Having both Johnson and Sarr on the bench for any game, but particularly a game as crucial as yesterday's, is simply idiotic.
It just goes to highlight our farcical recruitment 'strategy'. This is the same regime that gave Morrison away, sold Dervite and Gomez on the cheap and let Ben Haim go, all without adequate replacements.
@RedChaser. As most clubs do not pick up future opponents until two weeks prior to their fixture, the Burnley scout would have been watching a player or two, probably anticipating the premier league money coming their way if they get promoted.
He could well have been, he did mention JBG, who although not firing on all cylinders of late, was the only one who would command a decent fee in a fire sale if we got relegated unless someone was prepared to take a punt on Lookman that is. He also felt that Cousins development had stalled somewhat.
He could have been watching a Bristol City player. He ain't gonna tell you who he is watching.
The Cardiff scout on the other hand has an easy report to write today. Close down the Central midfield they will pass it backwards and sideways; the Back Four will then play long balls up to the CF who can be bullied, so don't allow him to get set to jump; the wide midfielders are lightweight and are easily knocked off the ball; and the Pattern of Play will break down quickly if you press them. Lookman is a danger if you give him time and space, but takes too many touches on the ball when closed down and their best combination play occurs when Solly combines with Gudmundsson on the right. we had better have a good plan next week, involving build-up play through the midfield, otherwise Cardiff will just repeat what Bristol City did yesterday and shut us down.
I miss the camaraderie between scouts from other clubs. You quite often travel on the trains together after games and the chat amongst scouts in the Lounges before the game ensures there are no secrets in football. The Cardiff scout will be at a game next week and there will be conversations with other scouts on how to stop Charlton playing. The football Grapevine ensures the fact that Charlton are a basket case is known by everyone in the football network, as will opinions on Lookman. Everyone in the network will know who is looking at him. Clubs will be identified by Charlton by the tickets they order, although the clever ones will get scouts to buy their own tickets and sit in the Stand, to disguise their clubs interest.
Oh what would give to have (e.g.) Tomlin and Freeman running our advanced midfield, even if they do sound like an upmarket food emporium partnership or a firm of accountants .. I am surprised that Freeman is still at city .. perhaps a shrewdy such as Dyche is 'after' him or Tomlin
Free kick one yard outside area 1+18 =19 19-10 yards from ball = 9 Penalty spot =12 Six yard area = 6 Halfway between 12 and 6 =9 Why was the wall allowed to be 1 yard behind penalty spot =11 19-11= 8
Can't any of our players point that out to the ref .
Not that it matters we still wouldn't have scored
Great numbers and support from Bristol city , proper away contingent
100% Down
100% Roland out
Because the ref is never going to change his mind anyway.
Surely if one of our players pointed out the logistics of where he'd marked out the free kick too to where it should be the ref would have to concede that he is clearly wrong ....
Oh what would give to have (e.g.) Tomlin and Freeman running our advanced midfield, even if they do sound like an upmarket food emporium partnership or a firm of accountants .. I am surprised that Freeman is still at city .. perhaps a shrewdy such as Dyche is 'after' him or Tomlin
Luke Freeman, released by Charlton aged 11
I'm surprised we didn't buy him back during that period of re-signing former youth players (Wilson, Green, Haynes)
It is definitely the hope that kills you supporting Charlton.
I went yesterday - and after all these years, God knows why - really expectant that the team would put in a fighting performance that would move us out of the relegation places. Instead, it was just a load of cack.
Just about everything has already been said about a truly dismal performance but just a couple of further points:-
1) How can a team that put in such a good performance a week earlier and must surely have been buoyed by that result perform with such little skill or enthusiasm. The first one maybe understandable to an extent given this is not a team exactly full of talent but the latter is simply unforgivable.
2) Sitting in my usual seat in the East Stand, it was just so noticeable how many people who usually sit around me and are there week in, week out were missing yesterday. I don't think we need an organised boycott, it is happening already. I shudder to think what our crowds will be next season if (when) we go down.
3) Why have both Johnson and Sarr on the subs bench? One I can understand but not both. Maybe there was no-one else but surely a kid out of the youth team would benefit from the experience of sitting on the bench.
4) And why wait until 10 mins from the end to bring Harriott on? Clearly not a world-beater but always possible he could have put a decent cross over like he did in the previous home game.
5) When Riga was here last time, he lined his teams up in a mixture of 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations. Going forward, if we don't have a fully fit Igor available, the 4-2-3-1 must be the way to go.
Deeply depressing times. At the moment not a hope in hell either my son or I will renew the season tickets for the seats we have sat in since 1998.
Free kick one yard outside area 1+18 =19 19-10 yards from ball = 9 Penalty spot =12 Six yard area = 6 Halfway between 12 and 6 =9 Why was the wall allowed to be 1 yard behind penalty spot =11 19-11= 8
Can't any of our players point that out to the ref .
Not that it matters we still wouldn't have scored
Great numbers and support from Bristol city , proper away contingent
100% Down
100% Roland out
Exactly oohaah. I was having kittens pointing that out to my boy when they were setting up their wall. Refereeing basics but they can't eve get that right! So annoying
Free kick one yard outside area 1+18 =19 19-10 yards from ball = 9 Penalty spot =12 Six yard area = 6 Halfway between 12 and 6 =9 Why was the wall allowed to be 1 yard behind penalty spot =11 19-11= 8
Can't any of our players point that out to the ref .
Not that it matters we still wouldn't have scored
Great numbers and support from Bristol city , proper away contingent
100% Down
100% Roland out
Perhaps the FA might wish to respond to the indisputable logic of this - and send the Ref on a basic numeracy course. Don't think it would have made any difference - JBG was clearly throwing his toys out of the pram yesterday.
iam sorry to say fox is a league 2 player we sold R Wiggins on fox having 4 good games when Wiggins had a broken foot
Don't want to get on the back of a youngster - but I'm afraid the basic decision making speed is just not there - THD is the much better prospect at this level.
iam sorry to say fox is a league 2 player we sold R Wiggins on fox having 4 good games when Wiggins had a broken foot
Don't want to get on the back of a youngster - but I'm afraid the basic decision making speed is just not there - THD is the much better prospect at this level.
THD probably better on the ball but not sure he's better defensively. Maybe he should be given a run of games though....he might improve that side of his game.
Free kick one yard outside area 1+18 =19 19-10 yards from ball = 9 Penalty spot =12 Six yard area = 6 Halfway between 12 and 6 =9 Why was the wall allowed to be 1 yard behind penalty spot =11 19-11= 8
Can't any of our players point that out to the ref .
Not that it matters we still wouldn't have scored
Great numbers and support from Bristol city , proper away contingent
100% Down
100% Roland out
Exactly oohaah. I was having kittens pointing that out to my boy when they were setting up their wall. Refereeing basics but they can't eve get that right! So annoying
In some cases, the attacking team does not want the opposing wall to be back the full 10 yards; it being easier to get the ball over the wall and dip below the bar than had the wall been back the full 10 yards. Maybe this is why the Charlton players did not "challenge" the referee.
If Reza concentrated on staying on his feet instead of going to ground whenever somebody gets near him referees might look at it a bit differently, he spends more time on his arse than he does on his feet,,,,,,,oh and is not up to scratch to play in this league or even the next one we are likely to be in. Thought it was the managers job to motivate the players, why was NOBODY in the team (maybe with exception of Cousins) prepared to show a bit of fight, they seem to have forgotten the reason why they play for CAFC. Why all the praise for Scott Wagstaff on here, he is just another of those players we have produced who never fulfilled their potential......Lloyd Sam, Harriott, Piggott, Grant (albeit his two goal against the spanners does earn him some credit) amongst others.
Having said that though, if I can offer one bit of commiseration to the despairing fans, it's that last time Riga was here I remember sitting through what I still think might be the worst football match I've ever seen at The Valley against Barnsley. We were up against a relegation rival in a must win match, turned in a pathetic cowards' performance, lost 2-1 and still stayed up. We just have to hope that the players can dig out a few proper performances before the season's end. It's not completely over.
At the match yesterday. I can forgive the result and the lack of quality. What I can't forgive was the lack of fight, passion and commitment from the players, against Bristol bloody City for goodness sake.
Different manager, same shit on the pitch and our support is draining away every week. More and more empty seats in the Upper West and those that are there pretty much expect relegation. It looks like the players do too.
I do wonder if there's truth in what some are saying that there are still problems behind the scenes. Given Igor's absence it's hard to understand why the Arsenal loanee wasn't on the bench for example.
I'm going to take a break from Charlton next week and take my lovely grand-daughter to Greenwich Park on Saturday. Bloody Charlton.
Anyone who though we would win yesterday and pull ourselves out of the relegation zone within 3 weeks of Riga arriving, doesn't know Charlton very well! The fact is, things rarely go up in a straight line, there will always be setbacks. We have earned 4 points from our last three games, conceding only 3 goals. That is a big improvement, and if we keep up that form until the end of the season, we will likely stay up with around 45 points.
That's fine but these games have been against 3 of the worst teams in the league. Have a look at our March and April fixtures - we are screwed.
We always struggle against poor teams but do better against good teams who tend to play better, more open football. The fixture list doesn't worry me, especially if we can get Vetokele, Diarra and perhaps Kashi back by then.
I love a bit of gung-ho positivity. Bless your little cotton socks. Mummy isn't tired. She's dying. Be a brave soldier.
We always struggle against poor teams but do better against good teams who tend to play better, more open football. The fixture list doesn't worry me, especially if we can get Vetokele, Diarra and perhaps Kashi back by then.
Anyone who though we would win yesterday and pull ourselves out of the relegation zone within 3 weeks of Riga arriving, doesn't know Charlton very well! The fact is, things rarely go up in a straight line, there will always be setbacks. We have earned 4 points from our last three games, conceding only 3 goals. That is a big improvement, and if we keep up that form until the end of the season, we will likely stay up with around 45 points.
That's fine but these games have been against 3 of the worst teams in the league. Have a look at our March and April fixtures - we are screwed.
We always struggle against poor teams but do better against good teams who tend to play better, more open football. The fixture list doesn't worry me, especially if we can get Vetokele, Diarra and perhaps Kashi back by then.
You will be lucky to see a fit Diarra back by mid April as mettertasals take a while to heal and Kashi won't be fit until the summer. And as for Ventokele he will get a series of minor injuries such as hammies as he has been out for so long. Also don't expect anything of quality soon from Fani or Sanogo as both haven't played for ages.
We should be re- christened Unathletic as Mak and Ba didn't play all last season. Time to dubbing my boots I think :-))
iam sorry to say fox is a league 2 player we sold R Wiggins on fox having 4 good games when Wiggins had a broken foot
Don't want to get on the back of a youngster - but I'm afraid the basic decision making speed is just not there - THD is the much better prospect at this level.
THD probably better on the ball but not sure he's better defensively. Maybe he should be given a run of games though....he might improve that side of his game.
Currently out injured - now where have we heard that before!!!
Thought Ade Lookman looked like a little boy lost out there yesterday. For all his ability and obvious potential I really hope the coaching staff bring him on properly. He mustn't be allowed to feel weighed down with the expectation of being our saviour. Ideally should be used sparingly, but I've a feeling "needs must" dictates.
Thought Ade Lookman looked like a little boy lost out there yesterday. For all his ability and obvious potential I really hope the coaching staff bring him on properly. He mustn't be allowed to feel weighed down with the expectation of being our saviour. Ideally should be used sparingly, but I've a feeling "needs must" dictates.
It really struck me during the second half how he looked like a child out there. He obviously has talent but he was pushed around so easily by Bristol's defenders. There is no way we should be relying on a 17 year old boy to carry our attack. Duchatelet's insistence on running such a threadbare squad is exposing players who should be in the U21s, learning the game, not getting thrashed and bullied every week.
It was a mistake to use Lookman from the start, he should be used as a sub for the last 20/30 minutes, if not all that natural exuberance and talent will be knock out of him, better a falling over Reza than loose what Lookman has.
Comments
The Cardiff scout on the other hand has an easy report to write today. Close down the Central midfield they will pass it backwards and sideways; the Back Four will then play long balls up to the CF who can be bullied, so don't allow him to get set to jump; the wide midfielders are lightweight and are easily knocked off the ball; and the Pattern of Play will break down quickly if you press them. Lookman is a danger if you give him time and space, but takes too many touches on the ball when closed down and their best combination play occurs when Solly combines with Gudmundsson on the right. we had better have a good plan next week, involving build-up play through the midfield, otherwise Cardiff will just repeat what Bristol City did yesterday and shut us down.
I miss the camaraderie between scouts from other clubs. You quite often travel on the trains together after games and the chat amongst scouts in the Lounges before the game ensures there are no secrets in football. The Cardiff scout will be at a game next week and there will be conversations with other scouts on how to stop Charlton playing. The football Grapevine ensures the fact that Charlton are a basket case is known by everyone in the football network, as will opinions on Lookman. Everyone in the network will know who is looking at him. Clubs will be identified by Charlton by the tickets they order, although the clever ones will get scouts to buy their own tickets and sit in the Stand, to disguise their clubs interest.
I'm surprised we didn't buy him back during that period of re-signing former youth players (Wilson, Green, Haynes)
I went yesterday - and after all these years, God knows why - really expectant that the team would put in a fighting performance that would move us out of the relegation places. Instead, it was just a load of cack.
Just about everything has already been said about a truly dismal performance but just a couple of further points:-
1) How can a team that put in such a good performance a week earlier and must surely have been buoyed by that result perform with such little skill or enthusiasm. The first one maybe understandable to an extent given this is not a team exactly full of talent but the latter is simply unforgivable.
2) Sitting in my usual seat in the East Stand, it was just so noticeable how many people who usually sit around me and are there week in, week out were missing yesterday. I don't think we need an organised boycott, it is happening already. I shudder to think what our crowds will be next season if (when) we go down.
3) Why have both Johnson and Sarr on the subs bench? One I can understand but not both. Maybe there was no-one else but surely a kid out of the youth team would benefit from the experience of sitting on the bench.
4) And why wait until 10 mins from the end to bring Harriott on? Clearly not a world-beater but always possible he could have put a decent cross over like he did in the previous home game.
5) When Riga was here last time, he lined his teams up in a mixture of 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations. Going forward, if we don't have a fully fit Igor available, the 4-2-3-1 must be the way to go.
Deeply depressing times. At the moment not a hope in hell either my son or I will renew the season tickets for the seats we have sat in since 1998.
Finally, piss off Roland and squirrel face.
Having said that though, if I can offer one bit of commiseration to the despairing fans, it's that last time Riga was here I remember sitting through what I still think might be the worst football match I've ever seen at The Valley against Barnsley. We were up against a relegation rival in a must win match, turned in a pathetic cowards' performance, lost 2-1 and still stayed up. We just have to hope that the players can dig out a few proper performances before the season's end. It's not completely over.
It nearly is though.
Steady the ship a little, try and get a couple of draws and then move on.
Which obviously won't happen - hence we are gone.
Different manager, same shit on the pitch and our support is draining away every week. More and more empty seats in the Upper West and those that are there pretty much expect relegation. It looks like the players do too.
I do wonder if there's truth in what some are saying that there are still problems behind the scenes. Given Igor's absence it's hard to understand why the Arsenal loanee wasn't on the bench for example.
I'm going to take a break from Charlton next week and take my lovely grand-daughter to Greenwich Park on Saturday. Bloody Charlton.
We always struggle against poor teams but do better against good teams who tend to play better, more open football. The fixture list doesn't worry me, especially if we can get Vetokele, Diarra and perhaps Kashi back by then. You will be lucky to see a fit Diarra back by mid April as mettertasals take a while to heal and Kashi won't be fit until the summer. And as for Ventokele he will get a series of minor injuries such as hammies as he has been out for so long. Also don't expect anything of quality soon from Fani or Sanogo as both haven't played for ages.
We should be re- christened Unathletic as Mak and Ba didn't play all last season. Time to dubbing my boots I think :-))
For all his ability and obvious potential I really hope the coaching staff bring him on properly.
He mustn't be allowed to feel weighed down with the expectation of being our saviour.
Ideally should be used sparingly, but I've a feeling "needs must" dictates.