After an indifferent start, developing into some worryingly rudderless displays and culminating in the Brighton debacle, the team looked like it was devoid of ideas and direction. The injury to Kyel Reid - our "most likely" player - left us all feeling a bit fearful for the future. The calls for Parky's head were gathering momentum and there were a series of very tricky games on the immediate horizon.
I don't want this to turn into one of those "I told you so/I'm happy to eat my words" type threads, but on the basis that there has been no major change in personnel and no blindingly obvious change in tactics, what do you think lies behind our seemingly miraculous change of form and fortune?
My view? I never thought we were that far off in the first place, and certainly the players we had should - on paper - have been up to the job, but things just didn't seem to be "clicking". Now they seem to have clicked big time and we've caught a few people with their pants down and, excuse the analogy, hammered it home and giving them a damn good ... er ... going over!
I wont get carried away by todays result - although have cracked open a celebtatory bottle of ale, and may venture into the garage for another soon - but the signs are definitley there that this could, could, be a good season. Christ knows we're due some good times!
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Or maybe someone's gone out and bought a job lot of this?
The balance in the midfield......with Jacko on the left.
Spot on Oggy, It is like last year with Bailey on the left made us more solid than having him in the middle with 2 wingers.
Against Brighton we started ok, got plenty of crosses in, but it was predictable and we needed to threaten in other ways (and improve defensively of course).
The players now have real belief in both themselves and the team.
Parky and his coaching team also have to get credit for their good team selection and man management. Could have easily panicked and changed the tactics drastically, but Parky stuck with his belief that we could play decent but also effective football in a 4-4-2.
Of course to be organised, play as a team and get results you need to get the right players in, which is what we did back in the summer.
What I like is how this squad can mix things up. There's no concern that we can't compete physically, or can only play one way. If we have to go more direct we can, but we're also capable of playing decent football on the ground.
i have been saying for the past few weeks that i don't feel this amazing form will end and normally jinx would come to mind and back to upsetting days, but it has not happend.
The most impressive part of it all is that, the teams we have played have all been promotion contenders and the games have been away.
No games in this league are easy wins, but we now have some (if i dare say) games that are much easier then the previous 5 fixtures have been.
Just hope the team don't start thinking their work is done for a little while and start relaxing.
I will put my neck on the line and say once again 'I don't see this vain form going anywhere yet'
Happy days everybody, happy days :-)
Agree with Oggy and roseandcrown. Jackson is positionally sound and has great technique. Reid has a real fight on his hands to get his place back, which can only be a good thing.
Looking forward to seeing us back The Valley over the next few weeks.
The Brighton game was a neccesary wake up call for quite a few players who weren't doing themselves or the club justice.
I want to see us go behind and see some tactical and/or changes in personal to turn a game around, then I'll start believing more.
I want to see us go behind and see some tactical and/or changes in personal to turn a game around, then I'll start believing more.[/quote]
I agree with what your saying, however i am happy and would rather go a goal in front and win lol.
It's easy from here in Cornwall in my opinion- we are a team respected through the footballing world for our intelligent fanbase, grace under pressure and comittment to the truth of football. Our academy is legendary, our history grows deep into the roots of football. If you go on the FAST SHOW - you tube - there's a simple little sketch from Ron Manager 'Saturday IS football' and Charlton are namechecked alongside all the sides that hold the truth of English football. Charlton Athletic will always be great - like Arsenal or Sheffield Wednesday.
But we haven't earned it yet. I think we'll come back one day - maybe not in my lifetime. Like that song by The Smiths. I have to suffer and burn for a longer time? Great great great. Love you Charlton Athletic.
Magic.
Think theaway support has been pretty special as well..........cause/effect? heaven knows but well done all you travelling Addicks
Lets hope for a win against Barnet and a really supportive turnout for the squad next Saturday. The club has an offer to ST holders to bring a max of 2 guests at a reduced rate.......I already have one victi, er, guest........lets all try to bring at least one and make a real noise.
Think theaway support has been pretty special as well..........cause/effect? heaven knows but well done all you travelling Addicks
Lets hope for a win against Barnet and a really supportive turnout for the squad next Saturday. The club has an offer to ST holders to bring a max of 2 guests at a reduced rate.......I already have one victi, er, guest........lets all try to bring at least one and make a real noise.[/quote]
In regards to the away support being the cause/effect.... i think it really helps thats for sure.
We're really well-placed to exploit the platform we've created. But there's a fine line between success and failure. We've improved by getting a bit better, everywhere.
Every team, in every division, everywhere has bad patches. Every run is only one game away from ending. We need to ensure we're able to pounce when the teams around us fail.
But we also need to stick together and see it out if the great form of the last few games turns round again. Which it will.
But yes, booing was not needed, the players knew it was a bad day.
Oh well anyway, thats before our 6 game unbeaten run... lets forget it now :-)
Well Racon hasn't put a foot wrong since i unloaded my wrath on him the other week.
As i said at the time .Racon and Semedo as a central pairing are the heartbeat of the side and if they don't perform then the whole thing goes tits up.
So well done to both of them for turning it around and long may it continue.
I bet you're loads of fun at a pantomime.
I sent an e-mail to Charlton live , which was read out , saying i thought the reason we were playing so bad was because of the pairing of Racon & Semedo. I would like to say , on the record - I was wrong and i'm glad to be proven wrong.
You wasn't wrong at the time though B. They were cack!
Except that Jackson can pass the ball.
Even more importantly ......... In a 4-4-2 with 2 conventional touchline wingers, the 2 CMs have a huge amount of space to cover - and often against opponents who play with only one conventional winger or 3 CMs in a 4-5-1 formation.
Quite simply, Racon and Semedo were often outnumbered and exposed.
With Jackson playing more narrow and perhaps deeper than Reid would have done, his positional play has tightened up the whole CM.