td53
Well-known member
Is needed by the fans, but I also think it's needed by the manager.
It's too late now, but he wanted an entire new squad and shipped out some serviceable players. Let's not debate who/what/why but it's true.
What we have to accept is it takes time, but I think what he has to accept is that perhaps trying to apply a high press, high skill approach with players of lesser skill and (I think this is the key bit) less self belief than he's had at Liverpool also takes time.
He's been used to coaching lads who've not suffered any set backs, lads who are full of self confidence and at the outset of their careers, playing in the best youth set up of the best club in the country. Pass, pass, pass, until the other team makes a mistake works in that context.
However, here we are, league 1. A load of players who've been rejected at top level or are stepping up from a lower level. These players aren't full of the same belief, the same arrogance if you will. These are more fragile players and generally less talented ones. Simply 'being ruthless' won't be enough.
I think if I were Critch, I'd be mulling it over tonight and thinking 'ok, let's just simplify it a bit'
Calling for his head is an over reaction but the love in with what he's doing simply because it's what 'the top clubs in Europe do' is also an over reaction.
For me, he's got to first build a bit of self belief up in them before he can expect them to do anything else. They're not shit players and the 'lets sign 10 more/sack everyone' response is just emotion.
What they are is players devoid of confidence and losing belief in the system they're playing. So simplify it all a bit. Get a bit of life into them.
Changing formation or playing a left footer on the left or whatever it maybe isn't 'abandoning his project' - it's doing what is needed to get the players belief back, get the players spring back in their step cos it's not there. Maybe 5 at the back would let Mitchell and Gabriel just maraud, maybe 442 would let Yates and Madine make a partnership, maybe CJ could go in the middle against a slow defence etc etc etc. I don't know the answer but just find what the team is comfortable doing, how they enjoy playing.
From there, you introduce new things that then work because the players have confidence to do them. His aim isn't simply to play 433. His aim is to get the best out of a squad of players and win league one.
I'm sick of it being a binary choice between Critch in/out. It's not. It's a question of how thoughtful and reflective he is. I really like the way Liverpool play. It's electric when they're not getting beat 7-2 but this squad is not ready to play like that.It's a question of how thoughtful and reflective he is. Is he just an acolyte of Klopp and has nothing else to draw upon, or is he an intelligent fella in his own right who can forge something new based on the situation he's in.
Hopefully the latter. I've said from day one, it reminds me a bit of Macmahon and he looked totally lost at first until he found a recipe that worked. We need patience and so does he.
We're better than what happened today. So is he, so are the players.
Go and sort it out.
It's too late now, but he wanted an entire new squad and shipped out some serviceable players. Let's not debate who/what/why but it's true.
What we have to accept is it takes time, but I think what he has to accept is that perhaps trying to apply a high press, high skill approach with players of lesser skill and (I think this is the key bit) less self belief than he's had at Liverpool also takes time.
He's been used to coaching lads who've not suffered any set backs, lads who are full of self confidence and at the outset of their careers, playing in the best youth set up of the best club in the country. Pass, pass, pass, until the other team makes a mistake works in that context.
However, here we are, league 1. A load of players who've been rejected at top level or are stepping up from a lower level. These players aren't full of the same belief, the same arrogance if you will. These are more fragile players and generally less talented ones. Simply 'being ruthless' won't be enough.
I think if I were Critch, I'd be mulling it over tonight and thinking 'ok, let's just simplify it a bit'
Calling for his head is an over reaction but the love in with what he's doing simply because it's what 'the top clubs in Europe do' is also an over reaction.
For me, he's got to first build a bit of self belief up in them before he can expect them to do anything else. They're not shit players and the 'lets sign 10 more/sack everyone' response is just emotion.
What they are is players devoid of confidence and losing belief in the system they're playing. So simplify it all a bit. Get a bit of life into them.
Changing formation or playing a left footer on the left or whatever it maybe isn't 'abandoning his project' - it's doing what is needed to get the players belief back, get the players spring back in their step cos it's not there. Maybe 5 at the back would let Mitchell and Gabriel just maraud, maybe 442 would let Yates and Madine make a partnership, maybe CJ could go in the middle against a slow defence etc etc etc. I don't know the answer but just find what the team is comfortable doing, how they enjoy playing.
From there, you introduce new things that then work because the players have confidence to do them. His aim isn't simply to play 433. His aim is to get the best out of a squad of players and win league one.
I'm sick of it being a binary choice between Critch in/out. It's not. It's a question of how thoughtful and reflective he is. I really like the way Liverpool play. It's electric when they're not getting beat 7-2 but this squad is not ready to play like that.It's a question of how thoughtful and reflective he is. Is he just an acolyte of Klopp and has nothing else to draw upon, or is he an intelligent fella in his own right who can forge something new based on the situation he's in.
Hopefully the latter. I've said from day one, it reminds me a bit of Macmahon and he looked totally lost at first until he found a recipe that worked. We need patience and so does he.
We're better than what happened today. So is he, so are the players.
Go and sort it out.
I guess there is a slight chance Origi may be loaned but doubt he would end up in this LG.
