Neil Critchley - Former Assistant Head Coach

[Legion]

Appointed as assistant head coach.

[OCD]

"Aston Villa is pleased to announce the appointment of Neil Critchley as Assistant Head Coach.

Critchley leaves his post as manager of Championship club Blackpool with immediate effect to become part of Steven Gerrard’s coaching staff.

The 43-year-old led Blackpool to promotion from League One during his first full season at the helm via the play-offs and managed them successfully to a mid-table position last term.

Critchley joined the Liverpool Academy in 2013, coaching the Under-18s and Under-23s, and took charge of the senior Liverpool side twice during the 2019/20 season. One of those occasions was against Villa for a Carabao Cup tie with the Reds’ first team away at the Club World Cup."

Well, that didn't take long!

[TopDeck113]

I've just text my mate whose a home & away Blackpool fan for his view. I'll let you know when I get a response.

[wince]

Fuck me we are becoming Villapool.

[nordenvillain]

Great appointment in my opinion. Also good sign that he's been willing to go from a number 1 to 2. Was well regarded at the Liverpool Academy. Another sign that our leadership don't sit around reacting after the event.

[TopDeck113]

I've just text my mate whose a home & away Blackpool fan for his view. I'll let you know when I get a response.

His reply is:

Definitely our loss. Not sure how much influence he will have at Villa. Gerrard recommended him for the Blackpool job in the first place. Very disappointed.

[eamonn]

Any chance we can get Mané in for a year?

[clash city rocker]

Do you reckon klopp would be good on the turnstiles?

[villadelph]

I'm glad it was done rather quickly, but also surprised to pip a manager of a championship club to sit alongside Gerrard.

Fuck me we are becoming Villapool.

Replaced one former Liverpool U-23s coach with another.

[eamonn]

He is one of sixteen coaches worldwide to have obtained UEFA's elite badge.

according to Wiki.

[villadelph]

He is one of sixteen coaches worldwide to have obtained UEFA's elite badge.

according to Wiki.

When Neil Critchley was appointed as Blackpool’s new manager on Monday, the club proudly described him as “one of only 16 coaches in the country to have gained the highest possible qualification in the game”.

It turns out that Critchley is one of only 16 coaches to hold the Football Association’s Elite Coaches Award. And there are unlikely to be any more, because the course was disbanded after its first cohort had graduated in June 2013.

[Clampy]

Wasn't he a goalkeeper or am I thinking of someone else?

Welcome Neil.

[Legion]

Cutler?

[Ger Regan]

Never heard of him, but i hadn't heard of beale either. Decent pedigree, and has been done in good time before pre-season, which is good.

[ozzjim]

Fair play to this regime, pissing about doesn't appear to be in their nature.