Time for Pools to answer the big question

Mick Wadsworth asked his Hartlepool United squad a simple question before their home game against League One leaders Charlton Athletic - do they want to doi something special or do they want to end the season with the traditional break in Benidorm?

The 4-0 defeat suggests they are looking forward to a few days of sun, sand and Spanish lager.

Wadsworth’s full question, as asked in the Northern Echo, was: “Do they want a season of doing something special? Or do they want to do OK, say well done little old Hartlepool you finished eighth, tenth, 13th or whatever and now you go to Benidorm and enjoy a little holiday, then come back for pre-season go on tour to Holland and start the cycle again?”

In fact, they were beaten so comprehensively by the leaders that they’ll be lucky to finish anywhere between eighth and 13th and the best they can expect is a few days in Seaton Carew.

There was a huge gap in class as Pools slumped to their fourth home defeat on the trot and their fifth loss in the last six games. It’s a depressing run after a nine-game unbeaten start to the season, and now big questions must be asked of the squads.

Never mind Benidorm – are they as good as they looked when the season started, or as bad as they look now?

Bradley Wright-Phillips scored twice for Charlton in the first half as Pools offered next to nothing themselves, apart from an Adam Boyd shot that was well saved.

Danny Hollands got the third for the Londoners, and four minutes from time sub Scott Wagstaff made it four.

Wadsworth admitted to the club website: The defending at the moment is poor – we have to accept that and I take responsibility for that. It’s totally unacceptable.

“Anything that been good while we’ve been here has been based on defending and pressing the ball, but we’ve let ourselves down.

“We have toi see who is tough enough, strong enough, cares enough to get us back on a better footing.

“Right now we have six or seven players who are performing before their optimum and a club this ours can’t carry that. It’s about character and personality now.

“I’ll take whatever is thrown at me, but I know what I’m doing and I’ll get us back to where we need to be, there’s no doubt about that.”

Let’s hope he’s right, starting at L:eyton Orient next weekend.