Johnson and Mansford

Still (maybe naive) have faith in the current setup but alarm bells started ringing for me when we signed 5+ players in January under Graysons management then sacked him after the first game he had them all available. Also questions raised during the managerial process after graysons sacking when we were publicly rejected by different managers and ended up going for our third/fourth choice in critch
 
Mansford is the CEO so he deals mainly with the management of the club i.e. sorting out the paperwork and negotiations with transfer, getting sponsorship deals, engaging the club with the community and on those fronts I would say Mansford has done brilliantly.

He's managed to sign a full squad of quality players for this level before the end of the transfer deadline, gained an incredible number of sponsors that the club otherwise wouldn't have gotten, and re-engaged the community with campaigns such a Backing Blackpool. He's actually done a really good job IMO.

You could probably criticize Johnson more, but I wouldn't put the blame on him either as the players he's recruited have been very good. Garbutt, Grétarsson, Robson, CJ, Keshi, Dougall, are all quality League 1 players and we were lucky to get them in. Yates, Mitchell, and Ekpiteta have shown flashes of being more than good at this level, but think they'll take longer to develop. I think the only player who Johnson's brought in that hasn't quite panned out yet is Lubala, who could still turn out to be a decent player down the line.

Overall, I don't think the blame lies at anyone other than Critchley right now. He's been backed thoroughly and I don't think it's fair at all to blame Mansford or Johnson for the early struggles.
 
Shiggy said:
Still (maybe naive) have faith in the current setup but alarm bells started ringing for me when we signed 5+ players in January under Graysons management then sacked him after the first game he had them all available. Also questions raised during the managerial process after graysons sacking when we were publicly rejected by different managers and ended up going for our third/fourth choice in critch
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Fair point about managerial process as it was very drawn out and it was public that we were being rejected, but I don't think that was 100% down to Mansford and think it was much more down to Sadler wanting an attacking, possession style based manager to be appointed and there simply not being many available. We went after both Karl Robinson and Nathan Jones and both turned us down and after those two there really weren't that many other options left which left us with Critchley.
 
AmericanTangerine said:
Mansford is the CEO so he deals mainly with the management of the club i.e. sorting out the paperwork and negotiations with transfer, getting sponsorship deals, engaging the club with the community and on those fronts I would say Mansford has done brilliantly.

He's managed to sign a full squad of quality players for this level before the end of the transfer deadline, gained an incredible number of sponsors that the club otherwise wouldn't have gotten, and re-engaged the community with campaigns such a Backing Blackpool. He's actually done a really good job IMO.

You could probably criticize Johnson more, but I wouldn't put the blame on him either as the players he's recruited have been very good. Garbutt, Grétarsson, Robson, CJ, Keshi, Dougall, are all quality League 1 players and we were lucky to get them in. Yates, Mitchell, and Ekpiteta have shown flashes of being more than good at this level, but think they'll take longer to develop. I think the only player who Johnson's brought in that hasn't quite panned out yet is Lubala, who could still turn out to be a decent player down the line.

Overall, I don't think the blame lies at anyone other than Critchley right now. He's been backed thoroughly and I don't think it's fair at all to blame Mansford or Johnson for the early struggles.
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Thank god some of our fan base have some intelligence.
 
Whoever’s in charge of recruitment has got it all wrong for me, there was no need to sign 12 players in January then another 17 was it this summer !

it’s not secret critchley was 4th choice so it’s questions above him what need to be asked. I think it’s pretty obvious he doesn’t have a lot of say in the players that are signed
 
AmericanTangerine said:
Mansford is the CEO so he deals mainly with the management of the club i.e. sorting out the paperwork and negotiations with transfer, getting sponsorship deals, engaging the club with the community and on those fronts I would say Mansford has done brilliantly.

He's managed to sign a full squad of quality players for this level before the end of the transfer deadline, gained an incredible number of sponsors that the club otherwise wouldn't have gotten, and re-engaged the community with campaigns such a Backing Blackpool. He's actually done a really good job IMO.

You could probably criticize Johnson more, but I wouldn't put the blame on him either as the players he's recruited have been very good. Garbutt, Grétarsson, Robson, CJ, Keshi, Dougall, are all quality League 1 players and we were lucky to get them in. Yates, Mitchell, and Ekpiteta have shown flashes of being more than good at this level, but think they'll take longer to develop. I think the only player who Johnson's brought in that hasn't quite panned out yet is Lubala, who could still turn out to be a decent player down the line.

Overall, I don't think the blame lies at anyone other than Critchley right now. He's been backed thoroughly and I don't think it's fair at all to blame Mansford or Johnson for the early struggles.
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Mansford is heavily involved in player recruitment according to people at the club and also appointed the Manager.
 
BlackpoolsFinest said:
The propensity of some on here to sack everyone every time something goes wrong is laughable.

It isn't how life works.
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I haven't called for anyone to be sacked, but surely people who are paid to recruit and appoint at the club should be held accountable along with Critchley?

There's no harm in asking on a forum what Mansford and Johnson have brought to the club so far, just like people are doing with the head coach.
 
RossendaleSeasider said:
I haven't called for anyone to be sacked, but surely people who are paid to recruit and appoint at the club should be held accountable along with Critchley?

There's no harm in asking on a forum what Mansford and Johnson have brought to the club so far, just like people are doing with the head coach.
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I didn't single you out or claim you had. But there are people on here that are saying they should be fired.

We have no idea what Mansford has brought to the club in granular detail, but the links he has formed with the fans and local businesses is one thing off the top of my head I can think of that he has done successfully.
As no one outside of the club knows who does what concerning recruitment, it is hard to apportion the blame to anyone specific.
 
AmericanTangerine said:
Mansford is the CEO so he deals mainly with the management of the club i.e. sorting out the paperwork and negotiations with transfer, getting sponsorship deals, engaging the club with the community and on those fronts I would say Mansford has done brilliantly.

He's managed to sign a full squad of quality players for this level before the end of the transfer deadline, gained an incredible number of sponsors that the club otherwise wouldn't have gotten, and re-engaged the community with campaigns such a Backing Blackpool. He's actually done a really good job IMO.

You could probably criticize Johnson more, but I wouldn't put the blame on him either as the players he's recruited have been very good. Garbutt, Grétarsson, Robson, CJ, Keshi, Dougall, are all quality League 1 players and we were lucky to get them in. Yates, Mitchell, and Ekpiteta have shown flashes of being more than good at this level, but think they'll take longer to develop. I think the only player who Johnson's brought in that hasn't quite panned out yet is Lubala, who could still turn out to be a decent player down the line.

Overall, I don't think the blame lies at anyone other than Critchley right now. He's been backed thoroughly and I don't think it's fair at all to blame Mansford or Johnson for the early struggles.
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Agree with the last paragraph.
I don't think he will ever change his style of play.
Not good when you can see it's not working.
 
fcblackpool said:
When something is not working you can either sack them, or give them further help to make it work. I'd give M a DoF and NC an exp. No 2.
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At this point I would be happy with a Director of Football coming in, it would make sense given the lack of experience we have.
How the dynamics would work alongside a Head Coach would be something that would need to be ironed out.
I imagine the fact that Critch was given the title of HC instead of manager left the door open for a DoF to be hired at some point.
What we are going through now has possibly led to the need for the hire to be brought forward.
 
BlackpoolsFinest said:
I didn't single you out or claim you had. But there are people on here that are saying they should be fired.

We have no idea what Mansford has brought to the club in granular detail, but the links he has formed with the fans and local businesses is one thing off the top of my head I can think of that he has done successfully.
As no one outside of the club knows who does what concerning recruitment, it is hard to apportion the blame to anyone specific.
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Nobody knows, that's why I'm asking questions to try to find out the answers.

Agree we have done loads of good stuff off the pitch, but it would be good to know a bit about the recruitment and transfer committee process/responsibility.
 
RossendaleSeasider said:
Nobody knows, that's why I'm asking questions to try to find out the answers.

Agree we have done loads of good stuff off the pitch, but it would be good to know a bit about the recruitment and transfer committee process/responsibility.
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You're unlikely to find out much other than opinion and hearsay.

At this point I think it is far too soon to write off quite a considerable amount of these players.
As I mentioned on another thread, Ekpiteta, Ballard, Dougall, Woodburn, Hamilton & Yates (at the very least) should all turn out to be decent signings for this division. Players like Garbutt & Mitchell were being chased by other big teams in League One, they can't all be crap.

The system isn't working, chances aren't being created. That doesn't mean that the players aren't good enough, it means they're not being used properly.
We can't keep tearing up and burning everything down after a few games; no sports team, business, whatever can progress by doing it.
I have no idea what fields some posters (not you!) work in, but I guarantee they don't work to the same methods as what is put forward on here every time something goes wrong.
We need to review, adapt and start playing to our strengths, not throw the baby out with the bathwater again.
 
The appointment of a manager is a board decision unfair to single out Mansford and the appointment of Critch was clearly based on sound reasoning and consideration of his pedigree and references

In relation to Johnson as we don’t know if the players are his recommends or Critch’s it seems unfair to single him out also

Plus these players may get their act together in any event
 
fcblackpool said:
Do you reckon SS lets a novice loose with the hedge fund management?

Of course he doesn't so why has he done it now with BFC?
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Same reason Lampard was appointed at Derby
Same reason as Gerrard appointed at Rangers
Same reason Barton appointed are the Cods
All novices
 
AngelBFC said:
Same reason Lampard was appointed at Derby
Same reason as Gerrard appointed at Rangers
Same reason Barton appointed are the Cods
All novices
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I don't know for sure, but I can imagine those 3 appts are not the highest ranking football person at the club. Here we've put the whole football side in the hands of a novice.
 
One of my main gripes recently has been the amount of players in and out under grayson and critchley. You need to keep a core group of players like we had with ormerod, GTF, evatt etc. It's no good refreshing the whole squad almost every transfer window. I fear we are going to be in the same situation again next summer with a lot of these players moving on.
 
Whichever way you look at things, as a club we have signed and released a LOT of players since the end of the 2018/2019 season and this has been repeated this summer, so it's not a case of the first year involving a big clear out and then tinkering in year 2. I could have understood the recent recruitment process if there was a clear and obvious pattern emerging. However, we're at the end of the 3rd recruitment cycle and we have a squad that looks short on leaders and real experience where it counts and also a squad where its not immediately obvious to see where the creativity and goal threat comes from.

If this was exclusive to now then i'd be more comfortable with the notion of patience and letting the players grow into the shape and situation, but we began the second half of last season looking totally disjointed and lacking a clear approach to games and it doesn't look like much has really changed - other than the head coach and a whole bunch of players.

Something is not working. I don't think it can be solely laid at the coaches door.
 
AngelBFC said:
Same reason Lampard was appointed at Derby
Same reason as Gerrard appointed at Rangers
Same reason Barton appointed are the Cods
All novices
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Your trying to compare three footballers who played at the highest level represented their countries and worked under some of the best managers in the game with some bloke who made one appearance for Crewe.
Behave yourself.
 
poolseasider said:
Your trying to compare three footballers who played at the highest level represented their countries and worked under some of the best managers in the game with some bloke who made one appearance for Crewe.
Behave yourself.
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Ok

Karl Robinson appointed manager League 1 MK Dons no previous managerial experience. Lots more examples.

The point is that unless you take a chance with someone you will never know.
 
62years&counting said:
Why, when you can get a better number 1.
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Might be too much upheaval with that. A shed load of players on longish contracts, some likely now surplus to be shipped out, salary caps.

The cheaper, more practical way, at this point in time, is to stick with NC but get some influence alongside and above him.

Tbh, this should have been done in the summer. It was so obviously needed.
 
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fcblackpool said:
Might be too much upheaval with that. A shed load of players on longish contracts, some likely now surplus to be shipped out, salary caps.

The cheaper, more practical way, at this point in time, is to stick with NC but get some influence alongside and above him.

Tbh, this should have been done in the summer. It was so obviously needed.
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A ridiculous appointment. Sadler and Mansford should have known better. If he stays then he should be demoted.
 
AngelBFC said:
Ok

Karl Robinson appointed manager League 1 MK Dons no previous managerial experience. Lots more examples.

The point is that unless you take a chance with someone you will never know.
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Worked as Paul Ince's assistant first before getting the main job and here's the crux he went out and got John Gorman the former England coach to work with him maybe NC should have brought in someone similar?
 
poolseasider said:
Worked as Paul Ince's assistant first before getting the main job and here's the crux he went out and got John Gorman the former England coach to work with him maybe NC should have brought in someone similar?
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The only thing he learned from P'Ince was how not to be a manager probably.
 
It’s unarguable that he’s a novice. He has spent all his life in football but a great many others have worked in backrooms up and down the land but when they get their first competitive job they are novices.

League One is a tough league for any novice.
 
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