The mention of 'Facebook memories' a few posts back reminded me that today I got the flashback appear that it is 10 years to the day that we went to Oldham Athletic away during the title winning season and 9-man Charlton absolutely ran themselves into the ground to get a 1-0 win.
That was a team who whenever they did lose a game, would rarely get criticized (at least not by the majority).
It felt like a big deal at the time, but on paper an away win against Oldham shouldn't have felt so enormous. But it was the manner that team applied themselves that made all the difference. They took no opposition for granted whatsoever. Zero coasters. Substitutes prepared to play that role if it was for benefit of the team.
Of course it was a team filled with talent, but there was a common thread among those players....They all were hungry. Some of them on their way up the pyramid and desperate to prove themselves (Stephens, Danny Green, Solly), some who were angry and with a point to prove (Kermorgant, Morrison) and those who were a real glue in the squad from a morale perspective (Jackson, Hamer).
I don't think this league is that complex to be honest. You need a good team spirit, some quality and a common objective.
We've got too many players who are not here because they want to better themselves and better Charlton. The likes of Gunter, Watson, Matthews - they're here because its a contract.
The mention of 'Facebook memories' a few posts back reminded me that today I got the flashback appear that it is 10 years to the day that we went to Oldham Athletic away during the title winning season and 9-man Charlton absolutely ran themselves into the ground to get a 1-0 win.
That was a team who whenever they did lose a game, would rarely get criticized (at least not by the majority).
It felt like a big deal at the time, but on paper an away win against Oldham shouldn't have felt so enormous. But it was the manner that team applied themselves that made all the difference. They took no opposition for granted whatsoever. Zero coasters. Substitutes prepared to play that role if it was for benefit of the team.
Of course it was a team filled with talent, but there was a common thread among those players....They all were hungry. Some of them on their way up the pyramid and desperate to prove themselves (Stephens, Danny Green, Solly), some who were angry and with a point to prove (Kermorgant, Morrison) and those who were a real glue in the squad from a morale perspective (Jackson, Hamer).
I don't think this league is that complex to be honest. You need a good team spirit, some quality and a common objective.
We've got too many players who are not here because they want to better themselves and better Charlton. The likes of Gunter, Watson, Matthews - they're here because its a contract.
I agree, we need to go back to basics and run things simply on and off pitch with a proper structure like other clubs at this level do.
Technical Directors and heavy analysis might sound flash on paper, but it strikes me as a club trying to be a premier league one before earning the right. This is I think one of the biggest problems with Sandgaard. He's trying to do things to quickly by thinking we can just shoot up to the premier league in no time and we can just fill the valley out by dumping tickets.
The problem is I still don't think he understands it or listens and I'm not sure he wants to.
Putting better analytics in place is probably just catching up with other bigger clubs at our level. Brentford used data to help them go from L1 to the Prem and they got promoted from this level years ago.
I think it’s clear some of our worst signings in recent years were based on them being big names and coming in via contacts, Arter, Souare, Gunter and Watson for example. On the other hand undervalued players like Dobson, CBT and Clare have been our better players. Whether the black box identified the latter doesn’t matter, the point is there are good players out there that are relatively cheap and that we can develop. You’re more likely to regularly find players like them with a good scouting and analytics set up in place.
This summer will be a big test for TS and MS. They’ve had plenty of time to get that structure in place and refine the processes based on what they’ve learnt from this season. It’ll be interesting to see what sort of players come in.
There is nothing wrong with aspiring to do things better than everybody else but this can't just be words. If there is frustration and disquiet about some things, not just from fans, but also within the club then you may not be doing things better. I would say that if you genuinely have that aspiration, critical friends are needed more than brown tounges. Airman would be a great critical friend in some aspects at least, Varney too. They don't have to be employed, but they are supporters with experience and success.
Putting better analytics in place is probably just catching up with other bigger clubs at our level. Brentford used data to help them go from L1 to the Prem and they got promoted from this level years ago.
I think it’s clear some of our worst signings in recent years were based on them being big names and coming in via contacts, Arter, Souare, Gunter and Watson for example. On the other hand undervalued players like Dobson, CBT and Clare have been our better players. Whether the black box identified the latter doesn’t matter, the point is there are good players out there that are relatively cheap and that we can develop. You’re more likely to regularly find players like them with a good scouting and analytics set up in place.
This summer will be a big test for TS and MS. They’ve had plenty of time to get that structure in place and refine the processes based on what they’ve learnt from this season. It’ll be interesting to see what sort of players come in.
Huge test for them in the summer. Not just signing good players, but the correct players. Currently got 27 players on our first team website. That is ridiculous number for a league 1 club. Best guess we are going to lose 13 of them in the summer. I hope for TS wallet we get the recruitment correct, and change the mentality of joining Charlton for a paycheck.
Comments
That was a team who whenever they did lose a game, would rarely get criticized (at least not by the majority).
It felt like a big deal at the time, but on paper an away win against Oldham shouldn't have felt so enormous. But it was the manner that team applied themselves that made all the difference. They took no opposition for granted whatsoever. Zero coasters. Substitutes prepared to play that role if it was for benefit of the team.
Of course it was a team filled with talent, but there was a common thread among those players....They all were hungry. Some of them on their way up the pyramid and desperate to prove themselves (Stephens, Danny Green, Solly), some who were angry and with a point to prove (Kermorgant, Morrison) and those who were a real glue in the squad from a morale perspective (Jackson, Hamer).
I don't think this league is that complex to be honest. You need a good team spirit, some quality and a common objective.
We've got too many players who are not here because they want to better themselves and better Charlton. The likes of Gunter, Watson, Matthews - they're here because its a contract.
Technical Directors and heavy analysis might sound flash on paper, but it strikes me as a club trying to be a premier league one before earning the right. This is I think one of the biggest problems with Sandgaard. He's trying to do things to quickly by thinking we can just shoot up to the premier league in no time and we can just fill the valley out by dumping tickets.
The problem is I still don't think he understands it or listens and I'm not sure he wants to.
I think it’s clear some of our worst signings in recent years were based on them being big names and coming in via contacts, Arter, Souare, Gunter and Watson for example. On the other hand undervalued players like Dobson, CBT and Clare have been our better players. Whether the black box identified the latter doesn’t matter, the point is there are good players out there that are relatively cheap and that we can develop. You’re more likely to regularly find players like them with a good scouting and analytics set up in place.
It's not simply about money but we do need an owner who is willing to listen and to learn from others.
We should at the very least be competitive in L1 and getting into the playoffs. L1 has got harder and we shouldn't underestimate it.