By Charlie Summerbell
December 27 2012

As the season turns the corner into 2013, Hartlepool United are already relegated and whatever the rights and wrongs of what has become their certain fate, it's time to start getting ready for League Two.

You can put forward as many theories as you like for the reason why they have suddenly become so bad – after all, they were a lot better than this a year ago, and even then they were only average.

But their latest defeat, their 22^nd on the trot, rammed home the fact that Pools are at rock bottom and badly need a squad makeover. Carlisle are a below average League One side, yet their 3-0 win didn’t flatter them. Ending the year at Sheffield United on Saturday looks a bleak prospect.

New boss John  Hughes is trying hard to stop the rot, and it’s important he does because while relegation is inevitable, it’s important they go into next season with something to build on. If this losing streak continues right through until the inevitable happens, there will be a grave danger that the slump will continue in League Two.

The pattern Hughes is trying to bring to Pools was there early on at Brunton Park, but once ex-Pools man Matty Robson forced Sam Collins into an own goal and scored another himself, it was all over.

"We were comfortable then found ourselves two down,” Hughes told the Northern Echo. “I felt in the first half the spirit was good and we started well, it just wouldn't go for us to get a goal.

"I feel for them, I really do. We are fragile and can see bits and pieces of trepidation in our game. I've tried to give them confidence and have had a good response.

"I sit back, look at it and I am with them all the way to come up with a system and team selection to give them a lift and a chance of winning games.

"At this moment, I'm trying to give them some freedom to go out and play.

"Commitment and effort were there, but bits and pieces in the second half when we were chasing the game weren't there.''

Basically, Pools are not good enough and it’s time for the players to stand up and be counted. Just to halt the slide will need guts and determination.

Is there enough of either in the squad?

Lee Miller got Carlisle’s third, made by Robson, leaving fans to ask: Carlisle might be a better team, but if you look at the two teams player-by-player, are they really three goals better than Pools?