Time perhaps to ibring Dervite into midfield again, play Wood or Cort alongside Morrison and start with Church and Pigott, give Kermorgant a break . We all 'love' Powell but his conservatism and pragmatism need to take second place to some innovation and aggression. We are not a particularly skilful side and need to put out a team that will at least graft hard. My team for Barnsley: Hamer Solly Morrison Cort Wiggins Stephens Dervite Jackson (if fit, if not Hollands) Harriott Church Pigott
My criticism of this is Dervite was almost universally slated last season playing in midfield. It's putting square pegs in round holes, and, IMO unnecessary. Don't weaken the defence, when we have a ready made player to fill that role in Cousins.
Unfortunately, one of CP's weaknesses, is that he has certain favourites. If Morro is perceived to not be performing, perhaps the best thing to do would be to play Wood and Dervite, which would also be more balanced?
Agree with this, but I would pair Cort with Dervite.
Last season hamer had button breathing down his neck and when ben was rightly dropped for a few he bucked his ideas up. Powell wont risk a youth keeper so we need a backup keeper as ben bless him is stil far off a relaible solid keeper.
Last season hamer had button breathing down his neck and when ben was rightly dropped for a few he bucked his ideas up. Powell wont risk a youth keeper so we need a backup keeper as ben bless him is stil far off a relaible solid keeper.
I agree. Hamer is good, and will get better, but his mistake on Saturday will not be his last of the season in all probability, and though I am more than happy with his being first choice goalkeeper, I am not so impressed with his being sole choice keeper - I really don't know if Pope is up to it or not, and a realistic challenger for his (Ben's) place should keep his head in the game with any luck.
My only concern is that since CP's tenure began as gaffer (in his first full season) he has always set out Charlton teams that are difficult to beat and usually quite well drilled. Futhermore, it's clear that he does his homework on the oppo.
This season in both league games we have not been that drilled,prepared, team that we are used to seeing. I'd never expect us to come out and play nice flowing football with our squad, but it's a worry that we seem to be giving up possession so easily paired with the total lack of hunger in midfield.
It may sound mad, but with Gower at fault for our goal (to begin with) and not really offering a lot to our side bar one decent challenge first half, Hughes & Jacko miles off the pace, perhaps Hollands and Stephens could well be the central midfield pairing to get us ticking again.
I think Hamer has bags of potential, but he has to learn from his mistakes. He made A similar error of judgment at home to Sheffield Wednesday last season. Basically a keeper has to assess the danger, a speculative cross to a well marked player or players is rarely going to see a header that can’t be saved unless the recipients are close to the goal line. So stay on your line – then if it is goalbound make an easy catch or if it goes towards another unmarked opponent as it did on Saturday – then that was the time to go for it.
If I was Ben Roberts, I’d use both examples to illustrate the point so in theory we shouldn’t see this type of error again!
I suspect Gower will look exposed unless we play a 5 man midfield or 4-4-2 with someone like Pritchard/Wilson on the right, who tuck in defensively. It's obvious Green can't be trusted in a 4-4-2 to do the defensive work (unless we are chasing the game and it's worth a gamble....) because he hasn't got the drive or fitness for the role. He is more suited to a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3.
We do not have midfielders who can play in a midfield two consistently. I still think we should utilise 442 at home when our confidence is up. I was dissapointed in Green, but felt at least in the second half he started going for 50-50 challenges which was better than the other three starting midfielders in the first half. Wilson was far superior in that he was able to get on top of their fb far more, and protect Solly: it has to be noted though Carayol had swapped sides and then went off.
Really no matter what people say, there are lot's of woeful sides in this division. Stephens made a big difference and was hitting the wingers earlier and more accurately. When confidence is up I'd like to see Sordell start on top of the midfield two at home, as he's so good at compressing the game. But really until then just play three flat midfielders. We had our best run for away results when we played 3cms. Powell and so many other champ managers seem to only do this when forced to.
When Pritch get's back it's time to blood him in the middle. At the game Middlesborough were just as poor and without Adomah would have been devoid of any creativity. With this sort of dross in the division, we just have to be hard to beat.
My only concern is that since CP's tenure began as gaffer (in his first full season) he has always set out Charlton teams that are difficult to beat and usually quite well drilled. Futhermore, it's clear that he does his homework on the oppo.
This season in both league games we have not been that drilled,prepared, team that we are used to seeing. I'd never expect us to come out and play nice flowing football with our squad, but it's a worry that we seem to be giving up possession so easily paired with the total lack of hunger in midfield.
It may sound mad, but with Gower at fault for our goal (to begin with) and not really offering a lot to our side bar one decent challenge first half, Hughes & Jacko miles off the pace, perhaps Hollands and Stephens could well be the central midfield pairing to get us ticking again.
I agree with your analysis, Jarman, and think your suggestion of pairing Hollands and Stephens is well worth a go. It was these two who did so well against Oxford, part of a team that played fluid and attacking football that was exhilarating to watch. Of course the opposition was two divisions below us, but I'd like us to try to recreate the attributes we showed that night. Having just one accurate shot on goal in the entire 90 minutes (Green's second-half drive at the Middlesbrough keeper) is highly unlikely to earn us a draw against any opposition, let alone a win.
I think Hamer has bags of potential, but he has to learn from his mistakes. He made A similar error of judgment at home to Sheffield Wednesday last season. Basically a keeper has to assess the danger, a speculative cross to a well marked player or players is rarely going to see a header that can’t be saved unless the recipients are close to the goal line. So stay on your line – then if it is goalbound make an easy catch or if it goes towards another unmarked opponent as it did on Saturday – then that was the time to go for it.
If I was Ben Roberts, I’d use both examples to illustrate the point so in theory we shouldn’t see this type of error again!
Ben Roberts said at the Open Day that they review Hamer's performance on DVD after every match, and then concentrate on areas of improvement in the coming week.
The warning signs were evident in the very first minute, when Boro sliced through our central midfield and central defence; only their poor finishing saved us. All afternoon they had a wide man free and available, unmarked, for every forward move. Wiggins was turned inside-out; even Solly had a poor game by his standards. Our midfield had no authority, neither strength nor flair. Harriott dribbled occasionally - to no effect. Danny Green? Well, if he wastes another corner by delivering it on top of the net, I'm gonna rip up my season ticket. Sordell was anonymous, while Kermorgant got battered and should have been replaced by Church when he was limping; bad indecision that, by Powell. As a sub, Stephens actually took the midfield by the scruff of the neck for ten minutes - then he evaporated.
I left the ground literally trembling with anger. That ghastly performance was easily on a par with the pathetic display against Millwall last season. To have just one accurate shot at goal in 90 minutes (Green's second-half blast straight at the keeper) is simply not acceptable. Powell must do something, and quickly.
Kermorgant and Sordell were poor together and often too close or too far apart, but that should improve over time. Midfield wise we have decent individual players but not a unit.
Agreed - although I did note that Church did appear to get onto Kermogant's wavelength a lot quicker. It's perhaps no surprise that we looked so disjointed given that two of our key players, Jackson and Wiggins were clearly not match fit and another was suspended. We do need to learn to play a midfield 5 at home without matching them numerically. Thought Dervite, Gower and Harriot all had decent games - and was good to see Gower trying to organise things in the first half at least. Danny Green clearly cannot play at the level of intensity required in the Championship. That said I'm 100% certain that SCP will sort it all out - we have seen this sort of thing happen before. If I have any criticism it is that he is sometimes a little too cautious and not prepared to take a risk - my gut feeling is that Cousins is ready and would have been a good substitute for Jacko on Saturday.
It was horrible. I say that for our Lifers in Australia, Canada, and anywhere north of the Watford Gap who haven't heard it... It was utterly ghastly. Not a single man in our team can pass the ball, trap it, give it, and move.... This is why lost all those games last season at home to Barnsley, Ipswich, Watford, Crystal Palace, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield, Nottingham Forest, Burnley, Millwall, - and Middlesbrough - again! Our midfield is weak, the defence goes to pieces at the slightest pressure, our strikers are impotent.
It is simply unrehearsed. Are you telling me that man-for-man the opposition is better than us? In that case, what's the point of us being in the Championship? Why don't we just all decamp to the Conference and be done with it? Look at Danny Green - in the first half, we've got a free-kick on the edge of their box. Trundle, trundle, all of our tall defenders are standing in the box - and Green takes the kick, and can't clear the Boro wall.
Second half; we've got a corner. Green takes it - and it lands, untouched, on top of the net. What in hell's name is the point of that? It is the most shameful waste, and no-one minds, least of all the opposition, of course. Stephens comes on as a sub, and for ten minutes he worries the Boro midfield - then he simply evaporates. But, hang on! - he's suddenly taking a corner, which he over-hits by miles and it goes out for a goal-kick.
This is worse than non-League. The Boro keeper is limping for ten minutes. Do we worry him, hassle him, do we pepper him? We don't know how to cross the half-way line. Kermorgant is limping, so we have no-one - I mean no-one - up front. Kermorgant looks at the bench, at Powell, who doesn't replace him.
Church is thrown on: Hang on, all is not lost - we've got a throw-in. Our man stands there with the ball in his hands, tippetty-tappetty, looks around, and there is no-one running or moving. Not a soul. The nearest player in a red shirt is the midfield, vacant, staring at him, 30 yards away.
We are 1-0 down again. To Middlesbrough - and don't forget Bournemouth last week - and Barnsley, Ipswich, Watford, Palace, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield, Forest, Burnley, and Millwall, last season. We simply do not know what to do with the ball the beat the opposition. There is no physical or mental strength, no deceit, no guile nor cunning, and there is nothing instinctive - there are no rehearsed moves.
I wonder, I really do - What on earth do they do on that training pitch in Sparrows Lane on Monday to Friday?
Great post. Football is such an easy & simple game - 11 blokes on hackney marshes on a sunday morning, without any training, can do it........why can't we ???
My only concern is that since CP's tenure began as gaffer (in his first full season) he has always set out Charlton teams that are difficult to beat and usually quite well drilled. Futhermore, it's clear that he does his homework on the oppo.
This season in both league games we have not been that drilled,prepared, team that we are used to seeing. I'd never expect us to come out and play nice flowing football with our squad, but it's a worry that we seem to be giving up possession so easily paired with the total lack of hunger in midfield.
It may sound mad, but with Gower at fault for our goal (to begin with) and not really offering a lot to our side bar one decent challenge first half, Hughes & Jacko miles off the pace, perhaps Hollands and Stephens could well be the central midfield pairing to get us ticking again.
I agree with your analysis, Jarman, and think your suggestion of pairing Hollands and Stephens is well worth a go. It was these two who did so well against Oxford, part of a team that played fluid and attacking football that was exhilarating to watch. Of course the opposition was two divisions below us, but I'd like us to try to recreate the attributes we showed that night. Having just one accurate shot on goal in the entire 90 minutes (Green's second-half drive at the Middlesbrough keeper) is highly unlikely to earn us a draw against any opposition, let alone a win.
I agree with most that has been said but this is like deja vu.
We found out last season that we have a "red sea" midfield when we play 4-4-2 and so we do exactly the same this season.
Then people call for Dervite to play in midfield to shore things up which he did last season and was awful and we create nothing.
Then people groan with agony that we are playing one up front at home and CP is being ridiculously over cautious.
This argument is often associated with loud calls for anyone from the Under 13 girls upwards to be given their chance in the first 11.
Its smell the bovril time. The fact is our players are not very good compared to most other teams and we have no money. So we will have to work harder, play tighter and be better organised to get anywhere. Last season we had a lot of luck too, particularly away from home.
With that in mind I have no idea why most of our team looks no better than 60% fit and several look obviously obese two games into a new season.
I think our best option is to make Stephens the centre of things playing behind a single striker and brief Gower/Hughes/Jackson/Pritchard/or whoever to just win the bloody thing and give it to Stephens or Harriot. Those two have the ability if they are used properly and protected adequately.
It wasn't a cross that Hamer flapped at, was a looped header from the edge of the box that he thought he could come and claim but got nowhere near.
Kermorgant didn't cover himself in glory with his clearing head either though.
Assuming that Hamer called for the ball in time, the goal is down to Kermorgant who should not have headed it, IF he'd left it, Hamer would have easily caught it .. conversely if Hamer did not call, the goal is down to him .. pity because the ball headed into our box was totally innocuous
If our plan is to give the ball to Stephens all game then we actually are buggered. I think everyone just needs to get some perspective. It's two games in. Chill, it'll all be fine
If our plan is to give the ball to Stephens all game then we actually are buggered. I think everyone just needs to get some perspective. It's two games in. Chill, it'll all be fine
You might be right and maybe I would have rather received £8 million from Villa too but who else do we have with the quality to pick a pass and create something at this level?
To be fair to the fella he often gets stranded and isolated in a weak two man midfield with no time and no protection.
Finding it difficult to witness Saturday and feel all that chilled.
My only concern is that since CP's tenure began as gaffer (in his first full season) he has always set out Charlton teams that are difficult to beat and usually quite well drilled. Futhermore, it's clear that he does his homework on the oppo.
This season in both league games we have not been that drilled,prepared, team that we are used to seeing. I'd never expect us to come out and play nice flowing football with our squad, but it's a worry that we seem to be giving up possession so easily paired with the total lack of hunger in midfield.
It may sound mad, but with Gower at fault for our goal (to begin with) and not really offering a lot to our side bar one decent challenge first half, Hughes & Jacko miles off the pace, perhaps Hollands and Stephens could well be the central midfield pairing to get us ticking again.
I agree with your analysis, Jarman, and think your suggestion of pairing Hollands and Stephens is well worth a go. It was these two who did so well against Oxford, part of a team that played fluid and attacking football that was exhilarating to watch. Of course the opposition was two divisions below us, but I'd like us to try to recreate the attributes we showed that night. Having just one accurate shot on goal in the entire 90 minutes (Green's second-half drive at the Middlesbrough keeper) is highly unlikely to earn us a draw against any opposition, let alone a win.
I agree with most that has been said but this is like deja vu.
We found out last season that we have a "red sea" midfield when we play 4-4-2 and so we do exactly the same this season.
Then people call for Dervite to play in midfield to shore things up which he did last season and was awful and we create nothing.
Then people groan with agony that we are playing one up front at home and CP is being ridiculously over cautious.
This argument is often associated with loud calls for anyone from the Under 13 girls upwards to be given their chance in the first 11.
Its smell the bovril time. The fact is our players are not very good compared to most other teams and we have no money. So we will have to work harder, play tighter and be better organised to get anywhere. Last season we had a lot of luck too, particularly away from home.
With that in mind I have no idea why most of our team looks no better than 60% fit and several look obviously obese two games into a new season.
I think our best option is to make Stephens the centre of things playing behind a single striker and brief Gower/Hughes/Jackson/Pritchard/or whoever to just win the bloody thing and give it to Stephens or Harriot. Those two have the ability if they are used properly and protected adequately.
I enjoyed your phrase "Red Sea midfield". I think you are right; it's probably best to be sanguine and to accept that most of our players are no better than top-end League One standard. You might get jumped on by Lifers when you say we got lucky away from home last season - though I agree with you, and the unusual circumstances are highly unlikely to be replicated this year. However, surely every team in Championship has to aim for the play-offs as a source of motivation. One of the things that bothers me is that we had just a single shot on target in the whole 90 minutes against Boro, at home. That's woeful, by any standards.
My only concern is that since CP's tenure began as gaffer (in his first full season) he has always set out Charlton teams that are difficult to beat and usually quite well drilled. Futhermore, it's clear that he does his homework on the oppo.
This season in both league games we have not been that drilled,prepared, team that we are used to seeing. I'd never expect us to come out and play nice flowing football with our squad, but it's a worry that we seem to be giving up possession so easily paired with the total lack of hunger in midfield.
It may sound mad, but with Gower at fault for our goal (to begin with) and not really offering a lot to our side bar one decent challenge first half, Hughes & Jacko miles off the pace, perhaps Hollands and Stephens could well be the central midfield pairing to get us ticking again.
I agree with your analysis, Jarman, and think your suggestion of pairing Hollands and Stephens is well worth a go. It was these two who did so well against Oxford, part of a team that played fluid and attacking football that was exhilarating to watch. Of course the opposition was two divisions below us, but I'd like us to try to recreate the attributes we showed that night. Having just one accurate shot on goal in the entire 90 minutes (Green's second-half drive at the Middlesbrough keeper) is highly unlikely to earn us a draw against any opposition, let alone a win.
I agree with most that has been said but this is like deja vu.
We found out last season that we have a "red sea" midfield when we play 4-4-2 and so we do exactly the same this season.
Then people call for Dervite to play in midfield to shore things up which he did last season and was awful and we create nothing.
Then people groan with agony that we are playing one up front at home and CP is being ridiculously over cautious.
This argument is often associated with loud calls for anyone from the Under 13 girls upwards to be given their chance in the first 11.
Its smell the bovril time. The fact is our players are not very good compared to most other teams and we have no money. So we will have to work harder, play tighter and be better organised to get anywhere. Last season we had a lot of luck too, particularly away from home.
With that in mind I have no idea why most of our team looks no better than 60% fit and several look obviously obese two games into a new season.
I think our best option is to make Stephens the centre of things playing behind a single striker and brief Gower/Hughes/Jackson/Pritchard/or whoever to just win the bloody thing and give it to Stephens or Harriot. Those two have the ability if they are used properly and protected adequately.
I enjoyed your phrase "Red Sea midfield". I think you are right; it's probably best to be sanguine and to accept that most of our players are no better than top-end League One standard. You might get jumped on by Lifers when you say we got lucky away from home last season - though I agree with you, and the unusual circumstances are highly unlikely to be replicated this year. However, surely every team in Championship has to aim for the play-offs as a source of motivation. One of the things that bothers me is that we had just a single shot on target in the whole 90 minutes against Boro, at home. That's woeful, by any standards.
The "Red Sea" midfield was borrowed from an other post (Large Addick's I think) but does sum us up. Need to pack it up quick before we end up in real trouble. We might be ordinary but ordinary and fat is really worrying.
My only concern is that since CP's tenure began as gaffer (in his first full season) he has always set out Charlton teams that are difficult to beat and usually quite well drilled. Futhermore, it's clear that he does his homework on the oppo.
This season in both league games we have not been that drilled,prepared, team that we are used to seeing. I'd never expect us to come out and play nice flowing football with our squad, but it's a worry that we seem to be giving up possession so easily paired with the total lack of hunger in midfield.
It may sound mad, but with Gower at fault for our goal (to begin with) and not really offering a lot to our side bar one decent challenge first half, Hughes & Jacko miles off the pace, perhaps Hollands and Stephens could well be the central midfield pairing to get us ticking again.
I agree with your analysis, Jarman, and think your suggestion of pairing Hollands and Stephens is well worth a go. It was these two who did so well against Oxford, part of a team that played fluid and attacking football that was exhilarating to watch. Of course the opposition was two divisions below us, but I'd like us to try to recreate the attributes we showed that night. Having just one accurate shot on goal in the entire 90 minutes (Green's second-half drive at the Middlesbrough keeper) is highly unlikely to earn us a draw against any opposition, let alone a win.
I agree with most that has been said but this is like deja vu.
We found out last season that we have a "red sea" midfield when we play 4-4-2 and so we do exactly the same this season.
Then people call for Dervite to play in midfield to shore things up which he did last season and was awful and we create nothing.
Then people groan with agony that we are playing one up front at home and CP is being ridiculously over cautious.
This argument is often associated with loud calls for anyone from the Under 13 girls upwards to be given their chance in the first 11.
Its smell the bovril time. The fact is our players are not very good compared to most other teams and we have no money. So we will have to work harder, play tighter and be better organised to get anywhere. Last season we had a lot of luck too, particularly away from home.
With that in mind I have no idea why most of our team looks no better than 60% fit and several look obviously obese two games into a new season.
I think our best option is to make Stephens the centre of things playing behind a single striker and brief Gower/Hughes/Jackson/Pritchard/or whoever to just win the bloody thing and give it to Stephens or Harriot. Those two have the ability if they are used properly and protected adequately.
I enjoyed your phrase "Red Sea midfield". I think you are right; it's probably best to be sanguine and to accept that most of our players are no better than top-end League One standard. You might get jumped on by Lifers when you say we got lucky away from home last season - though I agree with you, and the unusual circumstances are highly unlikely to be replicated this year. However, surely every team in Championship has to aim for the play-offs as a source of motivation. One of the things that bothers me is that we had just a single shot on target in the whole 90 minutes against Boro, at home. That's woeful, by any standards.
I'm leaping like a salmon, VF ! How many away games did you actually go to last season ? It may prove difficult for you but surely you are capable of giving credit where credit's due !!!
" Red Sea midfield" eh ?
Don't expect for one minute that you'll see SCP as our Moses , leading the way to the Promised Land.
My only concern is that since CP's tenure began as gaffer (in his first full season) he has always set out Charlton teams that are difficult to beat and usually quite well drilled. Futhermore, it's clear that he does his homework on the oppo.
This season in both league games we have not been that drilled,prepared, team that we are used to seeing. I'd never expect us to come out and play nice flowing football with our squad, but it's a worry that we seem to be giving up possession so easily paired with the total lack of hunger in midfield.
It may sound mad, but with Gower at fault for our goal (to begin with) and not really offering a lot to our side bar one decent challenge first half, Hughes & Jacko miles off the pace, perhaps Hollands and Stephens could well be the central midfield pairing to get us ticking again.
I agree with your analysis, Jarman, and think your suggestion of pairing Hollands and Stephens is well worth a go. It was these two who did so well against Oxford, part of a team that played fluid and attacking football that was exhilarating to watch. Of course the opposition was two divisions below us, but I'd like us to try to recreate the attributes we showed that night. Having just one accurate shot on goal in the entire 90 minutes (Green's second-half drive at the Middlesbrough keeper) is highly unlikely to earn us a draw against any opposition, let alone a win.
I agree with most that has been said but this is like deja vu.
We found out last season that we have a "red sea" midfield when we play 4-4-2 and so we do exactly the same this season.
Then people call for Dervite to play in midfield to shore things up which he did last season and was awful and we create nothing.
Then people groan with agony that we are playing one up front at home and CP is being ridiculously over cautious.
This argument is often associated with loud calls for anyone from the Under 13 girls upwards to be given their chance in the first 11.
Its smell the bovril time. The fact is our players are not very good compared to most other teams and we have no money. So we will have to work harder, play tighter and be better organised to get anywhere. Last season we had a lot of luck too, particularly away from home.
With that in mind I have no idea why most of our team looks no better than 60% fit and several look obviously obese two games into a new season.
I think our best option is to make Stephens the centre of things playing behind a single striker and brief Gower/Hughes/Jackson/Pritchard/or whoever to just win the bloody thing and give it to Stephens or Harriot. Those two have the ability if they are used properly and protected adequately.
I enjoyed your phrase "Red Sea midfield". I think you are right; it's probably best to be sanguine and to accept that most of our players are no better than top-end League One standard. You might get jumped on by Lifers when you say we got lucky away from home last season - though I agree with you, and the unusual circumstances are highly unlikely to be replicated this year. However, surely every team in Championship has to aim for the play-offs as a source of motivation. One of the things that bothers me is that we had just a single shot on target in the whole 90 minutes against Boro, at home. That's woeful, by any standards.
The "Red Sea" midfield was borrowed from an other post (Large Addick's I think) but does sum us up. Need to pack it up quick before we end up in real trouble. We might be ordinary but ordinary and fat is really worrying.
Love it, Grumpy! Fat, ordinary - and boring. How's that for a knockout combination? A few seats along from me in the Lower North, a guy I hadn't seen before was ranting and raving at the players at about three hundred decibels throughout the match. I kept leaping up and waving my arms dismissively at Powell. Meanwhile my neighbour was chatting to his neighbour about her caravan at Camber Sands....
My only concern is that since CP's tenure began as gaffer (in his first full season) he has always set out Charlton teams that are difficult to beat and usually quite well drilled. Futhermore, it's clear that he does his homework on the oppo.
This season in both league games we have not been that drilled,prepared, team that we are used to seeing. I'd never expect us to come out and play nice flowing football with our squad, but it's a worry that we seem to be giving up possession so easily paired with the total lack of hunger in midfield.
It may sound mad, but with Gower at fault for our goal (to begin with) and not really offering a lot to our side bar one decent challenge first half, Hughes & Jacko miles off the pace, perhaps Hollands and Stephens could well be the central midfield pairing to get us ticking again.
I agree with your analysis, Jarman, and think your suggestion of pairing Hollands and Stephens is well worth a go. It was these two who did so well against Oxford, part of a team that played fluid and attacking football that was exhilarating to watch. Of course the opposition was two divisions below us, but I'd like us to try to recreate the attributes we showed that night. Having just one accurate shot on goal in the entire 90 minutes (Green's second-half drive at the Middlesbrough keeper) is highly unlikely to earn us a draw against any opposition, let alone a win.
I agree with most that has been said but this is like deja vu.
We found out last season that we have a "red sea" midfield when we play 4-4-2 and so we do exactly the same this season.
Then people call for Dervite to play in midfield to shore things up which he did last season and was awful and we create nothing.
Then people groan with agony that we are playing one up front at home and CP is being ridiculously over cautious.
This argument is often associated with loud calls for anyone from the Under 13 girls upwards to be given their chance in the first 11.
Its smell the bovril time. The fact is our players are not very good compared to most other teams and we have no money. So we will have to work harder, play tighter and be better organised to get anywhere. Last season we had a lot of luck too, particularly away from home.
With that in mind I have no idea why most of our team looks no better than 60% fit and several look obviously obese two games into a new season.
I think our best option is to make Stephens the centre of things playing behind a single striker and brief Gower/Hughes/Jackson/Pritchard/or whoever to just win the bloody thing and give it to Stephens or Harriot. Those two have the ability if they are used properly and protected adequately.
I enjoyed your phrase "Red Sea midfield". I think you are right; it's probably best to be sanguine and to accept that most of our players are no better than top-end League One standard. You might get jumped on by Lifers when you say we got lucky away from home last season - though I agree with you, and the unusual circumstances are highly unlikely to be replicated this year. However, surely every team in Championship has to aim for the play-offs as a source of motivation. One of the things that bothers me is that we had just a single shot on target in the whole 90 minutes against Boro, at home. That's woeful, by any standards.
I'm leaping like a salmon, VF ! How many away games did you actually go to last season ? It may prove difficult for you but surely you are capable of giving credit where credit's due !!!
" Red Sea midfield" eh ?
Don't expect for one minute that you'll see SCP as our Moses , leading the way to the Promised Land.
I'm very glad you leap like a salmon, Fanny! Was it Powell who publicly said recently that we "over-achieved" last season? Maybe luck is the wrong word; the point that Grumpy and I were making is that the peculiar circumstances that prevailed last season, enabling all those away wins, are highly unlikely to be replicated this year. A normal, average season with four or five away wins, coupled with regular defeats at home, spells relegation.
My only concern is that since CP's tenure began as gaffer (in his first full season) he has always set out Charlton teams that are difficult to beat and usually quite well drilled. Futhermore, it's clear that he does his homework on the oppo.
This season in both league games we have not been that drilled,prepared, team that we are used to seeing. I'd never expect us to come out and play nice flowing football with our squad, but it's a worry that we seem to be giving up possession so easily paired with the total lack of hunger in midfield.
It may sound mad, but with Gower at fault for our goal (to begin with) and not really offering a lot to our side bar one decent challenge first half, Hughes & Jacko miles off the pace, perhaps Hollands and Stephens could well be the central midfield pairing to get us ticking again.
I agree with your analysis, Jarman, and think your suggestion of pairing Hollands and Stephens is well worth a go. It was these two who did so well against Oxford, part of a team that played fluid and attacking football that was exhilarating to watch. Of course the opposition was two divisions below us, but I'd like us to try to recreate the attributes we showed that night. Having just one accurate shot on goal in the entire 90 minutes (Green's second-half drive at the Middlesbrough keeper) is highly unlikely to earn us a draw against any opposition, let alone a win.
I agree with most that has been said but this is like deja vu.
We found out last season that we have a "red sea" midfield when we play 4-4-2 and so we do exactly the same this season.
Then people call for Dervite to play in midfield to shore things up which he did last season and was awful and we create nothing.
Then people groan with agony that we are playing one up front at home and CP is being ridiculously over cautious.
This argument is often associated with loud calls for anyone from the Under 13 girls upwards to be given their chance in the first 11.
Its smell the bovril time. The fact is our players are not very good compared to most other teams and we have no money. So we will have to work harder, play tighter and be better organised to get anywhere. Last season we had a lot of luck too, particularly away from home.
With that in mind I have no idea why most of our team looks no better than 60% fit and several look obviously obese two games into a new season.
I think our best option is to make Stephens the centre of things playing behind a single striker and brief Gower/Hughes/Jackson/Pritchard/or whoever to just win the bloody thing and give it to Stephens or Harriot. Those two have the ability if they are used properly and protected adequately.
I enjoyed your phrase "Red Sea midfield". I think you are right; it's probably best to be sanguine and to accept that most of our players are no better than top-end League One standard. You might get jumped on by Lifers when you say we got lucky away from home last season - though I agree with you, and the unusual circumstances are highly unlikely to be replicated this year. However, surely every team in Championship has to aim for the play-offs as a source of motivation. One of the things that bothers me is that we had just a single shot on target in the whole 90 minutes against Boro, at home. That's woeful, by any standards.
I'm leaping like a salmon, VF ! How many away games did you actually go to last season ? It may prove difficult for you but surely you are capable of giving credit where credit's due !!!
" Red Sea midfield" eh ?
Don't expect for one minute that you'll see SCP as our Moses , leading the way to the Promised Land.
I'm very glad you leap like a salmon, Fanny! Was it Powell who publicly said recently that we "over-achieved" last season? Maybe luck is the wrong word; the point that Grumpy and I were making is that the peculiar circumstances that prevailed last season, enabling all those away wins, are highly unlikely to be replicated this year. A normal, average season with four or five away wins, coupled with regular defeats at home, spells relegation.
It wasn't a cross that Hamer flapped at, was a looped header from the edge of the box that he thought he could come and claim but got nowhere near.
Kermorgant didn't cover himself in glory with his clearing head either though.
Assuming that Hamer called for the ball in time, the goal is down to Kermorgant who should not have headed it, IF he'd left it, Hamer would have easily caught it .. conversely if Hamer did not call, the goal is down to him .. pity because the ball headed into our box was totally innocuous
You can be pretty sure that Hamer knew it was his fault as he did not bother with his usual rant at defenders when they are the slightest bit responsible!
A positive is that we indeed didn't play much worse than them - the negative is that they didn't play very well at all. The main positive is that it is clearly early days and some players were visibly not match fit , not good on one level, but we should improve!
It wasn't a cross that Hamer flapped at, was a looped header from the edge of the box that he thought he could come and claim but got nowhere near.
Kermorgant didn't cover himself in glory with his clearing head either though.
Assuming that Hamer called for the ball in time, the goal is down to Kermorgant who should not have headed it, IF he'd left it, Hamer would have easily caught it .. conversely if Hamer did not call, the goal is down to him .. pity because the ball headed into our box was totally innocuous
You can be pretty sure that Hamer knew it was his fault as he did not bother with his usual rant at defenders when they are the slightest bit responsible!
Comments
Agree with this, but I would pair Cort with Dervite.
We need to be more positive if anything especially against a team like barnsley.
This season in both league games we have not been that drilled,prepared, team that we are used to seeing.
I'd never expect us to come out and play nice flowing football with our squad, but it's a worry that we seem to be giving up possession so easily paired with the total lack of hunger in midfield.
It may sound mad, but with Gower at fault for our goal (to begin with) and not really offering a lot to our side bar one decent challenge first half, Hughes & Jacko miles off the pace, perhaps Hollands and Stephens could well be the central midfield pairing to get us ticking again.
If I was Ben Roberts, I’d use both examples to illustrate the point so in theory we shouldn’t see this type of error again!
Got to be this, Curbs style, to get a draw or nick a one-nil;
Really no matter what people say, there are lot's of woeful sides in this division. Stephens made a big difference and was hitting the wingers earlier and more accurately. When confidence is up I'd like to see Sordell start on top of the midfield two at home, as he's so good at compressing the game. But really until then just play three flat midfielders. We had our best run for away results when we played 3cms. Powell and so many other champ managers seem to only do this when forced to.
When Pritch get's back it's time to blood him in the middle. At the game Middlesborough were just as poor and without Adomah would have been devoid of any creativity. With this sort of dross in the division, we just have to be hard to beat.
Its got to be crosses this week...
Kermorgant didn't cover himself in glory with his clearing head either though.
I left the ground literally trembling with anger. That ghastly performance was easily on a par with the pathetic display against Millwall last season. To have just one accurate shot at goal in 90 minutes (Green's second-half blast straight at the keeper) is simply not acceptable. Powell must do something, and quickly.
We found out last season that we have a "red sea" midfield when we play 4-4-2 and so we do exactly the same this season.
Then people call for Dervite to play in midfield to shore things up which he did last season and was awful and we create nothing.
Then people groan with agony that we are playing one up front at home and CP is being ridiculously over cautious.
This argument is often associated with loud calls for anyone from the Under 13 girls upwards to be given their chance in the first 11.
Its smell the bovril time. The fact is our players are not very good compared to most other teams and we have no money. So we will have to work harder, play tighter and be better organised to get anywhere. Last season we had a lot of luck too, particularly away from home.
With that in mind I have no idea why most of our team looks no better than 60% fit and several look obviously obese two games into a new season.
I think our best option is to make Stephens the centre of things playing behind a single striker and brief Gower/Hughes/Jackson/Pritchard/or whoever to just win the bloody thing and give it to Stephens or Harriot. Those two have the ability if they are used properly and protected adequately.
To be fair to the fella he often gets stranded and isolated in a weak two man midfield with no time and no protection.
Finding it difficult to witness Saturday and feel all that chilled.
" Red Sea midfield" eh ?
Don't expect for one minute that you'll see SCP as our Moses , leading the way to the Promised Land.