John Riddle's Season Preview

Can Hartlepool hold on to place in League One?

That questions has been asked around the clubs and pubs of Hartlepool as we look towards a new season with new hope. This will be my 52nd year of supporting Pools and like the other 50 odd years previously I always start by hoping we will the league.

That would be good in our centenary year - but maturity has taught me to be pessimistic especially when it comes to predicting football results.

I fully anticipate the match with Colchester United on the opening day of the season will be a tough one. Every team wants to win their first match so don't expect the Essex boys to lay down and let Pools win. If Danny Wilson has prepared the team for the campaign and they come out all guns blazing then we may win this opening encounter.

I was at Morton for the pre season friendly and I thought the two goals Pools scored were in a word cracking. If you want to gauge what the 2-1 win over the Scottish 1st Division strugglers was a true reflection on play - look at the Morton results in the first few weeks on the season.

Our trip to Tranmere Rovers on 16th August is another tough one and I saw Rovers play in the pre season game with Liverpool. They looked a canny side and who is to say that a former Pools player, who dad is now manager at Tranmere won't come back to haunt us.

By the time Stockport County come calling on 23rd August I fully expect another tough game from the team promoted via the play offs. I am told reliably that County have had an influx of cash and will try to consolidate their promotion by buying wisely. We shall see.

The final game in the league in August is another tough game away to Peterborough always a hard place to bring home the bacon.

So by the end of the month if Pools have FOUR points from the FOUR games I will be reasonably delighted more than that and the cries of Promotion will be on the lips of the young supporters.

But alas this is a marathon not a sprint and the final game at Bristol Rovers on 2nd May 2009 will when we all want to hear the "fat lady" sing - "Going up, going up, going up" and not in the August sunshine.

Enjoy the first month of the new season and no doubt I will be back writing for you again in September when the highlight is a trip to Leicester City.

John Riddle
Sports Editor, author and publisher
riddlewrites.co.uk

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