Reckon another CB given the amount Collins has played this season, then Miller and another fwd/attacking mid
The CB and fwd on loan

I have given up on being hopeful that we will make a good signing. The board only want to spend 'pennies', so maybe we might get a couple of signings from Bradford park Avenue....

And doesn't that just make your little heart sing

indeed, lets sign 5 of their players then, eh Russ ?

I just think that if we don't sign at least 3-4 more players we could be in a relegation fight based on the small squad we have

Cooper has already said he's hoping for a couple more permanent then a couple of long term loans. That should suffice.

Isn't it about time you started supporting Man United again?

They have a new manager and everything so they might win more this year and you won't get as much pointing and laughing as you leave the Hillcarter.

Maybe consider it for us? Thanks.

Definitely think Miller will sign if Cooper's comments are anything to go by. And hope we go, looks very composed and strong in the midfield. Better than Walton ever was in his 2 year stint.

Hey PJ Proby, what's up luv ?

Not difficult to spot the difference between you and a ray of sunshine

I predict a top 6 six finish with the current squad and with 2/3 more signings, top of the pile

And I bought a season ticket, even though Man Utd have a new manager

Early bird or 20 bar more??

We need answers.

20 bar more, member of the stlittlme

So would that be a bad thing if they were all as good as Duckworth?

So if five of their players........

Ah, ferk, why am I even bothering......

No Fred...that would be fine. It's just that (i think) only Exeter & Accrington have brought fewer 'new signings than us so far, plus with Sweeney & Poole turning down new deals.
I know it's quality not quantity, and Stuart Parnaby is an excellent signing. I know players/managers (tactics) can improve, but after finishing 3 points above the relegation zone last season, was hoping for a little more activity in the transfer window....so far.

so going on the evidence of two games you reckon miller will be better than walton ever was for us ? any more fucking stupid generalisations you want to light up our reading with ?

Can you really blame anyone who's a little sceptical about new signings when we've been fed this line pre-season for a few years now. At this very moment, it's looking like a tough season lies ahead. There's enough time to strengthen, and the loan market is available most of the season, but I don't blame anyone for being worried.

I haven't much faith these signings will come, hope so, but I'm not so sure

I think we will get a few more in, surely IOR won't hang Cooper out to dry !

Why not? They did it to Hughes.

At this stage of pre season, pretty much entering the last quarter, Is the quality still out there for nothing?

This.

I have it from a source ( Candy Statton) we will make a signing tomorrow, watch the space!

Yes, loads!

Time will tell, I hope we do bring a few bodies in, waiting until the last minute limits our options and the same quality of player wont be out there that was a month ago.

I still think we will be sat here on August 8th with the season a day away saying the same thing though, which is a shame, I like cooper, he just needs a few more players.

So its OK to slag off people that seem negative about the coming season, but its OK to be ridiculously over optimistic?

Everyones opinion is valid, is it not?

The Fat Man sums up it best. As least as usual he is being rational.

Cooper is saying more signings are coming which is great, but surely wanting to get the squad together earlier isnt an unreasonable view for any fan to have.

It is not, in my humble opinion, great planning to bring people in at the very last minute that havent had time to gel, know the other players, or the system. Does this make me negative? Or just giivng a sensible reasoned opinion?

And of course, bringing in players so late, you arent even sure about how their own preseason and fitness has gone.

It would have been nice, just for a change, for Pools to have their squad in place early, so that fans can have a discussion about which players they would pick, and what formation they would use, like fans of most other clubs do.

Its never good, in my humble opinion, where its clear that the team virtually picks itself.

I have nothing else to add.

Though I do have an opinion about the dual carriageway coming out aof Hartlepool after the marina, right up to the Lidl roundabout. And the speed limit. not nice people.

I think with the nature of the financial restrictions lower league clubs have to adhere to this is a pattern we are going to see more and more. Take some of the players we have been linked all established Football League players Prutton, Zoko, Earnshaw, Greening as things stand all still without a club. Cooper has said from the start that his squad might not be finalised until the end of August.

I don't read too much into squads gelling in pre season, they aren't proper matches and make little difference apart fitness in the grand scheme of things. It's doesn't matter when you sign it matters who sign and I'd rather have the patience to wait for the players Cooper wants. Look at a couple of seasons as an example. The one were we signed Humphreys, Bass, Widdrington and Clarke early and everyone thought we among the favourites for promotion. We were bottom of the League in November and didn't 'gel' until Watson and Smith joined in about November.

Or the season we turned up at Lincoln having signed players the day before and most didn't even know, we won and finished 4th.

Cooper has also explained repeatedly that players he is interested in are keeping their options open and will not commit themselves until late on when they know which teams come in for them..
He can't do much about that.