What angers more than our first half performance is the way that our manager insists on publicly vilifying the team that he has picked in order to paper over his glaring incompetence when it comes to selecting a football team.

Yes, we were incredibly poor first half, but when you're playing against a team with 0 pace at the back, what sense does it make to have an immobile target in Mandron up there whilst Bingham warms the bench? It was no coincidence that when Bingham came on we became much more of a threat and actually looked to be something resembling a Football League outfit.

Coming out on the BBC and portraying yourself as the 'honest bloke who is saying it how it is' in that situation is an absolute kop out, and although it seems 'refreshing' to simpletons like Trevor Sinclair (who, incidentally, is a c u next tuesday of the highest calibre), it simply doesn't fool fans who have seen this shocking team selection time and again. Rather, it makes a mockery of players who he has actually chosen to be in his team, after having had the whole summer to put a squad together.

Can't really argue with that I thought Moore's comments after the game were poor. Our players were committed and got stuck in, we were saying on here after ten minutes what would change the game. It's that bit extra we are missing, that sometimes comes from a bit of tactical nous. It's not always the players fault.

< this >

Sorry to say Moore has to go, it is his squad, his selections and he always blames everyone bar him. I am starting to think "who's the worst manager in the football league its you Ron Ron Ron its you Ron Ron"

A very good observation that one!!!

And all this great escape mythology. We were 6 points adrift in December when Moore took over, I know we had a piss poor squad etc etc but he took us further adrift before the 'escape'

He did not inherit Sydney Smeltz.

I knew he was a terrible singing from the day I saw him in ASDA in leather trousers.

Your just blinkered PJ, a good leather trouser is the sign of a slinky lothario much missed on the streets of Hartlepool

Why is Trevor Sinclair a C U N T ? seems a decent bloke to me!

Oh and as someone who can't watch week in week out it's interesting to see on some mediums the same dullards slating Featherstone, for me second half the decent football started or involved him. Jesus at least he can pass a ball to feet to his own players

They were almost a leather chap though.

Ooh even sexier, you see we need more of the chaps look, reclaim the chaps for the straight guy

That is another baffling thing right now. Why is Magnay who is a defender by trade and is good at all of the ugly side of the game bombing forward and Featherstone who is nice footballer can carry the thing and can see a pass but couldn't tackle a dinner sitting in front of the back four? That's just bizzare.

Exactly gents!!!

Ronnies contract protects his job.

Getting bored of him slagging the players off all the time.
The players he retained and signed during the summer.
Totally losing faith in him and his dinosaur tactics.

How the fuck Carroll has the most appearances this season is proof that hes lost the plot or hes getting that old persons brain desease.

He was just the most vocal and active party in the whole pro-Salford 'Class of 92' orgy that was the BBC's coverage of tonight's game, every time he spoke infuriated me.

Overall I think we gave a decent account of ourselves in the second half when we could have easily capitulated against a team who were full of energy and had a gale force wind behind them.

If Moore was actually being 'honest' he would have come out and realised his mistakes in the first half and praised the team for the second half display. Instead he just played into the whole narrative of us being shite and Salford being the best team in the history of the game- the easy thing to do.

Moore a bit of a prick for not even bothering to applaud the away fans, think I counted 3 players who even bothered acknowledging the fans. Pricks.

Who's the worst manager in the football league, "it's you Ron Ron Ron its you Ron Ron. Goodbye.

Exactly. If there was one facet of our game that couldn't be questioned today it was our work rate. We matched Salford in every tackle and the likes of Duckworth, Magnay and even Featherstone, who unquestionably struggles with the physical side of the game, put a shift in to make sure we weren't overran in the same way that Notts County were against them.

The soundbites that he comes out with are absolutely embarrassing. Which half decent footballer would want to come and play for a manager who publicly slaughters them at every given opportunity?

Told you all this months ago

They're all back on tonight still the result they all wanted didn't happen

I wanted pools to win. Who didn't

Who are 'they' PJ? Do you honestly think anyone wasn't desperate for Pools to win and be good?

It's his usual reaction to criticism that everyone can see is valid

I didn't go. Sorry for commenting

Just a reaction to obvious trolling for attention. Vic Mick who is a blatant one who nobody replies to, to Breeslaw who tried to say before the game he was watching an Australian (really fit in fairness) pop star instead of the match which didn't get a rise to his I told you so routine now. It's all for a reaction, his post above about criticism I have been criticle of Pools performance tonight and the manager so that sort of puts that to bed, a glib one liner that isn't really criticism is it?

Oh and now 'I didn't go' after already saying he was watching something else earlier which everybody ignored.

What ?

Spot on comment about Moore. I'm getting fed up with his excuses constantly blaming his players who he brought in. There is only so much public shaming you can do and his comments seemed more aimed at saving his own reputation than anything else.

We are stuck with Moore unless he walks because of contract and can you see mr coxall paying him off , I don't think so as apart from talk a good talk he has to prove himself with actions I am not convinced about him in the least

Why don't we all get a sense of realism. He inherited arguably the worst team in our history. He maintained our league status -cast your mind back to this time last year when the majority census was that we would be out of the league at the end of the season. He is working with one of the lowest wage bills in the league. He is restricted to the quality of players he can recruit. In most cases there are reasons for players being out of contract or on a free - Ronnie has to shop in the bargain basement and despite this he has been able to attract some quality - Billy , Carson and Bingham will produce in time. At this level ,with the odd exception , there is no quick fix . Anyone expecting to go from just survining relegation to promotion hopefuls without significant investment just doesn't know the stark reality of football at this level. Ronnie needs time to mould a team and he deserves the opportunity to do this. It's all well and good shouting about sacking the manager but after recent years of changing managers resulting in the downward spiral in the league position and ambitions isn't it time we looked at stability and give the manager both a chance and time. If we did sack Ronnie who would we bring in but more importantly who would want the job

People really need to stop 'looking back'.

I could not understand why they (both sides at times) played so much head tennis,
On numerous occasions a player on his own was happy to head the ball back in the direction it came.
Chesting it down to feet and playing the ball would have been a better option in those windy conditions.

If you don't learn from your past, your future is going to be hard on you.

And over the last 5 seasons we've learnt what ?

You hate Ronnie Moore?

Its not hate, thats a strong word.

I just think, and always have, that he is a shit manager. I think others are starting to agree !!

I watched Hyde vs Grantham the other week and it was exactly that I couldn't believe anyone didn't bring it down and just pass the thing. Being away I haven't seen us this season apart from on TV and I couldn't believe what I was seeing chip is right that tactics wher awful and we only looked good in second half.

Yes fair do's hate is too strong a word, but I get it you don't like him, however 900 league games and counting as a manager he must have some qualities p

.....and at Pools these are... ???

Who are you asking ?

That post is a load of bollocks. We do not have a low budget in comparison to a lot of teams in L2, and it really doesn't take much to build an effective side in this division. A firm defence, a good keeper, battlers in midfield and a goalscorer are enough to get you challenging in this league. His signings have been a mixed bag to say the least and he did not target some areas that needed strengthening like our midfield options

Ronnie did enough last year to buy some time and some slack and I'm still prepared to give him more time but he really needs to raise HIS game. He's got the nucleus of a decent side but can you honestly say he's getting the best out of them? Do you think the players are happy with how he talks to them in private and in the press? Do you think the way he's setting us up is the right way forward? Do you think we have a completely unbalanced squad? If your answer is 'yes' to any of those questions then I suggest you get your head out of the sand and admit that this season is a major underachievement.

[quote="Andy McAvoy's Bleached Barnet He's got the nucleus of a decent side but can you honestly say he's getting the best out of them? Do you think the players are happy with how he talks to them in private and in the press? Do you think the way he's setting us up is the right way forward? [/quote]

Admittedly this season has been disappointing, compared to expectations, but were those expectations realistic? The Orient & Oxford games indicated we can compete in this league, but surely the question is why can't the players perform to that level each week? Is that the manager's fault? Or is it simply that the players are in League 2 because generally they can't perform consistently, & those who do, get snapped up?
If you had the luxury of watching a player over 6-7 games before signing him, his consistency might be less of a concern. Meanwhile you lose your own 6-7 games whilst you are scouting to improve the team, & people are calling for your head

always expect some duff signings when you bring in that many free transfers in a short space of time, but I must admit that I am surprised a Ronnie Moore team doesn't have enough bite in there.

I am still behind him though. Easy to lament the first half on Friday (and it was poor) but in fairness we were not set up much differently from the week before when it was one of our better performances of the season

Pools are always painful to watch away from home, the performance will be no surprise to anyone that has seen us play away over the past 5 seasons or so.

That said, under RM I have to say we just don't seem to create chances away and so ironically, despite the poor performance, we probably created more chances on Friday night than the away games I have seen this season (and last under him).

We always set up not to lose with no Plan B if we concede ( or so it seems). I'm going to Pompey on Saturday and don't have a good feeling at all

Plus when we go a goal down we struggle because we dont have anyone who seems capable of scoring a goal without the much maligned Billy Paynter, Leyton Orient aside.

With Paynter in that team on friday and he was presented with those headers he would have scored both without even thinking about it. Moore hasnt replaced Paynter with a like for like experienced striker who knows how to play lower league football and has an idea where the goal is.

We wont have Naismith on saturday so will be lining up the same as friday I assume, possibly Bingham in for Fenwick, but can only see us being comfortably beaten, and that is a reflection of the last 4 or 5 seasons of dross where any hope or positivity have been drained from me.

It's getting to the stage now where I am thinking do I trust Ronnie to spend this apparent transfer kity in January and really make a difference. I'm not sure he knows what he wants and what system to play and he seems unable to set the current squad up to play to their individual and collective strengths.

What has happened to Harrison, Jones, Woods, Walker, Fenwick even Duckworth (who isnt the same player as last yr) under his leadership?

Worley, Carroll and Kudo are just awful and a couple of loanies such as Banton have been poor at best.

I will remain forever grateful for The Great Escape but I am rapidly losing my belief in Ronnie Moore's management, tactical or people skills.

Tim, do you think Paynter would have got in the position that Fenwick did?

I do yes. What pace or movement has Fenwick got? It was a flighted cross into the 6 yrd box, the type of goal Paynter has scored a few of this season and throughout his career.

There was nothing outstanding Fenwick did to get in to the position, and certainly nothing outstanding with the finish.

I like Fenwick and feel for the lad cos he is being asked to play in a position he is not at his best in

If he plays fenwick on the left hand side at pompey and gives us imbalance again down the left he has for me lost the plot.
Down there we have to go 451 and for me it must be smith at least he has pace and ability and will use the ball alot better than fenwick will or is ever likely to playing in that Position.

As Mr Mad says, keeping us on the league last season must count for Moore and buy him the time to get things right. So long as we are not in serious relegation danger then maybe people should be more patient in affording him the time it usually takes to build a decent team. It was never seriously going to be a one season turnaround from complete shite to decent and anybody who expected that needs their head read.

Only the not very bright expected promotion this year, but does it not concern you with his decision making on team selection, formation, subs etc?
Bringing Kudos on as a sub for Oates, playing Fenwick as left winger, sending Hawkins out on loan when he has shown he is better than what we had playing there!