20togo
Well-known member
yeu, it's easy to transform from 4-4-2 to 4-2-4 to high press their keeper and defence if Critch wants to do it.
That's probably it for me now
- Thread starter Philbfctrois
- Start date
Bloomers123Be bop deluxe
Well-known member
what's the point of that post . If you can't say anything positive don't bother. We done well this season and will be better next UTMP
SeasideTerrier
Well-known member
We will miss you, but fully understand that you need to press your slacks and re-starch the collar of your Blue Coat ahead of a busy season as the warm-up (not fluffer) at Pontin's
S
Scaramanga
Guest
Why would you come on the fans message board and tell us all that’s it for the season for you. The mind boggles, did you think everyone would reply with a thumbs up, kudos Phil, every credit, we’re right with you. Don’t get it.
GrahamwantshisOates
Well-known member
I can understand missing Easter Monday however the final home game of season is one to enjoy if nothing to play for.
Wave to Wayne on his way to League 1 and they will bring decent support to create an atmosphere.
Celebrate with a few drinks what has been achieved over the last couple of years. We have missed enough home games during the last few years!
Wave to Wayne on his way to League 1 and they will bring decent support to create an atmosphere.
Celebrate with a few drinks what has been achieved over the last couple of years. We have missed enough home games during the last few years!
Philbfctrois
Well-known member
Why not is there some rules that say what i can or can't post ?
S
Scaramanga
Guest
Nope, but it’s a shite thing to post. IMO.
Blackpools finest
Well-known member
poolseasider
Well-known member
Each to their own what every one does but if your going to start a thread, it surely can be taken to task?
The o/p seems neither happy how the season has gone, entertainment value, tactics, players or manager.
In our first season in the Championship we nearly got relegated it's tough when you get promoted especially if you've a later start than everyone else because of the play offs.
Saturday's team had eight players who where with us last season and they've stepped up to give us safety easily.
This season has been brilliant and now it's time to get rid of a few and replace with a level up to maintain ourselves as a decent Championship side.
The o/p seems neither happy how the season has gone, entertainment value, tactics, players or manager.
In our first season in the Championship we nearly got relegated it's tough when you get promoted especially if you've a later start than everyone else because of the play offs.
Saturday's team had eight players who where with us last season and they've stepped up to give us safety easily.
This season has been brilliant and now it's time to get rid of a few and replace with a level up to maintain ourselves as a decent Championship side.
Old_Laytonian
Well-known member
He’s never Happy but he might be Grumpy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Dopey, Bashful or Doc
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
Yep, it’s been a great season and I think Critch deserves a great deal of credit for how he has tackled the campaign with limited resources
There’s going to be some work to do in order to push on or even maintain the status quo for next season, but I’m confident we have a solid platform and a manager who genuinely puts everything into the job.
I love this time of year for watching Blackpool. Obviously it’s always better if you are in the running, but to be honest it will be nice to relax and enjoy things play out without the pressure of looking over our shoulders at least.
There’s going to be some work to do in order to push on or even maintain the status quo for next season, but I’m confident we have a solid platform and a manager who genuinely puts everything into the job.
I love this time of year for watching Blackpool. Obviously it’s always better if you are in the running, but to be honest it will be nice to relax and enjoy things play out without the pressure of looking over our shoulders at least.
WonderPool
Well-known member
no, it's a fluid system. Usually one of the wingers presses higher up the pitch and the other stays narrow (433). If the team decides to sit a little back, pressing starts within the midfield line with a hard 442
tangerine.com
Well-known member
Oh good. So I can keep going because that means you will win every game from now til the end.That's the spirit mate. I'm a current Blackpool player, I think I'll put my feet up too, and I'll tell the rest of the squad at training tomorrow to do the same.
I suspect if we did that you'd have an opinion on it and it wouldn't be favourable. Cheers for your effort for 0.60 of the season though, much appreciated
Adams Kebab
Well-known member
Harsh mate
It’s been a better than I thought season. Would have snapped anyones hands off to be safe at the start of April, especially after those first 5 games. Some great victories, granted it’s not been that expansive but I don’t think we can be at the moment. Been great to see the development of Bowler who is a joy to watch, best attacking player since Tom Ince.
Totally agree on summer signings, the right back saga dragged on far too long last summer and cost us points, central midfield needs boxing off early this summer.
Mark_GT
Well-known member
Hopefully catch up with you at a summer friendly Phil
Bloodtangerine
Well-known member
Did you get autographs?
20togo
Well-known member
yep, good post. I just wonder if Critch sees this creative midfielder as a priority? We rarely have played with the system requiring one even when Carey was fit. There again with Bowler and Keshi out wide you can understand why he chose to play the way he does. Will losing Bowler if he goes force Critch to re-evaluate how he wants to play? For me, Bowler has been the essential ingredient of how we set up and I doubt we can replace him with anyone like his pretty unique talent. So that may force him to change his system.Harsh mate
It’s been a better than I thought season. Would have snapped anyones hands off to be safe at the start of April, especially after those first 5 games. Some great victories, granted it’s not been that expansive but I don’t think we can be at the moment. Been great to see the development of Bowler who is a joy to watch, best attacking player since Tom Ince.
Totally agree on summer signings, the right back saga dragged on far too long last summer and cost us points, central midfield needs boxing off early this summer.
bleach51
Well-known member
straightatthewall
Well-known member
I suspect the OP is a fake account on a wind up. The bloke in the photo looks nothing like Pip.
td53
Well-known member
I think that's, unfashionable as it may be to agree with Phil, that's pretty a fair assessment. The best results/experiences have been more smash and grab than dominate and destroy. Which is fine. We've established ourselves in the division with a decent defence and a little bit of flair to do the damage.
We don't really have a convincing midfield and if we lose Bowler, we're going to look a lot less dangerous and he won't be easy to replace. Yeah, he's frustrating but he's also miles better than anyone else at scaring the shit out of the other team. We probably should be able to make more out of the games when he gets double marked out of it.
If we want to move on, we need to add more technical ability in the centre of midfield at minimum plus almost certainly we'll need to try to replace Bowler with something or someone who is a bit magic. We probably will need to do other business but we can't rely on Sonny Carey and Keshi to be the sole creative players in the squad when we lose Bowler.
It's going to be an interesting summer I agree.
td53
Well-known member
The thing about Critchley is you just don't know. At the beginning of the year, he didn't really fancy Bowler and now he's the fulcrum. At the start of his tenure, he didn't fancy Gaz and now Gaz plays every minute just about.
I think you are spot on in that Bowler is not 'replacable' with a similar player. He's absolutely one of a kind and we may need to find the impulse he brings elsewhere in the 11.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
I think it’s a picture of Michael Eavis … He’s maybe nicked it off the Glastonbury Website
Philbfctrois
Well-known member
You are correct he didn't fancy Madine he also didn't like to play a holding midfield player now we play with 2 and he soon ditched the 433 that he started to play last season
We are certainly evolving and I'm still not sure what identity we have as a team or what system the manager really wants to play
Big summer indeed
S
Solwayseasider
Guest
Not surprised your ill after tackling that sausageFrom my sickbed I couldn’t think of anything worse at the moment mate
ill myself mate .
td53
Well-known member
It's both a strength and a weakness. It's a strength as we're quite adaptable. It's a weakness in that it means there are times when the squad makes no sense because how do you recruit for a side that might play in any one of about 4 or 5 different ways.
Irc correctly, we started this year 451 with one of the little lads up front. We've become a direct 442 side, played 4231, flirted.with 433 and also occasionally gone to 5 at the back.
Again, I agree. Will we recruit for a style or mould a style to how we recruit. Who knows?!
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
I’m not convinced that Bowler’s contribution over this season will be as difficult to replace as we might think. As an individual I’m not sure he’s replaceable (man for man), but as a team I think we can look to be more balanced throughout and look elsewhere for the attacking threat.
TangerineBayern
Well-known member
The Welsh Whopper looking for another ton with his usual diatribe of negativity from an unflushed toilet!
td53
Well-known member
That's my point. We won't get another Bowler so we need to get a couple more players across the midfield who have an attacking quality.
Every forest midfielder was comfortable coming forward. They didn't stop, turn and look for another player to attack for them. Yeah, I'm exaggerating for effect, but it felt like Forest could attack with 6 players and us with 3 or 4.
We can get better in that respect.
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
It’s a shame we can’t get another season out of him to be honest, but I suppose we’ll want to cash in and he will have some decent offers.
I think he’d certainly benefit from another season with us (I wonder if he might find himself benched fairly frequently even at a bigger Championship Club) and obviously it would be great for us.
Adams Kebab
Well-known member
Yep agree. I think we’ve adopted two holding midfielders in pretty much every game bar Huddersfield away when Carey started.
The reliance is on creating from wide, but if Bowler has been doubled up on, or not on song we’ve struggled. If you take Bowler out the team which looks likely as he’ll be a target for many, we are going to struggle to create with the wingers we have left.
I don’t think NC wants to play 4-4-2 but he worked out that’s the best system for our current squad & to be fair, sometime it’s pretty much 4-2-4 which means the two midfielders have to hold. I don’t think we have a striker at the moment who can play upfront on his own effectively but I think the plan will be as it has been recently to play 3 in central midfield in certain games in this League or we get overran. This hasn’t worked lately due to personnel, the link from midfield to attack, the lack of height or mobility in attack depending on who’s started and the tweaking of Bowler’s starting position.
A few positions and things to sort, but I do love the recruitment process and how teams do it, as it is the most important thing at a football Club. 3/4 success rate will do & I’m sure they’ll be on it. I’m not bothered about identity or philosophies, I also don’t buy a line NC has adopted out the Southgate book “he’s a great player but an even better human being”… I’m not asking them to go and pick up Grandma’s shopping I just want them to be good at football.
If we get the Bowler dough, it would be nice to see that transfer record broken on a player who’s going to get better and make us better, that’s not to say we can’t still pick up some proper talent cheap, just like Josh Bowler.
Philbfctrois
Well-known member
Don't read the thread, don't post or comment
You could even ignore if i offend you that much
Oh and I'm not Welsh
td53
Well-known member
Totally agree.
Adams Kebab
Well-known member
We need to evolve and have a few systems in this League. We just haven’t got the right players to play certain systems at the moment.
This is where the summer is massive.
SpionKop
Well-known member
Phil lad you were the biggest advocate of the “it doesn’t matter how we win” brigade during the Grayson tenure, have you changed your stance on this one and being entertained is a pre requisite for you now?
Philbfctrois
Well-known member
I think an identity is important as it builds consistency when players buy into a way of playing
We swap and change things all the time
We probably play best when we don't have much of the ball and hit teams on the break playing a direct style
In the few games when we have controlled possession we have struggled to create chances and pick up points
Luton and Cardiff at home are good examples of this
I think we need about 5 players
These need to be starting players not squad players we have more than enough of those
Philbfctrois
Well-known member
That's a fair point
To be honest I don't think the football is any better than what we had with Grayson or Ince for that fact
Adams Kebab
Well-known member
Yep, I get that. I said this last season, we are better against better teams as they attack us and we then counter-attack well.
If the emphasis is on us to attack, we struggle as highlighted 2nd half v Knobbers who sat in and we looked clueless.
I just think the identity thing, we kinda have one, organised, break well etc but we need to be able to have a few. Totally agree on changing stuff too much. I do think at times we overthink the starting team. I’ve not got one of those badges Critchley has though
so maybe that’s the way to do it and I think this is the modem coach & much better than the likes of Simple Simon Grayson.Pep overthinked the CL Final last year & I noticed Madrid named their team 2 hours before the game last night, bet that sent Tuchel’s head west.
td53
Well-known member
@Adams Kebab
That Huddersfield away game was probably the best half I've seen in terms of us attacking and pressuring the opponent. We were brilliant against Reading in that's 30 mins but that doesn't really count as they were total shite at that point.
Yates, Madine, Bowler, Keshi, Carey and Gabriel charging forward.
That team picked itself cos no one else was fit and it was class to watch till Carey got crocked and Gabriel saw red.
That Huddersfield away game was probably the best half I've seen in terms of us attacking and pressuring the opponent. We were brilliant against Reading in that's 30 mins but that doesn't really count as they were total shite at that point.
Yates, Madine, Bowler, Keshi, Carey and Gabriel charging forward.
That team picked itself cos no one else was fit and it was class to watch till Carey got crocked and Gabriel saw red.
Philbfctrois
Well-known member
The way we play we might as well had appointed Allardyce
He would have loved 442 smashing the ball up to big Gary Madine
BFC_BFC_BFC
Well-known member
You were also critical of Holloway’s lack of attention to defensive requirements if I remember rightlyThat's a fair point
To be honest I don't think the football is any better than what we had with Grayson or Ince for that fact
(though TBF I agreed with that).I do think the football is a lot better than it was under Grayson and our preparation, planning and tactical approach to the game is night and day by comparison… (I mean the difference between where we are now and having been convincingly relegated already).
From what I’ve seen, Critch has sought to focus on areas of weakness where he feels he can expose and capitalise and that’s resulted in us varying the set up accordingly….. On the whole, I think he’s done that to good effect and we’ve probably carved out a few results that went against the form book as a result.
Grayson was lazy and pretty unintelligent IMHO… I backed him while he was here, but he’s a dinosaur compared to Critch….
If we’re going to transition from a side that does what we’ve been doing and essentially try to pick sides off into a side that sets our stall out to play in a particular way then I think that’s going to take a big investment….. I expect we’ll move forward next year, but I’m pretty sure we’ll still be compromising on our ‘style’
td53
Well-known member
Gas as Kevin Davies. Gabriel as Ricardo Gardner. We need a Kevin Nolan...
Adams Kebab
Well-known member
We’ve had some bad luck with injuries as it’s hampered certain systems. The one versus Preston wasn’t right for who we had available.
Carey can take free-kicks & corners I think so if that means Dougall doesn’t he can start every game for me.
Philbfctrois
Well-known member
Yeah Preston away was ** awful didn't have a shot on target
SpionKop
Well-known member
Probably due to the fact we are playing against higher quality teams and mgt know how. We know we have been punching above our weight this season and overall done well so the close season is going to be very interesting in relation to what quality we do or don’t bring inThat's a fair point
To be honest I don't think the football is any better than what we had with Grayson or Ince for that fact
Bloodtangerine
Well-known member
Give up……who are you speaking for? You representing people are you?
Bloodtangerine
Well-known member
It does mate, he’s had some “work” done.
Clearly it went wrong but them‘s the breaks
I’ve really enjoyed this season. I honestly thought we would struggle and be in for a long seasons relegation battle.
It has been fairly frustrating at times because we look like promotion candidates at times
See you at a game soon Phil, far better than sitting next to each other in court rooms?
It has been fairly frustrating at times because we look like promotion candidates at times
See you at a game soon Phil, far better than sitting next to each other in court rooms?
Junior_BentsPlatformShoes
Well-known member
Agree with a lot on this thread, particularly about it being a big summer. If Bowler goes, which is likely, it’s a big loss. We need to get at least 5 decent first team players in and utilise the loan market better. Looking at Archer for PKE, surely we are capable of getting similar quality?
Aside from the obvious midfield, LB and another RB, we need some height if we’re continuing with a similar system - Madine won’t play every game and we’ve looked weaker when he’s not played with how we’ve set up.
Either that, or Critch changes things completely and we start playing things through the middle more. Depends on targets and what we acquire I guess.
One thing that is good, we haven’t a raft of players leaving on frees with the prospect of having ‘A Trialists’ in all summer.
Aside from the obvious midfield, LB and another RB, we need some height if we’re continuing with a similar system - Madine won’t play every game and we’ve looked weaker when he’s not played with how we’ve set up.
Either that, or Critch changes things completely and we start playing things through the middle more. Depends on targets and what we acquire I guess.
One thing that is good, we haven’t a raft of players leaving on frees with the prospect of having ‘A Trialists’ in all summer.