Strange line-up

Can’t help feeling that was a very winnable game and under those circumstances you want your best team out really, especially with a full week before the next game.
 
Brett scores for fun said:
Please stop tinkering Critch & do like all the successful teams do, play your best team.
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In 1982 maybe, what is our best team, is Bowler better than Mitchell, is Lavery better than Yates, is Garbutt better than James, is Sterling better than Gabriel, is Grimshaw better than Maxwell??
We needed to play our strongest available team today based on form and opposition, not sure that Critch got that right today so I sort of agree with you.
Not a disaster but I think staying out of the bottom 6 this year is a good season.
 
gjr69 said:
In 1982 maybe, what is our best team, is Bowler better than Mitchell, is Lavery better than Yates, is Garbutt better than James, is Sterling better than Gabriel, is Grimshaw better than Maxwell??
We needed to play our strongest available team today based on form and opposition, not sure that Critch got that right today so I sort of agree with you.
Not a disaster but I think staying out of the bottom 6 this year is a good season.
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I agree - especially your last sentence, survival has always been my wish for this season.
However, no win in November, and a lack of goals/chances created, says something with his team selection isn't working.
On top of that, our set pieces are dire & today we had our two best strikers on the bench.
I'm sure Critch will be just as disappointed as us and will planning for 3 points in the next game.
 
gjr69 said:
In 1982 maybe, what is our best team, is Bowler better than Mitchell, is Lavery better than Yates, is Garbutt better than James, is Sterling better than Gabriel, is Grimshaw better than Maxwell??
We needed to play our strongest available team today based on form and opposition, not sure that Critch got that right today so I sort of agree with you.
Not a disaster but I think staying out of the bottom 6 this year is a good season.
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Bottom 6 is where we're heading on current form, results and lack of goals.
 
Brett scores for fun said:
I agree - especially your last sentence, survival has always been my wish for this season.
However, no win in November, and a lack of goals/chances created, says something with his team selection isn't working.
On top of that, our set pieces are dire & today we had our two best strikers on the bench.
I'm sure Critch will be just as disappointed as us and will planning for 3 points in the next game.
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Definitely need to improve the set pieces, not our strong point!!
 
straightatthewall said:
Only if forced by injuries.
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Yeh agreed. I think you’ve said it before when NC tries to be too clever it backfires.

Play our best system and team every game, change when you have to. I get it’s a squad game but 1 upfront when it’s Madine gives us a serious lack of mobility.
 
straightatthewall said:
So on that basis when current form pointed to promotion, you were giddy and felt everything was great? Or does it only work when current form is bad?
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Current form never pointed to promotion. Pool's football is based on organisation, hard work and last ditch defending. The midfield has no creativity whatsoever but that suits Critchley's safety first approach to the game. Our strikers aren't the best but the service to them is almost non existent.
 
62years&counting said:
Current form never pointed to promotion. Pool's football is based on organisation, hard work and last ditch defending. The midfield has no creativity whatsoever but that suits Critchley's safety first approach to the game. Our strikers aren't the best but the service to them is almost non existent.
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Our form over September and October saw us win 7 from 10, with 1 draw. That’s 2.2 points per game over a 10 game period. That’s automatic promotion form just as much as our November form is relegation fodder. Neither matter in isolation unless you’re keen to make a point about a coach you’ve consistently been negative about.
 
straightatthewall said:
A reason to have Wintle in the line up, you’d think.
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I can only think that Critch thought we can beat these with a weakened team today.
Wintle definitely takes our best corners but I suppose he needed a rest.
Personally I'd prefer it if he started, we went 2 0 up and he got subbed after 60 minutes.
 
straightatthewall said:
Our form over September and October saw us win 7 from 10, with 1 draw. That’s 2.2 points per game over a 10 game period. That’s automatic promotion form just as much as our November form is relegation fodder. Neither matter in isolation unless you’re keen to make a point about a coach you’ve consistently been negative about.
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September and October are in the past. I'm more concerned with our current form and results under a coach who sets his team up to play negative, safety first football. He clearly got it wrong today
 
62years&counting said:
No, his approach has always been negative / safety first. What worked in September and October clearly didn't work in August and November. Let's see where our average of scoring one goal a game takes us.
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It’s currently taken us to a solid mid-table position. That’s just a fact. We aren’t lucky to have 27 points from 20 games. They’ve been earned by getting results across enough games to ensure we know it’s not a flash in the pan.

The Championship is a league where lots of teams beat each other and games are often like today. Tight with the odd goal deciding them.

I’m very confident we’ll pick up points in December. I’m also confident we’ll drop points too. That’s where we’re at, but we’re also well ahead of the curve at this point.
 
Let's move on to our blindingly obvious failings in midfield and up front. Will Critchley address these in January or do you feel he's more suited and comfortable with a negative, safety first approach?
 
With only four weeks till the transfer window is open, it is clear to me that Critch is rotating the team to get an idea of the areas he needs to strengthen, to progress in this league. We are within touching distance of the playoffs and have been competitive in nearly all the games. Last season's success was built on being tight at the back, and we have continued this season. But it is clear we need to improve our goalscoring.

Last January we signed Stewart and Simms, which gave us enough quality to cope with the loss of CJ and Ward with injuries and still gain promotion. So I expect at least 2,3 or maybe 4 players will be brought in to improve the team. At the moment we are struggling in midfield, with Ward, Stewart, and Virtue not being fit, and with a probable recall of Wintle, it leaves us with only Dougall as being good enough for a regular place. I also think we are missing a pacy striker with a physical presence that can score.

As for the players we will sign, it will depend on whether the goal this season is to try and get into the play-offs or to get a middle table finish. I am cautiously optimistic that we will try for the play-offs, and it will be obvious within the first couple of weeks in January what the intention will be with our transfer activity.
 
62years&counting said:
We haven't been "great" during the whole of November...2 goals in 5 games and just 3 points. Let's hope we improve during December eh?
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Again, we’re currently 11th in the Championship. But, no, you’re right, let’s panic the fuck out of it, and act like we’re adrift.

Do you think we’ve looked a team struggling during the whole of November? Not the results, performances.
 
SeasideCasual said:
Again, we’re currently 11th in the Championship. But, no, you’re right, let’s panic the fuck out of it, and act like we’re adrift.

Do you think we’ve looked a team struggling during the whole of November? Not the results, performances.
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It's results that matter and yes in terms of attacking play and scoring goals the team is struggling.
 
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