We
played brightly and sharply - quick and incisive from the start.
Who needs high vague balls, when you can penetrate on the
ground?
Bowyer
had given those bastards a rocket.
Yet, Forster-Caskey
is ineffectual – and makes basic
errors, can’t send a corner to beat the first man. Nothing wrong
with Darren Pratley – a stern man in midfield. Our best player is
Liam Millar: skins two men on the wing, as proper academies train to
do.
We
were playing the equivalent of Cray Wanderers, Darenth Heathside, or
Cray Paper Mills. Will we make the play-offs?
Of
course we shall!
Bowyer will throw the kitchen sink at the rest of the season. He is
always our man – aggressive,
attacking,
a fighter. Watch out!
We
played brightly and sharply - quick and incisive from the start.
Who needs high vague balls, when you can penetrate on the
ground?
Bowyer
had given those bastards a rocket.
Yet, Forster-Caskey
is ineffectual – and makes basic
errors, can’t send a corner to beat the first man. Nothing wrong
with Darren Pratley – a stern man in midfield. Our best player is
Liam Millar: skins two men on the wing, as proper academies train to
do.
We
were playing the equivalent of Cray Wanderers, Darenth Heathside, or
Cray Paper Mills. Will we make the play-offs?
Of
course we shall!
Bowyer will throw the kitchen sink at the rest of the season. He is
always our man – aggressive,
attacking,
a fighter. Watch out!
A ground out win at home and happy to see one again. Confidence may yet breed more enjoyable performances, but 7/9 points will do for now. A lot of character from the team and Bowyer.
When I heard Pratley, Pearce, gunter, maatsen and Watson starting, thought that could be a very slow in mid defence 4 back line probably well overrun.
We played Millar on the right which is a a bit bee for our formation and not where he has done well for us before getting worked out, having the oppo double up in him cutting in off the left isn’t the ine trick he can do.
ovweall through we’ve started to look organised. Not trusting enough either each other to fully rip them to shreds but so much better than 3 weeks ago.
we aren’t there yet but it’s better to watch eve if it’s not yet what we want to see. There’s been a change somewhere I think and we are looking better
Or we’ve had a bit of overdue luck. Ine going with the former.
Decided to keep away from the match thread tonight.
A win is a win, pity about losing the clean sheet. Is the corner turned? Are the players putting themselves in the window for next season? Has Bowyer finally got the team playing how he wants ?
Am I the only one who thought it was definitely a pen? Can’t tackle like that and expect to get away with it.
I was convinced it was a pen when I first saw it, but thought it was harsh on watching the replay. 50/50 challenge - both going for the ball, I would have been seriously pissed off if one like that was given against us.
Corners & crosses abysmal. 8 corners to their 3. They scored with one of their 3 & all 8 of ours didn't look like troubling anyone.
Didn't the chance Pearce have come from a corner flicked on at the near post he couldn't react quick enough to , when a better connection/reaction and it's a goal
Not a game that’ll live long in the memory but it helps build a platform. Probably the least challenging opposition I have seen all season though, Northampton were really poor! Just need to keep building from here!
Not a game that’ll live long in the memory but it helps build a platform. Probably the least challenging opposition I have seen all season though, Northampton were really poor! Just need to keep building from here!
I didn’t think Northampton were that bad a side, we looked organised and better. That’s a positive in us bit more than a negative on them.
A definite positive is that we managed to look pretty solid without either Famewo or Inniss. Which does slightly beg the question why we've been so shockingly bad at home
Just goes to show that we can win games if we cut out the stupid mistakes. We've never had a problem scoring but I've never known a team gift the opposition goals like we have this season. Famewo coming back seems to have restored some calm, Pearce looks like he's over his wobble and has returned to being solid and we haven't had any kamikaze moments in a while. Gunter and Maatsen also look like they find their jobs easier with a defence that looks less like they're waiting to make their first mistake. I have to say, I'm always wary of a Deji moment when he's on so I was happier to see Pratley there today. Hopefully Famewo back on Saturday, then Inniss not long after that and we can focus on clean sheets and wins as much as possible to the end of the season
Our players couldn't cross the road with the green cross code man making an assist.
The late subs unsettled us and maybe led to their goal.
Pratley's deliberate obstruction to block their player's run had me chuckling for a while, especially as it resulted in the player getting booked. If that had been out player running through I wouldn't have laughed half as much.
It was a result that never looked in doubt once we scored.
As for the shit near post defending for their goal, I think it's a good thing, to stop them getting ahead of themselves. We've got a long way to go to get to a playoff spot but it's doable if the form continues. I wouldn't put too much money on it.
As others keep saying, it's an unpredictable league which keeps throwing up odd results. We can make the playoffs but we need to hit Man City form.
Question Does anyone still trust Bowyer to take us forward?
We are not going to be getting convincing 3-0 or 4-0 wins, we're not good enough. It's either going to be expansive and needing to score 3, 4 or 5 to win, or we keep it tight and try to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1.
So on that basis, for me it was another very pleasing performance, where we looked like a solid team and totally deserved the win.
It wasn't attractive but as I said, we probably can't have both this season. Their first effort on target was the goal, because we once again defended from front to back, didn't make any terrible errors (no Oshilaja helped) and have shored up the gaping hole down the middle.
A true team performance, where everyone contributed quite evenly, gave their all and are clearly playing for the manager (now that the tactics are simple and the team is more settled. 3 of the 4 changes tonight were down to injury/fitness).
PS I see the Oxford keeper saved a Brett Pitman penalty tonight. It was almost identical to the save from Schwarz. I think they said on Saturday that he's saved loads (this season).
Thought we looked rubbish to be honest. Barely created anything or played any football worth talking about. Yes we were comfortable defensively , woopee. Need to be so much better to be in with even an outside chance of the play offs. I’m looking round our squad and not seeing any players in form. Aneke and Millar looked good a few weeks ago but even they’re off the boil now. There’s a lack of quality it’s all so turgid huff and puff we can’t get promoted like this. Thought morgan looked good and hungry on the positive side.
take the 3 points but not getting the slightest bit carried away by that result! Need 8 wins from 12 just to qualify for play offs. We are nowhere near good enough for that run, and even if we somehow pull it off , we won’t be anywhere near good enough to actually win the play offs. We only just scraped through both semi and final in 2019 with a side that would trounce this lot 46 times out of 46 if they played each other for a whole season!
A very decent performance from ALL wearing the shirt IMO but special mentions for Pearce, Watson, Washington & Chuks. Our 2nd goal wouldn't have been possible without the latter's magic feet keeping the ball in & then laying it off for the first shot. Great cameo.
It seems that any team spirit that was in serious doubt a couple of weeks ago has returned with knobs on. Loved the sight of Pearcey ruffling Millar's hair after he'd defended bravely. THIS is what our team is all about.
I'm definitely not counting my promotion chickens but something has clearly changed behind the scenes with our lads gaining in confidence and as a result, cutting out those painful errors that cost us results. Long may it last.
I admit to seriously doubting Bows' ability to turn things around & will be the first to admit my naivety should this current run of performances continue until the end of the season. But we have to keep up tonight's level of consistency & ensure there's total concentration until the final whistle is blown.....no easy task as we face teams from both the lower half of the league as well as those pushing for promotion.
But keeping the faith is gradually becoming easier.
A win at the Valley, what Tuesday nights are made for! Solid all round, they looked pretty pants tbh, not sure how they thrashed Pompey Saturday. Onto Saturday!!
Thought we looked rubbish to be honest. Barely created anything or played any football worth talking about. Yes we were comfortable defensively , woopee. Need to be so much better to be in with even an outside chance of the play offs. I’m looking round our squad and not seeing any players in form. Aneke and Millar looked good a few weeks ago but even they’re off the boil now. There’s a lack of quality it’s all so turgid huff and puff we can’t get promoted like this. Thought morgan looked good and hungry on the positive side.
take the 3 points but not getting the slightest bit carried away by that result! Need 8 wins from 12 just to qualify for play offs. We are nowhere near good enough for that run, and even if we somehow pull it off , we won’t be anywhere near good enough to actually win the play offs. We only just scraped through both semi and final in 2019 with a side that would trounce this lot 46 times out of 46 if they played each other for a whole season!
I dunno, Paul, whatever this says about the rest of their seasons, Ben Watson and Jason Pearce been right on form the last 3 games...
Pompey are really struggling at the moment. No shots on target today against Sunderland, they look really vulnerable in 6th place BUT a number of teams could pinch it as well as us
Since the Blackpool game I’ve watched the matches without the feeling that the opposition are going to score every time they get the ball in our half. Well, until the last five minutes today that is. I put that down to Watson finding a bit of form in the holding role.
Football is quite a simple game, and we’ve benefitted from going back to basics.
One point from the playoffs, teams around us dropping points. Will they allow fans in to the playoff final this year?
Comments
Northampton were awful and had no interetst in winning that game.
Its a win, but my overwhelming feeling is that anyone half decent is still going to turn us over.
We played brightly and sharply - quick and incisive from the start. Who needs high vague balls, when you can penetrate on the ground?
Bowyer had given those bastards a rocket.
Yet, Forster-Caskey is ineffectual – and makes basic errors, can’t send a corner to beat the first man. Nothing wrong with Darren Pratley – a stern man in midfield. Our best player is Liam Millar: skins two men on the wing, as proper academies train to do.
We were playing the equivalent of Cray Wanderers, Darenth Heathside, or Cray Paper Mills. Will we make the play-offs?
Of course we shall! Bowyer will throw the kitchen sink at the rest of the season. He is always our man – aggressive, attacking, a fighter. Watch out!
ovweall through we’ve started to look organised. Not trusting enough either each other to fully rip them to shreds but so much better than 3 weeks ago.
we aren’t there yet but it’s better to watch eve if it’s not yet what we want to see. There’s been a change somewhere I think and we are looking better
https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/i-never-felt-we-…-play-off-places/
https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/lee-bowyer-on-albie-morgans-return-to-the-charlton-side-i-know-i-can-trust-him/
The late subs unsettled us and maybe led to their goal.
Pratley's deliberate obstruction to block their player's run had me chuckling for a while, especially as it resulted in the player getting booked. If that had been out player running through I wouldn't have laughed half as much.
It was a result that never looked in doubt once we scored.
As for the shit near post defending for their goal, I think it's a good thing, to stop them getting ahead of themselves. We've got a long way to go to get to a playoff spot but it's doable if the form continues. I wouldn't put too much money on it.
As others keep saying, it's an unpredictable league which keeps throwing up odd results. We can make the playoffs but we need to hit Man City form.
Question
Does anyone still trust Bowyer to take us forward?
It's either going to be expansive and needing to score 3, 4 or 5 to win, or we keep it tight and try to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1.
So on that basis, for me it was another very pleasing performance, where we looked like a solid team and totally deserved the win.
It wasn't attractive but as I said, we probably can't have both this season.
Their first effort on target was the goal, because we once again defended from front to back, didn't make any terrible errors (no Oshilaja helped) and have shored up the gaping hole down the middle.
A true team performance, where everyone contributed quite evenly, gave their all and are clearly playing for the manager (now that the tactics are simple and the team is more settled. 3 of the 4 changes tonight were down to injury/fitness).
PS I see the Oxford keeper saved a Brett Pitman penalty tonight.
It was almost identical to the save from Schwarz.
I think they said on Saturday that he's saved loads (this season).
They've put a run together. That's all we've needed to do.
take the 3 points but not getting the slightest bit carried away by that result! Need 8 wins from 12 just to qualify for play offs. We are nowhere near good enough for that run, and even if we somehow pull it off , we won’t be anywhere near good enough to actually win the play offs. We only just scraped through both semi and final in 2019 with a side that would trounce this lot 46 times out of 46 if they played each other for a whole season!
A very decent performance from ALL wearing the shirt IMO but special mentions for Pearce, Watson, Washington & Chuks. Our 2nd goal wouldn't have been possible without the latter's magic feet keeping the ball in & then laying it off for the first shot. Great cameo.
It seems that any team spirit that was in serious doubt a couple of weeks ago has returned with knobs on. Loved the sight of Pearcey ruffling Millar's hair after he'd defended bravely. THIS is what our team is all about.
I'm definitely not counting my promotion chickens but something has clearly changed behind the scenes with our lads gaining in confidence and as a result, cutting out those painful errors that cost us results. Long may it last.
I admit to seriously doubting Bows' ability to turn things around & will be the first to admit my naivety should this current run of performances continue until the end of the season. But we have to keep up tonight's level of consistency & ensure there's total concentration until the final whistle is blown.....no easy task as we face teams from both the lower half of the league as well as those pushing for promotion.
But keeping the faith is gradually becoming easier.
Onwards & upwards !
Or alternatively, if Pompey can concede 4 to that lot then Pompey are definitely one we shouldn’t be too afraid of in the period ahead
"It's 3 points and Social Media lights up"
I think it might be the next "come in number four..."