Do you still back Critchley?

Do you still back Critchley?

  • Total voters
    305
Phil_bfc deux

Phil_bfc deux

Well-known member
Been a while since he came back and whilst I was prepared to give him a chance, things don't look great

Poor tactics and playing people out of position again

I also think we are 3 or 4 players short, if that's down to Critchley or Sadler I'm not sure

But however you dress it up, the football is dull and uninspiring with very little creativity
 
Saturday was unacceptable. Lincoln was unacceptable. And he played the EXACT same way at both games.

The formation isn't working and hasn't worked. I really don't care about Wigan, they were just crap that day.

IF and that is IF he persists with this formation then he has to put players who are comfortable in positions. Husband at left wing back. Lyons at right wing back. Dembele plays close to Rhodes. Simple as that.
 
SeasideKurt said:
Saturday was unacceptable. Lincoln was unacceptable. And he played the EXACT same way at both games.

The formation isn't working and hasn't worked. I really don't care about Wigan, they were just crap that day.

IF and that is IF he persists with this formation then he has to put players who are comfortable in positions. Husband at left wing back. Lyons at right wing back. Dembele plays close to Rhodes. Simple as that.
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Yep I dont think the formation is the issue it's more a case of the players he's playing in said formation

Wingbacks are wrong and on the opposite side of the pitch to where they would have at least a chance to cross the ball
 
Would have rather had Dobbie or a fresh manager with new ideas. Can see why we got him back and willing to give him a bit more time but he needs to accept what’s he’s trying isn’t working and go back to the formula we had before when we did well.

Sick of travelling and spending my money watching same shit every game.
 
Saturday was unacceptable for a variety of reasons and as i said elsewhere each bad performance and there's been many already this season just makes you start to question what the hell he is doing. He still needs to be given more time but that can only work if he realises himself that there are major flaws with the way he is setting his team up how to play.
 
I voted unsure needs time as that described as near as possible what I think. But if he continues with this weird system & bizarre team selections it could easily be changed to useless. I really don't know why he should need much time to realise CJ & Connolly are NOT wing backs & that coupled with them also being put on the wrong sides leaves me totally baffled. As with Appleton (who I really didn't want) to Critchley who I was persuaded was the right choice, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt until Christmas.
 
I never wanted him back, a totally uninspiring appointment again by Sadler..

the rubbish we played in the championship under him was best described as pragmatic but more accurately described as dull and negative.
The 5-0 defeat at already relegated Peterborough summed it up for me, he is as dull as dishwater and struggles to motivate players.

He is still riding on a good 3/4 of the last league 1 campaign in which he finally got the team playing after a really poor start, many are hoping this will be repeated, i personally doubt it!
 
For me it’s the formation and it’s impacting midfield and upfront. We do have some very good players at this level, both in midfield and upfront. Norburn is a great example, looks a shadow of the player he is.

However, my concern is, that NC to be giving the same cautious directions in any formation.

I was bored stiff first time around and what we saw at Derby, Birmingham and Preston, plus others, is what we are seeing again. We had better players then, yet we still set out not to lose, even later in the season when we were very safe in terms of league position.

The guy is uninspiring and lacks self-awareness. After a run of poor performances he’d not think twice fist pumping after a scratchy win. I’ve nothing against the celebration, just that it demonstrates to me that he’s not able to see the bigger picture and our on-field problems. You’ve got to stay balanced and not get carried away with a win / loss. Consistency is key and at present we are consistently poor & boring.

Sadly, we know he’s not going anywhere, so fans need to ignore his fist pumping, so he gets the message. He still seems very immature as a manager. Let’s direct all our support and after match thanks to the players. They are good enough to be up at the top.
 
20togo said:
Saturday was unacceptable for a variety of reasons and as i said elsewhere each bad performance and there's been many already this season just makes you start to question what the hell he is doing. He still needs to be given more time but that can only work if he realises himself that there are major flaws with the way he is setting his team up how to play.
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He’s had 15 games including pre season, plus indoor games, plus training, if he doesn’t realise by now it isn’t working, then he’s deluded.
 
Don’t think we have a choice but not to back him at the moment. I don’t think we’ve had a great transfer window & are lacking in a few key areas.

To get us cracking, I think he needs to stop worrying so much about what the opposition are doing & concentrate on what we can do. We’re setting up at home to Port Vale like they are Real Madrid and he’s talking up Wycombe offensively like Pep’s Barca.

Give Dembele a run of games to get going, ditch Connolly as a left wing back and face facts that the January 2022 signing of Jake Beesley was where it all started to trend downwards recruitment wise and admit he’s not up to the job, even a League below to what we bought him for.

Midfield is also the key as I don’t think we’ve got the mix right yet in relation to sitting, attacking and blend.

We can’t get into this wanting managers changed after a short period but we also can’t have someone picking players in the wrong position, which is basic stuff.
 
The football is boring and not winning. Doesn't get worse.
Sick of us signing 4 players who are similar standard and don't improve the team, instead of spending the money on 1 or 2 who are better than we have. Why Morgan, Weir, Oakley-booth instead of a player who is much better. We still have Norburn, Virtue, Carey, Dougall etc. We needed quality not quantity.
 
TangerineMatt said:
43% calling him useless, I guarantee 90% of those people were joining in with the fist pumps the previous game against Wigan. Absolutely fickle.
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I doubt the North is well represented on here, which is where the main reaction is. On that basis and the vote, I think you’re misguided thinking it’s 90%. I’ve never responded to his fist pumping, so I’ll be in the 10%.

Fans need to enjoy wins but not get carried away. Likewise, no over-reaction to a loss. I believe most of our fans are sensible enough to see that and understand the very real problems we have on the pitch at present.
 
Dull, uninspiring football so far. We give average league one teams for too much respect instead of playing to our strengths and playing players in their best positions.

I'd been to every game so far but I knew he wouldn't learn, so didn't bother with Wycombe. I was planning on going to every game this season, but I'm not made of money and I've been bored rigid at every away league game so far, so I can't justify the time and money. It's supposed to be entertaining, not a glorified training session for Critchley to attempt to show how tactically astute he is, and where the result doesn't matter.
 
I think he's a good coach and tbf he looks just as p*ssed off with some players on the sidelines in most games as we seem to be. I don't like the formation or more accurately how he's trying to play it though and he either needs to change it or play players who could play it ie Lyons, Dom as wbs for a start. The biggest area I don't like though is the midfield 3. It doesn't look right and I don't think it's the players. They are either getting dragged out wide cos our wide men are inept or its by design or maybe it's both, in either case it doesn't work.
Im prepared to give him more time as I do think he's a good coach but that's also dependant on him. If he can't recognise the problem or that there even is one then that is a huge worry as then I'd re-evaluate him and start questioning his competence.
 
I almost clicked the unsure button but that’s almost unending with any manager. So in a binary yes or no I’m going yes.
The football is appalling, poor, slow, laborious etc etc etc. However if he’s got a plan and this is stage 1 then so be it.
He needs success, we need success so I’m going to back him to do what he did last time around.
 
Pretty much what Chunky said. League position and results so far, the season hasn't levelled out yet and could go either way as things stand. There's enough for optimism but also for us not being good enough. I hope the master plan is there and that things start to click with the new players and those returning from injury (Gabriel right now would hopefully solve a few problems). In the meantime, lets see a reaction at home to Reading and get a decent win.
 
The set up is awful and the defensive, pedestrian mindset and style of play (particularly away) is putting us on the back foot against ordinary but aggressive teams who will fight for every advantage. I'm not the slightest bit looking forward to Saturday. That can't be right. There again, it's only Monday. Unsure - bordering had enough.
 
What he did with us last time - in different circumstances and with other personalities - was fantastic.

It is now history, like my times in Iraq and Afghanistan. Time can be cruel.

What NC has done since he left us, has been largely disappointing. I see another Graham Carr-type situation.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
A right footer on the right and a left footer on the left would be a start

The wing backs just dont create playing on their weak foot

Its obvious
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I'm not convinced Connolly and CJ would create more if they switched flanks. They are the wrong people first and foremost.

I suspect Critch will change formation before the end of October again. I'm not convinced we will kick on this time like we did in 20/21. We seem to collectively lack the confidence and we don't appear to have a Jerry. Unless Rhodes or Joseph answers the call.

And I agree with Mark_GT that ordinary aggressive teams that fight for the ball are finding us a soft touch. Not sure how that changes.
 
He's supposed to be managing a group of league one footballers in league one but I'm convinced he still thinks he's coaching Premier League players at Aston Villa.

I've only been able to get to the Burton and Port Vale games but I saw enough there to recognise that once the opening day enthusiasm wore off and he got them in at half time, they've never looked forward since. It came across as being far too over complicated for what it is, too focused on trying to limit already limited opposition. Wonky wing backs for the sake of trying to act the smart arse and overthink it.

I'd say we're once again back at the point when he first came in on his first stint. When he was unfiltered and given free reign to try some things the FA showed him on his coaching course. But in his head he'll now be above having Colin Calderwood telling him everything he knows is wrong. He's got his echo chamber thing going on with the other two fellas Garrity and Brunskill.

It's not all 100% down to tactical ideas though. Recruitment, retention and squad planning once again looks patchy. Used up the ideas early and then scattergunned the rest of it. They also appear to have swapped Jerry Yates for a bag of magic beans. Got rid of all the personality.
 
Even though I don't rate him at all he still needs more time, but how long is debatable. If he carries on with these tactics and players out of position then it isn't going to get any better. If it starts to improve a bit then he will get longer, if we go on a really bad run then I think his time will be limited. There is plenty of time to improve and start to gel and that has to be the best thing all round.
 
hertfordseasider said:
Even though I don't rate him at all he still needs more time, but how long is debatable. If he carries on with these tactics and players out of position then it isn't going to get any better. If it starts to improve a bit then he will get longer, if we go on a really bad run then I think his time will be limited. There is plenty of time to improve and start to gel and that has to be the best thing all round.
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So if you don't rate him and the owner is shit too who was responsible for getting us promotion first time round?
 
Unfortunately, everything negative that was anticipated pre-season is now actually happening. Even down to speculation that if the maestro returned he’d need support from an experienced right-hand man like Calderwood. Needless to say, like the proverbial, slo-mo, car crash, it’s all falling into place. As many have commented on here previously, we need a younger version of Holloway at the helm, not a Worthington 2.
 
straightatthewall said:
So if you don't rate him and the owner is shit too who was responsible for getting us promotion first time round?
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I'm talking about now, I love Ollie but wouldn't want him back managing us and the Stains were our owners when we got to the EPL, were they responsible?. It has been shit for nearly 2 years now and the managerial appointments have been farcical as have the turnover in staff behind the scenes. So do you actually think Critchley is doing well and Sadler knows how to run the football side of the club and everything (to quote BFCx3) is fine?
 
Another ‘Loaded’ Poll 😂

hertfordseasider said:
I'm talking about now, I love Ollie but wouldn't want him back managing us and the Stains were our owners when we got to the EPL, were they responsible?. It has been shit for nearly 2 years now and the managerial appointments have been farcical as have the turnover in staff behind the scenes. So do you actually think Critchley is doing well and Sadler knows how to run the football side of the club and everything (to quote BFCx3) is fine?
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If you’re going to quote someone, then you ought to at least try to reflect what they’ve actually said 🙄

We have only recently (literally within the last few months) had a complete overhaul of the board, Senior Management Team, Recruitment & Manager. In addition, we’ve suffered a relegation, lost key players and brought in a number of additions (some who are yet to properly feature).

In any other world there would be a calm and rational appreciation of the situation, an understanding that things will take time to bed in and the manager would be afforded a modicum of common sense.

The only farcical or more aptly ‘utterly ridiculous’ thing right now is the attitude of a minority of ultra-reactionary supporters… It amazes me how some of you manage to cope with the ups and downs of actual life, when watching a football game seems to throw your existence into turmoil once a week.
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
Another ‘Loaded’ Poll 😂


If you’re going to quote someone, then you ought to at least try to reflect what they’ve actually said 🙄

We have only recently (literally within the last few months) had a complete overhaul of the board, Senior Management Team, Recruitment & Manager. In addition, we’ve suffered a relegation, lost key players and brought in a number of additions (some who are yet to properly feature).

In any other world there would be a calm and rational appreciation of the situation, an understanding that things will take time to bed in and the manager would be afforded a modicum of common sense.

The only farcical or more aptly ‘utterly ridiculous’ thing right now is the attitude of a minority of ultra-reactionary supporters… It amazes me how some of you manage to cope with the ups and downs of actual life, when watching a football game seems to throw your existence into turmoil once a week
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Loaded?
 
Do we actually have any genuine wing backs?.By definition you have to be equally good going forward and back and the fact Critchley operates with Hamilton and Connolly would suggest not.

Even played on the correct side Hamilton isn't half a full back and Connolly isn't half a winger.Some would argue Hamilton isn't half a winger either but that's another debate.

Lyons and Gabriel are perhaps nearer the mark but with neither recently available it's not proven.

Given its such a critical part of the formation you would have thought some investment might have been idea in order to deploy at the outset and with continuity.We don't have it .
 
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hertfordseasider said:
I'm talking about now, I love Ollie but wouldn't want him back managing us and the Stains were our owners when we got to the EPL, were they responsible?. It has been shit for nearly 2 years now and the managerial appointments have been farcical as have the turnover in staff behind the scenes. So do you actually think Critchley is doing well and Sadler knows how to run the football side of the club and everything (to quote BFCx3) is fine?
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It's fun innit!
 
Think the poll is flawed because I still trust him but can't say I'm a fan of his .. but voted Yes anyway!
 
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