Away the lads (Halifax)

[The Docker]

[Deleted]

Body language ain't good, look like a prison team just been let out for the day to play a game, something not right. Away the lads was similar after Salford last year, smiles replaced by frowns

[topcat]

Something definitely ain’t right. Just watching it you get a sense the players aren’t up for it. They look bored, no sense of urgency.
You want a wild guess, we’ll here it is.
I think they want to be themselves but can’t. It’s like trying to stick with a script but you’re rubbish at learning the lines but are brilliant at improvising.
Far too robotic, let the natural talent and enthusiasm shine through.
Guidelines yes but these young kids need some leeway.

[lincspoolie]

Hmmm this is sounding quite bad. A good number of new players through the door but same old Pools. I cant help just think about what the continuing element is in all of this and unfortunately it's the manager. Trying not to get drawn into the very premature doom and gloom outlook which seems to be rife at the moment but it's been such a long time since Pools were actually a force to be reckoned with.

These 2 defeats have probably left me more dejected than I have ever been before as a pools fan. We have everything going for us, the steady ship under a great chairman, an enviable fan-base of loyal supporters, a good number of exciting signings who had a full pre-season together and we get turned over by 2 clubs who would love to have all that. What on Earth is going on?

[jhumps84]

I dunno, i still think Hignett is absolutely the right man. In his first spell in charge things went well until players were sold so he knows what he is doing. Equally a lot of these players are new, maybe the squad just hasn't had enough time to get used to each other and a system. I doubt it'll help that nobody knows the best 11 and what system to play but it will come

[lincspoolie]

Aug 8, 2019 9:13:15 GMT jhumps84 said:

I dunno, i still think Hignett is absolutely the right man. In his first spell in charge things went well until players were sold so he knows what he is doing. Equally a lot of these players are new, maybe the squad just hasn't had enough time to get used to each other and a system. I doubt it'll help that nobody knows the best 11 and what system to play but it will come

I hope so. It is without doubt completely irrational to write a manager or a season off after just two games but I can't blame people for getting down about it, especially as I feel myself drifting in that direction.

[jhumps84]

No, i do see the frustration. For me there are a lot of positives in the performances so far, granted I've only seen highlights, but there are little things in there that do give me hope. Lots of half chances being created, just need to be in the right place at the right time and have a bit of luck and they'll start going for us. For once we're getting balls in the box and looking at ways to get players up and support the attack which does look new to me. The goals have been sloppy and from mistakes, for examples Halifax's first should have just been cleared but the ball bounced. Confidence thing i guess but all easily fixable. Once that defence tightens up, and the tactics are fully known inside out by everyone, it should start to come good. not auto promotion good, but there is enough in there that if they keep plugging away it'll happen. Worst thing that can be done now is too many changes, when nobody actually knows what the main problem is...

[jhumps84]

Yeah that is an issue, two holding midfielders and let wing backs and forward do the running, or one slow blocker player keeping it all together in a 4-4-2 is advisable. If playing three in the middle, then yeah it's criminal. But then that's where technical ability comes into it. Featherstone, no question has it, just needs people around him who have the same so they can pass around and move into space and op[en things up. Sadly on early season viewing Noble does not have that. Kennedy has experience, but as you say has looked horribly off the pace in the highlights. For me Noble or Kennedy has to drop out, and if/when Williams is back pop him at the top of the diamond and move the rest around a bit. We'll have Donaldson and Molyneux back soon enough, so that should answer the temporary problem. There's enough pace and running up top, ball just needs to find them and positivity keeps going

[headlander]

Williams doing to much in the warm up he will  after be careful we dont want him injured.