Critchley version 2

Adams Kebab

Well-known member
I always thought version 1 was very tactically astute and could coach very well. There was the Southgate-esque waiting till 60 minutes minimum to make a change and heavy reliance on wide players to create but he was able to make tweaks in-game and with selections and systems for different opposition. We predominately played 4-4-2, but could switch to 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 and adopted 3-5-2 on a couple of occasions.

Granted, I think it majorly helped that in the Championship on paper, 20 teams were probably better than us & would attack us meaning he could implement his style better. We struggled when teams sat back at the start and Knobbers away etc. but it was a great season back in that league.

Version 2? I’m not sure if he’s shitting himself and got scars from QPR or his time spent at Villa as given him a sense of delusion from working with better players but this insistence on 3 at the back is baffling. The QPR thing must have shit him up so much that he’s gone so boringly safe. I get that you have a system, but when it’s not working in games, you have to change it? We just make like for like subs?! It was rigidly 3-5-2 till after Bolton away when he realised (much later than 3/4 of the fanbase) that we had to have Dembele with 2 strikers? He’s meant to be a top coach isn’t he?

I don’t think he’s improved a player this season? He’s meant to be a top coach isn’t he? Is there a player he’s improved?

Jensen Weir can’t have gone so shite from him tearing it up on his Morecambe loan to not getting on our bench? A goalscoring central midfielder reduced to playing football like he’s on a netball court. He’s meant to be a top coach isn’t he?

Our best ‘defender’ (that’s someone who stops it going in our net- via blocks, tackles, physically strong, headers) was deployed as a ball playing centre-back ?! Who would do that? He’s meant to be a top coach ain’t he? Marv was unreal at Pompey away defending. But again just like the Championship, it suits the managers style when better teams come on to us.

I would also like to say, we’ve been spun a load of shite regarding Dougall and Marv and after the way Critchley left last time and his tearful hostage video with Sadler on his return I thought he’d have learnt to just be honest 👍🏼

He’s meant to be a top coach isn’t he?
 
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