Hey, Hammerman & hamfan, we all call it as we see it. You guys obviously have a different opinion to me.
David Irving has always done the best he can on a limited budget for Wilmington Hammerheads.
I have watched them over the last 5 years, and certainly 4 out of five have been extremely enjoyable.
With regard to the veterans it is not only playing ability but also financial restrictions that come into play.
Regarding Junior his desire is no use at all unless he can deliver a performance. Despite being extremely popular and a nice guy, that doesn't win the Hammerheads games. In the five years I have watched the Hammerheads and having watched soccer for over 45 years, there is no way that Junior has ever been a starter. He has in the poast had the ability to come on as a 2nd half substitute and turn games round. One of my fondest memories is how he was a major part in turning an 0-2 game into a 4-2 victory. However all that being said, I still believe Junior needs to show a great deal more than what I've seen in pre-season.
As for expecting Irving to 'go back across the pond' - it ain't going to happen!

The budget has no impact on the veterans. They played for the love of the game. No one is going to live on the amount of those contracts. Irving hung out the veterans plain and simple. Some of the returning players were promised contracts and if he had no intention of resigning them he should have told them early. Where is Irving's honor? I guess he forgot the meaning. Will support the boys through thick and thin but if Irving can't find a way to win how can he justify his position? If Irving can't win what good is he to the club? Maybe he would like to donate some of his salary to help obtain better talent. Lets see how his first home game goes tonight. Oh yes remember our society judges everything on wins & losses No wins Less fans---Less fans Less revenue for the club. Go Hammerheads

wow! ham fan what are you talking about? well, they lost tonight 2-1,they had guts.... but no glory......when will they play as a team?????

Yes the team had a new physical look tonight Bell looks like he is the new "enforcer" for the team. He is agressive but should have got a red card with the late cheap shot against Western Mass. Maybe he was remembering how Mass took cheap shots last year but he was not there trying to remember this is Irving's new great team. Hammerman your right not much team play. Hughes made a great cross though. I really did not understand why Hudson decided to slap the Mass player except he thought he might incite him to get his second yellow card. I expect more from a player/coach. Not a good example for the team either. Charlotte crushed Mass and we only scored 1. Where is the defense? Where is the offense. We took more shots at the ice cream truck than we did at the goal. Junior got in the game took a quick shot and then fell silent. This doesn't look good but this is what Irving wanted. Hey "Nails" tell Irving www.travelocity.com if he starts early enough he might save on his one ticket home.

Hamfan,
If all your going to do is take cheap shots at Coach Irving, at this early stage of the season, you are no true fan.
If you bothered to check your facts before posting such inane comments, you views may carry a little more credence.
1) Both starting strikers were absent tonight through injury.
2) This was only the second game Kirby & Bell have started together in central defence.
3)The budget DOES have an impact on your veterans, they asked for and got increases last year, but failed to deliver the peerformances on the field.
If you are going to be so negative at such an early point in the season, maybe its you who needs the palne ticket out of here.

Wilmington has an airport? ::evil grin::

Nails I'm just following Irving's new coaching strategy.( the it's my not fault blame someone else strategy) Injuries happen, players are not familar with with each other end up playing side by side but a Good coach plans for all contingencies.

Bell played great except for 1 silly play I think he will end up as one of the true stars of the team this year. but the midfield was non-existent.

I've supported the Hammers since they started playing and will continue hey I even like the Orioles so I am very familar with loosing. Coaches can loose focus the same as players and just because your "English" doesn't mean you're a great coach. Nails time to wake up and watch the game not make constant excuses for bad play

Mikey we have an airport It just doesn't fly to any where. But who would want to leave paradise?

I have to agree with hamfan about Coach Irving. I know one player who was excellent on the pitch and wasn't asked back because Irving didn't like him personally. This season, there were at least a couple players who thought they were coming back, promised contracts, then never heard anything else, without even being given enough time to try out for other teams. These guys were heavily involved in the community and that's one reason the fans, especially parents bringing their kids, come out to the games- to see their favorite players. When they get screwed like that, I also begin to think it would have been a good thing for Irving to go to Portland last year. Yes, it's important to win, but what about awarding loyalty and dedication to the team and the sport? Apparently Coach doesn't see that side of it. Any time he wants to move on is OK with me.

Hamfan & Headsup
We have played two games, neither game has Irving been able to put out his preferred starting lineup. In the last five years the Hammerheads have won a national championship, lost in the final and made the semi-final. I think that record speaks for itself. It is in trying to repeat those successes that the Coach has REFOCUSED rather than lost focus.
It seems you would prefer to watch a team of loyal & (dedicated?)players who have built up a rappore with your kids, rather than see us win another national championship. Another championship was never going to happen with the veterans I think you are referring to.
Heads_Up, if you are more specific as to which players maybe I could understand your point-a-view. I believe that Lancaster, Nylen, Maher & Bagley were the quality players last year and they've all stepped up a league. I'm not sure any other of last years squad contributed as much as they did.
Kids can and will dopt new favorites. At times in life its time to move on. I'm sure Coach did think long and hard about any player that was indeed loyal and dedicated, and they were not easy decisions to make.
I will gladly give you my thoughts player v player, and feel better ably qualified to do so having seen the majority of pre-season games.

You don't run a professional soccer team on the basis that local kids have formed attachments.
Given time they will form attachments to the new players, who like past players will also be involved in the community.

Nails,
My gripe with the coach is not how he's coaching the team. Yes, he's trying something different right now and it will take time for the players to settle into it, as I'm sure they will. My gripe with him is the way he has treated some of the former players. I don't feel comfortable mentioning their names here because it's a touchy subject and I'm not sure how they would feel having their names posted. But those players you mentioned are not those I'm referring to. Those you mentioned have moved on and moved up and I think that's great. What I'm referring to are players that were led to believe they would be asked back, even to the point where they were told a contract would be ready to sign in a couple weeks, then they never heard anything else- no explanation, no nothing. OK, so coach decided they wouldn't help the team. That's fine, but he should have given them sufficient notice so they could be looking for other work elsewhere. And Coach's mind can't be fixed 100% on the good of the team, either, since he took a disliking a couple seasons ago to the team's best player and refused to ask him back, simply because they'd had a falling out over something petty. When you do that, your first priority is not the team. In my opinion, that was a power issue. Finally, I agree with you that you don't run a team based on kid's preferences. I myself don't have a younger kid, but I know plenty of folks who do, and who bring them to the games, camps, etc. I do feel like that is a part of the overall picture- you keep the fans happy, they keep coming back. If the kids lose interest, SOME of the parents will, too, and your fan base starts slipping away. The kids aren't the most important point here, but as a large part of the fan base, you've got to figure them and their families in when you're looking at the overall scheme of things. But my main point is that, as far as Coach Irving goes, you just don't treat people he way he's done. Whatever profession you're in. It's just wrong.