Once more on the Critch

Beachcomber

Beachcomber

Well-known member
Diverse estimations of the Head Coach have been rumbling on all season. As we approach season's end, it's clear to me that while Critch's (obvious) forte is player on player coaching, his flaws are all about indecisiveness, i.e. not being sure about or having confidence in altering the formation to suit the opponents of the day, or optimally knowing when to make substitutions (and, if so, how many).

Some forum members argued earlier in the season that Critch would learn as he went, but that doesn't appear to be happening. Others, including myself, opined that finding a suitable foil for the chief (Calderwood, as it turned out) would bring out the best in both of them. However, although it looked at one time as if that ploy was working - and to be honest, Calderwood has improved our defensive organisation no end - the team has now seemingly regressed to the lacklustre and ineffectual style of the first few games.

While it's true that key injuries (especially to attacking players) at different times have hampered our progress, the answer to that was surely to qualitatively strengthen the striker department during the last window. (In other words, Simms wasn't enough). Be that as it may, after Ballard, Lawrence-Gabriel and Simms return to their respective clubs at the end of term, we'll be able to welcome back Howe, Sarkic and Lubala.

No doubt another shake-up will be required - maybe half-a-dozen incomers with a similar number moving on - but I certainly hope that (a) the next crop of signings are of a higher calibre than future outgoers, & (b) that promising youngsters (not least, Antwi, Apter and Holmes) will be further developed and given a fair chance in similar fashion to the aforesaid loanees.

As for the apparent lack of tactical nous that continues to plague the coaching staff, I, for one, have no firm idea how that can be cured. Whether or not moving Garrity to Academy duties and acquiring an experienced offensive coach who could possibly complement Calderwood's defensive acumen is merely a suggestion. But while it could be argued that that would be a case of 'too many cooks' I'm nonetheless convinced that someone (likely Messrs Sadler and Stephenson between them) will have to make further telling decisions come summer.
 
Fuck me sideways. Moan, moan, moan, moan, moan. Sometimes you don’t win every game. We’re in the playoff places, everything is in our hands, and you’re *seriously*, ** *seriously* asking where it all went wrong????????

Your logic, like actually your logic, is that he can’t be learning and improving because he’s still made some mistakes. So your idea of improvement means you reach perfection and never look back?

Honestly, I hope our players have more of a backbone then half of our fan base. Reading this shit is embarrassing man. Embarrassing.
 
Beachcomber said:
his flaws are all about indecisiveness, i.e. not being sure about or having confidence in altering the formation to suit the opponents of the day, or optimally knowing when to make substitutions
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Must say, my heart sank when we didn't change it at the break and made their tactic of get an early goal and job done that much easier!
 
Beachcomber said:
Diverse estimations of the Head Coach have been rumbling on all season. As we approach season's end, it's clear to me that while Critch's (obvious) forte is player on player coaching, his flaws are all about indecisiveness, i.e. not being sure about or having confidence in altering the formation to suit the opponents of the day, or optimally knowing when to make substitutions (and, if so, how many).

Some forum members argued earlier in the season that Critch would learn as he went, but that doesn't appear to be happening. Others, including myself, opined that finding a suitable foil for the chief (Calderwood, as it turned out) would bring out the best in both of them. However, although it looked at one time as if that ploy was working - and to be honest, Calderwood has improved our defensive organisation no end - the team has now seemingly regressed to the lacklustre and ineffectual style of the first few games.

While it's true that key injuries (especially to attacking players) at different times have hampered our progress, the answer to that was surely to qualitatively strengthen the striker department during the last window. (In other words, Simms wasn't enough). Be that as it may, after Ballard, Lawrence-Gabriel and Simms return to their respective clubs at the end of term, we'll be able to welcome back Howe, Sarkic and Lubala.

No doubt another shake-up will be required - maybe half-a-dozen incomers with a similar number moving on - but I certainly hope that (a) the next crop of signings are of a higher calibre than future outgoers, & (b) that promising youngsters (not least, Antwi, Apter and Holmes) will be further developed and given a fair chance in similar fashion to the aforesaid loanees.

As for the apparent lack of tactical nous that continues to plague the coaching staff, I, for one, have no firm idea how that can be cured. Whether or not moving Garrity to Academy duties and acquiring an experienced offensive coach who could possibly complement Calderwood's defensive acumen is merely a suggestion. But while it could be argued that that would be a case of 'too many cooks' I'm nonetheless convinced that someone (likely Messrs Sadler and Stephenson between them) will have to make further telling decisions come summer.
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A perfectly valid opinion containing lots of supposition.
I don't agree with most of it and I have a different view which is equally speculative.
I just think we have run out of steam, there's no time between games to work on tactics and the injuries that we have have prevented squad rotation.
Those are my top three reasons.
(Actually it's just Gary's fault 😉 )
 
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Beachcomber said:
Diverse estimations of the Head Coach have been rumbling on all season. As we approach season's end, it's clear to me that while Critch's (obvious) forte is player on player coaching, his flaws are all about indecisiveness, i.e. not being sure about or having confidence in altering the formation to suit the opponents of the day, or optimally knowing when to make substitutions (and, if so, how many).

Some forum members argued earlier in the season that Critch would learn as he went, but that doesn't appear to be happening. Others, including myself, opined that finding a suitable foil for the chief (Calderwood, as it turned out) would bring out the best in both of them. However, although it looked at one time as if that ploy was working - and to be honest, Calderwood has improved our defensive organisation no end - the team has now seemingly regressed to the lacklustre and ineffectual style of the first few games.

While it's true that key injuries (especially to attacking players) at different times have hampered our progress, the answer to that was surely to qualitatively strengthen the striker department during the last window. (In other words, Simms wasn't enough). Be that as it may, after Ballard, Lawrence-Gabriel and Simms return to their respective clubs at the end of term, we'll be able to welcome back Howe, Sarkic and Lubala.

No doubt another shake-up will be required - maybe half-a-dozen incomers with a similar number moving on - but I certainly hope that (a) the next crop of signings are of a higher calibre than future outgoers, & (b) that promising youngsters (not least, Antwi, Apter and Holmes) will be further developed and given a fair chance in similar fashion to the aforesaid loanees.

As for the apparent lack of tactical nous that continues to plague the coaching staff, I, for one, have no firm idea how that can be cured. Whether or not moving Garrity to Academy duties and acquiring an experienced offensive coach who could possibly complement Calderwood's defensive acumen is merely a suggestion. But while it could be argued that that would be a case of 'too many cooks' I'm nonetheless convinced that someone (likely Messrs Sadler and Stephenson between them) will have to make further telling decisions come summer.
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Fuck me, one week and two bad results after being unbeaten since 1845. We were taking the piss out of Sunderland fans for this a few days ago.

INQUEST!
 
Personally I think theyre all knackered as Critch hasn’t been able lately to rotate the squad as much because of injuries. The movement off the ball hasn’t been as lively lately with too much playing backwards and sideward and then a long aimless ball. We are really missing the luxury of rotating the midfield with Stewart, Anderson, Virtue etc missing.
Hopefully we will pull it round and make the play offs and these two matches will be forgotten about.
 
I couldn't have put the OP better myself, it reminds me of the hand written letter I've just delivered to Squires Gate (the fake moustache and Scouse accent really threw them this time, try and ban me will you?) detailing how I predicted this would happen in my post of 2nd March 2020 (on the old site, the real AVFTT, the one Basilbobbie destroyed with his inside government contacts). Unfortunately there's no record of these posts anymore, not that I would want to show you all anyway, I'm not like that.

Anyway, in said letter I detailed how appointing a well respected coach was folly, so what if he's been around some of the best players in the world and has all his UEFA licences? Has he ever watched the highlights VHS* I made of our games from February 2013 to January 2014* when we led by the only true genius I've ever seen as manager at Bloomfield Rd?

Now I don't like to say I told you so, but this so called Critchley fella has clearly failed massively and had he just taken on some of the advice I gave him by hiring a plane to fly a banner with it on over the training ground, we wouldn't be staring certain relegation in the face.


*'INCE - THE MESSIAH COMETH ' still available for £14.99 when the car boot at Prestatyn Market starts again.
 
Anyway, you've changed your tune in 9 days.


Beachcomber​

Well-known member​

In Critchley and Calderwood (plus probably Stephenson as well) we now have a really sound combo. (I did say on here weeks ago that Critchley needed a good foil). My only current criticism of them is that I think they sometimes leave substitutions a bit later than they should. Not much of a gripe really. UTMP!

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Beachcomber said:
Diverse estimations of the Head Coach have been rumbling on all season. As we approach season's end, it's clear to me that while Critch's (obvious) forte is player on player coaching, his flaws are all about indecisiveness, i.e. not being sure about or having confidence in altering the formation to suit the opponents of the day, or optimally knowing when to make substitutions (and, if so, how many).

Some forum members argued earlier in the season that Critch would learn as he went, but that doesn't appear to be happening. Others, including myself, opined that finding a suitable foil for the chief (Calderwood, as it turned out) would bring out the best in both of them. However, although it looked at one time as if that ploy was working - and to be honest, Calderwood has improved our defensive organisation no end - the team has now seemingly regressed to the lacklustre and ineffectual style of the first few games.

While it's true that key injuries (especially to attacking players) at different times have hampered our progress, the answer to that was surely to qualitatively strengthen the striker department during the last window. (In other words, Simms wasn't enough). Be that as it may, after Ballard, Lawrence-Gabriel and Simms return to their respective clubs at the end of term, we'll be able to welcome back Howe, Sarkic and Lubala.

No doubt another shake-up will be required - maybe half-a-dozen incomers with a similar number moving on - but I certainly hope that (a) the next crop of signings are of a higher calibre than future outgoers, & (b) that promising youngsters (not least, Antwi, Apter and Holmes) will be further developed and given a fair chance in similar fashion to the aforesaid loanees.

As for the apparent lack of tactical nous that continues to plague the coaching staff, I, for one, have no firm idea how that can be cured. Whether or not moving Garrity to Academy duties and acquiring an experienced offensive coach who could possibly complement Calderwood's defensive acumen is merely a suggestion. But while it could be argued that that would be a case of 'too many cooks' I'm nonetheless convinced that someone (likely Messrs Sadler and Stephenson between them) will have to make further telling decisions come summer.
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An honest and sincere OP. It deserves our fair responses. I think Critchley is learning to be the coach of a professional club. He had not got all of the answers and he is making mistakes.

Is that good enough to say time for a change? Absolutely not. Think about it from a Blackpool FC perspective. It's not long since we managed to get rid of the millstone around our necks. During the bad times many posters wrote emotionally about preferring to go down to the National League if it meant getting rid of the owners. Now that we have new owners - without having to take the awful step of descending the pyramid - we have a bright future.

Of course it doesn't deal with our frustrations match to match. Of course we are going to think, we could do better with this or that man in charge. But the managerial roundabout is not the answer. I think Sadler knows this and maybe, just maybe, we can break that failing model.
Critchley is our man. We might not do it this year or we might. That may be down to a Yates wonder goal or a Maxwell nightmare. We are a new Club, with big aspirations. Let's not fail our Club with the old clichés about needing to change the boss. Other clubs make that change at the drop of the hat...and go on to fail all the same. Heads up and chests out Seasiders. We ain't done yet.
 
Sometimes teams don't play well, sometimes teams lose, sometimes they have a bad patch, doesn't mean all is lost. We need to pick things up again that's all. I'm not actually expecting us to win tomorrow but even if we don't we are still in a good position to make the playoffs. We have a good team who unfortunately through injuries look out on their feet a bit at the moment that's all. Let's get behind them.
 
PHILOFWALES said:
I couldn't have put the OP better myself, it reminds me of the hand written letter I've just delivered to Squires Gate (the fake moustache and Scouse accent really threw them this time, try and ban me will you?) detailing how I predicted this would happen in my post of 2nd March 2020 (on the old site, the real AVFTT, the one Basilbobbie destroyed with his inside government contacts). Unfortunately there's no record of these posts anymore, not that I would want to show you all anyway, I'm not like that.

Anyway, in said letter I detailed how appointing a well respected coach was folly, so what if he's been around some of the best players in the world and has all his UEFA licences? Has he ever watched the highlights VHS* I made of our games from February 2013 to January 2014* when we led by the only true genius I've ever seen as manager at Bloomfield Rd?

Now I don't like to say I told you so, but this so called Critchley fella has clearly failed massively and had he just taken on some of the advice I gave him by hiring a plane to fly a banner with it on over the training ground, we wouldn't be staring certain relegation in the face.


*'INCE - THE MESSIAH COMETH ' still available for £14.99 when the car boot at Prestatyn Market starts again.
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Personally I'm stepping away from the tactical route. Give me one example of anywhere in the world at any given time whatsoever that tactics have won anything, changed anything or impressed anyone? ( except possibly when Patten used it successfully in his clever Fallaise pocket of 1944 against the Germans )
Anyway I digress, I'm done with 4, 4, 2, 3, 5, 2, 3, 3, 3, 1, etc etc and suggest that we've reached the lucky underpants stage of the season.
Admittedly my grundies have only brought us luck up until part way through the Lincoln game and, admittedly hadn't brought me or the team much luck in the previous 4 seasons of continued wearage.
My suggestion is that all true Tangerines follow my lead tomorrow night.
In order to turn this wretched misplaced faith in tactics around, do the logical thing.
Turn your unlucky undies inside out, seize karma, reverse our on field lethargy. You ll be thanking me when those fabulously fickle Black Cat fans mistake the stench of their overpaid prima doughnuts for our undergrundy playoff saving panty pincer movement 😜 (Ouchy! )
 
For the record, I've never once said that Critch shouldn't remain as Head Coach. However, after the last couple of results in particular, I'm merely suggesting that his backroom team possibly still needs a further tweak.

Here's hoping for a decent result this evening. UTMP.
 
Critchley’s main problem for me is thinking, or professing to think, everything in the garden is rosy, it obviously isn’t. He has done a lot of things right and some things wrong, as have the players. However to put things right, as I said on another thread you need to concede that some things are wrong. He says for instance, in today’s Gerzett, in the last 2 games we have controlled the game, kept possession and kept the opposition away from our goal? How did we manage to lose if we kept them away from our goal? With regard to possession, it’s not the amount of possession that wins games, it’s what you fo with said possession. As has been said by many posters tons of possession in our half of the pitch achieves nothing. He needs to learn,quickly, when to make effective substitutions and he also needs to learn when a few arses need kicking instead of constant praise. Some players respond to an arm round the shoulder, some to a good rollicking. He needs to know one from the other and respond accordingly.
 
Goforgoal said:
Critchley’s main problem for me is thinking, or professing to think, everything in the garden is rosy, it obviously isn’t. He has done a lot of things right and some things wrong, as have the players. However to put things right, as I said on another thread you need to concede that some things are wrong. He says for instance, in today’s Gerzett, in the last 2 games we have controlled the game, kept possession and kept the opposition away from our goal? How did we manage to lose if we kept them away from our goal? With regard to possession, it’s not the amount of possession that wins games, it’s what you fo with said possession. As has been said by many posters tons of possession in our half of the pitch achieves nothing. He needs to learn,quickly, when to make effective substitutions and he also needs to learn when a few arses need kicking instead of constant praise. Some players respond to an arm round the shoulder, some to a good rollicking. He needs to know one from the other and respond accordingly.
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I agree with most of that, even though i'm generally very supportive of Critchley. I would add though that you'll likely find similar comments from other managers - many times this season we've seen opposition managers post-match comments and wondered what game they were watching. However reading this board you'd think this was a new phenomenon that only our manager is afflicted with.
 
BFC_53 said:
I agree with most of that, even though i'm generally very supportive of Critchley. I would add though that you'll likely find similar comments from other managers - many times this season we've seen opposition managers post-match comments and wondered what game they were watching. However reading this board you'd think this was a new phenomenon that only our manager is afflicted with.
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A lot of managers think in a fundamentally different way that can seem to make no sense until suddenly it makes all the sense in the world. I remember in his first couple of seasons at Liverpool a lot of times they would lose 2-0 or something similar and Klopp would say ‘we had four clear cut chances on goal, if we score those it’s 4-2 and that’s what we will be working on in training’ and I did think oh my god he is mental. In the end I think his success has been a mixture of continuing with that principle whilst also learning how to win ugly.

I see a lot of parallels in Critchley’s first full season here. Not so much being obsessed with scoring more, but initially clinging to his vision, then more recently totally compromising it to find a way to win, and I’m fully confident that given time we’ll see those two principles strike a nice balance. In fact I think that’s basically what has happened recently, when he used a 4-2-3-1 and it finally worked a dream that was the result of both patience and conviction.
 
I feel people are failing to look at the bigger picture and are letting the disappointment and anxiety of a stuttering end of season (that still may well end with the play offs) get the better of their emotions and in the way of their overall perspective.

1) we’re almost certainly going to finish higher in the league this season than we did last season.

2) we’re still going to have the spine of a good squad at our disposal even after our key loanees disappear (Ballard and Gabriel may well be missed but there’s still a great back 4 available next season) whilst last season when we lost KDH, Ronan and Taylor Moore we looked like we’d been decimated.

3) we’re playing with a definite style and approach to football which (although sometimes frustrating) with a few tweaks and with a few players playing to their actual capabilities more often clearly will win us football matches.

4) Critchley is without a doubt developing our own players. Since he’s come in a number of players have improved and some more so than we could even have hoped.

5) Critchley has been ruthless in ditching the deadwood. A LOT of players were brought in last summer and a lot was promised of some of them. Where it hasn’t worked those players have been moved on, largely dropped and new players brought in. This process isn’t complete (how could it be?) and may take a few seasons but it’s very clearly happening.

6) Youth team players are getting a chance. Perhaps not as much as we would hope, but young home grown talent is regularly on the bench, occasionally getting minutes and getting pro contracts which bodes well for the future. The youth team is performing well and looks competitive compared to our rivals. Again it won’t be instant as it may take a few seasons for them to step up and for the Youth and Senior squads to work well together - but progress is being made.

7) All the above and our generally quite positive league position we find ourselves in has happened in spite of a massive pre season of upheaval, playing in an empty stadium without the majority of the squad really knowing what Blackpool FC is all about (our fans really do make a difference in my opinion), ridiculous amount of injuries to key players, horrible schedule and the fact we started really poorly.

There’s definitely room for improvements. The last couple of games have been pretty poor. But if we finish 7th or 8th, it will be gutting because we’ve come so close and ultimately fallen at the final hurdle, however we’ll undoubtedly have had a season of improvement across the board and we can look forward to the next season with a lot of optimism.
 
Best Manager we have had for a long long time.
Have a look at the injury list.
We have done remarkably well, considering so many very good players are not available for selection.
We have also been playing twice a week since the end of February.
Our unbeaten runs were bound to come to an end at some point.
Get behind the Team and the Staff.
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
Anyway, you've changed your tune in 9 days.

[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Beachcomber​

Well-known member​

In Critchley and Calderwood (plus probably Stephenson as well) we now have a really sound combo. (I did say on here weeks ago that Critchley needed a good foil). My only current criticism of them is that I think they sometimes leave substitutions a bit later than they should. Not much of a gripe really. UTMP!

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