Going out early next week.

Robbie Stelling has been busy as usual doing a summary of things said in today's press conference pre-Dorking.
https://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/ ... rs-4595981

On the game itself, young Campbell Darcy hs picked up a knock and won't be travelling - shame as he was going to be in the side! Deffo one for the furture.

On the retained list, KP expects to sign 6 or 7 new players and a couple of season-long loans (maybe from the Mackems...).

He won't be signing more than that because some of this season's players will still be under contract next season and a couple will be offered new deals.

Ah well, we should know who's staying and who's going by next Friday at latest - plenty of time still for more speculation

Thanks for the info

Out of the out of contract players i have a feeling he will offer Cooke and Feaths a deal.
if Hastie still has another year left which i find absolutely mental then i think we will still see a payoff happening. Unless somehow KP can work with him and get him super fit and change his game a touch and he just might work himself into this side. Ive seen worse this season thats for sure ! Shame about him as i thought out of all the silly scottish signings he would be the one we got lucky with and would replace Mols comfortably.

im guessing KP probs has 3 or 4 of those 7 he wants possibly already lined up. There is some really good players coming to end of their careers in the leagues above i think we would have a shot at. One season left in the old dogs to get us out this league!

If Cooke and Featherstone both offered new deals I think we can write next season off as well

Excellent news, we're going to be stuck with a lot of the serial losers we have had to put up with the last 2 seasons all over again next season.

If KP offers any of out of contract players a new contract then he has lost his marbles. Take the opportunity to get rid of all of them & their losing mentality & start from scratch next season.

yeh I am hoping and praying the likes of Hastie and are out of contract----we still have a lot of shite unfortunately so lets not keep more of it than we have to.

I cant think of a slower more turgid midfield than Wallace, Feather, Cooke and Crawford---we are stuck with Wallace another year but if any of the other 3 get a contract we can see the writing on the wall

Sounds like Raj is getting out his big book of excuses again.

Yes here we go again a week before the retained list and already the excuses are coming. How they will pass this years retained list off while keeping fans onside god knows.

I agree about most of them but I personally would keep Featherstone 100%. The experience he has will be paramount in getting us up next season. I would play him from the bench for the last 20 mins in away games when leading by a single goal. He is a player who can hold the ball and play simple passes in tight situations. His experience in those types of games would be hugely beneficial to the team. I would give him part-time player part time coach working with the young players who will move up into the first team squad next season. I am a great believer in experience It's not something that grows on trees so when you have it use it don't throw it away

Just one slight flaw in your cunning plan Mr Leggie, we need to be leading by 1 goal for your plan to work & how often does that happen? Plus how many times did we give a goal away in the last few minutes of a game this season to either lose or draw when Featherstone was playing? That's actually 2 slight flaws in your cunning plan

Answer to your first question is we got ahead in a 12 away games starting with Chesterfield 0-2 lead Oxford 0-1 Altrincham 0-1 D & R 0-1 Aldershot 0-1 York 0-1 Kidderminster 0-1 Ebbsfleet 0-1 Woking 0-1 Eastleigh 0-1 Gateshead 0-1 Rochdale 0-1 Answer to second question with a better quality squad Featherstone will be on the bench and only play the last 20mins of games if needed to slow the game down and retain the ball.

He was OK when he first came back but has been awful in recent games. As for holding onto the ball and not giving it away - really?

I doubt a Chesterfield would be bringing a Featherstone on to slow things down.

You can say what you want about Featherstone but you cannot say he cannot hold on to the ball. Yes he made a mistake away to Maidenhead and give away a goal. And he will have misplaced passes in other games but he is right up there for not giving the ball away and by far the best at retaining the ball at Pools despite his age. Even the very best players in the World give the ball away at times or misplace passes. Name one who doesn't

The last 2 home games he gave the ball away countless times, the penultimate home gamevit was 3 times in bad positions inside the first 10 minutes!
Honestly his good games are as rare as a Cooke or Crawford good game in the last dozen games or so. Hopefully the rumours of retirement are true.

They never needed to do that they had 2 full teams of attacking quality players hence the amount of goals scored was huge and didn’t need to close shop at 1-0 up. They played all out attack again hence the large number of goals conceded. When you have a squad like Chesterfield have you control your own destiny. No way on earth will we have a squad anywhere near as good next season. But the teams next season will surely not be that strong.

Look we are not going to agree so let's leave it at that. Everyone is entitled to opinions and football is full of them.

If we think we are going to win the league then you need a team like Chesterfield or somewhere near that standard. You know and i know we wont have a team capable of it next season, but even for a play off team we need much more quality.Featherstone was great under challinor, i think he has had his day and anyway rumour is he is retiring so probobly going to have to find someone better anyway.

I think the prognosis is very very clear - regardless who we are stuck with... id imagine KPs new 7 signings hopefully... 4 are new mids and attacking wing players we hope !

Wallace will be this seasons sick note by the looks and probs wont feature - hoping we can offload him like we did with Dolan.

if Feaths or Cooke do decide to stay on - its not all doom and gloom just yet. its merely having some squad players who know the team and whats expected for next season still here - Cooke will need to be fitter under KP but again i hold judgement on keeping a player who cant put a full season in - least with Feaths he can last a full season. Bench or starter regardless. Its who we bring in around them and support them that will matter ! Mancini for me being the key to all of this- along with someone who can box to box and defend/clean up. We have a good core throughout - its about the final bits and pieces that need sorting that will make the players we do keep into a very good side for this division. Grey and Mani D have shown they are more than capable and thats in a poor side ! Imagine how many they would of had if Mancini an Dodds stayed fit !

But like a say - the thing that will define things for me is who he brings in for the midfield and if we sign 2 wingers for each flank ! Another striker is a must also. If we go with Grey and Mani D as the front 2 then we absolutely need someone pushing Grey for that shirt every week ! a Porter Boyd Williams scenario would be wonderful !

Agree Eiphos

If these 2 has beens who detest any form of physical contact to win the ball are offered pay cuts to stay then the budget doesn't back up 4000+ crowds.
Got to be 2 younger better plsyers our amazing new Scouting system can find.

I agree That's the problem we won't have a team that good but with a shrewd manager and a team of honest hard working well organised players it's achievable look at Barrow & Sutton.

Spot on.
Surely to God this opportunity for replacements has to happen.
Maybe KPs new contract is that good it eats into the budget for actually having a proper go at promotion.
Probably had his first no no from the top man.

The first 11 definitely needs a couple of new fast quality midfielders to play alongside Mancini to have any chance of being successful next season.

Maybe KP will be taking a look ay Pybus on saturday, Think we were linked with him before Dorking moved in.

Don,t hold your breath with Mancini, Will have to prove himself all over again!

Spot on Kev We simply have to push for promotion otherwise what's the point in following a club that lacks ambition. The club is at a crossroad and must make the correct turning or it could be the beginning of the end for Pools. I suspect even the most loyal of supporters could walk away this time.

Quite frankly, this is tosh. Yes, he was below par in those games, but you were slavering for the chance to put the boot in all the time KP was saying 'Featherstone is a 7 or 8 every game.'

I really don't get why people like you obsess about one individual player.

You say tomato I say tomato - no obsession just saying it like I see it. I have said so when I've thought he'd had a good game at least 3 times this season if memory serves me right.

Fair point Gray but according to KP he is expected back the first day of preseason. I am quietly confident he will be back and hopefully back to at least the level he was. The break should give him the time he needs to fully recover and hopefully return back fit and strong.

I'd say it's last chance saloon next season.

Maybe wait and see who the 6 or 7 new signings and the 2 season long loans are before writing next season off? I'm sure that's what most fans will do.

[/quote]

Hey Kev you knicked my quote I was the first to use " Last chance saloon on here a few weeks back "

Voice of reason

Hey Kev you knicked my quote I was the first to use " Last chance saloon on here a few weeks back " [/quote]

Great minds think alike.
Well that's the theory

the interview was the usual stuff--i dont understand why we need to wait until start of July though, even if players are contracted we can sign a pre-contract agreement with them I thought---seems like more smoke and mirrors

Don,t get me wrong, On his day a match winner.
Hope he can rekindle his early season form.

A Iad I know from Sarfend who said they loved the way he played but could not believe he was a permanent signing. He told me just last week Mancini was the best player he had seen all season.

He was head and shoulders above anyone that game--even the Southend commentators were saying he was up against their best player and they had never seen him being made a mug like Mancini made him.....so long ago when we were full of optimism!

Why would he’s experience be paramount in getting us promotion?
He’s had one in his career, but plenty of relegations.
Plus,if your winning away,why would change the team & bring on someone,who can’t run,can’t tackle ,drops deep & gives the opposition the initiative,to protect a lead?

So sorry to upset you kebab But football is all about opinions

That's what my SARFend following Outlaws said too- and couldn't remember the last time that they witnessed an opposition player being clapped off at Roots Hall by the home fans when he was subbed late on in the game.

biggest interest to me are the out of contract ones who he,ll be offering new contracts to. who are out of contract anyway.

just cannot see why he cannot if he has fully recovered. its not like a multiple leg break that happened to him in a tackle that might affect his confidence for ever.

If Mancini turns back upto training with a niggle or we start the season without him then we know its curtains for the lad. He unfortunately is another Luke Williams. Still sticks in my mind why such a talent is in the NL. The lad could quite easily pull a top on for a good L1 side and not look out of place (given he fully fit etc...). The pre season against Boro where he got 2 - you could just see he was head an shoulders above everyone on our side that day !

TBH though regarding Cooke and Feaths - Ive heard Feaths is going to go into coaching... may even be with us. Cooke wants off and i believe high paying South Shields my be his next move. Especially if they reach and win the playoffs how bizarre that would be having them in our league with Gateshead. So lets not all just panic yet ! Crawford for me needs to go too. Hes a luxury player to have in the side, someone to either play in a 4 with 3 very good other CMs or someone you bring on to maybe upset the rhythm of the game or man mark their ball playing CM in a game we are winning etc... apart from that he is so inconsistent its hard to watch !

My money would be on Fergie and Crawford getting new deals. There's pros and cons to both.

the pros are they are good in a good team the con is they are the opposite when the team is playing badly. its a gamble like their replacements would be. there is never such a thing as somebody is bound to be better than a player released but more like crap replacing crap.

Mancini is the most influential player i,ve seen in a long time.
Lets all hope hes back at it come pre season.
We have imo have the foundations of a very good side.