Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Caddis's really blunt one-word assessment after one of the worst-ever first halves

Hereford boss Paul Caddis didn't mince his words when asked his thoughts on Tuesday's 1-1 draw against AFC Telford United.

In what was a game of two halves, a brutally honest Caddis said Hereford were crap in the first 45 - and it was one of the worst since he's been in charge.

He added: "I thought we were so lethargic. We were so reactive rather than being proactive in the game, we were second best to every second ball, every first ball. We didn't win enough first contacts. We weren't stopping enough crosses. We weren't getting close enough to people.

"All basics of football that has to come within, it has to come from a desire, from the individual to go and stop a cross, or go and put a tackle in, or go and scream at your mate to be organised.

"I don't think it was a lack of organisation to be fair, it was just a poor half, one of the poorest we've had since we've been here."

Having avoided being reduced to 10 men as Kyle Howkins had a red card rescinded and Theo Richardson saving a penalty, Telford broke the deadlock in first half stoppage time as Matty Stenson scored from a free kick.

Caddis singled out new signing Charlie Cooper, a midfielder on loan from Yeovil until January, as the only player worthy of praise after 45 minutes where he felt his side could have been three or four goals down - and the only positive is they weren't.

But an improved performance from the Bulls in the second half, having been completely overrun before the break, saw them earn a point with Sam Osborne netting.

When asked why the second half was different, Caddis admitted he couldn't give interviewer Carson Wishart an answer as he said: "With all due respect, if I could, I'd be managing in the Premier League. It's difficult at times."

But he heaped praise on Telford who had scored 10 goals in the two games leading up to their trip to Edgar Street.

"Listen, the opposition first and foremost, they're a good side," he said. "They've got some players that we tried to get that we couldn't get.

"They've got quality in their side. They score a lot of goals."

He added: "I try and focus on what we can do better rather than what the opposition have done to us. We lacked a bit of personality, I keep going on about personality, mentality. You can be the best technical player in the world if you've not got a bit of personality.

"Especially in the first half and rightly so everyone was frustrated and that's when you've got to show what you've got within yourself and go and try and get on the ball and go and pass it.

"To be honest, in the first half I thought the only person that done it was Charlie Cooper. I thought he got on the ball and tried to make things happen for us and used his experience."