archived posts
Warren — FM 2011 Hartlepool United Dec+Jan 2011/12
Hi everyone after continuing that good start to the season we were now in coming to the end of the calendar year hoping that we can continue the rise up the league table. We would play a total of 11 games over the two months including a FA Cup 3rd round visit from Chelsea with I am looking forward to seeing.
Before I start I would like to announce that I got a job offer from Reading at the start of December and of course I turned it down as I felt that Hartlepool was my main priority and to see how far I could go with them.
December
V Coventry
First up was a trip to the midlands to play a Coventry side that were currently in 5th place and in the hunt for the automatic promotion spots. Unfortunately we met Coventry on one of those days where everything goes right for the opposition. We had goals disallowed, hitting the woodwork on numerous occasions and still couldn’t score but Coventry had one opportunity and duly took it to win 1-0. I felt sick at the end of the game but couldn’t fault the effort by the players even if the finishing was put under question.
V Preston
The first home game had arrived and it was time to face Preston North End who were currently 4th and like Coventry eager to grab one of the two automatic promotion spots. We managed to take the chances that we created this time and won the game 2-0 thanks to Henaini and Brown.
V Norwich
Norwich was a side that I was around in the league table and if I was going to progress up the table then these are the teams that I need to beat. In an exciting game with six goals in was Norwich who finished out on top in a 4-2 win. The most annoying thing is that in this game I was in the lead twice but was pegged back and Norwich finished the game with two goals in the last 10 minutes to take all three points.
V Millwall
It was now pay back time as I lined up to face a Millwall side that had beaten me 5-0 way back in the first month of the season. I gave my players an inspirational talk at the start of the game at it seemed to work as I won the game by four goals to nil. Goals came from Henaini, an own goal and a brace from Silerbauer. It was the perfect tonic and I was hoping that this would give my players a boost and re-start this season.
V Reading
Next up was Reading and my first chance to gain a double over a side this season and to my delight the team picked up where they left off against Millwall and scored four goals for a second game in a row. This time Moore, Henaini and yet another brace from Silerbauer were the scorers. I was in red hot form and eager to progress.
V Watford
The final game of the month unbelievably saw yet another 6 goals scored in a game in was another 4-2 scoreline but this time it was my Hartlepool who were the happier of the two side and came away with all three points. Goals came for James Chester, Anders Due and a third brace in three games but this time it went to Eyeman Henaini.
Performance of the month
V Millwall
January
V Cardiff
The first game of January and we were on the road to Wales and more specifically to Cardiff. It was a close game and Cardiff just nicked the win after a screamer from Bothroyd opened the scoring we equalised with Henaini and his head but a goalmouth scramble lead to the second goal and again it was Bothroyd who was the happiest of the Cardiff players.
V Chelsea
It was now time for what probably is Hartlepool biggest ever game in terms of who they were playing and the money it would generate to the club. I was excited for this game and hoping that I could give the fans something to cheer about. In what was a good game and quite a even game to be fair I was proud of the performance that the players gave and even though the result wasn’t what I wanted it would give our players a boost that they can compete with the best and not look like there is a massive gulf in quality between the two sides.
V QPR
If I was going to challenge for these play-off spots I will need to get back I would have to beat teams like QPR who are rock bottom of the table but yet again my side have shown that they can compete with the best but then struggle with weaker sides. The only taking point was the sending off of Lee Mair in the 76th minute which seemed to compound my misery at the final whistle.
V Sheff Utd
My final home game of January saw me up against a Sheffield United side that I had beaten at Brammel Lane and it would be an excellent achievement if I could get 6 points off them this season. That looked likely when Henaini opened the scoring after we dominated the first 30 minutes of the match but the Blades equalised in the 56th minute through Ched Evans to have a share of the points.
V Southampton
The final match of January was a game against Southampton who I had pipped to the automatic promotion spots last season and I was hoping that I could get a positive result after what hasn’t been the best of months. The month ended with a win thanks to a wonderful free-kick from Due and a tap-in after a low cross from Silerbauer for Brown to complete the scoring at 2-0.
Performance of the month
V Chelsea
Dec + Jan Results
A mixed bag of results there again as some stand out like the consecutive 4-0 wins against Millwall and Reading but then other results stand out just as bad like the game against Norwich. I need to start and sort this inconsistency out and hopefully then I can have less of a stressful season.
Table
At the end of all of that I was surprisingly in 5th position and with 16 games left it was getting to the business end to the season and I hope that it would end well when the season finishes in May.
Thanks for reading
Warren