If you had to describe Hereford's performances during the first half of the season, 'must do better' will be a fair assessment.
Although a lot of supporters would probably be much harsher in their assessment.
There was a lot of optimism in the summer that the Bulls could have a good season and be 'there or thereabouts'. Bradford (Park Avenue) got into the play-offs during the previous campaign having lost 15 games and accumulating 65 points. And with no northern teams coming down from the National League and Stockport and Chorley both going up, the feeling was that it was a great opportunity for Hereford to get into the top seven.
Well, at the halfway point, Russell Slade's side are nine points off the play-off positions, with a vastly inferior goal difference.
But both Boston and Gateshead - who are 8th and 9th respectively - have only played 18 games so you would think they would soon get into into the top seven, meaning that Hereford will be even further adrift.
So what has gone so wrong at Edgar Street? Many fans believe that the majority of players are simply not good enough. But they weren't saying that in in pre-season.
There was a lot of excitement among supporters following Reece Styche's signing due to his prolific form in National League North. And by linking up with Rowan Liburd - another player who had a very good record in the division - the feeling was that Hereford had a strike partnership that could get the club promoted.
Fellow new signing Brandon Hall was touted as one of the best goalkeepers in the league, while Jordan Nicholson scored 11 goals for Darlington last season from out wide. Jared Hodgkiss added a lot of experience at right-back, with Martin Riley adding steel in the centre of defence. And despite coming from a Weston-Super-Mare side who finished bottom of National League South, Jacob Jagger Cane was seen as being one of the best players in the division.
However, now a lot of players are getting criticism due to their poor performances on the pitch. Of course, they have to bear some of the brunt and they will know that they have played nowhere near their capabilities for many matches this season. But has it been all down to them?
For the second successive season, Hereford have sacked their manager early in the season and that will undoubtedly cause upheaval.
Marc Richards - who of course was a Head Coach rather than a manager - was dismissed just three games into the season after being given a full pre-season. Despite many supporters believing he wasn't the right person for the job, the timing of the decision still left a lot of people scratching their heads.
Tim Harris remained as Head of Football to help with 'the transition' before a new manager was appointed. When Russell Slade was announced as the new guy, everyone stood up and took notice. Here was someone who had managed hundreds of games in the Football League, and now he was at Hereford. Surely the only way was up? However, it seems that will take much longer than many people had hoped for.
Of course, no one has a given right to win any game, but 25 points from 21 games for a club as big as Hereford is a miserly return.
Slade started his tenure with three wins from five games, but the team's form from thereon in has been dreadful. Apart from the HFA County Challenge Cup, there been no victories in any competition since October 1, with early exits in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy.
Many fans believe having Harris remain as Head of Football following Richards' departure was wrong and Slade should have total control of first team affairs. Harris subsequently handed in his resignation following the humbling 3-0 reverse to King's Lynn in the Trophy at the end of November.
Fans were hopeful that the tide would finally turn and encouraging home draws against Farsley Celtic and York seemed to indicate that it was imminent. But those results were backed up by 2-0 defeat at Curzon Ashton and a bore 0-0 home draw against Guiseley.
And there have simply been too many occasions of 'taking one step forward and two steps back'. We have heard a lot about consistency and of course, if the Bulls had been far more consistent this season then they would be much higher up in the table.
But words are cheap, somehow the management and players have to take action, and fast. Players have come in on loan to try and add some quality, but that has only led to the squad being stretched, resulting in players going the other way on loan. One of them was Liburd, while Tom Owen-Evans - who has somehow gone from being the club's best attacking player to a bit-part squad player - is another.
Supporters will accept defeats as long as players show plenty of effort and 'really go at teams'. Sadly, there have been far too many occasions this season when they have failed to deliver on both counts.
Looking at the Guiseley game in particular, there was plenty of effort and it was a competitive game. But two shots on target all game by the home team is poor and unacceptable. The next three games are very much winnable are all take place within the next week. But plenty of 'winnable' games have turned into draws and defeats this season. And two games against a Kidderminster side who have picked up under the interim tenureship of Jimmy Shan may not be as comfortable as it possibly looked a few weeks ago. But three points on Boxing Day will surely breed some much needed confidence and hopefully result in the club kicking on during the second half of the season. If it doesn't, then we could be in for a very miserable next few months.
Thankfully, it looks as if Blyth Spartans and Bradford (PA) are nailed on for the two relegation places, so the Bulls shouldn't get sucked into any dangerous territory at the bottom. So maybe mid-table obscurity is the best we can hope for and then try again next season. Unless (and it's a big unless) we can somehow go on a great run and force our way into the play-off places? One can only hope!
Have a great Christmas and let's hope for some festive cheer on Boxing Day and a great New Year. COYW!
Although a lot of supporters would probably be much harsher in their assessment.
There was a lot of optimism in the summer that the Bulls could have a good season and be 'there or thereabouts'. Bradford (Park Avenue) got into the play-offs during the previous campaign having lost 15 games and accumulating 65 points. And with no northern teams coming down from the National League and Stockport and Chorley both going up, the feeling was that it was a great opportunity for Hereford to get into the top seven.
Well, at the halfway point, Russell Slade's side are nine points off the play-off positions, with a vastly inferior goal difference.
But both Boston and Gateshead - who are 8th and 9th respectively - have only played 18 games so you would think they would soon get into into the top seven, meaning that Hereford will be even further adrift.
So what has gone so wrong at Edgar Street? Many fans believe that the majority of players are simply not good enough. But they weren't saying that in in pre-season.
There was a lot of excitement among supporters following Reece Styche's signing due to his prolific form in National League North. And by linking up with Rowan Liburd - another player who had a very good record in the division - the feeling was that Hereford had a strike partnership that could get the club promoted.
Fellow new signing Brandon Hall was touted as one of the best goalkeepers in the league, while Jordan Nicholson scored 11 goals for Darlington last season from out wide. Jared Hodgkiss added a lot of experience at right-back, with Martin Riley adding steel in the centre of defence. And despite coming from a Weston-Super-Mare side who finished bottom of National League South, Jacob Jagger Cane was seen as being one of the best players in the division.
However, now a lot of players are getting criticism due to their poor performances on the pitch. Of course, they have to bear some of the brunt and they will know that they have played nowhere near their capabilities for many matches this season. But has it been all down to them?
For the second successive season, Hereford have sacked their manager early in the season and that will undoubtedly cause upheaval.
Marc Richards - who of course was a Head Coach rather than a manager - was dismissed just three games into the season after being given a full pre-season. Despite many supporters believing he wasn't the right person for the job, the timing of the decision still left a lot of people scratching their heads.
Tim Harris remained as Head of Football to help with 'the transition' before a new manager was appointed. When Russell Slade was announced as the new guy, everyone stood up and took notice. Here was someone who had managed hundreds of games in the Football League, and now he was at Hereford. Surely the only way was up? However, it seems that will take much longer than many people had hoped for.
Of course, no one has a given right to win any game, but 25 points from 21 games for a club as big as Hereford is a miserly return.
Slade started his tenure with three wins from five games, but the team's form from thereon in has been dreadful. Apart from the HFA County Challenge Cup, there been no victories in any competition since October 1, with early exits in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy.
Many fans believe having Harris remain as Head of Football following Richards' departure was wrong and Slade should have total control of first team affairs. Harris subsequently handed in his resignation following the humbling 3-0 reverse to King's Lynn in the Trophy at the end of November.
Fans were hopeful that the tide would finally turn and encouraging home draws against Farsley Celtic and York seemed to indicate that it was imminent. But those results were backed up by 2-0 defeat at Curzon Ashton and a bore 0-0 home draw against Guiseley.
And there have simply been too many occasions of 'taking one step forward and two steps back'. We have heard a lot about consistency and of course, if the Bulls had been far more consistent this season then they would be much higher up in the table.
But words are cheap, somehow the management and players have to take action, and fast. Players have come in on loan to try and add some quality, but that has only led to the squad being stretched, resulting in players going the other way on loan. One of them was Liburd, while Tom Owen-Evans - who has somehow gone from being the club's best attacking player to a bit-part squad player - is another.
Supporters will accept defeats as long as players show plenty of effort and 'really go at teams'. Sadly, there have been far too many occasions this season when they have failed to deliver on both counts.
Looking at the Guiseley game in particular, there was plenty of effort and it was a competitive game. But two shots on target all game by the home team is poor and unacceptable. The next three games are very much winnable are all take place within the next week. But plenty of 'winnable' games have turned into draws and defeats this season. And two games against a Kidderminster side who have picked up under the interim tenureship of Jimmy Shan may not be as comfortable as it possibly looked a few weeks ago. But three points on Boxing Day will surely breed some much needed confidence and hopefully result in the club kicking on during the second half of the season. If it doesn't, then we could be in for a very miserable next few months.
Thankfully, it looks as if Blyth Spartans and Bradford (PA) are nailed on for the two relegation places, so the Bulls shouldn't get sucked into any dangerous territory at the bottom. So maybe mid-table obscurity is the best we can hope for and then try again next season. Unless (and it's a big unless) we can somehow go on a great run and force our way into the play-off places? One can only hope!
Have a great Christmas and let's hope for some festive cheer on Boxing Day and a great New Year. COYW!