Let's have a positive Critchley thread.

He’s worked with Matty Virtue before who will make a massive difference when he’s back. We’ve written a blog about it:

upthemightypool.co.uk

Opinion: Patience is a Virtue

Given our recent run of form, we were crying out for a little bit of positivity and it duly came earlier this week as Matty Virtue signed a 12-month extension to his deal which was due to expire ne…
upthemightypool.co.uk upthemightypool.co.uk
 
Wizaard said:
There's a clear pattern of play so he can get an idea across. Maybe he just needs to tweak the idea to make it work better.
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This is true. It's small beer, but it is at least fathomable where he's told people to play and the fact he wants them to pass it to each other. There have been times when appears a manager hasn't even done that much.

Go Critch!
 
He does appear to gen up on opponents. I'm not sure why as we play 433 come what may, but he does sound like he knows what he's talking about when he talks about the opposition.

He does that funky little shuffle in interviews sometimes.
 
I watched the Ipswich and Crewe games on IFollow - first time I’ve seen Pool in a number of years. I thought in the Crewe game they were very impressive up until around the box when they seemed to me to lack a bit of guile. The approach play was great but it was almost like they didn’t really know what to do next/ we’re too nice. Suggest recruit Norwood from Ipswich reserves.
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He hasn't yet referred to elastication or elasticating and our failure to achieve it.
 
If Neil ever needs advice on the current squad, possible new players, formations or tactics......
He only needs to log onto AVFTT where he can find recommendations for a decent kebab shop and how to unblock his drain.......
 
RUSTY_2_STANDS said:
He did 5 years under Klopp who is reputedly a hard taskmaster and won’t tolerate anything but quality and 100% dedication from his staff. So he must have something about him
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Yes, he could coach talented cream of the crop young players to play the Lpool way.
That, in no way, has prepared him for the job here. He looks uncomfortable to the point of being out of his depth.
 
He’s got us playing some nice stuff. He’s taken a shaky defence and has improved it - although there’s still room for further improvement, and he’s done the same with the midfield too. He’s also getting more out of Madine (arguably the biggest ego and possibly the most difficult player in our squad to get anything out of) than Grayson and than the managers at Cardiff did. He’s also managed to attract a quality of player to the club that we wouldn’t have before even with Sadlers money.
Tactically tweaks are needed, certain players need to up their game 20% and the link up between the midfield and forward line needs some work. Results obviously need to improve (personally I’m confident they will) but I think he’s doing OK.
I’m not judging him by results until Boxing Day. We’re not going down this season unfortunately we may be too late at the table to challenge towards the top or make the playoffs but he’s putting a squad and a style together that I’m certain will work in the long term. Foundations are being laid throughout.
 
We’re not going down this season is a very bold statement. Bordering on arrogant based on what we’ve seen so far.

We’ve been taken apart by good teams and been losing to ‘poor’ but better organised teams, and opposition keepers biggest problem is keeping their concentration for 90mins having so few shots to save. And a good portion of the season is beside us already. We don’t look like a team that would respond to a survival dogfight IMO.

we need action not complacency.
 
Insider said:
I think he's doing a really good job with Marvin Ekpiteta.
I thought he looked really raw and nervous first few times I saw him.
He's now turning into a decent defender.
Well done Neil.
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Ekpiteta is noticeably looking a lot more confident.
Turton is another who looks a much improved player to me this season.
Lets be honest Critchley could hardly have had a worse start to his managerial career with the pandemic closing everything down almost as soon as he arrived. Followed by a complete overhaul of the coaching and playing staff.
With only a handful of games under his belt as manager I think we also have to accept that he is still acclimatising to the role.
A baptism of fire for sure.
 
clappers said:
We’re not going down this season is a very bold statement. Bordering on arrogant based on what we’ve seen so far.

We’ve been taken apart by good teams and been losing to ‘poor’ but better organised teams, and opposition keepers biggest problem is keeping their concentration for 90mins having so few shots to save. And a good portion of the season is beside us already. We don’t look like a team that would respond to a survival dogfight IMO.

we need action not complacency.
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Perhaps it is arrogant but I think I’ve seen enough quality in the squad and our play to suggest we’ll pick up points and improve our standing.
We’re not far off. I trust the opinion of other managers and of other fans who are saying we’re the best team they’ve played.
We will come good. If Critchley gets us through this season and into the next we’ll be in such a good position.
 
He's provided the fans who use football as an opportunity to offload all their misery and self loathing with a target, to enable them really cut loose and let it all go. Hopefully saving others closer to them from some of the grief.
 
I personally think that we are fine in defence and midfield, started off awful, but were ok now. The biggest problem is getting into the oppositions box and scoring. As soon as Yates came on against Charlton he was out of position and too far back to be able to burst into their box. I personally think that Woodburn should play as an attacking midfielder and not on the left of a top three. I think he should be looking to play that pass to open up the opposition's defence as well as occasionally shooting himself. We have seen that he can score from distance.
 
We are seeing defensive improvement, and possibly the midfield too. This has focused minds on the attacking shortcomings, which in theory should follow. Getting the chemistry right up front will make a hell of a difference, if we can find the right chemicals. A fit Woodburn and Sarkic might help. And moving CJ around a bit. Try him in the centre even, he's played there previously. Actually, those three might be good.
 
Insider said:
I think he's doing a really good job with Marvin Ekpiteta.
I thought he looked really raw and nervous first few times I saw him.
He's now turning into a decent defender.
Well done Neil.
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I completely agree Insider, the way I see it is that Neil is 100% a top class coach, he has taken our squad and has coached them to play a certain way. You could see that throughout pre season the squad were very well drilled, and that Neil's coaching methods were working well on the training pitch. Heck, our so called strongest 11 at the time won the first half at Anfield 2-1, and quickly went 3-0 up against Everton. So what the hell is going wrong in the league? Personally I think that Critchley needs help, bring in an experienced manager, or send Neil to another club to learn off someone else how to man manage the team and set up a plan B.
 
LA1 Seasider said:
🤞
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A couple of wins and he will be hailed as a football genius.

Such is the fickleness of many football fans.

For me the guy is a solid football man with a good pedigree who wants us to play attacking and entertaining football. He feels he has the players to do it and he knows a damn sight more about football than anyone posting on this board.

We havent had the results yet but they will hopefully come.
 
They haven’t come yet and we look a shadow of the side we did preseason. If we carry on this path the results won’t come.

The hopeful bit comes with Coach changing tack with the game plan, formation and then seeing development and results. Without real changes....as opposed to doing the same thing and hope it clicks....there won’t be any hope left by the end of the year.

I say we need a convincing win tomorrow.
 
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