TB: An Aborted season review

There is a great irony that Hereford’s most expensive season to date, what with the sacking of two managers, wider coaching staff along with a big turnover of more expensive players, now won’t count. Or, even if it is counted, won’t affect the Bulls in any way. So, finance aside, let’s evaluate where we are at, and where we could possibly go.

At various points across the season we have either conceded too much or not scored enough with the pendulum at times swinging both ways. Reece Styche left us, having gone into the long list of in-form forwards who stop scoring upon signing – a list that includes Mika Kottila, Sean Canham, and Rowan Liburd who remains at the club but has fallen down the pecking order behind the veteran goal-getter John Lewis & his Partner Mooney, an emerging talent who can hopefully continue his development with us next season.

At the back, things have been shaky. Kieran Thomas has had a good season, as has Jared Hodgkiss, but they’ve both played out of position due to injuries, as well as being injured themselves. Martin Riley has had a tough season, being dropped from the starting XI after errors in the first few months, before playing injured in the last few, as Gowling’s elevation to management leaves one space open. The same could also be broadly applied to Danny Greenslade. The other Liburd meanwhile, despite having a good reading of the game, has become increasingly a weak link in the defence, his distribution becoming erratic and his marking at set-pieces leading to goals. The result of all this is that Rhys Davies has begun to make a more compelling case to play regularly, but square pegs and all mean that this process will take time. Jason Pope I believe will be a key part of the team next season also.

Next season, our Midfield might need to act as a buffer as well as a link. TOE has had an erratic year, falling out of favour under Slade before being recalled into action under Josh & Steve. However, this has come at the same time as Jordan Nicholson, at one point, our main goalscorer, being shipped out on loan. Alex Bray has had a tough season of injury as well, with him coming into fitness just as the season was coming to a close. Kyle Finn has had a bizarre year that might be better off forgotten, whilst Jacob Jagger Cane has hopefully benefited from the influence of Peter Vincenti, a winger whose stats painted a picture far brighter than his performances, at least goes the opinion of the people of the terrace. Pollock will hopefully play a more prominent role next season, leaving Tommy O’Sullivan, the slight enigma who continues to divide opinion. I like him, he helps to link the defence to the midfield and acts as a counter to the more attack-minded TOE and Nicholson. He’s not perfect, but with a tight budget expected for next season, I’d rather stick than twist.

Despite a tight budget for next year, I think the expectation should be for the team to be in and around the play-offs, playing positive football, and cutting out sloppy mistakes. This is much easier said than done, and with work commitments and University cramping down on my ability to watch and support, this will all have to be done without my season ticket money. May Josh have mercy on my soul…