Behind the scenes

Graves

Graves

Well-known member
Whilst I’m being patient, (we’ve still only lost 2 in the league), I find myself wondering why it’s not quite happening yet with Critch mk II.

You never know how much it upsets the dressing room when key personalities leave…

Yates, Madine, Keshi, uncle Richard… all popular and influential on the training ground and upped morale.

I miss the time when we had a bit of swagger about us on the pitch and from the look of the YouTube/club vids… off it as well.

Then you get poor results and the mood in the camp gets worse. There are players like Kenny, Grimshaw, CC, Shayne who have seen so many personnel changes in such a short time… we’ve gone from holding our own in the championship to league one discomfort so quickly.

What’s up? Where has our self belief gone and how do we get it back?

Thoughts?
 
Matesrates said:
They say it always starts at the top, and of course it does, so Simon must take credit when it goes well and take responsibility when it goes wrong. He appointed NC, so he needs to decide whether to have a word in his ear, or get rid, but imo, Critchley is the problem.
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Exactly what this man ☝ says and persisting with a failing system is key but could it work if introduced players that could play the system better than what NC is persisting with?

Have a word in his shell like someone, please.......
 
Matesrates said:
They say it always starts at the top, and of course it does, so Simon must take credit when it goes well and take responsibility when it goes wrong. He appointed NC, so he needs to decide whether to have a word in his ear, or get rid, but imo, Critchley is the problem.
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But he doesn't does he?
When things were going well he was happy to give interviews to TTV giving us the state of the union speech, once things took a dive last season he only communicated with the fans once to give us a bollocking for daring to question his management.
 
I think we have to give it more time, every league seems to become more competitive as each season arrives. Yes we are expected to do well but Critchley & his players need to find out what is required to win a game of football those that struggle will be discarded The club is constantly looking at players and will continue to do so thanks to our owner.
 
Critchley has started to blame the players in his post match interviews and take no blame, for me that's the slippery slope and he will soon lose the dressing room and he is doomed.

As for Sadler, he could have employed Evo or Edwards in the past and of course Dobbie, but he went inexplicably for Appleton, even more inexplicably for McSaurus and then again, inexplicably for Critchley who had walked out on a 4 year old contract and then fucked it up at Villa and then at QPR and spookily, is doing the same here.

We then get another load of old shite from Sadler in a statement saying he is putting in this and putting in that and we're all impatient and horrible for doubting him...... we're not ** doubting you in regard looking after the club and we thank you for stepping in and spending money that had to be spent and lose money every year, if you can do that and afford to do it, we are all thankful, but the elephant in the room is your ability to hire a manager who is going to give the supporters a team who are going to be attacking, creative and a pleasure to watch, not a dull statistic, analytical approach to everything with no heart and soul. As the Rovers guy said he would rather win 5-3 than 1-0, he would rather lose 3-4 than 0-1. Grayson, Critchley x2, Appleton & McSaurus!! FFS I think we can all see the problem there, Critch did okay for 18 months and he was rewarded for that, but he wasn't first choice, he was supported with some really good signings, the signings have been poor since then or played in the wrong positions. Why didn't you even entertain Evo or Edwards? Why have you ignored Thommo in some role? Why did you choose Appleton over Rosenior? Didn't Dobbie deserve a chance rather than going back to a bloke who had stuck 2 fingers up to you and who was already showing his limitations and then take him back after he failed at he last 2 jobs?

So let's not confuse the gratefulness we have for you stabilising the club, it's a separate issue, and an important one and he is doing it and we love him for it, but the actual football side of it is what 10,000 supporters have bought season tickets for and of course we want to have success, but with Critchley in charge, if he doesn't change dramatically it is going to be a slog and a dull one at that, which is why he and yourself are coming under fire. We have a decent squad of players, are they loving it? It's not great to keep changing managers, neither is it great to keep hold of managers if they are not doing their job and blaming players. The problem is that I don't trust Sadler to employ a decent manager even if Critchley goes.
 
hertfordseasider said:
Critchley has started to blame the players in his post match interviews and take no blame, for me that's the slippery slope and he will soon lose the dressing room and he is doomed.

As for Sadler, he could have employed Evo or Edwards in the past and of course Dobbie, but he went inexplicably for Appleton, even more inexplicably for McSaurus and then again, inexplicably for Critchley who had walked out on a 4 year old contract and then fucked it up at Villa and then at QPR and spookily, is doing the same here.

We then get another load of old shite from Sadler in a statement saying he is putting in this and putting in that and we're all impatient and horrible for doubting him...... we're not ** doubting you in regard looking after the club and we thank you for stepping in and spending money that had to be spent and lose money every year, if you can do that and afford to do it, we are all thankful, but the elephant in the room is your ability to hire a manager who is going to give the supporters a team who are going to be attacking, creative and a pleasure to watch, not a dull statistic, analytical approach to everything with no heart and soul. As the Rovers guy said he would rather win 5-3 than 1-0, he would rather lose 3-4 than 0-1. Grayson, Critchley x2, Appleton & McSaurus!! FFS I think we can all see the problem there, Critch did okay for 18 months and he was rewarded for that, but he wasn't first choice, he was supported with some really good signings, the signings have been poor since then or played in the wrong positions. Why didn't you even entertain Evo or Edwards? Why have you ignored Thommo in some role? Why did you choose Appleton over Rosenior? Didn't Dobbie deserve a chance rather than going back to a bloke who had stuck 2 fingers up to you and who was already showing his limitations and then take him back after he failed at he last 2 jobs?

So let's not confuse the gratefulness we have for you stabilising the club, it's a separate issue, and an important one and he is doing it and we love him for it, but the actual football side of it is what 10,000 supporters have bought season tickets for and of course we want to have success, but with Critchley in charge, if he doesn't change dramatically it is going to be a slog and a dull one at that, which is why he and yourself are coming under fire. We have a decent squad of players, are they loving it? It's not great to keep changing managers, neither is it great to keep hold of managers if they are not doing their job and blaming players. The problem is that I don't trust Sadler to employ a decent manager even if Critchley goes.
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Fair points really @hertfordseasider.
Pretty balanced.

I’ve always liked Sadler because he has the heart of a Pool fan and the head of a successful businessman. But I don’t really understand the Grayson, Appleton & Mick appointments and we are still recovering from a period of total devastation.

Manager wise- at the time, they just didn’t seem very ‘Blackpool’. The fans were apprehensive before a ball was kicked under them and then, well, we know how the rest goes.

You speak about building attacking team who is a pleasure to watch but it an extremely hard thing to do. Not least because it takes years of clever investment, but it takes experience. Sadler is an experienced businessman, but not an experienced football club owner. He is happy to admit that.

League one is not to be taken lightly and i don’t think we’re the only recently relegated championship team to be struggling with the adaptation. I get the feeling that the current top six are just more experienced in the league than we are, and do not necessarily better squads than us.

Critchley’s approach might be to avoid further confidence loss in our squad following our relegation by keeping it tight at the back and nicking a goal on the break. The thing is, this approach hasn’t worked out and it seems so obvious that we need to be a lot more fearless as the fear of losing, funnily enough, makes it more likely that we lose. The football is dull at the moment. I agree and I really feel for the fans and season ticket holders. I really do. I’m desperate for us to get back on track and entertain.

We and Critchley couldn’t possibly have foreseen the Joseph debacle. I mean, for all we know, he could’ve already scored 10 for us, but it’s just bad luck and the timing is as ridiculous as when Fiorini got injured under Appleton.

I don’t know where this leaves us really other than to just let him get on and get us to win during the next five or six games.
 
Opinionhated said:
I think we have to give it more time, every league seems to become more competitive as each season arrives. Yes we are expected to do well but Critchley & his players need to find out what is required to win a game of football those that struggle will be discarded The club is constantly looking at players and will continue to do so thanks to our owner.
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But, whenever did "constantly looking at players" ever achieve anything? With the clock ticking and with autumn truly upon us, what we really need to be seeing is a definite plan of action being drawn up, and for there to be numerous meaningful tactical changes made to our game-plan - which, if we're being completely honest here, is virtually non-existent. And it is only once these key issues have been addressed and certain plans implemented, that we can, rather belatedly, begin to make positive moves forward, with a side bouyed by a real sense of purpose and direction
 
Opinionhated said:
I think we have to give it more time, every league seems to become more competitive as each season arrives. Yes we are expected to do well but Critchley & his players need to find out what is required to win a game of football those that struggle will be discarded The club is constantly looking at players and will continue to do so thanks to our owner.
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Critchley was appointed early and had extensive knowledge of the players at his disposal, most were signed by him.
More time may well be given, but I very much doubt it is the answer to our current woes. Players look devoid of confidence, and unsure or unable to play in the way he has set the team up, and the opposition can easily counter any threat we make, while awaiting their opportunity from capitalising on our unforced errors.
 
Matesrates said:
They say it always starts at the top, and of course it does, so Simon must take credit when it goes well and take responsibility when it goes wrong. He appointed NC, so he needs to decide whether to have a word in his ear, or get rid, but imo, Critchley is the problem.
Click to expand...
So Critchley got us promoted, with the squad flying, two numpties came in and destroyed confidence and structure, so it's Critchley's fault?

OK
 
Wizaard said:
So Critchley got us promoted, with the squad flying, two numpties came in and destroyed confidence and structure, so it's Critchley's fault?

OK
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Yes mostly

If he‘d have stayed put and fulfilled his contract the messtgat ensued probably would not have happened

I have given plenty of reasons previously — you have to wonder whetherhe really has the ability to manage us to similar success orwhether it was down to luck, a good squad, the confidence of a Club that virtuallywins every play off it enters

I hope it works out for all
 
when he first arrived a few seasons back, at about this time in the season, plenty of fans were having doubts about him and whereas it wasn't the quite intense debate that it is now, it pretty much was all about the same points being made. Formations, team set up, players picked etc. Of course, it's pretty much an entirely different squad now to what it was back then, it seems it's the same old problems and he hasn't learnt from the 'mistakes" made then back in his early days. Eventually he got it right and so it's puzzling that he seems to have learnt nothing from back then. Yep, he probably and right deserves more time but there really is only so much time before a lot of the fans patience runs out and for a good few it already has.

Of course, it's stating the obvious that any decisions are down to Sadler but he must surely be somewhat concerned with results and what he's seeing on the pitch.I doubt it 's going the way he hoped and expected to.
 
Wizaard said:
So Critchley got us promoted, with the squad flying, two numpties came in and destroyed confidence and structure, so it's Critchley's fault?

OK
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Critchley has had all preseason, added players to the majority of the squad signed by him in his first tenure and has watched us, for the most part, labour and struggle in this division continuing to go with the same formation and tactics.
So as far as the 23/24 season goes, yes, it's his fault.
 
Wizaard said:
So Critchley got us promoted, with the squad flying, two numpties came in and destroyed confidence and structure, so it's Critchley's fault?

OK
Click to expand...
He had reached his limitations by the time he walked for the buck, if he had stayed we would have struggled same as we did, he also had the 2 experienced coaches who undoubtedly helped massively. You know I wasn't in favour of him coming back Wiz and so far he is proving my point. Of course, we all want him to do well, that would be the best solution so he needs more time and a new, experienced member of the coaching team but he hasn't got to infinity and beyond, if he keeps us playing like tis and putting players in such alien positions then his tenure will be shorter than a lot want.
 
I know last time Critch was here we took about 10-15 games to get going but i think there is a big difference to this time.
Last time round we had a lot of possession, often looked the better footballing team but were losing or not quite getting the results due to one reason or another or just needing an extra player or two. I could clearly see what he was trying to do though and how we were trying to play.
This time round we look absolutely awful, we dont look like winning and i dont think anybody really knows what hes trying to do.
 
Critchknows said:
I know last time Critch was here we took about 10-15 games to get going but i think there is a big difference to this time.
Last time round we had a lot of possession, often looked the better footballing team but were losing or not quite getting the results due to one reason or another or just needing an extra player or two. I could clearly see what he was trying to do though and how we were trying to play.
This time round we look absolutely awful, we dont look like winning and i dont think anybody really knows what hes trying to do.
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That is so true, we were actually playing well that season and losing and he changed the system and it fell into place. History doesn't repeat itself, just because we have started poorly like the previous time doesn't mean it will pan out the same, it won't and you can't clutch to that. He still has a chance to change it and turn it round, but there are no guarantees he will just because he did it last time.

Oh and you need to add FA to the end of your name 😂
 
It’s no coincidence Critchley only got better results last time when a competent no.2 joined him, not the 2 incumbent nodding dogs.
Up to that point he was also stubborn and frustrating, although he’s taken that up a notch or two whilst still not appearing to learn from his mistakes. Now he’s into the post match blame game territory I expect things will only get worse.
Here we are in September and all hopes for the season completely deflated.
Sadler has cashed in on our better players and fallen for the old Oyston approach of overloading us with cheap filler and poor squad players, over the more expensive proven quality.
 
Critchknows said:
I know last time Critch was here we took about 10-15 games to get going but i think there is a big difference to this time.
Last time round we had a lot of possession, often looked the better footballing team but were losing or not quite getting the results due to one reason or another or just needing an extra player or two. I could clearly see what he was trying to do though and how we were trying to play.
This time round we look absolutely awful, we dont look like winning and i dont think anybody really knows what hes trying to do.
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Why not change your user name?

From Critchknows to Chritchgoes.
 
tangerine_neil said:
It’s no coincidence Critchley only got better results last time when a competent no.2 joined him, not the 2 incumbent nodding dogs.
Up to that point he was also stubborn and frustrating, although he’s taken that up a notch or two whilst still not appearing to learn from his mistakes. Now he’s into the post match blame game territory I expect things will only get worse.
Here we are in September and all hopes for the season completely deflated.
Sadler has cashed in on our better players and fallen for the old Oyston approach of overloading us with cheap filler and poor squad players, over the more expensive proven quality.
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Whilst I agree with @20togo that you'd think Critchley should have learned from the last time, equally you'd have though Sadler would have done so too and made sure a proper No 2 was with NC when he was rehired.

I can't understand the accumulation of basically the same midfielder. If you put them all in a blender you wouldn't see an improvement.
 
Graves said:
Whilst I’m being patient, (we’ve still only lost 2 in the league), I find myself wondering why it’s not quite happening yet with Critch mk II.

You never know how much it upsets the dressing room when key personalities leave…

Yates, Madine, Keshi, uncle Richard… all popular and influential on the training ground and upped morale.

I miss the time when we had a bit of swagger about us on the pitch and from the look of the YouTube/club vids… off it as well.

Then you get poor results and the mood in the camp gets worse. There are players like Kenny, Grimshaw, CC, Shayne who have seen so many personnel changes in such a short time… we’ve gone from holding our own in the championship to league one discomfort so quickly.

What’s up? Where has our self belief gone and how do we get it back?

Thoughts?
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We might well have only lost 2 in the league but last time I looked we had only won 2.
 
hertfordseasider said:
Critchley has started to blame the players in his post match interviews and take no blame, for me that's the slippery slope and he will soon lose the dressing room and he is doomed.

As for Sadler, he could have employed Evo or Edwards in the past and of course Dobbie, but he went inexplicably for Appleton, even more inexplicably for McSaurus and then again, inexplicably for Critchley who had walked out on a 4 year old contract and then fucked it up at Villa and then at QPR and spookily, is doing the same here.

We then get another load of old shite from Sadler in a statement saying he is putting in this and putting in that and we're all impatient and horrible for doubting him...... we're not ** doubting you in regard looking after the club and we thank you for stepping in and spending money that had to be spent and lose money every year, if you can do that and afford to do it, we are all thankful, but the elephant in the room is your ability to hire a manager who is going to give the supporters a team who are going to be attacking, creative and a pleasure to watch, not a dull statistic, analytical approach to everything with no heart and soul. As the Rovers guy said he would rather win 5-3 than 1-0, he would rather lose 3-4 than 0-1. Grayson, Critchley x2, Appleton & McSaurus!! FFS I think we can all see the problem there, Critch did okay for 18 months and he was rewarded for that, but he wasn't first choice, he was supported with some really good signings, the signings have been poor since then or played in the wrong positions. Why didn't you even entertain Evo or Edwards? Why have you ignored Thommo in some role? Why did you choose Appleton over Rosenior? Didn't Dobbie deserve a chance rather than going back to a bloke who had stuck 2 fingers up to you and who was already showing his limitations and then take him back after he failed at he last 2 jobs?

So let's not confuse the gratefulness we have for you stabilising the club, it's a separate issue, and an important one and he is doing it and we love him for it, but the actual football side of it is what 10,000 supporters have bought season tickets for and of course we want to have success, but with Critchley in charge, if he doesn't change dramatically it is going to be a slog and a dull one at that, which is why he and yourself are coming under fire. We have a decent squad of players, are they loving it? It's not great to keep changing managers, neither is it great to keep hold of managers if they are not doing their job and blaming players. The problem is that I don't trust Sadler to employ a decent manager even if Critchley goes.
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Well said Herts
 
Wizaard said:
So Critchley got us promoted, with the squad flying, two numpties came in and destroyed confidence and structure, so it's Critchley's fault?

OK
Click to expand...
He should not be immune from criticism because he got us promoted a couple of years ago.
Face facts the football is poor at the moment, he is playing people in wrong positions. Not saying get rid yet, but he is running out of goodwill
 
hertfordseasider said:
He had reached his limitations by the time he walked for the buck, if he had stayed we would have struggled same as we did, he also had the 2 experienced coaches who undoubtedly helped massively. You know I wasn't in favour of him coming back Wiz and so far he is proving my point. Of course, we all want him to do well, that would be the best solution so he needs more time and a new, experienced member of the coaching team but he hasn't got to infinity and beyond, if he keeps us playing like tis and putting players in such alien positions then his tenure will be shorter than a lot want.
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I think it's fairly obvious that some don't want him to do well, to get some self gratification on here.
 
Wizaard said:
I think it's fairly obvious that some don't want him to do well, to get some self gratification on here.
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What Tim says, I really want him to do well and the frustrating thing is I think he can, but he needs to change it a bit we can't be playing with Connolly as a wing back and the same goes for CJ, if he wants to persist with that formation then he has to use Lyons or Gabriel (when fit) on the right and Hubby or Thommo on the left?? Or go 4 at the back and use Connolly as right back and Hubby as left back and give us wingers to feed the strikers, CJ and Dembele out wide, even Weir, it is just all wrong in my opinion but it really wouldn't take much to make it much better.
 
hertfordseasider said:
What Tim says, I really want him to do well and the frustrating thing is I think he can, but he needs to change it a bit we can't be playing with Connolly as a wing back and the same goes for CJ, if he wants to persist with that formation then he has to use Lyons or Gabriel (when fit) on the right and Hubby or Thommo on the left?? Or go 4 at the back and use Connolly as right back and Hubby as left back and give us wingers to feed the strikers, CJ and Dembele out wide, even Weir, it is just all wrong in my opinion but it really wouldn't take much to make it much better.
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You say it wouldn't take much to make it better, but it would. It would mean the manager doing something akin to a 180. Can you see him doing that? I can't, not on his own.

The players to be up and around are there, the will and backing of the fans is 100% there.

Everyone wants NC to work out, but he needs help. Without it I don't see him changing or a better word might be evolving as needs need.
 
hertfordseasider said:
What Tim says, I really want him to do well and the frustrating thing is I think he can, but he needs to change it a bit we can't be playing with Connolly as a wing back and the same goes for CJ, if he wants to persist with that formation then he has to use Lyons or Gabriel (when fit) on the right and Hubby or Thommo on the left?? Or go 4 at the back and use Connolly as right back and Hubby as left back and give us wingers to feed the strikers, CJ and Dembele out wide, even Weir, it is just all wrong in my opinion but it really wouldn't take much to make it much better.
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Yes. Getting rid of the manager is throwing the baby out with the bathwater and will only make things worse.
 
No one can convince me that when NC got the job he was thinking " we're going to play five at the back, inverted full backs, but my master stroke is going to be play Callum Connolly as my left galavanting wing back "
Something must have gone badly wrong for us to end up in that situation. We let two left backs go and he clearly doesn't rate Thompson, why didn't he bring in another left back ? Or is it because he likes Connolly and thinks he has to play him somewhere, even if it's somewhere as stupid as left back ?
 
Wizaard said:
Yes. Getting rid of the manager is throwing the baby out with the bathwater and will only make things worse.
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two ways of looking at that. We got rid of Appleton and made things worse with McCarthy. But we then got rid of McCarthy and made things infinitely better with Dobbie. Unfortunately for him and us it was too late to save us. But whatever, we need to see some signs of improvement and pretty damn soon too.
 
Regarding the thread title Behind the Scenes. I'm not happy with the recruitment teams efforts. None of them have exactly set my pulse raising. Morgan was a strange signing and doesn't seem to bring anything to the party.
 
I know it's been said before but would Dobbie in tandem with Critch turn us round.
The problem would be who had the final say I suppose, but surely the way we are playing is becoming a concern for everyone.
 
Born tangerine said:
I know it's been said before but would Dobbie in tandem with Critch turn us round.
The problem would be who had the final say I suppose, but surely the way we are playing is becoming a concern for everyone.
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There’s been a couple of these ‘tandem coaching’ suggestions recently. Whilst it could work, I generally think that neither would want to be number 2 as for Critchley that would be admitting defeat and for Dobbie it might be a conflict of interests.

We need one decent coach on the sidelines, with an experienced assistant advising as McCall or Calderwood did.
 
SirHarryThomson said:
Regarding the thread title Behind the Scenes. I'm not happy with the recruitment teams efforts. None of them have exactly set my pulse raising. Morgan was a strange signing and doesn't seem to bring anything to the party.
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Between Norburn, Rhodes, Pennington, Weir, Joseph (just very unlucky), potentially Dembele… I don’t think our recruitment was too bad for league one level and we could yet see something from this team.

I, too, am not yet sure about Morgan myself.

Maybe the system is failing the newbies too.
 
Graves said:
Whilst I’m being patient, (we’ve still only lost 2 in the league), I find myself wondering why it’s not quite happening yet with Critch mk II.

You never know how much it upsets the dressing room when key personalities leave…

Yates, Madine, Keshi, uncle Richard… all popular and influential on the training ground and upped morale.

I miss the time when we had a bit of swagger about us on the pitch and from the look of the YouTube/club vids… off it as well.

Then you get poor results and the mood in the camp gets worse. There are players like Kenny, Grimshaw, CC, Shayne who have seen so many personnel changes in such a short time… we’ve gone from holding our own in the championship to league one discomfort so quickly.

What’s up? Where has our self belief gone and how do we get it back?

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I agree. Get Gaz back and good times roll... 😉

We do seem to be particularly characterless again. Norburn is the simmering type and Hubby is at least alive but they seem to be a collection of very nice lads who are keen to do what they're told.
 
rememberlesshannon said:
No one can convince me that when NC got the job he was thinking " we're going to play five at the back, inverted full backs, but my master stroke is going to be play Callum Connolly as my left galavanting wing back "
Something must have gone badly wrong for us to end up in that situation. We let two left backs go and he clearly doesn't rate Thompson, why didn't he bring in another left back ? Or is it because he likes Connolly and thinks he has to play him somewhere, even if it's somewhere as stupid as left back ?
Click to expand...

I do wonder if he feels he has to keep his players happy. I.e. the ones he walked out on. I think maybe there's a bond there. Perhaps.

I think after getting a shit response from a bunch of fannies at QPR he might have looked back on our more workmanlike and worthy souls with some fondness.

This is pure unsubstantiated guesswork
 
td53 said:
I do wonder if he feels he has to keep his players happy. I.e. the ones he walked out on. I think maybe there's a bond there. Perhaps.

I think after getting a shit response from a bunch of fannies at QPR he might have looked back on our more workmanlike and worthy souls with some fondness.

This is pure unsubstantiated guesswork
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I’m in agreement with your first paragraph and in stitches with because of your second one!
 
Graves said:
I’m in agreement with your first paragraph and in stitches with because of your second one!
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I know the lad who does the QPR blog a little bit (it's very, very very good) and his view is Critchley has absolutely no chance because their squad was a rancid mess of overpaid egos who he was fundamentally unsuited to manage.

Say what you like about our lot, they're not that sort.
 
Graves said:
Yates, Madine, Keshi, uncle Richard… all popular and influential on the training ground and upped morale.
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Everyone says that Norburn and Pennington are those players and I sense from the post match interviews there is still that camaraderie but I just wonder how concerned they are about the way Critch wants them playing and who will be the first to stick their hand up and question it!
 
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