Appleton never really stood a chance

Philbfctrois

Philbfctrois

Well-known member
With our fickle fanbase did he?

Let's be honest it was a bizarre appointment given his last spell with us and the negative vibes around the man

I don't blame him at all for taking the job, however the transfer window or lack of transfers in the window more like has completely hamstrung his plans

The injury record has been shite granted, but that's just unlucky

People are blaming him for absolutely everything, most of what isn't his fault

Do people really think he wanted to sign Ward and Bridcutt after the window closed or sell our best and most creative player without proper replacements coming in

The board need to act now and probably get rid given how toxic our fickle fans have become

It's starting to remind me of the Ince and Grayson witch hunt now

Even if the board do act and who really knows what they are thinking, doesn't appear to be much thought going on, our recent manager recruitment history has been shite so there is no guarantee things would improve

I hope if they do pull the plug they would have used the last few weeks to have a man ready to come in, although I very much doubt that either

What a mess

Surely Sir Simon the savior and bullshit Ben need to have a long hard look at themselves for the cluster fcuk they have precided over

Anybody else for another EG bollux interview with the bored I mean board ........
 
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Philbfctrois said:
With our fickle fanbase did he?

Let's be honest it was a bizarre appointment given his last spell with us and the negative vibes around the man

I don't blame him at all for taking the job, however the transfer window or lack of transfers in the window more like has completely hamstrung his plans

The injury record has been shite granted, but that's just unlucky

People are blaming him for absolutely everything, most of what isn't his fault

Do people really think he wanted to sign Ward and Bridcutt after the window closed or sell our best and most creative player without proper replacements coming in

The board need to act now and probably get rid given how toxic our fickle fans have become

It's starting to remind me of the Ince and Grayson witch hunt now

Even if the board do act and who really knows what they are thinking, doesn't appear to be much thought going on, our recent manager recruitment history has been shite so there is no guarantee things would improve

I hope if they do pull the plug they would have used the last few weeks to have a man ready to come in, although I very much doubt that either

What a mess

Surely Sir Simon the savior and bullshit Ben need to have a long hard look at themselves for the cluster fcuk they have precided over

Anybody else for another EG bollux interview
Click to expand...
There's plenty to agree with in what you say but there are plenty of counter arguments.
I never wanted Appy but once he was appointed I could see why. I never wanted Grayson but I could see why the algorithms selected him at the time.
I do think Critch was a good appointment so for me the Board have only made 1 out of three good choices.
However we have Appy in charge and he has been really unlucky even before you look at his ability as a Manager.
So I think we need to stick with him until the end of the season. We have the 2 new guys from Coventry who may have a couple of irons in the fire on the recruitment front that we can afford.
I do believe there will be some money available this window.
I'd get rid of the at least 2 of the loans, Corbeanu and Fiorini, and give Poveda a few more minutes to prove himself. Obviously keep Charlie and Williams seems to have upped his game so I'd keep him on.
Not ideal but I can't see the Board making a change before an end of season relegation if that is the worst case scenario.
 
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Philbfctrois said:
With our fickle fanbase did he?

Let's be honest it was a bizarre appointment given his last spell with us and the negative vibes around the man

I don't blame him at all for taking the job, however the transfer window or lack of transfers in the window more like has completely hamstrung his plans

The injury record has been shite granted, but that's just unlucky

People are blaming him for absolutely everything, most of what isn't his fault

Do people really think he wanted to sign Ward and Bridcutt after the window closed or sell our best and most creative player without proper replacements coming in

The board need to act now and probably get rid given how toxic our fickle fans have become

It's starting to remind me of the Ince and Grayson witch hunt now

Even if the board do act and who really knows what they are thinking, doesn't appear to be much thought going on, our recent manager recruitment history has been shite so there is no guarantee things would improve

I hope if they do pull the plug they would have used the last few weeks to have a man ready to come in, although I very much doubt that either

What a mess

Surely Sir Simon the savior and bullshit Ben need to have a long hard look at themselves for the cluster fcuk they have precided over

Anybody else for another EG bollux interview with the bored I mean board ........
Click to expand...

That last interview they did was embarrassing, unprofessional and arrogant. MA was the wrong choice and even though warned as such he ignored the warnings and signed him anyway, and for 4 years! WTF was he thinking.

And then, to cap it all they never supported the poor guy in the transfer window. Sadler needs to learn and learn fast and he needs to get people around him who he is prepared to listen to. We are likely to be fannying around trying to get a new manager in instead of sorting out new signings and losing a chunk of the transfer kitty in compo for MA.
 
hertfordseasider said:
That last interview they did was embarrassing, unprofessional and arrogant. MA was the wrong choice and even though warned as such he ignored the warnings and signed him anyway, and for 4 years! WTF was he thinking.

And then, to cap it all they never supported the poor guy in the transfer window. Sadler needs to learn and learn fast and he needs to get people around him who he is prepared to listen to. We are likely to be fannying around trying to get a new manager in instead of sorting out new signings and losing a chunk of the transfer kitty in compo for MA.
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Yep I said the same at the time

But people lapped it up, now the same idiots are slagging Appleton for absolutely everything
 
Insider said:
There's plenty to agree with in what you say but there are plenty of counter arguments.
I never wanted Appy but once he was appointed I could see why. I never wanted Grayson but I could see why the algorithms selected him at he time.
I do think Critch was a good appointment so for me the Board have only made 1 out of three good choices.
However we have Appy in charge and he has been really unlucky even before you look at his ability as a Manager.
So I think we need to stick with him until the end of the season. We have the 2 new guys from Coventry who may have a couple of irons in the fire on the recruitment front that we can afford.
I do believe there will be some money available this window.
I'd get rid of the at least 2 of the loans, Corbeanu and Fiorini, and give Poveda a few more minutes to prove himself. Obviously keep Charlie and Williams seems to have upped his game so I'd keep him on.
Not ideal but I can't see the Board making a change before an end of season relegation if that is the worst case scenario.
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I'm not sure the Critchley appointment was a good one as he left at the first opportunity

He was meant to be a long term plan and project, when he left those plans went tits up
 
Philbfctrois said:
I'm not sure the Critchley appointment was a good one as he left at the first opportunity

He was meant to be a long term plan and project, when he left those plans went tits up
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Critchley was a fantastic appointment and as I pointed out to you… ‘You’ll see just how good a manager he was, now that he’s gone”…. Of course, you assured me that Appleton was a much better coach blah blah blah and here we are … trundling towards relegation on the “attacking, exciting football bus”!! 433 bollocks my arse..etc..

The circumstances just conspired against us with the Critchley situation… Nothing to do with him being a poor appointment… Grayson, Appleton and pretty much every other Manager we’ve been linked with would be off given similar circumstances….
 
I'd say the appointment of the two chaps from Coventry and a new head of sports science are to remedy our constantly bad injury list and to greatly improve our recruitment, we are not sitting on out laurels. The Bishop saga for me stands out as the sore point of the summer recruitment, highlighted by the later signings of Bridcut and Ward. We have had nearly the same team for 2 seasons, of course that is not going to bode well for our chances, we are far too predictable in our play, but for me the players have my total respect because they always give 100%, we have the fighters now we just need to ball players to go with them.
 
Philbfctrois said:
With our fickle fanbase did he?

Let's be honest it was a bizarre appointment given his last spell with us and the negative vibes around the man

I don't blame him at all for taking the job, however the transfer window or lack of transfers in the window more like has completely hamstrung his plans

The injury record has been shite granted, but that's just unlucky

People are blaming him for absolutely everything, most of what isn't his fault

Do people really think he wanted to sign Ward and Bridcutt after the window closed or sell our best and most creative player without proper replacements coming in

The board need to act now and probably get rid given how toxic our fickle fans have become

It's starting to remind me of the Ince and Grayson witch hunt now

Even if the board do act and who really knows what they are thinking, doesn't appear to be much thought going on, our recent manager recruitment history has been shite so there is no guarantee things would improve

I hope if they do pull the plug they would have used the last few weeks to have a man ready to come in, although I very much doubt that either

What a mess

Surely Sir Simon the savior and bullshit Ben need to have a long hard look at themselves for the cluster fcuk they have precided over

Anybody else for another EG bollux interview with the bored I mean board ........
Click to expand...
For Appleton to get the job tells me where the board are positioning us.

The fact they had to do a charm offensive or headmasters letter on the back of appointing him also shows their thoughts on him.

Who would we get? That’s the thing?
 
Micky Walsh said:
I'd say the appointment of the two chaps from Coventry and a new head of sports science are to remedy our constantly bad injury list and to greatly improve our recruitment, we are not sitting on out laurels. The Bishop saga for me stands out as the sore point of the summer recruitment, highlighted by the later signings of Bridcut and Ward. We have had nearly the same team for 2 seasons, of course that is not going to bode well for our chances, we are far too predictable in our play, but for me the players have my total respect because they always give 100%, we have the fighters now we just need to ball players to go with them.
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The new head of Sports Science was due to our last one leaving to go to Liverpool, his choice not ours.
 
Whether we blame Appy, BM, SS or whoever there is a massive disconnect between all of the key stakeholders and the fans and this has been apparant since the very early part of the season. Even when we played and lost to Barrow in the Bubble Gum Cup there were rumblings and boos coming from the North and this has steadily worsened since, apart from a few decent performances in October. Make no mistake we are in serious trouble not just our league position but the very worrying performances on the pitch. Something needs to happen and very quickly to get the fans back on side and improve the teams performances otherwise we are only going in one direction and yes we have had some bad luck with injuries coupled with a lot of indiscipline, but we are in a rut and l doubt the injured players returning will give us a winning mentality.
 
Philbfctrois said:
I'm not sure the Critchley appointment was a good one as he left at the first opportunity

He was meant to be a long term plan and project, when he left those plans went tits up
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Rotherham doesn't work without Paul Warne. Luton crumbled when Jones left first time round. That's the only teams realistically we can aspire too emulating.

This is the problem. I think what we may have done (and this might not go entirely in line with the narrative that Critchley was merely a leisure centre supervisor) is over estimated the impact of the structural work we'd done and assumed that it was stronger than it was.

The Coventry backroom staff are a positive sign. They have a record and seemingly Cov fans are disappointed they've gone. The fitness coach has changed too.

What it does rather make a mockery of is Mansford's words that we've got a 'solid structure and Critch is just one man'

We've changed the manager, the senior coaching staff (aside from Steve Banks) the recruitment/director of football role and the fitness set up plus big Murphs has moved on.

That seems a pretty seismic change in comparison to 'don't worry - we've got this - the structure is fantastic - well done us' which was the subtext of summer and still the last communication that went into any depth about anything other than who is fit or an after match interview with a manager who looks increasingly sick of it.
 
It’s a bloody mess…… something isn’t right!
The amount of injuries is concerning, the results, performances and style of play is even more so!
 
We are building from the bottom up with the appointment of Neil Eardley and Stephen Dobbie who are both building their reputations and if they do we could be looking in the future at the old Liverpool model of finding our next Manager from within.
I'm as impatient as everyone else for success under Simon Sadler but Quitch buggered the strategy up by getting us promoted earlier than expected and then swanning off to ruin his football career but improve his bank balance at Villa.
That's football.
 
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I don't know whether I've said it on here but I've told friends and family about my little conspiracy theory I've had since the moment Appleton was appointed.

All the noise after Critchley left was about a certain type of manager, someone who the fans could have a bond with, keep that positivity and connection. Then the club appoint the one guy the fans were pretty much unanimous they didn't want, it went against everything that Ben Mansford said in his post Critchley interview. Something just didn't sit right, I said at the time it felt like an 'old boys club' appointment due to his relationship with Mansford.

The injury situation has been a disaster, but as people have said, part of that is due to giving injury prone players contracts, then using our 'stringent medical process' as an excuse when we missed out in transfer targets.

So my conspiracy theory from day one has been Appleton was given the job with the remit of simply keeping us in the division for the next few seasons. The amount of investment off the pitch in the training ground and East stand development meant the finance needed for improvement on the pitch simply wasn't there.
So let's appointment someone who if he keeps us up the fans will see it as a success and if things go wrong he will be the scapegoat, which will deflect the blame away from the club.
 
Apparently Mansford didn't want MA, it was Sadler who wanted him.

I think the rest of it, the keeping us in the league, spend the money on the TG and stand has nothing to do with i. It was just a really bad decision and he totally ignored what the supporters were saying and the advice he was getting. Rosenior would have fit with what they said they were looking to achieve, MA didn't in any way whatsoever.
 
Philbfctrois said:
With our fickle fanbase did he?

Let's be honest it was a bizarre appointment given his last spell with us and the negative vibes around the man

I don't blame him at all for taking the job, however the transfer window or lack of transfers in the window more like has completely hamstrung his plans

The injury record has been shite granted, but that's just unlucky

People are blaming him for absolutely everything, most of what isn't his fault

Do people really think he wanted to sign Ward and Bridcutt after the window closed or sell our best and most creative player without proper replacements coming in

The board need to act now and probably get rid given how toxic our fickle fans have become

It's starting to remind me of the Ince and Grayson witch hunt now

Even if the board do act and who really knows what they are thinking, doesn't appear to be much thought going on, our recent manager recruitment history has been shite so there is no guarantee things would improve

I hope if they do pull the plug they would have used the last few weeks to have a man ready to come in, although I very much doubt that either

What a mess

Surely Sir Simon the savior and bullshit Ben need to have a long hard look at themselves for the cluster fcuk they have precided over

Anybody else for another EG bollux interview with the bored I mean board ........
Click to expand...
I stopped reading at recent manager recruitment being shite. Whether you like the geezer or not it's frankly bizarre to suggest that Critchley was a crap appointment.
 
hertfordseasider said:
Apparently Mansford didn't want MA, it was Sadler who wanted him.

I think the rest of it, the keeping us in the league, spend the money on the TG and stand has nothing to do with i. It was just a really bad decision and he totally ignored what the supporters were saying and the advice he was getting. Rosenior would have fit with what they said they were looking to achieve, MA didn't in any way whatsoever.
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"Apparently Mansford didn't want MA" - so would you like to clarify that with a reliable quote, or source?
 
hertfordseasider said:
Apparently Mansford didn't want MA, it was Sadler who wanted him.

I think the rest of it, the keeping us in the league, spend the money on the TG and stand has nothing to do with i. It was just a really bad decision and he totally ignored what the supporters were saying and the advice he was getting. Rosenior would have fit with what they said they were looking to achieve, MA didn't in any way whatsoever.
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I think that is absolute bollox...I have heard that it was a coin flip between Mellon and Appleton and that seems a very low bar to me...If we get rid of Apples and bring in Mellon then I really fear for us and the relationship between the board and the fans
 
HighfieldSeasider said:
I don't know whether I've said it on here but I've told friends and family about my little conspiracy theory I've had since the moment Appleton was appointed.

All the noise after Critchley left was about a certain type of manager, someone who the fans could have a bond with, keep that positivity and connection. Then the club appoint the one guy the fans were pretty much unanimous they didn't want, it went against everything that Ben Mansford said in his post Critchley interview. Something just didn't sit right, I said at the time it felt like an 'old boys club' appointment due to his relationship with Mansford.

The injury situation has been a disaster, but as people have said, part of that is due to giving injury prone players contracts, then using our 'stringent medical process' as an excuse when we missed out in transfer targets.

So my conspiracy theory from day one has been Appleton was given the job with the remit of simply keeping us in the division for the next few seasons. The amount of investment off the pitch in the training ground and East stand development meant the finance needed for improvement on the pitch simply wasn't there.
So let's appointment someone who if he keeps us up the fans will see it as a success and if things go wrong he will be the scapegoat, which will deflect the blame away from the club.
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F me you should write a new series of the X Files..
 
No, Appleton started with a very low fan tolerance level, but the board knew that when he took the job, so should have overbacked him in the market, not sold him down the river.

New people in signals money to be spent to me and when the Jan window closes we'll have a pretty good idea where it's all heading. I can't believe for one second that SS would even dream of allowing relegation without a massive effort. Just simply on a club value pov, he's fought hard to make it a commercial FL club and any decrease in value that comes with relegation will eat into money already invested.
 
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Philbfctrois said:
Of course why wouldn't he?

He did a fantastic job in backing Critchley to get us promoted, replacing duffers for better players to give the head coach the best possible chance

Shame he's stopped with all that
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I have a couple of simple questions.

What was the budget that Critchley had?
What is the budget that Appleton has?

Without answers to those questions we’re issuing blame without having the facts and I think that’s unfair. If the owner did pull the plug financially then I also would also be questioning that but we don’t have any evidence to suggest he has. The club accounts suggest he’s had to put money into the club.

I think we’re a small fish in this league and we have to get a lot right to compete. This season we haven’t got enough right with recruitment but I don’t think the blame lies with the owner because that isn’t within his remit. We have also made changes to the recruitment team to which suggests it’s an issue that’s being addressed moving forward.
 
Razzledazzle53 said:
I stopped reading at recent manager recruitment being shite. Whether you like the geezer or not it's frankly bizarre to suggest that Critchley was a crap appointment.
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Spot on Razzle.

30 seconds before Critch left the majority of the fanbase thought the sun shined out of his @rse.

Since he left, his gilted ex lovers spin everything they possibly can to belittle him.

I thought the football under him was boring but I think that it's fair to say that he left the club in a far better position than which he inherited in.
 
HighfieldSeasider said:
I don't know whether I've said it on here but I've told friends and family about my little conspiracy theory I've had since the moment Appleton was appointed.

All the noise after Critchley left was about a certain type of manager, someone who the fans could have a bond with, keep that positivity and connection. Then the club appoint the one guy the fans were pretty much unanimous they didn't want, it went against everything that Ben Mansford said in his post Critchley interview. Something just didn't sit right, I said at the time it felt like an 'old boys club' appointment due to his relationship with Mansford.

The injury situation has been a disaster, but as people have said, part of that is due to giving injury prone players contracts, then using our 'stringent medical process' as an excuse when we missed out in transfer targets.

So my conspiracy theory from day one has been Appleton was given the job with the remit of simply keeping us in the division for the next few seasons. The amount of investment off the pitch in the training ground and East stand development meant the finance needed for improvement on the pitch simply wasn't there.
So let's appointment someone who if he keeps us up the fans will see it as a success and if things go wrong he will be the scapegoat, which will deflect the blame away from the club.
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I think we'd all accept staying up as a success - but the notion that MA is the man to keep us in the Championship is completely flawed - and I reckon most of us knew this at the time of the appointment - maybe he'll prove us wrong - I hope so.
 
SEASIDE2020 said:
Spot on Razzle.

30 seconds before Critch left the majority of the fanbase thought the sun shined out of his @rse.

Since he left, his gilted ex lovers spin everything they possibly can to belittle him.

I thought the football under him was boring but I think that it's fair to say that he left the club in a far better position than which he inherited in.
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It's not spot on at all

He's missing the point as are you, I'm on about the manager recruitment process after Critchley left

It was a farce

Anyway back to Critchley the club sold us a vision, a project and a long term planning process

I even had Brett call me selling the Critchley appointment and the club strategy like a second hand car sales man

As soon as Critchley left the draw bridge went up as did the long term strategy

The project went up in spoke and we haven't recovered
 
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TheRealKingKenny said:
I have a couple of simple questions.

What was the budget that Critchley had?
What is the budget that Appleton has?

Without answers to those questions we’re issuing blame without having the facts and I think that’s unfair. If the owner did pull the plug financially then I also would also be questioning that but we don’t have any evidence to suggest he has. The club accounts suggest he’s had to put money into the club.

I think we’re a small fish in this league and we have to get a lot right to compete. This season we haven’t got enough right with recruitment but I don’t think the blame lies with the owner because that isn’t within his remit. We have also made changes to the recruitment team to which suggests it’s an issue that’s being addressed moving forward.
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I have no idea

I'm saying when Critchley fucked up transfers like he did, especially in Central Midfield he was backed with two better players during the same season

Appleton simply hasn't had that backing

Central Midfield is still a problem
 
The big difference with Critchley is that he could set the team up properly to play and get results where under Appleton we always seem to be at sixes and sevens.
Critchley left us in the mire by leaving us pre season which is unforgivable and we should have broke the bank and brought in Ian Evatt to lift the fans and the club and hopefully carried us forward instead of where we are now looking up at everyone.
 
I wasn't in favour of the appointment, but once he was here, then I was willing to give him a chance. At times, we've shown flashes of being the front foot, attacking side we were promised, such as at Burnley, QPR and Sheffield United.

However, we've rarely shown that at home, and that's been crucial in winning over a sceptical crowd. Instead, his demeanour during games has been interpreted as a lack of caring, while the results haven't got the crowd going.

We are now at the point where those who were against from the start will never be won over, and are firmly in 'I told you so' mode.

If we don't see a drastic improvement in form, starting at Cardiff next week, then I don't see the point of a spiralling downwards manager being given a budget to spend in January, only to be sacked in February and someone else tasked with making a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Can't help looking at the team from last year and wondering why, in essence, the same group.of players are so far off it this season.

We badly lack talkers in the team. There's no organisation. In addition, there's no zip, pace and purpose. We're bereft of confidence and the statuesque bystander on the side does nothing to get them going.

Something has to change in order to transform the mood , and in all likelihood, that is the manager.
 
This is largely Critchley's team. He would have suffered the same injuries. Give or take the odd fist pump we would be in the same boat.

Exceptional injuries and too many players who are not Championship standard. Anyone watching yesterday's game can see the challenge laid bare.

When you look to that bench to change the game you know your back's up against the wall.

A new Manager won't help us at the moment.
 
Philbfctrois said:
Yep I said the same at the time

But people lapped it up, now the same idiots are slagging Appleton for absolutely everything
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It all happened too late with Critchley leaving at a very bad time. We were too late in the transfer market and wasted valuable time pursuing the Oxford guy, Ellis and others. A lot of fans including myself were prepared to give Appleton a chance, and to be fair it was going ok when we had just beaten Coventry and a lot of opposing managers were saying what a hard team we were to beat. It’s been all downhill since then what with injuries to key players and defeat after defeat. What is worrying is his demeanour on the touch line. Was he the same when Lincoln were doing well, I don’t know?
 
Philbfctrois said:
He's missing the point as are you, I'm on about the manager recruitment process after Critchley left

It was a farce
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This is a key point for me.

Why did we get Michael Appleton? The rest of the shortlist was totally uninspiring too. Duff, Rosenior, Appleton, Mellon?

We had a chance to go and get a decent Manager, somebody to excite fans or kick us on. MA’s last season at Lincoln, previous and Knobber connections meant not one fan was keen. How was he even on the shortlist?

Probably due to the fact that in the last managerial search we tried to get other Clubs Managers and failed spectacularly 4 or 5 times till we landed on Critchley, which ended very well once we had support with an Assistant Manager and signings- Dougall, Kev Stewart etc.

So on the basis of that, why did we go for MA to then not back him to the level we need? They knew he would be targeted soon as results turned.

So if he was to go, who would we try to get now? Cos the last two searches were both garbage, for different reasons.
 
I'll start by saying I thought Critchley was a great appointment and he did really well with what he had here and tbh given his budget I didn't mind the playing style either as it was a means to an end, possession based maybe a bit safe but worked with what he had.
In my opinion he knew he wasn't going to get backed this season so he left when offered a very good job and I have no real issues with him going at all.
Apples appt was strange and when you have to make a statement to defend a decision straight away you know its prob not the right one but we are where we are. On from that and then not backing him and flogging our best player what chance did the guy have. I don't blame Appleton for this sh1t show, I blame the top team
 
Philbfctrois said:
It's not spot on at all

He's missing the point as are you, I'm on about the manager recruitment process after Critchley left

It was a farce

Anyway back to Critchley the club sold us a vision, a project and a long term planning process

I even had Brett call me selling the Critchley appointment and the club strategy like a second hand car sales man

As soon as Critchley left the draw bridge went up as did the long term strategy

The project went up in spoke and we haven't recovered
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I didn't miss your point Phil, I didn't even consider it.

I made a point - in isolation - regarding the reaction of the fanbase to Critchley's departure and on how I feel that opinions changed based on the manner of his departure.

I also said that I was of the opinion that Critchley left the club in a far better place than he inherited it.

Anything you have said about visions and projects etc may or may not be right but I haven't missed any point.
 
Philbfctrois said:
I have no idea

I'm saying when Critchley fucked up transfers like he did, especially in Central Midfield he was backed with two better players during the same season

Appleton simply hasn't had that backing

Central Midfield is still a problem
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Central midfield is a problem but nobody could foresee us losing two midfielders to injury in one game, then one to suspension in the next game. It’s unfortunate and any team would struggle to cope with three centre mids out.

The criticism of the owner is unfair when it’s based on guesswork rather than facts.
 
I think the obvious choice for our next manager is to go to Bolton, tell them we want Evo and give him an offer he can't refuse and back him in the transfer market.

They should have done that in the summer.
 
Voice of Reason said:
This is largely Critchley's team. He would have suffered the same injuries. Give or take the odd fist pump we would be in the same boat.

Exceptional injuries and too many players who are not Championship standard. Anyone watching yesterday's game can see the challenge laid bare.

When you look to that bench to change the game you know your back's up against the wall.

A new Manager won't help us at the moment.
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If this is largely Critch's team/squad then I think we should consider why the same team/squad managed to stay in the Championship - and comfortably so - last season ?

Did Critchley's input to the squad with "too many players who are not Championship standard" change us from relegation candidates to a comfortable mid table side ?

I am not saying injuries don't make a difference but I think putting too much of a blame on injuries is a dangerous route to go down.

It is up to a manager to assemble a playing squad and support staff best able to address and cope with varying circumstances.

Obviously different managers have different levels of resources afforded to them and that should be considered when assessing managerial performance and I wouldn't know enough about the difference in the playing budgets between this year and last.
 
Voice of Reason said:
This is largely Critchley's team. He would have suffered the same injuries. Give or take the odd fist pump we would be in the same boat.

Exceptional injuries and too many players who are not Championship standard. Anyone watching yesterday's game can see the challenge laid bare.

When you look to that bench to change the game you know your back's up against the wall.

A new Manager won't help us at the moment.
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Would he have suffered the same injuries? Who's to say different training regimes don't lead to the situation we're in, especially the recurring hamstrings.
 
TheRealKingKenny said:
Central midfield is a problem but nobody could foresee us losing two midfielders to injury in one game, then one to suspension in the next game. It’s unfortunate and any team would struggle to cope with three centre mids out.

The criticism of the owner is unfair when it’s based on guesswork rather than facts.
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No the facts are clear

Critchley was allowed so sign Dougall and Stewart when in League 1 to replace the duffers Williams and Robson who Critchley signed and then discarded after a matter of weeks

Appleton had to sign Ward who had already been released for not being good enough because the club didn't/couldn't agree terms with the players Appleton wanted

However you dress things up that isn't an even playing field
 
SEASIDE2020 said:
If this is largely Critch's team/squad then I think we should consider why the same team/squad managed to stay in the Championship - and comfortably so - last season ?

Did Critchley's input to the squad with "too many players who are not Championship standard" change us from relegation candidates to a comfortable mid table side ?

I am not saying injuries don't make a difference but I think putting too much of a blame on injuries is a dangerous route to go down.

It is up to a manager to assemble a playing squad and support staff best able to address and cope with varying circumstances.

Obviously different managers have different levels of resources afforded to them and that should be considered when assessing managerial performance and I wouldn't know enough about the difference in the playing budgets between this year and last.
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You can't underestimate the Josh Bowler effect

You could see how poor we were towards the end of the Critchley regime when Bowler wasn't playing
 
Wizaard said:
I wasn't in favour of the appointment, but once he was here, then I was willing to give him a chance. At times, we've shown flashes of being the front foot, attacking side we were promised, such as at Burnley, QPR and Sheffield United.

However, we've rarely shown that at home, and that's been crucial in winning over a sceptical crowd. Instead, his demeanour during games has been interpreted as a lack of caring, while the results haven't got the crowd going.

We are now at the point where those who were against from the start will never be won over, and are firmly in 'I told you so' mode.

If we don't see a drastic improvement in form, starting at Cardiff next week, then I don't see the point of a spiralling downwards manager being given a budget to spend in January, only to be sacked in February and someone else tasked with making a silk purse out of a sow's ear.

Can't help looking at the team from last year and wondering why, in essence, the same group.of players are so far off it this season.

We badly lack talkers in the team. There's no organisation. In addition, there's no zip, pace and purpose. We're bereft of confidence and the statuesque bystander on the side does nothing to get them going.

Something has to change in order to transform the mood , and in all likelihood, that is the manager.
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I wish I'd read your post before spouting my chite Wiz.

I can't pretend I've seen too much of the Mighty of late but I'm thinking if I was more qualified to post, I'd be saying very much the same as what you have done.

I am always concerned about changing a manager because the manager may not be the problem but I know you don't do fickle "sack the manager" shouts after every poor result so I'm happy to go with your opinion that we should be considering a change - apologies if I've misinterpreted your post.
 
Philbfctrois said:
With our fickle fanbase did he?

Let's be honest it was a bizarre appointment given his last spell with us and the negative vibes around the man

I don't blame him at all for taking the job, however the transfer window or lack of transfers in the window more like has completely hamstrung his plans

The injury record has been shite granted, but that's just unlucky

People are blaming him for absolutely everything, most of what isn't his fault

Do people really think he wanted to sign Ward and Bridcutt after the window closed or sell our best and most creative player without proper replacements coming in

The board need to act now and probably get rid given how toxic our fickle fans have become

It's starting to remind me of the Ince and Grayson witch hunt now

Even if the board do act and who really knows what they are thinking, doesn't appear to be much thought going on, our recent manager recruitment history has been shite so there is no guarantee things would improve

I hope if they do pull the plug they would have used the last few weeks to have a man ready to come in, although I very much doubt that either

What a mess

Surely Sir Simon the savior and bullshit Ben need to have a long hard look at themselves for the cluster fcuk they have precided over

Anybody else for another EG bollux interview with the bored I mean board ........
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I think all these points should be raised at the next Structured Dialogue Meeting (c) as it's an open and completely unedited and not remotely vetted forum that absolutely represents all the fans.
 
Philbfctrois said:
You can't underestimate the Josh Bowler effect

You could see how poor we were towards the end of the Critchley regime when Bowler wasn't playing
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That's fair enough Phil, I guess we'll all have our opinions on the Josh Bowler effect and that's why I did say:

"IF this is largely Critch's team/squad then I think we should consider why.................

and that we should consider the different levels of resources afforded to different managers.

Where I was wrong, is that I said that I didn't know the difference in playing budgets afforded to Critch and Appleton but this wouldn't have considered the Bowler effect.

Should we give Critchley praise for identifying Bowler and attracting him to the club ?

Or was he just given him to work with and we should be praising Bullsh1t Ben ?

I'm asking too many questions now Phil, you make a fair point re Bowler but when I asked questions on my previous post, I was looking for responses like yours.
 
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