Defend the tactics today then?

hertfordseasider said:
As Lincoln score 16 in their last 3 games. What are your thoughts on our managers set up and tactics, subs on 70 minutes again, prayers looking like strangers. Playing so deep playing so slowly and playing it backwards.
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I had a great day out on the ale with great mates, the football was shit but that's the way it's been for most of my life following The Pool! Perhaps you should try going to games with like minded individuals (there are a good number of Pool fans down south) rather than sitting at home being miserable! A few beers, and a laugh or two on the train, and the football becomes what it really is... Just a game!
 
Eternaloptimist said:
U

so you listened to Thommo ALL afternoon which implies you weren’t even at the game and yet you slag the manager off on the strength of a summariser who has achieved naff all and couldn’t even hack it at a none league club
Amazing how the majority of these pundits can talk the talk but when it comes down it they can’t walk the walk.
If Thommo was as good as you and several others on here think he is (and you do hang on to his every word) then why the fcuk isn’t he in management.
By the way, i’m not deluded, I support the team through thick and thin unlike yourself who epitomises fickleness.
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With that statement about Tommo achieving Naff all sorry but you are the deluded one if you think that, obviously your not aware of what he has done in the game both as a player and a coach
 
hertfordseasider said:
Life's theoretical Daz, he was just talking sense and Critchley is in dire need of an experienced coach next to him, not necessarily Thommo but someone because in my opinion Critchley is just not that great. Listen to those that have come back from the game, it was shocking.
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Talking Sense ?

You’d hardly expect him to talk much else would you? But ask Ten different managers to comment and you’d likely get 10 differing opinions…

I don’t do this silly up and down nonsense… It’s a bad result, it’s disappointing and that’s it.

Critchley may benefit from an assistant and he may not. His record this season is OK…

And I’ve been at the game myself…
 
AllTheBoysAreCheerin' said:
I had a great day out on the ale with great mates, the football was shit but that's the way it's been for most of my life following The Pool! Perhaps you should try going to games with like minded individuals (there are a good number of Pool fans down south) rather than sitting at home being miserable! A few beers, and a laugh or two on the train, and the football becomes what it really is... Just a game!
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I have done my fair share of that over the past 55 years and you are right, it's always a lot better with a day out, mates and a few beers, it made the 80's tolerable! But it doesn't mean we can't be disappointed with another lacklustre away performance against a really average Wigan side when we are in with a shout for the play offs. It is very frustrating this season. We will probably go to Derby and win and lose at home to the Cods!!
 
BFCfan33 said:
I one who would normally defend the team and the manager but today stood in that stand watching that performance which IMO was totally unacceptable, so negative, lacked a cutting edge going forward, no options for players going forward, defence looked shaky only Casey for me played well, subs made for like for like players and nothing changed. i blame everyone from the manager to the players. With such a good following it is a shame that players didn't rise to the occasion. Overall a bad day at the office which doesn't install much confidence for the rest of the season
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Exactly how I feel and saw it.
 
Just a hypothetical question Herts.
If we go to Derby and win, will you be full of praise for the players and the manager or just the players.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
He’s not wrong though Pete… Thommo is hardly some kind of tactical guru. He pretty much sits there and repeats the same thing every week… He says ‘Pockets’ almost as much as Critchley says ‘Erm’.

He’s a fantastic bloke and was a decent assistant for us, but sitting and critiquing a performance is very different than actually doing something to affect a game…. Ultimately it’s all theoretical…
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So did you not notice us playing 7 across the back in the first half because he did and so did I but why did we?
I told you midweek after you went off on one rambling on about Fleetwood and Fylde prior to this we’ve beaten 2 really piss poor sides in Shrewsbury and Northampton and I wasn’t convinced we’ve turned the corner and said the test would come at Wigan and Derby.
Well well what a surprise all I can say with some confidence is we haven’t turned the corner one bit.
 
With better players we could be champions next year. If we had gone a goal up today the tactics would probably have won us the game. The problem is lack of plan b when we go one down.
 
Sandgrown1 said:
So we are not good enough yet bossed the second half? Bet that wasn't Critchleys fault then, just the first half?
I'm no Critch lover btw... not a hater either. But when 11 players perform no better than average, it cannot be Critchleys fault.
Fans were happy beforehand. A bad performance.... let's all jump on Critchley?I can see the argument when the likes of Connelly and Hamilton and Carey play in front of better players etc.... but a good side like todays should do much better.
If fans choose to blame Critch for 'everything' then it's a poor do, and when they say they won't go again.... "Fuck 'em".
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We bossed the second half against an average at best league one team so I wouldn’t take that as a compliment.
And as for blaming Critchley although I can’t speak for others but I’ve been critical of him all season he’s not the man for the job and needs to go at the end of this season if Sadler really wants to see championship football back at Bloomfield road.
A clear out of at least 6-8 players as well needed along with a complete new strike force as it’s clear for all to see our present strike force is simply not up to the job of getting us out of this league.
 
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Eternaloptimist said:
We dominated the 2nd half, and had more possession overall (51% to 49%)
We had 11 shots (3 on target), they had 3 shots with just 1 on target.
When the team was announced the majority of posters were happy with the line up.
Amazing how, when we don’t win, people are quick to blame the manager when the players can’t put the ball in the back of the net.
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Not so much the wrong team selection today, (apart from Rhodes, who I don't think has recovered from the injury fully) but what is wrong is his setting the team up to play safety football. Not allowing them freedom to attack, and as has been mentioned a thousand times NO PLAN B....he is a fraud as a manager, his limitations as such have now been well and truly found out...
 
Olliesoffhistrolley said:
Sorry but I have to disagree. Critchley is completely to blame it’s not a one off ffs .
Critchley is completely clueless. The entertainment this season has been worse than I can remember for a very long time . Boring tripe.
That’s my last away game under this idiot .
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Jaffa_The_Hut said:
We bossed the second half against an average at best league one team so I wouldn’t take that as a compliment.
And as for blaming Critchley although I can’t speak for others but I’ve been critical of him all season he’s not the man for the job and needs to go at the end of this season if Sadler really wants to see championship football back at Bloomfield road.
A clear out of at least 6-8 players as well needed along with a complete new strike force as it’s clear for all to see our present strike force is simply not up to the job.
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Jaffa_The_Hut said:
We bossed the second half against an average at best league one team so I wouldn’t take that as a compliment.
And as for blaming Critchley although I can’t speak for others but I’ve been critical of him all season he’s not the man for the job and needs to go at the end of this season if Sadler really wants to see championship football back at Bloomfield road.
A clear out of at least 6-8 players as well needed along with a complete new strike force as it’s clear for all to see our present strike force is simply not up to the job of getting us out of this league.
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That’s twice you went off track and didn’t answer the post.

Hey-ho.
 
Sandgrown1 said:
That’s twice you went off track and didn’t answer the post.

Hey-ho.
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Off track?
I’ve explained why we bossed the second half against a poor team and I’ve answered the bit about the Critchley haters on here but from my prospective so I’m not sure what else there is left to answer? 🤷‍♂️
 
tommytwojags said:
The most frustrating thing for me is the lack of intelligence and imagination on the pitch. Forwards and overlapping defenders were making good runs but being ignored.

In the second half, we got a free kick on the halfway line. Grimmy came up to take it but Norburn passed it back to the keeper to lump upfield. So we launched the ball from 20 yards further back than the kick was awarded. We're talking here about IQs not tactical problems.
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The manager and team know that Grimmy is the best passer and distributor in the team - and he's the freakin goalie.
 
I believe Critchley said following our 1 - 0 win at Shrewsbury, that there is nothing better than a a 1 nil away win. Three points and a clean sheet. This mindset is the problem. Week after week he sets us up play like this. When it comes off, even if we haven't played very well, we are grateful for the points and we tend to excuse the poor overall performance. Apart from a couple of exceptions such as Portsmouth and Peterborough away, our away form has been dire.
This in my view is down to Critchley. The players have signed up to his tactics, playing from the back, passing the ball backwards, sideways, in the main bypassing midfield and then booting it up the middle to players who are too small or not strong enough to take control of the ball.
I think that Critchley has instilled this style of play into the players and when the opposition force their tactics and style of play upon us, we simply can't cope and don't know what to do. The players have been given clear instructions from the Manager as to how to play and when things aren't working out, they simply can't or don't know how to change what they are doing.
With a different, more positive approach to away games, we would be in a much better position and I am truly saddened and disappointed that this season has been a wasted opportunity . Completely down to the Manager.
 
Just to add, the last 3 games we have scored 1 goal and conceded 1 goal and got 4 points whereas Lincoln have scored 16 goals and got 9 points. We are phucking dull.
 
Eternaloptimist said:
We dominated the 2nd half, and had more possession overall (51% to 49%)
We had 11 shots (3 on target), they had 3 shots with just 1 on target.
When the team was announced the majority of posters were happy with the line up.
Amazing how, when we don’t win, people are quick to blame the manager when the players can’t put the ball in the back of the net.
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There's a bit more to it than picking the team and putting them in a formation.

It's about the style of play, improving, creating chances and scoring goals.

Can you see a style where you say, yep can see what we're trying to do?

What were we doing first half in a vital game where WE, not Wigan, we're meant to be going for the playoffs?

It was turgid aimless shite with no plan.
 
hertfordseasider said:
Just to add, the last 3 games we have scored 1 goal and conceded 1 goal and got 4 points whereas Lincoln have scored 16 goals and got 9 points. We are phucking dull.
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Lincoln’s last three games are a ridiculously extreme example. We have also had some big scorelines against some decent opponents (Bolton and Portsmouth immediately spring to mind) And We’ve scored one more goal than Lincoln over the course of this season so far 😉
 
Critchknows said:
Critchley has been at fault this season no doubt about it and the formation is still bobbins but the notion that it's all him is ridiculous. The players or a fair few of them just aren't good enough. Our defence is so dodgy it's unbelievable and we have strikers who not only don't score but won't even shoot. We have a bang average team and put in bang average performances and get out of jail a few times due to Dembele or at the beginning Rhodes grabbing one. I'm done for away games now, I can't bring myself to do another.
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He is to blame simply because he doesn't have a plan B which is indefensible for all his coaching badges.
 
He's a coach, not a manager. I've said it from day 1.
I'm not even sure if he's learning and going to be a good manager, I just know, and I knew it (and said it) when he was first here, he's a great coach but not a good enough manager to take us forward.
 
Seasidetyler said:
Not so much the wrong team selection today, (apart from Rhodes, who I don't think has recovered from the injury fully) but what is wrong is his setting the team up to play safety football. Not allowing them freedom to attack, and as has been mentioned a thousand times NO PLAN B....he is a fraud as a manager, his limitations as such have now been well and truly found out...
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I have just said the same in two posts and just seen this and no plan B is a shocking state of affairs.
https://twitter.com/x/status/1758115535869379027
 
Vince McLean said:
The manager and team know that Grimmy is the best passer and distributor in the team - and he's the freakin goalie.
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Was quite funny, bloke behind me kept shouting give it Dan, back to Grimmy and eventually when we ran out of ideas and went back... to Grimmy...there would be a little cheer, followed by a FFS.
 
Eternaloptimist said:
We dominated the 2nd half, and had more possession overall (51% to 49%)
We had 11 shots (3 on target), they had 3 shots with just 1 on target.
When the team was announced the majority of posters were happy with the line up.
Amazing how, when we don’t win, people are quick to blame the manager when the players can’t put the ball in the back of the net.
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We might look at the team and say oh yes that’s a winning team but it’s the tactics that annoy, there was plenty of times today we had the opportunity to make a forward pass but we played back into defence, played it safe this is what they are instructed to do it’s very boring to watch I’d rather us lose and know we’ve given it our all. How many times now have we lost 1-0 away from home and not tried? I’ve lost count
 
Jaffa_The_Hut said:
Off track?
I’ve explained why we bossed the second half against a poor team and I’ve answered the bit about the Critchley haters on here but from my prospective so I’m not sure what else there is left to answer? 🤷‍♂️
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Not sure wtf i did to add 3 posts above mine, duh.

I agree with most the stuff you say, but I just don't agree with every poor performance by 11 players out there is Critchleys fault and ok if we were bossed one half and bossed them the other, that's credit to the players? Anyway... bollox to carrying this on, it's not worth the effort.

I'll go a bit off track... My take on it is that the team selection was good enough to win. The formation questionable. Although the personel on the bench isn't great... nor useless, I'd have liked to have seen the first changes at half time. For me, Critchley has recently improved in his team selections, but he doesn't act soon enough when a sub or two is needed and maybe to switch a failing formation that is costing us.

I really think he needs another experienced assistant, maybe an ex manager and get rid of the nodding dogs.
Sadler could sort this out and save face, not having to sack Critchley.
He's partly to blame but the players not performing is mostly the fault of the players.
 
I’m not a football tactician and don’t get paid thousands to lead the team like NC does but what I know after today is:
- we were shite
- no passion, no ‘desire’ to win
- great support as ever (build it and they will come)
- no leadership on the pitch
- unable to (apparently) motivate a team to believe they can ‘do it’
- the Anvil is a great pub in Wigan with proper locals who enjoy our company every uear
- the train journey with fellow travellers is brilliant
- we would be awful in the championship
- I look forward to Wigan away next year and a weekend in Shrewsbury
- we will still be going home and away long after Mr Foldy Arms has left us for who knows where
- footballs a cruel mistress but we love it
- Tangerine til I die and watch the games with best mates come what may.
UTMP.
 
Previously I have challenged whether the formation is really the problem but after watching today changed my mind. We had 3 centre backs against a false number 9 and were outnumbered everywhere else. 4 3 3 with proper full backs and wide men wou!d have made more sense. No one individually played that poorly today but we looked clueless as a team.
 
bfc3pne0 said:
I’m not a football tactician and don’t get paid thousands to lead the team like NC does but what I know after today is:
- we were shite
- no passion, no ‘desire’ to win
- great support as ever (build it and they will come)
- no leadership on the pitch
- unable to (apparently) motivate a team to believe they can ‘do it’
- the Anvil is a great pub in Wigan with proper locals who enjoy our company every uear
- the train journey with fellow travellers is brilliant
- we would be awful in the championship
- I look forward to Wigan away next year and a weekend in Shrewsbury
- we will still be going home and away long after Mr Foldy Arms has left us for who knows where
- footballs a cruel mistress but we love it
- Tangerine til I die and watch the games with best mates come what may.
UTMP.
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Psst... Don't tell everyone about the Anvil! It'll be hard to get served next season if you do!
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
Lincoln’s last three games are a ridiculously extreme example. We have also had some big scorelines against some decent opponents (Bolton and Portsmouth immediately spring to mind) And We’ve scored one more goal than Lincoln over the course of this season so far 😉
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Yes, it now is the time to be hitting form, the previous seasons we have gone up via tow play offs we have been steam rollering in, this season we are a mile away from that we have been stuttering and stop starting and flattering to deceive, whereas before I was certain we would be promoted whereas even though I am hoping that we will make I don’t think we are anywhere near good enough and ido t think we’ll get there and because of that we will finish lower next season particularly if we have Critchley and his 2 sidekicks coaching and managing us.

You can’t compare Lincoln to us like you are, since January they have been top of the form league by a country mile and scoring lots of goals, it’s not a flash in the pan, it’s how we have done it in the past, but it isn’t going to happen with Neil “Interesting” Critchley in charge. You think he’s great, I think he’s useless, one of us will be right.
 
Eternaloptimist said:
We dominated the 2nd half, and had more possession overall (51% to 49%)
We had 11 shots (3 on target), they had 3 shots with just 1 on target.
When the team was announced the majority of posters were happy with the line up.
Amazing how, when we don’t win, people are quick to blame the manager when the players can’t put the ball in the back of the net.
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But who is it who picks the players who "can't put the ball in the back of the net"?

Why - Critchley, of course!

Or has that 'snippet of information' not crossed your mind, Mr Elephant?
AllTheBoysAreCheerin' said:
I had a great day out on the ale with great mates, the football was shit but that's the way it's been for most of my life following The Pool! Perhaps you should try going to games with like minded individuals (there are a good number of Pool fans down south) rather than sitting at home being miserable! A few beers, and a laugh or two on the train, and the football becomes what it really is... Just a game!
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Supersub said:
I believe Critchley said following our 1 - 0 win at Shrewsbury, that there is nothing better than a a 1 nil away win. Three points and a clean sheet. This mindset is the problem. Week after week he sets us up play like this. When it comes off, even if we haven't played very well, we are grateful for the points and we tend to excuse the poor overall performance. Apart from a couple of exceptions such as Portsmouth and Peterborough away, our away form has been dire.
This in my view is down to Critchley. The players have signed up to his tactics, playing from the back, passing the ball backwards, sideways, in the main bypassing midfield and then booting it up the middle to players who are too small or not strong enough to take control of the ball.
I think that Critchley has instilled this style of play into the players and when the opposition force their tactics and style of play upon us, we simply can't cope and don't know what to do. The players have been given clear instructions from the Manager as to how to play and when things aren't working out, they simply can't or don't know how to change what they are doing.
With a different, more positive approach to away games, we would be in a much better position and I am truly saddened and disappointed that this season has been a wasted opportunity . Completely down to the Manager.
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NAIL ON HEAD!
 
hertfordseasider said:
Yes, it now is the time to be hitting form, the previous seasons we have gone up via tow play offs we have been steam rollering in, this season we are a mile away from that we have been stuttering and stop starting and flattering to deceive, whereas before I was certain we would be promoted whereas even though I am hoping that we will make I don’t think we are anywhere near good enough and ido t think we’ll get there and because of that we will finish lower next season particularly if we have Critchley and his 2 sidekicks coaching and managing us.

You can’t compare Lincoln to us like you are, since January they have been top of the form league by a country mile and scoring lots of goals, it’s not a flash in the pan, it’s how we have done it in the past, but it isn’t going to happen with Neil “Interesting” Critchley in charge. You think he’s great, I think he’s useless, one of us will be right.
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I can’t compare us to Lincoln because you’ve decided to make up a random rule to suit ?

Of course I can compare us to them … I’ve said we’ve scored more goals than them and we have. That’s a fact… Up until a week or two ago, we’d scored a hell of a lot more goals than them… things can change in football quickly!!

I agree this season has been frustrating and we’ve never managed to put a consistent run together. It’s been mostly average interspersed with some great stuff and a bit of shit.

Next season is a fresh start and another season. It may be good, bad or indifferent.. I’d expect us to improve under Critchley rather than go backwards. I also think there’s been signs of improvement recently.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
I can’t compare us to Lincoln because you’ve decided to make up a random rule to suit ?

Of course I can compare us to them … I’ve said we’ve scored more goals than them and we have. That’s a fact… Up until a week or two ago, we’d scored a hell of a lot more goals than them… things can change in football quickly!!

I agree this season has been frustrating and we’ve never managed to put a consistent run together. It’s been mostly average interspersed with some great stuff and a bit of shit.

Next season is a fresh start and another season. It may be good, bad or indifferent.. I’d expect us to improve under Critchley rather than go backwards. I also think there’s been signs of improvement recently.
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Well, I disagree, once the loans go back we have a decidedly average league 1 side and I think the recruitment teams have been disappointing for the last 3 seasons. I also think we will get to about November and we will be mid table and the pressure will be unbearable on Sadler. Of course we don’t know but I just can’t see Critchley improving unless he gets a reall experienced coach next to him who he has to listen to.
 
hertfordseasider said:
As Lincoln score 16 in their last 3 games. What are your thoughts on our managers set up and tactics, subs on 70 minutes again, prayers looking like strangers. Playing so deep playing so slowly and playing it backwards.
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Pesky Imps, playing the Blackpool Way
 
hertfordseasider said:
Well, I disagree, once the loans go back we have a decidedly average league 1 side and I think the recruitment teams have been disappointing for the last 3 seasons. I also think we will get to about November and we will be mid table and the pressure will be unbearable on Sadler. Of course we don’t know but I just can’t see Critchley improving unless he gets a reall experienced coach next to him who he has to listen to.
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Yes… you’re a very negative when it comes to football. That’s your choice, but it’s not reality. It’s certainly not how I see it either. We’ve just had a bad day today - the sky isn’t falling in and the Club isn’t going to crumble because of it.

New loans will come in.. We may even sign one or two of the current loans on permanents… We may lose some dead wood and we will bring in some additions… Some of our younger players will have developed too..

Summer is going to be the first real opportunity for our new recruitment set up to really make their mark… The signs aren’t bad as we’ve brought in some decent players (albeit loans) recently.
 
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