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Part Autumn Term Report

Part Autumn Term Report

MrHodgeheg123

MrHodgeheg123

Hecky Thump
Joined
Jul 12, 2011
Messages
33,570
Location
In the Dog House
So!
How do we think we've performed so far this season and are you happy, sad, ecstatic or convinced we'll revert to type by finishing lower mid table?
Personally, I'm over the moon and at the start of the season if you'd have told me we'd be sitting fourth going into the international break I'd have had you certified.
On top of that, the season so far could and should have been even better.
Two points dropped at Hull and at home to Middlesbrough plus a dodgy goal by Birmingham.
Injuries a big worry and hope we can get a few back before Christmas without losing too much ground and then kick on in the New year with perhaps some more recruitment.
We now have some serious pace in this group of players(when not injured) mixed with some PL quality plus a few have stepped up a gear or two as well.
We also have a great management team.
Going forward, there will be bumps in the road but atm, a serious challenge for top six is not stupid talk.
The relegated sides are under performing though Ipswich are starting look a bit menacing and Coventry look a class above. That aside, this is probably going to be one of the most open Championship seasons I can remember so why not us?
Thoughts.
 
Given last season’s poor effort I think it’s beyond what most expected.

If we can keep within close proximity of the top 6 until New year then I think we have a real chance .

There’s a really good team spirit and everyone knows what their job is and for the most part are doing it well.
 
Enjoyed what I’ve seen so far

Last couple of games we haven’t played well but still come away with 4 points

I fear the Milly decision will cost us
 
TomPNEFC said:
Next 8 games are going to be pivotal for us. Obviously no Osmajic and then January will be right around the corner.

If we’re still in the top 6 by the end of December, I’ll really start believing.
Click to expand...

Got some decent fixtures. Plastics, Sheff Weds and Oxford in next month so no reason why there can't be more wins as likes of Dobbin, Small and Devine will cause them issues on counters.

Oxford away feels the type of game that can trip the team up, reminds me of going to Portsmouth in August. At the time I didn't think it was that bad a defeat as I thought they'd be outside play off contenders but they've barely won a game since.
 
MrHodgeheg123 said:
So!
How do we think we've performed so far this season and are you happy, sad, ecstatic or convinced we'll revert to type by finishing lower mid table?
Personally, I'm over the moon and at the start of the season if you'd have told me we'd be sitting fourth going into the international break I'd have had you certified.
On top of that, the season so far could and should have been even better.
Two points dropped at Hull and at home to Middlesbrough plus a dodgy goal by Birmingham.
Injuries a big worry and hope we can get a few back before Christmas without losing too much ground and then kick on in the New year with perhaps some more recruitment.
We now have some serious pace in this group of players(when not injured) mixed with some PL quality plus a few have stepped up a gear or two as well.
We also have a great management team.
Going forward, there will be bumps in the road but atm, a serious challenge for top six is not stupid talk.
The relegated sides are under performing though Ipswich are starting look a bit menacing and Coventry look a class above. That aside, this is probably going to be one of the most open Championship seasons I can remember so why not us?
Thoughts.
Click to expand...

Good speech old man..... We ain't going down that's for sure and it's been a long time since I was confident saying that....My lads going top 2 but I think he's talking through his arse.🙂
 
MrHodgeheg123 said:
So!
How do we think we've performed so far this season and are you happy, sad, ecstatic or convinced we'll revert to type by finishing lower mid table?
Personally, I'm over the moon and at the start of the season if you'd have told me we'd be sitting fourth going into the international break I'd have had you certified.
On top of that, the season so far could and should have been even better.
Two points dropped at Hull and at home to Middlesbrough plus a dodgy goal by Birmingham.
Injuries a big worry and hope we can get a few back before Christmas without losing too much ground and then kick on in the New year with perhaps some more recruitment.
We now have some serious pace in this group of players(when not injured) mixed with some PL quality plus a few have stepped up a gear or two as well.
We also have a great management team.
Going forward, there will be bumps in the road but atm, a serious challenge for top six is not stupid talk.
The relegated sides are under performing though Ipswich are starting look a bit menacing and Coventry look a class above. That aside, this is probably going to be one of the most open Championship seasons I can remember so why not us?
Thoughts.
Click to expand...


Addition...... I know how good we've been in the past and not made it... I like this lot but lets not get carried away. I'd say we are solid but nothing more at the minute.
 
Really impressed with what I've seen so far. Hecky has done wonders on a meagre budget and is getting every last drop out of this squad. Sadly that baffling decision not to bring in a striker on deadline day will no doubt scupper any hopes we've got of staying around the play offs. If Dobbin or Jebbison get injured then we are in the shit.
 
It’s been an unbelievable start and the best part is that it doesn’t feel like we’ve been lucky, we are where we are on merit alone.

We might live to regret not getting that striker in over the Summer, but the levels of ability, determination and motivation in this squad are something I haven’t witnessed in years.

My biggest concern is the owners won’t do what is clearly required in January. We’ve had good opportunities before - although I think this could be amongst the best we’ve had - and we have a long history of not going the extra mile financially to help us over the winning line.

I’d like to think they will take a different view this time and just go for it, but that’s more blind hope than expectation.
 
Randall Flagg said:
Really impressed with what I've seen so far. Hecky has done wonders on a meagre budget and is getting every last drop out of this squad. Sadly that baffling decision not to bring in a striker on deadline day will no doubt scupper any hopes we've got of staying around the play offs. If Dobbin or Jebbison get injured then we are in the shit.
Click to expand...
Agree but realistically what striker could we have brought in with our budget that could guarantee goals? What I like about this team is that the goals come from other areas of the squad and that is what makes a successful team.
 
How far off is Keane / Jebbison?
Would it be worth having Shay Reid/ Felipe on the bench as impact subs?
Is Jamal Lewis worth a long term contract? ( I would hope that a contract extension is part of the short term deal)
 
I think our position in the league is where we deserve to be. We have played some good football, been more direct, looked like the players have all bought into the manager and his coaching team. You could argue, we should be higher in the league if wasn't for some appalling refereeing. If there was ever a time for us push the boat out in January and make a couple of signings, this is the year.
 
Sat here feeling very satisfied as a PNE fan. Not had that in years.

Feels like we have a plan whilst the other bigger opponents in the division are floundering with trendy management appointments and lack of squad cohesion.

Need luck with injuries to sustain anything (not had great deal so far). Kind of hoping Keane gels with the loan guys whilst Osmajic is out. A big ask.
 
Hecky has changed my mind on him. I thought he’d given up end of last season. But really grinding results out well this. I still think our budget will ultimately see us finish lower mid table unless we inject a bit of extra cash in Jan.
 
222Mark said:
Agree but realistically what striker could we have brought in with our budget that could guarantee goals? What I like about this team is that the goals come from other areas of the squad and that is what makes a successful team.
Click to expand...
Don't know but that's not my job. We didn't necessarily need a proven scorer, we just needed cover for if Osmajic got a ban. Even Heckingbottom said that exact same thing on Saturday. Didn't happen when it should have.
 
Benito said:
Hecky has changed my mind on him. I thought he’d given up end of last season. But really grinding results out well this. I still think our budget will ultimately see us finish lower mid table unless we inject a bit of extra cash in Jan.
Click to expand...

I do think Heckingbottom has a point when he says it’s not all about the budget. He’s assembled a very good squad for this season through being very astute.

We spent basically nothing, but you could argue our if we had paid full price (ie their current value) for Small, Dobbin, Devine, Armstrong, Jebbison and Offiah what would they have cost?

We probably wouldn’t have got much change out of what, £40m?

If you really want to measure how valuable a squad is, you don’t look at what you paid for them. - you look at what their market value is now. So we spent sod all, but we have probably our most valuable squad ever when you include the loans.
 
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