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Hurst: Leeds Knew We Were Switching System
Saturday, 9th Feb 2019 10:01

Former Town boss Paul Hurst says Spygate-embroiled Leeds United knew exactly how the Blues were lining up in his final game in charge at Elland Road in October, despite setting his side out in a new formation.

Town were beaten 2-0 by the West Yorkshiremen and the manager who had only taken over at Portman Road in the summer was relieved of his duties the following day. Paul Lambert was appointed the following weekend.

Last month, Whites manager Marcelo Bielsa admitted to spying on all his side’s opponents after a club representative was spotting watching a Derby County training session.

“My last game before I got the sack was at Leeds and we played 4-4-2 for the first time in the season,” Hurst told Metro.

“When we arrived, Leeds knew we were playing 4-4-2. I can’t remember seeing anyone but he’s come out and said he has done it to every club so it makes you wonder. It’s certainly not something I would choose to take part in.”

Yesterday, the EFL announced that their investigations into Spygate will continue as a "number of areas" require "further exploration and clarification”.

Reflecting on his 149 days at Town, in which he won only once in 15 games, Hurst added: “It’s difficult for a British manager to get into the Premiership unless you get promoted and I felt the Championship was going that way. Perhaps it wasn’t the best time to get the job but I don’t regret it.

“We were criticised for not having enough experience in the team but we lost Jon Walters to injury. I tried to bring in James Collins, who [successor] Paul Lambert has now signed, but he joined Aston Villa.

“I still think some of the things we implemented will make that club better. I detest people who just turn up, take things for granted and don’t want to be better. My motto is be the best you can be. Perhaps some people didn’t buy into that.”


Photo: Action Images



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TractorCam added 10:13 - Feb 9
So that explains why we lost that game!
2

OwainG1992 added 10:22 - Feb 9
To be fair to him if Walters had not got injured it could have been a different story.
14

TractorCam added 10:32 - Feb 9
I do feel particularly sorry for him from the Rotherham game, we should have had a penalty at the end but instead conceded at the other. If's and but's but you never know how things could pan out.
7

heathen66 added 10:47 - Feb 9
I think the very last statement probably sums up PHs time here
I detest people who just turn up, take things for granted and don't want to be better.
Many senior players here liked everything how it was under Mick and did not want to change even if it meant improving them as players, happy to sit a do what they had done for the last 5 seasons.
Whilst the feeling is better around the club PL has not exactly turn around the results, in fact points per game PH had a better return than PL.
I do feel a bit sorry for him as he certainly did not get the rub of the green. two diabolical sending offs and then Walters injury.
Also in fairness the football early on was as entertaining as we had seen for more than 3 years, imo just needed that win.
18

Northstander_Blue added 10:48 - Feb 9
Whens he gonna admit he just wasnt good enough and stop blaming other things
1

MattBatt69 added 10:56 - Feb 9
He made mistakes but had lots of bad luck too. He's been unfairly vilified.

13

cat added 11:54 - Feb 9
Feel a bit for PH, he brought a style which was pleasing in patches but got let down by some horrid mistakes from Bart etc, some dodgy red cards, inept performances from the ‘old guard' who are incapable of playing anyway other than hoofball which was drummed into them, and not forgetting Deputy Doig. Are we any better style wise or result wise under Lambert, not really imo, not forgetting that the games after he got sacked were what I considered to be winnable games.
Good luck PH!
13

barrystedmunds added 12:09 - Feb 9
I think any potential employers of PH will be looking at where we are just now. Rightly or wrongly, his reputation has been tarnished by the experience and I think he may be unemployed for the foreseeable future. But that's just my opinion!
3

Steelmonkey added 12:15 - Feb 9
Poor judgement in the ability of the players he brought in to replace those he sold, but I do believe some of the squad were far too happy playing the McCarthy way and not in need of giving effort to entertain us fans under his regime.
I still think that Curtis Tilt was a player we should have secured the services of, much more of a player in the Webster style who he should have replaced.
3

matthewwylds added 12:16 - Feb 9
Haha he's off his nut you were well and truly out of your depth Now we are down and out so well done p#ick
1

rfretwell added 12:20 - Feb 9
How anyone can defend the manager who decimated a very capable first team when trusted by an admittedly naive owner is beyond me.
3

rfretwell added 12:20 - Feb 9
How anyone can defend the manager who decimated a very capable first team when trusted by an admittedly naive owner is beyond me.
3

geminimustang added 12:32 - Feb 9
To be fair to him,he was useless and totally out of his depth.I'll save the unfairness for another day.
3

Cakeman added 12:55 - Feb 9
Steelmonkey I think you have made a very valid point about Curtis Tilt. That was a crucial failure with the club not bringing him in. It must have deflated Paul Hurst as I recall he was his prime target from the off.
4

LancsBlue added 13:07 - Feb 9
Signed 12 players, yet people think if only he'd have got that 13th things might have been different? Come on!
6

SamWhiteUK added 13:19 - Feb 9
How does he know that Leeds knew what formation we were playing? How about Leeds were just good enough to cope with us and adapt?
1

Bluearmy_81 added 14:23 - Feb 9
Re Tilt, yet another example of Evans quibbling over relatively small sums which cost us dearly. They wanted a million and we offered 750k FFS. #Evansout
0

Bluearmy_81 added 14:25 - Feb 9
Actually I think we upper it to 800k so we missed out for the sake of 200k!! Laughable really
0

ITFCsince73 added 14:33 - Feb 9
Heathen66, Cat, Spot on.
3

BlueBadger added 14:55 - Feb 9
They'd have still stuffed us.
0

Dissboyitfc added 15:26 - Feb 9
I think they should reimburse the 3 points to us, only fair!
-1

Swailsey added 15:40 - Feb 9
He's a buffoon.
2

Plums added 16:09 - Feb 9
He'd have fared better if he and his sidekick hadn't destroyed the confidence of one of the best goalkeepers in the EFL
3

Saxonblue74 added 16:13 - Feb 9
This is a joke! Please PH just swallow your ego and admit that you blew your big chance. It's totally unfair to compare PL's record to PH. I have no experience in football management but would have no problem destroying a club on a matter of weeks. It would however take far more experience, knowledge and a great deal more time to right those wrongs. That is what PL is tasked with and in time he will get there, perhaps too late this season but give him a chance! It's incredible to see the empathy creeping in for the bloke who put us where we are now.
0

ITFCsince73 added 16:32 - Feb 9
Saxonblue74 he was only at the club 5 minutes. More damage done by previous management. As PH states he put some things in place that is and will benefit the club. Town supporters were crying out for PH in June because he was “fantastic” then become the opposite within weeks. Mainly because the proper blokes wouldn't accept change. Knudson still hasn't to this day.
-3


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