For 45 minutes today to my eye we looked a positive, effective championship side. A side which made one of the form teams in the division look very ordinary, a team which in Moore seems to have found the puzzle piece it has been missing all season; a focal point target man, winning aerial battles and getting on the ball, feeding to and feeding off the smaller centre forward. A team which played on the front foot and tried to press and harass the opposition. I saw George Moncur not only play well but roll his sleeves up and graft. (Didn’t see that coming). I saw a back four with two good full backs and a hastily thrown together centre back pairing look very comfortable. I also saw one of those full backs be a complete pillock and ruin the prospects of continuing in the same manner in the second half. But even then I saw a determined and competent rear guard display, the abomination of their first goal aside, which was very nearly enough to earn a point against the odds. We even created chances to win the game ourselves. I also saw another hapless goalkeeping error from a man shot of confidence and apparently losing all ability. A man who we know for a fact needs a rest and for a fact know the club is trying to bring in a replacement/competition for. So with this in mind, where exactly does all this ‘get shot of the manager’ come from? The team he picked today, with three centre backs injured, a centre mid banned, probably his best wide player injured, went out and were better than the team that have lost only four of their last fifteen, one of those in the cup against premier league opposition. Better that is until he was let down by a petulant act of one of his players. I have no crystal ball, but with eleven men and not having to sacrifice Bradshaw, I don’t see the side losing today. Even if they had it was still a very competent and encouraging display. So how exactly is it another stick to beat Paul Heckingbottom with? I’m not in the camp that thinks he’s blameless, I think he’s got things wrong this season, but I’m not sure we’d replace him with anything better. I can see why some would disagree given the form of the last year or so, but how the hell was any of today his doing? Why are you on his back more than before after his side and tactics went out and played well and were winning until a sending off turned it - and even then only losing after a goalkeeping error (and a third on the break when we had to chase a leveller). As I say, I don’t get it.
Thats brilliant Troff, and I and surely nobody else on here will disagree with that. But one thing I will keep on saying is.... we've lost again, these home results and losses are now getting beyond the question. What are we meant to do eh ?.
Obviously sack the manager and appoint someone else... Why? What would be the point? Hecky may have signed off on the players signed and have final say in a choice of two or three maybe but he was not given any remit to sign anyone of any known worth at this level or the scope to pay anybody what the going rate at this level is. I don’t disagree with the budgeting as it was/is. Cut your cloth accordingly. But I also don’t really see how you think in the hampered circumstances he’s doing a bad job overall. Yes we’ve lost a lot. I don’t see how anything other than that was likely or to be expected. We remain out of the bottom three against the odds of all the bookies and against the predictions of the pundits. That’s just my opinion though, some don’t think he is doing well. That’s fair. My whole point though isn’t that I can’t see why people criticise Heckingbottom. I see why some might. My point is how is he getting more criticism tonight, increased clamour for his exit, when the same people also seem to accept that the events on the pitch today were going very well until actions beyond his control left the side even further hampered? It’s bizarre.
Err no Im not saying that at all!!. Ive never really gone along with the 'Hecky OUT' stuff even though Ive criticised him a lot this season on Tykes Mad of course. I want some answers like we all do, as to who is signing our players right now if its not actually Hecky ?. If the new owners are going to be 'results' based, then Hecky is on borrowed time isnt he obviously.
Absolutely I would. You can't blame Hecky for what he's been given to work with. And having the final say is not the same as making the original suggestion. There would be no-one better than Hecky to rebuild and help us come straight back up - which I believe we would do with ease with a good summer's recruitment and provided we get them in early. Or do we want another lame journeyman of a manager? Because honestly, who else do we think would take on what Hecky is having to achieve with the resources he's been given?
He'd get my backing 100%. I've said it all season and I'll say it again, if he keeps this group of players in the Championship he deserves a knighthood. And who better to get us back up than the guy who has the track record of doing it at the first attempt last time, regardless of the fact that he also lives and breathes our club.
If we get relegated we should definitely stick with Paul. If he keeps this group of a L1 players in the championship he should be knighted by kipper Jackson on the town hall steps.
Me neither. I will judge how good the new ownership will be for our club by the way they deal with Hecky and forthcoming recruitment. Today's first half was fitting for PCs memory - apart from those last few minutes that saw one of the team make the second half a hell of a lot harder for his 'mates'. I hope he gets the feedback he needs.
We should offer Hecky a four and a half year contract just like Burnley have done with their manager. Building success takes time and yes, some ups and downs. We're all disappointed when we get beaten and yesterday was particularly cruel. We shoot our mouths off and strike out, but in the cold light of Sunday morning we've got a great club, a great manager and good and promising players, with the opportunity to bring more in.
100% - Our current problems stem from January last year and those come from the contract administration of our players previously. Neither of which Hecky controlled.
It’s always the same. Numerous times this season I’ve seen people blaming Hecky so I’ve questioned it & asked them to explain what he’s doing wrong & I’ve never been given an explanation. It’s just pettiness & people who want someone to blame.
