Vic - looks good

By Charlie Summerbell
May 25 2010

The pitch at Victoria Park is making good progress in it's annual makeover - but so far the club is saying little about any makeover of the squad. Chris Turner has signed reserve keeper Andy Rafferty and it's also alleged that he is chasing Stockport left-back Michael Rose, a player he tried and failed to sign a year ago. But otherwise, it's all quiet on the player front.  And the signs are that it could stay that way. A year ago, Pools were extremely busy during the close-season, Turner signing virtually a whole new team, but there’s no chance of a repeat of that.
More players are still on contract than a year ago, the quality of the squad is better, despite their poor final position in League One, and after finishing bottom of the attendance table, there’s not exactly a lot of cash about.
Turner has made room in the squad, and scope in the wage bill, for additions by freeing seven players … and more could follow out of the exit door if negotiations over contracts are successful.
With the season over and the great escape achieved, one of the main topics at Pools is whether they will be successful in their attempt to have the three-point deduction imposed by the Football League for Liddlegate. But this is a bit of a sideshow now, the argument over details and the background more a case of pride (or should that be ego?) than the game’s rules and regulations.
But some fans are no doubt arguing over where Pools need some added strength.
Rose is a left-back, but the defence otherwise doesn’t look bad at all.
Scott Flinders is a good keeper, right-back Neil Austin was rightly player of the season and Gary Liddle and Sam Collins form a good central partnership.In midfield it’s a mixed bag – Joe Gamble adds authority, Richie Humphreys had a good season, Andy Monkhouse was better and Leon McSweeney is a good squad player, but Richie Jones has gone and Antony Sweeney didn’t have his best season.
It’s the same old problem up front – a shortage of goals.
Joel Porter is badly missed, Adam Boyd has not rediscovered the form that made him a £500,000 player, Denis Behan was hit by injuries, and Roy O’Donovan is not a Pools player.

But if Turner can turn his loan from Sunderland into a permanent deal by persuading him to stay in the North East, it could turn out to be the best signing he has ever made at the Vic.