Heckingbottom

[Sheffsteel]

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

Don’t understand that, when they have so much in common regards on field style/ tactics and off field personalities.

What I’ve found is that Southgate either received loads of abuse and zero respect whilst others say he’s the best England manager in our history. The truth is somewhere is between, he has strengths and weaknesses, thought the way he dealt with the media, always stayed calm and dignified, united the squad so players enjoyed playing for England was very impressive.

Also let’s not forget both Southgate and Hecky are really nice people, altho never really understood why this should effect critical judgement. Found it weird how some people became emotionally attached to Hecky, lost their rational/ logical thoughts and supported him like a family member. I like Hecky more than Wilder but still prefer Wilder in charge. Altho if we’re not in and around the playoffs then I expect him to be sacked during the Jan transfer window.

Hecky arguably saved our club from meltdown. The Prince gambled keeping N’Diaye and Berge when they should have been sold to balance the books. So of course I’ll always be grateful to Hecky, he’ll receive a great reception when he returns.

 

[Grappler]

I was having a few drinks with a close pal of Hecky, last night (seriously) and he told me a few things that made me realise that things were a lot grimmer than we all probably speculated they were, during his time here. I won't go into detail as this was told to me in confidence.

Hecky behaved in a very professional and diplomatic manner, throughout his time with us, when he was basically thrown under the bus by the higher ups.

GLTTL.

 

[gavtheblade]

The best of luck to Hecky in his next chapter.
Thrown in at the deep end, and proved he is a very capable Championship manager.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

Confirmed with McCall as his assistant

https://www.pnefc.net/news/2024/august/20/paul-heckingbottom-appointed-first-team-manager/

 

[Pintor75]

I was having a few drinks with a close pal of Hecky, last night (seriously) and he told me a few things that made me realise that things were a lot grimmer than we all probably speculated they were, during his time here. I won't go into detail as this was told to me in confidence.

Hecky behaved in a very professional and diplomatic manner, throughout his time with us, when he was basically thrown under the bus by the higher ups.

GLTTL.

His promotion did us a huge favour and prevented a financial collapse imo, Wilder needed a job back in football, nobody wanted him so Prince brought him back paying what he owed as wages, suited both parties, good luck to him, McCalls a lucky boy, did nothing coaching wise here, Hecky must have been diplomatic, to say the least!

 

[biggiesablade]

GLTTL

 

[The Bear]

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...

Hmm harsh. For me the PL season turned on one game . . . . .

Tottenham (A). We should have won that. Fate did us a terrible blow that day and afterwards we never recovered. We probably have still been relegated but not as disastrously as we were. All the confidence went after that blow at Spurs. Soon after followed by the Geordie debacle.

 

[billyblademan]

Hmm harsh. For me the PL season turned on one game . . . . .

Tottenham (A). We should have won that. Fate did us a terrible blow that day and afterwards we never recovered. We probably have still been relegated but not as disastrously as we were. All the confidence went after that blow at Spurs. Soon after followed by the Geordie debacle.

Funny, my mind turned to this on the dog walk this lunchtime, and I thought exactly the same. 4 minutes goes up instead of 12 or however many it was, it's a different world. I agree, relegation was probably inevitable, but the fire went out of us that day.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

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.

He spent a lot more money than Wilder has this off season and brought in a bunch of players considerably worse....

 

[boss hog]

Good luck to him,decent manager for us under very trying circumstances, Preston job is a bit out the frying pan into the fire mind you.

 

[Frank the tank]

Wish him well
Club might have gone under with A lesser man at the helm

Always carried himself with great dignity and showed respect for others in a time when those are almost forgotten qualities

 

[Geordie Blade]

Look Listen, Hecky did brilliant that season...

Corrected for you.

 

[DifferentClass]

GLTTL

He's had more botox than Warnock!

 

[Tezza1889]

Wish him all the best, all the way through the joke of the ownership, Dozy etc, he managed to keep the players focused, did a brilliant job and got us promoted.

In the end the returning messiah did exactly the same job as hekcy would have done in the premier league.

But the season was lost off the pitch with very bad strategy from PA, so I don't hold either manager at fault

 

[hidesbehindapseudonym]

Like Hecky. More loyal than Wilder.

 

[1987]

Whatever you think of his managerial talent, you just can't knock the person and I hope he does well.

 

[Tony Currie]

Like Hecky. More loyal than Wilder.

Not true! But I liked Hecky and he was dealt a very poor hand. The recruitment team(now disease) have a lot to answer for!

 

[steve26272]

Got a better points per game ratio than CW in the 1st prem relegation season
Took us from near bottom to play offs 2nd season
Promotion under an embargo in his 1st full season
Not dealt the best hand, but our position didnt change despite the manager doing so

So why isnt he held in such high regard?

Most football fans want a leader whos animated and a battler - Fergie, Pep, Klopp, Arteta - for us Warnock, Wilder & Bassett

Heckys a diplomat in a street fight

God knows where the club would be without his promotion, hope he gets around of applause when PNE visit, then we smash them 8-0 for old times sake Hecky lad

 

[Bladeinleeds]

He spent a lot more money than Wilder has this off season and brought in a bunch of players considerably worse....

How do we know. They have played 2 games? Might all turn out to be shit

The highest fee we paid before sales (trusty) was essentially what o’hare is rumoured to be getting as a signing on fee. This is in the league above with 130m of fresh revenue

His ‘big money’ signings were
Trust 5m - not been great but wasn’t a bad bet given he was at Arsenal and had a very good championship season behind him

Post sales of his two best players

Souza 10m - would get our money back and could be good if he was committed
hamer 15m - been good and would more than get our money back
Archer 16m - was ok and already moved to another PL side

We had no money, had not been able to make perm signings (bar anel) for 5 transfer windows - which is why the squad was on its arse.

Just don’t see how heckingbottom can possible be to blame for the signings when given no money. The worst thing he can be accused of is listing to the recruitment / scouting department. He wasn’t watching much Swedish football during the season I’m sure.

You’re blaming him for cheap gambles like Traore, slimani, larouci and Thomas being wank when in reality to a PL club with resources to genuinely try and compete these would be squad players with potential not first teamers. These were never going to be the answer at PL level and thats the budget not hecky.

 

[Greg.]

Good luck to him. Glad we've got our away game against them out the way with!

 

[Willie Carlin]

Good luck Hecky!

 

[Addison]

Handled himself with great dignity when all around was falling down during the promotion season. Bills not being paid, training pitches frozen and no oppo. stats available were a consequence of the off field turmoil. Seemingly kept out of the loop on the day Berge was sold but still avoided public name calling. Toeing the line worked against him as the UW recruitment structure brought in Traore when he was pushing for Akpom.

Tactically naive, slow to change shape and bring on subs (exactly the same failings as CW) he always looked to play front foot football. We are reaping the benefits now of his time as u21 coach.

The spectre of injuries followed him around at all his clubs. Whether that is down to poor quality sports science or a lack of attention to conditioning is anyones guess. It will be interesting to see how PNE's injury list is managed moving forward.

Good appointment for SUFC also as I suspect as part of his severance terms both he and McCall were still on the payroll until new employment was secured during the remainder of the outstanding 2 year contract period. Tom Little ex PNE conditioning coach is still with us. Maybe he will now join up with PH again.

 

[Russ]

I’m really pleased for Hecky and McCall. Hope they do well. And beat them pigs a couple of times.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

His promotion did us a huge favour and prevented a financial collapse imo, Wilder needed a job back in football, nobody wanted him so Prince brought him back paying what he owed as wages, suited both parties, good luck to him, McCalls a lucky boy, did nothing coaching wise here, Hecky must have been diplomatic, to say the least!

your right about McCall but still gets a free pass from me for his playing career with us.

 

[NotFallowfieldBlade]

All the best to Gareth Heckiola my prediction for PNE is as follows for the next few eventful years

24/25 Season Mid-Table
25/26 Season Mid Table
26/27 Season Mid Table

Summer of 2027 Hecky leaves to Manage Barnsley in League One

And that my forum friends is a FallowfieldFact

 

[Scarebus]

Says a lot when most of the replies to that tweet are blades wishing him well.

 

[Blades1971]

Nice guy. Never in a million years a Premiership manager.
Good luck all the same

 

[Champagneblade]

How do we know. They have played 2 games? Might all turn out to be shit

The highest fee we paid before sales (trusty) was essentially what o’hare is rumoured to be getting as a signing on fee. This is in the league above with 130m of fresh revenue

His ‘big money’ signings were
Trust 5m - not been great but wasn’t a bad bet given he was at Arsenal and had a very good championship season behind him

Post sales of his two best players

Souza 10m - would get our money back and could be good if he was committed
hamer 15m - been good and would more than get our money back
Archer 16m - was ok and already moved to another PL side

We had no money, had not been able to make perm signings (bar anel) for 5 transfer windows - which is why the squad was on its arse.

Just don’t see how heckingbottom can possible be to blame for the signings when given no money. The worst thing he can be accused of is listing to the recruitment / scouting department. He wasn’t watching much Swedish football during the season I’m sure.

You’re blaming him for cheap gambles like Traore, slimani, larouci and Thomas being wank when in reality to a PL club with resources to genuinely try and compete these would be squad players with potential not first teamers. These were never going to be the answer at PL level and thats the budget not hecky.

It does feel like judging Hecky post promotion is like evaluating a player’s ability when all you’ve got to go on is them receiving an absolute hospital pass in the middle of the field!

His prior season’s plan that he would have hoped to build on was ripped to shreds by losing three of his main players in Doyle, Ndiaye and Berge.

That is a lot of work to be done to even get to parity.

Could he have done better from that point? Perhaps but to ignore that as his starting point is extremely harsh.

Then it gets murky. Who suggests the players? Not 100% Hecky, clearly.

Archer is a 9. He should not have been identified as a replacement for Ndiaye, who is a 10. If anything Akpom was the Ndiaye replacement, but then it might not have gone with the model of potential large appreciation. So at that point you’re really looking to have your cake and eat it.

Hamer was a good signing. Souza less so but longer term might give a return on investment.

The rest of the signings were bits and pieces punts. All in all they just smacked of having no money to invest.

Once Archer got rubbed off, what did we actually invest? About 10m net? What we spent was a 5m centre back, a 4m striker and a 2m midfielder plus a crocked midfielder on a freebie. Doesn’t really smack of funds to give it a go, does it?

 

[Danny_Blade]

Nice guy. Never in a million years a Premiership manager.
Good luck all the same

The players he managed were never a Premier League team in a million years.

 

[ATL Recs]

Hmm harsh. For me the PL season turned on one game . . . . .

Tottenham (A). We should have won that. Fate did us a terrible blow that day and afterwards we never recovered. We probably have still been relegated but not as disastrously as we were. All the confidence went after that blow at Spurs. Soon after followed by the Geordie debacle.

Oh come on, Spurs away they absolutely battered us, on another day they would have put 5 away we dug in deep with little to offer last ditch defending decent goalkeeping and crap finishing by Spurs - what happened after was going to happen regardless of the Spurs result