Sorry Tom, but it's the inconsistency that is my issue. And the other issue, is your complete lack of ambition as a Blackpool FC fan.The problem with this fan base, or perhaps more specifically this message board, the fans are so reactionary to each and every result it’s unbelievable.
4-0 away from home against Portsmouth and we’re going up in the automatics.
2-1 away from home against Cambridge and we need to get rid of the manager.
Where’s the middle ground? We’re doing ‘Ok’ at the moment, some great performances mixed in with some weak away results. There’s a general lack of consistency at the moment but ultimately we’re coming back from a disastrous season with a lot of positives. I believe we will get promoted within the next two years if we carry on with Critch.
We'll be 7-10 points behind the play offs. Most teams above have 1 or 2 games in hand.On what planet do you pot the manager when you’re 8th in the table mid-season & 4 points off the play-offs??
Sure, there have been some disappointing/inconsistent performances this season. That’s football - get over it….
The problem with your summation Dave is its not the start to the season, we’re halfway there. His supporters were saying see were we are after 10 games, see were we are at Christmas. Well were nearly at Christmas and its not getting any better, not worse, but certainly no better. How long do you wait before climbing down off that fence?Middle ground "pussy" here
I'm voting for the pussy option in the absence of a "give him a chance but I'm not convinced unless he changes from his stubborn 3 5 2" option
I also don't see any point in getting rid of a manager / coach who knows how get out of L1, add to that the cost of paying a manager off and it's pretty clear to me that he's staying anyway. It's not a great start at all, but I'm struggling to recall a recent good start to a season. When Critch got us promoted, it was a second half of the season improvement. Not convinced this season though, but I'm hopefully wrong.
On planet Birmingham, if you’re in the playoffs.On what planet do you pot the manager when you’re 8th in the table mid-season & 4 points off the play-offs??
Sure, there have been some disappointing/inconsistent performances this season. That’s football - get over it….
We are 8th despite him.What a stupid thread. We are 8th and people want him out. Pathetic bunch.
On planet Birmingham, if you’re in the playoffs.
Respect your view, but you’re mistaking a lack of ambition for measured progress. This is a tough league and we were an embarrassment last season, it’s not easy to go from the whipping boys of the league to promotion favourites - there needs to be a process to regain confidence and build up new players in the team.Sorry Tom, but it's the inconsistency that is my issue. And the other issue, is your complete lack of ambition as a Blackpool FC fan.
This is one of the worst quality League One's there's been in a long time. Portsmouth have a pretty average squad in terms of out and out quality but consistency is what is getting them results and a good strong identity.
We have a top 6 budget according to those above. So going into January potentially being around 8 to 12 points behind a play off spot is unacceptable.
Also, the amount of performances I've seen this season where the football is slow, dull, boring and absolutely ** shite is ridiculous. The Portsmouth performance just masks that.
Created by himself.The best thing about Critchley is that he can spot and nurture talent. A great quality to have, in my mind he has got at least another 18 months.
It's hard to remember but he has been clearing up the mess left by the other two managers
Will you be using that line on the politics thread when Labour get in? Saying they are ** it up because those useless tories made such a mess they are having to deal with that? That's fine for a certain amount of time but you can't use it forever. This is football, not politics and managers don't get that amount of time, if he keeps us around the play offs then he will get next season too but if we end up below 12th then I think he will be at risk of being potted. Sadler isn't stupid, he won't accept mediocrity. Let's hope Critchley can deliver as he has all season to do so.The best thing about Critchley is that he can spot and nurture talent. A great quality to have, in my mind he has got at least another 18 months.
It's hard to remember but he has been clearing up the mess left by the other two managers
Who has he nurtured exactly?The best thing about Critchley is that he can spot and nurture talent. A great quality to have, in my mind he has got at least another 18 months.
It's hard to remember but he has been clearing up the mess left by the other two managers
As a first team coach, what talent has he ever spotted and nurtured?The best thing about Critchley is that he can spot and nurture talent. A great quality to have, in my mind he has got at least another 18 months.
It's hard to remember but he has been clearing up the mess left by the other two managers
Yates, Bowler, Hamilton, Casey, Carey, Grimshaw, Morgan etc.Who has he nurtured exactly?
Sacking the manager every few months as people on here demand is a recipe to go nowhere. Give him 2 years, if he fails after that time he will have to go. His strategy is to develop talent and that takes time, it's the only sustainable strategy a club like ours can follow.Will you be using that line on the politics thread when Labour get in? Saying they are ** it up because those useless tories made such a mess they are having to deal with that? That's fine for a certain amount of time but you can't use it forever. This is football, not politics and managers don't get that amount of time, if he keeps us around the play offs then he will get next season too but if we end up below 12th then I think he will be at risk of being potted. Sadler isn't stupid, he won't accept mediocrity. Let's hope Critchley can deliver as he has all season to do so.
Not sure I agreeSadler isn't stupid, he won't accept mediocrity. Let's hope Critchley can deliver as he has all season to do so.
And the man who reappointed Critchley was the same one who lectured us for being disappointed at the appointment of Appleton.There is an old saying, 'out of the frying pan into the fire', which sums up the question for me, so I've gone for the pussy choice.
What happened the last time Critch went? Oh yes we got the wonderful, statuesque bloke who himself was fired, replaced by a Dinosaur who was no better. As someone has already pointed out, 4-0 away from home against Portsmouth and we’re going up in the automatics but 2-1 away from home against Cambridge and we need to get rid of the manager. That sort of thinking doesn't hold water in my book.
I wasn't at Cambridge but will be at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday and Saturday giving the team and manager my full support.
Don't think many are questioning him as a coach as such, more as a manager with his selections, tactics and in game management. Though you have to wonder what he's said to the defenders on the training ground to defend like that.Personally, I'd back him.
I think he's a decent coach at this level and I can't see somebody else and doing much better with this squad. There's question marks around too many of our players and I think we lack character so I don't think we look like a promotion side.
I'm happy to see how this season pans out, I don't think we'll bomb but I don't think we'll go up, we'll probably finish close to where we are now. I think he'll get another shot next season and I'd be fine with giving him that opportunity.
That’s why he and Critchley have a bromance, neither believe they can be wrong and they both think the other is the best thing since sliced bread.Not sure I agree
Sadler clearly has great, extreme strengths however these usually come with weaknesses as well
Being massively successful in one field sometimes leads to arrogance, in sadlers case we see his inability to accept criticism as a weakness, he believes he can’t be wrong
Apologies, not sure why I went for the modern terminology by referring to him as a coach. To clarify, I meant what we would of traditionally called a manager but is Head Coach these days.Don't think many are questioning him as a coach as such, more as a manager with his selections, tactics and in game management. Though you have to wonder what he's said to the defenders on the training ground to defend like that.
I think we are seeing the classic, good coach, crap manager. The players are there.
Without realising it, you’ve identified the exact reason fans are asking the question. We will always do well against teams that come out and try to beat us. We have a lot of quality and pace to hurt such teams.The problem with this fan base, or perhaps more specifically this message board, the fans are so reactionary to each and every result it’s unbelievable.
4-0 away from home against Portsmouth and we’re going up in the automatics.
2-1 away from home against Cambridge and we need to get rid of the manager.
Where’s the middle ground? We’re doing ‘Ok’ at the moment, some great performances mixed in with some weak away results. There’s a general lack of consistency at the moment but ultimately we’re coming back from a disastrous season with a lot of positives. I believe we will get promoted within the next two years if we carry on with Critch.
That is why it's so important to get out first time while we still have some championship quality players because next season our team will look very different to what we have now. He is underperforming and there is no denying it.WTF are people expecting. Win the division as champions. HOW many seasons have POMPEY been in League one. Forever it would seem.
I don’t see that as ever feasible Moss?No option to keep him as a coach and employ a new manager?
Villa? Much higher level #2/coach, that went well. And don’t quote Gerrard sacking, if Critchley was any good at that level he would have been kept on.I don’t see that as ever feasible Moss?
He could be a number 2 / coach at a much higher level on more cash. Plus it would be humiliating for him taking a demotion, more so than being removed.
It's not the getting out of league one for me, I have always believed it was not going to be easy this season, but what I do want to see,is a team with some plan and commitment, and playing for 90 minutes, not the 45 we sometimes get at the moment, we have the odd game where we are excellent (re: Portsmouth) but then are absolutely clueless the next game, there is only one man you can blame, and that's Critchley, he's manager/coach, so the buck stops with him, he just does not seem able to motivate the players to play for the full 90mins, and that's what worries me,THIS is the long game. there is an awful lot of negativity on here. IF we do not get out of League One then like all clubs we take stock at the end of 23/24. Not one of us wants to be in the THIRD tier of English football but its what it is. there WOULD be a queue round the block IF he was removed but i for one say Critch stays.