Seems like just forgetting quality we are missing a goalie , a left back a winger and a forward minimum

I would argue we are missing a lot more than that as the likes of Hunter, Feather, Charman, and Folarin are clearly below the standard required and Campbell needs a huge improvement to be worth his place

Add to that kids like Foreman, Augniers, and Darcy shouldn’t really be seen as first teamers and it seems like we are still a long way short

Even if the lower league gambles and fitness question marks come off at least another 4-5 good players needed to have a squad that will realistically do anything across the season..

Too harsh ? Anything I am missing more optimistic fans are seeing ?

I for one share your concerns, ie that the squad is indeed increasing in numbers - but from what I've heard and read recently there appears to be little sign of the quality that is going to be essential for even a moderate promotion push. My biggest fear is that Grayson may have a similar negative impact on the squad that Hartley did. Different backgrounds and experience but both underestimating the National League, introducing mostly free transfer journeymen from superior leagues (OK maybe not in Hartley's case lol) and expecting them to make a difference against the majority of NL clubs who are prepared to expend proper money on building their squads. Having said that there is still time for Grayson to pull in two or three decent quality acquisitions if - as he stated earlier this month - he is perfectly happy with the financial backing that he his receiving from RSingh.

I don't think I've ever seen such a weak pools squad and that's saying something. I don't see where the points will come from with this team. We have arguably given away any goals in the team and signed one lad expected to do the business while playing for a way worse team who will create little to nothing. Christ fans are getting excited over conference north players now the joke has gone so wrong. Now I know friendlies are hard to judge but we beat 11 lads that are part time probably spend half their lives in the pub and play at a very low level 3 nil, we beat the same mob 8 nil or something the previous year. We struggle past whitby, I think we have serious serious problems and I know its just a friendly but crikey our standards get worse by the year. When we play a side close to our level we will get the shock of our lives.

Every manager says the same thing until they are sacked in 4 or 5 months if he is happy with what he is having to bring in, then more fool him, I hazard a guess he will be struggling to keep his job come December.

Yeh I worry about Yeovil being another Walsall opening day but maybe I am being too pessimistic after recent seasons.

I just dont see any pace in our midfiled AGAIN and Johnson everyone is saying is a good player IF we make chances for him--well who is going to do that?--I wouldn't trust Folarin and Charman to look up before they cross a road never mind a football and I am not convinced Campbell will even be around come the start of the season--
a Hell of a lot of weight is on Mileys shoulders to do all the running and create everything in midfield--really hope he is as good as some of the happy clappers think he is based on last seasons hit and miss showings....

We definitely need a keeper and left back, I'm pretty sure Grayson is addressing that. Another forward, yes. Maybe Bartlett -Antwi is the fella, I don't know. Again, Simon Grayson knows his onions, he knows what's needed.
Ive been impressed with the signings so far, despite what the miserabalists think. Parkes, McNally and that maxim lad seems solid in the centre, Miley and Sheron are the way to go in midfield, and someone to partner Danny Johnson should do the job. I'm not buying into this doom and gloom nonsense. I think we've got the makings of a decent squad, and a manager who knows what he's doing.
I'm all on board with a regime change, the vote drama really sickened me, but that doesn't mean I have to shit on the team and the manager. Squad wise I think it's going ok, we seem to have unloaded the deadwood and the injury list and are recruiting well. Soz .

So far it's a relegation battling squad.
Not expecting the next 4 weeks to change that.
100% take 5th bottom.

And new owners for 26/27.


The new down graded version of hope.

Sad but True unless you got heads full of fairy-tales.

Haha, just optimism

The only side that we are playing against pre season that is anywhere near close to our level is South Shields at the Vic. I believe that it is currently the final pre-season game and by that time you would expect Grayson to have his best eleven in place and fired up for the big KO. Failure at that stage would represent bad news for everyone involved - including us.

Really? I think you have a selectively short memory. The squad assembled by Craig Harrison (now there was another manager who knew fuck all about the National League) was pitiful. Probably not entirely his fault because he had no budget!

His only halfway decent signing was Scott Loach in goal.
Scott Harrison and Louis Laing - the worst centre-back pairing I've ever seen at Pools.
Blair Adams at left back - equally bad, couldn't tackle.
And in midfield - Jack Munns, Conor Newton, Lewis Hawkins, Ryan Donaldson - all useless.
Centre Forward - Jake Cassidy, the definition of a lower league journeyman, 5 goals all season...

They made the leftovers from the relegated side like Michael Woods and Liam Donnelly look different class - and Donnelly really couldn't be arsed with playing in non-league.

I'm not making any predictions about Grayson's squad except that it cannot possibly be worse than that absolute shower of shit. It's a minor miracle that Pools did't drop straight down into the NLN.

May I also suggest Mick Docherty's 1983 squad? Harry Wilson being a marquee signing that side would have been relegated in this league, fortunately we could rely on friends in high places for a reelection vote