Hurst out

Quoted from marinerjase

A few weeks/hours pondering on the Paul Hurst thing..yes, weeks..because it just hasn’t looked right this season for me, from the get go. There’s something not quite right, or working..or both..

I always try to be balanced on things, not over react or look at things from one view point, take time to reflect and then come to a view of my own whilst understanding others. Always admired Hurst, always liked him as a person, so I’ve no time for name calling, abuse etc - that does my head in ..it’s unnecessary, pathetic and juvenile. And whilst he’s manager I’d never go to a game and call for him to go etc..I won’t next weekend if he’s still around..I’ll applaud in support and hope somehow it can be turned around.

He’s had nigh on a decade at our club, some going..particularly the first spell working under he who shall not be named..I’ll always maintain that was an achievement in itself..6 years or so ..regardless of results/achievements, merely sticking it out..most won’t appreciate the working conditions at that time..so just for that he has my respect. I’ve admired his stubbornness ..granted it can at times work both ways, favourably and not so, and as we’ve seen/know..not always great in developing relationship with support. I admire his tenacity, pursuit of wanting better, dry sense of humour..and until recent times I’ve always said ‘right man..at the right club..at the right time..’

Sadly, and it’s not something I like seeing or saying, for some of the aforementioned reasons above..I think it’s come to a time where at least questions have to be asked.  He’s been backed with funds (as much as could be..would be silly to try to compete with others on that front) , I’m understanding recent relative ‘success’..promotion, FA cup run etc..and the supposed aims and ambitions, or ‘project’..

But this season hasn’t worked out from the start imho, there doesn’t seem to be any method of approach, the team look lethargic/flat, devoid of confidence, the football as such is largely aimless, there’s a fragility about the side, and if I’m being honest, I’ve seen enough football over the years to see and know somethings not right. Yes there’s been the odd result here and there..but in general nothings happening..and then you start looking at what’s being done to change, better, adapt, improve, get out of the mistakes ..and I’m seeing players being used out of position, some not utilised, some included when seriously out of form, and the same ‘tactics’ employed..

As said not based on yesterday, but in general from the off - imo this has the feel of a side in trouble, and that’s why questions need to be asked.

Whether that be privately today discussions are made, questions asked, be it between owners/manager, collectively with players and address what isn’t working/why. Think it needs addressing sooner rather than later, in whatever way - for the greater good. If that concludes with manager going - or it’s a general kick up the bottom for all..then it needs doing now.

But whether hurst stays or goes..nothing is gained from hurling abuse, getting personal..insults..etc. Saw all that with Groves years ago, toxic and not pleasant to witness.

By all means not an issue with opinions being known, voices heard etc - but there’s ways and means of doing it in a classier way, and regardless of personal opinions on someone - end of the day it’s a bloke who’s just doing his best. If it doesn’t work out no one will feel it more than themselves.

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

I think we signed a few players on multi-year deals when we were in the conference. What may have seemed right then, may not seem right now.

When you sign a young player, you're not buying the finished article, you're buying potential. The question you ask down the line is, was that potential realised, and will that potential be realised? When you get to that point, you're left with the question, does that player give us enough on current ability to justify their place in the squad and on the wage budget. Sometimes you cannot buy new players in until that space in the budget has been freed up. You can only free that budget up mid-contract if a team is willing to take that player on full wages.

When we renewed Waterfall, or signed Glennon, we didn't see exactly where they'd be now, or what their form could become. No-one can read the future. You just got to deal with changing events when they happen.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

Hunt was signed after we got promoted.

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

Ok. I stand corrected on that, but it doesn't change the overall point on what I said.

Hunt was tearing up trees in the conference alongside Fox for sure. I don't think he's quite reached the level many would have anticipated he was capable of. It's a shame really, but that is football.

Quoted from GhostDan

He’s not been given a chance - not playing for probably 6 weeks, then getting thrown in away at Swindon, without your best CM alongside him is not a chance.  He was brought off at halftime I think, and hasn’t been seen since.

I am not quite Hurst out at the moment but a huge source of my frustration this season is 3/4 players in the current 11 who have free reign to play as badly as they like and will never ever come out of the side.  I’ve been critical of both Holohan and Efete on here but both have played well in recent weeks, but find themselves out the side to players who’ve shown little.    

Clifton has been massively off the boil this season, his performance on Saturday was painful to watch - but he will always play. Whereas Hunt (and Holohan) on the other hand is cast aside at any opportunity, if he’s not good enough that’s fine - but he deserves a run of 6/7 games for us to find that out.

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

Hurst has always gone back to Holahan as usually he's quite reliable. He scored one and created one in a game that he also twice let runners get through that cost us. That was why he was out the next game.

Hunt started the season and then was back out. He's now been giving Andrews a chance. He's giving Clifton, Holahan, Andrews, Conteh, and Hunt (at the start of the season) a chance, so the obvious question is, why would he not give Hunt a chance now? I would assume he's seeing something in training he doesn't like. I think it's been made clear multiple times, if you don't train well, you don't play. As we cannot see what happens in training, we are just going to have to trust that Hurst and Doig are appraising that and making decisions on that. There is no point being great on the ball if for every good thing you do, leads to the opposition getting chances. We all know Hurst wants everyone to defend as a team. He doesn't like carrying players. I think most players have been her long enough to know what Hurst is looking for.

I think most would accept we have not been good enough defensively recently and we've thrown away leads. Now, more than ever, we need players in the team that take that defensive side seriously.

Quoted from AncientExiledMariner

Hurst has always gone back to Holahan as usually he's quite reliable. He scored one and created one in a game that he also twice let runners get through that cost us. That was why he was out the next game.

Hunt started the season and then was back out. He's now been giving Andrews a chance. He's giving Clifton, Holahan, Andrews, Conteh, and Hunt (at the start of the season) a chance, so the obvious question is, why would he not give Hunt a chance now? I would assume he's seeing something in training he doesn't like. I think it's been made clear multiple times, if you don't train well, you don't play. As we cannot see what happens in training, we are just going to have to trust that Hurst and Doig are appraising that and making decisions on that. There is no point being great on the ball if for every good thing you do, leads to the opposition getting chances. We all know Hurst wants everyone to defend as a team. He doesn't like carrying players. I think most players have been her long enough to know what Hurst is looking for.

I think most would accept we have not been good enough defensively recently and we've thrown away leads. Now, more than ever, we need players in the team that take that defensive side seriously.

Quoted from MuddyWaters

He signed Hunt on a three year deal and since then Hunt’s longest run in the team is three games. As pointed out earlier, his last league start was to replace, not play alongside Conteh.

Hunt was electric when he was playing in and around McAtee and Taylor as an 8, he’s far less effective as a 4. It’s like Hurst and Doig have completely forgotten the damage he did in his loan spell in the 20/21 season, like many on here were gutted when Wednesday recalled him.

The collapse in Harry Clifton’s form is possibly the biggest concern. He isn’t the most technically gifted player so is he being asked to play a different way?

None of it makes much sense. Pre season suggested that Clifton and Conteh would do the donkey work to allow Hunt to play and we looked pretty good in pre season so why is that binned so soon?

It’s a mystery.

Quoted from GollyGTFC

Here are the records of all managers we've had to League Two (L2 matches only)...

Permanent League Two Managers

Slade I     - P 92   W 36   D 28   L 28   GD +19   Pts 136   PPG 1.48
Hurst I     - P 14   W 6    D 2    L 6    GD 0     Pts 20    PPG 1.43
Bignot      - P 26   W 9    D 7    L 10   GD -4    Pts 34    PPG 1.31
Jolley      - P 72   W 25   D 15   L 32   GD -14   Pts 90    PPG 1.25
Buckley III - P 81   W 28   D 16   L 37   GD -23   Pts 100   PPG 1.23
PERMANENTS  - P 541  W 173  D 143  L 225  GD -124  Pts 662   PPG 1.22
Holloway    - P 33   W 11   D 7    L 15   GD -15   Pts 40    PPG 1.21
Hurst II    - P 84   W 24   D 26   L 34   GD -25   Pts 98    PPG 1.17
Slade II    - P 38   W 11   D 10   L 17   GD -18   Pts 43    PPG 1.13
Woods       - P 33   W 6    D 16   L 11   GD -12   Pts 34    PPG 1.03
Newell      - P 50   W 12   D 12   L 26   GD -18   Pts 48    PPG 0.96
Rodger      - P 17   W 4    D 4    L 9    GD -14   Pts 16    PPG 0.94

Caretaker League Two Managers

Moore 2016  - P 1    W 0    D 1    L 0    GD 0     Pts 1     PPG 1.00
Lindrick    - P 8    W 1    D 4    L 3    GD -6    Pts 7     PPG 0.88
CARETAKERS  - P 16   W 1    D 7    L 8    GD -15   Pts 10    PPG 0.63
Davies      - P 2    W 0    D 1    L 1    GD -2    Pts 1     PPG 0.50
Watkiss     - P 3    W 0    D 1    L 2    GD -4    Pts 1     PPG 0.33
Moore 2018  - P 2    W 0    D 0    L 2    GD -3    Pts 0     PPG 0.00