Getting players back rarely works but lets be honest he will probobly be a sight better than what we are about to bring in, if the latest batch of players are anything to go by. I wonder what john tinkler is doing now?

I know Rob Mckinnon and Joe Joe Joe Allon are having trials at Pools.

But the latest batch of players brought in permanently are Parkes and Waterfall, to be fair I thought Waterfall would be dominant but think Parkes is by far the better signing.

I'll concede Gary Liddle did well when he came back, any more? More came back and weren't a shadow of their former selves

I can’t see them on the turnstiles now…a couple of years ago, but not now.

Permanent yeah maybe though whats worrying is they still conceded a boat load, not quite convinced they are the answer we all believe. 7 at gateshead, 3 at dorking havent really tightened things up after the intial good patch we had under them.

Agree we still shipped too many but we allow far too many crosses into our box because there's been no midfield to help out the fullbacks.

Someone can't remember who queried my obsession with pace in midfield - the 2 CBs don't have any, Fergy isn't the quickest, Wallace and Fev least said the better. No pace means no mobility which means no support for forwards and no protection for defenders. Its been obvious to me for years, the gap particularly between midfield and Umerah last season and Mani D this has been huge.
We need to control the midfield more and link up more, you can't do that without pace and mobility.

they are good solid CBs but very samey--I think as I said Mani O is unfortunate to be on the transfer list

Nothing gets better until we see our new midfield though--we must have had the least mobile one in the league so things have to improve in that regard

Yeah might be totally different players with a good midfield, just worries me with their lack of pace too. Something i couldnt understand with Phillips said he wanted pace in the side then brought in a load of crabs.

Not solid if they continue shipping 25 goals in 15 games. Thats 75 plus over a season. But yeah see what they are like if we get actual decent midfielders.

…and full backs.

Why not both under 60 and both can play walking football.

Probably should not say this, But you don,t need to best fast to stop a player playing.

A good right hook when the refs not looking.

How dare you sucker punch the ref when he’s distracted.

Always remember the mighty Leeds at their prime in the 70s, Great footballing side.
However they had a really nasty streak.

Make no mistake, the Leeds United sides of the late 60’s and early 70’s were up there with the greatest in English football history. Yes they had a really mean strike and they needed it too as their arch rivals of that era ie Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Derby County were equally - if not more - adept at the black arts. The ponces and posers of today’s Premier League would wilt in the face of tackling from the likes of Hunter, Bremner, Yeats, Harris, McFarland, McLintock etc.

Tommy Smith, Imagine him in the PL today.

I hate Leeds United so not the only one in that particular club. Players coming back to Pools. The most successful in my opinion (as a player) was Keith Houchen - Pools through and through. Super Bob Newton and Joe Allon returned but it wasn't the same. Its a gamble but on balance would love to see Gav the hooligan back. How much more can we take of promising attacks slowing up when Feths sprays the ball back and forth in midfield? Driving forward midfield please. Hooligan Gav and a fit Mancini.

Bob didn't do a lot when he returned that was because in his own words " I was crocked " when pools resigned me. He had a major knee problem and Pools knew all about it but decided to sign him anyway because he would and did increase season ticket sales. I just looked it up he played just 11 games and scored 2 goals. First time around he played 150 games and scored 48 goals.

Leggie, your gonna have to adopt the battling. Irish Terrier…the exercise will do you good but don’t let him shit on the vegetable patch…it’s a no no.

Then had to drop down to division 7 to get a pay rise.
Only at Pools hey.

A decent midfield can make the forward line n defence look a lot better.
Been our achilles heal for a while now.
Big question is will it get sorted!

I'm sure he's worth a 1 year contract if he fancy a pay cut.

No no no

remember pools playing at bellend road in a league cup game in the mid 60,s and reaney broke the leg of one of our players. could not have been just a coincidence that he was giving him a bit of a runaround. there is being hard and competative but they pushed it beyond that.

A pay rise? Did Gary tell you that, because I know for a fact that…….

I saw Houchen 2nd time around but Newton before my time. I used to work at the insolvency service and they had a big box of Boro scouting reports that the Boro fans working there had decided to 'look after' when they went bust in the 80's.My job was filing so used to pass an hour or 2 in the storage rooms reading them. I remember one was Pools vs Carlisle from early 80s (I think) and a scouting report for Jack Charlton Boro boss said "for Pools Houchen the pick of a poor lot, Beardsley stand out for Carlisle. I wouldn't touch Newton with a bargepole'. I've still got it somewhere........

So who are we bringing in, have you been informed?
What latest batch of players….
You have discussed future signing with the new manager I take it and he has reassured you he continue the shit signing tradition….?

No one has mentioned the return of Stevie Howard ?

I think Billy's assessment is pretty sound. Based on a well established patterns. There are other opinions of course, based on blind optimism. I know which one I want to be right. I'm sick of us being crap.

Based on actual permanent signings (not end of season desperate loanees) our last 2 signings have been Waterfall and Parkes, I think most people are happy enough with them?
Yes we've had some horrendous loanees this season, but that's the nature of loanees isn't it? Out of our previous say 10 how many have been too good for us despite coming from higher league clubs? Fletcher was crap last season, so was Joe White, too many just don't want to be here or even at this level and unlike Dan Kemp are not willing to graft wherever they are to progress their careers.

Well established ‘patterns’….if we followed well established patterns I ‘d have 24 kids …. I like proof, not reading the tea leaves, I’m funny like that.

we are not unique in that respect. the only other club i have any idea of regarding loan players is stockport who had a loanee from both manchester clubs. one played a single game and were hammered never to play again and the other never kicked a ball in a game for them. both were january signings and how many across the game are just the same. its hard enough signing a full time free transfer but much harder getting the right loan player in.

Things do follow patterns. They have forever. They can be broken but the likelihood is not. Lets put it this way, if you were tasked with setting the odds for people betting on Pools next season, they world be pretty attactive, not so much for people betting against us.

That would be an ecumenical matter……..

Only you

John Gill?

Alan Goad

Jimmy Shoulder and his uncle Alan

just thinking about that never come back thing. problem is in a lot of cases a lot of football goes under the bridge from a player leaving to coming back and fans expect them to be just the same player as the one they remembered with a bit of rose tinted glasses on if they were good.

Waterfall and Parkes were good yes. We've always had the odd couple of good signings, but so many poor ones. The pattern isn't broken until its broken.

It’s a bit like selling a car you loved and pampered and wished you’d never sold, then seeing it for sale five years down the line…..but what have susequent owners done or not done with it in those five years?

most cars that i have loved and not fit for purpose when i get rid. its the ones i bought, never liked that people can get a bargain from me.

Won,t be buying owt of you then

looking for a privat.e plate if you can help. must start with the 3 digets P40 though.

From a Bradford supporting colleague, Chapman has tons of skill, no pace, and little desire. A less consistent Callum Cooke - make of that what you will.

What I make of it is do not touch even with a very long barge pole.