Hockaday Sacked: Official

[Twiggster]

If cellino wants to play at football manager let him buy the game cos he has no clue to players ability by looking at what he has brought in already.

Unfortunately, he is the the position to do WTF he wants with us ATM....

[Bakerjamessteven]

Probably the worst modern manger we have ever had, no experience and no idea, but only one man to blame is callino

[ldsutd]

Got to feel for Hockaday he was offered the job of a lifetime for a coach of his ability, so he was never going to turn it down. I also believe he would of made a great number 2 under a wiser manager for us because i could tell the players was playing for him. I mean they was really trying to play the way he wanted and the red cards was just out of frustration by the players they wanted to do the best for him. I just wish hock had more technical no how regarding subs and tactics.

right whose next?.... God knows

[Martyn]

Johnny Giles is spot on as usual

[Genghers]

If cellino wants to play at football manager let him buy the game cos he has no clue to players ability by looking at what he has brought in already.

With all due respect, how much do you know about the ability of the players brought in, other than the limited game time some of them have had?

I see it's back to deeper doom and gloom for some people. Time will tell, but hopefully we'll get a better manager (coach, whatever) in to drill the players in tactics now that they're supposedly fit and raring.

[Genghers]

Andrew Haigh tweeted a link to an 'exclusive' Sun piece, quoting Cellino as saying he would have Hockaday back someday... Has anyone got a subscription/buy the paper so we can see what was actually said? The website only lets you see the headline and first sentence or two.

[alessio89]

i'm sorry for Hockaday, but this decision was normal after the bad elimination at Bradford

is not good the sack of manager in the first period of season, but the situation was very difficult

the team don't have a play, do not see good prospects for the future and the team crumbles at the first problem in the match

i had trust in Hockadat, but maybe this choice is wrong because the experience with minor team in Conference, not enough for make good job in a team as Leeds United and with more pressions.

the, for new coach, i wish in manager with a lot of caracter and personality (that miss very more at our players) and a good experience in Premier or Championship as a ex player or manager

[Genghers]

i had trust in Hockadat, but maybe this choice is wrong because the experience with minor team in Conference, not enough for make good job in a team as Leeds United and with more pressions.

the, for new coach, i wish in manager with a lot of caracter and personality (that miss very more at our players) and a good experience in Premier or Championship as a ex player or manager

I think experience is crucial at this level - the Championship is a very demanding league, and without proper discipline/tactical ideas then it's very easy to slide down the table.

[eastyorkshirewhite]

With all due respect, how much do you know about the ability of the players brought in, other than the limited game time some of them have had?

I see it's back to deeper doom and gloom for some people. Time will tell, but hopefully we'll get a better manager (coach, whatever) in to drill the players in tactics now that they're supposedly fit and raring.

If you know anything about football you can see that few of them have what it takes to play in the championship

[Genghers]

If you know anything about football you can see that few of them have what it takes to play in the championship

The only one I have my reservations about so far is Ajose.

Silvestri, Taylor, Cooper, Bianchi, Sharp and Doukara have all made an impact (and I'm sure Doukara would have played more by now, had he not got injured).

Jury's out on Berardi, Belluci, Antennuci and Sloth as none have made full appearances yet.

Benedicic is one for the future, but got good reviews after his cameo vs. Accrington.

I think we'll really get a sense of player's ability when they've all had chance to bed in - so many changes at once is always going to cause disruption, and some players will cope better with the change of pace to the Championship better than others.

I'd also say that, unlike with previous managers, we've not been lumbered with their mates after a transfer window - the vast majority of the players will have been selected by Cellino (which is likely to be the same for most of our coaches now). I reckon out of the players brought in, Ajose and Cooper are most likely to have been Hockaday targets, possibly Sharp too. Sharp and Cooper look to be quality signings who will be able to work well for another manager.

[1964white]

The only one I have my reservations about so far is Ajose.

Silvestri, Taylor, Cooper, Bianchi, Sharp and Doukara have all made an impact (and I'm sure Doukara would have played more by now, had he not got injured).

Jury's out on Berardi, Belluci, Antennuci and Sloth as none have made full appearances yet.

Benedicic is one for the future, but got good reviews after his cameo vs. Accrington.

I think we'll really get a sense of player's ability when they've all had chance to bed in - so many changes at once is always going to cause disruption, and some players will cope better with the change of pace to the Championship better than others.

I'd also say that, unlike with previous managers, we've not been lumbered with their mates after a transfer window - the vast majority of the players will have been selected by Cellino (which is likely to be the same for most of our coaches now). I reckon out of the players brought in, Ajose and Cooper are most likely to have been Hockaday targets, possibly Sharp too. Sharp and Cooper look to be quality signings who will be able to work well for another manager.

Exactly Genghers, players need time to develops partnerships & bed into the team. Some of the players I've seen so far look to have more technical ability than those I've witnessed over the last three seasons.

Take no notice of EY, he is on a downer with LUFC & obviously thinks Rome was built in a day !

[paddy parrott]

Rest assured 64, EY is'n only one there are hundreds more.
Ok I'm outside looking in sort of but on pitch is one thing.
Right now where will the saviour come?
The man has to inspire all .This club is bleeding.
What cost? since O'leary how many ? When Eddie had to step in and he was the for me so obvious .
We needn't have fallen to be bled some more.But we are where we are ..please Mr.Cellino be sensible be wise be brave be right.

[theleedsmango]

Ah the mantra of Rome's construction, rears it's head once more. Used by many great minds when they were being rushed to create masterpieces. Every little detail plays a significant part and is as important as the next. If Cellino is indeed trying to build Rome, The Building of Hockaday has not been the roads, or the sanitation (what have the Romans done for us?) but rather a worthless venture that had to be scrapped.

We aren't rushing the Great Master Cellino into building Rome, we fully understand patience, we are just pointing out that he was building a castle out of straw.

Despite popular opinion, those that were wary of Hockadays appointment and the influx of new players who he had no knowledge of, do have a fundamental understanding that things take time.

[Martyn]

Ah the mantra of Rome's construction, rears it's head once more. Used by many great minds when they were being rushed to create masterpieces. Every little detail plays a significant part and is as important as the next. If Cellino is indeed trying to build Rome, The Building of Hockaday has not been the roads, or the sanitation (what have the Romans done for us?) but rather a worthless venture that had to be scrapped.

We aren't rushing the Great Master Cellino into building Rome, we fully understand patience, we are just pointing out that he was building a castle out of straw.

Despite popular opinion, those that were wary of Hockadays appointment and the influx of new players who he had no knowledge of, do have a fundamental understanding that things take time.

Spot on mango.

[Gurj]

Ah the mantra of Rome's construction, rears it's head once more. Used by many great minds when they were being rushed to create masterpieces. Every little detail plays a significant part and is as important as the next. If Cellino is indeed trying to build Rome, The Building of Hockaday has not been the roads, or the sanitation (what have the Romans done for us?) but rather a worthless venture that had to be scrapped.

We aren't rushing the Great Master Cellino into building Rome, we fully understand patience, we are just pointing out that he was building a castle out of straw.

Despite popular opinion, those that were wary of Hockadays appointment and the influx of new players who he had no knowledge of, do have a fundamental understanding that things take time.

Brilliant post !!!

[Drs.Dad]

Andrew Haigh tweeted a link to an 'exclusive' Sun piece, quoting Cellino as saying he would have Hockaday back someday... Has anyone got a subscription/buy the paper so we can see what was actually said? The website only lets you see the headline and first sentence or two.

I wouldn't waste my money on that comic, but have seem this piece on his statement.

http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/update ... ay-return/

[1964white]

We aren't rushing the Great Master Cellino into building Rome, we fully understand patience, we are just pointing out that he was building a castle out of straw.

How do you know he is building a castle out of straw ??

[rab_rant]

[
I wouldn't waste my money on that comic, but have seem this piece on his statement.

http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/update ... ay-return/

Well that is a neat twist that Cellino saw that Hockaday was suffering and put him
out of his misery, and it was an act of kindness to give him the sack. I really do feel
sorry for the man... that photo really says it all... the desperate look in his eyes.
It is almost as if he had heard he was going to be executed, and death was hovering
on his shoulder.

I hope he is OK.

[eastyorkshirewhite]

Exactly Genghers, players need time to develops partnerships & bed into the team. Some of the players I've seen so far look to have more technical ability than those I've witnessed over the last three seasons.

Take no notice of EY, he is on a downer with LUFC & obviously thinks Rome was built in a day !

I find your quote about very offensive when you have spent the money have following United all over Britain and Europe I think I have the right to give MY opinion i am not on a downer as you put it i say what i feel and always have and always will.Please don,t take offence with what i am about to say but some of the quotes about players you have made over the past 3 seasons have not come true ie saying Kilkenny was the the new Johnny Giles and that Adam Clayton would play for England they were laughable.

[andywatson]

I am going to make one exception to my post, and it refers to the link Drs Dad posted above. If Hockaday was getting crushed by the pressure, and Cellino sacked him as he was genuinely worried about his mental health, then that is commendable. More than that it is a rare and insightful moment of empathy from an employer to an employee, protecting him an taking the flak himself.

Of course, I don't believe a word of it.

This is only the very first instalment of the price we will pay for Cellinos money. Leeds fans should be more aware than any other of the folly of having a fan in charge. Ridsdale proved this. Fans are too emotional. They react too wildly, they are too extreme. For those that don't realise, fan is derived from fanatic- not a word that lends itself to rational well thought out careful business strategies. Of course, this doesn't matter if you can afford to piss away a few million here and there on poor decisions, but the supporters take the pain of each of those poor decisions. Make no mistake- Hockaday was a piss poor decision. As he has made very clear- the mistake was his. Those of you who unquestionably hail Cellino as the next messiah (and we've had a few of them) have to put this as a big tick in the negative column.

So, why is this Cellinos c**k up? Surely it is Hockadays. He is responsible for the performances. True....... to a degree. But as we all know, Hockadays role was far bigger than any he has had previously. To be fair it is probably bigger than any he will ever have again. He couldn't cope with it. But if Cellino phones me tonight and asks me to start up front tomorrow, trust me I will be pulling on a white shirt. If he offers to pay me a footballers wage as well, then so much the better. I would accept the job knowing I was incompetent and that 20000 people would be abusing me. If I felt I was a decent footballer and it was an opportunity for me to prove it to the world then I would grab the chance with both hands. No one in Hockadays position would have turned down the opportunity Hockaday was offered. For this reason he cannot be blamed. However this is not the same as calling him a success.

Cellino claims to have been recommended Hockaday by some bloke whose name he can't remember. Lets ignore the crass unprofessionalism of this. He meets with him, and he is impressed. Here is a bloke in front of him that has something others have missed. He knows he is short of the expected CV- but there is something buried within. I have no problem with this. Well actually I do- it's a huge risk- but then again you have to back your own judgement in these situations- so I can accept that. I am playing poker tonight, and at some point in the evening I will make a decision based on my understanding of the situation where I might/might not be right. Cellino made one of those decisions. Personally I think this one was too risky for the potential reward, but I didn't spot whatever Cellino thought he had spotted, and he has other criteria that might have pushed away less risky appointments. So fine, he thinks he has spotted his man. By the way, I don't think cheap was high on his list here- managers cost peanuts compared to playing staff. However Hockadays role carried less responsibility that other "managers" so his pay should be lower.

I now quote '64 above, although Mango's post would be equally apt;

"Exactly Genghers, players need time to develops partnerships & bed into the team. Some of the players I've seen so far look to have more technical ability than those I've witnessed over the last three seasons.

Take no notice of EY, he is on a downer with LUFC & obviously thinks Rome was built in a day !"

This is absolutely spot on. TIME TIME TIME TIME TIME.

This whole revolution will take time- with or without Hockaday. Even Cellino acknowledged we were not going to challenge for promotion this season. Hockaday has seen a stream of players coming into the club, seemingly at random. He has had absolutely no opportunity to bind those players into a team. He has had no chance to see which players can cope with league games rather than simply shining in training. Most of the incoming players have never played in front of a crowd like Elland Road. Serie B is a long way behind the Championship in this regard. Most of them don't even speak English ffs! In my opinion Hockaday should have been told that as long as we weren't falling off the bottom of the league then any results before Christmas would be ignored. After Christmas we would look to see this slick fast pace passing from a team that was working hard, well drilled and showing what they were capable of. Or maybe not- in which case questions could rightly start to be asked of Hockaday. Hockaday has been sacked because he was unpopular- Cellino keeps his popularity by doing the thing the fans shout for, and the fact Cellino brought him here in the first place is forgotten in the jubilation. 6 games, especially with such a turbulent preseason of transfer activity, is not enough time to judge his ability to lead Leeds. So he has been sacked, despite his hidden talent that Cellino spotted. A Knee jerk reflex for short term popularity where a talented manager has been lost.

Or, he was just never good enough in the first place as his credentials made pretty clear, and the appointment was a mistake in the first place. I would suggest that making poor managerial appointments is as consistent with Cellinos CV as managerial mediocrity is with Hockadays.

In either scenario- and at least one of them must be true (with the exception of the caveat at the start). Both are Cellinos fault. Take your pick.