Performances against Cray Valley Paper Mills and a relegation League2 candidate in Sutton, who were largely playing a reserve team. I think only 3 out of that XI are regular starters for Sutton, although I may be wrong.
I would like to see him perform against a side like Carlisle away from home, then we will see what he's about, not against what he's been tasked against so far..
He was pretty good at Pompey too to be fair
He came on as an 83rd minute substitution. Of course he scored a vital goal but can hardly take much from that kind of run out.
I'm just saying, let's not get ahead of ourselves as he's quite easy tasks so far, I look forward to seeing how he performs in the future league games
To be fair this is probably the only really fair way to judge him currently. He's done as good a job as could be expected in the specific circumstances he could do that job in. He's looked tidy and scored a couple but against lower league opposition or off the bench.
Which is absolutely fine IF he's going to be used mostly in that kind of squad player, fill-in role. But if he's going to establish himself as an actual first choice player then he's got to replicate the performances against some higher quality first.
I think he can. Appleton's comments suggest he thinks so too. But he's been given a chance and he really needs to take it.
Yeah I see your point, as you say though to make his way in, he will have to show more against tougher opposition.
I think away from home, him and Dobbo in midfield together with either Fraser or Watson ahead of them could work quite nicely. I'm quite a fan of a double pivot with two midfielders who can get about a bit.
I posted on November 11 that it was obviously his injury problems that has held him back and when he gets fit a lot of people on here will have to eat humble pie, this has already started and I will be interested to see how long it will take others to admit they were wrong
Some good points made on here. Conor McGrandles value to Charlton can only be assessed once he's had a run of games, at the moment nobody really knows if he is the missing link in the midfield, nobody apart from Appleton. I expect him to start tomorrow, alongside Dobson, with either Fraser or Watson as the attacking midfielder in that shape, fingers crossed that it all comes together and gives a lot of posters a problem, a successful McGrandles and no Kirk, who will they pick on after that ?
For what? It’s likely he’ll be 4th choice CM at most. He’s proven in L1, not everyone in the squad needs to be a top end L1 player for us to do well.
proven ? .. where? .. fair few games at MKD and Lincoln as well as Falkirk .. none of these clubs have exactly set the world on fire during his presence .. I repeat, for US, he is NOT good enough, if he were he would be a regular starter .. a '4th choice central midfielder' (your definition) should be a youngster on the way up, not a late twenty year old who's in decline
Lincoln made the play offs when he was captain off the team!
Which is better then we’ve managed to do the past couple of seasons.
and Appleton was the Lincoln manager .. he doesn't seem to be too keen on him as Charlton manager, fourth choice at very best
For what? It’s likely he’ll be 4th choice CM at most. He’s proven in L1, not everyone in the squad needs to be a top end L1 player for us to do well.
proven ? .. where? .. fair few games at MKD and Lincoln as well as Falkirk .. none of these clubs have exactly set the world on fire during his presence .. I repeat, for US, he is NOT good enough, if he were he would be a regular starter .. a '4th choice central midfielder' (your definition) should be a youngster on the way up, not a late twenty year old who's in decline
Lincoln made the play offs when he was captain off the team!
Which is better then we’ve managed to do the past couple of seasons.
and Appleton was the Lincoln manager .. he doesn't seem to be too keen on him as Charlton manager, fourth choice at very best
Real progress for him. I doubt many people expected he'd be starting a league game ahead of other available midfielders rather than just being thrown in as the result of an injury crisis. Hope he continues to perform.
wish him all the best as ever, BUT so far nothing he's done has convinced me that he is good enough for us .. Today ? .. Watson should be starting in his place
Although I'm not 100% convinced with him he's obviously earned some stripes with the gaffer with his recent performances so long may that continue. Can only be a good thing for the squad to see that if you knuckle down,you'll get your chances
Real progress for him. I doubt many people expected he'd be starting a league game ahead of other available midfielders rather than just being thrown in as the result of an injury crisis. Hope he continues to perform.
He needs to make a claim for a space. Either to try and force himself into the reckoning as a proper first choice midfielder OR if people are going start planing for January it puts him in the shop window.
Not that I want him sold at all but can't see him being happy as a squad player.
wish him all the best as ever, BUT so far nothing he's done has convinced me that he is good enough for us .. Today ? .. Watson should be starting in his place
Although I'm not 100% convinced with him he's obviously earned some stripes with the gaffer with his recent performances so long may that continue. Can only be a good thing for the squad to see that if you knuckle down,you'll get your chances
Agree.
As I said before I was very critical of him but being fit and playing under a manager who likes him, you could almost say who is keen, might mean we'll see the player that was influential at Lincoln and Cambridge.
Still needs to show his value over a longer period and against tougher opposition, IMHO.
Hopefully, that starts today.
Super, SuperMac Super, SuperMac Super, SuperMac Super Con McGrandles
wish him all the best as ever, BUT so far nothing he's done has convinced me that he is good enough for us .. Today ? .. Watson should be starting in his place
He’s also never had a decent run of games for us, so any judgements on him are based on odd games here and there. Not every good player for us started well.
Agree with Naby, he had his best game for us yet but the cross for their goal doesn’t happen if he tracks the overlap. I’m not ready to watch the highlights yet but at the time it looked like he started tracking and then stopped. As good as he mostly was, I’d pick Watson over him by a distance, probably with May as no 10.
Watson brings more to the midfield for me and against a lower team we should have gone for him,too much chopping and changing from Appleton after we win games.
The Head Coach provided an update on Conor McGrandles, who missed Saturday's trip to Gillingham with calf injury.
“It’s not great news - it keeps following us a little bit at the minute, doesn’t it? He pulled out of training on Friday, like I mentioned, and unfortunately the scan has revealed that he’s got a [grade] two b I believe, so we’re talking around four to six weeks.
We are cursed, no more complicated. Get the local priest in with some holy water, both training ground and Valley. Everything is worth a try at this stage…
The Head Coach provided an update on Conor McGrandles, who missed Saturday's trip to Gillingham with calf injury.
“It’s not great news - it keeps following us a little bit at the minute, doesn’t it? He pulled out of training on Friday, like I mentioned, and unfortunately the scan has revealed that he’s got a [grade] two b I believe, so we’re talking around four to six weeks.
I don't want to jinx him, but another reason why retaining Dobson is so important, he never breaks down and will play most games across the course of a season.
What is it with so many injuries in modern football, I don't recall it being as bad as it is in the past
We singed him carrying a significant injury IIRC. What were they thinking? Passed his medical did he? I'm praying that the lesson has been learned ahead of January. We have bad enough luck with injuries as it is without inviting more on ourselves.
Good luck to him and I wish him a speedy recovery.
I don't want to jinx him, but another reason why retaining Dobson is so important, he never breaks down and will play most games across the course of a season.
What is it with so many injuries in modern football, I don't recall it being as bad as it is in the past
Injuries can come from multiple things. The most common are poor preperation and training. Broken bones etc are usually freak occurrences.
Acute injuries usually occur as a result of an impact. Hence their more common name of 'impact injuries'.
Chronic injuries tend to occur from wear and tear, they can be made worse by improper rest and recovery and strengthening work.
We are seeing a lot of what seem like impact injuries such as strains, but properly managed the number of strains occurring can be reduced. Daily flexibility work and stretching can reduce the chances with some basic strengthening work.
The player has to listen and complete any plan set by the physio, but the physio needs to identify issues, set a plan to mitigate and eliminate risks and report back to the manager any players that aren't progressing as they should.
So is our problem: 1. We are cursed 2. Physios not recognising developing issues 3. Physios recognising issues and setting incorrect plans 4. Physios recognising issues, setting the right plans and players not following them. 5. The manager is forcing players to play through injuries.
Personally I believe we're probably at 4, with a bit of 5. Our physios are qualified professionals. I can only assume the players aren't following physio advice correctly. I don't think a smart manager would play players that are on the brink of an injury, so may be playing players that have minor niggles.
We singed him carrying a significant injury IIRC. What were they thinking? Passed his medical did he? I'm praying that the lesson has been learned ahead of January. We have bad enough luck with injuries as it is without inviting more on ourselves.
Good luck to him and I wish him a speedy recovery.
Well if we're burning players it's no wonder they're not fit.
We singed him carrying a significant injury IIRC. What were they thinking? Passed his medical did he? I'm praying that the lesson has been learned ahead of January. We have bad enough luck with injuries as it is without inviting more on ourselves.
Good luck to him and I wish him a speedy recovery.
Quite-McGrandles, Taylor, Camara, Aneke all signed while not fully fit. Edun signed unfit still not doing 90. Its not a surprise we always have a long injury list is it?
We singed him carrying a significant injury IIRC. What were they thinking? Passed his medical did he? I'm praying that the lesson has been learned ahead of January. We have bad enough luck with injuries as it is without inviting more on ourselves.
Good luck to him and I wish him a speedy recovery.
Quite-McGrandles, Taylor, Camara, Aneke all signed while not fully fit. Edun signed unfit still not doing 90. Its not a surprise we always have a long injury list is it?
That's a really good point, all have potential and fully fit add something to the team, but quite simply they never have been fully fit.
Comments
I think away from home, him and Dobbo in midfield together with either Fraser or Watson ahead of them could work quite nicely. I'm quite a fan of a double pivot with two midfielders who can get about a bit.
Still think he’s not keen on him?
Can only be a good thing for the squad to see that if you knuckle down,you'll get your chances
Not that I want him sold at all but can't see him being happy as a squad player.
As I said before I was very critical of him but being fit and playing under a manager who likes him, you could almost say who is keen, might mean we'll see the player that was influential at Lincoln and Cambridge.
Still needs to show his value over a longer period and against tougher opposition, IMHO.
Hopefully, that starts today.
Super, SuperMac
Super, SuperMac
Super, SuperMac
Super Con McGrandles
As good as he mostly was, I’d pick Watson over him by a distance, probably with May as no 10.
The Head Coach provided an update on Conor McGrandles, who missed Saturday's trip to Gillingham with calf injury.
“It’s not great news - it keeps following us a little bit at the minute, doesn’t it? He pulled out of training on Friday, like I mentioned, and unfortunately the scan has revealed that he’s got a [grade] two b I believe, so we’re talking around four to six weeks.
https://www.charltonafc.com/news/appleton-looks-ahead-reading-knockout-tie
What is it with so many injuries in modern football, I don't recall it being as bad as it is in the past
Good luck to him and I wish him a speedy recovery.
Acute injuries usually occur as a result of an impact. Hence their more common name of 'impact injuries'.
Chronic injuries tend to occur from wear and tear, they can be made worse by improper rest and recovery and strengthening work.
We are seeing a lot of what seem like impact injuries such as strains, but properly managed the number of strains occurring can be reduced. Daily flexibility work and stretching can reduce the chances with some basic strengthening work.
The player has to listen and complete any plan set by the physio, but the physio needs to identify issues, set a plan to mitigate and eliminate risks and report back to the manager any players that aren't progressing as they should.
So is our problem:
1. We are cursed
2. Physios not recognising developing issues
3. Physios recognising issues and setting incorrect plans
4. Physios recognising issues, setting the right plans and players not following them.
5. The manager is forcing players to play through injuries.
Personally I believe we're probably at 4, with a bit of 5. Our physios are qualified professionals. I can only assume the players aren't following physio advice correctly. I don't think a smart manager would play players that are on the brink of an injury, so may be playing players that have minor niggles.