Hi all and welcome back to yet another instalment in my Hartlepool story. I had made a very good start to the season and I was looking to progress on that into the winter months. We would have five games this month with one of these games being the start of the FA Cup. I will also go over the tactics that I am using in my Hartlepool at the end of the post.
V Yeovil (a) 2nd Nov 2010
The first game of the month saw is us against a Yeovil side that were in 18th places so I told my players that I expected to win this game and gain more momentum to climb up the league table.
After a frantic start to this game it died down after the 8th minute when by this time we had already seen goals from Donaldson and Liddle sandwiched between a Yeovil missed spotkick. Yeovil did crawl one back though a Liddle own goal but Vuckic completed the scoring to end the game at 3-1.
V Bath (a) 7th Nov 2010
It was now time to concentrate on the FA Cup against a Bath City side who are in Blue Square Premier which is two leagues below my Hartlepool side.
A comfortable 2-0 win was always on the cards and goals from Haris Vuckic and Adam Boyd set the tone for an easy win and a place in the 2nd round against Dagenham and Redbridge.
V Bournemouth (h) 13th Nov 2010
Next up was our first and only home game of the season against Bournemouth who were currently in a mid-table position.
Like the Swindon game in September this was quite an interesting and eventful 0-0 draw the only thing that was missing from this game was a goal. We arguably had the better chances of the game so it was disappointing that we couldn’t convert one of these chances.
V Southampton (a) 20th Nov 2010
The next two games were crucial to see if I had a major chance in getting either a play-off place or an automatic promotion spot. The first of this game was against 2nd place Southampton and it would be a huge win if we could get three points.
The game seemed to be ending in a draw which would have been a decent result especially away from home but to my delight Ryan Donaldson popped in the box to drill a shot into the bottom corner of the goal.
V Huddersfield (a) 23rd Nov 2010
The second of these two major games was now against 3rd placed Huddersfield Town. They had a blistering start to the season but had seemed to boil down a bit recently so it was the perfect time to play them.
And for the second game in a row we had won by one goal this time the heroes this time were Brown and Vuckic to ensure that we finished the month unbeaten in the league.
V Dag & Red (a) 27th Nov 2010
Now it was back to the FA Cup and a chance for a place in the 3rd round where we could face the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and even Newcastle.
That became more of a possibility when I ended up progressing into the 3rd round with a 2-1 win against Dag & Red with goals coming from Keenan and Donaldson.
November Results
My best month with just 2 league points dropped and I had progressed into the 3rd round of the FA Cup were we are going to face Ipswich Town of the Championship. It was a good month but we need to concentrate on building on this in December and into the New Year.
Table
For the fourth consecutive month I had moved up the league this time I finish the month of November in 3rd place just 1 point off the top spot and the elusive automation promotions. The race for the top was on.
Tactics
After a few of the comments asked what tactics I was using I decided to write it into my next post so here you go.
I play a standard 4-4-2 in the team in the typical English fashion with the emphasis on team ethic and working as a team. This is why I have chosen my players to close down the opposition as soon as they cross the half way line. It is more effective in these leagues as the standard of player isn’t as good so they are more likely to make a mistake.
I also want my team to play more direct as I feel that with the pace that my forwards have got then it means that they can get behind the defenders and are usually one-on-one with the keeper and have better chances in scoring and because I play more direct I also play with a quicker tempo. Hopefully when I get into higher league I can change the way I play and make it more attractive to watch but at the moment I feel this is good and if it’s working why should I change it.
If you have any questions about the tactics just ask me in the comments section.
Thanks for reading
Warren
P.S I have managed to sort out the uploading match highlights and I have got a new feature that I would like to add to my story which is performance of the month. I will upload one game each month and show it to you and this game as the title suggests will be the best game of the month.
Starting from today the winner of the first performance of the month is the 2-1 win against Huddersfield.
Darren Smith
20 ноября, 2010 at 09:42
Hey Warren, another fantastic month there!!! You look like title contenders let alone promotion candidates. As long as Vuckic and Donaldson stay fit Im tipping you for top spot, great post as well mate.
ps Hope you don’t mind but I embedded the YouTube upload into your post so we can see it on the site. Its easy to do so I can show you how, or I don’t mind doing them for you mate.
warren
20 ноября, 2010 at 16:13
Hi Darren
Yer I am really pleased with the way things are going at the moment and I hope we can continue this form as long as possible.
Thanks for embedding the youtube video and if you dont mind could you tell me how to do it please.
Birdy
20 ноября, 2010 at 11:00
Hey Warren
I can see you taking out the league as long as the ball keep going to Donaldson to score more goals. I can definetley see you getting promotion without a sweat with the position you are in.
warren
20 ноября, 2010 at 16:15
Hi Birdy
I agree Donaldson is on fire at the moment and he seems to be my most important player as when I play him even if we perform bad then I can see Donaldson getting on the scoresheet and nicking points for us.
Sears
20 ноября, 2010 at 11:17
Hey Warren,
you keep progressing each month and I’m sure now you have what it takes to clinch a automatic promotion spot. I like the new feature of performance of the month. Might do something similar if I post monthly. Well done mate.
warren
20 ноября, 2010 at 16:17
Hey Sears
I think that we have the form to get the automatic promotion spot and I am just hoping that I make use of this position I am in at the moment and not waste it by losing games.
Laxeyman
20 ноября, 2010 at 11:59
Hi Warren, another really good month, Hartlepool go marching on! You’re right in the mix for automatic promotion now, it’ll be tough but I reckon you can do it if you carry on your form. Good luck!
warren
20 ноября, 2010 at 16:22
Hi Laxeyman
Like I have said to sears automatic promotion is a massive possability for the end of the season IF i can continue this form that I have had this season.
Johnny Karp
20 ноября, 2010 at 19:10
Splendid run Warren, well done! The team is going from strength to strength and I hope you’ll be top of the table by Christmas! Good luck!
warren
21 ноября, 2010 at 10:43
Hi Johnny
Thanks and I agree that the team is getting better with every game thats played and I hope that I can be top of the table as that would top off a great first 6 months in the job
kevin
20 ноября, 2010 at 21:48
Hi Warren
Excellent month and you’ve really made this title race more interesting with your current form. Hopefully you can overtake your rivals by Xmas!
warren
21 ноября, 2010 at 10:45
Hi Kevin
Yer I has become more of a fight for promotion and the title now that there is just 6 points between 6 places in the league it should make for an exciting second half to the season.
Lye Kuek Hin
20 ноября, 2010 at 23:50
Hi Warren,
It’s so tight at the top. Your team are rubbing shoulders with Bristol Rovers and Southampton. I think you have a big chance of promotion. Keep up the form and good run. I don’t think there is any problem on getting Hartlepool up. Good luck.
warren
21 ноября, 2010 at 11:13
Hi Lye
It its amazingly close at the top of the table and its a testiment to the way the team is playing that we are this close to the top. Hartlepool for the title!!!