Rob Apter

Chunkylad said:
Can we stop asking for him back?

He needs to be the man. He needs to play week in week out and build that stamina up. He would not be guaranteed any games ahead of Dembele, Dale or CJ so might end up sat bored on the bench.
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He needs to be the man?

I've said it a few times already but I don't understand really why people don't want him back. He's a better all round footballer than either CJ or Dale in my opinion. Better technically, better delivery, better finishing, better dribbling, two feet, and nore consistent. And he's also back up for Dembele, which we may well regret not having.
 
voyeur said:
He needs to be the man?

I've said it a few times already but I don't understand really why people don't want him back. He's a better all round footballer than either CJ or Dale in my opinion. Better technically, better delivery, better finishing, better dribbling, two feet, and nore consistent. And he's also back up for Dembele, which we may well regret not having.
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I’m just a believer that for talent to really develop they need games. This period has accelerated Rob’s growth significantly more than sitting on our bench.

Yes you could have argued we should have started him in a Pool shirt but in reality clubs rarely throw in an untested player over their existing established players until they’re desperate, and then they have to perform immediately or are forgotten.
Again, yes, many players have grabbed that opportunity but way more haven’t. At least now he’s got games in his legs and the club has real data on him in meaningful games (like Casey did)

I’d hate us to bring him back to barely play when right night now he’s building his reputation
 
Chunkylad said:
I’m just a believer that for talent to really develop they need games. This period has accelerated Rob’s growth significantly more than sitting on our bench.

Yes you could have argued we should have started him in a Pool shirt but in reality clubs rarely throw in an untested player over their existing established players until they’re desperate, and then they have to perform immediately or are forgotten.
Again, yes, many players have grabbed that opportunity but way more haven’t. At least now he’s got games in his legs and the club has real data on him in meaningful games (like Casey did)

I’d hate us to bring him back to barely play when right night now he’s building his reputation
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Yes going out has been good for him but we are talking about what should happen from January and I don't really agree that he wouldn't play much. I think he's probably better than that.
 
Hi all,

Tranmere fan here, just wondered if you lot have heard anything about him joining us on a permanent basis? Seems to be the rumour floating around currently - with a big potential sell on fee to you?

I noticed he doesn't appear in any of your squad lists on your official site currently
 
trfc2019 said:
Hi all,

Tranmere fan here, just wondered if you lot have heard anything about him joining us on a permanent basis? Seems to be the rumour floating around currently - with a big potential sell on fee to you?

I noticed he doesn't appear in any of your squad lists on your official site currently
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Doubt it, he'll want to be playing L1 next year.
 
trfc2019 said:
Hi all,

Tranmere fan here, just wondered if you lot have heard anything about him joining us on a permanent basis? Seems to be the rumour floating around currently - with a big potential sell on fee to you?

I noticed he doesn't appear in any of your squad lists on your official site currently
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Wouldn't have a ** clue, we're not very good at communicating at Blackpool. I think the supporters would love him back as a lot of money has been invested into our academy to bring our own through the system. Rob is the best example of that and we all want him to succeed with us but unfortunately Critchley makes the decisions so he'll likely end up at Tranmere !
 
trfc2019 said:
Hi all,

Tranmere fan here, just wondered if you lot have heard anything about him joining us on a permanent basis? Seems to be the rumour floating around currently - with a big potential sell on fee to you?

I noticed he doesn't appear in any of your squad lists on your official site currently
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I would be absolutely astonished @trfc2019 - Critchley and the board are under fire as it is from certain sections of our fans - getting shot of Apter would be the final straw for some.
 
Wizaard said:
OK. You're entitled to your opinion. It's just wrong though 😉
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It's not. It's right. He's completely different from CJ and Gabriel. They are athletes. He's technically way ahead of them. And he's much more effective than Dale. And Apter's two footed. And Gabriel is never fit. CJ is just a runner. Completely unsuited to a significant proportion of games.

We are plodding and prosaic, apart from Dembele. We have ten points from 12 away games. I really really really don't understand why people are so dismissive. As a few have said, if we signed him as a new player we'd be excited about him. He's too good for L2.

He could easily fit into the current system, but we also need to find different ways to play. Look at how shit we are away from home. Shall we just carry on? I'll actually be ** annoyed if we leave him at Tranmere. It would indicate a culture of stupidity has engulfed the club.
 
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voyeur said:
It's not. It's right. He's completely different from CJ and Gabriel. They are athletes. He's technically way ahead of them. And he's much more effective than Dale. And Apter's two footed. And Gabriel is never fit. CJ is just a runner. Completely unsuited to a significant proportion of games.

We are plodding and prosaic, apart from Dembele. We have ten points from 12 away games. I really really really don't understand why people are so dismissive. As a few have said, if we signed him as a new player we'd be excited about him. He's too good for L2.

He could easily fit into the current system, but we also need to find different ways to play. Look at how shit we are away from home. Shall we just carry on? I'll actually be ** annoyed if we leave him at Tranmere. It would indicate a culture of stupidity has engulfed the club.
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Can we remind you of this post the next time you're giving out a school teacher telling off when someone else is critical or gets frustrated?!

I'm sure we'll see what Critchley's plans are for him this month. If he's got the final say on it and it doesn't become a contractual situation with the club. He's done well in a short space of time at Tranmere considering the false start where he lost a month due to their problems. Nigel Adkins is an experienced manager who likes his wingers in a 4-4-2 and they're on the crest of a wave in L2. We're on a wonky wingback slump where you don't know what you're going to get from one game to the next other than we're goosed if the opposition score first and/or we're away from home.
 
poolfc said:
Can we remind you of this post the next time you're giving out a school teacher telling off when someone else is critical or gets frustrated?!

I'm sure we'll see what Critchley's plans are for him this month. If he's got the final say on it and it doesn't become a contractual situation with the club. He's done well in a short space of time at Tranmere considering the false start where he lost a month due to their problems. Nigel Adkins is an experienced manager who likes his wingers in a 4-4-2 and they're on the crest of a wave in L2. We're on a wonky wingback slump where you don't know what you're going to get from one game to the next other than we're goosed if the opposition score first and/or we're away from home.
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I've no idea how you have read that as a school teacher telling off, that's all in your head I reckon. Scarred from school days perhaps. It is just my opinion. No telling off involved, just disagreeing

Being on a wonky wing back slump and goosed if the opposition scores is a good time to change things and introduce an attacking Blackpool player who is in top form, and could enable us to break down these opponents. CJ is almost completely ineffective if handled with a little bit of tactical forethought.

We keep flogging the same dead horses.
 
Wizaard said:
Will he get in ahead of Hamilton, Gabriel, Dale? I think the answer is no.
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This season he is looking more consistent than Hamilton and Dale (although in the league below) but everywhere he has played he’s got rave reviews so I would say Yes. Also don’t think you can bring Gabriel into it as he has hardly played in the last six months

voyeur said:
How can he get into the side at all, when he's out on loan at another club? 🤔😆

Some weird shit posted on here, I tell ya!
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His loan actually runs out sometime this month according to Wikipedia 👍🏻
 
voyeur said:
It's not. It's right. He's completely different from CJ and Gabriel. They are athletes. He's technically way ahead of them. And he's much more effective than Dale. And Apter's two footed. And Gabriel is never fit. CJ is just a runner. Completely unsuited to a significant proportion of games.

We are plodding and prosaic, apart from Dembele. We have ten points from 12 away games. I really really really don't understand why people are so dismissive. As a few have said, if we signed him as a new player we'd be excited about him. He's too good for L2.

He could easily fit into the current system, but we also need to find different ways to play. Look at how shit we are away from home. Shall we just carry on? I'll actually be ** annoyed if we leave him at Tranmere. It would indicate a culture of stupidity has engulfed the club.
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I'd love to have him back and starting for us and I agree that he probably should be getting in ahead of Hamilton and Dale, but the problem is that our opinions don't mean shit. The only opinion that matters is Critchley's and we all know that he has his favourites, one of which is clearly Hamilton. There's zero point in bringing him back if he's just going to sit on the bench.

If I thought for one second he would starting for us or even just coming off the bench regularly, then I would be screaming for us to get him back, but I just dont see Critchley playing him. He should have gotten a chance at the start of the season when Hamilton was awful, but instead, he got sent out on loan. Until we get a new manager, I don't see him really having much first team playing time, which is mental.

When his loan runs out this month, if we bring him back instead of extending it, I can see him going straight back out on loan to a team in the bottom half, maybe someone like Carlisle or Exeter, even Cambridge. I don't want this, but I can see it happening. We also could do with getting him on a new contract as we only have a year option left come summer.
 
voyeur said:
I've no idea how you have read that as a school teacher telling off, that's all in your head I reckon. Scarred from school days perhaps. It is just my opinion. No telling off involved, just disagreeing

Being on a wonky wing back slump and goosed if the opposition scores is a good time to change things and introduce an attacking Blackpool player who is in top form, and coukd enable us to break doen these opponents. CJ is almost completely ineffective if handled with a little bit of tactical forethought.
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You seem to allow criticism of the club and players involved when it suits you but seem eager to shut that sort of thing down if anyone else does it. Just my observation.

He'd be another player to add to the mix but I'm not banking on Rob Apter causing a significant improvement to our results the way Critchley has set about the job since he's come back tbh. In theory it sounds OK but the reality I'd expect to see him used sparingly and to have his doubts over him understanding his tactical instructions and what's required of him. There doesn't seem to be much adapting to the players we have to get the best out of them going on so far.
 
If he's coming back imminently I think we should start giving him minutes. Burton in the EFL Trophy and then a struggling Exeter at home are good opportunities, bringing him on in the latter if we're comfortable. Then, keep him if we're going to regularly use him, even from the bench, or back out on loan to Tranmere at the end of Jan before the window closes.

He just tore up a Notts County side that would give the likes of Cambridge, Burton and Port Vale - all of which beat us recently - a good game. I think he deserves a crack given the way we're performing at the moment but the important thing is, while we own him, is he needs regular game time.
 
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poolfc said:
You seem to allow criticism of the club and players involved when it suits you but seem eager to shut that sort of thing down if anyone else does it. Just my observation.
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I don't think I have shut anybody down. Certainly not the intention.

Kyle Seasider said:
I'd love to have him back and starting for us and I agree that he probably should be getting in ahead of Hamilton and Dale, but the problem is that our opinions don't mean shit. The only opinion that matters is Critchley's and we all know that he has his favourites, one of which is clearly Hamilton. There's zero point in bringing him back if he's just going to sit on the bench.
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You may be rtifght and that is my point really, I would lose some faith in our regime if it keeps flogging the same dead horses and looks a gift horse in the mouth. In muy opinion we could use Apter very productively if we used him right, he has talents that CJ and Gabriel can only dream of really. And offers more actual attacking threat than Dale, in my opinion. All opinions are valid of course.
 
thefutureistangerine said:
If he's coming back imminently I think we should start giving him minutes. Burton in the EFL Trophy and then a struggling Exeter at home are good opportunities, bringing him on in the latter if we're comfortable. Then, keep him if we're going to regularly use him, even from the bench, or back out on loan to L2 at the end of Jan before the window closes.

He just tore up a Notts County side that would give the likes of Cambridge, Burton and Port Vale - all of which beat us recently - a good game. I think he deserves a crack given the way we're performing at the moment but the important thing is, while we own him, is he needs regular game time.
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Can you be cup tied in the EFL trophy as he's already played for Tranmere in that?

Just have to see what Critchley's intentions are if he has the final say on it. But I wouldn't be expecting too much too soon. I can't see him starting ahead of Dembele or Hamilton. Maybe the forgotten man on the left role who's job seems to be to pass the ball straight back to Husband. But surely if we're carrying on this one way of sort of playing football they'll be looking at a proper right footed winger for that side.
 
I don't think he'd play wing back for us. Not sure he's the ideal athlete to play there and it'd waste him a bit. He doesn't mind tracking back and helping out but wing back involves a bit more running up and down and defensive responsibility than I'd like to see him saddled with.

He should be a 10 or attacking right winger (if the unthinkable happened and we adjusted our tactics occasionally).

Either way, he should be recalled. He's a quality attacking player and we're overly reliant on Dembele.
 
voyeur said:
I don't think I have shut anybody down. Certainly not the intention.


You may be rtifght and that is my point really, I would lose some faith in our regime if it keeps flogging the same dead horses and looks a gift horse in the mouth. In muy opinion we could use Apter very productively if we used him right, he has talents that CJ and Gabriel can only dream of really. And offers more actual attacking threat than Dale, in my opinion. All opinions are valid of course.
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I agree with all that, I still don't get how he hasn't had a chance with us. He's technically so good and Tranmere fans have said his work ethic is second to none. He's happy to track back and put in a challenge when needed. I think he would fit our system well and do a job for us, but like I said, the only opinion thay counts right now is Critchley's.
 
I can not understand the debate about wether to bring Apter back or not, unless we are about to sign a class winger, which will cost money then I really don't think we have much choice.
Critchley has now tried every permutation to solve the wing back problem and the best we can come up with is CJ and Dale and both have been guilty of simply not stringing two good games in a row.
Apter is on fire at Tranmere, could you say that about any of our players?
It's a no brainer.
Take Dembele out of our side and the rest of them are content to just know it back to Grimshaw.
 
Grayth said:
I don't think he'd play wing back for us. Not sure he's the ideal athlete to play there and it'd waste him a bit. He doesn't mind tracking back and helping out but wing back involves a bit more running up and down and defensive responsibility than I'd like to see him saddled with.

He should be a 10 or attacking right winger (if the unthinkable happened and we adjusted our tactics occasionally).

Either way, he should be recalled. He's a quality attacking player and we're overly reliant on Dembele.
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I agree with most of what you say but Appleton played him at right and left back in the same game early on and clearly liked and praised him.
 
Gabriel is permanently unavailable, CJ can't kick the ball straight. Dale, I like, but he lacks a yard of pace. You are spot on. Apter is technically magnificent. His close control is something to behold and I can't understand all these people going "oh, no, I'd rather we carried on playing the rank average way we've done so far as opposed to trying something and someone fresh who is bang in form and exciting"
voyeur said:
It's not. It's right. He's completely different from CJ and Gabriel. They are athletes. He's technically way ahead of them. And he's much more effective than Dale. And Apter's two footed. And Gabriel is never fit. CJ is just a runner. Completely unsuited to a significant proportion of games.

We are plodding and prosaic, apart from Dembele. We have ten points from 12 away games. I really really really don't understand why people are so dismissive. As a few have said, if we signed him as a new player we'd be excited about him. He's too good for L2.

He could easily fit into the current system, but we also need to find different ways to play. Look at how shit we are away from home. Shall we just carry on? I'll actually be ** annoyed if we leave him at Tranmere. It would indicate a culture of stupidity has engulfed the club.
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td53 said:
Gabriel is permanently unavailable, CJ can't kick the ball straight. Dale, I like, but he lacks a yard of pace. You are spot on. Apter is technically magnificent. His close control is something to behold and I can't understand all these people going "oh, no, I'd rather we carried on playing the rank average way we've done so far as opposed to trying something and someone fresh who is bang in form and exciting"
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I don't think anyone is saying that. It's more of an assumption that things will just carry on as they are with Critchley thinking his one approach will work with repetition of the same things. And that whilst Apter will be back at training when his loan ends if it's not renewed, it's no guarantee that he'll be seen as any more than an extra body that can be swapped in and out of the same system accordingly. Great if he can become one of the undroppable few, and even better if the club keeps him well under contract and he's not pushed out the door for development compo, but I'm not banking on it.
 
poolfc said:
I don't think anyone is saying that. It's more of an assumption that things will just carry on as they are with Critchley thinking his one approach will work with repetition of the same things. And that whilst Apter will be back at training when his loan ends if it's not renewed, it's no guarantee that he'll be seen as any more than an extra body that can be swapped in and out of the same system accordingly. Great if he can become one of the undroppable few, and even better if the club keeps him well under contract and he's not pushed out the door for development compo, but I'm not banking on it.
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This is what I'm getting as well. I dont think anyone on here thinks he's not good enough, it that's Critchley is stubborn and is determined to play his favourites meaning that Apter probably won't get many minutes. He may get played in the pizza trophy or get 5-10min at the end of the occasional game. Apter's ability isn't the issues for me, it's Critchley's decision making that is.
 
poolfc said:
I don't think anyone is saying that. It's more of an assumption that things will just carry on as they are with Critchley thinking his one approach will work with repetition of the same things. And that whilst Apter will be back at training when his loan ends if it's not renewed, it's no guarantee that he'll be seen as any more than an extra body that can be swapped in and out of the same system accordingly. Great if he can become one of the undroppable few, and even better if the club keeps him well under contract and he's not pushed out the door for development compo, but I'm not banking on it.
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I think everyone is sat there in their polo shirt and bodywarmer looking at ball retention stats and reading their FA manual of cautious coaching.

😝
 
Selling him permanently would, even by BFC's standards, be a decision of monumental stupidity. We've made some poor decisions in recent times, but I'd still be amazed if we did it.

The problem we have is that we really only have Dembele who can play effectively in the style we're trying to adopt - namely a possession based, passing game. To play that way and create chances, you need some clever players in there who are technically very proficient. As well as Dembele, I'd say I've also seen little glimpses of that from Morgan recently, but apart from those two we don't have the players. Apter's attributes could be perfect for the way we're trying to play, and if we're persisting with it then it would make sense to bring him back. What if Dembele picked up an injury? It really would be quite damaging to us I think.

The only thing I'd add is that we have no idea who we're going to bring in. As it stands, I'd definitely be looking to bring Apter back.
 
td53 said:
Gabriel is permanently unavailable, CJ can't kick the ball straight. Dale, I like, but he lacks a yard of pace. You are spot on. Apter is technically magnificent. His close control is something to behold and I can't understand all these people going "oh, no, I'd rather we carried on playing the rank average way we've done so far as opposed to trying something and someone fresh who is bang in form and exciting"
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Totally. Hallelulah. And thanks.

poolfc said:
I don't think anyone is saying that. It's more of an assumption that things will just carry on as they are with Critchley thinking his one approach will work with repetition of the same things. And that whilst Apter will be back at training when his loan ends if it's not renewed, it's no guarantee that he'll be seen as any more than an extra body that can be swapped in and out of the same system accordingly. Great if he can become one of the undroppable few, and even better if the club keeps him well under contract and he's not pushed out the door for development compo, but I'm not banking on it.
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I'm completely aware of the problem. I'm talking about what should happen, not what will. In the very slight hope that Critch will, in view of the repeated failures away from home, try a different approach, in away games at least. If all Apter did was to be a catalyst for improving our performances and points haul in those games, it would be well worth bringing him back.

We need better entertainment too, at home, Critch is under some pressure to improve how we play and our league position. . Ditch the programmed athletes and get some actual footballing talent in the team! It's all down to Dembele to create and Rhodes to find the net. Far too limited, surely.
 
This is a quote from Tranmere forum.
Re: Rob Apter, staying or going?
Posted by: coltran (IP Logged)
Date: 01 January, 2024 22:04

Having supported Rovers since 1958, I believe that on current form Apter is the best player of his type that we have had since Steve Coppell in the mid 70's who went on to play for Man U and England.
 
Sandgroanun said:
This is a quote from Tranmere forum.
Re: Rob Apter, staying or going?
Posted by: coltran (IP Logged)
Date: 01 January, 2024 22:04

Having supported Rovers since 1958, I believe that on current form Apter is the best player of his type that we have had since Steve Coppell in the mid 70's who went on to play for Man U and England.
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Yeah but leave him there. We've got CJ !
 
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