Pete Wild verdict on new Hartlepool United signings - and how Sam Lavelle will help Reiss McNally
Pete Wild verdict on new Hartlepool United signings.
Pete Wild has outlined what he wants from his trio of new signings since taking charge at Hartlepool United.
Following on from the signing of attacking midfielder Jack Earing on loan from Barrow and defender Max Clark, Pools this week added central defender Sam Lavelle to the squad on a short-term deal. The experienced 30-year-old arrives from League Two side Grimsby Town and has spent his entire senior career in the Football League with more than 300 professional appearances to date for the likes of Morecambe, Charlton Athletic, Carlisle United & Grimsby Town.
Wild told BBC Tees Sport: “I thought the dressing room needed some more leaders in it. I think they needed some more talkers on the pitch and as I said to you all on Tuesday night, the market that you're fishing in at the moment is a tough one because unless you're going to pay money for players, you're not going to get the player that's playing every week and is the ready-made article.
Join the Mail’s WhatsApp HUFC Channel for the latest news, analysis and injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join.
“You're getting the ones that are not getting what they want at their parent clubs. So knowing the level and knowing the types of players that I'm bringing in, it's quite easy for me to go, I'll go and get him from him because I know they'll give me X, Y and Z. So having the three of them in the building, I think we don't really have a real proper 10 in the building. I worked with Jack before, I thought that would help that, not getting what he needs at Barrow and Jack's a League Two player at the very least when he's playing, so I thought that would help.
“And then Max Clark and Sam Lavelle, experienced talkers - not just on the pitch, off the pitch, get a grip of the dressing room, get a grip of people, guide people on the pitch. It might take a couple of weeks to get really to the standard that I know they can play at. But ultimately, I think they are real two important people off the pitch and on the pitch.”
On Lavelle, the latest signing, an experienced centre-back, Wild added: “Proper centre-back. Head it, kick it, defend. Good in both boxes. Organising. I was talking to Reiss [McNally] and obviously I've not seen Max [Kouogun] and Liam [Gibson], I haven't really seen them since we've been here. I think he'll make Reiss a better player by allowing Reiss to do what he's really good at. I think he has been doing a job and a half, that's probably why he's on four yellow cards, because he's been doing a job and a half. So it allows him to get back to doing what he's good at.
“And then when Liam and Max come back into contention, we've got some real competition there and that's what it should be about - proper players and proper competition, going up against each other and making the best moment.”
Max Kouogun, who has been out with ligament damage, has returned to full training but the weekend visit of Marine will come too soon for him.
Your next Hartlepool United read: Marine chief assesses 'huge' Hartlepool United FA Cup tie and reveals Sheffield Wednesday dream