Former Hereford player Rob Purdie wasn't sure why Hereford didn't play with the width needed to exploit Brackley Town's three man defence yesterday.
Hereford were knocked out of the FA Trophy in the second round by the holders, with Purdie unable to get his head around why Hereford were trying to play everything through the middle of the park.
He said the game was in need of two wingers and when Keyon Reffell came off the bench it gave him a glimmer of hope - only for him to be put up front where he was largely ineffective.
"They seem to have the right players, but they didn't have any width," said Purdie.
"When you're playing against a back three, you need your wingers to provide width because that's where the space is.
"Everything was coming through the middle where they've got their three midfielders, their three defenders. I'm guessing Hereford's game plan was to find pockets in and around midfield which they did do for the first ten or fifteen minutes.
"But when that stopped because Brackley got wise to it there was no plan B. It was screaming out for two wingers and when Keyon (Reffell) came on I thought perfect, out on the right wing, get him on the ball, get him running at people, get crosses, get set-pieces but he went upfront.
"I was surprised at that, but the energy is there and the endeavour is there but it's that little bit of quality and know how.
"The average age of the squad over the last month has got higher so they need that maturity which they haven't got yet."
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| Purdie (left) with Mike Symons - the only player still at the club from the inaugural season. |
Purdie left the club in the summer, but the wholesale changes made since Tim Harris and Marc Richards came to the club means he now only has a handful of familiar faces to greet when he watches games at Edgar Street.
He thinks those four or five remaining players have a tough task to keep their places at the club into next season.
Martin Horsell is the latest player to leave, and along with Ryan Green, Purdie says these are the particular sad ones.
Purdie said: "I've seen a lot of my mates go over the last three or four months, but Horse was a particularly sad one, the same as Greeny.
"That only leaves Symo who was there in the first season. Horse was pivotal in getting us out of that first league at Alvechurch, and in the semi-final at Salisbury to get us to Wembley he made a couple of great saves.
"It's really sad to see someone like him leave the club, but it's a sign of the times. There's been a big shift and when I come in now I've probably got four or five faces to say hello to.
"Those four or five have got a big job to be here next season because that's the beast of football. When a new manager comes in you get a big turnover of players because he wants his own players."