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18 months of Hessy..

Discussion in 'Gillingham' started by BSG, Jan 22, 2012.

  1. BSG

    BSG Well-Known Member

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    I have held my tongue with this post for 12 or so hours so this post isn't overly tainted by the disappointment of yesterday abysmal performance.

    Following the disappointment of the second relegation under Stimson, I feel Hess was the right appointment to help galvanish the club as a whole. But following 18 months and Hess' rule and significant financial backing from Scally, has the club improved and moved forward?

    Arguably the playing staff are an improvement on Stimmo's squad, admittedly the lose of players like Jackson and Barcham hurt the club but were inevitable following the relegation. Hess has brought proven players and has been lauded by the fans for signings of players like McDonald, Akinfenwa, Lee, Frampton etc, the list is endless. But yet the club is still languishing in the basement division. We have witnessed good players perform like school kids and play with tactical naivity that would make Hackney Marshes regulars look embarrassed. Now I can't tell if this is the fault of the manager or the players but these performances are becoming far too regular, if the club is expected to maintain a promotion push.

    What is even more alarming is the progress of teams like Cheltenham and Morecambe, who without the resources of a club our size have made significant steps forwards and are now seen as equals or better bet for promotion.

    So I feel we are at a pivotal point for the club, we have good players but for whatever reason Hess can't get them to perform regularly enough and the reosurces won't last forever, I suspect we are living beyond our means as it is. So when do we draw the line under the Hess era, do we give him a third season or do we replace him the end of this season (assuming that current form continues and we miss out on the playoffs)?
     
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  2. gfclukey

    gfclukey Member

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    IMO Hess has this will go at the end of this season and that's being generous. He has proven that tactically he is still very poor. It seems to me that he has taken to the idea that if you sign the right players they will sort themselves out and win matches. This is never the case! Just look at forest! In the relegation zone with little chance of escape this despite having arguably the best squad in that division. To give Hess credit he has been fantastic in the transfer market and has rarely made a dud signing. This isn't enough however and sadly behind the passion and desire there is very little substance to Hessy as a manager. I was admittedly delighted when he was appointed and couldn't understand why some people didn't want him to be appointed but now I see. The Ideal situation? We gain promotion through the play offs and Hess can walk away with his head held high. Likely situation? We miss out on the play-offs like last year or we just make it in but bottle it in the semi and Hess leave the club by "mutual consent" (basically Mr. Scally says enough is enough)
     
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  3. Born Again Gill

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    I think I would rather have a manager thats commited and understands the club than one who does not AKA Stimson. Yes hess is not the best tactician but we as Gills fans do over react to a few losses. I do agree whoever is in charge of Gills has to show continual improvement though so a play off spot is the minimum required this season. If we reach that goal and don't get promoted he should have another season. I can just imagine the scenario he gets sacked and then we bomb next season.
    Everyone will be saying he wasnt given enough time.
    In Summary if we dont get to the playoffs Scally should consider his options. I we get there we should continue with Hess in charge.
     
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  4. brb

    brb Guest

    You always know your wumming days are numbered, when someone else beats you to a thread.

    However, back on topic and the more serious note, like Stimmo, I will reserve my judgement solely on his position until the end of the season.
     
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  5. GeminiSwiftgfc

    GeminiSwiftgfc Well-Known Member
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    What is needed is a good number 2. As stated before Hess has got it right in the transfer market but he needs more help behind the scenes with the preparation for matches. IMHO Hess is the right man at the helm he just needs more help. I am also not a fan of changing managers too often. There is no guarantee that bringing a new man will bring success. It may make things a whole lot worse.
     
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  6. The Shouting Man

    The Shouting Man Active Member

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    Now is the time for Hessenthaler to earn his money.

    With the signing of Tomlin and Kuffour addressing our striking problems, he has at last seen the light and admitted that the defence is (and has always been for the last couple of years) our main issue...

    Hess should now grow a pair and realise that some of them are clearly not up to the task anymore. He should shake Lawrence's hand and thank him for the good service (especially last season) and pack him off to a career in the media. Whilst he should just tell Richards to go!!

    Hopefully there may be a little cash left from the Rooney deal to bring in a loan defender for the rest of the season, and also it is surely time for some of these promising youngsters he keeps on about (Essam, Davies etc) to get a chance, at least they will try and (hopefully) have some pace.

    He has to act NOW or else we could end up meandering along and finish up 10th or 11th... and another season (at least) in the basement.
     
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  7. brb

    brb Guest

    Am I right in thinking that these guys are out of contract at the end of the season...

    Fuller
    King
    Lawrence
    Richards

    Weston
    Jackman
    SpiIler

    S Payne
    Oli
     
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  8. The Shouting Man

    The Shouting Man Active Member

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    To be honest, the only ones i'll miss will be Fuller at r/b and Jackman in midfield. The rest can probably go.. either not performing this season (hello Weston!!) or injury prone (Spills).
     
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  9. bristol407

    bristol407 Well-Known Member

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    Hessy has been like a breath of fresh air after his incompetent and dislikeable predecessor. Most managers would be delighted if they had a 50% success rate with transfers but hessy must manage about 80/90% success. Only Whelpdale has been a big disappointment from his acquisitions. Hessy has built a squad well capable of thriving at a higher level as well illustrated by the cup games. The problem is getting out of league 2 which needs about equal measures of luck/character/ability. The main thing holding us back is lack of consistency due to team changes. Players who are unable to stay fit have got to go as have the people who keep getting suspended. Martin was a great example yesterday--absolutely awful because he was not match fit not because he cannot play.
    All those players out of contract can go with the exception of Jackman. I have no doubt Hessy will achieve promotion with the core of players he has got and unless Stan Ternent would take the job, Hessy is more suitable than anyone else. He needs a first class coach alongside him and we should all give him our backing.
     
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  10. WINDYROG

    WINDYROG Well-Known Member

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    Here here Bristol!!
     
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  11. BelfastBlue

    BelfastBlue Member

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    I agree. Hessy has been great in the transfer market after being given funds that are beyond most teams in tgis division. The result is a decent squad that is underachieving. The buck rests with Hess.

    Last seasons run in where we lost back to back home games against bottom half teams and conceding 4 goals in both games sore the end to our promotion hopes. Hass Hess leaned from that? Doesn't look like it. Maybe a number two will help but the nagging doubt is hessy is not up to it.
     
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  12. BSG

    BSG Well-Known Member

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    While I agree Hess has brought in (on paper) some very good player, many of who have played at a higher level, but Hess simply can't get them to play together. He has had plenty of finanical backing from Scally, given pretty much every player he wanted (who were willing to play for the club of course) and yet the promotion alludes him. Even the "incompetent" Stimson got the club promoted, something Hess has failed to do, so what does that make him?

    I fear that Hessy's status at the club has blinding the faithful to his obvious flaws. The excuse of "he undertands the club" is running thin with every poor and under par performance. If we don't go up I doubt the likes of Kuffor and Tomlin will stay, escpecially since the former has had clubs at a higher level sniffing around.

    Unlike you Bristol, I do have my doubts over Hessy guiding the club to an promotion, especially when we are being out performed by clubs the size of Morecambe and Cheltenham. I shall continue to give he club, and therefore Hess my support in the ground, but I would prefer the club to be playing at a higher level with a manager 90% of the fans dislike as opposed to playing basement football for another season with a manager 90% of the fans like.
     
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  13. GeminiSwiftgfc

    GeminiSwiftgfc Well-Known Member
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    BSG you obviously have very strong feelings about this and I can completely see where you are coming from. But as I have said before I do not believe that, at this time, a change of manager is needed. Several things need to happen when you change the manager and they ALL cost lots of money. 1 you have to pay off the manager and generally his backroom staff. 2 if you bring in a manager who is doing well at another club you have to pay them off for him and, usually his back room team, if he isn't at a club you have to ask the question why?. 3 the new manager will want to bring in his own players. Money money money.

    I don't feel that the commitment, time, effort, and dedication that Hess and all the management team put in can be questioned. With such a relatively small team they ha be an aweful lot to do. He certainly does have his short comings, I won't deny that, but this is why I suggested earlier that a good number would be more beneficial than a complete change. Even Sir Alex does better when he has a number 2 doing all the work, Steve MacLaren, Brian Kidd, Carlos Quieroz, Terry Phelan etc etc, there has always been dips in United's form when his number 2 left, coincidence? Would Arsenal have done better with a good number 2 behind Wenger rather than Pat Rice? The assistant manager job is as underrated as any in football.

    The thing I find most unfortunate is that when the team do well it's all about the players but when they do bad it's the managers fault.

    If you think I am over defensive of Hess I would give the same arguments about any manager for 1 simple reason.
    They know far, and are far more accomplished towards football than I could ever dream to be. I am a fan, a supporter, someone with a love for my club. But for me to think that I actually know better is completely insane. I wish I did but the reality and truth of it is I don't.

    UTG
     
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  14. gfclukey

    gfclukey Member

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    I must say in my absence that people seem to have become much more rational! I however cannot see how people can be happy with getting to the playoffs, getting knocked out, and keeping Hessy! Lets just deal in the facts,

    1st Season:
    Biggest wage budget in the league by far.
    Allowed to make changes in the summer.
    Pre-Season guarantees that we would be promoted
    Terrible start to season and if it had been suffered by anyone else but Hess would of faced the sack
    Great undefeated run get's us to the brink of play-offs, players bottle it.

    2nd Season:

    Good clear out of players made
    Money again spent
    Still one of the largest wage budgets in the division
    Very inconsistent performances
    Poor choice of signings left us with too many options in center midfield and short practically everywhere else
    As we speak we are outside the playoffs after a shambolic 18 minutes in which we conceded 3 goals


    Now i am not nor ever will be a boo boy who just writes HESSY OUT without any justification but I do feel Hessy as been ignorant in some of his choices, appointing trigger as number two even though he has little/no coaching experience is a prime example.
     
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  15. gfclukey

    gfclukey Member

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    To release:
    King- too injured to ever play again properly, sad but true, football is a cut throat business
    Lawrence- too old, maybe give him a behind the scenes role but cant keep up with the pace of the game
    Weston- I like Curtis but unless he takes a good pay cut, he has done little to justify a new contract on the same as he is on at the moment
    Payne- got promise and could one day be good but he still hasn't done enough to deserve another deal, too many other young kids desperate to play for us to keep Steph
    Oli- worst player I have even seen in a Gillingham shirt, would have some horrible hybrid or McCammon and Mulligan rather than dennis oli. The fact he earns a living of the club is criminal. At least McCammon was just a lazy so and so, Oli is just not good enough at football, simple.
     
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