You got into this mess, Pools - now get out of it
CT - new team
By Charlie Summerbell
March 31 2010
Boss Chris Tuner says four wins will keep Hartlepool United in League One. So it’s over to you pal – pick, motivate, organise and coach the team to those four wins and the fans who howled for you to be sacked last weekend might get off your back. There again, they might not.
Fail, and your days running the team must be numbered - and even if you succeed, questions should still be asked.
Pools go to fellow strugglers Leyton Orient on Saturday knowing that they can’t afford to lose – no more coming home with the praise of rival managers ringing in their ears, saying Pools are a good side who went close and gave the likes of Millwall, Norwich, Southampton and others a good game before losing.
For a change, let's head back up the A1 with Orient boss Geraint Williams saying his side were robbed by a team lucky to get away with a win.
Let’s play ugly and win with a last-minute own goal – honest, Chris, it’s a lot better than losing and being told you played well.
Turner says Pools need to stick together to get out of the mess they are in and has called on the fans to get behind the team to help get the points they need.
Well, you might not have noticed Chris, but the fans have been behind the team for much of the season.
But it’s almost over now, and it’s all been a big disappointment.
You were given backing by the owners to virtually build a new team, and that team is fifth bottom of the table.
Don’t anybody fall into the trap of blaming injuries, bad luck or the run of the ball – Pools are where they are because they are not good enough to be any higher up the table.
And the fans are fed up. Their patience has been stretched since mid-season when it became clear that the promise the new squad had was not going to be fulfilled.
So while blind abuse is never nice, those who offer constructive criticism can’t be blamed.
Get is sorted Pools and decide whether the man who rebuilt the team last summer is the man to take the club into next season.