Hi everyone and welcome back to the north of England and to Hartlepool United. After just managing to survive last season it was imperative that I spend well in the summer to take this club to the next level. I got a budget of £22 million to spend and I will now go through the ins and outs of the summer before revealing my aspirations for the season and finishing off with a look at the pre-season results.
OUTS
A total of 8 players departed the biggest ones probably being Jermaine Beckford who hit some form at the end of the season but his performances in other games proved that he wasn’t all that and I decided to cash in on him. Another big departure is Scott Flinders who was the last of the original players that started in my first season as Hartlepool manager.
INS
I used up the entire transfer budget before the season had started and that brought me 13 new players with 11 of these players being permanent deals. Let’s see who I managed to persuade to come to the North of England.
Albin Ekdal — £2.5 million from Aston Villa
Matthew Chambers — loan till the end of season
Dimitri Payet — £1.4 million Sunderland
Fraizer Campbell — £4.8 million from Fulham
Kyle Naughton — £2 million from Aston Villa
Tiago – free transfer
Stiliyan Petrov – free transfer
Steven Pienaar – free transfer
Leon Thompson – loan till end of the season
Emmanuel Adebayor – free transfer
Joe Cole – free transfer
Wayne Hennessey — £12 million from Wolves
Chris Basham — £1.6 million from Birmingham
Season Expectations
I am really happy with the amount of business that we were able to get done over the course of the last few months. With a little bit of luck I feel that I should be able to reach a mid-table position and possibly push on for a European spot but that would take a lot of hard work and effort.
Pre-Season Results
A half decent pre-season with some new signings getting on the scoresheet but I knew that this is only used as a warm-up for the season and I could wait to get started again in my 5 season as Hartlepool manager.
Thanks for reading
Warren
MRDNRA
9 февраля, 2011 at 21:42
Some nice signings there. I can see Adebayor scoring a good 15 to 20 goals this season if you get a good run going. I reckon you could make mid table without too much difficulty.
warren
10 февраля, 2011 at 16:37
Thanks and I believe that if he gets enough service from the wide players Adebayor should hit around the 15/20 mark which will certainly help me get closer to mid-table this season.
Sears
9 февраля, 2011 at 21:59
Hey Warren,
you bought in some really talented players. Albin Ekdal, Dimitri Payet and Fraizer Campbell are my favorites. They’ll be great players and you should easily avoid relegation. You bought in some vital experience but I’m not a fan of buying any players over around 28 if I’m in the top flight, however that depends on certain aspects. Wayne Hennessey is a decent keeper as well! Looking forward to the new season, I’m predicating a safe top ten finish, good luck!
warren
10 февраля, 2011 at 16:42
Hi Sears
Players such as Ekdal, Campbell, Payet, Hennessey, Adebayor and Naughton will go straight into the starting line up where the other will either be as back up or rotation for the weaker player in the starting eleven. I am pleased with what we were able to bring in with the budjet we were given.
Laxeyman
9 февраля, 2011 at 22:20
Hi Warren, pretty good signings there, particularly Adebayor and Payet, they should do well for you. I also like the look of the youngsters you’ve got on loan, hopefully they’ll do a good job. I reckon you can finish mud table this season, good luck!
warren
10 февраля, 2011 at 16:46
Hi Laxeyman
I was really excited that Adebayor was available for a free transfer in the summer and I feel that if he plays well and score goals he will be signing of the season. As for Payet I think that we were able to get him for a reasonable price but I will have to clean him up after playing for dirty Sunderland :-(
kevin
9 февраля, 2011 at 22:42
Hi Warren
A good mixture of signings there but some are lacking bit of stamina but i’m sure you’re taken that into account. Great aquisition in Hennessy — build from the back that’s what I say and Kyle Naughton will help with that too. Good luck with your new campaign.
CsAtlantis
10 февраля, 2011 at 00:52
Hey Warren
Those players with 8-9 stamina are a bit worrying to be honest, but i suppose as long as you keep your tempo down they should survive their matches
Those 2 loan signings you got look pretty useful, 17 at corners should come in handy
Adebayor and Frazier should be able to score the goals to help your team improve this season, i think a top half finish is achievable for you this season
warren
10 февраля, 2011 at 17:47
Hi CsAtlantis
Like I told Kevin the players whos stamina isnt that great are the players that will more likely be impact players. The 2 loan signings will hopfully take the same route that Lee Foyle took last season and are able to cope to the demands with playing the Premier League.
p.s I am sorry that I forgot to put the Trejo screenshot in for you and hopefully I will be able to remember next time.
warren
10 февраля, 2011 at 16:56
Hi Kevin
I have taken this into account and the players who have poorer stamina are more likely the player who will be impact players so may only get 20 minutes a match. I wasn’t sure with Hennessey’s price but I feel this will be a good signing along with Naughton
Lye
9 февраля, 2011 at 23:45
Hi Warren,
Some of the players are 32 and above. I don’t think they can last the whole season. In overall, there is a good mix of youth and experience players. I am hopeful for a top half finish, but i hope you can finish higher and grab a European spot. Good luck.
warren
10 февраля, 2011 at 17:49
Hi Lye
I just feel that with the experience they will first of all show their expericence on the football pitch and second of all that experience to rub off on the younger players. I dont think that I will follow this signing structure into next season and i will then start to bring in younger player if possible.
Darren Smith
10 февраля, 2011 at 12:18
Great, great signings Warren, well done! I reckon Adebayour will score 20+ this season for you a brilliant signing. Your only problem is replacing the ageing players again within the next few years. This should be OK though as your rep, position and finances will be greatly improved by then. Well done mate and heres hoping for Europe!!!
warren
10 февраля, 2011 at 17:54
Hi Darren
I am really pleased with the players who signed for Hartlepool in the summer and then will certainly be able to start to move us up the table. That was another reason for bringing in experienced players as usually there wages are low and it will make the club more financially stable for the future. I hope that we have enough to get into Europe but it will be a long, hard season for us to do that.
Johnny Karp
10 февраля, 2011 at 14:48
Payet should do a great job and Adebayor also has a good couple of years left at this level. To b honest I think that the likes of Joe Cole or Petrov will be just wasting the club’s wage money but I might be wrong. Anyway, the team looks far better than it was last year and I think that you will be able to achieve your goals. Good luck!
warren
10 февраля, 2011 at 17:57
Payet is a player that I am really looking forward to seeing this season and along with Adebayor they could be integral for us to have a good season. The thing with Cole and Petrov is that I needed some players to add to the sqaud as its not this big and the wages aren’t catastropically high.
The team should perform much better this season and who knows Europe may be on the cards if we play well and have a bit of luck along the way.
Daniel
10 февраля, 2011 at 22:12
Hello Warren, i’m new to this site, really good signings here! Adebayor will be making a large contribution to your campaign next season. Wayne hennessey seems to be a good goalkeeper.
All the best for next season. :-)
warren
11 февраля, 2011 at 11:08
Hi Daniel
Im hope that Adebayor will be able to get amongst the goals and it will really help us achieve what we want this season. Hennessey was a good buy as well although a little on the pricey side.
Ana Garcia
11 февраля, 2011 at 19:57
Bit late!
But some really great signings! A bit risky spending over half your budget on a goalkeeper! But I guess a good goalkeeper is hard to find.
As others have said Adebayor seems to be the best of the bunch and to pick him up for free has to be a good signing! Still cant believe he is at Real Madrid in real life!
But good luck on your season!!
warren
13 февраля, 2011 at 18:07
Hi Ana
I am pleased with what we were able to bring in over the summer and I feel that we can have a successful season this year and I guess that Hennessey was a bit of a gamble but I feel that it is worth the risk.
I know but Adebayor isn’t a very nice person anyway so Im glad that he isn’t the Premiership now.
plobdork
18 февраля, 2011 at 15:46
is any1 else having this prblem that this is the latest story when its not???????
Sears
18 февраля, 2011 at 15:55
Yeah I’m experiencing the same problems, Darren’s sorting it out though :-)
Darren Smith
18 февраля, 2011 at 19:03
Your right Plobdork and Sears. The site is experiencing these problems because I’m changing host. However the old host lost my posts and anything else I did since the 10th of Feb. I’m fuming but trying to sort it with my new host because the old one dosn’t care!! As soon as I know what the end result is I’ll inform you in a post. Extremely sorry for the inconvenience.
Sears
18 февраля, 2011 at 15:54
Take it easy Jake, at the end of the day it’s only a game!!
Darren Smith
18 февраля, 2011 at 19:00
Jake please refrain from swearing. I’m not sure if your just getting involved and showing some passion or just been nasty. Either way I have to delete your comment, as an affiliate site and one that lets all ages in, we have to be careful when it comes to foul language.