There was the most poignant vignette at the final whistle of the
Leeds game. All of our players sank to the turf, head in hands, all
spent and upset by defeat. And by the importance of that last game.
Yet – No-one on
Earth knew the killer blow. When the news of Barnsley’s late
winner came through on the phone, one of our coaches walked over to
Williams, still sitting on the ground, and whispered the result in
his ear.
That look of
crushing disappointment - Exactly as we feel in the Covered End. Williams turned away from his coach with an expression of utter horror,
sadness and disbelief.
Which is precisely
why Williams is important to Charlton and our rabble of trainees and misfits. Unlike most of our squad, he was a winner last season - and at Wembley, where he turned the game around.
He has signed the contract and pledged allegiance. Jonny Williams knows how to get forward: pushing and probing on the edge of the
box.
Jonny Williams is a decent player with justified criticism. nothing more nothing less. if we don't have the right players around him too its going to be another relegation battle. thats if we''re still a club.
Looks so hyped to be here in the kit shoot! What a man. Such a great footballer but even more than that he's clearly exactly the sort of person this club needs. It's a shame he can't captain while Pearce is injured as he's not fit enough to play every minute
It's actually quite rare to see him cross like that. Normally he tries to beat a man, drive into the area to cut the ball back or play it low across the 6 yard box.
Watched the second half of the Wales match yesterday and he looked really good for the 15 mins he was on the pitch. It’s so frustrating that he doesn’t seem to be able to have the same impact when he starts the match, if he could then he’d be one of the best players in the division (possibly the best player).
Tough on Jonny, not sure if it's the right choice. We've seen that Jonny's confidence can easily be knocked and he likes to feel part of a family. Publicly criticising him and hauling him off early might not be the best plan, but maybe it will light a fire under him. We'll see
Dont blame him for not persisting with Williams if thats the case
I know plenty dont but I quite like how Bowyer gives us a clear stance on why players arent being picked
I agree about the straight talking, but disagree with Bowyer's criticism. It's easy for me because my neck isn't in the line, but I would pick Williams as much and as often as I could. He is a class above anything else we have. If goals and assists were the only factor Marcus Maddison would have 100 England caps
Tough on Jonny, not sure if it's the right choice. We've seen that Jonny's confidence can easily be knocked and he likes to feel part of a family. Publicly criticising him and hauling him off early might not be the best plan, but maybe it will light a fire under him. We'll see
Bowyer tends to work on the principle of tough love. He'll tell it as it is, then put his arm around the player and pick him up.
He's no doubt spent a lot of time 1 to 1 with Johnny on the training pitches - and just a bit frustrated, because he believes Williams is capable of improving that side of his game.
Tough on Jonny, not sure if it's the right choice. We've seen that Jonny's confidence can easily be knocked and he likes to feel part of a family. Publicly criticising him and hauling him off early might not be the best plan, but maybe it will light a fire under him. We'll see
Hard to argue with Bowyer though.
He constantly gets talked up as being a championship player. He plays in a position where he should be getting 10-15 goals a season. It's been the story of his career. Terrifies defenders to death with absolutely zero end product.
Dont blame him for not persisting with Williams if thats the case
I know plenty dont but I quite like how Bowyer gives us a clear stance on why players arent being picked
I agree about the straight talking, but disagree with Bowyer's criticism. It's easy for me because my neck isn't in the line, but I would pick Williams as much and as often as I could. He is a class above anything else we have. If goals and assists were the only factor Marcus Maddison would have 100 England caps
This has been my consistent thought - Williams is too good to be on the bench in league 1. Still, in Bowyer we trust.
If Williams is a Championship player so am I. He did nothing tonight against an U21 team. Would people stop saying he is too good for League one. He isn't. He is a nice man though.
Be interested to hear @Sage opinion around this as I know his opinion is valued, and he is a big JW fan, and always talks highly of him.
I've mentioned before that I don't necessarily rate him as highly, and have a neutral friend who have come to watch games with me and notes that he just seems to spend most of his time on the floor.
I think there's clearly talent there, especially with the ball at his feet. And when he has had a decent run of games - like at the beginning of last season - he did look dangerous.
However if he is not playing full games, or lots of minutes (which he rarely has for Charlton), then at the moment I'm really struggling to see what he adds to the squad.
After lockdown I know it was muted that he had not been doing the required running to get himself in a position to play full games. However now, either Bowyer just does not rate him, or the team is just not good enough as a whole so everyone is suffering, because on paper people would argue he should be running games for us in this league.
Similar to how you see the best of Lyle Taylor when he's got an opposition crowd giving him stick, I wonder if Williams is someone who has particularly missed having the crowd supporting him when he's on the pitch. Also don't think we play him high enough, and noticeable that in the absence of a box to box sort of midfielder like Gallagher or Aribo, he's doing most of his work in the middle of the park where he's ineffective
Really like Williams as a person and as a footballer.
But Bowyer isn't wrong is he, in a squad made up of youngsters and players (at times) not up to the level. You would hope Williams would be the go to for raising play on the pitch, scoring a few goals, making magic happen more often than not. We can't afford passengers.
Similar to how you see the best of Lyle Taylor when he's got an opposition crowd giving him stick, I wonder if Williams is someone who has particularly missed having the crowd supporting him when he's on the pitch. Also don't think we play him high enough, and noticeable that in the absence of a box to box sort of midfielder like Gallagher or Aribo, he's doing most of his work in the middle of the park where he's ineffective
Putting my Football Manager hat on, I would certainly like seeing something similar. And do feel like LB has been a little tentative last few games - maybe because of the defense. So perhaps with the players currently available:
Amos Deji Barker Famewo Doughty Pratley Watson Levitt Williams Bonne Washington
Or
Amos Deji Barker Famwo Lapslie Doughty Pratley Levitt Williams Bonne Washington
Or
Amos Deji Barker Famewo Purrington Pratley Levitt Oztumer Williams Doughty Washington
I know its a lot to ask of young Kyle Barker, and obviously a terrible decision to stick him in the CB role. But I just think Deji is that inconsistent there that he would be better on the right and KB won't do any worse.
With those formations I feel it gives licence for JW do be creative and try and get goals or assists for us. I like Levitt deeper as I think he could be the guy to link defence to attack, and those formations allow Pratley to do what he does best which is break up play.
I think the one thing that all the stats mentioned about him miss is that he was our most fouled player last season. The way he plays does draw a lot of fouls and given where he plays will usually lead to a free kick in a good position. That said he should still be assisting more and definitely chipping in with some goals.
It's not the first time Bowyer has said this about him and his performances do seem to pick up a bit afterwards so I trust Bowyer in what he's doing but I just feel he along with most of us are just getting more frustrated.
Comments
There was the most poignant vignette at the final whistle of the Leeds game. All of our players sank to the turf, head in hands, all spent and upset by defeat. And by the importance of that last game.
Yet – No-one on Earth knew the killer blow. When the news of Barnsley’s late winner came through on the phone, one of our coaches walked over to Williams, still sitting on the ground, and whispered the result in his ear.
That look of crushing disappointment - Exactly as we feel in the Covered End. Williams turned away from his coach with an expression of utter horror, sadness and disbelief.
Which is precisely why Williams is important to Charlton and our rabble of trainees and misfits. Unlike most of our squad, he was a winner last season - and at Wembley, where he turned the game around.
He has signed the contract and pledged allegiance. Jonny Williams knows how to get forward: pushing and probing on the edge of the box.
I hope this is being worked on by the coaches.
I know plenty dont but I quite like how Bowyer gives us a clear stance on why players arent being picked
He'll tell it as it is, then put his arm around the player and pick him up.
He's no doubt spent a lot of time 1 to 1 with Johnny on the training pitches - and just a bit frustrated, because he believes Williams is capable of improving that side of his game.
He'll know Johnny better than we do.
He constantly gets talked up as being a championship player. He plays in a position where he should be getting 10-15 goals a season. It's been the story of his career. Terrifies defenders to death with absolutely zero end product.
I've mentioned before that I don't necessarily rate him as highly, and have a neutral friend who have come to watch games with me and notes that he just seems to spend most of his time on the floor.
I think there's clearly talent there, especially with the ball at his feet. And when he has had a decent run of games - like at the beginning of last season - he did look dangerous.
However if he is not playing full games, or lots of minutes (which he rarely has for Charlton), then at the moment I'm really struggling to see what he adds to the squad.
After lockdown I know it was muted that he had not been doing the required running to get himself in a position to play full games. However now, either Bowyer just does not rate him, or the team is just not good enough as a whole so everyone is suffering, because on paper people would argue he should be running games for us in this league.
But Bowyer isn't wrong is he, in a squad made up of youngsters and players (at times) not up to the level. You would hope Williams would be the go to for raising play on the pitch, scoring a few goals, making magic happen more often than not. We can't afford passengers.
Hope he finds that magic soon.
Amos
Deji Barker Famewo Doughty
Pratley
Watson Levitt
Williams
Bonne Washington
Or
Amos
Deji Barker Famwo
Lapslie Doughty
Pratley Levitt
Williams
Bonne Washington
Or
Amos
Deji Barker Famewo Purrington
Pratley Levitt
Oztumer Williams Doughty
Washington
I know its a lot to ask of young Kyle Barker, and obviously a terrible decision to stick him in the CB role. But I just think Deji is that inconsistent there that he would be better on the right and KB won't do any worse.
With those formations I feel it gives licence for JW do be creative and try and get goals or assists for us. I like Levitt deeper as I think he could be the guy to link defence to attack, and those formations allow Pratley to do what he does best which is break up play.
It's not the first time Bowyer has said this about him and his performances do seem to pick up a bit afterwards so I trust Bowyer in what he's doing but I just feel he along with most of us are just getting more frustrated.
He wouldn't be the first sportsman whose career has gone downhill in such circumstances.
https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-boss-lee-bowyer-explains-why-jonny-williams-isnt-starting-games-at-the-moment/