We needed to do more in the transfer window. Maybe ESI didn’t have the money to force it but fact is we had a month to basically try and buy our way out of trouble as the squad we have is gonna be close to the wire.
As I say if they didn’t have the money they didn’t have the money - but I wanted to see us get a massive injection of quality and we didn’t do enough
ESI/Southall needs to answer a few questions from the floor at the hopeful Bromley branch meeting in March/April.
Yes, Stoke have better players than us, and yes they have a very good home record.
Neither of which are excuses for us not even having a decent spell in the game. We looked absolutely toothless.
And that stadium is an absolute nightmare to get to and from.
The worst away day in the league. No town to speak of, miles away from the station, forced to drink in 1/2 shit bars and shepherded and bussed everywhere you went.
Yes, Stoke have better players than us, and yes they have a very good home record.
Neither of which are excuses for us not even having a decent spell in the game. We looked absolutely toothless.
And that stadium is an absolute nightmare to get to and from.
The worst away day in the league. No town to speak of, miles away from the station, forced to drink in 1/2 shit bars and shepherded and bussed everywhere you went.
Should have googled, then taxi to a pub from there.
Players looked knackered and and lacking in energy, it was a really flat performance, almost as if we’d already played the forest game already, how Lee changes it around to get something out of the forest game I don’t know, the team looked like they hadn’t played together before, and we got rinsed down the flanks time and time again, I really wish we had a strong defence!
Sounds like we were poor, personally would have Sarr starting as he is a goal threat, we haven't seen McGeady yet and Bonne hopefully isn't too far away (we miss him)
Forest will be tough but not impossible, we need to start picking up points away from home, next few weeks are going to be important, need to draw other teams into the scrap
Was at the game, after making it 1-1 just before HT I thought we would come out at the start of the 2nd half all guns blazing, but that 2nd half was a disgrace and we can’t just rely on our home form, I must admit I’m starting to get worried now after watching this performance and lets me honest last weeks wasn’t good either.
Forget the result. Worst away day in years. Stoke as a club need to have a look at themselves. First time I can say a ground i will never visit again , was like going back 30 years. More to follow when sobered up
Really enjoyed the noise we made on the train and tube coming home. Suspect Dillon was secretly cringing as we serenaded him on the tube, Our shake it up baby in Euston station was like a scene from Fame. Oh the stuff that happened this afternoon?...Nah
A very disappointing performance in which we were second best from start to finish.
We struggled to put more than a couple of passes together (save for sideways along the back) and we were, in truth, outclassed by a Stoke side whose players looked a cut above ours. Michael O’Neill has got them well organised and, when in possession, we ended up playing in front of them and creating next to nothing, other than Purrington’s very nice goal just before half time. A shot on the turn by Lyle Taylor, which went narrowly wide near the end, was our only other effort of note.
We looked vulnerable defensively, especially down the flanks, and Joe Allen and his colleagues totally dominated the game in midfield. They had far too much space to operate in and we didn’t seem able to get near them. Taylor and Green were left to feed on scraps and a diet of aimless long balls, which Stoke dealt with comfortably.
No Charlton player emerged with any real credit and we looked jaded. Chasing the ball around against able opponents is pretty draining and I suspect that Bowyer may try to introduce Field on Tuesday if he thinks he’s fit enough to start.
Stoke did play well and it’s a puzzle as to how they find themselves messing about at the wrong end of the table.
To compound a fairly miserable performance, the match seemed to be ridiculously over-policed, with a very large number of officers on duty. Attempts to herd Charlton supporters to the designated ‘away’ pub were a bit over the top and the message about remaining in the coach park wasn’t helpful for those who had come on the normal bus service. The Stoke stewards were, to be fair, very good - at least the ones near us.
Maybe the number of Old Bill reflect the fact that some of the locals can be a bit unpleasant but most of them seemed ok. The first pub we went to, The White Star, wasn’t too welcoming but the second, The Glebe, certainly was and it served up a mean ham, egg and chips - sadly, that and a couple of pints were to prove the highlight of the day.
After Forest’s win against Leeds tonight, let’s hope that our visit on Tuesday proves to be a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ from their perspective.
Don’t get too high from the victories and again don’t get too low from the defeats. With players coming back and new players to bed in, Bow is still trying to sort things out.
He will know that our midfield trio of Cullen, Pratley and Davis didn’t work today, but he won’t be panicking about it.
I would expect to see a different team and performance. We did well against Forest by attacking them so I expect that to be the case again.
3 points from our last two games is ok. And 3 points from our next two will be too.
I think today, the key player on the pitch was Joe Allen. He was a class apart and completely stopped us from creating attacks through the middle of the pitch.
We heard the story today about the pub being attacked when they played us earlier in the season - first I've heard. the comments on the Stoke thread very ironic. If the fan who thinks waving us off at the station is amusing I suspect his dinner repartee will be very dry. as for the thing that called us beige, that was the colour of the jumper one of the Stoke teletubbies at the station was wearing..beige. their support truly shite. Only Barnsley worse. They only know two songs, and can only manage em when they score.
Stoke pay us back with a 3-1 whipping in their favour but we won’t have the possession or shots that they had back in August . a big wake up call that this season is gonna go to the wire
As predicted and sadly the relegation battle I foresaw a long time ago even when sitting upper “mid table” has become a reality and I’m not sure we are equipped to deal with it. McGeady can be the key , someone who offers different from the norm . We are the worse team in the league over the last 18 games and there isn’t a sign of turning this sinking ship back just yet .
Great journey there, nice meal & drinks with our lot, great journey home.
It's the bit in between that was so disappointing.
We travelled more in hope than expectation....as we've done since Reading back in August. And I can accept defeat if the lads give their all, but any positives from today's performance were hard to find.
I'm not the best person to comment on the way Bow set them up today - I just say what I see & no-one looked comfortable out there this afternoon.
Whether it was due to the combination of players that started or whether they failed to carry out the gaffer's plan to counteract the strengths that the Potters seemed to have in spades - I can't honestly say.
But it wasn't working & it was crystal clear to me that changes should have been made earlier, maybe even at half time as the score at that point flattered our boys.
Now that we have a 90% fit squad of players, I wonder whether it's a case of having too many options at this moment in time, especially in midfield.....something we could never have imagined saying a matter of weeks ago.
A new challenge now faces Bow : perhaps a new mindset. What is his strongest starting eleven when facing specific opposition, taking into consideration their strengths & weaknesses ? And then, which players should make a difference in either attack or defence if required from the bench.
Simples ? Clearly not today.
Sadly, this is not a problem facing a manager with the whole season in front of him & time to "get it right".
It has to happen now.
Bow has faced & overcome numerous challenges since he took the reins at our club & there is no reason to doubt his ability to deal with this latest conundrum.
When we travel to Robin Hood territory on Tuesday, we'll hope that he will once again step up to the plate as we know he can by choosing a team to give our opponents a run for their money, and send the faithful home in a happier frame of mind.
And just as importantly, a sense of pride in those wearing the shirt.
Comments
It did not happen today.
Neither of which are excuses for us not even having a decent spell in the game. We looked absolutely toothless.
And that stadium is an absolute nightmare to get to and from.
For me today was far far worse
Forest will be tough but not impossible, we need to start picking up points away from home, next few weeks are going to be important, need to draw other teams into the scrap
- How many goals have we conceded with a through ball played inside the LB/LCB position and shot across Dills.
- The number of goals conceded within the early stages of the 2nd half and injury time could to our (league based) downfall.
- Starting 3/4 players back from mid term injury is not working.
Field hasnt played since October
For what its worth I think we'll see Field start in place of Pratley on Tuesday
Worst away day in years.
Stoke as a club need to have a look at themselves.
First time I can say a ground i will never visit again , was like going back 30 years.
More to follow when sobered up
His stats for the last 10 years.....
3 goals 🤣
Surprisingly he is 26????
He looks knackered in the warm up...
http://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/293630/police-presence
A very disappointing performance in which we were second best from start to finish.
We struggled to put more than a couple of passes together (save for sideways along the back) and we were, in truth, outclassed by a Stoke side whose players looked a cut above ours. Michael O’Neill has got them well organised and, when in possession, we ended up playing in front of them and creating next to nothing, other than Purrington’s very nice goal just before half time. A shot on the turn by Lyle Taylor, which went narrowly wide near the end, was our only other effort of note.
We looked vulnerable defensively, especially down the flanks, and Joe Allen and his colleagues totally dominated the game in midfield. They had far too much space to operate in and we didn’t seem able to get near them. Taylor and Green were left to feed on scraps and a diet of aimless long balls, which Stoke dealt with comfortably.
No Charlton player emerged with any real credit and we looked jaded. Chasing the ball around against able opponents is pretty draining and I suspect that Bowyer may try to introduce Field on Tuesday if he thinks he’s fit enough to start.
Stoke did play well and it’s a puzzle as to how they find themselves messing about at the wrong end of the table.
To compound a fairly miserable performance, the match seemed to be ridiculously over-policed, with a very large number of officers on duty. Attempts to herd Charlton supporters to the designated ‘away’ pub were a bit over the top and the message about remaining in the coach park wasn’t helpful for those who had come on the normal bus service. The Stoke stewards were, to be fair, very good - at least the ones near us.
Maybe the number of Old Bill reflect the fact that some of the locals can be a bit unpleasant but most of them seemed ok. The first pub we went to, The White Star, wasn’t too welcoming but the second, The Glebe, certainly was and it served up a mean ham, egg and chips - sadly, that and a couple of pints were to prove the highlight of the day.
After Forest’s win against Leeds tonight, let’s hope that our visit on Tuesday proves to be a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s Show’ from their perspective.
Don’t get too high from the victories and again don’t get too low from the defeats. With players coming back and new players to bed in, Bow is still trying to sort things out.
As predicted and sadly the relegation battle I foresaw a long time ago even when sitting upper “mid table”
has become a reality and I’m not sure we are equipped to deal with it.
McGeady can be the key , someone who offers different from the norm .
We are the worse team in the league over the last 18 games and there isn’t a sign of turning this sinking ship back just yet .
65% 13th-21st ..........................35% Relegation
Great journey there, nice meal & drinks with our lot, great journey home.
It's the bit in between that was so disappointing.
We travelled more in hope than expectation....as we've done since Reading back in August. And I can accept defeat if the lads give their all, but any positives from today's performance were hard to find.
I'm not the best person to comment on the way Bow set them up today - I just say what I see & no-one looked comfortable out there this afternoon.
Whether it was due to the combination of players that started or whether they failed to carry out the gaffer's plan to counteract the strengths that the Potters seemed to have in spades - I can't honestly say.
But it wasn't working & it was crystal clear to me that changes should have been made earlier, maybe even at half time as the score at that point flattered our boys.
Now that we have a 90% fit squad of players, I wonder whether it's a case of having too many options at this moment in time, especially in midfield.....something we could never have imagined saying a matter of weeks ago.
A new challenge now faces Bow : perhaps a new mindset. What is his strongest starting eleven when facing specific opposition, taking into consideration their strengths & weaknesses ? And then, which players should make a difference in either attack or defence if required from the bench.
Simples ? Clearly not today.
Sadly, this is not a problem facing a manager with the whole season in front of him & time to "get it right".
It has to happen now.
Bow has faced & overcome numerous challenges since he took the reins at our club & there is no reason to doubt his ability to deal with this latest conundrum.
When we travel to Robin Hood territory on Tuesday, we'll hope that he will once again step up to the plate as we know he can by choosing a team to give our opponents a run for their money, and send the faithful home in a happier frame of mind.
And just as importantly, a sense of pride in those wearing the shirt.