Measures of success.

[LA1 Seasider]

Pre season is boring. Pre season at a club with the communication ability of a Buddhist monk sworn to a life of silence is even more boring.

Going in to next season and beyond - whilst not where we want to be - is exciting.

Should Critchley hit the ground running, Sadler allows him to bring in some talented young players and we play good attacking football, winning more than we draw or lose and end up promoted then it’s clearly it’s a success.

However football doesn’t usually go that easily.

For me success next year - whether promoted or not - depends on the style of football and creation of an identity which runs through the club. The first XI, development squad and whole academy absolutely must be playing the same sort of football. Players have to be able to transition between squads as realistically that’s key to our future ongoing success and stability.

I could accept missing out on the playoffs - but being in the chasing pack - as a minimum in terms of overall league position but that has to be coupled with a clear progression throughout the club.

Promotion or just missing out on promotion but playing attritional football using loanees and with no sign of a long term plan just doesn’t appeal to me. If and when we go back up we need to do it the right way as chopping and changing the squad, adapting the playing style massively and then hoping we can cling on in the league above isn’t conducive to long term success. Luton, Brentford, Brighton, Coventry have all moved onwards and upwards with a strategic plan - we have to do the same or else end up yo-yoing like Rotherham, Peterborough etc

 

[JJpool]

I agree In some respects, buy going up any way would be amazing.

Of course better to set the style and build the foundations in league 1.

But we could always rebuild again in the championship.

But yes we want to see a solid and progressive style being played at all levels amd recruitment in tune to match, pulling out rough diamonds where possible.

 

[20togo]

yep, like the o/p's last para. We need that strategic plan in order to move forward. It's not always easy to get the important decisions right though especially when it comes to appointing managers. And most of the teams listed by the o/p haven't always got it right. Football is cyclical at all levels and as much as some teams are taking [big] steps forward, we've just took a big step backwards and it hurts. It's gonna take us at least 2 years to get back to where we were 12 months ago and of course there is no guarantee that we will do that.

 

[hertfordseasider]

We had that up until Critchley left this time last year but instead of dealing with it and keeping to the plan they seemed to just run around like headless chickens for 12 months. Well, most of the chickens are gone now, the numero uno chicken is still here and hopefully has a nice, new football thinking head attached firmly to his body and the new chickens will have heads that are super glued on!! (Voy..... you're right, those mushrooms are great!! )

 

[voyeur]

We had that up until Critchley left this time last year but instead of dealing with it and keeping to the plan they seemed to just run around like headless chickens for 12 months. Well, most of the chickens are gone now, the numero uno chicken is still here and hopefully has a nice, new football thinking head attached firmly to his body and the new chickens will have heads that are super glued on!! (Voy..... you're right, those mushrooms are great!! )

New Sporting director revealed this morning.

 

[voyeur]

As long as we have a clear identity running right through the club and a large group of clones playing exactly the same way, who cares about promotion?

 

[TANGERINETOWERPOWER]

Let’s call it as it is …we need to see some ambition, strategy and communication from the club. I am not asking that we buy £2 million players as clearly we aren’t in a position to do that and they don’t always come off anyway but we do need to see some intent that the club is addressing the squad issues as we are currently a mid table league 1 outfit at best. My worry is that there are plenty of good free agents out there who have been released by clubs and therefore don’t command a fee. The best of those will clearly be snapped up quickly and there is no way we should be at the back of the queue. When the official transfer window opens we must be busy early instead of last minute . Com . We clearly need 5/6 quality players ready for the first 11 and good to go. That imo is a bare minimum. If we follow the current bargain basement and unrealistic lowball offer approach then it will be another long hard season..let’s dare to dream.

 

[voyeur]

Let’s call it as it is …we need to see some ambition, strategy and communication from the club. I am not asking that we buy £2 million players as clearly we aren’t in a position to do that and they don’t always come off anyway but we do need to see some intent that the club is addressing the squad issues as we are currently a mid table league 1 outfit at best. My worry is that there are plenty of good free agents out there who have been released by clubs and therefore don’t command a fee. The best of those will clearly be snapped up quickly and there is no way we should be at the back of the queue. When the official transfer window opens we must be busy early instead of last minute . Com . We clearly need 5/6 quality players ready for the first 11 and good to go. That imo is a bare minimum. If we follow the current bargain basement and unrealistic lowball offer approach then it will be another long hard season..let’s dare to dream.

So we need to sign the best released and free agent players but not follow a bargain basement lowball offer approach. Gotcha!

 

[BFC_53]

Agree with the o/p on a strategy. What I don't want to see in the next few years is us desperately lurching from one idea to the next in hope rather than expectation that results will come. It's been plainly obvious that we had no idea what to do once Critchley left - what subsequently happened isn't his fault, it's the fault of the board for being far too reliant on one person. It worries me a little that we're still reliant on that person seeing as we've just re-appointed him, but I'd hope lessons have been learnt from the experience. However, on the other hand his appointment also says to me that we're getting back to having some kind of strategy for success.

I think a good example of what we mean when we say long term strategy or plan is Swansea. They've played the same way for years, decades even. It doesn't matter who the manager is because they appoint managers with a very particular playing style in mind, and you know when they sign a player he'll fit in with that style. It isn't always successful but it offers a greater platform for success than flapping about any time a manager leaves, and making ridiculous appointments who have no idea what to do with the players we have. I'd be amazed if Swansea spent any significant time in the lower leagues while being managed this way, because they have very good continuity. It's the way to establish yourselves in the upper echelons of the league structure.

With Critchley, like him or not, you know that we'll be getting a team that's defensively very well organised, but possibly at the expense of creativity and flair (and excitement). Personally, I'm ok with that as long as we sign players to fit that model, and crucially identify someone who can take over from him without any chaos in the future.

 

[clappers]

Sorry but no. The endless rebooting of identity and the Blackpool way bollocks is not what should be happening. We need to move to a demanding results and performance mindset from the off with promotion expected and recruit accordingly. Critchley is supposed to be the experienced candidate/best candidate/Sadlers trusted choice so go out there and make it happen. We are a big club in this division and need to show it now.

 

[Chesterbfc]

I think for what it's worth Critch,s team this time around will be more attacking with the play offs a bare minimum.
Obviously we need some new recruits and maybe 1 or 2 loans (I.e Sterling,Simms types) .
The whole philosophy should and will be a Real community Club for a town who has slumped to the bottom and is going to make a good fist of reviving it's self. Look at Brighton!!
Using Brighton as a template it has risen from a shit heap with a couple of nice areas to a Town to be seen in with a nod to the past (1 pier and about 800 yds of old nostalgia)ie whelk stalls etc.
Already St Anne's and now Lytham are nearly there. It will be Cleveleys and Bispham,s turn next.
Oh and what happened to Brighton,s football team? Plenty of investment and a new ground.
S.S will no doubt be taking inspiration from that template .And finally what other seaside resort has 7 miles of glorious beach and some of the best "locals" in the land (people and pubs) AMEN!!

 

[Macseasider]

Sorry but no. The endless rebooting of identity and the Blackpool way bollocks is not what should be happening. We need to move to a demanding results and performance mindset from the off with promotion expected and recruit accordingly. Critchley is supposed to be the experienced candidate/best candidate/Sadlers trusted choice so go out there and make it happen. We are a big club in this division and need to show it now.

Success next season is promotion and nothing else. Not really bothered about "identity" blah blah blah. Just win enough games to go up.

"We came 12th but played really lovely football". Nah not having that. This is league 1 and I'm not bothered whether we bully our way up or play the most beautiful football.

Football is about results. They Oyston's seem to have left a large chunk of our support apathetic, lacking ambition and with a small club mentality.

 

[clappers]

Success next season is promotion and nothing else. Not really bothered about "identity" blah blah blah. Just win enough games to go up.

"We came 12th but played really lovely football". Nah not having that. This is league 1 and I'm not bothered whether we bully our way up or play the most beautiful football.

Football is about results. They Oyston's seem to have left a large chunk of our support apathetic, lacking ambition and with a small club mentality.

100%

 

[TANGERINETOWERPOWER]

So we need to sign the best released and free agent players but not follow a bargain basement lowball offer approach. Gotcha!

There is a massive difference in those two marketplaces...many of the free agents would normally command a fee (think Keshi and Thorniley from our current crop...both would command a fee if under contract) ...the thing is there are many reasons why players come to the end of their contracts and you need to shop early to pick up the desirable ones...if you wait then all you are left with is the injury prone or out of form players who the parent clubs were happy to be rid of.

The transfer window is a very different place and I assume we have already identified some potential targets...we need to make realistic offers in order to achieve those identified targets. Offering 400k for a £2 million player simply isnt going to work and frankly makes us look ridiculous. You can still negotiate but start with a realistic offer and not some ludicrous lowball

 

[20togo]

Are we a community club? Is Sadler that community minded? Not overly convinced myself. Think there's lots of issues with the ticket pricing strategy which makes me think his main focus is getting as much money out of the fan base that he can. And communication has always been a problem for the club.

 

[clappers]

Are we a community club? Is Sadler that community minded? Not overly convinced myself. Think there's lots of issues with the ticket pricing strategy which makes me think his main focus is getting as much money out of the fan base that he can. And communication has always been a problem for the club.

Agree he’s no sugar daddy. And I do think we could do a bit more to get bums on seats pricing wise ie) buy more than three weeks in advance and get a hefty discount off the gate price. We do need income though especially losing the championship tv money. I think Sadler is a cold fish who gave into maybe a bit of nostalgia in taking the club on and now maybe regrets it.

 

[voyeur]

Man makes millions doing something pointless on the other side of the world and seeks meaning and acclaim back home in his life via national game. But doesnt want to blow his fortune.

 

[hills98]

Are we a community club? Is Sadler that community minded? Not overly convinced myself. Think there's lots of issues with the ticket pricing strategy which makes me think his main focus is getting as much money out of the fan base that he can. And communication has always been a problem for the club.

Speaking to someone in the community side of BFC apparently Brett Garrity was a passionate supporter of that side of the club, esp things like Tangerine Teammates, which has been great for my junior club. Hope that’s not lost.

 

[20togo]

Speaking to someone in the community side of BFC apparently Brett Garrity was a passionate supporter of that side of the club, esp things like Tangerine Teammates, which has been great for my junior club. Hope that’s not lost.

yes that's good to hear. Assume BG is/was some-one who has always lived local and so has that tie in with the community.

 

[TickTock]

Easy - success is Top Six in a very poor league but more than that it's developing a squad that can not only survive in the Championship but flourish in it (like Sunderland achieved).