Hitchin Town Football Club
Founded 1865, Reformed 1928
Robbie O'Keefe column
Sunday, October 19 2003
There’s been a lot of talk recently about changing our style of play in order to get out of our current run and improve our league position.
Some of our supporters want to see us roll our sleeves up, battle away and introduce a more physical element to our game. It has been suggested in some quarters that we may have to sacrifice some of our footballing principles – fill the team with grafters rather than players.
It’s a tricky one, because you need both in any team and we already have players who are prepared to “dig in” and give 100%-plus, although this quality is not always instantly recognisable in some of our players. But there is no doubt that we need more of this element, and this is why I signed Paul Abbott on loan this week – he is one of those players who can combine technical skills with the ability to get stuck in for the sake of the team.
There’s no question, however, that we need to work hard to improve our current situation, but at the moment, we are suffering not from lack of commitment but from individuals being inconsistent and showing a lack of discipline that is costing us dear. One good result may change all that, and I am hoping for three good performances before we travel to Wivenhoe on November 1 in the FA Trophy.
