Players missing yesterday

voyeur

Well-known member
From the Gazette...

Explaining the decision to include Ballard but omit Gretarsson, Critchley told The Gazette: “Dan (Ballard) played for Northern Ireland on Wednesday night for the national team and travelled back and got back in the early hours of Thursday.

“As for Daniel, he has had a week of training but he’s got to acclimatise and has got to adapt to the intensity of the training.

“He plays a lot of football on astro turf and trains on astro turf, so even training on grass every day is something different for him.

“He’s looked really good in training and we’re delighted he’s here and in the next few weeks at some point he’ll prove what a good player he’ll be.”

Liverpool loanee Woodburn, the first of two signings on Friday, should come into contention for Tuesday night’s home game against Charlton Athletic.

Dougall, the second player to arrive on deadline day and the 17th in total during the transfer window, is likely to be slowly but surely eased into first-team action.

“Kenny has not had a pre-season, so we’ll have to integrate him back into training and get him up to speed as quickly as we can,” Critchley conceded.

“Ben was just ineligible because he didn’t sign before 12pm, but he’ll be available for Tuesday.”

Anderson was a surprise absence from Blackpool’s side at Gresty Road having previously started all of Blackpool’s league games.

According to Critchley, the 25-year-old has suffered an injury that will likely keep him out of action for a good portion of October at least.

“He pulled up in training on Thursday. He’s had a scan, so he will miss a couple of weeks,” Critchley said.

“It’s hard to say though, as some people recover quicker than others and bodies react differently to certain injuries.

“I don’t think he’ll be appearing in the next week or two though, that’s for certain.”

 
Hmmm think we are now at the position we should have been at 6 weeks ago. It is like the pre season games were meaningless and we are going to have to chop and change this team an awful lot to get to the manager's best 11. To be fair that isnt all the manager's fault as we were left with a poor squad last year once the loan stars went back.

Whilst yesterday looked a marginal improvement, it remains to be seen how good Crewe are. Swindon are the only team we have beaten and they have now lost their last 3 so may not be that great. We simply have to win home games as these away trips dont seem to be yielding much at all.

Reading that article I assume Woodburn will be in on Tuesday probably for Ward so there is one change immediately. I think Ballard will come in and Husband will go back to left back so thats more changes.

The defence did a little better yesterday but could still easily conceded three goals in a very wobbly five minute spell. Had that happened then we would be in a very different place right now and Im pleased we are not. The goal yesterday came when Ekpiteta missed a tackle and Turton lost his man and simply didnt have the pace to get back with him. The ball comes across and they have two at the back post as Husband didnt pick up properly in the middle and Mitchell was too late to react. That is pretty much a full house of defensive frailties in one move.

For all our pretty possession football we rarely looked like scoring and stats can be very misleading. I thought it was a fair result and dont think we did nearly enough to warrant three points.

I still think we are along way away from the team he wants to put out week in week out tbh and that is worrying. Pre season is the time to chop and change and it shouldnt be happening at this stage. However he needs to get his favoured players in the team and playing as a unit as soon as possible.

I think peoples expectations have now been tempered and talk of going up as champions has subsided. That takes the pressure off a bit but it will be a big test on Tuesday against a decent Charlton side.
 
Oh give over.
Nope, you said it to get a re-action. You got one, deal with it.
People still have concerns with the team and the set up. Provided their criticism is constructive what's your problem?
Hmmm think we are now at the position we should have been at 6 weeks ago. It is like the pre season games were meaningless and we are going to have to chop and change this team an awful lot to get to the manager's best 11. To be fair that isnt all the manager's fault as we were left with a poor squad last year once the loan stars went back.

Whilst yesterday looked a marginal improvement, it remains to be seen how good Crewe are. Swindon are the only team we have beaten and they have now lost their last 3 so may not be that great. We simply have to win home games as these away trips dont seem to be yielding much at all.

Reading that article I assume Woodburn will be in on Tuesday probably for Ward so there is one change immediately. I think Ballard will come in and Husband will go back to left back so thats more changes.

The defence did a little better yesterday but could still easily conceded three goals in a very wobbly five minute spell. Had that happened then we would be in a very different place right now and Im pleased we are not. The goal yesterday came when Ekpiteta missed a tackle and Turton lost his man and simply didnt have the pace to get back with him. The ball comes across and they have two at the back post as Husband didnt pick up properly in the middle and Mitchell was too late to react. That is pretty much a full house of defensive frailties in one move.

For all our pretty possession football we rarely looked like scoring and stats can be very misleading. I thought it was a fair result and dont think we did nearly enough to warrant three points.

I still think we are along way away from the team he wants to put out week in week out tbh and that is worrying. Pre season is the time to chop and change and it shouldnt be happening at this stage. However he needs to get his favoured players in the team and playing as a unit as soon as possible.

I think peoples expectations have now been tempered and talk of going up as champions has subsided. That takes the pressure off a bit but it will be a big test on Tuesday against a decent Charlton side.
Agree. Crewe look a poor side and just because they didn't take their three chances mean that everything is right with our back four. If we'd lost that game people on here would be clamouring for change. Especially in the centre of our defence.
 
Nope, you said it to get a re-action. You got one, deal with it.
People still have concerns with the team and the set up. Provided their criticism is constructive what's your problem?
I said it out of frustration with your snipe at Critchley tbh. "so he's got to adapt to training on grass but looked really good in training."

As FessParker righty replied, Blimey. Nitpicking at it's finest.
 
I said it out of frustration with your snipe at Critchley tbh. "so he's got to adapt to training on grass but looked really good in training."

As FessParker righty replied, Blimey. Nitpicking at it's finest.
See my reply to TTP. To expand. I think we've got serious problems with the centre of our defence. As much as we've got problems with our front three, not necessarily the personnel there, but how to get the best out of them, it's different with the heart of defence. The basic skills of a a central defender are about positional sense and awareness. We are conceding soft goals and chances and that needs addressing asap. Basically, I think it's much easier to slot in a central defender than a midfield or forward player. I know it's an extreme example but it's the point I'm making, if we signed a 10 million pound centre half because it was needed, you'd put him straight in. You wouldn't wait a month for him to train and get used to the players and the system. So if Ballard and Greta are good enough, get 'em in.
 
Nope, you said it to get a re-action. You got one, deal with it.
People still have concerns with the team and the set up. Provided their criticism is constructive what's your problem?

Agree. Crewe look a poor side and just because they didn't take their three chances mean that everything is right with our back four. If we'd lost that game people on here would be clamouring for change. Especially in the centre of our defence.
especially you
See my reply to TTP. To expand. I think we've got serious problems with the centre of our defence. As much as we've got problems with our front three, not necessarily the personnel there, but how to get the best out of them, it's different with the heart of defence. The basic skills of a a central defender are about positional sense and awareness. We are conceding soft goals and chances and that needs addressing asap. Basically, I think it's much easier to slot in a central defender than a midfield or forward player. I know it's an extreme example but it's the point I'm making, if we signed a 10 million pound centre half because it was needed, you'd put him straight in. You wouldn't wait a month for him to train and get used to the players and the system. So if Ballard and Greta are good enough, get 'em in.
The one thing you don’t mention is we’re in extreme times where players have not had a preseason because of the window closing late .So players who have been without clubs are not fit.
 
See my reply to TTP. To expand. I think we've got serious problems with the centre of our defence. As much as we've got problems with our front three, not necessarily the personnel there, but how to get the best out of them, it's different with the heart of defence. The basic skills of a a central defender are about positional sense and awareness. We are conceding soft goals and chances and that needs addressing asap. Basically, I think it's much easier to slot in a central defender than a midfield or forward player. I know it's an extreme example but it's the point I'm making, if we signed a 10 million pound centre half because it was needed, you'd put him straight in. You wouldn't wait a month for him to train and get used to the players and the system. So if Ballard and Greta are good enough, get 'em in.
I think what NC is saying is that Ballard is ready to go in, but was away on international duty and got back early hours Thursday. We will see him soon, and rightly so. Gretarsson needs to adapt and will be broken in gradually. It all seems sensible to me. The criticism of NC seems over the top. He is trying to piece together a team from many hastily assembled pieces. The quality is affected to a large degree by the budget, which is subject to a pretty tight salary cap. I think Marv is doing ok and getting better each game - he exemplifies the right approach - don't panic, allow players to get used to the system and colleagues. We have been using stop gaps at LCB all season, Nottingham, Husband, Turton. Not great obviously. Ballard may have to play on the left at first, when he normally plays on the right. Is that the best thing to do? We have to trust NC when he says that Gretarsson needs to acclimatise. It isn't hard to understand that this would be the case, it's a big change moving from the Norwegian League to League One. We saw Gabriel and Garbutt last week get put straight in and struggle, and they are used to playing in English football on grass etc. I think NC was wrong to do that, and said so at the time, before the game kicked off even. Look at the 4 ipswich goals.
 
especially you

The one thing you don’t mention is we’re in extreme times where players have not had a preseason because of the window closing late .So players who have been without clubs are not fit.
....and of the four new players we have, who were without clubs?
 
I think what NC is saying is that Ballard is ready to go in, but was away on international duty and got back early hours Thursday. We will see him soon, and rightly so. Gretarsson needs to adapt and will be broken in gradually. It all seems sensible to me. The criticism of NC seems over the top. He is trying to piece together a team from many hastily assembled pieces. The quality is affected to a large degree by the budget, which is subject to a pretty tight salary cap. I think Marv is doing ok and getting better each game - he exemplifies the right approach - don't panic, allow players to get used to the system and colleagues. We have been using stop gaps at LCB all season, Nottingham, Husband, Turton. Not great obviously. Ballard may have to play on the left at first, when he normally plays on the right. Is that the best thing to do? We have to trust NC when he says that Gretarsson needs to acclimatise. It isn't hard to understand that this would be the case, it's a big change moving from the Norwegian League to League One. We saw Gabriel and Garbutt last week get put straight in and struggle, and they are used to playing in English football on grass etc. I think NC was wrong to do that, and said so at the time, before the game kicked off even. Look at the 4 ipswich goals.
Some balanced and fair comments Voy but when are we going to get a settled side? I see it as a long way off because the players picked yesterday wont be the manager's first choices once everyone is up to speed. A poor pre season has come home to roost and I can see changes every game which is not ideal. People were very quick to condemn Gabriel last week when he was up against possibly the best player in the division (scored again yesterday) and yet the same people are purring about Turton who was running in treacle having lost his man yesterday. In an ideal world our defensive issues would have been sorted pre season and we would now have a settled back 4/5 playing week in week out but that is not where we are at. I guarantee at least two changes on Tuesday and more chopping and changing in the weeks to come. I agree we have to trust NC but he must accept he is under the microscope and all his decisions will be heavily scrutinised as he has made mistakes. To make no changes in the second half yesterday was naïve and a mistake tactically.
 
I think what NC is saying is that Ballard is ready to go in, but was away on international duty and got back early hours Thursday. We will see him soon, and rightly so. Gretarsson needs to adapt and will be broken in gradually. It all seems sensible to me. The criticism of NC seems over the top. He is trying to piece together a team from many hastily assembled pieces. The quality is affected to a large degree by the budget, which is subject to a pretty tight salary cap. I think Marv is doing ok and getting better each game - he exemplifies the right approach - don't panic, allow players to get used to the system and colleagues. We have been using stop gaps at LCB all season, Nottingham, Husband, Turton. Not great obviously. Ballard may have to play on the left at first, when he normally plays on the right. Is that the best thing to do? We have to trust NC when he says that Gretarsson needs to acclimatise. It isn't hard to understand that this would be the case, it's a big change moving from the Norwegian League to League One. We saw Gabriel and Garbutt last week get put straight in and struggle, and they are used to playing in English football on grass etc. I think NC was wrong to do that, and said so at the time, before the game kicked off even. Look at the 4 ipswich goals.
I understand that and agree to a certain extent. Ekpiteta is getting better. And I accept and agree with your point about certainly Carbutt not looking match or even fit. But the role of a full back or wing back is so much more demanding fitness wise than that of a central defender. A full/wing back has to mark his man, he has to get forward to help. In other words, he's more or less permanently on the move. A central defenders role is totally different. And why I think the risk is far less great than anywhere else on the pitch. We need a central defender in there and the sooner the better.
 
Dougall, and Garbutt !
The four new players were Ballard, Greta, Woodburn and Dougall. Garbutt was already here. And I thought we'd signed Dougall from Barnsley. If we did, then he'd have been training with them.
 
Some balanced and fair comments Voy but when are we going to get a settled side? I see it as a long way off because the players picked yesterday wont be the manager's first choices once everyone is up to speed. A poor pre season has come home to roost and I can see changes every game which is not ideal. People were very quick to condemn Gabriel last week when he was up against possibly the best player in the division (scored again yesterday) and yet the same people are purring about Turton who was running in treacle having lost his man yesterday. In an ideal world our defensive issues would have been sorted pre season and we would now have a settled back 4/5 playing week in week out but that is not where we are at. I guarantee at least two changes on Tuesday and more chopping and changing in the weeks to come. I agree we have to trust NC but he must accept he is under the microscope and all his decisions will be heavily scrutinised as he has made mistakes. To make no changes in the second half yesterday was naïve and a mistake tactically.
I understand what you are saying but I just don't really agree, and I mean that respectfully. We have completely changed the squad and only signed several players in the last week. So evolution is inevitable. My point is that we should keep a pretty stable team and introduce players gradually. I think that is completely obviously the right approach, and don't understand all the panic tbh. Fans criticise subs one week and then no subs the next week. Everyone thinks they know what's right (including me). But I like to give the manager the time to work things out rather than criticise every 5 minutes. My main criticism of NC to date was the defensive changes last week. Other than that, I have not really had a problem. I wouldn't do exactly what he has done in every game, but I accept that I'm in my house watching on iFollow and haven't been at training all week etc. Let the guy do his job, there are enough positive signs for me. Given all the changes. He's new to the job too, give the guy a chance. He seems a bright fella to me, and a good man. I wish him well.
 
Think the most disappointing aspect for me is that I thought we had an excellent pre season and looked ready to start the season for the first time in ages. Turned out to be a false start, because we clearly weren’t ready and the multiple changes have taken a toll on results. Suppose we will have to be patient.
 
The four new players were Ballard, Greta, Woodburn and Dougall. Garbutt was already here. And I thought we'd signed Dougall from Barnsley. If we did, then he'd have been training with them.
Dougall was released by Barnsley in June.
 
I understand that and agree to a certain extent. Ekpiteta is getting better. And I accept and agree with your point about certainly Carbutt not looking match or even fit. But the role of a full back or wing back is so much more demanding fitness wise than that of a central defender. A full/wing back has to mark his man, he has to get forward to help. In other words, he's more or less permanently on the move. A central defenders role is totally different. And why I think the risk is far less great than anywhere else on the pitch. We need a central defender in there and the sooner the better.
And Ballard will be.
 
Dougall was released by Barnsley in June.
Ok, then fair enough with him. Strange then if he was on our radar why it's took so long. Not really that important or relevant though. As long as Critchley thinks he can add something.
 
I said it out of frustration with your snipe at Critchley tbh. "so he's got to adapt to training on grass but looked really good in training."

As FessParker righty replied, Blimey. Nitpicking at it's finest.
I see Harrogate adapted quite well yesterday to playing on grass.
 
Ok, then fair enough with him. Strange then if he was on our radar why it's took so long. Not really that important or relevant though. As long as Critchley thinks he can add something.
He's been playing in the Championship on Championship wages so was probably holding out for a better deal.
 
I think NC was wrong to do that, and said so at the time, before the game kicked off even. Look at the 4 ipswich goals.

Got ya! So your criticisms of the manager are valid and you are allowed to say so. But others with a different viewpoint to you are not.
 
Well, he threw the Forest lad in last week and that turned out well didn't it...............
Critch is on a hiding to nothing.

I really hope Oystain can get another club and all the serial moaners can go and support them and then you can really have something to moan about.
🤔🤬🤬🤬
It remains to be seen whether the most recent recruits improve the team. In Gabriel's case it would appear not. In Garbutt's case his lack of fitness and resultant injury make you wonder. Ballard is only 21, with just a handful of senior games to his name, is talented but inexperienced. Gretarsson in his mid 20's has games under his belt but not in the EFL. Woodburn, with several recent injuries and just 2 goals in 35 appearances, may or may not be the answer to our attacking midfield issues. Dougall another who had a bad injury isn't match fit but is highly thought of. Hopefully he'll make his mark in time.
If some of these players do strengthen the team then we may become a more cohesive unit. Where the goals will come from remains an issue. Lack of a goalscorer may well blight our season and leave us also rans.
 
The four new players were Ballard, Greta, Woodburn and Dougall. Garbutt was already here. And I thought we'd signed Dougall from Barnsley. If we did, then he'd have been training with them.
Dougall was released in June !
 
I'll sum up my position and that's it. I think we need a centre half in sooner rather than later. I would have liked at least one of them to start yesterday. I think it's much less of a problem putting a new central defender into the team than anywhere else in the team apart from the g/k.
 
I actually wonder if some of you watched the game with your eyes closed yesterday?

Apart from not getting the win we deserved mainly because the 2 supporting Madine were'n high enough up the pitch or were too wide to feed off him the rest of the game we actually played really well right across the team. It's easy to say Crewe are a poor team, they aren't but we made them look like a poor team as we were on them for the full 90 minutes.I'm not sure what some of you want?

This is completely new team, coach, staff and SS wants to build something with NC at the helm. It will take time, how many times do I have to type that? 6 games in and we are playing the best football I have seen since 2012 and this is with young players who have never played together before playing a type of football you see in the PL, not league 1.

As for who played and who didn't yesterday, Woodburn couldn't play, Dougall is a few weeks off match fitness and Williams played the role he will and was man of the match, Gretarsson is not deemed ready yet and Ballard was on the bench and had only got back to Blackpool on Thursday morning. Ekpetita is playing really well so won't be dropped and so I see Ballard replacing Husband on Tuesday and Husband playing left back. I don't think he will change the midfield 3 but I do think he will put Woodburn in for either CJ or Yates although he may swap him with Ward and play him in midfield. So I'm not quite sure why there is this big clamour to see new players not come into the team immediately. We have 40 games to go and there will be some resting of players, injuries and it is that great place to be where those who have the shirt need to play out of their skins to keep it as there are players breathing down their necks and we have seen that NC isn't afraid to drop players or ship them out if he doesn't want them.
 
Yes but its like riding a bike but i am presuming he has played on grass before 🥴
I dont think professional sportsman should even be smoking, let alone playing while off their tits on dope 🤪

I also dont think it was a bad decision not to throw the new boys straight in.
Look everybody is desperate to see new faces, Its always been that way, its 'fan' thinking.
I kind of understand 20s thinking on a CB but it would have still meant throwing in an Arsenal youth player after at best 2 training sessions.
NC sees them train & if he decided to give them a bit extra time that is ok imo.
If one had played and had a howler people would be saying he was either shit or at best thrown in too early😂
 
Difficult to know where to start with some of these comments. Some fans will come out with any old nonsense just to win an argument.
 
I actually wonder if some of you watched the game with your eyes closed yesterday?

Apart from not getting the win we deserved mainly because the 2 supporting Madine were'n high enough up the pitch or were too wide to feed off him the rest of the game we actually played really well right across the team. It's easy to say Crewe are a poor team, they aren't but we made them look like a poor team as we were on them for the full 90 minutes.I'm not sure what some of you want?

This is completely new team, coach, staff and SS wants to build something with NC at the helm. It will take time, how many times do I have to type that? 6 games in and we are playing the best football I have seen since 2012 and this is with young players who have never played together before playing a type of football you see in the PL, not league 1.

As for who played and who didn't yesterday, Woodburn couldn't play, Dougall is a few weeks off match fitness and Williams played the role he will and was man of the match, Gretarsson is not deemed ready yet and Ballard was on the bench and had only got back to Blackpool on Thursday morning. Ekpetita is playing really well so won't be dropped and so I see Ballard replacing Husband on Tuesday and Husband playing left back. I don't think he will change the midfield 3 but I do think he will put Woodburn in for either CJ or Yates although he may swap him with Ward and play him in midfield. So I'm not quite sure why there is this big clamour to see new players not come into the team immediately. We have 40 games to go and there will be some resting of players, injuries and it is that great place to be where those who have the shirt need to play out of their skins to keep it as there are players breathing down their necks and we have seen that NC isn't afraid to drop players or ship them out if he doesn't want them.
I think you are right about the changes coming on Tuesday and I think the team will be changed every week for a while and as a consequence we will drop more points. You say we deserved to win but you cannot win if you dont create chances to score goals. Yesterday we were almost gifted an own goal in the first half and Yates had a shot blocked which I dont personally believe would have hit the target. Apart from the goal we created very little and I think it could easily have been nil nil had they not forced us into action by scoring. Is there only me who thinks Crewe nearly scored 3 in that mad five minute spell? The first half was a good half for us , the second half not so good.

.We have a lot of ineffective possession where the opposition just let us tippy tappy it around and that is where the stats can be meaningless. I really want us to do well but particularly at home we are going to have to get hold of games by the scruff of the neck and get the ball in dangerous areas. Despite his workrate Yates just doesnt get in the right positions to score...CJ is marked out of the game and Madine has always been better with his back to goal than attacking it. Woodburn may link the play better and could be a massive piece of the jigsaw.
 
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