By Albatross
July 19 2004

Former Sunderland midfielder Chris Lumsdon will not be offered a contract at Hartlepool United, after Neale Cooper decided he didn't give us anything we hadn't already got. With only Jack Ross on the incoming list, are Pools leaving it too late to bring players in? Lumsdon apparently doesn't offer anything that we don't already have, and is therefore on his way and still in a sort of limbo - still under contract at Barnsley, but told that he is free to leave. Although he did get onto the pitch in both games in Holland, Cooper has decided he isn't going to improve the squad and off he goes.

It's not a surprise in many ways - we already seem to have some strength in depth in midfield, as we saw towards the end of last season. Tinkler, Strachan, Sweeney, and Clarke are all battling for places in the centre, and in addition Jack Ross can play there; add in Ryan McCann, who will be hoping to make a breakthrough this season, and central midfield is one of the most hotly contested areas in the team. Lumsdon would have to have been exceptional to make an impact and persuade Cooper he was worth a contract.

There's currently little news about other players coming in, and that means at the moment that the only close-season arrival has been Jack Ross. As the start of the season gets closer, and clubs around us sign players, it's not hard to feel a little concerned about the lack of fresh faces.

However, it's a bit early to be panicking yet. Cooper has said that he has a list of targets, and if last season is anything to go by, there will still be a few gems out there still looking for clubs. Don't forget that Paul Robinson - who had such an impact on the side - didn't arrive on trial until about this time last year, and Gavin Strachan didn't appear until even closer to the start of the season. With some of our players getting their first pre-season with the club as well, Pools will hardly be weak going into the new season, even without further additions - already Joel Porter is showing some encouraging signs, and while we may lack a little depth in some positions we shouldn't be too worried. Anyone remember when Turner brought in a number of players including Richie Humphreys, Tommy Widdrington and Jon Bass? While on paper we were potentially one of the strongest sides in the division, it took some time - and a spell at the bottom - before the side finally gelled. Coops seems to be going for evolution rather than revolution, and given the way this squad performed last season, who can blame him?