The Poolie Bunker

The chair is out this morning...

Let it be a good keeper

Why…? We have a proud tradition of keepers who it could be said, ….‘were found wanting’….a decent keeper could prove fatal from shock.

Sorry, dont understand the chair reference but I suppose those who know, know.

Max Merrick from Chelsea. England U20.

On social media pools put up a video of an empty chair before an announcement.

Thanks for the explanation.

Pleased its a keeper.

You would hope anyone coming through the system at Chelsea has something going for him.

Just been having a mooch. Turns out Chelsea's goalkeeping coach is former Boro keeper Ben Roberts, and was on loan to us for a little while a long time ago.

Wonder if the new lad will play this afternoon?

Just been handed a new 3 year contract, reputedly at around £8k PW so would hope he's decent.
Could do with another as Smith as back up isn't great.

Great news.

This is what Chelsea say about their boy:
"Chelsea goalkeeper Max Merrick is set to spend the 2026/27 season on loan at National League side Hartlepool United.

The England Under-20 international, who joined the Blues at Under-13s level, has become a consistent presence for our Under-21s, featuring across the Premier League 2, the Premier League International Cup and the EFL Vertu Trophy.

Merrick has been in our senior side's matchday squad on 11 occasions in recent years, appearing on the bench in the Champions League seven times last season, while he was also part of the travelling squad for the Premier League draw at Manchester City in January.

This will be the 20-year-old's third loan spell away from Cobham. He gained his first taste of senior football during the 2022/23 season, with a loan spell at Hanwell Town. In January 2025, he continued that experience with a second loan move to National League South side Hampton & Richmond.

His performances meant that in March it was announced Merrick had signed a new contract with the club until 2028.

Welcome to Pools Max- I'm sure you'll enjoy your time at the Vic

That's another excellent signing to add to all the others and think that lays down a significant marker as to the new ambition the club has to escape this abyss of a league. Think we'll be the envy of most other teams in this league, given the quality of our recruitment. Full credit must go to the recruitment team and Landon for sanctioning these new additions - enabling us to dream of a return to the heady days under IOR.

Is that us done for now, what do we think that we still need?
Maybe a second keeper, another left back, a box to box Midfielder - to add a bit more depth?

Hope he's a BIG lad.......!

He is 5' 9" so not especially big. Height is always very useful in a keeper but it isnt the be all and end all.

Ozzy if you look at his details on Transfer Market he is in fact 6ft 4in.

Yes 6ft 4in according to most sources.

Can anybody who's at the game let us know if he's wearing platform soled boots?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otNPk7XpPfc

I did a cursory search about him and the figure of 5' 9" came up. No need for the sarcasm.

Apologies if you took it as sarcasm Ozzy. Like the rest of us, I don't know the lad from Adam. Was thinking about the 7 inch difference in height and the goofy guitar player from Slade with the basin cut and massive platform boots popped into my head.

Thats Ok. No hard feelings.

Dave Hill, short and shite !

That's him

Started something now, I've now got a picture of him in his silver jumpsuit, platform shoes, guitar, preparing to face a pen at Wembley to get us promoted.

lets hope he is as good as the other goalkeeping Merrick i can think of. other oldies must remember Gil who played for birmingham in the 50,s plus england caps along the way.