COLUMN: What is Hartlepool United's strongest line-up? Dominic Scurr, Dave Challinor and Pools fans discuss the options after 10 games

Ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Barnet, Dave Challinor has made no fewer than 23 changes to Pools’ starting line-up.

With a squad of 22 players including 14 new arrivals, deciding the best XI requires patience and analysis of every player in a competitive setting.

A best XI is largely subjective and could vary significantly depending on a range of factors such as fitness, formation and opposition.

People can look at it realistically with players who are likely to play and start regularly or hypothetically were selection is based purely on a player’s ability when fully-fit and in form.

Hypothetically, a player like Luke Williams would start every game but, as we all know, that's not realistic.

Here, we will discuss the subject with Challinor and Pools fans to gauge the feelings on the side’s strongest XI at this admittedly early stage of the season.

Squad rotation

In the opening 10 games, every member of the Hartlepool squad (with the exception of youngster Adam Campbell) has started at least one match.

During that time, Challinor has named just one completely unchanged line-up.

Following a 1-1 draw at home to Altrincham, Pools named the exact same XI against Torquay United that following weekend.

The match at Victoria Park ultimately ended in disaster as Torquay strolled to a 5-0 victory, inflicting Pools’ heaviest ever National League defeat. Unsurprisingly, six changes were made for the game that followed at Salford City.

Only three Hartlepool players have started every game so far this season; Lewis Cass, David Ferguson and Nicky Featherstone. In the case of Cass and Ferguson, this is largely due to a lack of direct competition in the full-back positions.

Featherstone has started every single game since Challinor took charge of Pools just over 12 months ago despite stiff competition in midfield.

Because of this, it’s difficult not to name Cass, Ferguson and Featherstone in Pools’ strongest XI as they’re essentially the first names on the teamsheet.

What supporters say

The question of Pools’ strongest XI was put to supporters on social media earlier this week – their reaction was interesting.

In goal, there was a clear preference towards Henrich Ravas over Ben Killip with fans almost unanimously choosing the Derby County loanee as their number 1.

Neither goalkeeper has put a foot wrong this season. Killip has been a hero with a late penalty save against Altrincham and several solid displays but it hasn’t been enough to sway some Pools fans who are perhaps still struggling to move on from his inconsistent form last season.

Another obvious omission was that of club captain Ryan Donaldson. The versatile midfielder has started every league match under Challinor yet supporters seem unconvinced, with very few selecting him,

Josh MacDonald, who is yet to play a single minute for Pools in the National League this season, or Claudio Ofosu were often preferred over Donaldson.

In defence, a long-term injury to Gary Liddle, by far Pools’ most experienced and arguably best defender, sees him absent from a lot of people’s line-ups.

The preferred back four from supporters is Cass, Ferguson, Tyler Magloire and Timi Odusina – a defensive line that is yet to be tried in the opening 10 games.

In midfield, top scorer Gavan Holohan was an obvious choice alongside Featherstone but there’s a clear dilemma over Tom Crawford and Mark Shelton as to who completes the midfield three.

Shelton would have been in most people’s strongest XI at the start of the season but he hasn’t really hit the heights of last season’s loan spell this time out. Tom Crawford has hardly been spectacular but is getting the nod at the moment.

Luke Molyneux was the only attacking player who was regularly named, but a clear dilemma over who would lead the line emerged.

Following Rhys Oates’ fine display at Yeovil Town, supporters seemed torn whether to choose him or Mason Bloomfield as the side’s lone-striker. Neither had scored a league goal so far this season.

What Challinor says

Challinor admitted it is difficult to know his strongest side at this stage in the season.

"Sometimes you can overthink things and looking at the last couple of games you can say we’ve been beaten against Wrexham then only made one change for Yeovil,” he told The Mail.

“You’ve got to respect what you come against and our younger players, unreliable is the wrong word but sometimes their performances can be up and down and a lot of the time it’s probably prevalent to be a bit safer and go with players where we know what we’re going to get from them."

This explains why someone like Donaldson is preferred over Ofosu or MacDonald.

“We’re a young group with some experienced lads in there who know the game,” Challinor added.

“There are always places up for grabs. Picking a team hasn’t been easy for the past couple of games if I’m being honest.

"We’ve gone back and fourth as a management team in terms of the team we could pick but thankfully the team we went with on Saturday got us a positive result.

"At the moment that has to be our strongest line-up, but it can soon change.”

Verdict

Challinor makes a valid point – your best team is the one that won your previous game and you shouldn’t change a winning formula.

In that respect, Pools’ best XI is fluid and will change over the course of the season and ultimately the whole squad is more important than any one line-up.

But no starting line-up has been given a consistent run of matches so far this season, whether that be due to injuries or a loss of form.

Taking everything into account, Pools' strongest XI at this stage of the season must include Ferguson, Cass, Featherstone, Holohan and Molyneux – the other six positions are still up for grabs.

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