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The season so far
With thirteen games played Hereford United are fifth in the Conference. Last year at this time the Bulls were in the number one position. The statistics suggest that it's lack of goals that is losing the Bulls points. However looking at the performance both at Accrington and Dagenham, it could be said that the defence seems to be leaking goals.
The facts are that last season at this stage Hereford had played 13, won 10, drawn 2 and lost 1. This time having also played 13 games, Hereford have won 7, drawn 2 but lost 4.
The goal difference tells us that last season Hereford had scored 37 and conceded 16 giving a goal difference of 21. This season they have scored 24 and also conceded 16 giving a goal difference of only 8. In effect the Bulls have scored one less goal per game to date.
The big difference is the number of goals scored at Edgar Street, which have gone down from 19 last season to only eight this time. Six home games had been played in both seasons.
Last season the Bulls had occasional problems at the heart of the defence. After Andy Tretton was injured at Burton in the middle of September, several different players were brought in to partner Tony James. Firstly Tamika Mkandawire came to Edgar Street, then Anwar Uddin and for the last four Conference games Mkandawire returned.
Tretton only came back from injury in late February and it was then that James, Mkandawire and Tretton formed a partnership which was very successful. In the following six games, with Matt Baker in goal, the Bulls only conceded twice.
Admittedly Hereford had a great run at that time, but the fact that the defence is largely unchanged from last season suggests that the players themselves may not be the obvious reason for the poor form recently.
However how can it be explained that at Dagenham last week the Bulls conceded 18 corners? There was no game all last season when the Bulls conceded anywhere near 18 corners.
Looking at the midfield last March, one player, Scott Willis, was brought in as cover for Ben Smith. The ex-Lincoln player fitted in well alongside Jamie Pitman. The Bulls won every match that Willis was involved in. Rob Purdie was preferred to Danny Williams and Michael Rose was also picked for every game. Either Ryan Green or Simon Travis, who had just joined the Bulls, completed the middle.
This season Craig Stanley has taken Ben Smith's place and with Travis and Green, now he has recovered from injury, making up the line. Graham Hyde is currently holding Pitman's place whilst he recovers from his back injury. However the midfield is not pushing the ball forward as it did last season. And it is interesting to note that since Pitman has been out the Bulls have only gained four points from four games whereas when he was fit they amassed nineteen points from nine games. A much better return. And every virtually game when Pitman, and also Stanley, has started so has Stansfield!
The Bulls miss Steve Guinan. Lee Mills is not a direct replacement. If Mills was fit it might have worked, but he isn't and doesn't look likely to be. Why he was not subbed on Monday is unknown.Stansfield was brought on very late in the game, too late to have any time to make a contribution to the result. There must be a reason why Graham Turner and Jon Trewick decided not to use him, but it was not obvious to the supporters. Why leave your top goalscorer on the bench, unless he is carrying an injury?
It is noticable to fans that the Bulls are not playing the passing game as much this season. On times it's back to the high ball senario. Whilst Mills is on the field, most are directed at him but he is often being marked out of the game and so it is too easy to lose possession.
And what is more worrying is the number of times the midfield are passing the ball backwards as opposed to forwards. Hyde seems a particular fan of this, but he is not the only one. On one occasion in the Accrington match the ball was passed backwards from Simon Travis, who was midway in the Stanley half, through three or four others back to Johnathan Gould. Probably some fifty to sixty yards in distance and when Gould kicked it back out the Bulls lost possession.
One of the exciting parts of last season was the attacking football Hereford United played. The Conference was full of praise for this approach, the attendances were superb and the results were excellent.
This season the team has, on times, given up that approach and reverted to the formula used before Richard O'Kelly came to coach at Edgar Street. What seems odd is that Graham Turner appears to be going along with that type of play. If at the end of the season it is proved to have worked then supporters will be happy. At present many are questioning tactics. Only time will tell.