For the first time this season, I'm unsure

Phil_bfc deux

Well-known member
If we have enough to stay up

I'm bitterly disappointed that we didn't bring a couple more in this window

Granted the squad looks a hell of a lot stronger than it did when we started the season and at least we have options now, options that we didn't have during one of the most unique seasons we have had to face

All those games squeezed in due to the World Cup really put us on the back foot due to the lack of squad depth.

The Summer Window was horrendous did the club not realise it was a full on 2 games a week for 2 months

The appointment of Mick McCarthy given our squad and the players we signed in January before he came in baffles me a little

McCarthy certainly wouldn't have been my first choice to take over, thats not being disrespectful towards him as he's a experienced campaigner at this level

However I'm not sure we have the players for his proven style of play

We don't really have the wingbacks for 3 centre halves and I'm not sure we have the right sort of wingers for a 442 either. I don't believe we have a long throw specialist (this is something that Mick has had and relied on at previous clubs) and I don't think we have the big physical athletic central midfield types either

And we still don't have a decent alternative to Madine

It's going to be interesting to see how we set up and what the manager wants to do as we have a lot of technical smaller players in our squad

Fingers crossed we will get out of this but this last week in the market is disappointing

The whole thing shows a distinct lack of planning from the board I'm afraid

Utmp ....
 
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If we have enough to stay up

I'm bitterly disappointed that we didn't bring a couple more in this window

Granted the squad looks a hell of a lot stronger than it did when we started the season and at least we have options now, options that we didn't have during one of the most unique seasons we have had to face

All those games squeezed in due to the World Cup really put us on the back foot due to the lack of squad depth.

The Summer Window was horrendous did the club not realise it was a full on 2 games a week for 2 months

The appointment of Mick McCarthy given our squad and the players we signed in January before he came in baffles me a little

McCarthy certainly wouldn't have been my first choice to take over, thats not being disrespectful towards him as he's a experienced campaigner at this level

However I'm not sure we have the players for his proven style of play

We don't really have the wingbacks for 3 centre halves and I'm not sure we have the right sort of wingers for a 442 either. I don't believe we have a long throw specialist (this is something that Mick has had and relied on at previous clubs) and I don't think we have the big physical athletic central midfield types either

We still don't have a decent alternative to Madine either

It's going to be interesting to see how we set up and what the manager wants to do as we have a lot of technical smaller players in our squad

Fingers crossed we will get out of this but this last week in the market is disappointing

The whole thing shows a distinct lack of planning from the board I'm afraid

Utmp ....
You were all for sticking with Appleton (and I was undecided and thought he needed time)

One question, with the squad we have now, which manager between Appleton and McCarthy do you think would give us the best chance of staying up?
 
You were all for sticking with Appleton (and I was undecided and thought he needed time)

One question, with the squad we have now, which manager between Appleton and McCarthy do you think would give us the best chance of staying up?
I don't know to be honest

Bowler and Rogers certainly don't look like McCarthy players, but on the other hand Goode and Nelson probably aren't the type of defenders that Appleton would have gone for

Hence why I think it's all a bit of a mess
 
The likes of Stewart, Bridcutt & Fiorini may well be available for selection soon. A fit Stewart or Bridcutt would be a massive boost.

As for the System….. Big Mick needs to dig deep and get creative…
 
The fact that we don't really have that many McCarthy type players

Big Mick will have to adapt as I certainly don't want to see Bowler playing centre midfield or CJ as a wingback again
That hasn’t changed since you said he can have no excuses though, we haven’t signed anyone since then, or lost any first teamers?
 
You were all for sticking with Appleton (and I was undecided and thought he needed time)

One question, with the squad we have now, which manager between Appleton and McCarthy do you think would give us the best chance of staying up?
Appleton without the support of the Blackpool fans was a dead man walking, he had no chance. McCarthy will be given a chance to turn the season around. If it was a level playing field I would have stuck with Appleton to the end of the season.
 
That hasn’t changed since you said he can have no excuses though, we haven’t signed anyone since then, or lost any first teamers?
You do struggle don't you?

So let me try and clarify again

The squad is probably the strongest it's been since Sadler came in, on paper it looks decent

So yeah big Mick has a stronger hand to play with than the last bloke

However I'm not sure if we have the players to suit Big Micks style of play

OK??
 
Hence why I think it's all a bit of a mess
Can't disagree with that Phil, I know we've signed some in this window, but the lack of any fee being payed for anyone is very disappointing. I didn't expect us to go massive and lash money out for the sake of it and it was always going to be difficult in this window but we are still as short in the middle of the park as we have been since the summer.
Can anyone actually see Bridcutt or Stewart playing anytime soon? I can honestly see them both leaving in the summer without kicking another ball in anger.

Still, it's all done now, over to Big Mick to sort it out and claw in the points needed, I don't give a shiney shite how he does it, he just needs to do it!
 
You do struggle don't you?

So let me try and clarify again

The squad is probably the strongest it's been since Sadler came in, on paper it looks decent

So yeah big Mick has a stronger hand to play with than the last bloke

However I'm not sure if we have the players to suit Big Micks style of play

OK??
I don’t struggle at all no.

You started a thread a week or so ago, following the signings of Bowler, Trybull and Rogers stating that McCarthy can have no excuses now the squads been strengthened.

Now you’ve started another one stating that you think we may go down as we haven’t got the players to suit McCarthy’s style - I’d say that’s probably an excuse, no??

Which one is it? Or is this another case of trying to cover all bases so you can turn around at the end of the season and tell everyone you were right?
 
I don’t struggle at all no.

You started a thread a week or so ago, following the signings of Bowler, Trybull and Rogers stating that McCarthy can have no excuses now the squads been strengthened.

Now you’ve started another one stating that you think we may go down as we haven’t got the players to suit McCarthy’s style - I’d say that’s probably an excuse, no??

Which one is it? Or is this another case of trying to cover all bases so you can turn around at the end of the season and tell everyone you were right?
It's not that black and white is it?

Have you actually read what I posted above?
 
We’ve had a good window and on paper we have a decent squad, we have an experienced manager who knows how to get us up the table, I’m absolutely sure we’ll be ok. My only concern is the next few games which look difficult, had the decision been taken early to replace Appleton, I’d have felt even more confident.
 
I'm bitterly disappointed that we didn't bring a couple more in this window
I think Simon's deep pockets have been tested this season, wouldn't be surprised if revenues aren't as high, Mick will have cost a few bob and yeah we had Critch/Bowler money but with some expensive projects coming up I'd say with who is available in January (in our position and with our budget) I think we've done OK and have enough to stay up.
 
.
Mick will get the players playing his way, he pretty much said in his first or second interview, if they not playing or training as he wants, they won't be playing.
So they will all be his type of players, I get the point about the type of players he usually.
The 2 centre halves brought in are his type of players.
They are professional footballers and can play in any system the managers ask, we have full backs and wing backs, we have plenty centre defenders so to say we don't have the right Mick McCarthy players..
With this squad, he can play 5-3-2, 4-4-2 or what ever system to get us the points we need..
 
I doubt any player who isn’t fully fit and contributing would be named in the 25. They’ll be assessed and brought in once they are ready I’d have thought.
The 25 players that Blackpool name and submit to the EFL this week are the only players we can use this season. If we name less than 25 players this week then my understanding is we can still add players. However we can’t chop and change if we name 25 this week except in very exceptional circumstances usually involving a goalkeeper. There is pressure to include Fiorini in the 25 because he is in loan from Man City.
 
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whether we have or don't have enough to stay up, I've no idea, only time will tell. Football is played on the pitch not in our minds with guesswork. What we need more than anything else is to start winning games because only that will give us a chance of staying in this division.
 
Do you think all of these 3 players will be named in the 25, I don’t.
Fiorini maybe
Something odd in the fact he has not been sent back, maybe there is, an option to buy at the end of the season.
Hope Stewart never pulls on the famous tangerine, he has given the club nothing in return for his wages but he does not need football anymore due to his investments
 
The 25 players that Blackpool name and submit to the EFL this week are the only players we can use this season. If we nane less than 25 players this week then my understanding is we can still add players. However we can’t chop and change if we name 25 except in very exceptional circumstances usually involving a goalkeeper. There is pressure to include Fiorini in the 25 because he is in loan from Man City.
No we can’t chop and change, but you can assess players for inclusion as and when they become fit to play, which makes more sense than naming unfit players.
 
We’ve had a good window and on paper we have a decent squad, we have an experienced manager who knows how to get us up the table, I’m absolutely sure we’ll be ok. My only concern is the next few games which look difficult, had the decision been taken early to replace Appleton, I’d have felt even more confident.
I agree that Appleton should have gone earlier(and that’s much earlier) and indeed shouldn’t have been appointed in the first place.

However I don’t think it was a great window and has just about covered what should have been easy recruitment in the summer. We are still making lowball bids with no chance of completion and despite 5.5 million in the coffers didn’t sign any permanents for a fee. It just doesn’t add up to me and I do wonder if we have any liquid funds or whether the day to day running costs are eroding all our finances.

We still needed a mobile good in the air centre forward, a left wing back and a big skilful midfield maestro and if we do go down following the clusterfuck of a mess arrogant Appleton left us in then they might have been the difference. Absolutely massive week next week and really we need 5 points from the next 3 games. I’m hopeful we can get 6 which would help us no end. We have a better than average fighting chance in my mind and I’m optimistic we can stay up. Then it’s down to the board to have the courage to part company with big Mick appoint the right man and recruit some quality new recruits.
 
Aside from being a bit disappointed we still haven’t brought in that goal poacher I think the additional players have improved the squad considerably.

There will be pressure on the midfield and forwards to deliver goals regularly and if played every week Jerry really will need to deliver. I hope those who are part of the love in with Jerry are right otherwise ….
 
Aside from being a bit disappointed we still haven’t brought in that goal poacher I think the additional players have improved the squad considerably.

There will be pressure on the midfield and forwards to deliver goals regularly and if played every week Jerry really will need to deliver. I hope those who are part of the love in with Jerry are right otherwise ….
Jerry is absolutely key in our survival and we need to get him scoring as quickly as possible.
 
I doubt any player who isn’t fully fit and contributing would be named in the 25. They’ll be assessed and brought in once they are ready I’d have thought.
The only problem with that is players can’t dip in and out of the squad. If Stewart or Bridcutt, by some strange event, were declared fit and named in the squad. Then a couple of games later, surprise surprise, they were injured again, we are buggered, again.
 
The only problem with that is players can’t dip in and out of the squad. If Stewart or Bridcutt, by some strange event, were declared fit and named in the squad. Then a couple of games later, surprise surprise, they were injured again, we are buggered, again.
No you can now update the squad regularly with the efl
 
The only problem with that is players can’t dip in and out of the squad. If Stewart or Bridcutt, by some strange event, were declared fit and named in the squad. Then a couple of games later, surprise surprise, they were injured again, we are buggered, again.
Who’s talking about players ‘dipping in and out‘ of the squad?

literally any player can get re-injured and frankly I’d take a three game run with Stewart over 15 games with Fiorini any day of the week, in any case.
 
The only problem with that is players can’t dip in and out of the squad. If Stewart or Bridcutt, by some strange event, were declared fit and named in the squad. Then a couple of games later, surprise surprise, they were injured again, we are buggered, again.
Some hard decisions need to be taken with these 2 but it’s not clear where they are in the recovery cycle, but l can’t see MM taking a risk on both even when recovered and l doubt very much either will be named in the squad list this week assuming we leave a space or 2.
 
Some hard decisions need to be taken with these 2 but it’s not clear where they are in the recovery cycle, but l can’t see MM taking a risk on both even when recovered and l doubt very much either will be named in the squad list this week assuming we leave a space or 2.
The last ’educated guess’ from the paper was that they would be back in contention around now.
 
Put me down in the mystified camp, the signings we made clearly indicate MM intended to play with 5 at the back but i don't see how both Bowler and Rodgers play in that system. The players we have beg for the 4-2-3-1 system that MM doesn't like. We're 2/3 players short for MMbol depending on whether you see Thompson as LWB. I agree with Phil although I won't be making a habit of it!!
 
I think the biggest factor in our favour now is the MM affect, we needed that buzz back on the terraces, it’s a massive boost for the players and manager and a massive boost to us. The atmosphere around MA was dire and that has now gone.

Bloomfield Road will be absolutely rocking again and that is worth extra points itself. Plenty of games to go, we aren’t cut adrift, games in hand and it looks like we could have 4 or 5 players back from long term injury.
 
Put me down in the mystified camp, the signings we made clearly indicate MM intended to play with 5 at the back but i don't see how both Bowler and Rodgers play in that system. The players we have beg for the 4-2-3-1 system that MM doesn't like. We're 2/3 players short for MMbol depending on whether you see Thompson as LWB. I agree with Phil although I won't be making a habit of it!!
Yep it's bizarre that we now have so many wingers but look like we won't be playing a system to suit them
 
Is it true your first game watching Blackpool was Wigan away in the Prem?

…according to a substantiated rumour over in Hua Hin….and there was me thinking you were a long standing through the hard times fan…..😏😂

@Phil_bfc deux
 
Is it true your first game watching Blackpool was Wigan away in the Prem?

…according to a substantiated rumour over in Hua Hin….and there was me thinking you were a long standing through the hard times fan…..😏😂

@Phil_bfc deux

I’ve been to Hua Hin, great place, food was amazing around the street markets, have a good time lads 👍
 
Is it true your first game watching Blackpool was Wigan away in the Prem?

…according to a substantiated rumour over in Hua Hin….and there was me thinking you were a long standing through the hard times fan…..😏😂

@Phil_bfc deux
Of course it's not true it's a standing joke with a good mate of mine

My first game was Waford at home in 1976 although I started going properly around the 1980s

Hope you enjoyed his company 😉
 
If we have enough to stay up

I'm bitterly disappointed that we didn't bring a couple more in this window

Granted the squad looks a hell of a lot stronger than it did when we started the season and at least we have options now, options that we didn't have during one of the most unique seasons we have had to face

All those games squeezed in due to the World Cup really put us on the back foot due to the lack of squad depth.

The Summer Window was horrendous did the club not realise it was a full on 2 games a week for 2 months

The appointment of Mick McCarthy given our squad and the players we signed in January before he came in baffles me a little

McCarthy certainly wouldn't have been my first choice to take over, thats not being disrespectful towards him as he's a experienced campaigner at this level

However I'm not sure we have the players for his proven style of play

We don't really have the wingbacks for 3 centre halves and I'm not sure we have the right sort of wingers for a 442 either. I don't believe we have a long throw specialist (this is something that Mick has had and relied on at previous clubs) and I don't think we have the big physical athletic central midfield types either

And we still don't have a decent alternative to Madine

It's going to be interesting to see how we set up and what the manager wants to do as we have a lot of technical smaller players in our squad

Fingers crossed we will get out of this but this last week in the market is disappointing

The whole thing shows a distinct lack of planning from the board I'm afraid

Utmp ....
A comedy gold run chase if ever I saw one 🙄
 
You do struggle don't you?

So let me try and clarify again

The squad is probably the strongest it's been since Sadler came in, on paper it looks decent

So yeah big Mick has a stronger hand to play with than the last bloke

However I'm not sure if we have the players to suit Big Micks style of play

OK??
He will adapt, unlike the previous incumbent who couldn't.
He probably had to get his misses to help him change his undies he was that entrenched.
 
I just hope adapting doesn't mean we play CJ as a wing back or Bowler as a central midfielder like he did at Southampton
I get that but he has a full hand now and there is no Appleturd influence at the club now.
If Mick made that call on CJ it is a worry and to find the answer to that we will have to see if it happens again.
The first game in the cup was always a sharp learning curve and it will be 3 weeks I think on Saturday on the training ground and things hopefully will be better.
MM is a smart guy and have some faith Phil...
 
Who’s talking about players ‘dipping in and out‘ of the squad?

literally any player can get re-injured and frankly I’d take a three game run with Stewart over 15 games with Fiorini any day of the week, in any case.
That’s where we differ, it wouldn’t bother me in the least if we cancelled Stewarts contract and never heard from him again. I would put money on him, once he has left us, on him never playing again.
 
Appleton without the support of the Blackpool fans was a dead man walking, he had no chance. McCarthy will be given a chance to turn the season around. If it was a level playing field I would have stuck with Appleton to the end of the season.
What do you mean by “level playing field?”

So you would have stuck with Appleton? Regardless of level playing field or not it was blatantly obvious that he was not up to the job. No tactical nous, no impact substitutions when it was blatantly obvious to everyone and, worst of all, standing totally motionless in his technical area for 90 mins.
So you would want someone like that to see us through the season and into Division 1?
Strange!
 
I just hope adapting doesn't mean we play CJ as a wing back or Bowler as a central midfielder like he did at Southampton
McCarthy has confirmed a conversation he has had with Bowler, he won’t be played on the wing, however there is an option to prove he is good enough to play in midfield but that will involve tracking back.
 
What do you mean by “level playing field?”

So you would have stuck with Appleton? Regardless of level playing field or not it was blatantly obvious that he was not up to the job. No tactical nous, no impact substitutions when it was blatantly obvious to everyone and, worst of all, standing totally motionless in his technical area for 90 mins.
So you would want someone like that to see us through the season and into Division 1?
Strange!
Sorry but there was no guarantee that Appleton would have taken us down
 
The fact that we don't really have that many McCarthy type players

Big Mick will have to adapt as I certainly don't want to see Bowler playing centre midfield or CJ as a wingback again

It is very odd new players were brought in last month and then they sack Appleton and replace him. This suggests to me that the manager / head coach has no input into recruitment - thus as you say our players don't fit the mould you would associate with Mick McCarthy (Madine aside).
 
It is very odd new players were brought in last month and then they sack Appleton and replace him. This suggests to me that the manager / head coach has no input into recruitment - thus as you say our players don't fit the mould you would associate with Mick McCarthy (Madine aside).
Goode and Nelson are McCarthy players, probably Madine and that's about it

It's very strange
 
If we have enough to stay up

I'm bitterly disappointed that we didn't bring a couple more in this window

Granted the squad looks a hell of a lot stronger than it did when we started the season and at least we have options now, options that we didn't have during one of the most unique seasons we have had to face

All those games squeezed in due to the World Cup really put us on the back foot due to the lack of squad depth.

The Summer Window was horrendous did the club not realise it was a full on 2 games a week for 2 months

The appointment of Mick McCarthy given our squad and the players we signed in January before he came in baffles me a little

McCarthy certainly wouldn't have been my first choice to take over, thats not being disrespectful towards him as he's a experienced campaigner at this level

However I'm not sure we have the players for his proven style of play

We don't really have the wingbacks for 3 centre halves and I'm not sure we have the right sort of wingers for a 442 either. I don't believe we have a long throw specialist (this is something that Mick has had and relied on at previous clubs) and I don't think we have the big physical athletic central midfield types either

And we still don't have a decent alternative to Madine

It's going to be interesting to see how we set up and what the manager wants to do as we have a lot of technical smaller players in our squad

Fingers crossed we will get out of this but this last week in the market is disappointing

The whole thing shows a distinct lack of planning from the board I'm afraid

Utmp ....
Madness.

So before today you thought we had enough?

Pre appletons sacking you thought we had enough?

Those pills the nice lady brings round for you every morning, Phil, you need to TAKE THEM. It's not a conspiracy.
 
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