Last pre season it was

Class_of_2010 said:
The fact that you refuse to give the guy any credit. Whenever, on the rare occasion that you do, you say things like 'he's finally realised' or 'thanks to calderwood'. You have made your feelings clear on him from day one and have refused to budge on it because that would mean you will have been wrong.

There are many, many world class managers who have signed players and it hasn't worked out. Care to talk about the good signings he has made? Or are they down to somebody else?

Like a stuck record 😴
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Don't talk nonsense

I've given him plenty of credit, it was a great achievement getting promotion after such a woeful start

As for signings if it wasnt for the owner backing the manager once the season started we would have been nowhere near a promotion side

Starting the season with Robson as the holding midfield player with an inexperienced centre half alongside Nottingham was very naive

Yates has been a great signing and i like the look of Mitchell

The rest who came in during the summer window have flattered to deceive
 
I get the feeling that Critchley prefers a 'safer' full back behind an attacking winger who wouldn't contribute much defensively. For example last season when we mostly had Mitchell or CJ on the right, Turton played over Gabriel. Whereas on the other side we had a more attacking full back in Garbutt selected over Husband but never really had an out and out winger on that side and mostly had Embleton/Anderson/Kaikai (I think Kaikai offered more defensively in that position that people gave him credit for). Makes me think Connolly will be our right back and Mitchell/CJ will be given free roam to go forward on that side
 
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Phil_bfc deux said:
I can do what i want

Hubby played several games at centre half and played really well there, especially towards the end of the season

Garbutt is nailed on to start at left back

Cod fans didn't rate Connolly on the rare occasions he filled in a right back

Much better in the middle was their view
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Of course you can do/say what you want and I always like to read what you have to say. (This is the 2nd time I've to say this though, your are getting a bit snowflakey, it must be as you get older 😉)
I do think we might be playing with a back three this season in which case we are definitely short of an right sided WB ( but we all know that anyway) and you've got to wonder how bad Howe must be performing in training to not even get a chance ahead of Jack Moore.
As for your statement that Critch only did well because the owner supported him is stretching things. What the fcuk is a decent owner who rates the man he's put in the Manager's hot seat expected to do.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Don't talk nonsense

I've given him plenty of credit, it was a great achievement getting promotion after such a woeful start

As for signings if it wasnt for the owner backing the manager once the season started we would have been nowhere near a promotion side

Starting the season with Robson as the holding midfield player with an inexperienced centre half alongside Nottingham was very naive

Yates has been a great signing and i like the look of Mitchell

The rest who came in during the summer window have flattered to deceive
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'As for signings if it wasnt for the owner backing the manager once the season started we would have been nowhere near a promotion side'

So Sadler gets the recognition for the successful signings and the poor ones are down to Critchley?
 
Class_of_2010 said:
'As for signings if it wasnt for the owner backing the manager once the season started we would have been nowhere near a promotion side'

So Sadler gets the recognition for the successful signings and the poor ones are down to Critchley?
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Yet again you miss the point in spectacular fashion

I'm talking about the pre season signings last season most of them have been proven to be poor

Dougall, Gretarsson, Garbutt, Ballard, Stewart were the mainstay of our successful spell and we didn't start the season with any of them
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Don't talk nonsense

I've given him plenty of credit, it was a great achievement getting promotion after such a woeful start

As for signings if it wasnt for the owner backing the manager once the season started we would have been nowhere near a promotion side

Starting the season with Robson as the holding midfield player with an inexperienced centre half alongside Nottingham was very naive

Yates has been a great signing and i like the look of Mitchell

The rest who came in during the summer window have flattered to deceive
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The inexperienced Centre half was one of our better players and Nottingham left.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Left backs and attacking midfield players that we kept on signing

This season its central defenders

Got loads of them

Yet still no specialist right backs

And i worry who will create the chances and replace Kaikai as the 2 we have brought in have very little experience

Long way to go but at the moment there are a lot of holes in our squad currently
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Are you ever happy?
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Of course he left he was garbage

Thats my point paring a young inexperienced defender with Nottingham at the start of the season was very naive
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The timing of the signings has been done to death. Some, if not all, had been identified for quite some time before they signed. That information came from the players themselves in interviews given.
It isn't always easy get the deals done but patience, for some at least, is a virtue particularly if those are the players you really want.
The same may we'll happen again. The Manager appears to want Embleton but if that happens it won't happen soon. Similarly you could surmise the position is the same with Simms (why sign and pay him when he's injured) and Gabriel.
 
Insider said:
The timing of the signings has been done to death. Some, if not all, had been identified for quite some time before they signed. That information came from the players themselves in interviews given.
It isn't always easy get the deals done but patience, for some at least, is a virtue particularly if those are the players you really want.
The same may we'll happen again. The Manager appears to want Embleton but if that happens it won't happen soon. Similarly you could surmise the position is the same with Simms (why sign and pay him when he's injured) and Gabriel.
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I very much doubt we will get Simms or Gabriel

As for Embleton he's a bit meh ....

The benefits of signing players early in pre season far out way signing them after the season has started 👌
 
You sign the best players you can when they are available. That's what we did. We became the vest team 8n 5he division within weeks if a total rebuild. End of conversation.

Move on ffs. And don't repeat the same mistakes of a year ago!
 
voyeur said:
You sign the best players you can when they are available. That's what we did. We became the vest team 8n 5he division within weeks if a total rebuild. End of conversation.

Move on ffs. And don't repeat the same mistakes of a year ago!
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Yeah lets hope Critchley doesn't make the same mistakes and we start the season with a strong squad, be harder to play catch up in the Championship

We need to hit the ground running
 
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Phil_bfc deux said:
I very much doubt we will get Simms or Gabriel

As for Embleton he's a bit meh ....

The benefits of signing players early in pre season far out way signing them after the season has started 👌
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In an ideal world I obviously agree. The ones we signed pre-season last time weren't as good as the ones we eventually signed broadly speaking but I bet they were all on "the list".
I also agree about Embleton. I'd take him but wouldn't pay any significant amount of money.
Likewise Gabriel.
I do however think we will see the return of Simms,. injury permitting.
UTMP
 
tangerine_neil said:
There’s a good 4 players I’d happily ship out without batting an eye. Yet we readily let Kaikai walk. Hope there’s a plan we’re not aware of.
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Difference is, those 4 players would need other teams to come and buy them for us to let them go. Kaikai was out of contract so easy to let go. We’ll struggle to find buyers for Nuttall, sarkic etc
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
I very much doubt we will get Simms or Gabriel

As for Embleton he's a bit meh ....

The benefits of signing players early in pre season far out way signing them after the season has started 👌
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So we signed Ballard and Gretarsson after the season started and were promoted from 3rd place. Seems the waiting to sign the players he wanted paid off for Critchley
 
Given the number of centre halves we ended up needing last season I'm pleased we are well stocked up. Also, the Critchley method is predicated on defensive solidarity so we shouldn't be surprised that defenders are to the fore. I wish we'd kept Sullay though and still think we need someone who can make things happen in midfield and another goalscoring forward. Goals (or lack of them) will determine whether or not we do well.
 
First Holloway now Critchley gets the 10 username poster negative treatment.
This from someone who rated Neal Bishop and David Perkins. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was a parody account !!!!
 
Wizaard said:
So we signed Ballard and Gretarsson after the season started and were promoted from 3rd place. Seems the waiting to sign the players he wanted paid off for Critchley
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Phil_bfc deux, I dunno you but I do know this ... you're obviously a passionate 'Pool fan and a well-educated bloke.👍

So I'm gonna ask you five simple questions and I hope that you don't take any offence, they are all in the best possible taste.👌

1) Back in the day, did you go to Blackpool Grammar School?

2) Who is your all-time favourite Blackpool FC player?

3) Do you also support another club, currently in the EPL?

4) Who is your all-time favourite footballer?

5) Are you Twenties in disguise?

Please feel free to ask me any five questions in response!

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡
 
Born_in_the_Fifties said:
Phil_bfc deux, I dunno you but I do know this ... you're obviously a passionate 'Pool fan and a well-educated bloke.👍

So I'm gonna ask you five simple questions and I hope that you don't take any offence, they are all in the best possible taste.👌

1) Back in the day, did you go to Blackpool Grammar School?

2) Who is your all-time favourite Blackpool FC player?

3) Do you also support another club, currently in the EPL?

4) Who is your all-time favourite footballer?

5) Are you Twenties in disguise?

Please feel free to ask me any five questions in response!

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡
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1. NO
2. Eamon O'Keefe
3. NO
4. Messi
5. NO

Happy to help .....
 
CalderwoodCritchleyWon’t said:
First Holloway now Critchley gets the 10 username poster negative treatment.
This from someone who rated Neal Bishop and David Perkins. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was a parody account !!!!
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Mmmm...

Interesting

So who did you post as, I'm fairly confident yours is a relatively new user name

As for Perkins and Bishop they never let us down. They played in the championship for us when we had the Oyston anti football polices in full swing

Taking out as much money as they could

Are you a 🍄
 
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Phil_bfc deux said:
All about opinions i guess

Personally i rated Kaikai a lot higher than Embleton

And i think its bizarre that we now have about 7 centre halves

Casey, Connolly, Ekpiteta, Husband, Thorniley, Gretarsson and Keogh
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Agree on Kaikai v Embleton but think Keshi could still be better, more effective than both.
As for cbacks
Casey one for the future might break into side later but not a starter
Grettarson injured for at least a couple more months
Connolly right back but like Turts can cover many positions.
Thorniley may leave
Husband left back who can cover cb.

Looking forward to season and being under the radar again
 
The thing that nobody seems to factor in is the coaching at the club - we are all good at pigeon holing players but I don't think Critchley does and last season it was noticeable how many players could play different roles, and how the squad as a whole could play multiple systems.

We all make massive assumptions and some are worse than others. Don't forget Yates was written off by a number of posters in the autumn and it is is barely six months since the OP was suggesting that the club should get rid of Critchley and calling him a "tinker man". I'm glad that he is prepared to be flexible personally.

I think that at least three or four more will come in before we are finished, and a similar number will go out, one way or another. Until then, it's guess work on our part at best.
 
Abel said:
You have to sign the players as and when they're available, and can't hold off on signing a player because you're worried about the perception of another position being a greater need (which right back clearly is). I always remember Villa messing David Vaughan around as they didn't want McLeish's first signing to be a free transfer from a relegated side (the Villa fans were already in uproar given McLeish had joined from Birmingham) and Sunderland nipped in instead.

To be fair, we've only signed two centre backs this summer; one of whom is classed as U21 and therefore doesn't count towards the squad cap of 25 players. And we're clearly bringing people in before letting others go (see signing Connolly then letting Robson go) so we don't enter the season stretched.

I think our recruitment so far is OK, if a little underwhelming, but they've obviously brought people in as and when they're available (just like last season) and focused on building good depth.

I think we'll still see another four come in and as many as five shipped out, and that at least two of those who come in will be attacking players because, as you say, we need to replace the 25% of all our league goals that Kaikai directly contributed to last season and both Bowler and Carey are unproven. Hopefully the signings to come strengthen the starting XI.

I also think we'll only register 24 players leaving a spot free for Virtue come the new year and that we'll also register a youngster so we don't have to have one on the bench.
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reember liverpoool shooting themselves in the foot they thought they had got gareth barry so told alonso he wasnt needed then barry went to city and alonso told them to fook off and left
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Mmmm...

Interesting

So who did you post as, I'm fairly confident yours is a relatively new user name

As for Perkins and Bishop they never let us down. They played in the championship for us when we had the Oyston anti football polices in full swing

Taking out as much money as they could

Are you a 🍄
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Aye and Perkins and Bishop were ** awful and playing a good two divisions above their station. Same as McMahon.

100% ers but terrible footballers.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
And i worry who will create the chances and replace Kaikai as the 2 we have brought in have very little experience
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Depends what you mean by create chances? I think we have plenty of options in terms of providing service to forwards, maybe less so in the forwards department if Madine is out for a time.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Yeah lets hope Critchley doesn't make the same mistakes and we start the season with a strong squad, be harder to play catch up in the Championship

We need to hit the ground running
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Your main criticism of Critchley seems to be that he didn't completely rebuild the squad in a couple of months over summer, but instead completely rebuilt the squad in around half a season, before promptly getting promoted.
 
Yates, Anderson, Stewart, Mitchell, Dougall, Garbutt, Simms, Hamilton.
Greatarson and Ekpeteta
Loans Gabriel, Embleton, Simms, Ballard.

All good signings in my opinion. More good signings than bad.
So which one was a bad signing? Or were they all poor siginings?

I think even Woodburn was a good one but just didn't perform, due to getting Covid and then struggled to find a position for him as that was maybe when Kai Kai started performing well.
 
Grayth said:
Your main criticism of Critchley seems to be that he didn't completely rebuild the squad in a couple of months over summer, but instead completely rebuilt the squad in around half a season, before promptly getting promoted.
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My main criticism of Critchley is that we started the season completely under prepared for the demands of league 1 football

We started the season with no defensive midfield players for a start and were also lacking at centre half yet seemed to sign a load of floater winger types

Lubala, Kemp, Woodburn, Mj Williams, Robson and Sarkic were all poor signings in my opinion

And whilst Hamilton and Anderson have shown promise in spells they both spent more time in the stands than on the pitch
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
My main criticism of Critchley is that we started the season completely under prepared for the demands of league 1 football

We started the season with no defensive midfield players for a start and were also lacking at centre half yet seemed to sign a load of floater winger types

Lubala, Kemp, Woodburn, Mj Williams, Robson and Sarkic were all poor signings in my opinion

And whilst Hamilton and Anderson have shown promise in spells they both spent more time in the stands than on the pitch
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😴😴😴😴
 
Alternative view - he inherited a pretty ordinary L1 squad and turned it around very quickly. He signed the right players in plenty of time to get us promoted.

Lubala and Sarkic look like poor business. Robson has talent but hasn't worked out. MJ Williams and Kemp did a decent job as squad signings. They got us through some games before we found better players for their positions (Dougall, Stewart, Embleton brought in, Mitchell from within the squad.)

I'd also give him a lot of credit for his work with Grant Ward, turning him from a Grayson squad player into a proper midfielder.

Also when was it revealed that Critchley was the driving force behind these signings? No one knows for sure but I work on the assumption that the players Critchley will have seen at youth/U-23 level (Mitchell, Simms, Embleton, Stewart plus Robson in fairness) are more to do with him than established pro's and lower/non leaguers like Gretarsson, Lubala, Ekpiteta. I think the recruitment team might be more to blame for a lot of the mistakes than the coach. But as I say, we can't know for sure. Either way, we certainly got more signings right than wrong.

You seem a little quick to blame Critchley for the wrongs and it comes across like you're waiting for him to fail so you can say you were right all along, almost ignoring the fact that his side largely dominated a notoriously tough league in the second half of last season once he'd got his team in place.

Edit, this was meant to be a reply to @Phil_bfc deux
 
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Grayth said:
Alternative view - he inherited a pretty ordinary L1 squad and turned it around very quickly. He signed the right players in plenty of time to get us promoted.

Lubala and Sarkic look like poor business. Robson has talent but hasn't worked out. MJ Williams and Kemp did a decent job as squad signings. They got us through some games before we found better players for their positions (Dougall, Stewart, Embleton brought in, Mitchell from within the squad.)

I'd also give him a lot of credit for his work with Grant Ward, turning him from a Grayson squad player into a proper midfielder.

Also when was it revealed that Critchley was the driving force behind these signings? No one knows for sure but I work on the assumption that the players Critchley will have seen at youth/U-23 level (Mitchell, Simms, Embleton, Stewart plus Robson in fairness) are more to do with him than established pro's and lower/non leaguers like Gretarsson, Lubala, Ekpiteta. I think the recruitment team might be more to blame for a lot of the mistakes than the coach. But as I say, we can't know for sure. Either way, we certainly got more signings right than wrong.

You seem a little quick to blame Critchley for the wrongs and it comes across like you're waiting for him to fail so you can say you were right all along, almost ignoring the fact that his side largely dominated a notoriously tough league in the second half of last season once he'd got his team in place.

Edit, this was meant to be a reply to @Phil_bfc deux
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I'm certainly not wanting him to fail I'm a Blackpool fan

The end of the season was fantastic for sure

However my point is more about starting the season without a midfield anchor man and a lack of centre halves

I can't think of one successful team in the history of football who have had results without a defensive central midfield player

The start of the season was extremely naive

We are really lucky to have Simon Sadler and his wealth and ambition to be able to continue to improve the squad as the season evolved
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
I'm certainly not wanting him to fail I'm a Blackpool fan

The end of the season was fantastic for sure

However my point is more about starting the season without a midfield anchor man and a lack of centre halves

I can't think of one successful team in the history of football who have had results without a defensive central midfield player

The start of the season was extremely naive

We are really lucky to have Simon Sadler and his wealth and ambition to be able to continue to improve the squad as the season evolved
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It wasn't possible to bring all the right players in before the season started, it was a total overhaul. Williams was a temporary plug. The squad was compiled carefully and signings were made when possible. It wasn't naive, it was just real life. Your naive to think otherwise, tbh.
 
voyeur said:
It wasn't possible to bring all the right players in before the season started, it was a total overhaul. Williams was a temporary plug. The squad was compiled carefully and signings were made when possible. It wasn't naive, it was just real life. Your naive to think otherwise, tbh.
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Nonsense

Critchley stated before the Plymouth game that he was happy with his squad

It was only after several poor defeats that we then again strengthened with multiple players coming in for key positions

The plan certainly wasnt to lose 7 of the first 9 games or whatever it was
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Nonsense

Critchley stated before the Plymouth game that he was happy with his squad

It was only after several poor defeats that we then again strengthened with multiple players coming in for key positions

The plan certainly wasnt to lose 7 of the first 9 games or whatever it was
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Of course he said that.

No team plans to lose 6 out of the first 9 but the whole squad was overhauled and still in development and at the time myself and others were saying it will take a ib time, it did, and we got promoted. You could see the coaching on the pitch, the work in progress and, while it was clear we needed some adjustments, that is entirely natural. Anyway it's history and some people learn from history, others seem not to.
 
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voyeur said:
Of course he said that.

No team plans to lose 6 out of the first 9 but the whole squad was overhauled and still in development and at the time myself and others were saying it will take a ib time, it did, and we got promoted. You could see the coaching on the pitch, the work in progress and, while it was clear we needed some adjustments, that is entirely natural. Anyway it's history and some people learn from history, others seem not to.
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Indeed lets hope Critchley learns from last season and we start this season with less holes in the squad this time around

I doubt the Championship will be so forgiving
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
Indeed lets hope Critchley learns from last season and we start this season with less holes in the squad this time around

I doubt the Championship will be so forgiving
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I doubt that too but getting out of League One in his first season with a totally re-built squad was no mean feat which you mostly overlook, preferring to focus on 9 games when it was being assembled. Cos you can't change your tune, no matter what.
 
voyeur said:
I doubt that too but getting out of League One in his first season with a totally re-built squad was no mean feat which you mostly overlook, preferring to focus on 9 games when it was being assembled. Cos you can't change your tune, no matter what.
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I haven't overlooked it at all

Getting promoted was a good achievement and I'm pleased the manager met the boards ambitions and expectations in getting promoted last season

If you read my first post on this thread I'm just saying the squad looks thin in certain positions whilst we have an embarrassment of riches in others

If you don't agree then that's fine but spare me all this right or wrong nonsense about changing tunes and history

Its a football forum where we discuss football it appears you just want to argue all the time, maybe try the politics threads
 
Very few of the players we sign these days are rarely “one position” players though, some are good in a certain role that you wouldn’t dream of playing them in any other position, Yates for example would be wasted out of a forward and centre role.

But when you have Husbands (CH, LB) and Garbutt (LB, LM) and both CJ and Demi on either flank or dropping deep for example then your options are greater than at first sight.

Personally I like the Left and Right Backs to be just that, some say the easiest positions to play, but I like someone who knows what they are doing in those roles rather than being tempted to use other players to fill in.

I guess there will always be exceptions, Sean Barker was a great Centre Half who turned into the best Right Back we had had for years. Maybe we will see Husbands and Connelly playing LB and RB more often than not, and injury suspension can at least be covered by other defence minded players - at a pinch!
 
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