* Div2 strugglings Hamilton get vote of confidence from Chairman *

THE BOARD of Hamilton today give their boss a vote of confidence.

While we were delighted, and surprised, to witness the 2nd win of the season yesterday vs GM, with 14 games played this is a poor return to our investment in the team.

The Board meet again at the end of October, and if results do not improve we shall consider a swap of manager within SESL.

Over to you Nick James....

THE BOARD
HAMILTON

Oh oh! The dreaded "vote of confidence"

As they say in Scotland, your managers jacket hangs on a shooglie peg...

i'm not sure if this one is lack of effort, so much as lack of talent!!!

Nick.... ?

Well i think its a bit harsh myself. I actually see the amount of effort that goes in to Ham's lineups every week and can categorically say that there is no lack of effort and that it is indeed just a lack simple of talent!!

I also note that there's no such "vote of confidence" for the likes of KIL, MOT and SM in division 1 or EF and EST in division 3 who all have either the same or even less points to their names!!

Well, well, well ... talk about kicking man when hes down!!!

Cheers for the support ALO, glad you pointed out the fact im not the only team under performing. But still, i will be the first to admit Hamiltons start to the season has been well below par, and can only be rivalled by everton. It certainly isnt lack of effort ... it isnt lack of talent ... i think it is down to lack of SESL experience and a lot of bad luck !!!

now im not one to compain or make excuses ... but here goes ....

Trainees
The main reason i have had a poor start to the season is that i have not always fielded my strongest side. I didnt think my side was strong enough to challenge to go up to DIV 1, so i decided a would build for the future ... i took on 3 new trainees, a keeper, a defender and a young french goal-scoring machine (whos... struggling to find the net! so far!). i have tried to train these players up as quickly as possible which was a bit of a mistake... going into games fielding 2/3 players with a low skill level has had a bigger impact than i expected on results. i should have been a bit more patient with these trainees and not played more than one at once ... in hindsight i should have been a bit more adventurous in the auctions and picked up a couple of already seasoned players, so i wouldnt have had to sacrifice so many points.

Bad Luck
Well this season i do feel that the refs have given me nothing this season ... its hard to get a break when you are down near the bottom of the league, and im just not getting any luck. i have had teams play suspended players against me, i seem to have the same dodgy russian linesmen every week, and my players have been punched and spat at (those chavs were escorted from the stadium).
Enough moaning ... whats really gone wrong ....???

This season in SESL i have really realised how important it is to have a good goalkeeper. i have a GK4/22 and a i took on a GK0/5 trainee. i have read about the 3 year rotation rule on the forum and this season i know how important it is having 2 good keepers. Now the young Austrian Wieser is a 0/15, its not so bad, but i could really do with a aged mid aged goalkeeper 2/20-25 for the future.

I cant just blame the goalkeepers for the bad start to the season. Looking back through my results this season i have lost 9 times in the league, 7 of those to just a single goal. there are 10 other teams in Div 2 who have conceded the same or more goals than Hamilton, my defense is pretty good ... so i guess iwill have to point the finger of blame at the other end of the field ... those lazy no good strikers! The Accies have only scored 12 goals in 14 games!!!! Now dont get me wrong ... Rafael Benitez would kill for a gaolscoring ratio like Hamiltons, but i expect more from a strikeforce containing FW 2/29, 4/22, 0/17 and a MA 5/19.

Even up against strong opposition like Stenhousemuir i had the lions share of the possession, made more goal scoring opportunities than them and still lost to a late 96th minute shinned goal. The Hamilton Boss will have to hold his hands up and take responsibility for the teams inabilities in front of goal ... It was a big mistake to accept Ricardo Hawthorns (STE manager) invitation for the HAM Strikeforce to train pre season with the STE team on a Didier Drogba coaching course. i have written a formal complaint to Hawthorn Leisure Ltd, organisers and sponsors of the coaching course, ill keep SESL members updated with their response and details of any other Rogue traders. Afterall, anyone with size 19 shoes, who plays with their laces tied together and has a club foot should not be able to take training courses.

Managerial Madness
Well, after i have moaned about refs, linesmen, trainees, fixture schedules, kits that blend into the crowd, late bus drivers disorganising the team and my strikeforce... i guess i should take a share of the responsibility.
When i first took over Hamilton Halfway through last season i was pretty dull, i had a fairly good squad of players, played 4-4-2 Normal every week and i had a good season. had a record breaking unbeaten run, slip out of 2 nd into the playoffs and narrowly lost, and everything seemed easy peasy!! ... This season i have been more involved and motivated with SESL, but not only did i make a mistake training up all my trainees together, but i have experimented with formations, and toyed with tactics too much. I do like to play around with formations and tactics, and i guess i am still fairly new to SESL so i am learning and testing things continuously. Though it has been fun, it hasnt helped my league position!!! But i will stop been such a tinkerman, after all, we knows what happened to claudio raneiri !!! RIP

So there you Have it, im still sure i can turn things around, now my trainees have been seasoned my squad is looking pretty good again. the only thing i would like is another good goalkeeper... and i want my forwards to start scoring! Big brother is watching me now so i have to work my way back up the table ...

" There's room at the top they are telling you still,
But first your learn how to smile as you kill " (Lennon, 74)

Well Chairman ... there you have it ... i dont think i have anything else to say except .....

PLEASE dont sack me!!! Please!! pleeeeeaassseee!!!!

I know that I'm underperforming this season, but that's all within my vision. The future-seasons are my goal with this team. And if you'll look good, I got four points last week and hope to continue that!!!

Managers rally round HAM Boss

After HAM boss came back with such a lengthy and somewhat tearful response to the Chairmans Vote of confidence (which has been likened within SESL to having a lame Donkeys head laying next to you when you awake startled in the middle of a Stenny winning the title nightmare) the managers seem to be rallying round in support of HAM boss Nick,

I personally know how 'Bad luck', 'lack of talent' and 'pain in the ass Refs' can drag a good team down, some would say i should have been sacked a long time ago being 8 seasons in charge of STE and still no silverware, been up to the first and back down to the third, some would say this is underperofming!

(Disclaimer: Deliberate mistake, pointing out that i have actually been STE boss for 13 seasons without silverware may lead to the boards dismisal of myself)

Its been said that a regular input on the forum like that will keep any skill-less manager in his job! Afterall its lack of EFFORT that gets managers the sack - right commish!?!?

(Disclaimer 2: Its not to be presumed at any point that STE boss wants HAM to stay up this season, and nothing would please him more that to see HAM boss at the foot of the 3rd next season..... but still TRYING hard!! )

Perhaps we could have a new division for HAM & SM

I bet I still come bottom

Robin

Wow - 13 seasons withiut silverware!! Does this make Ricky the least successful manager in SESL history?!

i cant argue with the stats... you do the Maths...
But still here i am, havent jumped ship yet, i could give you pages of excuses, but 1. i cant be bothered and 2. no ones interested ;-)

ill covered in winners medals before my STE playing career is over...

Go for it Ricky - I'm sure your long term plans will eventually yield some silverware. STE for the league cup double in season 26!!

Cheers
Ross
ABE

Poor Ricky - has the lack of SESL silverware influenced your decision to start supporting Chelsea now they are on a high ????

No im just kidding, i know you have supported them for at least 18 months ....

On a positive note ... maybe we can have an SESL christmas raffle, it may only be a box of Cadburys celebrations or some snowman socks but at least it will improve rickys chance of winning something??!!

Hold it Hold it Hold.. RIGHT THERE>... how did a topic about HAMs incredible under achieving side and lack of managerial ability get on to the topic of my long term failings?

Back to point at hand.... Sack HAm boss if he deosnt get out of the bottom 4 in the next 2 weeks....

Bold HAM and his brave Ball Control team tactic appear to have found favour with his players.

Good luck in your revival Nick.

It's hard to believe teams like Hamilton, Stranraer, Morton and Forfar are struggling at foot of Div 2 table.

One question -- when are Forfar planning on spending some of their bank,
or are they happy to give it away to bottom team due to Robin Hood rule?