With Henry suffering a blow out, and WSS chucking up in the pit lane, AFKA dons his helmet, flips the visor and races off to Preview Towers.....
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"Anxiety can make a small problem appear a big shadow"
- AFKA Bartram, 2012
It has been the perfect race so far for Chris Powell. His red and white Team Charlton car took an early lead, and has since been cruising around the League One circuit with little sense of challenge from the other drivers. It hasn’t been Senna-like flamboyance, but organised, Vettel-style effectiveness, whilst in the galleries his fans scoff at the misfortune of the Team Chef Wendy wagon running on cooking oil, spluttering smoke out of its exhaust.
31 of the 46 laps gone, and it all appears a bit of a procession.
But what’s this ?
The car behind has started lapping quicker.
The wings are damaged.
A light has started flashing on the dashboard.
Why is it flashing ?
What’s not working that was working fine before ?
It surely can’t all go wrong in the last stretch of the race ?
Can it ???
And that’s the problem. Why exactly have things dipped of late ? Is this just a natural blip in results and performances that all teams suffer throughout a long season, or is it something more drastic that needs urgent attention.
Having looked a class above most in the division earlier in the season, the midfield is one noticeable area where the collective standards seemed to have slipped. Johnnie Jackson is missed. In open play doesn’t do anything spectacular, but he provides perfect balance on the left, rarely has a poor game, and comes alive at set pieces which have helped turn likely draws into victories. On the opposite side, Danny Green is not delivering on a consistent basis the level of performance and creativity many of us hoped he would provide, whilst Scott Wagstaff on a rare outing, showed little to force the issue that he is hard done by being out the team.
In the centre, Hollands and Stephens are starting to look like two fellas with four babies between them getting a rare night out. You still go through the motions and try and enjoy it, but you’re knackered and can’t knock back the ale at the rate you could just a few months ago.
One of the key issues at the moment is that those coming into the side of late are not taking the opportunity and putting in impressive performances. Earlier in the season, when Kermorgant, Green, Hughes, Pritchard, Russel or Ephrain came in, the level of performance stayed consistent or improved. In recent weeks, Evina, Wagstaff, Clarke, Haynes or Pritchard have all failed to put in a performance that puts down a marker to say ‘i’m keeping this place for the next game’.
It is impossible not to recognise where the real issue lies however. Wright Phillips’ drought is becoming a real problem, and it is ridiculous to suggest otherwise when a striker who scores 14 in 17 games then shoots blanks in the next 14.
Your main striker is always a key focal point in a side, and i think it is starting to impact not just his own confidence, but adding anxiety to his team mates. Kermorgant has been in the side for most of the season now, but increasingly in recent weeks players are taking the option to play long to his head. We are offloading the ball quicker than before, and not breaking with the tenacity or intent we were earlier in the season.
Team Stevenage were put together on a shoestring budget, but have been bashing cars left right and centre off the circuit, and are currently an opponent that commands respect. Whether their cup run will galvanise them, or they will have one eye on the forthcoming replay at White Hart Lane, none of us know.
But it is essential that the spark and tempo that has been missing in the last few performances is re-discovered pretty quickly. Green, Stephens and Hollands need to up their offensive contributions, and Bradley needs a goal from somewhere, anywhere, to get going again. When he does finally hit the target, watch the impact on not just him, but all his team mates as well.
This squad is better than what we have seen of late. On Saturday, nerves will be settled, and we'll be back to winning ways with a convincing 2-0 victory, and Bradders finally getting the monkey off his back.
And if we don't, then i'm swapping his helmet for a tin hat.........
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Comments
If we get at 'em from the off, I expect a score of : CAFC 3 v Stevenage 0
Solly and Jackson return, Waggy starts and scores and the whole team, including Hamer and all the subs and bench engulf BWP when he finally beats their offside trap and slides one under their keeper.
BWP both with the second coming in the 88th minute with us on the back foot.
Looking forward to a packed Valley and a big boost for future attendances. COYR's
Its kind of the Charlton way to stutter in February and March and I just have a horrible feeling, big crowd, underrated opposition, few players out of form and a game against one of those horrible sides that we are not very good at playing.
Back to winning ways at Chesterfield though before I get accused of being a wrist slitter.
People talk about winning our home games to get us over the finishing line but its our away form that will get us up, we look a better side away from home.
Of course a nice routine 3-0 with BWP back on the score sheet would be perfect.
Oh they are all the same, BWP and Kermy to score then.
Unconvincing draw at best if Green Hollands and Stephens all start.
Wouldn't be surprised to see Russell featuring somewhere on Saturday.
We have been fairly lucky since the turn of the year. no team (bar fulham) have scored more than 1 goal against us. If Stevenage put two away then i feel it would be all over.
I dont think they will though. I think a mediocre performance with luckly two of our 12 chances put away. 2-1 to the addicks in front of a full house.
cp vents his spleen during the h/time team talk but to no avail as the players come back out like rabbits caught in headlights as the size of the crowd overwhelms them and it ends the most dismal 0-0 ever witnessed at any sports stadium in the world....ever.
(i can't make it on Saturday)
I have absolutely no idea why we are making everything look such hard work at the moment.
But I know it will come right soon. And I reckon Saturday will be the day. 4-0, and BWP to ''get the monkey of his back'' as young AFKA puts it. No goal since Nov 21 and he's going to make amends with a hat-trick. That's the way it works. Apres le drought, le deluge!
I am actually confident heading into Saturday, i think Powell will shuffle the team around...and we could even see one or two unexpected names such as Hughes or Waggy.
My prediction is 2-0 CAFC.