Half term report Hartlepool

Hartlepool United

Preseason the problems were plain to see, Relegation from league one was a bitter pill to swallow for a team which failed to get into the Championship at the last hurdle in Cardiff the previous May. Injuries and a lack of goals had cost them dear with 50 points not been enough. Only 44 goals been scored in there 46 games with only 11 wins all season.

However with a new manager in Danny Wilson it was thought he would be good enough to stop the rot and prove last season was a one off. Except for a couple of noticable departures the squad was kept together so I predicted the following...

"Prediction Squad is still fairly strong and as long as losing isn`t a habit carried into next season they should be at the right end of the table, the reported 500k they got for Boyd means that a late raid into the transfer market is a possibility I expect them to be in the play off hunt."

However no league wins in August left them struggling at the wrong end of the table as that losing streak had become a habit. However that habit was finally broken and they slowly started to climb the table, that creeping became a charge as they strung together seven straight wins to push them up into the play off positions. At the moment Hartlepool are the team with the momentum and if it continues then the top three will be looking over there shoulders.

I can`t see anything else but Hartlepool been in the mix come April. Whether it is automatic promotion or play offs will depend on a number of factors. Firstly what happens in the transfer window, not only to the Pools but also there close rivals. Secondly how long will the momentum last and how will they react to defeat when and if it comes.

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