The Poolie Bunker

Seems like just forgetting quality we are missing a goalie , a left back a winger and a forward minimum

I would argue we are missing a lot more than that as the likes of Hunter, Feather, Charman, and Folarin are clearly below the standard required and Campbell needs a huge improvement to be worth his place

Add to that kids like Foreman, Augniers, and Darcy shouldn’t really be seen as first teamers and it seems like we are still a long way short

Even if the lower league gambles and fitness question marks come off at least another 4-5 good players needed to have a squad that will realistically do anything across the season..

Too harsh ? Anything I am missing more optimistic fans are seeing ?

I for one share your concerns, ie that the squad is indeed increasing in numbers - but from what I've heard and read recently there appears to be little sign of the quality that is going to be essential for even a moderate promotion push. My biggest fear is that Grayson may have a similar negative impact on the squad that Hartley did. Different backgrounds and experience but both underestimating the National League, introducing mostly free transfer journeymen from superior leagues (OK maybe not in Hartley's case lol) and expecting them to make a difference against the majority of NL clubs who are prepared to expend proper money on building their squads. Having said that there is still time for Grayson to pull in two or three decent quality acquisitions if - as he stated earlier this month - he is perfectly happy with the financial backing that he his receiving from RSingh.

I don't think I've ever seen such a weak pools squad and that's saying something. I don't see where the points will come from with this team. We have arguably given away any goals in the team and signed one lad expected to do the business while playing for a way worse team who will create little to nothing. Christ fans are getting excited over conference north players now the joke has gone so wrong. Now I know friendlies are hard to judge but we beat 11 lads that are part time probably spend half their lives in the pub and play at a very low level 3 nil, we beat the same mob 8 nil or something the previous year. We struggle past whitby, I think we have serious serious problems and I know its just a friendly but crikey our standards get worse by the year. When we play a side close to our level we will get the shock of our lives.

Every manager says the same thing until they are sacked in 4 or 5 months if he is happy with what he is having to bring in, then more fool him, I hazard a guess he will be struggling to keep his job come December.

Yeh I worry about Yeovil being another Walsall opening day but maybe I am being too pessimistic after recent seasons.

I just dont see any pace in our midfiled AGAIN and Johnson everyone is saying is a good player IF we make chances for him--well who is going to do that?--I wouldn't trust Folarin and Charman to look up before they cross a road never mind a football and I am not convinced Campbell will even be around come the start of the season--
a Hell of a lot of weight is on Mileys shoulders to do all the running and create everything in midfield--really hope he is as good as some of the happy clappers think he is based on last seasons hit and miss showings....

We definitely need a keeper and left back, I'm pretty sure Grayson is addressing that. Another forward, yes. Maybe Bartlett -Antwi is the fella, I don't know. Again, Simon Grayson knows his onions, he knows what's needed.
Ive been impressed with the signings so far, despite what the miserabalists think. Parkes, McNally and that maxim lad seems solid in the centre, Miley and Sheron are the way to go in midfield, and someone to partner Danny Johnson should do the job. I'm not buying into this doom and gloom nonsense. I think we've got the makings of a decent squad, and a manager who knows what he's doing.
I'm all on board with a regime change, the vote drama really sickened me, but that doesn't mean I have to shit on the team and the manager. Squad wise I think it's going ok, we seem to have unloaded the deadwood and the injury list and are recruiting well. Soz .

So far it's a relegation battling squad.
Not expecting the next 4 weeks to change that.
100% take 5th bottom.

And new owners for 26/27.


The new down graded version of hope.

Sad but True unless you got heads full of fairy-tales.

Haha, just optimism

The only side that we are playing against pre season that is anywhere near close to our level is South Shields at the Vic. I believe that it is currently the final pre-season game and by that time you would expect Grayson to have his best eleven in place and fired up for the big KO. Failure at that stage would represent bad news for everyone involved - including us.

Really? I think you have a selectively short memory. The squad assembled by Craig Harrison (now there was another manager who knew fuck all about the National League) was pitiful. Probably not entirely his fault because he had no budget!

His only halfway decent signing was Scott Loach in goal.
Scott Harrison and Louis Laing - the worst centre-back pairing I've ever seen at Pools.
Blair Adams at left back - equally bad, couldn't tackle.
And in midfield - Jack Munns, Conor Newton, Lewis Hawkins, Ryan Donaldson - all useless.
Centre Forward - Jake Cassidy, the definition of a lower league journeyman, 5 goals all season...

They made the leftovers from the relegated side like Michael Woods and Liam Donnelly look different class - and Donnelly really couldn't be arsed with playing in non-league.

I'm not making any predictions about Grayson's squad except that it cannot possibly be worse than that absolute shower of shit. It's a minor miracle that Pools did't drop straight down into the NLN.

May I also suggest Mick Docherty's 1983 squad? Harry Wilson being a marquee signing that side would have been relegated in this league, fortunately we could rely on friends in high places for a reelection vote

I wasn't replying to your message.
Just a general quote.

I'm sure someone posted the cameo performances from Mancini n Clearly kept us up.
And that wasn't counting the 3 main goalscorers

They have all vacated the building plus we still got a major goalkeeper problem.

Most teams with ambition will now have there squads finished n raring to go.

So far we nowhere near Radgys/Larrys Promotion objective and a few new signings who thinks their going to be playing in front of big noisy crowds all season.

What will be will be.

If we stay up we will of done well this season. Same fans get carried away with signings every season. We were dreadful last season for the bulk of it we have lost our only goal threat, creativity we had. Some will get that real shock once again within a couple of weeks of the season starting. We are a country mile short of were we should be and before you know it friendlies be over and the proper teams come along.

The loyaler the fan the bigger the hope.

I used to be like that for me first 47 years of being a Poolie for 50 years.

Had a lot more good times than bad though.

No regrets whatsoever.
HUFC always be a massive part of me life even though I'm in boycott mode at this current state of play.

WSO.

I despair of how some fans reset their expectations to whatever division we are in as the new norm and accept it unquestioningly…..they should be annoyed, even resentful for this normalisation of settling into this division as their new home, get some pride back and stop settling for mediocrity.

I have resisted posting on here because I can’t get excited about the lack of quality in the squad caused predominately by the ownership issues. Last year was long and it was a rollercoaster and I expect this one to be no better unless Grayson can work miracles. I don’t want to write the guy off as he has to be given a chance but to be honest all I see is us struggling at the foot of the table.
Of course I would love to be proven wrong. First 2 friendlies we got over the line
But struggled as I understand it. Let’s see. Agree with Billingham. Unsure about my subscription to dazn for now.

Can’t agree mate,the utter crap Hartley signed were much worse.
Players signed who’s been loan to Albion Rovers etc & poor Taylor,who was nowhere ready for 1st team football at the time.
I knew we’d struggle with that team,but was shell shocked at Walsall how bad we were.
Nearly everyone knew by halftim,it was going to be a relegation fight.

We won't know just how bad (or good) this squad is until around 10 games into the new season. Thankfully there is effectively no transfer deadline in the NL. Hopefully Grayson will retain some of RSingh's financial backing until such time that he has assessed his squads true potential in fixtures that actually matter. Btw he's just stated that he's not getting carried away with the depleted squad winning two games without conceding a goal.....

Versus div 10 n 7 opposition.

Better of judging us v Rangers under 7s n Yeovil!

It’s hard to judge the squad as it is now as we’re nowhere near finished and still lacking depth across the pitch. Looking at the players that have gone from last season: Mani Dieseruvwe, Joe Grey (not confirmed yet but looks to be going), David Ferguson, Dan Dodds, Josh Mazfari, Jack Robinson, Max Storey, Joel Dixon, Gary Madine, Emmanuel Onariase, Luke Waterfall, Anthony Mancini, Kieran Wallace, Gregg Sloggett, Billy Sass-Davies, Reyes Cleary, Darryl Ombang (Loan GK from Leeds).

That’s 17 players gone and only 6 signed so far. I’m pleasantly surprised with the business so far, other than Walker as I’m unsure about his injury record over the last few years and can’t see who you’d drop for him in the side.

Definitely still need at least 1 GK and left back, CB cover a couple of strikers and a winger. Could still possibly need a couple more to improve quality over the likes of Charman, Campbell and Folarin if they don’t come good after a handful of games.

Hartleys signings were the best thing since sliced bread according to many on here.

they were until they saw them play. an experiment that was years too late being back in the days of a stronger scottish league.

3 weeks to go.
Is that enough time to produce a squad capable of staying up?.

22nd as it stands.

If big Dan's as busy as last season we in deep shit.

Concerned big style.

That team was dreadful you are right everyone could see and he didn't last long. I have a feeling through lack of funds and the same people making decisions we will manage to have an even worse season unless we start signing some real quality. Redcar for long periods last night looked a better team and more dangerous than us. Redcar its almost laughable.

Keeper is an absolute must, Needs to be top notch, I hear the lad we chased at the end of the season Josh, Played well last night.

Here ya go Kevin
Teams that have published their squads as finished.

https://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/20 ... tional.htm