Has the end to the season saved Critchley?

HatfulofHollow

HatfulofHollow

Well-known member
I can imagine that Saturday's gate will be boosted, there'll be a terrific atmosphere and I actually think we'll beat Barnsley with our home form and the fact they played last night.
So fans will (hopefully) leave with a real feelgood and if we miss out the following week on the Play Offs then it'll be less disappointing than if the season had just ended with a whimper and we'd not had this decent run.
Despite the fact we're boring as fook, poor decisions have been made and it has been a wasted season, I always think the last home game sets the bar for the following season and if there was any doubt (at present) in Sadler's mind about Critchley that might be eradicated going in to the summer with arguably more positivity than we've had for much of the season.
Of course lose and it might be a different story!!
 
His fate was always going to be decided by results but SS is always going to be less trigger happy than the fans, he's got more on the line. We have had numerous disappointing results in isolation but we have never really gone on an awful run and we've kept ourselves within touching distance for most of the season, he was never getting sacked in those circumstances.

The same applies to now, if he'd have gone winless in the last five games he'd have been in trouble, if we go unbeaten and we just miss out he's far less likely to get the chop and will be here next season.

The Barnsley game is massive for Critchley, if we win it's on to the next game, if we lose it's game over and it could get a bit nasty.
 
Sven said:
His fate was always going to be decided by results but SS is always going to be less trigger happy than the fans, he's got more on the line. We have had numerous disappointing results in isolation but we have never really gone on an awful run and we've kept ourselves within touching distance for most of the season, he was never getting sacked in those circumstances.

The same applies to now, if he'd have gone winless in the last five games he'd have been in trouble, if we go unbeaten and we just miss out he's far less likely to get the chop and will be here next season.

The Barnsley game is massive for Critchley, if we win it's on to the next game, if we lose it's game over and it could get a bit nasty.
Click to expand...
If it was to get a bit nasty , as you say, then it shows how fickle & incredibly thick some of our so called supporters are🍊
 
Nothings changed for me. If we make the playoffs I think he should be given the benefit and allowed to build over the summer and have a go at it next season (assuming not promoted). If we fail and finish 7th/8th it’s failure and should be gone, no ifs no buts.
 
Yep. Agreee with Voy here and it's a point I've been making for a while. It's OK saying 'the football's shit' and 'we want entertainment' but when it comes down to it, we've been close enough to the play off positions most of the season and we're still in with a chance with 2 games to go. Now I'm not saying that means everything is good, but from a board position, I'd be slightly alarmed if they have banked on 'promotion or nothing' for the season as it would suggest no long-term thought process. Which flies in the face of how things have been done with SS.

And please don't misconstrue what I'm saying here. Personally, I think things HAVE to change. If we're doing well to be where we are, then the squad isn't that good; in which case our recruitment team have really wasted what is supposed to be a competitive budget. If we're at the basic minimum of where we'd like to be, then the coach isn't getting the best out of the squad.
 
He will get another window and rightly so I think. Whether we sneak in or just miss out shouldn't be the line in the sand. It's been disappointing this season but not poor. It all depends where you think this squad should be. For me we are about where we should be. We can't score goals, our strikers miss far too many chances for us to be 'up there'. If he doesn't sort out the weaknesses for next season ie 2 strikers to come in and a centre back and Byers or another CM then we can justifiably call for his head if things don't improve but until then I think he has done enough to not be potted.
 
No, not with a percentage of the fanbase (our family included). This is due to footballing reasons and nothing else.
Throughout the season NC's always had his supporters & they heavily criticise those who dare to criticise him.
However, NC's job is as safe as houses. SS takes no notice whatsoever of the supporters opinions and that's his prerogative.
Then we welcome pre season & it all starts again, with NC at the helm.
Like him or not, NC is here next season. But before then, we still have a fighting chance of reaching the playoffs.
UTMP
 
Seasider1953 said:
If it was to get a bit nasty , as you say, then it shows how fickle & incredibly thick some of our so called supporters are🍊
Click to expand...
The fans will be getting nasty at remembering going to bottom of the league teams surrendering. Shit system time after time costing us the chance of promotion.
Same again next season? If so, don't be 'fickle' by complaining (sarcasm)
 
Blackpool_Gaz said:
The fans will be getting nasty at remembering going to bottom of the league teams surrendering. Shit system time after time costing us the chance of promotion.
Same again next season? If so, don't be 'fickle' by complaining (sarcasm)
Click to expand...
I have been supporting Pool for over 60 years , same as many fans , but us older ones remember the past & let’s be honest we have been mainly poor, but that is exactly how great it is supporting a team like Blackpool , when we do get our little bit of success.🍊
 
NewburyOne said:
No, I don't believe it has, I doubt Sadler would have sacked Critchley even if we'd had a poor/average end to the season. He'll be given another transfer window and pre season to turn us into contenders.
Click to expand...
And, if Marlon Brando had still been around, we'd maybe have been able to approach him for assistance, because didn't he memorably once announce (in the classic film On The Waterfront), to a gathering of his cronies: "I coulda been someone. I coulda been a contender ...).

My point being, he - or certainly the character he played in the film - had valuable, relevant experience in that area.
 
No it hasn't. All this shyte about Critchley must go etc is irrelevant; Sadler has already told us if we don't go up this year then 'Neil will have to do it next year'. Which bit of this aren't you getting?
 
Seasider1953 said:
If it was to get a bit nasty , as you say, then it shows how fickle & incredibly thick some of our so called supporters are🍊
Click to expand...

On the contrary, if we lose to Barnsley and it "gets a bit nasty" that would show how disappointed the real Blackpool supporters were at missing out on the playoffs.

Whereas the "incredibly thick" fans would be happy to tolerate another season of Critchley with his boring football and clueless tactics!
 
Last edited:
tarantula said:
And, if Marlon Brando had still been around, we'd maybe have been able to approach him for assistance, because didn't he memorably once announce (in the classic film On The Waterfront), to a gathering of his cronies: "I coulda been someone. I coulda been a contender ...).

My point being, he - or certainly the character he played in the film - had valuable, relevant experience in that area.
Click to expand...
I coulda had class.
 
He never needed saving this season.

Even if we didn't have cup runs or were mid table mediocrity in League 1 he would still be here.
 
North Pier said:
🤡

On the contrary, if we lose to Barnsley and it "gets a bit nasty" that would show how disappointed the real Blackpool supporters were at missing out on the playoffs.

Whereas the "incredibly thick" fans would be happy to tolerate another season of Critchley with his boring football and clueless tactics!
Click to expand...
Just explain why not wanting the manager fired makes a fan “incredibly thick”?

Imagine how many Man United fans who were served up utter dross and boring football were so pleased to be thick as Ferguson regrouped the following season (aided by a new crop of young talent) and swept all before him?

I remember all those thick fans in 2020 when Pool were bottom of the league and Yates couldn’t score. The same dumb feckers sat at Wembley in May 2021
 
voyeur said:
Our home form has probably been saving him all season.
Click to expand...
We've had results go out way but we've been bloody lucky at times, the last five games we've had a couple of decent halves of football but been lucky not to get beaten a few times. If it hadn't been for grimmy, the post, dodgy offsides going our way and some abysmal finishing by opposition strikers we would be well out of it by now.
I'm glad we are still in it, but as much as I'm looking forward to Saturday, I'm kind of dreading another bore fest, where we huff and puff to a nil nil, or a scrappy 1-0, and i cant just see critchley taking the shackles off the players even for a PO final if we got there.
 
Chunkylad said:
Just explain why not wanting the manager fired makes a fan "incredibly thick"?
Click to expand...
Actually not even my quote!

As you can see chunks I was was using seasider1953s quotes and just trying to balance things up!

It's my own opinion we'll never get anywhere with Critchley in charge. If you and other regular suspects are happy to keep backing him, fine. That's your problem! Enjoy league one?

Just accept other people want better for the club though.

Your comparison with Sir Alex was absolutely ridiculous by the way.

Fergie was already a legend before Manure having won in Europe with Aberdeen.

Critchley on the other hand got sacked by QPR.
 
North Pier said:
Actually not even my quote!

As you can see chunks I was was using seasider1953s quotes and just trying to balance things up!

It's my own opinion we'll never get anywhere with Critchley in charge. If you and other regular suspects are happy to keep backing him, fine. That's your problem! Enjoy league one?

Just accept other people want better for the club though.

Your comparison with Sir Alex was absolutely ridiculous by the way.

Fergie was already a legend before Manure having won in Europe with Aberdeen.

Critchley on the other hand got sacked by QPR.
Click to expand...

What do you mean accept other people want better for the club? That suggests I am happy to see it all fail? I friggin hate defeat and relegation made me sick.

Point I was trying to make with a blunt hammer is sacking Critchley doesn’t guarantee success or a better season next season. Keeping him doesn’t either, but as I’ve said countless times - the teams who keep managers for more than one season are statistically much more successful.

At some stage we need to stick with it and let a manager have time to compile the squad they want. This squad is not good enough.

The Fergie one - I remember my plastic mates at Uni and their families wanted him gone for a long time saying he’d get them relegated. Booing at games, shouting in the boozer. Not one of them wanted him as manager. Their owner stuck to his guns against the protests and the rest is history.

Avftt was full of Critchley out comments in his first season then suddenly they went quiet as it turned around and we got promotion.
 
no the season has saved NC if he needed saving doubt that he did. 44 played 70 pts last 3 games 3 scored none conceded points 9 each goal worth 3 points efficient,effective and precision football at its best - what's not to like team plays wins thats what it's about.
 
GEER said:
no the season has saved NC if he needed saving doubt that he did. 44 played 70 pts last 3 games 3 scored none conceded points 9 each goal worth 3 points efficient,effective and precision football at its best - what's not to like team plays wins thats what it's about.
Click to expand...

I suspect it's the times when we've played shit and lost that's bothering people
 
North Pier said:
On the contrary, if we lose to Barnsley and it "gets a bit nasty" that would show how disappointed the real Blackpool supporters were at missing out on the playoffs.

Whereas the "incredibly thick" fans would be happy to tolerate another season of Critchley with his boring football and clueless tactics!
Click to expand...
Absolutely rubbish , not the brightest are you ? You do not have to be nasty , you self proclaimed real supporters, just because you are disappointed .
 
No. Critchley is Sadler’s guy and no matter what happens he was always going to get another season if he failed this season
 
Mullen, Carr, Hendry all were dross football, Critcleys is not much better in terms of entertainment, its functional and nothing more. We are more interested in playing to negate the opposition and not playing our own brand of football which to many is infuriating. its not going to change under him so its a waste of time, effort and angst rallying against it until SS gets as bored as the rest of us.
 
The key question is how long do you give him next season if it’s not improving and we are still just outside the play off places. If as expected we just miss out this season then for me that has been a massive failed opportunity as the division was pretty weak and lacking strength in depth..next year will be tougher and if we are still only 8th or so after 10 games I would get rid ..until them we need to get behind him and hope the owner spends a lot more on the squad than the last two seasons .
 
TANGERINETOWERPOWER said:
The key question is how long do you give him next season if it’s not improving and we are still just outside the play off places. If as expected we just miss out this season then for me that has been a massive failed opportunity as the division was pretty weak and lacking strength in depth..next year will be tougher and if we are still only 8th or so after 10 games I would get rid ..until them we need to get behind him and hope the owner spends a lot more on the squad than the last two seasons .
Click to expand...
Mark,

personally, I reckon the bigger question is not about what position we're in after 10 games but are we doing something different that could bring better results as the season progresses?

The big concern for me this season is the consistency in terms of the type of game and performance where we've lost or drawn. So often it's been against teams that are really no great shakes at all and we've not only lost, but also struggled to score against them. Vale at home (0-0), Orient at home (0-0), Northampton at home (1-2), Cambridge away (2-1), Burton away (1-0), Vale away (3-0), Charlton at home (1-1), Cheltenham away (2-0), Orient away (1-0), Wigan away (1-0), Wycombe at home (0-0). Being conservative that's 17 points dropped against teams that aren't in the top 8. I could take out Orient and Wigan in that list (one being in the top 10 and the other would be without points deductions) but even just leaving the other 6, that's a conservative 13 points dropped against teams in the bottom half, 2 of which will get relegated and 2 will be in 19th and 20th places. These results have also happened through the season and not 'just' at the beginning, so we can't say we've ironed out the mistakes to fine tune the system. It has kept failing throughout.

Not being able to score against those sides is a massive issue and if we're in the top 10 but still suffering from similar issues after 10 games then there has to be change. Whereas if we were in the bottom half but showing that we can create chances and score goals from different parts of the side then I'd be more willing to accept patience to see how things pan out.
 
Last edited:
straightatthewall said:
Mark,

personally, I reckon the bigger question is not about what position we're in after 10 games but are we doing something different that could bring better results as the season progresses?

The big concern for me this season is the consistency in terms of the type of game and performance where we've lost or drawn. So often it's been against teams that are really no great shakes at all and we've not only lost, but also struggled to score against them. Vale at home (0-0), Orient at home (0-0), Northampton at home (1-2), Cambridge away (2-1), Burton away (1-0), Vale away (3-0), Charlton at home (1-1), Cheltenham away (2-0), Orient away (1-0), Wigan away (1-0), Wycombe at home (0-0). Being conservative that's 17 points dropped against teams that aren't in the top 8. I could take out Orient and Wigan in that list (one being in the top 10 and the other would be without points deductions) but even just leaving the other 6, that's a conservative 13 points dropped against teams in the bottom half, 2 of which will get relegated and 2 will be in 19th and 20th places. These results have also happened through the season and not 'just' at the beginning, so we can't say we've ironed out the mistakes to fine tune the system. It has kept failing throughout.

Not being able to score against those sides is a massive issue and if we're in the top 10 but still suffering from similar issues after 10 games then there has to be change. Whereas if we were in the bottom half but showing that we can create chances and score goals from different parts of the side then I'd be more willing to accept patience to see how things pan out.
Click to expand...
It's the majority of league games, home or away, where we don't score first. There doesn't seem to be much of a plan to cope and to react to that with this head coach and these players. But mainly the head coach. If it's not exactly what happens on the training ground, and if it can't be stopped with a whistle to go over it again, then it's pretty much a write off. If we were to concede in the first minute, and you'd just walked into the ground as it happened, then you can turn around and put your hat back on and go straight out the door again like that Simpsons meme, because you know you won't miss anything.

11 away defeats, 10 of those games we haven't scored in. And the one we did we let a 1-0 lead slip by getting caught out on the counter attack twice because of the 3-5-2 set up that left the defence exposed.

It's a known trait of the modern FA coach. They can't really think past Plan A not working because Plan A is all about containing the opposition, limiting them, growing into the game then gaining an advantage. And trying to shut down to see it out by keeping in a shape and playing behind the ball. Pre-planned subs at pre-planned times to manage workload. Starters and finishers.

If we do go 1-0 up there's usually a brief window where if it doesn't go 2-0 then the fear of losing shutdown mode kicks in. If we can go 2-0 up, or the opposition gives up an advantage like someone being sent off, then everyone relaxes and the touchline robots start to chill out a bit and you get to see more confidence and freedom on the pitch. More risks allowed and taken.
 
poolfc said:
It's the majority of league games, home or away, where we don't score first. There doesn't seem to be much of a plan to cope and to react to that with this head coach and these players. But mainly the head coach. If it's not exactly what happens on the training ground, and if it can't be stopped with a whistle to go over it again, then it's pretty much a write off. If we were to concede in the first minute, and you'd just walked into the ground as it happened, then you can turn around and put your hat back on and go straight out the door again like that Simpsons meme, because you know you won't miss anything.

11 away defeats, 10 of those games we haven't scored in. And the one we did we let a 1-0 lead slip by getting caught out on the counter attack twice because of the 3-5-2 set up that left the defence exposed.

It's a known trait of the modern FA coach. They can't really think past Plan A not working because Plan A is all about containing the opposition, limiting them, growing into the game then gaining an advantage. And trying to shut down to see it out by keeping in a shape and playing behind the ball. Pre-planned subs at pre-planned times to manage workload. Starters and finishers.

If we do go 1-0 up there's usually a brief window where if it doesn't go 2-0 then the fear of losing shutdown mode kicks in. If we can go 2-0 up, or the opposition gives up an advantage like someone being sent off, then everyone relaxes and the touchline robots start to chill out a bit and you get to see more confidence and freedom on the pitch. More risks allowed and taken.
Click to expand...

Nicely put.
 
poolfc said:
It's the majority of league games, home or away, where we don't score first. There doesn't seem to be much of a plan to cope and to react to that with this head coach and these players. But mainly the head coach. If it's not exactly what happens on the training ground, and if it can't be stopped with a whistle to go over it again, then it's pretty much a write off. If we were to concede in the first minute, and you'd just walked into the ground as it happened, then you can turn around and put your hat back on and go straight out the door again like that Simpsons meme, because you know you won't miss anything.

11 away defeats, 10 of those games we haven't scored in. And the one we did we let a 1-0 lead slip by getting caught out on the counter attack twice because of the 3-5-2 set up that left the defence exposed.

It's a known trait of the modern FA coach. They can't really think past Plan A not working because Plan A is all about containing the opposition, limiting them, growing into the game then gaining an advantage. And trying to shut down to see it out by keeping in a shape and playing behind the ball. Pre-planned subs at pre-planned times to manage workload. Starters and finishers.

If we do go 1-0 up there's usually a brief window where if it doesn't go 2-0 then the fear of losing shutdown mode kicks in. If we can go 2-0 up, or the opposition gives up an advantage like someone being sent off, then everyone relaxes and the touchline robots start to chill out a bit and you get to see more confidence and freedom on the pitch. More risks allowed and taken.
Click to expand...
thats a very good analysis, paticularly the third paragraph, the FA has a lot to answer for. Look at southgate and the England team, with tge players he has available england should be monstering opposition teams including the likes of spain and france and germany et al or at least being equivalent in endeavour but its all so predictable. you get flashes of individual and team brilliance then the players realise that they have a plan that they have to play to,
 
Seasider1953 said:
If it was to get a bit nasty , as you say, then it shows how fickle & incredibly thick some of our so called supporters are🍊
Click to expand...
Don’t agree. Many of our away performances have been dreadful. Saw a comment from a neutral at Brunton Park that he thought we were boring, slowed the game down too much and understood why the manager is under pressure. I think we look at this season and think it was acceptable then it’s glass half empty time. This season has been a major underachievement in reality on lots of fronts except the support.
 
Cuthbert said:
Don’t agree. Many of our away performances have been dreadful. Saw a comment from a neutral at Brunton Park that he thought we were boring, slowed the game down too much and understood why the manager is under pressure. I think we look at this season and think it was acceptable then it’s glass half empty time. This season has been a major underachievement in reality on lots of fronts except the support.
Click to expand...
That’s fine you can disagree , I think we all believe that some performances have been below par, especially away from home , but the wording is the thing I disagree with. What form does “nasty” come in at the end of the game ? I have always believed in just walking out at the end of the match & not applauding , if I thought it was a poor performance.
 
Chunkylad said:
Point I was trying to make with a blunt hammer is sacking Critchley doesn’t guarantee success or a better season next season. Keeping him doesn’t either, but as I’ve said countless times - the teams who keep managers for more than one season are statistically much more successful.
Click to expand...
My position was I would have ditched him after we got just 4 points from 24 in February and seen if we could have done better. We didn't and so therefore I'm with @Chunkylad - plans will now be in place for next season, we can but hope this season has been a learning curve (although that game against Carlisle doesn't fill me with any confidence) and that we not only compete better next season but entertain as well.
 
I'm sure too that he's here well into next season.
I hope he uses the close season to go on a coaching course aimed at helping players pass to each other and move into space to receive the ball from teammates.
Facetious ... yes.
 
Chunkylad said:
sacking Critchley doesn’t guarantee success or a better season next season...
Click to expand...
.. nor does keeping him which is the dilemma Sadler faces.
He has a plan, there is a strategy in place and Critchley is part of that.
It's now what we do in the summer (or if we get in those Play Offs!) which will determine how he fares next season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top