Duchatelet should bung Greenwich Council a couple of million to circumvent the planning regulations, demolish The Valley, and build lots of shiny new apartments. That way, he gets his paltry £14 million investment back, and retires to an asylum in Belgium.
The Council is keen to "regenerate" the Greenwich Peninsula - what better than with a new stadium severing all connections with the decades of our abject failings. We will have plenty of dosh left over to start anew: hire an experienced manager and good coaches, and buy talented players.
We were over-run in the middle yet they had three on ones against our fullbacks time and time again.
Something is seriously wrong with your shape if that is allowed to happen, I mean I didn't even know that both those things happening at once were possible!
Again, it must be down to the players. When Luzon took over one of the first things he banged the table about was losing and recovering shape and they really focused on this. Only 2 games ago the Reading Manager, Steve Clarke, commented that he knew how well organised CAFC are and that was not far off the mark - that is what Luzon and his coaching team had instilled in the squad. Tuesday night the players showed no interest. Today they lost interest after they realised they were getting a pasting. A pitiful sight for all to witness and shame on our players.
What a surprise the Belgian freak show has made us as pony an outfit as you could ever imagine , never saw this coming ..... No surprise Luzon going but I truly felt for him as Moussa missed that early chance(hit the target ffffs) and he sank to the ground and thumped the floor in pure frustration , he knew his time was up Not a fan of Luzon but I have a heart and felt for him , I believe he was out of his depth but badly wanted to do well , so good luck to him and co Does fox have a bet every game where he has to hold on to a one pence piece stuck up his arse for the whole 90 minutes , he has a very peculiar running style
13th-21st 35% ....... The inevitable relegation 65%
@Hovi's Biscuit I thought we were in a good place, the promise of the "plan"...at the time it sounded great.
But at this moment, it's not working, the plan is falling on its knees. I pray it works, I really do, but we are Leeds v2 as stands. Please prove me wrong CAFC
Today I made my way to Charlton and parked in the familiar streets of my childhood. Walking to the ground, I noted the fallen autumn leaves clinging to the damp, grimy and uneven pavements; the dirty and cracked masonry of the ageing houses; the dark, huddled groups of fans drifting towards the Valley; the rancid smell of ancient burger grease; the children, the poor children being inducted into football's hall of shame.
I felt that familiar flicker of hope. Yet somehow I also knew that, yet again, a couple of hours later I would be asking myself "why do I bother", echoing the words of my dad on so many saturdays over the years. Back then, with the simplistic attitudes of youth, I saw those words as a minor betrayal of the club we both loved. Now, I realise they were spoken with the same resigned, unreasoning, affection that I feel for this shabby basket-case of a club.
In a way, the result didn't matter today. I feel resigned to life under Roland and Katrien. If we go down, we go down - and at least that might make them go. Please God.
Today felt more than usual like coming home. Shit all-round, yet just what I have become used to.
There's one thing in football that never changes, players will get the manager the sack. Whatever happened in the dressing room after the Rotherham game, has continued on for nine matches. Where before we pressed quickly and passed quickly, the players have stopped doing it. There may have been a split in the dressing room, but this looks like a group of players pissed off with the "look at me" style of the coach. They have stopped taking notice of his performance on the sidelines and have often been worse in the second half after his team-talks.
The loss of Chapple is also hitting home. Brentford came with a digital 4-2-3-1 system, we continued with the analogue 4-4-2. 5v4 in midfield, 3v2 in the central areas - basic tactics.The players has no idea what was happening on Brentford's set plays, which included an inventive corner routine, where they got players free time and again. It was obvious they had no idea with Preston's free kicks.
The change had to come. We need a strong manager, with a good back-room staff, proper scouting and some experienced players to get us up the table. This isn't the time for another foreign coach, learning on the job, with no contacts in the English game. I know that, you know that, but it looks like the owner and CEO haven't a scooby. Charlton Alexandra.
Our players don't need "confidence", or motivation, nor inspiration - as many of you Lifers insist. They need sacking.
Two examples from yesterday, typical from the season: Our attacking cross goes flying miles over the box: Solly and another run to retrieve it on the touch-line. There is almost a collision, and by the time they decide what to do, the Brentford defender is away, free. Two-nil.
Look again at this. Later in the second half, Makienok doesn't have the wit to run ten yards to block a defender making a lazy pass. Watt rushes in - then Makienok tries to catch up. They almost collide - but the keeper collects, and clears. Three-nil.
Hales, Flanagan and Walsh are looking at our performances this season and thinking: What a bunch of utter pansies.
Didn't make it today as had tickets for the all blacks South Africa semi final. Internet non existent at twickenham so couldn't follow the game much to my boys disappointment during the game. Two 0-3 defeats at home to bottom table sides isn't acceptable no matter what the injury list. I liked Luzon but he has always seemed to have current favourites and current players he won't play. Losing Bikey because he and Luzon did not get on has cost us a fortune. If we are going to play Fox, he needs to get on properly with Watt. The manager should help this to happen. We need a team builder, I think the individual quality is there but we need a Charlton team. Simple:
Great user name, but shouldn't it be "AlwaysNil" ?
The initial period saw Brentford struggle with our pressing tactics. When Button had the ball, Mak & Watt pushed up on their defenders and Jackson pushed on to Diacouraga who drops deep. Button fluffed a couple of kicks and we robbed possession in a good place but missed our chances.
Then Bees worked out that Yennaris (the RB) was free and started using him. He used the ball well and Moussa who despite his miss had put a lot of effort in, started to struggle. Bit by bit, the injuries started to take their toll and Bees delivered a brilliant cross for their first goal. We needed a big game out of Cousins but he's in poor form and in a normal situation might have even been rested for the game...and coupled with Jackson's lack of fitness, we were in trouble.
Some people have suggested we should have gone 4-5-1....but at 1-0 down that would have been booed as well! It would probably also mean Ba coming in or THD pushing Moussa inside...but either way we'd lose Mak or Watt. Guy tried to get all of his best players on from the start and to get in front but sadly, we missed big chances to do just that. Anyone who read the Physio's report knew that we would be struggling later in the game. Mak played longer than he should have, Jackson isn't ready for 90 mins, Moussa has been out for about a year, Henderson isn't ready and Reza has been out for two months.
Squad depth/quality is for another thread. Once we missed those early chances yesterday we'd had it.
It's no consolation to most people, especially Guy and the coaches who have lost their jobs, but providing we didn't pick up any more injuries, at least those returning players have got minutes under their belt. That will help as we limp through to the January transfer window. Getting Kashi back would make a lot of difference. Jackson has been a brilliant player for Charlton but he never has dominated a game in midfield. But I've seen Kashi do it against QPR and to a lesser extent Hull and he's the man we're missing the most. I just hope that a) we do get him back and b) he's still the same player.
Finally, I'd like to wish Guy and his coaches all the best and to wish the new Management team better luck with injuries.
Our players don't need "confidence", or motivation, nor inspiration - as many of you Lifers insist. They need sacking.
Two examples from yesterday, typical from the season: Our attacking cross goes flying miles over the box: Solly and another run to retrieve it on the touch-line. There is almost a collision, and by the time they decide what to do, the Brentford defender is away, free. Two-nil.
Look again at this. Later in the second half, Makienok doesn't have the wit to run ten yards to block a defender making a lazy pass. Watt rushes in - then Makienok tries to catch up. They almost collide - but the keeper collects, and clears. Three-nil.
Hales, Flanagan and Walsh are looking at our performances this season and thinking: What a bunch of utter pansies.
The good news is we were only poor for 75 minutes unlike the Preston game when we were poor for 90 minutes.
The bad news is that was the the strongest team we could have started with as Diarra was suspended and Sarr who was suppose to be the week link was the best player for CAFC over the 90 minutes.
The good news is we were only poor for 75 minutes unlike the Preston game when we were poor for 90 minutes.
The bad news is that was the the strongest team we could have started with as Diarra was suspended and Sarr who was suppose to be the week link was the best player for CAFC over the 90 minutes.
Yeah in fairness I slaughtered Sarr on Tuesday but he was pretty good yesterday, had to do a lot of cleaning up for Fox whose performances recently have been dreadful.
I actually didn't think it was a terrible performance compared to Tuesday but we didn't look like scoring if we'd played for five hours.
There's one thing in football that never changes, players will get the manager the sack. Whatever happened in the dressing room after the Rotherham game, has continued on for nine matches. Where before we pressed quickly and passed quickly, the players have stopped doing it. There may have been a split in the dressing room, but this looks like a group of players pissed off with the "look at me" style of the coach. They have stopped taking notice of his performance on the sidelines and have often been worse in the second half after his team-talks.
The loss of Chapple is also hitting home. Brentford came with a digital 4-2-3-1 system, we continued with the analogue 4-4-2. 5v4 in midfield, 3v2 in the central areas - basic tactics.The players has no idea what was happening on Brentford's set plays, which included an inventive corner routine, where they got players free time and again. It was obvious they had no idea with Preston's free kicks.
The change had to come. We need a strong manager, with a good back-room staff, proper scouting and some experienced players to get us up the table. This isn't the time for another foreign coach, learning on the job, with no contacts in the English game. I know that, you know that, but it looks like the owner and CEO haven't a scooby. Charlton Alexandra.
You're my choice for the new head coach @Tutt-Tutt
I think one of the reasons that Solly and Fox looked so poor because of the deficiencies in the left and right midfield positions, left them exposed an also there was no counter threat or pace in those positions allowing the Brentford full backs to push up alongside their dominant midfield.
The initial period saw Brentford struggle with our pressing tactics. When Button had the ball, Mak & Watt pushed up on their defenders and Jackson pushed on to Diacouraga who drops deep. Button fluffed a couple of kicks and we robbed possession in a good place but missed our chances.
Then Bees worked out that Yennaris (the RB) was free and started using him. He used the ball well and Moussa who despite his miss had put a lot of effort in, started to struggle. Bit by bit, the injuries started to take their toll and Bees delivered a brilliant cross for their first goal. We needed a big game out of Cousins but he's in poor form and in a normal situation might have even been rested for the game...and coupled with Jackson's lack of fitness, we were in trouble.
Some people have suggested we should have gone 4-5-1....but at 1-0 down that would have been booed as well! It would probably also mean Ba coming in or THD pushing Moussa inside...but either way we'd lose Mak or Watt. Guy tried to get all of his best players on from the start and to get in front but sadly, we missed big chances to do just that. Anyone who read the Physio's report knew that we would be struggling later in the game. Mak played longer than he should have, Jackson isn't ready for 90 mins, Moussa has been out for about a year, Henderson isn't ready and Reza has been out for two months.
Squad depth/quality is for another thread. Once we missed those early chances yesterday we'd had it.
It's no consolation to most people, especially Guy and the coaches who have lost their jobs, but providing we didn't pick up any more injuries, at least those returning players have got minutes under their belt. That will help as we limp through to the January transfer window. Getting Kashi back would make a lot of difference. Jackson has been a brilliant player for Charlton but he never has dominated a game in midfield. But I've seen Kashi do it against QPR and to a lesser extent Hull and he's the man we're missing the most. I just hope that a) we do get him back and b) he's still the same player.
Finally, I'd like to wish Guy and his coaches all the best and to wish the new Management team better luck with injuries.
Great post. Charlton should have matched up with Brentford with bodies in Midfield. Variations of 4312 / 4231 would have been a better bet.
Our moves forward are made in a sort of fearful exploration. What would happen if we probed: something alien or nasty might be there. Yesterday, with an attacking throw-in, all our players were frozen. Then three of them rushed the man with the ball over his head, poised.
Hang on! - Who has made space: Reza, Makienok, or a midfielder rushing away? None of them. Solly stands on the touch-line and throws the ball to the nearest player - and gets it slammed back.
All of our play is a kind of expensive busking: We make it up as we go along. Something might happen - a ricochet, a deflection, or a break to take on water.
Watch our opponents, how good they are. They don't box themselves in to corners, as we do on the half-way line. They play with fluency and instinct, they control the ball, and send carefully weighted passes from here to there. This is skill, intelligence, and talent. Every single team in the Championship has it. Not us.
Our 'strikers' would learn a lot from watching videos of our Paul Williams: his quality of observing, lurking, anticipating - and then the sudden explosion of acceleration over ten yards to seize the ball, and score.
Makienok is not a folk-hero: he failed in Denmark, was off-loaded to Sicily and failed there too. Ba and Cellebos each played one senior game in two years, yet are somehow good enough for Charlton. It depends what you want: a shuffling, hapless little team dodging relegation from one year to the next, or...
Norwich went straight up from the Third, and so did Southampton. Five years ago Bournemouth were a mere annexe to a zimmer-framed golf-course. We are in the best city on earth, have a great stadium, a fantastic history, and healthy support.
For an extra couple of grand a week, Duchatelet dismissed Yann Kermorgant and bought Igor Vetokele for £2.3 million.
Our players don't need "confidence", or motivation, nor inspiration - as many of you Lifers insist. They need sacking.
Two examples from yesterday, typical from the season: Our attacking cross goes flying miles over the box: Solly and another run to retrieve it on the touch-line. There is almost a collision, and by the time they decide what to do, the Brentford defender is away, free. Two-nil.
Look again at this. Later in the second half, Makienok doesn't have the wit to run ten yards to block a defender making a lazy pass. Watt rushes in - then Makienok tries to catch up. They almost collide - but the keeper collects, and clears. Three-nil.
Hales, Flanagan and Walsh are looking at our performances this season and thinking: What a bunch of utter pansies.
Actually, no. They need motivation, inspiring and confidence.
It's half term and my daughter and grandchildren arrived on Friday for a long weekend.
I am a season ticket holder and attended on Tuesday but felt no desire whatsoever to spend 6 hours plus of my day yesterday travelling to and from Charlton when the opportunity was there to spend quality time with my grandchildren.
I did a similar thing prior to the Brentford game last season (travelled to see them that time) and was absolutely delighted to miss our 3-0 win then. Yesterday though, to anyone present on Tuesday, was all too predictable despite my hopes of repeating my exploitation of sod's law from last season.
Our moves forward are made in a sort of fearful exploration. What would happen if we probed: something alien or nasty might be there. Yesterday, with an attacking throw-in, all our players were frozen. Then three of them rushed the man with the ball over his head, poised.
Hang on! - Who has made space: Reza, Makienok, or a midfielder rushing away? None of them. Solly stands on the touch-line and throws the ball to the nearest player - and gets it slammed back.
All of our play is a kind of expensive busking: We make it up as we go along. Something might happen - a ricochet, a deflection, or a break to take on water.
Watch our opponents, how good they are. They don't box themselves in to corners, as we do on the half-way line. They play with fluency and instinct, they control the ball, and send carefully weighted passes from here to there. This is skill, intelligence, and talent. Every single team in the Championship has it. Not us.
Our 'strikers' would learn a lot from watching videos of our Paul Williams: his quality of observing, lurking, anticipating - and then the sudden explosion of acceleration over ten yards to seize the ball, and score.
Makienok is not a folk-hero: he failed in Denmark, was off-loaded to Sicily and failed there too. Ba and Cellebos each played one senior game in two years, yet are somehow good enough for Charlton. It depends what you want: a shuffling, hapless little team dodging relegation from one year to the next, or...
Norwich went straight up from the Third, and so did Southampton. Five years ago Bournemouth were a mere annexe to a zimmer-framed golf-course. We are in the best city on earth, have a great stadium, a fantastic history, and healthy support.
For an extra couple of grand a week, Duchatelet dismissed Yann Kermorgant and bought Igor Vetokele for £2.3 million.
Yeah!
He didn't fail in Denmark. That is just categorically untrue.
Our moves forward are made in a sort of fearful exploration. What would happen if we probed: something alien or nasty might be there. Yesterday, with an attacking throw-in, all our players were frozen. Then three of them rushed the man with the ball over his head, poised.
Hang on! - Who has made space: Reza, Makienok, or a midfielder rushing away? None of them. Solly stands on the touch-line and throws the ball to the nearest player - and gets it slammed back.
All of our play is a kind of expensive busking: We make it up as we go along. Something might happen - a ricochet, a deflection, or a break to take on water.
Watch our opponents, how good they are. They don't box themselves in to corners, as we do on the half-way line. They play with fluency and instinct, they control the ball, and send carefully weighted passes from here to there. This is skill, intelligence, and talent. Every single team in the Championship has it. Not us.
Our 'strikers' would learn a lot from watching videos of our Paul Williams: his quality of observing, lurking, anticipating - and then the sudden explosion of acceleration over ten yards to seize the ball, and score.
Makienok is not a folk-hero: he failed in Denmark, was off-loaded to Sicily and failed there too. Ba and Cellebos each played one senior game in two years, yet are somehow good enough for Charlton. It depends what you want: a shuffling, hapless little team dodging relegation from one year to the next, or...
Norwich went straight up from the Third, and so did Southampton. Five years ago Bournemouth were a mere annexe to a zimmer-framed golf-course. We are in the best city on earth, have a great stadium, a fantastic history, and healthy support.
For an extra couple of grand a week, Duchatelet dismissed Yann Kermorgant and bought Igor Vetokele for £2.3 million.
Yeah!
He didn't fail in Denmark. That is just categorically untrue.
Agreed. 57 goals in 132 appearances isn't my idea of failure either.
Our moves forward are made in a sort of fearful exploration. What would happen if we probed: something alien or nasty might be there. Yesterday, with an attacking throw-in, all our players were frozen. Then three of them rushed the man with the ball over his head, poised.
Hang on! - Who has made space: Reza, Makienok, or a midfielder rushing away? None of them. Solly stands on the touch-line and throws the ball to the nearest player - and gets it slammed back.
All of our play is a kind of expensive busking: We make it up as we go along. Something might happen - a ricochet, a deflection, or a break to take on water.
Watch our opponents, how good they are. They don't box themselves in to corners, as we do on the half-way line. They play with fluency and instinct, they control the ball, and send carefully weighted passes from here to there. This is skill, intelligence, and talent. Every single team in the Championship has it. Not us.
Our 'strikers' would learn a lot from watching videos of our Paul Williams: his quality of observing, lurking, anticipating - and then the sudden explosion of acceleration over ten yards to seize the ball, and score.
Makienok is not a folk-hero: he failed in Denmark, was off-loaded to Sicily and failed there too. Ba and Cellebos each played one senior game in two years, yet are somehow good enough for Charlton. It depends what you want: a shuffling, hapless little team dodging relegation from one year to the next, or...
Norwich went straight up from the Third, and so did Southampton. Five years ago Bournemouth were a mere annexe to a zimmer-framed golf-course. We are in the best city on earth, have a great stadium, a fantastic history, and healthy support.
For an extra couple of grand a week, Duchatelet dismissed Yann Kermorgant and bought Igor Vetokele for £2.3 million.
Yeah!
He didn't fail in Denmark. That is just categorically untrue.
Our moves forward are made in a sort of fearful exploration. What would happen if we probed: something alien or nasty might be there. Yesterday, with an attacking throw-in, all our players were frozen. Then three of them rushed the man with the ball over his head, poised.
Hang on! - Who has made space: Reza, Makienok, or a midfielder rushing away? None of them. Solly stands on the touch-line and throws the ball to the nearest player - and gets it slammed back.
All of our play is a kind of expensive busking: We make it up as we go along. Something might happen - a ricochet, a deflection, or a break to take on water.
Watch our opponents, how good they are. They don't box themselves in to corners, as we do on the half-way line. They play with fluency and instinct, they control the ball, and send carefully weighted passes from here to there. This is skill, intelligence, and talent. Every single team in the Championship has it. Not us.
Our 'strikers' would learn a lot from watching videos of our Paul Williams: his quality of observing, lurking, anticipating - and then the sudden explosion of acceleration over ten yards to seize the ball, and score.
Makienok is not a folk-hero: he failed in Denmark, was off-loaded to Sicily and failed there too. Ba and Cellebos each played one senior game in two years, yet are somehow good enough for Charlton. It depends what you want: a shuffling, hapless little team dodging relegation from one year to the next, or...
Norwich went straight up from the Third, and so did Southampton. Five years ago Bournemouth were a mere annexe to a zimmer-framed golf-course. We are in the best city on earth, have a great stadium, a fantastic history, and healthy support.
For an extra couple of grand a week, Duchatelet dismissed Yann Kermorgant and bought Igor Vetokele for £2.3 million.
Yeah!
He didn't fail in Denmark. That is just categorically untrue.
Agreed. 57 goals in 132 appearances isn't my idea of failure either.
Makienok scored in Denmark - that's about the level of our Conference South. As he himself has discovered. Hence all the praying on his knees in the centre circle when his team-mates at least have the humility to troop off collectively.
Apart from all the misplaced knock-downs, you missed Makienok's hearty swivel and shoot yesterday. It was in the first half - ten yards out, and ten yards over the bar.
It's cracking stuff. Even Joe Piggott is laughing.
Our moves forward are made in a sort of fearful exploration. What would happen if we probed: something alien or nasty might be there. Yesterday, with an attacking throw-in, all our players were frozen. Then three of them rushed the man with the ball over his head, poised.
Hang on! - Who has made space: Reza, Makienok, or a midfielder rushing away? None of them. Solly stands on the touch-line and throws the ball to the nearest player - and gets it slammed back.
All of our play is a kind of expensive busking: We make it up as we go along. Something might happen - a ricochet, a deflection, or a break to take on water.
Watch our opponents, how good they are. They don't box themselves in to corners, as we do on the half-way line. They play with fluency and instinct, they control the ball, and send carefully weighted passes from here to there. This is skill, intelligence, and talent. Every single team in the Championship has it. Not us.
Our 'strikers' would learn a lot from watching videos of our Paul Williams: his quality of observing, lurking, anticipating - and then the sudden explosion of acceleration over ten yards to seize the ball, and score.
Makienok is not a folk-hero: he failed in Denmark, was off-loaded to Sicily and failed there too. Ba and Cellebos each played one senior game in two years, yet are somehow good enough for Charlton. It depends what you want: a shuffling, hapless little team dodging relegation from one year to the next, or...
Norwich went straight up from the Third, and so did Southampton. Five years ago Bournemouth were a mere annexe to a zimmer-framed golf-course. We are in the best city on earth, have a great stadium, a fantastic history, and healthy support.
For an extra couple of grand a week, Duchatelet dismissed Yann Kermorgant and bought Igor Vetokele for £2.3 million.
Yeah!
He didn't fail in Denmark. That is just categorically untrue.
Ba and Ceballos have also made more than 1 senior appearance each in the past two years.
Our moves forward are made in a sort of fearful exploration. What would happen if we probed: something alien or nasty might be there. Yesterday, with an attacking throw-in, all our players were frozen. Then three of them rushed the man with the ball over his head, poised.
Hang on! - Who has made space: Reza, Makienok, or a midfielder rushing away? None of them. Solly stands on the touch-line and throws the ball to the nearest player - and gets it slammed back.
All of our play is a kind of expensive busking: We make it up as we go along. Something might happen - a ricochet, a deflection, or a break to take on water.
Watch our opponents, how good they are. They don't box themselves in to corners, as we do on the half-way line. They play with fluency and instinct, they control the ball, and send carefully weighted passes from here to there. This is skill, intelligence, and talent. Every single team in the Championship has it. Not us.
Our 'strikers' would learn a lot from watching videos of our Paul Williams: his quality of observing, lurking, anticipating - and then the sudden explosion of acceleration over ten yards to seize the ball, and score.
Makienok is not a folk-hero: he failed in Denmark, was off-loaded to Sicily and failed there too. Ba and Cellebos each played one senior game in two years, yet are somehow good enough for Charlton. It depends what you want: a shuffling, hapless little team dodging relegation from one year to the next, or...
Norwich went straight up from the Third, and so did Southampton. Five years ago Bournemouth were a mere annexe to a zimmer-framed golf-course. We are in the best city on earth, have a great stadium, a fantastic history, and healthy support.
For an extra couple of grand a week, Duchatelet dismissed Yann Kermorgant and bought Igor Vetokele for £2.3 million.
Yeah!
He didn't fail in Denmark. That is just categorically untrue.
Agreed. 57 goals in 132 appearances isn't my idea of failure either.
Makienok scored in Denmark - that's about the level of our Conference South. As he himself has discovered. Hence all the praying on his knees in the centre circle when his team-mates at least have the humility to troop off collectively.
Apart from all the misplaced knock-downs, you missed Makienok's hearty swivel and shoot yesterday. It was in the first half - ten yards out, and ten yards over the bar.
It's cracking stuff. Even Joe Piggott is laughing.
Absolute nonsense, I went to a Danish top flight game a few weeks ago (Brondby v Njordesland) and it was probably on a par with the lower end of the Championship.
Comments
The Council is keen to "regenerate" the Greenwich Peninsula - what better than with a new stadium severing all connections with the decades of our abject failings. We will have plenty of dosh left over to start anew: hire an experienced manager and good coaches, and buy talented players.
When Luzon took over one of the first things he banged the table about was losing and recovering shape and they really focused on this.
Only 2 games ago the Reading Manager, Steve Clarke, commented that he knew how well organised CAFC are and that was not far off the mark - that is what Luzon and his coaching team had instilled in the squad.
Tuesday night the players showed no interest.
Today they lost interest after they realised they were getting a pasting.
A pitiful sight for all to witness and shame on our players.
No surprise Luzon going but I truly felt for him as Moussa missed that early chance(hit the target ffffs) and he sank to the ground and thumped the floor in pure frustration , he knew his time was up
Not a fan of Luzon but I have a heart and felt for him , I believe he was out of his depth but badly wanted to do well , so good luck to him and co
Does fox have a bet every game where he has to hold on to a one pence piece stuck up his arse for the whole 90 minutes , he has a very peculiar running style
13th-21st 35% ....... The inevitable relegation 65%
The loss of Chapple is also hitting home. Brentford came with a digital 4-2-3-1 system, we continued with the analogue 4-4-2. 5v4 in midfield, 3v2 in the central areas - basic tactics.The players has no idea what was happening on Brentford's set plays, which included an inventive corner routine, where they got players free time and again. It was obvious they had no idea with Preston's free kicks.
The change had to come. We need a strong manager, with a good back-room staff, proper scouting and some experienced players to get us up the table. This isn't the time for another foreign coach, learning on the job, with no contacts in the English game. I know that, you know that, but it looks like the owner and CEO haven't a scooby. Charlton Alexandra.
Two examples from yesterday, typical from the season: Our attacking cross goes flying miles over the box: Solly and another run to retrieve it on the touch-line. There is almost a collision, and by the time they decide what to do, the Brentford defender is away, free. Two-nil.
Look again at this. Later in the second half, Makienok doesn't have the wit to run ten yards to block a defender making a lazy pass. Watt rushes in - then Makienok tries to catch up. They almost collide - but the keeper collects, and clears. Three-nil.
Hales, Flanagan and Walsh are looking at our performances this season and thinking: What a bunch of utter pansies.
Then Bees worked out that Yennaris (the RB) was free and started using him. He used the ball well and Moussa who despite his miss had put a lot of effort in, started to struggle. Bit by bit, the injuries started to take their toll and Bees delivered a brilliant cross for their first goal. We needed a big game out of Cousins but he's in poor form and in a normal situation might have even been rested for the game...and coupled with Jackson's lack of fitness, we were in trouble.
Some people have suggested we should have gone 4-5-1....but at 1-0 down that would have been booed as well! It would probably also mean Ba coming in or THD pushing Moussa inside...but either way we'd lose Mak or Watt. Guy tried to get all of his best players on from the start and to get in front but sadly, we missed big chances to do just that. Anyone who read the Physio's report knew that we would be struggling later in the game. Mak played longer than he should have, Jackson isn't ready for 90 mins, Moussa has been out for about a year, Henderson isn't ready and Reza has been out for two months.
Squad depth/quality is for another thread. Once we missed those early chances yesterday we'd had it.
It's no consolation to most people, especially Guy and the coaches who have lost their jobs, but providing we didn't pick up any more injuries, at least those returning players have got minutes under their belt. That will help as we limp through to the January transfer window. Getting Kashi back would make a lot of difference. Jackson has been a brilliant player for Charlton but he never has dominated a game in midfield. But I've seen Kashi do it against QPR and to a lesser extent Hull and he's the man we're missing the most. I just hope that a) we do get him back and b) he's still the same player.
Finally, I'd like to wish Guy and his coaches all the best and to wish the new Management team better luck with injuries.
Preston game when we were poor for 90 minutes.
The bad news is that was the the strongest team we could have started with as
Diarra was suspended and Sarr who was suppose to be the week link was the best player for CAFC over the 90 minutes.
I actually didn't think it was a terrible performance compared to Tuesday but we didn't look like scoring if we'd played for five hours.
He has always let opponents get well clear of him when defending. Bauer and Diarra usually cover for him. Sarr did well but is very left footed.
Chris Solly has got very slow of late and the lack of a target up front means his long balls forward end up nowhere.
I said before the sackings that new coaches and new full backs are needed. Still holds true.
Hang on! - Who has made space: Reza, Makienok, or a midfielder rushing away? None of them. Solly stands on the touch-line and throws the ball to the nearest player - and gets it slammed back.
All of our play is a kind of expensive busking: We make it up as we go along. Something might happen - a ricochet, a deflection, or a break to take on water.
Watch our opponents, how good they are. They don't box themselves in to corners, as we do on the half-way line. They play with fluency and instinct, they control the ball, and send carefully weighted passes from here to there. This is skill, intelligence, and talent. Every single team in the Championship has it. Not us.
Our 'strikers' would learn a lot from watching videos of our Paul Williams: his quality of observing, lurking, anticipating - and then the sudden explosion of acceleration over ten yards to seize the ball, and score.
Makienok is not a folk-hero: he failed in Denmark, was off-loaded to Sicily and failed there too. Ba and Cellebos each played one senior game in two years, yet are somehow good enough for Charlton. It depends what you want: a shuffling, hapless little team dodging relegation from one year to the next, or...
Norwich went straight up from the Third, and so did Southampton. Five years ago Bournemouth were a mere annexe to a zimmer-framed golf-course. We are in the best city on earth, have a great stadium, a fantastic history, and healthy support.
For an extra couple of grand a week, Duchatelet dismissed Yann Kermorgant and bought Igor Vetokele for £2.3 million.
Yeah!
I am a season ticket holder and attended on Tuesday but felt no desire whatsoever to spend 6 hours plus of my day yesterday travelling to and from Charlton when the opportunity was there to spend quality time with my grandchildren.
I did a similar thing prior to the Brentford game last season (travelled to see them that time) and was absolutely delighted to miss our 3-0 win then. Yesterday though, to anyone present on Tuesday, was all too predictable despite my hopes of repeating my exploitation of sod's law from last season.
Apart from all the misplaced knock-downs, you missed Makienok's hearty swivel and shoot yesterday. It was in the first half - ten yards out, and ten yards over the bar.
It's cracking stuff. Even Joe Piggott is laughing.