Half term report

[Soup Ladle]

Right, so we've had half of the fixtures in this dismal league. How do you rate your side at this stage?

Pros

We've kind of stopped the rot of seasons past (i.e we're not going to get relegated or be in a scrap)
Apart from Saturdays display, Loach is an incredible signing and 'keeper at this level who's probably won us 7/8 points on his own
There's a team spirit with players willing to work harder than any squad we've had for about 7 years and that's an essential quality here. That's credit to Craig Harrison.

Cons

This is the worst side in terms of technical ability I've ever seen at Pools and the squad is very average for this division, despite having one of the largest budgets here
We're not going up and that depresses me
Craig Harrison's negativity in home games
There's just no goals in the side at all
Scott Harrison still gets a game. Louis Lang not much better either. We'll never go back up if they're continuing to get a game
Craig Harrison's general post match analyses (he called losing 3-0 at Ebbsfleet an 'average' performance). Sorry but that can never be classed as 'average'.
Losing to some really, really shite teams that you've never heard of doesn't get easier the more it happens. Then you realise you're not any better than them and get more depressed.
Crowds are starting to dwindle (starting to dip from 4k, to 3.5 now getting below 3k now) - that's a massive concern as there ain't much money left

Overall C-

Must do better. More positivity needed from the bench, more quality needed at both ends.

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

Pros:
- Becchetti doesn't own the club
- There is a club
- There hasn't been thermo-nuclear war yet

Negatives:
- Everything else, from a 6-1 defeat at Bromley which was probably the worst in the clubs history to topping it with a 14 game winless streak and a 3-0 loss at Torquay.

Overall: U

Embarrassment. Maybe I could save the U 'til we're in the relegation zone, but we're basically there aren't we?

 

[Super_horns]

Good to hear Loach has done well for you - really lost his way somewhat.

 

[Aber gas]

Pros:
- Becchetti doesn't own the club
- There is a club
- There hasn't been thermo-nuclear war yet

Negatives:
- Everything else, from a 6-1 defeat at Bromley which was probably the worst in the clubs history to topping it with a 14 game winless streak and a 3-0 loss at Torquay.

Overall: U

Embarrassment. Maybe I could save the U 'til we're in the relegation zone, but we're basically there aren't we?

It’s a comfort to me that despite our current fortunes I don’t support Orient.
Many thanks.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Good to hear Loach has done well for you - really lost his way somewhat.

Best 'keeper we've had since Dimi Konstantopoulos when we were L1.

Said here before, never thought we'd replace Trev Carson but Loach is actually an upgrade. Should be playing two levels higher really.

Lucky to have him, he's great around the club as well. Real ambassador.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Right, so we've had half of the fixtures in this dismal league. How do you rate your side at this stage?

Pros

We've kind of stopped the rot of seasons past (i.e we're not going to get relegated or be in a scrap)
Apart from Saturdays display, Loach is an incredible signing and 'keeper at this level who's probably won us 7/8 points on his own
There's a team spirit with players willing to work harder than any squad we've had for about 7 years and that's an essential quality here. That's credit to Craig Harrison.

Cons

This is the worst side in terms of technical ability I've ever seen at Pools and the squad is very average for this division, despite having one of the largest budgets here
We're not going up and that depresses me
Craig Harrison's negativity in home games
There's just no goals in the side at all
Scott Harrison still gets a game. Louis Lang not much better either. We'll never go back up if they're continuing to get a game
Craig Harrison's general post match analyses (he called losing 3-0 at Ebbsfleet an 'average' performance). Sorry but that can never be classed as 'average'.
Losing to some really, really shite teams that you've never heard of doesn't get easier the more it happens. Then you realise you're not any better than them and get more depressed.
Crowds are starting to dwindle (starting to dip from 4k, to 3.5 now getting below 3k now) - that's a massive concern as there ain't much money left

Overall C-

Must do better. More positivity needed from the bench, more quality needed at both ends.

I think you've absolutely nailed it for the most part, still got my reservations over Harrison he needs time but he really isn't helping himself, he has an incredibly negative approach to games like you say, it's as though he sets us up not to lose and if we score it's a bonus, but if we concede we're fucked.

Non league has been a total reality check for a good chunk of our fans who in August thought that it would be a cakewalk. We've been less than impressive in most of our games this season, even in victory, we've often stumbled and staggered across the line, can you recall a game this season that we've been the much better team and deserved to win? Halifax who were rank bad and missing players and Maidstone, maybe?

I'm not totally convinced with Harrison but we need to see where we finish up at the end of the season, I reckon he should be doing much better with the budget he's been given, I mean looking at the league we must be one of the top three teams this season in terms of playing budget, 11 new players brought in over the summer, many on two year deals from teams above us in the pyramid, we have no divine right to beat anyone, but some of the performances put in by our full time pro's against people who often train three times a week has been disgraceful.

Harrison has successfully turned round the abysmal start but I think he really needs to trouble the playoffs in the second half of the season if he is to consider this a successful season, any lower than that and it might be curtains for curtains.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Pros
We could have a decent team once our injured players return and a few new additions that the new manager has spoken of.

We have a manger who's not content to play for 1-0 every game, and is going back to basics with a 4-4-2.

Cons
We're still shit.

Overall
F - we won't get relegated, but it'll be a full season where nothing interesting happens and the number of fans dwindles

 

[fifaking]

Pros:
- Manny Smith and Shaun Pearson.
- best defence in the league, largely down to Smith and Pearson; this despite using 4 different keepers this season.
- generally tough to break down, superb at grinding out results when in the lead.

Cons:
- Do not score enough goals, 20 scored in 22 games yet still 2nd shows where our strengths lie.. once we went 1-0 down at Aldershot at the weekend I don't think many thought we'd get anything out of it.
- Not enough chances created; Kelly has not been influential enough on the left wing, Rutherford works very hard on the right but is not a massive threat going forward - his goal vs Solihull was his first goal scored at The Racecourse, not great considering he's been with us since start of last season.

We really need a couple of strikers in as only Holroyd is scoring any sort of respectable amount so far, and more threats on the wing.. Also despite their considerable strengths, Wedgbury and Akil Wright really doesn't allow for much attacking threat from the middle of midfield. Wright will be badly missed if we're unable to extend his loan when that runs out in January.

Overall: B - Huge credit to Keates for the turnaround he's overseen in the last year, considering this time last year there were genuine fears of a relegation battle (although if you read RP you would think we're in one right now too). A couple more additions and we could really kick on in a league that no team has stood out in so far.

 

[Fyldefan]

Pros

Danny Rowe and Sam Finley. Was unsure how they would perform in this division but both have been excellent. The best 2 players in our team.

Our attacking play, we haven't struggled to score goals despite a lack of pacey wingers, which we have always had.

Decent FA cup run

Cons

Too many loan players. 2 have been excellent it's just going to leave us with a big hole when they leave

Poor recruitment. We didn't buy well

Suffering whiplash from having to watch us play Halifax.

Overall pleased enough. We should be higher in the league if we didn't concede so many 90 minute plus goals in at least 4 of the early games we would be. This season is about consolidation, get used to teams, players etc. We'll be far better next season

 

[JaredSUFC]

Pros

-Been top or near top for the whole season thus far
-Craig Dundas. Scored his 100th Sutton goal at Dagenham in September, and currently our top scorer with 7. That's 3 different levels Dundo has been scoring in for Sutton
-The high number of late goals we seem to score which save points
-Our improved away form. Won 2 games on the road last season in the league, totally different this season
-We are where we are despite not really ever being able to field our 1st choice XI

Cons
-We freeze when we go top. 4 of our 5 league defeats have come the game after we went top

Overall mark A+

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

Pros

- Danny Whitaker scored on his 400th game for the club
- We're 1 point off the top
- Away form is good, makes long journeys more bearable
- We play nice football, mostly
- Decent defence (when Hodgkiss is fit and Jalal isn't throwing them into his own goal)
- Almost enitrely new squad didn't take ages to get going
- Pilks and Whit haven't appeared to have aged yet (Whit actually looks fitter this season compared to last)

Cons

- Not entirely sure how we are still 1 point off the top
- Our home form is pants, "negative" style at home not effective nor enticing people to come watch
- Crowds not improved much
- No height up front, thus no Plan B; a big striker would make a huge difference
- Small squad (no cover for at all at RB) that is only going to struggle more as time goes on
- Same owner, same budget restrictions
- Struggle to score goals
- Jalal makes a vital mistake every other home game
- Rested players in FA cup, may not have mattered but that game was definitely winnable (and the money would've been very nice)
- Lost Steve Watson
- Expect we may lose good players from January and not replace them, while other teams strengthen
- Josh Thompson still struggling to recover from his injury and may never feature for us

Overall: B

 

[Gatekeeper]

We froze while watching Sutton going top on Saturday!

 

[Luke Imp]

Pros

Danny Rowe and Sam Finley. Was unsure how they would perform in this division but both have been excellent. The best 2 players in our team.

Our attacking play, we haven't struggled to score goals despite a lack of pacey wingers, which we have always had.

Decent FA cup run

Cons

Too many loan players. 2 have been excellent it's just going to leave us with a big hole when they leave

Poor recruitment. We didn't buy well

Suffering whiplash from having to watch us play Halifax.

Overall pleased enough. We should be higher in the league if we didn't concede so many 90 minute plus goals in at least 4 of the early games we would be. This season is about consolidation, get used to teams, players etc. We'll be far better next season

How has Muldoon done?

 

[Luke Imp]

Best 'keeper we've had since Dimi Konstantopoulos when we were L1.

Said here before, never thought we'd replace Trev Carson but Loach is actually an upgrade. Should be playing two levels higher really.

Lucky to have him, he's great around the club as well. Real ambassador.

You sure? I'd say the biggest difference between the NL and L2 are the 'keepers, so he's probably just found his level or could yo-yo between L2 and the NL.

Teams aren't particularly clinical or punishing of mistakes in the NL.

 

[Sparrow]

Cons:
No money

 

[Soup Ladle]

You sure? I'd say the biggest difference between the NL and L2 are the 'keepers, so he's probably just found his level or could yo-yo between L2 and the NL.

Teams aren't particularly clinical or punishing of mistakes in the NL.

I see what you mean but Loach always had the talent (been in full England squads), had terrible luck with injuries which set his career back. He's very easily at least good L2 level and in terms of all round command of area, shot stopping etc, he's better than some of the jokers we had when we were L1. Like you say, better players the higher you go, so we'll find out how good he is when he leaves us after we don't get promoted.

 

[East Bank Shot]

Pros:
- Top of the league
- Woking have no money

 

[Boz]

Pros
Finally playing with width
Encouraging performances from youngsters Duggan, Clarke and Gumbs when given the chance

Cons
Inadequate pre-season prep
Poor recruiting in the summer
Usual injury crisis, illustrated by poor Ben Tollitt only lasting half a game on his return
Cook going to Wrecsam in January

Overall C+ could do better

 

[Shotsfan1993]

Pros
Joint top scorers in the division
Not relying on one player for the goals
Top of the league despite not having a left back for 80% of the season
We play the best football in the division
We didnt collapse in November as we usually do

Cons
We haven't defended well from set pieces and conceded too many goals
Drew too many games in October
4 of the team that outplayed Wrexham were loanees

Overall A-

 

[Fyldefan]

How has Muldoon done?

He's done ok. Nothing more, nothing less

 

[B2TF]

Expectations fully met.

 

[John Still]

I would give us a B minus, we have the talent to win this thing but just seems one or two are out of form at the wrong time. This is anyone's league from current standings down to 12th place, which for halfway through the season shows how poor this league really is.

Cheek now firing for us is a massive bonus, have missed him terribly last 3 months. If we can get Whitely back on form then we can go very close.

I can see Aldershot winning it.

 

[Joe.]

Pros: we're no longer playing Whitehawk or Concord.

Cons: we're playing Woking and Bromley. Nothing against either, by the way. I'm just bored at the sight of them.

In all seriousness though, I predicted and possibly expected a mid table finish from our first season back, and we're on for that so I'm happy. Luke Coulson has proved to be an excellent signing. Losing Darren McQueen for the rest of the season is a massive blow though as was Dave Winfield being injured since second game of the season. Hopefully he'll be back next game.

 

[Paddy]

First season away from Kingston, had a decent manager walk out on us a couple of months in to the season for entirely off-field reasons & replaced with someone from the league below who has released a few decent players & replaced them with players from his former team in the league below. No cup runs in the FA competitions again, smashed out of the Trophy 5:1 by Heybridge Swifts in the league below. Board showing no signs that they want to make anything happen regarding moving back to Kingston (town and/or borough).

I'd grade us a 'D'. Nothing to smile about, plenty to be upset about but it could be worse on the pitch I guess.

 

[Pliny Harris]

Pros:
The Holy Trinity of Denton, Morgan and Kosylo make us a handy team when they're all featuring.
We still have Heath, and we're staying up OK.
Our core following is a little larger than it was before.
Our wins have been a lot more enjoyable on the whole than last season's.
The youth team's doing well and is run with pride.

Cons:
Despite our manager having gotten us promoted no thanks to them, a huge chunk of our fans are still opportunist jackals who want him binned.
Nob'dy wants to be in the bottom third of their league.
Pricing at this level SUCKS.
Flyde, the Dubai of football, still exist. As do MK Donalds, the Israel of football.

 

[DarkSithLord]

A long way up shit creek.

 

[Jemfy]

We're half way through our league campaign finally, and while it was initially disappointing in a few areas, particularly cups, we have more than made up for it.

8 game winning streak now, 2pts clear at the top with 2 games in hand on most (n.b. only 5 pts clear of Beaconsfield who have played the same number of games).

I guess the half term report is we're waiting for things to go wrong! Hopefully we'll be waiting a while.