just realized we are behind them in the league

If that doesn't some up the unambiguous incompetence in the way the way the club has been run the last few years I am not sure what does

This isn't a well backed financially doped team ahead of us or some dynamic young genius manager--its a bunch of part-timers averaging barely 1,000 fans who have been managed by the same bloke the last 9 years as a hobby ... and they have done better than we have.

Its unjustifiably bad however you try and excuse it

There are many pretty good players who cannot afford to go full time so stick to the day job and play part-time.

Jesus is that the level of excuse making we are at now?

What’s up, stood on a piece of Lego…?

The statement was true there are a few players out there like that but its s hell of a leap to use it as an excuse. It would not be an apologist viewpoint, more like a denialist viewpoint!

But perhaps he was just makimg an interesting point, not making a weird excuse.. and it is interesting that a small handful some players might stay part time because their non-football job is really good.

So what were behind Maidenhead? We're behind loads of teams and ahead of a few including the Uggla backed York. So by the same logic the level of incompetence at York must be through the floor.
We all know we want to be better but ultimately that's down to what happens on the pitch. Let's see what the summer brings instead of constantly sniping and bemoaning our most recent history. What's gone is gone, its up to Pools as a club now to make the improvements we all want to see.
There's probably close to a hundred clubs in the top 5 divisions who's fans and hierarchy all hoped for and expected better. It's football and unpredictable - look at Chelsea, Man Utd, do you think their fans and investors are happy?

Many years ago Pools had Lance Robson who joined from Darlington, He was part time due to the fact he was also a dentist, he used to travel to most away games by car.

Proper hard case he was.

I suspect we’d have the same comment if we’d finished second behind Chesterfield.
And if we’d finished top we’d have been criticised for getting relegated in the first place……by some people

The statement was true there are a few players out there like that but its s hell of a leap to use it as an excuse. It would not be an apologist viewpoint, more like a denialist viewpoint!

But perhaps he was just makimg an interesting point, not making a weird excuse.. and it is interesting that a small handful some players might stay part time because their non-football job is really good.[/quote]
halifax town tried a system of part timers and full timers playing together about half and half of each. didn,t really work that well but were not much lower in the league than when they went full time. doubt fans today would have the patiance if pools did that for a few seasons finishing where we will be this season to put the club in a stronger financial position for the future.

If someone had said to me at the start of last season that we would be relegated and finish the season behind Alty, Gateshead and Aldershot id of asked for what ever meds they where on to be looked at ! But the harsh reality of it is... we are now in that position. Alty for one have showed how having a few very good consistent players can get you in the top 7 of this league and stay there. Which tbh is what we did last time, solid midfield 3 with Oates and Armstrong etc....

Again i think KP has turned this shitshow around and he should of had alot more wins under his belt too, the unfortunate injuries to Mancini and Kahn - some lack lustre displays from the other loanees. We could of quite easily of been looking at finishing above the Heed ! This enough tells me that should he recruit well and get the right type of players in. Which i believe he will as many will want to play for him too! Then a top 3 finish is on the cards next season regardless of having a mid table budget again (who knows ?).

Pretty sure Maidenhead haven't had an incompetent manager such as Hartley signing none league quality scottish players on massive wages on a 2 year contract either? Like it or not i think that's still biting us big style in terms of wages that can be offered until the contracts expire

i must have been on the meds as at the start of that season i feard the worst once i saw that team. they gave us a hangover into this season where i was happy with a mid table position from the outset. doubt any of those 3 clubs had the crap we had on their books to suffer but expect a much better season the next one as it might be the last chance for many fans to keep their interest alive.

The ‘interest’ will continue, possibly in depleted numbers, but I’ve witnessed some dross over the years and I suppose I’ve built up resistance to depression

I go to Maidenhead a few times a season, an old mate is a big fan.
I was there the night they beat Wrexham, complete with American owners.They definitely seem to raise their game against top clubs.
Alan Devonshire is a bit of an enigma.Clearly doesnt like to be in the spotlight, travels on trains, but basically appears to be a good bloke.
Another strange thing, Devonshire was a great creative player, his teams now are built around large s**thouse types of players and set pieces, still it seems to work.

I got smacked in the face at The Rink End by Lance Robson whose shot went just over the bar. Had trouble with my teeth ever since. Mind you, being hit by a shot from Mark Cooper would have been fatal. Oh I see he's back at The Vic next season with Yeovil Town.

Was like pulling teeth watching him

Yeovil just might be serious contenders next season.

Oldham, yeovil, York, forest green, Barnet/bromley (assuming one of the other goes up)
All
Teams with decent budgets we have to try and match if we are to have a chance, none of this random kids or south shields heroes we have never heard of.
Get the shite cleared out and bring in decent quality at this level
Pronto

Hopefully moore and not Phillips and monks is driving the recruiting

Also every manager claims he wants to loan players out from our bigger neighbors, if Phillips gets players who can improve us from Sunderland great, but they need to be a higher level than the likes of Zac Johnson

Rochdale will be the dark horse's and Sarfend if they sort out there legal problems.

Yes both of them too, all teams who should be up there but with possible exception of Oldham I don’t see anyone blowing us out of the water financially ….over to you Raj and Kev !

Raj & Kev are the same person…….keep it quiet.

Personally I couldn't give a toss if our budget matches any other club or if any players come from The Mill House Sunday league as long as we are competing at the top end of the table next season.

Yeah im sure York feel the same no matter what way you look at it or try to dress it up its embarassing. Things need to change.

Who on earth actually believes raj singh paid massive wages? Honestly i cant believe he gets away with that. If they were paying massive wages other clubs wouldnt be able to afford them. I will go back to the statement raj singh said on the radio a couple year ago. He said i cant believe some players are being paid 1500 and more. So why on earth would he then allow hartley to go out and sign players on massive wages. Its a red herring. We would of kept the likes of Armstrong if we could afford massive wages, i cant believe a lot of our fan base fall for this.

To be fair, I was talking to a Pixie and he assured me it’s true, then I woke up

This is no excuse any more. Unless some of those signings were on three year deals which I (or anyone in their right mind) would not believe for a second.

The denialists will say owt to deflect blame from a certain direction.

Youve not been in football till youve been Devonshired

I'd say some of our players will be on decent money even though none of us know the actual facts.
The reasons behind my thinking are that we're paying Deseruvwie a higher wage than Halifax could afford, Waterfall could have stayed at Grimsby and I assume would have unless we offered him a decent deal, same for Parkes, Dixons last club was div1, doesn't mean they're on megabucks but would suggest we're competitive imo.

Ah the propagandist speaks.

I'd say our budget is like the predominant quality level of the players we sign, bang average. That's not so bad if you have the competencey levels and culture in place from top to bottom. All I can say about our club in that regard is...... oops.

to me our problem is a mix of an average budget and way below average competency--hopefully this year is different in the former and it can hardly be worse in the latter,
Wonder what the over/under is on how many 'shields' players we bring in !

No propaganda at all just a reasoned opinion. Isn't it strange your rantings are your truth and have to be accepted by everyone, yet anyone else who has a different opinion to yours is a propagandist or Raj worshipper etc.

This excuse has now run its course now and thankfully Over.
Massive blessed opportunity now to crack on.
UTP.

Reasoned? Just have a think about all the reasons why people have been driven to these levels of anger and frustration. The difference is that my grievances and those of my fellow Poolies who will not have the wool pulled over our eyes, is that we are backed up by cold hard embarrassing heartbreaking evidence.

The first one’s to die in the lifeboat are the ones who lose hope and sink into negativity,
We’re in a lifeboat, death is not a deliverance.
Applies to life.
Just me being philosophical.

Some think that because they use terms like hard evidence in their arguments yet don't have any but if you use the facts that we do know in a counter then they accuse you if working for Raj, being a propagandist, or a Raj worshipper in an effort to close down debate. Sad and a bit childish really.

All views are applicable.
Best philosophy is to not give a monkeys fore end if someone becomes offended.
Overated wordage which has zero bearance on results.
Safe journey to our travelling lunatics today
UTP.

Aye Aye Skipper.
Shiver me timbers Captain Pugwash.

Me barnacles are rubbing against me bulwarks, you’ll have to excuse me

Watch games, check the league table and the chaos feed (a.k.a. HUFC club news) and theres all the hard evidence one needs.

Now I'm all for looking forwards so lets do it. Raj has been evidently crap, he needs to change big style and we will all see how that unfolds together as Poolies (not much other choice ).

The only hard evidence we can rely on is what happens on the pitch. Since KP came in our points per game ratio has improved. He is now able to make his decision on players we have on our books who are running out of contracts. He has also indicated that his mission over the summer break is to get around seven permanent signings that will improve the squad. On top of that he wants three or four better standard loanees on longer term contracts, plus the academy youngsters he is able to introduce. To me that is a decent plan and an attempt to improve things. So I am looking forward to the results that he achieves within that plan. Yes I agree let us see how that unfolds.
Now I am prepared to stick to that, Mr Imp. The big question is are you ??????
The proof of the pudding etc etc etc....................................

If you take the last 10 games were avwraging one point per game thats actually relegation form. He got off to a brilliant start but thinhs have more than levelled out since.

maidenhead and pools are going to finish the season in similar positions. thats the problem with this league as we are having a nightmare and they,ll be on cloud 9 by having similar seasons.

Results answer any difference in opinions.
We are certainly due n uptake regarding points per game.
2 people now 100% responsible for next season now without any excuses if we don't go up.
Or worse case scenario if it's unlucky play off failure.

Please not anutha season realistically over in November.
UTP.
We all want the same thing regardless of opinion.
That's fair to say in my mad world.

Considering what he had to choose from in the last ten games are you not surprised. I prefer to take all of his games into account rather than be selective. Hopefully and if he gets a fair wind in the summer break the conversation will take a different turn, which is really the point I was making. There's nothing we can do now to change those results but there's plenty we can do about the first ten of next season, which is what I will be focussing on.

Your sounding a bit chirpy Kevin ?

So because our league position and form have been pretty abject this season it must be hard evidence of shambolic ownership and penny pinching?

What hard evidence is there then from Southend say who definitely are in shambolic ownership and are budget constrained but are in the play off mix despite a 10 point deduction?

Or from York - among the high spenders in the division still in the relegation mix?

Money helps, depends what you spend it on.
My philosophy is select a manager, give them the financial backing and like it says on a firework warning, …..’stand well back !’
You raise the money, they spend it, no interference.

No, there has been plenty more evidence from previous season. You are absolutely scraping the barrel to deflect away from Raj. It is weird because even those who don't want people talking about it still recognise that things are not right.

Tell you what, you stop spinning everything away from Raj and I'll quietly let Raj redeem himself in the coming months. How's that? I know it will please others too.