First game since Wigan at home in September, as I've been doing some opposition scouting down in the non leagues.
That first half performance was shocking.
We started with a 4-2-3-1, against Gillingham's 4-4-2 Diamond. Robinson made a point to say that he went to see Gillingham play last Saturday. So how did he manage to get the System, Pattern of Play, and Team selection so wrong? In fact he couldn't have got it more wrong. Maybe he was unlucky and they changed their system from Saturday. But if they didn't, thats scary.
The Central Defence was wide open. The full backs were pushed up and not in position to support the Centre Backs or to cover inside. We had two defensive midfielders, with similar styles, as short passing continuity players, and no long passing ability. The no.10 was a converted wide player, playing between two wingers playing inside, in behind a Centre Forward who was isolated. There was no creativity in the midfield; no-one running in behind to stretch the opposition; and we were caught short of numbers whenever Gillingham attacked. When we had the ball, I assume we were trying to play "Up, Back and Through", although it was not easy to work out. I've seen many non league teams this season who were better prepared and better organised than this, on two nights a week training. What do they work on in training?
At least Robinson had the sense to change it at half-time, to 4-4-2 to 4-2-4, with two orthodox wingers, and support for the Centre Forward in the form of a second striker. We looked much better, attacked in numbers and pinned them in for long periods. Which we should be doing from the off. We were at home FFS!
The managers main job is to get the team selection and tactics right, before the game. It's not easy, especially when you have to rely on scouting reports. But he actually went to see them play on Saturday, and got it so badly wrong. That's scary.
On the positive side, I thought KAG looked like the player who came on at Fulham and ran them ragged a couple of seasons ago. If only he could find some composure inside the box.
Holmes really got at their Right Back in the second half, and is a much better player when staying wide and trying to get in behind, with the occasional diagonal run inside to get in a shot. He ain't a no.10. But he is a handful when he isolates opponents in one-against-one situations.
Excellent post as ever. I've absolutely no doubt you wouldn't do any worse as our manager than KR.
Wasn't there but I'm guessing Sarr is the official scapegoat, when I last watched him he was good and everyone keeps raving how much of a revelation he has been. How can all that go in one match?
No!! - He was better than Konsa | Lennon | Holmes | Reeves | Forster-Caskey | Magennis
Good point - Wasn't his best game, but he was better than Lennon and Konsa.
Takeover imminent (maybe?), KR been told that the new owners will be bringing in their own man? If so do the players know this also and are just not playing for him. Lost the dressing room?
As woeful as Charlton were (especially first half) I thought Gillingham did a real job on us. The tall, lanky fella up front with Bendtner hair (Eaves?) is a real handful and a decent footballer at this level also (as was Parker, their No:14). And their ‘game management’ of the last 5 minutes plus injury time was, although infuriating, spot on. PS: What actually is the point of Reeves?
First game since Wigan at home in September, as I've been doing some opposition scouting down in the non leagues.
That first half performance was shocking.
We started with a 4-2-3-1, against Gillingham's 4-4-2 Diamond. Robinson made a point to say that he went to see Gillingham play last Saturday. So how did he manage to get the System, Pattern of Play, and Team selection so wrong? In fact he couldn't have got it more wrong. Maybe he was unlucky and they changed their system from Saturday. But if they didn't, thats scary.
The Central Defence was wide open. The full backs were pushed up and not in position to support the Centre Backs or to cover inside. We had two defensive midfielders, with similar styles, as short passing continuity players, and no long passing ability. The no.10 was a converted wide player, playing between two wingers playing inside, in behind a Centre Forward who was isolated. There was no creativity in the midfield; no-one running in behind to stretch the opposition; and we were caught short of numbers whenever Gillingham attacked. When we had the ball, I assume we were trying to play "Up, Back and Through", although it was not easy to work out. I've seen many non league teams this season who were better prepared and better organised than this, on two nights a week training. What do they work on in training?
At least Robinson had the sense to change it at half-time, to 4-4-2 to 4-2-4, with two orthodox wingers, and support for the Centre Forward in the form of a second striker. We looked much better, attacked in numbers and pinned them in for long periods. Which we should be doing from the off. We were at home FFS!
The managers main job is to get the team selection and tactics right, before the game. It's not easy, especially when you have to rely on scouting reports. But he actually went to see them play on Saturday, and got it so badly wrong. That's scary.
On the positive side, I thought KAG looked like the player who came on at Fulham and ran them ragged a couple of seasons ago. If only he could find some composure inside the box.
Holmes really got at their Right Back in the second half, and is a much better player when staying wide and trying to get in behind, with the occasional diagonal run inside to get in a shot. He ain't a no.10. But he is a handful when he isolates opponents in one-against-one situations.
Yes, yes and yes.
Drove to the game full of the joys of, unaware of the line-up, as unable to check Twitter. Walked in as the announcer was reading out the team. No Aribo, No KAG, No Best (who I'd heard was fit). Reeves, JF-C and Magennis, yet again.
I normally give KR the benefit of the doubt (yes I know), so thought maybe they were injured. I was clearly wrong. No point in commenting on the first half other than to say they just swept through our enfeebled, laccadasical midfield. KR ignored my calls for a change in formation (can you believe that!?) and the tired old 4231 was trotted out again, with the same inadequacies and weakness put on display - once again. Do Pep, Arsene or Jose rely on one formation to the exclusion of all others? Does even Neil Harris for that matter? Simple answer, No.
4231 looked amazing for 25 minutes up at Oldham. It really did. Anyone who was there would probably agree we played the best football we've played in at least a couple of years. But then Oldham changed it up and we were lucky to hang on for the win. We'd been sussed. 4231 had, and has, been sussed. Use it sometimes maybe, when the circumstances are right, and the right players are available. But PLEASE, enough is enough.
But what worries me more than the formation, is the inability to see who's playing well and who isn't. Yes he's staked a lot on Reeves, but if it isn't working, leave him out for a bit. We all make mistakes, deal with it. Magennis is not the right guy for 4231 clearly. The evidence is there. He can't seem to score, he doesn't get assists. Yes he can defend, but if our key sole striker is being chosen based on his ability to defend set pieces... for goodness sake.
No, Best showed real signs of being a far better striker. Far livelier, far stronger, better movement, better in the air. But not picked. Why not Karl? Karlan has also won the fans round with his eagerness and pace and, dare I say it, he was actually scoring goals. So why was he left on the bench? He was raring to go!
So yes, we've been blighted by injuries, and hampered by our relatively small squad. But come on Karl, you've given all the knockers the ammunition they need, and even your supporters are losing faith.
However, let's remember the mess he inherited. He has removed a lot of dead wood, he did get us playing decent football again, he did show a bit passion. He did make a couple of decent signings.
One other thing. Naby is clearly our mustard player. Nothing wrong with that. He has a wonderful left foot, he was immense against Wigan of all teams, and he sometimes looks too good for League One. But yes, he has moments when also looks slow and vulnerable. But to single him out and boo him, was shocking. How could that possibly help? And the throwing of a bottle at him (did it actually hit him?), was a low point in our history. Shame on whoever threw it. Deserves a life ban.
Mix it up Karl, please. Pick the right guys. Forget loyalty, pick players in form. If you do, let's aim for 6th place as a minimum. It's not out of sight yet.
And another thing. That’s the first time I can remember the team emerging from the tunnel at half time to complete and utter silence despite Brian’s exhortation to welcome them back.
Would you have given the fella 3k at half-time though for hitting the post?
Robinson seemed to take offence at me telling him, that we should be playing two up front all the time as he walked off at the end, he motioned he wanted to meet me outside, silly twat. How the hell does he continue with 1 up front and 5 in midfield it gets so clogged up, the difference and space it allowed Marshall and Holmes made us look dangerous, but far too little too late.
Mate, was that you right at the front of the N.stand, near the tunnel, at the end? Although you really were giving it some, I noticed Robinson staring at you then asking you out for a chat! Likewise Kashi. Admire your passion my friend
Didn't look to me like the players were playing for the manager. Has he lost the dressing room? Sussed his tactical ineptitude? Or maybe they are all distracted by the impending takeover?
I can't see anyone wanting to come to Charlton at present, even if by some miracle Robinson has persuaded Duchatelet to cough up some funds. Stephy M is Not the answer.
We need that takeover, and fast, if we want to salvage this season.
And another thing. That’s the first time I can remember the team emerging from the tunnel at half time to complete and utter silence despite Brian’s exhortation to welcome them back.
Would you have given the fella 3k at half-time though for hitting the post?
It can't be any worse than what we pay our players to miss the target completely.
I won't bother you with my thoughts on the 1st half.....others have summed that up accurately enough.
Instead I will take heart from our 2nd half performance. At least we had a go and didn't just go down meekly. 4-4-2 seemed to suit most of the players better (I know Gills dropped back). Marshall and Holmes were more effective and the extra running seemed to suit Kashi. Aribo turned well in midfield and suddenly things started to open up in front of him. He reminds me of Paul Mortimer in the way that he carries the ball. Even Konsa managed a couple of forays into the penalty area. On the left, Da Silva was very positive and Holmes did ok (he needs a goal to get him going again).
Confidence is understandably low but there were signs in that second half that it might return. No-one hid.
Finally, we ought to forget any notion of letting Aribo or KAG go out on loan. Both have done enough in recent weeks to warrant places in the match day squad. KAG just needs some goals and Aribo has added a bit of physicality to his play this season (he's winning quite a few headers and tackles now).
Robinson seemed to take offence at me telling him, that we should be playing two up front all the time as he walked off at the end, he motioned he wanted to meet me outside, silly twat. How the hell does he continue with 1 up front and 5 in midfield it gets so clogged up, the difference and space it allowed Marshall and Holmes made us look dangerous, but far too little too late.
Manager offers one of his own club's fans out for telling him what he refuses to acknowledge - classy. I would love to see the fat chump put on his arse with a thick lip. That might slow his stream of bullshit a tad. Won't be sorry to see him kissing someone else's badge, if you get my drift.
Josh Parker seems to have got good reviews from those there. I'm sure we had him on trial, maybe start of last season? Shame we didnt offer him a contract.
Bullet points. Not sure why I'm typing these afresh, as the problems are the same as I have banged on about whenever I have made post-match views, and still have not been addressed.
- There's no defensive communication. Apparently Amos has been told not to shout at his defence, because they're young and KR doesn't want them to panic?! Well, I don't want us to fucking concede. Talking would be nice. Communication is the key to all healthy relationships and this DEFINITELY applies to football as well as dating/marriage.
- Just going to quote myself from the Peterborough post-match: "We did not look at ALL coherent for the majority of the game, and I think this was down to the lack in particular of either Solly or Pearce, both relatively vocal and communicative in defence. "
- We cannot react to conceding. There is a palpable change in body language. Konsa was particularly guilty of this for some reason. We get flatter (that includes the crowd, but we're not out there playing football); no-one wants to show and take responsibility; and any urgency seems to disappear.
- Quote again from P'boro: "We looked done and dusted after the first goal" - so maybe we weren't too bad, but we still conceded a second goal, which was totally onside. (In fairness, it was also a wicked cross. I had a sense it was in as the ball was halfway delivered.)
- "We again looked tired. This happened after the last Tuesday game I saw (Rochdale). I don't want this to be a recurring theme."
RECORD SCRATCH - okay, hang on. Let me rephrase. We did, again, look tired. I blame this on injury misfortune and lots of fixtures over this period. We have it marginally worse than other teams (injuries), but not by much.
- Dasilva and Amos, two loan players, are marginally redeeming features atm.
The players
- "Amos saved an otherwise certain goal and didn't do much wrong. Maybe wasn't able to alleviate the defensive communication problem, but I'm not surprised and as a loan keeper, I'm not going to hold him to ransom on that." That's what I said after Posh, and it's still true lol.
- Sarr was poor. Lennon was poor. They couldn't communicate. Neither were particularly woeful but Sarr is the scapegoat. It was the collective lack of competence, rather than any major incompetence from one source, that led to us looking so poor at the back.
- Dasilva good. Leaves us exposed when going forward though.
- Konsa is off this window, surely? Looked a little petulant at times, and while he had some good moments, can often be too casual. His athleticism makes up for it though. But, communication. I'll say it again and again.
- Holmes, when actually playing with others in a team rather than doing all himself, looks mustard. Otherwise he looks selfish. His Dasilva link up is great. And he looks a threat down the wing.
- JFC injured. Rushed back, not holding yesterday against him. Kashi, however, looks like a liability OR he looks great. I think he picks the wrong pass too often, though, and takes maybe a second or two too long to do what he's going to do. This telegraphs the movement and allows the opposition a crucial extra bit of time to set up.
- Aribo was an absolute breath of fresh air. Play him please. Same goes for Karlan (can't believe I'm saying this!).
- Reeves, who I have had lots of faith in, is really testing me now. He looked unfit, off the pace, and had zero innovation. A complete contrast to a player that always worried me when he was at Milton Keynes.
- Magennis is permanently knackered. Which is fair enough because he was basically our only striker for ages. And that's why he looks shit atm. WE NEED ANOTHER STRIKER.
- Marshall had his best game yet. Well, best half yet in the second half. But his insistence on receiving the ball to feet is frustrating in the extreme. It kills tempo and means his moves are telegraphed, much like with Kashi.
- I hope Best's injury isn't too serious, but with his history, I feel for him.
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- I'd DEFINITELY sign Tom Eaves. Holds the ball up really really well. Only thing is he's not at all blessed with pace.
- Robinson has zero plan B and that leads to disaster. 4-4-2 transformed us, but his lack of faith in that as a system holds us back.
- Just sell the club, Roland. I'd write a few more things, but this one has just been banging on and on in my mind.
Robinson seemed to take offence at me telling him, that we should be playing two up front all the time as he walked off at the end, he motioned he wanted to meet me outside, silly twat. How the hell does he continue with 1 up front and 5 in midfield it gets so clogged up, the difference and space it allowed Marshall and Holmes made us look dangerous, but far too little too late.
Mate, was that you right at the front of the N.stand, near the tunnel, at the end? Although you really were giving it some, I noticed Robinson staring at you then asking you out for a chat! Likewise Kashi. Admire your passion my friend
Passion or aggression? Sounds like he was being aggressive towards Robbo and is now the victim because Robbo bit back.
Holmes look as if he has run himself into the ground and didn't look sharp yesterday.
Sarr was awful in the first half and Eaves was all over him like a rash. I had guys around me yesterday calling for off side. Not in a million years. And the problem was it was so easy for Eaves because Sarr wasn't concentrating and Eaves exploited that.
No firepower upfront. Can't see us scoring a goal at all at the moment.
And in my book if you lose 6 points to a team like Gillingham in both league games, you're not going to go up I'm afraid.
Unfortunately, the squad has been ravaged by injuries. And we're looking like a mid-table side at best.
for a team of our cost in this league, yes roland is a wanker but our squad is far superior on paper to a LOT of the others, we are just being turned over like a cheap tart, were 9th and the gap to the top 5 is widening, even to scrape into 6th isn't enough the aim was be in the autos and drop down as minimum into playoffs. yet again a club that has shortchanged the fans, lose against oldham and think it could be curtains as those fans attending will start to turn on him and the players.
forget going up well be lucky to stay in the same league.
our next 3 fixtures are against teams at the wrong end of the table anything less than 4 points from them and ill start to worry.
for a team of our cost in this league, yes roland is a wanker but our squad is far superior on paper to a LOT of the others, we are just being turned over like a cheap tart, were 9th and the gap to the top 5 is widening, even to scrape into 6th isn't enough the aim was be in the autos and drop down as minimum into playoffs. yet again a club that has shortchanged the fans, lose against oldham and think it could be curtains as those fans attending will start to turn on him and the players.
forget going up well be lucky to stay in the same league.
our next 3 fixtures are against teams at the wrong end of the table anything less than 4 points from them and ill start to worry.
The only paper that insinuates our squad is better than others is the salary sheets. I want 9 points from those three, but will take 5 or 6.
As a non attender, I go on past experience (40 years), what I read on CL and the fact that we are a general basket case of a football club anyway.
I cling to the old adage that football moves in cycles and that one day it will be "our turn" again in the comparative limelight in S.E London.
At the moment, I will be honest and say I do not give a flying fuck about Charlton, it's owner, coaching staff and players. I only give a fuck about us, the supporters, long suffering and desperate today.
Will the next mob through the revolving door be any better? Let us hope so, but to all my fellow sufferers on CL, Happy New Year... The Jills doing the double over us, FFS!!!!
for a team of our cost in this league, yes roland is a wanker but our squad is far superior on paper to a LOT of the others, we are just being turned over like a cheap tart, were 9th and the gap to the top 5 is widening, even to scrape into 6th isn't enough the aim was be in the autos and drop down as minimum into playoffs. yet again a club that has shortchanged the fans, lose against oldham and think it could be curtains as those fans attending will start to turn on him and the players.
forget going up well be lucky to stay in the same league.
our next 3 fixtures are against teams at the wrong end of the table anything less than 4 points from them and ill start to worry.
Anything less than 6 points will see us slipping lower down the table. The season is over as to regard promotion ( and that means getting into the play-offs). Have to be thinking about surviving & staying in this poxy league.
for a team of our cost in this league, yes roland is a wanker but our squad is far superior on paper to a LOT of the others, we are just being turned over like a cheap tart, were 9th and the gap to the top 5 is widening, even to scrape into 6th isn't enough the aim was be in the autos and drop down as minimum into playoffs. yet again a club that has shortchanged the fans, lose against oldham and think it could be curtains as those fans attending will start to turn on him and the players.
forget going up well be lucky to stay in the same league.
our next 3 fixtures are against teams at the wrong end of the table anything less than 4 points from them and ill start to worry.
The only paper that insinuates our squad is better than others is the salary sheets. I want 9 points from those three, but will take 5 or 6.
compared to gillingham i dont know for sure but i would guess the majority of fans would have ours over theres
- There's no defensive communication. Apparently Amos has been told not to shout at his defence, because they're young and KR doesn't want them to panic.
Great summary again Paddy but seriously in regards to the above... You must be joking?
That sounds like another email suggestion that Karl's taken on board from Roland surely!!
Eaves was superb: the way he set up their first is something the lumpen Magennis could only dream of. Good touch for a big man as well.
The number 9 Eaves was the difference between the two sides. if he was playing up front for CAFC 2nd half, we would have won !
Having non scoring strikers is madness.
From Gills website. Not sure he's a prolific scorer. But he look pretty decent yesterday.
The 25-year-old becomes Ady Pennock’s fourth summer signing with Josh Parker and Elliott List having also extended their stays at the club.
Eaves came through the youth ranks at Oldham Athletic before joining Bolton in 2010 on a three-year-contract for an undisclosed fee.
First team chances were limited however which forced the striker to go out on loan, enjoying spells at Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury Town, Rotherham United, Bury and Yeovil who he joined on a permanent basis last summer.
During the 2016/17 season Eaves made 48 appearances and scored seven goals, the last of which coming against Crawley in a 5-0 home win last December.
On signing the forward the Gills boss said: “It’s great to have got Tom on board; he’s strong, he’s quick and his height is naturally going to be an asset.”
Eaves added: “I’m absolutely delighted; I’m really looking forward to getting going. I can’t wait, I really can’t wait. I really like the Manager, I’ve spoken to Peter too and I think I can contribute in bringing some physicality to the team.”
Comments
Certainly seems that way.
https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-agree-loan-deal-for-arsenal-striker/
And their ‘game management’ of the last 5 minutes plus injury time was, although infuriating, spot on.
PS: What actually is the point of Reeves?
Drove to the game full of the joys of, unaware of the line-up, as unable to check Twitter.
Walked in as the announcer was reading out the team. No Aribo, No KAG, No Best (who I'd heard was fit). Reeves, JF-C and Magennis, yet again.
I normally give KR the benefit of the doubt (yes I know), so thought maybe they were injured. I was clearly wrong.
No point in commenting on the first half other than to say they just swept through our enfeebled, laccadasical midfield.
KR ignored my calls for a change in formation (can you believe that!?) and the tired old 4231 was trotted out again, with the same inadequacies and weakness put on display - once again.
Do Pep, Arsene or Jose rely on one formation to the exclusion of all others? Does even Neil Harris for that matter?
Simple answer, No.
4231 looked amazing for 25 minutes up at Oldham. It really did. Anyone who was there would probably agree we played the best football we've played in at least a couple of years. But then Oldham changed it up and we were lucky to hang on for the win. We'd been sussed. 4231 had, and has, been sussed. Use it sometimes maybe, when the circumstances are right, and the right players are available. But PLEASE, enough is enough.
But what worries me more than the formation, is the inability to see who's playing well and who isn't. Yes he's staked a lot on Reeves, but if it isn't working, leave him out for a bit. We all make mistakes, deal with it. Magennis is not the right guy for 4231 clearly. The evidence is there. He can't seem to score, he doesn't get assists. Yes he can defend, but if our key sole striker is being chosen based on his ability to defend set pieces... for goodness sake.
No, Best showed real signs of being a far better striker. Far livelier, far stronger, better movement, better in the air. But not picked. Why not Karl? Karlan has also won the fans round with his eagerness and pace and, dare I say it, he was actually scoring goals. So why was he left on the bench? He was raring to go!
So yes, we've been blighted by injuries, and hampered by our relatively small squad. But come on Karl, you've given all the knockers the ammunition they need, and even your supporters are losing faith.
However, let's remember the mess he inherited. He has removed a lot of dead wood, he did get us playing decent football again, he did show a bit passion. He did make a couple of decent signings.
One other thing.
Naby is clearly our mustard player. Nothing wrong with that. He has a wonderful left foot, he was immense against Wigan of all teams, and he sometimes looks too good for League One. But yes, he has moments when also looks slow and vulnerable. But to single him out and boo him, was shocking. How could that possibly help? And the throwing of a bottle at him (did it actually hit him?), was a low point in our history. Shame on whoever threw it. Deserves a life ban.
Mix it up Karl, please. Pick the right guys. Forget loyalty, pick players in form. If you do, let's aim for 6th place as a minimum. It's not out of sight yet.
Admire your passion my friend
Toothless in the second.
Didn't look to me like the players were playing for the manager. Has he lost the dressing room? Sussed his tactical ineptitude? Or maybe they are all distracted by the impending takeover?
I can't see anyone wanting to come to Charlton at present, even if by some miracle Robinson has persuaded Duchatelet to cough up some funds. Stephy M is Not the answer.
We need that takeover, and fast, if we want to salvage this season.
We won the 2nd half 1-0
Instead I will take heart from our 2nd half performance. At least we had a go and didn't just go down meekly. 4-4-2 seemed to suit most of the players better (I know Gills dropped back). Marshall and Holmes were more effective and the extra running seemed to suit Kashi. Aribo turned well in midfield and suddenly things started to open up in front of him. He reminds me of Paul Mortimer in the way that he carries the ball. Even Konsa managed a couple of forays into the penalty area. On the left, Da Silva was very positive and Holmes did ok (he needs a goal to get him going again).
Confidence is understandably low but there were signs in that second half that it might return. No-one hid.
Finally, we ought to forget any notion of letting Aribo or KAG go out on loan. Both have done enough in recent weeks to warrant places in the match day squad. KAG just needs some goals and Aribo has added a bit of physicality to his play this season (he's winning quite a few headers and tackles now).
- There's no defensive communication. Apparently Amos has been told not to shout at his defence, because they're young and KR doesn't want them to panic?! Well, I don't want us to fucking concede. Talking would be nice. Communication is the key to all healthy relationships and this DEFINITELY applies to football as well as dating/marriage.
- Just going to quote myself from the Peterborough post-match: "We did not look at ALL coherent for the majority of the game, and I think this was down to the lack in particular of either Solly or Pearce, both relatively vocal and communicative in defence. "
- We cannot react to conceding. There is a palpable change in body language. Konsa was particularly guilty of this for some reason. We get flatter (that includes the crowd, but we're not out there playing football); no-one wants to show and take responsibility; and any urgency seems to disappear.
- Quote again from P'boro: "We looked done and dusted after the first goal" - so maybe we weren't too bad, but we still conceded a second goal, which was totally onside. (In fairness, it was also a wicked cross. I had a sense it was in as the ball was halfway delivered.)
- "We again looked tired. This happened after the last Tuesday game I saw (Rochdale). I don't want this to be a recurring theme."
RECORD SCRATCH - okay, hang on. Let me rephrase. We did, again, look tired. I blame this on injury misfortune and lots of fixtures over this period. We have it marginally worse than other teams (injuries), but not by much.
- Dasilva and Amos, two loan players, are marginally redeeming features atm.
The players
- "Amos saved an otherwise certain goal and didn't do much wrong. Maybe wasn't able to alleviate the defensive communication problem, but I'm not surprised and as a loan keeper, I'm not going to hold him to ransom on that." That's what I said after Posh, and it's still true lol.
- Sarr was poor. Lennon was poor. They couldn't communicate. Neither were particularly woeful but Sarr is the scapegoat. It was the collective lack of competence, rather than any major incompetence from one source, that led to us looking so poor at the back.
- Dasilva good. Leaves us exposed when going forward though.
- Konsa is off this window, surely? Looked a little petulant at times, and while he had some good moments, can often be too casual. His athleticism makes up for it though. But, communication. I'll say it again and again.
- Holmes, when actually playing with others in a team rather than doing all himself, looks mustard. Otherwise he looks selfish. His Dasilva link up is great. And he looks a threat down the wing.
- JFC injured. Rushed back, not holding yesterday against him. Kashi, however, looks like a liability OR he looks great. I think he picks the wrong pass too often, though, and takes maybe a second or two too long to do what he's going to do. This telegraphs the movement and allows the opposition a crucial extra bit of time to set up.
- Aribo was an absolute breath of fresh air. Play him please. Same goes for Karlan (can't believe I'm saying this!).
- Reeves, who I have had lots of faith in, is really testing me now. He looked unfit, off the pace, and had zero innovation. A complete contrast to a player that always worried me when he was at Milton Keynes.
- Magennis is permanently knackered. Which is fair enough because he was basically our only striker for ages. And that's why he looks shit atm. WE NEED ANOTHER STRIKER.
- Marshall had his best game yet. Well, best half yet in the second half. But his insistence on receiving the ball to feet is frustrating in the extreme. It kills tempo and means his moves are telegraphed, much like with Kashi.
- I hope Best's injury isn't too serious, but with his history, I feel for him.
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- I'd DEFINITELY sign Tom Eaves. Holds the ball up really really well. Only thing is he's not at all blessed with pace.
- Robinson has zero plan B and that leads to disaster. 4-4-2 transformed us, but his lack of faith in that as a system holds us back.
- Just sell the club, Roland. I'd write a few more things, but this one has just been banging on and on in my mind.
Holmes look as if he has run himself into the ground and didn't look sharp yesterday.
Sarr was awful in the first half and Eaves was all over him like a rash. I had guys around me yesterday calling for off side. Not in a million years. And the problem was it was so easy for Eaves because Sarr wasn't concentrating and Eaves exploited that.
No firepower upfront. Can't see us scoring a goal at all at the moment.
And in my book if you lose 6 points to a team like Gillingham in both league games, you're not going to go up I'm afraid.
Unfortunately, the squad has been ravaged by injuries. And we're looking like a mid-table side at best.
forget going up well be lucky to stay in the same league.
our next 3 fixtures are against teams at the wrong end of the table anything less than 4 points from them and ill start to worry.
As a non attender, I go on past experience (40 years), what I read on CL and the fact that we are a general basket case of a football club anyway.
I cling to the old adage that football moves in cycles and that one day it will be "our turn" again in the comparative limelight in S.E London.
At the moment, I will be honest and say I do not give a flying fuck about Charlton, it's owner, coaching staff and players. I only give a fuck about us, the supporters, long suffering and desperate today.
Will the next mob through the revolving door be any better? Let us hope so, but to all my fellow sufferers on CL, Happy New Year... The Jills doing the double over us, FFS!!!!
whoo hoo..........!!
if he was playing up front for CAFC 2nd half, we would have won !
Having non scoring strikers is madness.
That sounds like another email suggestion that Karl's taken on board from Roland surely!!
The 25-year-old becomes Ady Pennock’s fourth summer signing with Josh Parker and Elliott List having also extended their stays at the club.
Eaves came through the youth ranks at Oldham Athletic before joining Bolton in 2010 on a three-year-contract for an undisclosed fee.
First team chances were limited however which forced the striker to go out on loan, enjoying spells at Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury Town, Rotherham United, Bury and Yeovil who he joined on a permanent basis last summer.
During the 2016/17 season Eaves made 48 appearances and scored seven goals, the last of which coming against Crawley in a 5-0 home win last December.
On signing the forward the Gills boss said: “It’s great to have got Tom on board; he’s strong, he’s quick and his height is naturally going to be an asset.”
Eaves added: “I’m absolutely delighted; I’m really looking forward to getting going. I can’t wait, I really can’t wait. I really like the Manager, I’ve spoken to Peter too and I think I can contribute in bringing some physicality to the team.”