Hignett

Jonny · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2016 6:13 pm

Fuck off - that was pathetic... you are clearly a shite manager...

The tactics were horrendous, no intensity, subs were pathetic yet again. It is also incredibly fucking boring.

Barriewardrobe · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2016 6:25 pm

His mate Gary won't sack him yet, he should have gone after the 0-5.

Joe Mac · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2016 6:48 pm

It's alright though we'll have a hotel and loads of houses soon so forget about results on the pitch

Seagull, Seagull, Seagull. · **Joined:** Tue Dec 02, 2014 11:44 pm **Posts:** 477

Spot on Chip. We weren't terrible (which is progress) but no cutting edge. I saw a bit of effort to be fair. Draw would have been fair.

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

Thought Paynter was poor but I would still leave him on while 1-0 down and chasing the game. Although I'd actually rather see him move Harrison up top for last 15 or so and try to bully them a bit. Give them something different to think about.

thebigdog · **Joined:** Sat Aug 10, 2013 6:49 pm **Posts:** 1278

All very depressing for me.

Inherent expectation from supporters for us to be shite. Poor atmosphere. Very little to shout about for a full 90 minutes. A shameful attempt at a penalty from Alessandra. Laurent sarcastically jeered off the pitch despite playing well. Usual excuses from Hignett. 2 points away from the bottom two.

monkeybutt · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2016 7:17 pm

Carrol and Featherstone are both liabilities, it is not if but when, Oates played okfirst half but 2nd half he was awful, jumped before the ball left Carson and Laurent second half has vaseline on his boots.

I which he would grow a pair and play young Blackford on the wing, he is the best replacement for Thomas, if he attended reserve games and watched he might learn something, yes he is young but no fear and Walker I would prefer to Feather :doh:

thebigdog · **Joined:** Sat Aug 10, 2013 6:49 pm **Posts:** 1278

Featherstone is a neat and tidy footballer and we actually bossed the middle of the park today. Hawkins and Laurent are both very good too.

Without Thomas we lack any cutting edge and the formation with Paynter spear-heading the attack is boring for home football.

We've scraped a draw away at Pompey without creating a chance and followed it up at home with a loss against a shit Blackpool side (bar two players - the right back and Vassell) where we also created one clear cut chance. It's crap, very boring and feels very much like we're sleep walking into trouble.

RichyHpool · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2016 7:26 pm

It's getting very old watching the same garbage game after game, season after season! It just seems to happen regardless of who's in charge or on the pitch.
How many goals have we conceded from us attacking then 20 seconds later it's in our net! What does this come down too,concentration? Reading the game and game management. Our players just switch off for parts of every game and it's costing us dear. Unless we can bring in a decent centre half, left back, nasty ball winning midfielder and another winger then I think we could well be doomed!
There are so many players in this squad who need to be shipped out, I have no faith in any of them except Carson and Thomas.

monkeybutt · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2016 7:31 pm

The final third is like a no go zone, they look dazed they got that far and just pass sideways until we lose it, just so frustrating and I know it doesn`t happen in training but fuck sake, we must have somebody who isn`t scred to shoot or take a man on banghead

thebigdog · **Joined:** Sat Aug 10, 2013 6:49 pm **Posts:** 1278

The bottom two both lost once again today though so could be worse.

It's hard not to grow tired of constantly looking over your shoulder, watching shite football game after game with the occasional bit of respite here and there where we might draw 0-0 away or scrape a 2-1 home win.

thebigdog · **Joined:** Sat Aug 10, 2013 6:49 pm **Posts:** 1278

It's over a month since we last scored so Hignett's comments about goals not being a problem are starting to lose their substance.

I respect the positivity Chip, but while we have 4 or 5 good footballers a lot of the rest just don't look good enough. I hope we have enough to beat the drop but if things collapsed into a relegation battle, I don't feel we have the strong characters to turn it around this time.

Oh and the montage behind the Niramax of "The Great Escape" is a bit of a cringe.

Jonny · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2016 7:49 pm

How many times did we test the tangerines keeper?

It is fucking pathetic - no cutting edge, no will to win. One up front is a fucking joke. The manager is a fucking idiot. There is no character, no one gets the players or crowd fired up. Higgy is clueless - literally anyone would improve things ..... desperate times on the pitch and off the pitch - bring back Ken - at least the bills and players were paid ...

Jonny · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2016 7:49 pm

How many times did we test the tangerines keeper?

It is fucking pathetic - no cutting edge, no will to win. One up front is a fucking joke. The manager is a fucking idiot. There is no character, no one gets the players or crowd fired up. Higgy is clueless - literally anyone would improve things ..... desperate times on the pitch and off the pitch - bring back Ken - at least the bills and players were paid ...

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

He went 4-4-2 well before he brought Paynter off to be fair.

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

And I didn't hear people jeering Laurent even though he was poor today.

Don't think Woods touched the ball for 10 mins totally forgot he had been brought on.

Time for a change, lost all faith in Hignett.

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

Ps decent ref for a change. Didn't recognize him either?

Brian Honour's Left Foot · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2016 8:41 pm

[quote="thebigdog"]Featherstone is a neat and tidy footballer and we actually bossed the middle of the park today. Hawkins and Laurent are both very good too.

Really? Laurent would look good in a team with a Tommy Widdrington type player alongside him - but with our current tippy-tappy boys, who are unable to deliver a cruncher, he is a luxury.

Hawkins, God bless him, works hard, but is simply a yard too slow and one footed - but he really does try.

balltofeet · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2016 9:39 pm

Points on the board are all well and good chip, but if we replicate the current 4 months into the second half of the season then it is 46 points in total. That will not be enough.

The bottom lines is we need some goals.

It seems obvious here from afar choose 1 of 2 systems and stick with it home and away:

Either: 442 with Amond and Paynter supported with your 4 most energetic in midfield ! Energy may be more vital than a technicians !
Or Some defensive formation hoping to nick something on the break!

A sense of perspective is Port Vale manager has just resigned no win in 6 league games, interspersed was a 4-0 spanking of us! We are that poor !

PJPoolie · **Joined:** Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:28 pm **Posts:** 15342

Chip Fireball wrote:

We seem to be finding ways to get beat at the moment. Draw would have been a fair result but the penalty pretty much summed up our day.

Thought the tactics were okay, and the only substitution that looked daft to me was the last one. We have no cutting edge at present, nobody that looks capable of putting the ball in the back of the net. That said I can see us winning on Friday night.

The only sub that looked daft was last one? The tactics were alright!?

We were losing 1-0 at home against a really shit team, why the fuck would you take off the one person on field who has scored over 100 goals in the Football League. The most likely person to get on the end of a decent cross, oh and the one person who never looks like missing a penalty (oh and by the way I called what would happen when has was subbed about us missing a penalty) The Paynter/Amond change was absolutely fucking ridiculous why won't he even try them as front two together for even five bastard minutes. Amond scored a shite load of goals last season as someone playing off someone who holds the ball up, he has either played wide or up front on his own. He persists with Featherstone who was an absolute passenger all game today but especially when we go one down at home, what does he do?

For fucks sake take a risk be positive.

I tell you what summed us up as team today one the fact we were on the attack and one hoofed clearance sees the opposition clean through to win the game, the other is from the kick off Featherstone wimps out of a 60:40 in his favour and they come away with the ball with ease. Where is the fight? We has just gone 1-0 down. Plenty of canny enough footballers but a bunch of absolute pea hearted fannies and a manager who has to go or we are going out of the League this year.

Smokin Joe · **Joined:** Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:13 pm **Posts:** 1130

We were very, very lucky to undeservedly beat Accrington - and if we are resorting to clutching at the straws of maybe beating those very few (if any) teams who are actually worse than us then it speaks volumes for Hignett's failed regime. CF's natural penchant to defend whoever the current incumbent manager may be is most touching and has almost reduced me to tears on past occasions. However in the real world the facts are that the club is fcuked unless something changes. There is no way on Gods earth that the thoroughly inept Hignett is ever going to turn things around. He well knows that despite his arrogant exterior he has completely ballsed up his first and in all probability last EFL managerial opportunity. If not for the clubs current financial position coupled with his highly suspect cohort he would have been history following the utter embarrassment for the club that was the CUFC debacle. Nevertheless Hignett remains a dead man walking - it is only a matter of time one way or another, it is simply a question of how many more priceless points are going to be squandered, regardless of the league position of opponents.

PJPoolie · **Joined:** Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:28 pm **Posts:** 15342

To be honest the club has far bigger problems than the manager but it's got to the point again for me regrettably and sadly where we are going to have start the cycle again if we want to cling on and delay the inevitable, just preserve our football league status for one more year. At some point our luck will run out.

kebab & chips · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2016 11:42 pm

Well said PJ

Smokin Joe · **Joined:** Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:13 pm **Posts:** 1130

Of course it has PJ - tbh I think we are all but fcuked already as Coxall cannot and/or will not dispatch Hignett to the managerial graveyard that eventually claims ALL of Pools managers/first team coaches. And of course Hignett can't/won't resign due to his massive ego coupled with his own financial position. Desperate days indeed.

monkeybutt · **Posted:** Mon Dec 26, 2016 11:55 pm

PJPoolie wrote:

Chip Fireball wrote:

We seem to be finding ways to get beat at the moment. Draw would have been a fair result but the penalty pretty much summed up our day.

Thought the tactics were okay, and the only substitution that looked daft to me was the last one. We have no cutting edge at present, nobody that looks capable of putting the ball in the back of the net. That said I can see us winning on Friday night.

The only sub that looked daft was last one? The tactics were alright!?

We were losing 1-0 at home against a really guano team, why the fuck would you take off the one person on field who has scored over 100 goals in the Football League. The most likely person to get on the end of a decent cross, oh and the one person who never looks like missing a penalty (oh and by the way I called what would happen when has was subbed about us missing a penalty) The Paynter/Amond change was absolutely fucking ridiculous why won't he even try them as front two together for even five bastard minutes. Amond scored a shite load of goals last season as someone playing off someone who holds the ball up, he has either played wide or up front on his own. He persists with Featherstone who was an absolute passenger all game today but especially when we go one down at home, what does he do?

For fucks sake take a risk be positive.

I tell you what summed us up as team today one the fact we were on the attack and one hoofed clearance sees the opposition clean through to win the game, the other is from the kick off Featherstone wimps out of a 60:40 in his favour and they come away with the ball with ease. Where is the fight? We has just gone 1-0 down. Plenty of canny enough footballers but a bunch of absolute pea hearted fannies and a manager who has to go or we are going out of the League this year.

He is finished as prolific goalscorer, there is only you and Hignett still believing there is something left, he blusters about, his touch isn`t bad, he huffs and puffs but no houses are coming down.
Time for a plan B or C and leave him out of the starting 18, give youth a chance, ditch Carroll and Featherstone, keep shuffling the same cards and getting the same hand is shite.

PJPoolie · **Joined:** Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:28 pm **Posts:** 15342

Me and Hignett, he has barley used him all season!!? At no point has he played up front with Amond.

You were talking absolute shite about him last season in fairness when he scored 15 in 30 odd games.

He would have scored today had he been left on as he should have whilst we were 1-0 down at home as he's never looked like missing a penalty.

I enjoyed watching Rhys Oates 'jump high' today to be fair...

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

Did Orrell get injured? He seemed to be sniffing about the first team and then disappeared?

If we are to ever play two up top I'd play Amond/Oates with Harrison. That's how shit out attacking options are added to the fact we can't play through the
Middle so each attack ends with a side ways pass to the wings and then a cross. At least with Harrison in there we would have a chance of winning one of them.

Desperate.

Smokin Joe · **Joined:** Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:13 pm **Posts:** 1130

You hit the nail on the head Phil - Hignett knows jack-shit about football/game management and never will - however, he is a half-decent coach and, perhaps alongside a #proper# manager in a higher echelon, he may yet be able to eke out a decent living from the EFL. However he is doing himself and whatever reputation he has left absolutely no favours in clinging to the Pools job when in all probability he would have long since been on his bike at any other EFL club.

monkeybutt · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2016 12:07 am

PJPoolie wrote:

Me and Hignett, he has barley used him all season!!? At no point has he played up front with Amond.

You were talking absolute shite about him last season in fairness when he scored 15 in 30 odd games.

He would have scored today had he been left on as he should have whilst we were 1-0 down at home as he's never looked like missing a penalty.

I enjoyed watching Rhys Oates 'jump high' today to be fair...

He did jump high, pity it was too early and he was on the way down when it got to him :laugh:

PJPoolie · **Joined:** Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:28 pm **Posts:** 15342

Oates tries hard, but Christ he isn't a footballer of League standard, absolutely nowhere near it. He actually was one of our better players today but it's a sad indictment that he's even back in the team. He does something decent beats a man maybe but never gets his head up he has no awareness or real quality.

monkeybutt · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2016 12:18 am

PJPoolie wrote:

Oates tries hard, but Christ he isn't a footballer of League standard, absolutely nowhere near it. He actually was one of our better players today but it's a sad indictment that he's even back in the team. He does something decent beats a man maybe but never gets his head up he has no awareness or real quality.

The hardest trainer at the club, works his pods off according to sources!

Smokin Joe · **Joined:** Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:13 pm **Posts:** 1130

To be fair Rhys Oates worked really hard today, has more pace than most of the current sloth-like Pools side and was no less ineffective than the rest of the squad that Hignett initially assembled last summer and has since 'strengthened' (ooh me ribs). I said at the time that if we continue to sign non-league players then that is where we will end up and I have seen absolutely sweet FA this season to convince me otherwise. It seems to me that once Hignett had got the notion into his head that L2 is primarily of no greater standard than the Conference (or whatever it is known as these days) then we were effectively fcuked. The likes of Nsiala and Deverdics have not plied their trade in non-league for nothing and although Amond has shown glimpses of effectiveness he also has too often been found lacking in the big boys league

Malcolm Dawes Knew My Father · **Joined:** Wed May 11, 2011 4:25 pm **Posts:** 4198

On that showing, what Blackpool are doing near the top of the table is a mystery - Carson didn't have a save to make first half, the defence looked comfortable and we had loads of possession. Not that we did much with it!

I was listening to the radio on the drive over to the match and Hignett was on saying he wasn't worried about Pools current lack of goals because we have plenty of players capable of carving out chances. Pools haven't scored a goal in the last 5 games - if I was him I would be worried.

Still a draw would have been a fair result. The shanked penalty was a shocker, but I'm managing to feel a bit sorry for Alessandra as he was far and away Pools' liveliest forward second half (and, as Chip says, shouldn't have been subbed).

It's becoming a pattern - Pools don't score even when they are on top, there are too many players, especially in midfield, who never seem capable of matching their first half contribution in the second 45, and we get done by other teams playing the kind of incisive football (even if it's route one) that Pools seem incapable of without Thomas in the side.

monkeybutt · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2016 12:27 am

Not going until he picks Blackford, diamond in the rough!

PJPoolie · **Joined:** Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:28 pm **Posts:** 15342

PJ/Paynter love in?

FFS how pathetic chip.

I'm just frustrated that he has never spent any time playing up front with Amond, I thought he played ok today as well he held the ball up and layed it off but had no real service much like Amond playing up top on his own in nearly all of the home games. We have won two home games in the League all season and according to you the tactics are fine.

GeoffcN · **Joined:** Fri Sep 26, 2014 8:10 pm **Posts:** 463

Switching the tiring Paynter for the fresh legs of Amond certainly made sense. At the same time he moved Oates, who I though looked the most likely to have an impact, into the centre and played two up front -at last.

PJPoolie · **Joined:** Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:28 pm **Posts:** 15342

He's maybe a little off the pace as well because he has started twice in about three months, and and he lost the ball the for goal as he was about to shoot about 25 yards out!! One clearance they are clean through. He might be finished you could be right but..

I think he has more nous and quality to offer than others in the squad and while he's not offered so much all season it's mainly because he's' not been used, I don't get the Howard comparison Paynter scored goals for us last season. Hignett seems to have signed players in the summer without a plan, why target someone like Amond who is a poacher who plays off another striker then either play him up top on his own or out wide. But you think the tactics are fine?

PJPoolie · **Joined:** Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:28 pm **Posts:** 15342

GeoffcN wrote:

Switching the tiring Paynter for the fresh legs of Amond certainly made sense. At the same time he moved Oates, who I though looked the most likely to have an impact, into the centre and played two up front -at last.

What impact is Rhys Oates likely to have, I think has scored once in the Football League. He has zero quality or end product.

PJPoolie · **Joined:** Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:28 pm **Posts:** 15342

With 11 minutes left though why take off a striker? One who is the most likely to score a header given the opportunity and one who is an excellent penalty taker.

I think that is when he brought Amond on, we are 1-0 down at home take off a defender, take off Featherstone. You could have for example subbed Bates and went three at the back. I wouldn't have subbed any of the forward players including Oates who I don't rate but have already said I though he played alright today.

paulus the woodgnome and a side salad · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2016 1:06 am

I'm frustrated just like a lot of our fan's this evening but we should've got something from that game, Featherstone's shot wide following a good move, as has Allesandra and we really should've been one up before they score. Carroll is the player who bothers me, he's just too easily bossed, needs to show way more aggression in his play.

We need to accept now that this season is going to be another survival battle, which is difficult for our fans to swallow as many thought we could figure at the other end of the table early doors, also when the fan's see this as 'same old' we could lose our real focus and the reality ensues that the grim reapers crooked finger could beckon in our direction at the seasons close.

Barriewardrobe · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2016 2:23 am

Regardless of players making mistakes/playing crap/appearing not to be bothered, surely we need to pick up at least 3 points v Morecambe & Accrington (for Hignett not to be sacked) After that we have 3 rather tricky games, before Newport County at the end of January. Surely Coxall must be thinking of who might be replacing C.H......or Conference here we come !

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 37695

PJPoolie wrote:

Chip Fireball wrote:

We were losing 1-0 at home against a really guano team, why the fuck would you take off the one person on field who has scored over 100 goals in the Football League.

The key word being 'has'. Jimmy Greaves scored even more, but in both case the goals are in the past. Paynter is looking less and less mobile.

monkeybutt · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2016 10:56 am

PJPoolie wrote:

With 11 minutes left though why take off a striker? One who is the most likely to score a header given the opportunity and one who is an excellent penalty taker.

I think that is when he brought Amond on, we are 1-0 down at home take off a defender, take off Featherstone. You could have for example subbed Bates and went three at the back. I wouldn't have subbed any of the forward players including Oates who I don't rate but have already said I though he played alright today.

To score a header, Paynter would need to be in the box, the provider would have to wait until he got in the box, by which time he would be outnumbered, I would put Walker up front, he has the legs and can score, although unproven due to never being tried, when your backs to the wall, try new shit

monkeybutt · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2016 12:30 pm

phil wrote:

I actually really like Featherstone, but he doesn't fit in this system. He fits in a team where he is given the freedom to just roam about passing the ball. He can't tackle, his defensive positioning is poor, and he has no strength or pace to cause problems in a physical battle. But in possession he is our best player at keeping and recycling possession. He is currently being played as a protective player in front of our defenders though. If we had a Paul Murray/Tommy Widdrington player in that role, with Featherstone next to him you'd see a much better player.

Carroll also bothered me today like he doesn't normally. He got dominated everytime he went up against their right winger. One time he tackled him, won the ball and then fell over, which meant their player had plenty of time to turn round and get the ball back then go past him again, just feeble really. It makes you question whether he ever really wants the ball.

If his defending makes you question whether he wants the ball, then watching him attack definitely confirms it. He either runs into the corner, or just kicks it where he seems to think someone should be. He is so wasteful on the ball. Why doesn't he ever just get to the byline and cross it? It's not very pretty, but it's effective. Instead, he gets to the byline turns back, and delivers a poor ball with his right foot that is inevitably cut out by the first defender.

I was impressed with Oates today. He was a bit chaotic, but Blackpool couldn't handle him. His crossing and shooting were both rubbish though, and he did nothing when he went through the middle. If he can improve his technique when kicking a ball, he could be a great player.

The bottom line for me though is the current shape doesn't work, and it doesn't fit the squad. I'd be very tempted to try a 343/352 in our next games. Our right back is a centre back, and our left back isn't very good. It'll give us more men in the middle, and some support for our strikers. Has to be worth a shot rather than continuing with this broken system.

I was impressed with Oates today. He was a bit chaotic, but Blackpool couldn't handle him. His crossing and shooting were both rubbish though, and he did nothing when he went through the middle. If he can improve his technique when kicking a ball, he could be a great player.

If you read that back Phil, you were impressed, he was chaotic, crossing and shooting rubbish, did nothing when went through middle

The reason Carroll doesn`t cross is because nobody is in the area to head it :doh:

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 37695

A lot of 'ifs'. If they 'could', we wouldn't be in the predicament we're in.

Indypool · **Joined:** Sat Jan 31, 2015 10:58 pm **Posts:** 21

Speaking with some Borer fans today, they have the same feelings towards the way they play - no end result with lots of backwards and sideways passing - Hignett must have picked this up on his sabbatical from us with them before his return

PJPoolie · **Joined:** Wed Mar 06, 2013 6:28 pm **Posts:** 15342

Indypool wrote:

Speaking with some Borer fans today, they have the same feelings towards the way they play - no end result with lots of backwards and sideways passing - Hignett must have picked this up on his sabbatical from us with them before his return

Hang on they got fucking promoted last season and are now competing fairly well in the Premier League.

They sound like typical rarfs from the Boro who probably didn't go to single game while they were in the Championship. I bet they are still wondering when Juninho will be fit for selection.

monkeybutt · **Posted:** Tue Dec 27, 2016 9:50 pm

PJPoolie wrote:

Indypool wrote:

Speaking with some Borer fans today, they have the same feelings towards the way they play - no end result with lots of backwards and sideways passing - Hignett must have picked this up on his sabbatical from us with them before his return

Hang on they got fucking promoted last season and are now competing fairly well in the Premier League.

They sound like typical rarfs from the Boro who probably didn't go to single game while they were in the Championship. I bet they are still wondering when Juninho will be fit for selection.

Has he been injured?

kevin pooles gloves · **Joined:** Tue Oct 07, 2014 2:28 pm **Posts:** 9724

In the Mail Higgy saying we can still make the play offs.

Grayhoundend · **Joined:** Tue Aug 19, 2014 12:13 pm **Posts:** 7628

kevin pooles gloves wrote:

In the Mail Higgy saying we can still make the play offs.

mathematically we CAN
theoretically we CAN
realistically we

Hignett

Gadgies online