Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
KOPY AND PASTE
Critchley steered Liverpool kids to famous win.. now Tangerines boss eyes another fairytale Cup victory
Bloomfield Road: 3pm ELEVEN months ago Neil Critchley wrote a little piece of FA Cup history when he steered Liverpool’s kids to a famous FA Cup victory at Anfield.
Now, after swapping life as the Kop’s Under -23 coach – and twice stand-in manager – for the hot seat at League One Blackpool, he is hoping to produce another fairytale.
His Seasiders take on Premier League West Brom at Bloomfield Road today looking to pile more misery on new Baggies manager Sam Allardyce, whose team have shipped nine goals in their last two matches.
Back in February l ast year, Reds manager Jurgen Klopp chose to rest his entire first-team squad as a f our th-round re pl ay against Shrewsbury fell during the Premier League’s winter break.
Th e German c o a ch asked Critchley to take charge and the Reds youngsters won 1-0.
Critchley remembered: “It was a wonderful evening, a great opportunity for myself, the academy staff and a lot of the younger players to play in front of a full house at Anfield.
“This is a different experience but the magic of the FA Cup is still there. I was extremely excited for the third-round draw and hopefully on Monday night for rounds four and five.”
Critchley (right) has not received a call from Klopp to offer advice on West Brom, who drew at Anfield in a gritty display under Allardyce, but the Blackpool manager knows he would be on the end of a phone willingly. He said: “I know Jurgen would be more than forthcoming with advice. A massive strength of the boss is that he’s so open, so great to sp eak to. He’s such a friendly person who makes you feel comfortable”
He will draw on Klopp’s philosophy to give his side the strength to go out on the front foot and take the game to West Brom.
“I don’t want to go on about Liverpool too much but, under Jurgen, there is no better example of a team which brings their identity onto the pitch, brings their belief in every sin g l e game,” h e sai d . “That’s what we have to do – we’ll go for it and not take a backward step.”