Henshman
Well-known member
After the Charlton match, I was astonished and relieved to see an unchanged team, thinking we would sweep Crewe aside.
It was a shock to see Crewe all over us for the first half hour. Donovan had been marshalling defence, but when he went off injured, their defence was at sixes and sevens and The Mighty Pool came strongly into the match and just about deserved the 1-0 lead at the break. The second half was going extremely well and it was looking like we would increase our lead. The game changed when we made the second half double substitution. This left Yates as a lone striker and Crewe immediately changed their formation and this put us on the back foot for the rest of the game. I wasn't surprised when they equalised, although it actually looked offside, but you could see it coming eventually.
I have said quite a few times that none of our three strikers can play as a lone striker, but when any two of them are on the pitch, they look far more potent. I don't really criticise Neil Critchley, but please leave twin strikers playing throughout matches. The last time a Pool player at League One level that could do it, I reckon was Andy Morrell.
As a highly rated coach, Neil Critchley should get one of his backroom staff to look back at all the matches in the year he has been in charge and do a chart detailing how we have done for the periods with having one striker up front on the actual pitch, in comparison to when we played with twin strikers.
Please let us have no more slip ups like last night if we want to have any chance of going up this season.
It was a shock to see Crewe all over us for the first half hour. Donovan had been marshalling defence, but when he went off injured, their defence was at sixes and sevens and The Mighty Pool came strongly into the match and just about deserved the 1-0 lead at the break. The second half was going extremely well and it was looking like we would increase our lead. The game changed when we made the second half double substitution. This left Yates as a lone striker and Crewe immediately changed their formation and this put us on the back foot for the rest of the game. I wasn't surprised when they equalised, although it actually looked offside, but you could see it coming eventually.
I have said quite a few times that none of our three strikers can play as a lone striker, but when any two of them are on the pitch, they look far more potent. I don't really criticise Neil Critchley, but please leave twin strikers playing throughout matches. The last time a Pool player at League One level that could do it, I reckon was Andy Morrell.
As a highly rated coach, Neil Critchley should get one of his backroom staff to look back at all the matches in the year he has been in charge and do a chart detailing how we have done for the periods with having one striker up front on the actual pitch, in comparison to when we played with twin strikers.
Please let us have no more slip ups like last night if we want to have any chance of going up this season.