Scott Wagstaff was my pick today, he seems like a good player to choose because there is a lot of talk about whether he should get a chance to play, and today he got his chance.
Scott Wagstaff, a brief background
Scott Wagstaff started his youth career at Charlton, when he was spotted at the age of 8 at a Charlton Course, one which I most likely attended by the by!
He then was given a contract by Curbishley just before his 18th birthday, a contract which he had earned off the back of captaining Charlton U18 to the FA Youth Cup quarter finals. He was part of a very successful era of the youth academy which also produced Jonjo Shelvey and Chris Solly.
Wagstaff was a regular in the 2009/10 season when Charlton were first relegated to League One. He started in 9 games and came on as a sub in 24, scoring 4 goals in that time. This earned him a regular place in the team in the 2010-11 season, he made 40 league appearances, 35 of them being starts, in which he bagged 8 goals. The 2011/12 season, Charlton's final one in League One saw Wagstaff make 33 appearances, only 19 of them starts as he began having to battle more and more for his position against the likes of Danny Green.
By the end of the season (or in reality long before it) Charlton had won promotion to the Championship, and Wagstaff was spending more and more time warming the bench rather than getting game time. Charlton fans were regularly having the "Wagstaff vs Green" debate and it really divided fans, but in the end it was seeming to look like Green was winning the battle, Wagstaff was beginning to appear slightly surplus to requirements.
In the 2012/13 season Wagstaff hadn't made a single appearance for Charlton before today. He had been sent on loan to Leyton Orient, and made 6 appearances, scoring himself a goal. Many Charlton fans were beginning to wonder if Wagstaff's time at the club was coming to an end.
A string of performances by Danny Green which could be described as below the required standard led to Pritchard often playing on the right hand side, but fresh and wanting to make a good impression, Scott Wagstaff got his call up for the start today.
Wagstaff vs BlackpoolWagstaff started this game probably knowing more than anyone how important it was that he made a very good impression and he started right from the off. He started on the left wing whereas he usually plays on the right.
He regularly charged down players, in a style that reminded me of Danny Haynes, a tactic which has in the past rewarded Wagstaff with a goal in League One.
He was often looking to receive the ball in good positions, and was looking positive straight away.
His first real stand out moment was in the 22nd minute, he played a ball out to the wing fantastically, which was whipped in but cleared by the Blackpool defence, Wagstaff, ever alert managed to make an interception straight off the clearance, and played the ball forward beautifully which led to Jackson scoring.
Just a few minutes later with the crowd still cheering Jackson's goal, in the 25th minute he was played through beautifully through A Kermorgant/Pritchard combination and was arguably hacked down just outside the box and possibly through on goal. No free kick given and the game went on.
Wagstaff gained in confidence from the way he had been playing so far, often pushing to be the furthest player forward, clearly looking to get involved as much as possible.
In the 29th minute he received the ball while the team was going forward about 40 yards out but lacked support while the team was trying to catch up. He made a brilliant cross pitch run enabling the team to catch up and get ahead, he played the ball out to Solly who put a ball in but came to nothing
In the 43rd minute he received loud applause as he was constantly running from player to player trying to take the ball. He kept forcing the opposition to make errors, or prevent them making passes they would prefer. He was constantly closing down the angle.
In injury time in the first half he was rewarded with a goal. Chris Solly moved forward beautifully, gave the ball to Wilson who put in a fantastic cross which Yann Kermorgant really went for, the keeper managed to parry the strong header away, but only as far as Wagstaff who mantained great composure to bury it. (I've seen them missed) Cue "there's only one Scotty Wagstaff" from the covered end.
Wagstaff's second half was definitely more quiet than his first, he was still attempting to close players down and made some great runs but in reality Charlton were looking to slow the game down. In the 74th minute he was substituted but received a standing applause.
For the game, I would give Scott Wagstaff a
7.5/10As a Charlton player, Scott Wagstaff has been a product of the youth, and he seems to love playing for the team when he is on the pitch. His reaction when he scored was fabulous. As a Charlton player I would also give him a
7.5/10Very few could argue that he really went for it today, but
what do you think?
Comments
I have criticised Waggy but today he got his chance and showed exactly why he has more to offer than Kerkar and Cook and Green. 100% effort and commitment and has an eye for a goal. Really pleased for him.
I definitely think he has shown today that maybe he can do a job on the left, he in my opinion is better than Kerkar as an all round player.
In my humble opinion far better than Kerkar.
Pleased for him today.
How wrong I was, the lad had a blinder, worked his socks and nuts off, bringing much needed energy and enthusiasm to our midfield, if Waggy was in the last chance saloon today, then he certainly came out swinging.
Broke a move up for the first Charlton goal, and everyone could see what that goal meant to him, well played Scott.
Played a vital part in making the team tick today. Love his sheer enthusiasm and willingness to
make the extra run and close down defenders - defending from the front, Curbs called it.
As others have said above - along with Pritch and Wilse, really gives the midfield an engine.
Keep up the good work. Who's next?
I tend to look at the lineup on the day, if there's a player that doesn't often get a game I pick them (hence wagstaff). It would have probably been kermorgant today otherwise. Probably a non midfielder next week
Echoes my own thoughts.