Hi all and welcome again back to Hartlepool and to the next instalment of my football manager story. After the end of last month I was sitting pretty at the top of the table and I was now going into the business end of the season with the hope that I would be challenging in the Championship next season.
V Plymouth (a) 3rd January 2010
In the first match of January I was set to face Plymouth who were just outside the play-off places and the press had put pressure on manager Peter Reid to get results because they expected to go up automatically. The pressure could either help or hinder us I was wishing that it would help us win the game.
Unfortunately it was a hindrance and Plymouth ran out 2-0 winners in a match that they dominated from start to finish and deserved their win with goals from Arnason and Noone. I was disappointed with the performance from my players and I was hoping that this was not the start to a loss of form.
V Ipswich (h) 8th January 2010
It was now the 3rd round of the FA Cup and a chance to see how well my team can play against a Championship side in the form of Ipswich Town. I was excited to see how well we could play against a side we would hopefully be playing next year in the league.
After all the build up and the excitement that surrounded the game I was really disappointed with the performance and result of this game. Ipswich ran out comfortable 3-0 winners. Goals from wonderkid Wickham, Edwards and Priskin took Ipswich into the 4th round and I was now left with just the league to concentrate on.
V MK Dons (h) 12th January 2010
We were now going to face MK Dons who we had previously lost 2-0 to back in August. It was now time to get one over them and get my first points of the season.
That’s exactly what happened in the end but not before MK Dons had taken a one-nil lead into half time when Miantoudila placed his low shot into the corner of the goal. Second half goals from Vuckic and a first of the season for Monkhouse saw a turnaround in the game and we ended up with all three points.
V Peterborough (h) 12th January 2010
The visit of Peterborough was next and I was hoping to have a repeat of the 2-1 win that we handed out to Peterborough when we played at London Road in September.
Like the game in September only one goal separated the two teams and once again we came out on top with yet another goal from Haris Vuckic. We were second best in this game but that what good teams do and that’s win when they don’t particularly deserve to.
V Swindon (a) 22nd January 2010
In the final away match of the month we were travelling down to Swindon and to the County Ground. Like always I felt that we could win with a good performance and a better result than when we drew 0-0 with them in September.
For the third time this month I had suffered a loss but this was probably the worse out of the three and it was the first time this season what we had conceded more than 2 goals in a game this season. Swindon was 3-0 up before we seemed to wake up and give them a match. I was angry with the players and I let them know how I felt at the end of the 90 minutes.
V Tranmere (h) 29th January 2010
It was now time of the last game of January and I time to get the previous results out of the way and hopefully have a repeat of the last time I played Tranmere and won that game 5-1 in September.
We were back to winning ways but unfortunately it could match the previous game against Tranmere in terms of goals but it certainly matched in excitement. We won the game 2-0 with goals from Javan Vidal and Joe Keenan but at the end of the 90 minutes Hartlepool were playing against 9 men after Tranmere had both Maxime Blanchard and Marlon Broomes sent off with straight reds both in the first half.
January Results
This was probably the worst month that I have had so far this season with 9 points out of 15 which is not up to the standard that I have usually set this season. I was also out of the FA Cup which was a shame.
Table
The dropped points cost me being top of the table and I was now three points away from Southampton who are the new leaders of League 1. I am hoping to take it back off them next month with a few good results.
Performance of the month
With December having a few good performances to choose from you could say that January was the opposite and I was struggling to pick one. I decided in the end to go with the 1-0 over Peterborough as it was a game when I shouldn’t have won but did because I took the chances that I got.
Thanks for reading
Warren
Lye Kuek Hin
26 ноября, 2010 at 12:42
Hi Warren,
Slightly drop of form but no need to worry too much. You are still in with an automatic chance for promotion. Hopefully the players will gain back the form next month and push for the title. Good luck.
warren
26 ноября, 2010 at 13:35
Hi Lye
Yer the dip in form is obviously dissapointing but not the end of the world by any means. Im sure if the form pick up in months to come ill be back on track
Darren Smith
26 ноября, 2010 at 13:10
Hey Warren, you may have dropped a bit of form but remember you are Hartlepool. Promotion would be a mear dream to their supporters!!! Your still on track for that and seem to have gotten rid of a few tough games. I reckon the form will pick up again next month and Vuckic will be your hero! :)
warren
26 ноября, 2010 at 14:28
Hi Darren
The fact that I am complaining that my Hartlepool side are out of form after being 2nd in the league just shows how much progress I have made over the past few months.
Arjuna
26 ноября, 2010 at 13:58
Hey Warren,
You might have dropped your form slightly, but you still are doing astonishingly well for Hartlepool!! You should still get at least promotion, but I think you should still get to the title!
Arjuna
warren
26 ноября, 2010 at 14:30
Like I said to Darren I am pleased with the position i was in but its always frustrating when your out of form. Promotion is a massive possiblity but im not so sure about the title but ill certainly get it my all.
Sears
26 ноября, 2010 at 19:16
Despite a drop in form, your still in a good position. Hopefully your players can start performing consentingly again.
warren
27 ноября, 2010 at 10:59
Hi Sears
I guess i cannot complain with the position i am in at the moment with the season I have had so far its just a minor setback and Im sure that me can get back go track in February.
Laxeyman
26 ноября, 2010 at 19:41
Hi Warren, not a great start to the new year, but at least you’re still 2 points clear of Huddersfield, and in a great position to get promoted. Hopefully you can pick up your form again next month and extend the lead over 3rd place. Good luck!
warren
27 ноября, 2010 at 11:17
Hey Laxeyman
I think that you can always take positives out of something that you feel has gone bad and this positive is the fact that I am still in 2nd with 14 points from the end of the play-off places and two points ahead of Huddersfield.
kevin
27 ноября, 2010 at 00:20
Hi Warren
A mixed bag of results for you there but still have a great chance at promotion or indeed the title itself. Good luck!
warren
27 ноября, 2010 at 11:27
Hi Kevin
I believe that promotion is my most realistic target this season and I hope that I can achieve more and get the title.
Johnny Karp
27 ноября, 2010 at 08:39
That’s just a slight dip, I wouldn’t worry too much. I wish you a return to top form in February, good luck!
warren
27 ноября, 2010 at 11:28
Im not that worried about the form that I have had this month I am just hoping that it doesn’t continue into next month and ruin the hard work that I have done in the past few months.