Blackpool v Coventry City Official Matchnight Thread 17.08.21

[Martonmosser]

The facts are that Turton, Gabriel, Ballard, Embleton, Kaikai and Simms haven't been replaced with players of similar / better quality.

You probably moaned about most of them last year as well

 

[62years&counting]

No answer on whether you think they've been replaced?

 

[20togo]

** he’ll we’ve only played 2 games & we were in both of them despite being under the cosh. Talk about being impatient. Last season should act as a reminder, as to how these new players need time to bed in & actually be involved. If after 10 games we’re rooted to the bottom I’ll start to worry. Cut some slack.

It's not just the new players though. I have real concerns that some of our players from last season

Agree the game was lost in midfield ( akin Bristol City and Cardiff). Don’t agree about Ward though - he”s been brilliant in the first games of this season and will only get better! Ward didn’t show first half because of what he was instructed to do pre-match which didn’t match how the first half panned out. He and James had no chance against the way Coventry set up in the first half. Second half Ward was more influential – looked quality and grew into the game!

Im not sure what the instructions were then. I do say in my post that it wasn't about when we didn't have the ball because we were overrun in midfield and in that respect Ward and James were outnumbered especially in that first half when Coventry were so dominant. But especially in the first half when any of our back four were in comfortable possession neither Ward or James made any effort to get closer to our man in possession to take the ball. It consistently forced us to hit the ineffective long ball down the channels.

 

[Costero Poderoso]

I’ll start with Keogh, he dropped down to L1 and players simply don’t then become Championship standard again, at that age. He was a very poor signing, considering we got rid of Thornily.

Thought Husband had a very good game, considering the pairing with Keogh.

Garbutt was poor again, slow in possession. By some distance Husband is our best LB, but then he’s needed elsewhere. The answer may be James at LB, because he’s definitely not a midfield player.

Connolly, really like his effort and work rate, but we need a Gabriel in there.

Bowler, excellent, better end product tonight.

Lavery, perhaps more a poacher than when given time, but great game and it will come for him.

Yates will get stick, but we lost our way completely when he went off. Even playing poorly, he gives us so much.

John-Jules, I don’t think he’s ready for this, and I don’t think the way we play will develop him. In comparison to say Simms, he’s far less developed.

Ward, carried the midfield. In the circumstances Keshi might have been a better option in the middle, with CJ wide left.

All in all, we should have taken at least a point. They were no better really, and we could have scored 4. That was my yardstick, as they are not yet an established Championship team. It tells me we must strengthen this window.

Finally, Marv has to be given a chance, a long run in the team.

I'd agree with most of that. first half it took us 30 minutes to get into the game, tactically in that period NC should have been able to make changes to deal with it. Cardiff could have had three in the first 25 minutes and you couldnt argue that they would have deserved it.

late first half we started to control the game and we had some decent chances but are so vulnerable to a fast break. the goal well - enough said.

second half we matched them and were probably the better side, we kept them under pressure for decent periods, on another day a couple of those chances would have gone in. we look good going forward but we are very ponderous getting to the point where we are in attacking positions.

For me the jury is still out on Keogh - not sure what he brings, and we know from last season the Marv has the positional sense, the pace, the aerial ability and strength in the tackle. You could say his distribution isnt great but it is no worse then Keogh, Husband or Connolly. Garbutt sees to have lost a lot of confidence and making a lot of mistakes, however his delivery at set pieces was much better last night so maybe he might be turning a corner.

Connolly is definitely not a right back, he is almost always out of position, we are being caught out on that wing a lot. i do think he will be a decent cntre back. Husband can do a job at left centre back, but i thnk hes better on the left side of a three.

i'd also add that Keogh because of his status (age) in the squad might be messing up the general way Maxwell organises his defence.

Dougall looks weary, probably needs a few half games to get him into the swing of things. it not a tactic that most would want in competetive games but its is something we are going to have to do i think until he is fully up to speed. if hes there first half can stamp his authority and our way of playing on a game after 55-60 mins Ward / James / Antwi / can drop into that role. Ward in particular always seems more effective later on.

going forward we look better, there's decent movement, Keshi is better in the centre rather than stuck out on the touchline, bowler and lavery both look the business, jerry is cutting a frustrated ficgure at the moment but we saw enough of him to know that he will come good. CJ looks a bit lightweight so far, he also looks to have lost half a yard of pace. TJJ shows some good touches but might not be ready, like Gabriel last season who took a while to get going he might be the same, his adjustment period may be a couple of months.

the defence needs a proper looking at, but overall i dont think there a great deal to panic about. although the cardiff game was definitely a watch from behind the sofa we have done enough (in my mind anyway) to show we will be competetive in this league.

 

[AndrewDuncanSmith]

This is a management problem Neil Critchley is experienced at under 23 level & League 1
but not at Championship level he had a major say in which players were brought into
the club,he picks the team and decides on the tactics to be employed.Keogh is a poor
replacement for Dan Ballard or Thorniley who has been loaned out to Oxford.

 

[TangerinePeel]

League 1 is totally different though.
Ive watched Cardiff and now Coventry out whit us in both games.
Yes, the effort and endeavor was there In the second half tonight but both opponents showed that you have to make quicker decisions on the ball in this league.
However only having 2 in midfield and being overrun doesn't bode well.
We are crying out for Stewart to get fit as quick as he can but fear he could be rushed back and do more harm than good.
Please Critch play two central defenders that can actually do the job and dont leave Keshi on the left where he is totally ineffective.
Jerry's confidence looks shot to shit and Ward, yet again ran around like a headless chicken for most of the night.
We need quality loan signings in asap who can hit the ground running.
Dont expect owt from Bournemouth and Millwall but hope I'm proven wrong so I'll wait until the end of October before I get really worried.

I completely understand it is a more difficult division and I said over the summer it will be a tough season for us and staying up in itself will be an achievement. I remember that being scoffed at, as if it was setting the bar too low!

My post is in reference to the reaction on here, its like deja-vu to the start of last season. People writing off players, the staff, Critchley after 2 losses on the bounce. An absolutely mad reaction, I don't get how some react so badly, so quickly after watching football for so long - a season lasts 10 months, to use a cliche it is literally a marathon and not a sprint and that should be fresh in the mind after how much last season encompassed that.

 

[Seasider1953]

Every team that is struggling needs to start by being strong at the back & the first point is to stop conceding goals. We all know that we need a right back & I am sure that will come shortly , we need Viking back ASAP , we need Husband to go back to left back, where is is solid , we definitely need to get rid of Keogh , well past his best days, & bring in big Marv for his height & speed. We will also improve defensively when Stewart is back protecting the back four.
So not too despondent because we will get it right !

 

[Wizzerboy]

I completely understand it is a more difficult division and I said over the summer it will be a tough season for us and staying up in itself will be an achievement. I remember that being scoffed at, as if it was setting the bar too low!

My post is in reference to the reaction on here, its like deja-vu to the start of last season. People writing off players, the staff, Critchley after 2 losses on the bounce. An absolutely mad reaction, I don't get how some react so badly, so quickly after watching football for so long - a season lasts 10 months, to use a cliche it is literally a marathon and not a sprint and that should be fresh in the mind after how much last season encompassed that.

And I understand your post too Peel.
Ironically I was one last season asking for calm as I could see what Critch was trying to do.
Also he could have time in league one as half the teams weren't that good.
Unfortunately we're now in the championship and you dont get a honeymoon period, you've got to be up and at it from the start.
I sincerely hope that we can turn it round but the more we lose the tougher itll be.
I said to Fatboy last night that it wasnt a must win match but a must not lose match.
It's going to be a long hard season.

 

[20togo]

And I understand your post too Peel.
Ironically I was one last season asking for calm as I could see what Critch was trying to do.
Also he could have time in league one as half the teams weren't that good.
Unfortunately we're now in the championship and you dont get a honeymoon period, you've got to be up and at it from the start.
I sincerely hope that we can turn it round but the more we lose the tougher itll be.
I said to Fatboy last night that it wasnt a must win match but a must not lose match.
It's going to be a long hard season.

great reply to Peel. The fact were in this higher division means there are no guarantees that "it will all come good".. We are in one helluva battle imo to just survive in this division. As you say, there is no honeymoon period, there are no easy gsames and we have to start putting points on the board asap.

 

[Kopite]

You probably moaned about most of them last year as well

He did.

 

[Sooty59]

It's not just the new players though. I have real concerns that some of our players from last season

Im not sure what the instructions were then. I do say in my post that it wasn't about when we didn't have the ball because we were overrun in midfield and in that respect Ward and James were outnumbered especially in that first half when Coventry were so dominant. But especially in the first half when any of our back four were in comfortable possession neither Ward or James made any effort to get closer to our man in possession to take the ball. It consistently forced us to hit the ineffective long ball down the channels.

We’ll we’ll know better who is up to championship standard when we’ve seen them play in a balanced side for several matches. We’ve not yet had that. Plus probably more incoming players. I don’t like people trying to tell me how to do my job & the same applies to our coaching team, before some hang draw & quarter them AGAIN (I don’t include you in that) let’s give them at least 10 games. We could all give our preferred 11 out of who is currently fitish & available & we could get walloped by 6. The new players need integrating into a fairly settled spine. But due to injuries & a crap preseason, that’s not been possible.

 

[Davepick]

I think that last season, after 10 games or so, people were beginning to doubt Critch.
Maybe we'll be the same this season?
When he gets a settled squad, with a few signings, things will change.

 

[20togo]

I think that last season, after 10 games or so, people were beginning to doubt Critch.
Maybe we'll be the same this season?
When he gets a settled squad, with a few signings, things will change.

They were Dav, but it's easier to turn things round in a lower division than a higher one. And that's the problem we have.

 

[tangerinespud]

From what I’ve seen so far is that there are too many anonymous players in the team at the moment - Anderson Ward James the biggest culprits. This leads to others having no out ball other than to lump it upfield.
The Championship is & will be a very unforgiving league. Coventry created plenty last night & we’re very wasteful. Others will not be as wasteful.
Team strengthening is a priority now. If as rumours go that the transfer budget is low or gone then I would question the signing of the Leeds lad (?Casey) for a reported fee potentially exceeding our transfer record? N the fact we haven’t see much of him.

 

[Vince McLean]

Our players not quick enough physically or mentally. Willingness and desire is there but control of the football is sub-standard for the Championship. Why can opposition players bring down and control a ball.. then find a pass but ours can't? Answer: because they are better players. Too many of ours not up to this level on current showing. Lots of people on here moaning about the defence..but for me it is midfield where the main problems lie. Ward and James are a weak pairing in the middle..Bowler ok but Anderson not good enough..neither is CJ in my opinion..he may have pace but you need control in this league and his 1st touch is more League1/2. Did at least create more chances tonight. Hoping for some more quality coming in before the deadline to change things otherwise its going to be a long hard season.

Spot on, we need better ball playing midfielders and others to control, retain and distribute effectively - being a good trier isn't enough.

 

[Vince McLean]

Critchley needs to use his contacts and bring in several Liverpool, Everton and other players on the cusp of Prem first team squads. It's the Championship, so those players would get great expereince. I can see why they'd be reluctant to let them go Leagues 1 & 2 - and get booted all over the place, but the Championship is a great place to check real potential.

 

[voyeur]

They were Dav, but it's easier to turn things round in a lower division than a higher one. And that's the problem we have.

This is true, and we may not. And I wouldn't have Keogh on the pitch or a tiny 2 man midfield.

From what I’ve seen so far is that there are too many anonymous players in the team at the moment - Anderson Ward James the biggest culprits. This leads to others having no out ball other than to lump it upfield.
The Championship is & will be a very unforgiving league. Coventry created plenty last night & we’re very wasteful. Others will not be as wasteful.
Team strengthening is a priority now. If as rumours go that the transfer budget is low or gone then I would question the signing of the Leeds lad (?Casey) for a reported fee potentially exceeding our transfer record? N the fact we haven’t see much of him.

Both sides created plenty and were wasteful, Cov got a goal that should have been disallowed. We are weak in midfield though, yeah. And a team will stick the chances away one day soon, Bournemouth, Fulham. If we don't improve quickly.

 

[Loco]

From what I’ve seen so far is that there are too many anonymous players in the team at the moment - Anderson Ward James the biggest culprits. This leads to others having no out ball other than to lump it upfield.
The Championship is & will be a very unforgiving league. Coventry created plenty last night & we’re very wasteful. Others will not be as wasteful.
Team strengthening is a priority now. If as rumours go that the transfer budget is low or gone then I would question the signing of the Leeds lad (?Casey) for a reported fee potentially exceeding our transfer record? N the fact we haven’t see much of him.

Ward is wasted as a defensive midfielder, he needs to be further up the pitch keeping the ball until others are ready to receive it.
Connolly is probably the stop-gap answer as a defensive midfielder but we don't have a right back.

 

[bleed_the_freak]

We gave them the 1st half, just like we did Cardiff, but we were not outmatched! We had the better of the chances and had we put them away, we would all be singing a different song this morning! Be patient, it will come..

 

[62years&counting]

He did.

Plenty to moan about in the 3 league games we've played.