Spotted in Asda surly not ?

Was he surly shirley

Collecting trolleys....?

The messiah returns

DC always spoke very highly of him, & his work ethic fits nicely. If he hasn't moved house to the Barrow area, then playing for Pools must have an appeal now we are back in the EFL

No disrespect to Alex, but get Luke to bring Simmo back too

Bring it on

actually i know this is not a popular opinion but i,d have james back. might see a different player who is used properly by a manager who knows what he is on about. as for not moving to barrow i thought they trained somewhere around manchester area and only went to the dark side of the planet on matchdays.

Out for several months with injury last season at Barrow................

well that all but confirms he will be on his way to us - 2 strikers buggered warming the bench. Was really hoping for one Marquee signing this season. An ex championship level player still with a year or two left in the tank. I dont think it was down to luck that Oates decided to become a new player last season. DC and the coaching staff clearly got his game and fitness together. Maybe just maybe... James can replicate that same change in form/player if he does come back and notch us 20+ goals.

true. it will be interesting how those who left pools at the end of last season actually do with their new teams in the coming months.

Is this even a rumour? The Bunker used to have a running joke about unlikely sightings in the Asda or Throston bookies. I assumed Mr Spokesman was doing his bit to revive it.

It’s true he’s coming back

Let’s see how Oates performs under a different manager eh?

I would have him back tomorrow. If i recall rightly he played some of his best games just before he went to Barrow.
Got to say Asda is my least favourite supermarket but it probably all they have in Barrow.

There has definitely been contact between his agent and pools. Looking at his goals record we would have to be pretty desperate to sign him, however we are pretty desperate at the moment. IMO the money would be better spent on a loan signing that might get us 10 goals a season.

His goals record is abysmal and obviously it looks like Barrow not bothered about him going. Sorry but I wouldn’t touch him but there again I said the same when Oats returned.

As long as there's no guff about him coming 'home' to Pools I'd be happy enough if he signed on for a third spell. Dave Challinor rates him and didn't want to lose him at the beginning of last season.

He was involved in pretty much every game for Barrow in League 2 and was usually a starter so he's fit again. 3 goals and 4 assists for the season isn't much to shout about but the way he plays creates space for other people.

Personally think James is quality and would be a good signing. Even better if we signed a bit of a goal scorer like Armstrong alongside him. I’d feel much more confident then.

Does he come in and out with the tide....?

well you know the bullshit of him coming home would be the first thing we,d have to suffer. would love a player to come on in those cringeworthy interviews saying that they are here for the money as it was their best and only offer they got. someone mentioned oates last season whose record hardly got anyone excited.

He was a regular in a team that survived L2 last season. If he does that here 21/22 I'd be content.

Obviously I'd ....

No to Luke James coming and no to Simmo coming back. Cheers.

A player in the Mould of Gordon Watson or Ritchie Barker to partner a luke james would be ideal.

Prime Richie Barker alongside prime Joel Porter would probably see us promoted!

Messi sighted in Throston bookies - eating a steak bake. Just think of the shirts that the club will now sell....................

That is if they have any in stock!

Maureen Winterbottom sighted in the Mecca bingo on the Marina today, was top programme seller at Leeds United 5 seasons running....get her signed up, plug a gap at gate 47.

Is he a messi eater?........

Yesterday Dave Challinor confirmed that Pools had shown some interest in re-signing Luke James. Today he was a non-playing substitute for Barrow even though they got beat 1-0. Seems like where Luke is concerned Barrow might be ready to move on...

They started with Gordon and Kay up front. Wonder if they spent the whole match looking for the picture of the Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies?

if james comes then fine but if he doesn,t i will not lose sleep over it. prefer some lad like bennett last season with some height and weight up front. about the only thing missing for me yesterday.

Will he sit out Saturdays game?

If Barrow are worth their salt he'll start regardless of what form he's in. Surely they know about the ex player curse?

Barrow have a smallish squad like us and have 5 players out tomorrow so it would be a big surprise if he didn't start.

I think DC will have his eye on three points here. We have played well in our first two games, which has been surprising how little time was given to us in terms of preparation for a new season.

But the way we were passing the ball about against a side from a higher division bodes well. Not sure how DC and his colleagues do it but it has left me feeling optimistic, an away win for me.

Agree, though if James does play I think he'll give Ferguson a tough afternoon.

According to the Mail Dave Challinor is hinting at a change of formation and also making it clear that Cullen isn't match fit enough to start yet. Whatever gives the likes of Holohan and Daly the best chance of getting up the pitch and into goalscoring areas would work for me.

Barrow struggled towards the end of last season and have lost their first game, have to admit I'll be hoping for three points tomorrow.

They have 5 of there first team out injured we have to get the points

it is, but begs the question how after only 2 games have they so many players out. modern day football i suppose. if not 100 per cent fit you will not be playing.

HA HA why would a player that hasn't got anywhere near 20+ goals for a decade and not made double figures since including playing 2 seasons for Pools in the national league where he scored 8 in 66, 8 in 70 if count FA Cup games) can even add 1 more goal in about 12 and that was a penalty against Morecambe in 2016 and if Thomas hadnt been subbed he wouldnt have got that as Thomas was on a hat trick but had been subbed

It was a Satirical comment - not even wishful thinking as im well aware of the mans stats. Not even the mighty DC could make this man into a 10+ goals a season striker.

IMO James flatters to deceive plenty of enthusiasm but little end product. He is supposed to be a striker who are judged by goals and assists, well hisfigures as outlined above tell a storey.

This thread had slipped down the forum. Like Luke has...

The full clubs in free fall slipping away

Luke James promised much but delivered little, he lacked commitment to me and always seemed to have had the smell of pastures new in his head.
We were as much to blame for expecting God knows what from him and should have realised a lot earlier it was never going to work out.
100 mph down the road to nowhere but never actually arrived.

I'd argue he was a talented player when he was a youngster in league 1. What ruined him was the move to Posh for big money and then 1 goal the season after.

When he was at Pools in the national league I thought he was a decent player still, ironically due to his size more a target man to hold the ball up and be a nuisance/create space for others. I would have him back in the side, if only to provide a good foil for his partner.

Connor Simpson is another arguably wasted talent by going too soon. Luca Murphy might also end up in the bracket aswell. Real shame as if they where all still part of the Pools setup I think they could have brought something to the team. There is only Hawkes i can think of from that crop of youth that is doing well.

Danny Johnson is doing pretty decent, well established League Two striker.

No playing or on bench for match tonight against Villa.
Does this mean?

Maybe they have realised he is a non scoring striker.

It’s the future of football.... in the New Woke Premiership if no one scores no one will lose and no one will feel left out as every team will finish equal top....they’ll also all finish equal bottom too

Two keepers on the bench for Barrow.