Originally Posted by
Keyser Soze
In yesterday's post I highlighted some key criteria that I thought should enable the club to sign the next manager, to replace "Big Mick". Today I would like to develop that criteria and suggest a name that doesn't appear to be on everyone's lips. Yet that very name suits our criteria as fans. It also should suit the criteria of Dalman, Choo and Tan. First of all, let's revisit that criteria.
Requirements & criteria for selecting the next Cardiff City manager
The key requirements for the next coach should be:
*. A coach that wants to sign and develop youth and emerging players. This makes sense with a tight budget. Big transfer fees do not make sense unless there are big transfer sales.
*. To enable youth to have a pathway to the seniors, there needs to be a club style that is consistent from the Under 23s to the seniors to take advantage of that youth potential. Same language, same system, same shortlist of preferred formations.
*. Ensure the Under 23 style is consistent all the way down the age grades so when they move up an age grade, it all feels the same
*. Select a manager that will come in and play the emerging Under 23s from City's youth, providing they are of the requisite standard
*. The coach needs to also want to play that same style as the U23s, or build on it, and it should be his background / philosophy
*. Ensure the new manager can recruit cheaply the same style players as the existing Under 23s, but also in the 25-28 age range. This means a "Moneyball" approach. Hardly new, but still many clubs aren't good at it. Re-selling profits means investing in 2-3 more players and the squad builds. If they stay, it improves the squad anyway.
*. Sign a coach that has good contacts in the game, with emerging young talent. Ideally contacts with the FA or elite coaches around the world.
*. An understanding of what is required in this division, but also the one above should we get promoted.
Those are the requirements. Having performed by own personal filtering for coaches, I have personally identified the perfect name for this moment. Neil Critchley. Yes I'll say that again - Neil Critchley at Blackpool.
Neil Critchley - time at Crewe and Liverpool
He became Crewe's Academy Director in 2007. In 2013 Neil Critchley was poached from Crewe Alexandra and moved to Liverpool. Between 2013-17 he looked after the Under 18s. In 2017 he was promoted to the Under 23s. Although for only one game, Jurgen Klopp trusted him enough to run the League cup game against Aston Villa, where he selected many of his U23s to crush a senior Aston Villa side 5-0. During his reign as Under 18s and Under 23s he has been credited with the youth development or promotion Trent Alexander-Arnold, Neco Williams, Harry Wilson, Rhys Williams, Nat Phillips, Ben Woodburn, Curtis Jones who made it to the senior side. He also scouted Harvey Elliott and worked with him for a year before leaving. All of those players have gone on to play at Champions League level, and most England or Wales internationals. Quite a record for developing and promoting youth.
Key facts, performance and credentials at Blackpool
*. He is 43. Young, motivated, ambitious and hungry to prove himself. Mehmet Dalman should know from investment banking that these is the type of guys investment bankers like to hire. They bust a gut for success. Perfect for us, too.
*. Neil Critchley is one of only around 20 coaches in the world to have passed UEFA's Elite coaching licence programme
*. He signed a three and a half year contract in March 2020.
*. Neil Critchley's first season, he finished 13th with Blackpool. From there, it has been constant improvement.
*. In his second season, 3rd in League One, and a promotion via the playoffs.
*. So far this season, they are 12th.
*. All of the above has been on squeezed, limited resources, developing and working with young players, playing a good brand of attractive football. Just what we need.
Other factors, Risk / Rewards & Feasibility
*. Critchley will have great contacts with the FA and in the Liverpool academy. He will be able to sign young promising players to complement our own. Either young signings or on loan.
*. Emerging players will know all about him. They will want to play for him and his style of passing, pressing football. Wanting to sign for a coach is key in signing players
*. He will be able to tap up Klopp or other contacts on good, emerging European players.
*. Mc Carthy is reputed to be on 700k-900k a year. With eighteen months left of what cannot be an expensive contract, Critchley is financially viable. And Tan has deeper pockets than the Blackpool owner, if he chooses to bite the cherry.
*. He is in discussion about renewing a contract now.
Critchley ticks all our boxes. He has the style, the philosophy, the contacts, is price-attractive, isn't attracting too much competition, is near-available, is hungry, is motivated, modern, and one of the highest qualified UEFA coaches, and will surely come to a club bigger than little Blackpool. Yes, would Critchley want to join us? Maybe not. But as a former investment banker Dalman should be familiar with the way to tempt untempted candidates - money. Those golden handcuffs. A simple 3-4 year contract on 800k to £1m a year should do the trick. It is the best investment we can make. I am certain the results will follow.
Neil Critchley is the man for Cardiff City.
