Hi everyone and welcome back to the north of England and to Hartlepool United. After last season’s brilliant league form Hartlepool were about to have their first ever venture into Europe in the Europa League cup competition but before any of that I need to bring in some fresh faces that were going to take Hartlepool to the next step and get rid of the players that were just not going to feature.
OUTS
A total 7 players left generating another £7.5 million to the clubs kitty. The most noticeable transfers were probably Joe Cole, Stiliyan Petrov and Ben Watson these where all decent players but I just feel that some are getting on a bit and I need to bring in some younger players.
INS
11 players arrived at Victoria Park over the course of the summer and I spend nearly the entire original transfer budget but there was still a bit left it I ever feel I find a talented youngster that I could bring to the club when the January transfer window opens.
LEE HODSON £1.9m from Man City
VACLAV KADLEC £9.25 from Chelsea
RICKY VAN WOLKSWINKEL free transfer
HICHAM ABDELLAOUI free transfer
TAUFIC GUARCH free transfer
GABRIEL TORJE £3m from Aston Villa
JONJO SHELVEY free transfer
SLOBODAN RAJKOVIC £5.5m from Porto
RYAN BABEL £2m from Aston Villa
AMEUR SASSI season long loan
JOE MATTOCK £5m from Mackems
PRE-SEASON RESULTS
Quiet a poor pre-season in all honesty but I’m sure and hope that this will not reflect on my teams performances this season. Now that pre-season was over I couldn’t wait for the season to get going and see how my new players perform and more important to see what we could win this season.
Thanks for reading
Warren
Darren Smith
3 марта, 2011 at 20:36
Hey Warren
Some very good signings in my opinion and you’ve strengthened well. Looking towards the future is important now and you have used your good transfer budget well. At least three of four of those players could be first team footballers as your team grows for the next three or four seasons. Great stuff mate…I’m intrigued to see how Shelvey develops.
warren
4 марта, 2011 at 11:03
Hi Darren
This was a really important summer as this was the summer that I was going to go for the players that will hopefully stay in my squad for a few years and not just be there as back for 12 months ie Petrov. The younger signings are the ones I am looking forward to seeing and I hope that they can push Hartlepool to the next level
Davewig1980
3 марта, 2011 at 20:37
Impressive signings there Warren and at very reasonable prices too!
warren
4 марта, 2011 at 11:04
Thanks Dave
I am placed with the cheapness of some of the players I have brought in especially Shelvey and van Wolfswinkel
Sears
3 марта, 2011 at 20:55
You heavily strengthened your team Warren. Mattock and Hodson are good full backs, Kadlec is amazing and Shelvey is a great center midfielder. Looking forward to the new season, good luck!
warren
4 марта, 2011 at 11:06
I did have Hodson on loan a few season’s back and I was very impressed with him and hopefully he can give some competition with Naughton now that Silvio has left. Mattock is only one that should have a bright future. Kadlec is always a player I look to sign and Im so glad he is here.
Laxeyman
3 марта, 2011 at 21:55
Some good young players brought in, Kadlec is a quality player, and I reckon that Hodson will be a very solid defender for you. Looking forward to your season, hopefully you can compete for a Champions League place. Good luck!
warren
4 марта, 2011 at 11:08
Thanks Laxeyman
Kadlec will hopefully be the driving force this season and with a few options of who to play up top with him its a nice problem for me to have. As for Hodson I am looking forward to seeing how he progresses and if it doesn’t work out then I haven’t really paid too much for him.
Josh Allen
4 марта, 2011 at 00:09
Hey Warren,
Some amazing signings here. Jonjo Shelvey on a free is a highlight, and Kadlec will really work for you
Josh
everythingthatisfm.blogspot.com
warren
4 марта, 2011 at 11:11
Hi Josh
I was particuarly pleased with the Shelvey deal as I noticed he was going to be out of contact towards the end of last season but when I offered him a contact he wanted 60 grand a week which was too much but now I have got him he is on about a third of that.
kevin
4 марта, 2011 at 00:30
Hi warren
You’ve appeared to have assembled a very powerful strike force with some good strength in the middle and the back line as well. Good luck for the new season!
warren
4 марта, 2011 at 11:13
Hi Kevin
I do have a lot of depth up front but they were all inexpensive signings and any of them could walk into the starting XI. With Ekdal, Shelvey and N’Diaye my central defenders I have a lot of quality and hopefully I can challenge for a Champo League place this season.
CsAtlantis
4 марта, 2011 at 02:01
Some nice moves in the transfer market, you spent a lot but got rid of most of your old players and replaced them with younger players, i particularly like the signing of Ricky Wan Wolfswinkel on a free, excellant striker
warren
4 марта, 2011 at 11:15
Hi CsAtlantis
That was always going to be the aim this season is to spend most of the money we have on young (hopefully cheap) players that have not yet reached there potential and get rid of the over-paid, over the hill players that were clogging the wage bill. I am very pleased with the signings we have made this summer.
Birdy
4 марта, 2011 at 05:37
Very Nice Warren and good luck for the season. Guarch turns out into an awesome player nice signing
warren
4 марта, 2011 at 11:28
Hi Birdy
Thanks I really do hope we have a good season and Guarch seems to be turning a few heads already and hopefully I can keep him at the club and build for the future.
Wazz
4 марта, 2011 at 11:14
Your best signing is Vaclav Kadlec. He’ll do really well for the club. Great transfers! Good luck mate.
warren
4 марта, 2011 at 11:31
Hi Wazz
I was chuffed to bits when Kadlec signed and I hope that he can have a similar if not better season than what Campbell and Adebayor had last season.
Johnny Karp
4 марта, 2011 at 12:50
Good job Warren, this time I like all of your new signings! Shelvey will surely be an essential player in midfield, Torje has the talent to do real damage on the right wing while Kadlec will surely bag quite a few goals this season. I feel that you’re heading towards a memorable season with some silverware at the end of it ;) Best of luck!
warren
6 марта, 2011 at 12:22
Hi Johnny
I was really thrilled with what we were able to bring in and the number of quality players that where brought in on free transfers. Kadlec I’m sure will have a brilliant season and get the goals that will hopefully move us up the league table.
Ana Garcia
5 марта, 2011 at 14:36
Really good signings, well done!
All look like they could fit straight into your team and you already look like you have a stronger team which you will need for your games in Europe.
Hope they can all settle quickly and the best of luck on the new season!
warren
6 марта, 2011 at 12:25
Thanks Ana
I think that most of my players are able to walk straight into the starting XI and that can only be a good thing as it will create a lot of competition and if someone is out of form then I can replace that player with someone who is equally as good. The squad is much stronger and I hope we are able to have a good run in Europe.
Mark
2 апреля, 2011 at 14:00
I actully live in Hartlepool and you have made me very proud!