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Bulls News' resident Baggie Simon Wright sees Saturday's game with his Hawthorns hat on:
I guess they surprised me for once. Prior to the Walsall match I was lying joint third in the Bulls Prediction competition, thinking if I, a mere exiled part-timer, can be so right so often compared to the regulars – why is it that the regulars can’t see it? Something to do with regulars being regulars I suppose and confusing belief with reality. The head and heart conflict.
I predicted a 2-1 defeat by the Saddlers. After my bout of pessimism a draw was a positive result. I’d seen both the Scunthorpe and Leeds matches and my prediction was based on those. Hereford are a brave, willing, crew but we all know that the latest bunch of borrowed strikers are nowhere near as sharp as last years. Theo wants to make his name at Watford. We couldn’t afford Hooper’s wages and Tony Mowbray still believes that Shergar McDonald is a Premier League forward. Shergar is fortunate to have such a determined sponsor – few other Albion people can defend a forward who has made 31 appearances off the bench and has yet to score. He came on in the first minute at Middlesbrough last week but was taken off by half-time – such was the miserable nature of his performance. There is something impressive within Shergar , a something to do with his pace and strength that might come forth in the less intensive surroundings of the Third Division – but Hereford can’t afford to wait much longer. The latest bunch of hired guns is manly firing blanks.
Chadwick is not the answer. It is a shame that the bloke is probably just a normal guy who is down on his luck but still trying to earn a living for his family. Poor sod is probably wondering quite what went wrong and how it came to this –trying to impress at the bottom end of the pro game, not so long ago he was in the Championship. Cynical me wonders whether he was really ill for the Walsall match or can see the writing on the wall. The explanation on the official site sounds slightly shall we say off-beat? Buts that just my opinion.
Hereford’s other forwards generally don’t impress either and I do wonder whether the formation is at fault. Both Done and Hudson-Odoi have regularly struggled in the 4-5-1 line-up where they are often marked in their rather rigid positions yet are expected to defend too. Its not really coming off for either of them hence Done is already relegated to the sidelines.. If we must play only one up front, which is highly debatable anyway, then why not vary things a little and have one attacking player with a free rein just behind the striker – a la Manchester United? Hudson-Odoi can make better use of his speed if he is not tightly marked and doesn’t have additional responsibilities.
A home draw against strong opposition is sort of OK – its more than I expected anyway. Expect brave clichés of “its something to build on” from the club. Trouble is, United’s position is no different to what it was before kick-off. We are still bottom, still adrift and still badly need a goalscorer (not to mention support). Next game is away at Ice Station Zebra (if you go, you’ll understand) Oldham certainly have goalscorers including Kidderminster’s best known ex-striker who our very own Tucka Trewick did so much to elevate his career.. Even though the Latics have slipped off the top recently, I predict a 3-1 victory for the home side. Lets see, huh?
