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POST-MATCH THREAD: Stoke City V Charlton Athletic: Tuesday 25th November 2025: KO 19:45
Comments
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Mwuh?PhilFor54 said:0 -
For Coventry I'd go
Mannion
Ramsay Jones Bell Bree
Anderson Coventry
Carey Berry
Leaburn Olaofe
Box midfield, pack it and keep the defence tight and compact and try to stop shipping goals.
If Bell can sit on the bench, he can play IMO4 -
On the coach back. Not to down hearted, knew that the championship was going to be tough, Give me fixtures like this rather then Crawley away in the pouring rain!
Kam was caught in no man’s land for the first, Second one was just plain poor defending, the least said about the 3rd the better.
Stoke looked well organised and looked like they had 12 men on the park and we had gone down to 10.They played with pace flair and shot as soon as they saw the goal. They hustled us into mistakes and snuffed out any attempts we made.TC , has gone backwards and looks like an academy prospect rather than the finished article. Leaburn looks out of his depth and can’t lead the line and needs to buddy up with someone who can share the attacking options with.NJ still has piles of credit left, and football has a way of biting your backside. Both Southampton and Stoke fans dug him out big time, but as I said the tables can turn and I want to be there when we stick it to Southampton and Stoke13 -
If Bell could only do 10-15 mins tonight he won’t be starting until Pompey/Boro5
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Yep. NJ said he may get some minutes on Saturday but he certainly won’t be starting.fenaddick said:If Bell could only do 10-15 mins tonight he won’t be starting until Pompey/Boro1 -
Well that wasn’t my favourite game I have been to it was bloody freezing. Only plus point is the chips and pies were lovely lol
we have been beaten by 2 really good teams so far this week and no doubt by 5pm Saturday it will be 3 ! But this isn’t a time to panic I’m sure we will bounce back once we play teams we have a chance against.
for me the worrying thing is we just look so slow all over the pitch and teams like these that play slick fast passing just cut through us. Our press that works well against lesser teams gets found out big time.
we certainly need to get our injured players back asap. Not expecting it at all but NJ really needs to put a hold on his TC love in. How many times is he 1 on 1 and he just stops and passes it back he is so frustrating. Everyone says how fast he is but I honestly can’t remember him going past an opposing defender and driving into the box. I honestly don’t think NJ keeping him in the starting 11 is doing him any good at all in terms of confidence.Nobody has covered themselves in glory this week and I’m sure they know that but we won’t be playing teams that good all season and losing points to them won’t define our season. We need to keep behind the team so that when we are back playing teams we should pick up points from we do just that6 -
Worringly, this game was a write-off even quicker than Saturday in terms of scoreline.
As I wrote in the match thread, it's the nature of these defeats that concerns me the most. We had started to look leggy in those 2/3 game weeks before, but we kept things competitive. Southampton and Stoke, in terms of playing squads are clearly better than us, but the never-say-die fight-for-every-ball mindset has just disappeared. Mistakes are happening across the midfield and back line, and we simply can't get into games from in an attacking sense because we are leaking goals and not keeping it tight as we once did.
Jonesball is keep it tight to a 0-0 at half time and then try to nick a goal second half / late on. It's the basic mindset that is assumed for every game. Every team needs to know they are in a game, and we all need to perform. With injuries creeping in as they always will, we haven't got the depth in several areas to deal with that. Unlike L1, we can't even risk our Academy players to help bail us out either. Is recruitment to blame? Perhaps, but when more of those XIs that started the season are fit, it isn't as much of an issue. We spent a decent amount to bring in what we did - but it's not like Championship-experienced, quality defenders could have been added on the cheap? I still suspect LJones is playing through injury and we're feeling it.
Certain players are not above blame here. Whilst feeling like the errors had largely been put aside, Gillesphey's lack of pace at this level means he is going to be targeted. He can't deal with people running at him. In a 3 or a 4, he's just really struggling. I just fear that, against the better sides, he's an obvious weakness. Similarly, the glaring lack of Docherty's ability on the ball in tight spaces means he gets overrun in midfield. He's simply not good enough with the ball to warrant his place in the team. For all he brings as a man and a leader, he's another not good enough for the level. These are the two that are being carried right now, and it's too heavy of a weight for the other players to take the burden. Gillesphey makes us too fragile and a target at the back, and we can't transition enough in midfield to attack because Docherty isn't effective with the ball.
Unlike many, I'm not one to rag as much on the younger, attacking players - TC, Leaburn, Apter. It needs to be remembered that this is still like their 4th month at the level and they are hamstrung by the performances of the senior players behind them. They are playing against well-drilled, smarter, quicker defenders that have played at the level and above. They are still learning, they are still raw and they are learning the hard way. They will still make mistakes, mis-control the ball and have reduced end product. However, they are still the best we have - TC, in particular, is CONSTANTLY flagged by away fans as our most threatening player and Leaburn often has a thankless target man role.
I've got my ticket for Coventry. I'll go, I'll support, I'll sing. It is tough because of the injuries and certain players not being up to the level / getting to grips with it. We've got points banked, but somehow, we just need to get through to January and get some players in. There's no magic formula - we just need to defend better to give ourselves a chance. If we can get something resembling a performance and not another capitulation vs Coventry, I'd take that. The result matters less than trying to take something positive from the game that we can be proud of, because we're all expecting us to get battered.
You'd bet your house on Coventry winning on Saturday... but you know what the most Charlton thing to happen would be...
We can still do this and be OK this season.
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No that'd be mwah. This is more 😕🤷♀️EugenesAxe said:1 -
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Just seen the highlights. I knew we'd get beaten, probably get our arses smacked on Saturday at Cov too.
These 3 games were always going to be beyong us, and what with our injuries, its made it almost impossible to get anything.
However, I must mention Kaminski. He must have the devil himself inside of him cos the man is fukin petrified of crosses.
I still have not seen how he is an improvement on Big Willy Mannion. That's 3rd goal..... Holy sheet. He's soft. He's playing scared. 2 relegations on the bouce would knock any confidence I'm sure, but basic mistakes are really showing with him. He's not a keeper for the fight for a lower positioned league club, which we invariably are this season, despite our great start.
As above, not bothered with the loss , or the more likely loss Saturday, but the scorelines the last 2 games is a slight worry, we will be battered Saturday.
I'll be hoping for the improvement, not so much for the win, but for the fight.
UTA!!5 -
oh! kinda like mwuuuuhhhtt???aliwibble said:
No that'd be mwah. This is more 😕🤷♀️EugenesAxe said:1 -
TC constantly stopping and checking back seems like he's been given instructions to do that, he doesn't look like he's going to try to take players on5
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TC love in needs to stop from Jones. Doesn't want to take his man on. Not a chance he bags us goals this season. Even if we defensively sort things out, I just think we are very poor up front. A massive lack of goals and creativity.4
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Thinks it’s very stubborn. Phillips for them, on loan from spurs, at the back was excellent yesterday and the calibre of player we could do with.CAFCFW05 said:Do we think that NJ lack of wanting loan players has killed us a little right now? I always want youth players coming through and doing well, but can’t help but think if we had 1/2 more experienced players we may be in a better position3 -
Seem to be realising we are a league one side that has over performed so far. Defeat to Southampton, Stoke and likely Coventry isn’t a surprise given our squad but the manner of loss is worrying. There were games like this last season we were ‘found out’ by teams that could cut through our press with ease, eg Peterborough and Rotherham. With better managers and players in this league it may happen a few more times. We were unlucky to lose 3-0 last night given two were crosses and Jones could have been given a foul for the second but were toothless going forward. Don’t necessarily think any individual player is to blame but think we will need to recruit smarter in Jan given Apter, JRC, Olaofe and Knibbs seem like wasted signings now. Kaminski was obviously poor but would be very surprised if he is dropped and think it’s a massive overreaction to say he’s been poor all season. Saturday will be a tough watch but get behind the boys. This run will come to an end7
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Still don't understand not selling tickets on the day, there's plenty of room.Solidgone said:
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Don’t fucking start with 3 at the back…it doesn’t work with the players we have available2
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I'd swap him for their keeper.Chippycafc said:What was kamikaze doing for those 1st and 3rd goals no keeper should be beaten from there. Uphill after that. Confidence looks shot. Good turnout for those that went. Going to Coventry Saturday, not booked back till the 19.13, could be spending a few hours looking round Coventry.
He was very lively mopping up anything loose, even outside of his area. Swedish international, took the captain's armband during the match and their player of the year last season for what was a very tough season.2 -
Listened to Jones’ post match interview and pretty much agreed with everything he said.That reassured me a bit, it’s when you think the manager is talking rubbish or at odds with what the fans see that you get worried23
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Mannion needs to start the next game. He deserves to get his chance in this league4
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Stoke looked a very good side but were given a leg up by a fluke, then the Referee gets conned for the second, as for the third everyone in that ground and watching expected the man, who dropped behind his defenders to head and just like against Southampton he decided not to and ducked. It probably wouldn't have mattered, as without the injured players we lack any cohesion, Campbell being out of the front line, allows their full backs to get forward and as much as Miles works hard, he's basically up there alone. The problem I have is that what is on the bench and whoever replaces the injured or off form is either not good enough or doesn't fit the system played. Bell seems like he might be considered but we need Edwards, Kelman and hopefully Burke, the combination of Bree and Ramsay seems brittle, two goals coming from crosses from that side, are we still in for the Japanese guy ?0
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May be our summer transfer window wasn’t that great after all2
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Think it was fine but the issue here is not dropping players who aren't performing. TC an example.
It is one thing to be loyal and I know the players appreciate it but after conceding 8 goals in 2 games ( 6 in the opening 10 minutes of both games) then change of shape and players has to be looked at.4 -
In Jones we trust. Him and the lads are in so much credit. It looks like it is going to get worse before it gets better with Coventry on Saturday but it will get sorted. I'm sure. What hurts a bit is the luck. Fragile from last Saturday and we get a cross that screams into the top corner and a foul not given for the second when the ref was giving fouls for good tackles. Just what we didn't need. Having said that we weren't at the races. Leaburn battled but needed support and whilst a little better, you have to pinch yourself to understand the difference from the defence a few games ago.6
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5 injured players is enough to damage a team like ours as we are not a financially big spending club.
some of our so called rich owners should smell the roses and invest in January to strengthen the squad and avoid future injury situations like this, after getting our defence back we still need a proper striker as last night we could have scored two goals with a proper striker up front 👍👍0 -
While I’ll concede we’re not on a great run, we’re not in trouble yet. We’re still 10 points clear of the drop and actually closer to the play-offs — not that I think we’ll be anywhere near them come the end of the season. And honestly, there are plenty of established teams in far worse spots than us. If you’d been shown this league table at the start of the season, you’d have taken it without hesitation.Sage said:Not even going to address that shit show.
8 goals conceded since the return from the international break with our worst 2 performances of the season. Who’s next? Coventry away who have scored 47 goals in 17 games and are 10 points clear at the top. Fuck my life. Took us 36 games last season to score 47 goals.
4 losses on the bounce come 5pm Saturday. We’re bang in trouble.8 -
Reminiscent of last season when we got thrashed at Wrexham and Peterborough. Hopefully these will be one offs and we can pick things back up0
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Look on the bright side....at least Chelsea can't recall Conor Gallagher this time.Valiantphil said:
We are on the same points/games as we were in 2019 when we went down.Valley11 said:First goal was a fluke. Second was a foul on Jones in the build up. Third was an abomination but game was gone.
We have to stick with this team. They’ve given us an incredible 12 months.
They’re not a bad team overnight.
I really hope the fanbase have a bit of class and pick the boys up when they’re down, not whinge like spoilt children at the first sign of a bad run.Please, everyone have some perspective and a bit of loyalty to the cause.COYRsYes, let’s all stay calm.10 -
How do you genuinely avoid future injury situations like this?1968CAFC said:5 injured players is enough to damage a team like ours as we are not a financially big spending club.
some of our so called rich owners should smell the roses and invest in January to strengthen the squad and avoid future injury situations like this, after getting our defence back we still need a proper striker as last night we could have scored two goals with a proper striker up front 👍👍
We've already got two Left-Backs, both of whom are injured, should we have signed a third?
Spending money on better players won't stop them from getting injured, they're human... Can be argued that we've paid the price by signing Burke etc. for peanuts when we knew his injury problems. But whilst an more expensive player might not have the same injury history it doesn't stop them from being injured in the future.
Just look at Man City who lost Rodri in 2024, £62m spent a few years prior, lost to an ACL injury last year.2
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