just before Morgan was subbed we had quite a good move happening, the ball got to him and he could have put someone through, forget who, but instead put the ball in the top of the stand from a 'shot', then he jogged off grinning-is he not taking this seriously?
I didnt see him grinning at all. I’m as unhappy as everyone else, but lets not make shit up, there’s quite enough of the real thing to process.
He was definitely smiling, that thing you do with your mouth to show happiness...
We need to go back to basics and learn how to defend. Not going to get anywhere if we keep conceding like this.
Been a tough start and didn't expect a result today, just expected more of a performance so we really need to start picking up the points these next 3 games.
Started the stronger, their first looked a handball.
After that Bolton imposed themselves pressed as a unit, kept the ball better moved it quicker and exploited gaps.
Second half I think we had another good ten min spell but some abysmal defending and passing which contributed in conceding chances and goals.
Ultimately from what Bolton fans was saying was how small and weak our players are as well as that they outnumbered us in certain areas by playing 3-4-1-2.
Ultimately the back 4 wasn't a unit today. Full backs and wide players not in sync and Stockley far too isolated and lethargic definitely needed a partner.
We've seen we can play the style at home when we dominate a bit more but away from home when challenged we need to try something else.
Not so sure about that, but it reads like we are a work in progress. I just don't see it. The players we signed in the window hardly look like players that will flower into superb footballers in 2 to 3 years. The young talent we've brought through will be off long before any 'work in progress' gets near to completion. No. We just look like a hand to mouth operation that is bobbing about in the shallow end.
Bloody hell. This site has hit a new low today. Now even our new manager is writing another third division season off in early September.
I've just been on the BHA fans forum to remind myself what it's like to support a team that doesn't feel like a suicide squad. Now I've come back on here and feel down again ☹️
I'll focus my thoughts about the game here and take my thoughts about TS into another threads - on the latter, I tend to agree that TS is likely considering making an exit.
Today's result was disappointing but fair. We were outplayed by a better team who have a very strong home record. I expect them to be there or thereabouts in the mix for promotion, and they played some good football. You can point at their first with reasonable suspicion for handball, but our defending was pretty weak for all the goals. As a natural winger, Clayden is going to be exposed defensively on the regular against the teams that force him to defend more, and that was the case today. I don't blame him for that - he's a young lad learning his trade. Lavelle and O'Connell both made mistakes that meant Wollacott had no chance to even attempt shot-stopping heroics (but even he was at fault for the second, I think?). Defensively, I think things need to improve and defend more like our opponents today. Maybe this can be coached better, but cracks are starting to appear with no clean sheet in L1 since the Derby game.
I agree with the point that others have raised that I think it is time to switch things up up front and drop Stockley for a game or two. He looks a frustrated figure on the pitch, and for all his work rate, I think his confidence is low and needs a partner up front. I want to see Leaburn given the chance to lead the line against Exeter, which I think would give the crowd a boost and give different outlets for our midfield. Kirk reverted to the uglier side of his Jekll & Hyde performances, but he's always been very volatile like this. I think that the way Bolton forced Clayden back more came with the cost of hurting Kirk too. However, Kirk is not without blame and should be performing better. JRS and Fraser both played well, but that was as good as it got.
I begun to think that the lack of signings might have got in the heads of a few players too. They are human too and can only think some of them are disappointed that we didn't invest. Some of them may well be feeling the disappointment we are about the realistic situation our squad is in. We're dependent on untested kids to fill out the bench, and the squad, as BG states, isn't there for a playoff push. It's an honest assessment that shares the frustration of many on here. He is our biggest asset alongside Dobson right now, and I hope that this doesn't eat away at him.
We have played plenty of the better sides now for sure, but I agree with BG in that I no longer think that we can compete on a sustained, playoff level. Sadly, nothing can happen before January now (barring a free agent miracle), but working with what we have, I feel we need to make a few changes for the Exeter. Hopefully, with a full week before that game, we can get a couple more players fit and adjust accordingly.
I watched it on the stream. - Our strength in depth is worrying. Ben Garner is TS's own man and he failed to back him in the window fully. We all know we needed at least CB, LB, and mobile ST. TS failed to deliver that for whatever reason.
- I understand the academy is to play a big part in our future and is a way for the club to raise its income. But using those players who are not yet ready will cost us a top 6 finish this season. We have a mid-table squad.
-Stockley is not mobile enough for this system. I think 90% of fans agree. That is not a dig at Stockley, I am sure he will give his all for the shirt this season.
-Miles needs to start against Exeter. He deserves the chance to prove what he can offer in a full game in that deep striker role.
-Clayden, Fraser, and Rak-Sakyi did well today. The rest is way below par.
-Bolton bullied us and played some nice stuff. Charles is the exact kind of striker we needed, who would fit the BG system very well.
-A Disappointing result. TS needs to learn quickly from his mistakes otherwise this is going to cost him a lot more financially in the long run, The ''Fill The Valley'' concept appears to have turned into ¨Óut price The Valley' He needs a proper footballing CEO in charge. But that being said we all know that is not going to happen any time soon.
I felt so sorry for the Charlton faithful who had to Travel Back to London/Kent tonight
but without a decent striker and a decent centre Back this team will never see promotion a Fact, as Curbs Says no Goals and leaked Goals mean no points.
Many Fans tonight like myself feel that our full of BULLSHIT owner is now taking the piss. time to put your money where your EGO is. today was a f—King Joke, and we made an average Filthy Team look Good 👎👎
I'd like to publicly thank my youngest son. He loves an away day, so when I forwarded the message about Bolton's offer of cheap tickets I thought I'd be on my way. Instead, he questioned whether I knew how much petrol costs and how far Bolton is. Great questions, son! They saved my day. Well most of my day. The bit where I sat at home with my other son, pretending we live in Amsterdam so we could watch a stream of the match wasn't exactly the most fun I've ever had.
I'd like to publicly thank my youngest son. He loves an away day, so when I forwarded the message about Bolton's offer of cheap tickets I thought I'd be on my way. Instead, he questioned whether I knew how much petrol costs and how far Bolton is. Great questions, son! They saved my day. Well most of my day. The bit where I sat at home with my other son, pretending we live in Amsterdam so we could watch a stream of the match wasn't exactly the most fun I've ever had.
I watched it on the stream. - Our strength in depth is worrying. Ben Garner is TS's own man and he failed to back him in the window fully. We all know we needed at least CB, LB, and mobile ST. Sandgaard failed to deliver.
- I understand the academy is to play a big part in our future and is a way for the club to raise its income. But using those players who are not yet ready will cost us a top 6 finish this season.
-Stockley is not mobile enough for this system. I think 90% of fans agree. That is not a dig at Stockley, just a fact. I am sure he will give his all for the shirt this season.
-Miles needs to start against Exeter. He deserves the chance to prove what he can offer in a full game in that deep striker role.
-Clayden, Fraser, and Rak-Sakyi did well today. The rest is way below par.
-Bolton bullied us and played some nice stuff. Charles is the exact kind of striker we needed, who would fit the BG system very well.
-A Disappointing result. TS needs to learn quickly from his mistakes. He needs a proper footballing CEO in charge. But that being said we all know that is not going to happen any time soon.
Agree wholeheartedly on Charles. A hard-running, waspish pest of a striker who can finish too. Just think, two weeks after Bolton signed Charles, we paid the same fee for Aneke!
Not long back, it really is depressing, there was a real sense of resignation today in the crowd. Ben Garner is a decent manager that much is clear, I think with even 30% more backing this summer we could have been there or there about. I cant see any how we are ever going to get anywhere with Saandgard at the club, he just hasn't got enough money.
BG doing a Bowyer the old mind games and playing down our chances taking the pressure of the players especially the younger ones but he wants top 6 …. Today it was about key moments the hand ball for the goal that gave them a lift and Raki miss when we were on top and it would have made it 2-2 ..
We are going to lose games every one does even the top sides but we will win as well , stay in the pack see who we get in Jan and then go for it …
BG doing a Bowyer the old mind games and playing down our chances taking the pressure of the players especially the younger ones but he wants top 6 …. Today it was about key moments the hand ball for the goal that gave them a lift and Raki miss when we were on top and it would have made it 2-2 ..
We are going to lose games every one does even the top sides but we will win as well , stay in the pack see who we get in Jan and then go for it …
Don’t tell anybody, but i have info on who we get in January. Fecking no one…… !!!! You starting trying to get promoted from the start of the season not bloody half way through……
I'd like to publicly thank my youngest son. He loves an away day, so when I forwarded the message about Bolton's offer of cheap tickets I thought I'd be on my way. Instead, he questioned whether I knew how much petrol costs and how far Bolton is. Great questions, son! They saved my day. Well most of my day. The bit where I sat at home with my other son, pretending we live in Amsterdam so we could watch a stream of the match wasn't exactly the most fun I've ever had.
BG doing a Bowyer the old mind games and playing down our chances taking the pressure of the players especially the younger ones but he wants top 6 …. Today it was about key moments the hand ball for the goal that gave them a lift and Raki miss when we were on top and it would have made it 2-2 ..
We are going to lose games every one does even the top sides but we will win as well , stay in the pack see who we get in Jan and then go for it …
Bowyer never played bloody mind games. He had no filter man. He always came out with what he believed to be true
I was a tad optimistic today as my head said we would lose 3-2.
I have nothing new to say after the game other than to repeat that Ben Garner would've been gutted at 11pm on Thursday night the same as Steve Gallen was.
No melt down from me as we still have a mid table team whether we play JJ preferred 3-5-2 or Garner's 4-3-3.
The team were never going to emulate JJ's first 10 games in charge when the 3-5-2 worked a treat and we had 20 points and got away from the relegation Zone. Not enough quality to go higher than mid table but at least Jackson saved us from even more pain.
Ian Evatt has been playing "Garnerball" for years even since he got his first manager's job at Barrow though he does try different formations.
I wonder what Ben Garner expected from Thomas Sandgaard in this window as we haven't played 10 games and Ben has said the top 6 is going to be a stretch.
Gutted but not surprised Charlton Lost and the odious Chelsea won. Thanks Lionesses for some football happiness on a miserable day of Reality not for me but for the middle age Charlton fans who had to learn the hard way that there is no Santa Claus ready to give you your tip six present for yet another year.
This season is slipping away rapidly now. I would like to kid myself it can be made up, and I suppose there is still a chance, but blind faith is so last season, and the season before, and the season before that.
It could be made up but I don't think it will. I said before the start of the season I could only see a mid table finish. I also said if you sign 4th Division players don't be surprised if you eventually end up there. BUT we started off looking ok & I thought that maybe with a few more signings we actually could push for top 6. As we all know those signings didn't come. Stockley can fall back & link up but won't score (many) playing in this system, Kirk looks like a frightened schoolboy most of the time, we have two fit centre backs who must be blind folded the amount of times they lose the men they're supposed to be marking & a young inexperienced winger playing at LB. Leaburn has done better than I thought he would but it's just absurd that we are relying on him coming off the bench every game to try & win us points. He should be being introduced slowly when we are in a winning position but with no other senior striker at the club we have to resort to a promising 18 year old. ( I can't include Aneke, will we ever see him again ?) Two years ago most of us were grateful for sandgaard "saving" the club, now we just seem to be an established Third Division club with no ambition. Premier ready my fucking arse.
It's not the new signings that are the problem. It's the lack of a couple more signings and the under performing players from last season.
Today the problem was Kirk, Morgan, Stockley & the formation that was too open.
Comments
Been a tough start and didn't expect a result today, just expected more of a performance so we really need to start picking up the points these next 3 games.
After that Bolton imposed themselves pressed as a unit, kept the ball better moved it quicker and exploited gaps.
Second half I think we had another good ten min spell but some abysmal defending and passing which contributed in conceding chances and goals.
Ultimately from what Bolton fans was saying was how small and weak our players are as well as that they outnumbered us in certain areas by playing 3-4-1-2.
Ultimately the back 4 wasn't a unit today. Full backs and wide players not in sync and Stockley far too isolated and lethargic definitely needed a partner.
We've seen we can play the style at home when we dominate a bit more but away from home when challenged we need to try something else.
No. We just look like a hand to mouth operation that is bobbing about in the shallow end.
Just seemed a bit of a wasted move.
I've just been on the BHA fans forum to remind myself what it's like to support a team that doesn't feel like a suicide squad. Now I've come back on here and feel down again ☹️
Today's result was disappointing but fair. We were outplayed by a better team who have a very strong home record. I expect them to be there or thereabouts in the mix for promotion, and they played some good football. You can point at their first with reasonable suspicion for handball, but our defending was pretty weak for all the goals. As a natural winger, Clayden is going to be exposed defensively on the regular against the teams that force him to defend more, and that was the case today. I don't blame him for that - he's a young lad learning his trade. Lavelle and O'Connell both made mistakes that meant Wollacott had no chance to even attempt shot-stopping heroics (but even he was at fault for the second, I think?). Defensively, I think things need to improve and defend more like our opponents today. Maybe this can be coached better, but cracks are starting to appear with no clean sheet in L1 since the Derby game.
I agree with the point that others have raised that I think it is time to switch things up up front and drop Stockley for a game or two. He looks a frustrated figure on the pitch, and for all his work rate, I think his confidence is low and needs a partner up front. I want to see Leaburn given the chance to lead the line against Exeter, which I think would give the crowd a boost and give different outlets for our midfield. Kirk reverted to the uglier side of his Jekll & Hyde performances, but he's always been very volatile like this. I think that the way Bolton forced Clayden back more came with the cost of hurting Kirk too. However, Kirk is not without blame and should be performing better. JRS and Fraser both played well, but that was as good as it got.
I begun to think that the lack of signings might have got in the heads of a few players too. They are human too and can only think some of them are disappointed that we didn't invest. Some of them may well be feeling the disappointment we are about the realistic situation our squad is in. We're dependent on untested kids to fill out the bench, and the squad, as BG states, isn't there for a playoff push. It's an honest assessment that shares the frustration of many on here. He is our biggest asset alongside Dobson right now, and I hope that this doesn't eat away at him.
We have played plenty of the better sides now for sure, but I agree with BG in that I no longer think that we can compete on a sustained, playoff level. Sadly, nothing can happen before January now (barring a free agent miracle), but working with what we have, I feel we need to make a few changes for the Exeter. Hopefully, with a full week before that game, we can get a couple more players fit and adjust accordingly.
- Our strength in depth is worrying. Ben Garner is TS's own man and he failed to back him in the window fully. We all know we needed at least CB, LB, and mobile ST. TS failed to deliver that for whatever reason.
- I understand the academy is to play a big part in our future and is a way for the club to raise its income. But using those players who are not yet ready will cost us a top 6 finish this season. We have a mid-table squad.
-Stockley is not mobile enough for this system. I think 90% of fans agree. That is not a dig at Stockley, I am sure he will give his all for the shirt this season.
-Miles needs to start against Exeter. He deserves the chance to prove what he can offer in a full game in that deep striker role.
-Clayden, Fraser, and Rak-Sakyi did well today. The rest is way below par.
-Bolton bullied us and played some nice stuff. Charles is the exact kind of striker we needed, who would fit the BG system very well.
-A Disappointing result. TS needs to learn quickly from his mistakes otherwise this is going to cost him a lot more financially in the long run, The ''Fill The Valley'' concept appears to have turned into ¨Óut price The Valley' He needs a proper footballing CEO in charge. But that being said we all know that is not going to happen any time soon.
but without a decent striker and a decent centre Back this team will never see promotion a Fact,
as Curbs Says no Goals and leaked Goals mean no points.
BULLSHIT owner is now taking the piss.
time to put your money where your EGO is.
today was a f—King Joke, and we made an average Filthy Team look Good 👎👎
As for the match - we desperately need a striker.
He is too fucking slow 👎👎👎👎
We are going to lose games every one does even the top sides but we will win as well , stay in the pack see who we get in Jan and then go for it …
You starting trying to get promoted from the start of the season not bloody half way through……
Schpliffs on me schun.
I have nothing new to say after the game other than to repeat that Ben Garner would've been gutted at 11pm on Thursday night the same as Steve Gallen was.
No melt down from me as we still have a mid table team whether we play JJ preferred 3-5-2 or Garner's 4-3-3.
The team were never going to emulate JJ's first 10 games in charge when the 3-5-2 worked a treat and we had 20 points and got away from the relegation Zone. Not enough quality to go higher than mid table but at least Jackson saved us from even more pain.
Ian Evatt has been playing "Garnerball" for years even since he got his first manager's job at Barrow though he does try different formations.
I wonder what Ben Garner expected from Thomas Sandgaard in this window as we haven't played 10 games and Ben has said the top 6 is going to be a stretch.
Gutted but not surprised Charlton Lost and the odious Chelsea won. Thanks Lionesses for some football happiness on a miserable day of Reality not for me but for the middle age Charlton fans who had to learn the hard way that there is no Santa Claus ready to give you your tip six present for yet another year.
It's the lack of a couple more signings and the under performing players from last season.
Today the problem was Kirk, Morgan, Stockley & the formation that was too open.