David Cameron Walker

Archive for the ‘Hartlepool United’ Category

Hartlepool United End Of Season Report

Friday, April 20th, 2012

Player of the season

There have been many good performances throughout the year from Hartlepool, despite our mid-table position. On the number of occasions I have been to see them, I have been impressed with the way the club have defended as a unit. I would like to highlight a couple of players who I would put forward for the award, before making a decision.

Evan Horwood, at left back has been very consistent. Scoring a few cracking goals this season screamer and being many of the fan’s favourite he has rarely missed a game for Pools. An attacking full back with a mean delivery, he can certainly hurt other teams going forward as well as doing a good job for the defence.

Sam Collins, one of the club’s longest serving players, the experienced centre half with a wise head on him has once more excelled for Pools in another long hard fought season. A prominent figure in the back line for the team, when he is not playing you seem to notice as the back line does not cope as well without him.

Paul Murray, marshalling the midfield, just in front of the defence this stern, hard nut, holding midfielder does a tidy job sweeping up and protecting the back four for United. Making the midfield tick with his distribution and leadership, he has been second to none and instrumental in the team this season.

The Verdict = Evan Horwood

The left back takes the award this season for me, from many fans and journalists I have spoken to up north this season from the games I have been to seem to agree, not being able to say a bad word about him.

Young Player of the season

There is only one winner here I’m afraid. Although I will give two special mentions who could run him close in years to come. Hartlepool have focused a lot this year on youth, and since the turn of the year looked to integrate some of the younger lads into the first team. These players are Greg Rutherford and Jack Baldwin. Both have made limited appearances for Pools, but look worthy stars of tomorrow. Each have prominent futures at the club, hopefully in the first team again next season.

The Verdict = Luke James

One lad who totally stands out head and shoulders above the rest. Seventeen year old, teenage sensation, Luke James. This young man’s career has taken off since giving the chance to play upfront with strikers like Adam Boyd, Ryan Noble and Anthony Sweeney. Nobody expected this young man to be quite the talent he is at the moment. Scoring three goals in twelve appearances he is certainly one to watch out for.

Unsung hero and under-performing player

For this award, it is hard to look beyond three players. Sam Collins, Anthony Sweeney and Paul Murray have been equally impressive and don’t tend to get much of the praise associated to when the team perform well. Hard-working, reliable and willing are a few words used to describe these different individuals.

As for under-performing player, not really an accolade anyone wants to be associated with, and I don’t like to single anyone out for criticism but I think either Adam Boyd or James Poole this season. Boydy, because his best years are surely behind him now and in the words of the manager recently in a press conference, ‘He isn’t exactly going to run past anyone,’ referring to the type of player he is…a slow one.

James Poole because, I don’t feel he has shown his true potential yet. He has struggled with injury throughout out much of this season, which Pools fans may question my judgement as to why I am mentioning him. Being slightly harsh when he was fit he only showed his potential moments of class when at the beginning of the season for a short period of time. In and out the team, he could never seem to hold down a starting position which he badly needs if he is to progress at Pools.

Team of the season

Again this is what I think, having been to games this year most Hartlepool fans may agree or disagree but I have decided on my final eleven. There are one or two players who perhaps may have got in had they not been injured like James Poole and other late arrivals to the team such as striker Ryan Noble who have only recently joined. Therefore these players miss out unfortunately.

GK – Scott Flinders
LB – Evan Horwood
CB – Peter Hartley
CB – Sam Collins
RB – Neil Austin
LM – Andy Monkhouse
CM – Gary Liddle
CM – Paul Murray
RM – Ritchie Humphreys
ST– Anthony Sweeney
ST– Luke James

The team pretty much picks itself this season as the squad has looked a bit thin on the ground in recent weeks towards the end of the year. I’m sure that manager, Neale Cooper, has been brought in to put his on stamp on the team next season and I’m certain that most of that team will be completely different.

Best and worst moment of the season

The best moment of the season for me was watching James Poole come on from the substitute bench in some of the first few games of the season and practically score with his first touch twice against MK Dons and Rochdale. Not just scoring, but his goals in those two games were pure class. I remember jumping out of my seat on both occasions in sheer amazement at what I had witnessed. Two fabulous goals worthy of being in the Premier League, they were that damn good.

The worst moment of the season, has probably been in the last few weeks. Performances have tailed off and I am certain most of the players already feel like they are already on holiday for the summer. Not winning at home at the Vic in front of our own supporters since February, has been a bit of a worry, and it would be nice to see the club end the season on a positive rather than a negative in what has been another decent season for the club in mid-table.

How the team can improve for next season?

Pools fans will be thinking déjà vu to last year. How can we improve? In my opinion I am almost certain the manager will bring in one, maybe two, strikers. Hartlepool in my opinion lack goals, especially at home and this should be assessed. As for other positions the club may need strengthening, I hear Neale Cooper likes to play with natural wingers with pace; this is something the club do not have. All signs point to suggesting he’ll sign a couple of players he is familiar with to play in these vacant positions.

Written by John Mason, We Are Going Up’s Hartlepool United Blogger

John tweets at @john_mason29

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Roll out the red carpet treatment, again!

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

On Wednesday it was decided that after Micky Barron’s temporary spell in charge of Hartlepool United was to come to an end, Neale Cooper would return to to the club as First Team Coach and pick up where he left off six years ago.

Cooper previously left the club due to family circumstances at the time, but had always expressed a desire to return. The appointment is something as a surprise but one I’m sure the fans will be happy with.

Will that old saying “never go back” be apt? Probably not. Pools sit comfortably away from relegation and are closer to the play off zone in a respectable twelfth spot. It is just the home form which needs addressing, and once the balance of winning home games and picking up points away from home – that Hartlepool generally are quite good at doing – then the club could find themselves in a healthy position come the end of the season.

Another dilemma facing Cooper  is whether or not to strengthen the squad, or to let some players go in order to make room for some of his own come in. The morale of the squad I expect is quite low, although I’m sure their latest win at Oldham has given the club heart. One thing Cooper does have as an advantage is the good staff around him and he will still know many of the players. Morale is key and he might try to bring in one or two new faces to assert his authority and look to freshen things up a little.

The fans seem to be buzzing with excitement and anticipation as many hold the new boss in high regard, as he is one of the most successful managers in Hartlepool history. Many will be reserving their judgement until he gets a good run of results under his belt, but the fans will begin to believe again and if that transpires across to the players, who knows what could happen?

As for Cooper, he guided Pools into the play-offs during his first season as manager in 2003/04, only to lose agonisingly to Bristol City across two legs. He then took the club into the play-offs again the following year, only to walk away at the last minute and see his side lose their play-off final to Sheffield Wednesday. I’m sure this time he will be looking to right a few wrongs and guide Pools once more towards the top half of the table.

Was this appointment the easy option? We all understand as fans that there is no money but I imagine to pay the dignified Mick Wadsworth off cost the club quite a bit. They then appoint a manager who they stated already knows the players and can work with existing members of staff instead of being given the option to bring in his own. Could this be seen as a cheap scam? A appointment that was inevitable? We’ll have to wait and see.

Written by John Mason, We Are Going Up’s Hartlepool United Blogger

John tweets at @john_mason29

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Heroes return in the nick of time

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

Antony Sweeney and Nolberto Solano’s returns from injury are timely interventions for Hartlepool United. Pools managed to get themselves back to winning ways at the weekend with a 2-0 victory over Scunthorpe United. The match coincided with both players returning to the starting elven and Sweeney making the score sheet, as the team thrived having them both back.

The team’s strength in all honesty is not amazing, and when the club tend to lose key players like Sweeney and Solano, it is hard to sustain morale and gain results. The club is run on a tight budget and most of the players bought in, like many others are usually free transfers. Thus it is hard to replace quality with quality when players go missing through injuries. Due to this, Hartlepool’s results always seem to deteriorate around Christmas, and it is around this time of year things start to take a turn for the worse.

Having said all this strength of the squad looks better this season more than most. So much so, that when Mick Wadsworth was asked if he thought the strength of the squad would need improving when the loan market re-opens, the manager stated he would be sticking by his current bunch of players. On the whole supporters agree with his belief, though sometimes Hartlepool can lack goals and another striking option would not be a bad move. Missing out on Lomano Tresor Lua Lua was upsetting as he chose to join Blackpool, after training with Pools – but bringing someone else in would be what fans want to see.

Looking back at Saturday’s action and Pools performance, it was nice to see the club back to winning ways and in the goals. Solano provided the width in order to exploit the Scunthorpe defence while Sweeney’s drive and determination helped to give the side more of an offensive threat. Pools have an excellent record of just one defeat in nine away league games and this showed on Saturday, it was pleasing to see everyone pulling together to put in a performance.

Thinking about the opposition and Hartlepool as a small club, it is amazing to think that they have just given a team who were recently a Championship outfit a good beating. However with Scunthorpe struggling and expectation levels being so high these days it is something one has to expect. As a Pools follower, I will always be proud of the club and how far they have come, and still continue to progress for such a small town and club.

This season the main question is can the club kick on through the Christmas period? The answer is most definitely yes. The manager is adiment the players have learnt from last year’s mistakes. The fixture list looks unkind to Pools going into the new year, but if they can continue to pick up points and at least not lose games over the festive period, it may just prove to good season for Hartlepool.

Written by John Mason, We Are Going Up’s Hartlepool United Blogger

John tweets at @john_mason29

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No Repeat Performance Please

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

After a repeat defeat on Sunday at Notts County for the second season running, Hartlepool do not want a repeat performance of last year where the remainder of their season tails off. Impressive inroads have been made to try to take the club forward this campaign. Mick Wadsworth has been given the permanent post of manager to try and install that extra belief in the players to go on another good run under his guidance. The gamble to give him an extended stay has paid off so far with them sitting in 9th place in the League One table with a game in hand.

Although the team lost 3-0 at the weekend and have now lost two games in a row, they have made an excellent start this year. The club went nine games unbeaten before finally surrendering their form to Sheffield Wednesday at home, with the curse of being mentioned on the Football League Show and having Mark Clemmit to come visit them being an obvious excuse for losing. Not many will have expected little old Hartlepool to be up there from the start this year, but the manager and players maintain that if they can be up the top of the league after Christmas they could well feature in and around the play-off’s this season.

However, Pools fan will be hoping that they don’t fall from grace and slide down the table like last season – after suffering defeat at Notts County they fell dramatically from in and around the play-offs to managing to just stay out of the relegation battle. Most fans believe that this year Hartlepool have strengthened and have certainly added more grit and determination to their rank. Lacking a killer instinct last season, I watched them many times and thought they manage to stay in games, but fell away towards the last third of matches.

This season they have added a few additions to the team in James Poole, Nathan Luscombe, Colin Nish and of course Nolberto Solano. As you can tell from that little list they have really focused on scoring goals and going forward. Usually solid at the back, the team definitely lacked goals last season, whereas this season they are coming in abundance. James Poole and Nathan Luscombe have hit the ground running and scored some superb goals between them. Despite not featuring regularly in the starting line-up, they are more utilised as impact players and are already becoming fans favourites for turning and winning matches.

Nolberto Solano, nicknamed by many adoring fans across the globe as ‘Nobby’, has provided width and his set piece ability to the squad is clear for all to see; scoring already this season with a couple of glorious free kicks. He is a good character to have within the team and one that provides the team with a level head of experience that is better than the majority within League One.

Finally, Colin Nish is a player who has had to work hard to convince the fans he is worth his place. Although, thankfully, he’s winning them over now; he’s not been particularly potent, but the manager has stuck by him in that he offers a target man up front – the ultimate necessity at this level.

I just pray that this season, and having watched them this Sunday and witnessed first hand how badly they played, that Hartlepool don’t slip back into their old ways and they can push on to improve upon last season’s performance in the league. I’m sure you Pools fans out there like me and Jeff Stelling will be hoping for something to shout about in the near future.

Written by John Mason, We Are Going Up’s Hartlepool United Blogger

John tweets at @john_mason29

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