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Post-match Thread: Charlton Athletic v Cambridge United | Saturday 20th August 2022

LoOkOuT
LoOkOuT Posts: 10,857
edited August 2022 in General Charlton
I’m too frustrated to comprehensively sum up this afternoon’s performance. We started out in control, which resulted in going into the half with a one goal lead. Cambridge were well organised behind the ball throughout. They had their opportunities in the first period, but never looked like scoring. We were comfortable, if not ruthless before scoring on about the 40 minute mark. Good team movement and three players in and around the six yard box resulted in a Scott Fraser tap in. We should have looked to push on now that the Cambridge dam had been broken.

In the second half, we lulled ourselves to sleep. Cambridge remained resilient, but brought more energy to their second half performance than their first. That was enough to work their way back into the game. They found the back on the net on about 60 minutes. 

Garner made changes, some tactical and some enforced (CBT came on and went off with a knock). I don’t think we corrected course enough and in time to make a real difference. Once Leaburn and Aaron Henry came on with about twenty minutes to go, we began to threaten again. We had more urgency and began to make chances. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough to find a winner. Two points dropped.

Charlton 1 Cambridge 1

Over to you.
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Comments

  • Valley11
    Valley11 Posts: 11,986
    Shame. But we’re still a work in progress. 
    Onto the next. 
  • Draw was a really fair result today.

    We didnt show enough intensity throughout the game today - Cambridge on the other hand, turned up looking to show their Manager that their 4-1 defeat in midweek was a one off mistake.

    We're clearly not going to put in performances like Tuesday night every week.

    We're going to drop points on the odd occasion.

    Just need to make sure that it doesnt happen too often like what we saw last year
  • SELR_addicks
    SELR_addicks Posts: 15,448
    Think it would have been a fairly pedestrian 1-0 victory had Inniss not forgotten how to play football for 10 minutes. 

    Poor performance but really didn't think we were going to lose at all, which is still a huge improvement on last season. 

    Said at the end of last season that I didn't think Stockley is capable of leading a side chasing promotion, hasn't proven me wrong yet. 
  • Garrymanilow
    Garrymanilow Posts: 13,171
    I think a lot of teams will try and work with our patient approach, try and conserve their energy in the first half and then attempt to switch gears in the second period. We need to be more ruthless when we're on top
  • LoOkOuT
    LoOkOuT Posts: 10,857
    Have to get early touches to Rak-Sakyi if we want him to threaten and set an early pace for the whole team. 
  • soapy_jones
    soapy_jones Posts: 21,355

  • mendonca
    mendonca Posts: 9,405
    Our injuries have started to mount. 

    I don't think Innis has the application to play regular football - something his concentration/motivation levels have not had to do all career.

    We really need to start using our cheat codes  :p
  • sam3110
    sam3110 Posts: 21,270
    Second half had to do a double-take midway through it, thought I saw Jacko on the touchline with Euelly, watching Watson and Gunter trundle around the pitch chasing shadows for a second. 

    Really need to not let arsehole referees and time-wasting shithousery from away teams affect us so much
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  • Really frustrating that. 

    Cambridge set up to stop us playing Garner ball. They pressed the full backs, man marked Dobson, which forced everything to come through our worst footballer. We have to expect other teams to do that, and unfortunately, Innis just isn’t good enough to play in this system. 

    We needed more from Kirk and JRS in that game. They failed to recognise the defensive shape from Cambridge, and didn’t work hard enough to find space. 

    I love Dobson, but today showed why Garner didn’t initially start him. He’s great at breaking up play, but lacks the ability / confidence to pass forwards. 

    Clayden did very well, Payne and Henry also looked good. 
  • Blucher
    Blucher Posts: 4,135

    A disappointing afternoon but, in reality, we were well below our best and I thought that a draw was a fair result.

    A cagey first half, with a tactically astute approach from Cambridge in declining to be drawn out and allow us to play between the lines. Decent counter attacking from them on occasions as well. Some poor corners from us in the first half, which was unfortunate given our strength in the air. We played a lot in front of Cambridge but our one ‘out ball’ was the long, sweeping pass out to the left, with Clayden prominent and, shortly before half time, a lovely cross from Kirk led to Fraser’s goal.

    A poor goal to concede on the hour after Inniss lost the ball and was unable to get back into position. A good save initially from Wollacott but poor marking all around from us, allowing Treacy to turn the ball in from inside the 6 yard box after their forward screwed his shot across the goal. Cambridge’s best spell of the game followed and they looked the more likely winners, with Charlton looking leggy and second best in midfield.

    Ironically, our best spell of the second half came in the 6 minutes of injury time and it was good to see us finish the game strongly. Alas, however, we couldn’t find a winner. 

    A word about the ref, a man who clearly has never heard of playing the advantage - I thought he was pretty hopeless.

  • One swallow does not make a summer. One pilgrim does not make a promotion.

    Early days. Still August. 
  • Croydon
    Croydon Posts: 12,728
    Won't be too disheartened as it's early doors, but we need to win those games at home if we're going to go up.

    Today was a good look at how a lot of teams will set up against us and we will need a plan B if we want to break sides down. Could have played another hour and we wouldn't have scored a second today.

    Subs added nothing today bar Leaburn moving out wide. We need bodies through the door if we're already starting our injury crisis 
  • LoOkOuT
    LoOkOuT Posts: 10,857

    I love Dobson, but today showed why Garner didn’t initially start him. He’s great at breaking up play, but lacks the ability / confidence to pass forwards. 
    ???
  • felix_31
    felix_31 Posts: 292
    edited August 2022
    Initial thoughts:  Frustrating - but still a point nonetheless.  I don't think we win this game last season.  We left it a bit too late to go for it - I think with another 5/10 mins play we score and win; Payne brought great energy in the middle but just left it a bit late.  Henry - great passing. Clayden is not quite ready. Played well on Tuesday (against 10 men) but was poor tonight.  We need a quality left-footed LB to play alongside Kirk.  Fraser our best player - it went to pot a bit when he came off.  Lavelle deserved to keep his place.  Bench looked a bit thin. Need a pacy clinical striker, as we all know, to come on in the 60th / rotate with JS. Worry about CBT. Still, a good start to the season.
  • mendonca
    mendonca Posts: 9,405
    Maybe look at a positive - we would have probably found a way to lose this game last season.
  • Jdredsox
    Jdredsox Posts: 534
    Frustrating but Cambridge deserved a point today. 

    No idea what Inniss was thinking just before their goal, lost the ball and then chased a lost cause in their half leaving us exposed. 

    Then when the keeper makes the save he’s not interested in what’s happening leaving their striker with a tap in. 

    There will be results like this in any season, it’s about how we bounce back. 

    Hopefully CBT isn’t too badly injured. 
  • Exiled_Addick
    Exiled_Addick Posts: 17,168
    edited August 2022
    We need to accept that if we want to enjoy the highs of a flowing open attacking match like Tuesday we will have to suffer the lows of a slightly stodgy performance that gets stifled by a mass ranked defence.

    Innis’ 30 seconds of madness aside, we would’ve won that 1-0. When it’s still only 1-0 though, you risk an individual error costing you.

    Last season, I think we might have gone on to lose that but we did re group, the subs mostly did ok, and we finished the stronger of the two teams.

    Not too much damage done, a bit of a reality check, and a reminder that there are few easy games in this league.

    Hopefully CBT’s injury isn’t too bad. On to the next one and trust the process.

    Encouraged by Fraser’s performance. His best for us, I think, and the first time I’ve felt he’s really influenced the match.
  • mendonca said:
    Maybe look at a positive - we would have probably found a way to lose this game last season.
    At least we looked like trying to get a winner after going level today

    Last season, we'd have shat ourselves at conceding and would have been relieved at a point
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  • LargeAddick
    LargeAddick Posts: 32,561
    Very poor. Two shots on target? Said I'd prefer Lavelle to Inniss, he just doesn't look comfortable playing the ball about. Not sure why Fraser went off, must have been a knock, he was the one pulling the strings. Say it again but Stockley doesn't suit the system and at the moment can't hit a cows arse with a banjo. Need to get better. Ref didn't help second half but can't blame him for our inepidtute. We will have a much better season but currently can't see a top six finish.
  • These chances that stockly had, were they guilt edge?
  • felix_31
    felix_31 Posts: 292
    mendonca said:
    Maybe look at a positive - we would have probably found a way to lose this game last season.
    Undoubtedly. 
  • RonnieMoore
    RonnieMoore Posts: 4,497
    Know people are going to moan but before Plymouth we would have took 4 points .. and today was always going to be difficult after the performance on Tuesday…. and if you can’t win make sure you don’t lose and that’s what we did today … … tiredness and injury affected us today but we kept going … well done boys 

  • Results like today happen to every team, all the time. Just like we shouldn’t get carried away with Tuesday, we shouldn’t get carried away with today either. Though it did have a bit of Accrington away about it which is a worry. 

    Also another game, just like Wednesday where it’s a shame we don’t have a player of Aneke’s quality to bring on. 
  • Southbank
    Southbank Posts: 5,252
    So this game tells us more where we are than against 10 men on Tuesday. A comfortably mid level team without the creativity to break down and score a well disciplined opposition.

  • SDAddick
    SDAddick Posts: 14,467
    Frustrating. We had a chance to really set down a marker and back up our win on Tuesday night. We started well, we got the lead, they didn't really look threatening in the first half even if we weren't always brilliant. 

    And then in the second half we looked tired and lost our way, lost our shape, and we were punished. They weren't brilliant, but they are good at what they do and they know exactly what they want to do. They were very clever at where they closed us down and where they let us play. That was entirely to be expected. 

    The worst outcome from today will be if CBT has to miss any significant time. JRS is still getting up to speed. Kirk is inconsistent (though starting to show his promise), and DJ is ineffective. CBT can really open teams up with his pace and not having him for a few weeks would be a large blow.

    Huge credit to Henry for coming on and really showing his quality. I wasn't convinced that he's ready for this level. And I don't think one performance means he is. But he looked quite good.

    That said, we really could have used another attacking midfielder at the end of the game. Even if JFC and Gilbey are both going to leave, they're still our players. And they're still decent players at this level. Why not have them on the bench? I've been baffled by this for weeks now. We're paying their wages. We have five subs this season. Surely they're better than Chin (who I know is a fullback), but JFC has covered at LB). 

    Lastly, to play with the intensity, the pressing, the movement off the ball that Garner wants to play week in, week out, he's going to need to rotate. So far, he largely hasn't rotated that much, and when he has it's largely been enforced. Obviously we'll rotate for Tuesday, but there should be some players who started today who should be looking over their shoulder next weekend. If fit, Payne, CBT, Aneke, Sess, and Lavelle should all be pushing for a starting berth. The problem is, only two of those are currently fit (assuming CBT is out for a bit). Aneke is once again a black hole. Pearce picked up the fact that Stockley can't play at this tempo for 90 minutes. We need another striker. We've got two expensive ones at the moment who both have question marks. The problem remains.
  • Hopefully a helpful kick to focus minds: we are good in this league, but not good enough to just turn up and expect to win; we will need to keep the tempo and intensity up. It is going to be a tight season with a lot of pretty equal teams, we just have to keep learning and moving forwards.
  • Croydon
    Croydon Posts: 12,728
    mendonca said:
    Maybe look at a positive - we would have probably found a way to lose this game last season.
    At least we looked like trying to get a winner after going level today

    Last season, we'd have shat ourselves at conceding and would have been relieved at a point
    This is a good point, but why did it take us until stoppage time to actually attack with any real impetus 
  • Pavoren007
    Pavoren007 Posts: 2,525
    Pretty measured again, a bit too pedestrian at times for my liking. Draw a fair enough result, but very much self inflicted. Inniss CANNOT maraud forward in a game FULL STOP, Wimbledon last year another good example. Loses the ball, chases around like a headless chicken while leaving a gaping whole. Shit discipline and I hope Garner is telling him - pack it in and focus on the defending, at the which he is very good. 

    Wycombe next in the league will be a good test, but we will need some recoveries this week, as the fitness room is starting to look a bit busy.