Massive outcry for Stendel all over here and twitter when we were looking for a manager. Massively upset at the board for not appointing him. He's now been in charge at Hearts for 11 games and won only 1. Taken less points in those games than Craig Levein got sacked for. I know hindsight is easy but I was never one that was all "Stendel is a genius" like some, he had Barnsley playing good football but it had only been for 1 season. You have to surely maintain that to be able to be sought after the way some went on. And he's now striuggling up there too in a league that isn't a massive amount better than league 1 (all bar 2 teams).
Hearts were and still are poor in that league. We were generally considered to be underachieving. With our squad, his results might look completely different to the results he's managed with that Hearts squad.
It's all the grand old "what if" but their fans think he should be doing a lot better with that squad looking at twitter and a couple of people I know who go to their matches (I know it's a small sample size but still!) In all reality, chances are that any manager would've struggled with us at first. We looked a spent force almost every time we went on the pitch. As soon as Parkinson got them fit they started playing and suddenly we're on a very good run!
I wasn't sure about any of the contenders when Parkinson took over, how could I or anyone have been. Stendel seemed the most exciting of the options and after Parky's awful start it seemed like anyone else would be doing better. Turns out Parkinson is a genius and a great move by Donald, I guess we all have to believe him now that the reason it took a long time to appoint him is that he was being very careful in his decision. I keep an eye out for how Hibs are doing with Ross, he seems to be doing well scoring plenty and only really losing to Celtic and Rangers but that's the Scottish prem for ya. It's law that you must lose against them.
Just goes to show what an inexact science it is with many variables all conflicting to affect results. Bill Shankly was appointed manager of 2nd Division Liverpool in December 1959. They weren't even promoted to Division 1 until May 1962. Alex Ferguson was appointed manager of Man U in 1986,in 1989 they finished 11th with many of their fans calling for his head. Sometimes,it takes time.
I wanted Stendel, but am more than happy with PP. nothing is nailed on in football but I think he is a safe bet to get us out of this league, and hopefully this year..
I was also pro-Stendel, I will admit to being totally underwhelmed by Parkinson. It looked up till Xmas like my initial gut feeling was right. But fair play to PP, he has not only come through some difficult fixtures with predominantly the same squad, he has silenced his critics (admittedly I am one) and he has done it with a fair bit of class as well. Yes my opinion is absolutely reversed..Keep it going
I think you're in the same place a lot of us are. I was pro Stendel - but not to the point of some who were completely swayed on Donald due to only the fact that he didn't appoint Stendel and did appoint Parkinson! So strange to be sat here now looking back at the first 11/12 of his tenure how different things look. We were 14th at one point I believe! Just goes to show how quickly things can change!
I wanted Pearson but was disappointed when Parky got the job. I did however think he should’ve gone after a dozen games or so. I’m normally more patient than that as well but the useless bastards I love ground me down. Thank **** SD stuck with him, because whatever happens this season regarding promotion he’s done enough to get another crack at it next season.
I was the same and IF we don't go up this year I think we will win the league at a canter next season. Let's hope for all of us that doesn't need to happen though...
Have to admit I was in the Pearson camp but thought it would be a long shot to get him. And while Parky didn't really inspire me I could see the thinking behind it and advocated giving him until Jan to see if he could get it sorted. And he has. Got us looking really fit, we're winning some games playing really well and grindng out others and we've become the Kings of the Clean Sheet. Agree with Gatesy that he should get a crack at next season regardless of which division we're in as well.
I didn't really want anyone in particular. To be honest, I was pro-Ross and was still pretty gutted he was let go and irritated by the way it happened, being let go after doing the press conference for the next game stank a bit. I really didn't want Parky, his demeanour and football initially put me off him even further. I didn't want him in the first place, and then I really wanted him out (and I'm usually a 'happy clapper'). Like many others, he has proved me massively wrong, and I hope it continues for a long time. He has the lads playing some really decent stuff. Marauding wide centre backs, overlapping wing backs, cross field balls. Actual football, and on top of that we are not only winning, we look hard to beat. I didn't see it coming in a million years, but he has completely changed my opinion of him, and fair play to him for doing so.
I wasn't fussed who they brought in but i was going to give them my backing 100%. Happy that Parky has done what was needed and after assesing the squad, working on fitness etc. he's got them playing as a team. I'm sure that plenty will say that SD fluked the appointment, but fair play to him for sticking with him. As for those who were calling for his head before he'd even taken control of a match, they need to give their heads a shake. The Super Kev chants were a bit magesque as well.
