i would sign all three triallist to boost our injury raveged squad. we have just been kicked by a squad that has not lost at home since january and despite an atrocious referee beat them
starting line up

flinders

austin liddle hartley lamplou

mcsweeney sweeney Jones fredrikson

Boyd Behan

Subs Cook haslem larkin brown monkhouse collins ( if fit) Rowell

Monkhouse never got going until after istead clattered him and did most things slowly.
Power still looks overweight ebeven when warmimg up
.


harry worley , 6ft. 4 CH is still looking for a club . i thought he was one of turner's blue eye boys

Trouble with signing trialists at this late juncture is that invariably they look exactly what they are in a few weeks time, players not good enough for other squads. Can't really comment as i'm not taking my first friendly in till monday night due to cricketing commitments but the likes of haslem, larkin, lamplough etc will want some sort of commitment from pools and that will tie up wages. 3 month short term deals could be the answer, with the credit crunch and cull in lower league wages a lot of decent footballers will be without clubs, but i'm a bit wary of Pools taking on players that are being released from lower league clubs.
I think that the deal to tie up Behan and Friedriekson from their respective, relatively, untapped markets, is the way that Pools should be looking.

That and the signing of Pauline of course.

Dont think dropping Monky is the way forward. Fred and Jones in the centre would do me.

Also is Hartley the first left footed centre back we have had since Russell Bradley? We always looked more balanced with him there.

as we are only 7 days from the start and have only two fit central defenders NEED musts.

Haslam was released so that Bury could afford to strengthen elsewhere as they have a younger right back under a longer term contract.

Lamplough is young and will develop further and did a steady job today

larkin is a solid journeyman with more football knowledg than Mckay who can hold up and use the ball and give us an alternative.

Monky needs to be consistent as he is a class player but i would not leave sweeney out as his pass that set up brown was excellent

MKDons will be highly organised and wanting to build on last season success so we will need to use our subs well to match
them.
.

Lamplough was a lot better today but at York he was dire. So I'd want to see how he progresses before he starts in the league.

Like i said, aint been to pre season games as they are usually naff, but pools have to be careful of panicking and handing out tying contracts - even if they are short term. Whose to say that a player might be available a month into the season, possibly from a foreign league i.e Norway and Hodcroft will look at wages and say no. This is what baffles me about Power Mackay and Foley, the 3 wages combined must be the equivalent of 1500 a week - not to be sniffed at in these times.

By the way Cov Exile, i'm in Bham for a site visit on the tues before the wed match and planning to get the train to Cov on the wed at about 2, best bet for a pint and bit of banter?

In terms of the opening game I think its too late to bring anyone new. So who we got?

Liddle and Hartley wil start in the middle of defence with probably Sweeney playing right back. Left back is anyones guess.

In the centre, Jones and Sweeney seem to be the preferred centre midfielders with Monkhouse on the left. Right wing; I can't comment on McSweeney not having seen the lad but this Fredriksen fella seems handy or maybe JB will be eased back in on the right wing.

Up front; Probably Behan and Boydy.

austin can play left back, so i'd start sweens at right back and austin left back

it's not ideal but it's all we got