I've slept on it

I know it's easy to point out about signings when things aren't going well but you look at transfer fees and wages spent on the likes of Lubala, Sarkic, Anderson etc and you do wonder if they could've been better spent on proven L1 players. Marcus Maddison springs to mind who I believe could've been an attainable, ambitious signing as just 1 example.
Hopefully things change though and we look back at the end of the season and say they were great signings
 
Rotterdam+Sussex_Seasider said:
If you want to stick to facts, here are three potentially positive ones - Dougall, Gretarsson and Virtue (this season) have yet to play competitive games for NC.
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Potentially....Dougall still to prove his fitness after being released following a bad injury. Gretarsson who has yet to play EFL football. Virtue who has never been an ever present and is very injury prone.
 
RCSeasider said:
I know it's easy to point out about signings when things aren't going well but you look at transfer fees and wages spent on the likes of Lubala, Sarkic, Anderson etc and you do wonder if they could've been better spent on proven L1 players. Marcus Maddison springs to mind who I believe could've been an attainable, ambitious signing as just 1 example.
Hopefully things change though and we look back at the end of the season and say they were great signings
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We won't.
 
62years&counting said:
I'm afraid I can't see any positives. I see a coach uncomfortable and lost in the job. I see a team that's easy to play against indisciplined, error strewn in defence, weak and without creativity and goals in midfield and toothless up front. Yates and Lubala costing several hundred thousands of pounds, have flopped. An unfit Garbutt is injury prone. Gabriel and Mitchell full backs who can't do the basics defensively. Too many players brought in who are ill equipped to play in league1. After over a dozen games in charge, league and cups, both performances and results have deteriorated. Sadler has been badly let down by Mansford, Johnson and Critchley, his patience must be at breaking point.
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You continue to prove my point. If I asked you tell me one thing about Hamilton you'd tell me his crossing is poor, I'd say he's got pace to burn.
 
RCSeasider said:
I know it's easy to point out about signings when things aren't going well but you look at transfer fees and wages spent on the likes of Lubala, Sarkic, Anderson etc and you do wonder if they could've been better spent on proven L1 players. Marcus Maddison springs to mind who I believe could've been an attainable, ambitious signing as just 1 example.
Hopefully things change though and we look back at the end of the season and say they were great signings
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Sarkic and Anderson have plenty of games at League One. Ward and Yates actually signed from a Championship club. The only punt for me has been Lubala and he does look raw (being positive). Ekpiteta came from League 2, but he's improving week on week and looks comfortable with Ballard alongside him.

I don't get this League Two standard comment.
 
Insider said:
You continue to prove my point. If I asked you tell me one thing about Hamilton you'd tell me his crossing is poor, I'd say he's got pace to burn.
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CJ wasted one of the best chances last night. Late in the 2nd half one of our players, in an open spot about 10/12 yards away, was screaming for the ball. He blazed it miles over and wide.
Madine I think was wanting it.
 
hertfordseasider said:
And to start I want to give my disclaimer that what I say here are my considered thoughts, not when watching the game and commenting on the game here when emotions are high and the tangerine blood is pulsating through my veins. This will never stop and I do not apologise for it but when calmed and pondered over things they are the thoughts that really count.

I actually thought we would win last night, the team changes raised the eyebrow but NC did say he wanted to keep players fresh. We started well, fell for the early sucker punch again and had another uphill struggle made worse by 2 sendings off. Even with those things happening we still deserved at least a point out of it but it wasn't to be.

My thoughts are that SS decided on NC after missing out on his initial targets and I think we can all see why he went for him. Top credentials re coaching badges and highly thought of at Liverpool and by Klopp. He clearly had a plan which he sold to SS and that plan is what he is now trying to put into place. SS was obviously impressed and has backed him handsomely. However, we basically have a completely new squad, filled with the younger end of the player spectrum so lacking League 1 and above experience. We were all hoping that because of his pedigree and all the new players he bought in that we would hit the road running and were going to sweep sides away with beautiful football.

Well, that hasn't happened and it was never going to. This really is a long term project and although we all think we can see the problems we all react rather than think because we are supporters and want success.

Whatever I say on a match day NC has to be given this season and whatever happens this season he has to be given the season after too. We cannot continue to chop and change. Grayson ws a mistake. NC was a risk but one SS wanted to take. I like NC, I like his interviews and I like his ideal. It just isn't happening for him yet and we are likely to feel a lot more pain before we feel pleasure. He has to be given the chance to get his tactics to work. These are not bad players, they are young, exciting prospects, many coveted by teams we would have lost out to in the past. We all want instant success but lets get realistic, unless you are really lucky it just doesn't happen.

So, I support NC, I want his system to work and I want him to adapt and get used to being a manager in League 1 quickly, he is after all, a rookie.

I don't expect everyone to agree with me, but for me he has to be given plenty of time. It will come, I'm sure of it. Potting a manager now or in the next few months will not help, we will have to start from square one again with no guarantee of success.

So. I'm with NC and SS and I look forward to the future.
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but why does he insist on using a full back mitchell who has NO defensive capabilities whatsoever or using a full back as a centre half when we have an international centre half sat on the bench who came on and proved how good he is by getting mom these ae the questions he should be answering
 
Insider said:
You continue to prove my point. If I asked you tell me one thing about Hamilton you'd tell me his crossing is poor, I'd say he's got pace to burn.
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I continue to be correct. Regarding Hamilton, I would say he's quick but lacks a consistent end product. Hence the reason, at 25, he was playing in league2. His petulance in a recent game didn't endear him to management and fans alike.
 
Wizaard said:
Sarkic and Anderson have plenty of games at League One. Ward and Yates actually signed from a Championship club. The only punt for me has been Lubala and he does look raw (being positive). Ekpiteta came from League 2, but he's improving week on week and looks comfortable with Ballard alongside him.

I don't get this League Two standard comment.
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Add to that Yates and Anderson were both key figures in a League Two promotion winning team.
You don't play a significant part in a successful team if you're terrible, division below or not.
 
I can't see Critchley getting the boot unless we were seriously staring relegation in the face. One or two have asked the question as to whether it would be acceptable for Critchley to be given enough time to stamp his mark on the club and give us that identity even if it meant getting relegated first. Absolutely not. If we were to go down we would lose 4 or 5 of our starting 11 and we would be facing another rebuild job.

Relegation is not an option and that is why the pressure is on Critchley to get things moving on an upward trajectory before the drop becomes a distinct possibility.

Personally, I'm worried. This team have not given me any signs of encouragement. I was at Carlisle the season that we went up with Grayson. We lost that game but we absolutely battered them. You just knew it was the turning point. Now as much as picking up wins are vital. I feel a good performance is almost as important. We need that Carlisle moment. The players need it too. Just something to give them some belief. I feel it needs to happen on the pitch for them to believe it. It's ok Critchley telling them they can do it but the proof is in the pudding.

I will end by saying that the players need to stand up and be counted also. Critchley has been let down by a few of them now. Husband on a couple of occasions. Kaikai was a disgrace last night with that first goal. Some of those players aren't playing for the shirt or the fans at the moment either.
 
Wizaard said:
Sarkic and Anderson have plenty of games at League One. Ward and Yates actually signed from a Championship club. The only punt for me has been Lubala and he does look raw (being positive). Ekpiteta came from League 2, but he's improving week on week and looks comfortable with Ballard alongside him.

I don't get this League Two standard comment.
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Sarkic is totally useless. Ekpiteta might well show glimpses of defensive improvement but his passing and decision making are Lg2. Anderson flatters to deceive and gives the ball away often. Yates looks out of his depth in this division and Ward .....well what does he actually do? When everybody gets fit there’s no place for any of the players I mention in the starting 11.
 
Class_of_2010 said:
I can't see Critchley getting the boot unless we were seriously staring relegation in the face. One or two have asked the question as to whether it would be acceptable for Critchley to be given enough time to stamp his mark on the club and give us that identity even if it meant getting relegated first. Absolutely not. If we were to go down we would lose 4 or 5 of our starting 11 and we would be facing another rebuild job.

Relegation is not an option and that is why the pressure is on Critchley to get things moving on an upward trajectory before the drop becomes a distinct possibility.

Personally, I'm worried. This team have not given me any signs of encouragement. I was at Carlisle the season that we went up with Grayson. We lost that game but we absolutely battered them. You just knew it was the turning point. Now as much as picking up wins are vital. I feel a good performance is almost as important. We need that Carlisle moment. The players need it too. Just something to give them some belief. I feel it needs to happen on the pitch for them to believe it. It's ok Critchley telling them they can do it but the proof is in the pudding.

I will end by saying that the players need to stand up and be counted also. Critchley has been let down by a few of them now. Husband on a couple of occasions. Kaikai was a disgrace last night with that first goal. Some of those players aren't playing for the shirt or the fans at the moment either.
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I think we had a 'Carlisle' moment of sorts last night after Ballard went off. We were two players light but still the better side and on the front foot and should've scored really. The way we played in that situation, and particularly the way we busted a gut to get back and put in the last ditch tackles was very encouraging and demonstrated a desire that I don't think we've been certain existed until now.
 
Can I just ask, to the people writing off Critchley AND the players:

Where do you think we can possibly go from here with a useless manager and a crap bunch of players?

If the players are all of a rubbish League Two, reserve team inexperienced standard, what good is a new manager gonna do? The window is closed, the squad is full, no one else can be brought in.

Surely the club is doomed whether Critchley stays or goes if the players are as poor as some are making out.
 
hertfordseasider said:
And to start I want to give my disclaimer that what I say here are my considered thoughts, not when watching the game and commenting on the game here when emotions are high and the tangerine blood is pulsating through my veins. This will never stop and I do not apologise for it but when calmed and pondered over things they are the thoughts that really count.

I actually thought we would win last night, the team changes raised the eyebrow but NC did say he wanted to keep players fresh. We started well, fell for the early sucker punch again and had another uphill struggle made worse by 2 sendings off. Even with those things happening we still deserved at least a point out of it but it wasn't to be.

My thoughts are that SS decided on NC after missing out on his initial targets and I think we can all see why he went for him. Top credentials re coaching badges and highly thought of at Liverpool and by Klopp. He clearly had a plan which he sold to SS and that plan is what he is now trying to put into place. SS was obviously impressed and has backed him handsomely. However, we basically have a completely new squad, filled with the younger end of the player spectrum so lacking League 1 and above experience. We were all hoping that because of his pedigree and all the new players he bought in that we would hit the road running and were going to sweep sides away with beautiful football.

Well, that hasn't happened and it was never going to. This really is a long term project and although we all think we can see the problems we all react rather than think because we are supporters and want success.

Whatever I say on a match day NC has to be given this season and whatever happens this season he has to be given the season after too. We cannot continue to chop and change. Grayson ws a mistake. NC was a risk but one SS wanted to take. I like NC, I like his interviews and I like his ideal. It just isn't happening for him yet and we are likely to feel a lot more pain before we feel pleasure. He has to be given the chance to get his tactics to work. These are not bad players, they are young, exciting prospects, many coveted by teams we would have lost out to in the past. We all want instant success but lets get realistic, unless you are really lucky it just doesn't happen.

So, I support NC, I want his system to work and I want him to adapt and get used to being a manager in League 1 quickly, he is after all, a rookie.

I don't expect everyone to agree with me, but for me he has to be given plenty of time. It will come, I'm sure of it. Potting a manager now or in the next few months will not help, we will have to start from square one again with no guarantee of success.

So. I'm with NC and SS and I look forward to the future.
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So if we go down, you’d stick with him????
 
BlackpoolsFinest said:
Can I just ask, to the people writing off Critchley AND the players:

Where do you think we can possibly go from here with a useless manager and a crap bunch of players?

If the players are all of a rubbish League Two, reserve team inexperienced standard, what good is a new manager gonna do? The window is closed, the squad is full, no one else can be brought in.

Surely the club is doomed whether Critchley stays or goes if the players are as poor as some are making out.
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An actual manager could get more out of them. The players are mostly not as bad as made out.
 
BFC_53 said:
I think we had a 'Carlisle' moment of sorts last night after Ballard went off. We were two players light but still the better side and on the front foot and should've scored really. The way we played in that situation, and particularly the way we busted a gut to get back and put in the last ditch tackles was very encouraging and demonstrated a desire that I don't think we've been certain existed until now.
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They man managed though. 11 v 9, 1-0 up, a team wrong end wanting 3 points, what do you expect them to do? Go 6 up top to get another goal or be a bit more sitty offish and preserve the 1-0.

We didn't score and they kept a clean sheet.

9 men, what exactly does the ben...err, coach say? Sod all is the answer, the players took it on themselves to get a head of steam up.

Also, not at the poster quoted, but when has a manager overseen a 'long term project'. They don't have the lifespan.
 
Thanks for the time to read my post and some good replies.

Let me make my own thoughts clear. I wanted Ollie when SS took over but he went for Grayson, I wanted Evo when he potted Grayson but we got Critch. So that's where my heart lay at those particular times.

I also think we made a terrible mistake by not going all out to sign Charlie this Summer. With an inexperienced manager and a mindset for young players, Charlie would have been the leader we need on and off the pitch, he would have controlled games and the young players would have a role model to to look up to and learn from.

I couldn't give two shits about NC's coaching badges, that means absolutely fuck all when it gets nasty on the pitch. So I am supporting him because he is here and SS has put his faith in him. I think the team is unbalanced as Phil and I have agreed on several times, we have too many full back and wide men, I have no idea why or how that happened. The whole football side of the club looks a bit like Nursery kids being put in charge of the country, the clubs needs some hard nosed football nouse in its ranks, I don't think we have anyone at the club who understands league 1 and lower league football apart from some of the players.

I understand the calls for an experienced guy alongside Critch, I think it would be a great idea but I don't see him being in favour of that and if SS pushes for it we may not have to worry about keeping him as coach, he could leave with his nose out of joint if that happened.

I say give him 2 seasons, because he is going to take time to get this right, if he ever does. That's my head talking. My heart says he has 3 or 4 more games and if things don't improve on the pitch and we don't start winning some games I think there is mileage in SS having enough and having a showdown with him. He will be more patient than we are, although he is a supporter like us with zero experience of running a football club. It's a blooming shame Sir Jimmy isn't still with us as his advice would be invaluable now.

I hear what everyone is saying. I keep having mixed thoughts about it but one thing is constant, I am delighted the Stains have gone and that we have SS but I am not sure NC is the man to lead us onwards even though I think he needs a proper chance and I am really think we lack some real experience at the club and some ex players who could be involved.

I have no idea who I would want as manager if we needed a new one, I still think we should have gone Evo when we could have. Too late now though. It's all a bit of a shitter really. Frustrating, infuriating, still hopeful, glad in so many ways but still feeling a bit empty inside in relation to the football.

Edit to add.... Do I see him being the manager in 2 seasons? Nah, I see him gone by December if this carries on but I am still with him!! 🤪
 
Class_of_2010 said:
Relegation is not an option and that is why the pressure is on Critchley to get things moving on an upward trajectory before the drop becomes a distinct possibility.
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Good thread this and totally agree with @Class_of_2010 - I do think defeats in the next two games and an FA Cup exit could hasten any decision and with both Robson and Ballard out for three games, that won't help his cause!
 
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