Hastings Supporters Forum - 100% Unofficial!

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No rivalry intended John, if this match was at Christmas/ New Year would have guessed 750 but as you say beach and BBQ may affect it.
Heard that Jonno had strained his quads ( whatever they are). Hopefully will be back tomorrow. If not fit can see Lee Carey coming back into the equation.

I am getting there early as only 240 programs printed ... thinknit might be 600 plus hopefully

Great advert for non league

Had about 90 people responding to the match event on Facebook for today and normally get around 50 so reckon it could well be near 700 today for sure.

www.facebook.com/events/142185079708494/

After 30 minutes 1-1 for a crowd of 699!

Our first loss: 1-2.
Playing almost 60 minutes with 10 men after a straight red for Rowe in the 36th minute.

Clearly the turning point of the game was the straight red for Ollie Rowe. (Which looked deserved for a two footed challenge.) Apart from an excellent run and ball accross the box from Billy Medlock in the second half, which Janneh could not convert, we had no further goal scoring opportunies. The surprise for me was that Lewes did not make more of their advantage. Without Simon Johnson we were outrun in midfield from the start and once we were down to 10 men that became even more pronounced.
There were some positives, another good game from Michael Aziayah and good efforts from Rodari and Janneh; but surely by now it ought to be obvious that the present squad is far too thin to sustain any sort of challenge for automatic promotion.

Can't comment on first goal or sending off as sorting 50/50 and programmes. Sold a record number of programmes.One or two strange refereeing decisions though.

We looked light weight after Billy went off. Couldn't understand why he was subbed Saturday and the same today. Rodari was up against better defenders today and still has to get up and running. Well worth persisting with but taking Billy off made no sense. Poor game all round, we coped being one short till that last 20 or so when Lewes realised they could use that big ol' pitch to good effect.

Frustrating afternoon and while Academy boys will learn from games like that etc etc - we do look rather short of resources if we are to make a decent go at getting out of this division.

Surprised there's no mention for crutts from anyone. I thought he was our standout player. And if you had to pick someone to be beside you in the trenches it would be Vickers every time.

-- Edited by Dave68 on Monday 28th of August 2017 09:29:46 PM

It's impossible to fault the dogged and determined second half effort: to still be within a single goal and pushing for an equaliser at the final whistle was an achievement in itself. But that shouldn't hide how poor the first half was. I assume someone was assigned the linking role that Simon Johnson would usually play but they disappeared, leaving two entirely separate groups of players with a great canyon of space in between. I noticed one of the coaching staff checking their watch after twenty minutes, presumably hoping that half-time might miraculously arrive, and that rather said it all...

Good point made and I think the answer is that no one had that role or it didn't appear so but how can you replace Johnno? He is our best player in my opinion by a fair distance and the squad is still very lightweight. We all know we need additions and think we still have a few positional issues that need sorting. Also personally I'm not crazy on the diamond formation. Always want our best players like Crutts and Dixon in the middle of the park, dictating and dominating the game from the centre and just think we are getting over run at times in there and Lewes certainly dominated the centre of the park yesterday.

I think one of the issues yesterday was Rodari and even though I was slightly critical of his performance yesterday I'm going to stick up for him. I dont know what his role is in the team and looking at his frustration yesterday I am not sure he knows. I have watched him a few times play for Dean Whites excellent team and he has always been played as an out and out striker or so it appears. For the firsts he seems to play off Billy, drift into midfield or even out wide. Just think it's making him ineffective and not playing to his strengths and he just has no influence on the game. Is he there to score goals or is he there to make a five man midfield, which it appeared yesterday. He is a goal scorer and if 10 games in he has not scored and continuing to play too deep you worry what it may do to his confidence as he is a very passionate lad.

The other issue is what to do with Crutts. Don't think I have seen a youngster with his range of passing, it really is fantastic, and think he is wasted wide left. Could he not play the Lee Carey role in front of the back four? Just think with his strength and range of passing that role is tailor made for him. Many people made him MOM yesterday playing wide left but I just think he can offer so much more in the middle.

We have made a decent start and probably would have settled for 7 points from four with the new team in place but we were very fortunate at Carshalton and similar at home to Corinthian. Didn't go to Sheppey but hear that was a fairly average performance as well, and even before yesterday's sending off, we were second best to Lewes. I understand we want to give the youngsters a go and they have been excellent and exceeded my expectations but I did think and hope that Adam would have brought in some top quality players by now and made the squad much stronger. Early days still and let's hope there are new arrivals fairly soon as Rowe now missing for three, Vickers looked in real trouble despite an heroic effort, and Harris just doesn't look fit or he has lost a yard of pace with all the injury problems he has had. 

It doesn't get any easier and the fixture list has not been kind with visits to Dulwich and high flying Cray and Phoenix to follow so a massive couple of weeks for the squad.

Yes maybe but if you watch it closely it wasn't actually 2 footed he plants his left foot on the ground before the player comes clattering in to him it's a very harsh red card even a lewes fan has said it to

Finally seen the highlights and mind not changed on Ollie sending off. Definitely unlucky but in real time you can see why he went and not sure there can be much blame for the ref. At the other end we were probably lucky not to concedede a penalty ourselves with what looked like a clear foul by Michael. Lewes certainly dominated and should have won more comfortably.

Interesting interviews at the end with Freeman saying as soon as he saw Vickers at left back he decided to have a real go down that side which just confirms what I already thought about that positional decision.

More concerned about the Sam Cruttwell story in the Observer but good luck to the young lad. An incredible talent and a fantastically loyal servant to Hastings. He can go as far as he wishes and would love him to move through the leagues with Hastings but not sure we have the squad to keep him here. 

I hope he stays but wish him well if he goes. He is a great talent and deserves to show it on a better stage. Good luck Sam whatever you do.

-- Edited by FatherXmas on Thursday 31st of August 2017 11:33:59 PM