Heckingbottom

[ConnorPR2]

Watford have already sacked their manager. I wish we were ruthless as some clubs instead of giving handouts and extensions to players who no longer serve a purpose.

I agree we have to be more ruthless in the future but why would our current owners make any decisions like that when within a week or 2 someone else is coming in and taking the reigns.

Also comparing anyone to Watford is moronic considering they sack managers as a hobby every few months.

 

[Hoz ']

I agree we have to be more ruthless in the future but why would our current owners make any decisions like that when within a week or 2 someone else is coming in and taking the reigns.

Also comparing anyone to Watford is moronic considering they sack managers as a hobby every few months.

I’m not comparing but just saying how some owners just hang around for months and months when the know the results are not forthcoming!

 

[ConnorPR2]

I’m not comparing but just saying how some owners just hang around for months and months when the know the results are not forthcoming!

Well hopefully the days of having an owner who is reactive instead of proactive are a thing of the past.

 

[pne1881]

I think this is the most likely outcome, too. 👍

He’s not got much credit in the bank though and there’s an obvious risk of bringing in a new guy in the Autumn who hasn’t had a pre-season and hasn’t got his own players in.

It’s a tough call, but if he does get kept on, he’s a lucky lad.

I’m not bothered if he stays or goes, but if he gets some money behind him, he’s going to have to be more positive in matches.

No excuses.

This is the crux of it for me.

It doesn't matter if we get better players if he's putting the shackles on them.

 

[mozzchops]

So we complain that our players are league one, we know they are bought by the family and their rep due to cheapness and then say the manager is useless because he can’t get a decent tune from them.

Do you think PH wanted McBurnie or Smith? Do you think he scouted or wanted Lukovic? Do we have decent players to play a back 4?

Let’s get some decent players in and give the guy a chance.

 

[Southern Softie]

I worry that keeping Hecky in charge will just lead to another wasted season in the Championship. He’s shown little willingness to change his system or formation, and that lack of flexibility could really hurt us especially given how strong the league is shaping up to be next year.

With teams coming down from the Premier League, plus the sides who miss out on promotion through the playoffs, the competition will be even tougher. If Bolton also come up, we’re looking at multiple high-intensity local derbies against Burnley and Blackburn, which only adds to the challenge.

Personally, I think it would make more sense to bring in a new manager now. That way, they’d have a full pre-season to implement their ideas and bring in players that suit their style. Waiting until January risks another reset mid-season, which usually ends up costing more time and points.

if a change is going to happen, it’s better to do it early and give the new manager the best possible chance to succeed.

Totally agree. Hecky seems to be a very dour stubborn personality and his football reflects his persona. I go on to be entertained, but go home more often than not completely depressed. The message seems to be lost on Hecky that football is part of the entertainment business. All the top six of the Championship, bar Middlesbrough, played a back four. Top end of the Premiership play a back four. Surely as a professional manager Hecky must study trends and playing styles in the game? Maybe he is just too stuck in his ways - it may just reflect his set objective to achieve mid table mediocrity at all costs. I think we’d be better going for someone younger who’s got his badges in a different era.

 

[wld]

Totally agree. Hecky seems to be a very dour stubborn personality and his football reflects his persona. I go on to be entertained, but go home more often than not completely depressed. The message seems to be lost on Hecky that football is part of the entertainment business. All the top six of the Championship, bar Middlesbrough, played a back four. Top end of the Premiership play a back four. Surely as a professional manager Hecky must study trends and playing styles in the game? Maybe he is just too stuck in his ways - it may just reflect his set objective to achieve mid table mediocrity at all costs. I think we’d be better going for someone younger who’s got his badges in a different era.

I still find it odd that his assistant told the press that he wanted the team to entertain a week or so ago, if only he’d been in a position before last week to get that message across to the players.

If we had a clean slate now and needed a new manager to oversee a ‘project’, would we want a bloke who’s overseen an alarming drop down the table this season, had his team in a relegation battle last season, has a poor disciplinary record (the Watford incident still puzzles me) and has had a below average record at virtually every club he’s managed?

 

[Yeti]

Do you think PH wanted McBurnie or Smith? Do you think he scouted or wanted Lukovic? Do we have decent players to play a back 4?

Well he said they had scouted Lukovic extensively in the interview when he signed.

I doubt any manager bar a few at the top get all there first choice signings but making the best out of what you have or given is what makes the better managers stand out.

 

[Whist75]

When there was little to nothing to play for.... development of players is paramount. How Small isn't starting and playing to get him into a monster for next year is a big reason we probably need to say thanks Paul and all the best.

Agree, also to say there no 13 on the wing was class and fast so he puts Potts against him, al least Small is quick.

 

[wld]

Agree, also to say there no 13 on the wing was class and fast so he puts Potts against him, al least Small is quick.

From the very first minute, both he and Storey were all at sea. We noticed several times they were caught out not marking the right player and having to quickly get back into position. Like you say, it was simply a puzzling selection decision against a multi million pound player.

 

[JJ_PNE]

Genuinely surprised no one has made this point but Southampton were on a huge unbeaten run before they got beat by Man City including beating Arsenal. If you play a 4 back and go like for like against a team where every single player is a lot better than ours (Dobbin/ Devine excluded) we’d get beat heavily. It’s one thing playing a 4 back against Sheffield United who have a leaky defence and struggled this season, it’s another against the best team in the league. And changing the system actually meant we gave them a very good game and might’ve got something if it wasn’t for poor defensive errors

Just to expand on this.
The unbeaten run coincided with moving from a back 3 to a 4.

 

[Doyler]

From the very first minute, both he and Storey were all at sea. We noticed several times they were caught out not marking the right player and having to quickly get back into position. Like you say, it was simply a puzzling selection decision against a multi million pound player.

It’s only puzzling if you take it at face value without taking into account literally anything else.

Like how Offiah wasn’t fit (would’ve stayed on the bench if Storey wasn’t having such a nightmare), and that Small defensively would’ve really struggled (though I definitely would’ve brought him on in the second half).

Any suggestion that putting Small against Scienza would’ve been better just because he’s fast needs to realise we aren’t playing FIFA.

 

[thebutterpiepodcast]

Seems like Whiteman is fully behind Hecky.

 

[Mitsuya]

If Whiteman genuinely thinks Neil was chased out of the club he's a fucking idiot

 

[Yeti]

View attachment 33791
Seems like Whiteman is fully behind Hecky.

To be honest unless he wants out and has a moved lined up he isn’t exactly going to say the manager is crap and not good enough as he will stripped of the captains armband and shipped out

 

[deepdaledreamer]

Anyone still Hecky In?

Yes

 

[Victorthesecond]

I still find it odd that his assistant told the press that he wanted the team to entertain a week or so ago, if only he’d been in a position before last week to get that message across to the players.

If we had a clean slate now and needed a new manager to oversee a ‘project’, would we want a bloke who’s overseen an alarming drop down the table this season, had his team in a relegation battle last season, has a poor disciplinary record (the Watford incident still puzzles me) and has had a below average record at virtually every club he’s managed?

Pretty succinct! He succeeded at Bramall Lane only as he inherited a team built by Wilder. Everywhere else he's been, he's failed. Whatever happens in the next few weeks, it's time the club recognized that.

 

[Mushy pea farter]

View attachment 33791
Seems like Whiteman is fully behind Hecky.

I'll be taking no lectures off Whiteman or any other player.
Firstly, Alex Neil wasn't 'chased out' but actually became as disillusioned with the ownership as we have.
Secondly, Whiteman goes on to ask for some 'patience'.
Patience? Patience? Is he being serious? I have been bloody patient for fifty years and, during those five decades, many lifelong North End supporting family and friends have passed away without seeing their beloved club play top-tier football. So, Whitman et al, if this lame, impotent and lacklustre ownership continues, by the time you have pissed off elsewhere for better money and ambition, we will still be here backing our team. Until then, might I suggest you engage your brain before opening your gob.

 

[billymac]

View attachment 33791
Seems like Whiteman is fully behind Hecky.

he would have to be as no other manager would pick him let alone give him the captaincy, he can fuck off with PH and the rest of the coaching team

 

[billymac]

It’s only puzzling if you take it at face value without taking into account literally anything else.

Like how Offiah wasn’t fit (would’ve stayed on the bench if Storey wasn’t having such a nightmare), and that Small defensively would’ve really struggled (though I definitely would’ve brought him on in the second half).

Any suggestion that putting Small against Scienza would’ve been better just because he’s fast needs to realise we aren’t playing FIFA.

with you being the football oracle, I can't understand why you are not a massively successful football manager???