Join Robbie Stelling and Rich Mennear on the latest episode of the Poolie Podcast as they discuss the impact Anthony Limbrick has made since taking over from Lennie Lawrence. They also reflect on a week that has seen Pools take four points from games against Sutton United and Tamworth.
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00:00You
00:30You
00:39Hello and welcome to this week's pulley podcast, I'm back my microphone is working well and my
00:47Camera as well. So all guns blazing
00:49Welcome back Robbie. How are you? Very well. Thanks rich. We missed you last week. Although Bucky did a superb job
00:56Standing in
00:58Yeah, it was too good. Really wasn't it afterwards? Yeah
01:01well, he did he did call me an expert at the top of the show rich and I noticed that you were you you left that
01:07out so
01:09He got some points that but nice to be back at home last night. I have to say after a lot of
01:13Traveling although I was thankful for my southern constitution because it was a very very cold night
01:18There were lots of locals around me shivering and complaining about the cold
01:22But obviously I stood up the air stood up to the test another test passed. Well, yeah, it's um, yeah
01:28It's that of three home games in a week, isn't it for football?
01:31Sorry, choose the Saturday Tuesday. So we'll um, yeah
01:34Well, it will end the and the pod a little later on with a look ahead to those two games, I guess
01:38um, so yeah busy, yeah so far traveling so nice to be back on home turf and
01:43It's been a fairly busy week. I suppose off the pitch as well with various changes at the club
01:48How did you see last night's draw with
01:51Tamworth first of all Robbie points dropped and
01:53You know, how do you see the kind of playoff picture at the minute?
01:56Yeah, I think definitely two points dropped rich
02:00I think fans will certainly have been looking at the three home games within seven days as
02:05A chance to really launch their assault on the playoff places. I think to do that pools probably need at least seven points
02:12I think going into the the three matches
02:15You probably would have said that this week's games
02:18Against Tamworth who were 15th nine points clear of the relegation zone and Maidenhead who were really scrapping for their lives
02:24are the two that you would have liked to take maximum points from altering them the following week obviously direct rivals for the
02:30Playoff places there was little to separate the two teams when they played in the reverse fixture. So you might have been
02:37Anticipating that game is the one way you were thinking you might just get a point from from this one
02:42Although as Anthony member it pointed out
02:45to us last night
02:47Most fans probably wouldn't have expected pools to win at Sutton
02:50So if you'd said to them prior to those two games, you'd get four points
02:55I think every fan would have taken it just as perhaps the way round that it
02:59That it happened which was a bit surprising and obviously having one on Saturday
03:04It felt like a little bit of a missed opportunity on Tuesday night not to go and back that up
03:11With a win that said the performance was generally really good
03:15who's created more than enough chances to have won the game and I think a lot of fans would generally pleased with
03:21the positive proactive and purposeful approach limbrick made some
03:26Good attacking substitutions as he did it on Saturday to great effect and I think that was maybe a slight frustration
03:33among supporters
03:35During the the reign of Lenny Lawrence who was generally a little bit reluctant to be too proactive
03:40in terms of his
03:42Substitutions the first 15 minutes, especially it was a really open
03:47Game pools created a lot of chances Manny disarray
03:50Who went who did end his goal drought in the second half his first goal in eight games?
03:55You can see that the goal meant a lot to him
03:57As well, but he probably could have had a hat-trick in the first 15 minutes in truth rich. He missed one from
04:04Very close range. He dragged a shot wide as well from a really promising position
04:08Just the sign of a striker who is not
04:11Full of confidence. It's a difficult position, isn't it?
04:14Because although you get a lot of the port it's when things are not going well
04:19Equally, there are a lot of questions asked about you when you're not scoring goals
04:24So I should have said you get a lot of the port it's when things are going well
04:26But but a lot of questions are asked about you when things are not going well, and it's been a difficult and frustrating
04:34period for him
04:37So pools were perhaps punished for missed chances, they maybe could have been out of sight in
04:43The first half and just the the end of the opening period the last six or seven minutes
04:49When Tamworth turned the game on his head Jordan Ponticelli scored his first Tamworth goal, Betray Onuru scored
04:57In at a time at the end of the the first half Tamworth scored two goals in four minutes and all of a sudden
05:03The complexion of the game changed
05:06Entirely because for the first 40 minutes pools have been
05:09Really good. They certainly weren't watertight
05:11Defensively, they lost the ball far too often in promising position in dangerous position
05:16So Dan Dodds who had a difficult night and was replaced at a halftime
05:20Lost the ball a couple of times Tom Parks as well lost the ball
05:25in in a dangerous position
05:28perhaps that's
05:29Inevitable given that pools have changed the shape they're trying something different and they are looking to be far more
05:34Aggressive and attack-minded in their approach. You can't necessarily expect the best of both worlds and they were a little bit vulnerable
05:41at
05:42The back that said I think they'll be frustrated with the manner of the goals
05:50Little bit deeper than they had been for most of the
05:54Opening period and they were just a little bit flat-footed. They were effectively caught cold to their credit
05:59They responded well Lindbergh made that change at halftime and pools were pretty dominant in the second half
06:05Although they didn't create as many clear-cut opportunities as they had
06:09In the first period it's hard to think of Tamworth
06:12Having a shot as I said Manny Disarue got his going and pools nearly won the game
06:18At the end Reyes Cleary forced a fine save from Jazz Singh
06:22Which rebounded into the path of Manny Disarue and some heroic goalkeeping from the veteran goalkeeper
06:28I think combined with some last-ditch defending from Tamworth
06:31diverted the ball
06:33Over the bar. Frustrating and disappointing for pools. I think a lot of fans that braved the cold weather
06:40To go to the Prestige Group Stadium would have been hoping for if not expecting
06:45Three points. In terms of the playoff picture
06:48We're not a lot
06:49Changes which Oldham and Altrincham drew due to last night in Halifax
06:54We've had a couple of questionable results of late and well-beaten
06:58By Alcantara. Pools are still three points
07:02Outside places the issue that they have of course is I think they've got 16 games left. Games are beginning to run out
07:10They've got a number of winnable games, but they've also got a number of difficult games as well
07:14I think Tamworth they certainly would have marked down as a winnable
07:18Game, although they're not quite safe from
07:21Relegation, they're not exactly strapping for their lives and they've obviously exerted a lot of energy particularly in that impressive FA Cup run when they
07:28Reached the third round. So I think fans will have been disappointed
07:32And the last playoff hopes are still just about alive
07:36I think we knew when Lundbrik took over that it was gonna be an uphill battle. Pools had certainly
07:42Outsiders, especially given the fact that as we've discussed a number of their rivals have
07:46Plenty of games in hand, Rochdale have got loads of games in hand
07:50But the pleasing thing I think is that it doesn't look like Pools are gonna die trying and fans will certainly respond to that
07:58Yeah
07:59Comments from Lundbrik after the game, which you hear a lot from Angus, don't you? In terms of being better in both boxes following the
08:062-2 draw and I think you just reflected on that
08:10Against Tamworth who were 15th I think in the National League. Yeah
08:14So yeah, certainly two points dropped I think from a Pools fans point of view
08:17But like you said, the win on Saturday would have buoyed
08:20Spirits a little bit. So yeah, Maidenhead, Maidenhead on Saturday and there's an altering, isn't it, I think next Tuesday?
08:27A few changes then that Lundbrik's made since he's come in
08:30How do you see the formation switching? Do you think that's suited to this crop of players?
08:34And do you think that'll prove fruitful over the next few weeks?
08:38Yeah, well, I had to have a word with them last night Rich because as you know in the Harkpool Mail we do
08:43a predicted 11 and I've been considerably wider of the mark than usual since Lundbrik's taken over. I certainly didn't
08:51anticipate the switch to
08:52Three at the back ahead of the Sutton game
08:54I mean they had a whole week which is a relatively rare thing in the National League. They had a whole week to work on
09:01the training grounds and inevitably as a new manager you want to
09:05Make your own mark on the side. You want to put your own stamp on things
09:08of course
09:09he inherits a squad of players that although he's been working with them for three months obviously was appointed at the beginning of
09:14November initially as Manning Lawrence's number two, so that we understands and knows the players
09:20He has both a personal and professional relationship with them
09:23It's not his squad of
09:26players. Nonetheless, I think he's made a point of trying to
09:32Implement his ideas his way of playing
09:35The three at the back obviously allows pools to keep
09:38Two up front in Manny Disarroy who even in the midst of his goal drought adds a lot in terms of his all-round play
09:45defending at set pieces
09:47Link up play ability to hold the ball up and Gary Medin
09:50He's obviously been in fine form seven goals in his last ten games so you can keep the two
09:55Up top, but then you can also have
09:58Three in midfield you can have Adam Campbell in front of your two central midfielders who have been Nicky Featherstone and Nathan Sharon in
10:06the last couple of
10:09Games we saw pools play 4-4-2 at
10:13Braintree and they looked a little bit light in
10:17Central midfield. I wasn't a massive fan of just the two so obviously by playing that 3-5-2 you do
10:24Manage to beef them up in the engine room
10:27Somewhat I think the really interesting thing has been what limbrick's done with the wingbacks
10:31I don't suppose many people would have seen Reyes Cleary who is a
10:35Winger by trade but has also played as a striker in in the past as a natural fit at left wingback
10:40But he's been absolutely outstanding in the role
10:44He's defended generally pretty well other than one or two perhaps inevitable lapses of concentration
10:50and in an attacking sense
10:53He's been incredibly threatening he's been probably the most threatening pools player in the last couple of games got his first pools goal
11:00Which felt like it was a long time coming
11:03He did plenty of opportunities to score took his goal really really well in the end and probably could have had another on
11:08The night as well. We saw Dan Dodds play right wing back on Saturday
11:13He dropped into to centre-half struggled as I said last night, but Luke Charman returned to the side at a wing back
11:20On Tuesday night and to be honest, which they almost played as wingers
11:24They certainly weren't afraid to do their defensive work and they tracked back
11:28pretty well
11:30in general, but
11:32Again, I think it's really a statement of intent from from limbrick who is determined to get on the front foot get pools playing attacking
11:40positive football I I spoke to
11:43Dave Chandler earlier in the season
11:45Obviously you look at the list of pools managers in the last decade limbricks the 16th permanent appointment
11:50I think Chandler is the one that you would say it is an unqualified
11:54Success and he said the one thing you've got to do to be successful
11:58Pools is get on the front foot and I don't think we've necessarily seen that as much as supporters would like
12:06Since certainly since Chandler left, but limbrick seems pretty determined to get on the front foot
12:11He's very purposeful. He's very positive both in terms of his team selection and his approach and he proved on Saturday and
12:19Again to a degree on on Tuesday that he's prepared to risk losing a game in order to try and win it
12:26He makes really positive
12:28Substitutions. He probably appreciates that the way the table looks and that pools need to start
12:34winning more games, but I think fans will
12:39React positively to his approach his determination to try and win
12:45Football matches and of course if you can get the fans on side, then then that's half the battle
12:49We all know how good the supporters can be
12:52Here it in the Northeast and we know that they can really be a sort of 12th man
12:59Definitely more positives than not. I think limbricks proved a really impressive operator
13:04So far obviously he's got a little bit to prove and it's important that pools finish the season strongly no matter
13:11Whether they manage to sneak into the playoffs or not. I think it's really important that pools don't let the season
13:17Fizzle out because of course he wants to prove that he's the right man to lead pools
13:20Not just for the rest of the season, but also in in the long term and from what I've seen so far
13:24I think he certainly is
13:26We'll come on to clear in just a little while because I think fans have been quite impressed with him
13:29But yeah, I think it is a short-term loan deal isn't which we can discuss discuss shortly
13:34but just on the yeah on the switch to formation and then whether parks and Ferguson will
13:39all play in the same team again and
13:42That's been an interesting couple of selections over the last couple of couple of games something last Saturday and then Tamworth last night
13:47How how do you see that situation?
13:49I know the bricks that you asked about last night. He mentioned that he definitely considered playing them together, but
13:55With the change formation, who do you think misses out most in that over the long term?
13:59Ferguson
14:00Yeah, but it's an interesting wasn't isn't it? Because you don't that often get to my foot is playing in the same
14:07Backline certainly not in a central role folks and obviously can play as a wing-back
14:13And given how impressive Cleary has been you would suggest that if Cleary
14:18Remains at pools. He's gonna stay in that position parks. Obviously miss Saturday's game with a slight knee complaint
14:24I don't think there were many people that were hugely surprised to see him
14:27Back in the side. He's featured in pretty much all of his team's National League games
14:32This season and has certainly been the most consistent and reliable
14:37Defender obviously dominant in the air really good
14:41Experience powerful relishes that that physical challenge that a lot of the National League number nines
14:47Pose so not a massive surprise to see him
14:49Return to the side nonetheless. I think fans were a little bit
14:53surprised to see David Ferguson
14:56Miss out he had one of his better games are on
14:59Saturday perhaps won't have been best pleased with his involvement in Sutton's
15:03opening goal made a bit of a mess of his initial clearance and then was subsequently out of position as Sutton took a
15:09quick throw and Dylan de Silva picked out goals for a
15:13Will Davies, but his delivery was certainly the best it's been
15:17All season and I think pools missed that on Tuesday night. They didn't have quite the same threat from
15:23Set pieces Ferguson's late corner led to the winning goal on
15:27Saturday and I imagine he was a little bit frustrated to have been
15:31Left out. I mean assuming that limbic is generally gonna favor attack minded options at wingback
15:38Cleary charm and and maybe Dan Dodds as well
15:42Then he does have a few interesting selection decisions to make in that back three
15:47Of course, you've got skipper Luke waterfall who's done didn't have his best game last night in truth
15:52But an excellent game on Saturday looks pretty good in the heart of that back three
15:56I would be concerned about playing him on either side because
15:59That allows opposition to drag him into the the channels where his lack of pace can be
16:05Exposed you would think parks. It is pretty much a shoe in whenever he's
16:10Available, but he could play in that central role with Ferguson then on
16:14the left of the three and on the right side as a decision to make as well because
16:20Jack hunter played there on Saturday and I think a bit like Ferguson was unfortunate not to be in the team
16:26Again on Tuesday night Dan Dodds dropped back into the central role and although he's played there
16:32Fairly regularly in in the past. He looked good there under John Askey at the beginning of of last season
16:39He didn't look comfortable at all last night
16:41he's a player who certainly has lost a bit of confidence struggled to rediscover his best form really since
16:46Coming back from that ACL injury that kept him out for almost all of
16:50last season and I think Jack hunter offers something really different in terms of his profile naturally a midfielder that has played at center half a
16:58Reasonable amount was part of the gates inside that won the nationally North title. He was in a back three then playing under
17:06former Pools defender
17:07Ben Clark so and and of course, it's Billy Sasse Davies as well. I spoke to Anthony limbic about him
17:12I imagine he's frustrated being a natural center half and seeing players who are
17:17Not natural center halves being preferred to him in his favorite
17:21Position. So certainly lots to think about for limbic. Of course, he would say that having selection headaches
17:26It is a good thing that the pressure is something that he's worked hard
17:31For he wants to be in this position
17:34He relishes the opportunity the expectation and obviously the pressure that that comes with that
17:38I think there's a place for both David Ferguson and Tom Parks
17:42In this side and I think for what Ferguson offers from set pieces in particular pools will be keen to get him back in the team
17:50I wouldn't be at all surprised if we saw Ferguson on the left of the three and parks in a more central role on
17:55Saturday water 34 now and pools have generally been reluctant to use him twice in a week
18:01He's obviously played on Saturday Tuesday, so wouldn't be surprised if he missed out ahead of this weekend's game
18:07Against altering and Ferguson will be frustrated as I said to have missed out last night
18:10But I imagine we'll still have plenty of opportunities between now and the end of the season
18:15Yeah, there's some interesting. Excuse me transfer news before kickoff yesterday. Obviously, no transfer window in the National League pools
18:23Bringing a new goalkeeper from home or foster on a short-term loan
18:28After Joel Dixon suffered a I think it's been described as a minor setback as he recovers from his anterior cruciate ligament injury
18:35which is obviously kept him out for a while and
18:37So, yeah pools pulls on the goalkeeper to the to the squad as cover
18:41Is that is that basically you see it just as cover at the minute foster come in? Yeah, I think so
18:45I think we're not quite clear
18:49How long this setback is gonna keep Dixon out Anthony Lindbergh said that they're still waiting to see although as you said rich
18:56The expectation is that it's nothing too
18:59Serious, but obviously you don't really want to risk only having one goalkeeper in your matchday squad
19:05Especially nowadays in the National League where you've got seven
19:09Substitutes, I'm sure fans will remember a few seasons ago
19:12Against Boreham wood when resorts ended up having to go in gong and actually ended up doing pretty well
19:18But you don't really want to run that risk. However, unlikely
19:21It may seem especially it's such an important stage of the season were something to happen to Adam Smith
19:27I think it's important that you have not only cover but of course competition. I
19:32Think Smith is is a consummate professional obviously is the goalkeeping coach as well. I don't think it would be I
19:37Don't think he would be the type of character to rest on his morals necessarily, but it's important to have someone else
19:43in Owen Foster
19:45Made his debut against pools actually for scunthorpe in April
19:502022 he played under
19:52Former pool stalwart Michael Nelson. I was chatting to Mickey Mac Mickey Baron about him last night. Nels knows him pretty
20:00Well, and obviously he has a pretty impressive
20:04Resume for someone who's still only 20 years old did well at scunthorpe didn't play that often
20:09But one back-to-back young player of the year
20:12Awards attracted the attention of championship side Harlan has progressed in their under-21s team for the last couple of years
20:18Spent time out alone at Chorley in the National League North
20:22Last season whether we actually get to see him in action remains to be seen
20:27Obviously the expectation is that Joel Dixon is going to return
20:32sooner rather than later frustrating of him to suffer a setback having worked so hard to
20:37To get back in contention hasn't made a pools appearance since the end of August when like you say he was ruled out with that anterior
20:44cruciate ligament
20:46Injury, Adam Smith, I think is probably surprised a few people by just how well
20:51He's done. I think a lot of supporters would have expected him to operate generally as a backup this season
20:56But his performance is especially since getting back in the side in December
21:01Have been excellent suppose. We've got a really safe pair of hands in their first choice
21:05Goalkeeper, but of course it's important to have
21:08That cover and from Owen Foster's point of view and from Hull City's point of view even if he's not necessarily gonna get into
21:16The first team and who knows he might be so impressive in training that pools decide to give him an opportunity
21:21Although I would suggest that is
21:23Unlikely for a young man. I think it's nonetheless a valuable experience to go into a
21:30different environment a different
21:32dressing room a different training ground environment
21:37And learn from some different professionals obviously in Smith. They've got a really experienced goalkeeper
21:42Who's obviously a coach as well now?
21:45So he should have something interesting to offer and I've been spent the last couple of years with the under-21s
21:49hung up and that load truly I think that
21:52How we'll be thinking it's an important development experience for him to go out and get experience and just
21:59Learning and operating in a different environment and so hopefully that will be valuable for him and obviously a good thing for pools to have
22:04that cover to
22:06Just sort of now looking a bit more broadly at the sort of playoff picture then and pools ninth in the National League
22:1331 games played 43 points Rochdale just above them have just the five games in the hands. There's always that caveat isn't it?
22:20So yeah a couple of home games to come Maidenhead then Old Triggermoor I think 7th aren't they, a couple of places above pools
22:26How do you see the broader
22:28Playoff picture pools, you know still very much in the mix one of those lower playoff spots at the minute
22:34but you suspect the next week as I think you've alluded to earlier on is gonna be absolutely crucial in terms of how the
22:39How the season probably pans out from from here on in. Yeah, they've probably got to get six points. I would think Rich
22:47They're right in the mix as you say only three points outside
22:51the top seven they've certainly got a
22:53squad that is capable of
22:56Going on a run towards the end of the season. They've obviously got decent strength in depth
23:00Especially over having added the likes of Jamie Mindley, Sam Flamarin, Reyes Cleary and Jack Robertson
23:07In recent weeks. So Limbic does have a strong squad to select from Joe Gray and Anthony Mancini
23:12Who have both been big misses as well and are hopefully nearing
23:15a
23:16Return so there's no reason who's can't put a run together
23:19But obviously if they are gonna sneak into the playoff places, they're gonna need to put a run together
23:23They've drawn far too many games nine of the last 18 in the National League have ended in in draws
23:29So although they've been very difficult to beat they've dropped a lot of points
23:34and last night's game against Tamworth was another one where
23:37it will feel like two points dropped rather than a
23:40A point game the things that they're gonna work against them
23:43Obviously are the fact that there are a number of teams vying for realistically one or two
23:48Playoff spots Halifax as I mentioned earlier look like they are beginning to stumble
23:55Somewhat they've got a pretty small
23:57Squad operate under a generally reasonably restrictive budget Chris Millington does a great job there
24:03But it's gonna be interesting to see whether they can rally
24:06I think that teams below them will be looking at them potentially is the one that they're going to be able to
24:13reel in but there are so many sides in the mix one as we've discussed in the past the National League doesn't necessarily have a
24:22Dominant team as we've seen in recent years with the Chesterfields Wrexham Stockport's not counties. It's probably more competitive
24:29Than ever we've been speaking
24:32Recently about the cause for the the three-up campaign whether the National League deserves or should have rather three promotion
24:38Places and I think the competitiveness of the division is perhaps testament to that
24:43There's probably 10 or 11 Southend had a good result last night as well 11 teams
24:49That still feel they can win promotion this season
24:53at least
24:54Pools have obviously been playing catch-up following a really disappointing start to the season. I think Lenny Lawrence did a generally
25:01Good job, especially bearing in mind that the fact that he took over with a side pretty bereft of confidence
25:07And and really struggling for an identity. Yes pulls through too many games, but they certainly
25:14transformed into into a far more competitive and confident outfit and Anthony Lumbricate has been able to
25:21Take charge following the song of foundations that that Lawrence has built. I think they're probably gonna need to win on Tuesday and
25:30Saturday they will potentially need results to go in their favor
25:34Elsewhere elsewhere. They've still got to play altering them. Obviously that's on Tuesday. They've still got to play somehow. They've still got to play
25:41Rochdale they've still got to play Halifax. So they do still have to play a lot of their direct rivals
25:45They're probably gonna have to win a number of those games to take points off the sides
25:50In and around them. There's no reason the pools
25:54Can't do it and it's important I think from a pool's perspective to maintain
25:58That belief certainly within the group and I think the appointment of limb Rick has certainly served to re-energize the squad
26:04Somewhat because there was a sense that they were beginning to run out of steam under
26:08Planning Lawrence failed to win in four games prior to limb Rick's appointment and the statement victory
26:15Over Sutton the games in hand are also a concern a Rochdale likely to win all five of those games
26:21You would suggest probably not especially given the fact that they're gonna have to go Saturday Tuesday Saturday Tuesday
26:25The National League is relentless as it is and that schedule is certainly gonna make things
26:31Difficult, but you would suggest that they will get
26:34Seven nine points at least so that's gonna be difficult
26:37I think you're probably looking at Halifax as I say is the one that you're more likely to
26:42to reel in pools have got
26:45Belief I think speaking to a lot of the players
26:47They would suggest that they still believe they're very much in the hunt for a top seven
26:51Place if you can give yourself half a chance with three or four games
26:55Laughter itch, although pools have got a really difficult run and then you never quite know
27:00What can happen? I think limb Rick and the school will certainly be determined that they can still finish in
27:05The top seven although Tuesday night's result was a little bit disappointing
27:09The league table would suggest they still just about just about can
27:13Good stuff. Thank you very much Robbie. Um, yeah a big week or so to come then
27:18And we'll have all the very latest
27:20Code UK and there's plenty on there this morning already from last night's game. Robbie's been burning the midnight oil
27:26You've got your fan gallery your player ratings
27:28All the latest from limb Rick post-match and all the latest on the team as well
27:32And we'll have coverage from the press conference, which we later this week, Robbie and we'll be back
27:37I suspect probably after next Tuesday's game we can reflect on the next couple of games
27:41And in the meantime
27:42Make sure you pick up a copy of the article mail and as I say head to the website as well for the latest
27:46Bulls news. Thanks again, Robbie. Yes, and we'll see you all next week. Cheers