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

Klippybo

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KRIS STUART APPOINTED HARTLEPOOL UNITED MANAGER


After leading their side to relegation to League 2 last season John Hughes was dismissed. Colin Cooper was appointed but after an argument over budgets and expectations he too left and in comes the unknown Kris Stuart...............

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THE CLUB

Founded - 1908
Stadium - Victoria Park (capacity 7,856)
Nicknames - Pools or the Monkey Hangers
Trophies Won - NONE!!!!!
Previous Managers Include - Brian Clough, Danny Wilson, Mike Newell, Neale Cooper
Famous Fans - Jeff Stelling, Ed Sheeran, Meat Loaf, Peter Mandelson, Ridley Scott


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Z


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(I thought it was about time I tried some lower league management. Bored of the big teams, and I have my PTP save for that anyway. Need an enjoyable challenge and I hope this will be it! I was going to go Portsmouth but some peeps are currently storying with them already and then I thought about Crewe but I have plumped for these lot.)


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PRE-SEASON


So here I go into the relative unknown. While going through my squad I noticed that we have some gems in there. Scott Flinders is a decent keeper, Darren Holden a promising full back, Jack Baldwin a promising CB and most of all Luke James who will be key for us. All have signed new deals!!!
View attachment 376883View attachment 376884View attachment 376885View attachment 376886

They are all going to be key if we are to get promotion. James has already come to me about wanting a move to a bigger club and I have promised him promotion....................

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PLAYERS IN


I have money to spend (£280K) but I havent spent a penny so far as every penny is a prisoner!!! I was delighted to get Derby teenager Mason Bennett on loan and he will be my AMC. My other loan signing was Tom Thorpe from Man Utd and he will be one of my two CBs for now.
View attachment 376887View attachment 376888

Steven Hetherington
came in from Rangers on a free, while Jordan Clarke came in from Coventry and they will be first choice picks.
View attachment 376889View attachment 376890

These 3 will all have to fight for a place.
View attachment 376891View attachment 376892View attachment 376894

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PLAYERS OUT


Well I am in no position to sell any of my assets so there hasnt been a lot of departures! I released one guy and loaned out 2 others.

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OTHER NEWS


We get Arsenal as a parent club and Lincoln City as a feeder club
We appoint a rather attractive female physio!
Paul Hardyman leaves Portsmouth to become my new assistant manager
(Craig Hignett is the assistant in real life but is not in the game)

 
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AUGUST


Capital One Cup 1st Round

Walsall 3 (Williams 43, Jones 48, Featherstone 82)
Hartlepool United 5 (Hetherington 12, Sweeney 36, James 59, 105, Thorpe 111)
AET

5 goals away from home against a side a league above us - a great start!!!

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Newport County 0
Hartlepool United 2 (Hetherington 55, James 79)

They are newly promoted and we are newly relegated so I expected victory.

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Hartlepool United 2 (Monkhouse 55, James 71)
Exeter City 0

Exeter are predicted to finish 2nd so this could be a vital victory.

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Cheltenham Town 1 (Cureton 5)

Hartlepool United 1 (James 62)

We played well enough to win but we couldnt find the winning goal.

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Capital One Cup 2nd Round

Norwich City 5 (Redmond 17, Fer 35, van Wolfswinkel 38, Dorrans 49, Hooper 90)
Hartlepool United 0

We never had any chance here although our goalie getting a rating of 3.6 didnt help!!!!

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LINEUPS
OPP
RES
GK
RB
CB
CB
LB
CM
CM
AMR
AML
AMC
ST
SUBS
Wal
5-3
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
WaltonHetherington
Franks
Compton
Sweeney
James* 2
Austin, Monkhouse, Amenku
Newp
2-0
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden*
Sweeney
Hetherington
Franks
Compton
Bennett
James
Fry, Amenku, Poole
Exe
2-0
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Sweeney
Walton
Franks
Monkhouse*
Bennett
James
Amenku, Poole
Chel
1-1
Flinders
Fry
Baldwin
Thorpe
Hoden
Sweeney
Miller
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Poole
Nor
0-5
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Sweeney
Walton
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Amenku, Poole


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PLAYER OF THE MONTH
LUKE JAMES
View attachment 376962

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SUMMARY


Overall I have got to be happy with how my team has played. We are unbeaten in the league and despite getting thumped by Norwich in the cup, we put 5 past a side in a higher division than us the round before.

I had a couple more dealings in the transfer market too as you would expect. Club icon Tommy Miller came in on a free and I also brought in Ghana international Eric Addo on a similar deal.
View attachment 376975View attachment 376976

In on loan came Ben Davies from Derby and Yann Songo'o from Blackburn Rovers.
View attachment 376978View attachment 376979

Outgoing was Neil Austin to Yeovil for £220K as I felt at the age of 29 it was time to cash in on him and 35y/o Sam Collins left to join Mansfield on a free.

View attachment 376984

 
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great start as always, looking forward to see how you develop Luke James
 
Looking forward to read how you get on with the Monkey Hangers, are u using ur Bilbao tactic?
 
Looking forward to the rest of the story, good luck buddy.
 
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SEPTEMBER

Hartlepool United 2 (Franks 34, Songo'o 62)
Dagenham & Redbridge 0

A nice win which included a debut goal from Songo'o


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Johnstone's Paint Trophy North 1st Round

Notts County 0
Hartlepool United 1 (Bennett 90)

Another League 1 side is beaten in the cup by us. Bennett also had one disallowed.

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Morecambe 1 (Fowler 26)

Hartlepool United 4 (Poole 6, 48, Davies 45pen, Songo'o 76)

Magnificent win and performance. Their goalscorer was a certain Robbie Fowler!!!

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Hartlepool United 6 (Bennett 12, 68, Thorpe 27, Howard 29, Baldwin 58, Sweeney 88)

Scunthorpe United 3 (Iwelumo 56, Burton 81, Walker 86)

Jeezo - we should be in the Champions League lol

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Burton Albion 0

Hartlepool United 3 (Bennett 18, James 47, 80)

Another great performance and victory and we are scoring for fun with Luke James returning to the side and helping himself to a double.

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Hartlepool United 2 (Davies 32, Franks 44)
Southend United 0

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Hartlepool United 3 (Monkhouse 2, James 15, Walton 39pen)

AFC Wimbledon 1 (Midson 12)

This win moves us 9pts clear although Portsmouth have 2 games in hand.

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Northampton Town 2 (Hackett 8, Carter 51)

Hartlepool United 3 (Bennett 24, James 43, 85)

This win was rather more hard fought than the previous ones which made it no less sweeter.

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LINEUPS
OPP
RES
GK
RB
CB
CB
LB
CM
CM
AMR
AML
AMC
ST
SUBS
D&R
2-0
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Songo'o*
Holden
Miller
Sweeney
Franks
Compton
Davies
James
Monkhouse, Addo
Notts
1-0
Flinders
Clarke
Addo
Thorpe
Fry
Davies
Walton
Franks
Compton
Bennett*
Howard
-
Mor
4-1
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Davies*
Sweeney
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
Poole 2Songo'o, Compton
Scun
6-3
Flinders
Songo'o
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Walton
Sweeney
Davies
Monkhouse
Bennett* 2
Howard
-
Bur A
3-0
Flinders
Songo'o
Baldwin
Fry
Holden
Davies
Sweeney
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James* 2
Clarke, Poole
South
2-0
Flinders
Clarke
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden*
Davies
Walton
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Addo, Compton, Songo'o
Wim
3-1
Flinders
Clarke
Songo'o
Thorpe
Holden
Walton
Sweeney
Franks
Monkhouse
Davies*
James
Poole, Addo
North
3-2
Flinders
Songo'o
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Walton
Davies
Franks
Monkhouse
Bennett
James* 2
Hetherington, Compton

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PLAYER OF THE MONTH
MASON BENNETT
View attachment 377047

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SUMMARY


This month was just stupid. We won all 8 games, scored 24 and generally played brilliantly. Luke James, Mason Bennett and Ben Davies are obviously too good for this level and although we conceded a few everything is going well.

I am however not used to having to chop and change my side so often. My players fitness levels arent quite up to scratch but I am not allowed a fitness coach so there is not much I can do!!

On a sour note we have been drawn away to Sheffield United in the next round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.


View attachment 377049
 
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Looking good, should get promotion in the first season. Try and get Ralls on loan, I did a career with Northampton and he ended up being the player of the season.
 
Looking forward to read how you get on with the Monkey Hangers, are u using ur Bilbao tactic?

Yeah. As always!!! lol.

To be fair I almost signed Ebanks-Blake on a free transfer which would have meant a change
 
Yeah. As always!!! lol.

To be fair I almost signed Ebanks-Blake on a free transfer which would have meant a change

Thinking of starting with the 'pool. Is the team suitable for a 442? What kind of striker is James? DLF?
 
Thinking of starting with the 'pool. Is the team suitable for a 442? What kind of striker is James? DLF?

Advanced forward but I play him as a poacher.

4-4-2 would work as you have 2 pairs of decent wingers but you need to strengthen CM and CB for sure
 
Good stuff Klippy. Only you would say you deserve to be in the CL when you beat SCUNTHORPE 6-3 :D
 
Nice start here Klippy, I had a Hartlepool save last year and Luke James was pretty good all the way until the Prem where he became more of a squad player. I even think I signed Shola Ameobi in the Championship, although that was probably just to stop him scoring against Sunderland! XD Anyway keep up the good work, I think you'll make the Premier League in 4 season, 5 at the max!
 
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OCTOBER

Accrington Stanley 0
Hartlepool United 2 (Monkhouse 35, James 70)


We had Holden sent-off just before we scored so this was a very impressive victory.

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Oxford United 1 (Kitson 60)

Hartlepool United 4 (Sweeney 47, Poole 52, 56, 81)


I rested Bennett and James for this game but it made no difference as James Poole came into the side and notched a hat-trick. I was surprised to see Dave Kitson playing down at this level.


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Johnstone's Paint Trophy North 2nd Round
Sheffield United 3 (Taylor 31, 73, Brandy 48)
Hartlepool United 1 (Compton 86)

This game would have been hard enough with my strongest side out so there is no shame here.


--

Hartlepool United 1 (Bennett 88)

Plymouth Argyle 1 (Hourihane 84)

Our winning streak comes to an end but I am happy with a point considering we fell behind so late. Luke James missed a penalty though.


--

Hartlepool United 2 (Bennett 45, James 51)
Chesterfield 0


Back to winning ways here thankfully.

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Mansfield Town 2 (Palmer 58, Jones 72)

Hartlepool United 5 (Bennett 1, 10, 18pen, James 38, 70)

WOW!!! I have said before that Bennett and James are far too good for this level and they proved it again here.


--

Hartlepool United 3 (Bennett 43, Monkhouse 60, Sweeney 72)
Rochdale 1 (Harris 83)

A nice way to wrap up the month.

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LINEUPS
OPP
RES
GK
RB
CB
CB
LB
CM
CM
AMR
AML
AMC
ST
SUBS
Acc
2-0
Flinders
Songo'o*
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Poole
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Sweeney, Compton
Oxf
4-1
Flinders
Walton
Baldwin
Thorpe
Fry
Hetherington
Sweeney
Franks
Monkhouse
Davies
Poole* 3
Addo, Miller
Shef U
1-3
Flinders
Songo'o
Fry
Addo
Holden
Walton
Miller
Franks
Compton
Sweeney
Poole
Howard, Amenku
Plym
1-1
Flinders
Fry
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Poole
Monkhouse
Bennett*
James
-
Ches
2-0
Flinders
Songo'o
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Poole
Monkhouse
Bennett
James*
Sweeney
Mans
5-2
Flinders
Songo'o
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Davies
Poole
Monkhouse
Bennett* 3
James 2
Sweeney
Roch
3-1
Flinders
Songo'o
Baldwin
Thorpe
Holden
Hetherington
Sweeney*
Poole
Monkhouse
Bennett
James
Fry, Amenku

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PLAYER OF THE MONTH
MASON BENNETT
View attachment 377087

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SUMMARY


We keep ploughing on!!! Already it looks as though League 2 is sewn up and with the possibility of strengthening my squad in January I will be seriously ****** off if we didnt win the title - and our first trophy!!!

Off the field the club has agreed to buy our stadium so whether that will affect my budgets in the near future remains to be seen.

View attachment 377089
 
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Your gunna have a nice week off aint ya Hartlepool managing galore
 
very well done how many storys have you got going at the mo?
 
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