U's fan Chris Vessey talks to James Hill, 20, an Altrincham supporter who is currently a student and part-time labourer.

CV - I won't mince my words - the start to the season has been horrendous for you. What's gone wrong?

Tactics, formation, team selection, attitude, individual errors, injuries and the overriding problem that we're not very good at football. However if I had to sum up our plight in a nutshell it would be that we're not getting the best from the players available to us.

Players are being played out of position whilst other players who are naturally suited to that position are left on the bench. Too often we resort to playing high balls to front men that have neither the stature nor the ability to produce anything from them. In terms of the tactics we adopt and the attitude we take into games, we pay poor teams far too much respect.

Stafford, Grays and Woking were all awful sides yet on every occasion we have failed to take the game to them, instead opting to attempt to control and contain them with the hope of nicking a goal. This strategy has failed on every single occasion that it has been employed this season, frustratingly I expect to see this tactic used and fail on further occasions. Finally, we seem incapable of defending set pieces.

At the moment we're a very poor side.

CV - Graham Heathcote is an Altrincham legend who has performed untold wonders for the club in the past, but is it time for a managerial change?

I've thought long and hard about my answer to this question and even spoke to other fans about it. I'm trying not to fudge the answer but my genuine reply is that it depends.

If Heathcote continues to be negative against sides we are more than capable of beating, a tactic that essentially amounts be a tacit admission that he doesn't believe we are good enough to compete in the Conference, then it may be time to consider that Heathcote has taken us as far as he can.

However should Heathcote have the courage to take the game to teams (especially at home), play players in the positions they are most comfortable and effective in, and be willing to listen to what has been said by many since the first game of the season then I'm happy for him to carry on.

Unfortunately for Heathcote he doesn't have time on his side. Our start has been awful and I expect that unless there is a significant change in our performances in the next few games patience will wear very thin around Moss Lane.

CV - Should Heathcote stay, what do you think he needs to do to improve your grim situation?

Without wishing to repeat what I said in the answer to the previous question the first step must be a change in attitude from Heathcote. To put it mildly Heathcote is a rather obstinate man, a facet of his personality that has served him and the club well in recent years. However it appears that if we are to pull ourselves from the mire Heathcote needs to concede that at present the tactics are not working, the players are not performing and that his team selections are not best suited to getting the best out of our squad.

I suspect that we may have seen a change of heart from Heathcote sooner had it not been for the fracas on the opening day of the season where some fans questioned his tactics. I cannot help but feel that Heathcote's stubborn streak has been behind the managerial problems of late.

CV - The recent Setanta situation has had many supporters debating the pros and cons of such a deal - what's the general consensus on Setanta from the Altrincham fans?

We enjoy the cash and we recognise that we won't be shown very often because, quite frankly, who on earth would want to watch us? Because we're only going to be shown about twice this season we're not going to get too het up about fixture changes etc... Unless I've completely misjudged the feelings at Moss Lane, which is possible, most people aren't that bothered.

CV - You're in your third consecutive Blue Square Premier campaign, what have been your best and worst memories since promotion?

My favourite memory since our return to the Conference was a Tuesday night excursion to Dagenham in our first season back up. We'd drawn two of the last eight games and lost the rest yet we were still within touching distance of a points total that would probably see us safe. Despite our awful run of form we took a good following of over one hundred fans to the game much to the surprise of the Dagenham stewards who told one of our supporters that they had expected no more than ten away fans.

In true Alty style we went three nil up within half an hour before conceding two just before half-time. The second half was a tense affair and played in monsoon-like conditions which we had to endure in the less than salubrious environs of the Dagenham away end. Eventually Colin Little bundled one over the line to secure the victory. We arrived home at three o'clock the next morning. Having just written that it doesn't really sound that interesting - oh well, it's still my best memory.

The worst memory has to be the whole Robinson/Heathcote/eighteen point deduction/international clearance/Colin Peake/John Moules/FA/Conference saga. I'm sure most people know the full story and if I was to bore you with all the ins and outs it would take near 5,000 words I imagine. So all I say is that was a rather distressing few months. One silver lining to the cloud however was the genuine outpouring of sympathy displayed by many other football fans throughout the country. I found that quite touching.

CV - Altrincham made a few interesting signings pre-season, so who are the players that could cause Cambridge United problems this coming Tuesday?

Colin Little is still one of the best finishers in the Conference, he's got great movement and fantastic feet. Unfortunately we haven't bothered to create any chances for him this season.

Gareth Whalley is a cultured midfielder that has yet to impress many at Moss Lane, I however believe he is a class above anything we have in midfield. He possesses a great left foot that can thread sublime passes with ease, he can however look a little lightweight at times.

In Carlos Logan we have a left winger with genuine pace and the ability to take players on and stretch defences. You'll recognise him as the chap with the silly footballer's haircut.

CV - Hand on heart, where do you see Altrincham in three years time?

Somewhere between the bottom six of the Conference and the top eight of the Conference North

CV - What has been your opinion of Cambridge United since we joined you in Blue Square Premier?

Good fans that have always represented themselves well in terms of numbers at Moss Lane, however I've always thought the team itself has been extremely mediocre, based on the last two seasons. I've enjoyed my visits to The Abbey, a proper football ground with that certain indefinable something that sets it apart from soulless shells such as Nene Park.

CV - And finally... what is your prediction for Tuesday night?

Cambridge will win, possibly 2-0, possibly more. Lump on.

Many thanks to James for giving his time to answer these questions.

Chris Vessey

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