If we are moving towards Pratley and Watson in midfield we have no chance of promotion. One by all means but not both. We need to play quicker than teams can handle and pick the players that can achieve that.
If we are moving towards Pratley and Watson in midfield we have no chance of promotion. One by all means but not both. We need to play quicker than teams can handle and pick the players that can achieve that.
I never said we should. But what you cannot dispute is that we were difficult to beat when they did play together. Teams might have worked it out in time but we weren’t conceding and were winning games.
If we are moving towards Pratley and Watson in midfield we have no chance of promotion. One by all means but not both. We need to play quicker than teams can handle and pick the players that can achieve that.
I never said we should. But what you cannot dispute is that we were difficult to beat when they did play together. Teams might have worked it out in time but we weren’t conceding and were winning games.
We were difficult to beat because our centre halves were an excellent pairing. Inniss won everything and did so in both boxes and Famewo complemented him well.
If we are moving towards Pratley and Watson in midfield we have no chance of promotion. One by all means but not both. We need to play quicker than teams can handle and pick the players that can achieve that.
I never said we should. But what you cannot dispute is that we were difficult to beat when they did play together. Teams might have worked it out in time but we weren’t conceding and were winning games.
We were difficult to beat because our centre halves were an excellent pairing. Inniss won everything and did so in both boxes and Famewo complemented him well.
Don't think it was just that. Amos, Gunter and Maatsen were all better with those two aswell. That back 5 were building a strong platform. Pratley and Watson did their jobs too, we were difficult to break down and that quite often led to the opposition resulting to long balls. Which played into the hands of Inniss particularly.
They did their jobs and I think it is good to play one of them appropriate to the opponents but to give them credit for the run is re-writing history IMO.
They did their jobs and I think it is good to play one of them appropriate to the opponents but to give them credit for the run is re-writing history IMO.
I don't think it is. I think saying our run was because of the two CB's is unfair on the team. I haven't said Pratley or Watson was the reason for the run, I'm saying they played their part. Two CB's in great form can't alone be responsible for that run of form.
Another frustrating afternoon of football. I’m more annoyed with Bowyer’s comment about not getting another defender that the performance. Two stupid mistakes for the goals and missing loads of chances down the other end.
Going to be a wasted season.
I think we should remember how this season started in terms of club security. That's no excuses for some recent defensive lapses, but this is a project, and this is the first season of it. Championship in 2 seasons, Prem 2 seasons after that... that's fine. We're showing signs of a squad coming together, despite poor results. Afraid we have to be patient...
Not saying some of Lee's positioning decisions haven't been weird, or that a couple of the summer signings didn't miss the mark, but we need stability, we need our full squad. We need to build a team. They're getting better.
If this is the start of a long term project why are we, almost exclusively, signing 27+ year olds and short term loans?
Gunter, Watson, Maddison etc were signed (and paid accordingly) to get us out this league this season. The youngest players we have signed permanently are Gilbey and Innis, both about 25.
Throw in Schwartz, Bogle and Matthews as well. Hardly building for the future, plus pushing us nearer next seasons cap.
We are highly unlikely to be able to of signed Maatsen, Millar, Famewo or even Levitt on perms anytime soon even with Thomas as owner. That leaves Smyth (probably not good enough) or Shinnie (the wrong side of 30).
Thats not what you do at the start of a project, that's what you do when you gamble on red. Make no mistake next year can't be a "Powell style" rebuild because we simply don't have the wiggle room in the wage cap.
Because when they were signed it wasn't the start of a long-term project!! We were on our way to oblivion. The summer signings were therefore what we could get. This window is the first of the project, and if we have signed a couple of loans, it's because they improve the squad.
They did their jobs and I think it is good to play one of them appropriate to the opponents but to give them credit for the run is re-writing history IMO.
I don't think it is. I think saying our run was because of the two CB's is unfair on the team. I haven't said Pratley or Watson was the reason for the run, I'm saying they played their part. Two CB's in great form can't alone be responsible for that run of form.
I understand what you are saying. I think playing Pratley and Watson removed some of our attacking possibilities which was less of an issue when we were strong defensively. I appreciate they may have contributed in some way to the team's defensive qualities but when we lost Inniss and Famewo they became an issue. Not individually but collectively.
They did their jobs and I think it is good to play one of them appropriate to the opponents but to give them credit for the run is re-writing history IMO.
I don't think it is. I think saying our run was because of the two CB's is unfair on the team. I haven't said Pratley or Watson was the reason for the run, I'm saying they played their part. Two CB's in great form can't alone be responsible for that run of form.
I understand what you are saying. I think playing Pratley and Watson removed some of our attacking possibilities which was less of an issue when we were strong defensively. I appreciate they may have contributed in some way to the team's defensive qualities but when we lost Inniss and Famewo they became an issue. Not individually but collectively.
I agree. I don’t really want Pratley and Watson in midfield together, not with the options we now have. We definitely need those two back and picking up where they left off to stand any chance of mounting another great run we need to finish top 6.
He's not getting it wrong in the selection anymore, but clearly something is wrong with the coaching. Every player we've got has regressed this season, and our defence is getting worse and wors
I hate the fact that some Charlton fans think we we are somehow entitled to promotion. That drawing with Swindon is ‘below’ us (it’s frustrating but not terminal). This season was always going to be tough. Relegated in the last minute, ownership chaos, half the squad left (including most of our quality players), short pre season, under embargo for some of the transfer window, late signings under the wage cap, patched up the defence with 2 good centre halves (then both get long term injuries), best player (Doughty) out etc etc. Of course we all want promotion, of course we are not defending well enough, of course we are not taking our chances. But we need to give Bowyer a proper summer window, a full pre season and a proper chance to rebuild. We are on a desperately bad run of form, but sacking Bowyer is not the answer. Let’s give the guy a break and see what he can do. Lenny Lawrence, Alan Curbishley and Chris Powell all had bad runs and ultimately had successful periods because they got the club and got the fans. I am convinced Bowyer is the same... we’ve dropped to this league 3 times in recent history and it took 3 seasons each time to get back up, what’s the big panic now ?
I know the like system is meant to avoid posts like this, but I can't help but quote and say what a level headed post, I wish more of our fans saw it like this.
Some of the names I am seeing on twitter, Cowleys, Cook etc, none of them will get Charlton like Bowyer do and would be off at the first opportunity.
I get Charlton , so what , what a load of shit . Bowyer would be out the door if something came along that suited him , it’s as simple as that .
I hate the fact that some Charlton fans think we we are somehow entitled to promotion. That drawing with Swindon is ‘below’ us (it’s frustrating but not terminal). This season was always going to be tough. Relegated in the last minute, ownership chaos, half the squad left (including most of our quality players), short pre season, under embargo for some of the transfer window, late signings under the wage cap, patched up the defence with 2 good centre halves (then both get long term injuries), best player (Doughty) out etc etc. Of course we all want promotion, of course we are not defending well enough, of course we are not taking our chances. But we need to give Bowyer a proper summer window, a full pre season and a proper chance to rebuild. We are on a desperately bad run of form, but sacking Bowyer is not the answer. Let’s give the guy a break and see what he can do. Lenny Lawrence, Alan Curbishley and Chris Powell all had bad runs and ultimately had successful periods because they got the club and got the fans. I am convinced Bowyer is the same... we’ve dropped to this league 3 times in recent history and it took 3 seasons each time to get back up, what’s the big panic now ?
I know the like system is meant to avoid posts like this, but I can't help but quote and say what a level headed post, I wish more of our fans saw it like this.
Some of the names I am seeing on twitter, Cowleys, Cook etc, none of them will get Charlton like Bowyer do and would be off at the first opportunity.
Genuinely intrested but do you think "getting Charlton" is more important than short term/medium term success?
Second question do you think Bowyer stayed because he "got Charlton" or he got paid a reasonable amount, doesn't actually need the job and has a family settled in the area?
Third question if Leeds, Westham, Newcastle or one of the "big six" offered Bowyer their managers job do you think he would stay?
Local lad, came through the ranks, understands our culture, understands the fan base. How many clubs have a local lad as their manager? It's why I was so attached to Curbs and Powell, Charlton men. I don't see how that's hard to get..
I think he stayed because he felt like this was the right club for him and has us in our best interests.
As for your third question, luckily according to our expert fan base that's something that will never happen cause he hasn't got a clue allegedly and loses dressing rooms? I'll cross that bridge when it comes to it but I can only assume if that hypothetical situation ever happened we would be in the championship and doing well, leaving us in a better state than what he came in. Can't argue with that but even then I don't think he leaves unless he is asked to or isn't being backed.
Riga, Peeters, Luzon, Fraeye, Slade. Just a few more reasons why I am happy with the manager who we have.
We will go up, I don't care if it's this season or the next, or the next, he will take us up and we will be stronger for it when it happens with a side ready to go up. Why the desperation to get up with a league 1 side and probably come straight back down. I want to go up like Wolves, Sheffield United, Leicester, Southampton, Norwich, Bristol City, Blackburn, us with Powell etc did. Go up with a squad with momentum that is good enough to hold their own in one of the most competitive leagues in the world, not a patch work league 1 team.
Would people be happier if we did what Wigan, Barnsley and Rotherham have been doing? Constant yo-yoin and sacking the manager mid season. Something I've got no interest in
You go up when you can , you don’t fanny for another season cos you might comeback down.... we have the players good enough to make the play offs but we aren’t reaching the level they are capable of (just yet) Maybe we shouldn’t have gone up in 1998 cos we weren’t strong enough to stay up ffs with the salary cap , going up would give us a chance to massively strengthen to stay up and if we were to go down we’d be in a better starting position to go back up . I’m sick of being in league one , in my first 33 seasons of watching Charlton we had 1 season in the third tier, 12 in the top tier . the last 12 seasons have seen 7 in the third tier , yeah I’m a football snob/knob whatever but I’m not sitting here being all happy clappy when we are clearly underperforming at the lowest level we’ve played at since we joined the football league . Call it a greedy sense of entitlement but I’m not aiming particularly high I just want the average for us which is championship and being above the scum . I’m never gonna be content in the third tier , I’m greedy (plus it’s such a struggle trying to keep my sons interested in us at this level of shitness)
Btw can we do something about the lol system and add maybe a disagree option, you see I want to know if I'm actually a funny guy or not and use my post to lol ratio to determine how much so, but all my serious posts today have been lol'd. Very hard to get a true reflection
Interesting that both yesterday and in the away 2-2 at Swindon, they only had 2 shots on target and both went in. Could Amos be doing better? That means in both those games he failed to save any shots on target.
Glad someone else is asking the question finally. I really think Amos is a big part of why we are letting in so many goals from so little shots conceded.
He’s got talent and his season with us that helped get us into the play-offs was a decent one but he’s never held down a spot in a higher league. We need to bring in better and younger once his contract is up.
I liked the look of their keeper Travers today - just signed on loan from Bournemouth. Also Baxter at Accrington on loan from Chelsea looked very assured. The kind of young keepers we should be targeting as the squad is rebuilt.
I was a big fan of Amos’s start this season but he’s been pretty bland, nothingy and not great of late , has he suffered the manager/player of the month curse !
I’ll be honest , i didn’t ever fancy him to convert . There’s something about him that just gives me no confidence in him , i can’t quite put my finger on it but I don’t rate him at all but he ain’t that bad , it’s all a bit confusing
There's something very honest about Conor Washington ...... he'll put in the hard yards, defend from the front - and there he is again, on a lung busting run off the ball to try and make something happen, or drag a defender out of position to create space for a team mate. Proper team player.
But does he have that killer instinct, the ruthless mental decisiveness, the composure that clinical finishers have? IMO .....if he could add a bit of that to his game, he'd double his goal tally.
Those saying the results are not good enough are 100% right.
But we’ve definitely improved game by game over the last three games and the shape of the side is starting to look much more settled and familiar.
People see ‘bad luck’ as a nothing excuse, but there were so many chances that should / could have been goals, yet we continue to get punished so easily. Matthews and Amos will be hugely disappointed with the mistakes they made for the first.
Stockley looks like a good edition, Millar is a breath of fresh air, JFC and Deji continued their good form.
Hugely frustrating. I know some will see this as rose tinted but I still feel if we win one game, get our strongest team fit and playing consistently, well have the potential to go on a run of getting 24/25 points out of 30.
Time is undoubtedly running out though
Ifs buts and maybes. We have been losing week on week for over a year, bar a 7 game run this season.
We also won the other week against Bristol rovers and we haven’t won since.
If buts and maybes? ... yet that is exactly what you are doing!
This is the worst league one I can remember and we will finish mid table under bowyer.
If we have any hopes of going up, bowyer has to go.
I’m dealing in facts, we are a mid table team who has barley won in 2 months. No if buts or maybes about it.
Well your first fact is wrong as we're 6th... thats not mid-table
I know teams have games in hand on us, PPG has us mid-table but Football doesnt work on a calculator
Fella have you watched us over the past few months? We are a mid table team who can’t string a couple of wins together. You can bang on about 6th all you like butwe’ll be mid table once the teams around us catch up on games
But we’re not mid table at the moment, which was the fact you used earlier.
Sorry, we are bloody amazing and we are definitely getting automatic promotion this season.
Why do you have to move the goal posts of the discussion every time someone writes a response to your posts?
I - and no one else - has said we’re amazing and will get auto promotion. You said that you only deal in facts and that we’re mid table team. All I said was that factually we’re 6th at this time.
This team, under this manager is a mid table team. Once all the other teams around us have played the same number of games the table will reflect that.
Again though, that’s your opinion. By the time those others teams will have caught up with games in hand played, we’ll all be in to 30+ games played, so who knows the points we will have gained ourselves by then.
It’s not just my opinion. I have watched every game this season, there is nothing that tells me we are better than a mid table team.
I don't understand how so many are so sure that we'll go on a late run, what evidence is this based on?
Also people so sure we'll get promoted in later seasons. Again, based on what?
Seems like nothing more than blind faith
I’m as pessimistic/realistic as they come .
Last season even when it was rosey I could smell shitness in our performances and was well ahead of the curve in expecting us to really struggle.
This season ive fancied us all along for the play offs , the players are more than good enough and with a fully fit squad the autos could have beckoned but it is what it is and injuries /shit tactics have reduced those chances but there are some green shoots of recovery the last few games have seen a marked improvement in our performances, yes the results haven’t appeared but if we continue on this path they will appear . The problem is we have been soooo dog shit wielding only 15 points from 14 games that when we do have this good run it will only just keep us in the mix with everyone else having games in hand , so the we’re still 6th brigade need a decent run to hold on to that spot . I think it’s now touch and go re making the play offs , anything outside the top 6 is a failure for me , we have the players and ability we need the manager to find his minerals and lift them to their full potential .
fuck me ive read every post on this thread , proper sad Cnut .
Sorry Oohaah .... I did like your post above. But you made me laugh with your quality line, " fuck me ive read every post on this thread , proper sad Cnut ".
Ha ha ..... that's me too. You got the LOL instead!
I don't understand how so many are so sure that we'll go on a late run, what evidence is this based on?
Also people so sure we'll get promoted in later seasons. Again, based on what?
Seems like nothing more than blind faith
I’m as pessimistic/realistic as they come .
Last season even when it was rosey I could smell shitness in our performances and was well ahead of the curve in expecting us to really struggle.
This season ive fancied us all along for the play offs , the players are more than good enough and with a fully fit squad the autos could have beckoned but it is what it is and injuries /shit tactics have reduced those chances but there are some green shoots of recovery the last few games have seen a marked improvement in our performances, yes the results haven’t appeared but if we continue on this path they will appear . The problem is we have been soooo dog shit wielding only 15 points from 14 games that when we do have this good run it will only just keep us in the mix with everyone else having games in hand , so the we’re still 6th brigade need a decent run to hold on to that spot . I think it’s now touch and go re making the play offs , anything outside the top 6 is a failure for me , we have the players and ability we need the manager to find his minerals and lift them to their full potential .
fuck me ive read every post on this thread , proper sad Cnut .
Interesting that both yesterday and in the away 2-2 at Swindon, they only had 2 shots on target and both went in. Could Amos be doing better? That means in both those games he failed to save any shots on target.
Glad someone else is asking the question finally. I really think Amos is a big part of why we are letting in so many goals from so little shots conceded.
He’s got talent and his season with us that helped get us into the play-offs was a decent one but he’s never held down a spot in a higher league. We need to bring in better and younger once his contract is up.
I liked the look of their keeper Travers today - just signed on loan from Bournemouth. Also Baxter at Accrington on loan from Chelsea looked very assured. The kind of young keepers we should be targeting as the squad is rebuilt.
I was a big fan of Amos’s start this season but he’s been pretty bland, nothingy and not great of late , has he suffered the manager/player of the month curse !
Amos? ..... no, he's suffered from, "we've got a sh*t defence" syndrome.
I don't understand how so many are so sure that we'll go on a late run, what evidence is this based on?
Also people so sure we'll get promoted in later seasons. Again, based on what?
Seems like nothing more than blind faith
I'm one of those people who think we are very close to putting a run together that will certainly see us in the playoffs and I'm not ruling out automatic promotion. This isnt based on rose tinted glasses honest lol. We without doubt have been under performing lately but the signs are there that the team are gelling. Look at our squad of players. You tell me any other team in the league that wouldnt want our squad. We just need a rub of the green and a bit of confidence to return and I honestly cant see many teams beating us once we get to that stage. As I keep saying we are due to give someone a proper drubbing before long. Once the squad get a grip of things the points will climb.
I don't understand how so many are so sure that we'll go on a late run, what evidence is this based on?
Also people so sure we'll get promoted in later seasons. Again, based on what?
Seems like nothing more than blind faith
I'm one of those people who think we are very close to putting a run together that will certainly see us in the playoffs and I'm not ruling out automatic promotion. This isnt based on rose tinted glasses honest lol. We without doubt have been under performing lately but the signs are there that the team are gelling. Look at our squad of players. You tell me any other team in the league that wouldnt want our squad. We just need a rub of the green and a bit of confidence to return and I honestly cant see many teams beating us once we get to that stage. As I keep saying we are due to give someone a proper drubbing before long. Once the squad get a grip of things the points will climb.
Oh for fucks sake. No. Just no. They have months, multiple months to "get a grip" - they have not. Why should we expect that to change now? The fact that you keep saying "we're due to give a drubbing" and it STILL has not happened.
This is NOT a temporary blip. This is an underperforming team. We can argue til the end of days about why that might be but this team are not playing as well as they should. One or two bad results is bad luck. Months of bad results is bad performance.
Another poor result against a team in the lower reaches to add to all the others. Although we hit the woodwork twice in the first half and had some promising attacks, I thought that Swindon were probably the better side overall during the first period. They moved the ball better than us, largely controlled midfield and looked dangerous every time they came forward. Although JFC continued his recent good form, Pratley looked well off the pace and Williams and Millar are never going to offer that much when you’re out of possession.
Their first goal was the result of some appalling defending and, worryingly, from two of our better players, Amos and Matthews, which suggests a general erosion of confidence. The second goal wasn’t as bad but still very poor. Leaving aside Millar’s slow response and half-hearted non-challenge on the edge of the box, Swindon found it far too easy to play through our midfield into the danger area, as they did repeatedly in the first half. I’m afraid that this has been a problem all season, regardless of whether one or both of our old warhorses have been treading the boards. It’s also an issue which goes beyond the need to get ‘stuck into challenges’ and I think that questions have to be asked about the coaching and management of this group of players.
We were much better in the second half and Bowyer deserves some credit for changing the shape and personnel although, quite frankly, he had to do something. Shinnie started to knit things together and Albie Morgan was excellent following his introduction on the hour, creating gilt-edged chances for Aneke, Shinnie and Washington - all of which were missed. What does this lad have to do to get a decent run in the side and is Bowyer - now over halfway through the season - any nearer to knowing his best midfield ?
Two clean sheets and 25 goals conceded in the last 14 league games tells its own story and, worryingly, the leakage at the back shows absolutely no sign of abating. Things should improve in the next month or so once Famewo and Inniss are fit but I think the problems go beyond those attributable to injuries. Fortunately, we do have some genuine firepower up top but there’s been too much tinkering with personnel and formations to enable partnerships to develop and the team lacks a discernible style and pattern of play. It also can’t help the players’ confidence if they feel they’re always going to be in and out of the side.
It’s not too late to put a run together to get into the play-offs but, at present, our ultimate destination looks to be mid-table. Whilst we’ve been significantly handicapped by the embargo and the salary cap, I don’t think anyone can credibly contend that Lee and his coaching staff are getting the best out of this squad of players. Let’s hope for an upturn in our form and fortunes, as a failure to mount a meaningful challenge for the top 6 is not good enough for a club of our size and resources.
I don't understand how so many are so sure that we'll go on a late run, what evidence is this based on?
Also people so sure we'll get promoted in later seasons. Again, based on what?
Seems like nothing more than blind faith
I'm one of those people who think we are very close to putting a run together that will certainly see us in the playoffs and I'm not ruling out automatic promotion. This isnt based on rose tinted glasses honest lol. We without doubt have been under performing lately but the signs are there that the team are gelling. Look at our squad of players. You tell me any other team in the league that wouldnt want our squad. We just need a rub of the green and a bit of confidence to return and I honestly cant see many teams beating us once we get to that stage. As I keep saying we are due to give someone a proper drubbing before long. Once the squad get a grip of things the points will climb.
Oh for fucks sake. No. Just no. They have months, multiple months to "get a grip" - they have not. Why should we expect that to change now? The fact that you keep saying "we're due to give a drubbing" and it STILL has not happened.
This is NOT a temporary blip. This is an underperforming team. We can argue til the end of days about why that might be but this team are not playing as well as they should. One or two bad results is bad luck. Months of bad results is bad performance.
Ok how many games do you think we will lose before the end of the season ? Presuming the season does run to the end. I say we wont lose another 4 games !
Not that I'm in any way defending him @Leuth (Millar not Bowyer) I think because if how much he has affected play and wanted the ball wherever he is on the pitch coupled with the fact he isn't our player meant he couldn't rip him a new one publicly
Me and my group were all fuming at Millar fannying out of that challenge because we were all Saturday and Sunday league players who to a man wouldn't do that, what Millar has shown is how valuable defensively he is in the same way Jerome Thomas used to be, get the ball deep in our half, get shit kicked, win foul, relieve pressure. Millar has shown for every ball he has been near and looks to beat his opposite number, I love watching it. And I think he still hasn't hit his stride yet
Like for Like for Alfie. Good player but did bottle the challenge.
I don't understand how so many are so sure that we'll go on a late run, what evidence is this based on?
Also people so sure we'll get promoted in later seasons. Again, based on what?
Seems like nothing more than blind faith
I'm one of those people who think we are very close to putting a run together that will certainly see us in the playoffs and I'm not ruling out automatic promotion. This isnt based on rose tinted glasses honest lol. We without doubt have been under performing lately but the signs are there that the team are gelling. Look at our squad of players. You tell me any other team in the league that wouldnt want our squad. We just need a rub of the green and a bit of confidence to return and I honestly cant see many teams beating us once we get to that stage. As I keep saying we are due to give someone a proper drubbing before long. Once the squad get a grip of things the points will climb.
Oh for fucks sake. No. Just no. They have months, multiple months to "get a grip" - they have not. Why should we expect that to change now? The fact that you keep saying "we're due to give a drubbing" and it STILL has not happened.
This is NOT a temporary blip. This is an underperforming team. We can argue til the end of days about why that might be but this team are not playing as well as they should. One or two bad results is bad luck. Months of bad results is bad performance.
Ok how many games do you think we will lose before the end of the season ? Presuming the season does run to the end. I say we wont lose another 4 games !
Double figures easily. Maybe draw a few. More than 5-6 wins will be astonishing based on current form.
Comments
Bowyer would be out the door if something came along that suited him , it’s as simple as that .
Also people so sure we'll get promoted in later seasons. Again, based on what?
Seems like nothing more than blind faith
we have the players good enough to make the play offs but we aren’t reaching the level they are capable of (just yet)
Maybe we shouldn’t have gone up in 1998 cos we weren’t strong enough to stay up ffs
with the salary cap , going up would give us a chance to massively strengthen to stay up and if we were to go down we’d be in a better starting position to go back up .
I’m sick of being in league one , in my first 33 seasons of watching Charlton we had 1 season in the third tier, 12 in the top tier .
the last 12 seasons have seen 7 in the third tier , yeah I’m a football snob/knob whatever but I’m not sitting here being all happy clappy when we are clearly underperforming at the lowest level we’ve played at since we joined the football league .
Call it a greedy sense of entitlement but I’m not aiming particularly high I just want the average for us which is championship and being above the scum .
I’m never gonna be content in the third tier , I’m greedy (plus it’s such a struggle trying to keep my sons interested in us at this level of shitness)
But does he have that killer instinct, the ruthless mental decisiveness, the composure that clinical finishers have?
IMO .....if he could add a bit of that to his game, he'd double his goal tally.
This season ive fancied us all along for the play offs , the players are more than good enough and with a fully fit squad the autos could have beckoned but it is what it is and injuries /shit tactics have reduced those chances but there are some green shoots of recovery the last few games have seen a marked improvement in our performances, yes the results haven’t appeared but if we continue on this path they will appear .
The problem is we have been soooo dog shit wielding only 15 points from 14 games that when we do have this good run it will only just keep us in the mix with everyone else having games in hand , so the we’re still 6th brigade need a decent run to hold on to that spot .
I think it’s now touch and go re making the play offs , anything outside the top 6 is a failure for me , we have the players and ability we need the manager to find his minerals and lift them to their full potential .
fuck me ive read every post on this thread , proper sad Cnut .
0% Automatic promotion
55% 7th-12th
10% 13th-20th
Ha ha ..... that's me too. You got the LOL instead!
This is NOT a temporary blip. This is an underperforming team. We can argue til the end of days about why that might be but this team are not playing as well as they should. One or two bad results is bad luck. Months of bad results is bad performance.
Another poor result against a team in the lower reaches to add to all the others. Although we hit the woodwork twice in the first half and had some promising attacks, I thought that Swindon were probably the better side overall during the first period. They moved the ball better than us, largely controlled midfield and looked dangerous every time they came forward. Although JFC continued his recent good form, Pratley looked well off the pace and Williams and Millar are never going to offer that much when you’re out of possession.
Their first goal was the result of some appalling defending and, worryingly, from two of our better players, Amos and Matthews, which suggests a general erosion of confidence. The second goal wasn’t as bad but still very poor. Leaving aside Millar’s slow response and half-hearted non-challenge on the edge of the box, Swindon found it far too easy to play through our midfield into the danger area, as they did repeatedly in the first half. I’m afraid that this has been a problem all season, regardless of whether one or both of our old warhorses have been treading the boards. It’s also an issue which goes beyond the need to get ‘stuck into challenges’ and I think that questions have to be asked about the coaching and management of this group of players.
We were much better in the second half and Bowyer deserves some credit for changing the shape and personnel although, quite frankly, he had to do something. Shinnie started to knit things together and Albie Morgan was excellent following his introduction on the hour, creating gilt-edged chances for Aneke, Shinnie and Washington - all of which were missed. What does this lad have to do to get a decent run in the side and is Bowyer - now over halfway through the season - any nearer to knowing his best midfield ?
Two clean sheets and 25 goals conceded in the last 14 league games tells its own story and, worryingly, the leakage at the back shows absolutely no sign of abating. Things should improve in the next month or so once Famewo and Inniss are fit but I think the problems go beyond those attributable to injuries. Fortunately, we do have some genuine firepower up top but there’s been too much tinkering with personnel and formations to enable partnerships to develop and the team lacks a discernible style and pattern of play. It also can’t help the players’ confidence if they feel they’re always going to be in and out of the side.
It’s not too late to put a run together to get into the play-offs but, at present, our ultimate destination looks to be mid-table. Whilst we’ve been significantly handicapped by the embargo and the salary cap, I don’t think anyone can credibly contend that Lee and his coaching staff are getting the best out of this squad of players. Let’s hope for an upturn in our form and fortunes, as a failure to mount a meaningful challenge for the top 6 is not good enough for a club of our size and resources.