Heckingbottom

[Ando60]

both have been excellent since arriving at Deepdale, they have been the only shining lights in a turgid season, PH hasn't improved them as can be seen by the frustration shown by both over the whole season, keeper plus 7 defensive players leaving this pair to plough loan furrows in an attempt to create anything positive.

Devine in particular was getting very frustrated on Saturday.... You could tell from his body language.

 

[Whist75]

Can’t believe some are defending Hecky, have you read his pne record, it’s the worst of any recent manager. Clean sweep at end of season needed, fresh start.

 

[billymac]

Statistically, both have had their best Goals (and I presume Assists) returns in their careers to date.

We'd be cooked without them both.

this and Iversen, it has been utter gash this season JD, the home form at "fortress Deepdale" has put paid to many an opposing managers selections!!!

 

[Liberation]

I've said this before and I still believe that PH is a proper football man and a capable manager, however he appears to be completely out of ideas with this group, he doesn't appear to have complete faith in his squad and as a result he's gone cautious with selections and tactics and has got himself somewhat stuck in a rut.

Some managers are skilled at getting the best out of an unfancied group of players, others operate better at 'bigger' clubs with squads more set up for success - PH seems to me to be the latter, which is why if we were taken over and there was a radical overhaul of the squad, I'd be prepared to let him continue in post and see what he can do with a more talented group, but in truth (even though I think the takeover will go through), I'm not expecting that massive refresh of the squad straight away and it's for this reason I think it's best that the club and manager part ways at the end of the season.

He's done his best, North End is a tough gig for any manager.

Good post fella.... I actually believe he overthinks things and tries too hard to accommodate everyone...... Not sure that's a good recipe for having a bigger budget to be honest but I do believe that he deserves the chance...


PS... I think we might have been in the poop if it weren't for Iverson...

 

[Heck Tuah]

He hasn’t improved them though.
They were decent players to start off with.

A bit of a silly reply.

Are you suggesting that decent players cannot gain an improvement over a season in their skill / ability set?

Whether we both like it or not, both have had their best seasons to date, as professionals, under PH.

Decent players who had both struggled at this level previously.

Its no guarantee that they would just simply get better because they are decent young prospects - they still need to be coached into improving and becoming more complete players, which they have done.

 

[Jack78978]

Decent players who had both struggled at this level previously.

Its no guarantee that they would just simply get better because they are decent young prospects - they still need to be coached into improving and becoming more complete players, which they have done.

Devine was also a bit of a gamble when signing, struggled at Plymouth and Vale (I know he was young), and had a decent loan at Westerlo.

This weekend changed my mind and I do feel it's best to part ways but he has definitely improved Devine and helped to make him a solid championship player.

 

[Durutti]

I agree with this.

His best spell as a manager was at Sheff Utd where they had a supremely talented squad with the likes of Bogle, Ndiaye, Mcburnie and so on.

He's one of those who can get results with a team with lots of talent but really struggles at a club like us because the budget is so small.

They actually got promoted with second top XG as well. Definitely an attacking side.

 

[Liberation]

Statistically, both have had their best Goals (and I presume Assists) returns in their careers to date.

We'd be cooked without them both.

We'd have been cooked without Iverson too !

 

[Durutti]

A bit of a silly reply.

Are you suggesting that decent players cannot gain an improvement over a season in their skill / ability set?

Whether we both like it or not, both have had their best seasons to date, as professionals, under PH.

That could be just them coming of age though and being given the chance. Riis played well under Lowe and McCovoy and seemingly despised both.

 

[Jack Daniels]

Just read this on BBC Sport Football.

Sound familiar? PH with 24/87 at PNE. Thank the heavens we are not where they currently are.

Leicester have won just 17 of 81 games across two seasons to face the prospects of back-to-back relegations

 

[Walrus]

Just read this on BBC Sport Football.

Sound familiar? PH with 24/87 at PNE. Thank the heavens we are not where they currently are.

I'd take the last decade or so they have had over our treading water in the Championship...

 

[No Danger]

I'd take the last decade or so they have had over our treading water in the Championship...

Let’s hope our time will come over the next decade. I’ve waited six decades hopefully it will be lucky 7.
Key word is hope as opposed to expectation.

 

[lenny]

Just read this on BBC Sport Football.

Sound familiar? PH with 24/87 at PNE. Thank the heavens we are not where they currently are.

But they will almost certainly be in the Premiership once again well before us if the current owners don’t sell the club .

 

[RibbletonWhite2.0]

A bit of a silly reply.

Are you suggesting that decent players cannot gain an improvement over a season in their skill / ability set?

Whether we both like it or not, both have had their best seasons to date, as professionals, under PH.

Absolutely. But I don’t see an improvement in Devine/dobbin.

How Devine and dobbin played at the start of the season is how they are playing now. You could tell Devine was a talented player on his debut vs QPR. He scored the next game. I’m not giving Hecky credit.

 

[Gordon Bennett]

I'd take the last decade or so they have had over our treading water in the Championship...

It’s insane it’s ten years since they won the PL. Seems like fecking yesterday.

 

[Walton]

Absolutely. But I don’t see an improvement in Devine/dobbin.

How Devine and dobbin played at the start of the season is how they are playing now. You could tell Devine was a talented player on his debut vs QPR. He scored the next game. I’m not giving Hecky credit.

You would expect that they would improve normally as they were gaining experience and probably physically also.
What they were learning from Hecky and his team is maybe a bit harder to define.

 

[simo]

He has improved both Devine and Dobbin. Both have had their best seasons as professionals to date.

Sadly, neither are ours as I type.

I say this as one who would like a new manager with a more vibrant formation installed at the seasons end.

You could equally explain it by the fact that young players are always likely to improve. Who knows, with a different coach they could have improved even further?

 

[simo]

You would expect that they would improve normally as they were gaining experience and probably physically also.
What they were learning from Hecky and his team is maybe a bit harder to define.

Dobbin has learnt how to cope with being taken off in the second half after playing well. Invaluable.

 

[Doyler]

Heckingbottom is getting numbers out of Dobbin which he’s never got before, by playing him in a position which was completely foreign to him.

And Devine has definitely improved over the course of the season. Really tries to take games by the scruff of the neck now. Obviously not withstanding he was talented at the start.

 

[thebutterpiepodcast]

When Zedan comes in, think it’ll be quite clear he will want a new man at the helm and a well-known name that’ll attract more attention.

Gut feeling next season it’ll be Gerrard in.