Neil Critchley

obviously didn't fancy that as his first game today, good luck to him, seems the sensible choice

Good manager
It can’t get any worse northwest mate
Hopefully he can get us out of this rut we are in
I don’t expect miracles straight away though
Lets put Beale right behind us now and wish the new boss well

On the face of things this seems a logical and decent appointment. The 3 new coaches all worked together at Blackpool and managed to get them promoted and then the following season they were competitive in the Championship. But for Mick Beale's decision to leave Villa they may have had Blackpool challenging at the top of the Championship this season.

The new coaches will have watched yesterdays game and would have seen that our squad lacks any quality in depth and I'd imagine that they were given assurances money would be made available for additions. The caveat might be that those funds won't be given until the summer. We know that the club are loathe (and I agree with this) to buy anyone in the January window but we could see loan deals. Whilst the club and the fans would love to see us charging back up the league it would be a miracle unless we could put out our very best team who play at the top of their form each week. 

Critchley and his coaches will need the rest of this season to settle, assess the squad and I'd imagine they will look at a top 10 finish as success and a top 15 position as acceptable. With so many under performers  I'd be amazed if there isn't a major clear out at the end of the season. Players like Bonne, Shodipo, Albert, Hamallainen, Gubbins, Masterson, Thomas, Bettache,  Owens etc, etc.,  are not Championship quality.  Teams around us are all moving forward and we will only progress if we bring in better quality. 

Last season we would have seen players like Willock, Chair, Dieng, Field, Dickie and maybe Amos as saleable assets. Today, Willock is out of form, Amos is injured again, Dickie can't get in the team,  Chair is warming the bench for Morrocco and only Dieng and Field look like they might command a transfer fee. 

Hopefully, Critchley and his coaches can work some magic but realistically it might take some time.

This is a good point stoatey and it is what is holding us back.

I think you are right that the loan market can be used to good effect - look at 2 years ago - we had a phenomenal January window and only just missed out on the Top 6 despite starting the year just outside the bottom 3.

We are in a lot better position in the table now than we were then. It can be done.

But it does feel given our current form and lack of confidence that Critchley will indeed need a magic touch to get us in the Top 6 this season.

I agree he certainly needs time
Preston away is a nightmare first game to start with

Plus the money we get when Beale wants to buy half our players in January