October Review

By Albatross
October 30 2002

October finishes with Pools where they started - Top of the League. It's been a good month for Pools, with the gap at the top growing; and with CT strengthening his squad again, there's still every reason to be cheerful. Albatross looks back at the month.

First of all, the new signing. CT has brought in Brian Barry-Murphy on a month's loan from Preston North End. Barry-Murphy is a former Eire u21 international, aged 24, and is a Left-Sided defender - he can apparently play in midfield as well - and although he has spent some time as the Reserve Team Captain at Deepdale, he has found his first-team opportunities limited there and spent a time on loan at Southend last season.

It's been another good month for Pools in Division 3, with a tally of four wins and one defeat in our games leading to us not only staying top of the league, but extending our lead to five points. The only real competition to CT for Manager of the Month would seem to be Kiddiminster's Ian Britton: Harriers have moved into secpnd place after matching Pools' results this month, and actually have a slightly better goal difference than Pools over the month: +5 to Pools +4.

Looking at the previous winners, it may be a good thing for Pools if Britton does take the award. It's long been reckoned that there's a curse on the Manager of the Month, and last month's winner, Denis Smith of Wrexham, has seen his side fail to record a league win in five games this month. Terry Dolan won the August Prize, and it's now looking like the York bubble has well and ttruly burst; just one win over the month and the Minstermen have fallen to 13th.

Thre have been contrasting fortunes for the teams that have changed managers. Exeter's decline must be giving their supporters real cause for concern - they managed just two points during October and have fallen to 22nd, just above the dreaded drop; Darlington have managed a win and a draw since parting company with Tommy Taylor; and Peter Taylor started turning Hull City around on the day he arrived, with a couple of wins to their credit already.

Boston registered three wins during the month to help them rise to 21st, and currently the bottom of the table team is Carlisle. Like Wrexham and Exeter, the Cumbrians failed to register a win during the month. More surprisingly, neither did Rochdale, who have dropped to 11th as a result.

The thing that as always is the watchword in Division 3 is consistency. No team went unbeaten this month, and some of those who have been challenging Pools - Torquay, Lincoln and Rushden for example - have lost ground on us. Kiddy have gone up to second not by gaining on us, but simply by matching us.

With 16 games gone and Pools clear at the top by five points, Pools are by definition the most consistent side in the division. It's been a great three months for Pools, we've not been out of the Top 3 and have been the top dogs for the best part of two months now. However Titles are not won in November; we need to carry on churning out the results to stay ahead of the chasing pack. With the addition of another left sided player - albeit on loan - the squad is looking stronger than ever, and with the current competition for places, there's every incentive for the lads to keep on performing. It's still looking good for Pools.