Who bears the heavy duty of saving Hercules from slipping into mediocrity? Is Lolo Escobar the right choice? The question weighs on everyone. The Hercules sports commission still lacks a clear structure. The blue and white mentor has one more year on his contract and shows no sign of stepping away by force of will, so it is time to balance the pros and cons of the Extremadura coach who continues to coach the team.
Statistics
Strong numbers point to Escobar, directing 21 games and finishing the season in third place. At that moment, only Teruel and Peña Deportiva posted better records than Hercules. But a closer look reveals a shifting reality as the season presses on and circumstances change.
When the second round is analyzed, the data tell a different story. In the second half of the league, the blue and whites faced tougher opposition. They collected 26 points and could have earned 25 with a tighter balance. The record shows 7 wins, 4 draws, and 6 losses, a pattern similar to what was seen during the first part under Angel Rodriguez.
26 POINTS
The team accumulated losses in the second round
► They missed another 25 point win in the second half of the season.
15 POINTS
These came in the final ten matchdays
► Lolo’s Hercules lost ground in the last ten dates and failed to win any decisive matches.
If the lens is widened further, a clearer picture emerges: in the last ten dates, where goals tend to define outcomes, Hercules under Lolo struggled the most. Nine clubs outpaced the team from Alicante. Four wins and two draws, with nothing decisive against the stronger teams, stand out as a troubling pattern. The absence of results against direct rivals from the top strata, a trend since his arrival, adds to the drama and the negative balance in goals.
Leadership
The locker room shows wear and tear as the team faced stiff competition in the second phase. After an initial surge in recruitment wore off, the team managed only three wins and one draw in decision moments, an outcome that compels a rethink. If the coach who has displayed the least control over on field conduct must still steer a ship that needs a strong start, continuity becomes a questionable option. Without hesitation, it may be wiser to seek a new direction rather than carry forward a fragile status quo.
Hercules, in the Second RFEF for the third consecutive season, resembles a heavy fuel tank that could flare up with the slightest spark, threatening an explosion at any early change.
Is it wise to entrust leadership to someone who has endured every defeat, every poor play, every negative outcome, and every failed substitution
Trusting control to someone who has faced all the setbacks and who has openly spoken about the issues within the squad is a bold act of faith. A swift exit from the first minute might open a void, a black hole that a club would struggle to climb out of. Hercules faces high demands and intense pressure, and a path to peace seems to hinge on victories alone. There may be no alternative.
Yield
Beyond the basics, another crucial factor emerges: new analysis methods now accessible to clubs. Player development stands as a coach duty of equal weight to winning. With Lolo Escobar, the expected progress in team performance did not materialize as hoped, despite a promising start.
No player showed marked improvement. A handful of players, like Alvarito, regressed. The team failed to implement a solid defense against comparable opponents and could not generate efficient attacking mechanisms to harness the talent invested. Under Escobar, Hercules often found themselves facing stronger teams with little chance, and the results reflected that reality. The pattern is clear, open and unsentimental.