Doncaster Reaction | Neil Critchley

I think the big divide on here the last few weeks revolves around how patient we should be with Critch.
Last night was yet another indication that the guy is on a serious learning curve. I agree with some of the criticism, we perhaps should’ve made a change earlier, and tbh making 4 changes at once seemed like a pretty amateur move considering there was 10 minutes left and a drastic change like that often disrupts the flow of the game which played exactly in to Doncaster’s hands.

That being said, it’s clear some on here are eager to kick him when he’s down. There’s been talk of mental frailty, as if we didn’t respond to an 85th minute equaliser away at top of the table Peterborough by going up the other end and scoring a last minute winner. The criticism of the squad selection is also ridiculous considering the performance on Saturday as well as our desperate need for stability, especially at the back.
Some on here need to understand that this is a process and a process that in my opinion is taking us in the right direction, but it will be 3 steps forward 1 step back throughout the season, and we have to accept that. Maybe I’m ‘easily pleased’, but I think league 1 is an incredibly difficult division, and our performances over the last few weeks have given me serious optimism and belief for what lies ahead. UTP
 
62years... is right to voice his concerns. And for me, as I suspected previously, Critchley is a coach but not a manager. Ayre had passion, Allardyce had grit, Holloway had charisma; Critchley apparently has none of these attributes. Shankly, as a pertinent good example, hardly ever praised the opposition, rather he made his own players feel ten feet tall. He filled them with a fiery confidence and put fear into visiting teams. Has Critchley got that much of 'Liverpool' about him? As for adapting formations mid-game, making the right substitutions at the right time, effecting the right countermoves in order to stymie the opposition (at least consistently); so far, no sign. Perhaps, as a prior poster has suggested, Calderwood's and Critchley's roles should be reversed. Whatever, the next few league games may reveal a stark reality. Hope I'm proved wrong.
 
Think we are all guilty of these knee jerk reactions at the moment. We win and NC is the king of Bloomfield Road, we lose and it's the end of the world. It's probably somewhere in between at the moment. Personally I think time will tell we have an excellent squad and a limited manager.
We clearly have a squad which is close to being able to compete at the top of the division, but we also lack the knowhow to shut out a game when 2-0 up away from home.
We aren't going to win the league, but we also aren't going to get relegated. But there are some very promising signs.
 
Shiggy said:
I think the big divide on here the last few weeks revolves around how patient we should be with Critch.
Last night was yet another indication that the guy is on a serious learning curve. I agree with some of the criticism, we perhaps should’ve made a change earlier, and tbh making 4 changes at once seemed like a pretty amateur move considering there was 10 minutes left and a drastic change like that often disrupts the flow of the game which played exactly in to Doncaster’s hands.

That being said, it’s clear some on here are eager to kick him when he’s down. There’s been talk of mental frailty, as if we didn’t respond to an 85th minute equaliser away at top of the table Peterborough by going up the other end and scoring a last minute winner. The criticism of the squad selection is also ridiculous considering the performance on Saturday as well as our desperate need for stability, especially at the back.
Some on here need to understand that this is a process and a process that in my opinion is taking us in the right direction, but it will be 3 steps forward 1 step back throughout the season, and we have to accept that. Maybe I’m ‘easily pleased’, but I think league 1 is an incredibly difficult division, and our performances over the last few weeks have given me serious optimism and belief for what lies ahead. UTP
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At the moment it's one step forward and three steps back. Let's see how they do in the next few weeks against Portsmouth, Fleetwood, Accrington, Hull and Sunderland.
 
Yourfathersgun said:
Think we are all guilty of these knee jerk reactions at the moment. We win and NC is the king of Bloomfield Road, we lose and it's the end of the world. It's probably somewhere in between at the moment. Personally I think time will tell we have an excellent squad and a limited manager.
We clearly have a squad which is close to being able to compete at the top of the division, but we also lack the knowhow to shut out a game when 2-0 up away from home.
We aren't going to win the league, but we also aren't going to get relegated. But there are some very promising signs.
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Unfortunately, other than abandoning his failing 4-3-3, Critchley doesn't appear to be a quick learner.
 
Beachcomber said:
62years... is right to voice his concerns. And for me, as I suspected previously, Critchley is a coach but not a manager. Ayre had passion, Allardyce had grit, Holloway had charisma; Critchley apparently has none of these attributes. Shankly, as a pertinent good example, hardly ever praised the opposition, rather he made his own players feel ten feet tall. He filled them with a fiery confidence and put fear into visiting teams. Has Critchley got that much of 'Liverpool' about him? As for adapting formations mid-game, making the right substitutions at the right time, effecting the right countermoves in order to stymie the opposition (at least consistently); so far, no sign. Perhaps, as a prior poster has suggested, Calderwood's and Critchley's roles should be reversed. Whatever, the next few league games may reveal a stark reality. Hope I'm proved wrong.
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Well said sir.
 
62years&counting said:
Agreed. Hopefully enough to keep us out of the bottom 4.
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Disagree with any threat of relegation. Our fire power will always get goals. We will end up just outside the top 8 I think. Will flirt with the top six but fall short.

Which after all the signings and changes, would be an excellent return.
 
Yourfathersgun said:
Disagree with any threat of relegation. Our fire power will always get goals. We will end up just outside the top 8 I think. Will flirt with the top six but fall short.

Which after all the signings and changes, would be an excellent return.
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Just 14 goals in 13 games suggests we're short on fire power. Also we've conceded several more goals than we've scored. A mid table finish at best unless we address our weaknesses in January.
 
We have to accept that the same team that blew it was the same team that looked like the real deal. I’m optimistic as time goes on we will see more of the latter and less of the former once Critch becomes braver at making game changing interventions.

He got flack for tinkering so I can see why he is reluctant to upset the flow of a team that’s functioning well by making changes even when it looks obvious they are needed.
 
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clappers said:
We have to accept that the same team that blew it was the same team that looked like the real deal. I’m optimistic as time goes on we will see more of the former and less of the latter once Critch becomes braver at making game changing interventions.

He got flack for tinkering so I can see why he is reluctant to upset the flow of a team that’s functioning well by making changes even when it looks obvious they are needed.
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The lack of leadership on the touchline is mirrored on the field. This group of players seem to buckle and lack resilience when pushed back and put under pressure.
 
62years&counting said:
At the moment it's one step forward and three steps back. Let's see how they do in the next few weeks against Portsmouth, Fleetwood, Accrington, Hull and Sunderland.
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In what world is winning 5 in a row and losing once one step forward two steps back?
 
62years&counting said:
The lack of leadership on the touchline is mirrored on the field. This group of players seem to buckle and lack resilience when pushed back and put under pressure.
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Once again, completely ignoring saturdays response to conceding late on and going on to win. You have some valid points, but this one screams that you only want to be divisive and deliberately pessimistic
 
Shiggy said:
In what world is winning 5 in a row and losing once one step forward two steps back?
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The season to date. We've one win of note P'boro. A few wins against fellow strugglers and an U21 side isn't much to get excited about. The next few weeks will determine how many steps forward or backwards we take. Confidence is fragile in this group of players, they tend to buckle under pressure so the upcoming games will test their resolve to the limit.
 
Shiggy said:
Once again, completely ignoring saturdays response to conceding late on and going on to win. You have some valid points, but this one screams that you only want to be divisive and deliberately pessimistic
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Just realistic. Critchley and his players have been unconvincing to date. The next few games will be the acid test.
 
The away win at Peterborough could easily have ended in a draw even though we outplayed them for the most part. Their equaliser and last gasp miss - both headers - could have been negated by the presence of Ballard. He was the substitution I wanted to see when we were one goal up late in the game. Take Husband (on a yellow) off, slot the Viking in his berth and allow Ballard to dominate our box in the closing period. As some might say: it's not rocket science. And while on the subject of Ballard, how come he's not in the starting eleven for these tough away fixtures? Where's the incentive to stay beyond January if he's not featuring?
 
Beachcomber said:
The away win at Peterborough could easily have ended in a draw even though we outplayed them for the most part. Their equaliser and last gasp miss - both headers - could have been negated by the presence of Ballard. He was the substitution I wanted to see when we were one goal up late in the game. Take Husband (on a yellow) off, slot the Viking in his berth and allow Ballard to dominate our box in the closing period. As some might say: it's not rocket science. And while on the subject of Ballard, how come he's not in the starting eleven for these tough away fixtures? Where's the incentive to stay beyond January if he's not featuring?
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Very much in agreement with you.
 
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