I hope Nicky F realises that the more vociferous fans who are ranting about him at present don't speak for all of us. He has had the misfortune to take on a position at Pools, which was more or less doomed from the start. He tried to make an honest fist of it. As a reward he has been vilified by some individuals on message boards, and one individual in particular, whose repetitive and obsessive posts invite the suspicion that they represent a condition which requires therapy. I hope Nicky F can soon put all this behind him. Good luck to him for the future.
Nicky Featherstone
- Thread starter grabeca
- Start date
Old Poolie
Vital Squad Member
As you, rightly, say Grabeca, Nicky was on a hiding to nothing from the outset. Nevertheless he tried his best with what he had to work with, and to an extent was successful.
billytwodogs
Vital Squad Member
Think the points tally and league position indicates we had a more successful season than previously.
Performances under Featherstone varied from one extreme to the other, not in chronological order Anstey Nomads at our place, Rochdale at their place, Gainsborough at ours and theirs, Carlisle at ours, Wealdstone away, FGR & Southend at home to Boston away, Jekyll & Hyde performances.
Setting up to not lose games won’t get you out of this league ala Scunthorpe away and Rochdale at home - 45 draws gets 45pts and relegation. Neither will performances like Wealdstone, Gainsborough Trinity and Anstey Nomads. Being consistent is key how we achieve that I don’t know. This wasn’t the time for Featherstone his inexperience shone like a beacon as did his negativity.
If we look at recent models such as Wrexham and Stockport County we could easily ask why can’t we do that?
Simple reason is we failed either to speculate to accumulate or invest in what we had. It looks like Wrexham have invested wisely, firstly in an experienced manager then invested in him with their money. Stockport saw a progressive thinking manager and invested in him.
We all had an inkling of what Challinor was capable of but failed to invest. We searched the bargain bins at the end of season clear-outs and got old or broken items. We had our opportunity but being HUFC we never acted appropriately.
Wrexham are on the verge of challenging for a shot at a place in the Premier league. Stockport are challenging for a shot at a place in the Championship….there but for the lack of investment go we. It all started with instilling an experienced manager.
Performances under Featherstone varied from one extreme to the other, not in chronological order Anstey Nomads at our place, Rochdale at their place, Gainsborough at ours and theirs, Carlisle at ours, Wealdstone away, FGR & Southend at home to Boston away, Jekyll & Hyde performances.
Setting up to not lose games won’t get you out of this league ala Scunthorpe away and Rochdale at home - 45 draws gets 45pts and relegation. Neither will performances like Wealdstone, Gainsborough Trinity and Anstey Nomads. Being consistent is key how we achieve that I don’t know. This wasn’t the time for Featherstone his inexperience shone like a beacon as did his negativity.
If we look at recent models such as Wrexham and Stockport County we could easily ask why can’t we do that?
Simple reason is we failed either to speculate to accumulate or invest in what we had. It looks like Wrexham have invested wisely, firstly in an experienced manager then invested in him with their money. Stockport saw a progressive thinking manager and invested in him.
We all had an inkling of what Challinor was capable of but failed to invest. We searched the bargain bins at the end of season clear-outs and got old or broken items. We had our opportunity but being HUFC we never acted appropriately.
Wrexham are on the verge of challenging for a shot at a place in the Premier league. Stockport are challenging for a shot at a place in the Championship….there but for the lack of investment go we. It all started with instilling an experienced manager.
Old Poolie
Vital Squad Member
Can't fault your analysis Billy2.
However, both Parkinson and Challinor were promised budgets way beyond Pools finances. I know, by most of our standards, Raj is a wealthy man; but I doubt he had the funds to invest in Pools on the scale that was available at Wrexham and Stockport.
Listened to a podcast on Radio Tees with a "football financial expert" who indicated that they had both invested £5million in their squads during their promotion seasons!
However, both Parkinson and Challinor were promised budgets way beyond Pools finances. I know, by most of our standards, Raj is a wealthy man; but I doubt he had the funds to invest in Pools on the scale that was available at Wrexham and Stockport.
Listened to a podcast on Radio Tees with a "football financial expert" who indicated that they had both invested £5million in their squads during their promotion seasons!
I agree. And it's easy to overlook, when the focus seem always to be on achieving play-offs, is that the style of play this season did keep us well out of the relegation zone. When it seems clear that the former is, for various reasons, unachievable it makes sense to focus on the latter. As you say, successful to an extent.
