Verdict: How does Hartlepool United's current squad compare to the side that finished 12th in the National League last season?

Macauley Southam-Hales and Mark Kitching were snapped up by Stockport County after playing a key role in Pools’ surge into play-off contention toward the back end of last season.

The side ultimately finished the season in 12th but had lost just four league matches under Dave Challinor, leaving plenty to be optimistic about going into the new season.

Despite significant budget cuts, the Pools boss was still able to assemble an ample squad of players – but is it an improvement on last season?

Here is Dominic Scurr’s verdict...

Goalkeepers

The one area Pools have seen a clear and obvious improvement this season has been in between the sticks with Henrich Ravas and Ben Killip.

Last season was a mess as the club struggled to fill the void left by Scott Loach’s departure to Barnet.

Killip was struggling for consistency as the new number one and Pools were scrambling around for ways to rectify their issues in goal.

The loan signing of Zach Hemming from Middlesbrough proved unsuccessful as the youngster was recalled without playing a game.

Club legend Dimi Konstantopoulos was then handed an opportunity 14-years after leaving Pools but it was ultimately short-lived following a disastrous FA Trophy defeat at Harrogate Town.

Things started to get desperate as former Chelsea youth goalkeeper Mitch Beeney signed non-contract terms and quickly got a run in the side before Killip returned to the starting line-up once again.

It was all a bit chaotic in goal for Pools last season, but this time out we’ve seen a notable improvement from Killip while Ravas provides quality competition – leaving Dave Challinor with a difficult choice.

Verdict: 2020-21

Defenders

Hartlepool’s back line has changed considerably since this time last year with every defender currently at the club signed by Challinor in the summer.

Gary Liddle and Timi Odusina were present on loan toward the back end of the 2019-20 campaign but other than that it’s an entirely fresh defence which has been regularly chopped and changed.

As a result, a lack of consistency at the back has been a running theme so far this season with its inexperience becoming evident at times.

Liddle’s injury hasn’t helped as he’s by far Pools’ most experienced defender yet has been reduced to just three appearances this season.

Odusina, Lewis Cass and Tyler Magloire have made the step up from academy football and are still learning the ropes.

Ryan Johnson had ended up playing a more prominent role than expected mainly due to necessity while Joe Bunney and Jamie Sterry have been brought in as reactive moves to combat injury issues.

Last season, Pools were able to field a fairly solid back line during the final run of matches with Kitching, Odusina, Liddle and Southam-Hales.

Michael Raynes, Fraser Kerr, Myles Anderson and Kenton Richardson were also options in the squad.

Consistency is key and Pools will need to start fielding an unchanged back four on a regular basis in order to have a chance of rediscovering the defensive form that saw them keep four clean sheets in six matches toward the back end of last season.

Verdict: 2019-20

Midfielders

Not a lot has changed in the middle with Pools remaining fairly similar over the summer.

Mark Shelton, Nicky Featherstone, Ryan Donaldson, Luke Molyneux and Gavan Holohan are all still involved as they were last season.

Pools have the marginal benefit of a slightly more match-fit Luke Williams this time out but his ability to properly impact matches is still up for debate.

Josh MacDonald and Tom Crawford have been brought in with little impact so far – a downgrade on those who left in the summer.

One thing Pools have lacked this season is a midfield enforcer akin to Gus Mafuta, who came back to haunt the side with two goals for Boreham Wood earlier in the month.

Josh Hawkes was another useful option in midfield last season with his ability to find a pass and get between the lines.

Although the core remains very much the same, midfield players who were performing consistently last season are now struggling for form this time out.

And the side feels weaker in the middle of the park as a result.

Verdict: 2019-20

Forwards

Quality forward players are crucial for any successful side and something Pools have lacked since being relegated to the fifth tier.

This season, Pools have an entirely new forward line with only 17-year-old Joe Grey present at the club last season.

After losing Nicke Kabamba last January, Pools were clearly short of options up front. Luke James’ injury left only the inconsistent Gime Toure and youngsters Rob Harker and Aidan Keena as Challinor’s only options in attack.

It’s fair to say Pools now have the options, but it could be a case of quantity over quality.

Claudio Ofosu can be an exciting player down the left flank but lacks the fear factor and eye for goal that Toure posed, as he continues to adapt to professional football.

Rhys Oates and Joe Grey are honest, hard-working players similar to Luke James. But Oates’ fitness record is questionable and he’s struggled to start games regularly since his return.

And that seems to be a bit of a theme with quite a few Pools players this season where they’re either injury prone or regularly finding themselves short of fitness.

Mason Bloomfield and David Parkhouse have struggled to make an impact so far, putting a lot of pressure on new arrival Luke Armstrong to deliver the goods.

Although there are still issues to address in attack, Pools’ current forward line is an improvement to the one they ended last season with, mainly due to the options available.

Verdict: 2020-21

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