Well that was a good day out for Felixstowe and their supporters. Good luck to them as they deserved their win. But can't believe, according to Chris's podcast, that some of their supporters are staying over in Eastbourne rather than Hastings. Must be mad.
Best to forget this game and performance as soon as possible. Tuesday is now a big game for us and, hopefully, a 90 minute performance will bring a much needed 3 points.
First of all well done to Rob West who won £161.50 on the 50/50. As for the game well done to Felixstowe who deserved their win. We looked so lacklustre and made them look good. Much improvement needed Tuesday.
Definitely rather lost our way at the moment with below par performances all over the pitch. Is this simply a bit of fatigue, a temporary dip in form that we will recover from or maybe we really were flattered by that long run of wins and we aren't quite as strong as we thought ?
Tuesday is now a rather bigger game than we anticipated and we need both a result and a performance to get a bit of belief back.
Another disappointment is the number of people who didn't bother to come today but were there on Tuesday.
That's another reason why we need a huge improvement in the entertainment next Tuesday.
How much longer have we got to put up with this tedious style of football, 1 decent performance all season at Chippenham, the rest has been dire, we need a change as crowds will soon drop below 500 and our play off chances will drop with the crowd. We would like entertainment not what we are getting.
Credit to Felixstowe who I believe thoroughly deserved that. After going 1-0 up I was amazed by how the likes of Jack Dixon and Tom Chalmers (who was fantastic first half) didn't put us further ahead at the break. I think we were lucky to have Craig Stone in defence today as imagine if he and Gary had not played, the score line could have been a lot more and what a performance he put in (would have given him man of the match).
Once they equalised I was expecting a repeat of Ashford however I think the passing movement and pace of the game was below par today and really didn't help. Maybe losing midweek didn't help the lads confidence but it just didn't seem the same Hastings today compared to Tuesday.
One observation I made was at the start of the second half Ollie Black was pushed up the pitch more and Tom Chalmers looked like he was playing centre mid. Not sure what the reason behind that was but think we should have just kept it as it was since we didn't play too bad in the first half.
In summary of course we won't win every game but at least we can focus on the league now and set our sights on going for promotion.
Have to agree, Chris. We have produced results without real entertainment thus far this season.
Now we are getting neither and the last couple of games must serve as a wake up call.
Let's hope the club can respond in order to turn things around before interest tapers off.
You don’t get it do you stripeyshark if this level of performance and entertainment continues in the same way, fans will slip away and any momentum gained over recent times will go away. You need to remember 60% of our crowd are new to the club so there is no loyalty yet. We as STH have every right to express our views as long as it’s fair, and these issues are fair and the club needs to address the situation.
Watch us give somebody a hiding then all this will be forgotten there’s always Tuesday guys another of our games in hand I don’t care win loss or draw I’ll be there COYUS
You don’t get it do you stripeyshark if this level of performance and entertainment continues in the same way, fans will slip away and any momentum gained over recent times will go away. You need to remember 60% of our crowd are new to the club so there is no loyalty yet. We as STH have every right to express our views as long as it’s fair, and these issues are fair and the club needs to address the situation.
I go every week Chris. I get it.
Only a fool would think that the club are not looking to fix the issues of this week.
I know you do, but that’s not what I was saying, the support could drop off as quickly as it picked up with so little entertainment being provided. And it’s not just this week it’s been dire all season, I have given it 3 months before knocking the performances but the last 2 games we have been woeful, perhaps a change of approach is required immediately
George,
Call us moaners if you like but many of the people who contribute to this forum are the most loyal and genuine supporters of the club who have been coming to the PF for countless years and, I believe, have every right to express an honest opinion so long as the criticism is not personal or abusive. Just remember, we were there today, unlike the 600 who didn't come back after Tuesday's disappointment.
I make no apology for having a moan after two such poor performances and results. There really is no point pretending we played well, were just unlucky on the day and that everything is hunky-dory.
Clearly it isn't at the moment.
I will be there on Tuesday and am hoping for a big improvement.
Hoping for a run of away games so I don't have to watch another 90 minutes of that. Well deserved win for Felixstowe.
No one is forcing you to come.
Thanks for letting me know my options. Very kind of you. My post earlier was disappointment of a very poor performance. Unless you are wearing rose tinted specs I can't imagine that you were happy with the performance either? I will probably be there Tuesday and hope for a reaction but on the home performances this season the quality of entertainment and performance has been below what I was expecting. I'm sorry if that makes me a moaner but it's my honest opinion. Our crowds are incredible this season but I'm sure we'd get more and more returning if we were playing the kind of football from 3 seasons ago. Stripeyshark if you are honestly happy with what you saw today then so be it but more importantly I hope the manager was throwing things in the changing room because I dont think he would accept that was good enough. Fingers crossed for a reaction Tuesday.
Well that was a good day out for Felixstowe and their supporters. Good luck to them as they deserved their win. But can't believe, according to Chris's podcast, that some of their supporters are staying over in Eastbourne rather than Hastings. Must be mad.
Best to forget this game and performance as soon as possible. Tuesday is now a big game for us and, hopefully, a 90 minute performance will bring a much needed 3 points.
Well Stuart (who was the gentleman who said that) said thats what they planned but every felxistowe fan i spoke to after the game said they were heading back up north...including Stuart actually...probably the crappy weather decision came into play he also said they were bringing over a hundred fans 🤔
Game was deseperately disapointing and a tale of two halfs again...i thought TC was almost unstoppable for a 20/25 minute period first half and its a real shame we couldnt put our dominance into goals, in the second half our usual passing rythm wasnt there and easy passes were going to the oppo an off day for most in the side but great to see Ben Pope back i see a big reaction coming on tuesday 💪
We've been ravaged by injuries this season but we will bounce back WE ARE HASTINGS 👌
In response to Hastingschris' point - yes we have suffered from injuries this season. But is that just 'bad luck' or rather a consequence of having a small squad with a number of our key players older and consequently more injury prone?
I hope we get through this spell. We seem to start well - indeed Tom Chalmers was brilliant for the first 20 minutes or so yesterday - then lose our way.
I have questioned in the past whether our style of play - with a passing game, play it out from the back, pass back almost as a first option - is effective over a whole season. It is good when works but it relies on the team functioning well together and having a good standard of technical ability and fitness accross the pitch. The last two seasons looked like proving me wrong, but of course those didn't go the distance. It does seem that we can be knocked off our game plan by quite average teams - and when that happens we lose it in a big way.
I don't suggest we radically change what we are doing - with Chris as manager that simply will not happen anyway - and he is our best option by far of getting us out of this league. What I feel is particularly missing right now are players who can bring the ball quickly forward riding challenges in midfield. We had that with Jake Elliott and we might still have it if LLoyd Dawes can get fit. If we don't have that we delay our forward movemen, start trying over ambitious long balls and lose possession in dangerous situations.
So if we have the available funds, I suggest we need to urgently to acquire at least a couple more players. If we can't do that then we do need to think of how we can best use the players we have to at least get us a play off spot.
Our style of Football has had its day, the game has changed at our level the possession stat is irrelevant, it is at virtually all levels now. The game is about what you do with the ball when you have it, not about how long you have it. We are so predictable an average team can set up to play against us, you either press and put us under pressure or you sit back and wait for the wayward pass, it’s not rocket science. You have to play in a way that the opposition find difficult and can’t plan for. I think we are really seeing Chris Agutters lack of managerial experience at the level we are playing.
Our style of Football has had its day, the game has changed at our level the possession stat is irrelevant, it is at virtually all levels now. The game is about what you do with the ball when you have it, not about how long you have it. We are so predictable an average team can set up to play against us, you either press and put us under pressure or you sit back and wait for the wayward pass, it’s not rocket science. You have to play in a way that the opposition find difficult and can’t plan for. I think we are really seeing Chris Agutters lack of managerial experience at the level we are playing.
we are only just below play off spots with a few games in hand i think thats quite a ridiculous statement chris the season doesnt end in oct
You may think so but let’s see what happens, what is your optimism based on? The other key point that appears to be missed is that there are probably 18 managers in our league that would kill for our budget.
Solution - Be less predictable in our approach ie long throws, and less predictable in our build up play, for the players we have we don’t create many clean chances.
ChrisB is entitled to question, as I and others have also done over a long time, whether our present style of play is the most (or even an) effective way of getting us out of this league. That, after all is the objective we all want.
But, yes, those who criticise should do so with positivity and appreciation that those who take another view are equally entitled to their opinion.
In my view, ChrisB is right that we are too predictable and right that we are getting too reliant on Ollie Black's long throws. If he just went short every now and again the stock long throw would surely be more effecive?
And I would repeat what I said earlier, we surely need players who can get us through a packed midfield either by running with the ball or knocking it accurately over the top for a player (like the much missed Daniel) to run on at pace.
You may think so but let’s see what happens, what is your optimism based on? The other key point that appears to be missed is that there are probably 18 managers in our league that would kill for our budget.
this is hilarious really...whats my optimism based on....well the success of his time here..playoff semi finalists followed by what would have been if not for covid champions the next season...i seem to remember us not doing too badly in the early finished season as well. you know we've seriously disrupted with injuries and as for playing budget ...i dont know it do you? please fill us all in chap. I dont get the doom and gloom so quickly in a season but maybe thats just me.
p.s as for the ollie black throws 99% of teams would utilise a player with such a good throw
Think you are not quite seeing the wider picture, won - nothing, outplayed by sides on a far smaller budget than us, lack of creativity, and it’s not the using of the Black throws it’s the fact we use it every time, so oppo know exactly what’s coming.
It seems that any constructive feedback is deemed moaning and negative
Surely we should be open to a diversity of views including constructive criticism
We have communicated seperately about whether this should also be reflected @bout the culture of the podcast for greater bal@nce
Think you are not quite seeing the wider picture, won - nothing, outplayed by sides on a far smaller budget than us, lack of creativity, and it’s not the using of the Black throws it’s the fact we use it every time, so oppo know exactly what’s coming.
whats our budget chris ? whats their budget? i dont know the clubs finances, do you chap? do you know felixstowes? its not all about budget anyway
It seems that any constructive feedback is deemed moaning and negative Surely we should be open to a diversity of views including constructive criticism We have communicated seperately about whether this should also be reflected @bout the culture of the podcast for greater bal@nce
im not telling anyone what to think roger everyones got an opinion and ill happily argue my case as for the podcast you do remember its a fan podcast yeah...please as i say every week (on my podcast) you got anything to ask/contriburte/say/critic im ALL EARS always good to get things out in the open
Personally enjoying reading the different view points. Not sure if Chris Agutter would bother to read them but if he does I'm sure he realizes all our comments are just opinions based on very little knowledge!
For me I thought we were playing better a couple of seasons ago when we seemed to get the ball forward more quickly and sides would get forced on the defensive by the speed of our attacks. Remember Jake Elliott storming up and down the right wing in matches (Chichester at home springs to mind) and Daniel Ajakayi sprinting on to through balls.
Now our transition play from defence to attack can be pedestrian unless Louis launches one of his kicks. Found it frustrating against Ashford. Big crowd in attendance, Ashford having lost at Hastings recently, and we spend the first 10-15 minutes passing the ball around our penalty area. People complained that the crowd was quiet- I would say our style of play made that inevitable.
Why didn't we start at a fast pace and put them under pressure?
People have pointed out we have injury problems. Yes, we badly miss a fit Gary Elphick and Marcus Goldsmith has been excellent this season but that is only 2 players.( Not counting the unfortunate Lloyd Dawes as he has never really been fit and available to play). Pretty sure Felixstowe were suffering from injuries the same as us and it's likely more will come along as the season progresses
Luckily we have a top manager who will be dealing with any issues in his own way. If I remember correctly the last time we won promotion we struggled before Christmas and then finished strongly- culminating in those epic play off wins at Dover and Tooting!
It’s not about arguing a case.
That’s too confrontational and implies there is a right and a wrong and a position to defend
It’s just recognising that there is a diversity of views and they are all equally valid and considering
Simple
I have been reading these posts with interest, I see one thing that jumps out at me, the "moaners" have come up with suggestions, observations and possible solutions, the "non moaners" have come up with ?........
Really interesting debate. I’m no expert but the team I am now working for up North has adapted and evolved as we have progressed through the Leagues. Our basic ethos is a high energy, high press, front foot, win your battles and play approach. Get the ball wide and into the box. There have been times when it’s been utterly attritional, and we’ve only been able to be really brave and get on the ball for small amounts of a game. We’ve settled on a system and stuck to it and every player in the squad understands their role. Our centre halves are expected to split and play, if possible, but sometimes we just have to go back to front quickly. Our squad has developed as we have been promoted and that process doesn’t stand still. The point I am making is that Chris and his coaching team will have identified exactly what is, in their minds, needed to get out of this division and he will stick to those beliefs for as long as he is in charge. If he needs to adapt, he will and make the very best of the squad and budget at his disposal. We all want promotion but so do lots of other clubs at every level - look at Wrexham and Stockport for example - the former has been spending huge sums, bringing in L1 players, gates of 9000+ and they are way off the leaders. Let’s be patient, we’re more than capable of going up and the club is heading in the right direction. As to entertainment, I’d rather see out a gritty horrible 1-0 win than a wonderful 4-3 defeat.
It’s not about arguing a case. That’s too confrontational and implies there is a right and a wrong and a position to defend It’s just recognising that there is a diversity of views and they are all equally valid and considering Simple
we are fans and have opinions my point is ill happily (politely) argue/discuss whatever the word is what i think as can all of you ...you made a comment on the podcast...come on the roundtable roger would be a pleasure to hear from you, I'm all for diversity of opinion...hopefully we will get a result against Whitstable and 🙏...maybe this is too much to hope a clean sheet too😂 so we can talk getting back on track
we can disagree its allowed 😁 there's no animosity.
I would go as far to suggest failure to be beat Whitstable will raise very serious questions about where we are going, and even a win will not be an answer.
