After watching the interview, Ben comes across extremely well. Hope their time in Spain helps build a real unity in the squad. New season is not far away, but until then time to enjoy the British Summer 😉
Flexibility in the case of things maybe not going so well in a certain match is essential,but the idea is,get so good at what you are doing and no matter how the opposition counters that ,carry on you will prevail.Everybody knows how Man City, and Liverpool play,few have been able to do anything about it.I do think we have the spine of a good side,Lavelle,Dobson Stockley, are as good as anyone in this division,throw in Fraser,Blackett Taylor,Chucks ,get DJ and Kirk firing,utilise Clare as a utility man and that could be the basis of a good side.
In this league it's often about being able to grind out results and win dirty or when not on your A game. Very few teams who've been promoted from League 2 or 1 have done so playing flare football week in week out.
Of course the old adage of scoring more than you concede, and not scoring means not winning is very true, it's a delicate balance. One Powell got right very much so and to a slightly lesser extent so did Bowyer.
Bowyer had players/leaders like Pratley or Cullen who could take the game by the scruff of the neck in their own way, Powell had Jackson, Stephens, Yann and many others, almost a whole team who could do so. Some say 'leaders' - I think we lack those massively at the moment since Pratley left and it's those types of players we'll need in to have any chance of success, not sure what the stat machine would say about them though...........
Pratley didn't take games by the scruff of the neck ffs, he spoilt games and made it hard for the opposition but he never led us forward in any constructive sense. In the promotion season we were at our best without him on the pitch, in the Championship season Cullen got injured and Gallagher left, Pratley came in and we went down, and the season after that he was frankly diabolical. This narrative that he controlled games is based on the Doncaster keeper throwing him one a yard out and him pushing someone over at Wembley
As for people who took games by the scruff of the neck, Cullen, Bielik, Aribo, Gallagher and Williams all did that in the Pratley era with considerably greater effect
I will concede that Pratley did it more than Gilbey, which is to say, more than not at all
I'm looking forward to attacking football and goal mouth action, I really am, who wouldn't? But isn't this constant insistence on it being the only way to play and win all a bit one - eyed and dogmatic? There's another team on the pitch, they're allowed to compete, they'll each provide their own challenges. The whole management/ownership/recruitment team are singing from the same hymn sheet but it's Sandgaard's hymn sheet, innit? Sandgaard's derision of "the high balls to the big bloke" is troubling - There's always a time and place for that, that's why it's so popular and effective. Steve Gallen's a decent and knowledgeable chap but I'm concerned by his revelation that Martin S was in on all the manager interviews. Doing what? What does he bring? Was he just Thomas's eyes and ears on the day, taking notes? Garner's credentials look fine to me, let's hope he has the players, time, players, space and players to succeed here at Charlton.
Watch this, Russell Martin gives a different perspective on managers not having a “plan B” and “typical Brits” wanting long balls up to a big man when plan A isn’t working.
Very happy with Garner, but I don't want to get too carried away, so ...
If we don't play 'attractive, attacking football', what are the the alternatives?
From my limited tactics knowledge, they are:
- Long ball to a tall forward: good if you have Crouch
- Tiki-Taka: good if you have Iniesta
- Lie deep and counter: good if you are Italy
- Total football: good if you are the Netherlands in the old days
What else?
My point is, you have to adapt and if the opposition knows 100% what you are going to do, they can prepare for that, so flexibility surely should be part of Garner/TS's plans.
I’d say it’s about being flexible within your broader style, there’s definitely a balance to find. So while we don’t lump it up to a big man but we might switch formation, play one or two strikers, sit deeper or press higher, focus on stopping a certain opponent etc.
You could go too far the other way resulting in having no clear way of playing, being ok at everything and good at nothing. Not many squads, especially at this level, will be able to easily switch between multiple styles and play all of them as effectively.
George Dobson is so, so, so, so, so, so, so much better than Pratley at getting us on the ball and getting us moving forward, but he didn't push anyone over so he's not a leader
Pratley didn't take games by the scruff of the neck ffs, he spoilt games and made it hard for the opposition but he never led us forward in any constructive sense. In the promotion season we were at our best without him on the pitch, in the Championship season Cullen got injured and Gallagher left, Pratley came in and we went down, and the season after that he was frankly diabolical. This narrative that he controlled games is based on the Doncaster keeper throwing him one a yard out and him pushing someone over at Wembley
As for people who took games by the scruff of the neck, Cullen, Bielik, Aribo, Gallagher and Williams all did that in the Pratley era with considerably greater effect
I will concede that Pratley did it more than Gilbey, which is to say, more than not at all
Very harsh on Pratley. I mean, yeah he didn't take games by the scruff of the neck but he was perfect against some of the better teams in League 1. You probably wouldn't want him against the smaller teams in League 1 but he had a much greater impact in the latter stages of our promotion winning season. Having that spoiler is just as important as dominating the ball on certain occasions.
I repeat: with Pratley as a fringe player we got promoted, then when he was a regular starter we got relegated and then flailed miserably in League One and people were still pissed off when he was rightfully released
I'm looking forward to attacking football and goal mouth action, I really am, who wouldn't? But isn't this constant insistence on it being the only way to play and win all a bit one - eyed and dogmatic? There's another team on the pitch, they're allowed to compete, they'll each provide their own challenges. The whole management/ownership/recruitment team are singing from the same hymn sheet but it's Sandgaard's hymn sheet, innit? Sandgaard's derision of "the high balls to the big bloke" is troubling - There's always a time and place for that, that's why it's so popular and effective. Steve Gallen's a decent and knowledgeable chap but I'm concerned by his revelation that Martin S was in on all the manager interviews. Doing what? What does he bring? Was he just Thomas's eyes and ears on the day, taking notes? Garner's credentials look fine to me, let's hope he has the players, time, players, space and players to succeed here at Charlton.
Watch this, Russell Martin gives a different perspective on managers not having a “plan B” and “typical Brits” wanting long balls up to a big man when plan A isn’t working.
Very happy with Garner, but I don't want to get too carried away, so ...
If we don't play 'attractive, attacking football', what are the the alternatives?
From my limited tactics knowledge, they are:
- Long ball to a tall forward: good if you have Crouch
- Tiki-Taka: good if you have Iniesta
- Lie deep and counter: good if you are Italy
- Total football: good if you are the Netherlands in the old days
What else?
My point is, you have to adapt and if the opposition knows 100% what you are going to do, they can prepare for that, so flexibility surely should be part of Garner/TS's plans.
So you don’t think that at the forefront of an attacking ethos is that the other teams need to first and foremost worry about you ? When it isn’t working what should you do? I’d say it’s carry on doing what you’ve been practicing all week and do best and not revert to something alien. Certainly there are times when the opposition are on the day or fundamentally better but that goes for Man City and Liverpool and every other team on the planet.
I mean, I even kind of agree with Rob's wider point, which is that last season our midfield, aside from Lee occasionally, did NOT do that at all. But we don't need a Pratley, we need a Gallagher
I mean, I even kind of agree with Rob's wider point, which is that last season our midfield, aside from Lee occasionally, did NOT do that at all. But we don't need a Pratley, we need a Gallagher
Don’t see us getting another Gallagher for a while, I hope we do but feel we are probably down the pecking order for that type of loan now.
I repeat: with Pratley as a fringe player we got promoted, then when he was a regular starter we got relegated and then flailed miserably in League One and people were still pissed off when he was rightfully released
Little bit more at play than getting relegated because Pratley was a regular starter mind. Agree it was definitely the right time to be released though.
Not like you just to dig out one player though is it...
I repeat: with Pratley as a fringe player we got promoted, then when he was a regular starter we got relegated and then flailed miserably in League One and people were still pissed off when he was rightfully released
George Dobson is so, so, so, so, so, so, so much better than Pratley at getting us on the ball and getting us moving forward, but he didn't push anyone over so he's not a leader
I think at this point, people should withhold judgement and support the new manager and what ever squad he can put together before the season starts, remembering he will be constrained by the budget available and his late arrival to the club.
I repeat: with Pratley as a fringe player we got promoted, then when he was a regular starter we got relegated and then flailed miserably in League One and people were still pissed off when he was rightfully released
Well lady’s & Gentlemen I hope I am proved wrong, but I am getting the feeling we will end up with someone far worse the JJ was and more has been crap players on free transfers or loans. so far what has TS actually achieved apart from buy the Club? And he wants premier League football 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👎👎👎👎
Let me guess you are a glass half empty sort of person.
No actually I own 5 companies and have supported CAFC since 1968. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Welp, that's my non-sequitur of the week.
None-Sequitur a noun is not the correct word but a sense of humour might help 🤣🤣🤣
Well lady’s & Gentlemen I hope I am proved wrong, but I am getting the feeling we will end up with someone far worse the JJ was and more has been crap players on free transfers or loans. so far what has TS actually achieved apart from buy the Club? And he wants premier League football 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👎👎👎👎
Let me guess you are a glass half empty sort of person.
No actually I own 5 companies and have supported CAFC since 1968. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Welp, that's my non-sequitur of the week.
None-Sequitur a noun is not the correct word but a sense of humour might help 🤣🤣🤣
Well lady’s & Gentlemen I hope I am proved wrong, but I am getting the feeling we will end up with someone far worse the JJ was and more has been crap players on free transfers or loans. so far what has TS actually achieved apart from buy the Club? And he wants premier League football 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👎👎👎👎
Let me guess you are a glass half empty sort of person.
No actually I own 5 companies and have supported CAFC since 1968. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Welp, that's my non-sequitur of the week.
None-Sequitur a noun is not the correct word but a sense of humour might help 🤣🤣🤣
I mean, it absolutely is. Are you ok?
I am fine a very well thank you. But a sense of humour injection might Help you 🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍
Oh, I forgot as well, Sam Field got injured just as he was starting to look dominant, that didn't help either. Basically the gods decreed it was Pratley and Davis, and the latter was so bad the former got off lightly
George Dobson is so, so, so, so, so, so, so much better than Pratley at getting us on the ball and getting us moving forward, but he didn't push anyone over so he's not a leader
I would like to wish our new young manager all the best as I too love attacking football and hope he achieves his Goal. I also hope we can bring in a few more decent players and start the season off well 👍👍👍
I think at this point, people should withhold judgement and support the new manager and what ever squad he can put together before the season starts, remembering he will be constrained by the budget available and his late arrival to the club.
On the contrary. He is a key figure in our beloved club therefore should be supported from the off. Over time, based on performances/results that support may change but every one of us should get behind him day 1.
I really liked Pratley. He didn't have the best ball skills but he was able to pair intelligence with his stamina, which is more than you can say for a couple of the midfielders we have on the books currently.
He wouldn't be the kind of player we need for a Ben Garner team but he was exactly what was required at the time under Bowyer - we identified a gap in our squad after getting beat by Shrewsbury in the play-offs the previous year and Pratley filled that gap. I agree that Cullen/Bielik/Aribo ultimately had the quality in the run in to push us on to eventual promotion but Pratley's contribution throughout those winter months (games 15-35) were vital in keeping us in the hunt with ugly points away from home and laying the foundation for the others to play.
Wouldn't want to sign him now but won't read the slander without challenging it.
Comments
Of course the old adage of scoring more than you concede, and not scoring means not winning is very true, it's a delicate balance. One Powell got right very much so and to a slightly lesser extent so did Bowyer.
Bowyer had players/leaders like Pratley or Cullen who could take the game by the scruff of the neck in their own way, Powell had Jackson, Stephens, Yann and many others, almost a whole team who could do so. Some say 'leaders' - I think we lack those massively at the moment since Pratley left and it's those types of players we'll need in to have any chance of success, not sure what the stat machine would say about them though...........
As for people who took games by the scruff of the neck, Cullen, Bielik, Aribo, Gallagher and Williams all did that in the Pratley era with considerably greater effect
I will concede that Pratley did it more than Gilbey, which is to say, more than not at all
You could go too far the other way resulting in having no clear way of playing, being ok at everything and good at nothing. Not many squads, especially at this level, will be able to easily switch between multiple styles and play all of them as effectively.
Not like you just to dig out one player though is it...
I would like to wish our new young manager all the best as I too love attacking football and hope he achieves his Goal.
I also hope we can bring in a few more decent players and start the season off well 👍👍👍
Back from his cruciate ligament injuries now.
Just saying.
He wouldn't be the kind of player we need for a Ben Garner team but he was exactly what was required at the time under Bowyer - we identified a gap in our squad after getting beat by Shrewsbury in the play-offs the previous year and Pratley filled that gap. I agree that Cullen/Bielik/Aribo ultimately had the quality in the run in to push us on to eventual promotion but Pratley's contribution throughout those winter months (games 15-35) were vital in keeping us in the hunt with ugly points away from home and laying the foundation for the others to play.
Wouldn't want to sign him now but won't read the slander without challenging it.