The Poolie Bunker

Surprised and I have to admit, a bit disappointed with Hunter being announced as captain.

That wouldn’t have happened if there wasn’t a fair likelihood of him being a regular starter and for me we have better midfielders with modfield being our weakest part of the team.

Hope he proves me wrong.

I get your point but tbh it's not like it would go to one of the new lads which leaves Hunter, Kouogun, McNally and Sheron as the grown ups on the team from last season (I'm not including Charman as he'd probably do his elbow putting the armband on).

Out of those four I reckon Hunter is as good a bet as any and he gives a decent post match interview.

Not sure how anyone can declare our midfield as being a weak point when a competitive ball hasn't even been kicked yet.
Team captain in the day is more important than club captain, as someone mentioned on the other thread Donaldson was club captain under Challinor but didn't start many games. Club captaincy, and in fact team captaincy, is more about attitude, being a leader and role model rather than skill level.
Hunter generally played ok every time he was called on last season across 3 or 4 different positions. And it seems an age ago since he scored on his debut for us (if memory serves me right), before successive managers decided he was a holding midfielder or defender.
Still fairly new owner, new manager, new players, new captain, so we're basically starting anew and they all deserve a decent probationary period imo.

Midfield is our weak point as it was last season. Hardly any goals or assists coming from there last season and we have the same midfield three again this season. There were a lot of good attacking midfielders available during the summer and I thought we might have went for a couple of them. Barrow signed a very good one in Olly Crankshaw.

Might as well be doing something as I don’t see him figuring on the pitch.

Very few goals were scored at all last season due to ultra defensive tactics. Personally I think most of our attacking players will be down the wings this season with the CMs duties mainly being winning the ball and getting it quickly to the attacking players.
Predicting this season's performances based on last season's performances doesn't work for me, opinions eh?

we need the season to get underway so there is something concrete we can discuss. hunter as club captain is about as important as news of a single pothole being filled.

Is Jack Nolan going to play in an attacking midfield role?, his wiki has him down as a winger, didn't think he was an out and out winger?, we sadly lack offensive midfielders in our squad, Hunter one goal in two seasons tells you what you need to know on that front. Any team we seemed to play last season with attacking midfielders troubled us, this is my biggest fear for this season, It's okay having a defensive midfield if you can break up opponents moves and win back possession but we struggled to do that last couple of seasons and I'm concerned that won't change.

Nolan is a winger. He can definitely shoot from distance though, as can Harris, they both did it scoring against Pools last season!

If we are going to play 4-4-2 Nolan will surely be one of the wide men in the midfield 4, with Ilunga or McKeown likely the other wide player.

The central midfield 2 looks a straight pick between Miley, Sheron and Hunter. The only central midfielder Pools have brought in this summer is Owen Hampson and he hasn't played at all yet because of an injury.

Whoever plays in central midfield will be busy as a lot of teams will go for an overload against us with one up front and 3 central midfielders. Hopefully we'll be winning most games 4-2

I'm expecting lots of attacking down the wings with the 2 full backs getting forward a lot too. Out of possession the wide men will be expected to do their share of chasing to help the 2 CMs. I think we might see Miley and Hunter in the middle with Nolan and Ilunga wide. I'm expecting a fast pace and high pressing out of possession too.

Bloody useless Hunter.............Even lost the toss up

Some strong performances today, but a special shout out to our weak midfield, which wasn’t, and to captain Hunter who has started like a different player to last season.

Some humble pie for me and it tastes delicious!

Do players respond to managerial attitudes…?

yes, and even more than we do when a shithead boss leaves and a decent guy takes there place.

To be fair to Hunter, I thought he looked decent last season when Fevs brought him back into the side. Simon Grayson obviously never rated him, but I think Featherstone showing some faith in him worked.

I thought he finished last season quite well too even though he was asked to play out of position regularly.
CM is obviously his best and preferred position and, early days, he is a physical presence and is doing well both footballing wise but also in the leadership role.