FOOTBALL teams carry the imprint of their manager. Craig Harrison certainly thinks so.

His Hartlepool United side have adopted the traits of their boss; focused, determined and carrying a fierce will to win.

The proof is in the results of late, as Pools go into today’s game with Sutton at Victoria Park on the back of a single defeat in ten games.

Look back over recent managers at Pools in recent years and Harrison’s belief stands up to the test.

Craig Hignett: a team of runners, match-winners with a bit of flair and one which wanted to play with a smile; the manager who followed him: Pools were morose, downbeat and as negative as they could be; go back to Neale Cooper’s first spell: loud, brash, bold and fun to be around; Danny Wilson’s squad: professional, focused, driven to succeed.

This squad is a thorough one, with players willing to push themselves for the manager and coaching staff. After failing to do the basics as relegation beckoned last season, this time around they are going the extra mile.

“We have scored late goals and turned games around. I’d like to think I’ve contributed to that,’’ reflected Harrison. “As a person, I’m modest but a strong individual.

“I’ve had, for a young man, a lot of adversity in my personal and football lives.

“Sometimes they say a team reflects the manager and over the last four or five weeks, I would see it as the biggest compliment to me – because as a person and a man – is that I’m honest. I tell it how it is and get on with it.

“I accept things and talk to people straight.

“I give all I’ve got every single day, the same with the staff here, and I’d like to think that that togetherness and attitude is rubbing off on others.

“As much as we want to play free-flowing football with 50 passes before a goal, for me it’s more important as a person to reflect my personality.

“My personality is that I want to win under all circumstances, under all costs.’’

Last weekend, and Pools trailed at South Shields in the FA Cup. A strong half-time dressing room brought the players together and they came back to win 2-1.

Harrison tweaked his formation and it worked seamlessly. Changing the set-up during games is a characteristic of Harrison’s Pools. The players know their roles, it’s drilled into them in training during the week so that when they have to alter it occurs without a problem.

“It is important you are organised,’’ said Harrison. “It is a massive thing for me that people know their roles individually and as a unit.

“It is underestimated for me - it doesn't matter how good you are as an individual, if someone does fit in, then it is no good to anyone.

“It is at the top of the tick list for me.

“You'd be surprised how many managers in football don't do the organisational side of the game.

“I think it is the bare minimum. It is something you can control. You can't make a player move from average to world beater - it is impossible.

“But what you can do is make him know his roles and responsibilities - a good coach can the best out of people by doing that.’’

One player Harrison has been getting the best out of is Nicky Deverdics.

The attacking midfielder has been operating at left-back in recent weeks. He played there at the end of last season, but has been much improved this time around.

“Devs has done a great job for us in there, as much as he does not like playing left back,’’ reflected Harrison.

“Sometimes, in modern day football, full-backs are the most attacking players on the pitch.

“It gives us a bit more attacking prowess going forward. We have an attacking player playing a defensive role which can be of benefit in certain games.

“Maybe he doesn't like the defensive side of things, which a more natural left back would, but as a full-back you have less restrictions on you in that area than ever.

“Midfield has been a very competitive area. The three lads we have in there have done a very good job.

“It will be tough to knock them out of there at this moment in time.

“He can do that but at the moment he is playing on the left. Blair (Adams) knows that he has to keep working hard to get back in where he wants to be.

The way football is something will work itself out and I'm sure Blair will play at left back and Devs further forward, too.’’