Great result and I actually really enjoyed the performances. The CB's were absolutely superb, Inniss will be a fans favourites although I can see a few mistakes in him that I can't see in Famewo.
The midfield isn't the most mobile although Watson was better tonight. I think Shinnie will improve as the team gels because he tries to make things happen. Doughty put in a decent shift aswell as some good crosses.
Big positive was the LB, what a debut that was. Looked assured and decent going forward. I think he was quite fortunate in coming up against their winger because that's who he will be good against. His frailty might be when they have a biggish winger and target him aerally, but then he looked good in the air for his height anyway.
Happy for Chuks and hope he kicks on. Washington ran around a lot but didn't form any kind of partnership with Bogle, that's to be expected at this stage.
A bit of a "paper over the cracks" result. Great to get the 3 points but wasn't perfect. Hopefully Bowyer can get some faith back and take the front foot approach. The first real decent attacking move and goal in plus 80 mins when most of the first half you have a man advantage isn't great.
Pros: Maatsen sounds like this season's Jay Da'silva Aneke scoring The Inness and Famewo partnership sounds good and they compliment each other well.
Cons: Watson and Pratley shouldn't start together, too pedestrian. One or the other with JFC should be solid enough with our improving defence. The safety first approach Williams - not used.
Williams is a confidence player and I imagine the last two games would not have helped him at all. Bowyer criticises his fitness and lack of goals post match, he goes away on int duty, starts one and plays 90+ mins over two games and scores. He's on a high and comes back to life on the bench. Bowyer says he has to improve but then doesn't give him the chance too by either playing him out of position or not playing him at all!
Honestly, don't think he'll be here end of Jan. Shinnie is preferred and with Gilbey coming back that's two of the starting CM in the new 433 and the CM CAM in the diamond.
So many positives. Maatsen looks like the kid you had at school that was miles better than everyone else and was almost taking the piss.
We are gonna keep lots of clean sheets this year with the likes of Amos, Gunter, Inniss, Famewo, Pearce etc to choose from. Drop one of Watson / Pratley (on rotation as they pick up suspensions) in front of them...Proper solid old school defenders.
Maddison and Gilbey to come in too..... midfield is strong.
I will say this - if we had a BWP or Taylor in this team I’d say it would be a foregone conclusion for automatic promotion.
Agreed, problem is we don't. I'm still hoping that there's a championship striker out there that was holding out for Championship wages now willing to accept a cap wage.
A crucial win, BUT it could easily have been a missed opportunity, considering we were against average opposition reduced to 10 men in the 1st half. The negative starting 11 with 2 defensive midfielders might make sense if you have flying full backs, but we didn't, so we made it really easy for Blackpool until our sending off, as we had no creativity in midfield, and nobody to play the clever short passes like a Williams.
All out subs improved things, Maatsen looks a class player at both ends of the pitch, Chuks is really playing well at the moment while Smyth was more effective than Washington who was pretty poor really.
We have a great CB partnership, we really don't need 2 aging defensive midfielders in front of them, especially against an average side like Blackpool, especially when we have a fresh Williams and Levitt available.
And no I don't accept the "we won, what are you moaning about" argument. Many times I've praised the team and tactics when we've lost, you can separate out the result from the performance and tactics.
Very pleased with that result - we always seem to struggle against 10 men - Purrington obviously thought we needed to even things up to give us a better chance. Although, interestingly, I hardly noticed Hamilton after he went off.
The back 5 (including Amos and Maatsen) looked very solid. Amos looks very assured. Famewo and Inniss look excellent together already. I love the fact that we have a defender that is so no-nonsense in Inniss - he just gets it clear. Famewo looks very comfortable and never panics. Gunter just looks solid and made some good runs and connections with Doughty down the right. Maatsen is lightning quick, can pick a great pass and what a cross that lad has got on him. We won'be be seeing much of Purrington if he carries on like that. Another gem from the Chelsea production line.
Doughty looked very bright early on down the right and is looking much more assured taking the ball past players and then managing to ping a good ball across.
Watson, I know some are still not happy with him but I thought he looked much better tonight, played some very good passes at times and put in a superb cross in the first half. Shame he'll be banned after the next match but the evergreen Pratley will be ready to step in and ably take his place.
Shinnie - can't say I really noticed him apart from a few decent balls. He is still finding his feet.
Bogle - Showed glimpses of a decent player - shame he got in the way of what would have been a great goal for Inniss. Think he'll get a few this season.
Washington - was he on the pitch for most of the game?
Subs:
Already talked about Maatsen but I am very excited about seeing him develop with us.
Aneke - big man did it again and finally got the goal his work rate has deserved. Keep him fit and he will get his 10+ goals easily.
Smyth - I had my doubts but I really like the look of the little man. Quickly quick feet and decision making, a decent throw and excellent work rate.
Who'd have thought we could pull off 2 1-0 wins on the trot? We didn't look like we would concede if we had played all night.
The Sandgaard era has started rather nicely hasn't it - so nice to finish a match with a positive glow and then not think "oh shite, we've still got that nob in charge (ESI 1, 2, Duchatelet)"
If Williams wasn't involved on Saturday because he had come back from the international break with a bit of a knock, that wasn't something that was likely to have improved between Saturday and now. Would be surprised if there had been any sort of proper training session between Saturday and today considering the team likely spent most of yesterday travelling. Fully expecting him to be involved against Northampton, and I imagine he won't have forgotten that he scored for Wales recently either
If Williams wasn't involved on Saturday because he had come back from the international break with a bit of a knock, that wasn't something that was likely to have improved between Saturday and now. Would be surprised if there had been any sort of proper training session between Saturday and today considering the team likely spent most of yesterday travelling. Fully expecting him to be involved against Northampton, and I imagine he won't have forgotten that he scored for Wales recently either
He was on the bench for both matches though, which doesn't suggest it was that bad. It's not as if he had to be on the bench tonight, as Morgan was left out completely
Well, I can't think of another word in the English language with a y that gets pronounced like the i in Smith, but still everyone will do so anyway.
It should be Smyth pronounced like sky, sly, sty, scythe, shy but it's probably the player who says it's pronounced otherwise.
Some people can't even spell their own name correctly.
You sound like the people who tell me my name is Caylum not Callum.
Not at all.
It's just that I've taught English pronunciation. There are words with a y that are pronounced otherwise. Examples:
Syringe Busy You
I don't think that it ever has the sound of 'ni' as in 'The Knights that say ni' From anyone who claims that Smyth is pronounced like Smith I demand a shrubbery.
If Williams wasn't involved on Saturday because he had come back from the international break with a bit of a knock, that wasn't something that was likely to have improved between Saturday and now. Would be surprised if there had been any sort of proper training session between Saturday and today considering the team likely spent most of yesterday travelling. Fully expecting him to be involved against Northampton, and I imagine he won't have forgotten that he scored for Wales recently either
He was on the bench for both matches though, which doesn't suggest it was that bad. It's not as if he had to be on the bench tonight, as Morgan was left out completely
I suspect he was there for a roll of the dice if we were losing and needed to try and turn the game around
I understand our frustration about the negativity of playing Pratley and Watson together, I get that we want to go all out attack and take each game to the opposition. That must be our aim and ultimately we may get there,
For now it seems to me that Bowyer is getting us into good habits as a team. Defend properly, know your own job, do what you’re told. When we have mastered that we then look at how we move forward. Literally. And let’s get it right and pick up points rather than take too many chances and concede. Successful teams are built on a decent defence and it would appear that the back four that finished the game today is put best unit. No goals conceded in three games is a solid foundation.
I expect to see us more expansive as the season progresses. Gilbert and Maddison will be starters I expect. We have enough in reserve a creative wise. And in Chucks maybe a finisher.
Williams is the conundrum. Seems similar to Southgate and Grealish in that Bowyer doesn’t seem convinced that he can give him what he wants in this system. Again time will tell.
The ownership being sorted is still the biggest thing for me by a long way. What happens on the pitch is a bonus for now, given where we were a few months ago.
I don’t always agree with Bowyer’s decisions. But he has proven to be his own man and knows the expectation that is on him now. He has our trust to develop this squad into what he wants them to be. Remember he pursued Gunter as he fits into the attacking style Bowyer says he wants to play. It may take a while to get there but I think we will and that the play offs beckon.
As you say maybe it's a case of getting the team into good habits + with "Gilbert" Gilbey :-) & Maddison both out maybe it's a case of keeping a strong spine with huge experience even if they don't really fit together. Once the injured return I'm sure that we'll see a much different midfield. The main concern as always is goalscoring, hopefully we can pick up an out of contract striker who can stick it in the net on a regular basis.
Comments
The midfield isn't the most mobile although Watson was better tonight. I think Shinnie will improve as the team gels because he tries to make things happen. Doughty put in a decent shift aswell as some good crosses.
Big positive was the LB, what a debut that was. Looked assured and decent going forward. I think he was quite fortunate in coming up against their winger because that's who he will be good against. His frailty might be when they have a biggish winger and target him aerally, but then he looked good in the air for his height anyway.
Happy for Chuks and hope he kicks on. Washington ran around a lot but didn't form any kind of partnership with Bogle, that's to be expected at this stage.
All in all, very happy.
They were dangerous on the break but didnt really create anything, we had a lot of the ball but likewise didnt create anything
Like Leuth says, had they dealt with that initial cross then they'd have got the draw which wouldnt have been undeserved
Pros:
Maatsen sounds like this season's Jay Da'silva
Aneke scoring
The Inness and Famewo partnership sounds good and they compliment each other well.
Cons:
Watson and Pratley shouldn't start together, too pedestrian. One or the other with JFC should be solid enough with our improving defence.
The safety first approach
Williams - not used.
Williams is a confidence player and I imagine the last two games would not have helped him at all. Bowyer criticises his fitness and lack of goals post match, he goes away on int duty, starts one and plays 90+ mins over two games and scores. He's on a high and comes back to life on the bench.
Bowyer says he has to improve but then doesn't give him the chance too by either playing him out of position or not playing him at all!
Honestly, don't think he'll be here end of Jan. Shinnie is preferred and with Gilbey coming back that's two of the starting CM in the new 433 and the CM CAM in the diamond.
Good to get the 3points and a clean sheet.
All out subs improved things, Maatsen looks a class player at both ends of the pitch, Chuks is really playing well at the moment while Smyth was more effective than Washington who was pretty poor really.
We have a great CB partnership, we really don't need 2 aging defensive midfielders in front of them, especially against an average side like Blackpool, especially when we have a fresh Williams and Levitt available.
And no I don't accept the "we won, what are you moaning about" argument. Many times I've praised the team and tactics when we've lost, you can separate out the result from the performance and tactics.
The back 5 (including Amos and Maatsen) looked very solid. Amos looks very assured. Famewo and Inniss look excellent together already. I love the fact that we have a defender that is so no-nonsense in Inniss - he just gets it clear. Famewo looks very comfortable and never panics. Gunter just looks solid and made some good runs and connections with Doughty down the right. Maatsen is lightning quick, can pick a great pass and what a cross that lad has got on him. We won'be be seeing much of Purrington if he carries on like that. Another gem from the Chelsea production line.
Doughty looked very bright early on down the right and is looking much more assured taking the ball past players and then managing to ping a good ball across.
Watson, I know some are still not happy with him but I thought he looked much better tonight, played some very good passes at times and put in a superb cross in the first half. Shame he'll be banned after the next match but the evergreen Pratley will be ready to step in and ably take his place.
Shinnie - can't say I really noticed him apart from a few decent balls. He is still finding his feet.
Bogle - Showed glimpses of a decent player - shame he got in the way of what would have been a great goal for Inniss. Think he'll get a few this season.
Washington - was he on the pitch for most of the game?
Subs:
Already talked about Maatsen but I am very excited about seeing him develop with us.
Aneke - big man did it again and finally got the goal his work rate has deserved. Keep him fit and he will get his 10+ goals easily.
Smyth - I had my doubts but I really like the look of the little man. Quickly quick feet and decision making, a decent throw and excellent work rate.
Who'd have thought we could pull off 2 1-0 wins on the trot? We didn't look like we would concede if we had played all night.
The Sandgaard era has started rather nicely hasn't it - so nice to finish a match with a positive glow and then not think "oh shite, we've still got that nob in charge (ESI 1, 2, Duchatelet)"
Bring on Saturday!
Viewfinder has handed out a couple of 7s! To Inniss and Chuks! VIEWFINDER LIKES SOME CHARLTON PLAYERS AGAIN
Innis - impressive
Washington - missing for most of the game.
That said I used to know someone whose surname was Smyth and she was Irish and pronounced it Smythe
It's just that I've taught English pronunciation. There are words with a y that are pronounced otherwise. Examples:
Syringe
Busy
You
I don't think that it ever has the sound of 'ni' as in 'The Knights that say ni'
From anyone who claims that Smyth is pronounced like Smith I demand a shrubbery.
We'll murder them 1-0.