Our Secret Weapon

[ton-up]

Like I said, my opinion. Has for systems, lets hope that if we stick to the same system as last season and against Zee Germans, it works better with Souzza in it.

 

[Heely bottoms underpants]

Being written off and everyone's favourite to finish bottom, that could be our secret weapon.
Never underestimate the underdog.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Norwoodinator 3

Time for the third reincarnation. Each incarnation he has been our saviour when we have been lost. Might not last the full season and may 'get found out' but he will hit the ground running and dictate from the middle again, while the rest get up to gear.

Overlapping CBs return to some degree for his triangle moves and wingback switches. Souza to protect him. Souza, Slimane, McBurnie and our CBs all causing havoc from Norwoods deep crosses and setpieces should see him get a decent amount of assists.

Currently our best known leader outside Egan and Baldock who will lead our system for the start of 23/24.

With other key players leaving his experience could be vital this season.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Our secret weapon is the optimism and cheery disposition of our fanbase. Nothing can stand up to it!

 

[Not_a_Cheat]

the story so far

out ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and in

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so if we sign 2 more we will have spent of the 31m incoming which discounts the hecky wont get the money argument
and dont forget we have to pay agent fees and any loan fees

And not one suiterr for JOC? Shame on you Liverpool always the victims..

 

[Sheffsteel]

Heckingbottom got out of jail on numerous occasions last year, when a moment of magic from one of our creative players would win us a game in which we were terrible (and there were a lot of those). He won't have that this year.

I don't think we're very strong in the manager department, although I hope I'm wrong as I really like the bloke and he is going to have to work miracles for us to survive with this squad.

Agree...find the praise for Hecky exaggerated, blinkered and illogical at times.

He gave us success so obviously deserves credit and praise but lets not forget we were one of the favourites with the best squad
He manages more in a pragmatic Jose Mourinho style....where we win at any cost....
even if it means parking the bus putting almost every player behind the ball for the last 30 minutes.
Hecky teams are effective but far from pretty or convincing.

It always used to amaze me last season how we'd be terrible and listless in the 1st half
then in the 2nd half have a brilliant 15 minute spell (and look a top 2 side) where we're passing it around for fun
Then we'd go in front....then for the last 30 minutes we'd sit back and play hoof ball unable to string 3 passes together.
All because we'd won then everyone would be happy....but it wasn't often convincing.

I'd say Hecky skill is
he's unemotional, practical and doesn't overreact no matter the result, so he's really good at keeping a steady ship
(where as Wilder was much more passionate and emotional, this can be a good thing or a bad thing).

Another plus for Hecky is his pragmatism verging on negativity, Mourinho was often accused of the same,
Mourinho's reply would be "judge me on the result not the performance".
(where as Wilder preferred front foot football where we attack).
Last season in a few away games we parked the bus almost the whole of the 2nd half but we coped so easily.
This season think we'll still have a strong defence and Hecky will organise us in such a way where teams will struggle to score against us.
However the concern is how do we create chance, never mind scoring goals.
Last season even if we were disjointed we could reply on N'Diaye, McAtee and even Doyle producing some magic, so we score from nothing.

 

[Yoonited]

I hope you’re right. He will have his work cut out this season.

He had his work well and truly cut out last season.Think he did alright

 

[Shawy24]

They did catch up with us, I didn't say they overtook us in the end, but thanks for reading my post and taking it at face value with the meaning it was intended to convey. They did close the gap and catch up with us at one point, or did I make that up? That's the part of the season I'm referring to and Hecky played a part in that with his stubborness in sticking to his tactics when they weren't working, and picking consistently poor performing out of form players.

Yep it was almost in desperation that he shat himself and put Doyle in last season. The rest is history. His substitutions are shit and 20 minutes too late due to the need to have a debate with McCall for 20 minutes. He also needs to trust his young lads in midfield more.

 

[Shawy24]

Yep it was almost in desperation that he shat himself and put Doyle in last season. The rest is history. His substitutions are shit and 20 minutes too late due to the need to have a debate with McCall for 20 minutes. He also needs to trust his young lads in midfield more.

Other than that he’s quite a competent chappie.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Unconvinced in him myself. He essentially used the Wilder squad/model and even last year in promotion we were rarely absolutely dominating sides for a full game.

It was his job to win promotion to the Golden Mile that is the Premier League, and he did, by 11 points.

It was not his job to nursemaid fans who were shitting the bed every time Boro or Luton scored.

It’s called management.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

It was his job to win promotion to the Golden Mile that is the Premier League, and he did, by 11 points.

It was not his job to nursemaid fans who were shitting the bed every time Boro or Luton scored.

It’s called management.

While it was far more comfortable than the Wilder promotion, in the end, for some reason the side didn't have the drilled in confidence of that side imo. Injuries obviously play a part in that. I don't think he's getting a fair crack of the whip this season due to player sales and transfer budgets too. I ain't saying he's shit and hecky out but there's still a slight feeling of I'm not sure how much it's him and how much it was having the core of the wilder squad to use

 

[ThatJa]

While it was far more comfortable than the Wilder promotion, in the end, for some reason the side didn't have the drilled in confidence of that side imo. Injuries obviously play a part in that. I don't think he's getting a fair crack of the whip this season due to player sales and transfer budgets too. I ain't saying he's shit and hecky out but there's still a slight feeling of I'm not sure how much it's him and how much it was having the core of the wilder squad to use

You definitely can't compare the two

Wilder had 130m to blow on whoever he wanted

Hecky has scraps and has had to sell to raise funds.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

You definitely can't compare the two

Wilder had 130m to blow on whoever he wanted

Hecky has scraps and has had to sell to raise funds.

In the championship? I ain't comparing their first premier league seasons.

 

[8lade]

Then we'd go in front....then for the last 30 minutes we'd sit back and play hoof ball unable to string 3 passes together.

where as Wilder preferred front foot football where we attack

Not disputing this but when Hecky took up the post he said, "we'd play without fear" and I thing when things went wrong previously for Wilder he did seem to try and eke out a draw. I think I cheered when Hecky made that statement (though it was probably at the start of his second stint) as we knew we had the guys to go out play good football and win. I hope he takes that approach to at least half the teams we play in the Prem, ok we may have to be defensive against the Manchesters of this league but if we go down and don't even give it a go this season is going to be wank.

 

[Yoonited]

It was his job to win promotion to the Golden Mile that is the Premier League, and he did, by 11 points.

It was not his job to nursemaid fans who were shitting the bed every time Boro or Luton scored.

It’s called management.

Absolutely

 

[biggiesablade]

Is it...belief
?