Hartlepool United have made an impressive start under Kevin Phillips who has recently taken over after the departure of John Askey. However I still believe there is more to come from Phillips and I believe that Hartlepool are a team to keep an eye on.
Phillips Manager Profile
Kevin Phillips is obviously well known for his playing days, being one of the greatest English strikers in the 90s and early 2000s however his managerial career has also been very promising so far, Phillips started of his coaching career at South Shields a club who have been injected with vast amounts of money as their owner Geoff Thompson has an ambition to get Shields into the EFL. Phillips took over in January 2022 and was unable to get them promoted in his first season however in his second season that’s a different story, Phillips managed to win the Northern Premier League title and promotion to The National League North for the first team in South Shields long history. Phillips was praised for his transfer business during the season and this is where another person who is going to be influential to the rise of Hartlepool comes in, that man’s name is Joe Monks, Monks was the DOF for South Shields in the 2022/23 season and was able to bring in good quality players for a cheap price. Phillips and Monks splashed the cash on high profile players and despite this being a great risk, it payed off massively as Shields would win the league with 85 points. However, at the end of the season, Phillips made the decision to resign from his role as manager of the club. This was a bizarre decision has Phillips hadn’t been linked with any clubs and was still held in high regard at Shields, however Phillips has explained that the break was used to help him improve as a coach as he looked to improve on certain aspects of his coaching style. Phillips would have to wait till January for his next job as he would join Hartlepool United. After 3 games in charge, Phillips still remains unbeaten and is looking to guide his team to the playoffs.
Phillips Tactical Style
Phillips has usually used a 4-2-3-1 throughout his managerial career, his sides like to dominate the ball and always look forward before trying to pass the ball backwards, his teams have a great emphasis on get it to the wings before crossing it to a big striker. Phillips also sets his side up to try and win second balls and wants his side to dominate in the air. It is unclear if Phillips will change tactics or formation at Hartlepool but early signs are very promising.
Which Player Will Be Most Influential
Hartlepool’s squad is surely one of the best teams in the league. Mani Dieseruvwe and Anthony Mancini have been key players throughout the season and if Pools are able to keep hold of them, then they will be a big boost to a potential promotion campaign this season or next season. Additionally the signings Phillips has brought in have always shown their quality. Tom Parkes and Luke Waterfall have added organisation to the defence which has been needed throughout the season, and Otis Khan, Brennan Dickerson and Courtney Senior have added pace and creativity on the wings. If Phillips and Monks are allowed to spend next season, then I’m confident that both men will be able to add quality to the side which will hopefully help us get promoted.
Finally Thoughts
Overall it’s a exciting time to be a Hartlepool United fan, despite a poor last 18-24 months, the future looks bright under Phillips and it seems like Hartlepool United have found their man to guide them back to The Football League.