MARK WRIGHT'S COLUMN

OVER the last five league games, we've won one 2-0, we've drawn three - and we could have quite easily won all three - and we've lost one 1-0 when we had the best chances of the game.

But what could have been isn't quite good enough now.

The bottom line is the players on the pitch have got to start taking the chances that are being provided for them.

The difference between us winning and drawing, or losing a game 1-0, is maybe a couple of players and that's a big difference for us at the moment. We need to do get those two players in if we can.

It's my job to assess things and see how the players are coming on. With two new players, we would have more time for Chrissy Hackett and especially Paul Powell to get themselves fitter.

I know a lot of people have been clamouring for Paul to play, but if you asked me 'Will he last 90 minutes?' I'd say 'No he won't - nowhere near'.

The other night he came on and did some very good things but, don't forget, everybody else is tired, they'd played nearly 60 minutes. He came on and did well for half an hour, but half an hour is his limit at the moment.

We have to ask ourselves, is that right? Well, no it's not, and everyone out there has to understand it's not right, not when he trains every day, not when he's paid to be a professional athlete as such.

The supporters have to understand, and Paul himself has to understand that he has to be a hell of a lot fitter. If it's his personal life that's getting in the way, then we have to do something about it. He will now be training very, very hard.

We've trained him hard and he's looked good, but he can't last. He's hitting that brick wall and we're going to have to find out why because a fit and motivated Paul Powell is 100 per cent what I want. And all the stories about him leaving this football club were stupid.

If I'm talking about him going out on loan, to get himself fit, that's a benefit to me. But to say I was going to let him go, that is false, and it was wrong for Steve Evans at Boston to come on and say that. He asked, we haven't offered anybody.

The situation might change if we think Paul needs to go out to get himself fit, so that he can come back to Oxford United and be the player that everybody wants. People live in the past, supporters, the media, everybody . . . and they think about what he used to do, but that isn't good enough, not for what we want to do. It's about now.

The difference is that Sam Ricketts is a young boy who's fit and can last. He's starting to get a bit tired now because he's only 19 and we have to assess that. Martin can have no complaints over red card WE'VE looked carefully this week at the videos of the Lincoln game when both Wayne Hatswell and Martin Thomas (pictured right) were sent off, and we have appealed against Wayne's red card.

The Lincoln player, Lee Thorpe, was kicking lumps out of Wayne and all of a sudden the ball broke and Wayne turned round to confront him and they both went down.

But Thorpe was swinging punches, kicking - yes, he deserved to get sent off. Wayne didn't and we've appealed to the powers that be against that one, and are hoping for a positive outcome because that was very, very unfair.

With Martin Thomas, his head went up and moved forward, it's very plain for all to see when you have intent. If I swing a punch at somebody or somebody swings a punch at me, that is intent and you get sent off for it.

When you look at the video, Martin's head did go forward, there's no excuse, no room for manoeuvre and I can't help Martin. I can't justify that and now he'll be suspended for three games. That's very bad. There are club rules and he will be disciplined.

I have to judge each case on its merits. For example, Martin was also booked for dissent in the reserves the next day. But I was there and he didn't actually say a lot

The booking was pretty harsh, but the sending-off wasn't. Although supporters have said he didn't make contact, that's irrelevant in the referee's eyes.

We've since learned Martin fractured his toe in Wednesday's reserve game, so he will be out for up to six weeks, which is a blow to us because we need all our players available. The stresses of management THE news that Gerard Houllier had to be taken to hospital during the Liverpool-Leeds game last Saturday, and then underwent heart surgery, was a big shock to everyone who has Liverpool connections.

I can quite understand the stress Gerard was under. I've sat and watched him quite a few times this season and last. He's kicking every ball, he's talking to himself because he's so wrapped up in what's going on and the stress he's going through has caused a problem.

I really hope that he comes back stronger, if that's possible. He needs a rest and that's something he needs to take a close look at.

But I feel sorry for him because at the end of the day he's been a massive plus for Liverpool. They won so much last season and were doing very, very well again this season. He is the power and the strength behind all that.

Football management is a stressful business. During a game you're kicking every ball, heading every ball and never stop thinking.

When you're a football player, you just do what's natural. You forget about the crowd, about the pressure, you just go out there and enjoy it.

The pressures on the manager are far more intense than on the players.

There's so much more to do during the week in the offices and looking after the players, making sure they are all right and checking with everybody and on every thing. The stresses come with everything that goes on during the week. You have to get away from it sometimes. But it's something I love doing.

There's certainly a lot of stress in being a football manager. I've lost some hair - and I didn't have a lot anyway. I think what I've got is probably going grey!