Hastings Supporters Forum - 100% Unofficial!

Cannot get my head around the latest statement on the main site? 30 plus years I have followed Hastings home and away and not sure I have ever seen such a statement. Is the club being run by Adam and Chris or is it being run by members of the academy or are instructions coming from elsewhere?

"The club is still in the market for several senior player additions in at least a couple of positions but any players brought in must be considered the right type as regards their ability to mix well with the young players, both in terms of relationship and ability to educate".

I may be wrong, but shouldn't players be considered the right type as regards their ability to get us out of this God forsaken league? Is this perhaps also a dig at existing players that perhaps are not being supportive to the youngsters and are perhaps not spending time 'educating' as they call it? Are they indeed the same players that we all think should be first names on the team sheet but are currently not? Perhaps they are being too honest as to their thoughts as to what has been going on?. Of course I am just making wild assumptions but I just find the statement strange and feel there is a bigger story here somewhere but that is just my inquisitive nature. 

We have some superb coaches throughout the academy set up of that there is no doubt. Lets let them educate and the players do their business on the pitch. Just don't think the number one consideration when signing a player should be whether they can mix and educate the youngsters as they call it. Could just imagine years ago telling true Hastings legends like Stuart Playford, Tony Burt, and even Dean White himself, we would like you to sign but you must be able to mix and educate. I think their first bit of education would be kicking the youngsters 10 foot in the air.

Even some of Dave Nessling's comments in the Observer appear to be in conjunction with the above.

“They wanted us to get a younger, much more locally-based team and we’re trying to do that, but it’s not going to happen overnight in terms of the development of these young players"

Who are all these supporters that wanted a young local squad and possible mid/bottom table mediocrity which you will get if you are putting 7 academy players in a match day squad? Of course we all support local youth coming through and comments were made on the forum pre season that a couple of supporters would rather see local lads than so called 'mercenaries' but that is slightly different from the statement above.

And are we not in real danger of destroying these young careers before they even start?  I don't know Oliie Black and I don't know his character but how will he bounce back after Wednesday's humiliation? What is going on in Rodari's head after going 8 games without a goal, and to be honest, not really looking like scoring a goal? I am desperate for these guys to succeed but being a lifelong supporter of Hastings I know how fickle fans can be and how demanding in particular Hastings fans are. They are no different now as they were under Sillett, Maggs, Dolby, Wilson, Kane etc etc, so people need to accept that. Being a great follower of other forums, believe me we are nothing compared to the likes of Wealdstone, Maidstone, Worthing and many many more, which to be honest, are toe curling brutal at times.

Yes, Nessling  is right to a certain extent that we have tried for 2 years and its not got us promoted but my God, how close were we last year and probably deserved to beat Dorking who are now sitting comfortably in mid table in the premier. So I wouldn't say it didn't work as we played some of the best football I have ever seen in 30 plus years and a little bit of tinkering this year I believe would have seen us romp away with it but of course that is no ones fault. As soon as Watty left all the main guys were going to follow end of season.

I have to be honest, I have not been won over by Adam as yet. Some of his decisions, tactics and substitutions have been mind boggling at times but both he and Chris have to be supported 100% and be given time to get things how they want them. I just hope that they are completely left alone to do things their way and that no pressure is being put on them to throw all these youngsters in the team because I say it again, all have potential, but from what I have seen, none are ready. That is my honest assessment, but comments over the last 48 hours do not fill me with confidence as to the direction this club is going in.

I think Tuesday's starting line up will tell us a lot about the direction this club is going in and the personel that will be taking us on this long journey. I very much hope that Adam and Chris head that and are left alone to do things their way, which of course may well be happening as it absolutely should be. But as others have stated, it does not appear to be a happy ship with too many bad rumours and stories circulating of unhappy players, training ground bust ups, interference and very fierce criticism from ex players. We need the right signings in now, mixed with our senior players and two or three academy players at most, to help us push for promotion, which I honestly believe we can achieve. We need to get our best players and biggest goal threats back in the team Tuesday, beat Herne Bay, and go on a long unbeaten run, which this squad is more than capable of doing.

Of course, all of the above is personal opinion, and I feel I am entitled to that after supporting the team since 1978, but interesting to hear other peoples take on some of the comments in the Observer and the main site over the past 48 hours.