Wouldn't mind that archer on loan from villa!!

Armstrong bagged himself a nice brace aswell for Harrogate.

Wonder if DC will get into Parko at Everton for some players ?

Grinds teeth. Two more Armstrong goals poked in from close range. He's the sort of player who will score goals anywhere he gets a chance to play regularly. What's wrong with Salford that they couldn't see that?

On the other hand, Rhys Oates has drawn a blank in 5 games at Mansfield. Bet he'd have already opened his account if he'd stayed at Pools! He might yet come to regret having to prove himself in front of a new set of fans.

doubt he will regret it if he's earning more money....he also had his pretty much only good season at pools last year (from xmas) so took the chance as could of easily been struggling at pools who would of been fancied to be lower than mansfield at end of season

looking at it the other way round would we have been excited about signing a mansfield player who had only half a decent season in his whole career when they were non league and we were a league club. doubt it.

To be announced next week

Luke James would be a different player under DC.

Just like oates and kitching and johnson.

Personally I wouldn’t hold my breath. DC has had his failures also and since James left Pools for Peterborough he has played under 8 or 9 managers and they haven’t managed to make him a success.

James has already played under Challinor and he had no visible change whatsoever. Hate to say it, but I think players like Oates and their magical overnight improvement are a one off.

For me Burey has really impressed me every game I've seen him, no reason we cant look for more young, hungry loan players like him.

agreed, but the club has to be careful. you can only name a certain number in the squad for any game in the EFL. think its 5 but not sure.

[quote="Brasil Brush"

James has already played under Challinor and he had no visible change whatsoever. Hate to say it, but I think players like Oates and their magical overnight improvement are a one off. [/quote]
Got to say I agree with you, I suspect Oates just lacks the consistency if his record is anything to go by, but time will be the judge of that.

makes sense that James would come back here now tbh. Not even appearing on their bench just now. I really dont see who he would keep out the side just now. Cullen hasnt shown his worth just yet but will come good. Burey looks class, then Goodwin has more goals in him too. Doubt James would hassle any of them just now, unless he plays like messi in training.

really hope we sign a few more before deadline day, wouldnt mind a defensive midfielder with a good engine on him. There will be games where we are leading and need someone to just settle the game and break up play. Lidds is ideal for this but hes too important in the back line. Plus another striker who we actually sign on the books.

Also just reading in the Mail today that we played a Boro 11 at rockcliffe this week and featured 7 trialists. Just shows how many players still out of contract this late on and hanging in for something. Bet 1 or 2 of those are really good players too who have hung on that bit too long for a league 1 or championship move and it hasnt come. No mention of the score but good to see Cullen and Fela get most the game under their belts. Hopefully we may find out the score or who the 7 where ?

I reckon if James comes it would be to challenge Molyneuxs position in the squad as he has been disappointing to say the least.

Mols has been terrible - how he managed to get a new deal is beyond me. I know hes playing technically out of position but he has the ability to adapt plus has the pace to beat a man, not showing any of that this season unfortunately. Hopefully wont make the bench and we see bit more of Cullen or Fela

He was a success in his loan spell at Barrow, which is why they re-signed him last season. He was doing well under Dave Challinor too till an injury finished his season two years ago. He started pretty much every game for Barrow in League Two last season.

Barrow seem to have decided he's surplus to requirements for this season but that doesn't necessarily make him a bad fit for Pools. I'm sure Challinor would want him to score more goals, but when he last had James at Pools he really liked the way his attacking runs drew defenders to him and created space for other players. Imagine the damage Burey could do behind a hard-running front two - same goes for Holohan.

Anyway, the other question is - which forwards are available and affordable for Pools that are better than Luke James?

He’s injured 3/4 weeks can’t see him signing now

Got to say I agree with you, I suspect Oates just lacks the consistency if his record is anything to go by, but time will be the judge of that.[/quote]

And Oates is on the bench for Mansfield today!

And Oates is on the bench for Mansfield today![/quote]
oates wasn,t just inconsistant but poor apart from the second half of the season with us. hasn,t took long to fall out of favour with the knuckle draggers. could see him back in january if he drops out of the squad entily.

Would be huge if we got him back even If fans wouldn't initially accept him.

Bennett still on the bench for Sutton, & Cass on the bench at Port Vale

As much as i thought we would miss Oates, Burey has came along and not just stepped into his boots but fecking tied em up and made a name for himself. Would Oates have notched 3 so far ? As for Cass, if Byrne keeps improving then no harm done in us not securing his services again for a season. So far DC is working his magic again and im confident that anymore arrivals will be the kind to make this team even better.

Neill Byrne has been a revelation - great start

Oates - good player but can't manage a full 90. Burns out after 70 which is one less option as a sub because you know he's sub number 1. I also think it was a serious error by him to leave Pools. By far and away the best he's played for anyone last season so why not kick on and look at earning a bigger move than Mansfield. It can only be financial and perhaps geography as I'm assuming with him starting at Barnsley he's from the area.

James - another workhorse with too little end product. That said, I rate him and think if he was given a chance to play off a target man he'd do alright because he can finish.

Burey - a class above. It's not too often that a lad so young has such an instant impact. I love the way DC talks about him after games, about how he needs to improve etc. My only worry is that he could become jaded if played too much.

Byrne - very impressive.

Challinor - it just goes to show what difference a top quality manager makes. The squad hasn't changed massively since Hignett yet look where we are....and I really liked the way Hignett had us playing....but you can see Challinor is the next level when it comes to preparation and professionalism. It will be a sad day indeed when he goes.

James “ he can finish” he’s a three goal a season striker!
Quite sure he has played alongside a big striker along the way.

I suspect his deal with Mansfield was sorted well before the end of the season when it looked then to all intents and purposes we’d realistically blown our promotion chances and League football. He may have thought time to move on to a League club, but it’s funny how things turn out...and I’d apply the same scenario to Armstrong.

things usually go on weeks before the end of any season where players are concerned. oates will have known he wasn,t going to re sign and armstrong new that salford were going to get rid of him. both will have had unofficial talks with clubs or at least their agents would have been. like it or not we were priced out.

He's not going score goals if he's played out of position which has often been the case.

His purple patch came when he was played as a proper centre forward.

I thought he linked up well with Oates when they played for us but as a front 2 which was rarely.

I'd still back him to score more often than he misses given the opportunities because his finishing is actually good - when he gets the chances....which is what I was referring to when I said he's a good finisher.

I wonder if he is playing tonight?
19:45
Barrow AFC v Ipswich Town
FA Cup Second Round Replay

Its on ITV4.

He hasn't been a regular this season and has no goals from 10 appearances. Might get a run out in the cup I suppose.

One of those lists of forwards Pools 'might' be interested in included him, but there's no reason to think Graeme Lee is a fan and he's certainly not the answer to Pools' goalscoring problems.

Agree, he’s one of those players you’d love to succeed here but it never quite seems to work out.

Richie Bennett not playing much for Sutton. I could imagine Cullen working really well in partnership with the big lad. Would they let him come to us? Probably not.

I’d take the lad Andrews who scored for Rochdale the other week. They have him on loan from Birmingham.

Andrew's impressed me too, big and strong, playing some trendy pre-match music at Holker Street tonight.

Hes on the bench and 2 nil up.

Wow how Ipswich have fallen, credit to Barrow, not exactly an attractive ground but full of charm and character.

Ipswich are woeful, League one footy standards must be at an all time low this season.

‘Charm and character’....looked like the container storage area down the deep water berth.

Just heard John McPhail is in Hospital.
Hope hes going to be ok.

but the starting 11 had 9 changes from there last league game. hope blackpool and bolton do likewise. its all to do with the magic of the cup.

birmingham are not going to recall him from one div.2 club to go to another. more chance of getting bennett if sutton have their sights on a replacement. please not james as we need bugger lads in the squad not smaller ones.

Would you care to re-phrase that.

Got to say i thought Barrow played well.

the i and the u are too close together typing in the semi darkness with no lights on. not trying to save the planet, just my back pocket.

Lee already been quoted as saying hes going back to Boro for our Jan recruitment. Was this anyones surpise... afraid not.
also mentions he knows what players of that bunch would improve what we have already, aswell as been in contact with other U23 setups. Jan is going to be very interesting. James for one wont be coming this way. Bennett however ... just wait and see.

Obvious wasn't it, loads of money available so no doubt we will bring in 2 of them, Graeme Lee needs more help than signing Middlesbrough under23s who aren't setting their own league alight. Well we only have to wait 6 weeks before we can feel totally underwhelmed again.

I think you are right 'BillinghamPoolie1908' i can only see us maybe grabbing 1 or 2 of the U23's stand out players and thats if we are lucky. Coburn is by far their most prestigious player atm by all accounts but he looks to be in Wilders plans for the 1st teams so im not getting me hopes up on that one (plus the lads only 18/19 so hardly an Armstrong style figure to come in and change the goal scoring fortunes of the club).
Nathan Wood is another lad who seems to be impressing yet had a bad loan spell up in Jockland.

Id be knocking on Gateshead door and asking for Langstaff tbh. kids worth a punt and knows where the onion bag is, surely Pools can match his wages at the Heed ?

I would be asking for both Scott and Langstaff, both look really good and could do a job for us.

Where does it say in any of those articles that he's only looking to bring U23s in? From the Borer or anywhere else? You're making that up.

Assuming the likes of Jones and Goodwin are going back to their clubs in January, why wouldn't Lee be looking to bring a few better quality loanees in for the second half of the season? Especially from among the group of players he was managing a month ago? Two or three loan signings going back, two or three coming in. If that's the sum total of Pools' transfer business in January, I'll eat your dutt

The Northern Echo / Hartlepool Mail and another football article i read earlier suggested it would be players whom he knew well from his time at Boro (putting 2 and 2 together i would presume the U23 setup hes just left). I also didnt state that it would be just U23 players he was looking at, but the article did state hes looked at other U23 setups too so my presumption would be that the majority (not all) of our transfers will come from U23 sides. Im not being negative about this btw... im just stating the obvious. Im glad we have that connection back with a local team as we have seen before with the likes of Adam Jackson, Luke Williams (first loan), Micky Barron of course !, Baldwin and of course our GK hero from the playoff final these lads how ever you look at it have played an instrumental part when at the club. Long may that be the trend for the next generation of players we get on Loan. Then there is players released from the Boro whom we have signed - Bates, Parnaby etc... nm i wont go any further about that

Regarding Ipswich, their ‘new owners’ brought in 19 players in the summer...that worked well didn’t it.