Come on Critchley

fcblackpool said:
Rhodes starts without question.

I think everyone agrees more or less what the XI should be. Select them and have the right attitude and we'll win. These players are top 4.
Click to expand...

I'm inclined to agree, but I think the jury is still out as to whether the issue really is the coach/system or whether the squad is not as good as we think it is. One thing's for sure. We have not consistently played our best 11 and - not withstanding injuries/suspensions - that concerns me as to why.
 
Interesting Bet365 have us down as 8/5 for the win, the same as Bristol. Shows how unpredictable this league is - I'd have thought they'd have been favourites.
Let's hope we get that away win that gets us on a good run....
 
straightatthewall said:
I'm inclined to agree, but I think the jury is still out as to whether the issue really is the coach/system or whether the squad is not as good as we think it is. One thing's for sure. We have not consistently played our best 11 and - not withstanding injuries/suspensions - that concerns me as to why.
Click to expand...
I think you have to give the players every chance to show they're good enough. And that includes playing the best team mate available alongside and telling them to try and win winnable games.

It's down to mental approach and that is what the coach is there for.
 
voyeur said:
I think the main difference on Wednesday was the motivation of the players who played like their careers depended on it. Will we see anything like that tomorrow?
Click to expand...
Agree with this and the OP.

On paper our squad is very good and shouldn't fear any opposition, but Critch has certainly limited them at times, but it's put up or shut up for our season now, nothing to lose or be scared of.

Think on Wednesday after going 2-0 down the players and Critch realized that they had nothing to fear about Nottingham Forest and just went for it. After a few good attacks you could see their heads lift. As Ollie said, "They didn't realize how good they were."

If we worry more about what the opposition will do to us instead of playing to our strengths we'll lose.

We can beat anyone in this division and the players have to come out like it on Saturday.
 
3-4-3 v.s. 3-4-1-2 is an interesting topic.

3-4-3 seemed to work a lot better yesterday, but think that had more to do with the personnel than formation.

Joseph, Lavery, Dembele were all very fluid, wide and capable of pressing, occupying space, and making dangerous runs in behind so it didn't matter who was in what position.

But the width is certainly an interesting point, because it allowed players like Lyons to be a bit more affective with someone else taking space in front of him.

Will be interested to see if we change anything for Saturday.
 
straightatthewall said:
You know the point about balance doesn't have to mean 'left footer plays on the left'. But it should mean players play in positions they are used to and can thrive in. Lyons as a left sided wing back is a good example. He CAN play there. Connolly and even left-footed CJ, really can't.
Click to expand...
Yes he can, but he's nowhere near as effective on the left. There's rarely any time on the ball in this division, certainly for the first 70 minutes or so. That first touch and movement is so vital to us not having to turn back in and recycle. If we can't have a back four let's at least have a balanced back 3-5. We have the players to do it now.
 
good thread. Agree with founts posts and a lot of what AT says. I can't help but wonder if Critchley sends out the players with the confidence to attack teams.
 
20togo said:
good thread. Agree with founts posts and a lot of what AT says. I can't help but wonder if Critchley sends out the players with the confidence to attack teams.
Click to expand...
I think that's the general consensus too. Whether it's right, who knows, but like founts, I can't help feeling NC isn't getting the best from his squad. But I also can't help wondering whether the squad on paper isn't always the squad NC gets to select from. Would anyone on here rest Gabriel for a league game and then play him in the cup, for example? Just makes no logical sense to me.
 
He isn’t going to change it I’ve just listened to his pre match interview.

“Thing haven’t been great away from home will you consider changing it”

“I wouldn’t say change things.We have to keep believing in what we are doing.We have to have consistency.It’s no good changing it every week.We have played very well in some games away from home just not clinical enough in the penalty box and in our own box.”
 
20togo said:
good thread. Agree with founts posts and a lot of what AT says. I can't help but wonder if Critchley sends out the players with the confidence to attack teams.
Click to expand...
Yeah its a good point

So many times this season we have just gone through the motions, but surely that's down to the manager and the way we set up

Hence the reason for my OP

i honestly think we have screwed ourselves this season
 
Ormergod said:
He isn’t going to change it I’ve just listened to his pre match interview.

“Thing haven’t been great away from home will you consider changing it”

“I wouldn’t say change things.We have to keep believing in what we are doing.We have to have consistency.It’s no good changing it every week.We have played very well in some games away from home just not clinical enough in the penalty box and in our own box.”
Click to expand...

We already have consistency away from home, we keep losing! One or two defeats you can say ok, fair enough, things just haven't gone our way. But when you are continually getting beaten by inferior teams (and they are inferior), then you're doing something wrong either tactically or with team selection.
We haven't beaten any team below the top six away from home, which, with the players we have is piss poor. There's no getting around that fact and doing the same thing again tomorrow would be madness.
 
tangysider said:
Yes I would rest Connolly but the fact he has played so many consecutive games also shows one of his greatest strengths, he is hardly ever unavailable for selection through injury.
We have had a lot of sicknotes over last few years, and they may be technically better than Callum, it is irrelevant as they missed so many games.
Click to expand...
If, as you claim, one of his 'greatest strengths' relates to the fact, 'he is hardly ever unavailable for selection through injury ...' - I shudder to think of what you, in your humble estimation, might class as his other 'strengths'? Perhaps he makes a decent cup of tea and never forgets to buy his mum a bunch of flowers on Mother's Day? Cos I think we can safely say it can't possibly anything football-related ...
 
tarantula said:
If, as you claim, one of his 'greatest strengths' relates to the fact, 'he is hardly ever unavailable for selection through injury ...' - I shudder to think of what you, in your humble estimation, might class as his other 'strengths'? Perhaps he makes a decent cup of tea and never forgets to buy his mum a bunch of flowers on Mother's Day? Cos I think we can safely say it can't possibly anything football-related ...
Click to expand...
Superb utility player who should be used off the bench
 
We just look so much better with the tweaks to the formation and I hope as Gabriel gets back fit he will cement his place at rwb with Hamilton ahead. Players are closer together, the wide players actually have people to pass and link up to, there isn't a massive gap in the channels where the LWB is 30 yards away from the two central strikers. Even 2-1 up with Lavery and Hamilton higher up on the wings they were far more dangerous closing down and causing them trouble, not giving them time to play.

It's just a small tweak but makes all the difference. I'm suddenly far more optimistic about this season.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top