Lots of heated discussions on the forum over the past few weeks as we enter the end of a largely disappointing season but still, quite incredibly, with an opportunity to sneak in to the play offs. Forget about players walking out, changing room bust ups, right or wrong managerial appointments, disgruntled fans, where has it really gone wrong this season?
Trawling through some old programmes and statistics this morning it was amazing to see that after 10 games this season we were top of the league, whilst Folkestone were in the bottom 3 after losing 3nil at Hastings on the 7th October. 14 points separated us at the time and by the time Maggsy was sacked after the 3nil defeat at Leatherhead, we still had a healthy cushion over Folkestone who were still outside the play off positions whilst we sat in 3rd, still hot on the heels of both Leatherhead and Peacehaven. Today we sit 9 points behind them with the play offs now sadly out of our hands.
Looking back I think the three most obvious factors are firstly our disastrous dealings in the transfer market and being unable to sign decent full backs and cover for Sean Kelly and JJ when he left. In fact the loss of Sean Kelly has proved to be massive. Not until he left did we realise how important he was to the team and how good his partnership with Ben was. We've heard 2 sides to the story, so still unsure of the exact details as to his reasons for leaving but that certainly was a major turning point of the season. The full back situation has been quite astounding. Many fans commented on this from the first month of the season, as we continued to leak most of our goals down the two flanks, but still both John and Terry were unable to plug those gaps. I just cannot believe that neither manager could fill these positions over a full season.
The other obvious factor is our horrendous away form. Since the 5nil hammering at Ramsgate on Boxing Day we have won three, drawn one and lost nine. In six of those defeats we have failed to score and our only wins are against three of the bottom four.
And finally, as has been the case for the past three seasons, our scoring record has been terrible. After being one of the lowest scorers in all non league divisions last year, we have followed up this season by being the lowest scorers in the top 14 of the Ryman South. Even two of the bottom five have scored more goals. I look at the forwards we have had at the club this season and I see nothing but quality so how can this be? Is it coaching methods? are our players too widely spread, as I keep hearing that just a handful of players turn up for training each week? why does this happen every season?
My guess, is that unless he resigns, Terry will be here next season. My next guess, is that whether we go up or not, a lot of our current squad will be gone and it will be a complete rebuilding job, based around players such as Josh, Tom, Taser and hopefully, but unlikely, Frankie Sawyer. If Terry does stay what makes us think he can bring in the right players after pretty much failing this season? what makes us think he can bring in quality full backs as he has been unable to do this season (as did Maggs)? I still find it incredibly hard to believe that a team with our quality has got into this position but if he does stay, and we don't make the play offs, we need to get behind the management team straight away and start the rebuilding for next season. This season has been a disaster but at the same time could still end up being magical, however unlikely that may seem. Whatever happens we will continue to be one of the best supported local teams and continue to put up with the seasonal highs and lows of following Hastings.
I think that’s spot on John. The weakness in the full back positions were well known from the pre season friendlies and with our goals tally it was always going to be tough. Signings were key and they didn’t happen. Im not sure that Terry had as much opportunity to make signings at the beginning of the season as it was Razors call. Terry was in charge when Razor went , but for only a small handful of games. JM brought very little in when he was here and then Terry gets another shot, but by then its January – a time when it is very difficult to get quality players as their clubs are all holding on to them. So Im not sure that Terry has had as much opportunity as maybe he would have liked. If he stays on,( and I hope he does) he will have a full pre season to shape the team he wants and whatever league we are in – I hope we give it a good crack.
Its been a strange season with maybe one twist left in it. Not sure what the twist will be but as you say – we will be back next season, getting behind the team and the management and as a volunteer – doing our best to make the match day experience at the Pilot Field the best it can be.
I very much agree that the loss of Sean Kelly has been hugely significant. Had he stayed I feel we would have conceded at least half a dozen goals less than we have and have been a similar number of points better off and hence as good as in a play-off position by now. On goal scoring, to me, we looked most effective when Kenny Pogue and Trevor McCreadie worked in partnership. Our failure to develop that has again cost us dear. Also, as John says, just about every contributor to this forum has commented on the full back situation. There is no point in my adding to what has been said umpteen times.
For me though the real problem this season has been the managerial changes. As others have commented in the past, in this league a manager and a team should be 'for the season'. The manager must be allowed to manage in his own way, select his players and above all have the security of knowing that he will not be dismissed mid-season if things don't go well for a few games. All I would ask is that if Terry stays he should be given a full year next season; and he should be told that early to get the players he wants and organise things as he chooses. if it is not to be Terry then the change should be made early.
Maybe also one of the points is our second half performances; somehow it was a big difference with our first half
performances. If that is true that there were only a few players on the training ground each time that will be ( condition of the players ) also something to work on.Like the rest i think John has make it clear.
whatever happens in the playoffs we need to start getting new players in early as we see other sides doing from the start all to often we are left behind and a month before the new season starts its a case of lets see who turns up at training
Dave, I agree. That's why we should give all support to Terry and the team until the final kick of this season and then, wherever we might be, hope that a decision is made very quickly as to who will be the manager next season. Whoever that might be should start assembling the team in the closed season. To do that though there must be assurance that he, be it Terry or someone else, will be given enough time - to my mind the full season - to blend the team together.
Good points made about the importance of getting a good squad together for next season as early as possible. Also agree with Bert that we don't appear to be the fittest of teams. A really hard-working commited side can often get the better of a more talented side. However, we sometimes forget that our players are all part-timers and have jobs and families as their priority. Perhaps we are all a bit too critical of our players and they are not enjoying playing for Hastings as much as they should.
First step for me would be to roll over backwards and do anything we can to keep Josh between the sticks next season.
Second step would then be to get on the phone to Gillingham/Brighton/Charlton/anyone who'll listen and see what season-long loans we can sort out for some young players to showcase themselves across the full year. The more from a single club, the better. If they can train full-time with their parent clubs during the week, even better. If we could get one of their youth coaches in charge of us, dealing with the rest of our squad for training, super. Training at least three times a week, with the expectation of gym sessions every non-training day. Any player who can't run 10K in sub 40 minutes should be out of the door. If I can run it in sub-40, so should someone trying to be a footballer. None of this 'trying to lose weight' bull****. Train harder in pre-season and start the season in shape. Round is not a shape.
Would then do my very best to see if we can sort out an apprenticeship/degree scheme with Hastings/Brighton on some of the sports science courses, so we can have some local players who are training part-time and studying part-time on a proper contract. A squad of U23s training properly should be fit, hungry and talented enough to get out of this division. It doesn't need money.
And then I'd buy a stadium that doesn't siphon funds into the c***cil's pockets...
And then I'd like some magic beans.
-- Edited by glenn10 on Wednesday 16th of April 2014 10:29:08 PM
-- Edited by glenn10 on Wednesday 16th of April 2014 10:30:39 PM
