Why I'll stick with Critch

Hereforthefootball

Hereforthefootball

Well-known member
I never thought 'bouncing back' at the first attempt was going to be that easy. Not many clubs do it and there are enough clubs still in League One like Portsmouth, Derby, Bolton, Barnsley, Charlton etc who have struggled to get to grips with this league.
Despite being appointed a few weeks after the season ended, the fact we had changes with Mansford etc, I don't think our window last season was as good as they would have hoped and we're all in agreement there were a few positions we struggled filling. Not getting Rhodes in the first few games, Joseph and Beesley's injury, the injuries to Lavery and Kouassi has meant our forward line has been a bit stop/start but we've seen enough examples of how effective that can be.
Midfield has struggled for me considering we play a 5 and whilst we have the bodies, I don't feel we have the right personnel and defence has been a bit of an achilles heel and is probably where we need most work.
We are a work in progress and as loathed as Critchley's formation is, I can see what he's trying to do. He's far from blameless - predictable team selections, no Plan B and not getting to grips with teams on the road (and showing them way too much respect) has been a problem.
However, go back to the Billy Ayre era - dominant at home but we struggled away and yet no one called for his head.
The club has a plan and I would give Critchley two more windows. January could help us get a running start next season and the summer is important. There is a lot of deadwood and I hope, unlike with Hamilton, that they don't just keep what we have.
We have a 3rd round FA Cup game and a quarter final in the BSM Trophy to come and anyone writing us off with 21 games to go and just 7 points off the Top 6 is being very pessimistic.
I still think we are in with a shout this season but more than that it would be daft to throw out our plans after 6 months.
I get things aren't great and I have been as frustrated as anyone but let's stick together and see if we can't just string a few wins together and who knows pull off a couple of cup shocks?
 
Those are my thoughts the day after a defeat - the minutes and hours after a defeat I want him gone but when I've calmed down and rationale takes over, I share your thoughts.
I'll be at BR tomorrow and am looking forward to it - we're a few players down but we know how well those who come in for cup matches have done. A win tomorrow won't gloss over this Xmas but it might pull us back together. Big game for Critch and let's hope the home form continues.
 
I think a lot of people just presumed we would go back up and forgot it was a relegated squad which meant it wasn't good enough for the league above and it was questionable whether it was good enough a league down.

It took Sunderland 4 seasons to get back up. It's a rebuild job at the moment and unfortunately some fans don't like the idea of granting time for a rebuild.
 
Hereforthefootball said:
I never thought 'bouncing back' at the first attempt was going to be that easy. Not many clubs do it and there are enough clubs still in League One like Portsmouth, Derby, Bolton, Barnsley, Charlton etc who have struggled to get to grips with this league.
Despite being appointed a few weeks after the season ended, the fact we had changes with Mansford etc, I don't think our window last season was as good as they would have hoped and we're all in agreement there were a few positions we struggled filling. Not getting Rhodes in the first few games, Joseph and Beesley's injury, the injuries to Lavery and Kouassi has meant our forward line has been a bit stop/start but we've seen enough examples of how effective that can be.
Midfield has struggled for me considering we play a 5 and whilst we have the bodies, I don't feel we have the right personnel and defence has been a bit of an achilles heel and is probably where we need most work.
We are a work in progress and as loathed as Critchley's formation is, I can see what he's trying to do. He's far from blameless - predictable team selections, no Plan B and not getting to grips with teams on the road (and showing them way too much respect) has been a problem.
However, go back to the Billy Ayre era - dominant at home but we struggled away and yet no one called for his head.
The club has a plan and I would give Critchley two more windows. January could help us get a running start next season and the summer is important. There is a lot of deadwood and I hope, unlike with Hamilton, that they don't just keep what we have.
We have a 3rd round FA Cup game and a quarter final in the BSM Trophy to come and anyone writing us off with 21 games to go and just 7 points off the Top 6 is being very pessimistic.
I still think we are in with a shout this season but more than that it would be daft to throw out our plans after 6 months.
I get things aren't great and I have been as frustrated as anyone but let's stick together and see if we can't just string a few wins together and who knows pull off a couple of cup shocks?
Click to expand...
Good post, pretty much summed up my thoughts but couldn’t really be arsed typing out.

It’s been frustrating as hell at times this season but at times we’ve looked like we mean business.

I think given time Critch can get this team going and figure out a plan b for the away games. Maybe a solid window and a couple of the right signings will help for the season end.

I don’t expect us to go up now and I am ease with that, will certainly be a bonus if we crept into the play-offs at the end of the season though.

It may take another year for us to go up or longer but chopping and changing all the time doesn’t always work. Look at last season, we may have stayed up with Appleton still in charge.

I do get the frustrations of fans and wanting change but my gut feeling is to stick with Critch.
 
Pretty well summed up.
We've all had a laugh at the likes of Watford in the past. Another sacking will result in the 4th boss in 2 seasons (minus Dobbies temporary stint).
Sitting in 8th, granted with a few games more than others, it is possibly still a huge gamble to ditch. It could pan out and we sneak playoffs, it could equally result in a drastic nose dive. We saw last season what happens if it doesn't go right.

Who'd want to own a football club ey?
 
I've not seen anything sack-worthy yet but his bosses should be having the conversation about how and why his approach is yielding two completely different home and away identities with the same group of players so far. And what needs to change.

And it should be a two-way conversation as well if they're trying to move players on in the last six months of their contracts and causing disruption that Critchley has to go along with because he's the head coach not the manager.
 
Hereforthefootball said:
I never thought 'bouncing back' at the first attempt was going to be that easy. Not many clubs do it and there are enough clubs still in League One like Portsmouth, Derby, Bolton, Barnsley, Charlton etc who have struggled to get to grips with this league.
Despite being appointed a few weeks after the season ended, the fact we had changes with Mansford etc, I don't think our window last season was as good as they would have hoped and we're all in agreement there were a few positions we struggled filling. Not getting Rhodes in the first few games, Joseph and Beesley's injury, the injuries to Lavery and Kouassi has meant our forward line has been a bit stop/start but we've seen enough examples of how effective that can be.
Midfield has struggled for me considering we play a 5 and whilst we have the bodies, I don't feel we have the right personnel and defence has been a bit of an achilles heel and is probably where we need most work.
We are a work in progress and as loathed as Critchley's formation is, I can see what he's trying to do. He's far from blameless - predictable team selections, no Plan B and not getting to grips with teams on the road (and showing them way too much respect) has been a problem.
However, go back to the Billy Ayre era - dominant at home but we struggled away and yet no one called for his head.
The club has a plan and I would give Critchley two more windows. January could help us get a running start next season and the summer is important. There is a lot of deadwood and I hope, unlike with Hamilton, that they don't just keep what we have.
We have a 3rd round FA Cup game and a quarter final in the BSM Trophy to come and anyone writing us off with 21 games to go and just 7 points off the Top 6 is being very pessimistic.
I still think we are in with a shout this season but more than that it would be daft to throw out our plans after 6 months.
I get things aren't great and I have been as frustrated as anyone but let's stick together and see if we can't just string a few wins together and who knows pull off a couple of cup shocks?
Click to expand...
It's not over yet, but it is becoming more unlikely.

If we improve each window then it can take a few to get the squad we need.

However the club keep stating their goal of promotion and Winter mentioned the top 6, so if NC can't meet that they'll have their own red lines at some point.

But I think they know to keep getting a new manager in can cause disruption so it's not always ideal, then players might not suit systems etc.

So we've just got to get on with it and enjoy the season, tbf it's been good at home.
 
Hereforthefootball said:
I never thought 'bouncing back' at the first attempt was going to be that easy. Not many clubs do it and there are enough clubs still in League One like Portsmouth, Derby, Bolton, Barnsley, Charlton etc who have struggled to get to grips with this league.
Despite being appointed a few weeks after the season ended, the fact we had changes with Mansford etc, I don't think our window last season was as good as they would have hoped and we're all in agreement there were a few positions we struggled filling. Not getting Rhodes in the first few games, Joseph and Beesley's injury, the injuries to Lavery and Kouassi has meant our forward line has been a bit stop/start but we've seen enough examples of how effective that can be.
Midfield has struggled for me considering we play a 5 and whilst we have the bodies, I don't feel we have the right personnel and defence has been a bit of an achilles heel and is probably where we need most work.
We are a work in progress and as loathed as Critchley's formation is, I can see what he's trying to do. He's far from blameless - predictable team selections, no Plan B and not getting to grips with teams on the road (and showing them way too much respect) has been a problem.
However, go back to the Billy Ayre era - dominant at home but we struggled away and yet no one called for his head.
The club has a plan and I would give Critchley two more windows. January could help us get a running start next season and the summer is important. There is a lot of deadwood and I hope, unlike with Hamilton, that they don't just keep what we have.
We have a 3rd round FA Cup game and a quarter final in the BSM Trophy to come and anyone writing us off with 21 games to go and just 7 points off the Top 6 is being very pessimistic.
I still think we are in with a shout this season but more than that it would be daft to throw out our plans after 6 months.
I get things aren't great and I have been as frustrated as anyone but let's stick together and see if we can't just string a few wins together and who knows pull off a couple of cup shocks?
Click to expand...
That is a great, considered post mate.
We all get frustrated and pissed off especially by the manner of defeats like Burton and Port Vale when there seems to be no passion whatsoever shown by the team.
Although the buck stops ultimately with the manager I mentioned yesterday that the players have to shoulder some responsibility. If NC cannot motivate the players then he should be gone but what I don’t understand is when players are substituted etc there always seems to be a sense of comraderie between manager and players.
When new managers take over a club it is always said that it is a 5 year plan to achieve success and yet we (andthe majority of supporters) want instant success which simply cannot happen.
A lot of posters on here say NC’s tactics and stubbornness simply don’t work but, we have one of the best home records in the division so why isn’t it working away from home?
Is it a mentality thing? Who knows but both the last 2 games we have dominated possession but totally lacked the finishing touch.
Have teams sussed us out and know how to set up against us? If so why are we winning at home because we haven’t changed anything.
I’ve said it before that I believe we have a strong team and have strength in depth so maybe if we show a bit of patience then things will improve. Critch is a good coach and I would certainly have him instead of Appleton or McCarthy and Dobbie really wasn’t in charge long enough to show his managerial potential although he did provide us with entertaining football, which always seems to come with a change of management. Nunez at Forest for example.
As frustrated as I am I do think it would be wrong to get rid of NC and, with all things considered, we are only 7 points off the play offs.
If we were in the relegation zone then I could understand the backlash.
 
Eternaloptimist said:
That is a great, considered post mate.
We all get frustrated and pissed off especially by the manner of defeats like Burton and Port Vale when there seems to be no passion whatsoever shown by the team.
Although the buck stops ultimately with the manager I mentioned yesterday that the players have to shoulder some responsibility. If NC cannot motivate the players then he should be gone but what I don’t understand is when players are substituted etc there always seems to be a sense of comraderie between manager and players.
When new managers take over a club it is always said that it is a 5 year plan to achieve success and yet we (andthe majority of supporters) want instant success which simply cannot happen.
A lot of posters on here say NC’s tactics and stubbornness simply don’t work but, we have one of the best home records in the division so why isn’t it working away from home?
Is it a mentality thing? Who knows but both the last 2 games we have dominated possession but totally lacked the finishing touch.
Have teams sussed us out and know how to set up against us? If so why are we winning at home because we haven’t changed anything.
I’ve said it before that I believe we have a strong team and have strength in depth so maybe if we show a bit of patience then things will improve. Critch is a good coach and I would certainly have him instead of Appleton or McCarthy and Dobbie really wasn’t in charge long enough to show his managerial potential although he did provide us with entertaining football, which always seems to come with a change of management. Nunez at Forest for example.
As frustrated as I am I do think it would be wrong to get rid of NC and, with all things considered, we are only 7 points off the play offs.
If we were in the relegation zone then I could understand the backlash.
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Good post but I think the backlash is precisely because we're a good team at home...
Why then can't we do it away?!
 
Hereforthefootball said:
I never thought 'bouncing back' at the first attempt was going to be that easy. Not many clubs do it and there are enough clubs still in League One like Portsmouth, Derby, Bolton, Barnsley, Charlton etc who have struggled to get to grips with this league.
Despite being appointed a few weeks after the season ended, the fact we had changes with Mansford etc, I don't think our window last season was as good as they would have hoped and we're all in agreement there were a few positions we struggled filling. Not getting Rhodes in the first few games, Joseph and Beesley's injury, the injuries to Lavery and Kouassi has meant our forward line has been a bit stop/start but we've seen enough examples of how effective that can be.
Midfield has struggled for me considering we play a 5 and whilst we have the bodies, I don't feel we have the right personnel and defence has been a bit of an achilles heel and is probably where we need most work.
We are a work in progress and as loathed as Critchley's formation is, I can see what he's trying to do. He's far from blameless - predictable team selections, no Plan B and not getting to grips with teams on the road (and showing them way too much respect) has been a problem.
However, go back to the Billy Ayre era - dominant at home but we struggled away and yet no one called for his head.
The club has a plan and I would give Critchley two more windows. January could help us get a running start next season and the summer is important. There is a lot of deadwood and I hope, unlike with Hamilton, that they don't just keep what we have.
We have a 3rd round FA Cup game and a quarter final in the BSM Trophy to come and anyone writing us off with 21 games to go and just 7 points off the Top 6 is being very pessimistic.
I still think we are in with a shout this season but more than that it would be daft to throw out our plans after 6 months.
I get things aren't great and I have been as frustrated as anyone but let's stick together and see if we can't just string a few wins together and who knows pull off a couple of cup shocks?
Click to expand...

We are not a work in "progress". We are a work in '''regression". Just you wait and see.
 
Victorsponge said:
I said at the end of last season our main challenge this season would be staying in league 1.
I'm sticking with Critchley because I've no bloody choice, he going no where.
Click to expand...
You did.

And Im not sure if I agreed but I certainly publicly said I was concerned based on the squad. It's not a good squad at all.
 
Hereforthefootball said:
I never thought 'bouncing back' at the first attempt was going to be that easy. Not many clubs do it and there are enough clubs still in League One like Portsmouth, Derby, Bolton, Barnsley, Charlton etc who have struggled to get to grips with this league.
Despite being appointed a few weeks after the season ended, the fact we had changes with Mansford etc, I don't think our window last season was as good as they would have hoped and we're all in agreement there were a few positions we struggled filling. Not getting Rhodes in the first few games, Joseph and Beesley's injury, the injuries to Lavery and Kouassi has meant our forward line has been a bit stop/start but we've seen enough examples of how effective that can be.
Midfield has struggled for me considering we play a 5 and whilst we have the bodies, I don't feel we have the right personnel and defence has been a bit of an achilles heel and is probably where we need most work.
We are a work in progress and as loathed as Critchley's formation is, I can see what he's trying to do. He's far from blameless - predictable team selections, no Plan B and not getting to grips with teams on the road (and showing them way too much respect) has been a problem.
However, go back to the Billy Ayre era - dominant at home but we struggled away and yet no one called for his head.
The club has a plan and I would give Critchley two more windows. January could help us get a running start next season and the summer is important. There is a lot of deadwood and I hope, unlike with Hamilton, that they don't just keep what we have.
We have a 3rd round FA Cup game and a quarter final in the BSM Trophy to come and anyone writing us off with 21 games to go and just 7 points off the Top 6 is being very pessimistic.
I still think we are in with a shout this season but more than that it would be daft to throw out our plans after 6 months.
I get things aren't great and I have been as frustrated as anyone but let's stick together and see if we can't just string a few wins together and who knows pull off a couple of cup shocks?
Click to expand...

It will be nice for you to follow his career when he's gone. Something for you to look forward to.

I reckon he'll end up at Crewe.
 
We could be 9 points off the play- offs tonight and played a game more , the home form isn't down to NC , we've not played a decent side at home yet barring Derby and Peterborough who both made us look bang average. Some better sides to come , Oxford, Bolton , Portsmouth, Barnsley.
If Rhodes is recalled I fear the worst, take his goals out of our season and we are nearer fleetwood than Portsmouth in our league position
January is a big month for all , it will go one way or the other.
If the players body language comes across the same as it was at Port Vale on Friday I'm not very optimistic it will be the way we all want.
 
Kevin Stewart,Ellis Simms & Elliot Embleton all instrumental in our play off push 2021 signed in January so please give Critch at least another window to see how things are.

Sacking him now would be bonkers it would be another stupid decision like the timing of getting rid of Appleton.
 
poolseasider said:
Kevin Stewart,Ellis Simms & Elliot Embleton all instrumental in our play off push 2021 signed in January so please give Critch at least another window to see how things are.

Sacking him now would be bonkers it would be another stupid decision like the timing of getting rid of Appleton.
Click to expand...
Or maybe it was bonkers to take him on again despite many fans not wanting him back..Appleton should have gone straight after the Wigan debacle..the stupid decision was sticking with him too long..I hope we win well today and kick on from there but IF we lose heavily then a case can be made for bringing in a new face before the end of the window and they can at least sign 2/3 players that they want. If he gets through January then he may aswell stay until the end of the season. The truth is NOBODY wanted Appleton and a lot of fans were opposed to Critchley coming back..the owner applied his prerogative to totally ignore the fans and basically say fluck you it’s happening.
 
TANGERINETOWERPOWER said:
Or maybe it was bonkers to take him on again despite many fans not wanting him back..Appleton should have gone straight after the Wigan debacle..the stupid decision was sticking with him too long..I hope we win well today and kick on from there but IF we lose heavily then a case can be made for bringing in a new face before the end of the window and they can at least sign 2/3 players that they want. If he gets through January then he may aswell stay until the end of the season. The truth is NOBODY wanted Appleton and a lot of fans were opposed to Critchley coming back..the owner applied his prerogative to totally ignore the fans and basically say fluck you it’s happening.
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But half the fans wanted Critchley back many where happy with his reappointment or do they not count?

Not a single sole wanted Appleton so comparing the pair is day and night.

Should we have appointed someone different probably as you don't get time the second coming as fans in the don't want camp are quick to turn case in point 2 away defeats despite winning 3-1 less than 10 days ago and a Fa Cup tie 14.

Win today and Avftt will calm down until our next defeat but how about getting behind whoever is in charge this hatred of our managers is shite, poor Appleton didn't stand a chance from the off.
 
Victorsponge said:
I said at the end of last season our main challenge this season would be staying in league 1.
I'm sticking with Critchley because I've no bloody choice, he going no where.
Click to expand...
If Critch goes nowhere, so does Blackpool.

Fans who cite relegation following Appleton's firing and McCarthy's arrival?

Appy would never have stopped the drop.

Like him, the latter proved a mad hire.

What if, after Grayson's return flop too, Sadler cannot find a coach for promotion?

The owner should then sell up.
 
paulco said:
If Critch goes nowhere, so does Blackpool.

Fans who cite relegation following Appleton's firing and McCarthy's arrival?

Appy would never have stopped the drop.

Like him, the latter proved a mad hire.

What if, after Grayson's return flop too, Sadler cannot find a coach for promotion?

The owner should then sell up.
Click to expand...
He’ll appoint you !
 
poolseasider said:
But half the fans wanted Critchley back many where happy with his reappointment or do they not count?

Not a single sole wanted Appleton so comparing the pair is day and night.

Should we have appointed someone different probably as you don't get time the second coming as fans in the don't want camp are quick to turn case in point 2 away defeats despite winning 3-1 less than 10 days ago and a Fa Cup tie 14.

Win today and Avftt will calm down until our next defeat but how about getting behind whoever is in charge this hatred of our managers is shite, poor Appleton didn't stand a chance from the off.
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That’s fair comment, however the biggest concern I have is if he does go then who could we get in ..I definitely do not want Dobbie and think we need a proven manager at this level or higher but not one who has gone well past their sell by date
 
Eternaloptimist said:
That is a great, considered post mate.
We all get frustrated and pissed off especially by the manner of defeats like Burton and Port Vale when there seems to be no passion whatsoever shown by the team.
Although the buck stops ultimately with the manager I mentioned yesterday that the players have to shoulder some responsibility. If NC cannot motivate the players then he should be gone but what I don’t understand is when players are substituted etc there always seems to be a sense of comraderie between manager and players.
When new managers take over a club it is always said that it is a 5 year plan to achieve success and yet we (andthe majority of supporters) want instant success which simply cannot happen.
A lot of posters on here say NC’s tactics and stubbornness simply don’t work but, we have one of the best home records in the division so why isn’t it working away from home?
Is it a mentality thing? Who knows but both the last 2 games we have dominated possession but totally lacked the finishing touch.
Have teams sussed us out and know how to set up against us? If so why are we winning at home because we haven’t changed anything.
I’ve said it before that I believe we have a strong team and have strength in depth so maybe if we show a bit of patience then things will improve. Critch is a good coach and I would certainly have him instead of Appleton or McCarthy and Dobbie really wasn’t in charge long enough to show his managerial potential although he did provide us with entertaining football, which always seems to come with a change of management. Nunez at Forest for example.
As frustrated as I am I do think it would be wrong to get rid of NC and, with all things considered, we are only 7 points off the play offs.
If we were in the relegation zone then I could understand the backlash.
Click to expand...
Yes, exactly that, the opposition have us worked out before we get there because they know we are going to play our boring 3-5-2 and they have all week to prepare for it.
 
Hereforthefootball said:
I never thought 'bouncing back' at the first attempt was going to be that easy. Not many clubs do it and there are enough clubs still in League One like Portsmouth, Derby, Bolton, Barnsley, Charlton etc who have struggled to get to grips with this league.
Despite being appointed a few weeks after the season ended, the fact we had changes with Mansford etc, I don't think our window last season was as good as they would have hoped and we're all in agreement there were a few positions we struggled filling. Not getting Rhodes in the first few games, Joseph and Beesley's injury, the injuries to Lavery and Kouassi has meant our forward line has been a bit stop/start but we've seen enough examples of how effective that can be.
Midfield has struggled for me considering we play a 5 and whilst we have the bodies, I don't feel we have the right personnel and defence has been a bit of an achilles heel and is probably where we need most work.
We are a work in progress and as loathed as Critchley's formation is, I can see what he's trying to do. He's far from blameless - predictable team selections, no Plan B and not getting to grips with teams on the road (and showing them way too much respect) has been a problem.
However, go back to the Billy Ayre era - dominant at home but we struggled away and yet no one called for his head.
The club has a plan and I would give Critchley two more windows. January could help us get a running start next season and the summer is important. There is a lot of deadwood and I hope, unlike with Hamilton, that they don't just keep what we have.
We have a 3rd round FA Cup game and a quarter final in the BSM Trophy to come and anyone writing us off with 21 games to go and just 7 points off the Top 6 is being very pessimistic.
I still think we are in with a shout this season but more than that it would be daft to throw out our plans after 6 months.
I get things aren't great and I have been as frustrated as anyone but let's stick together and see if we can't just string a few wins together and who knows pull off a couple of cup shocks?
Click to expand...
So, you would stick with Critch, despite the stick he continues to receive from certain sections of the crowd. Still, he's clearly a bit of a sticker, and, even though I see us continuing to go through the occasional stick-y patch, if he continues to try and stick it out, I can see him eventually turning things around, and, if the dissenting voices continue, I can see him eventually turning on his detractors, and, in a fit of pique, he'll just tell them to: "Stick it!"

Nothing like floggin' a word to death, eh!?!?
 
Poolfan2 said:
Well said @Hereforthefootball - almost as if some want us to fail .. and how interesting within the space of one game we are now just 4 points off the Top 6.
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My hope still is that once Lavery and Kouassi are back that we might have more strength than other sides in this league - it's a long season and would still be surprised to see Stevenage up there and so, for me, still very much all to play for.
I also think a lot of fans are failing to recognise our excellent home form - if we were winning away and not at home, then that would cause a meltdown.
 
The biggest problem for me with Critch is his inability to change things when they clearly need changing, away from home we're a disaster and the "changes" he makes are subtle player inclusions to a formation which doesn't work.

Even when we're losing 2-0, it's still player for player, in the same formation trying to do the exact same things. He really should be switching it up and moving to a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 when we're losing. He doesn't have to panic and do it early, but around the 70 minute mark. Bringing Dale on for Thompson or Morgan on for Norburn in the same formation will achieve next to nothing.

I also feel he doesn't really know what he wants from our attacking wing backs, as much as I have slaughtered CJ this season, he's been asked to do a job he doesn't have the capability to do. The start of the season we had 1 attacking outlet and it was him and he isn't someone a team can rely on to create chances on his own. He needs space and a lot of it, he can't work brilliantly continuously in tight spaces. And secondly, he's being asked to be an attacking outlet and then be sat in the defensive pocket thus running everywhere. This is probably why he very rarely moves from the byline, either that's due to instruction or it's due to the fact if he does move across the pitch, he has to rapidly make his way back into a defensive position. He's lacking the freedom he needs to do his job. Which will be the exact same problem if Apter plays.

If we went to a 4-4-2 or 4-5-2 or 4-3-3 in whatever variation you see it.

We have Lyons/Gabriel for right back. Casey Marv Pennington Connolly Husband for CB and Husband and Thompson for left back. Maybe a new left back/left wing back and move Thompson on if he isn't trusted.

Apter/CJ/Dale/Dembele for the wide positions + 1 player required here.

Morgan Norburn Carey + 1 or 2 players required here, for that central midfield role. Kenny is as good as gone, let's be honest.

Dembele/Apter/Carey for that role behind the striker.

Beesley/Joseph/Kouassi and Lavery - Pretty much assuming Rhodes has gone. Kouassi could do with a loan.

Tharme/Oakley Booth/Virtue can be moved on for me.
 
I bookmarked the above post from the end of last year and thought it might be an interesting one to come back to at the end of January.
P8 W 4 D 4 L 0 (over 90 minutes )
Are we all now on side?

In hindsight very shrewd post from @Hereforthefootball - shame, looking at his/her history that they don't post a bit more often!
 
Nuttalls Mint Toes said:
I bookmarked the above post from the end of last year and thought it might be an interesting one to come back to at the end of January.
P8 W 4 D 4 L 0 (over 90 minutes )
Are we all now on side?

In hindsight very shrewd post from @Hereforthefootball - shame, looking at his/her history that they don't post a bit more often!
Click to expand...

Not entirely. I still think the formation is useless and we aren't playing to our strengths. We are sacrificing attacking players to play an extra defender which is probably our weak point as most of them are too slow and not dominant.

It's still all very bizarre to get fully onboard.
 
A_Tense_Grin said:
Not entirely. I still think the formation is useless and we aren't playing to our strengths. We are sacrificing attacking players to play an extra defender which is probably our weak point as most of them are too slow and not dominant.

It's still all very bizarre to get fully onboard.
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Perhaps, just perhaps, Critchley knows more about football than you do.
Maybe you don't understand things as much as you think you do.
Get onboard, don't get onboard frankly who cares.
 
Yesterday was just unacceptable it was a disgrace, NC body language showed he's way way out of his depth, don't mind loosing games if we actually resemble a football team, yesterday was just a disorganised mess of professional football players playing like pissed up pub team, progress is what we want, not NC version of it!!!
 
BigHandsOliverKahn said:
I think a lot of people just presumed we would go back up and forgot it was a relegated squad which meant it wasn't good enough for the league above and it was questionable whether it was good enough a league down.

It took Sunderland 4 seasons to get back up. It's a rebuild job at the moment and unfortunately some fans don't like the idea of granting time for a rebuild.
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This is my view entirely.

Am I happy with the season so far? No, of course I'd rather see us competing up at the top end of the division.

Do I recognise that an average season in L1 doesn't mean its all doom and gloom, nor does it signal a lack of ambition. Yes I do. Far bigger clubs than us have come down and made a pigs ear of getting back up for a number of years. We are where we are on merit.

Granted, improvements need to be made on the pitch (the formation for starters), and investment in the playing squad this summer is going to be crucial in us competing. Make no mistake about it, some of the performances have been terrible this season, and last night is arguably up there with being the worst.

If you look at our average league position over the last 40 years, where we are now is about that (notwithstanding the fact that we all want the club to be ambitious). We are not down the bottom of the division as some may lead you to believe.
 
Sunpool said:
Yesterday was just unacceptable it was a disgrace, NC body language showed he's way way out of his depth, don't mind loosing games if we actually resemble a football team, yesterday was just a disorganised mess of professional football players playing like pissed up pub team, progress is what we want, not NC version of it!!!
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How is he out of his depth, he's already got us promoted from this league before.

He deserves criticism but suggesting he's out of his depth is a bit silly.
 
Critchley has failed already, and we will see it play out over time as stubborn Sadler will not sack him until at least Christmas if things go on as they are or worse. Will he get a reaction in the next match…will he phook.
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
How is he out of his depth, he's already got us promoted from this league before.

He deserves criticism but suggesting he's out of his depth is a bit silly.
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I won best head of hair at high school once, I’m not sure I can repeat the feat after my traumatic experiences since then. Critchley is never going to recapture that fresh faced I know what I’m doing super coach aura. He’s getting worse not better at this management malarkey.
 
clappers said:
I won best head of hair at high school once, I’m not sure I can repeat the feat after my traumatic experiences since then. Critchley is never going to recapture that fresh faced I know what I’m doing super coach aura. He’s getting worse not better at this management malarkey.
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You don't think there's peaks and troughs on most careers then?
 
Mentioned on another thread that let’s see how we go until after Bolton game.

If we are not in contention of Play Offs ( 4 points at least) and no trip to Wembley ( 50/50)then it’s time to go.
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
Yep and the quiet majority seem to agree with you.
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Been very quiet after last night Lytham.
Normally banging the drum telling us loads more games to play, many points to fight for, there's always a couple of teams above us who will balls up etc etc.
The quiet majority seemed very conspicuous by their absence last night!!
Possibly fewer straws to clutch at🤷
 
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