Can remember Cloughie regularly took academy players to European away games just to give them the experience of being part of the squad, no intention of playing them.

I agree completely. I do not believe that Pep and Cloughie working together could have taken over when KP did and got this squad into the playoffs!
So why sack KP for doing the best we could hope for, namely mid table safety?
If we are still in a similar mid table position by the end of 2024 then show him the door by all means, but give the guy a decent chance before condemning him.

No more disheartening that the gallant souls who travelled to watch those who did get mud on their boots. At least the juniors travelled free. Character building is part of their education.

Don't forget new players who actually give 100% effort every game.
It's only 90 mins
Youngish athletes in part time employment.
Because last nite the effort n work ethic was way below par.
Maidenhead weren't much technically better than us but they worked there bollocks off and wanted the 3 pts a lot more than us.

Going back to travelling by train as KP said in his interview.I am at a loss to see the advantage, yes if Pools were playing in central London, considering they have to change stations to get the train to Maidenhead, there are no direct trains from Kings Cross to Maidenhead. Time wise there is no difference going by coach or train, at least with coach you can get off and stretch your legs.
No I am not going to get in touch with the club as to why or Google it.

Surely that's down to KP to tell the players to put the crosses into the box from about level with the penalty area.
Go back to 4 4 2 with 2 proper wingers.
Instead of this crab football which results in trying to get past about 7 players on the penalty area.

He has mentioned more pace needed for next season so just could be on the same basic sensible wavelength as me.

Because of lack of mobility and pace in midfield we have been playing 5 in there. Hopefully we'll be shot of most of them come the end of June.

[quote="Jamie1952"]Going back to travelling by train as KP said in his interview.I am at a loss to see the advantage, yes if Pools were playing in central London, considering they have to change stations to get the train to Maidenhead, there are no direct trains from Kings Cross to Maidenhead. Time wise there is no difference going by coach or train, at least with coach you can get off and stretch your legs.
No I am not going to get in touch with the club as to why or Google it.[/quote

Well Jamie unless someone on here can help you, which hasn't happened so far, coupled with your choice of ruling out asking the club, I don't think you are going to get a satisfactory conclusion. If you do find the answer please let us in on it.

I hear what you are saying Derwent, it was just Phillips made a point of saying in his interview they travelled down on the train as if it was advantageous, with the result it didn’t appear to make any difference ?

No, they are getting the experience of participating with the big lads, I loved it doing it when training and finally getting the chance to be alongside those I was aspiring to be one of…….you pick things up on just being there, I learnt a lot by just being there with my mouth well and truly shut …..because at that age I had nothing to offer and was there just to learn about how you work with people by listening.
Whether we got covered in shite was neither here nor there at the time, good old practical experience.

yes, working your bollocks off is the bare minimum most of us expect every game from the players. can take a defeat if they at least match the opposition in this. never say die should be replaced by never break sweat.

Not for the first time Phillips said in his post match interview said the players weren’t fit enough, surely he has been there long enough to sort it the training regime out ?

As i was walking to the ground on tuesday there was a coach parked up with Hartlepool FC marked up.
If i remember correctly it was a coach company from Harrogate.

I seem to remember we have an agreement to borrow Harrogate FC's coach. I guess we share the running costs. Or I may have misremembered but there will be someone on here who will know.

It’s just another ‘it’s not my fault’ excuse….expect the blame shifting to run out about October next year and evolve into ‘I’m a fighter not a quitter’
Shite as he tries to buy himself another month

Pools have played 2 games a week most weeks since Phillips came in. It's a routine of play, recover, prepare, play.

On the other hand I'm not sure the implied criticism of the Askey regime is entirely fair. Pools seemed to have a decent pre-season and into the early autumn were outlasting opponents and scoring late goals. It went stale when the results headed south - well before KP came in.

Think the lack of pace in the squad adds to the impression of looking leaden footed. Only Grey and Stephenson (since he came in) are reasonably quick - the rest are cart horses in comparison.

Aye, if you expect sports car performance from the Ford Transits in midfield in particular, don’t expect to win the race…..not all players are fast off the mark.

Pools got the train down, lashing out the cash sending the coach down empty albeit with kit ?

I passed that coach about 9.45, an Harrogate Company, wonder if the players were meeting up at say York, but now you mention it, getting the kit down would be a problem unless it travels down separately….in the team Transit.

KP was slating the players on the radio after they were looked after very well regarding the luxury travel arrangements.
Not we safe KP show some ruthlessness and set down a marker now to go into next season that you ain't Gunna carry or sign any passengers.

It's his team now.
Zero excuses now not even injury ones as Dodds n Mancini should be raring to destroy this piss poor division with the help of plenty of proper signings.

I reiterate All out of contracters must vacate this current holiday camp joke shop current set up.

Do the right thing KP you've got the perfect opportunity especially when the top man never says no to you.

UTP.

Or maybe daren’t say no.

Aye, if you expect sports car performance from the Ford Transits in midfield in particular, don’t expect to win the race…..not all players are fast off the mark.[/quote]
but it helps a long way for them if they were and could do it for about 20 yards. totally pointless for players who could win a 3 mile race but would come last over 20 yards. do not want to start the haters off but featherstone looked as if he was walking through a paddy field on tuesday night or he was carrying a knock.