Hecky

[robbiez666]

He wasn't a popular choice to manage us and some fans couldn't wait for him to fail.

With limited backing, a last ditch attempt to sell our best players, an injury crisis, club under embargo, issues with the training pitches, two terrible takeovers, he's been an ocean of calm.

A practical realist with a very good knowledge and love of the game.

We didn't get promoted due to having the best players or loads of luck. We got promoted because this season has been a team effort on and off the pitch. He's won numerous close games and despite the moans about his tactics he outsmarted most other managers.

We were so consistent because we had a strong system, strong tactics and really analysed the opposition. You can see how well drilled the players are of and on the ball.

We may not be a team to excite the fans, but we are one who relentlessly goes about getting results.

Make no mistake, this is an incredibly difficult league to get out of. Look at some of the players West Brom had on the pitch tonight. So many teams struggle for consistency though. Teams can beat each other but the successful teams can do it week in, week out.

He's done one heck of a job.

 

[Silkblade]

He's done one heck of a job

I like what you did there

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Probably the best set of players I’ve seen at United. At times we’re not pretty but it’s effective.

Love this club

 

[DifferentClass]

I'd rather we kept him in the 20/21 off season rather than appoint that clogger Slav (who'll never work in England again because he's managing in Russia at the mo).

Who knows where we'd be now if so?

 

[Frank the tank]

Got so much admiration for this guy as a man
Has shown so much more character than most would in his situation and took the pressure off the players and found a way to get results

 

[A Storm of Blades]

His win rate is utterly ridiculous in a league this hard.

 

[1973Blade]

Deserves a lot of credit for what he has done. I hope fans give him a chance when things get difficult next season.

 

[A Storm of Blades]

Got so much admiration for this guy as a man
Has shown so much more character than most would in his situation and took the pressure off the players and found a way to get results

Yep great shout. He has turned us into a side that win a number of ways. We can play a bit, we can launch it, we can scrap. He is grossly underrated. The tactical tweak in the second half tonight was a master stroke.

 

[Gretsch Blade]

His stats speak for themselves.

How he wasn't EFL manager of the year I'll never know??
Won promotion to the prem at a canter, with 3 games to spare, with all the off-field issues and a Jan transfer embargo.
Played at Wembley in FA cup semi final against best current team worldwide (a league above us) without embarrassing ourselves.

Take a bow!

 

[Keen Blade]

He has been excellent... And his reward for doing so well ?
A hugely challenging transfer window , way more difficult than the one Wilder had in 2019.
Back then , we had a squad of younger players on the rise , including JoC.
This summer , we have a lot who need moving out and some very difficult decisions to make.
I hope Hecky gets all the help he needs in terms of scouting & recruitment because a large turnover of players is required to fashion a squad with either a chance of staying up in 2024 or good enough to come straight back up in 2025.
There is no room for sentimental decisions this summer + that's as hard for the manager as it will be for the players he must move out.
We might only get one dollop of big Pl money - so we have to use it well - to ensure we have a better squad over the next few seasons , whether or not we stay up.

 

[CornwallBlade]

Thought he was brilliant in the post match Sky interview- comes across as a totally grounded bloke. I just hope he is given the financial support he deserves to build a squad that can compete next season

 

[RWE]

It’s telling that in all the players interview they mention him and thank him for their own development, bet he’s a great man manager and has the tactical nous which makes him a very good manager. Gets the club, brings youth through, develops existing players… what’s not to like?

 

[Need4speed]

First club ever to get promoted to the Premier League which didn’t sign anyone in the January transfer window

 

[gavtheblade]

He's done a grand job, even in the last stint of the prem.
Obviously he is wired.
Money are we going to give him some?
Interesting, very happy times ahead.

 

[ForgeBlade]

Top, top man. Thankyou Paul. You've worked wonders this season, despite all the off-field shite that threatened to derail your team. You have earned a crack at the top flight, and who knows, you (and us) might just surprise a few people next season.

 

[tomtheblade]

Spot on post, Hecky deserves all the credit in the world for getting us over the line in such an assured manner & staying calm in the face of so much turbulence off-field.

An absolutely incredible job. We really seem to flourish with Yorkshiremen at the helm (Warnock, Wilder & now Hecky)

 

[diode_blade]

FF says Dyche would have had us promoted at Xmas.....the tea leaves in my cup said so....
Also said
Flappy uppty naz facey smashy uppy....

PH and SM and JL have done a fantastic job
Special mention to the pigeons as well

 

[3Cheers4Ramirez]

Didn't think he could get us up. Delighted to be wrong. It's highly admirable how he's kept it all together. He's earned his crack at the PL

I also think we have a superb core of experienced pros of great character who have made his job much easier. They've got back to where they deserve to be and I'm delighted for them. Some outstanding servants to this club in that squad

 

[Brewster Cost £70 million]

 

[SwissBlade]

The thread that followed his appointment press conference probably needs reviving… I know I thought it was a strange move to give him 5 years.

Turns out it was a cracking decision. He’s done a hell of a job and does it without a hint of arrogance

 

[Groucho Blade]

Hecky and his squad of talented, relentless, obdurate players have performed miracles this season. I’m proud of every single one of them. It’s a magnificent achievement. They deserve to go down in Blades legend and folklore. Woohoo
And not only are we going up, they’ve probably saved the club‘s short term future too.

 

[007]

His appointment as manager at the time made a huge amount of sense, if a little uninspiring, but hats off to him, he has performed miracles with both hands tied behind his back. Paul Heckingbottom take a bow sir.

 

[Dnblade]

Fantastic job,and I think the transition of bringing Slav in cost us last season,and we weren't far away in the end.
He's steered us calmly through choppy waters,seen off a strong challenge of Boro and Luton coming up the home straight,and wasn't frightened to leave out big players like Norwood when he knew we needed more legs and mobility in midfield.
Watching him at the end he looked absolutely elated,hugging every player..Great job along with SM and JL.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

I will admit I didn't want him I thought he was a cheap option with a poor managerial record.
Don't agree I wanted him to fail though I would never want United too fail even if Gay Ron Megson was in charge.
I said at the time if I was wrong I would apologise.

WELL I APOLOGISE PAUL I GOT YOU TOTALLY WRONG.
CONGRATULATIONS AND WELL DONE
PAUL, STUART AND JACK AND THE REST OF THE TEAM.

 

[More Bladier than thou]

Iam guilty of calling him ‘Feckingbottom’ when he was appointed. Iam delighted to be proven wrong.Turns out it was a master stroke from PA.

 

[robbiez666]

How he wasn't EFL manager of the year I'll never know??

Strong field this year. It can't be understated the job Kompany has done at Burney, taking a squad of aging cloggers and turning them into a football playing team who have walked the league.

And if Luton, Millwall or Coventry go up through the playoffs then they'd be in for a shout as well.

 

[Goodpinchofclough]

Before the thread Swissblade mentioned is revived.. I was wrong...

In Hecky we trust!

 

[Charlieblade]

Looking back, it was seen by most as an underwhelming appointment, and I see the Prince given credit for his wisdom.

With hindsight we can see now that it was speculative at best, in terms of a value for money appointment, under our dire financial status.

Having said all that, I agree with the positive sentiments for a manager who has proved the doubters wrong, and built an amazing team spirit at the club. He has taken on a huge, unenviable task, and succeeded so far, but we are only half way there. Well done PH.

 

[Houston_Blade]

As much as I loved the Wilder promotion and all the parties etc. I just love the way that Hecky has gone about his job in a very quiet and unassuming way and I think he'll continue to do so (albeit with more media glare). He's taken all the attention and bullshit away from the players and deadbatted the stupid questions he's been asked in a way that hasn't rocked the boat any more than it's been rocked by the financial misgivings of the club.

He seems to have pulled the players closer together and I really hope that the financial shit doesn't lead to him losing some of the stars that, let's be honest, he's made into stars for us (Ndiaye, Berge, Anel).

His record that Sky showed last night since he took over is incredible and although it's going to take a bit of a battering next season he's given us 2 very memorable years and I'm very thankful for that.

 

[Ralph Blade]

Well done Hecky! To show the leadership needed turn the ship around and get us promoted with 3 games left is an incredible feat. I have enjoyed his interviews throughout the season, they continued to reinforce the feeling of confidence necessary to achieve the fantastic results witnessed throughout the last 18 months. He has grasped the opportunity with both hands and delivered something that, when we look back on it, will be a wonderful period in this club’s history.