Blackpool boss explains the thinking behind his team selections

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.”

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