Trying To Win (with) The Pools - A Hartlepool United Story

very well done how many storys have you got going at the mo?

2 and a half - still wondering whether or not to go back to my Bilbao save - been there and all that. Plus when FM14 comes out I will probably go them first so going from Bilbao to Bilbao wouldnt be good longterm.

This one and the pass the parcel one be it at the moment for sure
 
2 and a half - still wondering whether or not to go back to my Bilbao save - been there and all that. Plus when FM14 comes out I will probably go them first so going from Bilbao to Bilbao wouldnt be good longterm.

This one and the pass the parcel one be it at the moment for sure
well keep this 1 up love it when some 1 takes a small club and makes them huge keep it up
 
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NOVEMBER

FA Cup 1st Round
Hartlepool United 1 (Smith og51)

Salisbury City 0

We had a goal disallowed also so it should have been more comfortable than it was.

--

Hartlepool United 2 (James 5, Miller 82pen)
York City 0

York were sitting 3rd so this is an important win. They missed a late penalty.

--

Wycombe Wanderers 1 (Kuffour 72)

Hartlepool United 1 (Poole 64)

--

Portsmouth 0
Hartlepool United 1 (Thorpe 74)

A fantastic result. They had an early goal disallowed but by the end we had 18 shots to their 6 so we fully deserved this. 17pts clear - League 2 all but wrapped up.

--

Bury 2 (Grimes 29, 46)
Hartlepool United 0

Our first league defeat of the season. We just didnt turn up.


--

Hartlepool United 2 (James 24, 54)
Bristol Rovers 2 (Brunt 56, 72)

I am not happy with this result for numerous reasons. Throwing away a 2 goal lead is the worst one but having a Compton goal disallowed sticks in the throat also.


--

Hartlepool United 1 (Thorpe 3)
Torquay United 0

--

LINEUPS
OPP
RES
GK
RB
CB
CB
LB
CM
CM
AMR
AML
AMC
ST
SUBS
Sal
1-0
Flinders
Songo'o
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Sweeney
Poole
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Fry, Compton, Howard
York
2-0
Flinders
Songo'o
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Davies
Sweeney
Poole
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Compton, Miller, Fry
Wyc
1-1
Flinders
Walton
Baldwin*
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Poole
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Fry
Port
1-0
Flinders
Songo'o
Baldwin
Thorpe*
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Poole
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Franks, Miller
Bury
0-2
Flinders
Walton
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
MillerDavies
Poole
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Addo, Fry, Franks
Bris R
2-2
Flinders
Songo'o
Baldwin
Thorpe
Fry
Hetherington
Davies
Franks
Compton
Bennett
James* 2
Sweeney
Torq
1-0
Flinders
Songo'o
Baldwin
Thorpe*
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Clarke, Miller

--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
TOM THORPE
View attachment 377139

--

SUMMARY


This month was quite disappointing compared to previous months. We lost our first league game of the season and also drew 2 games to drop a total of 7pts. However our victory over Portsmouth was really sweet and sort of makes up for that!!!

For some reason our goals dried up this month as Bennett and James, although playing well, just couldnt find the net regularly enough. I almost brought in Matt Derbyshire on loan but cancelled it at the last moment as I have faith in my youngsters!!!

We have been drawn away to Carlisle United in the FA Cup while Newcastle (who sold nearly £50m worth of talent) are bottom of the Premiership and appointed Martin O'Neill as manager to replace Pardew - that in itself makes me want to quit this save lol

View attachment 377138

 
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images

(apparently mascot H'Angus the Monkey was elected mayor in 2002!!!!)

DECEMBER


FA Cup 2nd Round
Carlisle United 0
Hartlepool United 2 (Miller 54pen, Fry 61)

For the 3rd time this season we defeat a League 1 side in the cup. Walton got sent-off for us after we scored the 2nd.

--

Hartlepool United 2 (Bennett 12, Monkhouse 90)

Newport County 0

--

Exeter City 2 (Gow 8, Baldwin 73)

Hartlepool United 0

We actually didnt play too badly here so this result is a bit of a mystery!

--

Hartlepool United 4 (James 33, 56, 90, Bennett 77)

Fleetwood Town 1 (Roberts 21)

We kept the same starting 11 for the 3rd game in a row (unusually for us) and despite going behind we recovered well.


--

Hartlepool United 6 (James 6, 20, 57pen, Sweeney 54, 72, Fry 88)

Cheltenham Town 2 (Duffy 52, Jones 64pen)

WOW!!! I thought we would struggle here as we were missing a few players but not so. James gets 2 hat-tricks in as many games...........

--

Dagenham & Redbridge 4 (Murphy 1, 45, 65, Howell 82)

Hartlepool United 2 (Bennett 5, Sweeney 58)

Dagenham move up to 3rd with this win but they only had 5 shots on goal so I am naturally ****** off that we conceded 4!!!!

--

Hartlepool United 3 (Wright og20, Sweeney 41, James 54)

Morecambe 1 (Maclaren 21)

Thats 2012 over with and we end it with a whopping 19pt lead!!!!

--

LINEUPS
OPP
RES
GK
RB
CB
CB
LB
CM
CM
AMR
AML
AMC
ST
SUBS
Car
2-0
Flinders
Clarke
Addo
Fry*
Holden
Walton
Miller
Franks
Monkhouse
Sweeney
Poole
Rowbotham, Compton
Newp
2-0
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett*
James
-
Exe
0-2
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Songo'o, Miller
Fleet
4-1
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James* 3
Songo'o
Chel
6-2
Flinders
Songo'o
Baldwin
Thorpe
Clarke
Walton
Miller
Franks
Compton
Sweeney 2
James* 3
Addo, Fry, Poole
D&R
2-4
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Bennett
Monkhouse
Sweeney
James
Songo'o
More
3-1
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Songo'o*
Holden
Miller
Davies
Bennett
Monkhouse
Sweeney
James
Poole, Walton

--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
LUKE JAMES

View attachment 377213
(I originally picked Sweeney lol)

--
images


SUMMARY

Two defeats during the month was disappointing but overall we did well this month, including progression in the FA Cup where we will play Championship side Huddersfield. The league was over a long time ago and it is just a matter of time before I win Hartlepool their first trophy!!!

Next month will be hectic. My squad is clearly too good for this level but I am going to have to plan for League 1, be it pre-contract deals or immediate ones. Will my parent side Arsenal send me anyone? Food for thought indeed!!!!!!

View attachment 377214
 
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images


JANUARY

Scunthorpe United 1 (Iwelumo 47)
Hartlepool United 0

One of those days...........

--

FA Cup 3rd Round
Hartlepool United 2 (James 4, 29)
Huddersfield Town 0

WHAT A WIN!!! Sure they are struggling in the Championship but we were excellent here and even had a goal disallowed.


--

Hartlepool United 2 (Thorpe 38, McGurk og40)

Burton Albion 0

--

Southend United 1 (Reid 53)
Hartlepool United 1 (Songo'o 65)

--

Hartlepool United 2 (Hetherington 77, James 90)

Northampton Town 0

We left it late but got the points which is the main thing.

--

FA Cup 4th Round

Sheffield Wednesday 2 (Nuhiu 25, Vassell 90+1)
Hartlepool United 2 (James 45, Sandaza 90)

HEARTBREAK!!!! Wednesday are 6th in the Championship so when Sandaza came off the bench to score on his debut I yelped with delight but before I could do anything they levelled.


--

LINEUPS
OPP
RES
GK
RB
CB
CB
LB
CM
CM
AMR
AML
AMC
ST
SUBS
Scun0-1FlindersClarkeAddoThorpeFryWaltonAmenkuFranksComptonHetheringtonPooleRowbotham, Howard
Hud2-0FlindersClarkeBaldwinThorpeHoldenWaltonDaviesFranksMonkhouse
BennettJames* 2-
Burt2-0FlindersClarkeBaldwinThorpe*
HoldenHetheringtonDaviesFranksMonkhouseBennettJamesWalton
South1-1FlindersClarkeBaldwinSongo'oHoldenMiller
Davies
Franks
Compton
BennettJamesMonkhouse, Poole, Walton
North2-0
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Compton
Sheff Wed2-2
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Sandaza

--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
JACK BALDWIN
View attachment 377329

--

SUMMARY


This month was one of mixed emotions from the defeat to Scunthorpe to the victory over Huddersfield and then the cup draw against Sheffield Wednesday. Our cup run has been great and if we get past Sheff Wed we will play Spurs so that will be where our run ends!!!!

I did do a few deals in the transfer market. Eric Addo left to join Gillingham for a whopping £500!!! Steve Howard left on a free to join Dagenham & Redbridge.

Incoming was Francisco Sandaza ona free transfer and Paul Quinn on loan.
View attachment 377336View attachment 377337

I tried and failed on a few players including Aaron McLean, Keith Fahey and Kelvin Etuhu.

View attachment 377340

 
Well done Klippy!
Luke James is on a roll for you!
 
Unlucky on the transfers, Fahey would have been a decent player
 
I love your saves Klippy, keep it up, I'm deffo following!

Just make sure Sandaza doesn't get speaking to any agents ;)
 

images

My boss - Ken Hodcroft

FEBRUARY


AFC Wimbledon 1 (Smith 6)
Hartlepool United 2 (James 64, Monkhouse 86)


Super Sandaza!!! On the hour mark I put him on for Franks and shifted James to the RW and immediately he setup James to score and also assisted the winner too.


--

Plymouth Argyle 0

Hartlepool United 1 (Holden 12)


--

FA Cup 4th Round Replay

Hartlepool United 5 (James 15, 31, 83, Bennett 34, Sweeney 67)
Sheffield Wednesday 3 (Johnson 3, 9, 20)

YEAH BABY!!!!!!! What a comeback this was. To come back and win from 2-0 and 3-1 down against a club 2 divisions higher is a magnificent achievement.


--

FA Cup 5th Round

Hartlepool United 1 (Bennett 82)
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Dawson 5, Bale 50, Soldado 90)


We never had a chance but I am proud we kept it close.

--

Hartlepool United 3 (James 18, Sandaza 30, Monkhouse 54)
Accrington Stanley 1 (Barnett 64)

I was missing a few players here and gave Sandaza his first start (James on RW) and both scored which was nice!!!


--

Hartlepool United 1 (Sandaza 62)

Oxford United 0

This win means we will at least be in the play-offs lol

--

LINEUPS
OPP
RES
GK
RB
CB
CB
LB
CM
CM
AMR
AML
AMC
ST
SUBS
Wim
2-1
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James*
Sandaza, Walton, Quinn
Ply
1-0
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden*
Hetherington
Fahey
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Sandaza, Miller, Poole
Sheff
Wed
5-3
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James* 3
Sandaza, Sweeney
Spurs
1-3
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Quinn
Holden
Hetherington
Fahey
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Songo'o, Sandaza, Davies
Acc
3-1
Flinders
Songo'o
Fry
Thorpe
Holden*
Hetherington
Sweeney
James
Monkhouse
Davies
Sandaza
Walton, Rowbotham
Oxf
1-0
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Fahey
James
Monkhouse
Bennett
Sandaza
Miller

--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
DARREN HOLDEN

View attachment 377392

--

SUMMARY


A fantastic month all round with the highlights being in the FA Cup where we put 5 past Championship side Sheff Wed and performed admirably against Premiership opposition. We also won all 4 league games to open up an amazing 22pt gap!!!!

I managed to get a bit of transfer business done as I finally agreed to sign Keith Fahey on a free transfer. He joined on a 2 year deal and will be key in our League 1 campaign.
View attachment 377396

View attachment 377397
 
images

our old trophy room and cleaner lol

MARCH


Chesterfield 2 (Ryan 72, Doyle 82)
Hartlepool United 3 (Monkhouse 3, Sandaza 15, Thorpe 42)

PROMOTION IS SECURED!!!!!!

Chesterfield sacked their manager immediately afterwards.

--

Hartlepool United 1 (Bennett 53)
Mansfield Town 0
--

Rochdale 4 (Vincenti 3, Done 10, Robertson 39, Fahey og57)
Hartlepool United 1 (Monkhouse 58)

Absolutely pathetic!!! We had won our last 7 league games so I dont know where this result came from.


--

York City 1 (Fyfield 90)

Hartlepool United (Sandaza 44, 89)


This was a routine win...............

.....THAT WON US LEAGUE 2 - OUR FIRST EVER TROPHY!!!!!!!


--

Fleetwood Town 0

Hartlepool United 0

Our first no score draw of the season.

--

LINEUPS
OPP
RES
GK
RB
CB
CB
LB
CM
CM
AMR
AML
AMC
ST
SUBS
Ches
3-2
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Fahey
James
Monkhouse
Bennett
Sandaza
Sweeney, Miller, Davies
Mans
1-0
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe*
Holden
Hetherington
Fahey
James
Monkhouse
Bennett
Sandaza
-
Roch
1-4
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Quinn
Holden
Sweeney
Fahey
James
Monkhouse
Bennett
Sandaza
Poole, Davies, Songo'o
York
2-1
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Fahey
James
Monkhouse
Davies
Sandaza* 2
Quinn, Fry
Fleet
0-0
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin*
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Fahey
James
Monkhouse
Bennett
Sandaza
Davies

--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
ANDY MONKHOUSE
View attachment 377420

--

SUMMARY


CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!

That be all lol as the youth intake was awful.

View attachment 377421


images



 
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Good effort on winning League 2! Jeff must be doing his nut on Soccer Saturday! As always keep up the great work.
 
Good effort on winning League 2! Jeff must be doing his nut on Soccer Saturday! As always keep up the great work.

Imagine if I won the Champions League with a superstar regen from Hartlepool and he mentions the save lol
 
Imagine if I won the Champions League with a superstar regen from Hartlepool and he mentions the save lol


ive just started a hartlepool save also an the only player that has come to me is addo really struggling to find good cm an dc are u using lfc update? also ive sold austin for 325k any tips? an well done on going up :)
 
images


APRIL


Hartlepool United 1 (Quinn 59)
Wycombe Wanderers 0

--

Hartlepool United 1 (Bennett 38)
Portsmouth 1 (Connolly 51)


We failed to extend our lead by another 3pts - not that I am too bothered lol

--

Bristol Rovers 4 (Puri 4, McChrystal 6, McDonald 39, Broghammer 86)
Hartlepool United 2 (Bennett 20, 54)

Meh - disappointed but I am just waiting for the end of the season to come.

--

Torquay United 1 (Ball 65)

Hartlepool United 2 (Bennett 44, James 59)

Torquay are fighting for the play-offs so I am pleased that we managed to win and set a new record points tally in the process.

--

Hartlepool United 2 (Lockwood og3, Bennett 45)
Bury 0

This result meant we were unbeaten at home in the league this season.

--

LINEUPS
OPP
RES
GK
RB
CB
CB
LB
CM
CM
AMR
AML
AMC
ST
SUBS
Wyc
1-0
Flinders
Songo'o
Baldwin
Quinn*
Holden
Miller
Davies
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
Sandaza
Poole, Rowbotham
Port
1-1
Flinders
Quinn
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Fahey
James
Monkhouse
Bennett
Sandaza
Franks, Davies
Bris R
2-4
Flinders
Quinn
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Fahey
James
Monkhouse
Bennett 2
Sandaza
Compton, Clarke
Torq
2-1
Flinders
Quinn
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Fahey
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Clarke, Poole
Bury
2-0
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin*
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Fahey
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Miller

--

PLAYER OF THE MONTH
MASON BENNETT

View attachment 377441
--

SUMMARY


We saw out the season pretty well I suppose by winning 3 out of our final 5 games. I was kinda hoping James would score a few more to take the divisions top scorer award but he fell 3 short - thanks to me chucking him out on the RW the last 2 months!!!!

An end of season post to follow................

 
ive just started a hartlepool save also an the only player that has come to me is addo really struggling to find good cm an dc are u using lfc update? also ive sold austin for 325k any tips? an well done on going up :)

Yeah I am - Mark Doninger is not bad on a free and I got Hetherington. You should be able to get 3 or 4 decent loans into your side. Josh Falkingham is not bad also.
 
yh the players u have will come but i cant afford them on wage but i will look at the players u think thanks m8 an keep up the good work
 
images


END OF SEASON POST


Pretty much a perfect season!!! We won League 2 by a whopping 24pts and had a tremendous run in the FA Cup too. I am a little disappointed we didnt score 100 goals in the league though (4 short) but thats me just being fussy lol

--

FINAL LEAGUE TABLE

View attachment 377487

FIRST TEAM SQUAD

View attachment 377462

PLAYER OF THE SEASON
&
U21 PLAYER OF THE SEASON
MASON BENNETT

View attachment 377463
Lets hope I can strike another deal in the summer!

CLUB NEWS

Jamie Carragher joins as a youth coach
I sign a new 2 year contract
The stadium is now bought
Youth facilities to be upgraded
I win the League 2 manager of the year
Flinders, Holden, Davies, Bennett, James are in the team of the year

OTHER NEWS

Chelsea win the league - Newcastle rock bottom
Spurs win the FA Cup (we got knocked out by them)
Chelsea and Spurs win the two European trophies

PLANS FOR NEXT SEASON


Well I dont know my budgets etc yet but any success will depend on how well I use the loan market. I obviously will try and get Mason Bennett back in and possibly Thorpe also. Hopefully Arsenal will send a few decent ones my way lol

There will be several players leaving so I expect to be extremely busy this summer indeed.

We were pretty much a League 1 side playing in League 2 anyway this season so I would hope to challenge for the play-offs next season - depending on my recruitment..................

 
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