New Manager - Critchley confirmed

[Der Kaiser]

The number of games means we're kind of forced to use players in rotation who have shown for a while that their future is not at Tynie.

 

 

 

 

[whodanny]

5 hours ago, Gavman81 said:

I think Bongo is David Witteveen 

I think Bongo loves all the attention.

[gorgieshuffle]

2 minutes ago, Der Kaiser said:

The number of games means we're kind of forced to use players in rotation who have shown for a while that their future is not at Tynie.

 

 

 

 

That’s the biggest issue and why we're in for a rough ride. We’re having to use players that we know can’t be relied on. Critchley has a hell of a job managing this schedule with this group of players. This will certainly look bleaker before it can get better. Need to strap ourselves in. Need a win on Saturday and hopefully a season turning moment in one of a number of high profile games coming up. 

[Nelly Terraces]

Pretty clear from tonight the guy has a gargantuan job on his hands given the dreadful squad & situation over a lack of striker & Shankland acting like a Grade A ^^^^.

 

You can see from the 1st half the style of play he's trying to implement, but with catastrophic defending like tonight there's not much you can do to put it right unless you get better personnel in.

[The Maroon Jacket]

I think half the squad know they won't be here next season and have chucked it, I hope NC just brings in a few more youngsters until the window opens, something is rotten and the poison in the dressing room that got Naismith sacked still exists at the club that needs kicked out first before we can galvanize and move forwards 

Edited October 31, 2024 by Howdy Doody Jambo

[Watt-Zeefuik]

To me he's played too many of the same players too many games in a row. We tired in the second half and that's when Killie jumped on us.

[WT Laurie]

20 minutes ago, BackOfTheNet said:

Have already questioned the decisions of who gets selected on the bench as opposed to who gets left out (from a purely motivational standpoint for younger players) but the last two games have made me question his substitution choices.

 

We praised him in his first game for having the balls to sub Shankland, but maybe that was just to save him for Europe. Against Omonia he brought Penrice on at left wing, which was odd, since Salazar could have done that job better by all accounts, then Kingsley goes off injured and Penrice goes back, yet Salazar doesn’t come on still. But still we won the games so wasn’t a huge deal.

 

Then on Sunday he’s praised for Wilson, but in all honesty taking off our midfield and having Grant and Spittal as a central midfield was a mad risk. Especially since Spittal became ineffectual and Boateng could and should have stayed on so that we could protect and allow attackers to attack better.

 

Tonight? Kilmarnock LOVED Vargas going off. Might not be a fan favourite right now, but he drags a defence around the place. Takes them out wide, brings them deep with him and they constantly worried about his pace. He comes off and they don’t have to worry about pace or channel running etc. He’s replaced by Grant so Killie’s defence just concentrate on Shankland and Forrest, and it’s easy to keep them quiet. And McKay for Spittal? Spittal and Penrice were causing Kilmarnock problems, and any threat we had disappeared when he came on.

 

I wasn’t happy with who was picked and who wasn’t, but at least it was bench and not in squad as opposed to who starts, but getting the bench wrong leads to getting subs wrong. This is the first test he’s faced, and honestly it’s not a huge one. I’d be expecting much, much better.

What clown wrote this 

[BackOfTheNet]

9 minutes ago, WT Laurie said:

What clown wrote this 

Get over yourself. We’re allowed to question managers and players when their output is questionable.

[WT Laurie]

4 minutes ago, BackOfTheNet said:

Get over yourself. We’re allowed to question managers and players when their output is questionable.

As I said …. What clown wrote this 

[feedthefox]

37 minutes ago, S Form said:

If he can’t figure out how to play against a low block then there is literally no point in him being here. 

 

Certainly not having 2 cdms in front of a back 4. We were gifted the ball right up to just inside their half so there was next to no play to break up, I'd have like an extra player higher up pitch in-between the lines. He may well be long past his best but I'd like to have seen Boyce on as he can hold the ball up higher up the pitch and bring other players in. Was disappointed in Critchley's tactical response to going behind it seemed that all we did was swap some personnel and didn't make any tactical changes. Keeping Devlin on until 75mins long after we'd gone behind was utterly baffling too.

[gregzy2k7]

Needs to coach Rowles and Kent to get in the gym and start building some f-ing Muscles.

 

Feel sorry for him already. Clearly has his work cut out for him.

[Jocam2325]

6 hours ago, Watt-Zeefuik said:

To me he's played too many of the same players too many games in a row. We tired in the second half and that's when Killie jumped on us.

I get that but what is the alternative. Our squad has no depth, there is barely anything on that bench that adds anything positive. We're in trouble. 

[Dazo]

Thought he hit the subs wrong last night. We comfortably controlled the game in the first half but we seemed to die a death very early in the second. Right back for right back seemed pointless, Vargas although frustrating he was causing problems with his pace. At least he will clearly know what he’s up against now especially in his own dressing room. 

[loveofthegame]

He’s not to blame for that squad of charlatans but persisting with McKay and Grant off the bench is frustrating to say the least.

 

The RB situ isn’t his fault but we don’t have a competent RB in the squad (Forrester may get there in time but for now he’s not at the level we need) and Dhanda should either be played at number 10 or not played at all- he is never a winger.

 

His job has to be just to keep us in touch with 10/11th until January. It’s unbelievable that’s where we are but it is appearing ever more to be the case.

[kingantti1874]

1 hour ago, Jocam2325 said:

I get that but what is the alternative. Our squad has no depth, there is barely anything on that bench that adds anything positive. We're in trouble. 

 

 

7 hours ago, Watt-Zeefuik said:

To me he's played too many of the same players too many games in a row. We tired in the second half and that's when Killie jumped on us.

I think there’s an element of truth here, same happened v hibs where we gassed out in the second half.

 

i can’t believe I’m gonna say this, we have to sacrifice Europe and rotate heavily. Try and beat Petrocub in the last fixture. We can’t sustain this number of  games with the “trusted” pool of players 

[kingantti1874]

2 minutes ago, loveofthegame said:

He’s not to blame for that squad of charlatans but persisting with McKay and Grant off the bench is frustrating to say the least.

 

The RB situ isn’t his fault but we don’t have a competent RB in the squad (Forrester may get there in time but for now he’s not at the level we need) and Dhanda should either be played at number 10 or not played at all- he is never a winger.

 

His job has to be just to keep us in touch with 10/11th until January. It’s unbelievable that’s where we are but it is appearing ever more to be the case.

we have no one else to bring on to change a game.  Hands are tied 

[tartofmidlothian]

8 hours ago, BackOfTheNet said:

Have already questioned the decisions of who gets selected on the bench as opposed to who gets left out (from a purely motivational standpoint for younger players) but the last two games have made me question his substitution choices.

 

We praised him in his first game for having the balls to sub Shankland, but maybe that was just to save him for Europe. Against Omonia he brought Penrice on at left wing, which was odd, since Salazar could have done that job better by all accounts, then Kingsley goes off injured and Penrice goes back, yet Salazar doesn’t come on still. But still we won the games so wasn’t a huge deal.

 

Then on Sunday he’s praised for Wilson, but in all honesty taking off our midfield and having Grant and Spittal as a central midfield was a mad risk. Especially since Spittal became ineffectual and Boateng could and should have stayed on so that we could protect and allow attackers to attack better.

 

Tonight? Kilmarnock LOVED Vargas going off. Might not be a fan favourite right now, but he drags a defence around the place. Takes them out wide, brings them deep with him and they constantly worried about his pace. He comes off and they don’t have to worry about pace or channel running etc. He’s replaced by Grant so Killie’s defence just concentrate on Shankland and Forrest, and it’s easy to keep them quiet. And McKay for Spittal? Spittal and Penrice were causing Kilmarnock problems, and any threat we had disappeared when he came on.

 

I wasn’t happy with who was picked and who wasn’t, but at least it was bench and not in squad as opposed to who starts, but getting the bench wrong leads to getting subs wrong. This is the first test he’s faced, and honestly it’s not a huge one. I’d be expecting much, much better.

 

I thought most of the subs made sense. Forrester's just a young lad and was starting to get bullied off the ball going forward, although sadly Oyegoke had a real mare when he came on. Vargas and Spittal both had very good games before they went off, they set each other up with cracking chances, but they were tiring when they were subbed.

 

The only one that puzzled me was McKay coming on, it should have been Dhanda, at least he gets his sleeves rolled up.

[joondalupjambo]

At the St Mirren game Nc's off sider was off his seat giving it large to the players.  Was not at the Euro game so not sure if he was the same.  Last night though was he ever out of the dug out?

[Chuck Berry]

9 hours ago, BackOfTheNet said:

Have already questioned the decisions of who gets selected on the bench as opposed to who gets left out (from a purely motivational standpoint for younger players) but the last two games have made me question his substitution choices.

 

We praised him in his first game for having the balls to sub Shankland, but maybe that was just to save him for Europe. Against Omonia he brought Penrice on at left wing, which was odd, since Salazar could have done that job better by all accounts, then Kingsley goes off injured and Penrice goes back, yet Salazar doesn’t come on still. But still we won the games so wasn’t a huge deal.

 

Then on Sunday he’s praised for Wilson, but in all honesty taking off our midfield and having Grant and Spittal as a central midfield was a mad risk. Especially since Spittal became ineffectual and Boateng could and should have stayed on so that we could protect and allow attackers to attack better.

 

Tonight? Kilmarnock LOVED Vargas going off. Might not be a fan favourite right now, but he drags a defence around the place. Takes them out wide, brings them deep with him and they constantly worried about his pace. He comes off and they don’t have to worry about pace or channel running etc. He’s replaced by Grant so Killie’s defence just concentrate on Shankland and Forrest, and it’s easy to keep them quiet. And McKay for Spittal? Spittal and Penrice were causing Kilmarnock problems, and any threat we had disappeared when he came on.

 

I wasn’t happy with who was picked and who wasn’t, but at least it was bench and not in squad as opposed to who starts, but getting the bench wrong leads to getting subs wrong. This is the first test he’s faced, and honestly it’s not a huge one. I’d be expecting much, much better.

 

Bang on, hooking Vargas for Grant last night was absolutely baffling, along with taking off Spittal. Those are changes that make sense when we have a lead to defend.

 

I'm fairly sure one of the criticisms levelled at him in his second spell at Blackpool was that they turned into a predictable, side-to-side team with scattergun subs.  Sounds familiar. Be afraid.

[RustyRightPeg]

Here we go. 
 

Same group of players who have downed tools for 2 other managers yet we’ve got people going after Critchley after 2 weeks. 
 

Let him root the dressing room cancers out and bring his own players in before we start the whole “back to side to side pish”. 
 

Boring.

[Chuck Berry]

1 minute ago, RustyRightPeg said:

Here we go. 
 

Same group of players who have downed tools for 2 other managers yet we’ve got people going after Critchley after 2 weeks. 
 

Let him root the dressing room cancers out and bring his own players in before we start the whole “back to side to side pish”. 
 

Boring.

 

Boring, but true I'm afraid.

[bobskeldon]

1 hour ago, tartofmidlothian said:

 

I thought most of the subs made sense. Forrester's just a young lad and was starting to get bullied off the ball going forward, although sadly Oyegoke had a real mare when he came on. Vargas and Spittal both had very good games before they went off, they set each other up with cracking chances, but they were tiring when they were subbed.

 

The only one that puzzled me was McKay coming on, it should have been Dhanda, at least he gets his sleeves rolled up.

How could you be there last night and say Vargas was good? Spittal was very good, Vargas was dreadful and it is indicative of how short we are that he even makes the match day squad never mind starts every game. 

[Nelly Terraces]

More honest assessment from Critchley after last nights Halloween horror at Tynie: "A big learning curve for me tonight... I learned a lot about the players & I'll learn a lot about the players in the next few days..." Yeah, I'm sure it was & you will, mate. 

 

Good luck to the guy, he's really gonna need it as inherited an utter sh*tshow at HMFC & turning it round mid season is gonna be a gargantuan task as he's been handed the biggest hospital pass going from the previous management & board.
Neil Critchley explains Hearts' loss to Kilmarnock - and a message for Lawrence Shankland

[Hashimoto]

1 minute ago, RustyRightPeg said:

Here we go. 
 

Same group of players who have downed tools for 2 other managers yet we’ve got people going after Critchley after 2 weeks. 
 

Let him root the dressing room cancers out and bring his own players in before we start the whole “back to side to side pish”. 
 

Boring.

100% correct. It's the players who have assumed the role of physiological leaders and have basically stuck 2 fingers up to anyone who has come into the club.
The players are running the show unfortunately.

Never a good idea to promote ex players already at the club into key roles.....Naismith was never boss or gaffer, it was always Naisy. Let's kick that informality into touch right away. They would never had got away with with Jefferies.

Critchley had better be a real mean b@stard, or they'll see him out the door next.

 

[BackOfTheNet]

1 hour ago, tartofmidlothian said:

 

I thought most of the subs made sense. Forrester's just a young lad and was starting to get bullied off the ball going forward, although sadly Oyegoke had a real mare when he came on. Vargas and Spittal both had very good games before they went off, they set each other up with cracking chances, but they were tiring when they were subbed.

 

The only one that puzzled me was McKay coming on, it should have been Dhanda, at least he gets his sleeves rolled up.

 

14 minutes ago, Chuck Berry said:

 

Bang on, hooking Vargas for Grant last night was absolutely baffling, along with taking off Spittal. Those are changes that make sense when we have a lead to defend.

 

I'm fairly sure one of the criticisms levelled at him in his second spell at Blackpool was that they turned into a predictable, side-to-side team with scattergun subs.  Sounds familiar. Be afraid.

I actually get substituting for fitness, Vargas in particular had to travel back from Central America before hitting this run of games, and we have another one on Saturday. But when Kilmarnock are struggling with Vargas’ movement and the combination play between Spittal and Penrice (and Spittal’s playmaker plays) then if you’re taking them off because they’re tired then you have to make sure those threats still remain.

 

Putting Dhanda where Spittal was would make more sense than putting him on the wing. Now, I understand there’s no like for like with Vargas when it comes to pace, but that’s what annoys me about the bench choices. Musa may be a raw talent, but he’s got pace and could have done that role of pinning back Kilmarnock’s defenders and keeping them second guessing. Instead we have Grant that just slowed down every attack as they were able to push up and our attacks became predictable with Shankland.

Edited October 31, 2024 by BackOfTheNet

[Pans Jambo]

2 minutes ago, RustyRightPeg said:

Here we go. 
 

Same group of players who have downed tools for 2 other managers yet we’ve got people going after Critchley after 2 weeks. 
 

Let him root the dressing room cancers out and bring his own players in before we start the whole “back to side to side pish”. 
 

Boring.

Very true.

Critchley's job now (for me) is to maintain our place in the league as he's not going to get a tune from this lot.

January wont see very much player changes I don't think. Its a difficult transfer window and in McKinley's quarterly interview, he said that the squad was very big and Critchley wants it a bit smaller. That's code for a clear-out before getting 3 - 4 decent new players in. It's what's needed to be fair.

He needs a year, the 2 windows and a pre-season before we get the knives out IMO.

[theshed]

9 hours ago, Watt-Zeefuik said:

To me he's played too many of the same players too many games in a row. We tired in the second half and that's when Killie jumped on us.

He's came from down south where most clubs play 3 games in a week and travel further than what we do around the country and the players down there manage that….He’s probably now seen that our players aren’t fit enough to do this unlike his previous teams 

[RustyRightPeg]

1 minute ago, theshed said:

He's came from down south where most clubs play 3 games in a week and travel further than what we do around the country and the players down there manage that….He’s probably now seen that our players aren’t fit enough to do this unlike his previous teams 

He also got the shock of his life when he seen the fitness numbers after his first day in charge. 
 

Tidy on the ball, but a very unfit team. 

[PapaShango]

1 hour ago, tartofmidlothian said:

 

I thought most of the subs made sense. Forrester's just a young lad and was starting to get bullied off the ball going forward, although sadly Oyegoke had a real mare when he came on. Vargas and Spittal both had very good games before they went off, they set each other up with cracking chances, but they were tiring when they were subbed.

 

The only one that puzzled me was McKay coming on, it should have been Dhanda, at least he gets his sleeves rolled up.

Oyegoke put in one of the worst sub appearances I can remember. Looked like some punter that we got from the stand to play the last 20 minutes. He was utterly honking. 

[Chuck Berry]

12 minutes ago, Pans Jambo said:

He needs a year, the 2 windows and a pre-season before we get the knives out IMO.

 

He needs results, or he's gone.

[Lovecraft]

Hopefully been in contact with Villa or Liverpool to see if they have any young strikers we can loan in January.

 

 

[Lord Beni of Gorgie]

31 minutes ago, RustyRightPeg said:

He also got the shock of his life when he seen the fitness numbers after his first day in charge. 
 

Tidy on the ball, but a very unfit team. 

We are and have been for sometime a team of football snobs. It has to be lovely football, none of that industrial pish they play elsewhere.

[Hashimoto]

20 minutes ago, Lovecraft said:

Hopefully been in contact with Villa or Liverpool to see if they have any young strikers we can loan in January.

 

 

Stay away from EPL clubs.....They just dish out dross to other clubs. Past experience tell us that.

[RustyRightPeg]

Just now, Hashimoto said:

Stay away from EPL clubs.....They just dish out dross to other clubs. Past experience tell us that.

Dross like Simms?

[Hashimoto]

Just now, RustyRightPeg said:

Dross like Simms?

Naw....thinking more Woodburn

[Pans Jambo]

26 minutes ago, Chuck Berry said:

 

He needs results, or he's gone.

Theres zero chance hes away before the summer.

[Chuck Berry]

Just now, Pans Jambo said:

Theres zero chance hes away before the summer.

 

So if he replicates his QPR form, you think he'll still be here come January?  (I hope he doesn't BTW)

[HopeDiouf]

2 minutes ago, RustyRightPeg said:

Dross like Simms?

no, but can you think of any others that were any good?  I'm struggling 

[Hashimoto]

Just now, Pans Jambo said:

Theres zero chance hes away before the summer.

The thing is he's not going to be cut any slack with the support unfortunately. He'll get some time, but believe me that goodwill factor will disappear very quickly if he doesn't turn this around.

The mood amongst the support is turning again. Far too early and a joke to start talking about change. But he better be ready to batten down the hatches if things get as bad as last night was. 

[Pans Jambo]

3 minutes ago, Chuck Berry said:

 

So if he replicates his QPR form, you think he'll still be here come January?  (I hope he doesn't BTW)

Theyre not his players. He did improve the situation when he arrived. The players are the issue. The board will give him time.

Edited October 31, 2024 by Pans Jambo

[We_are_the_Hearts]

Just now, Pans Jambo said:

Their not his players. He did improve the situation when he arrived. The players are the issue. The board will give him time.

Exactly, 4 managers later I'm sure everyone can see that.

[Hashimoto]

1 minute ago, Pans Jambo said:

Their not his players. He did improve the situation when he arrived. The players are the issue. The board will give him time.

The board will give him time. Will the board give him any MONEY? 

[kingantti1874]

Who’d have predicted this sort of chat eh.  
 

I was concerned over his appointment for 2 reasons.

 

1. he was sacked at Blackpool for boring turgid defensive football and overcomplicating things.  Now so far that fear hasn’t played out albeit last night imo wasn’t at all good.  I think its hands are tied with this squad.
 

2. because he wasn’t universally popular appointment that he wouldn’t get any time.  This 100% is going to happen.   If we don’t win at the weekend you can bet your ****ing arses knives will be out already. Which is ridiculous but it’s going to happen.  
 

now, again - before I take another kicking I have been impressed with him.  I think he does need time but he won’t get it. It’s not his fault but  He has to find a way to get results fast.  We need to be solid, hard to beat, work our tits off and be direct when we need to.

 

what a ****ing mess

Edited October 31, 2024 by kingantti1874

[Pans Jambo]

5 minutes ago, Hashimoto said:

The board will give him time. Will the board give him any MONEY? 

Who knows mate. McKinley said the two Euro games we won is what Hearts budgeted for so that money has already been allocated. Maybe if we get another couple of wins/draws then that may go to the squad building. Maybe the Bloom money will turn up (if there's any). We might get a £30M bid for our Vargas in January 

EDIT: McKinley did say they were looking at 'ONE' player that they want to sign in January. Who knows who that is though.

Edited October 31, 2024 by Pans Jambo

[HopeDiouf]

1 minute ago, kingantti1874 said:

Who’d have predicted this sort of chat eh.  
 

I was concerned over his appointment for 2 reasons.

 

1. he was sacked at Blackpool for boring turgid defensive football and overcomplicating things.  Now so far that fear hasn’t played out albeit last night imo wasn’t at all good.  I think its hands are tied thus. 
 

2. because he wasn’t universally popular that he wouldn’t get any time.  This 100% is going to happen.   If we don’t win at the weekend you can bet your ****ing arses knives will be out already. Which is ridiculous but it’s going to happen.  
 

now, again - before I take another kicking I have been impressed with him.  I think he does need time but he won’t get it. It’s not his fault but  He has to find a way to get results fast.  We need to be solid, hard to beat, work our tits off and be direct when we need to.

 

what a ****ing mess

don't really blame him for last night.  He'll have learned a bit about our defenders tho.  Glad to see he called it out in his post match.  Hope he gets some time, I like the way we've tried to play so far (soft defending aside)

Edited October 31, 2024 by HopeDiouf

[tartofmidlothian]

1 hour ago, bobskeldon said:

How could you be there last night and say Vargas was good? Spittal was very good, Vargas was dreadful and it is indicative of how short we are that he even makes the match day squad never mind starts every game. 

 

55 minutes ago, BackOfTheNet said:

 

I actually get substituting for fitness, Vargas in particular had to travel back from Central America before hitting this run of games, and we have another one on Saturday. But when Kilmarnock are struggling with Vargas’ movement and the combination play between Spittal and Penrice (and Spittal’s playmaker plays) then if you’re taking them off because they’re tired then you have to make sure those threats still remain.

 

Putting Dhanda where Spittal was would make more sense than putting him on the wing. Now, I understand there’s no like for like with Vargas when it comes to pace, but that’s what annoys me about the bench choices. Musa may be a raw talent, but he’s got pace and could have done that role of pinning back Kilmarnock’s defenders and keeping them second guessing. Instead we have Grant that just slowed down every attack as they were able to push up and our attacks became predictable with Shankland.

 

We all know Vargas' end product hasn't been what it should be, but last night he kept running and stretching their defence, he made them work for it. Plus he had two identical cutbacks to pick out Spittal, one saw Spits shoot an inch wide and the other had him move it to Forrest to score.

 

Vargas was one of the few who can hold his head up after last night.

[jtkb]

Feel for the manager  has been left a load of dross to play with. When you look at that bench last night there was no game changers or energetic players we could bring on. The first half we were the better team. Killie are a awful team to face just a route one team full of hoofballers. We are now in a real dog fight to stay in this league . January can not come quick enough we may need to loan or buy our way out of this mess. And if we stay up big clear out required. Can not believe we have ended in this mess. Naismith has done us in proper😠

[Chuck Berry]

20 minutes ago, Pans Jambo said:

Theyre not his players. He did improve the situation when he arrived. The players are the issue. The board will give him time.

 

They are not Thelin's players either, they were shit last season, now look at them.

 

NC strikes me as a Neilson/Naismith clone.

 

Would you give him time if we're in the same position come, say February?

[Chuck Berry]

10 minutes ago, tartofmidlothian said:

 

 

We all know Vargas' end product hasn't been what it should be, but last night he kept running and stretching their defence, he made them work for it. Plus he had two identical cutbacks to pick out Spittal, one saw Spits shoot an inch wide and the other had him move it to Forrest to score.

 

Vargas was one of the few who can hold his head up after last night.

 

I'm not a huge Vargas fan, but at the moment we have to utilise him to stretch defences and he was doing that last night with effect as you have highlighted.  Then we replaced him with Grant 🤦‍♂️

[We_are_the_Hearts]

3 minutes ago, Chuck Berry said:

 

They are not Thelin's players either, they were shit last season, now look at them.

 

NC strikes me as a Neilson/Naismith clone.

 

Would you give him time if we're in the same position come, say February?

That's all down to momentum, confidence and mentality. There's not much between all the teams in this League outside Celtic. Critchley inherited this squad of weak players, they should go before he does.