players that you mention. Some of them have given decent service to HUFC but need to make way if the club is to move forward. I reckon NC will try to keep Gary Liddle though...

klinger · **Joined:** Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:27 pm **Posts:** 1589

Chip Fireball wrote:

klinger wrote:

marcus richardsons third leg wrote:

We had lost 9 home games on the bounce. Our away form was up with the best in the league. Not saying it was the wrong decision to sack him but to claim we would have been relegated is ridiculous.

In my opinion Wadsworth would never have turned our form around and picked up points like Cooper has, we could easily have stayed on the slide and ended up in a relegation battle.
We had no fight or commitment, poor teams were coming to our place and winning games without having to break sweat we were that bad.

We have picked up 1.17 points per game since he was sacked. Over the course of a full season THAT IS RELEGATION FORM.

What part of that factually correct information are you struggling with ? Or do you only acknowledge the existence of the 3 home games out the 17 we have played overall post Wadsworth ?

I'm not disputing your stats, just giving an opinion about the way the team were going under Wadsworth, who admitted himself he didn't know which way to turn next. Cooper got the team battling again.

The Lightning Tree · **Joined:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:30 pm **Posts:** 5804

Unbelieveable!!! You'd think we'd just been tonked off the bottom placed team!!!
We picked up a good point yesterday against a strong team challenging for the play offs.
The defence is looking strong, yes Baldwin was dropped in favour of Collins but didn't we still keep a clean sheet?
Cooper is getting the best of a limited squad of players, to criticise him is simply absurd!
We have 4 teenagers on the fringe of the 1st team, players who if Wadsworth was still here would still be plying their trade with the youth team or the ressies at Billingham Town.
If he'd have played Rowbotham, Hawkins etc yesterday and we'd have been stuffed Cooper would have been slaughted, as it was its another point to safety and if we can pick up points like we did yesterday just to get us to mathematically ensure survival then that will do me.

bresslaw · **Joined:** Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:45 am **Posts:** 2411

Great Post !!!!!

The Lightning Tree · **Joined:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:30 pm **Posts:** 5804

Chip Fireball wrote:

Gary Liddle is a riddle wrapped inside a conundrum. He wouldn't commit himself to us in the Summer, suggesting he was here because he had tobe not because he wanted to be, which is how he has played for a lot of the season.

What does he actually do all game ? For a central midfield player he doesnt read the game as well as Murray, he doesnt get into scoring positions like Sweeney, he isnt creative, he doesn't even pass the ball particularly well.

I've slowly come to the conclusion that he might actually be a bit sh1t.

Gary Liddle has been a disappointment. If he wants to move on so be it but I can't imagine there'll be a queue of clubs willing to sign him on after this seasons performances.

The Lightning Tree · **Joined:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 5:30 pm **Posts:** 5804

You just have to accept Stevenage came here and did a job.
Of course it was an awful game, it wasn't the first and it won't be the last.
We are badly missing James, and hopefully he'll be back before long.
Other teams won't come here so stubborn and defensive and that's where we'll either pick up points or get a good stuffing.
9 more points will keep us up, we could be a third of the way there after Tuesdays game.
Then I expect Cooper to give more of the kids a chance and hopefully planning his team around these for the start of next season.
If people are bored with the footy I'm sure there's plenty more things they can do on a saturday afternoon with their four pound thirty four.

Gibsons Beard · **Posted:** Sun Mar 18, 2012 11:00 pm

Chip Fireball wrote:

Gary Liddle is a riddle wrapped inside a conundrum. He wouldn't commit himself to us in the Summer, suggesting he was here because he had tobe not because he wanted to be, which is how he has played for a lot of the season.

What does he actually do all game ? For a central midfield player he doesnt read the game as well as Murray, he doesnt get into scoring positions like Sweeney, he isnt creative, he doesn't even pass the ball particularly well.

I've slowly come to the conclusion that he might actually be a bit sh1t.

He is shit. Unfortunately with Murray not getting any younger it would make it more of a risk to get shot of Liddle. Having Liddle, Sweeney and Murray in the middle doesnt work.

Jonny · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:42 am

Is Lidds a player with fragile confidence? - he is a good player but he seems to lack determination and appears to go through the motions. Or maybe I just mis read his body language.

I think he has the ability to run games and should be getting 7-10 goals per season but for some reason he doesn't always seem to put everything into every performance....

Jonny · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2012 12:45 am

Grave wrote:

Chip Fireball wrote:

Gary Liddle is a riddle wrapped inside a conundrum. He wouldn't commit himself to us in the Summer, suggesting he was here because he had tobe not because he wanted to be, which is how he has played for a lot of the season.

What does he actually do all game ? For a central midfield player he doesnt read the game as well as Murray, he doesnt get into scoring positions like Sweeney, he isnt creative, he doesn't even pass the ball particularly well.

I've slowly come to the conclusion that he might actually be a bit sh1t.

He is shit. Unfortunately with Murray not getting any younger it would make it more of a risk to get shot of Liddle. Having Liddle, Sweeney and Murray in the middle doesnt work.

Don't worry about Murray - I'm hoping he has at least another 2 seasons left in the tank, he seems to be coping ok at the moment.....

tREE_wiTH_hAMStER · **Joined:** Sat May 19, 2007 11:00 am **Posts:** 20758

Chip Fireball wrote:

Gary Liddle is a riddle wrapped inside a conundrum. He wouldn't commit himself to us in the Summer, suggesting he was here because he had tobe not because he wanted to be, which is how he has played for a lot of the season.

What does he actually do all game ? For a central midfield player he doesnt read the game as well as Murray, he doesnt get into scoring positions like Sweeney, he isnt creative, he doesn't even pass the ball particularly well.

I've slowly come to the conclusion that he might actually be a bit sh1t.

Agree totally, I struggle to see what position he is best at, he looks uncomfortable as hell moving forward with the ball and defensivly he never seems to be in the right position. You often go about 20/30 minutes without noticing him which seems odd for a centre midfielder to me. Nothing special imo but im guessing he thinks he is?

PJ_Poolie · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2012 1:02 am

Liddle has had a really poor season, he had a good one last year.

His only attribute at the minute is he gets stuck in and closes people down, I'm sure when he first signed for the club he looked a really good footballer. I remember him playing left back and going past people, now he's almost a bit of a clogger. I agree it's hard to pinpoint what he does well.

Mr Ripper · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:32 am

derwent wrote:

parmo wrote:

completely disagree with PJ about Humphreys. He was on the pitch to play up front - he did nothing at all in this role to pose a threat to the opposition goal.

Concurring.
I do agree with him re Monks though.

Yep.

Although the fact that a left winger playing up front was also poor and didn't offer much of a goal threat (which I agree with) doesn't mean that Humphreys was therefore good.

By the way, I thought Monkhouse did ok in the first half when playing in his proper position, it was only in the second half that he looked lost and, dare I say it, out of position.

Today...

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