Wigan v Blackpool Official Matchday Thread 16.03.24

MeanLeanTangerineMachine said:
Nonsense ... Who in this squad could play regularly at a higher level... Maybe grimshaw? Dembele on a good day

Promotion season we had simms, Yates, ballard, anderson who are all championship players now...

Don't buy our squad is all that, a lot of depth limited star quality
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Squad is certainly not as good as it was in 2020/2021, but I think for as weak as the division is, it should and could be performing better with different tactics.

Most of our players have been barely above average this season, but that is because of the system.

It’s not a squad that should have automatic ambitions, but think we should easily be 6/7 points better off.
 
Vince McLean said:
Promotion is very (very) unlikely, and if we made it we'd probs be relegated by Christmas.
But NC is unlikely to leave because 9th or whatever isn't a disaster.
So I guess we're doomed to another season of miserable mediocrity.
Can NC (a leopard) change his spots? ... I don't think so.
Fcuking depressing.
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If Critch intends making a serious attempt at improving his complexion, he perhaps needs to have a word with his 'disciple' (SS) to find out whether the playing budget will stretch to covering the cost of a bottle of Clearasil ...
 
CAGU said:
Numerous times we look to be in a good attacking position and we go backwards with it usually ending up at Grimshaw’s feet, so frustrating!
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Norburn subbed again critchley must be one of the few managers who regularly subs there captain.
 
Just got back, straight out of ASDA car park great parking spot and flew down the motorway.
Shit first half, was it one shot ?
Better second half, Joseph couple of half chance headers.
Too slow and ponderous, 5 at the back doesn't work for us with non ball playing centre halves. Ekpiteta to Grimshaw must be top of our stats for passes this season.
Mentions for Lavery, Coulson and Casey, Dembele was well off it today and we have no one else who could work a bit of magic.
Ultimately you have to say that we aren't good enough, the manager has no plan B and waits far too long to change things up.
 
Just got back from game.
And disappointed with the whole game, no quality in any area of the pitch.
Backs to goal all game, no forward penetration , defenders have know one to play the ball into, midfield happy to play side to side and backwards. No driving midfielders no movement from forwards. A manager with no passion.
Wigan only had a few opportunities but each time they did attack they had a driving mentality to run at our back line, and look like scoring, we are slow very laboured and never looked like scoring.

Critch put your hand up and say I take full responsibility for this very disappointing result and performance and respond with the following. We will work on putting things right on Monday. I have made poor tactical choices which have resulted in our result today. I am open minded and will look to have more than one game plan!
 
Wallo7619 said:
Just got back from game.
And disappointed with the whole game, no quality in any area of the pitch.
Backs to goal all game, no forward penetration , defenders have know one to play the ball into, midfield happy to play side to side and backwards. No driving midfielders no movement from forwards. A manager with no passion.
Wigan only had a few opportunities but each time they did attack they had a driving mentality to run at our back line, and look like scoring, we are slow very laboured and never looked like scoring.

Critch put your hand up and say I take full responsibility for this very disappointing result and performance and respond with the following. We will work on putting things right on Monday. I have made poor tactical choices which have resulted in our result today. I am open minded and will look to have more than one game plan!
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Last paragraph don't hold your breath, just listen to his interview. Great following today but ffs give them something to get behind !!
 
20togo said:
shite tactics again as Thommo says. Get a player close to Beesley
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I'm reading this 4 hrs after the event and commenting as if this is in real time. On this particular point I don't think it's down to shite tactics per se.
First up Bees was out jumped nearly all afternoon by a defender (who got MOM) and a looked a couple of inches shorter. I'll bet my bottom dollar though that Critch didn't say to Lavery make sure you're 50yds away from Beesley at all times.
IMO it's down to a lack of nous/awareness on Lavery's part.
I'm not impressed with Lavery's current form.
I'll carry on reading the thread and see if anyone else as picked up on this.
 
I thought Casey was excellent today. Some top quality tackles and coolness personified. He’s IMO our best Centre Back. Coulson was very positive going forward. Lavery gave us energy but…

Once again the front three were short on Goalscoring Quality. I can also see what Norborn gives but he needs runners either side of him and he doesn’t have that so he just looks ineffective. It was all abit boring. Once the opposition goes 1-0 up 9 times out of 10 that’s game over

I don’t understand the overreaction when we lose. Critchley looked peeved during his interview at the end - frustrated at us maybe. People seem to think we should be beating every one every week and that’s not how it goes. Our years in the top two divisions seem to have given people some sense of entitlement that we should still be there. We have to earn it. Just like Sunderland, just like Bolton, juts like Portsmouth etc. We are going to lose games like today over the course of the season. It’s just how it goes. Even if we don’t make the top 6 this season and then say next season we are up there we will still have results like today

Wigans home record is top 6. Have recently beaten Bolton and Leyton Orient. They don’t score many and they don’t concede many. Today was going to be tough and that’s how it turned out to be. They set up well and frustrated us. On to Derby
 
Wallo7619 said:
No driving midfielders no movement from forwards
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That's sums it up and it's not just Norburn.
Looking down the pitch in the 2nd half I thought there were several occasions when Byers had the ball with space in front of him and just didn't (have the confidence?) run into it.
Coulson is one player that will actually try that but finishes off with a careless pass.
Dembele was fouled out of the game but looked drained. His set plays were very poor.
Notwithstanding that I will never understand why we don' have a player (very) deep for the many corners we over hit.
It's not rocket science.
I know I'm not a mega qualified FA Coach but there are so many simple things that we could do instead of overthinking everything.
 
Insider said:
That's sums it up and it's not just Norburn.
Looking down the pitch in the 2nd half I thought there were several occasions when Byers had the ball with space in front of him and just didn't (have the confidence?) run into it.
Coulson is one player that will actually try that but finishes off with a careless pass.
Dembele was fouled out of the game but looked drained. His set plays were very poor.
Notwithstanding that I will never understand why we don' have a player (very) deep for the many corners we over hit.
It's not rocket science.
I know I'm not a mega qualified FA Coach but there are so many simple things that we could do instead of overthinking everything.
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We don't have a player deep / at the back, running in for corners.

Nor do we leave a player up when defending them.

Basic schoolboy stuff; it's mind-boggling? 🤔
 
Vince McLean said:
Don't think the players or the budget are the issue.
It's the tactics, coaching, and motivation that are lacking.
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"It's the tactics, coaching, and motivation that are lacking."

Correct.

And the individual with primary responsible for these three areas, and who is performing abysmally in meeting his duties?

Why - our dear old friend, 'Clueless' Critchley!
 
Wallo7619 said:
Just got back from game.
And disappointed with the whole game, no quality in any area of the pitch.
Backs to goal all game, no forward penetration , defenders have know one to play the ball into, midfield happy to play side to side and backwards. No driving midfielders no movement from forwards. A manager with no passion.
Wigan only had a few opportunities but each time they did attack they had a driving mentality to run at our back line, and look like scoring, we are slow very laboured and never looked like scoring.

Critch put your hand up and say I take full responsibility for this very disappointing result and performance and respond with the following. We will work on putting things right on Monday. I have made poor tactical choices which have resulted in our result today. I am open minded and will look to have more than one game plan!
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No he is incapable of taking a, step back and owning the problem, he is generally happy with the play and cannot understand why fans want entertainment when they can be treated to a display of his tactical nous, or lack of it
 
tarantula said:
"It's the tactics, coaching, and motivation that are lacking."

Correct.

And the individual with primary responsible for these three areas, and who is performing abysmally in meeting his duties?

Why - our dear old friend, 'Clueless' Critchley!
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Precisely.
 
Vince McLean said:
Precisely.
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The first half we seemed to be playing a new system of 7-0-3 the gap was that big in the middle of the park with the 2 strikers keeping as far away from each other as possible
The second half was better but it couldn’t be any worse and we are so blunt up front it’s unbelievable
It was never going to change overnight from a team last year that forgot how to win into a promotion hopeful side but our esteemed manager looks like he wants to do it with our hands tied behind our backs with no flexibility with his formations
 
BestTrip said:
I thought Casey was excellent today. Some top quality tackles and coolness personified. He’s IMO our best Centre Back. Coulson was very positive going forward. Lavery gave us energy but…

Once again the front three were short on Goalscoring Quality. I can also see what Norborn gives but he needs runners either side of him and he doesn’t have that so he just looks ineffective. It was all abit boring. Once the opposition goes 1-0 up 9 times out of 10 that’s game over

I don’t understand the overreaction when we lose. Critchley looked peeved during his interview at the end - frustrated at us maybe. People seem to think we should be beating every one every week and that’s not how it goes. Our years in the top two divisions seem to have given people some sense of entitlement that we should still be there. We have to earn it. Just like Sunderland, just like Bolton, juts like Portsmouth etc. We are going to lose games like today over the course of the season. It’s just how it goes. Even if we don’t make the top 6 this season and then say next season we are up there we will still have results like today

Wigans home record is top 6. Have recently beaten Bolton and Leyton Orient. They don’t score many and they don’t concede many. Today was going to be tough and that’s how it turned out to be. They set up well and frustrated us. On to Derby
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Your user name?

It reads like a sick joke to fans who have endured such dross on the road so often.

Wigan lost at home to Exeter and Charlton.

The Latics have also suffered defeats at lowly:
●Fleetwood.
●Port Vale
●Burton.
●Reading.

Excuses sound like Critchley's denials.
 
There’s a mentality problem at the club and a real lack of character and leadership on the pitch. It’s the only thing that explains the Jekyll and Hyde performances, lack of consistency and lack of fight. I honestly don’t think it’s tactical. These players just don’t seem to handle the pressure and lack the bottle and bite far too often when it’s needed. They’re all far too nice.

I still think Critchley is the right coach. The fact is we’re very close despite a crap start to the season, injuries to key men, and terrible away form. I think patience will pay off but the club have to find some sort of leadership on the pitch. Norburn only shows glimpses and we need a leader every game - in fact we need multiple leaders and strong characters. I don’t see any in this squad - and that’s the key difference between Critchleys squad first time around.
 
BestTrip said:
I thought Casey was excellent today. Some top quality tackles and coolness personified. He’s IMO our best Centre Back. Coulson was very positive going forward. Lavery gave us energy but…

Once again the front three were short on Goalscoring Quality. I can also see what Norborn gives but he needs runners either side of him and he doesn’t have that so he just looks ineffective. It was all abit boring. Once the opposition goes 1-0 up 9 times out of 10 that’s game over

I don’t understand the overreaction when we lose. Critchley looked peeved during his interview at the end - frustrated at us maybe. People seem to think we should be beating every one every week and that’s not how it goes. Our years in the top two divisions seem to have given people some sense of entitlement that we should still be there. We have to earn it. Just like Sunderland, just like Bolton, juts like Portsmouth etc. We are going to lose games like today over the course of the season. It’s just how it goes. Even if we don’t make the top 6 this season and then say next season we are up there we will still have results like today

Wigans home record is top 6. Have recently beaten Bolton and Leyton Orient. They don’t score many and they don’t concede many. Today was going to be tough and that’s how it turned out to be. They set up well and frustrated us. On to Derby
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One of the best summaries I have read today.. i totally agree about Casey he was our best player.. I like Gabriel but he is not an attacking wing back. You might as well put Hamilton on. I thought he would have flourished in the first half with the size of that pitch and the space it would have given him.
 
Notathome said:
Definitely not made up. I'm surprised as you missed it. I seem to remember £440,000 was the exact figure. I can't be the only person who saw this!
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I thought it was 4 million for Yates plus we paid over a million for Joseph? (Might have been 3 million, need someone to clarify for us.
 
BestTrip said:
I thought Casey was excellent today. Some top quality tackles and coolness personified. He’s IMO our best Centre Back. Coulson was very positive going forward. Lavery gave us energy but…

Once again the front three were short on Goalscoring Quality. I can also see what Norborn gives but he needs runners either side of him and he doesn’t have that so he just looks ineffective. It was all abit boring. Once the opposition goes 1-0 up 9 times out of 10 that’s game over

I don’t understand the overreaction when we lose. Critchley looked peeved during his interview at the end - frustrated at us maybe. People seem to think we should be beating every one every week and that’s not how it goes. Our years in the top two divisions seem to have given people some sense of entitlement that we should still be there. We have to earn it. Just like Sunderland, just like Bolton, juts like Portsmouth etc. We are going to lose games like today over the course of the season. It’s just how it goes. Even if we don’t make the top 6 this season and then say next season we are up there we will still have results like today

Wigans home record is top 6. Have recently beaten Bolton and Leyton Orient. They don’t score many and they don’t concede many. Today was going to be tough and that’s how it turned out to be. They set up well and frustrated us. On to Derby
Click to expand...
Very measured. Pool have trailed 1-0 16 times in the league. They have won 3, drawn 2 and lost 11. By comparison Portsmouth have been behind 1-0 11 times. They have won 6, drawn 3 and only lost 2
 
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