Having had time to calm down and reflect on the game, I think for 70 minutes, we didn’t actually play too badly today. Generally we looked to play our way out, and Watson and Dobson had a grip of the middle of the park. But to be fair to Wigan, every time the put the ball in the box they looked like scoring. Our wingers made it to easy for them to cross, and was not tight. They were crossing from pretty deep. RI & AF got beat every time, or would lose their men.. that is a big issue for me. I think we might need to get Pearce back in the team, he might give the odd penalty away, but you know, they won’t get a free header!
Adkins for changed it up at the wrong time today, I actually thought it was our best spell of the game when he took Dobson off, then we lost control of the midfield. And we went to lumping it forward and not winning the 2nd ball. Sorry Albie, I really wanted you to be successful this season, but until we know best how to play you, you need to come out of the team. He worked hard, but he created zero, and never wins the 2nd ball..
Adkins for me is very stubborn, he has his side and tactics in his head and we seem to stick with it, can’t remember him changing very much since he took over.
I would like us to go to playing 3 5 2 but I know we need to get a left back in to play that. But under Bowyer, some of our best performance were when we played 3 at the back.
Big 10 days for the club, hopefully a couple of good young loans in. If not a bloody long hard season!
Good post Dubai.
I thought Dobson * had a solid game, and he should've stayed on. Washington had to come on but for Albie in the 73th minute.
CBT for DJ was a risk and that back fired as well.
Confused how the upper North support the team for 88 minutes and then when the well paid Wigan team grab a goal in the 88th minute " we're effing Shite" and "not fit to wear the shirt'' ringing out after the experience McLean gets a second as his legs are still good.
The guys all tried and didn't deserve that venom. After Charlie Kirk's poor effort, when a couple of yards out all regulars knew what was coming next.
Not sure how Steve Gallen convinces a club in the Championship or Premier to loan a player to a club in 21st position in League 1 unless they are sub standard and are going to be released soon anyway.
Not sure how Steve Gallen convinces a player and his agent to come to Cafc when we are 21st and none of the players can hit a cow's arse with a banjo when the goal posts are in sight.
*Compared to Cullen or Bielik he is well short but the guy did ok in midfield yesterday.
Have never booed the team in my life. Booing is for kids and drunks. However, they have tried to pull the wool over our eyes with a disastrous window and the attempt to bring poor players in on the cheap. I expected us to lose yesterday, and I expect us to lose the next couple of games until TS realises exactly what football at this level is about. That said, I think he is starting to get the picture. Come off Twitter, put the bloody guitar down, and get some business done before it’s too late.
Just out of interest, how many players short do people think we are of being a decent side for this division
After Sheff Wed, I said 3-4.
After Oxford, it was more like 4-5.
After MK, it seemed to be 5-6.
After today, I’m thinking 7-8.
I wasn't at the game yesterday so will have to take other people's word that we were as poor as we were. A note that all the teams we've played so far would expect to be challenging at the top end of the table. We're obviously short, and we're in a terrible league position, but the Crewe game might add some context to where we really are in this league.
This squad isn't going to be promoted for sure.
However, part of me thinks that recruiting the right player in midfield could transform the whole team. That's where we're losing games - we need a dominant central midfielder who pulls the rest together. A leader - imagine Kins at the heart of this team. I think it would perform very differently in all positions.
Losing Pratley is looking a poor decision, but I'm not talking about a holding midfielder per se. More of a fulcrum.
We're not giving Stockley the service he needs. We're not getting our wide men the ball often enough. We're not seeing our full backs get forward.
From a squad perspective we obviously need more - CB LB ST CM minimum - but no-one is grabbing hold of this team and making them play.
I can't see any comment from Adkins yet - did he skip the post-match press conference?
Oh dear, I have just seen it on the club site. Talk about trying to make the best of a bad job. I'd give Adkins another three games to get a result or come clean about what's gone wrong from his perspective, otherwise he's just happy taking his money and waffling platitudes about the run of play and not dealing with that cross, needing to get on the ball in the final third etc. If I read him right he also seemed to say that maybe if Kirk had taken a tumble in the box at one point, then perhaps we might have scored and the result might have been different. Fucking desperate if that's what he meant (I didn't see the game as away on holiday so don't know).
My observations from the ground were that we didn’t appear to have any movement in the team.
When we had the ball at the back there was no-one showing for the ball and moving their markers out of position.
So we went side to side and invariably failed to retain the ball or hoofed it long.
Throw ins were like musical statues.
We badly miss a player to keep the midfield ticking . Picking the ball up from the back for , playing one two’s - just being in the right place at the right time.
Our Full backs today hardly got into the oppo half.
We have no pace across the side.
Positives - Kirk looked dangerous . Stockley tried hard but has no gas , keeper made 4 really good saves.
All is not lost , but something is definitely wrong behind the scenes.
Gallen and Bowyer had a succession of decent signings with a small budget from RD, so what is so different now ? Ok they also had some ropey ones as well, but we haven’t seen players if the Calibre of Cullen , Gallagher , Bilik etc
Perhaps players would to move to play under Bowyer but maybe not Adkins ?
Did TS a think that he would retain last years players when he made his upbeat comments about promotion ?
I don’t know what’s up , but something isn’t right.
I could have written this post myself,but billyboots saved me the trouble,something is not right,Innis,Famewo have nowhere near the confidence they had last year,I lost count of the times we had a midfielder on the ball,who looked up,saw nothing moving and went sideways,only to get abuse from the crowd.I looked at the difference between Stockley and Wyke,Wyke did not stop moving across the front line making it awkward for our defenders to cope,Stockley hardly moved from the centre,they put Cousins in front of him and he became ineffective,reduced to commiting silly fouls.I did think Watson had a good game,good passer alas a bit slower to recover now.Morgans set pieces are really irritating me,one late in the game went out for a goal kick.All is not lost,but without some decent business this week,we could be in trouble.
Our central pairings in both midfield and defence are letting us down badly at the moment.
I've had a watch through the league goals weve conceded so far.All have come from open play and all but one have come from our central midfied being cut open and our centre halfs inability to deal with the resulting attack.
Watson kind of bucked the trend for a while yesterday and kept the centre fairly solid but the inevitable happened has he tired in the second half.
Dobson and Morgan are no better than one another in this system. I thought Inniss did ok but Famewo is a shadow of the player he was before he got injured.
Maybe Famewo and Inniss were more confident in front of Amos. Likelihood is they are still getting used to the new keeper. When Amos improved last season, the whole of the defence was strengthened. Football like any other sport is a confidence game. Right now, a number of the players’ confidence looks shot. Look at Albie’s reaction after the first Oxford goal went in. He was down on his haunches with his head in his hands. And I also don’t think Stockley is the right person to be skipper. Needs to be someone who is more in the mix in the middle or at the back. I can see Inniss in this role - someone who can gee everyone up when needed.
What a terrible decision to get rid of Andrew Shinnie.
I thought it was a good decision at the time, but that was based on the assumption that we'd sign a better replacement!
I didn't want us to re-sign a few others either, but yesterday I thought to myself... Imagine who we'd have brought in to replace them? They'd probably be even worse.
Maybe Famewo and Inniss were more confident in front of Amos. Likelihood is they are still getting used to the new keeper. When Amos improved last season, the whole of the defence was strengthened. Football like any other sport is a confidence game. Right now, a number of the players’ confidence looks shot. Look at Albie’s reaction after the first Oxford goal went in. He was down on his haunches with his head in his hands. And I also don’t think Stockley is the right person to be skipper. Needs to be someone who is more in the mix in the middle or at the back. I can see Inniss in this role - someone who can gee everyone up when needed.
The setup of the team was different. They were protected in midfield by at least Pratley. I agree it's someone more in the mix in the middle. The balance is all wrong, and it's not just the absence of a left foot on the left side.
Haven't read another post other than Golfaddick's posts above.
Not being Smug, (only slightly !) but I decided against a season ticket, as just wasn't convinced we would replace Chuks Aneke who scored a goal every 100 minutes last season.
I have an alternative football fix now lower down the pyramid, which is just more fun, and they are set up with two strikers and wing backs, plus goal scoring Midfielders. Win 3-2 or 4-1 and crazy things like that.
I will be Charlton till I die, as they are my first love but as the betting advert said: When the fun stops.........
Insomnia is the reason I'm posting at 3am !
A few people talking about season tickets and how they were led up the garden path etc (not you, that last bit Sam), but since when has a season ticket come with a guarantee?
I’ve only had a season ticket since 2016 and in that time I’ve been lucky enough to experience one promotion, and one memorable day out at Wembley. There have also been two relegations (the first of these before I had a season ticket, just paying for individual matches). They’re all part and parcel of the game, take the rough with the smooth etc. Three or four hundred quid (a bit less in Lower CE) doesn’t seem that high a price, when you consider what a large part of our lives the club is.
Do I want better? Of course? Am I entitled to better? No way, even if I have a season ticket. Does a club of our size deserve better? Possibly, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to work hard for it, as owners, management, players and supporters.
I get some of the the discontent re the owner, but people on social media are getting increasingly vituperative towards him, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Sandgaard hasn’t already had fleeting thoughts of an exit strategy, particularly as Zynex shares are down. Where would that leave us? At the mercy of Roland.
What a terrible decision to get rid of Andrew Shinnie.
I thought it was a good decision at the time, but that was based on the assumption that we'd sign a better replacement!
I didn't want us to re-sign a few others either, but yesterday I thought to myself... Imagine who we'd have brought in to replace them? They'd probably be even worse.
Easier said than done as he was out of contract but we need to learn to bring in replacements BEFORE we get rid
Something I've not seen Charlton do for a while now, we always seem to sell and think: "Oh we'll find better" - Am sure there are more recent examples but bringing in Ben Hamer before we sold Rob Elliot has to be one of the most recent?
Everyone harking on about Shinne as if he was some world beater. I agree we offer zero creativity but the guy didn't pull up trees with us. He's now at Livingston which says a lot.
It’s a minor thing but the bloke who runs the twitter feed is unbelievably tedious.
Totally agree. We could have been 5 down before they scored. 4 great saves from MacGillivray plus they hit the bar.
In reply we didnt test Amos once.
In goal attempts it was about as one sided as you could get.
We’d have been 5-0 down at half time if we didn’t have a keeper.
Keep reading that over & over again because that is so the point.
Even without goalkeepers we wouldn't have scored because we didn't get an effort on target. Amos could have been in the crapper all half because he wasn't needed.
I know I say this ALL the time but you'll never get me to change.......
It's not clean sheets that win you games its goals. Adkins can wish all he likes for 25 clean sheets this season but I'd rather NONE just as long as we score 1 more than our opponents. You cant win a bloody game of football unless you score AT LEAST ONCE.
What is the point of showing Patrick's winning goal at Wembley when those players have all gone bar Pierce who is now just cover and Purrington who unfortunately has been injured. Showing this on screen a few minutes before kick off doesn't inspire the team and just makes me realize how we have gone backwards in the last 18 months on the field even those we appear to have good people with the right intentions off the field.
The players we have now aren't as good which isn't their fault. It's just counter productive showing " the good old days" it makes we sad what we have lost especially the top players from the Wembley winning side.
1) sack teohane 2) place Mumford and Geddy snr on a basic contract with promotion bonus 3) have a fan based recruitment policy for non playing roles and even better for playing roles. Personally I would find employing fans into senior positions difficult, but I would do it anyway and especially if it lead to 1 4) reconsider the loss to reward ratio of really pushing for promotion in the playing budget. League 1 is loss making, championship is sustainable and if well done, possibly remunerative as a fan and an investor if we can challenge for premier league.
The team is most important and we need a decent control the game midfielder who can score goals, an attacking LB to replace purrington who isn’t that and is injured and ideally another striker.
But, if you are reading TS or your dedicated CL monitoring team, acting on number 1) will definitely cut you some slack on 2-4
Now the dust has settled and the two bottles of red me and the missus sank last night have worn off, I actually don’t think we played that badly up until their first goal. We are lacklustre in front of goal with the only plan to get it into Stockley and hope he scores with his head. We have to improve in the final third, it’s all well and good having most of the ball but even from set pieces we don’t look like scoring.
Need a CAM/Midfield playmaker both Sims or Lowery would fit that bill, just someone that can carry the ball and beat two or three players and play a killer pass. I rate Albie but he’s not that guy, we also need an LWB and Striker. Anything else will be a bonus. We’ve lost 4 games in a row ( including WImbledon in the Mickey Mouse cup) the boys aren’t confident and you can tell. Must win next week against Crewe, let’s get our season started against them and try go on a run.
Maybe Famewo and Inniss were more confident in front of Amos. Likelihood is they are still getting used to the new keeper. When Amos improved last season, the whole of the defence was strengthened. Football like any other sport is a confidence game. Right now, a number of the players’ confidence looks shot. Look at Albie’s reaction after the first Oxford goal went in. He was down on his haunches with his head in his hands. And I also don’t think Stockley is the right person to be skipper. Needs to be someone who is more in the mix in the middle or at the back. I can see Inniss in this role - someone who can gee everyone up when needed.
The setup of the team was different. They were protected in midfield by at least Pratley. I agree it's someone more in the mix in the middle. The balance is all wrong, and it's not just the absence of a left foot on the left side.
Maybe. Though Pratley only came on at 77 mins. I don’t remember but looks like we played Stockley down the middle, Millar on the left and DJ on the right. Replace Millar with Kirk and that’s the same as yesterday. We did have a proper left back (Purrington) but Matthews was right back (same as yesterday). Pearce and Famewo were centre backs. As I recall, folk weren’t that enamoured with Pearce last season and were calling out for Inniss. So Inniss and Famewo was what we had yesterday. Watson played both games - I guess it was him playing deep against Plymouth - no doubt he played the same role yesterday (I didn’t see the game). Amos was in goal.
That just leaves JFC and Gilbey- replaced yesterday by Morgan and Dobson. A key difference is goals - Gilbey and JFC both scored against Plymouth and have 51 career goals between them. Dobson and Morgan have 9 between them (they are younger and have played less games but don’t look prolific). So on this analysis those who say the problem is in midfield are spot on.
Maybe Famewo and Inniss were more confident in front of Amos. Likelihood is they are still getting used to the new keeper. When Amos improved last season, the whole of the defence was strengthened. Football like any other sport is a confidence game. Right now, a number of the players’ confidence looks shot. Look at Albie’s reaction after the first Oxford goal went in. He was down on his haunches with his head in his hands. And I also don’t think Stockley is the right person to be skipper. Needs to be someone who is more in the mix in the middle or at the back. I can see Inniss in this role - someone who can gee everyone up when needed.
The setup of the team was different. They were protected in midfield by at least Pratley. I agree it's someone more in the mix in the middle. The balance is all wrong, and it's not just the absence of a left foot on the left side.
Maybe. Though Pratley only came on at 77 mins. I don’t remember but looks like we played Stockley down the middle, Millar on the left and DJ on the right. Replace Millar with Kirk and that’s the same as yesterday. We did have a proper left back (Purrington) but Matthews was right back (same as yesterday). Pearce and Famewo were centre backs. As I recall, folk weren’t that enamoured with Pearce last season and were calling out for Inniss. So Inniss and Famewo was what we had yesterday. Watson played both games - I guess it was him playing deep against Plymouth - no doubt he played the same role yesterday (I didn’t see the game). Amos was in goal.
That just leaves JFC and Gilbey- replaced yesterday by Morgan and Dobson. A key difference is goals - Gilbey and JFC both scored against Plymouth and have 51 career goals between them. Dobson and Morgan have 9 between them (they are younger and have played less games but don’t look prolific). So on this analysis those who say the problem is in midfield are spot on.
This in spades. JFC is a massive gap in this team that hasn't even been attempted to be filled.
Comments
Good post Dubai.
I thought Dobson * had a solid game, and he should've stayed on. Washington had to come on but for Albie in the 73th minute.
CBT for DJ was a risk and that back fired as well.
Confused how the upper North support the team for 88 minutes and then when the well paid Wigan team grab a goal in the 88th minute " we're effing Shite" and "not fit to wear the shirt'' ringing out after the experience McLean gets a second as his legs are still good.
The guys all tried and didn't deserve that venom. After Charlie Kirk's poor effort, when a couple of yards out all regulars knew what was coming next.
Not sure how Steve Gallen convinces a club in the Championship or Premier to loan a player to a club in 21st position in League 1 unless they are sub standard and are going to be released soon anyway.
Not sure how Steve Gallen convinces a player and his agent to come to Cafc when we are 21st and none of the players can hit a cow's arse with a banjo when the goal posts are in sight.
*Compared to Cullen or Bielik he is well short but the guy did ok in midfield yesterday.
This squad isn't going to be promoted for sure.
However, part of me thinks that recruiting the right player in midfield could transform the whole team. That's where we're losing games - we need a dominant central midfielder who pulls the rest together. A leader - imagine Kins at the heart of this team. I think it would perform very differently in all positions.
Losing Pratley is looking a poor decision, but I'm not talking about a holding midfielder per se. More of a fulcrum.
We're not giving Stockley the service he needs. We're not getting our wide men the ball often enough. We're not seeing our full backs get forward.
From a squad perspective we obviously need more - CB LB ST CM minimum - but no-one is grabbing hold of this team and making them play.
Holland's and Stevens were a quality pairing at this level.
As for Cullen Bielik and Aribo what can I say.
At present we have Dobson Watson Clare and Morgan. None of these are good enough for a promotion push.
It's all about a rebuild next summer now as we are going nowhere fast this season.
I didn't want us to re-sign a few others either, but yesterday I thought to myself... Imagine who we'd have brought in to replace them? They'd probably be even worse.
Something I've not seen Charlton do for a while now, we always seem to sell and think: "Oh we'll find better" - Am sure there are more recent examples but bringing in Ben Hamer before we sold Rob Elliot has to be one of the most recent?
We did the same with Macauley Bonne last season
Even without goalkeepers we wouldn't have scored because we didn't get an effort on target. Amos could have been in the crapper all half because he wasn't needed.
I know I say this ALL the time but you'll never get me to change.......
It's not clean sheets that win you games its goals. Adkins can wish all he likes for 25 clean sheets this season but I'd rather NONE just as long as we score 1 more than our opponents. You cant win a bloody game of football unless you score AT LEAST ONCE.
The players we have now aren't as good which isn't their fault. It's just counter productive showing " the good old days" it makes we sad what we have lost especially the top players from the Wembley winning side.
We don't really look like scoring a goal, let alone winning a game.
Our players just aren't good enough
Out of these players, I would only keep a couple. The rest aren't good enough.
Worrying times
I loved the optimism of Charlton fans on the train after the match, talking about a relegation battle this season.
There won't be any kind of battle with this team, they are not good enough, at times don't look interested, have a lack of movement and desire.
I hope we make a good few signings, and Nigel turns it around, but as things stand, we will be going down. This team is shite!
1) sack teohane
2) place Mumford and Geddy snr on a basic contract with promotion bonus
3) have a fan based recruitment policy for non playing roles and even better for playing roles. Personally I would find employing fans into senior positions difficult, but I would do it anyway and especially if it lead to 1
4) reconsider the loss to reward ratio of really pushing for promotion in the playing budget. League 1 is loss making, championship is sustainable and if well done, possibly remunerative as a fan and an investor if we can challenge for premier league.
The team is most important and we need a decent control the game midfielder who can score goals, an attacking LB to replace purrington who isn’t that and is injured and ideally another striker.
But, if you are reading TS or your dedicated CL monitoring team, acting on number 1) will definitely cut you some slack on 2-4