The Neil Critchley Effect

TANGERINETOWERPOWER

TANGERINETOWERPOWER

Well-known member
For me the positivity around the club is a massive factor and this group genuinely want to win each and every game for themselves the manager, the football club, the fans and even the owners. This has produced a real feel good factor around the place. This team spirit has been nurtured and developed by the gaffer and you can see why players like Gabriel and Keogh strain every sinew. They all look like they are loving their time here.

This has also led to the biggest area of improvement in the way Critch manages a matchday .... we now try to kick on and win games. The substitutions at Bramhall Lane showed a clear intent with both Mitchell and Carey introduced to try and snatch the 3 points. It is not that long ago since we would have just sat back and made either no changes or changes too late to affect the result....It was a similar story at the Majeski v reading and we seem intent on getting 3 points and not settling for a draw.

Two big games coming up now and if we dare to dream then who knows where we can finish in this league. Two wins would see us at least 5 points clear of both Stoke and Qpr.....Still take it one game at a time I guess and 3 points tonight would yet again show how far we have come.
 
Good post, it’s a strong league and there’s a long way to go. I will take 3 points from our next 2 games, they’re both in the top half of the table and wins for each of them take them above us but with this gaffa, players and fans who knows.
 
As Critchley says "we go out to win every game home or away".
We know we are always going to be in the faces of the opposition and this is what makes them so good to watch.
It's all done in a controlled way as well, based on hard work and an organised defence.
 
I’m getting completely carried away tbh… No doubt it will be back down to earth with a massive bump at some point, but in the meantime, I’m dreaming of nicking that top spot off Bournemouth….

And if it all comes crashing down around our ears and we have to settle for a Play Off spot, then so be it.👍
 
BFC_BFC_BFC said:
I’m getting completely carried away tbh… No doubt it will be back down to earth with a massive bump at some point, but in the meantime, I’m dreaming of nicking that top spot off Bournemouth….

And if it all comes crashing down around our ears and we have to settle for a Play Off spot, then so be it.👍
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I don't see why you have to be so negative with this 'nicking top spot off Bournemouth' talk. We could win 25 of our remaining 31 games, getting a couple of unlucky draws and a few of lucky ones and lose to a side that needs to win to send Nob End down. That would see us going up as champions by a mile with over 100 points?

Sick of this 'poor little Blackpool', small time mentality some of our fans have.
 
straightatthewall said:
I don't see why you have to be so negative with this 'nicking top spot off Bournemouth' talk. We could win 25 of our remaining 31 games, getting a couple of unlucky draws and a few of lucky ones and lose to a side that needs to win to send Nob End down. That would see us going up as champions by a mile with over 100 points?

Sick of this 'poor little Blackpool', small time mentality some of our fans have.
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It's the run to the FA Cup final that I fear might cost us the title.
 
We've watched him develop, certainly as a coach but personality-wise as well. Obviously it was different during lockdown with no fans in, but even in his interviews he always seemed a bit more reserved. I think he's found complete assurance in himself and us, when he turned to the North at the Preston game and was giving it the "come on" hand signals mid-game - I would have NEVER thought Neil Critchley would be the sort of coach who did that.

I think last season I actually described him as a "manager who doesn't wear his heart on his sleeve, but you know is as passionate as it gets". This season he's slapped the heart right on his sleeve, nothing endears you to a player or manager quicker than one who does that. We are passionate and if see that reciprocated its amazing.

I remember getting emotional at the Blackburn game, I was right in amongst it in the North and we kept a "Neil Critchley's Tangerine Army" going for ages. I actually teared up, I was thinking "why am I getting ** emotional". That connection between the fans and club/players/manager is well and truly back, long may it continue!

As for daring to dream, in my personal opinion it won't happen this year - I think games are very close even when we win and the tide will turn a bit where that closeness is edged by the opposition, rather than us as it has been doing recently. I said before the season we'll finish lower mid-table but I think we'll finish comfortably mid-table now (just in the upper half). I am certainly daring to dream over the coming years, I honestly believe we'll get promoted to the Prem again (just not this season).
 
TangerinePeel said:
I remember getting emotional at the Blackburn game, I was right in amongst it in the North and we kept a "Neil Critchley's Tangerine Army" going for ages.
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I got this at the Preston game where he turned and clapped the fans signing it. With Critchley, you get the feeling it means something to him, he takes the chant as genuine thanks from the fans (which it is) rather than something he is owed.
 
TANGERINETOWERPOWER said:
For me the positivity around the club is a massive factor and this group genuinely want to win each and every game for themselves the manager, the football club, the fans and even the owners. This has produced a real feel good factor around the place. This team spirit has been nurtured and developed by the gaffer and you can see why players like Gabriel and Keogh strain every sinew. They all look like they are loving their time here.

This has also led to the biggest area of improvement in the way Critch manages a matchday .... we now try to kick on and win games. The substitutions at Bramhall Lane showed a clear intent with both Mitchell and Carey introduced to try and snatch the 3 points. It is not that long ago since we would have just sat back and made either no changes or changes too late to affect the result....It was a similar story at the Majeski v reading and we seem intent on getting 3 points and not settling for a draw.

Two big games coming up now and if we dare to dream then who knows where we can finish in this league. Two wins would see us at least 5 points clear of both Stoke and Qpr.....Still take it one game at a time I guess and 3 points tonight would yet again show how far we have come.
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Great post this. I think someone described him
as Southgate esque (very cautious) with his subs at the start of the season and I thought that was spot on, but like you say that has changed as we have gone on.

He’s definitely got more confident which can only be good for us.

The connection between the Manager, players and fans is something very special at the moment and NC has played a massive part in that.

Two big tests this week now, we could lose them both, but whatever happens the team will be backed and not many Clubs can say that.
 
Adams Kebab said:
Great post this. I think someone described him
as Southgate esque (very cautious) with his subs at the start of the season and I thought that was spot on, but like you say that has changed as we have gone on.

He’s definitely got more confident which can only be good for us.

The connection between the Manager, players and fans is something very special at the moment and NC has played a massive part in that.

Two big tests this week now, we could lose them both, but whatever happens the team will be backed and not many Clubs can say that.
Click to expand...
My first game of the season was Bournemouth away. The difference between a meek and weak first half and an exhilarating and excellent second half was the shift from standing off and being passive to taking the game to the opposition and being on the front foot. Not in a Holloway style of non-stop attack, but being brave enough to be proactive and aggressive in our passing and movement. Obviously the addition of Wintle has really helped solidify the midfield and give Kenny some support, but you can see how we've grown in confidence with the likes of Keshi, Marvin etc really growing into their roles and the position as Championship footballers.
 
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