| Blackpool boss explains the thinking behind his team selections 20:33 - Feb 13 with 222 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Neil Critchley insists he wants to develop a settled Blackpool side but hasn’t ruled out making further tweaks as and when required.
Pool’s head coach received criticism last weekend when he opted to change from the usual 4-4-2 formation to counter the threat posed by Ipswich Town.
Deadline day signing Elliot Embleton was handed a debut in a number 10 role just off Jerry Yates as the Seasiders lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system.
While they dominated the first half, it was a change that ultimately failed to pay off as Critchley’s side slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Portman Road.
Responding to accusations he tinkers too often and ought to focus on his own team rather than worrying about the opposition, Critchley said: “You just pick the best team you feel has got the best chance of winning the game.
“There are so many factors you have to take into account during the season: the amount of games; people who have not had pre-seasons; people who have injuries or coronavirus; how many players have played consecutive games; who’s in form; who’s not in form. There are loads of connotations you have to think about.
“We’re trying to work towards a settled, strong team but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t decide to change one or two players in certain positions.
“A little tweak tactically can give you a huge advantage sometimes and I think we’ve proven that this season in some of the games.
“You take every game in isolation. The opposition you play against throws up different problems for you to solve or for us to give them different problems. Because of that, personnel sometimes changes.
“On Tuesday night (the postponed game against Burton Albion), it came off the back of a long away journey at Ipswich and now we’ve had longer to recover physically.
“There are loads of different permutations and scenarios you take into account for every game and we obviously spend a lot of time selecting what we feel will be the right team to play.”
Blackpool have played some of their best football so far this season when the duo of Gary Madine and Yates have been partnered together in attack.
Madine, who has missed Blackpool’s last two games with a groin injury, has scored seven goals in his last 15 outings.
Yates, for his part, has netted 10 from his last 19 appearances.
When asked how the duo compare to some of the division’s other top strikers, Critchley said: “It depends how you compare.
“A lot of teams don’t play with two centre-forwards, they only play with one.
“As a partnership, Gary and Jerry have been fantastic for us and one that has improved playing together with the consistency and continuity they’ve had.
“They’ve hit it off and they’ve worked well together, so that’s been a big plus for our team this season.”
https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sport/football/blackpool-fc/blackpool-boss-ex | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
| |  |
| Blackpool boss explains the thinking behind his team selections on 19:36 - Feb 14 with 208 views | spell_chekker |
A traditional 4-4-2 with 2 out and out wide men is nice for 3 reasons:
1. dominate and spank the arses of crap teams.
2. Have a go for it if you want to win a game - switch to this system by using subs late on.
3. Shore up he backline with a simple - 2 banks of 4 - system.
I'd prefer to go with a 4-4-2 if the midfield 4 were a narrow diamond. It suits our players better.
We haven't got Feeney (nor anyone on the left) to play a wide 4-4-2. The whole concept is a load of horse s$lt.
Play a diamond - that could work very nicely at the moment - or take the fan pressure, and lose matches while learning a more progressive system, this season. In other words 'take a hit'.
Remember pre-season: Critchley's first love was a 4-1-2-3 system with Robson as the fulcrum.
Very attacking and front foot. Ambitious.
Very difficult to make it work all at once but, if done well, would destroy teams in L1 and above.
Time is needed to develop a style of play and too much time has been wasted on 4-4-2 because of the need to get points on the board and alleviate fan pressure.
Everybody knows that all the best teams play some variation of 4-3-3!!! | |
| |
| Blackpool boss explains the thinking behind his team selections on 19:48 - Feb 14 with 207 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Problem is Spell. we just don't have the players for 4-3-3 at the moment | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
| |
| Blackpool boss explains the thinking behind his team selections on 19:52 - Feb 14 with 204 views | spell_chekker |
Nor the players for a 4-4-2.
Even a 3-at-the-back would be good in certain circumstances.
I like Critchley. He knows, and is open to all this fluid stuff.
Personally, he's made me think more about football strategies that the last 20 Blackpool managers combined. | |
| |
| Blackpool boss explains the thinking behind his team selections on 20:13 - Feb 14 with 202 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
I'd go 3-5-2, but who do you play wide in the 5? Hamilton, Anderson crocked, Garbutt is a sick note atm, Lubala runs up more blind alleys than Stevie Wonder, and Kaikai is badly out of form. | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
| |
| Blackpool boss explains the thinking behind his team selections on 20:47 - Feb 14 with 199 views | spell_chekker |
Yes, of course, a 3 at the back would suit our current players,
But is it an efficient system?
Barcelona would say YES !! because there is one defender less. THERFORE we can have more / an extra player to dominate the opposition in midfield / attack.
Steve Evans would say - it enables us to pack the middle and get 5 at the back.
Gareth Southgate plays a 3 at the back possession game for England.
One of the best L1 teams in recent years - Darren Ferguson's Peterborough - play the attacking version of 3 a t the back (3-4-3).
GereraLly, in L1, it's a pile of horse shit.
In L1, 3 at the back is played as a spoiling system.
It gets points on the table if you lack quality and are prepared to battle.
Pack the middle of the park, defend in numbers, nick one on the break.
CONCLUSION
I'd say that our ultimate objective is much more than L1 survival.
Therefore - 3 at the back is out of the window. | |
| |
| Blackpool boss explains the thinking behind his team selections on 20:52 - Feb 14 with 195 views | spell_chekker |
There are no 2 ways about it.
Of course. There, there are exceptions.
However, if you want to be promoted from L1 - and then the championship - you've got to be the best at playing whatever version of 4-3-3. | |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
