"The U23s were undone by conceding 3 cheap goals in 8 minutes to go into half-time 4-1 down. Liam Cullen had earlier claimed a fortunate equaliser when the Charlton keeper dithered over a clearance and kicked the ball straight at him. Poor defending had seen Swansea let experienced big striker Aneke score after just 2 minutes. He clinched a hat-trick before the first half was up. The defence tightened up after the interval with Cam Evans joining Brandon Cooper in the middle. Cooper stood up well to Aneke’s 2nd half replacement, another physically imposing forward. Cullen got a well taken 2nd after 72 minutes, at which point I left to see the Wigan game. Jacob Jones, Cooper & the Evans brothers shone for the Swans. Keiran Evans went off injured at half-time with Walsh replacing him. Jake Thomas was subbed by Cam Evans. Young academy full back Ben Erickson also came onto pitch in the 2nd half - possibly his U23 debut. I didn’t recognise our keeper, Sam French. Possibly a triallist from Derby? Strangely, he didn’t have a great deal to do, but 4 soft goals conceded.
Ex-Wimbledon striker Jason Euell coached Charlton."
The last Valley Pass highlights of the U23's was Colchester away on November 7th. Since then the U23's have had 9 matches with no highlights put up on Valley Pass. For aficionados it is interesting to see glimpses of players who may make the first team, indeed Doherty, Davison and Dempsey have featured in those games, but their contributions have not been available on Valley Pass. I have written to the club about this, but it has not led to those highlights being posted up for paid subscribers to Valley Pass to watch, the replies have been of the 'we note what you say' holding pattern variety. Indeed as an extra, the great FA Youth Cup win highlights over West Ham was available straight away and for free from them, but days later only for paying Valley Pass subscribers from us. It is what one unpleasant person Jacob Rees Mogg might describe as rather 'thin gruel'. So here is yet another chance for you @Ollywozere to give me another one of your passive aggressive lol's for daring to be critical. Contacting the club has not worked,
Get a good couple of weeks training into him, another U23 game on 27th and he could be involved against will probably pull a muscle before Barnsley. We hope.
Aneke needs a sustained period of varied training intensities without breaking down before he is considered to be near ready or fit enough.
That’s why this time now until Barnsley is a good time to get him through it whilst building up the minutes in U23s.
Barnsley might even be a little bit of a push, it might be a week after that if he manages to train each day without problems.
The fact is, he came to us clearly not fit enough and not able to cope with the jump up in training and intensity from League Two. Injury after injury has meant his body hasn’t been able to cope. It would be pointless to do anything but make sure he has a real sustained period of training before anything else.
It might well be the same with Page. If he isn’t involved by the weekend, he might be on 27th for an hour. We have to build these players up gradually and make sure they don’t break down again. Once we do that, and they will come back, both players can really add something to our team.
Aneke needs a sustained period of varied training intensities without breaking down before he is considered to be near ready or fit enough.
That’s why this time now until Barnsley is a good time to get him through it whilst building up the minutes in U23s.
Barnsley might even be a little bit of a push, it might be a week after that if he manages to train each day without problems.
The fact is, he came to us clearly not fit enough and not able to cope with the jump up in training and intensity from League Two. Injury after injury has meant his body hasn’t been able to cope. It would be pointless to do anything but make sure he has a real sustained period of training before anything else.
It might well be the same with Page. If he isn’t involved by the weekend, he might be on 27th for an hour. We have to build these players up gradually and make sure they don’t break down again. Once we do that, and they will come back, both players can really add something to our team.
Sorry I have to disagree with some of your points , your theory does not stack up about pre season and intensity when the so called kids who have needed to step up ( and had been been playing U23 games or national league inc Gallagher) seem more than capable at is level of intensity. Equally quoting that they will miraculously add something to the team is even more bizarre when neither seem capable of playing more than a game at a time without some sort of problem.
Aneke needs a sustained period of varied training intensities without breaking down before he is considered to be near ready or fit enough.
That’s why this time now until Barnsley is a good time to get him through it whilst building up the minutes in U23s.
Barnsley might even be a little bit of a push, it might be a week after that if he manages to train each day without problems.
The fact is, he came to us clearly not fit enough and not able to cope with the jump up in training and intensity from League Two. Injury after injury has meant his body hasn’t been able to cope. It would be pointless to do anything but make sure he has a real sustained period of training before anything else.
It might well be the same with Page. If he isn’t involved by the weekend, he might be on 27th for an hour. We have to build these players up gradually and make sure they don’t break down again. Once we do that, and they will come back, both players can really add something to our team.
Sorry I have to disagree with some of your points , your theory does not stack up about pre season and intensity when the so called kids who have needed to step up ( and had been been playing U23 games or national league inc Gallagher) seem more than capable at is level of intensity. Equally quoting that they will miraculously add something to the team is even more bizarre when neither seem capable of playing more than a game at a time without some sort of problem.
So you think all humans are able to handle the same levels of fitness / intensity on their bodies?
Has to be one of the most outdated approaches thinking that one person can handle something so everyone else can
Aneke needs a sustained period of varied training intensities without breaking down before he is considered to be near ready or fit enough.
That’s why this time now until Barnsley is a good time to get him through it whilst building up the minutes in U23s.
Barnsley might even be a little bit of a push, it might be a week after that if he manages to train each day without problems.
The fact is, he came to us clearly not fit enough and not able to cope with the jump up in training and intensity from League Two. Injury after injury has meant his body hasn’t been able to cope. It would be pointless to do anything but make sure he has a real sustained period of training before anything else.
It might well be the same with Page. If he isn’t involved by the weekend, he might be on 27th for an hour. We have to build these players up gradually and make sure they don’t break down again. Once we do that, and they will come back, both players can really add something to our team.
Sorry I have to disagree with some of your points , your theory does not stack up about pre season and intensity when the so called kids who have needed to step up ( and had been been playing U23 games or national league inc Gallagher) seem more than capable at is level of intensity. Equally quoting that they will miraculously add something to the team is even more bizarre when neither seem capable of playing more than a game at a time without some sort of problem.
So you think all humans are able to handle the same levels of fitness / intensity on their bodies?
Has to be one of the most outdated approaches thinking that one person can handle something so everyone else can
Sorry feel your missing the point - so why did they sign both players then? Was it to sit in the treatment room while they spend a year trying to get fit? While in the meantime they are replaced by kids who none had played a game in any EFL league?
They are meant to be professional athletes and both had medicals before they joined! I’m pretty sure most clubs would expect a far greater return than they are getting from these two.
Aneke needs a sustained period of varied training intensities without breaking down before he is considered to be near ready or fit enough.
That’s why this time now until Barnsley is a good time to get him through it whilst building up the minutes in U23s.
Barnsley might even be a little bit of a push, it might be a week after that if he manages to train each day without problems.
The fact is, he came to us clearly not fit enough and not able to cope with the jump up in training and intensity from League Two. Injury after injury has meant his body hasn’t been able to cope. It would be pointless to do anything but make sure he has a real sustained period of training before anything else.
It might well be the same with Page. If he isn’t involved by the weekend, he might be on 27th for an hour. We have to build these players up gradually and make sure they don’t break down again. Once we do that, and they will come back, both players can really add something to our team.
I don't see the Championship games as being a factor in his injury issues, as he's barely played! It's not like Bonne who got a fatigue related injury
The training, Bowyer's training, might be more of an issue as previously he's been a fairly regular starter. He's played 243 games in his career, so he isn't a Ba or Ceballos with no game experience
Aneke needs a sustained period of varied training intensities without breaking down before he is considered to be near ready or fit enough.
That’s why this time now until Barnsley is a good time to get him through it whilst building up the minutes in U23s.
Barnsley might even be a little bit of a push, it might be a week after that if he manages to train each day without problems.
The fact is, he came to us clearly not fit enough and not able to cope with the jump up in training and intensity from League Two. Injury after injury has meant his body hasn’t been able to cope. It would be pointless to do anything but make sure he has a real sustained period of training before anything else.
It might well be the same with Page. If he isn’t involved by the weekend, he might be on 27th for an hour. We have to build these players up gradually and make sure they don’t break down again. Once we do that, and they will come back, both players can really add something to our team.
Sorry I have to disagree with some of your points , your theory does not stack up about pre season and intensity when the so called kids who have needed to step up ( and had been been playing U23 games or national league inc Gallagher) seem more than capable at is level of intensity. Equally quoting that they will miraculously add something to the team is even more bizarre when neither seem capable of playing more than a game at a time without some sort of problem.
I’ve noticed you tend to disagree with some of my points, and that’s fine but using the young players and stepping in out of necessity is not a fair comparison.
These young players have come through a system that means their body is acclimatised to specific sets of intensity, they’re also far younger than Aneke. The period of training and intensity of training is different to what they would have been going through in pre-season. Now with games and in this time of year, sessions are different and if you take an in depth analysis of how many minutes the young players have played, each have been used more sporadically than you might realise. Now on top of that, add in the fact that adrenaline will get them through most part and they don’t have a history of muscular problems, again it is not a fair comparison to make.
Chuks is 26 and never played above League One until this season. The level of training variations, periodisation, intensity, type, and frequency is completely different now than what he was getting over the last 3-4 years. That has a huge impact on his ability to give us the return we were hoping for. Don’t believe me? Get yourself down to SL and have a conversation with the medical team and they’ll expand more. Aneke picked up a hamstring injury in pre-season, the first of 5 separate muscular injuries. To go from training intensity in League Two, to training intensity in the summer, where many players said it was the toughest they’ve ever had, is a huge jump. That’s a strain on his body that he wouldn’t have been used to, so to say about pre-season in your point doesn’t give it credibility. Then looking on a timeline we have recovery from the hamstring injury, back into training to have another injury, recovery, back into training, and repeat, repeat etc. Each time he is playing catch up, each time pushing himself to get fit, each time losing fitness due to being out and unable to train. This is why it is so important he has a sustained period of training at a relative intensity where he doesn’t break down. Once that’s completed, he will be able to add something to the team. I find it disrespectful that you’re suggesting he will not. As you said, they’re professional athletes. I’d suggest an understanding on the rigours involved when making a step up would be beneficial here.
A mention on Lewis Page, this is a different problem as with being out for such a long time, his situation is completely different. He will admit himself that it has really hindered his career, the team, but also the impact it has had on him personally is huge. But people fail to get that side and only see the injury and not the person.
It’s important to acknowledge that every injury is different with every person. What the club have learnt, specifically with Aneke, is that he has never been put under the level of strain that he has at Charlton before. A way of looking at it is a sprinter would not be able to run a marathon. It’s different and may not be entirely relatable, but it is to show that physiologically, Aneke was not ready for what came. Until put in that environment, no one will ever know, even with a medical.
Overall, to say or to think that when fit, neither will add something to the team is completely wrong. Yes, they’ve been out for a long time, but technically and physically, they’re better players than the young players we have had to rely on.
Aneke needs a sustained period of varied training intensities without breaking down before he is considered to be near ready or fit enough.
That’s why this time now until Barnsley is a good time to get him through it whilst building up the minutes in U23s.
Barnsley might even be a little bit of a push, it might be a week after that if he manages to train each day without problems.
The fact is, he came to us clearly not fit enough and not able to cope with the jump up in training and intensity from League Two. Injury after injury has meant his body hasn’t been able to cope. It would be pointless to do anything but make sure he has a real sustained period of training before anything else.
It might well be the same with Page. If he isn’t involved by the weekend, he might be on 27th for an hour. We have to build these players up gradually and make sure they don’t break down again. Once we do that, and they will come back, both players can really add something to our team.
I don't see the Championship games as being a factor in his injury issues, as he's barely played! It's not like Bonne who got a fatigue related injury
The training, Bowyer's training, might be more of an issue as previously he's been a fairly regular starter. He's played 243 games in his career, so he isn't a Ba or Ceballos with no game experience
I didn’t say anything about the games in the Championship being a factor. I said the jump up in training and intensity from League Two. When I said League Two, I meant MK Dons as being in that division last season.
The intensity that clubs train at in League Two is completely different to us. And of course, completely different to Bowyer’s training intensity.
As stated, his problems first occurred from an injury at the end of pre-season and has been trying to play catch up in fitness since. It’s backfired and not been able to sustain or cope with the level. That’s why a gradual build up is so important now, and why this time available to train is so important.
Aneke needs a sustained period of varied training intensities without breaking down before he is considered to be near ready or fit enough.
That’s why this time now until Barnsley is a good time to get him through it whilst building up the minutes in U23s.
Barnsley might even be a little bit of a push, it might be a week after that if he manages to train each day without problems.
The fact is, he came to us clearly not fit enough and not able to cope with the jump up in training and intensity from League Two. Injury after injury has meant his body hasn’t been able to cope. It would be pointless to do anything but make sure he has a real sustained period of training before anything else.
It might well be the same with Page. If he isn’t involved by the weekend, he might be on 27th for an hour. We have to build these players up gradually and make sure they don’t break down again. Once we do that, and they will come back, both players can really add something to our team.
Sorry I have to disagree with some of your points , your theory does not stack up about pre season and intensity when the so called kids who have needed to step up ( and had been been playing U23 games or national league inc Gallagher) seem more than capable at is level of intensity. Equally quoting that they will miraculously add something to the team is even more bizarre when neither seem capable of playing more than a game at a time without some sort of problem.
I’ve noticed you tend to disagree with some of my points, and that’s fine but using the young players and stepping in out of necessity is not a fair comparison.
These young players have come through a system that means their body is acclimatised to specific sets of intensity, they’re also far younger than Aneke. The period of training and intensity of training is different to what they would have been going through in pre-season. Now with games and in this time of year, sessions are different and if you take an in depth analysis of how many minutes the young players have played, each have been used more sporadically than you might realise. Now on top of that, add in the fact that adrenaline will get them through most part and they don’t have a history of muscular problems, again it is not a fair comparison to make.
Chuks is 26 and never played above League One until this season. The level of training variations, periodisation, intensity, type, and frequency is completely different now than what he was getting over the last 3-4 years. That has a huge impact on his ability to give us the return we were hoping for. Don’t believe me? Get yourself down to SL and have a conversation with the medical team and they’ll expand more. Aneke picked up a hamstring injury in pre-season, the first of 5 separate muscular injuries. To go from training intensity in League Two, to training intensity in the summer, where many players said it was the toughest they’ve ever had, is a huge jump. That’s a strain on his body that he wouldn’t have been used to, so to say about pre-season in your point doesn’t give it credibility. Then looking on a timeline we have recovery from the hamstring injury, back into training to have another injury, recovery, back into training, and repeat, repeat etc. Each time he is playing catch up, each time pushing himself to get fit, each time losing fitness due to being out and unable to train. This is why it is so important he has a sustained period of training at a relative intensity where he doesn’t break down. Once that’s completed, he will be able to add something to the team. I find it disrespectful that you’re suggesting he will not. As you said, they’re professional athletes. I’d suggest an understanding on the rigours involved when making a step up would be beneficial here.
A mention on Lewis Page, this is a different problem as with being out for such a long time, his situation is completely different. He will admit himself that it has really hindered his career, the team, but also the impact it has had on him personally is huge. But people fail to get that side and only see the injury and not the person.
It’s important to acknowledge that every injury is different with every person. What the club have learnt, specifically with Aneke, is that he has never been put under the level of strain that he has at Charlton before. A way of looking at it is a sprinter would not be able to run a marathon. It’s different and may not be entirely relatable, but it is to show that physiologically, Aneke was not ready for what came. Until put in that environment, no one will ever know, even with a medical.
Overall, to say or to think that when fit, neither will add something to the team is completely wrong. Yes, they’ve been out for a long time, but technically and physically, they’re better players than the young players we have had to rely on.
I agree all injuries are different, I disagree on your continued point about intensity like Charlton are so far superior in their training methods to other clubs in lower divisions. It’s as intense as you as a player make it.
I have not used a young player who steps in in out. Not sure you have noticed but they are actually starting each week.
Having seen many academy games and 23 matches, players are only rested up to U16 after that it’s selection on merit. Their training is no where near what first team players do. The only other time you ever see a balance on playing time versus risk is pre-season, which incidentally both were involved and wrapped in the usual cotton wool. Neither lasted. The young players and the majority of the squad you see today all coped. in case you want to quote intensity of lower leagues again Lockyer seems ok. Matthews while previously at a Championship club had no pre season he seems alright also even contributing despite not being fit enough and staying available for selection.
It’s not being disrespectful it’s fact, The bottom line is football is a results business and neither have done enough and they are certainly not at championship standard, your own diagnosis proves it. It’s now January and neither have played enough and would suggest rather the calling me out to visit SL suggest you might like to go and ask Bowyer what he thinks on their contribution.
Aneke needs a sustained period of varied training intensities without breaking down before he is considered to be near ready or fit enough.
That’s why this time now until Barnsley is a good time to get him through it whilst building up the minutes in U23s.
Barnsley might even be a little bit of a push, it might be a week after that if he manages to train each day without problems.
The fact is, he came to us clearly not fit enough and not able to cope with the jump up in training and intensity from League Two. Injury after injury has meant his body hasn’t been able to cope. It would be pointless to do anything but make sure he has a real sustained period of training before anything else.
It might well be the same with Page. If he isn’t involved by the weekend, he might be on 27th for an hour. We have to build these players up gradually and make sure they don’t break down again. Once we do that, and they will come back, both players can really add something to our team.
Sorry I have to disagree with some of your points , your theory does not stack up about pre season and intensity when the so called kids who have needed to step up ( and had been been playing U23 games or national league inc Gallagher) seem more than capable at is level of intensity. Equally quoting that they will miraculously add something to the team is even more bizarre when neither seem capable of playing more than a game at a time without some sort of problem.
I’ve noticed you tend to disagree with some of my points, and that’s fine but using the young players and stepping in out of necessity is not a fair comparison.
These young players have come through a system that means their body is acclimatised to specific sets of intensity, they’re also far younger than Aneke. The period of training and intensity of training is different to what they would have been going through in pre-season. Now with games and in this time of year, sessions are different and if you take an in depth analysis of how many minutes the young players have played, each have been used more sporadically than you might realise. Now on top of that, add in the fact that adrenaline will get them through most part and they don’t have a history of muscular problems, again it is not a fair comparison to make.
Chuks is 26 and never played above League One until this season. The level of training variations, periodisation, intensity, type, and frequency is completely different now than what he was getting over the last 3-4 years. That has a huge impact on his ability to give us the return we were hoping for. Don’t believe me? Get yourself down to SL and have a conversation with the medical team and they’ll expand more. Aneke picked up a hamstring injury in pre-season, the first of 5 separate muscular injuries. To go from training intensity in League Two, to training intensity in the summer, where many players said it was the toughest they’ve ever had, is a huge jump. That’s a strain on his body that he wouldn’t have been used to, so to say about pre-season in your point doesn’t give it credibility. Then looking on a timeline we have recovery from the hamstring injury, back into training to have another injury, recovery, back into training, and repeat, repeat etc. Each time he is playing catch up, each time pushing himself to get fit, each time losing fitness due to being out and unable to train. This is why it is so important he has a sustained period of training at a relative intensity where he doesn’t break down. Once that’s completed, he will be able to add something to the team. I find it disrespectful that you’re suggesting he will not. As you said, they’re professional athletes. I’d suggest an understanding on the rigours involved when making a step up would be beneficial here.
A mention on Lewis Page, this is a different problem as with being out for such a long time, his situation is completely different. He will admit himself that it has really hindered his career, the team, but also the impact it has had on him personally is huge. But people fail to get that side and only see the injury and not the person.
It’s important to acknowledge that every injury is different with every person. What the club have learnt, specifically with Aneke, is that he has never been put under the level of strain that he has at Charlton before. A way of looking at it is a sprinter would not be able to run a marathon. It’s different and may not be entirely relatable, but it is to show that physiologically, Aneke was not ready for what came. Until put in that environment, no one will ever know, even with a medical.
Overall, to say or to think that when fit, neither will add something to the team is completely wrong. Yes, they’ve been out for a long time, but technically and physically, they’re better players than the young players we have had to rely on.
I agree all injuries are different, I disagree on your continued point about intensity like Charlton are so far superior in their training methods to other clubs in lower divisions. It’s as intense as you as a player make it.
I have not used a young player who steps in in out. Not sure you have noticed but they are actually starting each week.
Having seen many academy games and 23 matches, players are only rested up to U16 after that it’s selection on merit. Their training is no where near what first team players do. The only other time you ever see a balance on playing time versus risk is pre-season, which incidentally both were involved and wrapped in the usual cotton wool. Neither lasted. The young players and the majority of the squad you see today all coped. in case you want to quote intensity of lower leagues again Lockyer seems ok. Matthews while previously at a Championship club had no pre season he seems alright also even contributing despite not being fit enough and staying available for selection.
It’s not being disrespectful it’s fact, The bottom line is football is a results business and neither have done enough and they are certainly not at championship standard, your own diagnosis proves it. It’s now January and neither have played enough and would suggest rather the calling me out to visit SL suggest you might like to go and ask Bowyer what he thinks on their contribution.
I know what Bowyer thinks on their contributions and how frustrated he is on the situation. I also know that he understands specific standards and intensities are very different and that has played a huge role in the outcome of Aneke far more than Page.
I don’t claim that we are far superior, but in terms of training intensity, type, and frequency of that high load, we are miles ahead of what MK Dons were training at and many others in League Two. I’ve seen the stats and testing figures, the difference is clear from baseline to what is expected of them at this level that Bowyer demands. There’s no two ways about it. People will also suggest that it’s Bowyer’s methods, but that’s entirely not true. He wants them to train as they play as it’s impossible to switch it on and off, it has to be constant. Without that way of training, we wouldn’t have gone up last season, because our level was above most in League One which contributed to our fast starts and late goals.
Both initial problems this season started in pre-season for Aneke and Page, a period of time where they were still put through intense rigours that they hadn’t been used to before or for a long time. As said you cannot compare that level to what the young players have got, or what Matthews did not get. The difference is, they would be made to get to a level to play games without trouble. Matthews still had an injury because of his lack of pre-season, he also couldn’t play two games in a week for a long time. The constant level to get to a point where they’re fit enough to play is what Matthews has gone through, again completely different to Aneke or Page’s situation. You also mention Lockyer, but again he got through pre-season without any trouble, he also doesn’t have a history of muscular injuries.
Trying to say ask Bowyer what he thinks of their contribution doesn’t support or justify your point, because I think you’re quite clearly missing the point on the individual case of Aneke and Page. Bowyer himself would tell you especially Aneke has struggled with the jump in intensity and that’s been a huge factor in their contribution, or lack of, to the team.
We are not a support group we are CAFC .The club has already stood by Page .Enough is enough .I hope this time he comes through and gets his career back on track but either his body can last the pace or it cant.I
The injuries this year are beyond a joke --- beyond bad luck---- it's not bad luck it's structural with the back room staff being not funded enough re equipment ,skill sets of manpower
Without knowing enough about his injury, I think none of us can really give too much of a comment on whether Aneke is championship standard or not. We haven't seen enough of him yet. My gut feeling from the little I have seen is that he is. But we need to get him playing week in week out and look at it from there.
Comments
"The U23s were undone by conceding 3 cheap goals in 8 minutes to go into half-time 4-1 down. Liam Cullen had earlier claimed a fortunate equaliser when the Charlton keeper dithered over a clearance and kicked the ball straight at him. Poor defending had seen Swansea let experienced big striker Aneke score after just 2 minutes. He clinched a hat-trick before the first half was up.
The defence tightened up after the interval with Cam Evans joining Brandon Cooper in the middle. Cooper stood up well to Aneke’s 2nd half replacement, another physically imposing forward.
Cullen got a well taken 2nd after 72 minutes, at which point I left to see the Wigan game.
Jacob Jones, Cooper & the Evans brothers shone for the Swans. Keiran Evans went off injured at half-time with Walsh replacing him. Jake Thomas was subbed by Cam Evans. Young academy full back Ben Erickson also came onto pitch in the 2nd half - possibly his U23 debut.
I didn’t recognise our keeper, Sam French. Possibly a triallist from Derby? Strangely, he didn’t have a great deal to do, but 4 soft goals conceded.
Their 11 Jones-Thomas must have the most Welsh double barrelled name ever!
Charlton U23s: Joe Osaghae; Johl Powell, Sam Keefe, Toby Stevenson; Kenneth Yao, Junior Armando Quitirna, Charles Clayden; Abraham Odoh, Chuks Aneke.
Subs: Joe Watkins, Taylor Maloney, Kareem Isiaka, Wilberforce Ocran.
Get a good couple of weeks training into him, another U23 game on 27th and he could be involved against Barnsley. We hope.
Since then the U23's have had 9 matches with no highlights put up on Valley Pass.
For aficionados it is interesting to see glimpses of players who may make the first team, indeed Doherty, Davison and Dempsey have featured in those games, but their contributions have not been available on Valley Pass.
I have written to the club about this, but it has not led to those highlights being posted up for paid subscribers to Valley Pass to watch, the replies have been of the 'we note what you say' holding pattern variety.
Indeed as an extra, the great FA Youth Cup win highlights over West Ham was available straight away and for free from them, but days later only for paying Valley Pass subscribers from us.
It is what one unpleasant person Jacob Rees Mogg might describe as rather 'thin gruel'.
So here is yet another chance for you @Ollywozere to give me another one of your passive aggressive lol's for daring to be critical.
Contacting the club has not worked,
He played well against Watford.
Means something isnt right with whatever he's doing so needs easing back more
That’s why this time now until Barnsley is a good time to get him through it whilst building up the minutes in U23s.
Barnsley might even be a little bit of a push, it might be a week after that if he manages to train each day without problems.
The fact is, he came to us clearly not fit enough and not able to cope with the jump up in training and intensity from League Two. Injury after injury has meant his body hasn’t been able to cope. It would be pointless to do anything but make sure he has a real sustained period of training before anything else.
It might well be the same with Page. If he isn’t involved by the weekend, he might be on 27th for an hour. We have to build these players up gradually and make sure they don’t break down again. Once we do that, and they will come back, both players can really add something to our team.
Has to be one of the most outdated approaches thinking that one person can handle something so everyone else can
The training, Bowyer's training, might be more of an issue as previously he's been a fairly regular starter. He's played 243 games in his career, so he isn't a Ba or Ceballos with no game experience
Chuks is 26 and never played above League One until this season. The level of training variations, periodisation, intensity, type, and frequency is completely different now than what he was getting over the last 3-4 years. That has a huge impact on his ability to give us the return we were hoping for. Don’t believe me? Get yourself down to SL and have a conversation with the medical team and they’ll expand more. Aneke picked up a hamstring injury in pre-season, the first of 5 separate muscular injuries. To go from training intensity in League Two, to training intensity in the summer, where many players said it was the toughest they’ve ever had, is a huge jump. That’s a strain on his body that he wouldn’t have been used to, so to say about pre-season in your point doesn’t give it credibility. Then looking on a timeline we have recovery from the hamstring injury, back into training to have another injury, recovery, back into training, and repeat, repeat etc. Each time he is playing catch up, each time pushing himself to get fit, each time losing fitness due to being out and unable to train. This is why it is so important he has a sustained period of training at a relative intensity where he doesn’t break down. Once that’s completed, he will be able to add something to the team. I find it disrespectful that you’re suggesting he will not. As you said, they’re professional athletes. I’d suggest an understanding on the rigours involved when making a step up would be beneficial here.
A mention on Lewis Page, this is a different problem as with being out for such a long time, his situation is completely different. He will admit himself that it has really hindered his career, the team, but also the impact it has had on him personally is huge. But people fail to get that side and only see the injury and not the person.
It’s important to acknowledge that every injury is different with every person. What the club have learnt, specifically with Aneke, is that he has never been put under the level of strain that he has at Charlton before. A way of looking at it is a sprinter would not be able to run a marathon. It’s different and may not be entirely relatable, but it is to show that physiologically, Aneke was not ready for what came. Until put in that environment, no one will ever know, even with a medical.
The intensity that clubs train at in League Two is completely different to us. And of course, completely different to Bowyer’s training intensity.
As stated, his problems first occurred from an injury at the end of pre-season and has been trying to play catch up in fitness since. It’s backfired and not been able to sustain or cope with the level. That’s why a gradual build up is so important now, and why this time available to train is so important.
I don’t claim that we are far superior, but in terms of training intensity, type, and frequency of that high load, we are miles ahead of what MK Dons were training at and many others in League Two. I’ve seen the stats and testing figures, the difference is clear from baseline to what is expected of them at this level that Bowyer demands. There’s no two ways about it. People will also suggest that it’s Bowyer’s methods, but that’s entirely not true. He wants them to train as they play as it’s impossible to switch it on and off, it has to be constant. Without that way of training, we wouldn’t have gone up last season, because our level was above most in League One which contributed to our fast starts and late goals.
Both initial problems this season started in pre-season for Aneke and Page, a period of time where they were still put through intense rigours that they hadn’t been used to before or for a long time. As said you cannot compare that level to what the young players have got, or what Matthews did not get. The difference is, they would be made to get to a level to play games without trouble. Matthews still had an injury because of his lack of pre-season, he also couldn’t play two games in a week for a long time. The constant level to get to a point where they’re fit enough to play is what Matthews has gone through, again completely different to Aneke or Page’s situation. You also mention Lockyer, but again he got through pre-season without any trouble, he also doesn’t have a history of muscular injuries.
Trying to say ask Bowyer what he thinks of their contribution doesn’t support or justify your point, because I think you’re quite clearly missing the point on the individual case of Aneke and Page. Bowyer himself would tell you especially Aneke has struggled with the jump in intensity and that’s been a huge factor in their contribution, or lack of, to the team.
The injuries this year are beyond a joke --- beyond bad luck---- it's not bad luck it's structural with the back room staff being not funded enough re equipment ,skill sets of manpower