Are we ready to go up?

JJpool

JJpool

Well-known member
OK you never refuse it but being realistic...

If we did manage to get in the playoffs and get up, we've struggled in the past to sign players permanently at that level as many demand the going rate for that division. It feels like we'd need a lot of signings if we went up.

Ideally you need the bulk of your squad together and a defined style you are comfortable with, preferably good at passing from the back and in possession and beyond, otywrwise championship sides will dominate you, be a well drilled efficient team who scores goals and wins games regularly at this level, that's what the teams who've done well going up have done.

Then you can try and add a few quality permanent players to it and get the best of the loans.

Is it actually better for us to build that squad at this level?

Sides like Peterborough show you can build it at this level and then you'd add a few real quality additions to that with a few quality loans and that should do it.

It doesn't feel like we're anywhere near that, as remove our loans and we'd be fairly average. Rhodes is the only one who really scored regularly, Dembele the creator of things, Coulson has begun to show his class on his side recently.
 
JJpool said:
OK you never refuse it but being realistic...

If we did manage to get in the playoffs and get up, we've struggled in the past to sign players permanently at that level as many demand the going rate for that division. It feels like we'd need a lot of signings if we went up.

Ideally you need the bulk of your squad together and a defined style you are comfortable with, preferably good at passing from the back and in possession and beyond, otywrwise championship sides will dominate you, be a well drilled efficient team who scores goals and wins games regularly at this level, that's what the teams who've done well going up have done.

Then you can try and add a few quality permanent players to it and get the best of the loans.

Is it actually better for us to build that squad at this level?

Sides like Peterborough show you can build it at this level and then you'd add a few real quality additions to that with a few quality loans and that should do it.

It doesn't feel like we're anywhere near that, as remove our loans and we'd be fairly average. Rhodes is the only one who really scored regularly, Dembele the creator of things, Coulson has begun to show his class on his side recently.
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According to this place we have the best squad in the league but Sadler is content with League One and we're miles short if we went up.

In summary, this site is full of bollocks.
 
GrahamwantshisOates said:
I would sooner fluke our way back to the Championship.
Once there we can build.
Last time we went up we lost the likes of Embleton, Ballard and Simms.
We did OK with additional signings.
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The issue with scabbing your way up is you're not really ready and yes you can and will strengthen but we've struggled to bring in the quality needed at that level before, because of the going rate players can get in that division. When the player knows the are being deemed good enough for the championship their agent will say Blackpool offer this but I can get you more at another championship club.

It's easier to assemble a squad that can play good football and get used to winning at this level and take that up with you and add to that.
 
JJpool said:
OK you never refuse it but being realistic...

If we did manage to get in the playoffs and get up, we've struggled in the past to sign players permanently at that level as many demand the going rate for that division. It feels like we'd need a lot of signings if we went up.

Ideally you need the bulk of your squad together and a defined style you are comfortable with, preferably good at passing from the back and in possession and beyond, otywrwise championship sides will dominate you, be a well drilled efficient team who scores goals and wins games regularly at this level, that's what the teams who've done well going up have done.

Then you can try and add a few quality permanent players to it and get the best of the loans.

Is it actually better for us to build that squad at this level?

Sides like Peterborough show you can build it at this level and then you'd add a few real quality additions to that with a few quality loans and that should do it.

It doesn't feel like we're anywhere near that, as remove our loans and we'd be fairly average. Rhodes is the only one who really scored regularly, Dembele the creator of things, Coulson has begun to show his class on his side recently.
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We are fairly average as it is. Remove the loans and we'd be relegated. That's how poor the contracted squad is.
 
JJpool said:
The issue with scabbing your way up is you're not really ready and yes you can and will strengthen but we've struggled to bring in the quality needed at that level before, because of the going rate players can get in that division. When the player knows the are being deemed good enough for the championship their agent will say Blackpool offer this but I can get you more at another championship club.

It's easier to assemble a squad that can play good football and get used to winning at this level and take that up with you and add to that.
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Therein lies the problem.
We're damned if we go up, we're damned if we don't.
We couldn't offer decent contracts to players in the Championship and would have to rely on loans, so no good either way.
We stay in this division next season and you're competing against (if the season finished today)three of Bolton ,Posh, Barnsley and Oxford plus Sheff Wed, Rotherham and Huddersfield.
Add that to the teams who imo will be stronger in Charlton, Wigan and Reading and you've a hard job to persuade ANY players to come to Bloomfield Rd.

Considering some thought we had the best squad in this league we've a mountain to climb if we think of getting out of this division in the next 3 seasons.
Look how long it took Forest, Massive, Makems and Portsmouth are still trying.
 
My guess is that Simon wants the East stand done before we go up, I can’t see him wanting to do it if we’re in the championship, he would need maximum capacity, not a building site.
 
Gulf between championship and league 1 is getting huge, championship is basically becoming an extension of the premier league in terms of finances and players. Leeds paid 35 million pounds for Rutter, Leicester have players with champs league experience. Southampton paid more for Harwood-Bellis this summer than we’ll likely pay in ten years of transfer fees
 
Matesrates said:
My guess is that Simon wants the East stand done before we go up, I can’t see him wanting to do it if we’re in the championship, he would need maximum capacity, not a building site.
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I'm far from certain that Sadler wants us to go up. His on field investment doesn't match his words. The appointment of Critchley is one to keep and prolong our stay in league1...or at least that's the way it's turning out.
 
65 & Counting said:
I'm far from certain that Sadler wants us to go up. His on field investment doesn't match his words. The appointment of Critchley is one to keep and prolong our stay in league1...or at least that's the way it's turning out.
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As I said, I think his motivation is getting infrastructure in place first.
 
Possibly a few trips over the M62 if the three Yorkshire teams come down. I've not been to Mansfield and Stockport. And at least we get rid of some possible long trips.
 
Imo no chance both on and off the pitch we are light years behind,we can't even sell advertising space around the stadium for a start. If by miracle we did go up it would be same budget,same restraints same outcome and the worrying thing is the powers that be seem quite content by it.
We have so many people in so many positions and fuck all of any relevance coming out from them.
 
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I honestly think we are miles off being a side ready for promotion. We have a combination of a manager who plays a formation we don't seem to have the players for, and some players who, frankly, just aren't good enough.
If you take Dembele, Coulson, Byers and Rhodes out of our starting eleven, who have we got to replace them with?

Critchley is here to stay, Sadler has already said he'll be here next season. We need to starting looking ahead to recruitment for next season, right now. Clarke-Harris can't get in the Peterborough side at the moment, I'd be trying to get a pre-contract agreed with him to bring him to the seaside. Try and get Rhodes on a permanent deal and let Apter replace Dembele.
One things for sure, unless Critchley changes his formation, which is unlikely, he needs to be signing players who fit rather than continuing to force square pegs in round holes.
 
65 & Counting said:
We are fairly average as it is. Remove the loans and we'd be relegated. That's how poor the contracted squad is.
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I wouldn't go that far, I think we've got a squad of permanents that could be comfortably be top half if used right. I don't think NC is getting the most out of what we have, if used like now then we'd be bang average.

Having said that what you want is the bulk of a good squad that not only can compete at the top end of this division but when we go up is capable of stepping up so we only need to add a few to it.

I don't feel we've built that yet, nor do we play in a way that gets the most from them or allows us to play good dominant football consistently.

If we look at players who are only our own we can still field a fairly decent side.

For e.g.

Grimshaw
Gabriel Ekpiteta Pennington/Casey Husband
Morgan Norburn Carey
CJ/Apter Joseph Lavery

Based on how we play now there is a lack of goals but Lavery can score them, we've seen that before, I still think Joseph can just needs to go on a run and we need to play a way that suits us.
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
According to this place we have the best squad in the league but Sadler is content with League One and we're miles short if we went up.

In summary, this site is full of bollocks.
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I think were got a squad capable of more than were showing now.
 
Matesrates said:
As I said, I think his motivation is getting infrastructure in place first.
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I think we are spending money and trying but aren't getting it all right and also is the manager right, as that's absolutely key, he's not getting the most out of what we have.

I think he'd rather us succeed, I don't buy all this he wants us to stay where we are, it's just it isn't working very well, which can happen.
 
Wizzerboy said:
So how come they play the majority of away games like they've never met each other until they're in the tunnel at 2.55pm?
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If it's true they are good enough to go up and stay up then NC must be absolutely failing with his management and tactics etc.

Personally I think if they were the best squad in the league then even with a bad manager and tactics they could still figure stuff out and play better, show more football intelligence.

So I think the truth is somewhere in between. They are better than what is being shown but not enough to be right at the top.
 
JJpool said:
I wouldn't go that far, I think we've got a squad of permanents that could be comfortably be top half if used right. I don't think NC is getting the most out of what we have, if used like now then we'd be bang average.

Having said that what you want is the bulk of a good squad that not only can compete at the top end of this division but when we go up is capable of stepping up so we only need to add a few to it.

I don't feel we've built that yet, nor do we play in a way that gets the most from them or allows us to play good dominant football consistently.

If we look at players who are only our own we can still field a fairly decent side.

For e.g.

Grimshaw
Gabriel Ekpiteta Pennington/Casey Husband
Morgan Norburn Carey
CJ/Apter Joseph Lavery

Based on how we play now there is a lack of goals but Lavery can score them, we've seen that before, I still think Joseph can just needs to go on a run and we need to play a way that suits us.
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That defence has been far from watertight (and Ekpiteta will leave on a free)
The midfield would be particularly weak with those 3 in situ.
CJ is shocking and Apter is an unknown quantity at league 1 level.
Lavery and Joseph both have a career to date goals to appearance ratio of 1 in 5/6. I doubt their output would be enough.
I suspect we'd be bottom half.
 
65 & Counting said:
That defence has been far from watertight (and Ekpiteta will leave on a free)
The midfield would be particularly weak with those 3 in situ.
CJ is shocking and Apter is an unknown quantity at league 1 level.
Lavery and Joseph both have a career to date goals to appearance ratio of 1 in 5/6. I doubt their output would be enough.
I suspect we'd be bottom half.
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I think with someone getting us really going we'd be OK, but it's not like we're going to find out.

The defence hasn't been the best but we play a system that maybe doesn't compliment what we have, also if we actually had more intent about us going forward it would be less of an issue with the we'll score more than you approach.

The manager, setup, style can have a huge impact. We only have to have a look at our side last season in the championship, we actually had some real quality but were just all over the place for lots of it.

Rogers, Poveda, Bowler, Fiorini, Patino Yates.

I think that shows us that poor management and confused players misused can look terrible despite obvious qualities.
 
JJpool said:
I think with someone getting us really going we'd be OK, but it's not like we're going to find out.

The defence hasn't been the best but we play a system that maybe doesn't compliment what we have, also if we actually had more intent about us going forward it would be less of an issue with the we'll score more than you approach.

The manager, setup, style can have a huge impact. We only have to have a look at our side last season in the championship, we actually had some real quality but were just all over the place for lots of it.

Rogers, Poveda, Bowler, Fiorini, Patino Yates.

I think that shows us that poor management and confused players misused can look terrible despite obvious qualities.
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It certainly shows that Sadler has made yet another bad appointment and the issues we've witnessed in terms of performances and results have come as no surprise to many of us.
 
We are a top 10 team 2/3 players short of a top 3 position, Some players may progress if we are to be promoted, but staying there and not coming back down will require a lot more investment and good scouting. I use to think Critchley could take us there but not sure anymore.
 
I think you get better loan players in the Championship which we would rely on however from the rest of our squad I'd have to say I can't see past 3/4 of our players having the skills to move up a level. Most have been League One or below for most of their careers and there is a reason that Championship clubs haven't been in for them.
 
JJpool said:
OK you never refuse it but being realistic...

If we did manage to get in the playoffs and get up, we've struggled in the past to sign players permanently at that level as many demand the going rate for that division. It feels like we'd need a lot of signings if we went up.

Ideally you need the bulk of your squad together and a defined style you are comfortable with, preferably good at passing from the back and in possession and beyond, otywrwise championship sides will dominate you, be a well drilled efficient team who scores goals and wins games regularly at this level, that's what the teams who've done well going up have done.

Then you can try and add a few quality permanent players to it and get the best of the loans.

Is it actually better for us to build that squad at this level?

Sides like Peterborough show you can build it at this level and then you'd add a few real quality additions to that with a few quality loans and that should do it.

It doesn't feel like we're anywhere near that, as remove our loans and we'd be fairly average. Rhodes is the only one who really scored regularly, Dembele the creator of things, Coulson has begun to show his class on his side recently.
Click to expand...
We would get utterly destroyed in the Championship, particularly with Captain Critch at the helm.
 
Superbretty said:
We would get utterly destroyed in the Championship, particularly with Captain Critch at the helm.
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Saying that, NC's strength used to be having us press, soak up etc and that why we did well with him in the championship.

However I think the league's are a lot more technical now, even in a few seasons, see league 1 as an example as to when we were last here.

So in the championship we'd be coming up against a lot more possession based sides and NC really struggles with them and struggles to make us am effective one too.

It's the way the game has gone and why we need to play an efficient version of it and master it before we go up probably
 
I think if we got promoted and with a half decent summer of signings, I'd actually feel more confident of staying up under Critchley than I would in going up.
 
JJpool said:
The issue with scabbing your way up is you're not really ready and yes you can and will strengthen but we've struggled to bring in the quality needed at that level before, because of the going rate players can get in that division. When the player knows the are being deemed good enough for the championship their agent will say Blackpool offer this but I can get you more at another championship club.

It's easier to assemble a squad that can play good football and get used to winning at this level and take that up with you and add to that.
Click to expand...
I don't think there's any such thing as "scabbing" your way up. If a team finishes 6th and wins the playoffs then promotion has been achieved over 49 games, hardly a fluke! Neither do I believe in "not being ready" if a team is promoted.

If the squad isn't good enough for the championship then that is what the summer is for (cue some hilarious "therein lies the problem" comments).
 
Deciding whether we're ready or not to go up to me implies being fussy about when we go up, and there's simply no room for that, both in the sense that a club is very lucky to get promoted any year but also that for me being a football fan is about hoping for maximum success every year, not picking and choosing when it's best to be successful

But if I am to address the question, I think a lot of the time playoff winners will be particularly unprepared to go up, simply because there are as many as 5 teams who performed better over the season. If you're a ready made Championship team, you'll likely get promoted automatically. But even then a lot of work may need to be done over the summer.
 
Can we be better than the bottom six currently in the Championship - I strongly believe so and that's all we'd need to be.
 
big difference between a manager and a coach. Putting it simply a coach works with his own players in between games. On match days though it's about managing a game and not coaching. Being aware of what the opponents are doing and implementing changes. Critchley may be very qualified in coaching but there's certainly questions to be asked about his management.
 
20togo said:
big difference between a manager and a coach. Putting it simply a coach works with his own players in between games. On match days though it's about managing a game and not coaching. Being aware of what the opponents are doing and implementing changes. Critchley may be very qualified in coaching but there's certainly questions to be asked about his management.
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Basically what I was going to put. I'd add I'm not sure he's a good team coach, possibly more a one on one that works well with a decent percentage of players.
 
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