Grayson V Critchley

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SeasideSid

Well-known member
Looking at league fixtures only

Grayson managed Blackpool for 29 games on his return, winning 9, drawing 10 and losing 10. We scored 38 goals during these 29 games whilst conceding 37, leaving a goal difference of 1. We accumulated 37 points before the axe came down on Grayson's second stint in charge. We averaged 1.3 goals a game whilst conceding pretty much the same and collecting the same average points per game. From the first 9 games under Grayson, we picked up 15 points from a possible 27 available.

Critchley has now managed 9 league games, winning 1, drawing 2 and losing 6. We have scored 7 goals during his short period whilst conceding double that at 14, leaving us with a -7 goal difference. Over these 9 games we have collected 5 points from the possible 27 available, averaging 0.78 goals a game whilst conceding
an average of 1.56 per game. 10 points short compared to Grayson's first 9 games, scoring less goals and conceding more on average than a Grayson team.

Furthermore, Grayson was a late appointment and pre-season had already begun and players had been signed under Terry McPhillips so you could argue it wasn't even Grayson's team but yet started so well. In support of Grayson the players he did sign during the January window, albeit on loan, were arguably our best players.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Taylor Moore and Conor Ronan, Grayson unfortunately didnt get the time to work with these players and fit them in to his way of playing - which some would say is a blessing. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't enjoying what I was seeing under Grayson but i'm so far not keen on what Critch has been producing. What was it we were looking for in our new manager? Attacking and entertaining football? 1 shot on target in a home game is not attacking nor entertaining.

Focusing now on the sacking of Grayson and his last 9 games at the helm. The 9 games are to use as a comparison to the start under Critchley. Grayson picked up 1 win, 1 draw and 7 defeats leading up to his sacking. Not too dissimilar to that of Critchley's start, with 1 draw better and 1 less defeat but still only the 1 win. So why
does Critchley deserve more time? These are his players, he has a full pre-season with them and a lot more time than Grayson to get plans into action with the
curtailment of last season and lockdown.

If we continued as we have started under Critchley for the remainder of the season, it will see us pick up 5 wins, 10 draws and 31 defeats. A total of 25 points which
would see us playing League Two football next season. It would also see us finish with a goal difference of -36 having conceded 72 goals and scoring 36 during the
season. I know there is plenty of time to go and plenty of time to improve, but how long do you give him? For me he has to win all of his next 3 games to keep his job. Anything less than 9 points against MK Dons (22nd) at home, Wimbledon (13th) away who last season were the worst team i had seen at Bloomfield Road and for me only just stayed up due to the season finishing abruptly. Then finally Burton (24th) away in the final of the 3 games.

It is no secret that the clubs aim for this season was promotion. With this in mind, how much longer do you leave it before you pull the plug on Critchley's time? We are currently 9 points from the play offs and 12 from automatic so anything less than 9 points from the next 3 will see us futher a drift.
 
"hi, Simon, look, do you want your old job back?"
"Liam and Armand?, No we let them go..."
"Ok, worth a try, thanks"

Grayson was possibly a bit hard done by. It really did look as if he'd lost the squad though. It doesn't yet look like Critchley has open mutiny on his hands.

That's probably the key difference. That and they've invested in him long term. Grayson didn't really fit with the structure either. He came before Johnson and possibly Mansford and I get the feeling he didn't especially want to work within that sort of structure.

Critchley has been identified specifically to do so. I also don't think Larry was interested in a 'project' - he's a day to day manager who (as he would say) 'is here to try to win football matches' whereas Critchley is all about the long term. (In theory at least!)
 
Coach gets more time because he is modern and progressive. Those buzzwords that allow failure to persist far longer than it ought because being modern and progressive is really really important. So even with things being obviously defective we all still need to ‘be patient’ and ‘wait for it to gel’ and be ‘convinced he will turn it around’ etc etc
 
I don’t think Sadler had the strategy in place, that he has now, when appointing Grayson. He saw the dream of promotion from day 1 and hired arguably the best league one manager for that. I think the current set up was planned and implemented which then made Grayson not fit.

Not that I am a supporter of Grayson and against Critchley, as the football was terrible with Grayson but have we improved under Critch?
 
SeasideSid said:
I don’t think Sadler had the strategy in place, that he has now, when appointing Grayson. He saw the dream of promotion from day 1 and hired arguably the best league one manager for that. I think the current set up was planned and implemented which then made Grayson not fit.

Not that I am a supporter of Grayson and against Critchley, as the football was terrible with Grayson but have we improved under Critch?
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We've definitely not played as well as we played when Dunn took over.

We're doing some things better but not things that win games.

I honestly don't know. There's been promise in some games and in others really worrying stuff.

I agree entirely with the first paragraph. I think Larry was a victim of circumstances to some extent and got a bum deal. I also don't think his general demeanour suggested he wasn't that arsed any more tho and he also did some baffling stuff.

I'm not that bothered about results at the moment, it's more whether we look like we're going to come good. If you'd asked after 3 games, I'd have said, no problem, we just need to convert good play into clear cut chances.

Last 3 games especially, we've just not offered anything. Crewe was ok, but still toothless but from second half of EFL cup v Accy, we've created probably 5 or 6 efforts close to goal at most.

Let's hope it's just a phase. What else can we do?!
 
Agree with everything you’ve said td. Let’s hope we win the next 3 and our season starts, but if we don’t - can we leave it any longer?
 
The difference is that Critchley is a big part of an overall long term strategy that's been adopted by the club - whether we agree with that strategy or not. Grayson wasn't part of any strategy, he was a quick decision because we'd been left in the lurch by the previous manager leaving three weeks before the season began after signing a ton of sub standard players. So he was seen as a safe pair of hands at short notice.

Totally different scenarios and I'd be very surprised if Critchley wasn't given more time than Grayson was. I'm not sure Grayson was ever truly wanted tbh.
 
clappers said:
Coach gets more time because he is modern and progressive. Those buzzwords that allow failure to persist far longer than it ought because being modern and progressive is really really important. So even with things being obviously defective we all still need to ‘be patient’ and ‘wait for it to gel’ and be ‘convinced he will turn it around’ etc etc
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When some of the signings haven't even started yet, allowing it to gel is a reasonable comment
 
SeasideSid said:
Looking at league fixtures only

Grayson managed Blackpool for 29 games on his return, winning 9, drawing 10 and losing 10. We scored 38 goals during these 29 games whilst conceding 37, leaving a goal difference of 1. We accumulated 37 points before the axe came down on Grayson's second stint in charge. We averaged 1.3 goals a game whilst conceding pretty much the same and collecting the same average points per game. From the first 9 games under Grayson, we picked up 15 points from a possible 27 available.

Critchley has now managed 9 league games, winning 1, drawing 2 and losing 6. We have scored 7 goals during his short period whilst conceding double that at 14, leaving us with a -7 goal difference. Over these 9 games we have collected 5 points from the possible 27 available, averaging 0.78 goals a game whilst conceding
an average of 1.56 per game. 10 points short compared to Grayson's first 9 games, scoring less goals and conceding more on average than a Grayson team.

Furthermore, Grayson was a late appointment and pre-season had already begun and players had been signed under Terry McPhillips so you could argue it wasn't even Grayson's team but yet started so well. In support of Grayson the players he did sign during the January window, albeit on loan, were arguably our best players.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Taylor Moore and Conor Ronan, Grayson unfortunately didnt get the time to work with these players and fit them in to his way of playing - which some would say is a blessing. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't enjoying what I was seeing under Grayson but i'm so far not keen on what Critch has been producing. What was it we were looking for in our new manager? Attacking and entertaining football? 1 shot on target in a home game is not attacking nor entertaining.

Focusing now on the sacking of Grayson and his last 9 games at the helm. The 9 games are to use as a comparison to the start under Critchley. Grayson picked up 1 win, 1 draw and 7 defeats leading up to his sacking. Not too dissimilar to that of Critchley's start, with 1 draw better and 1 less defeat but still only the 1 win. So why
does Critchley deserve more time? These are his players, he has a full pre-season with them and a lot more time than Grayson to get plans into action with the
curtailment of last season and lockdown.

If we continued as we have started under Critchley for the remainder of the season, it will see us pick up 5 wins, 10 draws and 31 defeats. A total of 25 points which
would see us playing League Two football next season. It would also see us finish with a goal difference of -36 having conceded 72 goals and scoring 36 during the
season. I know there is plenty of time to go and plenty of time to improve, but how long do you give him? For me he has to win all of his next 3 games to keep his job. Anything less than 9 points against MK Dons (22nd) at home, Wimbledon (13th) away who last season were the worst team i had seen at Bloomfield Road and for me only just stayed up due to the season finishing abruptly. Then finally Burton (24th) away in the final of the 3 games.

It is no secret that the clubs aim for this season was promotion. With this in mind, how much longer do you leave it before you pull the plug on Critchley's time? We are currently 9 points from the play offs and 12 from automatic so anything less than 9 points from the next 3 will see us futher a drift.
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Bloody hell you must have a lot of time on your hands I just see shit at the moment I much preferred Grayson and I thought he was rubbish as well just another bad appointment by a rookie owner it’s a marathon not a sprint.
 
SeasideSid said:
Agree with everything you’ve said td. Let’s hope we win the next 3 and our season starts, but if we don’t - can we leave it any longer?
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Depends if we're all out for promotion. If we are, I think it's naive from the board to think we can walk through the league with two youth coaches setting out on a new career and a hat full of young players who've been chucked together.

I'd hope they're wiser than that and think that stuff takes time. I can't think of an example of a team at any level that's ever made such wholesale change and won the league, let alone one with such inexperience on and off the pitch.

If we lose all three, there'll definitely be very, very big questions but in terms of 'do we HAVE to sack him? No, I don't think we do - unless its promotion or bust... I've a feeling we'll get 4 points. Which is probably the optimum number to create division and uncertainty about whether he's got a future or not...
 
tangerinetomo said:
Bloody hell you must have a lot of time on your hands I just see shit at the moment I much preferred Grayson and I thought he was rubbish as well just another bad appointment by a rookie owner it’s a marathon not a sprint.
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Can’t beat a bit of stat research tomo, adds weight to the discussion and argument and keeps the facts in sight.
 
td53 said:
Depends if we're all out for promotion. If we are, I think it's naive from the board to think we can walk through the league with two youth coaches setting out on a new career and a hat full of young players who've been chucked together.

I'd hope they're wiser than that and think that stuff takes time. I can't think of an example of a team at any level that's ever made such wholesale change and won the league, let alone one with such inexperience on and off the pitch.

If we lose all three, there'll definitely be very, very big questions but in terms of 'do we HAVE to sack him? No, I don't think we do - unless its promotion or bust... I've a feeling we'll get 4 points. Which is probably the optimum number to create division and uncertainty about whether he's got a future or not...
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The biggest trick we have missed is the experience in both the first team and staff. It needs a Dunn type figure on the staff, the least we could do as the team is what it is now.

Although I said 9 points is a must, 6 would keep him in a job for a couple more weeks at least. Unless as you said, Sadler is happy with finishing bottom half and going with the process. I want stability as much as probably anyone but we can’t just stick with someone when it isn’t working just for stability otherwise we’ll be worse off. Let’s see after the next 3 and hopefully we have a slightly better picture to look at.
 
SeasideSid said:
The biggest trick we have missed is the experience in both the first team and staff. It needs a Dunn type figure on the staff, the least we could do as the team is what it is now.

Although I said 9 points is a must, 6 would keep him in a job for a couple more weeks at least. Unless as you said, Sadler is happy with finishing bottom half and going with the process. I want stability as much as probably anyone but we can’t just stick with someone when it isn’t working just for stability otherwise we’ll be worse off. Let’s see after the next 3 and hopefully we have a slightly better picture to look at.
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I don't think you can be happy with bottom half but you accept if you can see progress. That might be slow at first, but if we finish say, 13th but we're seeing stuff starting to work and have a clear idea of what gaps need filling then that's ok. Not great, but ok. You can address the lack of experience with 3 or 4 targeted signings and rest of squad should grow into it (or at least some of them should)

Tbh, I think if he loses them all, it's difficult to see it lasting much longer beyond that as it's already clear team struggling with confidence. The verve of the opening games/preseason is gone. I'd hate to see it if we looked less confident. Hopefully likes of Ballard, Sullay etc will bring a bit of energy, guile, presence, unpredictability... We can but hope!

I'd take 6 points now I think. Depends if there's a really good performance in there. I'd lose a game if it meant in one of them, they really clicked and got something that really made them think 'yeah, actually, we can play'

Basically the Kidderminster Harriers game from 2000 for this lot.
 
M
SeasideSid said:
The biggest trick we have missed is the experience in both the first team and staff. It needs a Dunn type figure on the staff, the least we could do as the team is what it is now.

Although I said 9 points is a must, 6 would keep him in a job for a couple more weeks at least. Unless as you said, Sadler is happy with finishing bottom half and going with the process. I want stability as much as probably anyone but we can’t just stick with someone when it isn’t working just for stability otherwise we’ll be worse off. Let’s see after the next 3 and hopefully we have a slightly better picture to look at.
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Maybe we do need some experience on the sidelines, but to then use Dunn as an example is a little odd. He has less experience than Critchley.
 
Wizaard said:
M

Maybe we do need some experience on the sidelines, but to then use Dunn as an example is a little odd. He has less experience than Critchley.
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Yes and no.

It seems not to matter that Wenger, Mourinho and others didn't really play, but Mourinho always had someone like Steve Clarke, Wenger had Steve Bould.

I'm not worried in and of itself that Critch is new. It does worry me that *both* Garrity and Critchley are.

Someone like Dunn might just bring another perspective, might see things from a players point of view or refer to his experience with a sceptical kid or whatever.

I'm not looking to undermine what Critchley or the club are doing at all. It's a constructive comment. You could strengthen the foundations with a voice that comes from a different place imo.
 
This is a case of hindsight and using stats badly. If anyone remembers watching some of the football we played under Grayson you'd remember how absolutely diabolical it was at times. Wycombe away as a prime example of how utterly garbage we were.
 
At the moment we're passing teams to death with zero cutting edge, the opposition are getting one or two chances and taking them with open arms. And then just defending at absolute ease. We're very predictable going forward. And we're extremely naive. A Charlie Mulgrew type signing was what was needed in reality.
 
Wizaard said:
When some of the signings haven't even started yet, allowing it to gel is a reasonable comment
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How many players haven't started yet? Two? Will those two players make it gel? Does a centre half make it gel? Does a defensive midfield player make it gel? Not when we have problems creating chances and scoring goals it doesn't.
 
M
SeasideSid said:
The biggest trick we have missed is the experience in both the first team and staff. It needs a Dunn type figure on the staff, the least we could do as the team is what it is now.

Although I said 9 points is a must, 6 would keep him in a job for a couple more weeks at least. Unless as you said, Sadler is happy with finishing bottom half and going with the process. I want stability as much as probably anyone but we can’t just stick with someone when it isn’t working just for stability otherwise we’ll be worse off. Let’s see after the next 3 and hopefully we have a slightly better picture to look at.
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Maybe we do need some experience on the sidelines, but to then use Dunn as an example is a little odd. He has less experience than Ctitchley.
 
20togo said:
How many players haven't started yet? Two? Will those two players make it gel? Does a centre half make it gel? Does a defensive midfield player make it gel? Not when we have problems creating chances and scoring goals it doesn't.
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The forwards are starved of service, with no interaction between them or the midfield. One player can make a huge difference.
 
Wizaard said:
The forwards are starved of service, with no interaction between them or the midfield. One player can make a huge difference.
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But that has nothing to do with your point of players haven't started yet! There's more to it than that, that is simply a deflection. Sure, a player like Kaikai can make a difference, a change in formation can make a difference but sticking two players in [a centre half in and a defensive midfield player], isn't the answer to making it gel.
 
20togo said:
How many players haven't started yet? Two? Will those two players make it gel? Does a centre half make it gel? Does a defensive midfield player make it gel? Not when we have problems creating chances and scoring goals it doesn't.
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Wiz in typical 'everything is fine" mode

Its not fine

The ambition this season is promotion, we are a million miles away

We can't defend and can't score, not a good mix for a football team

As has been said further up this thread the board have been extremely naive in thinking wholesale changes with an inexperienced coach in charge would be successful in this league

I've been saying for a while that i don't want NC to be sacked, i want him to succeed as i want Blackpool to succeed

But if we can't beat MKD on Saturday a team struggling like us then maybe it is time to cut our losses and bring in someone with more experience in this league

We can't just keep doing the same things and losing games
 
20togo said:
But that has nothing to do with your point of players haven't started yet! There's more to it than that, that is simply a deflection. Sure, a player like Kaikai can make a difference, a change in formation can make a difference but sticking two players in [a centre half in and a defensive midfield player], isn't the answer to making it gel.
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No but it stops losing to average teams to silly goals. Your overall point is right though.
 
SeasideKurt said:
No but it stops losing to average teams to silly goals. Your overall point is right though.
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Yep of course it does but that wasn't Wiz's point which is what I was replying to. I would hope the introduction of Gretarsson helps although we've still got to reduce the number of crosses coming into the box which is a full back issue.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Wiz in typical 'everything is fine" mode

Its not fine

The ambition this season is promotion, we are a million miles away

We can't defend and can't score, not a good mix for a football team

As has been said further up this thread the board have been extremely naive in thinking wholesale changes with an inexperienced coach in charge would be successful in this league

I've been saying for a while that i don't want NC to be sacked, i want him to succeed as i want Blackpool to succeed

But if we can't beat MKD on Saturday a team struggling like us then maybe it is time to cut our losses and bring in someone with more experience in this league
Click to expand...

I dunno. I'll honestly take us attacking with some verve.

I think it's easier to shore up at the back than it is to create confident forward play and whilst, yeah, we clearly should win this game, if we lay into them and score a few and get close to a few more, I think that's what the team needs, desperately.

If I was Critchley, I'd think 'fuck it' and go for it.

That would however require a formation change for me, to get those players I'd think should be able to terrify them all on the pitch together and that isn't happening.

I'd go with 3 at the back. Gabriel and Mitchell essentially wide players, Madine as the focal point, two of Sullay and CJ behind him and Robson and Ward central.

It's probably a disaster formation in the context that we've trained for months to do something else but it would be fun and we'd either win or lose 5-0.

I just think these players need freeing up and sticking them in a team where the whole point is pick it up and hammer at the other team as fast and hard as you can might be mentally more suited to them.

Now I've written this, I hope he sticks to his principles and picks a sensible team lol.
 
td53 said:
I dunno. I'll honestly take us attacking with some verve.

I think it's easier to shore up at the back than it is to create confident forward play and whilst, yeah, we clearly should win this game, if we lay into them and score a few and get close to a few more, I think that's what the team needs, desperately.

If I was Critchley, I'd think 'fuck it' and go for it.

That would however require a formation change for me, to get those players I'd think should be able to terrify them all on the pitch together and that isn't happening.

I'd go with 3 at the back. Gabriel and Mitchell essentially wide players, Madine as the focal point, two of Sullay and CJ behind him and Robson and Ward central.

It's probably a disaster formation in the context that we've trained for months to do something else but it would be fun and we'd either win or lose 5-0.

I just think these players need freeing up and sticking them in a team where the whole point is pick it up and hammer at the other team as fast and hard as you can might be mentally more suited to them.

Now I've written this, I hope he sticks to his principles and picks a sensible team lol.
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4231 for me

2 holding centre mids

1 in the hole

2 wide men playing on the correct side of the pitch

And Madine
 
Some-one told me that prior to last saturday, MK Dons possession wise, since the start of the season had had more possession than any other team in Europe. You know, your City's Barcelona's, Bayerns etc. Don't know how true that is.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
4231 for me

2 holding centre mids

1 in the hole

2 wide men playing on the correct side of the pitch

And Madine
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I'd definitely pay a fiver to get the wide players on the right sides.

I just don't like inverted forwards. It only works when they're really good. All of them. Liverpool works cos they're all ridiculously good and can all swap.
 
I'd add that judging the first 7 games of Critch and the last 7 of Grayson doesn't really serve much purpose.

One team is going through the process of being bonded together and attempting to understand the system which is being put in place.
The other team was getting worse and looking totally lost in games.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Wiz in typical 'everything is fine" mode

Its not fine

The ambition this season is promotion, we are a million miles away

We can't defend and can't score, not a good mix for a football team

As has been said further up this thread the board have been extremely naive in thinking wholesale changes with an inexperienced coach in charge would be successful in this league

I've been saying for a while that i don't want NC to be sacked, i want him to succeed as i want Blackpool to succeed

But if we can't beat on Saturday a team struggling like us then maybe it is time to cut our losses and bring in someone with more experience in this league

We can't just keep doing the same things and losing games
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There is no way we will 'cut our losses' if we lose this weekend. And neither should we. It takes time to embed 17 new players and get them comfortable with playing together in a new system. The likes of Woodburn will improve for Tuesday's game time, and others will have a better understanding of each others' game.

I've never said everything is fine either, but it's not as bad as some make out either. We were minutes away from a clean sheet on Tuesday night despite playing a half with a man down. I actually thought we defended much better with Ballard and Ekpiteta as a pairing. Much calmer than in previous games, and we'll improve again. A clean sheet then means that we can get closer to that elusive win.

Talking of sacking the manager this weekend is ludicrous.
 
BlackpoolsFinest said:
I'd add that judging the first 7 games of Critch and the last 7 of Grayson doesn't really serve much purpose.

One team is going through the process of being bonded together and attempting to understand the system which is being put in place.
The other team was getting worse and looking totally lost in games.
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Yep, important point which shouldn't be overlooked.
 
Wizaard said:
There is no way we will 'cut our losses' if we lose this weekend. And neither should we. It takes time to embed 17 new players and get them comfortable with playing together in a new system. The likes of Woodburn will improve for Tuesday's game time, and others will have a better understanding of each others' game.

I've never said everything is fine either, but it's not as bad as some make out either. We were minutes away from a clean sheet on Tuesday night despite playing a half with a man down. I actually thought we defended much better with Ballard and Ekpiteta as a pairing. Much calmer than in previous games, and we'll improve again. A clean sheet then means that we can get closer to that elusive win.

Talking of sacking the manager this weekend is ludicrous.
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How long would you give him then?

The problem i have is that he's not trying anything else tactically

We play the same way every game but aren't getting points
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
How long would you give him then?

The problem i have is that he's not trying anything else tactically

We play the same way every game but aren't getting points
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I still don't think he's put out the team he wants to yet.

Personally, I'd give him the season, but I would think the powers that be will review at Christmas.

I'd also change to a back 3 of Gretarsson, Ekpiteta and Ballard with Mitchell and Garbutt as wing backs if fit. Seems like he won't though. Just seems to suit the players better, allowing some cover for the wing backs to get forward, which is their strength.
 
20togo said:
How many players haven't started yet? Two? Will those two players make it gel? Does a centre half make it gel? Does a defensive midfield player make it gel? Not when we have problems creating chances and scoring goals it doesn't.
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Do not think Virtue is defensive midfield. He will run at defences, create space and has a shot on him. He is also captain in waiting
 
The OP first - valid points for me in the first half but the forecasting in the second half is interesting but ultimately of little value to me, and I agree with 20s and BlackpoolsFinest on why. I also agree with some of what BFC_53 said re Grayson - it was an easy quick fix appointment seen as low risk but ultimately a stop gap and not part of the bigger plan. Sadler has shown the approach he wants to try, backed it to the hilt and it is still too soon to say if the experiment will work.

I still hope Sadler holds his nerve til Christmas cos otherwise even trying this will have been a waste without giving it a proper roll of the dice. I'd go the whole season, same as Wiz, but I agree it will be reviewed at Christmas. And realistically that should be long enough to see signs of this having a chance of working. That isn't me saying I guarantee it will come good, I've no idea, but I'm still happy to back us trying it.

Onto more interesting things, I like the formation you suggest Phil. And I'd expect a good manager would be looking at options like that. I've been wondering, at the risk of trying another player out of position, if Marv might fit into one of the 2 holding midfield roles in front of the defence? I am more and more impressed with him on the ball, he seems to be reading the games much better every time, and his distribution looks good. Depending how you asked those two holding mid roles to work, one more defensive, one the traditional centre mid, I'd be interested to see if that may allow us Ballard and Gretarsson centre backs and Marv sat in front of them?

I could be talking out of my hat and I realise I am possibly suggesting another square peg in a round hole, but we are in the world of experimental jazz football so why not 😀

Bugger, late for a meeting - again!
 
tangysider said:
Do not think Virtue is defensive midfield. He will run at defences, create space and has a shot on him. He is also captain in waiting
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Think you're missing my point. Not talking about Virtue, he's not a new player. Gretarsson and Dougal are the two new players I'm thinking about. Dougal being the defensive midfield player
 
20togo said:
Think you're missing my point. Not talking about Virtue, he's not a new player. Gretarsson and Dougal are the two new players I'm thinking about. Dougal being the defensive midfield player
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Point missed spectacularly, forgot about Dougal, but feel Virtue will improve midfield when fit
 
I hate to say it but I really think he needs to be replaced by someone with experience in League One

Paul Cook
Nigel Clough
The brothers that were involved with Lincoln City their name I can't remember
 
So there is much debate on here about how long we should give our current manager.I`m not sure how long his contract is for (3 years?) but no-one seems to consider the cost involved in paying off and replacing a second manager in such a short space of time together with all the money expended on the transfer fees and contracts of so many new players and the money,around £1million, seemingly wasted on ill advised signings such as Nuttall and Yates.

Simon Sadler is of course new to the role of football club owner and it is now becoming a serious concern that the advice he is getting from those he is paying to advise him is to date failing to produce results in terms of both playing staff and team management.We were all delighted to see him replace the odious ones but how uncomfortable will he now be becoming with his large investments so far not producing what he clearly was hoping for.The additional totally unpredictable loss of the support and income with Covid leaving empty stadiums is a further big blow.

I do worry on his behalf, it must be a troubling time for him both financially and psychologically wondering about whether he was right to take the club on. I just hope he makes the right decisions to turn things round and is not overwhelmed with a situation that is far from what he or we could ever have hoped for or imagined when he invested in BFC less than 18 months ago.
 
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Wizaard said:
I still don't think he's put out the team he wants to yet.

Personally, I'd give him the season, but I would think the powers that be will review at Christmas.

I'd also change to a back 3 of Gretarsson, Ekpiteta and Ballard with Mitchell and Garbutt as wing backs if fit. Seems like he won't though. Just seems to suit the players better, allowing some cover for the wing backs to get forward, which is their strength.
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Yeah he wont change to a 3

Its not fashionable hence why Southgate plays it

It also leaves your wing backs exposed to one on one situations
 
BlackpoolsFinest said:
I'd add that judging the first 7 games of Critch and the last 7 of Grayson doesn't really serve much purpose.

One team is going through the process of being bonded together and attempting to understand the system which is being put in place.
The other team was getting worse and looking totally lost in games.
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It was, but to be entirely fair to Grayson, he didn't really get a fair shake with the Jan signings.

Also to be entirely fair, he persisted with a stupid unbalanced formation that pissed me off when all he needed to do was sort that.

As Dunn showed when instantly looked better, used both sides of the pitch and thus made space in the middle. As we did away at Reading when Larry did it then ditched it again.

The whole layout of everything could have been different if Larry had just played a balanced side more often.

We could have maybe finished 9th or 10th, recruitment would have been evolutionary not revolutionary and we'd certainly not be bottom now.

What drove me mad, was he had the players to do it as well. What he was doing trying to make Bola play the same role as husband did was just weird. He had MacDonald and Bola who could both do the attacking and husband who could play on the left of a 3.

He got away with it as Husband was magnificent in playing essentially two positions. I get annoyed when people say "oh, he's just shit" - the lad was brilliant last year in a position that everyone else who played it looked absolutely shit, cos it was the weak point of Larry's set up.

That weird imbalance worked ok when it was accommodating Sullay floating about and popping up all over, but when Sullay got injured it didn't work as we literally didn't attack on the left so all you had to do was mark Feeney and all we then had was just lump it.

I reckon he'd eventually have addressed it, just as Critchley will eventually have to face the conundrum of "can we actually play 433?" if we don't improve. Which I hope we will.

In conclusion. I need to do something other than AVFTT.

utmp!
 
Seasidesid, in your post of 10.15 yesterday you said "Sadler saw the dream and hired, arguably, the best League One manager."
How the hell can you say that? Critchley had no experience of managing in League One, or any other League for that matter.
Ridiculous statement.
 
Wizaard said:
The forwards are starved of service, with no interaction between them or the midfield. One player can make a huge difference.
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I think that's a good point. I would expand it a little and say that being successful does not depend on team formations, taking time to gel etc etc. It simply boils down to the ability of the players brought into the club. Good players don't need much time to gel and can play in any formation.
 
Critchley is only just developing the plot, doing the groundwork, adding some sand and manure and stinking the BFC allotment out at the minute. Who knows if a prize marrow will be the end result or some cabbages that will wither and die over winter.
 
Davepick said:
Seasidesid, in your post of 10.15 yesterday you said "Sadler saw the dream and hired, arguably, the best League One manager."
How the hell can you say that? Critchley had no experience of managing in League One, or any other League for that matter.
Ridiculous statement.
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Name me a manager with a better record of promotions out of league one than Grayson?

As I have said above, I’m not trying to support Grayson or say he shouldn’t have been sacked as the football was bad, but we haven’t yet improved. Grayson wasn’t given the time after bringing in his players in January, which was said further up which could have had us finish around mid table - a platform to build on for this year with a couple of quality players and who knows where we’d be right now.

I was excited when appointed Critchley and would love to see him do well for the sake of Blackpool, but we can’t be doing the same thing week in week out with no plan B for a complete season just to stick with a process. Would you take sticking with the process, the system or whatever you want to call it the club is implementing and be happy with league two football next season?
 
Davepick said:
Seasidesid, in your post of 10.15 yesterday you said "Sadler saw the dream and hired, arguably, the best League One manager."
How the hell can you say that? Critchley had no experience of managing in League One, or any other League for that matter.
Ridiculous statement.
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Dav - think he was talking about Grayson not Critchley. Graysons pedigree at L1 level was/is excellent.
 
clappers said:
Critchley is only just developing the plot, doing the groundwork, adding some sand and manure and stinking the BFC allotment out at the minute. Who knows if a prize marrow will be the end result or some cabbages that will wither and die over winter.
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Not a bad analogy, but it's no Hertford's new towels 😂 😂
 
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