4 games - conceded none - lost none

T

Tangman74

Well-known member
Probably get pelters here but it’s just the start of the season . Three league games and none conceded . It’s not great to watch at the minute , that I agree , but just give it a bit of time . Missed Burton as I was away , but could it believe people getting on the players backs after 5 mins - it was ridiculous .

This board is unbelievably negative at times !!!!

THREE games in - 5 points - does everyone expect us to be champions lol

Give it some time people
 
Tangman74 said:
Probably get pelters here but it’s just the start of the season . Three league games and none conceded . It’s not great to watch at the minute , that I agree , but just give it a bit of time . Missed Burton as I was away , but could it believe people getting on the players backs after 5 mins - it was ridiculous .

This board is unbelievably negative at times !!!!

THREE games in - 5 points - does everyone expect us to be champions lol

Give it some time people
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Yes they do expect us to be champions.
See the "we'll piss this league" thread.
 
It certainly is a positive if we're having clean sheets, the basis of all good teams is that you don't concede and are hard to beat and we tick that box so far.

The issue is the lack of creativity at the other end of the park and lets face it we all need something to cheer about in an attacking sense, when Critch was last here we were putting Brum to the sword and sticking six past them in his last game, we do need to start creating and finishing some chances to get the feel good factor back for the fans.
 
Raging_Bull said:
It certainly is a positive if we're having clean sheets, the basis of all good teams is that you don't concede and are hard to beat and we tick that box so far.

The issue is the lack of creativity at the other end of the park and lets face it we all need something to cheer about in an attacking sense, when Critch was last here we were putting Brum to the sword and sticking six past them in his last game, we do need to start creating and finishing some chances to get the feel good factor back for the fans.
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His last game for us saw us getting battered 5-0 at a relegated Peterborough. The 6 nil drubbing of Birmingham was a complete freak result just like last seasons demolition of QPR.
 
Tangman74 said:
Probably get pelters here but it’s just the start of the season . Three league games and none conceded . It’s not great to watch at the minute , that I agree , but just give it a bit of time . Missed Burton as I was away , but could it believe people getting on the players backs after 5 mins - it was ridiculous .

This board is unbelievably negative at times !!!!

THREE games in - 5 points - does everyone expect us to be champions lol

Give it some time people
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👍 I dread to think what the reaction on here will be like when we actually lose a game.
 
Victorsponge said:
His last game for us saw us getting battered 5-0 at a relegated Peterborough. The 6 nil drubbing of Birmingham was a complete freak result just like last seasons demolition of QPR.
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So Victor by ur reckoning then the Peterborough hammering was too was it not?

We were as good in the Birmingham and QPR games as we were bad at Peterborough surely 🤔😉?
 
It’s a typical Critchley style just with a different formation. The difference is we’ve had players in the final third before whereas now we are severely lacking. I’d expect two wide players and a striker at least before the windows over.
 
Raging_Bull said:
It certainly is a positive if we're having clean sheets, the basis of all good teams is that you don't concede and are hard to beat and we tick that box so far.

The issue is the lack of creativity at the other end of the park and lets face it we all need something to cheer about in an attacking sense, when Critch was last here we were putting Brum to the sword and sticking six past them in his last game, we do need to start creating and finishing some chances to get the feel good factor back for the fans.
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Totally agree. Something to build on, and the fact we're being linked with various strikers shows Critchley sees it the same way. In the meantime, don't get beat.

We've lost a 20+ goal threat and that leaves a massive hole up front, added to teams with absolutely no ambition coming here and putting 10 men behind the ball.
 
Victorsponge said:
His last game for us saw us getting battered 5-0 at a relegated Peterborough. The 6 nil drubbing of Birmingham was a complete freak result just like last seasons demolition of QPR.
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Victor, I didn't go to Peterborough so it completely slipped my mind, but against Brum we were simply superb as an attacking threat, maybe at Peterborough the lads were already on their beach holidays by then. 🤔
 
Wizaard said:
Totally agree. Something to build on, and the fact we're being linked with various strikers shows Critchley sees it the same way. In the meantime, don't get beat.

We've lost a 20+ goal threat and that leaves a massive hole up front, added to teams with absolutely no ambition coming here and putting 10 men behind the ball.
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Thats the thing Wiz there will be quite a few teams coming here just to frustrate us and PV did a job last night!
 
Brett&Murphs. said:
It’s a typical Critchley style just with a different formation. The difference is we’ve had players in the final third before whereas now we are severely lacking. I’d expect two wide players and a striker at least before the windows over.
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2 wide players and an extra striker would not fit into the Critchley system.
Dale on bench, Apter not in the squad both tricky players who could unlock a massed defence. And he started with only 1 striker at home who was never going to win long punts up field.
Turgid, slow and predictable
 
Raging_Bull said:
Victor, I didn't go to Peterborough so it completely slipped my mind, but against Brum we were simply superb as an attacking threat, maybe at Peterborough the lads were already on their beach holidays by then. 🤔
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As I said before Birmingham was a freak result and they were awful.
I'm sure you remember the horrible soporific football we played for the rest of the season.
 
I think the problem was the difference in attitude. Against Burton, we came out all guns blazing, had the ball in the net after thirty seconds, went at them and were two up at half time before sitting off them a bit and seeing the game out. Same against Derby.
But then Critch has changed his tactics. It's become about soaking it up, keeping it tight and almost hoping to take a chance or two, then freshening things up after an hour and increasing the pressure. It's clearly a gamble that hasn't worked the last two games, and it's very frustrating to watch.
 
Wizaard said:
Totally agree. Something to build on, and the fact we're being linked with various strikers shows Critchley sees it the same way. In the meantime, don't get beat.

We've lost a 20+ goal threat and that leaves a massive hole up front, added to teams with absolutely no ambition coming here and putting 10 men behind the ball.
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For large parts of last night's game certainly the first half we had 10 men behind the ball so, what does that say about our ambition?
 
Before the season started, there were plenty of sensible (i.e. not drama queens) posters who felt the summer signings were going to give us solid defensive foundations, whilst the concerns were around creativity and goals.

I think it's fair to say that 4 clean sheets from 4 is even better than anyone imagined from a defensive point of view, but the attacking concerns remain unsolved for now. The last squad Critch got promoted from League 1 had Jerry, GazMads, Simms, Kai-Kai, Keshi and Embleton. Hard to see the same attacking depth at the moment. I feel comfortable that Lavs will score goals IF we create chances. The latter is critical as are goals from midfield which have been lacking for multiple seasons.

Get this right both now and in January (cumulatively will do) and I'm confident.
 
TangerineBayern said:
Thats the thing Wiz there will be quite a few teams coming here just to frustrate us and PV did a job last night!
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And it's down to the team and in particular Critchley to find a way to break them down 🤷
How many times last night did Marv and Olly play tippy tappy across the back while the rest of the team were static?
How many times, when the players finally moved did it result in only Norburn being the only player in the middle of the park?
God knows where Dougall and Morgan were?
How many times, when after playing Carey as the No10 did Blackpool play long balls over the top and not through him?
And how many times when it was calling out for quick, intricate, pass and move to open up space did we see laborious, square passing that resulted in the crowd getting frustrated 😬

I will praise Blackpool to the hilt when they've played well but reserve the right to lambast when warranted.

Last night was awful
 
Very Rarely is 3rd & 4th Division football of any real high quality , we are where we are the best we can hope for is that we are better than most others in the division after 46 games . we are NOT going to see Great football week in week out in the 3rd Division get used to it .
 
straightatthewall said:
Before the season started, there were plenty of sensible (i.e. not drama queens) posters who felt the summer signings were going to give us solid defensive foundations, whilst the concerns were around creativity and goals.

I think it's fair to say that 4 clean sheets from 4 is even better than anyone imagined from a defensive point of view, but the attacking concerns remain unsolved for now. The last squad Critch got promoted from League 1 had Jerry, GazMads, Simms, Kai-Kai, Keshi and Embleton. Hard to see the same attacking depth at the moment. I feel comfortable that Lavs will score goals IF we create chances. The latter is critical as are goals from midfield which have been lacking for multiple seasons.

Get this right both now and in January (cumulatively will do) and I'm confident.
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As you say, this can't be a surprise to anyone - the results so far have shown exactly what many were saying about the squad before the season started.
 
This is my take on it, I may be wrong, but I dont think Ive read anyone mention it before.
It's the beginning of a new season, new players in and out the door, new teams to play against.
It took Critch a fair few games to find his best team / formation when we got promoted, but we were dog shit and were right down the bottom after 8 or 9 games.
I would rather we start off steady and a little cautious while finding out who our best eleven is / getting players to play how he wants, rather than going gung ho and losing games here and there, which I believe would take longer in the long run
We havent conceeded a goal, nor really looked like it, even with Eki's terrible ball playing at the back sometimes!
I think once ALL the players get real game time together (not just pissing around in pre season or on the training pitch) and we find our best team I think Critch will start to allow us to slowly give more and more as the season goes on.
And its a VERY long campaign!
I do think there are quite a few of things that need ironing out, but I see a good team with some really good players that can and have played Championship football, so Im not going to be giving up just yet.
Trust in the management as I think the players have and I think we will have had a brilliant season come May
UTMP
 
I agree we might not expect to see great football however it helps if you set the team up to win
Bar the first 30mins v Burton the football played has been very predictable and dreary to watch
And let's get it right both Burton and Port Vale are likely to be at the wrong end of the table come May
Very disappointed so far - and I was quite optimistic pre-season as well
 
XBeds-Now-Kings_Meaburn said:
Very Rarely is 3rd & 4th Division football of any real high quality , we are where we are the best we can hope for is that we are better than most others in the division after 46 games . we are NOT going to see Great football week in week out in the 3rd Division get used to it .
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Think it averages out at seeing 25 minutes of good football in every 270👍🏻
 
Tangman74 said:
Probably get pelters here but it’s just the start of the season . Three league games and none conceded . It’s not great to watch at the minute , that I agree , but just give it a bit of time . Missed Burton as I was away , but could it believe people getting on the players backs after 5 mins - it was ridiculous .

This board is unbelievably negative at times !!!!

THREE games in - 5 points - does everyone expect us to be champions lol

Give it some time people
Click to expand...
We have no alternative but to give it time, but let’s face it, Bolton have won all three, with 9 for and 1 against, and we snubbed Ian Evatt.
 
No goals conceded after 4 games and yet we are very poor. That tells you where are strengths and weaknesses are. How can we be so bad without conceding a single goal?
 
TwelveAngryMen said:
I agree we might not expect to see great football however it helps if you set the team up to win
Bar the first 30mins v Burton the football played has been very predictable and dreary to watch
And let's get it right both Burton and Port Vale are likely to be at the wrong end of the table come May
Very disappointed so far - and I was quite optimistic pre-season as well
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It's early days so we may well improve going forward but the thing that worried me most was that we all seem to have forgotten that this is the Critchley way, he is obsessed with tactics, to the point of over thinking them, We played great in the first half against Burton and the game against Derby (with the second string) but Critch is not an expansive, attacking style manager, he's cautious, it's keeping a clean sheet above everything else and sneaking a goal. There is absolutely no way he should have picked such a negative side last night in a home game against Port Vale, and it was awful to watch, the same as the Exeter game. I have never been a fan of his tactics or tactics like this, I much prefer the Ian Holloway, Steve McMahon and Stephen Dobbie style of play. Critch fits very much into what Sadler likes too I think.

Now I'm not saying it's not going to work, I'm saying we shouldn't have been expecting anything else. We have to play 2 up front and we have to play 2 creative midfielders with Norburn behind, not 4 midfielders and one striker. The inverted wing backs aren't working either. Lyon's looks like a shadow of how he was last season and CJ is lively but they need to swap sides.

Marv either needs to play on the right of a back 3 or be on the bench and Casey or Pennington need to be in the centre. We are not England, we aren't good enough to pass it around at the back like we do so much because we can't get it forward to our midfield to get it to our wing backs or our forwards, it usually ends up with a big hoof and when your one striker is so small we are going to lose the ball and if he does get it he will be totally isolated. I don't need algorithms and a team of analysts to tell me different.

I wanted Dobbie as our manager but can see why we have gone back for Critch, I think it's going to be frustrating and difficult to watch, particularly for the first 1o to 12 games as he did change things in his first season eventually and we did well. He was untouchable last time, but this time he will fall foul of the mob (sadly) and Sadler will be under pressure to act then. I hope for all our sakes that this is just finding our feet with new players and new tactics and we sign another 3 players before the end of the month. 4 clean sheets is nothing to be sniffed at so that's a real positive but we need to be far more threatening going forward as well.
 
Matesrates said:
We have no alternative but to give it time, but let’s face it, Bolton have won all three, with 9 for and 1 against, and we snubbed Ian Evatt.
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Maybe not a good decision in hindsight. My stepson is a Bolton season ticket holder. It's taken Evatt a couple of seasons to build the team to this point and all credit to him. Critch has had a few months. Unfair comparison
 
We're solid defensively no doubt, however I think many expected a bit more, especially after the first 2 games.

Teams will respect us and not come to play mostly, most will come like last night to keep it tight.

We've never really been that good when teams do that.

However, given we've been set up to pass more, some good midfielders on the ball etc, I expected to see a bit more quality and control in the last 2 games, ok 2nd half was better from that point, but there was almost no quality.

We need to learn how to beat bang average sides or we won't be going anywhere near the automatic places.
 
Mexboroseasider said:
👍 I dread to think what the reaction on here will be like when we actually lose a game.
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I for one wouldn’t have minded losing last night one bit had we attacked from the off and looked positive.

But we didn’t and we most certainly didn’t look positive.

Oh for a Holloway type performance. 🤷‍♂️
 
Lankyseasider said:
Maybe not a good decision in hindsight. My stepson is a Bolton season ticket holder. It's taken Evatt a couple of seasons to build the team to this point and all credit to him. Critch has had a few months. Unfair comparison
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Agree, although he does know the club and many of the players, and those players know his style of play. So it shouldn’t be difficult for any of them.
 
Wizzerboy said:
And it's down to the team and in particular Critchley to find a way to break them down 🤷
How many times last night did Marv and Olly play tippy tappy across the back while the rest of the team were static?
How many times, when the players finally moved did it result in only Norburn being the only player in the middle of the park?
God knows where Dougall and Morgan were?
How many times, when after playing Carey as the No10 did Blackpool play long balls over the top and not through him?
And how many times when it was calling out for quick, intricate, pass and move to open up space did we see laborious, square passing that resulted in the crowd getting frustrated 😬

I will praise Blackpool to the hilt when they've played well but reserve the right to lambast when warranted.

Last night was awful
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Can’t agree more Wizzer the passing across the back was probably the most and worst l think I’ve seen from a Pool team. l thought the team when announced was decent but l never understand and never will the use of inverted wing backs, but the obviously the formation didn’t work at all in that first half and although it improved 2nd half we are still missing that cutting edge pass and fox in the box striker or any real striker threat!
 
We can draw some modicum of relief in so much as we're 'currently' steadfast to some degree in defence....

The 'minor' issue of not getting in positions further up the pitch allowing us to create chances to maybe score, or at the very least sting the fingers of the opposition goalie is simple to rectify.

Firstly, give them all hi-viz vests at the training ground, then (similar to what youngsters do at school on a lesson away from the classroom), get them to hold hands and form a long chain so that Critch can walk them slowly from the changing rooms and head towards the 'big white, scary, netty' things at each end of the playing area.

Once they can get a 'no pressure' close up, hands on visit to these, and the white lines that enclose the beasties, it can be gently pointed out to them that the 'big white box' at the other end of the pitch is remarkably similar to the 'big white box' where our goalie lives, and that they won't be put on the naughty step if they encroach into the one where the opposing goalie lives, in fact they will get a gold star, and a ripple of applause from the 'Broomfield family' to encourage more of the same.

All they will need to do then is be shown that the 'scary, big white, netty things' are friendly, and love nothing more than being fed with footballs, and I reckon we'll crack it...! 🥰🤪
 
Not the most entertaining style of play so far but it's points on the board which count, plus 4 clean sheets and in next round of the cup. Meanwhile the entertainment on offer at oakwell is top draw scored 8 conceded 3 but points won 3, we have ground out 4 pts. I'd rather have the points
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
I'll worry if we're still not creating in October, it's ** August, football shouldn't even have started yet.
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Spot on Lytham
But this is AVFTT which is full of moaning fukcers and unless we win 3 or 4 nil they will never be happy.
And the same people will be saying on Saturday that Richie Wellens should have come here but the owner and board have no ambition.
 
Eternaloptimist said:
Spot on Lytham
But this is AVFTT which is full of moaning fukcers and unless we win 3 or 4 nil they will never be happy.
And the same people will be saying on Saturday that Richie Wellens should have come here but the owner and board have no ambition.
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If we won by 4 they'd be saying why wasn't it 6. At least.
 
A tight nil-nil is fine by me, if we show intent; if we trouble their keeper; if we play good football. If, however we're going to be slaves to a formation that bores me to death then allow me to moan, thank-you very much.
 
Still early days yet but I think a fair bit of the anxiety is because this is how we remember things going last season after the World Cup break. Take away the odd anomaly like Forrest and QPR, we went on a run of picking up draws and defeats. Still feels fresh, especially when our work in the final third is still woeful against lesser opposition.
I think we can still pull out of it but we deffo can't afford for the rot to set in!
 
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