2 ponts dropped that

Phil always opens with a 6, that spreads the field and then runs are much easier to go by. A master at his art form.

A more straight batted approach would be to suggest Critchley got everything else right bar the selection of Woodburn, Yates in the side with Madine and we'd have won it. I didn't have a particular issue with number of subs, I just really don't understand why we didn't get 30 mins of the Jerry and Gary Dream Machine as on about 5 or 6 occasions a ball into the box found no one. Not going to two up front I felt compounded the issue as it looks like we didn't gamble to win.

You win some, you lose some and on this occasion we drew,
 
So easy to say team selection and substitutions cost us 2 points and assume we would have had all 3 with anything different.
 
If we extended todays result over the course of the season we'd get another 30 points giving us a total of 53. I doubt 53 points would get you relegated.
You can 't talk about the whole season because to date we are averaging more than a point a game. In other words you're talking shiite.
But if we averaged a point a game over the season we`d go down.Sorry if that`s difficult for you to grasp thicko,especially if we don`t do better against teams near the bottom. The point being that if we have ambitions these are the games we need to win and it may well be a lack of goals and goalscorers that will cost us dear.
 
But if we averaged a point a game over the season we`d go down.Sorry if that`s difficult for you to grasp thicko,especially if we don`t do better against teams near the bottom. The point being that if we have ambitions these are the games we need to win and it may well be a lack of goals and goalscorers that will cost us dear.
But we're already sixteen games into the season thicko. So to average a point a game over the courseof the season that means we have to lose a lot of games. And we didn't lose today did we? Voyeur got it right with his comment about applying it to last saturday. You're whole point was total nonsense.
 
You obviously can`t or won`t grasp the point.No surprise there thicko.

As I said the other day do f*ck off you sad stalker.
Nope, you just wanted to come on here and say something negative. Your whole point was based on nonsense. We all know that if you START the season and only get 46 points you are likely to be relegated. But we're already sixteen games in with 23 points so what's your point exactly. You see you also said if we extend todays result...well todays result was a draw soextend that draw gives us another 30 points.
 
Hindsight is a wonderful thing
I’f we’d scored Im very sure the majority of people on here would be giving Critchley all the credit. We didn’t.

But unlike nearly every other manager, the “super fans” are adamant he should be immune to any and all criticism in relation to selections, substitutions and timing of substitutions, and formation. Why is this? What is so special about Critchley compared with every other head coach or manager in football?
 
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Agree that it’s a learning curve, but what frustrates the most is taking something that is clearly working - the formation & the front pairing and breaking it up for no good reason. Reverting to a system that didn’t work at the start of the season. What for? To prove once again that it still doesn’t work? Definitely 2 pts dropped and a negative for the management / coaching team.
 
Branigan missing for them was a massive loss for Oxford
If he had of been playing i could have kinda got the system change so we didn't get dominated in midfield

However as has been said the Yates and Madine partnership has been working with the exception of the second half at Doncaster when he should have brought an extra midfield player on to hold on to the lead

Critchley is becoming a bit of a tinker man making changes for no reason

Turton for example had his best game against Fleetwood yet got dropped yesterday
 
Yep Woodburn is a shadow of the player who burst on the international scene with Wales

Doesn't even look like a league 1 player at the moment

No doubt about it the head coaches decision cost us winning that game today
A rare occasion but agree 100%. In League 1 there's little benefit in trying to be clever. Play your BEST players until there's a reason for change. The Madine / Yates /Hamilton partnership is by far our best option upfront. Gabriel a slightly better option than Turton, and I'd go for Garbutt over Husband. Potato and the Viking have come on leaps and bounds but Ballard is still the best defender in the squad.

There will be plenty of occasions where this is not possible so others will get a chance.
 
Although not perfect i really enjoyed that game and thought we played some good football against a side whom primarily came to defend. Critchley is clearly learning as he goes along but he is getting a lot more things right now. After watching that i would not be surprised if we beat Hull.
 
I’f we’d scored Im very sure the majority of people on here would be giving Critchley all the credit. We didn’t.

But unlike nearly every other manager, the “super fans” are adamant he should be immune to any and all criticism in relation to selections, substitutions and timing of substitutions, and formation. Why is this? What is so special about Critchley compared with every other head coach or manager in football?
Of course it's a fair point BUT I just don't think you're right on this occasion. Me and pals were amazed when Woodburn started and amazed again he came out for the second half. We missed Yates.

We did OK, but you can't drop points like that and get promoted, which after all is the aim eh?

Let's see what he does next game. If Yates starts then I think we can be confident it was a mistake.
 
A rare occasion but agree 100%. In League 1 there's little benefit in trying to be clever. Play your BEST players until there's a reason for change. The Madine / Yates /Hamilton partnership is by far our best option upfront. Gabriel a slightly better option than Turton, and I'd go for Garbutt over Husband. Potato and the Viking have come on leaps and bounds but Ballard is still the best defender in the squad.

There will be plenty of occasions where this is not possible so others will get a chance.
Spot on going up.
We’re not good enough to be chopping and changing and playing silly buggers.

All that said, we drew a game after a very good run of results. Draws happen. So do defeats. Next match please.
 
Spot on going up.
We’re not good enough to be chopping and changing and playing silly buggers.

All that said, we drew a game after a very good run of results. Draws happen. So do defeats. Next match please.
There are too many games to keep playing the same players.
 
Not sure why he brought Virtue on or why he was even selected on the bench?he's only played 45 min of football this season,bizarre decision as was starting Woodburn,clearly got his fav's Critchley.
 
I can accept that, but it will mean we’re weaker until January when maybe we can change things a bit to maintain the more effective system.
Yes. Though I think Critch may look for a player who is more mobile than Y&M, and finishes more clinically. Which he may struggle to find but he's a top coach and we are an attractive club without the Covid issues other clubs have. Liam Millar.
 
There are some obvious targets for January.As mentioned on MOTD last night how about Mbappe and Haaland for Christmas and New Year, if both would stretch SS`s hedge funds a little far just now then we`re not greedy are we lads, we`d be prepared to just settle for one now and wait for the other when the hedge fund allows. 😜

Happy Christmas Simon and then let`s hope for a very Happy New Year for you and the `pool.
 
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There are too many games to keep playing the same players.
We are mostly playing 2 games a week but some have been in minor competitions as per last Tuesday.Surely two 90 minute games most weeks with a few exceptions is not too much for fit well trained professional athletes barring any carrying injuries of course and fitness permitting there are some parts of the team that are more irreplaceable than others which the manager must be aware of.
 
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We are mostly playing 2 games a week but some in minor competitions.Surely two 90 minute games most weeks with a few exceptions is not too much for fit well trained professional athletes barring any carrying injuries of course and fitness permitting there must be some parts of the team that are more irreplaceable than others which the manager should be aware of.
You would think so but rightly or wrongly it seems most managers these days have an obsession with squad rotation.
 
We are mostly playing 2 games a week but some have been in minor competitions as per last Tuesday.Surely two 90 minute games most weeks with a few exceptions is not too much for fit well trained professional athletes barring any carrying injuries of course and fitness permitting there are some parts of the team that are more irreplaceable than others which the manager should be aware of.
There are fine margins. The games are tight. Mental as well as physical freshness can be an advantage. I think. But I'm not a sports scientist.
 
and your “2 shots on target and I’m a happy chappy” badge is ready from the official online superfan shop.
When we last won promotion from this division we lost home and away to the bottom two teams

as for your claim, made up claptrap as usual
 
When we last won promotion from this division we lost home and away to the bottom two teams

as for your claim, made up claptrap as usual
I rarely agree with your usually antagonistic posts to all and sundry on here so you may not be too surprised that I don`t remotely agree with either the unnecessary tone or view of your latest.
 
When we last won promotion from this division we lost home and away to the bottom two teams

as for your claim, made up claptrap as usual
Without looking it up, I think we would have got automatic promotion with a point from any of the 4 games against the bottom two. In contrast, I think we won away at 4 of the other 5 top 6 teams.
 
I’f we’d scored Im very sure the majority of people on here would be giving Critchley all the credit. We didn’t.

But unlike nearly every other manager, the “super fans” are adamant he should be immune to any and all criticism in relation to selections, substitutions and timing of substitutions, and formation. Why is this? What is so special about Critchley compared with every other head coach or manager in football?
Agreed. Nothing special about Critchley who is still learning. The hope is he learns from his mistakes, and quickly.
 
Pool are a mid table side, not a top side as yet.
Form: Last 6 matches
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Hull City 6 4 1 1 11 4 +7 13
2 Gillingham 6 4 1 1 9 4 +5 13
3 Blackpool 6 4 1 1 7 4 +3 13
4 Portsmouth 6 3 2 1 11 5 +6 11

Form: Last 8 matches
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Accrington 8 5 2 1 13 7 +6 17
2 Hull City 8 5 1 2 15 7 +8 16
3 Blackpool 8 5 1 2 9 6 +3 16
4 Portsmouth 8 4 2 2 14 8 +6 14

Form: Last 10 matches
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Portsmouth 10 6 2 2 21 9 +12 20
2 Charlton 10 6 2 2 20 11 +9 20
3 Accrington 10 6 2 2 15 10 +5 20
4 Fleetwood 10 6 1 3 18 8 +10 19
5 Hull City 10 6 1 3 17 9 +8 19
6 Blackpool 10 6 1 3 10 7 +3 19

Form: Last 4 matches (AT HOME)
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Doncaster 4 3 1 0 7 4 +3 10
2 Accrington 4 3 1 0 4 1 +3 10
3 Blackpool 4 3 1 0 3 0 +3 10
4 Peterborough 4 3 0 1 11 4 +7 9

Form: Last 4 matches (AWAY)
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Blackpool 4 3 0 1 7 5 +2 9
2 Sunderland 4 2 2 0 8 2 +6 8
3 Hull City 4 2 1 1 8 4 +4 7
4 Accrington 4 2 1 1 9 6 +3 7
 
Yeah and think how much better it could be if we had of won yesterday like we should have

Oxford are a shadow of the team of last season

The manager got it wrong
Form: Last 6 matches
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Hull City 6 4 1 1 11 4 +7 13
2 Gillingham 6 4 1 1 9 4 +5 13
3 Blackpool 6 4 1 1 7 4 +3 13
4 Portsmouth 6 3 2 1 11 5 +6 11

Form: Last 8 matches
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Accrington 8 5 2 1 13 7 +6 17
2 Hull City 8 5 1 2 15 7 +8 16
3 Blackpool 8 5 1 2 9 6 +3 16
4 Portsmouth 8 4 2 2 14 8 +6 14

Form: Last 10 matches
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Portsmouth 10 6 2 2 21 9 +12 20
2 Charlton 10 6 2 2 20 11 +9 20
3 Accrington 10 6 2 2 15 10 +5 20
4 Fleetwood 10 6 1 3 18 8 +10 19
5 Hull City 10 6 1 3 17 9 +8 19
6 Blackpool 10 6 1 3 10 7 +3 19

Form: Last 4 matches (AT HOME)
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Doncaster 4 3 1 0 7 4 +3 10
2 Accrington 4 3 1 0 4 1 +3 10
3 Blackpool 4 3 1 0 3 0 +3 10
4 Peterborough 4 3 0 1 11 4 +7 9

Form: Last 4 matches (AWAY)
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Blackpool 4 3 0 1 7 5 +2 9
2 Sunderland 4 2 2 0 8 2 +6 8
3 Hull City 4 2 1 1 8 4 +4 7
4 Accrington 4 2 1 1 9 6 +3
 
I’f we’d scored Im very sure the majority of people on here would be giving Critchley all the credit. We didn’t.

But unlike nearly every other manager, the “super fans” are adamant he should be immune to any and all criticism in relation to selections, substitutions and timing of substitutions, and formation. Why is this? What is so special about Critchley compared with every other head coach or manager in football?
I think any reasonable supporters admit Critchley makes mistakes and certainly has a lot of lessons to learn if he’s to take us to where we want to be.

But there also seems to be a divide on this board between two camps- the side that desperately wants Critchley to succeed and therefore are more lenient and appreciative of the need for patience, and the side that seem to jump on his back every time we drop points.

I know which side I’d rather be on.
 
I think any reasonable supporters admit Critchley makes mistakes and certainly has a lot of lessons to learn if he’s to take us to where we want to be.

But there also seems to be a divide on this board between two camps- the side that desperately wants Critchley to succeed and therefore are more lenient and appreciative of the need for patience, and the side that seem to jump on his back every time we drop points.

I know which side I’d rather be on.
#metoo

There are no perfect managers. Lambert was used as an experienced stick to beat Critch with when we most 4-1 to them. I bet he'd love our form now! Maybe he is too experienced or something.
 
I want us to win every week I don't give a shit who the manager is

We probably have one one of the strongest squads in the league after spending big in the summer and the facts are we are mid table when the objectives are promotion
That’s exactly how I see it. I don’t say what I’m saying because I want him to fail. I don’t want him out. I want him to get us promoted.
 
Lambert wasn't used as any stick

Given the players Ipswich have Lambert is also failing

Ask any Ipswich fan what they think of Lambert after last season abortion...
#metoo

There are no perfect managers. Lambert was used as an experienced stick to beat Critch with when we most 4-1 to them. I bet he'd love our form now! Maybe he is too experienced or something.
 
Form: Last 6 matches
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Hull City 6 4 1 1 11 4 +7 13
2 Gillingham 6 4 1 1 9 4 +5 13
3 Blackpool 6 4 1 1 7 4 +3 13
4 Portsmouth 6 3 2 1 11 5 +6 11

Form: Last 8 matches
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Accrington 8 5 2 1 13 7 +6 17
2 Hull City 8 5 1 2 15 7 +8 16
3 Blackpool 8 5 1 2 9 6 +3 16
4 Portsmouth 8 4 2 2 14 8 +6 14

Form: Last 10 matches
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Portsmouth 10 6 2 2 21 9 +12 20
2 Charlton 10 6 2 2 20 11 +9 20
3 Accrington 10 6 2 2 15 10 +5 20
4 Fleetwood 10 6 1 3 18 8 +10 19
5 Hull City 10 6 1 3 17 9 +8 19
6 Blackpool 10 6 1 3 10 7 +3 19

Form: Last 4 matches (AT HOME)
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Doncaster 4 3 1 0 7 4 +3 10
2 Accrington 4 3 1 0 4 1 +3 10
3 Blackpool 4 3 1 0 3 0 +3 10
4 Peterborough 4 3 0 1 11 4 +7 9

Form: Last 4 matches (AWAY)
GP W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Blackpool 4 3 0 1 7 5 +2 9
2 Sunderland 4 2 2 0 8 2 +6 8
3 Hull City 4 2 1 1 8 4 +4 7
4 Accrington 4 2 1 1 9 6 +3 7
You forgot to mention Pool are 13th in the league table. I rest my case. Try again!
 
liverpool are playing 2 games per week but he plays his main players week in week out when fit and the pace is harder in the prem / champions league. all professionals should be capable of playing twice a week remember they are PROFESSIONAL players
 
I want us to win every week I don't give a shit who the manager is

We probably have one one of the strongest squads in the league after spending big in the summer and the facts are we are mid table when the objectives are promotion
A nice opening post from apprentice Phil on a wet Sunday.
I'd probably always think a home draw is 2 points dropped so nothing controversial there.
I didn't get the impression that Oxford were lacking confidence. I thought they looked like a team with an experienced League 1 manager that came to frustrate us.
Critchy tried to out think Robinson by ditching 4-4-2 and going for another combination of numbers the only crucial one being a very isolated one up front.
Woodburn is a very easy fall guy and if I was scoring the players he would have got my lowest score.
I said on another thread I don't know what his preferred position is but surely Critchy does but he's not getting the best out of him yet but he is short of minutes on the pitch. It's a shame he couldn't have experimented with him in the Pizza Cup.
I thought we were crying out for Yates to come on at HT for Wooburn and revert to 4-4-2.
I agree that the multiple subs weren't positive the biggest issue for me was that we ended with 2 left wingers (Kemp and CJ) and with our most dangerous player, CJ, being forced to play on the left where he's shown he's less effective.
On similar vein Yates isn't as effective without Madine alongside him but he ended up replacing him.
Anderson isn't a striker, IMO.
So from the comfort of my armchair, and with the benefit of hindsight I think Critchy lost the battle of the Managers yesterday.
 
I assume some on here have the name of a manager out there who has never and will ever make a mistake ?
 
You forgot to mention Pool are 13th in the league table. I rest my case. Try again!
I didn't have to mention if cos we all know!

Based on the last ten games we are now functioning as a top end team. And if that continues we wi climb the table, with lots of games still to go.

It's not rocket science. And it's ok to climb down off the negativity perch and admit it. You'd feel better if you did. 😉
 
Who's negative?

We are playing well and picking up points

Its great that we are keeping clean sheets

Just dont need the manager over thinking things do we?

I didn't have to mention if cos we all know!

Based on the last ten games we are now functioning as a top end team. And if that continues we wi climb the table, with lots of games still to go.

It's not rocket science. And it's ok to climb down off the negativity perch and admit it. You'd feel better if you did. 😉
 
I didn't have to mention if cos we all know!

Based on the last ten games we are now functioning as a top end team. And if that continues we wi climb the table, with lots of games still to go.

It's not rocket science. And it's ok to climb down off the negativity perch and admit it. You'd feel better if you did. 😉
Pool are currently mid table and if our form deserts us then it may not go the way you suggest. I admire your optimism. I may join you if Critchley sees the light in January and signs a goalscorer.
 
Pool are currently mid table and if our form deserts us then it may not go the way you suggest. I admire your optimism. I may join you if Critchley sees the light in January and signs a goalscorer.
We need a goalscorer. My optimism is based on the stats for the last ten games. We had a period of bedding in, and then we came good. As I and others said we would.
 
Critchley is becoming a bit of a tinker man making changes for no reason

Turton for example had his best game against Fleetwood yet got dropped yesterday

To be fair, we have nine games in December. Turton has racked up the minutes so far and I reckon Critch will have had him in mind for Tues against Hull, as he's not as attack-minded as Gabriel and I think we'll need to be a bit more rigid against one of the league's top scorers.
 
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