The Poolie Bunker

One of my favourite players we’ve had in recent times. In addition to being a good player who actually achieved something with us he genuinely seemed to embrace the club and playing for us. I know he didn’t want to leave and he should’ve never been forced out considering our midfield options that season and the years after, not sure why that happened. Hopefully he’s got something left in the tank.

Campbell to Gateshead then? Pools are already paying wages to Walker and Ferguson as non-playing midfielders. Surely can't afford another one.

Mr Lee may have had something to do with him leaving.
A player that has a true engine, Bit like Shelton only better, Should easily get this season and the next out of him.

Not sure what he brings that we haven't already got. Nostalgia and sentiment, more likely to destroy his reputation than enhance it imo, as most returning players generally do.
Wouldn't surprise me if he puts him in the side ahead of Miley.
Not impressed at all.

Old mate signing no room for sentiment in a club that wants to move forward

Reminds me of Pools re-signing Kevin Johnson after 4 and a bit years away. Great little midfielder for us in his first spell, not the same player when he came back.

Hope it goes better for Gav and he scores a couple, but it's not 'progress.'

It’s a six month deal lads chill out. If he’s cack he probably won’t stay past the end of the season.

Struggling to fathom this. Get rid of a pacey young winger and bring in a 34 year old at the fag end of his career. How does this strenghten the team? Scratching my head.

Which one of the dynamic midfield trio will be dropped.
Or is Gav to be used from the bench obviously not before minute 61.

The 6 months deal means he has to impress to be part of next season.

Anyhow produces a good sing song for the NWC.
UTP

The pacer young winger appeared to have lost interest..

Looks like Hunter out of the midfield then. Put Benn back to right back and Cam John should be back on the left. The problem could be his match fitness with his sporadic sub appearances in mid field wish him well get those shooting boots on.

Well that is one interpretation. Another might be him carrying a knock or loss of form: as we all know, players form can be up and down. Obviously if he didnt want to play for us then cashing in was the best option. It is just that the optics look very poor: sign a 34 yr old has been and jettison a pacey young winger.

No doubt the majority of his time here will be as a bench warmer, because lets face it you can never have too many of them. Have to say I never forgave Lee for releasing him, at about the same time that Huddersfield recalled Daly as well, because Lee wasn't giving him any game time. So we lost two goalscoring midfielders when we weren't scoring many goals from anywhere else.

“Which one of the dynamic midfield trio will be dropped”
Well it won,t be Campbell.

Gives NF a chance to prove himself, Cam John WB, J Benn WB, Max, Parkes and McNally CBs. Etc

Francis as far as people are saying, Has been slagging players off.

Couldnt agree more, what is it with our club and pacey/ tricky wingers - young or otherwise - no sooner do they put in a few decent shifts and/or score a few goals then they are 'unsettled' or 'allegedly' lose their young heads and are out of the door only to return to haunt us at a later date - in Francis' case, quite soon - next month - Valentines Day. If young Francis has actually been saying that some of the Pools players are 'crap' then there are a good number of the fans who wouldn't disagree with him.

I'm fairly happy that Holohan has returned on a short term contract - on the assumption that he's match fit, not carrying some underlying injury and is cleared for selection to start the Shots game. I'm not happy that it would appear that Monks still appears to pulling the strings behind the scenes and that we are still looking at 'one in one out'. If this is the case why offload Francis when there are several hangers-on who, in the eyes of most of us would be well ahead of him in the bomb bay when the doors open?

Of course these players are no longer at their peak and it may take time to get rid but would they have to go NOW?

Hopefully a couple more signings will be incoming before Saturday but at this point I'm increasingly disappointed with what is going on behind the scenes. I wasn't expecting major change nor megabucks to be thrown about like confetti immediately after Landon took over but it was/is surely not unrealistic to expect to see some short-term changes both on and off the pitch. At present it feels like the spectre of Raj and his failed henchmen are still hanging over the club.

Reckon there must be some element of truth in this, as he's been jettisoned fairly sharpish and without comment. Thought he was one of our better summer signings. And the reason he wasn't in the team was firstly his 3 game ban for his sending off, followed by international duty.

Though apparently the international games were only friendlies so maybe his loyalty to the cause has been in question, over a holiday and a kick about in the sun. Which would you choose Carribbean sun or Gateshead at home on a wet Tuesday night?

Anyway, he's gone now, we move on- at least we got a few quid for him.

Exactly, just chill and enjoy.

lee might have been the one who released him but it was challinor who dropped him and hardly used him again. he was never a league player but a good one on the NL. age does not bother me as long as he has stayed fit and might show more energy on the pitch that some younger lads might copy. wasn,t kevin ellison over 40 when he played regularly in morecambe,s promotion team.

Maybe a tonic for the dressing room, Its surprising how a player can lift attitudes.
If we start with 2 holding midfielders then i GIVE UP.

Anybody who is signed from now on has got to be able to make an impact, unless it's a youngster who has been recruited as someone to develop for the future. No point in signing Holohan if he is not expected to make an impact on the rest of the season.
I am reserving judgement on his value to the team until he has proved it or not as the case may be. If one or two eye catching signings are made now it will give a huge signal of intent and get well received. There is a massive opportunity here for the club to signal intent. I hope they do not let it pass by. The quicker we start moving from ticking over mode the better. The opportunity is staring the club in the face.