Andy Lyons again

tommytwojags

tommytwojags

Well-known member
I would love to back Neil Critchley and I have defended him time after time, but he seems to have turned Andy Lyons from Ireland's top young player on the verge of full international recognition who arrived at the seaside and proved himself in the Championship, into a nervous bench warmer at a League 1 club.

So, has the manager rumbled Lyons as not being up to League 1 standard, is the manager unable to recognise a quality player or does he not want to promote someone he didn't bring to the club and doesn't see as part of his tactical plans?

I watched AL at Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers before BFC showed any interest in him and I know how good he is. He's played for the Republic of Ireland at every level from U15s to u21s and has a huge future in the game, but not apparently with us.
 
Agree, it's bizarre how he's gone down the pecking order. Hopefully it's not due to reasons other than football.
 
tommytwojags said:
So, has the manager rumbled Lyons as not being up to League 1 standard, is the manager unable to recognise a quality player or does he not want to promote someone he didn't bring to the club and doesn't see as part of his tactical plans?
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Lyons was a target in summer 2022, so Critchley would've been involved in his recruitment before he left, so the idea that he "didn't bring him to the club" is a bit of a stretch.
 
We've a cluttered fixture list coming up, if AL doesn't get a chance somewhere in it the writing could be on the wall. He must be a good prospect, there's no doubt things we don't know about the lad that are perhaps restricting his opportunities.
 
He's a very good player but hasn't really stood out when he has played this season. Now I know some of that is understandable given the loss of his father and possibly a change of manager/role. I'm sure he'll come good though, he's a young lad finding his feet and I'm hopeful both he and Gabriel can play a big part this season.
 
I spoke to Critch pre season and he was speaking very highly of Lyons.

Sometimes it’s hard to get back in because you don’t want to drop players who haven’t done anything wrong. This period will see some rotation so a chance for a few players to force their way in to the team.
 
To put a different guess on it...

Andy's personal circumstances obviously and understandably affected him early season. During his forced absence our form and general play improved, Critch is loyal and the CJ/OD wide combination almost picked itself for a while. Of course it doesn't explain why he hasn't always at least made the bench recently.

ATG, I don't completely agree with your fixation on his formation. But fully agree that it does cost us some attacking width. Instead of, say, Lyons and Gabriel bombing on outside a winger CJ and A N other are the width. So theres only two slots for players you'd all want in the team if available.

Critch will pick CJ every week if he's fit, so, depending on which side he appears on Lyons Gabriel and Dale all going for one position, where in a fullback setup you could play all four. And that's before you bring in the wider CHs who are currently playing as a bit of both FB and cH.
 
tommytwojags said:
I would love to back Neil Critchley and I have defended him time after time, but he seems to have turned Andy Lyons from Ireland's top young player on the verge of full international recognition who arrived at the seaside and proved himself in the Championship, into a nervous bench warmer at a League 1 club.

So, has the manager rumbled Lyons as not being up to League 1 standard, is the manager unable to recognise a quality player or does he not want to promote someone he didn't bring to the club and doesn't see as part of his tactical plans?

I watched AL at Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers before BFC showed any interest in him and I know how good he is. He's played for the Republic of Ireland at every level from U15s to u21s and has a huge future in the game, but not apparently with us.
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Here we go with another "Let's bash the manager for not picking a player even though we don't have all the facts" thread.

Do you know how Andy jas been in training? How much he struggled with his Dad's illness and passing? How he has adapted to Crithleys demands of a wingback? Etc

I don't know any of those answers and I'll guess that you dont either.

Therefore, to say that Critchley " seems to have turned Andy Lyons.....into a nervous benchwarmer...." is unsubstantiated nonsense.
 
Everybody in Pool’s squad will get game time, given the fixtures still to be played in the remaining time frame. Get used to the idea of 4/5 changes for every fixture
 
Haven’t seen anything from Lyons to suggest that he should warrant that type of praise. He went on that run last season where he scored a couple of goals but that was about it. I honestly don’t understand where the hype comes from at the moment.
 
FY4Representer said:
Haven’t seen anything from Lyons to suggest that he should warrant that type of praise. He went on that run last season where he scored a couple of goals but that was about it. I honestly don’t understand where the hype comes from at the moment.
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I got called out for suggesting the very same thing last season. Same with Kouassi this season.

People love a good overhype.
 
Very odd, before he started and scored today the only sense I could make of it is that a fee had been agreed with a club for him and we didn’t want to jeopardise it.

People talk about him not being a Critchley signing, but we were after him the summer he left, so you presume he’d been briefed of him and was aware of him.

The other option to him moving on was that Critchley wanted to get him right tactically on the training ground, whilst giving him the space to get his own mental state right. It wouldn’t be the first player he’s signed and slowly bedded in.

Glad Andy has scored today. His job when Critchley plays him is to make it impossible for him to ignore him. Good start for him, let’s see how it goes.
 
Tangerinemoss said:
I know you don't want to say I told you so, but you did 🤣 🤣 🤣
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Well as you know he's my favourite player and I feel that he's well qualified to be playing at at higher level. If he gets disillusioned at not being a regular starter he might decide to move on. I'm sure there are plenty of Championship clubs that would be interested. Hopefully the manager gives him a bit more playing and match winning time so he doesn't become unsettled.
 
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