I feel bad for the Bermuda Hogges, being winless so far, falling to Wilmington as of late(1-0). I hope they still have fans by the end of the season.

Having seen them play a game, I believe that they have more talent than their record indicates.

Their primary goal is to develop Bermudan players and the lessons that they are learning this first USL2 season will hopefully serve them well in the future.

Development is fine, there are camps for that(like the hounds have). But in the league you have to win games, which is what the fans turn out to see.

Middie, you are right, they do play in a league and they are trying to win games but one must also remember that the mission of this team is bigger than winning games in the USL.

It is to develop players for the Bermudan national team so that they can be better prepared when they face competition in Caribbean tournaments such as the Digicel and World Cup Qualification. It is also to help players develop so that they can find other opportunites outside of the Island.

If their sole purpose is to develop players, my guess is that they will not have any fans left. They need to win games to keep their supporters(imo).

The impression that I get is that they really don't care if they have fans or not. Or lets just say attracting fans is not their priority

Then the question is, how can they afford to pay for the league teams to visit out there(much less their own travel) when they have no fans?

They get the money from other means

To me it does not make sense that winning would not be their priority if they join the USL. I'm sorry, but that is my feeling on it.

like Goater and Lightbourn havd said, the main priority is to develop Bermudan players. That's why there are only Bermudans on the team. If they allowed "outside" players they'd have the best team in the league hands down.. I mean seriously, given the choice would you rather spend spring and summer in New Hampshire, Western Mass or Harrisburg or Bermuda....

I understand what you're saying Midnight, and I truly hope the Swine are competitive eventually, but that'll take time.

I am certain Bermuda have a business plan and know what they are doing. I am sure they entered the league with a plan for the future, and not just season by season like some clubs did.

They are committed to the football, and not doing it as an aside like the old flea-bags did.

The Hounds won plenty of games but you for one never went to watch them.

So cut the usual bs you hypocrite.

D_S, I see the true ROYAL coming out in you. What is so wrong with winning and developing players at the same time? As far as I know, everybody loves a winner.
You keep beating the HOUNDS, but the Royals might have had 1 winning season in 10 years and kept the same coach for the 10 longgggggggggg seasons........ It's good to see that they are getting some success with their youth program, but they are a pro sports team and they should put a winning pro team on the field.

Once again BT you read but do not understand.

I am not berating the flea-bags, but rather the worthless article that claimed to be their number 1 fan and chief coverer, who rather than go to the games, where he had managed to blag free entry into the press box, sat on his rear at home and listened to the radio, copied verbatum what the views were of the radio crew and passed them off as his own.

His hypocrisy in claiming fans would turn out with a winning team when he refused to go is pure bs as usual.

As for the Piglets, I am sure they would love to win every game this season, but the point I made was they would have worked into their plans the fact that as an expansion team, they might not have that good a season.

Exactly
Well said Doc. And my guess is the same thing applies to drawing in fans. Of course they'd like to have a full stadium every game; what team wouldn't? But at this point getting fans in isn't a priority.

I'm not saying that Bermuda has to fill their facility every game(but with their owners paying the way for the league to visit it would certainly help), only that they need to bring their average turnouts up to much more than it is now and winning would certainly help.
(And for the record, until the hounds moved to Falconi, I only missed about 2 home matches in 6 seasons)

The thing is, unless you have been privy to their business plan, you don't know this to be a fact.

Oh you know he knows everything Suz.

He is a legend in his own twisted mind.

I can actually understand why Chuckles feels like he does, and like Ratt I do understand where he is coming from. I would assume most teams do rely quite a bit on paying fans showing up. But it just isn't always the case and he needs to open his mind to other scenarios.

It probably would be nice to see Bermuda win a game or two this season, though believe me, I'm in no hurry to see it happen soon. Anytime after Saturday will be ok
At the same time, they are a rival and if they should somehow go the entire season w/o a win I won't lose any sleep over it either.

Somehow I did not think you would, Suz
I should not care about Bermuda, since I was not exactly in favor if them joining. But, at the same time, I hate to see them go winless. I don't know how they could afford to pay for this season, but I would hope that any sponsors they have would be supporting the Hogges at the matches.

I think you summed up my thoughts on this. To a certain extent I also hate to see them go without a win, but mostly I just don't care one way or another


Admittedly my memory isn't the best, but isn't Bermuda itself helping with expenses, since they are developing players for their national team? If not, they should be IMO

Bermuda need to rope in their most famous home grown talent. Shaun Goater.

I would prefer that they actually star winning this Saturday. Why put off to next Saturday what you can do this Saturday is what I always say (ok. May not "always" but this is definitely one of those times).

Someplace in the universe there is harmonic convergence or at least a full moon. :p

Flying pigs, blue moons, snow in hell etc ?

I'll be in rehab until Sunday. It will take me at least that long to deal with this

Chuckles can send his get well cards to.......

Suz,
3rd padded cell from the end,
The Looney Bin,
Richmond,
Va.

:rolleyes:

From The (Bermuda) Sun

Is winning everything?

That's funny (the timing of it; not the article itself). Wonder if someone has been reading these boards?

It does help to verify what some of us have been saying though. Good read, Ratt. Thanks for posting that

Heard the Kickers were put up in some nice digs for their stay. Would like to hear how the whole experience was for the fans and visiting players. Perhaps the Hogges are just adopting the you build it, they will come philosophy. All I know is that I sure would have liked to make the trip to find out.

It's interesting, after reading the article. I began this thread after reading another article in that paper.

Well thank you all for your concern about the Hogges.The prodigal son Shaun Goater did the business against New Hampshire with both goals.500 in attendance allegedley.The gripe in the Royal Gazette was that a local league game played next door to National Stadium at the "Den" home of the Champion Devonshire Cougars ,would have had at least 1'500 show up.
Now they have a win I think confidence will build.
Now my gripe is about your spelling,a native of Bermuda is a "Bermudian" not a bermudan.
I do like Dr Scrumpy's idea of losing being a "swine' & developing the "piglets' into angry Hogges.Thanks.
Cheers Almost a Bermudian Rev TT & COCO.

The question is when (if ever) they will need to bring in outside players to increase their level of competitiveness for reasons of financial survival.

Given that there are nearly 30 players on the roster, they could easily make room for 2 or 3 top players from elsewhere. That still leaves 27 or 28 spots open for players from Bermdua.

The MLS is a development league for American players, and they strike a nice balance between domestic and foreign players with their limits.

I know they expect to develop young talent from Bermuda, but it also helps to have a small number of first-rate players who can act as mentors and teachers to these younger players.

Goater has said as much:

(Source: http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007080228,00.html )