Rank our last 5 permanent managers

Critchley is the most successful we’ve had since Holloway. The others are gash except for McPhillips and Bowyer (but I never went to a game with either in charge).
 
King Billy said:
Grayson who was sacked when we were 15th is much higher than Crichley? Ok then.
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To be fair apart from Critchley mark one they have all been very very poor and there wouldn’t be much between any of them..Critchley Mark two has been pretty abject tbh and if he has to stay then he needs to be scrutinised after 5 games, 10 games and 15 games to see if there has been any progress made… he has been lucky to keep his job following on from those away defeats this season.
 
Just shows how woefully bad our recruitment has been recently!

I know we've some new guys in charge of this now, but really someone at the club needs to take time to do some research and "find" an up and coming manager and not lazy options off the old manager merry-go-round 😴
 
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TwelveAngryMen said:
Neil Critchley mark one
Michael Appleton
Neil Critchley mark two
Simon Grayson
Terry McPhillips
Mick McCarthy
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I’d agree with that.
Critchley Mk1 was pretty damn average until Calderwood arrived.

There’s a telling trend where we don’t seem to bother with previous recent employment history and failures; Larry and Critchley Mk2 being typical examples.

Looking at that list, is it any wonder we’ve been bored senseless. Its Chinese water torture turned into management form. Whoever has made these appointments needs to be nowhere near the next manager selection process.
 
McPhillips didn't do much wrong, Grayson and Appleton were appalling appointments, Dinosaur was the worst of the five and then Critch Mk1 was decent but God knows what has happened in between - I hope he takes a knock to the head over summer and reverts back!
 
doolan_legend said:
Critchley first time round is as good as we could hope for in any new manager. Promotion from league one and then stability in the champ.

Critchley second time round I’ve never been as bored at Blackpool games. 8th in league one is far from our worst ever league position, but it is the most tedious football I’ve ever watched.
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You didn't go under Harry Potts then.

Plus I'd prefer tedious to getting spanked every week, like under Mullen, Worthington, Hendry and many more.

I'd also question tedious, but that's a separate thread😉
 
Wizaard said:
You didn't go under Harry Potts then.

Plus I'd prefer tedious to getting spanked every week, like under Mullen, Worthington, Hendry and many more.

I'd also question tedious, but that's a separate thread😉
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We aren’t all 86 years old Wiz 😂

Worthington and Hendry eras I was a kid so can’t really remember the footy.
 
Ghost_of_Max said:
McPhillips didn't do much wrong, Grayson and Appleton were appalling appointments, Dinosaur was the worst of the five and then Critch Mk1 was decent but God knows what has happened in between - I hope he takes a knock to the head over summer and reverts back!
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McPhillips wasn't there very long but the football was pretty dire
He was a nice guy but out of his depth IMO
 
Dougall said:
Neil Critchley
Mick McArthy
Michael Appleton
Simon Grayson
Terry McPhillips

Maybe doesn’t seem so bad now 😳
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Neil Critchley II - so far a massive disappointment, has made a complete arse of this season when we were in a great position to challenge, only mitigation is if this is a two year project he’s only half way through!
Mick McArthy - a desperate attempt to save our season that backfired
Michael Appleton - a bizarre appointment, disappointing but was up against it. Maybe now with hindsight the trigger was pulled too soon?
Neil Critchley 1- Turned out well and then left us to put cones out for Slippy G for more money. Showed lack of loyalty and ambition
Simon Grayson - limited ability, did ok, nothing more. Wasn’t going to take us forward
Terry McPhillips - Don’t know who he is
 
The Catcher in the Rye said:
Neil Critchley II - so far a massive disappointment, has made a complete arse of this season when we were in a great position to challenge, only mitigation is if this is a two year project he’s only half way through!
Mick McArthy - a desperate attempt to save our season that backfired
Michael Appleton - a bizarre appointment, disappointing but was up against it. Maybe now with hindsight the trigger was pulled too soon?
Neil Critchley 1- Turned out well and then left us to put cones out for Slippy G for more money. Showed lack of loyalty and ambition
Simon Grayson - limited ability, did ok, nothing more. Wasn’t going to take us forward
Terry McPhillips - Don’t know who he is
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With hindsight, the trigger on Appleton was two months late, as many said at the time.

We lost to Wigan while he flexed his biceps on the touchline when it was obvious we were crying out for subs.

If he'd gone then, the new man would have had three weeks with the players without a game, and able to make decisions about what was needed.

Instead, he went mid January, with little or no time for McCarthy to assess the squad and decide what was needed.

Double mistake.
 
Just to note that Grayson II was sacked in 19-20 after 37 points from 29 games as compared to 62 from 46 for McPhillips in 18-19.

And I'm thinking McPhillips wasn't signing 6-figure flops during his tenure.

So McPhillips below Grayson, not for me. And below Critchley II, up for debate.
 
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Wizaard said:
With hindsight, the trigger on Appleton was two months late, as many said at the time.

We lost to Wigan while he flexed his biceps on the touchline when it was obvious we were crying out for subs.

If he'd gone then, the new man would have had three weeks with the players without a game, and able to make decisions about what was needed.

Instead, he went mid January, with little or no time for McCarthy to assess the squad and decide what was needed.

Double mistake.
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Nope. Should have stayed. He had a threadbare squad for his bad run we rarely were out of any game under him (Rotherham probably the one game we really tanked) and we sacked him just at the point we'd got Bowler and Rogers - two players he'd previously managed very successfully and Fiorini was returning from injury (another player he knew and could get best out of)

Those three players transform the team and make what he was doing make so much more sense.

If you look at the budgets respective to the rest of the league (or at least what we know of them) you could probably argue Appleton's performance was about par and Critchley's is a bit worse this season.

For the life of me, I don't understand why Critchley deserves endless patience and Appleton didn't merit at least the opportunity to use the players we signed in January. I went to Hull - there was no sense the players had downed tools there, we deserved something for sure. I went to forest at home - we were excellent. I didn't go to Watford - we were poor - and the trigger was pulled. We weren't cut adrift, we weren't that far from the stated target (mansford had said 'just safety' much to the annoyance of many)

We've been poor in plenty of games this season in a division where we're better resourced than a lot of teams and our recruitment has probably been better than it was in the championship under Appleton. We've never been on target (Sadler said play offs)

It's the consistency I don't get. Sadler either appoints Appleton for long term or he doesn't. He backs him or he doesn't. What he's afforded Critchley, he hasn't afforded anyone else.

I don't necessarily think Appleton would have taken us to great heights and a new 1950s - but I think the fanbase forced Sadler into making the wrong decision that season. I will always think that.
 
td53 said:
Nope. Should have stayed. He had a threadbare squad for his bad run we rarely were out of any game under him (Rotherham probably the one game we really tanked) and we sacked him just at the point we'd got Bowler and Rogers - two players he'd previously managed very successfully and Fiorini was returning from injury (another player he knew and could get best out of)

Those three players transform the team and make what he was doing make so much more sense.

If you look at the budgets respective to the rest of the league (or at least what we know of them) you could probably argue Appleton's performance was about par and Critchley's is a bit worse this season.

For the life of me, I don't understand why Critchley deserves endless patience and Appleton didn't merit at least the opportunity to use the players we signed in January. I went to Hull - there was no sense the players had downed tools there, we deserved something for sure. I went to forest at home - we were excellent. I didn't go to Watford - we were poor - and the trigger was pulled. We weren't cut adrift, we weren't that far from the stated target (mansford had said 'just safety' much to the annoyance of many)

We've been poor in plenty of games this season in a division where we're better resourced than a lot of teams and our recruitment has probably been better than it was in the championship under Appleton. We've never been on target (Sadler said play offs)

It's the consistency I don't get. Sadler either appoints Appleton for long term or he doesn't. He backs him or he doesn't. What he's afforded Critchley, he hasn't afforded anyone else.

I don't necessarily think Appleton would have taken us to great heights and a new 1950s - but I think the fanbase forced Sadler into making the wrong decision that season. I will always think that.
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We lost something like ten in a row and were second bottom under Appleton, no manager is surviving that.
 
Lytham_fy8 said:
We lost something like ten in a row and were second bottom under Appleton, no manager is surviving that.
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That isnt true. Between the Wigan game and his sacking we drew 4 won 1 and lost 2. The defeat that wasn't Watford was by a single goal to Sheff U - a team who got promoted.

The goal difference in that time was 0. None of Bowler, Rogers or Fiorini were available (as they would be for the vast majority of the games beyond his sacking) Nor was Nelson (a player who had his flaws but was definitely 'defensive experience' that we sorely lacked.

The budget (this is now known) was significantly lower that the average budget for the division and likely a 'relegation budget' in that respect. (Not all budgets are known so I can't say that definitively)

I'm not criticising the budget - I'm saying we sacked Appleton for not overachieving against the resources in place.
 
td53 said:
That isnt true. Between the Wigan game and his sacking we drew 4 won 1 and lost 2. The defeat that wasn't Watford was by a single goal to Sheff U - a team who got promoted.

The goal difference in that time was 0. None of Bowler, Rogers or Fiorini were available (as they would be for the vast majority of the games beyond his sacking) Nor was Nelson (a player who had his flaws but was definitely 'defensive experience' that we sorely lacked.

The budget (this is now known) was significantly lower that the average budget for the division and likely a 'relegation budget' in that respect. (Not all budgets are known so I can't say that definitively)

I'm not criticising the budget - I'm saying we sacked Appleton for not overachieving against the resources in place.
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td53 said:
That isnt true. Between the Wigan game and his sacking we drew 4 won 1 and lost 2. The defeat that wasn't Watford was by a single goal to Sheff U - a team who got promoted.

The goal difference in that time was 0. None of Bowler, Rogers or Fiorini were available (as they would be for the vast majority of the games beyond his sacking) Nor was Nelson (a player who had his flaws but was definitely 'defensive experience' that we sorely lacked.

The budget (this is now known) was significantly lower that the average budget for the division and likely a 'relegation budget' in that respect. (Not all budgets are known so I can't say that definitively)

I'm not criticising the budget - I'm saying we sacked Appleton for not overachieving against the resources in place.
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I was being a bit dramatic so I apologise to the pint sized protein enthusiast and yourself oh and the integrity of debate on AVFTT.

However, we lost the three games before Wigan and the solitary win was in the FA Cup, we managed four points in his last ten games, we were ** shit and he sent us down while seeming to be above it all, doing fuck all in matches and blaming the lack of players.
 
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Lytham_fy8 said:
I was being a bit dramatic so I apologise to the pint sized protein enthusiast and yourself oh and the integrity of debate on AVFTT.

However, we lost the three games before Wigan and the solitary win was in the FA Cup, we managed four points in his last ten games, we were ** shit and he sent us down while seeming to be above it all, doing fuck all in matches and blaming the lack of players.
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I accept the apology. I cannot speak for Micky Apples or the collective soul of AVFTT

Perhaps the lack of players was a thing?

I think it's interesting that when many people cite 'he didn't make a change at Wigan' they forget that the change we needed was Madine out/stiffen midfield/central defender on (as Kenny was at centre back)

We didn't have a striker on the bench. The midfielder on the bench was Tayt Trusty and there was no available centre back.

Appleton was far from perfect. I did not agree with some things he did. He was not very good at the soft skills to say the least.

I still think if he stayed we stay up.
 
td53 said:
I accept the apology. I cannot speak for Micky Apples or the collective soul of AVFTT

Perhaps the lack of players was a thing?

I think it's interesting that when many people cite 'he didn't make a change at Wigan' they forget that the change we needed was Madine out/stiffen midfield/central defender on (as Kenny was at centre back)

We didn't have a striker on the bench. The midfielder on the bench was Tayt Trusty and there was no available centre back.

Appleton was far from perfect. I did not agree with some things he did. He was not very good at the soft skills to say the least.

I still think if he stayed we stay up.
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You might be right but all through Appletons career he's blamed a lack of players.
 
Appleton was always going to be burdened with the PNE stigma at the first sign of trouble. IMO he should've gone after the Wigan game, Rob Edwards and Richie Kyle were then available after being shown the door at Watford. No guarantee that they would've come to Blackpool but talk about if onlys.

What is remarkable is how Appletons reign at Charlton in Lg1 followed a similar path. In fact they got rid of him sooner!
 
TANGERINETOWERPOWER said:
it’s 6 managers really though and if I were to rate them it would be

Critchley mark 1
Grayson
Mcphillips
Mccarthy
Critchley mark 2
Appleton

It’s a pretty low bar though and they all had faults .critchley mark 1 was saved by calderwood and then mccall
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Spot on 👏
 
td53 said:
I accept the apology. I cannot speak for Micky Apples or the collective soul of AVFTT

Perhaps the lack of players was a thing?

I think it's interesting that when many people cite 'he didn't make a change at Wigan' they forget that the change we needed was Madine out/stiffen midfield/central defender on (as Kenny was at centre back)

We didn't have a striker on the bench. The midfielder on the bench was Tayt Trusty and there was no available centre back.

Appleton was far from perfect. I did not agree with some things he did. He was not very good at the soft skills to say the least.

I still think if he stayed we stay up.
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Our main failure under Appleton was a big assertive DM to compliment the likes of Patino who ended up playing too deep. Dougall didn't cover himself in glory, plus Stewart was never available.
Some very memorable performances away at Burnley, Sheff Utd & QPR. I know MA gets vilified for his touchline persona. I spent one game in M Block vs Watford. CC was at RB getting no cover from Theo C. We went a goal down, MA was going ballistic, kicked the water bucket & swapped Theo & Jerry over right/left. We won the game. Unfortunately those were the few bright spots vs many defeats but do we ever see Critchley making a tactical switch early doors to effect games going against us, never.
 
Good:
Critchley 1

Average:
Critchley 2
McPhillips

Poor:
Grayson

Terrible:
Appleton
McCarthy
 
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