Neil Critchley

January 19

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Edited January 19 by Romulus

January 19

10 hours ago, JJ1984 said:

Crap so far, people are trying to fool themselves if they are saying he's been good. We are second bottom and just lost to the shite at home, not good enough and no excuse.

😂😂😂 ... a slavering foamer 😂

January 19

8 hours ago, Cruyff said:

The last 3 league games we've improved.

Before that, some horrendous performances and results.

Point still stands. Since he has been in we have been the 4th best team.

January 19

He comes across well and seems a very nice guy so I hope it works out.

Good results to note were Utd on the road and the consecutive clean sheets.

For me he doesn't have a lot of credit in the bank as he oversaw the dismal Hibs, Petrocub and Kilmarnock displays, and to add his subs directly led to is not winning in Dingwall where we were in control.

I'm not sure what changed but our players quickly stopped playing the style of St Mirren and Omonia, we then had a bad run after a decent start but things look to be picking up.

I hope the board back him so he gets his players in as we need to get away from 11th ASAP.

January 19

NC is doing a very good job. It must be remembered that our league position is not down to him, and is the legacy of the mess Naismith et al left us. Since NC took over our points tally is that of a top half team. Given the state of what he took over that’s pretty fecking good.

January 19

26 minutes ago, Dallas Green said:

Point still stands. Since he has been in we have been the 4th best team.

Some people just don’t want to get that.

Edited January 19 by siegementality

January 19

5 minutes ago, siegementality said:

Some people just don’t want to get that.

I think the disappointment is it should be more. We should be able to hang on for 2mins vs County, beat a team with 10 men for 90mins and score a penalty.

The last I'll cut some slack as that's not in the managers control but 4th on form is good, but we should be better off than that.

January 19

3 hours ago, GinRummy said:

Jury still out for me. Feels like we are heading in the right direction though so see where we are at the end of the season.

I'm mostly here too. But per my OP, I'm starting to think he might be not just a handy manager but exactly the guy to get the best out of a Jamestown squad. Fingers crossed, anyway.

January 19

According to Blackie, he has also had to deal with mischief makers in the dressing room to begin with as well.

The new signings appear to be an upgrade on those being replaced, possibly 1 or two more, if they all start, which looks likely, half of the 10 outfield players are new faces.

Summer window according to McKinley is already identifying targets, so this will be Critchley’s team from then on, which is when he should be judged.

January 19

Since Petrocub we've beaten St Johnstone, Motherwell, Dundee United and Brechin. Drawn with Ross County and Aberdeen. Lost to Hibs!

One of those clubs one is going down, and another in all honesty will probably be involved in the playoff. Two, possibly three of them are currently in freefall. One of them is 4/5 ;evels of football below us. Only one of them is going through a wee purple patch, and we never looked likely against them, if truth be told.

We look more difficult to beat, and that's a good start. He's undoubtedly improved the individual performances of ..., err, Cammy! :lol:

I'll not say anything else.

Edited January 19 by ArcticJambo

January 19

11 minutes ago, sac said:

According to Blackie, he has also had to deal with mischief makers in the dressing room to begin with as well.

The new signings appear to be an upgrade on those being replaced, possibly 1 or two more, if they all start, which looks likely, half of the 10 outfield players are new faces.

Summer window according to McKinley is already identifying targets, so this will be Critchley’s team from then on, which is when he should be judged.

Good post, Critchley has diplomatically dealt with the mischief makers, he will clear the decks fully in summer and then have a team that is fully his. Any players that were already here can join the journey or feck off.

I like NC and can see what he is trying to achieve. If he gets a convincing win against any team in the top six ? That, for me would be a considerable marker in the direction I think and hope we are going.

January 19

19 minutes ago, sac said:

According to Blackie, he has also had to deal with mischief makers in the dressing room to begin with as well.

The new signings appear to be an upgrade on those being replaced, possibly 1 or two more, if they all start, which looks likely, half of the 10 outfield players are new faces.

Summer window according to McKinley is already identifying targets, so this will be Critchley’s team from then on, which is when he should be judged.

Thats interesting I'd missed that I think?

Not really surprised, large parts of this squad have got 2 managers sacked. Probably time to move a good few of them on.

January 19

He always looks quite cheery in interviews.

January 19

The Hibs game and upsetting the defence in the 94th minute at Ross County were two he got majorly wrong. But he’s doing a good job overall, and that’s with this terrible squad. Excited to see who he can bring in and what the future holds. I like him.

January 19

One thought I had this SC weekend was, the now almost annual trip to Hampden where we buy tickets, pay for buses, head to social clubs in the West, sing our heids aff, then the team shits the bed, hardly kicks a ball and before you know it, we are knocked out another semi and heading back along the M8.

I think it could be different under NC, I think he does not fear the old firm, its just another game for him, his concern will be getting the players to play the game they would have worked on all week at training, it in all probability not happen this year but when NC gets to take HIS team to Hampden, I think we will play our best football in a semi or a final and we won't freeze on the day as we have done in recent times, I think we have some good times coming our way.

January 19

57 minutes ago, tartofmidlothian said:

I'm mostly here too. But per my OP, I'm starting to think he might be not just a handy manager but exactly the guy to get the best out of a Jamestown squad. Fingers crossed, anyway.

Here's hoping 👍

January 19

13 hours ago, tartofmidlothian said:

Think that's me on board the Critchley train for now, anyone else?

First class return ticket for me please, as close to the bar coach as possible 😃

January 19

I think given time and resources he'll get us back where we all want

January 19

It’s a hard situation to judge when you take over a struggling side. Having said that if you were to judge you have to say we’re improving.

We can’t keep chopping and changing on a whim. If he keeps us up by the skin of our teeth by finishing tenth then he deserves a full season thereafter, giving him time to change the squad into what he feels is required.

There was naturally always going to be bumps in the road (results pointed out above a few times already) but can that really be held against him?

I think it’s been a collision of two worlds this season. A manager being found out with too much pressure and a squad built with imbalance(Naismith), and some players abruptly falling off a cliff in form and quality, reaching their use by date.

A season can quickly run away when you are in the mire and it was always a steady the ship job for NC….and we aren’t even there yet though!

Edited January 19 by Debut 4

January 19

3 minutes ago, Debut 4 said:

It’s a hard situation to judge when you take over a struggling side. Having said that if you were to judge you have to say we’re improving.

We can’t keep chopping and changing on a whim. If he keeps us up by the skin of our teeth by finishing tenth then he deserves a full season thereafter, giving him time to change the squad into what he feels is required.

There was naturally always going to be bumps in the road (results pointed out above a few times already) but can that really be held against him?

I think it’s been a collision of two worlds this season. A manager being found out with too much pressure and a squad built with imbalance(Naismith), and some players abruptly falling off a cliff in form and quality, reaching their use by date.

A season can quickly run away when you are in the mire and it was always a steady the ship job for NC….and we aren’t even there yet though!

Also injuries to Hoff, Taylor, Kingsley, Kent, Beni meant lots of chopping and changing.

with a fit starting 11 including the newbies we will improve and finish the season stronger

January 19

Small praise at best from me.

We are still 2nd bottom, we couldn’t get out of the easiest European group we could ever imagine and his record overall has been bang average.

If you take away the away win at United (good performance) it’s difficult to see anything other than “doing ok but must do a lot better”

We are 10 games from the split and 11th. If we don’t make it he needs to be binned and we start again.

January 19

He is certainly getting a better shape of the team moving forward. Think we will see a good team at hearts next season.

A good mobile midfielder and pace out wide will make a big difference.

January 19

We are still second bottom but the results in other games are just utterly bizarre at the moment. Teams around us getting points from the old firm, Ross County on an unbelievable run, Aberdeen in complete free fall, Killie scraping results, Dundee battling for every point. This entire league table could flip over the next 3 games. St Johnstone are the only real certainty at the moment. Aberdeen are 4th but if they slip into the bottom 6 they could be in serious bother. Never seen a league like it.

As others have said were 4th in the form table most seasons that would see us comfortably clear of the relegation zone by now.

He’s doing a decent job, as new faces arrive we’ll find out what he’s about, he’s here to work in the JT model which means he’s got to coach and improve players as they arrive. Some of the players he’s inherited are beyond coaching for one reason or another and rightly so they’ll be shipped out.

January 19

3 minutes ago, Anti VAR Association said:

Small praise at best from me.

We are still 2nd bottom, we couldn’t get out of the easiest European group we could ever imagine and his record overall has been bang average.

If you take away the away win at United (good performance) it’s difficult to see anything other than “doing ok but must do a lot better”

We are 10 games from the split and 11th. If we don’t make it he needs to be binned and we start again.

The Petrocub game really, really ****ing annoyed me. But, I've been looking at this season as very much Critchley is captain of a sinking ship, and his sole job is to trundle it through into Port. He's dealing with a mentality within the group of players of basically how low can you go - Worst start to a season in living memory, shocking European result, early exit in the cup to Falkirk, throwing away a win in Dingwall - Christ, even against Brechin we looked like we found a way to drop to below their level in the first half.

IMHO NC can't properly be assessed until next season, however, his job for the first part of the season was to sort out as much as could be sorted out, which I'd say has been achieved (since he's came in, we're 5th if we go from that date), we're off the bottom and a couple more wins will drag us into contention for top 6. Now, he's got an opportuntiy to do some surgery on the squad, and I think a lot more judgement can be made from now until the end of the season.

People being heavily negative towards him need to take a breath. What he inherited was a disgrace and a complete and utter ****ing mess. Any manager would have struggled to turn that around.

January 19

It'll be interesting to see how we do now that he's got more time to work with the players mid-week instead of just keeping them ticking over for the next game. Might go two ways. His coaching is excellent and we really kick on. Or it's dull and uninspiring and we're shite.

Fingers crossed it's the first one.

January 19

2 hours ago, ArcticJambo said:

Since Petrocub we've beaten St Johnstone, Motherwell, Dundee United and Brechin. Drawn with Ross County and Aberdeen. Lost to Hibs!

One of those clubs one is going down, and another in all honesty will probably be involved in the playoff. Two, possibly three of them are currently in freefall. One of them is 4/5 ;evels of football below us. Only one of them is going through a wee purple patch, and we never looked likely against them, if truth be told.

We look more difficult to beat, and that's a good start. He's undoubtedly improved the individual performances of ..., err, Cammy!

I'll not say anything else.

Your last sentence is encouraging.

January 19

2 hours ago, sac said:

According to Blackie, he has also had to deal with mischief makers in the dressing room to begin with as well.

The new signings appear to be an upgrade on those being replaced, possibly 1 or two more, if they all start, which looks likely, half of the 10 outfield players are new faces.

Summer window according to McKinley is already identifying targets, so this will be Critchley’s team from then on, which is when he should be judged.

Who are the troublemakers though, hes bummed up everyone that people had said it could be, he doesn’t seem the two faced type to say that to the media and be harsher to the players.

January 19

He deserves a lot more credit than folk are giving atm, unfortunately that’s the nature of being sat 11th, we need to climb that table. But regardless of that, if we’d got this appointment wrong we’d be up shite creek with no paddle right now that’s for sure, given how competitive the league is. We could be sat down there adrift on 8-10-12 points. We had 2 points from the first 8 or 9 games iirc

He brings vast coaching experience which was very underrated by a lot of people. We’ve seen that quality coaching improve the performances of a number of individuals.

January 19

Its not a coincidence that our form has picked up since Shankland has been out, you defend from the front and we’ve looked better in every department and more of a team without him.
It looks like he put Shankland back in when he’s available, after a month with no training who knows when that will be, and it might make or break the rest of the season.

January 19

1 minute ago, A_A wehatethehibs said:

He deserves a lot more credit than folk are giving atm, unfortunately that’s the nature of being sat 11th, we need to climb that table. But regardless of that, if we’d got this appointment wrong we’d be up shite creek with no paddle right now that’s for sure, given how competitive the league is. We could be sat down there adrift on 8-10-12 points. We had 2 points from the first 8 or 9 games iirc

He brings vast coaching experience which was very underrated by a lot of people. We’ve seen that quality coaching improve the performances of a number of individuals.

His coaching experience is impressive, its the management side of dealing with experienced players, in game substitutions whilst dealing with tactical changes of the opposition that hasn’t really impressed so far anyway.

January 19

From what I have seen I like him and what he is doing. Performances have improved and he recognises and appears to be dealing with the weakness and imbalance in the squad we can all see.

It is though too early to judge him.

January 19

8 minutes ago, Pasquale for King said:

Who are the troublemakers though, hes bummed up everyone that people had said it could be, he doesn’t seem the two faced type to say that to the media and be harsher to the players.

We may never know who he implied, but my guess is they are not playing atm.

January 19

It's not easy to manage a team that contains people you don't want and aren't performing.

It's the same in many jobs, not just football teams. I've seen both sides as the demotivated employee and the manager with a weak link in a small team.

You can try to work with people, but sometimes they're just not interested in changing.

Next season is the time to judge Critchley properly when he has a squad he's identified and a pre-season to get his ideas across.

I didn't want him in the first place but he's done ok do far. I really want him to succeed as he seems like a top bloke.

January 19

2 minutes ago, sac said:

We may never know who he implied, but my guess is they are not playing atm.

Basically McKay then, apart from Oda who hasn’t been given q chance under NC and im not sure his English/Scottish is up to the job of troublemaker.

January 19

He, Jones and Jamestown are due credit for the signings already and those in the pipeline, identified the areas that need strengthening and if we get all 5, and lose another couple, we have had a fantastic window.

January 19

15 minutes ago, Pasquale for King said:

Who are the troublemakers though, hes bummed up everyone that people had said it could be, he doesn’t seem the two faced type to say that to the media and be harsher to the players.

I guess it depends on their reasons for being disruptive. Not playing, playing the wrong position? Could be anything and he's maybe addressed those problems which each player or group of players. He gave everyone a chance probably against his own judgement to start with so it was on the players to prove themselves.

The clubs entire ethos has been flipped by this JT link up, previously you had a cosy number at Hearts not anymore they’ll basically sell anyone for a price and if your not pulling your weight you’ll be binned and replaced.

January 19

The change in style is noticeable, and that is without his own players and team- I like it.

When we sacked Bob and many cited eye bleeding football, I never seen a change under Naismith and if anything we were more pragmatic in our approach.

There has definitely been a change in style and approach and NC is still building a team.

Guy has gotten us of bottom of the league to a position where we are looking up while carefully managing players returning and injuries and the managing the situation of many players not having a future at the club- very difficult.

Not perfect, but like previous managers it's not their fault none of our midfielders can score a goal or our striker has lost form, especially when they aren't even NC signings.

Ofc there are a section of agitators waiting to criticise, abuse and protest all so they can say "I was right about NC and Budge oot".

They will continue to drive and wedge in the support and undermine any good work being done.

He also comes across as likable and professional, and I think we are on to something good.

There will be bumps hopefully the support sees us through them and sees off the agitators who are destructive when we hit them.

Edited January 19 by Penrices left boot

January 19

4 minutes ago, Rudy T said:

I guess it depends on their reasons for being disruptive. Not playing, playing the wrong position? Could be anything and he's maybe addressed those problems which each player or group of players. He gave everyone a chance probably against his own judgement to start with so it was on the players to prove themselves.

The clubs entire ethos has been flipped by this JT link up, previously you had a cosy number at Hearts not anymore they’ll basically sell anyone for a price and if your not pulling your weight you’ll be binned and replaced.

Not sure hes played anyone in the wrong position, maybe Grant anywhere but CM where hes most effective.
Agree with the second paragraph, Rowles has been dispatched quickly and he doesn’t seem the disruptive type, so if it can happen to him it can to anyone.
From the outside the Captain looks the biggest disruptive influence, seems good with Wilson but not exactly best buds with Vargas for instance.
A bit of team bonding required possibly, doesn’t look like they had a Xmas night out, probably get away with one now that we’ve picked up.

January 19

4 minutes ago, Penrices left boot said:

The change in style is noticeable, and that is without his own players and team- I like it.

When we sacked Bob and many cited eye bleeding football, I never seen a change under Naismith and if anything we were more pragmatic in our approach.

There has definitely been a change in style and approach and NC is still building a team.

Guy has gotten us of bottom of the league to a position where we are looking up while carefully managing players returning and injuries and the managing the situation of many players not having a future at the club- very difficult.

Not perfect, but like previous managers it's not their fault none of our midfielders can score a goal or our striker has lost form, especially when they aren't even NC signings.

Ofc there are a section of agitators waiting to criticise, abuse and protest all so they can say "I was right about NC and Budge oot".

They will continue to drive and wedge in the support and undermine any good work being done.

He also comes across as likable and professional, and I think we are on to something good.

There will be bumps hopefully the support sees us through them and sees off the agitators who are destructive when we hit them.

You contradict yourself there, not his signings so not his fault but you absolve the other two managers from blame for midfielders not being able to score, guys that they signed.

January 19

I like him

Exciting times ahead

January 19

4 hours ago, Uncle Buck said:

The Hibs game and upsetting the defence in the 94th minute at Ross County were two he got majorly wrong. But he’s doing a good job overall, and that’s with this terrible squad. Excited to see who he can bring in and what the future holds. I like him.

V Ross county the players got it wrong.

Bringing on Halkett to defend high balls makes 100% sense.

The players on the pitch have a responsibility.

January 19

Europe is a huge black mark for me sadly. He should have got us through.

Happy with him as a guy though and think he'll do okay going forwards...just a shame he probably won't get another crack at that sort of European opportunity whilst with us unless he's here a while.

Edited January 19 by Taffin

January 19

Let’s assume we stay up (confident)

Then he gets a full pre season (no Europe probably)

Early league cup games (likely)

We have to come out of the gates flying and he’ll have no excuses. I want him to be the best Hearts manager ever. I want us up the good end of the league. I want us believing we can win cups. I need him to stop bumming up the opponent we’re going to play. I need him to stop telling me how good the OF’s players are. I need him to stop telling me how tough Glasgow is to go play. I want him to talk about Hearts and only Hearts pre game. I want other Scottish teams hating to have to come to Tynecastle. I want him to have a club captain who gets in refs faces. I want Hearts players who get in opponents faces when there’s an obvious dirty tackle on a teammate. Surround the culprit. I want him calling out officiating when it’s obvious they were wrong. Every time. I want our club calling out the SFA in public. I want our club standing up for us, the fans who pay good money. I’m sure there’s plenty other wants.

January 19

37 minutes ago, Penrices left boot said:

V Ross county the players got it wrong.

Bringing on Halkett to defend high balls makes 100% sense.

The players on the pitch have a responsibility.

I was fine with Halkett coming on, but when I seen Forrester’s number I was confused. Should have been for Boyce. Oyegoke and Rowles were playing well and there was no need to disrupt that.

January 19

15 hours ago, JamboRaider said:

Fair comment. Just passed through your awesome state, particularly Flagstaff to Phoenix, driving from San Diego to New York.

That's a long way. You were close to my house at the Sedona turn off on I17 though. 🍷

January 19

I welcome this thread, and attempted my own positive dialogue on the manager with @siegementality in an early discussion. Critchley is no fool and if we think of him as a doctor, look at the state of the patient that arrived at A&E. Now, in 2025, we can start the clock on measuring his performance.

For example, when Cammy Devlin has a good game, (and he is showing real signs of leadship with his breakup play), I'm willing to split the difference and give Critchley half the credit. If we had a second Devlin doing the same in midfield, I'd trust Critchley to pick him.

To repeat, Critchley wanted Hearts to play a type of football we were incapable of playing. Do you bring a horse to water, or water to the horse and return to hoofball? I think we are capable of raising our game, and developing a transfer strategy that strengthens on an improved performance.

That's when it clicks.

I love Heart of Midlothian, and have done all my life. I proposed to my wife on the pitch (in the rain) before Scott McDonald beat us 0-2 in November 2008. It's the only long term relationship I've ever had and I really believe we are going to come out of this season with our chins up, confident of our direction.

You cannot lead, if you don't have direction.

Eumir Deodato.

Edited January 19 by Deodato

January 19

1 minute ago, Pasquale for King said:

Not sure hes played anyone in the wrong position, maybe Grant anywhere but CM where hes most effective.
Agree with the second paragraph, Rowles has been dispatched quickly and he doesn’t seem the disruptive type, so if it can happen to him it can to anyone.
From the outside the Captain looks the biggest disruptive influence, seems good with Wilson but not exactly best buds with Vargas for instance.
A bit of team bonding required possibly, doesn’t look like they had a Xmas night out, probably get away with one now that we’ve picked up.

Sorry I meant why they were disruptive before he arrived, these stories seem to predate Critchley.

I think Shanklands overall situation is probably a distraction to everyone. The only striker at the club, the captain who could leave in any window, the constant press coverage on his situation previously (funny they don’t seem to care much now) sooner it’s cleared up one way or another will suit everyone.

January 19

I still thought that we needed a guy in who had a bit more experience, and certainly one that had Euro experience. The couple of shocking Euro performances/results, a defeat against Hibs and his subs mean for me he has a lot of catching up to do. If he gets us into the top 6, and keeps us there then I will have a rethink. We still need to become more steely for this league regardless.

January 19

21 minutes ago, Rudy T said:

Sorry I meant why they were disruptive before he arrived, these stories seem to predate Critchley.

I think Shanklands overall situation is probably a distraction to everyone. The only striker at the club, the captain who could leave in any window, the constant press coverage on his situation previously (funny they don’t seem to care much now) sooner it’s cleared up one way or another will suit everyone.

Can’t argue with that 👍🏽

January 19

He inherited the worst start in the club's 150+ year history. Club was sitting dead ass last in the league. His best player had forgotten how to play football. Injuries up and down the roster.

Has it been great? No. The Petroclub display was a disgrace. Hibs results bad.

But Hearts have gone four unbeaten (should be four wins in a row…) playing plenty of younger players and, even if Europe dream is probably dead, Hearts are more likely to be scraping into the top 6 for the split than be battling relegation. Table is weird, but still closer in points to Fifth then Last.

His subs are way too late for me, but I appreciate his tactical flexibility. I believe he wants to pay a bit more direct than Neilson/Naismith trying to make us MK Dons of the north when a small Tynecastle pitch makes it easy for most league opponents to throw slow defenders on the pitch and have them patiently sit back.

Off the pitch, I appreciate a manager who is not high with the highs nor low with the lows. And he has seemed to be upbeat when I sort of assume part of his job is deal with a bunch of rot in the dressing room.

IMO, he is a good “coach” for what Hearts want to be. Calm down the dressing room, coach up talent, line up to fit your talent, don’t force them into sets and formations where they look lost.

I’m not saying “Extend Critchley!” Not close. But at this rate I expect he will be back next season and I’ll have a generally positive vibe about his return.

Neil Critchley

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