Heckingbottom wouldn't have been my first choice but I think this is a good appointment.
He has done an outstanding job at Barnsley, the job he has done at there is very similar to TOOSG under Bates. After they beat us 3-2 in Jan 2017 they were 4 points off the play offs and one of the in-form sides in the league all the signs were there that they could push for the top 6 then they lost Hourihane, Bree and Winnall all in the same week. They made just under £7 million from them sales and all he had to spend in terms of a replacement was £500,000 on Alex Mowatt. In the end they finished 14th (which for Barnsley is a f**king good achievement in the circumstances) they without doubt would have been pushing for the play offs last season had they been able to keep those 3 or at least been given the funds to find suitable replacements. Over the last two years he has also lost Alfie Mawson, Marley Watkins, Marc Roberts, Josh Scowen and Angus McDonald. The total value of all the player sales was around £15 million would have been loads higher than that as well if the Barnsley board didn't allow the contracts of the majority of those players to either run down or expire. He has been given virtually f**k all budget wise to replace those 8 key players so I personally think he has done well to keep them above the relegation zone this time around. Also don't forget how good a job he did to get them in the championship in the first place they were 10th in league one when he took over in Feb 2016.
I have been really impressed with Barnsley's style of football under Heckingbottom as well, they dominated both games against us last season and when Hourihane, Winnall and Watkins were there they often earned praise about being one of the best footballing sides in the league. They always played to win games no sitting back and settling for points against the better sides look at some of the results Heckingbottom has achieved over the last 18 months 4-0 at Wolves, 3-0 at Birmingham (under Rowett), 3-1 at Villa, 2-0 vs Derby, 4-3 at Cardiff could you imagine us ever over the last 6-7 years going to a promotion rival away from home and seriously trying to take the game to them and scoring 3 or 4 goals in the process. Clear to see why they were one of the highest scoring teams in the league last season despite losing their two main goal threats in January. I'm certainly not expecting hoof ball and negative football under Heckingbottom. Although even this season he has picked up some good points against the better sides and you would have to think with the likes of Saiz and Hernandez at his disposal the potential is there for us to start scoring goals again. I think we will actually try and pass the ball, run at players, play at a fast tempo and will build a system to allow us to make the most of Saiz and Hernandez's individual creativity.
Another key thing is Heckingbottom's know how in terms of player development is he has improved so many players at Barnsley those 8 that I mentioned earlier for starters. You look at our squad at the minute and the likes of Vieira, Phillips, Ekuban, Roberts and Shaughnessy etc could all improve and become top championship players under Heckingbottom plus I reckon the likes of Alioski and Forshaw will add more goals to their game under Heckingbottom's more attacking system. No way Heckingbottom would have put up with Alioski or Roofe's performances on Saturday. Heckingbottom in charge rather than Christiansen might make our under 23 system work better as well as he seems a lot more willing to give players a chance judging by his time at Barnsley.
1 win in his last 16 games is a worry but there are most definitely signs that Heckingbottom could be a massive success here and I am optomistic about this tbh. Got to give him time though because f**k me he is inheriting a difficult situation loads of players out and a tough run of games, play offs are unrealistic for me just want to see us trying to implement a better more sustainable style of football for next season and a respectable run of results over the next 16 games, then we can allow Heckingbottom to go into pre season prepared and fully aware of who he needs so that next season is the season.
I think on Saturday a lot of fans will be pleasantly surprised when we go to Sheffield United and actually try to pass the ball and give our creative players some attacking freedom.
I have a lot of confidence in Heckingbottom tbh. This could be the best decision Radrizzani has made so far.
