The clock seems to be ticking for Paul. Still hasn't achieved his first win and reportedly struggling to settle on his best team and formation. For those with the inclination and time to spare I would recommend the Benjamin Bloom YouTube site. It’s a very commendable Ipswich Town fan site that is worth a trawl through. As well as reporting Paul’s difficult transition to Championship manager there are a couple of Rotherham match reviews and a Rotherham season preview of interest.
Perhaps Mick McCarthy wasn't so bad after all. I don't think Ipswich was a great choice for Hurst. The fans expect a lot but the managers don't get much to work with. A bit of a poisoned chalice. With his record and with his stock high, I suspect a better job than that might have come Hursts way if he had been a bit more patient.
With Mick Mcarthy you get what it says on the tin , like he was as a player no frills ,hard working , and honest but for some reason fans don't want this ,feel sorry for Hursty he's massive boots to fill .
Sorry Paul. There’s a rather rotund woman now making her way to the microphone.
Things haven’t gone well for you there. On your arrival I’m sure it wasn’t your doing to sell three of your best players. But it was your doing to replace them with a host of players from the lower leagues. They have been found wanting in quality as has your man management and tactical nouse. You were welcomed as a refreshing change from the McCarthy era and afforded considerable patience from the fan base. But even your most ardent supporter has come to the conclusion you are out of your depth. You will shortly have the opportunity to top up your tan and hopefully find another management job but at a level more suited to your ability. Good luck.
Are there any lessons here for us?
Paul Hurst discovered there is a vast difference in quality between the Championship and League One. You cannot expect League One players to automatically step up to the higher level. In terms of quality of squad we are certainly no better off than Ipswich but the difference has been the man management of Paul Warne in generating a terrific team spirit. In terms of points we are certainly not much better off than Ipswich. But we are miles apart in terms of supporter expectation and acceptance of our lot.
At home we are making a good fist of it. Away from home, a rethink is required. We are becoming resigned to defeat which doesn’t bode well. I do think considering the hand dealt to him by our chairman that Paul Warne is doing a good job. Just wish we could compete more away from home.
Never a good move.
Let's hope they believe he will come good and they can feel really good about sticking with him... As they drift slowly to davey Jones bed time story hour.
Relieved of his duties polite way of putting it. Always seemed too nice to me. Should have got a tidy pay off. Not far into a 3 year contract. Will soften the blow.
Ipswich sold all their best players and raked in about £16m and let Hurst spend about a quarter of it. No surprise that they are struggling. From our point of view Hursty upset Shrewsbury's chances at Wembley because they all knew he was about to go, and he has put a relegation candidate below us in the table, so he's done a great job. I'm sure he will be back in work soon.
Timing is everything in the world of football management. Hurst needs to have a look at what Steve Evans does. I haven't got any time at all for Evans, but credit where it is due, he has managed his own career well. He chooses jobs at clubs where there are owners willing to throw money his way and where they are punching below their weight. When they reach a level at which they are not relatively well resourced he moves on. That way he keeps his stock high. Hurst moved to a club that is struggling to compete at the level it is at. A club where expectations are high but resources are low. Wrong club, wrong time. That doesn't make him a bad manager. He just made a bad career decision.
