Enjoyed it, probably more than I expected to really. The Q&A with Curbs, Nigel and Minto was entertaining and could've gone on a lot longer.
Schwartz missed his penalty in the shootout at the end but so did Stockley and Jaiyesimi, fortunately the rest took some very good penalties. Players look sharp and all trained hard.
Obviously I was there yesterday so I'm unaware of what happened today, but my visits over the past months have made me aware of how much The Valley has been neglected despite the best efforts of the staff. But simple things like hiring a cleaning crew that were present yesterday to clean the seats rather than getting in fans to do it and It was pretty obvious the sound system was being attended to in some way. Lots of work being done around the place that a couple of those Range Rovers I'm sure would have covered the cost of are now being done out of Tommy's pocket, stuff that we wouldn't see or take for granted. I'll be at the first game and I'm so looking forward to seeing the place rocking again I really don't care if Lionel Messi leads the team out or some herbert plucked from Charlton park because he can do 3 keepy uppies with either foot, football is coming home and its coming home to The Valley.
There was a lot of work going on last Friday too, which is great love and attention going in to off the pitch aspects of the club after many years of owners not caring.
Enjoyed the experience. Something a bit different and just lovely to be back at the valley. Three things struck me in a positive way.
1. Inniss is absolutely enormous! I would have loved to have seen him and Naby together just for one game.
2. Morgan noticeably looked class. His close control with the ball was phenomenal.
3. Was such a wonderful celebration of the women’s squad coming together and as such a great representation of how this club is heading in the right direction.
@Athletico Charlton Any chance of a pic of the "crowd" assume it's west stand only? Forcing you all to look upon the Alan Curbishley East Stand.
Didn't see this until too late I am afraid. I would have compared the crowd to the kids v Wigan, a few hundred. Not massive bit decent for a training session.
Suggests we won’t be bringing in that sort of player to play ahead of him.
Will be interesting to see how he does this season under NAs management compared to Bowyers. Got a good feeling he’ll push on as he’ll get a run of games and the shirt number shows there's faith in him. I don’t see NA focussing so much on his weaknesses or dropping him as often for defensive errors.
Feels like he’s a player that could really benefit from NAs positivity over Bowyers “if it worked for me it’ll work for you” approach. Bowyer was always bringing up the time George Graham dropped him, but they’re different players in different times, playing at different levels.
You have to be joking. He is already that player. I have always liked Morgan because he can see a pass and make it. But Bowyer was spot on about Morgan’s weaknesses. To Morgan’s credit he got his head down, worked hard, and improved steadily over the season. He is a far better player than he was at the start of last season and IMO worthy of an improved contract as I think he is going to be a big player for us this season.
Suggests we won’t be bringing in that sort of player to play ahead of him.
Will be interesting to see how he does this season under NAs management compared to Bowyers. Got a good feeling he’ll push on as he’ll get a run of games and the shirt number shows there's faith in him. I don’t see NA focussing so much on his weaknesses or dropping him as often for defensive errors.
Feels like he’s a player that could really benefit from NAs positivity over Bowyers “if it worked for me it’ll work for you” approach. Bowyer was always bringing up the time George Graham dropped him, but they’re different players in different times, playing at different levels.
I don't we it was likley that would bring in a starting player as a "10" like Fraser or the Welsh marmite types. Maybe as a plan C or D. I think Adkins currently prefers a more physical presents there. Clare was the most advanced of the 3 against Palace.
Big season for Albie, not only to nail down the shirt, but more so in defining a position or role that he can call his own.
Can see that position working for him, Dobson covering behind and Clare making those runs into the box. Morgan being deeper can pick out passes, his main strength, while still having some freedom to get forward.
On paper Clare’s physical presence will be more dangerous in the box and Morgan can pick out those runs rather than being the player making them.
Suggests we won’t be bringing in that sort of player to play ahead of him.
Will be interesting to see how he does this season under NAs management compared to Bowyers. Got a good feeling he’ll push on as he’ll get a run of games and the shirt number shows there's faith in him. I don’t see NA focussing so much on his weaknesses or dropping him as often for defensive errors.
Feels like he’s a player that could really benefit from NAs positivity over Bowyers “if it worked for me it’ll work for you” approach. Bowyer was always bringing up the time George Graham dropped him, but they’re different players in different times, playing at different levels.
You have to be joking. He is already that player. I have always liked Morgan because he can see a pass and make it. But Bowyer was spot on about Morgan’s weaknesses. To Morgan’s credit he got his head down, worked hard, and improved steadily over the season. He is a far better player than he was at the start of last season and IMO worthy of an improved contract as I think he is going to be a big player for us this season.
Joking about what? I’ve always liked him for the same reason and even defended Bowyers management of him, as you say he definitely improved. To be that big player for us he needs to start regularly, I think he’s more likely to get that under NA than Bowyer who I think would have continued to drop him.
Suggests we won’t be bringing in that sort of player to play ahead of him.
Will be interesting to see how he does this season under NAs management compared to Bowyers. Got a good feeling he’ll push on as he’ll get a run of games and the shirt number shows there's faith in him. I don’t see NA focussing so much on his weaknesses or dropping him as often for defensive errors.
Feels like he’s a player that could really benefit from NAs positivity over Bowyers “if it worked for me it’ll work for you” approach. Bowyer was always bringing up the time George Graham dropped him, but they’re different players in different times, playing at different levels.
You have to be joking. He is already that player. I have always liked Morgan because he can see a pass and make it. But Bowyer was spot on about Morgan’s weaknesses. To Morgan’s credit he got his head down, worked hard, and improved steadily over the season. He is a far better player than he was at the start of last season and IMO worthy of an improved contract as I think he is going to be a big player for us this season.
Joking about what? I’ve always liked him for the same reason and even defended Bowyers management of him, as you say he definitely improved. To be that big player for us he needs to start regularly, I think he’s more likely to get that under NA than Bowyer who I think would have continued to drop him.
Expanding on what you're saying, @Scoham .... if Adkins has faith in Morgan to be a big player, that may be just the thing Morgan needs knowing he has the manager's confidence, to truly establish himself this season.
And playing in a central midfield unit with the hardworking and covering Dobson and Clare, may very well give him the platform he needs.
NA praised Matthews, DJ, Morgan, Washington, Watson & Davison as having especially strong pre seasons. Innis should get 60 mins at Fulham & if that goes well he will be ok for the Wendies match
NA praised Matthews, DJ, Morgan, Washington, Watson & Davison as having especially strong pre seasons. Innis should get 60 mins at Fulham & if that goes well he will be ok for the Wendies match
Yes he really heaped praise on Davison - ‘scoring for fun in training’ I think he said. Spoke of Clare’s athletic ability but also said he was technically very good
There were 350 there - about 225 members, 125 STs - many of them had to be admitted through an exit gate because the print at home tickets weren’t working properly.
I think the Davison praise is very telling. Adkins has already said he’s not leaving on loan, so one can assume he’s going to be one of our strikers this season.
Unless we can get rid of Schwartz ASAP, I can’t see us getting another striker in the building.
I think alot of people are doing NA a disservice tbh. He has had time now to look at the players he has at the club. If he thinks Davison & some of the other younger players can do a job then that is good enough for me. He knows what it takes to succeed and lets me honest he wasnt exactly pushing for a return to management was he. He decided to come here and I think we should all just trust the bloke. On a plus side from what I have seen so far in the PSF ( Iknow they are friendlies ) the signs look good. We are starting to look like a team with a plan in terms of how we play and not just the turgid sideways-backwards style of last year
I think the Davison praise is very telling. Adkins has already said he’s not leaving on loan, so one can assume he’s going to be one of our strikers this season.
Unless we can get rid of Schwartz ASAP, I can’t see us getting another striker in the building.
Big concern for me that, have to be honest. Don't have much faith in those scoring enough goals. I defo want another one so hopefully (without meaning to sound too harsh), Schwartz goes.
I think alot of people are doing NA a disservice tbh. He has had time now to look at the players he has at the club. If he thinks Davison & some of the other younger players can do a job then that is good enough for me. He knows what it takes to succeed and lets me honest he wasnt exactly pushing for a return to management was he. He decided to come here and I think we should all just trust the bloke. On a plus side from what I have seen so far in the PSF ( Iknow they are friendlies ) the signs look good. We are starting to look like a team with a plan in terms of how we play and not just the turgid sideways-backwards style of last year
How much of it is just him knowing we're not getting another striker and having to make do though?
He's hardly gonna come out and say Davison is League Two at best, then have to bring him off the bench to get a winner in games.
I think the Davison praise is very telling. Adkins has already said he’s not leaving on loan, so one can assume he’s going to be one of our strikers this season.
Unless we can get rid of Schwartz ASAP, I can’t see us getting another striker in the building.
Big concern for me that, have to be honest. Don't have much faith in those scoring enough goals. I defo want another one so hopefully (without meaning to sound too harsh), Schwartz goes.
We're in a bit of a similar situation to Tottenham with Kane. We've got our main striker so it's very hard to bring in someone of quality who knows they probably won't play unless Stockley is injured. Davison fits the bill there I guess but it is a big gamble on Stockley being fit for most of the season.
I think alot of people are doing NA a disservice tbh. He has had time now to look at the players he has at the club. If he thinks Davison & some of the other younger players can do a job then that is good enough for me. He knows what it takes to succeed and lets me honest he wasnt exactly pushing for a return to management was he. He decided to come here and I think we should all just trust the bloke. On a plus side from what I have seen so far in the PSF ( Iknow they are friendlies ) the signs look good. We are starting to look like a team with a plan in terms of how we play and not just the turgid sideways-backwards style of last year
How much of it is just him knowing we're not getting another striker and having to make do though?
He's hardly gonna come out and say Davison is League Two at best, then have to bring him off the bench to get a winner in games.
No your right but my take on NA is that he didnt need the job. He isnt one of these journyman managers that seem to be in and out of jobs every season or so. He came here to do a job and my own opinion is that if he thought he wasnt getting what was discussed initially he would be off. Just my view
I think the Davison praise is very telling. Adkins has already said he’s not leaving on loan, so one can assume he’s going to be one of our strikers this season.
Unless we can get rid of Schwartz ASAP, I can’t see us getting another striker in the building.
Big concern for me that, have to be honest. Don't have much faith in those scoring enough goals. I defo want another one so hopefully (without meaning to sound too harsh), Schwartz goes.
We're in a bit of a similar situation to Tottenham with Kane. We've got our main striker so it's very hard to bring in someone of quality who knows they probably won't play unless Stockley is injured. Davison fits the bill there I guess but it is a big gamble on Stockley being fit for most of the season.
This is a good point. It’s one of the reasons I hate playing one striker and partly why I didn’t want Stockley back on a permanent.
It is what it is, if Stockley stays fit he can score 20+ at this level.
For what it’s worth I think his praise of Davison is genuine - he wasn’t asked about him specifically but chose to single him out for praise at least twice. We need two big strikers - - one first choice who plays 35 games and younger one who players 10 or so and we’ve got that.
Chuks is a champ (maybe even bottom of premier league) player who is a fairly unique situation in my view a bit like Kermorgant. You can’t really replace that.
I think the Davison praise is very telling. Adkins has already said he’s not leaving on loan, so one can assume he’s going to be one of our strikers this season.
Unless we can get rid of Schwartz ASAP, I can’t see us getting another striker in the building.
Big concern for me that, have to be honest. Don't have much faith in those scoring enough goals. I defo want another one so hopefully (without meaning to sound too harsh), Schwartz goes.
I think with Jayden Stockley, we’ve put all our egg in one basket. Thankfully, I don’t think the way we’re going to play relies on the striker scoring every week.
It’s just as much Stockley’s job to hold the ball up for wingers/midfielders to score, as it is to put the ball in the net himself.
There’s something about Davison, he’s got an edge to his game that I like. If he could hit the target regularly, I think we’ve got a good player in our hands.
Comments
Photos from Brian Sealy
Schwartz missed his penalty in the shootout at the end but so did Stockley and Jaiyesimi, fortunately the rest took some very good penalties. Players look sharp and all trained hard.
2. Morgan noticeably looked class. His close control with the ball was phenomenal.
3. Was such a wonderful celebration of the women’s squad coming together and as such a great representation of how this club is heading in the right direction.
I have always liked Morgan because he can see a pass and make it. But Bowyer was spot on about Morgan’s weaknesses. To Morgan’s credit he got his head down, worked hard, and improved steadily over the season. He is a far better player than he was at the start of last season and IMO worthy of an improved contract as I think he is going to be a big player for us this season.
On paper Clare’s physical presence will be more dangerous in the box and Morgan can pick out those runs rather than being the player making them.
And playing in a central midfield unit with the hardworking and covering Dobson and Clare, may very well give him the platform he needs.
Unless we can get rid of Schwartz ASAP, I can’t see us getting another striker in the building.
He's hardly gonna come out and say Davison is League Two at best, then have to bring him off the bench to get a winner in games.
We're in a bit of a similar situation to Tottenham with Kane. We've got our main striker so it's very hard to bring in someone of quality who knows they probably won't play unless Stockley is injured. Davison fits the bill there I guess but it is a big gamble on Stockley being fit for most of the season.