Hartlepool Preview

Later today our pre-season will come to a close with a match away at league 2 side Hartlepool. The squad is looking pretty bare after the sale of Darikwa. However, utility man Drew Talbot has returned from injury and is in the best shape he's ever been in according to chief exec Chris Turner, so whether he will play RB or as a midfielder is yet to be decided. If it was up to me, this would be my line up for today's game:

GK: Cairns
LB: Jonesy
CB: Evatt
CB: Hird
RB: Talbot
CDM: Morsy
CDM: Wigun
LM: Ariyibi
RM: Oshea
CF: Blake
ST: Gnanduillet

Hartlepool had a poor season in League Two last year. They finished 22nd in the league, only one place above releagation. They also had next to no wins in the cup competitions. In the FA cup, they beat non-league side East Thurrock United in the first round, and were then knocked out by other non-league side Blyth Spartans in the second round. In the league cup, they were thrashed 6-2 by league one side Port Vale in the first round. In the Johnstone's Paint trophy they were knocked out by Sheff Utd in the first round. Also, they were defeated 4-0 by league one side Scunthorpe United in a friendly in July, and they then lost 5-3 to non-league side Gateshead that same week. So we should be able to pick up a comfortable win and go into the new season full of confidence.

Main Threat: Rakish Bingham



Former Mansfield man (hopefully our players won't catch anything) Rakish Bangham is a tall, skillful young player who can be a pain for defenses to deal with, and is definitely one for the future. He spent last season at Mansfield, and notched six goals in fifteen appearances in League Two. Hartlepool got him on a free transfer in July, after he spent a short loan spell at Hartlepool last season. He is mainly a center-forward and can also play as a left-wing, and he is in the starting line up for Hartlepool today. He is in great form at the moment. having scored six goals already in Hartlepool's pre-season friendlies, so he is probably their most likely goal threat for today's friendly.