The New Look Team

[NickR]

I was wondering what people think of the team/squad so far. There are certainly a few good players that have been brought in. Lee Elam looks a class above. Charlie Taylor looks very good and I think Wormull looks solid. They are the three players who have caught my eye so far.

 

Not very impressed with Sigere or Searle so far to be honest. I still think it was a mistake to release Danny Kerrigan. I really hope that Sigere isn't going to be in the team from the off. Just doesn't seem to know what he's doing in my opinion. I know he has scored a few goals whereas Kirk Jackson is yet to get off the mark but I think Jackson looks a lot sharper. It has to be Kirk and Charlie to start.

 

Also why has Mark Graham not yet featured? The guy is class!

 

 

[Digger The Cat]

I can only comment on the Chelmsford match. Sigere along with Jackson and Taylor look like very good signings. Sigere has the physic and the experience to be in the right place at the right time, hence why he has score a few goals. I have no doubt once the team gets to know each other they will produce more goals and competition to get either of the places up front will only benefit the team.

Mark Graham played at the Chelmsford game, not the formation that suited his position.

 

I think there have been some excellent signings overal, but I was also a little sad to see the line up yesterday. There were none of last seasons players in the first eleven.

 

Onwards and Upwards.

[NickR]

I too am a little sad that so little of last seasons squad have been retained.

 

I realise that in order too progress new signings needed to be made. However, I think that the amount of signings has been a bit drastic. My feeling towards Hornchurch hasn't changed but it might take a while to buid up an affection for the team itself. Our team which acheived a good level of success last season has just been booted out and replaced by a new team it seems.

 

[Uncle Urchin]

all good points but we must accept thast we have a new manager with a new brief....win this championship....

 

I too had great affection for most of our old team...but I also had great affection for the team before that and also the one before that when we took over...

 

as you move up through the ranks then you have to bring in players that can perform at that new level....

 

interesting that some of the players from last year had actually played at the higher level but had then dropped down to us last year.....could they be expected to return to the level and make it when they hadn't previously....

 

well its not our shout...the new manager thought not....

 

Ziggy looked poor when I saw him play against Crawley and I voiced that opinion....last night he looked different class and I've now changed my opinion.....

 

Searle in my opinion will prove to be the best left back in the league...I have absolutely no doubt about that....

 

'tis all about opinions after all...

 

the one thing that does jump out at me so far is the first touch that all these players have....its different class to previous teams and is critical to retention of posession at this level...

 

some of our passing and posession play against crawley and again last night was top quality stuff....

 

the three under 19's who came on last night were superb as well...

 

yes its all change but unfortunately thats always the name of the game in football...weymouth and H&W are going for this championship big style and have both made very good signings...

 

a lot of them....

 

as always thurrock and grays will not be far away and Lewes are also at it with rebuilding in a serious way...

 

we'll find out soon enough....thats for sure

 

[Lord]

I'm back!!

 

Haven't seen any games yet this season, although it seems that we have had some mixed results. Won't be able to get to the Canvey game on Friday and are now waiting for the serious action to get under way. All I will say is that teams in the non-league set up do change from season to season and when a new manager arrives on the scene. The same happened at the start of last season as well. Seriously, how well do you think last seasons team would have done with the likes of Kimble, Joppo, Risley and Cripps in it?? It would have probably struggled, those players were good for the level they played at, but as we stepped up a division, better players had to come in. The same must apply this season as well. I know we have got attached to some players, I for one was very disappointed to see Keeling and Vinny go, but life goes on. None of the players that left are irreplaceable and to be honest, I think that most of those that did go wouldn't have been good enough to get into Garry Hill's team.

 

[Digger The Cat]

Totally agree Uncle and Lord, but we have to look at what is happening in football where they are starting to realise that it is not money that makes a good team, it is the manager and the team spirit.

Look at Iain Dowie and what he achieved with a shoestring budget, look at Greece and the european championship, who would have bet of either of those teams getting to where they are today.

 

I am looking forward to Friday to make a comparison, but it is not really that important or is it!

 

[Uncle Urchin]

money doesn't guarantee success Digsy.....but it does allow for a full time set up and at our level that makes the difference...

 

interestingly enough...our wage bill is less this season than it was last season...

 

yup..surprised me too but true nonetheless....

 

we'll all have our views as to where the team is at and what its capable of soon enough...

 

personally I've already seen enough to know that this is by far and away the strongest ever Urchin squad...

[NotTheRealSteveWest]

I think the time for talking will soon be over, it now our job to make these boys feel welcome at our stadium, get behind the boys and see how far we can go.

I've seen a couple of these friendly games and already I can see a good potential here this season.

I can honestly not see any reason why we cannot win this league at a canter.

COME ON THE URCHINS!

 

[Nigel D]

I'm very optimistic with Garry Hill in charge.

 

Couldn't believe what I read on teletext other day about Hornchurch bidding £100,000 for a Chester Striker!

 

Loadsamoney!

 

ps

Raver, hope you've re-newed yr WH S/T.

 

[NickR]

Nige, I decided not to renew my West Ham season ticket this year. Its more a case of money than anything else. Its not cheap. I will still go to quite a few games but I would rather not pay in advance.

Rather not let that money grabbing board have any more of my hard earned cash in any case.

[Nigel D]

Fair nuff Raver.

Unc will be pleased though!

 

 

[NickR]

Why would Unc be pleased?

 

I'm going over Tilbury next season, if only for the burgers <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Nigel D]

Unc will hope you'll now invest your time and doe in the Urchins, which is a good cause but only when you've spent the majority of it on following the Hammers! <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

 

[Urchino]

I have been impressed so far i must say with the quality of football in the matches i have seen, Crawley and Boreham Wood.

 

I'm impressed with Lee Elam slightly worried about his fitness though <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. Simon Wormull has got to have one of the best crosses in non league football, Saun Carey will be an absoulute Gem to have in midfield.Lee Matthews has come as a pleasant surprised i think i was slighty brainwashed by Dagenham fans last seasons as wasn't impressed by looked good with MCarthy against Boring wood and with Clarkie against Crawley. I hear great things about Ziggy in the matches i don't watch was apparantlly brilliant against Shelbourne and biggleswaid and 4 goals in those matches to me tells the story.

 

Agree totally about the emotional side of things but i said the same last season and we got to know and like the players. People like Charlie Taylor has already captured the fans imagination !

 

The only one not to impress me so far sadly is Kirk Jackson as he is yet to score he does work his socks of, saying that i have great confidence in the guy and his career speaks for himself the goals will come once the big one starts.

[NickR]

The difference with last year is that the team slowly changed throughout the season. We still had a few of the previous seasons players in the line up.

 

This time its just a whole different line up. Obviously change was needed but in my opinion

maybe a little too many changes have taken place.

 

Still can't wait for the season though. Its gonna be a good one.

 

I really hope we can do well in the FA cup again. It would generate even more publicity. This time maybe the Ref will not have the final say <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

[Lord]

But most of those changes happened throughout the season last year, which resulted in players not seeming to know their position and that of their colleagues. This time though, the new team have had the opportunity to complete a full pre-season training together and go out at the start of the season as a team. I reckon things will be fine, doubt the new team will need long to find their feet.

[NickR]

Good point.