Hastings Supporters Forum - 100% Unofficial!

Add Sobers and Stannard to that list and not sure ill lose much sleep over the rest.

Buzzing and what a huge boost to everyone after the play off disappointment.

Shame for who Chris? Maybe he just doesn't want too and is happy with his life as it is. He wont be the only player over the years to think that way. Looking at the extremes of Tom Chapman at Ramsgate who could have gone as far as he wanted and Le Tiss at Southampton. Plus I know his old man and he is absolutely loaded so perhaps that is a factor

Can you imagine Walder and Vickers back with the new proposals for sin bins next season for dissent, we would play with 9 players all season!

Forgot about Danny Leonard, he is a must. Only got a glimpse of his ability but give him a whole season he could be something special. Pretty sure you wont see Bradley again. Has already said his goodbyes on twitter and returns to Gillingham with his new professional contract.

Cannot disagree with any of that Chris. Duncan one of my favourite all time players and better than Gareth Barry when they were younger. Crutts will get there one day I am sure.

Lee Carey back according to twitter as part of the back room staff who will play when needed.  Not sure about that one or his coaching abilities but what do I know, Adam clearly rates him highly.  Does this mean we can start the "we all dream of a team of Lee Carey's" song again? Zac Attwood, Stuart Playford and Wayne Pea*ock to follow soon. Joking aside, good luck to him. He brings us promotion I will be the first to purchase his hair products.

-- Edited by johnw on Thursday 18th of May 2017 05:09:15 PM

Looking through last years squad we are now aware of the many that have left, those that are hopefully staying on for the second year of their contract and just the two solitary signings but still one name remains elusive with no mention from anyone. What is happening with Harry Stannard? Think he is on holiday at the moment but surely we have already had discussions or are we waiting to talk when he returns? With another year of experience behind him he could be our biggest signing of the season. Any news anyone?

You are right Steve, he did quickly become a fans favourite but that was more to do with him as a person, and how friendly and approachable he was and still is in both person and on social media. To be honest, he had very few good games for Hastings and was eventually dropped and yet every time he plays against us he looks a million dollars. Think the travelling was always a problem for him.

Am I wrong to be slightly concerned by Adam Hinshelwood's comments in today's Observer? He says that he " expects some of last seasons squad to stay and some to move on". Well we have already lost Emptage, Pidgeley, Mason Hughes, Sobers, Stevenson, Barnwell and Nicholls. That is 7 members of last years play off semi final squad. We have replaced them with just two players, albeit fantastic signings, in Dixon and Pelling. Who else is he expecting to leave? We only have Stannard and Danny Leonard left (what the hell has happened to him, he was superb?) to make an announcement on. Are we perhaps not so confident now that those on 2 year contract will indeed stay? Is the lure of moneybags Margate becoming too great?

He then goes on to say "Hopefully a couple more will come in" and "I think we've got the right players". Well I hope the couple of players he is looking to bring in are top defenders because at present we have none apart from Ollie Rowe, unless of course Crutts is going to have another season at left back. He mentions one new defender training and a very welcome return for the excellent Danny Ellis but not a lot else.

Finally, on the main website it says "Adam Hinshelwood is delighted with the quality he has seen in the Academy and fully expects quite a few of the youngsters to break through into the First Team during 2017/18 season" . That is a very brave comment to say quite a few will get into the first team, as we all know that the quality of the old Ryman is just getting better and stronger year on year. I do hope we are not going to rely too heavily on the youth section to get us out of this league in the coming season or do we have no choice due to money restraints?.

When are we going to hear whether Harry is staying? As I said in an earlier post we have a reasonable core, I know we need another centre half, and there are several good youngsters but we need a few more signings to give the squad some depth.

Well that is a huge blow. I Thought Danny Leonard was a fantastic player and his performance at South Park was one of the very best I have seen in a Hastings shirt. How hard did we try and keep him? Getting really concerned now and if Stannard goes as well we need some serious signings.

Gutted about Leonard and is that now 8 players from that fantastic play off semi final squad that have now left. And there was me thinking just one or two additions to that squad  and we would have a league winning team. Over to you Adam.

Barry Cogan has resigned for Grays apparently 

I'm still gutted about Danny Leonard. Surely you have to be retaining players like him and Stannard, or at least trying, if you are serious about promotion. Could understand if he was going to a higher level, but with all due respect....Herne Bay! Really disappointing and be interesting to hear what was behind the decision. Perhaps his head was turned when he saw we were training at the Firs at the weekend. See a few have commented on twitter about this already but I guess avoid the six inch pot holes, glass and needles then I guess its alright, just ask the supporters team.

A thought on squad composition. Some of you may have heard of Laurence Ball. He last played for Tonbridge and has been at Margate and other Kent clubs.A very close relative of his is a friend of mine. He told me last season that Darren who knows Laurence well regularly phoned Laurence to try and persuade him to join us. Laurence declined. he had been injured and was not ready to play for anyone.

A couple of weeks ago I heard from the same friend that Laurence is friends with the Sittingbourne manager and has signed for them. He is I should think in his 30s now and I gather the idea is that he plays from time to time and helps with coaching.

My point is that managers in this league recognise the need to blend youth and experience to stand a better chance of promotion. I have no idea about the rest of the Sittingbourne squad but this approach is one that appeals to me. Fingers crossed that our man feels the same way!

www.hastingsobserver.co.uk/sport/football/local/united-director-explains-contract-situation-1-7957289

Interesting comments from earlier in year from Dave Nessling. Appears Darren Hare was told this was a requirement if the players were signed. If you read the whole article closely it also appears he is not 100% confident they will all stay but would like them to stay so perhaps the doubts were already there.

And to add insult to injury could it be even possible to actually hand pick a more difficult start to the season??

H Corinthian

A Carshalton  (on Monday)

A Ramsgate

H Lewes

Well I am assuming we have the following;

Pelling

Dixon

Medlock

Johnson

Harris  (will we get a full season as always injured)

Cole (Supposedly back October/November so count him out at present)

Cruttwell  (I hope, has he been training?)

Rowe

No idea about Davies or Stannard, and we have about 30 under 21s who everyone is expecting to perform miracles. Have I missed anyone?

Clearly very few defenders and absolutely no width or pace in the side.

There was a picture on twitter this week under the heading of first team training and counted 14. Would you not normally have 20-30 for pre season? Remember last year we had those sort of numbers.

oh Danny Ellis is training and that Hastings legend and set piece maestro Lee Carey may pitch in.

Plenty of time yet Phil and a nice easy first 4 games of the season for everyone to bed in.

Really hard to believe that less than 3 months ago we had a manager we all believed in and a squad who very nearly got us promoted. Now the manager has gone along with 11 members of that semi final squad. After all the excitement of last year you do wonder if it could be back to mid table mediocrity or even worse. But as some people have already said, they will settle for that to see the youngsters. What a load of rubbish! Look pretty silly in a state of the art new stadium whilst languishing in the county league In front of 150 supporters. I certainly do not want a return to that horrible season of two seasons ago. Let's just hope there is stacks of good news on the horizon as it is all doom and gloom at present......apart from Chris who doesn't care that Frannie has gone.