"So what do we know about the Bermuda Hogges?

"Well, they're technically gifted and skilful, but make sloppy mistakes and lack organisation."

This was a conversation eavesdropped between two Charlotte Eagles officials before kick-off at Waddell High School at the weekend.

It probably could've taken place in any press box, dressing room or hotdog line at any of the nine USL-D2 stadiums up and down the east coast of America.

Because, on the pitch at least, this is how the Hogges are generally perceived across the pond by clubs who have embraced their arrival as a new franchise — but still view them as three-point bankers.

Is it a fair perception? Probably not. The Hogges have chalked up three victories, three draws and were just two wins away from a respectable finish for their inaugural season.

But without wishing to add mileage to an already well-worn footballing cliche "the league table never lies" and currently the Hogges are the weakest link.

Too many times this season they caught their prey through an attractive brand of passing play but failed to devour the carcass, allowing it to live to fight another day — usually ending in defeat for the Islanders.

Conversely, when the Hogges are the hunted, rather than protect and close ranks to keep their attacker at bay, they have adhered to that other over-used footballing idiom of "attack being the best form of defence". The irony being when the Hogges are at their most dangerous they're often at their most vulnerable — and the opposition knows it.

For a good 25-minute spell in their curtain call against Wilmington Hammerheads they were the dominant force with the hosts struggling to contain the pace and fluidity of the likes of Damon Ming and Ralph Bean.

But they rode out the storm, re-grouped, and proceeded to suck the life out of the Hogges, scoring with the proverbial sucker punch just after half-time.

Maybe it is naivety, or being overly honest, but without fail the Hogges end up chasing the game with so much gusto they leave their back door not so much ajar but hanging off the hinges.

A goal later and it's virtually game over.

The Hogges management are acutely aware of their soft underbelly being exposed too many times and have been working tirelessly on the training ground to remedy their defensive aliments as a team.

And had the likes of Sean Simmons and Kevin Richards been available all season then the Hogges may have been nearer to achieving their pre-season remit of a mid-table finish.

But that in turn suggests there's not quite enough strength in depth when key components of their core machinery are absent.

Not that the Hogges are a far cry from being the established outfit they crave, and let's remember this is their first foray in franchise football and with a team of solely Bermudians.

If they can supplement their extremely gifted 15 or so players with a sprinkle of experience then next season could be very exciting indeed.

When coach Kyle Lightbourne scythed down a Hammerheads attacker, receiving his marching orders in possibly his last game as a Hogges player — it seemed like a subtle message to his young charges.

Not for a minute am I suggesting anyone involved with Hogges condones illegal play but maybe, just maybe, Lightbourne felt the need to subconsciously remind his players that pro-football is not a beauty contest.

And for that reason it's unlikely player-of-the-season contender Omar Shakir, who was dismissed for an equally robust challenge 48 hours earlier, will be overly chastised.

For it could be a watershed moment, a moment when the Hogges finally realised the need to develop a ruthless edge ... heck, a downright nasty side.

Messrs Goater and Lightbourne didn't carve out a career in English football by losing and there's a sense next season could see the Hogges make a huge stride in their evolution.

Much of the recipe is already in the pan. Just a few more integral ingredients are required.