No apologies after last nights win at Norwich City to go a bit Chuchillian in the title, but it seems appropriate that after twelve games, two in the League Cup and ten in the league, that we can make some kind of early assessment. In the league we have had a neat five at home and five away and we are close to a quarter of the season gone so can we conclude anything?
If we were to talk in GCSE terms then it has to be an 'A', could so easily have been an 'A*' with two more points on the board, however given the newness of it all we have made an excellent start. I posted before, that with all of the rather bewildering changes at the club the easiest thing to focus on are the results, and on that measure they have been terrific.
We have only lost one (cup) game, and that to a very good team in the last minute when the referee's knowledge of the more obscure laws of football was better than ours (read the book management and players if you want to handle the referees better!), we have kept four clean sheets, scored just over one goal per game, and conceded just under one goal per game. One outstanding feature of our start is that we are certainly here on business, and Gorgeous George would say, 'results, points, points, results' and Bob and the players have certainly delivered on that front.
We have a defined style too. We are relaxed and focussed when not in possession, and seem to have faith in possession that we can pass it from player to player with very few mistakes. The players seem to trust each other which is a sign of good coaching. We hardly ever play the long ball, and the possession stats are not as high on our list of priorities as wins and points, it seems that all of the opposition who come away from playing us asking 'how did we lose that?' are missing the point. Our results have not been down to luck, it is up to the opposition to finish their chances and dominate us, we have not been dominated enough, and I am learning to be relaxed when opponents have the ball, and hopeful we might do something good when we have it. Our team play and organization have been an outstanding feature of the season so far, in defence we have been pretty awesome, and at our best we can also be unplayable...I give you the start of the Derby County home game as an example of what we are now capable of, and as an example of football so pure it was like looking at a computer game.
All has been achieved with a new look team who have still to develop the telepathic understanding that really successful teams get.
Bob Peeters has faced a lot of challenges regarding personnel and his handling of the players has been very good indeed. Lets consider what he has had to deal with.
Firstly the Chris Solly/Joe Gomez situation. A perfect policy it seems to me by conserving Chris Solly and the introduction of the barely out of nappies Gomez, with Lawrie Wilson (mom against Norwich...he played three different positions in that game?) to fill in, he has that sorted.
In goal Bob has managed the loss of Henderson early on well, and Pope has enhanced rather than damaged his standing in his cameos. The situation with Michael Morrison is more tricky, Bob and I suspect Michael, can see it is impossible to split up TBH and Bikey, so Bob has the delicate task of keeping a jolly good player happy and focussed, he has that challenge with Morgan Fox too, and also the too much maligned Simon Church.
Midfield had been as big a challenge in terms of marshalling resources. Jacko is not as sprightly as one would like, but there is certainly an argument that Jacko adds more than he subtracts. Jacko has the experience to impart, he is always one of our most accurate passers of the ball, as captain he is excellent, and when Jacko does decide to score, they are nearly always significant goals. Jacko puts in a big shift for the team, but it can lead to a booking in his case. So that all leaves Jordan Cousins having had to operate very unselfishly wide left. Bob, and everybody actually, can see that Jordan is better used inside but in managing that aspect of midfield I think he has got it just about right so far, and Jordan deserves a hearty clap on the back for his attitude. Yoni has made a great start, but he may be one of the more inconsistent, (whisper this) and one of the least fit players, certainly when we had Diego Poyet being the fittest player on the field at the end of matches last season, we don't see that kind of thing from Yoni, but my goodness he has a brain, and takes a mean penalty. We have mixed and matched other midfield options, Johan has yet to make a consistent statement, and with Moussa, Bulot, Harriott et al the midfield is either cleverly fluid, or still a work in progress.
Up front Igor has been unarguably a success, not only for his goals, but defenders can't take their eyes off him for a minute, he has yet to combine successfully with the right partner. Joe Piggott, George, sometimes Callum sometimes Moussa and maybe now Bulot have not yet clicked into place with Igor, and not getting Delort or any mystery front men in may be a frustration to Bob, but he has played the hand he has got very well, and the recent arrival of Aherne Grant on the scene may work out. It is a good feature in my view to encourage the young players, and Bob seems to be prepared to do that with relish.
We have been coached and managed very well so far this season, and I was a sceptic before, but Big Bob has my 100% support now for what it's worth!
Looking wider the new pitch has been a big help for our style, although pitches around the league will deteriorate as the season progresses. Our fitness seems to be a bit meh, and we may struggle significantly when injuries and suspensions kick in. I would also caution against dodgy temperament cropping up here and there because a cool focus seems to be what will bring us the most success.
We are undefeated in our first ten matches, exceeding the expectations of most, great first album, but as we enter the Autumn we need an equally good follow up second album. I still think the squad is fragile and it would be great if RD could find his way to helping out with some more resources.
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unfortunately this can only at this point mean loans, which are not ideal.
However,if the right players could be found in the striker and central midfield positions then this would be the time to bring them in. Continued success would guarantee higher crowds, more tv time and increased value of the players. Waiting four months until January risks losing momentum.
Come on RD, now is the time.
If M.Roly wants to push the club onwards and upwards on the pitch then he's needs to help Peeters in that regard. Only 10 games into a 46 game season and the squad looks threadbare when the likes of Solly, Gudmundsson and Tucudean were not in the 18 last night.
3 more players that are as good or better into that squad as soon as posslble. One or two injuries to key players will slow the momentum.
I have only seen the Huddersfield and Watford games and have been a little frustrated by the lack of possession, but now I understand that possession doesn't always win matches - ask Norwich.
When quizzed about loans/transfers he reminds us how well the current players are doing and I suspect he is saying that, relative to this seasons objectives (staying in the division), we are over-achieving, so be patient. We should not get too frustrated if we do not splash out chasing a dream we are not ready to handle. If we are going for promotion it will need a new plan, not just a hunch about players who are available rather than who Bob wants, let management make that call, they have not made any bad calls so far.
Seems to me everyone is clear what their job is, RD, KM, Bob and the players. We supporters have no excuse to criticise so far, so are mostly all onside too. We have a team in the real meaning of the word, lets hope it has staying power.
I agree very much with those suggesting that RD should invest sooner rather than later - not just based on our good start to the season, but because we currently have an exceptional crop of homegrown players. This means it has not been too expensive to build a competitive squad right now. But I'm not sure how many more will be ready to come through in the next couple of seasons - the U18 and U21 results are not as good as they were two to three years ago, suggesting there is not the same depth there, though I stand to be corrected by those who follow it more closely. What I am seeing is about the largest and best crop to come through in my 40 or so years of supporting Charlton - our "golden generation" if you like. So, whilst I support a patient and sensible approach, I also feel that we could set ourselves back unless we grasp this opportunity - now would be the prime time to add a couple more of Igor's calibre, as we really are just a smidgen away from having a squad with genuine play-off aspirations.
Like when we got promoted in 1998 "before we were ready", you go for it when you can, and use that as your platform to build, even if it means a bit of yoyo-ing.
Feel like both club and team are on the way up rather than on the way down which I have felt for some seasons.
We are coping VERY well with it.
I'm not sure we'll still be up there come May, but I think we've definitely got the right foundations in place for future seasons
Bob has a clear idea of how he wants us to play and, more importantly, how to go about implementing this. The players seem to have been very well drilled and that reflects extremely well on both them and the entire coaching staff.
It is still early days but, most unusually for any club, practically all the new signings have done well (several outstandingly well) and we've also healthily trimmed the squad by loaning out Nego and Parzyszek, neither of whom, it appears, Bob fancied. Joe Gomez has now got five first team games under his belt (including four against high quality opposition) and Karlan Ahearne-Grant is the latest off the assembly line. Nick Pope has also been blooded. The squad numbers are down but the level of quality is much much higher this season. I think, in particular, that Gudmundsson will be a really big player for us once he regains fitness.
We are a couple of players light at present but, in the absence of an injury to someone like Igor or Buyens, the club may be reluctant to go into the loan market. I can see that we may be in a stronger position vis-a-vis our competitors in January by virtue of FFP, although momentum is, as we know, very important in football. I doubt that Roland will be deflected from their plan of incremental improvement but maybe we'll do something by way of a loan if the deal includes an option to buy or there is a real chance of entering into a permanent transfer in January. Igor certainly does need some support up front or we'll end up wearing him out.
It's too early to get carried away but, at the risk of tempting fate, how good would it be if we can turn over the Brummies on Saturday and go into the international break embedded in the top six on 21 points ? That fortnight will give everyone a chance to recharge their batteries and put in some good work at Sparrow's Lane.
Onwards and upwards (or at least sideways).
The answer will then probably be to bring in cheaper replacements and more academy players and develop them.
Problem is, as long as the table remains tight as it is, he will probably stick to plan A. At least if we can maintain our league position, and other front runners start falling away, we should expect plan B to put into action. Another 10 games? That conveniently takes us to the away game with Forest at beginning of December. I'm grey already. What happens next? Does my hair fall out!!
This is however very early in the piece. Everyone needs to stay patient while he adds to the squad, refines the style of play to make us more effective as we play into the last third and improves his tactical knowledge of all of the teams in the league. The platform is being established to push on and challenge for the top places, possibly next season.
Bob is impossible to dislike. He is a decent coach and is excellent when speaking to the press - I've never attended a QandA at any of the supporters groups, but the day Bromley or someone gets him to attend I'll definitely break that duck.
Said it on the post match comments last night, the ball is now firmly back in RD's court. Back Bob now and at the very least get someone in to support Igor and we could really push on.
Very interesting point by Weegie Addick as well - re not being ready in 1998 and the potential merits of yo-yoing for a while. In arguably the toughest ever Championship and with our recent history of struggle and strife, it's so easy to accept we could not possibly compete at a higher level, so let's just consolidate, be thankful for small mercies, accept that we are punching above our weight, small budget, happy with bottom half finish, blah. But I just look at our Nigelly neighbours and think how close we were to them in 2012/13 - with a clearly much weaker squad than now - and actually they're making quite a decent fist of it, aren't they? As much as it pains me to admit it (reaches for coat).
Go for it? Why the hell not.
It's interesting to note how attached we are as fans to the idea that the manager / head coach chooses the new players, even when the chief executive goes on the record saying he doesn't ("he has an input"). I do it too, since I find the idea it is done by someone else with no football background bizarre. No doubt the truth is somewhere in the middle.