Have we all forgiven Critchley now?

Phil_bfc deux

Phil_bfc deux

Well-known member
Personally I wasn't that bothered when he left and certainly didn't take it as personal as some

Most on here were devastated and didn't want him back at all comparing it to their Mrs leaving for someone else

So is he forgiven?

He's certainly come back different to how he left, it's a change in shape for a start and we appear to be playing a more attacking brand of football

He has that glint in his eye and his interviews also seem more honest than before

I like this new Critchley, the experience of him being away has done him good and all seems rosy in the garden at the moment
 
I didn't blame him for going to a bigger club on more money...maybe a bit perplexed it wasn't for a managers role...but was angry at the manner he left (ie no message, no comms, no class).
However, he has apologised (and alluded to potential reasons) so water under the bridge for me now...reset, go again and to be fair to him it seems like he's doing a grand job.
 
I liked Critch first time around although I always thought that his style was more on the safe side and a little too pragmatic. I like the new Critch more though.

Early days yet but we look like a side that means business this season.

I was disappointed he left but that's football. He's back and we are playing some good stuff and winning matches. That'll do for me.

Keep up the good work you snake 😆
 
I've never had a problem with him since the day he first arrived. 😉

If he can sort his wing backs out (and I'm sure he will) we should be in for better football this time round but i always liked the fact that we were very competitive under critch v1. Small budgets require a degree of pragmatism. Which applied in the Championship. I think he is a smart coach, he knows what is attainable with the resources he has.
 
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Phil_bfc deux said:
Personally I wasn't that bothered when he left and certainly didn't take it as personal as some

Most on here were devastated and didn't want him back at all comparing it to their Mrs leaving for someone else

So is he forgiven?

He's certainly come back different to how he left, it's a change in shape for a start and we appear to be playing a more attacking brand of football

He has that glint in his eye and his interviews also seem more honest than before

I like this new Critchley, the experience of him being away has done him good and all seems rosy in the garden at the moment
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Totally agree. I wasn’t upset he left because even though he kept us up in the Championship. The football being played was starting to get a stale and predictable as the final few games of that season showed.

My main concern when reappointed was will he continue with the same brand on very conservative 442? So far, he is proving me wrong and long may it continue 👍🏻
 
voyeur said:
I've never had a problem with him since the day he first arrived. 😉

If he can sort his wing backs out we should be in for better football this time round but i always liked the fact that we were very competitive under critch v1. Small budgets require a degree of pragmatism. Which applied in the Championship. I think he is a smart coach, he knows what is attainable with the resources he has.
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Yeah that's my only concern at the moment this wing back situation
 
Initially I was disappointed that he was reappointed.

But as the time has gone on, there’s not too much not to like.

As mentioned, he has that glint in his eyes. I am fully behind him and although it’s early days I see us as automatic promotion candidates.
 
Was absolutely gutted when I heard he was going, was at a mates housewarming and don’t think I said 2 words the rest of the day. I brought into him with everything and loved him, was pretty pissed off with the classless (their may have been reasons behind this) exit but understood the temptation of a Premier League job on a much bigger wedge.
After the shocking appointments last season I’ve been made up he’s back and although I haven’t managed to get to a game I wonder wether they’ll be a bit of unfinished business and frustration in the whole club and we will hopefully take it out on league 1 and make a speedy recovery. I’m very confident of promotion this season and honestly believe that set back of last year will end up doing us more good than harm, we will have learnt from mistakes and they really shouldn’t happen again
 
I wasn't keen on having him back, only because it rarely seems to work. I've never been that bothered about the way he left, these things happen all the time in football.
But I've been impressed with what I've seen so far. The style is a little different in that the passing is more purposeful, we're moving the ball forward at earlier opportunities and there's plenty of movement. We have a team of players almost all of whom are comfortable on the ball. But crucially, we don't seem to have lost that defensive organisation that NC's success was built on - everyone knows their role, and everyone knows where they're meant to be, and other players can slot in to the team fairly seamlessly.
It's still very early days, but good signs so far.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Yeah that's my only concern at the moment this wing back situation
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We all know he'll sort it out though. With a lot of managers you really don't know. I dont see CJ or Connolly as wing backs but I'll be very surprised if either of them starts regularly in that position after the window closes. And if they do it'll be because they have been coached into playing well in the position. CC is a very temporary fix. CJ is one that we will never all agree about. Not a starter for me, certainly not as a wing back.
 
Happy with how things are going and the first two games, but I'll caveat that with, let's see how we are doing in a month or so. Also if we're going strong in 2-3 months time and the managerial sackings begin, let's see what he does when a club in a higher division comes knocking. Trust must be earned, he still has a bit to do for me.
 
I was really pissed off with him when he left because it came out of the blue and Sadler et all were clearly not expecting it at all, on the contrary he had just signed a new 4 year deal, so although there were some really terrible fuck ups last season by the board it all stemmed from Critchley leaving for the extra wedge. We never recovered from it all season and we should have been able to, but he was, apart from Dobbie, the only viable candidate to return, to return smarting from his failure with Gerrard, which was always going to happen and then his failure with QPR who were actually worse than us last season.

He has come back, as Phil says, with a glint in his eye and a steely determination about him. He has breathed new life into the squad, the younger players he signed a couple of years ago are starting to be worthy of a first team place and we have strengthened shrewdly so far this season with 2 or 3 more to come in. We are playing a new formation which seems to be working from the off and we have a midfield which is probably the best in the division.

So yes, I have forgiven him, but I won't forget his leaving us when he did set us back a whole season and as MrTM says, lets see how we are doing at the end of the season before we make our final judgements, but so far, so good.
 
Early days but promising signs....

In all likelihood, the owner and coach possibly have a better understanding and relationship now than before. I doubt NC would have agreed to come back without all his (minimum and realistic) requirements being agreed to, knowing that he would have to win back over some of the fanbase.

Bodes well.... 😉
 
Some good comments

I think with the squad we have we should be up there as the Burton fan said to me on Saturday that first half was as good as anything he had seen in lg 1 last season

As I said the other day the club appears to have the feel good factor back and we have a very solid group of players for this league

The only thing that could derail us in my opinion is Critchley himself
 
Satriale's Pork Store said:
Early days but promising signs....

In all likelihood, the owner and coach possibly have a better understanding and relationship now than before. I doubt NC would have agreed to come back without all his (minimum and realistic) requirements being agreed to, knowing that he would have to win back over some of the fanbase.

Bodes well.... 😉
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That's a good point to be fair

The club certainly appears more aligned than last season
 
voyeur said:
How would he do that? He's the one that's made the difference surely? Got us back on track, in no time at all.

Oh, and wasnt it all about Sadler? 😉
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I think the squad is good enough maybe 1 or 2 more

I like the signings of Norburn and Pennington and I think Morgan and Joseph will also turn out to be quality players

All good solid signings Sadler has done his bit

My point is more about Critchley and how sometimes he does try and be too clever

Even you Critchleys number one fan was critical of the wing back selections

That's what I'm on about
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
I think the squad is good enough maybe 1 or 2 more

I like the signings of Norburn and Pennington and I think Morgan and Joseph will also turn out to be quality players

All good solid signings Sadler has done his bit

My point is more about Critchley and how sometimes he does try and be too clever

Even you Critchleys number one fan was critical of the wing back selections

That's what I'm on about
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I was critical but i am confident it's just a teething issue, first game etc. Critch gradually improved our team over the 2 years he was with us first time.

Sadler has done his bit but he has done since he bought the club in all truth, to the brst of his ability. And Critch will have identified the players he's brought in. Sadler and Critch works well.
 
voyeur said:
I was critical but i am confident it's just a teething issue, first game etc. Critch gradually improved our team over the 2 years he was with us first time.

Sadler has done his bit but he has done since he bought the club in all truth, to the brst of his ability. And Critch will have identified the players he's brought in. Sadler and Critch works well.
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I agree with you it's looking good 👍
 
Not much to forgive really. He's an employee, not a fan (fist pumping arguments aside). He left a job for another with much higher pay, 99% of people would probably do the same. I wasn't too bothered about him leaving (our model is to sign potential and sell on, why wouldn't that apply to the coach as well?)

We're only 2 games in, but a very encouraging start, although I agree about the wing backs, and another striker would be good.

I didn't want to go back to a previous coach/manager as it hasn't worked well for us in the past, but he's changed his ways a bit as already posted. He's even made subs before the 70th minute
 
I can't say I was overjoyed by his return and unlike you Phil, it's not because I doubt his coaching ability.

For me he's scarpered once before when it was obvious the budgets weren't going to cut it, so what stops him scarpering again when a similar situation arises? Ironically, I think this season would have been a much better fit for Apples.
 
Very happy so far from a squad building perspective, also our attacking intent. I've made a promise to myself never to be hurt that way again though ❤️‍🩹
 
straightatthewall said:
I can't say I was overjoyed by his return and unlike you Phil, it's not because I doubt his coaching ability.

For me he's scarpered once before when it was obvious the budgets weren't going to cut it, so what stops him scarpering again when a similar situation arises? Ironically, I think this season would have been a much better fit for Apples.
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Apples?! Another wind up?!

I'd suggest that while there are no guarantees, and he won't stay for ever, he'll think twice next time given how chastening his 'year out' turned out to be.
 
When he left it was a real shock and at the time I feared that there was more to it than just more money and a job in the prem but in hindsight I would guess his head was turned before the end of the season hence the drop off in form.

Throughout last season I was still worried all was not right at the club but was glad when he was reappointed, it gave me confidence that my assumptions were wrong or he wouldn’t have returned.

Fantastic start in the main and I’m pleased that we as a club have a bit of swagger about us and have shown more than a glimpse that we are here to boss this division.

So yes for me 💯 forgiven!

NIEL CRITCHLEYS TANGERINE ARMY 💪⚽️
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Personally I wasn't that bothered when he left and certainly didn't take it as personal as some

Most on here were devastated and didn't want him back at all comparing it to their Mrs leaving for someone else

So is he forgiven?

He's certainly come back different to how he left, it's a change in shape for a start and we appear to be playing a more attacking brand of football

He has that glint in his eye and his interviews also seem more honest than before

I like this new Critchley, the experience of him being away has done him good and all seems rosy in the garden at the moment
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Phil…in true AVFTT fickleness can I let you know after 5 ish on Saturday….
 
successful managers will always be looked at by bigger clubs so if he can get us promoted again and have a decent season or two in the Championship then it's likely that he'll be coveted by these bigger clubs. That's the way it works. But he's a manager now and it's only for that position he should move on with a slight caveat that maybe as a no 2 at one of the big clubs,ie big six, would perhaps be ok. Because let's face it at best at Villa he was only a no 3.
 
I always understood why Critch left but when you're a one club "fan for life" it's hearts that over rule heads and I was obviously pissed off with him.
I was also starting to question some of his team selections and tactics towards the end of the Championship season.
Obviously last seasons appointments made you look at him in a new light and refreshed all the good things you remembered about him.
However when it came to the reappointment I was firmly in the Dobbie camp. (Probably heart over head again).
But I'm quickly realising why Critch was the 1st choice.
I do think Critch_deux has actually matured as a Manager and certainly seems to be more confident in allowing a bit more freedom to his players in the style of play.
All this of course is on the back of just 2 wins and in football things can quickly change.
So for now I'm glad he's back and long may it continue. UTMP
PS.
As for #5for25, no chance.
 
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voyeur said:
I was critical but i am confident it's just a teething issue, first game etc. Critch gradually improved our team over the 2 years he was with us first time.

Sadler has done his bit but he has done since he bought the club in all truth, to the brst of his ability. And Critch will have identified the players he's brought in. Sadler and Critch works well.
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It was interesting watching the replay of the Derby game how well Lyons and Thommo played as wing backs, their natural roles, we have the players there and of course the best of the lot Gabriel to return. It's just Connolly I have a problem with as a wing back but happy if he plays in a central 3 at the back. I have to say I have been really impressed with Casey from the 2 games so far, he brings the ball out well and distributes it smartly, he is also defending well. We have strength in depth and it is really encouraging.
 
hertfordseasider said:
It was interesting watching the replay of the Derby game how well Lyons and Thommo played as wing backs, their natural roles, we have the players there and of course the best of the lot Gabriel to return. It's just Connolly I have a problem with as a wing back but happy if he plays in a central 3 at the back. I have to say I have been really impressed with Casey from the 2 games so far, he brings the ball out well and distributes it smartly, he is also defending well. We have strength in depth and it is really encouraging.
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I prefer Lyons to Gabriel. Higher ceiling st least. Better footballing brain.
 
I think Lyons and Thompson must have disappointed him in pre season for them both not to start?

In a way CJ does what Critch needs in he stretches teams open with his random headless running style and that provides the gaps for his strikers.
Connolly would be a counter balance to add defence for when CJ goes missing and our CB gets pulled out to cover.

I think CJ will play regularly as Critch likes to have solidity with one or two wild cards

Personally. Gabriel and Lyons but I get why he is doing the current line up.
 
wasnt overly enamoured with the idea of him coming back, but he is undoubtedly a very very good coach, and it points to just how bad Appleton was and just how bad a decision bringing in mickosaurus and the tunemaker was, which we knew before and after when dobbie was able to get reasonable perormances from the squad.

there have already been several instances where last year we would have conceded goals but organisation and the ability to recover has seen us keep two clean sheets.

two of the goals scored have been a bit fortuitous the lavery one where he took the ball of the defender and the second one against Derby . . . . but . . . . it was the strikers working hard, pressing and pushing at defenders that forced the errors and created the opportunity.

so far, including the friendly games critchley seems to have thrown off at least a modicum of his caution whilst at the same time re-building the defensive organisation. Whether it can be maintained is another matter, but if we play half the season like we did against burton first half or derby first half we should be in and around the promotion places
 
Oh and yeah. Glad to have him back. He’s clearly a good tactical coach and he does fit our mentality of a club that cannot buy success but needs to coach success.

I remember wanting more attacking football, but after last season I realise if I can’t have both, I’d rather have more wins and solid unspectacular football
 
Always liked the guy and I'm sure I never called him a snake or anything. 🙄
In all seriousness though, football is reactionary alot of the time and I didn't react well to him leaving. However, as soon as he came back then I was right behind him again. I think that's how football is alot of the time, you can have a player that you despise, but if they come and play for you then all is forgiven.
 
I was absolutely gutted when he left. Personally, I think he’s the most gifted coach that we’ve ever had at the Club (during my time supporting) and I’d hoped he might have stayed longer.

Right now, I’m glad he’s back. I think he’s a good fit for us and I think the experience has made him realise he wants to be his own man.

He comes across as more confident, more assured and I’m hopeful we can go places, before the Vultures start circling once again.
 
It’s all going well with recruitment this season…we just need possibly 2 more players of the Norburn standard of quality in the squad and with Critchley coaching I think we’re on our way up.
 
Tower_75 said:
Happy with how things are going and the first two games, but I'll caveat that with, let's see how we are doing in a month or so. Also if we're going strong in 2-3 months time and the managerial sackings begin, let's see what he does when a club in a higher division comes knocking. Trust must be earned, he still has a bit to do for me.
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I thought Trusty was a member of the development squad ... Seems strange to be saying we should 'earn' him!
 
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