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Hartlepool United
33-1 to win.
Strengths: Promoted last season from League 2, Pools netted a cool 65 goals and conceded just 17 at home. Responsibility was spread around the team, with 15 players getting on the scoresheet, while the club also have prolific lower league striker Richie Barker in their ranks.
Weaknesses: Hartlepool will have to do without giant Greek keeper Dimi Konstantopoloulos. Last season’s star performer – and entrant into FourFourTwo’s Top 50 Football League Players – has joined Coventry. All eyes with be on his replacement Arran Lee-Barratt.
A lesson from last season: Don’t panic. Hartlepool started the campaign by going four games without a win before their club record 21 unbeaten run.
One to watch: Richie Barker. One of the lower leagues’ deadliest strikers, Barker netted 23 goals in 58 games for Macclesfield but really stepped up to the plate at Mansfield, scoring 40 in 95 appearances. A youngster at Sheffield Wednesday during Danny Wilson’s playing days, the Hartlepool boss bought Barker in January for £80,000 and he scored nine goals in 18 games.
The gaffer: Danny Wilson. He’s had varying degrees of success during a managerial career that has taken in Barnsley, Wednesday, Bristol City, MK Dons and Hartlepool. Having taken the Dons down to League 2 in 2006 he was sacked, only to take over at United last June. Despite a bad start he left the club to promotion, finishing a point behind champions Walsall.
The Experts View: Setanta Sports
Danny Wilson is organized but experienced players have been released. The gaffer’s know-how in League One will undoubtedly help after a rollercoaster couple of seasons. 11th.
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