Scrafton's take on why club is struggling

Grumpy_no_more

Grumpy_no_more

Well-known member
A comprehensive article by Matt discussing all the reasons why the club is struggling - and they're not all down to Appleton - link to Gazette at end. I think this is the best article he has ever written

List of points covered:

Neil Critchley’s departure

Appleton’s appointment

Simon Sadler’s statement (expressing disappointment at fans' reaction to the appointment)

PNE ‘tattoo’ (there isn't one)

The injuries begin (with Keshi and Gabriel)

Failure to sign a striker (Simms and Bishop)

Failure to sign midfielders - Cameron Brannagan, Fisayo Dele Bashiru or Dan Barlaser

Failure to sign Andy Lyons sooner

Richard Keogh’s departure

Defending summer recruitment

Losing Josh Bowler

Injury crisis kicking in (Fiorini and Patino at QPR)

Dropping Dan Grimshaw

Signing Liam Bridcutt (injury-prone)

Injured on a stool (Gabriel)

Battle of Bramall Lane

Grant Ward re-signs

Sickness bug (14 players affected?)

Keshi Anderson’s brief return

‘Negative’ comments (Fans accusing Appleton of being too negative to media)

Midweek woes and home record (one victory from 8 midweek games. 10 points from 10 games at home)

Concerns come to a head (at DW on Saturday and Appleton takes the brunt)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1592230891404906496
 
20togo said:
Great article and all relevant points and we'll all have our own views on the key points but for me it's all about the recruitment in the summer. Is there anyone who seriously thinks it wasn't a shambles. And that ain't down to the manager.
Click to expand...
Yep bang on I've been saying it for a while

He has been set up to fail, not succeed and that's wrong and mostly on the board

The article is decent to be honest, don't think the club will like it
 
As I said a while back, blame all round.

Starts with the choice of manager knowing the feeling people had, then the summer and not backing him well. Ticket prices, feelgood factor gone.

Injuries etc, dealt a poor hand, but Appleton has still made some mistakes and has also seen us be defensively weak and lacklustre too often, flogging the same 11 even when there wasn't a need to, see Coventry and Wigan.
 
Is that really a ‘great article’, if it is it just a shows how poor local journalism is these days.

Everything he says in there is true, no doubt. I agree with all of it. But I’ve read all that word for word over the past weeks and months on here.

Absolutely zero insight, speculation or knowledge in there just a Canavan copy and paste job. 🤷‍♂️ Is it just me.
 
Grumpy_no_more said:
A comprehensive article by Matt discussing all the reasons why the club is struggling - and they're not all down to Appleton - link to Gazette at end. I think this is the best article he has ever written

List of points covered:

Neil Critchley’s departure

Appleton’s appointment

Simon Sadler’s statement (expressing disappointment at fans' reaction to the appointment)

PNE ‘tattoo’ (there isn't one)

The injuries begin (with Keshi and Gabriel)

Failure to sign a striker (Simms and Bishop)

Failure to sign midfielders - Cameron Brannagan, Fisayo Dele Bashiru or Dan Barlaser

Failure to sign Andy Lyons sooner

Richard Keogh’s departure

Defending summer recruitment

Losing Josh Bowler

Injury crisis kicking in (Fiorini and Patino at QPR)

Dropping Dan Grimshaw

Signing Liam Bridcutt (injury-prone)

Injured on a stool (Gabriel)

Battle of Bramall Lane

Grant Ward re-signs

Sickness bug (14 players affected?)

Keshi Anderson’s brief return

‘Negative’ comments (Fans accusing Appleton of being too negative to media)

Midweek woes and home record (one victory from 8 midweek games. 10 points from 10 games at home)

Concerns come to a head (at DW on Saturday and Appleton takes the brunt)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1592230891404906496
Click to expand...
I can only count 4 of those that Appleton could have influenced. And “The Battle Of Brammal Lane” is 50/50.

I can count 7 or 8 that are directly linked to the board.
 
Thatseasider said:
Is that really a ‘great article’, if it is it just a shows how poor local journalism is these days.

Everything he says in there is true, no doubt. I agree with all of it. But I’ve read all that word for word over the past weeks and months on here.

Absolutely zero insight, speculation or knowledge in there just a Canavan copy and paste job. 🤷‍♂️ Is it just me.
Click to expand...

It's more than a list of issues, though - he brings all the points together and analyses them thoroughly. There's a place for a record like that. All too often on here we get obsessed with a single scapegoat, which changes over time.

It's more complex than that.
 
ItsGrimUpNorth said:
I can only count 4 of those that Appleton could have influenced. And “The Battle Of Brammal Lane” is 50/50.

I can count 7 or 8 that are directly linked to the board.
Click to expand...

I agree, and others have made the point, too, that it's more down to the board.

I don't think we need any sackings, but we do need a comprehensive change of approach from them. Staying in the Championship should be their top priority.
 
Grumpy_no_more said:
It's more than a list of issues, though - he brings all the points together and analyses them thoroughly. There's a place for a record like that. All too often on here we get obsessed with a single scapegoat, which changes over time.

It's more complex than that.
Click to expand...
I agree it’s more complex than - Appleton’s shit.

But this is just a list of issues which we all know about, not sure I’d call that a thorough analysis, but each to their own.

I know Scrafton will only have a limited word count but there’s miles better threads and posts summing up and analysing this season so far.

Which is fine but if this is the best from the local rags coverage of the club. I can see why they’re in terminal decline.
 
This article is just the point of view of someone who writes for a living ,therefore has a bigger stage then most of us . This does not make everything he has written correct. I still believe that Maxwell is the better choice then Grimshaw who did let the ball slip over the line a couple of times . I also think that the main reason we are in this position is that he has hardly mentioned Marvin Ekpitatas form who has given away penalties and been sent off as well as awful passing along with Doms cock ups ,it's no wonder we have lost so many games .
 
It's a good article that shows that there are numerous factors to our plight and doesn't pin the blame on anyone in particular.

Then people who have just read that article blame the board straight away, it's either driven by agenda or is just stupidity.
 
In fact I’ve just read that back to see if I was being harsh but it’s a turd, if it wants to be held up as a piece of hard hitting journalism it needs to answer the basic question to all the points it ( as we all have) throws up. Why has all of this affected the season!

Why did Critchley’s departure hamper preseason? Was it because we had x y z player ready to sign for Critchley and then suddenly that had to stop? Was the budget set with Critchley in mind did it then change?

What happened with the Bishop medical?

Why did midfield targets get knocked back? Did the budget change did the players have a change of heart and WHY?

Why did the thought process change around Ward?

Why did the board get Bridcutt and not someone else.

Some of these have basic answer but he doesn’t even bother
Some require access to the club and players and he clearly has neither, which is fine as none of us do but we’d prepare to pay for the Gazette because the journalist DOES have access and insight.

The only time he hints at knowing why is the contract breaks in Appleton’s contract and just sticks a lazy ‘The Gazette understands’ in front of it, complete hatchet job from posts on here.


I’ve read this article 50 times already on this board by posters who are just speculating and coming to their own conclusions. Miles better than this.
 
TheRealKingKenny said:
It's a good article that shows that there are numerous factors to our plight and doesn't pin the blame on anyone in particular.

Then people who have just read that article blame the board straight away, it's either driven by agenda or is just stupidity.
Click to expand...
I see it from both sides. I don’t believe Appleton has covered himself in roses under his tenure - not at all.

However, the board have appointed a man in charge and hung him out to dry with signings.
 
Sadler has made too many mistakes as have his board. That's where the real problem lies. I never felt comfortable when he bought the club, what he had to say and how he has gone about things and spoken out the very few times he has.

He needs to sort it out quickly or he will just be another blip in the history of the club. I know I'll get pelters for my opinions, but I can only sy how I feel.
 
HighfieldSeasider said:
Pretty much everything said in the article has been said by numerous people on this message board 🤷🏻‍♂️
Click to expand...
Bit like Foggy's book then but we all went out and bought it and here's the thing not every Blackpool fan reads Avftt less than 3k in members of what are regular posters?
Some might get the Gazette I certainly do online.
 
WIZARD OF TANGERINE said:
This article is just the point of view of someone who writes for a living ,therefore has a bigger stage then most of us . This does not make everything he has written correct. I still believe that Maxwell is the better choice then Grimshaw who did let the ball slip over the line a couple of times . I also think that the main reason we are in this position is that he has hardly mentioned Marvin Ekpitatas form who has given away penalties and been sent off as well as awful passing along with Doms cock ups ,it's no wonder we have lost so many games .
Click to expand...
We don’t know the reason behind Ekpitetas alarming dip in form, probably the loss of Keogh but surely a decent coach would get him to continue to work through this or god forbid improve the player. IMO the players are so passive and it could be because they’re knackered but the majority of the games we’ve not really taken the game to the other team-purely managers fault surely? His tactics are a shambles and I honestly don’t see a clear plan when we’re playing. It’s like rinse and repeat, go out and do your best lads…..either they don’t like him or don’t trust him, either way it ain’t looking good.
 
Thatseasider said:
Is that really a ‘great article’, if it is it just a shows how poor local journalism is these days.

Everything he says in there is true, no doubt. I agree with all of it. But I’ve read all that word for word over the past weeks and months on here.

Absolutely zero insight, speculation or knowledge in there just a Canavan copy and paste job. 🤷‍♂️ Is it just me.
Click to expand...
Historically, particularly under the Oyston regime, the Gazette rarely said it as it was. Its a decent article
 
Tbf with the World Cup etc and no Blackpool activity Scrafton had to write something .

Is it particularly thought provoking ? No

Have I read something I didn’t know or havent read before ? No

However he isn’t writing it for AVFTT whose posters dissect every last detail and debate everything to high heaven

There are plenty of fans who dont come on here
 
Last edited:
clappers said:
I’m still unhappy about Sadlers statement pushing back at the fans. Unnecessary and prickly and completely out of order.
Click to expand...
Ok but what about the massive improvements the plans going forward the fact that we are now a Championship club in just over 3 years of ownership

He says it as it is . People were critical of the board appointing MA . Some of it was bordering on hysterical . He has a right to respond to that critiscm and explain the reasons why he was appointed and be critical of the negative reaction

If you can’t take critiscm don’t be critical

How can you be unhappy about one issue when there has been so much improvement on and off the pitch .

There’s been stuff that I haven’t agreed with but it’s about balance .

Focusing on one relatively minor issue makes you lose sight of the bigger picture .
 
AngelBFC said:
However he isn’t writing it for AVFTT whose posters dissect every last detail and debate everything to high heaven

There are plenty of fans who dont come on here
Click to expand...
To be honest the only reason it got my goat was, and this isn’t the first time he’s done this, he’s practically used direct quotes and blatantly lifted peoples arguments about the situation from conversations on here and as you say as a large portion aren't on here constantly he can pass all this off as his own thoughts.

‘The Gazette understands’ bollocks about MA’s contract is the prime example. He hasn’t a fooking clue what’s going on in MA’d contract. People on here have discussed that point to death and I doubt it crossed his mind that it was even a thing. Stick ‘gazette understands’ in front of it and it you come across like you know what’s going on.

Sorry I just think this is poor from him.
 
Thatseasider said:
To be honest the only reason it got my goat was, and this isn’t the first time he’s done this, he’s practically used direct quotes and blatantly lifted peoples arguments about the situation from conversations on here and as you say as a large portion aren't on here constantly he can pass all this off as his own thoughts.

‘The Gazette understands’ bollocks about MA’s contract is the prime example. He hasn’t a fooking clue what’s going on in MA’d contract. People on here have discussed that point to death and I doubt it crossed his mind that it was even a thing. Stick ‘gazette understands’ in front of it and it you come across like you know what’s going on.

Sorry I just think this is poor from him.
Click to expand...
Yep can’t disagree with that

He’s going to be struggling though isn’t he

4 weeks of no games and no transfer window

Wtf

What is he going to write about ?
 
AngelBFC said:
Ok but what about the massive improvements the plans going forward the fact that we are now a Championship club in just over 3 years of ownership

He says it as it is . People were critical of the board appointing MA . Some of it was bordering on hysterical . He has a right to respond to that critiscm and explain the reasons why he was appointed and be critical of the negative reaction

If you can’t take critiscm don’t be critical

How can you be unhappy about one issue when there has been so much improvement on and off the pitch .

There’s been stuff that I haven’t agreed with but it’s about balance .

Focusing on one relatively minor issue makes you lose sight of the bigger picture .
Click to expand...
Not really, I accept he’s not perfect and no owner we will be. I think the almost deification of Sadler by some supporters is counter productive, and a healthy scepticism is probably better for all of us.

I’m not one for statements on the football side of things at all…let the footballing success do the talking should be the approach. Biting back at elements of the support who are rapidly being proven correct anyway was totally wrong and I’m still unhappy about it.
 
Hankey2009 said:
We don’t know the reason behind Ekpitetas alarming dip in form, probably the loss of Keogh but surely a decent coach would get him to continue to work through this or god forbid improve the player. IMO the players are so passive and it could be because they’re knackered but the majority of the games we’ve not really taken the game to the other team-purely managers fault surely? His tactics are a shambles and I honestly don’t see a clear plan when we’re playing. It’s like rinse and repeat, go out and do your best lads…..either they don’t like him or don’t trust him, either way it ain’t looking good.
Click to expand...
There is no way the manager can be blamed for 1 players major dip in form . He is a professional who should be able to adapt without having to have another player to look after him. Also the reason we are a shambles is we had 14 players out. I am sick of people making excuses for players that are making mistake after mistake and blaming it on a manager who has put his trust in these players .
 
Can’t argue about the amount of players we’ve had out but can argue that the 11 on the pitch aren’t miles away from our best 11, albeit with no rest and obviously he doesn’t trust the subs to make an impact of improve what’s on the pitch. I’m not particularly making excuses for big ek, he has himself to blame in a lot of his performances so far this season, however surely a decent manager would of drilled out his indiscipline sooner or later, again could put it down to tired thinking etc I honestly don’t know. The errors against Sheff Utd and the nobbers I honestly don’t believe he would have made them last season. I forgive him for Wigan as slightly unlucky and not just his fault. Whilst you can’t blame the manager for the players performances on the pitch surely you can blame the manager for not having a clear and obvious plan in games and not changing personal that are clearly knackered. Yeah we don’t have better players available or similar standard but surely a lesser fresher player may come in and do better…..that’s an issue for me that we haven’t even tried that.
 
I’d add Husband and Thorniley to the list (when analysing the last 3 games) as well. When your in form defender gets a ball in the face, goes off, we concede from the resulting corner and he misses the next 2 games due to ‘protocol’ that’s confirmation the football gods are against you.
 
Hankey2009 said:
We don’t know the reason behind Ekpitetas alarming dip in form, probably the loss of Keogh but surely a decent coach would get him to continue to work through this or god forbid improve the player. IMO the players are so passive and it could be because they’re knackered but the majority of the games we’ve not really taken the game to the other team-purely managers fault surely? His tactics are a shambles and I honestly don’t see a clear plan when we’re playing. It’s like rinse and repeat, go out and do your best lads…..either they don’t like him or don’t trust him, either way it ain’t looking good.
Click to expand...

The club played with 2 DM in most games last year, occasionally a back 3/5 with Eki in the middle, whereas this year and especially recently it's been Dougall only, so maybe not the same protection from midfield, and the fact that we've been so poor at keeping possession increases the number of opportunities for Eki to make mistakes.

Also, a lot of Eki's problems seem to have come when he's found himself at RB, so maybe Connolly's leaving him exposed too often?

Basically, everything boils down to Gabriel's injury, the lack of an alternative RB, which then leaves us short of options in midfield, and that's on the board's head.
 
Hand on heart does anyone actually think we would be in the bottom 3 had normal levels of player availability been apparent during the season as a whole and last 4 games in particular?.
 
Bloodorange said:
Hand on heart does anyone actually think we would be in the bottom 3 had normal levels of player availability been apparent during the season as a whole and last 4 games in particular?.
Click to expand...

I think with the players we've got, you could argue this is a normal level of availability.

If you discount Stewart and Bridcutt as normally injured anyway, plus the usual short term knocks and suspensions, the players who're missing are:
  • Anderson;
  • Beesley;
who I don't think we've missed anyway, plus:
  • Gabriel;
  • Fiorini;
who we have missed, and with the best will in the world I don't think two injuries should derail the entire team.

So the problem is that the squad is short at RB and in DM, and one injury (Gabriel) is causing far more trouble than it should.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top