**Paul Hart**

[sirpiechucker]

I'll back any manager the board put in charge (OK if they were to put Robert Mugabe in charge they won't get my backing but you know what I mean) because I have no control of who is hired and who is fired. All I do is turn up, watch and then comment on this board. I'm not backing Hart because of some blind faith to QPR but because he is now a QPR man and for that reason anyone who wears that shirt (or tracksuit) deserves a chance before the mud slinging begins.

Anyway it is easy to look at the various websites such as soccerbase or wikipedia to see Hart's managerial stats but unless they are seen in their full context they are often meaningless. I'll give you an example:

Hart's first Portsmouth squad versus Manchester City in February this year:

Portsmouth: James ,Johnson ,Campbell ,Distin ,Hreidarsson ,Pennant,Basinas,Davis ,Kranjcar ,Crouch ,Nugent
Subs: Begovic,Pamarot,Utaka,Kanu,Gekas,Belhadj, Mullins

Hart's last match in charge just a few months ago against Stoke:

Portsmouth:
Ashdown ,Ben Haim ,Hreidarsson ,Kaboul ,Brown ,Mullins ,Boateng ,O'Hara ,Wilson ,Kanu ,Dindane
Subs: Williamson,Vanden Borre,Smith,Niemi,Hughes,Webber, Piquionne

Quite a difference isn't there? James is still with the club but was injured at the time, Johnson, Campbell and Distin have all left the club and the three players that replaced them were worse not better. As Kranjcar showed last night he is a class act and Crouch scored goals for Pompey. The strength of their sub bench in February is stronger then their first team now. Hart's record at Portsmouth wasn't good but what can a manager do when the board sell more then half of their first team and replace them with Championship quality players.

In his first full season at Forest he took the club to the play off semi finals (losing to Sheff Utd 5-4 on aggregate). In his team during the season he had:

Marlon Harewood, Andy Reid, Michael Dawson, Darren Huckerby and Jermaine Jenas.

By the end of the following season Harewood, Jenas and Huckerby had all gone and Dawson and Reid were on there way out having gone from nobody's to good enough to play Premiership football under Hart's guidance. Andy Johnson and Stern John had to be sold to keep the club afloat before Hart even got the chance to play them.

I would be lying if I knew the full circumstances of his tenures at either Barnsley or Rushden and Diamonds but considering he has had his teams taken away from him his record is a hard one to give a fair analysis of.

[ScottJones]

this man talks way way too much sense

[Robsondinho]

Well done SirPie....Im fully behind Hart and he is not as bad as people are making out.

[stainrodisalegend]

I'll back any manager the board put in charge (OK if they were to put Robert Mugabe in charge they won't get my backing but you know what I mean) because I have no control of who is hired and who is fired. All I do is turn up, watch and then comment on this board. I'm not backing Hart because of some blind faith to QPR but because he is now a QPR man and for that reason anyone who wears that shirt (or tracksuit) deserves a chance before the mud slinging begins.

Anyway it is easy to look at the various websites such as soccerbase or wikipedia to see Hart's managerial stats but unless they are seen in their full context they are often meaningless. I'll give you an example:

Hart's first Portsmouth squad versus Manchester City in February this year:

Portsmouth: James ,Johnson ,Campbell ,Distin ,Hreidarsson ,Pennant,Basinas,Davis ,Kranjcar ,Crouch ,Nugent
Subs: Begovic,Pamarot,Utaka,Kanu,Gekas,Belhadj, Mullins

Hart's last match in charge just a few months ago against Stoke:

Portsmouth:
Ashdown ,Ben Haim ,Hreidarsson ,Kaboul ,Brown ,Mullins ,Boateng ,O'Hara ,Wilson ,Kanu ,Dindane
Subs: Williamson,Vanden Borre,Smith,Niemi,Hughes,Webber, Piquionne

Quite a difference isn't there? James is still with the club but was injured at the time, Johnson, Campbell and Distin have all left the club and the three players that replaced them were worse not better. As Kranjcar showed last night he is a class act and Crouch scored goals for Pompey. The strength of their sub bench in February is stronger then their first team now. Hart's record at Portsmouth wasn't good but what can a manager do when the board sell more then half of their first team and replace them with Championship quality players.

In his first full season at Forest he took the club to the play off semi finals (losing to Sheff Utd 5-4 on aggregate). In his team during the season he had:

Marlon Harewood, Andy Reid, Michael Dawson, Darren Huckerby and Jermaine Jenas.

By the end of the following season Harewood, Jenas and Huckerby had all gone and Dawson and Reid were on there way out having gone from nobody's to good enough to play Premiership football under Hart's guidance. Andy Johnson and Stern John had to be sold to keep the club afloat before Hart even got the chance to play them.

I would be lying if I knew the full circumstances of his tenures at either Barnsley or Rushden and Diamonds but considering he has had his teams taken away from him his record is a hard one to give a fair analysis of.

I tried to make a similar point, probably less eloquently, the other day - avram grant had an incredible win rate at chelsea but nobody rushed to offer him another job because u expect success with the players he had available. Even Scott wd have won some games. Hart has tended to manage struggling or selling clubs.

My main reservation is think he might be a better long term appointment than a short term fix as his strength seems to be developing young talent - and its asking a lot to do that in six months.

[sirpiechucker]

I tried to make a similar point, probably less eloquently, the other day - avram grant had an incredible win rate at chelsea but nobody rushed to offer him another job because u expect success with the players he had available. Even Scott wd have won some games. Hart has tended to manage struggling or selling clubs.

My main reservation is think he might be a better long term appointment than a short term fix as his strength seems to be developing young talent - and its asking a lot to do that in six months.

I wouldn't be surprised if Ephraim was recalled and Balanta will play regularly. He is the kind of manager who likes to give the youngsters a chance. With so many players under 24 his arrival could be a good one. It may turn out bad but let's wait and see. I've always thought he was the gentle giant type he would stick his arm round a player and give them confidence. Whereas as Harford is the in your face type boss. Hart and Harford are like Magilton and Gorman in reverse.

[Bluehoop]

I wouldn't be surprised if Ephraim was recalled and Balanta will play regularly. He is the kind of manager who likes to give the youngsters a chance. With so many players under 24 his arrival could be a good one. It may turn out bad but let's wait and see. I've always thought he was the gentle giant type he would stick his arm round a player and give them confidence. Whereas as Harford is the in your face type boss. Hart and Harford are like Magilton and Gorman in reverse.

Please tell me that means Hall has no chance of playing

[sirpiechucker]

Please tell me that means Hall has no chance of playing

It will be interesting to see his first team selection (I say his as I do hope its his and not Briatore's). The centre back pairing has changed so often that even if he were to look through our season before it would be difficult to assess who really is the best pair. When he took over at Pompey Campbell and Distin picked themselves - here who knows who he'll favour.

[big ade]

our starting 11 under magilton changed more often than a strippers kit on a double shift,we need to stick as far as possible with the same line-up.

[Bluehoop]

It will be interesting to see his first team selection (I say his as I do hope its his and not Briatore's). The centre back pairing has changed so often that even if he were to look through our season before it would be difficult to assess who really is the best pair. When he took over at Pompey Campbell and Distin picked themselves - here who knows who he'll favour.

With any luck Gallen and Bircham will be asked for some input, I say that purely on the basis that their selection rate for Hall starting was 100% against