Hodges Signs For Hampton

[Russ_Rebel]

Totally agree with you brighton rebel everyone seems to be splashing money about. What kind of a season can we have now we have lost our top striker. Thats 20+ goals down the drain, i seriously think that unless Eddie makes a few good singing we will be in the sh*t.

Im sure a few others will be leaving too watch this space. I think a goalkeeper a defender and two strikers is the minimum requirement.

[A Rebel and a Saint]

good luck to him, now we need to start looking for a replacement...of all the places to go though....

[Chris]

Gutted. Surely there's a hefty wedge coming his way and good luck to him if he's getting it as well. If he wanted he's easily good enough to get in a team challenging in the Confernace South, if not higher. So very disappointing from our angle...

 

Saw Hampton three times last season. Nice enough club and really good supporters, but not a great side. They have always liked the long-ball game under Devonshire - a punt up field winning the ball or second ball in midfield and making the game a physical one.

 

Good luck and thanks for the service Hodgey, but disappointing you consider Hampton to be your best option when you could have done SO much better.

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

Ian scored a third of all goals last season and that was the only thing that kept us up considering how leaky the defence has been.

 

I think a big thankyou needs to be said to him for sticking with us this long as without him we could have been going down with windsor.

 

Looks like the two oxford strikers mentioned on an other thread will need to be a priority now.

 

One more reason to give Devonshire stick next season!

[Chris]

Yep, Eddie has to pull another one out of the bag - just hope we don't loose Gareth as well, but if we do it will be to a league club.

 

Mind you the season before last we had Matt Murphy doing the business and did not miss Ian's goals (maybe bring him back!)

[Matt]

Pretty gutting news this. Hodges guarantees 20+ goals a season and gives 100% even when not fully fit, but to lose him to a fellow Ryman club, and especially Hampton, is pretty galling. But by all accounts he was on a sizeable chunk of our playing budget, so God knows how much more Hampton offered him - because I really couldn't see him moving to another club at the same level, even if they have been in and around the play-offs the last few seasons. Another case of money talking at this level perhaps.

 

On the other hand I would like to thank him for always giving 100% for us, and of course the goals, and wish him good luck. One of the best players we've had in ages, and it really gave the team a boost knowing that he was leading the line. We can't begrudge him for wanting to better himself and progress, but I would have thought it would be Conference South or above - not Hampton. If his real reason for moving is that he thinks he can achieve success at Hampton, then fair enough I guess...

 

We must also remember (or try to) that one player doesn't make a team. Though Hodgey is going to be very hard to replace, I'm sure Eddie is working hard to do just that - and going back to money, this means more will be available to bring in players.

[Chris]

Also just to add I hope Eddie looks for some experience as well in his new signings as I really think we need that now in the side.

[Matt]

Me too. I can't see some Oxford kids being able to replace Hodgey, promising as they might be. We need experienced Ryman League campaigners in attack and defence.

[GarySTFC]

http://www.hamptonfc.com/Images/Photos/hodgesigns.JPG

[Barry Scott]

ah come on. He looks trolleyed! And what is that, a colouring book?

[Martin]

I really am stunned that he has left us for another Ryman League club. Never thought that would happen. Sure Hampton will be challenging for a play off spot but there will be at least two other teams stronger than them so he is not improving himself. If he had gone to a Connie South team, AFC or Chelmsford I could have accepted it and said good luck I hope you make it as a pro but to go to Hampton - it just sours the whole thing for me. I had always had a sneaky feeling Hodgey would stay at the club for 10 years plus and set a post war scoring record. Pretty naive.

 

Personally, I think we should offer a fair chunk of Hodges cash to Matt Murphy. We can't rely on kids and need an experienced quality campaigner up front. Eddie faces a tough job now.

 

Oh and I meant to add I bet Seedel is thrilled to see him arrive!

[Guest]

we have to get experience in now. surely there are strikers who are proven at this level that we could attract to slough. really we need to get 2or3 strikers in and hope G stays. at least 2 experienced defenders at this level are a most if we are to survive.

[Barry Scott]

experience costs money which the owners of the club are not willing to spend. Compared to what Hodges was (allegedly) on and how much you would need to spend to get in comparable quality you'd be lucky to get two players if that.

[Roger Rebel]

I just dont know what to say i agree with Martin,never thought he would go to club like Hampton, he was a nice bloke but a bit thick.

What Nibbler said is true we dont seem to attract backers with money,so we will just carry on penny pinching as usual perhaps its time we had new backers.

[Guest]

Good luck and I hope all goes well next year.

Lets hope no more leave but I can not help feeling there will be more. We need a cash injection and fast and gain some backers who are serious about taking this club forward.

[Woody SUFC]

Think it's quite funny how you lot think your at the same level as Hampton! Hampton are a club that are looking to go up, Slough are a club looking to stay up!

 

Good luck in finding a replacement! He is class.

[Barry Scott]

looking to stay up? I think we're treading water in concrete shoes but then again, that's just my opinion.

[BFR]

No, what is funny is the fact Windsor would have a chance of beating us without Hodgey, but you got relegated!

[Martin]

Also, I don't think anyone denied that Hampton will probably do better than Slough next season but simply expressed disappointment that Hodgey did not choose to step up a level in the Pyramid.

[Matt]

Well Hampton really should be looking for a serious title push this season. Their attack is sorted, so if the rest of the team is too, then they should have a very good season.

 

If Hodgey could score 26 goals for a fairly shot-shy team like Slough last season, I can see him scoring bucketloads for Hampton. I guess I just expected a Conference South team to come in for him, or even AFC Wimbledon - he'd be a big hit there too.