Paul Heckingbottom - Sheffield Utd

[04Sauzee]

Looks like the Sheffield Utd manager has left his post and Heckingbottom may be in charge for their game at the weekend.

Not sure if it's confirmed or not?

[Magpie]

Still awaiting Sheffield Utd confirming Wilder’s departure. Will get more info then I expect.

[CropleyWasGod]

Time for more Paul Secondbottom gags.?

[04Sauzee]

Time for more Paul Secondbottom gags.?
Hope not, wish him well.

[SHODAN]

Good luck to him.

[matty_f]

Wish him all the best, he definitely didn't mean for it to go wrong here and you couldn't accuse him of not putting every effort into making a success of it at Hibs.

[Northernhibee]

Wish him all the best, he definitely didn't mean for it to go wrong here and you couldn't accuse him of not putting every effort into making a success of it at Hibs.

Yep. Spoke to him a couple of times and spoke well about the club, was clever, funny and knowledgeable.

[Hibee Mac]

Well we know how that's going to end, they'll be in league 1 before they know it

[CropleyWasGod]

Hope not, wish him well.

TBF, so do I. Hope he makes it to at least FourthBottom. :agree:

[Jones28]

Jeez, who'd have thought it. In with a shout for a gig in the Premier League!

I have no desire to see him fail.

[MrRobot]

Hope he does well, likeable guy who just underestimated the league unfortunately.

Had a decent eye for a player too it seems.

[Pretty Boy]

I didn't really take to Heckingbottom but he was on a hiding to nothing. Plenty people had him tagged as a loser before he had picked his 1st team and were just waiting for it all to go wrong, it wasn't his fault that he replaced who he did but he paid the price for it.

I was glad when he moved on but I don't wish him any ill will. I think a less high pressured job away from the front line is where he will be at his best and I'm not sure he'' be front and centre at Sheffield Utd for any longer than he has to be.

[The Baldmans Comb]

The Yorkshire pudding looked down on Scottish football from the moment he arrived with his subsequent comments that he felt it was on par with lower England league 1 and was to stubborn to change his tactics when it was obvious they were wrong.

An irrelevant footnote in Hibs history and well rid of.

[Magpie]

Sky Sports saying he’s been sacked and now a reporter is saying he hasn’t been sacked but could be soon. What a bizarre situation.

[BlackSheep]

Maybe he will come in and take Mallan off our hands in the summer?

[Hibee Mac]

I didn't really take to Heckingbottom but he was on a hiding to nothing. Plenty people had him tagged as a loser before he had picked his 1st team and were just waiting for it all to go wrong, it wasn't his fault that he replaced who he did but he paid the price for it.

I was glad when he moved on but I don't wish him any ill will. I think a less high pressured job away from the front line is where he will be at his best and I'm not sure he'' be front and centre at Sheffield Utd for any longer than he has to be.In fairness I think a lot of fans do this with any manager as soon as he comes in, not saying that's what people should do but it's for the manager to turn those types of fans around.

Heckingbottom was a really poor appointment in hindsight, we got a wee bounce after he joined but it was dull football at the best of times and poor results to match.

[Spudster]

The Yorkshire pudding looked down on Scottish football from the moment he arrived with his subsequent comments that he felt it was on part with lower England league 1 and was to stubborn to change his tactics when it was obvious they were wrong.

Couldn't agree more with the first part yet disagree more with the latter!
Heckingbottom was praised alot for his ability to changes things in games and get results. That slipped eventually and is worryingly something I see happening with JR.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47847002
"Heckingbottom has made telling tactical changes during games to keep the unbeaten league run alive, switching things up with his team on the back foot at home to Rangers, recovering from a goal down to draw, and at Tynecastle, where they came from behind to win."

[WhileTheChief..]

Feel for their fans.

Total conman who’s never a football manager.

[WhileTheChief..]

I didn't really take to Heckingbottom but he was on a hiding to nothing. Plenty people had him tagged as a loser before he had picked his 1st team and were just waiting for it all to go wrong, it wasn't his fault that he replaced who he did but he paid the price for it.

I was glad when he moved on but I don't wish him any ill will. I think a less high pressured job away from the front line is where he will be at his best and I'm not sure he'' be front and centre at Sheffield Utd for any longer than he has to be.

Nothing to do with who he replaced, but from his 1st interview it was clear he wasn’t a good fit for us. Even Calderwood sounded more enthusiastic about us!

[cammy1969]

Good luck the the man


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Pagan Hibernia]

The Horgan derby at tynecastle was fun.

not much else in those 8 or 9 months was.

[Stevie Reid]

I didn't really take to Heckingbottom but he was on a hiding to nothing. Plenty people had him tagged as a loser before he had picked his 1st team and were just waiting for it all to go wrong, it wasn't his fault that he replaced who he did but he paid the price for it.

I was glad when he moved on but I don't wish him any ill will. I think a less high pressured job away from the front line is where he will be at his best and I'm not sure he'' be front and centre at Sheffield Utd for any longer than he has to be.

Personally speaking, I was a big fan of Lennon's, but it had absolutely no bearing on my enthusiasm for Heckingbottom - I liked the cut of his jib when he came in, as I did with Stockdale also. We had some very impressive performances under him at first, but I and many others were alarmed at how we played in the two Old Firm games that we had twice within a week - Scottish Cup v Celtic, and Rangers in the league, both at ER (though we took a point in the latter).

That said, we had another short run of good results after that - I remember us being particularly impressive when we beat Motherwell to all but secure top six - but it was downhill all the way shortly afterwards. Ultimately he was let go on the basis of results, and we were in a really precarious position when he left.

I wonder, as others have, whether he simply overburdened the players with too much information/instruction. In pretty much every interview I saw both he and the players talked about how everybody knew exactly what their jobs were. Great in theory that he could get his message through so well - but in practice everyone looked stifled, as if they were playing within themselves and too scared to go off script.

I watched an excellent BT Sport documentary a few months ago on John Barnes, and in the period covering his Liverpool days he said that training involved almost all ball work, with some fitness - with little discussion about any tactics for forthcoming games. It then cut to Roy Evans saying that you need to have faith in good players to sort things out for themselves when games are going against you, as you can't always rely on getting to half time to have a rethink and reshape.

Now I know that I'm comparing two completely different eras of football (as well as talking about an absolutely superb Liverpool team, full of great players) but as soon as I heard Evans speaking, I thought of Heckingbottom, and all the instruction. After he left, we played with a lot more freedom in that St. Johnstone game under May, and then latterly with JR for the remainder of last season.

Still can't believe it was only last season that he was still here, feels like much longer!

[Hibbyradge]

Heckingbottom was incredibly lucky with his early results. We were playing terribly but somehow we managed to rack up a shed load of points.

Eventually the performances got what they deserved and Heckingbottom's star started to fade.

I don't think I wish him harm, but I don't wish him well either. I don't care about him other than being glad he's not here anymore.

[G B Young]

Personally speaking, I was a big fan of Lennon's, but it had absolutely no bearing on my enthusiasm for Heckingbottom - I liked the cut of his jib when he came in, as I did with Stockdale also. We had some very impressive performances under him at first, but I and many others were alarmed at how we played in the two Old Firm games that we had twice within a week - Scottish Cup v Celtic, and Rangers in the league, both at ER (though we took a point in the latter).

That said, we had another short run of good results after that - I remember us being particularly impressive when we beat Motherwell to all but secure top six - but it was downhill all the way shortly afterwards. Ultimately he was let go on the basis of results, and we were in a really precarious position when he left.

I wonder, as others have, whether he simply overburdened the players with too much information/instruction. In pretty much every interview I saw both he and the players talked about how everybody knew exactly what their jobs were. Great in theory that he could get his message through so well - but in practice everyone looked stifled, as if they were playing within themselves and too scared to go off script.

I watched an excellent BT Sport documentary a few months ago on John Barnes, and in the period covering his Liverpool days he said that training involved almost all ball work, with some fitness - with little discussion about any tactics for forthcoming games. It then cut to Roy Evans saying that you need to have faith in good players to sort things out for themselves when games are going against you, as you can't always rely on getting to half time to have a rethink and reshape.

Now I know that I'm comparing two completely different eras of football (as well as talking about an absolutely superb Liverpool team, full of great players) but as soon as I heard Evans speaking, I thought of Heckingbottom, and all the instruction. After he left, we played with a lot more freedom in that St. Johnstone game under May, and then latterly with JR for the remainder of last season.

Still can't believe it was only last season that he was still here, feels like much longer!

I remember hearing Michael O'Neill talking about management a few years ago and he said something to the effect that the average footballer is capable of absorbing no more than two minutes' worth of tactical instructions ie you can formulate as many gameplans as you like to cover endless scenarios but if you don't keep it simple most of your players will fail to absorb it.

[MWHIBBIES]

Heckingbottom was incredibly lucky with his early results. We were playing terribly but somehow we managed to rack up a shed load of points.

Eventually the performances got what they deserved and Heckingbottom's star started to fade.

I don't think I wish him harm, but I don't wish him well either. I don't care about him other than being glad he's not here anymore.

We definitely were not playing terribly. We weren't even playing terribly when struggling under him, just couldn't hold well earned leads.

[MrRobot]

The Horgan derby at tynecastle was fun.

not much else in those 8 or 9 months was.

his stint between coming in and the season ending was pretty good and we actually played some decent football under him, it was just criminal how many times we threw away the lead and ended up losing a game.

[blackpoolhibs]

Just another poor manager in a long list of them during my lifetime. 😭😥

[Brightside]

Cream rises to the top. Top coach - huge amount of time for him. *logs off*

[JimBHibees]

Cream rises to the top. Top coach - huge amount of time for him. *logs off*

Maybe good coach whether a good head coach another thing entirely imo

[Heisenberg]

Maybe good coach whether a good head coach another thing entirely imo

He’s our Ian Cathro.

[Hibs90]

Cream rises to the top. Top coach - huge amount of time for him. *logs off*

Nice attempt at a troll.

He's dreadful.

[Hibbyradge]

We definitely were not playing terribly. We weren't even playing terribly when struggling under him, just couldn't hold well earned leads.

I thought we were awful.

[HoboHarry]

Nice attempt at a troll.

He's dreadful.
Other than clubs in decent leagues employ him obviously. Maybe they are all wrong.

[Brightside]

Nice attempt at a troll.

He's dreadful.

You are wrong. It’s your opinion obv but it’s wrong. Ask the Hibs players what they thought or any of the clubs he’s worked at. He’s got an excellent reputation.

[Liberal Hibby]

You are wrong. It’s your opinion obv but it’s wrong. Ask the Hibs players what they thought or any of the clubs he’s worked at. He’s got an excellent reputation.

Possibly - but as others have said he's no head coach or manager. I think he'd make a decent Director of Football setting - but he clearly had a problem communicating with players and over complicating things.

[wookie70]

Great chance for him and hope he does well. Pretty much zero chance of avoiding relegation but that might work in his favour as there aren't huge expectations. I have a feeling he will do pretty well

[Brightside]

Possibly - but as others have said he's no head coach or manager. I think he'd make a decent Director of Football setting - but he clearly had a problem communicating with players and over complicating things.

Are we massively different now? Better squad for sure, and an excellent run of form/luck with a poorer league. Doidge struggled even with tap ins back then. Not much in it between JR and PH for me.

[wookie70]

Are we massively different now? Better squad for sure, and an excellent run of form/luck with a poorer league. Doidge struggled even with tap ins back then. Not much in it between JR and PH for me.

The results have been better and that is what keeps managers employed. However, I agree that there isn't much difference. I warmed to Heck more than I have Ross and for me the difference between the manages is Ross having one more window, a good deal more luck and most importantly Martin Boyle being fit

[bingo70]

Are we massively different now? Better squad for sure, and an excellent run of form/luck with a poorer league. Doidge struggled even with tap ins back then. Not much in it between JR and PH for me.

I agree with that to an extent.

Heckingbottoms theory that we didn’t need a midfielder that could tackle was his downfall imo. It drove me mental that summer and when form dipped and we clearly lacked a midfielder that could tackle it just annoyed me even more.

The difference with the Ross team compared to Heckingbottoms is a bit steel in the middle of the park imo.

[Dmas]

I agree with that to an extent.

Heckingbottoms theory that we didn’t need a midfielder that could tackle was his downfall imo. It drove me mental that summer and when form dipped and we clearly lacked a midfielder that could tackle it just annoyed me even more.

The difference with the Ross team compared to Heckingbottoms is a bit steel in the middle of the park imo.

PH would talk about one thing and sound so convincing and come across so well then you'd turn up on a Saturday and see something else.

he used to talk about pressing and hunting n packs it was worse then than it is now, Newell signed he said he was a fantastic 1 v 1 winger! never a winger in a million years

some people are better coaches than managers I think PH falls into that category

[Greenio]

No idea why Hibs fans wouldn't wish PH well, unless that's just the type of person they are.

Guy came in, tried his very best, didn't work out, left with grace. Made some top signings that have worked out really well for us.

All this stuff about him 'underestimating Scottish football' is just nonsense.

People were way too quick to start calling for his head.

Hope he keeps on proving everyone wrong

[bingo70]

No idea why Hibs fans wouldn't wish PH well, unless that's just the type of person they are.

Guy came in, tried his very best, didn't work out, left with grace. Made some top signings that have worked out really well for us.

All this stuff about him 'underestimating Scottish football' is just nonsense.

People were way too quick to start calling for his head.

Hope he keeps on proving everyone wrong

I agree about people not wishing him well.

I actually think that about all ex players and managers now though, Butcher, Kamberi, none of them bother me now, what’s the point?

With Heckingbottom, he came in, tried his best but it didn’t work out. Why would anybody be bitter about someone for that? Good luck to him, hope it works out well.

I disagree about people wanting him sacked too early though, it wasn’t working here and if we didn’t get rid then there’s every chance we would have ended up in a relegation battle.

[heretoday]

Good luck to Heck. I can remember thinking he was a nice contrast to Lenny when he arrived.

[Cameron1875]

The issue with him for me is that he would try gaslight the supporters by telling them things that absolutely haven't happened.

A poster mentioned it a little earlier about high pressing etc and the point is so true. He would often tell us we'd played well, individuals were good, and that the tactics worked. Yet I would sit and think I'm losing my mind as what I had just watched was a complete shambles.

He is a snake oil salesman who tells you one thing then sells you another.

[Pagan Hibernia]

The issue with him for me is that he would try gaslight the supporters by telling them things that absolutely haven't happened.

A poster mentioned it a little earlier about high pressing etc and the point is so true. He would often tell us we'd played well, individuals were good, and that the tactics worked. Yet I would sit and think I'm losing my mind as what I had just watched was a complete shambles.

He is a snake oil salesman who tells you one thing then sells you another.

I remember he described us as “pretty but soft”.

we were certainly soft, the amount of leads thrown away were testament to that. But we were anything but pleasing on the eye. I just remember a Hibs team that were incredibly laboured in possession. That moved the ball painfully slowly.

Nevertheless, Heckys a nice guy and I wish him well. He wasn’t the right man for us.

[Forza Fred]

I agree with the post about footballers limited ability to absorb complex instructions.

The coach may have in his mind how he wants his team to play, but with the tools he uses being human, there are a myriad of things that can require immediate and unscripted adjustment once the game is on.

Yes, he can set them up, put in place set play routines, or even nominate specific areas he wants the ball to go to etc,but I don’t see how he can control players’ reactions to an unplanned situation.


Some players react beautifully....they are generally regarded as good players, while others who do not, are usually regarded as poor players.

[Brightside]

I agree with that to an extent.

Heckingbottoms theory that we didn’t need a midfielder that could tackle was his downfall imo. It drove me mental that summer and when form dipped and we clearly lacked a midfielder that could tackle it just annoyed me even more.

The difference with the Ross team compared to Heckingbottoms is a bit steel in the middle of the park imo.

Totally agree.

[Hibbyradge]

PH would talk about one thing and sound so convincing and come across so well then you'd turn up on a Saturday and see something else.

he used to talk about pressing and hunting n packs it was worse then than it is now, Newell signed he said he was a fantastic 1 v 1 winger! never a winger in a million years

some people are better coaches than managers I think PH falls into that category

Bang on!

[blackpoolhibs]

PH would talk about one thing and sound so convincing and come across so well then you'd turn up on a Saturday and see something else.

he used to talk about pressing and hunting n packs it was worse then than it is now, Newell signed he said he was a fantastic 1 v 1 winger! never a winger in a million years

some people are better coaches than managers I think PH falls into that category

Spot on, and after every poor result, he'd tell us exactly what went wrong. A master at the bleedin obvious, after the horse had bolted.

Some folk keep saying he was a lovely guy, maybe so, but he was a poor football manager for Hibs.

[B.H.F.C]

Another one of these coaches that can talk the talk. Probably puts together a good PowerPoint presentation. When it came to actually setting up his team to win a game he wasn’t very good though. Poor signings, players in positions that don’t get the best from them. Everyone talks about Joe Newell playing wide on the left but there was also the genius of playing Stevie Mallan wide on the right.

[Heckys Wheel]

Another one of these coaches that can talk the talk. Probably puts together a good PowerPoint presentation. When it came to actually setting up his team to win a game he wasn’t very good though. Poor signings, players in positions that don’t get the best from them. Everyone talks about Joe Newell playing wide on the left but there was also the genius of playing Stevie Mallan wide on the right.

To be fair, a lot of his signings turned out ok. Newall must be the biggest turnaround I’ve seen at the club, I didn’t give him a hope after seeing him at Stirling Albion pre-season. Doidge similar as well as Adam Jackson. Who knows, Josh Vella might’ve turned out ok if given more time. 😳

[B.H.F.C]

To be fair, a lot of his signings turned out ok. Newall must be the biggest turnaround I’ve seen at the club, I didn’t give him a hope after seeing him at Stirling Albion pre-season. Doidge similar as well as Adam Jackson. Who knows, Josh Vella might’ve turned out ok if given more time. 😳

With the exception of Doidge and Newell I think all the players he signed were away within a year. Some a lot sooner.

[JimBHibees]

I remember he described us as “pretty but soft”.

we were certainly soft, the amount of leads thrown away were testament to that. But we were anything but pleasing on the eye. I just remember a Hibs team that were incredibly laboured in possession. That moved the ball painfully slowly.

Nevertheless, Heckys a nice guy and I wish him well. He wasn’t the right man for us.

Can't remember us being pretty. Thought we were awful the start of last season. Weak didn't create much and quite negative. Seemed also to sit back into a passive giving up of possession about an hour into the game. The losing of a Derby at home from a winning position kind of summed it up.

[Clarence]

I know he is the U23 coach but the Blades really have been absolutely atrocious since he joined the club and they were decent before. I think his presence makes all around him forget how to win a football match.

[calumhibee1]

A Source close to the former manager has claimed he knew his time was up when £23.5m signing Rhian Brewster flopped.

I remember the thread on here at the time when some folk were claiming he was a great prospect. :greengrin

The money down south is ludicrous. Between Burke, McBurnie and Brewster SU have three strikers worth more than every non OF player combined and they’re all atrocious players. Probably worth more than the full Celtic or Rangers squad. The money down south is ludicrous.

[Since452]

A Source close to the former manager has claimed he knew his time was up when £23.5m signing Rhian Brewster flopped.

I remember the thread on here at the time when some folk were claiming he was a great prospect. :greengrin

The money down south is ludicrous. Between Burke, McBurnie and Brewster SU have three strikers worth more than every non OF player combined and they’re all atrocious players. Probably worth more than the full Celtic or Rangers squad. The money down south is ludicrous.

Never thought I'd see the day when I'd never heard of a player who cost 23 million on these shores

[calumhibee1]

Never thought I'd see the day when I'd never heard of a player who cost 23 million on these shores

Yup. Especially whilst clubs in Scotland struggle to cobble 6 figure transfer fees together.

[MWHIBBIES]

A Source close to the former manager has claimed he knew his time was up when £23.5m signing Rhian Brewster flopped.

I remember the thread on here at the time when some folk were claiming he was a great prospect. :greengrin

The money down south is ludicrous. Between Burke, McBurnie and Brewster SU have three strikers worth more than every non OF player combined and they’re all atrocious players. Probably worth more than the full Celtic or Rangers squad. The money down south is ludicrous.

He was a great prospect, would hardly be the first talented player to flop. Should do well for them in the championship.

[wookie70]

I know he is the U23 coach but the Blades really have been absolutely atrocious since he joined the club and they were decent before. I think his presence makes all around him forget how to win a football match.

That is a bit of a stretch. It isn't unheard of that a club is promoted and has a great first season in the Premiership before falling back down the year later. They were also very good at home in the previous two seasons. The lack of crowds may well have been a factor in their decline too.

[Eyrie]

Never thought I'd see the day when I'd never heard of a player who cost 23 million on these shores

I remember the Pope condemning the latest world record transfer fee when it was £15m for Lentini.

Now £15m is treated as loose change.

[calumhibee1]

He was a great prospect, would hardly be the first talented player to flop. Should do well for them in the championship.

He’s *****. Nowhere near premier league level. Never was.

[FilipinoHibs]

PH would talk about one thing and sound so convincing and come across so well then you'd turn up on a Saturday and see something else.

he used to talk about pressing and hunting n packs it was worse then than it is now, Newell signed he said he was a fantastic 1 v 1 winger! never a winger in a million years

some people are better coaches than managers I think PH falls into that category

How can he be a coach when he thought Newell was a winger?

[Brightside]

How can he be a coach when he thought Newell was a winger?

Perhaps based on the fact he has played the majority of his career there. Left mid - most often used as a winger.

[jacomo]

Perhaps based on the fact he has played the majority of his career there. Left mid - most often used as a winger.


Your defence of Hecky is admirable. I wish him well.

He was pretty awful for us though. As others have said, the disconnect between what he said was happening and what was actually happening was frightening at times.

Normally I urge patience with managers but in his case I couldn’t wait to get rid.

[Hiber-nation]

Your defence of Hecky is admirable. I wish him well.

He was pretty awful for us though. As others have said, the disconnect between what he said was happening and what was actually happening was frightening at times.

Normally I urge patience with managers but in his case I couldn’t wait to get rid.

Yep. Who could forget the League Cup semi - Tom James at RB with Mallan in front of him against Celtic's pace. Ripped up for ersepaper.

And the 0-3 at Motherwell....abject. Talked a great game and that was it.

[Brightside]

Your defence of Hecky is admirable. I wish him well.

He was pretty awful for us though. As others have said, the disconnect between what he said was happening and what was actually happening was frightening at times.

Normally I urge patience with managers but in his case I couldn’t wait to get rid.

Im not the fussed tbh but Newell was a left winger when we signed him. He didnt perform like one for us tho! :greengrin

[WhileTheChief..]

No idea why Hibs fans wouldn't wish PH well, unless that's just the type of person they are.

Guy came in, tried his very best, didn't work out, left with grace. Made some top signings that have worked out really well for us.

All this stuff about him 'underestimating Scottish football' is just nonsense.

People were way too quick to start calling for his head.

Hope he keeps on proving everyone wrong

Look at the treatment Lennon gets on here.

Heckingbottom gets off lightly. Probably because he was instantly forgettable.

Decent wins against Hearst and St J. That’s it.

[MWHIBBIES]

He’s *****. Nowhere near premier league level. Never was.

Okay

[Since452]

No idea why Hibs fans wouldn't wish PH well, unless that's just the type of person they are.

Guy came in, tried his very best, didn't work out, left with grace. Made some top signings that have worked out really well for us.

All this stuff about him 'underestimating Scottish football' is just nonsense.

People were way too quick to start calling for his head.

Hope he keeps on proving everyone wrong

Well said

[Since452]

Look at the treatment Lennon gets on here.

Heckingbottom gets off lightly. Probably because he was instantly forgettable.

Decent wins against Hearst and St J. That’s it.

The difference is Lennon disrespected the club where Heckingbottom didn't

[RIP]

Reading through this thread with disbelief. In 2014 we dispensed with the role of Manager and appointed a Head of Football George Craig who in turn appointed a Head Coach in Alan Stubbs.

The last manager of Hibernian FC was Terry Butcher. Hecky got the blame for signings brought to the club by Graeme Mathie. Ultimately results and his style of football were his undoing but to blame him for duff signings was just madness.

If the recruitment had been better he might have stood more of a chance at Hibs. Maybe not but we’ll never know.

[HH81]

Rumour is Lennon is off to Sheffield United.

[jacomo]

Rumour is Lennon is off to Sheffield United.


I hope so... there’s a poster on here who has promised an entertaining response if it happens!

[jacomo]

Reading through this thread with disbelief. In 2014 we dispensed with the role of Manager and appointed a Head of Football George Craig who in turn appointed a Head Coach in Alan Stubbs.

The last manager of Hibernian FC was Terry Butcher. Hecky got the blame for signings brought to the club by Graeme Mathie. Ultimately results and his style of football were his undoing but to blame him for duff signings was just madness.

If the recruitment had been better he might have stood more of a chance at Hibs. Maybe not but we’ll never know.


Nah.

Firstly, the head coach still has a massive say in signings. Rumour was that Josh Vela was signed at Hecky’s behest despite misgivings from others.

Secondly, there was much else that was wrong, not least Hecky’s inability to get his team to play in a way that resembled the rhetoric.

[RIP]

Nah.

Firstly, the head coach still has a massive say in signings. Rumour was that Josh Vela was signed at Hecky’s behest despite misgivings from others.

Secondly, there was much else that was wrong, not least Hecky’s inability to get his team to play in a way that resembled the rhetoric.

My first point was that too many people witter on about having a manager. They simply haven’t been paying attention to the news on the Hibs website.

My second point never ruled out that our head coaches have a say in signings. Merely that it was Mathie who’s knob was on the block for poor signings.

As for Josh Vela, it’s you who are seemingly the only one who doesn’t know that Neil Lennon was a massive admirer and lobbied his boss at Hibs, Graeme Mathie, to sign him whilst NL was at Hibs. His recruitment to Easter Road was a done deal before Hecky met him.

[HH81]

I hope so... there’s a poster on here who has promised an entertaining response if it happens!

Come from mate in Sheffield. Think he was joking to be fair.

[Brightside]

Nah.

Firstly, the head coach still has a massive say in signings. Rumour was that Josh Vela was signed at Hecky’s behest despite misgivings from others.

Secondly, there was much else that was wrong, not least Hecky’s inability to get his team to play in a way that resembled the rhetoric.

As mentioned below Vela was on our list for years.

[RIP]

To be fair, a lot of Mathie’s signings turned out ok. Newall must be the biggest turnaround I’ve seen at the club, I didn’t give him a hope after seeing him at Stirling Albion pre-season. Doidge similar as well as Adam Jackson. Who knows, Josh Vella might’ve turned out ok if given more time. 😳

Fixed that for you! 😉

Oh and Vela was Lennon’s wunderkid!

[Is It On....]

Are we massively different now? Better squad for sure, and an excellent run of form/luck with a poorer league. Doidge struggled even with tap ins back then. Not much in it between JR and PH for me.

He played Joe Newall wide right and Doidge as a lone striker , positions I think we agree do not play to their strengths. We were in free-fall when he left and I was delighted when he left. Jack Ross has a far better record and whilst PH may be a decent guy that doesn't make him a good manager.

[BILLYHIBS]

Hecky appointed interim Sheffield United Manager until end of the season

SSN

[AFKA5814_Hibs]

Hecky appointed interim Sheffield United Manager until end of the season

SSN

Makes sense as they're pretty much already down. No real pressure on Heckingbottom and they'll get someone else in the summer to try and get them back up.

[bingo70]

Makes sense as they're pretty much already down. No real pressure on Heckingbottom and they'll get someone else in the summer to try and get them back up.

Great opportunity for him.

If he does well he’ll get opportunities again soon; whether that’s at Sheffield United or somewhere else.

[KingPat4]

He’s *****. Nowhere near premier league level. Never was.


Neither are Sheffield United......,

[Hibernia&Alba]

I'm surprised he's been given the job, even if only temporarily. Nice bloke who gave it his best, but his best wasn't good enough. The fact his time here was so short is evidence that the board realised they had messed up. I hope it goes well for him; he had a tough time up here.

[wookie70]

Had a look to see how Heck has done with the Blades u23. They were second bottom of their league last year but are top of the 9 teams this year albeit having played a game more than second. Top scorers in the league too. That doesn't mean too much but you could see why he is being given the caretaker role given his success with the younger team

[ekhibee]

I thought we were awful.

Me too, I thought we were dreadful to watch most of the time.

[ekhibee]

Did Heckingbottom not play Scott Allan as a winger in one game at ER, then subbed him?

[Tommy75]

Michael Appleton one of the favourites on SkyBet to get the job permanently. It's a funny old game!

[Onceinawhile]

Failing upwards quicker than Dido harding.

[Brightside]

Had a look to see how Heck has done with the Blades u23. They were second bottom of their league last year but are top of the 9 teams this year albeit having played a game more than second. Top scorers in the league too. That doesn't mean too much but you could see why he is being given the caretaker role given his success with the younger team

It’s odd how it doesn’t mean much if it’s a positive, but it would be clear evidence if he was bottom. 😂

[Crunchie]

I'm surprised he's been given the job, even if only temporarily. Nice bloke who gave it his best, but his best wasn't good enough. The fact his time here was so short is evidence that the board realised they had messed up. I hope it goes well for him; he had a tough time up here.
You could flip that and say his time was so short he wasn't given a proper chance. Embarrassingly there was a poll on here not too long ago to get rid of Ross, managers don't get anywhere near enough time nowadays.

[Heisenberg]

Did Heckingbottom not play Scott Allan as a winger in one game at ER, then subbed him?

St Johnstone at home? Sure there was loud booing when he was taken off.

[Eyrie]

St Johnstone at home? Sure there was loud booing when he was taken off.

Didn't Heckingbottom make a quip about not realising he wasn't allowed to substitute Allan instead of explaining why he made the decision?

[MWHIBBIES]

Did Heckingbottom not play Scott Allan as a winger in one game at ER, then subbed him?

He played 442, a formation Allan really doesn't suit well so he played him wide right. Allan wasn't interested at all and was very poor.

[neil7908]

They seem to be doing OK so far. Nearly have time and still 0+0.

[Wilson]

You could flip that and say his time was so short he wasn't given a proper chance. Embarrassingly there was a poll on here not too long ago to get rid of Ross, managers don't get anywhere near enough time nowadays.

You could flip that again and say that embarrassingly there are too many hibs fans willing to accept humiliating results. We don't pick the manager. We don't pick the team - the club were right to look longer term with Jack Ross. We respond to results. If wins don't matter and bad results don't hurt then what is the point?

Anyway, there is an article on bbc Scotland currently about the turnover of managers this season. How hard the job has become and the responsibility that rests on a manager's shoulders. It is a tough gig generally not just at hibs. I don't envy Heckingbottom or Ross or anyone that follows them. The hibs job is difficult and with investment the expectation and the need to get results is greater than it has ever been.

Credit to anyone that takes it on but the only guarantee is that the scrutiny will be constant.

[Wakeyhibee]

Look at the treatment Lennon gets on here.

Heckingbottom gets off lightly. Probably because he was instantly forgettable.

Decent wins against Hearst and St J. That’s it.

Which ironically would of got us to 2 finals this season.

[Hibs90]

Hecky in

[Wilson]

I was never Hecky's biggest fan but he was on a hiding to nothing today.

[Magpie]

Hecky in

The Hecky effect. I imagine the players are suffering a bit from Wilder leaving though, I think he was well liked at the club.

[matty_f]

Sheffield United are taking a pumping here.

[Since452]

The Hecky effect. I imagine the players are suffering a bit from Wilder leaving though, I think he was well liked at the club.

Wee bit unfair. He somehow got us top six after the shambles Lennon left. Just didn't work the following season.

[Hibbyradge]

Sheffield United are taking a pumping here.

He'll have to be drip feeding like crazy after this.

Patronising git that he is.

[blackpoolhibs]

The new manager bounce has not been seen today. 😂

[Hibernia&Alba]

Perhaps the Sheffield United players have thrown in the towel after Wilder's departure? They wouldn't be the first team to down tools in such a way.

[Hibbyradge]

Perhaps the Sheffield United players have thrown in the towel after Wilder's departure? They wouldn't be the first team to down tools in such a way.

They've managed to secure 14 points out of a possible 87 so far this season.

I think they threw that particular piece of cotton away a long time ago, if they even had one in the first place.

[Lago]

The new manager bounce has not been seen today. 😂
Be a short reign I think.

[jeffers]

Give it time, won’t be long before they are demonstrating fitness levels they haven’t known before.

[mayo hibee]

Michael Appleton one of the favourites on SkyBet to get the job permanently. It's a funny old game!

I think he would have been a good manager for us actually. Doing very well at Lincoln and his focus on younger players would have suited us. Don't get me wrong I think Ross is doing well, in fact better than many give him credit for, but we could have spared ourselves a fairly miserable 6 months under Hecky if we had agreed terms with Appleton.

[K-Zazu]

Am I right in saying that Brewster and Mcburnie cost a combined 40 million? That is pure daylight robbery

[Hibbyradge]

Give it time, won’t be long before they are demonstrating fitness levels they haven’t known before.

I'd forgotten about that one.

He really didn't think much about our players or our league.

"League one standard, the bottom half"! Kin erse.

[Northernhibee]

I think he would have been a good manager for us actually. Doing very well at Lincoln and his focus on younger players would have suited us. Don't get me wrong I think Ross is doing well, in fact better than many give him credit for, but we could have spared ourselves a fairly miserable 6 months under Hecky if we had agreed terms with Appleton.

If it was true that he wanted a clause that he got twelve months pay if sacked then IMO he wasn't worth going for. Someone who hadn't been a full time first team manager/head coach before can't dictate terms to that extent. I'm sure he'll do well in the future but when you don't know how it's going to turn out, I can see why the club ran a mile.

[Lancs Harp]

If it was true that he wanted a clause that he got twelve months pay if sacked then IMO he wasn't worth going for. Someone who hadn't been a full time first team manager/head coach before can't dictate terms to that extent. I'm sure he'll do well in the future but when you don't know how it's going to turn out, I can see why the club ran a mile.

He'd managed a few clubs. I wouldnt have taken him on, he had managed my local team Blackpool, he wasnt great and has a reputation for dropping a club at the drop of a hat to move onto the next best thing. Pure speculation and opinion of course but he wouldnt have lasted a year at Hibs before moving on.

[Northernhibee]

He'd managed a few clubs. I wouldnt have taken him on, he had managed my local team Blackpool, he wasnt great and has a reputation for dropping a club at the drop of a hat to move onto the next best thing. Pure speculation and opinion of course but he wouldnt have lasted a year at Hibs before moving on.

Fair enough, just looked there.

Still not sure if he had an impressive enough CV to demand a full years pay if he flopped here, but I'm in the wrong there.

[Eyrie]

I'd be wary of any manager who wanted a year's salary if he was sacked during his first contract. It implies he has a lack of confidence in his own ability.

[Since452]

I'd be wary of any manager who wanted a year's salary if he was sacked during his first contract. It implies he has a lack of confidence in his own ability.

I also found it odd

[Iggy Pope]

I think he would have been a good manager for us actually. Doing very well at Lincoln and his focus on younger players would have suited us. Don't get me wrong I think Ross is doing well, in fact better than many give him credit for, but we could have spared ourselves a fairly miserable 6 months under Hecky if we had agreed terms with Appleton.

Are Lincoln not currently downward? One win in six and trashed my coupon yesterday beaten by a team sitting third bottom with one win in six!

[The Spaceman]

Am I right in saying that Brewster and Mcburnie cost a combined 40 million? That is pure daylight robbery

Whilst players like John McGinn are haggled over for the sake of a few £100k. Totally warped and self-harming market down there in the long-run. Glad Scottish Football is staying largely out of it and true to itself.

[Wilson]

Are Lincoln not currently downward? One win in six and trashed my coupon yesterday beaten by a team sitting third bottom with one win in six!

They are well positioned in the league. It is effectively a slump. Their two defeats are close games and they are drawing too many of late. They need a win after your coupon busting loss but shouldn't be panicking.

[calumhibee1]

Am I right in saying that Brewster and Mcburnie cost a combined 40 million? That is pure daylight robbery

Think you’re wrong.. it was a decent bit more.

[matty_f]

To be fair to Hecky, he said he didn’t have any time with the team before the game, there wasn’t much he could do about it. He was with the under 23s until yesterday, apparently.

[Iggy Pope]

They are well positioned in the league. It is effectively a slump. Their two defeats are close games and they are drawing too many of late. They need a win after your coupon busting loss but shouldn't be panicking.

They were better positioned not long ago and they’ve lost three in five not two. I wasn’t banking on them those other games mind you but four points out of eighteen by my reckoning has them looking down the way. The threads taken an interesting turn :greengrin

[WestCoastHibby]

Feel for their fans.

Total conman who’s never a football manager.

I completely agree. I've nothing against him but I can't believe how nicey nicey people are about him.
He was absolutely a dreadful appointment as Hibs manager. Coincidentally, Sheff' Utd totally gubbed five nil in his first game in charge. Just saying

[660]

Sheffield utd can be safely filed away as a brexit voting club alongside the likes of millwall and burnley.

[WestCoastHibby]

I think he would have been a good manager for us actually. Doing very well at Lincoln and his focus on younger players would have suited us. Don't get me wrong I think Ross is doing well, in fact better than many give him credit for, but we could have spared ourselves a fairly miserable 6 months under Hecky if we had agreed terms with Appleton.

Lincoln!? The only good thing about Lincoln was the airfields around that particularly flat part of the country....

[J-C]

The Sheffield United players looked shell shocked, the team and the manager were a close bunch and him leaving would've hit them hard, Jermaine Jenas said exactly that.

[EI255]

Good luck to him.

Sent from my LG-H870 using Tapatalk

[EI255]

Sheffield utd can be safely filed away as a brexit voting club alongside the likes of millwall and burnley.And Luton and Bradford.

Sent from my LG-H870 using Tapatalk

[WhileTheChief..]

I completely agree. I've nothing against him but I can't believe how nicey nicey people are about him.
He was absolutely a dreadful appointment as Hibs manager. Coincidentally, Sheff' Utd totally gubbed five nil in his first game in charge. Just saying

He said in an interview once that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be a football manager then went on to apply for the Hibs job.

That’s way more disrespectful than looking in a bag of sweets but everyone here thinks he’s a good guy. Mental.

And the chat that he is an excellent coach is just made up.

[Hibbyradge]

He said in an interview once that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be a football manager then went on to apply for the Hibs job.

That’s way more disrespectful than looking in a bag of sweets but everyone here thinks he’s a good guy. Mental.

And the chat that he is an excellent coach is just made up.

I'm with you on that.

The way he talked about "drip feeding information" to the players so it wasn't too much for them to handle really annoyed me. Not only was he trying to make out that he was some sort of all knowing guru from Yorkshire, which he clearly wasn't, he was treating our players, many of them experienced pros, like stupid children.

And saying that our league was the standard of league 1 then qualifying it by sadding "the bottom half" should have seen him sacked on the spot.

After being beaten to within an inch of his life with a Yorkshire pudding. Possibly.

[calumhibee1]

He said in an interview once that he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be a football manager then went on to apply for the Hibs job.

That’s way more disrespectful than looking in a bag of sweets but everyone here thinks he’s a good guy. Mental.

And the chat that he is an excellent coach is just made up.

He’d been in a permanent managerial post for 3 years before he came to Hibs. Were these comments made before these roles or was he unsure after being in these posts?

[Wilson]

He’d been in a permanent managerial post for 3 years before he came to Hibs. Were these comments made before these roles or was he unsure after being in these posts?

The main quote I saw was specifically about taking the Barnsley job. He'd rose up through the youth coaching ranks and viewed that as his area. He wasn't interested in the (Barnsley) manager's job initially but took on the responsibility and got a taste for it.

[J-C]

He’d been in a permanent managerial post for 3 years before he came to Hibs. Were these comments made before these roles or was he unsure after being in these posts?


He was a youth coach at Barnsley and took over when Danny Wilson left in 2015, he also took over in 2016 when Lee Johnson left, he got promotion with his squad. He got a lot of hatred thrown at him because he jumped ship to Leeds but only lasted 4 months there, we know what happened here. Outwith his success at Barnsley with other peoples squads, his career is poor.

Barnsley P83 W23 D23 L37 Win%27.71
Leeds P16 W4 D4 L8 Win% 25
Hibs P32 W11 D12 L9 Win% 34,38

Not a great record as a manager.

[Bright_Hibee]

I liked Hecky in his interviews and thought he was refreshing and honest, then the results turned and he started being dishonest. I still think he deserves no ill will despite not being very good and I wish him all the best

[calumhibee1]

The main quote I saw was specifically about taking the Barnsley job. He'd rose up through the youth coaching ranks and viewed that as his area. He wasn't interested in the (Barnsley) manager's job initially but took on the responsibility and got a taste for it.

In that case I’m not sure the fact he applied for the Hibs job is in any way disrespectful really :dunno:

[3pm]

Ditching Bartley and Milligan for Josh ****in Vela...

[Mr. Wonderful]

In that case I’m not sure the fact he applied for the Hibs job is in any way disrespectful really :dunno:

We get it. Somewhere between his dulcet Yorkshire tones and his impeccable cardigan choices, you fell in deep love. He's gone now, let it go my friend. It will only bring you pain.

Be angry at him for being a dire hoofball merchant, get your gladrags on and meet your new man. He has us 3rd in the league, I think you'll like him.

[jacomo]

I'm with you on that.

The way he talked about "drip feeding information" to the players so it wasn't too much for them to handle really annoyed me. Not only was he trying to make out that he was some sort of all knowing guru from Yorkshire, which he clearly wasn't, he was treating our players, many of them experienced pros, like stupid children.

And saying that our league was the standard of league 1 then qualifying it by sadding "the bottom half" should have seen him sacked on the spot.

After being beaten to within an inch of his life with a Yorkshire pudding. Possibly.


Oh I agree. I found that absolutely infuriating.

Also, bad use of an opportunity to define his style. It made me think early on that this guy won’t command the dressing room.

[calumhibee1]

We get it. Somewhere between his dulcet Yorkshire tones and his impeccable cardigan choices, you fell in deep love. He's gone now, let it go my friend. It will only bring you pain.

Be angry at him for being a dire hoofball merchant, get your gladrags on and meet your new man. He has us 3rd in the league, I think you'll like him.

What? :confused: