We could do far worse ........ far far worse. But no - this isn’t banging the drum for Hecky to come back. But I’d be over the moon if he did. What this post is trying to do - is highlight all the unjustified negativity levelled at Hecky with all the praise heaped on Stendel. And fortunately it’s easy to compare them - as both took the club from League 1 to the Championship.
No one levelled any negitivity at hecky getting us promoted he did well, though he took over a team on a winning run and didnt change formation. When eventually conor and sam were sold and he put his own stamp on it he went 451 like he did at leeds like he is doing at hibs to little joy.
Last season davies, pinnock, mowatt and kieffer were the spine of our team lose 3 out of 4 and replace with cheap kids you will struggle.
I suppose technically we did only sell 3 players from the starting 11. But we had the best defence in the league last season and none of the back 5 that played the majority of that season have regularly played for us this season.
I would hazard a guess that this thread is a windup, it usually is with the poster involved, to see how many people will argue. Leading on from this, I will pipe up. I preferred Stendel’s attacking football to Hecky’s.
The poster I replied to said our promoted team was sold. I don't disagree with the fact we lost some good players but there's no need for the Trump like spin. It was three sold, plus Davies on a free. So a big hole defensively and we didn't replace a key striker. I wasn't fussed about any of them leaving other than EP but we didn't do a great job replacing them. But this leads me back down the same path I go down every day on here - we should have signed a handful of proven second division players in key positions.
On style of play I don’t really know, I really enjoyed both. I preferred Heckingbottom’s team overall because it performed in the championship where as Stendel’s didn’t really get the chance. The wins over Leeds, Villa, Wolves etc were special & obviously winning at Wembley provided them great moments that we could all saviour together rather than a thousand or so down at Bristol. Two very exciting sides though. One major thing I disagree on from reading this page is about Heckingbottom’s team remaining the same, it changed quite a bit. White, Mawson, Isgrove, Brownhill & Fletcher were all sold / returned to parent club or in White’s case couldn’t play due to been almost permanently injured. The difference was the recruitment was much better, although Yiadom, Bradshaw, MacDonald & Morsy had nearly exclusively played in the lower leagues they were experienced players & had played a lot of football for 23-26 year olds. That season we had only Bree, Kent & Armstrong who you’d class as novices in terms of English football & number of games played. This time round both Williams, Diaby, Sibbick, Halme, Anderson, Schmidt & Thomas are all what I’d call as novices. You can get away with 2 or 3 in a side like we had under Heckingbottom or what we had in league one last time with say Brown & the two Williams but we’re fielding 4 or 5 or even 6 & they’re mainly in the defensive positions which makes it even tougher. You look at Chelsea & they’re getting a lot of praise for fielding these homegrown kids but they’re only playing 3 at once in Mount, Tomori & Abraham which is doable. I’m pretty sure Lampard wouldn’t play 6 of them at once because it’s not how you succeed. Imagine been a 21 year old kid like Anderson for example, he’s got a German keeper or a novice in Collins behind him, he’s got either a young Senegalese player in Diaby or a young Finnish player in Halme alongside him, a kid in front of him in Sibbick, two novice full backs in the two Williams alongside him, who’s guiding him? Compare that to Angus MacDonald coming in who speaks the same language as the rest of his team mates, he’s got Roberts alongside him, Davies behind him, Hourihane & Scowen ahead of him etc. That’s your difference. I wouldn’t necessarily say that team had better individuals because I think a lot of the new side have huge potential but as a team this lot hasn’t got a chance of succeeding like they did because there’s too many kids & lack of experience.
I agree with alot of what you say but hecky side did have better individuals hourhane for a start with his set pieces, winnall was as good as or better than what we have now. The squad had miles more depth than this squad. You could have winnall, Armstrong,bradshaw or watkins to choose from as strikers we have woodrow and the Austrian who doesnt seem ready.
I agree at the minute. I just think in the future some of the new lads could prove to be very good players especially players like Sibbick, Diaby & Wilks who are all quick, strong & pacey but for the time being they don’t have a chance of fulfilling their potential alongside a team of kids.
Cant disagree with that either problem is we have signed them on 4 year deals with this in mind hoping they come good so we can sell for profit. At the minute too many have potential but arent upto the championship. Like hourhine when he 1st joined under wilson he was upto league one but wasnt the player that he was when he moved to villa he progressed year on year. The back 4 at preston had a average on 20 years old and before this season no experience in the championship it's very young and we have been naive in recruitment in the summer.