Hi everyone and welcome back to the north of England and to Hartlepool United. We were able to bring in 13 new players over the course of the summer and it was now time to find out how well I spent the money over this time and where could we finish this season.
August Results
The season would start with 3 league game that we all to be played at Victoria Park and one league cup match against League 1 side Leyton Orient. The good news was that the three league games we had were all against sides that could and should be beaten as two where newly promoted and the other side finished one place below me in the form of Leicester City. The season got off to a flier with 3 league wins out of three and progress in the League Cup 2nd round. Two goals from debutant Emmanuel Adebayor was enough to see of a weak Leicester City on the opening day. This was then followed up with two wins against Middlesbrough and Leeds respectively. I was thrilled with the start we had made and could wait to hopefully continue this form into September. I must also mention that Oscar Trejo scored his first ever goal for Hartlepool United after 19 games and as CsAtlantis requested here is Trejo’s attributes and I usually play him as a poacher.
September Results
A quiet September saw just three games and just one league point which came with a 0-0 draw against Wigan Athletic. We did manage to progress again in the League Cup after beating fellow Premiership side Blackburn Rovers another goal from Trejo (a goal machine now) started the trend with a 3-1 win. The month ended with a sickening 2-1 loss against Spurs which a game we had taken the lead in and Spurs came back with two second half goal and the winner coming in injury time.
October Results
In what was a very hard month I was only able to pick up 3 points from a possible 12 in the league and we were able knocked out of the League Cup by fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. The month started off with a difficult home game against title challenges Man City and a decent performance the difference between the sides was the finishing which we lacked and meant we went down 4-2 in what was a very enjoyable game. Villa was the next obstacle in October and similar fate was destined when Sean Morrison was sent off within the first 20 minutes of the match. The only win this month came at the hands of Newcastle United which was a shame but it was three points for my Hartlepool side and a much needed win.
November Results
A much improved month in terms of taking chances when we had opportunities to win. The month started off well with 2 wins from 2 games and 2 clean sheets. An indifferent performance against West Ham who boasted a forward line of Yaya Sanogo and Juanmi lead to a 3-1 loss with Joe Cole scoring against one of his former employees. A hard fought win at home against Blackburn saw us climb up the table. This was followed by two very contrasting results, after beating Blackburn we were up against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It wasn’t a very enjoyable game as our defence crumbled and conceded 6 although we were able to score 1 in reply but that was less than a conciliation goal. However when we faced Birmingham City 3 days later we managed to improve our goal difference dramatically as we inflicted the 6 goal pain onto the Blues and ran out 6-0 winners thanks to a hat-trick from MOM Adebayor.
Performance of Part 2
V Birmingham
Like I said before 6 goals were scored in the demolition of Birmingham City. A hat-trick from Emmanuel Adebayor, two goals from strike partner Frazier Campbell and a first league goal from Tiago were the scorers. It was almost a complete performance and it was a great way to forget about the reversed scoreline in the match against Chelsea a few days before.
Table
After the first 15 games of the season I was really pleased with the progress we had made since the end of last season and we were currently sitting in 8th position. If I could finish around about this position I will be very proud of the players for a successful and enjoyable season. The next post will be up in a few days time and I cannot wait to start writing.
Thanks for reading
Warren
Laxeyman
15 февраля, 2011 at 17:51
Good start Warren, you’re in a good position and you can push up the league in the coming months as you’re not far off the European places. Good luck!
warren
15 февраля, 2011 at 20:32
Hi Laxeyman
We have made a very good start to the season and with a bit more luck we can hopefully move even higher up the league.
Sears
15 февраля, 2011 at 18:06
Great start Warren. Your team are on course to achieve a top half finish but some consistency may even see you claim a European spot. Adebayor looks to have been a inspiring signing. Good luck!
warren
15 февраля, 2011 at 20:34
Thanks Sears
A European spot was not what I thought would be a realistic target at the start of the season but after the first 15 games I am pleased with what we have done and if both Adebayor and Campbell can keep on scoring goals this could be a possible target.
Johnny Karp
15 февраля, 2011 at 18:11
Well done Warren, that’s a great improvement from last season! That 6-0 thumping of Birmingham was particularly impressive but beyond that the team has displayed some consistent form throughout the first part of the season. The good thing is that I believe that you can only do better in the second half of the campaign and that might mean grabbing an Europa League place. Best of luck!
warren
15 февраля, 2011 at 20:36
Hi Johnny
I can tell from the performances on the pitch that we are already having a better season than last time round as we are competing better against sides. If I keep the believe and the results coming I feel that Europe can be achieved.
Darren Smith
15 февраля, 2011 at 19:24
I agree with Johnny, your side has come on leaps and bounds this year. Adebayour and Campbell seem to be the difference. Also great to see some spirit as your side responded from conceding 6 against Chelsea to scoring six against Birmingham. I think you’re looking at a top 8 finish, maybe even top 6. Your players can still settle further and this could make the difference from mid-table to Europe. Well done mate.
ps Big game tonight!!!
warren
15 февраля, 2011 at 20:38
Hi Darren
The difference between this season and last season is that I have not one but two proper goalscorers in the side and that has made a huge difference in the performance. I agree that the more the new players get used to the tactics I set then we can only improve which is always a good thing.
kevin
16 февраля, 2011 at 00:13
Hi Warren
Well done mate. You are in a lot beeter situation than last season and only a point away from a Europa League spot. Nice bounce back win over Birmingham too!
warren
16 февраля, 2011 at 14:56
Hi Kevin
With it only being one point away from a place in Europe I am very pleased with the start we havce made but there is still 23 games left this season so I could move either way in the table.
Lye
16 февраля, 2011 at 00:28
Hi Warren,
You are doing better than last season beating the teams around you. As long you can achieve good results against the top teams, no doubt you have a big chance to play in Europe. Good luck.
warren
16 февраля, 2011 at 15:14
Hi Lye
I believe that with a little bit of luck and getting the right results when we need them will see us in Europe next season whether we can do that is another problem.
wazz
16 февраля, 2011 at 07:57
Hey Warren, you’re doing just fine so far although that 6-1 defeat to Chelsea. It must have been awful to watch but your team bounced back really well by beating Birmingham 6-0. 7th but only 5 points from the top, that’s really good. You may get a chance to play in Europe.
Good luck Warren!
warren
16 февраля, 2011 at 15:18
Hi Wazz
The 6-1 defeat against Chelsea was very hard to take as some of the defending would have looked poor on a sunday league match but this was the premier league so I guess that we deserved to lose so badly. I wanted a reaction from the players and I certainly got that in the win v Birmingham. I really hope that next season we will be playing in Europe as it will show how far my side has come over the past few seasons.
CsAtlantis
16 февраля, 2011 at 11:39
Hi Warren
You’re doing much better this season, keep up the good work
The only thing that could be affecting Trejo’s goal scoring from what i can see is his low Decisions attribute, have you been playing him often and does he get a lot of chances?
If you use 2 or more strikers putting him on the left side could be interesting, seeing as he’s only right footed
warren
16 февраля, 2011 at 18:23
Hi CsAtlantis
I am pleased the difference in the performances between the end of last season and the beginning of this season and I now have a bit of quality in the team.
I will take the advice about Trejo and I will try him out on the left side of the front two but with the way Adebayor and Campbell are playing I dont see this happening soon.
Daniel
20 февраля, 2011 at 14:33
Hi Warren!
Brilliant start, you couldn’t really ask for more from your players, chelsea result was a really down point, but your players showed maturity and picked them selfs up and gave Birmingham a real thumping, Frazer Campbell seems to be getting a few goals. Keep it up and 8th place is yours easily! :D