Hartlepool United head coach Pete Wild has a message for his players after Newcastle United U21 defeat.
Hartlepool United head coach Pete Wild didn’t think all of his players took their opportunity to impress in the 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United in the National League Cup.
Pools named a far stronger starting XI than previous NLC games, with several first team players named including Reiss McNally, Nathan Sheron, Jack Nolan, Will Harris & Luke Charman, were beaten by Robbie Stockdale’s young NUFC side.
Reflecting on the defeat, head coach Wild told Red Radio: “It's a strange assessment really. I think there's three things that come out of the evening. I think number one is that we wanted more physical loadings of players. We said on Saturday at 70 minutes, we thought we hit the wall, that we need them to be physically better, we need them to be more athletic. So that's why this becomes a first team game because they need to be able to deal with more - so that was good.
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“That's the good bit we got out of it. I've now seen everybody who's fit, so I can now give an honest, balanced opinion on where everybody is. But ultimately, I was expecting more from quite a few of them - I was expecting them to give me more. I didn't get that. I think we contained Newcastle without them trying to get into having more quality with the football. We got into the final third, took too many touches, didn't move the ball quick enough like we've been talking about.
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“We didn't get running beyond the ball like we've been talking about. It wasn't aggressive enough. When the ball goes in the box against a younger team, you should be aggressive and I don't think we were aggressive enough tonight. So that's the bit that's a bit frustrating.”
He added: “I don't think some players have taken the opportunity that was afforded to them tonight. So be it, more fool them.”
Your next Hartlepool United read:Hartlepool United beaten 2-1 by Newcastle United U21s as Pete Wild gives first team players run-out