Sheffsteel
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2015
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If someone said last season that we would be without Egan, Anel and Basham, we would have said we're stuffed.
Agree....hence why the fans who sing Heckys praises have valid reasons.
Altho the irony is Hecky has fallen on some great formations and in form players because of injuries/ suspensions being forced upon him.
For example he refused to play Trusty, but now has no choice to throw him in and to be honest he looks an excellent defender.
Wouldn't it be funny if Trusty become our player of the season, when Hecky obviously never rated him. Same with Slimane, wouldn't it be funny if he ends up being our best player but Hecky won't play him until every other midfielder is out injured.
I've never known a situation where I could put up a long list of factors why Hecky is doing a great job for us but there's also plenty of evidence suggesting Hecky is underperforming. Opposition fans in the Championship always said we were an average Championship side + N'Diaye whilst opposition fans in the Premier League say we're one of the worse sides they've seen in years. They can't all be wrong.
Maybe Hecky is modelling himself on Simeone's at Atletico Madrid where we deliberately set up to defend and frustrate.
Hecky seems to be modelling his stye of play on the old "rope a dope" tactic.
Anyone remember how Ali beat the ferocious Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle.
Ali was a massive underdog with Foreman being the Mike Tyson of his day, experts said Ali had no chance.
So in the early rounds Ali refused to trade punches and just stood there being hit over and over again.
Foreman was throwing loads of punches but Ali was cleverly deliberately conserving his energy, blocking the punches with his arms.
Ali was initially feeble and looked out of his depth, however in the 2nd half of the fight he came live.
Foreman was totally knackered and Ali's speed and freshness was simply too good resulting in a late knock-out.
Anyway the bottom line is results, there's been a recent upturn which gives us grounds for optimism.