Heckingbottom

[Bladeinleeds]

Ndiaye was the one that got us going. Hecky was too much like a Southgate.

Hecky was the one that actually played Illiman though. He’d be looked at a lot more favourably if he’d got us promoted initially rather than back up after a relegation. But lots of teams couldn’t achieve that with much better/ less injured squads

He’s one of the few managers that have actually achieved promotion in my lifetime. Not unlike Southgate having more knock out wins that all managers for England since 1965 combined - he will be looked at more favourably in hindsight.

He basically was allowed no permanent signings and had to navigate sales and transfer embargoes. There is a lot to be said of that steady presence and the way he went about things should be commended.

He wasn’t given a fair shake of the dice once we went up / both hands tied behind his back with the best the heart of the team ripped from under him and replaced by dog shit.

Hope he does well in his next role.

 

[VictoryBlade]

I hope Preston fans are prepared for all the injuries that the first team are about to suffer.

This is good news for us when we play them at the Lane, as we know what his plan A is, what his plan B A is, and what his plan C A is.

Harsh!

 

[Nick Jansky]

Hecky addressed slides on 3 occasions. After Wilder, after Slav & the mini one during the promotion season. That takes some doing & should be recognised.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

Hecky addressed slides on 3 occasions. After Wilder, after Slav & the mini one during the promotion season. That takes some doing & should be recognised.

Spot on.

There really shouldn't be any ill will towards Hecky.
Carried himself so well in times of adversity too.
Top, top bloke.

 

[Foody]

I'll always have praise for Hecky, thoroughly likeable and a model professional. His ability to isolate his players from the absolute shit show that was going on above him should not be underestimated. He never played victim, despite being dealt a terrible hand. Obviously Iliman played great football under Hecky, but he also seemed to help McAtee and Doyle develop, got RND playing his best football for us too.

 

[Bladesman]

The rise in soft tissue injuries issue started prior to Hecky, under Wilder, but they did appear to increase or stay at high levels under Hecky and continued after he left.

It was something, though that followed Hecky as Hibs had the same issues.

The problem with the style of play which Hecky and Wilder play is that it requires high intensity. Hecky didn’t help things last season as the players just weren’t ready for the season and that has to sit with him as the manager.

As I’ve said already, alarm bells will be ringing soon if we continue with keeping the same players out there throughout games

Two league games, same starting line up, both games we haven’t made a substitution before 70 mins

Look at it this way, it's probably the first time in a while that we have started the same line-up for 2 league games in a row. Usually we would have lost someone to injury after the first match. I was half expecting it be Brewster.

 

[SwissBlade]

Look at it this way, it's probably the first time in a while that we have started the same line-up for 2 league games in a row. Usually we would have lost someone to injury after the first match. I was half expecting it be Brewster.

That’s a positive….

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Still not sure what to make of his time with us and to fairly judge his ability but he did get us up while all sorts was going on off the pitch and for that I'll always be thankful

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Hecky was the one that actually played Illiman though. He’d be looked at a lot more favourably if he’d got us promoted initially rather than back up after a relegation. But lots of teams couldn’t achieve that with much better/ less injured squads

He’s one of the few managers that have actually achieved promotion in my lifetime. Not unlike Southgate having more knock out wins that all managers for England since 1965 combined - he will be looked at more favourably in hindsight.

He basically was allowed no permanent signings and had to navigate sales and transfer embargoes. There is a lot to be said of that steady presence and the way he went about things should be commended.

He wasn’t given a fair shake of the dice once we went up / both hands tied behind his back with the best the heart of the team ripped from under him and replaced by dog shit.

Hope he does well in his next role.

Totally agree with the first half of this...

The second half is utter bollocks. If his hands were tied behind his back, it was his own doing. He wanted to persist with Norwood, Fleck, Robinson and Egan (and Sharp don't forget) in the most athletic and explosive league in the world. He oversaw probably the worst Pre-Season strength and condition programme since Barry Bethel went on a wristband holiday to Greece...

Transfer wise, yes he lost Ndiaye, but if you think he'd have made any significant difference you're living in cloud cuckoo land. And not having any contingency in case Ndiaye left or got injured was utterly utterly scandalous.

Hecky had a once in a lifetime season, and I'll never forget that. But his legacy is going to be the state he left the squad is going to last for years and us shipping 100+ goals...

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Hecky had a once in a lifetime season, and I'll never forget that. But his legacy is going to be the state he left the squad is going to last for years and us shipping 100+ goals...

To be fair blue Peter presenters had better equipment of random junk to build stuff with than Hecky was given post promotion

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

To be fair blue Peter presenters had better equipment of random junk to build stuff with than Hecky was given post promotion

Not wanting to start an argument, but did Hecky have zero input into transfers but Wilder now has full autonomy?

I don't buy into the notion that he had nowt to do with it and if he was a lap dog who let the club give him the phlegm and jetsun that was Traore/Slimane/Trusty - then that's even worse ...

 

[dexter101]

GLTTL he deserves another role and wish him the best.

Might be a tough gig, weird level of expectation. What is success for them?

 

[The Crab]

GLTTL he deserves another role and wish him the best.

Might be a tough gig, weird level of expectation. What is success for them?

Being more than a road sign you see on the way to Blackpool?

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Thus far, there’s only ever been 4 managers who have managed us in the Premier league, and only 3 that got us promoted to it…Hecky will always be one of these.

 

[Stanthemanfan]

Agree with that.

Hecky reminds me of Southgate.
He’s over tactical and negative, over focussing on trying to stop the other team. A bit like England who when they scored would then drop deep and defend in numbers, we were the same when promoted under Hecky. Our best, most attacking football was always after we went 1-0 behind. Also like Southgate under Hecky were had 15 minute spells where we looked really good then 30 minute looking nervous and hoofing it long looking really basic.

However Hecky, like Southgate was likable, very dignified and excellent with the media in a non confrontational stead ship kind of way.

He also seemed popular with his players and seemed to build a harmonious mood within the camp, like Southgate.

You might not like Southgate or Heckys pragmatic cautious approach but at the end of the day both delivered decent results. Both are thoroughly decent men and wish them both well.

Il wish one if them well, the other one can f.. k off!. Guess which one??

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Totally agree with the first half of this...

The second half is utter bollocks. If his hands were tied behind his back, it was his own doing. He wanted to persist with Norwood, Fleck, Robinson and Egan (and Sharp don't forget) in the most athletic and explosive league in the world. He oversaw probably the worst Pre-Season strength and condition programme since Barry Bethel went on a wristband holiday to Greece...

Transfer wise, yes he lost Ndiaye, but if you think he'd have made any significant difference you're living in cloud cuckoo land. And not having any contingency in case Ndiaye left or got injured was utterly utterly scandalous.

Hecky had a once in a lifetime season, and I'll never forget that. But his legacy is going to be the state he left the squad is going to last for years and us shipping 100+ goals...

You must have missed the point where we were under a transfer embargo - and are now experiencing a point deduction because of it.

The Prince sanction a spend of about 50p and left us starting the season with a worse side than we had in league 1. That had absolute nowt to do with hecky

The state he left the squad in is 1000% on the person sanctioning the transfer budget. Not the person left to persevere with a midfield of basham and Osborn because he was given zero funds.

He basically wasnt allowed to sign anyone permanently in nearly his first 2 years in charge. Then we got promoted and a guaranteed 130m and they gave him less than 10m to spend on dross before selling berge and Ndaiye from underneath him

Absolutely bizarre statements.

This was the squad they sent him out with in the best league in the world and he never once complained.

Edit - in all seriousness, that 11 might be the worst side ever put out in the premier league. It would have got relegated from championship FFS.

 

[Shawy24]

Thus far, there’s only ever been 4 managers who have managed us in the Premier league, and only 3 that got us promoted to it…Hecky will always be one of these.

Whilst I appreciate what you say, there was a league structure before the Premier league and we were promoted to the top division before it existed. Viva John “the off white cardigan “ Harris.

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

Not wanting to start an argument, but did Hecky have zero input into transfers but Wilder now has full autonomy?

I don't buy into the notion that he had nowt to do with it and if he was a lap dog who let the club give him the phlegm and jetsun that was Traore/Slimane/Trusty - then that's even worse ...

I agree.. i keep seeing how Hecky didn't have control of transfers but Wilder does?
How do people know?

The PL recruitment was garbage and Hecky did want some of the players

 

[Younger Dryas Blade]

All the best Hecky, hands tied last season, solid Championship Manager IMO.

Preston get a win/win if he takes over.

 

[Andy67]

I agree.. i keep seeing how Hecky didn't have control of transfers but Wilder does?
How do people know?

The PL recruitment was garbage and Hecky did want some of the players

There is being in charge of recruitment with very little money and being in charge of recruitment with a substantial amount of money. Our board gave him last than the outgoings of our two best players.

 

[Bladeinleeds]

I agree.. i keep seeing how Hecky didn't have control of transfers but Wilder does?
How do people know?

The PL recruitment was garbage and Hecky did want some of the players

Hecky made 1 perm signing in 3 transfer windows before promotion. Anel. Overall we as a club made just 1 for cash in 2 seasons.

I’m sure hecky had control but while you have a range of PL sides shopping in a variety of places from Harrods to Lidl - we were shopping out of a bin behind a kebab shop.

What was hecky supposed to do when given nothing to upgrade with squad with - he had to go for rando cheap players with upside. He was told you have like 7/8 million to replace half a side and you’ve got a couple of loans. ‘Oh and by the way, say goodbye to your two most irreplaceable players because we can’t do contract extensions properly, because we’re skint.’

I’m sure he’d have loved to get Doyle in and have a real left back but he wasn’t offered funds to adequately do that.

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Whilst I appreciate what you say, there was a league structure before the Premier league and we were promoted to the top division before it existed. Viva John “the off white cardigan “ Harris.

Yes, but whether you like it or not, Hecky’s name still sits at the side of Harris, Bassett, Warnock and Wilder.

 

[Andy67]

Not wanting to start an argument, but did Hecky have zero input into transfers but Wilder now has full autonomy?

I don't buy into the notion that he had nowt to do with it and if he was a lap dog who let the club give him the phlegm and jetsun that was Traore/Slimane/Trusty - then that's even worse ...

Wilder doesn’t have complete autonomy. In two weeks (Prince still owns) he could sell Blaster, Anel, Hamer, and Souza. Do you judge Wilder on that?

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

You must have missed the point where we were under a transfer embargo - and are now experiencing a point deduction because of it.

The Prince sanction a spend of about 50p and left us starting the season with a worse side than we had in league 1. That had absolute nowt to do with hecky

The state he left the squad in is 1000% on the person sanctioning the transfer budget. Not the person left to persevere with a midfield of basham and Osborn because he was given zero funds.

He basically wasnt allowed to sign anyone permanently in nearly his first 2 years in charge. Then we got promoted and a guaranteed 130m and they gave him less than 10m to spend on dross before selling berge and Ndaiye from underneath him

Absolutely bizarre statements.

This was the squad they sent him out with in the best league in the world and he never once complained.

Edit - in all seriousness, that 11 might be the worst side ever put out in the premier league. It would have got relegated from championship FFS.

View attachment 190906

Hold on, he wasn't allowed to sign anyone because of an embargo yet still brought in Trusty, Slimane, Traore, Sousa?

Compare contrast with Wilder bringing in OHare, Moore, Burrows for less...

So the argument is, Hecky didn't bring in his list of utter spunk bubbles, yet Wilder brought in his players???

People can't have it both ways....

Look, Hecky did brilliant that season and i give him full credit for th promotion and the FA cup semi, but the PL season is squarely at his door, and no amount of whataboutery is going to alter the fact he made it to the promised land and bought in a load of tosh, wanted to keep Norwood, Fleck and Sharp and didn't have the players in any kind of physical shape for the season ahead...

 

[ATL Recs]

Hold on, he wasn't allowed to sign anyone because of an embargo yet still brought in Trusty, Slimane, Traore, Sousa?

Compare contrast with Wilder bringing in OHare, Moore, Burrows for less...

So the argument is, Hecky didn't bring in his list of utter spunk bubbles, yet Wilder brought in his players???

People can't have it both ways....

Look, Hecky did brilliant that season and i give him full credit for th promotion and the FA cup semi, but the PL season is squarely at his door, and no amount of whataboutery is going to alter the fact he made it to the promised land and bought in a load of tosh, wanted to keep Norwood, Fleck and Sharp and didn't have the players in any kind of physical shape for the season ahead...

Wasn’t under an embargo in the Summer but was in January

 

[davidblade]

Not wanting to start an argument, but did Hecky have zero input into transfers but Wilder now has full autonomy?

I don't buy into the notion that he had nowt to do with it and if he was a lap dog who let the club give him the phlegm and jetsun that was Traore/Slimane/Trusty - then that's even worse ...

Agreed it is impossible for us to know what goes on at management levels with in a football club and rightly so but I can't honestly believe all the players that came in , that the majority didn't have his approval.
But thinking back on his previous signings there's only Vini‘s signing that I think he showed a great deal of enthusiasm for. That said I suspect Trusty was his choice too. Slimani and Traore, one has to suggest they weren't his as he said they are work in progress players, which I honestly believe is code for saying not my choice. Managers generally don't live on a long-time basis as their tenure at the club is generally limited. Having said all that we should give him credit for what he achieved and a lot of slack because the club cut his legs off by selling the crown jewels of his success. We will never know what would of happened

 

[CPB]

Liked Hecky. Did a good job here and had we not been promoted 2 seasons ago I'm not entirely sure what state we would have been in.

Injuries were his biggest issue clearly something was a bit different. Was it the training and playing at "full tilt" all the time?

But he got really shafted with our transfer business last summer though. I think even though he knew the market we were in and also that we had Iliman and Sander potentially leaving he was dealt a terrible hand.
Now how many of the signings last summer were his targets I do not know.

Obv. They were not all bad. But never have I seen us go into a season so undercooked. And it only got marginally better and the results didn't really pick up.

How he would have fared keeping Iliman and poss Sander plus a smattering of signings who knows. Likely better....?

But he's now off to Preston.
Good luck to him. Think he's got a job on his hands there to be honest.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Agreed it is impossible for us to know what goes on at management levels with in a football club and rightly so but I can't honestly believe all the players that came in , that the majority didn't have his approval.
But thinking back on his previous signings there's only Vini‘s signing that I think he showed a great deal of enthusiasm for. That said I suspect Trusty was his choice too. Slimani and Traore, one has to suggest they weren't his as he said they are work in progress players, which I honestly believe is code for saying not my choice. Managers generally don't live on a long-time basis as their tenure at the club is generally limited. Having said all that we should give him credit for what he achieved and a lot of slack because the club cut his legs off by selling the crown jewels of his success. We will never know what would of happened

Having just achieved an against all-odds promotion and an FA Cup Semi Final, he was the main man. If he didn't want someone, then he says so... The counter to that was him wanting to keep Sharp and the club over-ruled, but I'm guessing that's when people starting realising maybe he wasn't the man for a PL campaign....

The other point that taints Hecky's last season was the lack of a Plan B for Ndiaye. That was criminal. We had one for Berge (Hamer) and you could argue that was an upgrade!

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Hold on, he wasn't allowed to sign anyone because of an embargo yet still brought in Trusty, Slimane, Traore, Sousa?

Compare contrast with Wilder bringing in OHare, Moore, Burrows for less...

So the argument is, Hecky didn't bring in his list of utter spunk bubbles, yet Wilder brought in his players???

People can't have it both ways....

Look, Hecky did brilliant that season and i give him full credit for th promotion and the FA cup semi, but the PL season is squarely at his door, and no amount of whataboutery is going to alter the fact he made it to the promised land and bought in a load of tosh, wanted to keep Norwood, Fleck and Sharp and didn't have the players in any kind of physical shape for the season ahead...

I never said hecky didn’t choose his players or have input. I’m just saying that he wasn’t given the funds to adequately replace the players. I’ve never made any arguments about wilder either

I’m just saying that he didn’t have a lot of choice but to look for diamonds in the rough, given how under resourced he was. I’m sure he would have much rather complete a deal for Doyle than Davies for example but he wasnt allowed. I’m sure he wasn’t dreaming on Leicesters third choice left back on loan.

If we was given the resources we had in the first 2 PL seasons I’m pretty sure he’s not shopping for slimani for a million quid, Davies on a free, traore for a couple of mill. There’s were squad filler at best not 1st teamers. He wasn’t even given most of these players until 10% of the season was gone. He had no choice but to keep the players we had like Norwood or fleck as there was no money to replace them - it’s not that deep.

 

[Andy67]

Hold on, he wasn't allowed to sign anyone because of an embargo yet still brought in Trusty, Slimane, Traore, Sousa?

Compare contrast with Wilder bringing in OHare, Moore, Burrows for less...

So the argument is, Hecky didn't bring in his list of utter spunk bubbles, yet Wilder brought in his players???

People can't have it both ways....

Look, Hecky did brilliant that season and i give him full credit for th promotion and the FA cup semi, but the PL season is squarely at his door, and no amount of whataboutery is going to alter the fact he made it to the promised land and bought in a load of tosh, wanted to keep Norwood, Fleck and Sharp and didn't have the players in any kind of physical shape for the season ahead...

Hecky had next to no money and if you think they were even on his list to start with then you are mistaken. As it goes Souza will be sold for more, Trusty never good enough for premier but had been a good championship. Traore sold for what he was bought and Slimane never good enough for premier league but is now looking half decent in this division. Hecky had McBurnie so bringing Moore in would have been a waste of money not only that he played for Bournemouth and on prohibitive wages. You have forgotten that Hecky signed Hamer who will no doubt sell for more (prince might sell this summer). Anel bought by Hecky 2 million (might be sold this season for 15m). Who bought Grbic? I am not criticising either of these managers, the board will decide who will be bought and who won’t and who they sell. Our season rests on that over the next two weeks, i had my hopes up that after I thought a catastrophic season ahead we have made some decent signings that is all, let’s see if our current owner wants to make it a great season by not selling some key players. The new owners haven’t arrived so have no say on it, who knows if the Prince wants to leave and buy Charlton he could have up to 80m in transfers alone burning a hole in his pocket