Paul Heckingbottom (managerial suggestion)

He’s a good shout IMO.
My problem is that any Manager/Coach who agrees to our project will have their hands tied behind their backs. Do we want anyone who has to do that and answer to Speakman ?
 


Jaygreen said:
Blades fan here in peace, you'll do a lot worse than Hecky, he worked miracles last year with all the off field drama going off with us, fans have a great deal of respect for him, he built our youth and academy system and gave them a chance, give him some time and he'll build a really good outfit. He was on a hiding to nothing this year, players sold last minute then scrapping round for inadequate replacements.. hence why we're terrible as the players heads and confidence is shot.

He'll be a great manager for a club that's trying to build and has a decent academy to pull from with the addition of some spends.
Click to expand...

Thats not quite the truth though Jay.

Agree, he didn't let off field distraction lose his focus and he was very dignified/ calm during interviews.
He never gets excited when his teams win and never gets down when his teams lose, often quite detached and unemotional, would make a good poker player

but Sheff Utd had one of the strongest squads last season, the 4th highest player budget, probably the best player in the league in N'Diaye
and pre-season were predicted to finish 2nd by most most neutral pundits. So he did a good job deserving credit, but hardly miracle work.

Agree fans have respect for him because he was a nice down to earth bloke, rarely made excuses and just got on with it.

Also agree the board gave him a terrible starting hand to tackle the division, so all fans (being fair and reasonable) expected us to lose most games and be relegated. So if this was the case and there was little expectation you haven't explained why he was sacked.

The answer is although he has valid excuses, this is probably the least competitive Sheff Utd side in our 134 year history.
We've suffered the biggest home defeat in our 134 year history, normally when a team loses 8-0 it's usually due to it being one of them day when every shot flies in, however against Newcastle we could have lost 11 or 12-0, not even a league 2 team would lose by that scoreline.

Also this season we've struggled to string 3 passes together and in many matches, forget about having a shot we've hardly crossed the half way line.
We have always played like a bunch of individuals who have just met up instead of being a team. We have no tactics to try and score, it's generally the big boot from Norwood long and high to 5 foot 8 Cameron Archer, who is always beaten in the air by the opposition giant defenders. The players also have lacked effort, confidence and character for several games now. It's clear the manager gave up weeks ago and this has transferred over the players. Blades fans turn up to matches with no nerves because we knew we would lose probably 3 or 4-0 but fearing it could be 6 or 7-0. We looked like a league 1 or league 2 side.

The clues were all there last seaon. In almost every Sheffield United match last season we played really well for 20 minutes (looked a promotion team), then in the same game played really poorly for 20 minute where for some reason we couldn't string 3 passes together, we heavily relied on some magic from N'Diaye then once we were in front we'd usually park the bus for the last 20 minute, we were excellent at defending in numbers soaking up pressure but it's a risky tactic. The match at your ground was a typical Sheff Utd match, for the first 30 minutes Sheff Utd were a clear level above Sunderland. You started coming into it towards the end of the 1st half then in the 2nd half Sunderland dominated, we just sat back defending in numbers and tried to hold on.
It worked again, we won but overall it was hardly convincing and befitting of what you'd expect from a team 2nd in the league.

Agree Hecky did a great job with the Academy, continuing the tradition of very decent producing players for the 1st team.
His record suggests he's an average manager, not good but not bad, you could do worse and he is a nice man....which for some people is important.
He's been sacked but has alot of genuine sympathy from our fans, leaves on good terms and still quite liked, he will be welcomed back anytime.
 
Heckingbottom does not play the brand of football that the club hierarchy are wanting to play and signing plyers to fit. If we appointed him, I would be extremely confused on the clubs direction, as what they are saying would certainly not fit their actions.
 
He is genuinely in the vermont hotel in Newcastle at present. Works Xmas Doo is there and just had a text from a fellow mackem there he's there 😢
 
He's available
No compensation to pay
Knows the league

He ticks all 3 but I bloody hope not, what a shite Xmas present for the fans.
 

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