Neil Critchley insists he's 'not afraid' to change from Blackpool's 4-3-3 system if the situation requires it

The Seasiders have stuck rigidly to a 4-3-3 formation since the beginning of pre-season.

With results going against them so far, Pool losing five of their opening seven league games, it’s led to suggestions that the Seasiders could be better off in a different system - whether that be three at the back with wing-backs, or with two sitting midfielders in a 4-2-3-1.

Critchley admits he’s willing to change Blackpool’s formation but his side’s approach and how they tackle the game won’t change.

“We’ll have a certain way of playing in terms of our collective game idea, how we want to be as a team and the identity we want to build for this club,” he told The Gazette.

“Drawing away at Crewe last week, we weren’t sitting in our half settling for a point, we were pushing for the win.

“That’s the team we want to be, playing on the front foot that takes the game to the opposition.

“Whether that’s in a 4-3-3, a 4231, a 4-4-2, that can change. We won’t be afraid to change the shape of the team if we think it will be the right thing to do for the game that’s coming up.

“By just slightly altering the positions of one or two players on the pitch, you could freeze frame any sort of situation and we might be 4-3-3, but if you look at this moment in time, it’s more of a 4-4-2.

“We won’t be afraid to do that if we think it’s necessary, but I also think it’s important not to chop and change too much because you have no chance of building any consistency in terms of your performance and the messages you give to the players can be lost.

“At this moment in time they need clarity and consistency, but that’s not to say we can’t be flexible with how we approach certain games with the formation we choose.”