Question about the manager.

Quoted from grimsby pete

I think if you read my post I have always said , it's not how you start its how you finish,

My main complaint this season is, with the best squad we have had Hurst can not get the players to play well more than 2 games in a row.

I hope he proves me wrong and gets us promoted,

If he does , I will run round the docks naked,

OOPS!!!!  I think somebody said that a few years back.

I agree with the bit about how you finish but again it comes down to what faith we have in hurst to have the ability to change things, to identify the team's strengths etc.  And again I would ask why we are having the same conversations we had last year,,,,,

Separate question, does anyone think the poor starts are down to the one year contracts and constant changes in the squads each year,....?  Settled squad equals good start to season??

We are having the same conversations because the lessons are not learnt. We don't seem to get our full squad in until a couple a weeks before the start of the season at even then we are scrabbling out for players.
This close  season was a farce with P.H. putting all his eggs in the Jennings/Bhogal basket without having a plan B.
He should have known his squad for this season at the middle of may.  

Quoted from ginnywings

This thread has not gone the way I thought and has turned into another anti Hurst procession. I was just curious as to people's opinions about his tenure. Was the slate wiped clean when Scott was given the heave-ho, and if so, does he deserve more time like a new manager would be afforded?

Town don't do simple. They appoint joint managers just to put a new twist on things.

The slate can't be wiped clean because they both stated that they agreed on team selections and formations.  Performances since he has sole responsibility have been inconsistent and when it really mattered the team has been found wanting.  

He should have been given a written warning for the teams performance on Tuesday night.  No Town team should turn out such a excrement performance at BP, it should be a given that they deliver 100% effort, 100% fight, 100% passion, 100% commitment.

I am just not convinced by his teams performances or his fascination with LJL.

Quoted from mariner2000

I agree with the bit about how you finish but again it comes down to what faith we have in hurst to have the ability to change things, to identify the team's strengths etc.  And again I would ask why we are having the same conversations we had last year,,,,,

Separate question, does anyone think the poor starts are down to the one year contracts and constant changes in the squads each year,....?  Settled squad equals good start to season??

We were discussing this very point in the pub after Tuesday's debacle. For conference, and many league 2 clubs, it appears financial constraints appear to severely limit a club's willingness to look beyond one year deals. This means that in most clubs a squad is changing half their playing personnel every season. This does mean that you will spend time every year getting used to how new players move, react, want the ball played etc. however, given this scenario applies to the majority of clubs at this level it remains a pretty level playing field.

Lets face it we seem to have retained certain players , bignot, who we may have wanted to let go but clauses triggered that he stay.

On to Ginny's original question and I would take into account the four years he has been here as many of the complaints about style, quality of signings, PR etc all apply throughout his tenure. Looking back our most successful strike force was Hearn and Elding, we brought in Cook and elding was on his bike. Cook had a pretty decent first season but found himself out the team. We know play LJL and i have said previously that PH's stubborness in this area will ultimately cost him his job. Personally, i would not even call,LJL a striker but someone who plays up front. I must watch a different player to many of our fans as I do not think he is particularly good in the air, he does not hold the ball up that well, his second touch is a tackle, he rarely brings other players into the game and he scores very few goals, on the bright side he tries hard!

My only reservation about elbowing PH is the forlorn hope that if fit his chosen pairing would be Pitman and Arnold. Fitness problems mean this will probably never get off the ground and perhaps it is just wishful thinking on my part that he would be open to such a change.

Quoted from biggles9999

I am not a Hurst apologist, at the moment I am on the border of wanting a change, but you keep quoting this one as if a team has never had a bad start and the best teams always shoot out of the blocks. Plenty of teams have started slowly and yet still gone on to be successful during a season.

I'm the same currently Bigs.

We could do worse than Hurst but I can't see us ever winning this league under him. And unless there is anyone available who could take over and get more out of the squad then it's a risk getting rid.

But I've lost a lot of faith in him over several things. I'm not a knee-jerk reaction kinda guy and can always take the positives out of something, but lack of understanding of different systems, failure to implement a playing style, changing to combat opposition so much and failure to make timely, proactive changes to effect a game all lead me to doubt his abilities.

Quoted from ginnywings

This thread has not gone the way I thought and has turned into another anti Hurst procession. I was just curious as to people's opinions about his tenure. Was the slate wiped clean when Scott was given the heave-ho, and if so, does he deserve more time like a new manager would be afforded?

Town don't do simple. They appoint joint managers just to put a new twist on things.

He has had more than a seasons worth of games on his own now. While the previous record with Scott should not be scrubbed as they always said it was joint decisions he will ultimately be judged on his stand alone performance.

Hursts Stand Alone League Record (inc play offs)

W = 25
D = 16
L = 15

Doesnt actually look that bad in black and white but too many draws there in a 3 for a win points league.  It tots up to play offs over a seasons worth of games and the big game results dont inspire.

Quoted from Tommy

I'm the same currently Bigs.

We could do worse than Hurst but I can't see us ever winning this league under him. And unless there is anyone available who could take over and get more out of the squad then it's a risk getting rid.

But I've lost a lot of faith in him over several things. I'm not a knee-jerk reaction kinda guy and can always take the positives out of something, but lack of understanding of different systems, failure to implement a playing style, changing to combat opposition so much and failure to make timely, proactive changes to effect a game all lead me to doubt his abilities.

My thoughts exactly,  but if you think about it you have to ask yourself truthfully will he get us promoted this season or even next, if your answer is I don`t think so then it will not be much a risk to change will it, unless you fear a new man might relegate us

Quoted from moosey_club

He has had more than a seasons worth of games on his own now. While the previous record with Scott should not be scrubbed as they always said it was joint decisions he will ultimately be judged on his stand alone performance.

Hursts Stand Alone League Record (inc play offs)

W = 25
D = 16
L = 15

Doesnt actually look that bad in black and white but too many draws there in a 3 for a win points league.  It tots up to play offs over a seasons worth of games and the big game results dont inspire.

I think that confirms what a lot of us are saying,

He is a decent manager but we really need a very good one to get us promoted,

If we stick with Paul we will always be there or there abouts,

Let's hope we just get lucky one season,

Please Please Please make it this season.

There are too many IFs from PH....

IF we had not started the season without suspensions

IF we had not had injuries

IF the strikers he targeted signed

IF the referee had not made that decision

IF the offside had been given

IF we had not had an off day

IF in hindsight he had not changed the team

IF in hindsight he had changed the team

IF his substitution had the impact he expected

IF the opposition had not parked the bus

Too many IFs

I think PH would be a good manager for a club at this level with no aspirations of getting any higher. He would suit a part-time club who saw their position in this league as the highest they could ever attain eg  Dover ,Welling, Telford or Altrincham. I'm not having a go at these clubs but in general they have reached their limit and so has PH.