Last night

Wizaard

Wizaard

Well-known member
Well that didn't go to plan.

Reflecting on the way that went, there can't be that many players who come out of it with any credit.

Marvin was far and away our best outfield player, but the remainder were ponderous in possession, the passing was atrocious and the decision making terrible.

O'Donnell tried his best to keep us in it with some good saves, and at 1 0 we were still undeservedly in the game, but a terrible penalty decision meant the game was up.

Certain individuals need calling out. Connolly spent that much time holding his man and fouling him, he missed opportunities to play the ball. At one stage he punched the guy in the face as he ran past him. It would have benefitted us got him to be sent off. Woeful performance.

Norburn's limitations were there brutally exposed. Takes far too many touches, slowing down the play and very one footed.

The forwards huffed and puffed, but didn't really get any decent service or make anything of the ball they did get.

We must have put 5 or 6 headers over the bar tamely.

All in all, a bad night, and chalk and cheese to Saturday.

I did notice we started 3 5 2, but that shape changed throughout, 343, 442 and 3 3 4 by the end. Whichever it was, they always had a man in space able to receive the ball and move the ball on.

We failed to deal with that movement all night long.

As I've said, a bad night. We must get a reaction to it and beat Bolton. If we don't, the season really will be over.
 
The problem is, it’s not a one off… the squad is being utilised in completely the wrong way. Wrong selections and a lack of ownership. What’s more… despite every manager, the owner, every CEO chatting ‘The Blackpool Way’ - it is ** boring. Boring. Boring…

We don’t even begin to look like a side that is capable of any form of swagger, belief, achievement. A boring manager. Boring assistants and a captain who is …. Well, boring…

What’s more is it will continue this season and next. There’s a ‘plan’, ‘growth’, ‘development’. It’s like listening to Jeremy Hunt. We know that is bollocks too, but we have to carry on.

Jesus Christ - it’s depressing.
 
Hockaday’s Quiff said:
The problem is, it’s not a one off… the squad is being utilised in completely the wrong way. Wrong selections and a lack of ownership. What’s more… despite every manager, the owner, every CEO chatting ‘The Blackpool Way’ - it is ** boring. Boring. Boring…

We don’t even begin to look like a side that is capable of any form of swagger, belief, achievement. A boring manager. Boring assistants and a captain who is …. Well, boring…

What’s more is it will continue this season and next. There’s a ‘plan’, ‘growth’, ‘development’. It’s like listening to Jeremy Hunt. We know that is bollocks too, but we have to carry on.

Jesus Christ - it’s depressing.
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Peterborough seem to manage to play the Blackpool Way 🤷‍♂️
 
Three players obviously not up to speed who, if we had any intent on progressing to the final should have been hooked at half-time. There seemed to be a complete lack of composure or tactics, absolutely awful to watch.
 
Wizaard said:
Well that didn't go to plan.

Reflecting on the way that went, there can't be that many players who come out of it with any credit.

Marvin was far and away our best outfield player, but the remainder were ponderous in possession, the passing was atrocious and the decision making terrible.

O'Donnell tried his best to keep us in it with some good saves, and at 1 0 we were still undeservedly in the game, but a terrible penalty decision meant the game was up.

Certain individuals need calling out. Connolly spent that much time holding his man and fouling him, he missed opportunities to play the ball. At one stage he punched the guy in the face as he ran past him. It would have benefitted us got him to be sent off. Woeful performance.

Norburn's limitations were there brutally exposed. Takes far too many touches, slowing down the play and very one footed.

The forwards huffed and puffed, but didn't really get any decent service or make anything of the ball they did get.

We must have put 5 or 6 headers over the bar tamely.

All in all, a bad night, and chalk and cheese to Saturday.

I did notice we started 3 5 2, but that shape changed throughout, 343, 442 and 3 3 4 by the end. Whichever it was, they always had a man in space able to receive the ball and move the ball on.

We failed to deal with that movement all night long.

As I've said, a bad night. We must get a reaction to it and beat Bolton. If we don't, the season really will be over.
Click to expand...
 
Wizaard said:
Well that didn't go to plan.

Reflecting on the way that went, there can't be that many players who come out of it with any credit.

Marvin was far and away our best outfield player, but the remainder were ponderous in possession, the passing was atrocious and the decision making terrible.

O'Donnell tried his best to keep us in it with some good saves, and at 1 0 we were still undeservedly in the game, but a terrible penalty decision meant the game was up.

Certain individuals need calling out. Connolly spent that much time holding his man and fouling him, he missed opportunities to play the ball. At one stage he punched the guy in the face as he ran past him. It would have benefitted us got him to be sent off. Woeful performance.

Norburn's limitations were there brutally exposed. Takes far too many touches, slowing down the play and very one footed.

The forwards huffed and puffed, but didn't really get any decent service or make anything of the ball they did get.

We must have put 5 or 6 headers over the bar tamely.

All in all, a bad night, and chalk and cheese to Saturday.

I did notice we started 3 5 2, but that shape changed throughout, 343, 442 and 3 3 4 by the end. Whichever it was, they always had a man in space able to receive the ball and move the ball on.

We failed to deal with that movement all night long.

As I've said, a bad night. We must get a reaction to it and beat Bolton. If we don't, the season really will be over.
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Graves said:
No. I couldn’t tell you a decent manager that is a) currently available and b) affordable to us right now.
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And constant chopping and changing is a downward spiral. And we need to improve our recruitment, the solution doesn't simply lie in sacking one bloke. Why do we always need a fall guy? And then when we get our way, we feel smug and justified for a few weeks, and then the problems start again!
 
Nathan Jones is an outstanding appointment for Charlton, the players seem to be lacking a motivator and he would certainly have done that here!!

I just get no inspiration from Critchley at all and neither do the players it seems.
 
TangerineDan said:
Nathan Jones is an outstanding appointment for Charlton, the players seem to be lacking a motivator and he would certainly have done that here!!

I just get no inspiration from Critchley at all and neither do the players it seems.
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It must be soul destroying for the players to see that they are denied the best chance to win a game by team selection and team setup.
 
voyeur said:
And constant chopping and changing is a downward spiral. And we need to improve our recruitment, the solution doesn't simply lie in sacking one bloke. Why do we always need a fall guy? And then when we get our way, we feel smug and justified for a few weeks, and then the problems start again!
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Indeed, I don’t think the change at this point would be productive overall. For the record, I don’t think the solution is to sack our manager. I just don’t know what is, right now.

In some cases, it’s easy to say ’manager out’ after a big defeat, because it requires no further thinking.
 
I admit I stole this one from AmericanTangerine, Mike Williamson at MK Dons is probably the best candidate for me. He is still early in his coaching career but has already gained at reputation for identifying young players with potential and developing them.

He is the total opposite from Critchley in that he had a long playing career at both Premier League and EFL level. We will limp along with Critchley to the end of the season but last night was shockingly poor. Admittedly, P'Boro played very well, have some excellent young players and taught us a lesson but you can't overlook how abject we were, unable to string two passes together.
 
Graves said:
Indeed, I don’t think the change at this point would be productive overall. For the record, I don’t think the solution is to sack our manager. I just don’t know what is, right now.

In some cases, it’s easy to say ’manager out’ after a big defeat, because it requires no further thinking.
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Logically the solution is to do something different. That has to be the manager's ideas implemented. Can you see NC changing? I can't.

First time round it was seen that he needed an Exp No 2.

This time he doesn't that that exp, different viewpoint bloke alongside. What I can't fathom out is what has happened between the 2 events to make SS/NC think they didn't need a No 2 of the CC ilk?

It's too late for that type to be added and tbh, it's too late for NC to change.

Tin hat......I don't think SS wants a manager of personality.
 
fcblackpool said:
Logically the solution is to do something different. That has to be the manager's ideas implemented. Can you see NC changing? I can't.

First time round it was seen that he needed an Exp No 2.

This time he doesn't that that exp, different viewpoint bloke alongside. What I can't fathom out is what has happened between the 2 events to make SS/NC think they didn't need a No 2 of the CC ilk?

It's too late for that type to be added and tbh, it's too late for NC to change.

Tin hat......I don't think SS wants a manager of personality.
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I agree, he likes bland and boring and it that's his aim then he is excelling at it. The problem for me lies at the top, I\ll take your tin hat and add another!!
 
fcblackpool said:
Logically the solution is to do something different. That has to be the manager's ideas implemented. Can you see NC changing? I can't.

First time round it was seen that he needed an Exp No 2.

This time he doesn't that that exp, different viewpoint bloke alongside. What I can't fathom out is what has happened between the 2 events to make SS/NC think they didn't need a No 2 of the CC ilk?

It's too late for that type to be added and tbh, it's too late for NC to change.

Tin hat......I don't think SS wants a manager of personality.
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Responding to you and adding to the "Dobbie" thread.
Posters say that we don't want an inexperienced manager like Dobbie but we actually did quite well with "inexperienced" Critch first time round but like you point out Critch Mk1 accepted experience alongside him and was not so stubborn in his tactics (he was dead set initially on 4-3-3 but accepted change).
That's the difference now. He doesn't appear to accept, or want, either of those things.
Having had a go at him I certainly don't think now is the time to get rid (but I wouldn't be upset if we did).
The harsh facts are that we are better placed than 16 teams in League 1, we did better than 44 teams in the EFL Trophy and we got to the 4th round of FA Cup. You probably couldn't build those stats into a contract as reasons for dismissal.
Back to Dobbie I don't know if he will be a good manager but he was my "heart ruling head" choice over Critch. What I believe you would get with him is an acceptance that he doesn't know it all, the flexibilty to learn on the job, to be adaptable with increasing knowledge and to accept advice from others (some of the things that Critch Mk1 did).
 
Insider said:
Responding to you and adding to the "Dobbie" thread.
Posters say that we don't want an inexperienced manager like Dobbie but we actually did quite well with "inexperienced" Critch first time round but like you point out Critch Mk1 accepted experience alongside him and was not so stubborn in his tactics (he was dead set initially on 4-3-3 but accepted change).
That's the difference now. He doesn't appear to accept, or want, either of those things.
Having had a go at him I certainly don't think now is the time to get rid (but I wouldn't be upset if we did).
The harsh facts are that we are better placed than 16 teams in League 1, we did better than 44 teams in the EFL Trophy and we got to the 4th round of FA Cup. You probably couldn't build those stats into a contract as reasons for dismissal.
Back to Dobbie I don't know if he will be a good manager but he was my "heart ruling head" choice over Critch. What I believe you would get with him is an acceptance that he doesn't know it all, the flexibilty to learn on the job, to be adaptable with increasing knowledge and to accept advice from others (some of the things that Critch Mk1 did).
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Good post that.
 
Wizaard said:
Well that didn't go to plan.

Reflecting on the way that went, there can't be that many players who come out of it with any credit.

Marvin was far and away our best outfield player, but the remainder were ponderous in possession, the passing was atrocious and the decision making terrible.

O'Donnell tried his best to keep us in it with some good saves, and at 1 0 we were still undeservedly in the game, but a terrible penalty decision meant the game was up.

Certain individuals need calling out. Connolly spent that much time holding his man and fouling him, he missed opportunities to play the ball. At one stage he punched the guy in the face as he ran past him. It would have benefitted us got him to be sent off. Woeful performance.

Norburn's limitations were there brutally exposed. Takes far too many touches, slowing down the play and very one footed.

The forwards huffed and puffed, but didn't really get any decent service or make anything of the ball they did get.

We must have put 5 or 6 headers over the bar tamely.

All in all, a bad night, and chalk and cheese to Saturday.

I did notice we started 3 5 2, but that shape changed throughout, 343, 442 and 3 3 4 by the end. Whichever it was, they always had a man in space able to receive the ball and move the ball on.

We failed to deal with that movement all night long.

As I've said, a bad night. We must get a reaction to it and beat Bolton. If we don't, the season really will be over.
Click to expand...

Can't argue with any of that except maybe it wasn't a lot different from the first half on Saturday. We know Posh tend to fall apart under pressure, but we failed to press them at any point last night. In fact we made them look way better than their 6th place in the league. We gave the ball away after two passes while they kept it for 20 or 30. The most disappointing thing is that we can't keep possession unless we go backwards. Nobody looks comfortable on the ball. We're like frightened rabbits in the headlights when we have possession. It's not so much that we played bad. We're just not that good. Having said that, we've played much better than that at home this season.
 
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Insider said:
Responding to you and adding to the "Dobbie" thread.
Posters say that we don't want an inexperienced manager like Dobbie but we actually did quite well with "inexperienced" Critch first time round but like you point out Critch Mk1 accepted experience alongside him and was not so stubborn in his tactics (he was dead set initially on 4-3-3 but accepted change).
That's the difference now. He doesn't appear to accept, or want, either of those things.
Having had a go at him I certainly don't think now is the time to get rid (but I wouldn't be upset if we did).
The harsh facts are that we are better placed than 16 teams in League 1, we did better than 44 teams in the EFL Trophy and we got to the 4th round of FA Cup. You probably couldn't build those stats into a contract as reasons for dismissal.
Back to Dobbie I don't know if he will be a good manager but he was my "heart ruling head" choice over Critch. What I believe you would get with him is an acceptance that he doesn't know it all, the flexibilty to learn on the job, to be adaptable with increasing knowledge and to accept advice from others (some of the things that Critch Mk1 did).
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On the relative success, I think if the budget rumours are right then you'd expect us to be somewhere near the upper end of achieving. That is the minimum goal.

Whilst it's tempting to say stick with what you've got, there is the question of things kicking on under NC. Can you see it or more correct, can you expect him to change things around? I honestly can't and again it's easy to say summer should be when NC brings in better players, but will they be used right, who pays for the necessary quality (budget won't be a s big as this season)?

I would give it to The Dobster until the end of the season, in the meantime I'd be looking at a new manager in the 3+ months available. I would try to get any new chap to integrate SD, maybe as a No 2/3 to learn the ropes, so to speak. I certainly wouldn't give SD the job on the back of any success this season, because it's essentially a free hit without the must win/must not lose mentality that you'd normally have.

Leaving things the same for next season will do 2 things, one being nothing different to this season the other a reduction of ST sales by a good number. I know of 4 that are seriously thinking of not renewing if NC is in charge (that may be knee jerk stuff and will change, but the thought is deffo there).
 
sack him, don't sack him or whatever. But for a great many fans he seems to be sucking the life out of the club with his whole inability to adapt or change. The football is awful and the the results on the whole aren't justifying the style and formation he's forcing on the players and the fans. Things have to change in some form. If he's not prepared to do that then we won't imprve and the vitriol agaoinst him will only get worse. Sadler needs to be aware of that as l'm sure he is.
 
voyeur said:
And constant chopping and changing is a downward spiral. And we need to improve our recruitment, the solution doesn't simply lie in sacking one bloke. Why do we always need a fall guy? And then when we get our way, we feel smug and justified for a few weeks, and then the problems start again!
Click to expand...
This us exactly the crux of the matter. Critch has his faults, don't we all, but he just does not have the personnel to be as successful as we all would like. The Peterborough model of recruitment is what we should be aspiring to replicate. Given the right players, I firmly believe that Critchley can do a good job for us. Unfortunately, too many supporters had him written off as soon as he was appointed. In my opinion, to get this group of players to 8th in the league and to the semis of the cup shows how good a coach he is.
 
kerrytangerine said:
This us exactly the crux of the matter. Critch has his faults, don't we all, but he just does not have the personnel to be as successful as we all would like. The Peterborough model of recruitment is what we should be aspiring to replicate. Given the right players, I firmly believe that Critchley can do a good job for us. Unfortunately, too many supporters had him written off as soon as he was appointed. In my opinion, to get this group of players to 8th in the league and to the semis of the cup shows how good a coach he is.
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yep, nonsense. They are pretty much all his players that he has brought to the club. Think it' s just two of last nights squad of players were players he didn't sign.
 
Graves said:
Indeed, I don’t think the change at this point would be productive overall. For the record, I don’t think the solution is to sack our manager. I just don’t know what is, right now.

In some cases, it’s easy to say ’manager out’ after a big defeat, because it requires no further thinking.
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The change is needed right now, as to hang on to that boring uninspiring management team will cost Saddler and the club in the loss of season tickets.
 
kerrytangerine said:
This us exactly the crux of the matter. Critch has his faults, don't we all, but he just does not have the personnel to be as successful as we all would like. The Peterborough model of recruitment is what we should be aspiring to replicate. Given the right players, I firmly believe that Critchley can do a good job for us. Unfortunately, too many supporters had him written off as soon as he was appointed. In my opinion, to get this group of players to 8th in the league and to the semis of the cup shows how good a coach he is.
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Deary me! 😄
Most of the players are more than good enough.

If we had say, Liam Manning or Kieran McKenna in charge (so a good manager) then we'd be clear at the top of this league!
 
I know I used the #5for25 for the Academy for a while and clearly that won't be the case. I think however there are starting to be positive and progressive signs in our Academy so it is is vitally important not to lose and let it become in @Victorsponge words "The Development Squad where young Blackpool players come to die".
So we need a 1st team manager that doesn't simply develop players for other Clubs Academies.
 
Wizaard said:
Well that didn't go to plan.

Reflecting on the way that went, there can't be that many players who come out of it with any credit.

Marvin was far and away our best outfield player, but the remainder were ponderous in possession, the passing was atrocious and the decision making terrible.

O'Donnell tried his best to keep us in it with some good saves, and at 1 0 we were still undeservedly in the game, but a terrible penalty decision meant the game was up.

Certain individuals need calling out. Connolly spent that much time holding his man and fouling him, he missed opportunities to play the ball. At one stage he punched the guy in the face as he ran past him. It would have benefitted us got him to be sent off. Woeful performance.

Norburn's limitations were there brutally exposed. Takes far too many touches, slowing down the play and very one footed.

The forwards huffed and puffed, but didn't really get any decent service or make anything of the ball they did get.

We must have put 5 or 6 headers over the bar tamely.

All in all, a bad night, and chalk and cheese to Saturday.

I did notice we started 3 5 2, but that shape changed throughout, 343, 442 and 3 3 4 by the end. Whichever it was, they always had a man in space able to receive the ball and move the ball on.

We failed to deal with that movement all night long.

As I've said, a bad night. We must get a reaction to it and beat Bolton. If we don't, the season really will be over.
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They looked like a team that had been well coached. Every one of their players was comfortable in the role they played. The opposite applied to us. Never had much time for DF but credit to him for his team's display last night.
 
20togo said:
sack him, don't sack him or whatever. But for a great many fans he seems to be sucking the life out of the club with his whole inability to adapt or change. The football is awful and the the results on the whole aren't justifying the style and formation he's forcing on the players and the fans. Things have to change in some form. If he's not prepared to do that then we won't imprve and the vitriol agaoinst him will only get worse. Sadler needs to be aware of that as l'm sure he is.
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ST sales will take a massive drop if the status quo remains…as you say something has to change.
He returned under a cloud for many fans …I wasn’t fully convinced with his returning…so called apology .
The football is poor more often than not….tough time for SS but for me it’s of his own making…in my opinion he may well benefit from taking a general feeling from supporters……not just a set of facts and figures …before another appointment 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
Agenda for choosing the next manager:

A. Appoint Dobbie on an interim basis and see how he does

The end.
 
kerrytangerine said:
This us exactly the crux of the matter. Critch has his faults, don't we all, but he just does not have the personnel to be as successful as we all would like. The Peterborough model of recruitment is what we should be aspiring to replicate. Given the right players, I firmly believe that Critchley can do a good job for us. Unfortunately, too many supporters had him written off as soon as he was appointed. In my opinion, to get this group of players to 8th in the league and to the semis of the cup shows how good a coach he is.
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I'm not exactly saying that. It's not a black and white argument, in my opinion, as much as a lot of people want it to be. But there are problems around our performances that deserve criticism. I like the last blog by td53 that was "not an interview with Critch." He raised some valid questions.

In my mind, the club is pretty much where it belongs when you rank clubs according to annual budget and fanbase. Very few clubs above us who don't belong there. Maybe only Stevenage, one place above us. So the idea that we are failing miserably seems like a gross exaggeration to me.

But the whole experience could be much better. I think as a club we all need to accept we are not big enough to take on much of the Championship and expect to do well. The fans need to get real. And the club needs to understand that football is an experience, not a data exercise. We are more likely to succeed if we see it as fun, take the anger and blame out, and make the match experience an exciting one. Dare to lose, every game is treated like a cup game, the level is not the be all and end all if the football is positive and exciting, and players are allowed to express themselves.

But we have to learn collectively that success happens sometimes but not all the time.
 
Wizaard said:
Well that didn't go to plan.

Reflecting on the way that went, there can't be that many players who come out of it with any credit.

Marvin was far and away our best outfield player, but the remainder were ponderous in possession, the passing was atrocious and the decision making terrible.

O'Donnell tried his best to keep us in it with some good saves, and at 1 0 we were still undeservedly in the game, but a terrible penalty decision meant the game was up.

Certain individuals need calling out. Connolly spent that much time holding his man and fouling him, he missed opportunities to play the ball. At one stage he punched the guy in the face as he ran past him. It would have benefitted us got him to be sent off. Woeful performance.

Norburn's limitations were there brutally exposed. Takes far too many touches, slowing down the play and very one footed.

The forwards huffed and puffed, but didn't really get any decent service or make anything of the ball they did get.

We must have put 5 or 6 headers over the bar tamely.

All in all, a bad night, and chalk and cheese to Saturday.

I did notice we started 3 5 2, but that shape changed throughout, 343, 442 and 3 3 4 by the end. Whichever it was, they always had a man in space able to receive the ball and move the ball on.

We failed to deal with that movement all night long.

As I've said, a bad night. We must get a reaction to it and beat Bolton. If we don't, the season really will be over.
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Connolly's performance last night was atrocious..
Forever losing his man and as you say, the incident where he swung a punch as the guy left him for Dad was embarrassing.

Hard to believe if true, that Rhodes aside, he is the highest earner at the club. Stealing a living and out of his depth.
 
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