Hayes & Yeading United Fans' Forum

All a bit meaningless, I know. But just saw that Sam Ashton managed 14 goals in just 17 starts this season. Hasn't played since November if I'm correct.

What might've been had he stayed fit...?

I really hope he remains with us next season and can have an injury-free campaign. With stats like that, he's the kind of player we need leading the line if we have hopes of promotion (and hopefully we do).

Player of the season

If I've got my numbers correct we were averaging 1.88 points per match before Hartley Wintney.

Fatefully, Kev reported

"top scorer Sam Ashton being helped from the field due to injury."

and from that match on we've averaged 1.26 points per match.

If we'd have continued our Ashton-form we'd be in the playoff zone now.

A whole season of our post-Ashton form would have had us in 15th place now. Yes, that's step 4, 15th place on form after his injury.

Now, we can't be sure that our decline is entirely down to Sam Ashton's absence, causation, correlation and all that. However, I have to wonder if not digging deep and recruiting a proven goal scorer to replace him is what cost us.

Hopefully, whoever is thinking about next season's recruitment has this covered!

Always has a decent goal record does Sam, event his first spell here was pretty outstanding.

Going forward into next season I just think it’s a risk re-signing him. Think he will always struggle to play more than half the games in any given season. Plagued throughout his recent career with knocks and then some really nasty long term injuries.

On the flip side to that, with an injury free season and the right service he could be 25+ goals a season and it’s something we’ve seriously lacked since Moses left.

Current group still have question marks for me.

Ebanda scores goals at Egham but struggled so far in a United shirt. Scoring only once since arriving.

Matthew only notched 3 so far.

Hinds a very gifted player probably our best in the final third but the amount of chances he has, he should have a much higher goal tally than he currently does. 10 in all competitions is way below his ability!!!!!

Hayles has great feet and balance glides pasts players with ease at times but not a natural when it comes to finishing! lacks a yard or two of pace to be devastating out wide.