The amount of panicking minges on here is hilarious.
Anyone that’s ever kicked a football of a decent standard knows friendlies mean fuck all.
Fitness apart, friendlies are an opportunity to put into practise training ground formations, tactics and fine tune a weeks worth of work. Also to match-up opposition line-ups and adapt plan b, c and d, etc.
None of that was apparent today. Pass along back line, wide CB to wingback who is marked, back to CB, hopeful diagonal or HOOF. One would have thought a promotion winning manager could outwit a L2 novice whose legs have gone.
The personnel changed, the lack of ingenuity did not.
Has NJ tried, say, pushing a CB into midfield and going 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 or a diamond, something you can do without subs? Forwards swapping sides to test a different defender? Leaving Chuks/Ahadme/Wickham/(Miles) upfront alone and packing midfield? Doesn't have to be permanent, try for 10 minutes, isn't working, change it back.
Are we gonna drag Alfie May into every match thread this season if things don't go quite to plan, or even if they do maybe...🤷♂️
If we ain't in the mix because of a lack of goals. THEN YES.
Great...But i expect us to be "in the mix" as you put it, and probably Birmingham as well, along with May getting a few goals, but he has gone now, and he is part of the opposition, the past. I feel we have a good mix of players capable of getting us into the top six, maybe with a couple of additions, not less a new GK. Whilst I appreciate your comments, doesn't mean I have to agree...does it, we're all Charlton after all eh, and want what's best for the club...
I've said this already, but I don't think we've played enough pre-season games. Because we have a pretty deep squad, with few players nailed down as being guaranteed first choices, we have a lot of players to get match fit and sharp, and having to alternate 60 minute matches.
Taking our left wing backs for example, Small played 60ish and Edwards 30ish against Palace 8 days ago, which was reversed today with Edwards 77mins and Small 13mins, meaning that since Palace 8 days ago, Small has played 13 minutes of "competitive" football. That's surely not enough?
REG, due to his injury, has missed much of pre-season, yet only got 13 minutes today. We might want to get rid of Ness and Fraser, but surely they need some game time, if nothing else to keep themselves fit and make them more attractive to other clubs?
Wimbledon by contrast started with 8 of the same players who started for them a week ago, so a core of their players have had decent runouts. They also have a game on Tuesday, presumably for the fringe players to get some minutes.
Not impressed with what I saw today but I realise it's pre-season. Passing was poor, too many long balls and we lost the ball several times to a team that seemed to have more enthusiasm and desire.Midfield creativity was almost missing entirely
A. Mitchell looks quite a beast, Godden seems to have Alfie's workrate, if not the goals, but less so with his head bandaged, the other new boys were OK, though no one player particularly stood out.
I was in the lounge, Methven Scott and Elliot weer on the table next to me, with Carl Leaburn on another table. Thought I'd try to have a chat at haf time or after the game but they didn't appear again! Not sure where they went.
Dampened my optimism for the season a little but these games mean little in reality.
I would have thought our first choice 11 playing together in 2-3 games in pre season would be more valuable than whether Wigan have scouts watching and figure out who they may be.
Didn’t watch but am going next week but I can’t believe people read so much into pre season friendlies. It’s pre season and they are friendlies, start worrying when the season actually gets under way.
While I agree to an extent, you’d like to see a bit more from the new signings.
If anything the best moments came from Chuks, Tupac and Zak Mitchell.
Oh well our super new signings were out of this world. Until asked to kick a ball, score, defend, save a goal. Following that they are just as shit, as the last lot.
Oh well our super new signings were out of this world. Until asked to kick a ball, score, defend, save a goal. Following that they are just as shit, as the last lot.
Oh well our super new signings were out of this world. Until asked to kick a ball, score, defend, save a goal. Following that they are just as shit, as the last lot.
Oh well our super new signings were out of this world. Until asked to kick a ball, score, defend, save a goal. Following that they are just as shit, as the last lot.
Oh well our super new signings were out of this world. Until asked to kick a ball, score, defend, save a goal. Following that they are just as shit, as the last lot.
Please, please, make me eat my words……..
Nathan Jones, won’t be long til your gone…….. No 5 year plan, here mate.
Oh well our super new signings were out of this world. Until asked to kick a ball, score, defend, save a goal. Following that they are just as shit, as the last lot.
Please, please, make me eat my words……..
Nathan Jones, won’t be long til your gone…….. No 5 year plan, here mate.
The worrying thing is our marquee signing Ahadme doesn’t look remotely fit or ready at the moment. You’d have hoped by now both him and godden would have got an understanding on how to operate together but like most of these players, they just look like strangers to each other.
Genuinely feels like we are undercooked at this stage of preseason.
With only one game left to try things out, we need to hope for a better performance against Pompey, otherwise jones will be facing a major dilemma on who to start against Wigan.
Would be interesting to see Edwards playing LCB, on the inside of Small. Edwards looked really solid defensively today and has apparently played there in the past
Would be interesting to see Edwards playing LCB, on the inside of Small. Edwards looked really solid defensively today and has apparently played there in the past
He was our best player today but it wasn’t a high bar.
Tediosity made flesh. There was nothing on display to excite and inspire. "We weren't aggressive enough". Is that Welsh for we were toothless, lacked guile, set pieces are still shite and can't keep a clean sheet? Never mind, only a friendly, good workout, learned a lot and what matters is 2 weeks time. I just thought, a sign would have been nice. I liked the look of Edwards, Godden looked lively while he was on and Alex Mitchell means business. Bring on the well-oiled machine Nathan. Clock is ticking
Ahadme not good enough, Coventry a disappointment, Berry to light weight. Tyreece hit and miss. Just some of the glaring problems, oh and other than Chucks no striker has scored preseason.
Are we gonna drag Alfie May into every match thread this season if things don't go quite to plan, or even if they do maybe...🤷♂️
Pretty sure we still drool over Darren Bent, Clive Mendonca, Andy Hunt et Al. Why would Alfie May be any different. He's the best striker we've had in about 20 years.
If the new boys start pilling in with goals every week (between them) Alfie will be yesterday's chip wrappers. However if by the end of September he's scored more than all our forwards combined, Jones is going to have some heat.
Undercooked . We obviously needed more friendlies. One game left to sort out our system and what our best team is , is not enough .
That pretty much sums up my feelings about this afternoon's performance.
As has already been stated, and by NJ himself, we have a large squad which must make it very difficult to identify the starters at this point.
Seemingly too many options if anything at this moment in time.
Surely different "pairings" such as up front /in midfield need to be tried to ascertain what works best in a competitive game but with so few PSFs there must still be questions in the gaffer's mind.
I wouldn't be surprised to learn there'll be another match behind closed doors before the Pompey Friendly, and possibly another in the week leading up to Wigan.
Every season it's the same. people watch a friendly or see the result and immediately work out how few points we'll get (or in a good pre-season....assume we'll get promoted).
My advice, look at the following; did the players get a bit of match practice together? Did anyone get injured long-term?
If the answer is yes to one and no to the other, then move on without angst.
the main thing I find odd is Ramsay has exclusively played RCB this preseason. Mitchell, Jones and Gillespie feels like the obvious back three but if that’s the case I’m surprised they haven’t been tried with Ramsay in front of them at all. I’m fine with Tennai as our back up RWB but if Jones is just using Ramsay in the centre then I’d be worried about Tennai or Asiimwe being first choice there
Hopefuly its partly because Jones doesn't want to reveal his hand too early
lol.
What? - You think its smart to play the first eleven for as many Pre-Season games as possible?
Actually why am I asking you this question!!
No, you said that Jones played a certain team because he didn't want to show his hand before the season starts.
What a load of nonsense. The season is 46 games long. Its not a cup tie where the opposition may be sussing you out. A month into pre-season I'd hope thezmamager knows his first 11-15 & the players know the style of play that is expected.
No... I said that Jones probably wont want to reveal his main eleven for as long as possible
Hence why he's mixing things up, playing a mixture of those you can expect to see on a regular basis, with those who'll play bit part role - Although I do agree, that you're probably right he probably does know his starting eleven...
But my post was saying, why does he need to show that to the rest of the League so early...? - You're right its a 46-game season, but we want to keep Wigan guessing for as long as possible don't we
Not to mention he can also use these friendlies to trial other possibilities; Ramsay for example has been trialled at RCB as GarryManilow was alluding to... But I still expect him to start the season as a Wing-Back.
Then that's just bollox. Why trial Ramsey at RCB if you are going to play him as a Wingback. Makes no sense. Best to use pre season friendlies as a warm up to the league campaign.....not as a piss about. In that vain we might as well play Aneke in goal.
I've yet to see us play, either live or on stream. I'm planning on going next Saturday so I can gauge the new players & to see if we are up to speed. On recent soundings I reckon we are undercooked & as @LargeAddick has said above, we have some tricky games to play in the first few months.
Comments
None of that was apparent today. Pass along back line, wide CB to wingback who is marked, back to CB, hopeful diagonal or HOOF. One would have thought a promotion winning manager could outwit a L2 novice whose legs have gone.
The personnel changed, the lack of ingenuity did not.
Has NJ tried, say, pushing a CB into midfield and going 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 or a diamond, something you can do without subs? Forwards swapping sides to test a different defender? Leaving Chuks/Ahadme/Wickham/(Miles) upfront alone and packing midfield? Doesn't have to be permanent, try for 10 minutes, isn't working, change it back.
I feel we have a good mix of players capable of getting us into the top six, maybe with a couple of additions, not less a new GK.
Whilst I appreciate your comments, doesn't mean I have to agree...does it, we're all Charlton after all eh, and want what's best for the club...
Taking our left wing backs for example, Small played 60ish and Edwards 30ish against Palace 8 days ago, which was reversed today with Edwards 77mins and Small 13mins, meaning that since Palace 8 days ago, Small has played 13 minutes of "competitive" football. That's surely not enough?
REG, due to his injury, has missed much of pre-season, yet only got 13 minutes today. We might want to get rid of Ness and Fraser, but surely they need some game time, if nothing else to keep themselves fit and make them more attractive to other clubs?
Wimbledon by contrast started with 8 of the same players who started for them a week ago, so a core of their players have had decent runouts. They also have a game on Tuesday, presumably for the fringe players to get some minutes.
Whether the plan will change based on what Nathan saw today we will wait and see.
A. Mitchell looks quite a beast, Godden seems to have Alfie's workrate, if not the goals, but less so with his head bandaged, the other new boys were OK, though no one player particularly stood out.
I was in the lounge, Methven Scott and Elliot weer on the table next to me, with Carl Leaburn on another table. Thought I'd try to have a chat at haf time or after the game but they didn't appear again! Not sure where they went.
Dampened my optimism for the season a little but these games mean little in reality.
While I agree to an extent, you’d like to see a bit more from the new signings.
Nathan Jones, won’t be long til your gone…….. No 5 year plan, here mate.
There was nothing on display to excite and inspire.
"We weren't aggressive enough". Is that Welsh for we were toothless, lacked guile, set pieces are still shite and can't keep a clean sheet?
Never mind, only a friendly, good workout, learned a lot and what matters is 2 weeks time.
I just thought, a sign would have been nice.
I liked the look of Edwards, Godden looked lively while he was on and Alex Mitchell means business.
Bring on the well-oiled machine Nathan. Clock is ticking
Just some of the glaring problems, oh and other than Chucks no striker has scored preseason.
If the new boys start pilling in with goals every week (between them) Alfie will be yesterday's chip wrappers. However if by the end of September he's scored more than all our forwards combined, Jones is going to have some heat.
As has already been stated, and by NJ himself, we have a large squad which must make it very difficult to identify the starters at this point.
Seemingly too many options if anything at this moment in time.
Surely different "pairings" such as up front /in midfield need to be tried to ascertain what works best in a competitive game but with so few PSFs there must still be questions in the gaffer's mind.
I wouldn't be surprised to learn there'll be another match behind closed doors before the Pompey Friendly, and possibly another in the week leading up to Wigan.
That would make sense to me.
My advice, look at the following; did the players get a bit of match practice together? Did anyone get injured long-term?
If the answer is yes to one and no to the other, then move on without angst.
I've yet to see us play, either live or on stream. I'm planning on going next Saturday so I can gauge the new players & to see if we are up to speed. On recent soundings I reckon we are undercooked & as @LargeAddick has said above, we have some tricky games to play in the first few months.