...I'm going with another mid table of around 12th

Seems like we are more solid at the back, but a massive hole in the form of a goalkeeper and not convinced we have the pace or the squad depth going fwd based on what we have so far.
I feel like people are expecting a lot of Miley in the midfield - if he does well then maybe we get higher up the league

I predict a decent start then a decline as injuries kick in and the lack of squad cover up front and out wide bites.

I hope I am wrong----but I'm usually right !

Pretty much exactly what you said just over a week ago on the Pre season prediction thread you also started ...

"Based on where we are currently I can’t see us doing any better than around mid table which is better than I thought a few weeks back
The first 11 looks ok but overall squad is weak especially up front and typically there are always injuries, I actually think we may have a decent start given the fixtures but can’t see us maintaining it."

So good you had to say it twice??? Not really

No lower than 5th

I sometimes need to repeat myself for the slower Bunker members such as yourself...

5th top or 5th bottom?

No lower than 5th TOP

16th hell of a lot better than a few weeks ago. Not played anyone yet so we dont exactly know our weaknesses apart from the obvious. Lads at the back look an improvement. Midfield still looks weak and lacks creativity and goals.

Nice But you really need a few more hobbies. Get out and get some fresh air!

Not worth guessing until we have played a couple of NL teams.

Top 6 without a doubt for me, built a strong defence and have dangerous young pacey full backs getting up and down the wings, got a couple of proper goal scorers. An average keeper will suffice as I can't see this defence letting too much happen. Also think we'll be very dangerous from set pieces this season, Benn has a much much better delivery than Ferguson did, Johnson will latch onto anything and we have a load of big lads who will cause problems on corners and free kicks.

Rochdale have just signed a second keeper - he's 19, which is 2 years OLDER than the other one on their books.

For comparison, Josh Mazfari is an old man of 20... Mazfari was released before Grayson even had the chance to take a look at him! Who made that decision, and why?

Agreed, it's utterly pointless to seriously predict anything at this stage given the quality of the pre-season opposition leading up to the real thing on 9th August. Being held to a 1-1 draw by the Boro U21 team hardly inspires confidence. Hopefully the Shields will come out fighting on Saturday and give the revamped Pools squad a proper game of football. At present the only prediction from me is quite simple; 'We won't go down'.

Playoffs.

If there is a lack of cover, then we will bring in cover in the positions we need. We are still able to sign more players during the season. Ridiculous to assess the entire season assuming otherwise. We signed 10 players during last season and we are only using 2 of our 6 permitted loans.

Yes and a lot of them were throwing shite against a wall and hoping something would stick---You are right we cant predict with a lot of confidence, only going on what we have so far.....maybe we get another Clearyesque loanee in and we are laughing ?

Madine, Asiimwe, Miley and Cleary were amongst them, so probably a 40% success rate. This summer’s recruitment seems to have been much better than last summer, so hopefully that continues through the season. With Daly and Francis there, I can’t see Campbell and Folarin getting much game time, and won’t be surprised to see them moved on, freeing up more space and cash for reinforcements.

The Fox in the Box can do some damage if he stays injury free.

If tinpot Halifax made the play offs and we can't then the club wants blowing up.

Fcuk anutha failure season.
Just can't be doing with anymore of that shit.

Win game 44 at Boston to finish 6th.
UTP.

exactly. things look a bit better than 12 months back but its a bit unfair putting any pressure on the team and in our own minds before a ball is kicked in anger. So many unknowns like injuries to our players and playing teams at the right or wrong times which can help.

1. York
2. Rochdale
3. Southend
4. FGR
5. Pools
6. Carlisle
7. Halifax
8. Altrincham
9. Eastleigh
10. Boston
11. Boreham wood
12. Solihull
13. Scunthorpe
14. Sutton
15. Tamworth
16. Yeovil
17. Gateshead
18. Woking
19. Wealdstone
20. Aldershot
21. Truro
22. Braintree
23. Brackley

Keep everyone fit and retain the manager for the season and we might break top 3.

A bit early to say without seeing them play. 3 months ago I would have said certain relegation. From what I have read we now have pace in the side which is a plus but the squad isn’t really big enough to sustain a playoff place unless we are lucky with injuries. I would say mid table but will reserve judgement till after 5 to 10 games. I wasn’t going to bother with Dazn because of everything going on and was going to follow Leeds . But difficult to change the habits of a lifetime

even just thinking of following leeds deserves a couple of years banged up in armley nick.

A reckon Rochdale are overated.
MannyD will go into lazy mode.
That's what he does.

And Mancini will abuse the sicknotes.
That's what he does.

More chance of Pools going up.
Still a shit division thats made our to be Ellish to compensate failure.

Opinions eh.
UTP.

agree about rochdale anyway. might be a surprise outfit who have got there recruitment spot on and everything goe there way. not saying that will be us as i do not want to tempt fate.

Be interesting to see how many goals Mani does manage this season, but Rochdale nah.

Also not sure how much game time Joe will get at york.

Haha very funny

Agreed, it's utterly pointless to seriously predict anything at this stage given the quality of the pre-season opposition leading up to the real thing on 9th August. Being held to a 1-1 draw by the Boro U21 team hardly inspires confidence. Hopefully the Shields will come out fighting on Saturday and give the revamped Pools squad a proper game of football. At present the only prediction from me is quite simple; 'We won't go down'.


Apologies for responding to my own earlier post but today's performance/result is precisely what is required at this stage to bring everyone back to reality after several weeks of ridiculous pie in the sky optimism.

Yes, it was just another friendly with the aim of players gaining fitness and sharpness and most importantly, playing as a TEAM.Thanks go to South Shields for (presumably) turning out their first choice side and going for the Pools jugular.

Grayson is no mug, he will recognise shite when he sees it and it's inevitable that training will now be stepped up big time. Hopefully he will already know his best XI and also realise that this version of his side is simply a work in progress.

For the time being I am therefore revising my prediction to 'We could go down ' -nothing more positive than that until we witness the real thing.

Win some, lose some, draw some. The rest is in the hands of the Gods..

They were very good last year for this level, will be interesting to see how their new signings gel but I would be amazed if we finished ahead of them
This year….suspect Mani D knows the same..

Watched MKDons v Oldham yesterday, Oldham did not look out of place, Big Mike was spot on.

So far so good.
UTP