We are shite going forward, but we really aren't going to concede many, not seen a Charlton team set up to be so solid before... Not exciting, but it's effective. I loaded up on us to win the league between 28s and 22s with all intention of taking off a big chunk of it when odds came in, but I am now thinking I'll run the vast majority
Defensively i'm been quite impressed, but we seem to lack creativity in the middle of the park and a natural goal scorer,
But I don't see us getting thumped that often and if goals can come from around the team we're certainly heading towards the play off's.
Pratley has now taken over the mantle for me as my favourite player, just doesn't let you down, and as i've said from when he first came., very underrated. I'd hate at this level to be up against him.
Defensively i'm been quite impressed, but we seem to lack creativity in the middle of the park and a natural goal scorer,
But I don't see us getting thumped that often and if goals can come from around the team we're certainly heading towards the play off's.
Pratley has now taken over the mantle for me as my favourite player, just doesn't let you down, and as i've said from when he first came., very underrated. I'd hate at this level to be up against him.
On creativity in the middle Gilbey and Maddison could make a huge difference, and there's a lot more to come from Watson and Shinnie.
1) The sort of victory that really will ensure we finish in the top 6. Howling winds, lashing down with rain and a bumpy pitch don't lend themselves to good football so a fighting display was called for. And got.
2) But LB really should look at the weather forecast! Not starting with either Pratley or Watson in those conditions was strange.
3) Great to see there appeared to be a really good bond between the players already - evident on a number of occasions. Inniss and Famewo in particular already look to have established a great partnership.
4) I never understood the criticism aimed at Ben Amos by many at the start of the season. What short memories many must have if they couldn't remember he was rock solid in the season he was on loan. (And remember that save at Shrewsbury in the play off semi-final - outstanding). He was outstanding today - not only a couple of great saves but brilliant handling of crosses in really difficult conditions.
5) I totally accept you don't play at the "greatest club in the world" (copyright MUFC) and for your country at a young age without a huge amount of talent. But at the moment young Levitt looks completely lost - he was awful against Sunderland (still shudder at his free kick attempts) and no-where today. I hope he comes good but I see nothing to persuade me he offers a lot more than our own youngsters at the moment.
6) Paul Smyth reminds me of Paul Dickov - an annoying, irritating sort of player who bites your ankles. But I'm afraid he doesn't have Dickov's goalscoring ability and, as I said after he made his debut, I doubt he will score more than a handful of goals for us. And whilst obviously skilful, his lack of presence means he will get smashed about by the brutes most teams have at the back. If he is going to play, he is surely more use in wide midfield than up front.
7) And finally, well played the referee. As I understand that was his first game, I thought he handled the game really well. Carry on like that and hopefully he will move up the ranks quickly.
What a shit awful first half, cobblers spoiling and pretty rough house. Not quite niggly more out and out dirty.
Bogle impressed me, the defence were again superb. Innis is a Charlton hero in the making, a rock defensively and a menace offensively.
I really hope Alfie isn't badly injured, I will say it again, he is a proper footballer, we don't produce many intelligent footballers, I mean we produce good footballers but ones that need a bit of mentoring to understand not to go blood and thunder from the first minute. Alfie Doughty kept his full back occupied first half without really doing anything but occupying space. Second half he gets a run at their left back and has another league 1 left back on toast twice setting up one of the goals
Prattley the difference and a change that needed to be made, I'll say it now. I like the player Levitt is trying to be but he is not going to be helpful to us. I think once united release him he will end up somewhere like Rochdale and play 500 games for them being their hero but I don't think he is what we need, happy to be proven wrong though
Very very happy, those are games I'm used to us losing, we did not play the conditions well at all first half but nailed it second half. Awful game to watch but a fantastic result and a coupon buster for me.
1) The sort of victory that really will ensure we finish in the top 6. Howling winds, lashing down with rain and a bumpy pitch don't lend themselves to good football so a fighting display was called for. And got.
2) But LB really should look at the weather forecast! Not starting with either Pratley or Watson in those conditions was strange.
3) Great to see there appeared to be a really good bond between the players already - evident on a number of occasions. Inniss and Famewo in particular already look to have established a great partnership.
4) I never understood the criticism aimed at Ben Amos by many at the start of the season. What short memories many must have if they couldn't remember he was rock solid in the season he was on loan. (And remember that save at Shrewsbury in the play off semi-final - outstanding). He was outstanding today - not only a couple of great saves but brilliant handling of crosses in really difficult conditions.
5) I totally accept you don't play at the "greatest club in the world" (copyright MUFC) and for your country at a young age without a huge amount of talent. But at the moment young Levitt looks completely lost - he was awful against Sunderland (still shudder at his free kick attempts) and no-where today. I hope he comes good but I see nothing to persuade me he offers a lot more than our own youngsters at the moment.
6) Paul Smyth reminds me of Paul Dickov - an annoying, irritating sort of player who bites your ankles. But I'm afraid he doesn't have Dickov's goalscoring ability and, as I said after he made his debut, I doubt he will score more than a handful of goals for us. And whilst obviously skilful, his lack of presence means he will get smashed about by the brutes most teams have at the back. If he is going to play, he is surely more use in wide midfield than up front.
7) And finally, well played the referee. As I understand that was his first game, I thought he handled the game really well. Carry on like that and hopefully he will move up the ranks quickly.
Definitely agree on Levitt. You gotta feel sorry for one of our own Albie Morgan who can't get a game and we loan in Levitt. Hope that changes, don't see how Levitt looks better than either Morgan or even Vennings. Think it was a bad example today as was never going to be his sort of game but I don't see what he offers. Plays some decent 10 yard passes but can't dribble or tackle. Williams looked better defensively than him today.
Actually agree with your whole post, think it's accurate. Think Bowyer made one or two poor decisions with team selection but made the necessary changes which saw us home.
Just loved Alfie's old fashioned wing play that brought our 2nd goal.
Credit to Amos for aiming his dropkick right into the path of Doughty - but watch Alfie with the only intent of charging to the goal line, before squaring back into the box ........ all the defenders facing towards their own goal, so difficult to defend.
The hapless defender couldn't do anything but sweep the ball into his own net. If he'd let it go, there was Williams and Smith running in behind him.
One of Pratley or Watson should always start in my opinion.
Agree, but I think we look too pedestrian with both of them in the team. I can see Pratley keeping Watson out of the starting eleven because, however good Watson is, Pratley is making himself a must pick. Probably, the reality is that they'll be rotated in that role shielding the back four.
Just loved Alfie's old fashioned wing play that brought our 2nd goal.
Credit to Amos for aiming his dropkick right into the path of Doughty - but watch Alfie with the only intent of charging to the goal line, before squaring back into the box ........ all the defenders facing towards their own goal, so difficult to defend.
The hapless defender couldn't do anything but sweep the ball into his own net. If he'd let it go, there was Williams and Smith running in behind him.
So what you’re saying is he should have let it go.... 😂
Looking at it, I’m not sure there was anyone there ready to tap it in! Great running by Alfie but not managing to pick a grey shirt out worked in his favour this time I think ha.
Any bitching about how unattractive the performance was is just noise. Northampton wanted to make it ugly and the weather conditions were terrible and made it almost impossible to play fluently. Northampton came out of the blocks pretty hard but by mid first half we were well on top and from then on we out worked and out fought them, particularly second half after Pratley came on to beef up the midfield. Even Williams and JFC, who are getting some stick in this thread, contributed to this with hard work and making tackles. We know only too well that you have to earn the right to play in this division, okay we weren’t able to really play today, largely due to the conditions imho, but we demonstrated that definitely have the qualities required to earn the right to play. On another day we will earn that right and then play well too.
And the demonstration of those battling qualities is massively massively encouraging. This is a brand new team, thrown together at the last minute, just three games old as a completed squad, yet they showed great fight and team spirit today. Many of the other teams we’ve had in League One in recent years would not have stood up to the conditions and physical, aggressive opponents like that. For this team to be doing it now is such a good sign for what could come, and means any more expansive attacking we may be able to play, as the team gels more, will be built on solid foundations.
The more I think about it today the more I actually think it was a really good performance and win, just that it was a different type of good performance to what you would usually think of when hearing that phrase.
Defence solid. Excellent back 4 and tremendous safe from Amos. Levitt, JFC and WIlliams was not the right midfield for this game. Early on Northampton played a high press and disconnected Charlton's defence from midfield. The windy conditions and bumpy pitch didn't help.
Lee Bowyer sorted that out the midfield with bringing on Prately for Levitt. Levitt is a good passer and looks like he will be a good player but has still lots to learn. The loan with Lee Bowyer, will do him a lot of good. Prately changed the game, scored a goal and connected the defence and midfield.
Hoping that Alfie Doughty is ok. It was a great run that led to the second. The team overall is looking much more solid. Its still early days but the side looks to have some real grit.
Scrappy game but its winning games like these that is a very good sign for the future.
Great result considering the start we had, it took a while for us to get going due to Northampton’s pressing. I said it wouldn’t last for 90 minutes and we’d need to be patient and we were and we took the chances we had.
Innis again the standout outfield player for me, old fashioned defending, no nonsense and he can play a bit. Good assist for the first goal and I suspect he will score and assist a few from set pieces this season. Amos again superb, picking up from his form a few years ago. Doughty on the break is electric, I pray it’s just cramp and nothing else.
Our defence is very sound but the rest pretty much clueless despite the effort.
Smyth looks like Simon Church but with a weaker shot and Bogle like a slower version of Magennis if if that's possible. If either of them score more than five goals this season it will be a miracle.
Pretty much no midfield until Pratley appeared.
No chances created and two goals.
Don't be deceived by the score. That was bang average league 1 rubbish but we won.
"The change in the second half with Prattley in the midfield re-energised our attack and we became more fluid despite the worsening conditions."
No, we didn't. This is the fakest of news. The entire game was a truly dire shitfest played in gale-force winds against a team of brutes. We created even less passing play in the second half. The impact Pratley had was to offer us another big lad to stick in the box for a set-piece, and he duly Brexited one in from a decent knockdown and a Bogle random-ball-direction-generator. The actual game was a continuum of horror, and I'm very glad we came out on top, because fuck me, if we hadn't won that, I'd be a little glum right now. Glummer than I am. Which, given my various pronouncements on the match thread, is not as glum as I should be
Ryan Inniss changed the game. He was our X-factor in both boxes. He has The Force
Unless you comprehend Pratley's contribution to that turnaround you will never understand him and you will never understand football. Quit your adolescent esoteric hero worship figures and learn to love Pratters
We need points go get out this ugly league. So much so, I don't think it's worth summarising each game with more than a paragraph unless we aren't improving or picking up points.
About 8 hours since full time and I’ve still got that warm glowing feeling that only 3 points well earned can give you. It’s been a long while since I’ve felt it. Certainly over a year. Things weren’t great under Roland but I could still enjoy a win now and then because I at least didn’t fear for the immediate existence of the club. For a while now though, very positive result or performance has been over shadowed by bigger picture issues, be that ownership or relegation. Today though, I do t have a care on the world and can just enjoy it. It’s been too long.
Thought that Northampton might have been given a first half penalty. In terrible conditions it was a great result. Not many mentions of Famewo but he seems to have produced a series of 7/10 performances every game. Plays like quite an experienced guy. Much as I am trying not to get carried away I like that we have in Innes a monster stopper centre half, easy to like this bloke even when he brought a great save out of Amos when he kicked away Innes attempt at a chested own goal following his best save! Incidentally I called Pratley's goal as soon as the corner was awarded, so actually the three points are down to me (I can produce a witness!). The own goal had shades of Charlie Barker. We are still a work in progress, for Lee and JJ it must feel a bit like contemplating one of those picn 'n mix sweet stalls. If we can win on Tuesday then a draw at Portsmouth might be allowable!
The difference between league one and the championship is huge. I am having trouble getting excited about games. Shitty weather and a shitty ground today. Won’t watch too many away games this year At 10 quid a pop but 3 points is 3 points.
Comments
Bowyer will have learned from that.
But I don't see us getting thumped that often and if goals can come from around the team we're certainly heading towards the play off's.
Pratley has now taken over the mantle for me as my favourite player, just doesn't let you down, and as i've said from when he first came., very underrated. I'd hate at this level to be up against him.
1) The sort of victory that really will ensure we finish in the top 6. Howling winds, lashing down with rain and a bumpy pitch don't lend themselves to good football so a fighting display was called for. And got.
2) But LB really should look at the weather forecast! Not starting with either Pratley or Watson in those conditions was strange.
3) Great to see there appeared to be a really good bond between the players already - evident on a number of occasions. Inniss and Famewo in particular already look to have established a great partnership.
4) I never understood the criticism aimed at Ben Amos by many at the start of the season. What short memories many must have if they couldn't remember he was rock solid in the season he was on loan. (And remember that save at Shrewsbury in the play off semi-final - outstanding). He was outstanding today - not only a couple of great saves but brilliant handling of crosses in really difficult conditions.
5) I totally accept you don't play at the "greatest club in the world" (copyright MUFC) and for your country at a young age without a huge amount of talent. But at the moment young Levitt looks completely lost - he was awful against Sunderland (still shudder at his free kick attempts) and no-where today. I hope he comes good but I see nothing to persuade me he offers a lot more than our own youngsters at the moment.
6) Paul Smyth reminds me of Paul Dickov - an annoying, irritating sort of player who bites your ankles. But I'm afraid he doesn't have Dickov's goalscoring ability and, as I said after he made his debut, I doubt he will score more than a handful of goals for us. And whilst obviously skilful, his lack of presence means he will get smashed about by the brutes most teams have at the back. If he is going to play, he is surely more use in wide midfield than up front.
7) And finally, well played the referee. As I understand that was his first game, I thought he handled the game really well. Carry on like that and hopefully he will move up the ranks quickly.
Bogle impressed me, the defence were again superb. Innis is a Charlton hero in the making, a rock defensively and a menace offensively.
I really hope Alfie isn't badly injured, I will say it again, he is a proper footballer, we don't produce many intelligent footballers, I mean we produce good footballers but ones that need a bit of mentoring to understand not to go blood and thunder from the first minute. Alfie Doughty kept his full back occupied first half without really doing anything but occupying space. Second half he gets a run at their left back and has another league 1 left back on toast twice setting up one of the goals
Prattley the difference and a change that needed to be made, I'll say it now. I like the player Levitt is trying to be but he is not going to be helpful to us. I think once united release him he will end up somewhere like Rochdale and play 500 games for them being their hero but I don't think he is what we need, happy to be proven wrong though
Very very happy, those are games I'm used to us losing, we did not play the conditions well at all first half but nailed it second half. Awful game to watch but a fantastic result and a coupon buster for me.
Actually agree with your whole post, think it's accurate. Think Bowyer made one or two poor decisions with team selection but made the necessary changes which saw us home.
And the demonstration of those battling qualities is massively massively encouraging. This is a brand new team, thrown together at the last minute, just three games old as a completed squad, yet they showed great fight and team spirit today. Many of the other teams we’ve had in League One in recent years would not have stood up to the conditions and physical, aggressive opponents like that. For this team to be doing it now is such a good sign for what could come, and means any more expansive attacking we may be able to play, as the team gels more, will be built on solid foundations.
Lee Bowyer sorted that out the midfield with bringing on Prately for Levitt. Levitt is a good passer and looks like he will be a good player but has still lots to learn. The loan with Lee Bowyer, will do him a lot of good. Prately changed the game, scored a goal and connected the defence and midfield.
Hoping that Alfie Doughty is ok. It was a great run that led to the second. The team overall is looking much more solid. Its still early days but the side looks to have some real grit.
Scrappy game but its winning games like these that is a very good sign for the future.
Innis again the standout outfield player for me, old fashioned defending, no nonsense and he can play a bit. Good assist for the first goal and I suspect he will score and assist a few from set pieces this season. Amos again superb, picking up from his form a few years ago. Doughty on the break is electric, I pray it’s just cramp and nothing else.
Our defence is very sound but the rest pretty much clueless despite the effort.
Smyth looks like Simon Church but with a weaker shot and Bogle like a slower version of Magennis if if that's possible. If either of them score more than five goals this season it will be a miracle.
Pretty much no midfield until Pratley appeared.
No chances created and two goals.
Don't be deceived by the score. That was bang average league 1 rubbish but we won.
Quit your adolescent esoteric hero worship figures and learn to love Pratters
I suspect Bows has a better insight of Robbo's one-dimensional outlook
In terrible conditions it was a great result.
Not many mentions of Famewo but he seems to have produced a series of 7/10 performances every game. Plays like quite an experienced guy.
Much as I am trying not to get carried away I like that we have in Innes a monster stopper centre half, easy to like this bloke even when he brought a great save out of Amos when he kicked away Innes attempt at a chested own goal following his best save!
Incidentally I called Pratley's goal as soon as the corner was awarded, so actually the three points are down to me (I can produce a witness!).
The own goal had shades of Charlie Barker.
We are still a work in progress, for Lee and JJ it must feel a bit like contemplating one of those picn 'n mix sweet stalls.
If we can win on Tuesday then a draw at Portsmouth might be allowable!