From today's Fail:

Former Hartlepool United midfielder Gary Liddle could be set for a sensational return to Victoria Park. The Mail understands that Pools are one of two League Two clubs in the running to sign the Chesterfield skipper this month. And Monday is believed to be the day when the Spireites man will decide whether to remain in the Midlands, move elsewhere, or return to the Vic, where he made more than 250 appearances between 2006 and 2012. Despite being handed the captain’s armband by former Pools boss Danny Wilson at the Proact Stadium, Liddle has come in for criticism this campaign. That has been heightened by the club’s struggles, with Wilson & Co currently occupying one of the four third tier relegation spots. With Chesterfield desperate to cut their wage bill, Liddle, now 30, is a player who has been told he will be allowed to leave this month. That immediately alerted Hignett and Pools, who are understood to have held talks with the players’ representatives. Liddle is said to be mulling over his next move, with at least one other offer, rumoured to be from Luton Town, in the offing. It is understood the player will make a decision on his future after this weekend’s round of fixtures. The move would come as a shock to many, especially given recent rumours about Pools financial situation. Manager Hignett has made noises over the last month or so suggesting that players must depart before their were significant incomings at the club. A switch for Liddle might suggest otherwise, although it is not clear whether this signing would be permanent or on loan.

He would be an excellent signing I reckon. A midfielder who tackles for a start and a more than capable centre back.

Can't see it, but would be exactly the type we need

Is he the player he was though. My best mate is a dedicated Spireite and quite frankly says he has been shite for them. Offered to drive him back to Pools earlier in the season

Him and Matthew Bates could make a fine centre back pairing.

Liddle and Large

Think that's the reason he's dropping into League 2. Gradual progression as he comes into the twilight years of his career.

Would be a major coup for me. Centre midfielder who's not afraid to put his foot in.

I don't remember too many second time around players being successful at Pools. Nevertheless I'd be pleased Liddle back but can't see it happening.

Depending on which picture of bates you've seen...

Not the bonk on one.

He wasn't that good at all at the end of his last stint here. Maybe he was stale in a poor team but I don't reckon he is worth a wage now.

No thanks.

So leaving to cut their wage bill but people think we will sign him? Don't think he will come for pennies we pay or indeed a fee we would be happy to pay

he's off to Carlisle

Stevie..............

Gary has a brain - he'll want certainty over pay day and some confidence in getting a win bonus.............so, Luton...

Totally agree.

Player/ manager?

With Stevie?

Liddle is signing for Carlisle today, apparently, and now the Fail is back to quoting Hignett to the effect that Pools have to get players out before they can bring any more in.

What a surprise!

So the second loan wasn't to make us more competitive on the pitch?

I meant the 2nd money loan taken out, sorry!

I read it that you were on about Master Plan moolah, but that's the beauty of the English language, it's so open to misinterpretation...

Deal taking Liddle to Carlisle has finally gone through.

Not me. Presumably he want's more than YTS money so that ruled him out.

We don't need him we are signing Dean Whitehead remember.

Even last night the Fail was giving the impression that Pools would be renewing their interest in Liddle now that the Carroll transfer had gone through blah blah blah.

Reminds me of the Barcodes after Ashley took over - forever being linked with top players. None of them were signed, but it kept the fans quiet for a few weeks.

because people then think we are showing ambition and just beaten to the deal.

it seemed similar last year when tried to sign danny hylton from luton and never had a remote chance of getting him. But fans then think we are showing ambition so it's all fine

Most of Pools permanent signings are players who no other clubs want.
If we go down the usual route of replacing shit with shit then non-league football is were we will end up.


If and its a big if we get rid of all the deadwood and replace them with the type of players other clubs of similar size seem to attract then we might get out of this cack division at the top end.




But i dont think that will happen.

That's not true of late is it? Another example of someone posting anything without qualifying it as long as it's negative.


I'm sure plenty of clubs were interested in Amond in the summer, Allessandra is a player plenty of clubs at our level would be interested in and has a decent record in this league. Toto has been transferred to a club in a higher division for a fee, I'm sure other clubs would take Donnelly. In the last window we signed Nathan Thomas for a fee, does he fit that description? I don't think we've actually signed many bad players of late which makes it all the more frustrating that we find ourselves hovering around the same part of the division.

I STARTED THE POST WITH
MOST
MOST
MOST
MOST
MOST

Well I have just named just about all of the recent permanent signings I didn't mention Deverdics either who again after the season he had last year would not fit your description. If it's 'most' name one who nobody else would want!?

Obviously the club have adopted a policy of targeting kids at the 18/19/20 age bracket released from bigger clubs in view of the future, a policy I don't quite understand at this minute but you can hardly consider them in that bracket either. On paper we have about 35 professionals on the books, surely we'd be better condensing that squad trying to bring through kids of better quality ourselves as a long term goal. When we were doing well we only had a core of 15 or 16 first team players the squad was supplemented by lads like Darren Craddock, John Brackstone and Steven Istead who might not have been good enough but we got away with it when they were filling in with good players around them. If we are signing lads of that age what's the point in our youth set up and what has it actually been doing for the last 5 years?

The team is like the curates egg, good in parts. We've seen what this team can do, but at times they've looked unmotivated and unwilling. The problem has to be the coaching/tactics and other background factors.
They don't look happy at all.