Is Critch unlucky or just not up to it?

Dewster

Well-known member
Not had the best luck to start his career. Had one game, which we lost, and then went into lockdown. Totally changed the squad and now we are playing with no crowds, which surely effects the players.

Having watched all the home games, IMO, we are lacking confidence and luck. Individual errors can’t be placed at the mangers feet. I think we can turn it around but need to start winning ASAP, as confidence will soon go and losing is tough habit to break. He definitely needs time, but will he get it?
 
Think the next four matches are massive for his future at the club. If we continue to struggle against teams that we are miles ahead of in terms of quality then I think Sadler will have a legitimate decision to make.

I have no doubt Critchley is a great coach with all the credentials he has, but there is a difference between being a good coach and a good manager. We've shown glimpses of brilliance both during the season and pre-season and there have been times where we've been unlucky this season, but it's a results business and at some point the poor performances and results can't be blamed on anyone else but Critchley.

It's still relatively early in his career, but he very well may not be up to the challenge yet unfortunately.
 
Think the next four matches are massive for his future at the club. If we continue to struggle against teams that we are miles ahead of in terms of quality then I think Sadler will have a legitimate decision to make.

I have no doubt Critchley is a great coach with all the credentials he has, but there is a difference between being a good coach and a good manager. We've shown glimpses of brilliance both during the season and pre-season and there have been times where we've been unlucky this season, but it's a results business and at some point the poor performances and results can't be blamed on anyone else but Critchley.

It's still relatively early in his career, but he very well may not be up to the challenge yet unfortunately.
Can’t see Sadler pulling the plug yet, he’s spent a fortune and shown massive faith in Critchley.
 
What did you expect though. Us to be steam rolling teams from the off?.
No not for one minute.

Unlike others who said we would walk this league 🙄 I said from the off it’s going to be a difficult season and we’d finish in the bottom half.

At this rate we’re all going to be wrong as we just don’t know how to win and keep a clean sheet anymore. 🥴
 
No not for one minute.

Unlike others who said we would walk this league 🙄 I said from the off it’s going to be a difficult season and we’d finish in the bottom half.

At this rate we’re all going to be wrong as we just don’t know how to win and keep a clean sheet anymore. 🥴
I agree, however I don’t think we will go down but I do think Critchley has made mistakes. But like everyone around the club, he’s new to the job. He should have kept a few more from last season.
 
I agree, however I don’t think we will go down but I do think Critchley has made mistakes. But like everyone around the club, he’s new to the job. He should have kept a few more from last season.
Agree.

It takes a manager (or in our case a head coach) years of experience to completely change a whole squad around and quickly get results sadly Critchley doesn’t come in to that category.
He’s gambled on bringing youth into the squad and it simply hasn’t worked, should have kept some of the experienced ones from last season to blend in with the youth.
We might well start to gel by next season but at this rate what division will that be in is anyone’s guess.
 
We don’t create chances at home and concede more than a goal a game on average. I keep hearing people say they are ok with mid table if we develop. We aren’t going to be troubling mid table at this rate.

it’s just so easy to play again at us and we are the same every game so utterly predictable.
 
The key argument I suppose with changing your manager is could a replacement get more out of the current crop of players than what is currently being achieved. Painfully I think most would answer yes at the moment.
 
The reality is Critch was always a gamble. Zero experience at this level, he's worked with kids and as we all know it's a big difference between managing a set of young lads to men's football. Simon seems to have given him a massive amount of support in terms of bringing players in and if those players don't perform then the finger points accusingly at Critch for his judgement on player recruitment and player/game management.

We all want him to succeed but the clock is definitely ticking, in all professional sports there are winners and losers, and we all know what the penalty is if you're a loser. If this continues SS has a decision to make.
 
The reality is Critch was always a gamble. Zero experience at this level, he's worked with kids and as we all know it's a big difference between managing a set of young lads to men's football. Simon seems to have given him a massive amount of support in terms of bringing players in and if those players don't perform then the finger points accusingly at Critch for his judgement on player recruitment and player/game management.

We all want him to succeed but the clock is definitely ticking, in all professional sports there are winners and losers, and we all know what the penalty is if you're a loser. If this continues SS has a decision to make.
Every manager is a risk. I suppose it depends how big Sadlers bollocks are.
 
We are a soft touch, I said it from the off we lacked experience and proven L1 level players to be any sort of threat this season. Add that to a novice manager and our start really isn't a surprise. It will take a brave owner to watch this form and performance level for too many more games. The manager sounds broken, the team are badly lacking confidence, I'm doubtful any amount of coaching will improve matters. NC is no doubt a good bloke but this experiment is going badly wrong. Bring Paul Cook in now and offer NC the role of Academy Director or something.
 
We don’t create chances at home and concede more than a goal a game on average. I keep hearing people say they are ok with mid table if we develop. We aren’t going to be troubling mid table at this rate.

it’s just so easy to play again at us and we are the same every game so utterly predictable.
Do we not just need time to settle, or will it be to late by then?
 
We are a soft touch, I said it from the off we lacked experience and proven L1 level players to be any sort of threat this season. Add that to a novice manager and our start really isn't a surprise. It will take a brave owner to watch this form and performance level for too many more games. The manager sounds broken, the team are badly lacking confidence, I'm doubtful any amount of coaching will improve matters. NC is no doubt a good bloke but this experiment is going badly wrong. Bring Paul Cook in now and offer NC the role of Academy Director or something.
Why Paul Cook?. If he’s going to change it, which I doubt he will, there must be better out there. Lee Johnson for starters, or maybe Ollie would come back?.
 
We aren’t developing, we are going backwards. I predicted we would get worse before we get better but the problem is things are deteriorating so badly it could be unsalvagable before we know it.

for me he needs to come out and read the riot act but we will get the same spin that we are work in progress, need to gel, blah blah blah. We are stuck with him until it clicks or he takes us down. I still want him to prove me wrong as he seems a nice guy.
 
Why Paul Cook?. If he’s going to change it, which I doubt he will, there must be better out there. Lee Johnson for starters, or maybe Ollie would come back?.
Better out there than a manager who had Wigan flying in the Championship? He's local and works well with young squads but has a mass of L1 experience, I can't think of many better, especially as he plays attacking football.
 
Better out there than a manager who had Wigan flying in the Championship? He's local and works well with young squads but has a mass of L1 experience, I can't think of many better, especially as he plays attacking football.
I agree, but the thing is Sadler has spent plenty of coin backing Critchley. Surely a new manager would want to rip it up and start again, unless the players are good enough and Critchley isn’t getting enough out of them.
 
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We aren’t developing, we are going backwards. I predicted we would get worse before we get better but the problem is things are deteriorating so badly it could be unsalvagable before we know it.

for me he needs to come out and read the riot act but we will get the same spin that we are work in progress, need to gel, blah blah blah. We are stuck with him until it clicks or he takes us down. I still want him to prove me wrong as he seems a nice guy.
So a new manager would change are fortunes?.
 
We are a soft touch, I said it from the off we lacked experience and proven L1 level players to be any sort of threat this season. Add that to a novice manager and our start really isn't a surprise. It will take a brave owner to watch this form and performance level for too many more games. The manager sounds broken, the team are badly lacking confidence, I'm doubtful any amount of coaching will improve matters. NC is no doubt a good bloke but this experiment is going badly wrong. Bring Paul Cook in now and offer NC the role of Academy Director or something.
Totally agree with your post Paul Cook yes but NC academy director not for me.
 
Not had the best luck to start his career.

I’d actually say he’s had the best luck outside of any manager taking over one of the big 6 in the Premier League or a top end Championship club going all guns for promotion.

He has a local born, passionate owner who has consistently pumped money into the club and the squad.

He’s been given a management structure and scouting network, jury’s still out on them, but he’s still been given them, and they’ve executed deals for him. Instead of the blind last minute panic we’ve had before.

He’s had a relative kings ransom pumped into the playing staff of his choice.

He’s fallen into the managerial lap of the gods, most managers in their first appointment outside of the ones I suggested in the first paragraph are only there because they’re cheap or likely to take on a shitty club or squad for a mere chance in the game.

He’s been far from unlucky, he hit the managerial jackpot.
 
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Short answer to the OP, I think neither. He may eventually prove to be not up to the task of league management, or he may find his feet and prove to be superb, but it is way to early to call it. The results have been about right based on our performances. Squad and manager need more time and the owner will almost certainly give them that. Marathon not a sprint, there will be more poor performances and awful results before Christmas. I’ll start judging things after that.
 
I’d actually say he’s had the best luck outside of any manager taking over one of the big 6 in the Premier League or a Top end championship club going all guns for promotion.

He has a local born, passionate owner who has consistently pumped money into the club and the squad.

He’s been given a management structure and scouting network, jury’s still out on them, but he’s still been given them, and they’ve executed deals for him. Instead of the blind last minute panic we’ve had before.

He’s had a relative kings ransom pumped into the playing staff of his choice.

He’s fallen into the managerial lap of the gods, most managers in their first appointment outside of the ones I suggested in the first paragraph are only there because they’re cheap or likely to take on a shitty club or squad for a mere chance in the game.

He’s been far from unlucky, he hit the managerial jackpot.
Surely promotion wasn’t on the cards though?. It’s arrogance in the extreme to think we would walk the league. Everyone in football needs a chance, and luck has always played a massive part in football.
 
Surely promotion wasn’t on the cards though?. It’s arrogance in the extreme to think we would walk the league. Everyone in football needs a chance, and luck has always played a massive part in football.
Im not sure if that was a reply to me as it had nothing to do with what I said.

You claim he’s been unlucky, I think he’s been one of the luckiest young managers around to walk into our job.
Yes he does deserve a chance and I’m still willing to give him one.

But would you not agree he’s squandering this chance spectacularly at the moment.
 
Im not sure if that was a reply to me as it had nothing to do with what I said.

You claim he’s been unlucky, I think he’s been one of the luckiest young managers around to walk into our job.
Yes he does deserve a chance and I’m still willing to give him one.

But would you not agree he’s squandering this chance spectacularly at the moment.
I don’t think he’s covering himself in glory tbh.
 
I’d actually say he’s had the best luck outside of any manager taking over one of the big 6 in the Premier League or a Top end championship club going all guns for promotion.

He has a local born, passionate owner who has consistently pumped money into the club and the squad.

He’s been given a management structure and scouting network, jury’s still out on them, but he’s still been given them, and they’ve executed deals for him. Instead of the blind last minute panic we’ve had before.

He’s had a relative kings ransom pumped into the playing staff of his choice.

He’s fallen into the managerial lap of the gods, most managers in their first appointment outside of the ones I suggested in the first paragraph are only there because they’re cheap or likely to take on a shitty club or squad for a mere chance in the game.

He’s been far from unlucky, he hit the managerial jackpot.

Has that been his problem in a way? Kind of like being given a blank piece of paper to write a story is harder than being given a brief. Too much choice, freedom, options too soon?

I wondered idly the other day, how it might have been had he had the last nine or ten games (whatever it was), whether he might have forged a relationship with some of the extant squad, might have seen the virtues of Gnanders or got a tune out of Fonz or recognised Macdonald was decent or whatever. Then he might have had a clearer task or sense of what he had/hadn't got and thus more focussed recruitment.
 
Has that been his problem in a way? Kind of like being given a blank piece of paper to write a story is harder than being given a brief. Too much choice, freedom, options too soon?

I wondered idly the other day, how it might have been had he had the last nine or ten games (whatever it was), whether he might have forged a relationship with some of the extant squad, might have seen the virtues of Gnanders or got a tune out of Fonz or recognised Macdonald was decent or whatever. Then he might have had a clearer task or sense of what he had/hadn't got and thus more focussed recruitment.
I couldn’t agree that being given all the tools to succeed in your area of expertise can be viewed as a problem in said area.

Outside of a top end Championship club or top 6 Premier League club where else was he going to get all this?

Your second paragraph makes a valid point, and we’ll never truly know. However he’s sticking to this mental formation and style of play despite the evidence it’s giving him. So I’m not confident he’d have forged relationships or changed his mind on players. I think they’d have just all gone anyway as they didn’t fit his style.
 
The biggest thing for me is the fact we don't look like scoring. What is the point in controlling possession if you don't look like scoring or even threatening to do so?

Of course we are a work in progress, but I cannot see any discernable improvement or long term strategy that will reap rewards.

Whilst Yates is desperate for a goal, it's not like he has had a host of chances to miss. I'm sorry but Madine isn't a patch on Gnanduillet, and if NC thinks he's the best attacking threat then the table doesn't lie and we are going down.

I wouldn't mind if we were even playing attractive football, watching the midfield and defence playing pretty passes for two minutes before hoofing it to CJ is not good to watch. Turgid football with no discernable signs of improvement will not be tolerated for much longer.
 
I think there is a fundamental lack of leadership.

You can indeed make a silk slipper from a sow's ear.

I think we have some very talented young players. We just need genuine experience and leadership. Bin a few in January and bring a few older heads in.

This season could still go the way we want it to. But we need a spark. Not folded arms and politeness.
 
I couldn’t agree that being given all the tools to succeed in your area of expertise can be viewed as a problem in said area.

Outside of a top end Championship club or top 6 Premier League club where else was he going to get all this?

Your second paragraph makes a valid point, and we’ll never truly know. However he’s sticking to this mental formation and style of play despite the evidence it’s giving him. So I’m not confident he’d have forged relationships or changed his mind on players. I think they’d have just all gone anyway as they didn’t fit his style.

I don't think it's a problem, I think it's just possibly a case of too much, too soon. Had he had to work with what he had a bit more, then he might have learnt from doing so. His problem is, he's not had that experience. It's like Ollie came to understand what he wanted and how to get it after years of lower league stuff, working in limits, playing different ways, succeeding, failing, thinking about it... Critch has got it all immediately and it's overwhelming. It would be a massive job for any manager to achieve a turnaround in a squad like he's trying to do.

I think if anything, it puts the job Larry did first time round in perspective. He was new to it all, even less experienced in fact, but he built an almost entirely new side and generally spent money pretty well when it came. It took time then, but I could usually see what he was trying to do even when it was shit.

I've lost sight of what critch is trying to do and it concerns me he has too... I really hope we hammer MK Dons and all this is but a glitch and part of the process but I can't see it unless he adapts. Who knows... Not me!
 
I don't think it's a problem, I think it's just possibly a case of too much, too soon. Had he had to work with what he had a bit more, then he might have learnt from doing so. His problem is, he's not had that experience. It's like Ollie came to understand what he wanted and how to get it after years of lower league stuff, working in limits, playing different ways, succeeding, failing, thinking about it... Critch has got it all immediately and it's overwhelming. It would be a massive job for any manager to achieve a turnaround in a squad like he's trying to do.

I think if anything, it puts the job Larry did first time round in perspective. He was new to it all, even less experienced in fact, but he built an almost entirely new side and generally spent money pretty well when it came. It took time then, but I could usually see what he was trying to do even when it was shit.

I've lost sight of what critch is trying to do and it concerns me he has too... I really hope we hammer MK Dons and all this is but a glitch and part of the process but I can't see it unless he adapts. Who knows... Not me!
Yeh ok I understand your point, but surely you have to be judged on the actual situation you find your self in.

There are plenty of counter factuals which probably support your post, Grayson’s first spell is a good one as you say. But there’s also decent examples of teams spending their way out of this league.

So to your next point has it over come Critch where as a seasoned manager would have taken the money and signings in their stride. It’s look like that is correct at the moment, and if that turns out to be a concrete answer in the future it’s not looking good for the people that appointed him. This is an aside but the managerial search post Grayson was a car crash. I know for a fact SS was livid at one point with how it was handled.

I think your last point is bang on, what are we even doing at the moment, last year it was mind boggling that Grayson was allowed to stock pile players all over the pitch who hardly got a run out. It appears we’ve done exactly the same this season.

If we we don’t beat Wimbledon and Dons I can’t see him lasting much more.
 
Our main concern is not creating chances, I think this stems from the midfield not getting further forward than our strikers. The midfield just seem happy to play it into the strikers feet who have their back to goal and think their job is done. We need to attack as a unit and get men in the box or else we will never score. It’s really frustrating to watch at the moment.
 
Our main concern is not creating chances, I think this stems from the midfield not getting further forward than our strikers. The midfield just seem happy to play it into the strikers feet who have their back to goal and think their job is done. We need to attack as a unit and get men in the box or else we will never score. It’s really frustrating to watch at the moment.
Exactly this.
 
Every manager is a risk. I suppose it depends how big Sadlers bollocks are.
Dewster, an experienced manager with a proven record of producing winning teams is a lot less of a gamble. Mind you after Grayson SS must feel someone has squeezed those bollocks of his pretty hard. 😜
 
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