My gut feeling says that we need a goalkeeper (as backup), a left back, a central midfielder and a centre forward. I'd say we need pace in both the midfielder and the forward as we've had a distinct lack of pace throughout the side for too long.

But do we really need a striker? What happened to the optimism of a year ago that Boyd and Brown in tandem would rip this division a new arsehole? Do we actually need those two to be fit and raring to go and given a run in the team together?

One of the key things for me is straightening Boydy him out. He's still one of the most skillful players ever to pull on a Pools shirt but does seem to have a self destruct button he pushes regularly. On that subject, he played his best games alongside Joel Porter and we don't seem to have anyone of that ilk. If we could find someone like that (assuming O Donovan goes) then thats a great start.

In defence, obviously a left back, perhaps Harwood. and in midfield; a 2004 version of Sweeney.

I have chosen the following in priority order as our problem last year was the defence.

1) GK for cover and to keep Ned on his toes
2) Left back as we havent had one for three years
3) Strong commanding Centre Half
4) O'Donavan type striker
5) Defensive Midfielder for cover when Gamble isnt playing well

I can't believe I forgot about Brown as a forward!

I'm with Ripper, the important thing though is can Turner get Adam Boyd's head straight.

Goalie cover............this kid from Guisborough??????

Left back..................Obvious.........Horwood or Rose or this kid from Bergen wouldn't be expensive.

Midfield....................Mark Tinkler mk 2

Striker...............O'Donovan has proved the value of pace coupled with a bit of nous. Someone like that. A tad more expensive but we need a catalyst to motivate interest in season ticket sales which could be embarassing.

Another area which concerns me is our lack of pace in central defence.

A lot depends on how we are going to play. If we adopt hoofy, direct, cut out the midfield sort of tactics then a big centre forward who is good in the air would be needed. I don't like those sort of tactics but they can be effective.
A sort of budding Andy Carroll on loan.
I'll stop there as I'm verging on the realms of fantasy.

Leeds have released today Casper Ankergren, Rui Marques and Andrew Milne. Alan Sheehan, Lubomir Michalik, Andy Robinson and Tresor Kandol have been told to find a new club aswell.

Most of them could do a job in League 1.

Do any of them play left back or centre midfield?

I know that Ankergren is a keeper, Robinson a chewy scouse winger and Kandol a plank who tries to play up front but I'm not familiar with the rest as I don't really keep that close an eye on the squads of teams who think they're something that they're not.

Thanks in advance.

Ankergren would be on too much money for an area where we're fine anyway.

I'd like to see Robinson join even if he is fat. I think he'll join someone better than us though.

Joel tore Marques a new arsehole not so long back if my memory serves me correctly.

Kandol would be an improvement on everything we already have.

A left back.
2 Centre backs
2 Central midfielders
A left winger
A right winger
A 20 goal a season striker to partner brown.

In other words the only players who i'd guarentee a starting place would be Flinders, Brown and Austin.
I'd have scattered the rest if at all possible.