Just putting it out there

Ockers

Well-known member
So a year or so ago we appoint Critchley and the prospect of Liverpool style football was mouth watering, indeed we played them at their own game ore season and for 45 mins bossed them.

The season started off not how we planned it, but in more recent weeks that high press, slick passing entertaining football is starting to take shape. 5th in the league too, not bad for a rookie managers first full season

But what if we miss promotion ? Personally I'd be disappointed, but keep this squad, with a few nice additions and a great season when crowds are in next year and automatic promotion would be a very realistic shout.

I for one want promotion, but also won't be overly concerned if we don't, provided we keep the squad as next year will be even better then this

Thoughts ? new management, learning his style and no crowds to enjoy this season
 
If we don’t go up I’m scared we’ll lose Yates and a few out of contract players.

If we could adequately replace them id fancy us for autos next season.
 
Had this discussion with a few mates. I’d be gutted if we didn’t go up. But we have around 16-18 players under contract. No massive rebuilding job needed this summer.

Add a bit more quality, replace the likes of Ballard, Gabriel and Embleton and we’d have to be one of the favourites to go up next year. All depends how we start. Can’t be as bad as this season you’d like to think!
 
The silver lining, as disappointing as it would be, to not getting promoted this year is the fact we'll be back in the ground next year. They've had this season to develop without the pressure of a crowd and we'll get behind them now they're a settled unit, there will be no boo'ing or calling for Critchley's head like there would have been at the start of the season. You'd imagine we could hit the ground running and it could be a brilliant season in League One where we could get automatic with our quality and now experience combined.

It is almost the reverse of how getting promoted will have a slight downer on it due to the fact there are no crowds, a trip to Wembley will be soured by the fact it should have been the first time post-boycott we all united again to watch us get promoted. Obviously you'd rather get promoted with no crowd than not at all but that will always be a disappointing element, considering what could have been!

Ultimately to even be in with a shout of going up this year after our slow start is an incredible achievement, football isn't always as simple as you were good this season so you'll be good next but I'm confident we'd hit the ground running next year if we don't go up. We might lose Yates but the money we'd get would go straight back into the squad and this time we're building upon stronger foundations.

If we miss out in the league and finish 7th say (I doubt that'll happen), or we lose in the play-offs - I'll be clapping whichever TV screen I'm watching it on and the lads can walk off the pitch with their heads held high, as disappointed as they'll be.
 
If we don’t go up I’m scared we’ll lose Yates and a few out of contract players.

If we could adequately replace them id fancy us for autos next season.
Look at it this way.

It would be serious money and also, would he want to go. I think he'll know we are on the cusp of good things. Critchley could convince him for 12 months with the promise he can leave if we don't go up

Or, get the serious money and he seems to know a gem of a player so could he be replaced ??
 
After a worryingly slow start we have gradually gathered speed and I doubt there`s currently a better team in League 1 which is underlined by the fact that in the last 30 games we have the best record in the league and now are actually playing better than ever.

Promotion is now a realistic proposition and I`m sure we`ll go for it but if it doesn`t happen this season future prospects are still looking better than for a long time and that`s the hope that keeps us all going.
 
If an opportunity for promotion is there, then you have to go for it 100%. Who's to say what will happen next season?

Maybe this squad can't play in front of a demanding home crowd for starters.

I would never look to next season while there was still something to play for in this one.
I do actually agree with you about going all out for promotion, it was just an objective view in case it doesn't happen
 
We could turn down all offers for Yates if we wanted. He could have a big strop obviously, but doesn't seem the type.

I also think this is a club that people will want to come to now, and to stay at unless there's a very good reason not to. The grass isn't always greener and ours is very green at the minute. Ten grand a week might persuade JY, obviously.

The club has created a very strong position, thanks to Sadler, Critch, Calderwood et al. Very stable financially, it seems, and very well run with a great ethos and atmosphere to work in. Players from Premier League clubs choosing to come on loan because the coaching is top level and the style of football is not agricultural. Ballard saying he's learning new stuff here.

So whatever happens we are in a great place. We can recruit well because we are in demand. Ballard and Simms are likely t want to stay at their parent clubs but they may choose us again if they are encouraged to find a club. And. if they don't, other talented players will.

But getting promoted is a really tough gig. We wouldn't be guaranteed next season. There are around 7 big clubs in the division, and the salary cap has gone. This is a great chance to get promoted and you have to take your chances. It's a big ask still, cos automatic is a long shot and the play-offs are a 1 in 4 lottery. But it's a good opportunity, I hope we do it. The club is gearing up for Championship football, let's get there and take on the challenge. We have the personnel and the owner to cope up there.
 
At the beginning of the season we had no battling players in midfield which for me that is the area where games are won and lost plus the defence was susceptible to the ball over the top and in behind them which was due to our high press and leaving too much space behind the defence. The appearance of Kenny Dougal made a big difference and we stopped pressing so high and battling it out more in the middle of the park, plus our defence was given a shot in the arm when Greterson arrived. We have a more balanced structure to our play now.
Although Critch tried something on Monday and brought Gabriel on to play a midfielder's role against Gillingham, his willingness far out weighed his ability in that position 🤣🧡 but we were well in front to be able to see if he could be put in there. Fair play to the lad he tried and I'm sure with a bit more coaching and experience (because he has a good engine on him) he could certainly break up play and give it easy like Kenny Dougal does.
 
I’ve always said a successful season would be a top 10 finish. Play offs a bonus. Obviously want us to get promoted but if we don’t we have a solid group to build on- when was the last time we said that? We need to address the expiring contracts such as Garbutt/Kaikai etc. Personally don’t think we’ll sell Yates but if we did it would be for a lot more than we bought him for. Nothing but positives ahead for me.
 
I'm quite relaxed about promotion this season. Not saying I won't be gutted if we fail, or that you don't need to take your chances, because you do. But while under the previous owners I used to wonder if we'd ever get the chance again, i'm now of the mindset that the next chance won't be long in coming.
One of the reasons why I think that is that we have given decent contracts to our best players - Yates may well leave if we don't go up, but he has three years left on his contract so it will only be for big money, and that money will certainly be re-invested in the team. Gone are the days where we lose our best player for £250k to Norwich. Or we drive players and managers to their next destination because we have no ambition. It's a new club this, and it's difficult sometimes to get out of the mindset we used to have. Where we are now is a million miles away from a few years ago, we are now run in a way that will very likely support a promotion push year on year on year until we get there. Of course you've got to take your chances (Peterborough have been in league 1 for around 8 years now despite continually being a promotion favourite and spending a fortune), but things are looking great long term, not just in the here and now.
 
The silver lining, as disappointing as it would be, to not getting promoted this year is the fact we'll be back in the ground next year. They've had this season to develop without the pressure of a crowd and we'll get behind them now they're a settled unit, there will be no boo'ing or calling for Critchley's head like there would have been at the start of the season. You'd imagine we could hit the ground running and it could be a brilliant season in League One where we could get automatic with our quality and now experience combined.

It is almost the reverse of how getting promoted will have a slight downer on it due to the fact there are no crowds, a trip to Wembley will be soured by the fact it should have been the first time post-boycott we all united again to watch us get promoted. Obviously you'd rather get promoted with no crowd than not at all but that will always be a disappointing element, considering what could have been!

Ultimately to even be in with a shout of going up this year after our slow start is an incredible achievement, football isn't always as simple as you were good this season so you'll be good next but I'm confident we'd hit the ground running next year if we don't go up. We might lose Yates but the money we'd get would go straight back into the squad and this time we're building upon stronger foundations.

If we miss out in the league and finish 7th say (I doubt that'll happen), or we lose in the play-offs - I'll be clapping whichever TV screen I'm watching it on and the lads can walk off the pitch with their heads held high, as disappointed with as they'll be.
there will be no boo'ing or calling for Critchley's head like there would have been at the start of the season.

🤔
mmmmm I’ll give it 5 “disappointing” results and the knives will be out from those of that ilk
 
there will be no boo'ing or calling for Critchley's head like there would have been at the start of the season.

🤔
mmmmm I’ll give it 5 “disappointing” results and the knives will be out from those of that ilk
Unfortunately you may be right.

I think generally speaking, the majority of fans will be more patient with a manager that nearly got us promoted once - but as you say, there will always be some who will turn on him as quickly as they did before!
 
I doubt Sadler ever had any thought of sacking Critch. He's intelligent enough to know that sacking a manager with a new squad ten games into a season is bloody stupid. And he was in deep, financially. When you commit to people in football it's expensive, you have to stick with decisions or pay up contracts and start again. It wasn't going to happen. So all the foot stamping was actually pointless. Chest beating nonsense.
 
I'll be honest - this is all a bonus. I remember after the Christmas back to back defeats, I'd almost given up on this season and so anything else is a bonus. That said, I hate the Play Offs with a passion and if we can't go am not sure how I feel about it all. My mate is a Wycombe fan and he says their promotion last season was the worst possible way to go up.
 
Unfortunately you may be right.

I think generally speaking, the majority of fans will be more patient with a manager that nearly got us promoted once - but as you say, there will always be some who will turn on him as quickly as they did before!
Some will turn on him if we lose tomorrow.
 
I'll be honest - this is all a bonus. I remember after the Christmas back to back defeats, I'd almost given up on this season and so anything else is a bonus. That said, I hate the Play Offs with a passion and if we can't go am not sure how I feel about it all. My mate is a Wycombe fan and he says their promotion last season was the worst possible way to go up.
Play-offs are the BEST way to go up. The drama of a two-legged tie to get to the final, a trip to Wembley and seeing your club lift a trophy amongst thousands of your fans.

But that's the risk and reward, the reason it feels so good to win one is because it feels so terrible to lose it. Going up automatic is better for the nerves of course, I've never experienced it though!
 
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