BFC_53
Well-known member
One of the main features of Critchley's tenure has been our excellent ability to cope with injuries, and that was again evident yesterday. It's clear that we have better strength in depth than clubs of similar standing in this league (Millwall had their injuries and I think it showed). When you consider how much disruption we've had this season, in a higher league, and how well we've coped with it all, it's really very impressive. I would put it partly down to having players with the right attitude - yesterday's win was down to hard work and determination, and I think in the end we just wanted it more than them.
I ended up wondering where we might be if we'd ever been able to play our full strength side. I think the starting lineup away to Huddersfield came as close to that as any game and prior to the sending off we were outplaying a playoff team at their own ground. It's both frustrating and encouraging in equal measure that we have a full strength team capable of doing that.
Anyway, the other feature of Critchley's tenure has been the ability to keep clean sheets. We had the best defence in league one last season, and that kind of solidity has continued into this (for the most part). We've conceded more than one goal in only 9 of our 27 games so far which gives us a good platform to regularly pick up points. Obviously, we're not going to keep as many clean sheets in a higher division but we've still kept seven so far, and it's that ability to grind out wins like yesterday that gives me a high degree of confidence of staying up quite comfortably. Compare to Peterborough and Reading who can't defend to save their lives. I thought yesterday we were superb defensively, very well organised, and we have players all over the pitch who will do the defensive work, and are positionally aware. We don't always get it right, but then which team does? I'm very interested to see how our defending copes with Fulham's attacking potency next week, and I'm sure our players will relish the challenge.
In terms of staying up, I think yesterday was a big step towards that. I've said for a while that not much more than 40 points will be enough and we're nearly there. The key for me is that none of Cardiff, Reading, Posh, Barnsley are showing any signs of resurgence, and they're running out of time to start one. Derby did, but got a demoralising defeat yesterday and who knows which players will still be there in a weeks' time. More importantly than other teams though, is what our own is capable of. We got a massively deflating, devastating loss to Middlesbrough (in the way it happened) and what did we then do? Got back to back wins without conceding a goal. The mental strength of the side is clear and I can't imagine they would ever go on the kind of run that would end up in us getting relegated from this position. Even though I'm not sure we quite have the quality available (with our injury list) to mount a top six challenge, I definitely think we should be looking up rather than down.
As far as individual performances go, I thought Grimmy showed why he should stay in the team when Maxwell's back, with a couple more important saves. He really has huge potential. The other standouts for me were Bowler and Sterling. Interesting on Sterling that I haven't been that impressed with him so far but he showed his quality and versatility yesterday, and I think he's improving with each game. Presumably we have him until the end of the season? If so, I'm glad. Gabriel did well when he came on too.
Final word for Hamilton. I think he's so much more comfortable playing on the left wing. I know much has been said about inverted wingers - I'm not keen although I get the theory behind it. But I think we also need to recognise that some wingers are more comfortable playing that way than others, and I'm not sure it suits CJ. When he plays on the right, his pace gets him ahead of the full back, but then all that advantage is lost when he stops on gets on to his left. When he plays on the left he can really use that pace to better effect and that showed yesterday. Our best chance in the first half came from his pace and being able to continue his run, and the goal came from that too. I get why some don't rate him - there's something very 'Elliot Grandin-ish' about his conviction. But for all Bowler's trickery (and I rate him very highly btw), it was CJ's runs in behind that won us the game. He still has something to offer, even in the Championship.
I ended up wondering where we might be if we'd ever been able to play our full strength side. I think the starting lineup away to Huddersfield came as close to that as any game and prior to the sending off we were outplaying a playoff team at their own ground. It's both frustrating and encouraging in equal measure that we have a full strength team capable of doing that.
Anyway, the other feature of Critchley's tenure has been the ability to keep clean sheets. We had the best defence in league one last season, and that kind of solidity has continued into this (for the most part). We've conceded more than one goal in only 9 of our 27 games so far which gives us a good platform to regularly pick up points. Obviously, we're not going to keep as many clean sheets in a higher division but we've still kept seven so far, and it's that ability to grind out wins like yesterday that gives me a high degree of confidence of staying up quite comfortably. Compare to Peterborough and Reading who can't defend to save their lives. I thought yesterday we were superb defensively, very well organised, and we have players all over the pitch who will do the defensive work, and are positionally aware. We don't always get it right, but then which team does? I'm very interested to see how our defending copes with Fulham's attacking potency next week, and I'm sure our players will relish the challenge.
In terms of staying up, I think yesterday was a big step towards that. I've said for a while that not much more than 40 points will be enough and we're nearly there. The key for me is that none of Cardiff, Reading, Posh, Barnsley are showing any signs of resurgence, and they're running out of time to start one. Derby did, but got a demoralising defeat yesterday and who knows which players will still be there in a weeks' time. More importantly than other teams though, is what our own is capable of. We got a massively deflating, devastating loss to Middlesbrough (in the way it happened) and what did we then do? Got back to back wins without conceding a goal. The mental strength of the side is clear and I can't imagine they would ever go on the kind of run that would end up in us getting relegated from this position. Even though I'm not sure we quite have the quality available (with our injury list) to mount a top six challenge, I definitely think we should be looking up rather than down.
As far as individual performances go, I thought Grimmy showed why he should stay in the team when Maxwell's back, with a couple more important saves. He really has huge potential. The other standouts for me were Bowler and Sterling. Interesting on Sterling that I haven't been that impressed with him so far but he showed his quality and versatility yesterday, and I think he's improving with each game. Presumably we have him until the end of the season? If so, I'm glad. Gabriel did well when he came on too.
Final word for Hamilton. I think he's so much more comfortable playing on the left wing. I know much has been said about inverted wingers - I'm not keen although I get the theory behind it. But I think we also need to recognise that some wingers are more comfortable playing that way than others, and I'm not sure it suits CJ. When he plays on the right, his pace gets him ahead of the full back, but then all that advantage is lost when he stops on gets on to his left. When he plays on the left he can really use that pace to better effect and that showed yesterday. Our best chance in the first half came from his pace and being able to continue his run, and the goal came from that too. I get why some don't rate him - there's something very 'Elliot Grandin-ish' about his conviction. But for all Bowler's trickery (and I rate him very highly btw), it was CJ's runs in behind that won us the game. He still has something to offer, even in the Championship.
