I spoke to an elderly fan in length on the way to the game today. He seemed fairly oblivious as to the protests and that fans were upset with how the club was being run.
Made me think about the average fan and that most never see the posts on here.
Looking around the west stand this seemed apparent to me today also.
The message isn't clear what we aren't happy about.
Personally, I'm not so sure about that! I think a lot of those attending are either die hard and don't want to cut their nose off to spite their face OR the want to just watch a game of football (which begs the question... Why Charlton?)
From what i feel arround the General atmosphere is that people are almost fooling themselves that this is a new start and we are going to be building - whether that bubble will burst of we don't go up heaven knows!
One thing that really got me with the team was that they looked like a bunch of strangers. The team had some quality but there was no cohesion. Its not surprising when the pre season was so lacking.
It made me feel angry that yet again a team is being built from scratch, every bleedin' season under Duchatelet and Meire. No pre season and everything left to the last minute. The team shouldn't be looking like this. Its unforgiveable, disgraceful bad business and even more so, since it was clear, Charlton was likely to be relegated from the turn of the year. Utterly clueless.
The other problem is that midfield that will be the achilles heel of this team. Every season doing clearly well under than is required to build a balanced functioning competitive squad. First season, lack of strikers and cover for Vetekele, last season lack of wingers, this season, under strength midfield. Also, what is the point of buying Ajose, which they did early on and not bringing in any players that support his goal scoring ?
If and when the team does get some cohesion, how many of the decent players will be sold on to meet running costs and for it all to start all over again. I hate this regieme. What I saw today was the ambitionless place, Duchatelet & Meire has turned the Valley into. I want to see Charlton players, play in the premiership and that will never happen under this regieme. Great seeing Lookman, one of Meire's premiership star of the future, but also very sad that he will be cashed in sooner rather than later.
Wimbledon as a team, though pretty ordinary, had the cohesion and spirit that comes from a team that has been built over time and played together. I don't think that this will ever happen under Duchatelet.
The match today totally confirmed not buying a season ticket was definitely the right move. Not just because I can't stand what Duchatelet or Meire has done to the club. Also, no way in the depth of winter would I drag myself down in the cold to see such a dispiriting, incomplete mess of a team. That doesn't help me get through the week.
I just wish, Duchatelet would sell the damned club so the team and club can start functioning properly again. The club is going no where good under Duchatelet.
I have tried hard to have an open mind this season with Slade's performances and to give him a fair hearing.This defeat lies fully at his door,though. Two players in midfield,Crofts and Ulvestad,who are identical run-around,occasional tackle,no attacking nous type of players--where are our back-up midfielders? We don't have any---Jacko was missed here and at Fleetwood but long-term we need younger,hungry midfielders.None in the youth teams? Why play Lookman then let the players ignore him for long spells in the first half when he was pulling their defence to pieces? Why did Ajose start when he's looked dis-interested in most games? Novak is clearly dying to start,is a good finisher and more on Josh's wavelength. Why was our tempo so slow---can you not see this,Slade? We are at our best in a higher speed game with quick passing. And what is Bauer doing on the bench? Pearce defended manfully all game and led the back four well but he needs support.Konsa looked a little raw today I thought,he'll need nurturing in his first full season,a great prospect though. And,yes,stop lumping the ball to Josh--set him up for goal chances---really admire the guy's work ethic and professionalism,but don't waste his talent. I hate watching any Charlton manager standing on the touchline with arms folded---says to all "I haven't got any ideas". He was so full of himself at Fleetwood when we scored the second equaliser---a bit of a buffoon and let himself down. His team selection wasn't in line with the form of the players and his inability to change things when the Wombles were forced to sub their injured player(the sub making a big difference to Wimbledon's belief and he caused the backline problems from the off)either showed he didn't notice the new threat or thought we could handle him.Naive either way---or he has a very stubborn streak.Very disappointed in him though,has no words for players in-game,should berate and show he cares,and I think he'll prove to be another waste of time. I'd rather have a bright,young manager like Neal Ardley. The many managers in this division who get a lot from a little would give their collective right arm for a squad like ours---with or without a full complement of decent midfielders. Or am I missing the point and RD is still meddling in the team selection and tactics? I'm going for a lay down.
But its not the worst result in years... Its the worst result this season yet Huddersfield scoring FIVE against us last season was a lot worse.
Christ they only finished a few places ahead of us last season yet somehow managed to put that many past us
I'd take a spanking against Huddersfield or Hull over losing at home to AFC Wimbledon any day
Can I ask why?
Because the level's so much worse. Hull are in the Prem this season. AFC Wimbledon only formed five minutes ago and we're down in League One, a league we should be looking to win, and they're turning us over. It's far more depressing to me
I'm with @ForeverAddickted on this. AFC Wimbledon ARE A TEAM IN OUR DIVISION. Yes, they were founded in 2002/3, but it's not like they still have the players from that time. We've already been beaten by a team in the division below us this season and that didn't cause existential crises.
People knock Ajose but I have a theory. Last season KM persuaded Cousins and JBG to sign new contracts on the promise of a promotion push and the ambition of the Club. Ajose was our first signing, our marquee signing, and was likely promised that not only would we have a squad capable of pissing this league but next season would be having a shot at the PL. He turned down Championship clubs to join us after all. He has realised that he too has been lied to by dear Katie. I'm not excusing his lack of effort or disinterest but he's human, like most of us, and hasn't the option of staying away. We are a clusterfuck of a Club and now he realises it too.
People knock Ajose but I have a theory. Last season KM persuaded Cousins and JBG to sign new contracts on the promise of a promotion push and the ambition of the Club. Ajose was our first signing, our marquee signing, and was likely promised that not only would we have a squad capable of pissing this league but next season would be having a shot at the PL. He turned down Championship clubs to join us after all. He has realised that he too has been lied to by dear Katie. I'm not excusing his lack of effort or disinterest but he's human, like most of us, and hasn't the option of staying away. We are a clusterfuck of a Club and now he realises it too.
An interesting opinion, but he is still a professional.
I hope he does not become another Gudmundsson after ten games!
But its not the worst result in years... Its the worst result this season yet Huddersfield scoring FIVE against us last season was a lot worse.
Christ they only finished a few places ahead of us last season yet somehow managed to put that many past us
I'd take a spanking against Huddersfield or Hull over losing at home to AFC Wimbledon any day
Can I ask why?
Because the level's so much worse. Hull are in the Prem this season. AFC Wimbledon only formed five minutes ago and we're down in League One, a league we should be looking to win, and they're turning us over. It's far more depressing to me
I'm with @ForeverAddickted on this. AFC Wimbledon ARE A TEAM IN OUR DIVISION. Yes, they were founded in 2002/3, but it's not like they still have the players from that time. We've already been beaten by a team in the division below us this season and that didn't cause existential crises.
Again, it's about what it indicates about how far we've fallen. We shouldn't be in this position. Anyway, who's having existential crises? It's amazing how far some posters are willing to exaggerate people being upset about a loss
I think Slade has to be blamed today. We had a great start and it felt like a second would kill them off, but Wimbledon had enough about them to suggest they could get a goal with our defence (Please - why is Bauer on the bench?). Whilst you always felt we could get a goal, it was getting a bit stale. I'm afraid that Slade is of the ilk that at 1-0 he is afraid to risk too much going for two, but those of us who have seen enough of the team know that is a poor approach for us.
He took too long to see that Ajose needed subbing. I won't write the player off - 25 goals last season at this level says he is an asset. But at the moment, he isn't earning his place. He did bring Novak on but I would have liked to have seen Lookman playing a central role with Botaka, who looked terrific in his short cameo last week providing width. Lookman would see more of the ball in this role and he needs as much of the ball as we can give him.
But having said all that - what was even more incredible was that after Wimbledon got their second, Slade didn't use thetwo subs he had remaining. Even if it was to provide an injection of energy. Why is Slade too scared to risk a three nil going for an equaliser? Given the time remaining, surely a double substitution of Jackson for Crofts or Ulvestadt and Botaka for Konsa was required. I was wondering if he was so stunned that he forgot he could go for it!
More generally, lots of poor choice of ball. Cowardly balls when a difficult ball would have put a player free but an safe option was chosen. Two many second balls lost in midfield. Poor choices in front of goal - it all contributed!
I don't want to be too hard on Slade- some good signings, but I said before we got him, his negativity cost Cardiff two points against a 10 man Charlton a couple of seasons back. Peeters went three at the back and effectively dared Slade to react. He had a lead and was too cautious and that allowed 10 men to really press eleven and we got an equaliser. Slade does need to grow a pair and be a bit more adventurous.
Gutted brought my boy today for the first time and they fucked it up. Thanks Charlton. Solly looks half the player he once was. Fox wasn't much better. I've been moaning about the Central midfielders since the summer and we still haven't addressed the situation, still no attacking option from the middle. Maybe it's too early to say but maybe it's going to become clear why Slade hasn't ever got a team promoted before, maybe I'm being harsh on him but his defended the regime and was banging on about getting deals over the line, so this is his squad no excuses. My boy still enjoyed himself even if his dad had a face like thunder for a bit after the game.
Oh yeah where the hell was the substitutions today. Strange strange decisions Slade, if you was happy with that second half your as loopy as the Belgians
But its not the worst result in years... Its the worst result this season yet Huddersfield scoring FIVE against us last season was a lot worse.
Christ they only finished a few places ahead of us last season yet somehow managed to put that many past us
I'd take a spanking against Huddersfield or Hull over losing at home to AFC Wimbledon any day
Can I ask why?
Because the level's so much worse. Hull are in the Prem this season. AFC Wimbledon only formed five minutes ago and we're down in League One, a league we should be looking to win, and they're turning us over. It's far more depressing to me
I'm with @ForeverAddickted on this. AFC Wimbledon ARE A TEAM IN OUR DIVISION. Yes, they were founded in 2002/3, but it's not like they still have the players from that time. We've already been beaten by a team in the division below us this season and that didn't cause existential crises.
Again, it's about what it indicates about how far we've fallen. We shouldn't be in this position. Anyway, who's having existential crises? It's amazing how far some posters are willing to exaggerate people being upset about a loss
Th existential crises line is hyperbolic. And for the record, I am very critical of today's performance (page 2 I think). But like Fleetwood last week (and that was also a poor result in which "the team never giving up" was touted), AFCW are a well run club who spend money cleverly and have gone up the divisions as a result. Of course we shouldn't be happy about where we are as a whole. But even in our 100+ points season we lost and drew to some poor teams, and it was always likely we were going to lose to poor teams this season. This is a genuine question, is every loss going to be the worst result we've had?
Where we are in the table isn't good enough. Our result and performance today weren't good enough. And frankly, going on what I've seen to this point, I don't think our manager is anywhere near good enough. But I don't know feel like we hit a new nadir with every loss.
Genuinely, I hope this clarifies things. I do get where you're coming from, and I too am very much not happy, it's just that we may not agree on the importance of today's result.
But its not the worst result in years... Its the worst result this season yet Huddersfield scoring FIVE against us last season was a lot worse.
Christ they only finished a few places ahead of us last season yet somehow managed to put that many past us
I'd take a spanking against Huddersfield or Hull over losing at home to AFC Wimbledon any day
Can I ask why?
Because the level's so much worse. Hull are in the Prem this season. AFC Wimbledon only formed five minutes ago and we're down in League One, a league we should be looking to win, and they're turning us over. It's far more depressing to me
I'm with @ForeverAddickted on this. AFC Wimbledon ARE A TEAM IN OUR DIVISION. Yes, they were founded in 2002/3, but it's not like they still have the players from that time. We've already been beaten by a team in the division below us this season and that didn't cause existential crises.
Again, it's about what it indicates about how far we've fallen. We shouldn't be in this position. Anyway, who's having existential crises? It's amazing how far some posters are willing to exaggerate people being upset about a loss
Th existential crises line is hyperbolic. And for the record, I am very critical of today's performance (page 2 I think). But like Fleetwood last week (and that was also a poor result in which "the team never giving up" was touted), AFCW are a well run club who spend money cleverly and have gone up the divisions as a result. Of course we shouldn't be happy about where we are as a whole. But even in our 100+ points season we lost and drew to some poor teams, and it was always likely we were going to lose to poor teams this season. This is a genuine question, is every loss going to be the worst result we've had?
Where we are in the table isn't good enough. Our result and performance today weren't good enough. And frankly, going on what I've seen to this point, I don't think our manager is anywhere near good enough. But I don't know feel like we hit a new nadir with every loss.
Genuinely, I hope this clarifies things. I do get where you're coming from, and I too am very much not happy, it's just that we may not agree on the importance of today's result.
It's not the worst result we've ever had but a team with genuine ambitions of play-offs or better would at the very least have seen that game out at 1-0 or taken one or more of four or five excellent opportunities to increase that lead.
For those of us actually witnessing it the match was frustrating in the extreme because yes at times we were very good but came away with 'nil points' and that is why people are moaning.
That was a staggeringly inept performance. Went 1-0 up after eight minutes - then pussy-footed around for the next 70. We had plenty of possession but no cutting edge and missed the target as usual with our few clear chances.
Wimbledon had offered no attacking threat, yet they grew into the game and our midfield retreated in fear. Clearances from defence landed in no-man's-land - possession thrown away again - and we were incapable of quick and accurate passing to make an incisive move. How many times have we been appalled by these weak, vague and dim-witted performances over the past few years?
We all knew the equaliser was coming. Yet still we failed to muster the strength for an assault at the end. By now we were ragged and overrun; the winner was from an unchallenged header in the centre of our absent defence.
Magennis and Holmes have attacking qualities and regularly put in a shift. The rest of our players are incompetent.
But its not the worst result in years... Its the worst result this season yet Huddersfield scoring FIVE against us last season was a lot worse.
Christ they only finished a few places ahead of us last season yet somehow managed to put that many past us
I'd take a spanking against Huddersfield or Hull over losing at home to AFC Wimbledon any day
Can I ask why?
Because the level's so much worse. Hull are in the Prem this season. AFC Wimbledon only formed five minutes ago and we're down in League One, a league we should be looking to win, and they're turning us over. It's far more depressing to me
I'm with @ForeverAddickted on this. AFC Wimbledon ARE A TEAM IN OUR DIVISION. Yes, they were founded in 2002/3, but it's not like they still have the players from that time. We've already been beaten by a team in the division below us this season and that didn't cause existential crises.
Again, it's about what it indicates about how far we've fallen. We shouldn't be in this position. Anyway, who's having existential crises? It's amazing how far some posters are willing to exaggerate people being upset about a loss
Th existential crises line is hyperbolic. And for the record, I am very critical of today's performance (page 2 I think). But like Fleetwood last week (and that was also a poor result in which "the team never giving up" was touted), AFCW are a well run club who spend money cleverly and have gone up the divisions as a result. Of course we shouldn't be happy about where we are as a whole. But even in our 100+ points season we lost and drew to some poor teams, and it was always likely we were going to lose to poor teams this season. This is a genuine question, is every loss going to be the worst result we've had?
Where we are in the table isn't good enough. Our result and performance today weren't good enough. And frankly, going on what I've seen to this point, I don't think our manager is anywhere near good enough. But I don't know feel like we hit a new nadir with every loss.
Genuinely, I hope this clarifies things. I do get where you're coming from, and I too am very much not happy, it's just that we may not agree on the importance of today's result.
If you could just point out where I've said that that would be great. I've never said this is a new low. I've agreed with ValleyGary that this feels worse than the Huddersfield or Hull thrashings, and I've defended people's right to be upset without being mocked by some posters - not you - but I've never said this is our lowest point. I do however think it's an indicator of just what the Belgians have done to us
But its not the worst result in years... Its the worst result this season yet Huddersfield scoring FIVE against us last season was a lot worse.
Christ they only finished a few places ahead of us last season yet somehow managed to put that many past us
I'd take a spanking against Huddersfield or Hull over losing at home to AFC Wimbledon any day
Can I ask why?
Because the level's so much worse. Hull are in the Prem this season. AFC Wimbledon only formed five minutes ago and we're down in League One, a league we should be looking to win, and they're turning us over. It's far more depressing to me
I'm with @ForeverAddickted on this. AFC Wimbledon ARE A TEAM IN OUR DIVISION. Yes, they were founded in 2002/3, but it's not like they still have the players from that time. We've already been beaten by a team in the division below us this season and that didn't cause existential crises.
Again, it's about what it indicates about how far we've fallen. We shouldn't be in this position. Anyway, who's having existential crises? It's amazing how far some posters are willing to exaggerate people being upset about a loss
Th existential crises line is hyperbolic. And for the record, I am very critical of today's performance (page 2 I think). But like Fleetwood last week (and that was also a poor result in which "the team never giving up" was touted), AFCW are a well run club who spend money cleverly and have gone up the divisions as a result. Of course we shouldn't be happy about where we are as a whole. But even in our 100+ points season we lost and drew to some poor teams, and it was always likely we were going to lose to poor teams this season. This is a genuine question, is every loss going to be the worst result we've had?
Where we are in the table isn't good enough. Our result and performance today weren't good enough. And frankly, going on what I've seen to this point, I don't think our manager is anywhere near good enough. But I don't know feel like we hit a new nadir with every loss.
Genuinely, I hope this clarifies things. I do get where you're coming from, and I too am very much not happy, it's just that we may not agree on the importance of today's result.
If you could just point out where I've said that that would be great. I've never said this is a new low. I've agreed with ValleyGary that this feels worse than the Huddersfield or Hull thrashings, and I've defended people's right to be upset without being mocked by some posters - not you - but I've never said this is our lowest point. I do however think it's an indicator of just what the Belgians have done to us
Gone back through quickly and you're right, I'm sorry. Honestly, I agree with everything you say in this post.
I thought the game was shocking , ok for a 15 min spell in 1st half after that nothing, we ain't got any imagination long balls to magennis nobody wiling to get to the 2nd balls nobody able to relax on the ball and control the game , We lack a ball player with quality , apart from lookman and Solly we have mediocre players and mid table for me is the boards ambition , the team just isn't good enough , very pissed off .
Spoke briefly with Chris Parkes after the game. He said that we should be grateful we have Roland as our owner because otherwise we could end up like Wimbledon!
Let's see what state Duchatelet leaves us in . That's the only judgement. My bet is we might be envious of AFC Wimbledon. For all his service, I hope Parkes gets moved on when they are gone. Him and his wife have become an embarrassment.
Spoke briefly with Chris Parkes after the game. He said that we should be grateful we have Roland as our owner because otherwise we could end up like Wimbledon!
Let's see what state Duchatelet leaves us in . That's the only judgement. My bet is we might be envious of AFC Wimbledon. For all his service, I hope Parkes gets moved on when they are gone. Him and his wife have become an embarrassment.
Family BBQ in the chilly, autumnal Sussex air after the match so no idea what other Lifers have commented thus far.
OK. 3 glasses of the rose stuff may have helped Fanny to mellow tonight but the angst I would normally be experiencing after throwing away a match so carelessly is missing.
Weird, some might say but I'd bet my 2 up 2 down that I'm not alone in feeling this way.
I am tempted to use that well worn excuse , "we scored too early", but that would merely overook the chances we failed to convert ( again) & the bizarre manner in which our midfield disappeared into thin air in the latter stages of the encounter. What the feck was going on out there ? And why couldn't the gaffer see what 9,000 or so home fans ( yeah, right!) could ?
Answers on a postcard, please addressed to the man himself.
On the whole, I was encouraged by our play although the long ball ploy fails to impress me almost as much as it does Ajose. This striker HAS to do more to win the ball for himself IMHO & at present doesn't look anywhere near the player we badly need to score goals on a regular basis. TBH, this team in general will find it hard to keep the goals column in credit which is a clear concern. And one clean sheet out of seven in the league doesn't help..
So, should we continue to hope that this team will gel whilst points are lost week after week or has the time arrived for the faithful to demand more for their hard earned ? I know fans who will advocate the former saying it's still early days whilst others will argue that we should have a squad capable of beating the clubs we are pitted against. But both will agree that , until January, what we see is what we have & it's up to the guy on the touchline & his merry men to produce the goods.
There are plenty of lessons still to be earned in L1 - that's as plain to see as the nose on Kat's face and I have questioned before whether we have the players to meet that challenge. One thing I have noticed is that the teams we have played so far appear to fill their lads' boots with GrowMore - they invariably have a definite height advantage over our boys & at times this pays dividends. Maybe the CL "does he pass the height test ? " joke is a serious question at this level ?
We travel on Tuesday to the club currently heading the Table - no worries there, then. I heard today that at half time last Saturday, Brussell read the riot act in the dressing room & the final 45 minutes was testament to it's severity. Whether his redundant hairdryer will be packed for the trip remains to be seen. Whether his purchases & management skills are only worthy of a mid table finish at best is still open for discussion.
What is abundantly clear is that we have another battle on our hands between now and May.....another Battle for The Valley to coin a familiar phrase courtesy of Airman.
Because the outcome of this season may well define the very future of our beloved club.
Spoke briefly with Chris Parkes after the game. He said that we should be grateful we have Roland as our owner because otherwise we could end up like Wimbledon!
Comments
Personally, I'm not so sure about that!
I think a lot of those attending are either die hard and don't want to cut their nose off to spite their face OR the want to just watch a game of football (which begs the question... Why Charlton?)
From what i feel arround the General atmosphere is that people are almost fooling themselves that this is a new start and we are going to be building - whether that bubble will burst of we don't go up heaven knows!
It made me feel angry that yet again a team is being built from scratch, every bleedin' season under Duchatelet and Meire. No pre season and everything left to the last minute. The team shouldn't be looking like this. Its unforgiveable, disgraceful bad business and even more so, since it was clear, Charlton was likely to be relegated from the turn of the year. Utterly clueless.
The other problem is that midfield that will be the achilles heel of this team. Every season doing clearly well under than is required to build a balanced functioning competitive squad. First season, lack of strikers and cover for Vetekele, last season lack of wingers, this season, under strength midfield. Also, what is the point of buying Ajose, which they did early on and not bringing in any players that support his goal scoring ?
If and when the team does get some cohesion, how many of the decent players will be sold on to meet running costs and for it all to start all over again. I hate this regieme. What I saw today was the ambitionless place, Duchatelet & Meire has turned the Valley into. I want to see Charlton players, play in the premiership and that will never happen under this regieme. Great seeing Lookman, one of Meire's premiership star of the future, but also very sad that he will be cashed in sooner rather than later.
Wimbledon as a team, though pretty ordinary, had the cohesion and spirit that comes from a team that has been built over time and played together. I don't think that this will ever happen under Duchatelet.
The match today totally confirmed not buying a season ticket was definitely the right move. Not just because I can't stand what Duchatelet or Meire has done to the club. Also, no way in the depth of winter would I drag myself down in the cold to see such a dispiriting, incomplete mess of a team. That doesn't help me get through the week.
I just wish, Duchatelet would sell the damned club so the team and club can start functioning properly again. The club is going no where good under Duchatelet.
Two players in midfield,Crofts and Ulvestad,who are identical run-around,occasional tackle,no attacking nous type of players--where are our back-up midfielders? We don't have any---Jacko was missed here and at Fleetwood but long-term we need younger,hungry midfielders.None in the youth teams?
Why play Lookman then let the players ignore him for long spells in the first half when he was pulling their defence to pieces? Why did Ajose start when he's looked dis-interested in most games? Novak is clearly dying to start,is a good finisher and more on Josh's wavelength.
Why was our tempo so slow---can you not see this,Slade? We are at our best in a higher speed game with quick passing.
And what is Bauer doing on the bench? Pearce defended manfully all game and led the back four well but he needs support.Konsa looked a little raw today I thought,he'll need nurturing in his first full season,a great prospect though.
And,yes,stop lumping the ball to Josh--set him up for goal chances---really admire the guy's work ethic and professionalism,but don't waste his talent.
I hate watching any Charlton manager standing on the touchline with arms folded---says to all "I haven't got any ideas".
He was so full of himself at Fleetwood when we scored the second equaliser---a bit of a buffoon and let himself down. His team selection wasn't in line with the form of the players and his inability to change things when the Wombles were forced to sub their injured player(the sub making a big difference to Wimbledon's belief and he caused the backline problems from the off)either showed he didn't notice the new threat or thought we could handle him.Naive either way---or he has a very stubborn streak.Very disappointed in him though,has no words for players in-game,should berate and show he cares,and I think he'll prove to be another waste of time.
I'd rather have a bright,young manager like Neal Ardley. The many managers in this division who get a lot from a little would give their collective right arm for a squad like ours---with or without a full complement of decent midfielders.
Or am I missing the point and RD is still meddling in the team selection and tactics?
I'm going for a lay down.
Posed a very interesting question in this did Wyn. Answered today.
I hope he does not become another Gudmundsson after ten games!
He took too long to see that Ajose needed subbing. I won't write the player off - 25 goals last season at this level says he is an asset. But at the moment, he isn't earning his place. He did bring Novak on but I would have liked to have seen Lookman playing a central role with Botaka, who looked terrific in his short cameo last week providing width. Lookman would see more of the ball in this role and he needs as much of the ball as we can give him.
But having said all that - what was even more incredible was that after Wimbledon got their second, Slade didn't use thetwo subs he had remaining. Even if it was to provide an injection of energy. Why is Slade too scared to risk a three nil going for an equaliser? Given the time remaining, surely a double substitution of Jackson for Crofts or Ulvestadt and Botaka for Konsa was required. I was wondering if he was so stunned that he forgot he could go for it!
More generally, lots of poor choice of ball. Cowardly balls when a difficult ball would have put a player free but an safe option was chosen. Two many second balls lost in midfield. Poor choices in front of goal - it all contributed!
I don't want to be too hard on Slade- some good signings, but I said before we got him, his negativity cost Cardiff two points against a 10 man Charlton a couple of seasons back. Peeters went three at the back and effectively dared Slade to react. He had a lead and was too cautious and that allowed 10 men to really press eleven and we got an equaliser. Slade does need to grow a pair and be a bit more adventurous.
Last thing, is that the pitch side announcer is not a patch on BDL.
My boy still enjoyed himself even if his dad had a face like thunder for a bit after the game.
Oh yeah where the hell was the substitutions today. Strange strange decisions Slade, if you was happy with that second half your as loopy as the Belgians
Where we are in the table isn't good enough. Our result and performance today weren't good enough. And frankly, going on what I've seen to this point, I don't think our manager is anywhere near good enough. But I don't know feel like we hit a new nadir with every loss.
Genuinely, I hope this clarifies things. I do get where you're coming from, and I too am very much not happy, it's just that we may not agree on the importance of today's result.
For those of us actually witnessing it the match was frustrating in the extreme because yes at times we were very good but came away with 'nil points' and that is why people are moaning.
Wimbledon had offered no attacking threat, yet they grew into the game and our midfield retreated in fear. Clearances from defence landed in no-man's-land - possession thrown away again - and we were incapable of quick and accurate passing to make an incisive move. How many times have we been appalled by these weak, vague and dim-witted performances over the past few years?
We all knew the equaliser was coming. Yet still we failed to muster the strength for an assault at the end. By now we were ragged and overrun; the winner was from an unchallenged header in the centre of our absent defence.
Magennis and Holmes have attacking qualities and regularly put in a shift. The rest of our players are incompetent.
We lack a ball player with quality , apart from lookman and Solly we have mediocre players and mid table for me is the boards ambition , the team just isn't good enough , very pissed off .
OK. 3 glasses of the rose stuff may have helped Fanny to mellow tonight but the angst I would normally be experiencing after throwing away a match so carelessly is missing.
Weird, some might say but I'd bet my 2 up 2 down that I'm not alone in feeling this way.
I am tempted to use that well worn excuse , "we scored too early", but that would merely overook the chances we failed to convert ( again) & the bizarre manner in which our midfield disappeared into thin air in the latter stages of the encounter. What the feck was going on out there ? And why couldn't the gaffer see what 9,000 or so home fans ( yeah, right!) could ?
Answers on a postcard, please addressed to the man himself.
On the whole, I was encouraged by our play although the long ball ploy fails to impress me almost as much as it does Ajose. This striker HAS to do more to win the ball for himself IMHO & at present doesn't look anywhere near the player we badly need to score goals on a regular basis. TBH, this team in general will find it hard to keep the goals column in credit which is a clear concern. And one clean sheet out of seven in the league doesn't help..
So, should we continue to hope that this team will gel whilst points are lost week after week or has the time arrived for the faithful to demand more for their hard earned ? I know fans who will advocate the former saying it's still early days whilst others will argue that we should have a squad capable of beating the clubs we are pitted against. But both will agree that , until January, what we see is what we have & it's up to the guy on the touchline & his merry men to produce the goods.
There are plenty of lessons still to be earned in L1 - that's as plain to see as the nose on Kat's face and I have questioned before whether we have the players to meet that challenge. One thing I have noticed is that the teams we have played so far appear to fill their lads' boots with GrowMore - they invariably have a definite height advantage over our boys & at times this pays dividends. Maybe the CL "does he pass the height test ? " joke is a serious question at this level ?
We travel on Tuesday to the club currently heading the Table - no worries there, then. I heard today that at half time last Saturday, Brussell read the riot act in the dressing room & the final 45 minutes was testament to it's severity. Whether his redundant hairdryer will be packed for the trip remains to be seen. Whether his purchases & management skills are only worthy of a mid table finish at best is still open for discussion.
What is abundantly clear is that we have another battle on our hands between now and May.....another Battle for The Valley to coin a familiar phrase courtesy of Airman.
Because the outcome of this season may well define the very future of our beloved club.