Heart of Midlothian's Next Permanent Manager 24/25 Edition

[DukDukGoose]

1 hour ago, Galajambo said:

Hey, we're sceptical too mate, but it's worked for Brighton, USG, and to an extent Ipswich, so why not eh? 

Brighton don't just have a 'good manager algorithm'.

[Tony Wonder]

4 minutes ago, DukDukGoose said:

Brighton don't just have a 'good manager algorithm'.

No, but it's part of it. The club still have to ensure they are the right fit and then get the recruitment right. It's 100% the plan to lean into it, so this is step 1. Whether it's the correct path will be proven in time.

I actually think the change to the recruitment structure is why Critchley will appeal to the club. He'll have little say on who we bring in, but if they think he is amenable to working that way and is a genuinely good coach it'll be beneficial.

[Tony Wonder]

12 minutes ago, Savage Henry said:

Dare I say it, but it seems like a very Hibs-esque appointment.

Does feel a bit like that on the surface tbh.

[Sortmeout]

7 minutes ago, Tony Wonder said:

We've clearly leaned in on the analytics side of it and if that's the route we are going down you have to trust it.

On the face of it, it's not terribly exciting, but as pointed out elsewhere,  this is what Bloom specialises in, getting guys in that others don't spot something in and getting them to fit your club.

I also think some Hearts fans have went in too hard on his failures. He done a great job by all accounts at Blackpool first time and 2nd time he had one season and missed the playoffs by 3 points. His only genuinely awful spell was QPR who were a mess at the time and he couldn't bring players in.

Do I think we could've gotten someone who'd readily look better suited? Yes. But I also don't think we are hiring some absolute diddy. 

He needs to make a big effort to learn about the game up here though and not just see it as an extension of the English leagues.

To be fair to Critchley if he had a similar record say in Bundesliga.2 or something and had a German/Austrian/Swiss name I get the feeling the reception to him would be a lot more positive.

 

[Tony Wonder]

1 minute ago, Sortmeout said:

To be fair to Critchley if he had a similar record say in Bundesliga.2 or something and had a German/Austrian/Swiss name I get the feeling the reception to him would be a lot more positive.

 

And if he didn't look like a chartered accountant.

[Sortmeout]

9 minutes ago, Tony Wonder said:

And if he didn't look like a chartered accountant.

 

[Ludo*1]

14 minutes ago, Sortmeout said:

To be fair to Critchley if he had a similar record say in Bundesliga.2 or something and had a German/Austrian/Swiss name I get the feeling the reception to him would be a lot more positive.

 

Or if he was a 64 year old Norwegian...

[Insert Amusing Pseudonym]

No- one called Neil can be a good manager

[gannonball]

1 hour ago, Insert Amusing Pseudonym said:

No- one called Neil can be a good manager

[Sortmeout]

1 hour ago, Ludo*1 said:

Or if he was a 64 year old Norwegian...

A womens gold medal over 2 decades ago is one of the best(worst) bits of sticking up for an unknown manager I’ve ever seen.

[mozam76]

Is it a done deal that this appointment will be done via Starlizard and their algorithm (even typing that feels bizarre)?

I admit to being a Luddite in football terms, but surely whatever “algorithm” works for Brighton won’t automatically work for Hearts? 

[DukDukGoose]

2 hours ago, Tony Wonder said:

No, but it's part of it. The club still have to ensure they are the right fit and then get the recruitment right. It's 100% the plan to lean into it, so this is step 1. Whether it's the correct path will be proven in time.

I actually think the change to the recruitment structure is why Critchley will appeal to the club. He'll have little say on who we bring in, but if they think he is amenable to working that way and is a genuinely good coach it'll be beneficial.

So what part makes him a fit?

Fans of his previous clubs have said he's sticks rigidly to his 3-5-2 and doesn't give a f**k what anyone thinks about it?

Can't see anything about him developing talent and selling them on, which seems to be the Tony Bloom model?

[Tony Wonder]

37 minutes ago, DukDukGoose said:

So what part makes him a fit?

Fans of his previous clubs have said he's sticks rigidly to his 3-5-2 and doesn't give a f**k what anyone thinks about it?

Can't see anything about him developing talent and selling them on, which seems to be the Tony Bloom model?

The 352 bit is pish, he's used many different formations and is flexible.

I don't know what makes him the right fit, I'm not privy to how the system works, very few people are. Maybe he will be a terrible fit for us,  but Bloom had made quite a few appointments,  mainly at USG, that look on paper very average and turn out to fit the club well. That's essentially what it does, it identifies people with qualities others are missing or not using properly. Whether it works, again we'll see, but Bloom has had plenty success with it.

Critchley also has 7 years experience as Liverpool's u18 and u23 manager, one of the biggest clubs in the world doesn't let you run their academy if you're not capable of developing players.

Edited Monday at 18:21 by Tony Wonder

[Insert Amusing Pseudonym]

1 hour ago, gannonball said:

Thank you for your agreement 

[Tony Wonder]

1 hour ago, mozam76 said:

Is it a done deal that this appointment will be done via Starlizard and their algorithm (even typing that feels bizarre)?

I admit to being a Luddite in football terms, but surely whatever “algorithm” works for Brighton won’t automatically work for Hearts? 

Of course it won't. The system they use will be adapted. Like they did for USG when they were in the 2nd division and selling no one.

Again, there's a decent chance this doesn't work out, but we aren't just trying to copy Brighton like for like. Bloom has proven success on multiple levels, I'm pretty confident they aren't just taking a wild punt. It's the antithesis of how they operate.

[VincentGuerin]

1 hour ago, DukDukGoose said:

So what part makes him a fit?

Fans of his previous clubs have said he's sticks rigidly to his 3-5-2 and doesn't give a f**k what anyone thinks about it?

Can't see anything about him developing talent and selling them on, which seems to be the Tony Bloom model?

Firstly, no they haven't. Secondly, he's been a specialist youth coach at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Not the same job, obviously, but seems likely to me that it's seen as an asset.

[HeartsOfficialMoaner]

His welcome to Tynecastle will be like the new sheriff going into Rock Ridge. The sheriff is near...

 

Should we gamble and let him go to Tranmere?  Critchley or the 3rd choice?

I am willing to give him a chance. What's 3rd choice going to be like.

[Tony Wonder]

1 hour ago, Sortmeout said:

A womens gold medal over 2 decades ago is one of the best(worst) bits of sticking up for an unknown manager I’ve ever seen.

Out of context it's daft, but the context was that he'd been relatively successful over a long period and that was one point.

I still think his CV was good, and I think he'll end up doing well if he goes back to Hacken.

[Rugbypark]

Blackpool are my English team. He is dull and plays dull football. As a Killie fan I’m pleased, but I can’t see any logic in this whatsoever. 

[DukDukGoose]

4 hours ago, VincentGuerin said:

Firstly, no they haven't. Secondly, he's been a specialist youth coach at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Not the same job, obviously, but seems likely to me that it's seen as an asset.

I can see you giving up a larger share of your season ticket in the coming months but the blind optimism is cute.