If you want to catch a moment in time when things were looking grim check out Charlton live after the Crawley defeat. Plenty of people in the chat calling for Jones head and one comment stuck out to me in particular: "I've been following charlton. for many years, 60 years the football Jones playing is the worst I've seen... he needs to go now."
I had serious doubts about Jones. I was keep him, sack him then keep him again but the keep hims were not with great enthusiasm. I felt he tampered with the team too much but now we see things from a different perspective, one of strong performances, I can see he was probably looking for something in a legitimate way you can look for something. By trial and error.
We felt a lot of the players were not good enough, but they have shown that they are. He said they were and said we would get better and they have and he was right. Even if we do not make it this season, I will just go with the plan and think the best way to do it next season is to stick with Jones. But, we could do it this season. Why not now?
Tyreece superb. Coventry and Jones totally in command and Josh Edwards a total star . Macauley is becoming a far more consistently good player. Barnsley a good side but the team never give up and always have that hunger. Its got exciting.
Nice use of the word 'plethora' by Jones in his post match interview. Not a word I recall Appleton using although tbf i don't remember anything he said
To think it was only just over a year ago that we had Crappleton in charge, with a toxic valley singing "sack him now or we're going down"..and I really think we would have. That team had no fight, our young players' confidence ruined and a clueless manager who watched us get outplayed game after game, doing nothing to intervene with his hands in his pockets. What a turnaround. Play-offs or not, promotion or not, we are a totally different proposition now and can look forward with hope.
Nice use of the word 'plethora' by Jones in his post match interview. Not a word I recall Appleton using although tbf i don't remember anything he said
Yes I enjoyed 'Plethora' and I hope I hear Nathan say at Stockport or Crawley: "Look, it was good, we scored 3 after a myriad of chances"
To think it was only just over a year ago that we had Crappleton in charge, with a toxic valley singing "sack him now or we're going down"..and I really think we would have. That team had no fight, our young players' confidence ruined and a clueless manager who watched us get outplayed game after game, doing nothing to intervene with his hands in his pockets. What a turnaround. Play-offs or not, promotion or not, we are a totally different proposition now and can look forward with hope.
I would put Appleton down as the worst manager in our history, terrible coach and a unlikeable man on top if it
To think it was only just over a year ago that we had Crappleton in charge, with a toxic valley singing "sack him now or we're going down"..and I really think we would have. That team had no fight, our young players' confidence ruined and a clueless manager who watched us get outplayed game after game, doing nothing to intervene with his hands in his pockets. What a turnaround. Play-offs or not, promotion or not, we are a totally different proposition now and can look forward with hope.
I would put Appleton down as the worst manager in our history, terrible coach and a unlikeable man on top if it
This thread just keeps aging like wine or like milk, depending on your point of view. If we did get up this summer it will become an all-timer and should be pinned forever more (also helps us avoid the terrible no sticky problem, two birds with one stone...).
This thread just keeps aging like wine or like milk, depending on your point of view. If we did get up this summer it will become an all-timer and should be pinned forever more (also helps us avoid the terrible no sticky problem, two birds with one stone...).
It's mad how much the performances and results have turned round, all credit to Jones - couldn't see a way back 3 or 4 months ago when we were losing and playing the long ball stuff non-stop.
Shows how you need a bit of luck in football too - he could easily have been sacked at that point, and would have then failed everywhere except Luton, including in L1. Get up and he's back to being seen as a very good manager who has done well with us and Luton and maybe circumstances weren't right at Stoke and Southampton etc.
This thread just keeps aging like wine or like milk, depending on your point of view. If we did get up this summer it will become an all-timer and should be pinned forever more (also helps us avoid the terrible no sticky problem, two birds with one stone...).
For me turnaround came when he made the tactical decision to actually play two wingers instead of 5 central midfielders and to start Godden instead of traditional hold the ball center forwards like Leaburn and Ahadme.
This thread just keeps aging like wine or like milk, depending on your point of view. If we did get up this summer it will become an all-timer and should be pinned forever more (also helps us avoid the terrible no sticky problem, two birds with one stone...).
For once I agree with your endless optimism.
However, thousands of miles away the emotion and suffering is less. I speak with experience.
To think it was only just over a year ago that we had Crappleton in charge, with a toxic valley singing "sack him now or we're going down"..and I really think we would have. That team had no fight, our young players' confidence ruined and a clueless manager who watched us get outplayed game after game, doing nothing to intervene with his hands in his pockets. What a turnaround. Play-offs or not, promotion or not, we are a totally different proposition now and can look forward with hope.
I would put Appleton down as the worst manager in our history, terrible coach and a unlikeable man on top if it
To think it was only just over a year ago that we had Crappleton in charge, with a toxic valley singing "sack him now or we're going down"..and I really think we would have. That team had no fight, our young players' confidence ruined and a clueless manager who watched us get outplayed game after game, doing nothing to intervene with his hands in his pockets. What a turnaround. Play-offs or not, promotion or not, we are a totally different proposition now and can look forward with hope.
I would put Appleton down as the worst manager in our history, terrible coach and a unlikeable man on top if it
Whilst I don't agree, NJ is obviously an improvement, and I'd rather see those no longer at the club being slated than those who are. It's been a while since anyone's been calling for NJ's head, and long may that continue.
For me turnaround came when he made the tactical decision to actually play two wingers instead of 5 central midfielders and to start Godden instead of traditional hold the ball center forwards like Leaburn and Ahadme.
Agreed, and Jones deserves credit for that. Often managers, particularly at this level, cannot even countenance making changes to their preferred “style”, I actually thought Jones was going to be like that and it would ultimately cost him his job. However Jones has been sensible enough to make changes to how we line up based on the best players available to him and we’re doing much better as a result.
What is our formation? It really is baffling me. It's listed as a 3-5-2, but I really don't think that's the case. It's a kind of hybrid. As far as I can see, Ramsay tucks into the centre with Jones and Gilesphey. Edwards plays as an old fashioned left back and doesn't venture up the pitch too much His counterpart Small spends much of the time higher up the pitch than TC.....And TC is a supposed to be in the two up top!..... that does most of his work out on the left flank. It's working, whatever it is. If I'm honest, I'm amazed we manage to keep our right side so well protected such is the vast gap between Ramsay and Small.
It’s 5-3-2 when we defend and moves to 4-2-3-1 in attack. It’s great how it fits together and suits our players so well, despite the shift to 4-2-3-1 in attack not being the original plan.
It gets more out of TC as although he works hard he’s not a natural defender. It means his defensive weaknesses aren’t really an issue and he can focus on improving the attacking side of his game.
Small has the legs to get up and down the right, and he’s less predictable than on the left where the easy option was to drive down the line to get crosses in.
It suits Ramsay because despite his pace and close control he’s not great at offering width and getting crosses in. He’s better at sitting deep or cutting in and picking out a dangerous pass than he is bombing down the line, and he’s strong and good enough in the air for the hybrid RCB/RB role.
Then you have Docherty who is now playing to his strengths, he can support Coventry defensively and only has to get forward occasionally. It’s no surprise the midfield three look better now they’re getting on the ball more, and have outlets on both wings in TC and Small.
Edwards suits it too, he’s decent going forward which we still use at times, but sitting back gives TC space to work in.
The much better football also means Godden can play as the main striker, we don’t need a big target man as we not as direct as we were.
The rest of the team all benefit from us having a more balanced style. Jones is playing the best football of his career and Coventry would probably think so too.
Very good analysis, but I think it's even more fluid in attack than that at times now. We seem to be seeing more of Lloyd Jones in attack recently, and not just putting the big man up for a corner. Last night he bombed forward on one occasion. When that move broke down, he didn't do what you'd normally expect from a centre half (look embarrassed at their over indulgence and quickly scurry back to their natural position), he stayed there for the next phase of play. I guess that shows the old truism really that the formation numbers were only ever intended to describe team's starting (defensive) positions.
What is our formation? It really is baffling me. It's listed as a 3-5-2, but I really don't think that's the case. It's a kind of hybrid. As far as I can see, Ramsay tucks into the centre with Jones and Gilesphey. Edwards plays as an old fashioned left back and doesn't venture up the pitch too much His counterpart Small spends much of the time higher up the pitch than TC.....And TC is a supposed to be in the two up top!..... that does most of his work out on the left flank. It's working, whatever it is. If I'm honest, I'm amazed we manage to keep our right side so well protected such is the vast gap between Ramsay and Small.
It’s 5-3-2 when we defend and moves to 4-2-3-1 in attack. It’s great how it fits together and suits our players so well, despite the shift to 4-2-3-1 in attack not being the original plan.
It gets more out of TC as although he works hard he’s not a natural defender. It means his defensive weaknesses aren’t really an issue and he can focus on improving the attacking side of his game.
Small has the legs to get up and down the right, and he’s less predictable than on the left where the easy option was to drive down the line to get crosses in.
It suits Ramsay because despite his pace and close control he’s not great at offering width and getting crosses in. He’s better at sitting deep or cutting in and picking out a dangerous pass than he is bombing down the line, and he’s strong and good enough in the air for the hybrid RCB/RB role.
Then you have Docherty who is now playing to his strengths, he can support Coventry defensively and only has to get forward occasionally. It’s no surprise the midfield three look better now they’re getting on the ball more, and have outlets on both wings in TC and Small.
Edwards suits it too, he’s decent going forward which we still use at times, but sitting back gives TC space to work in.
The much better football also means Godden can play as the main striker, we don’t need a big target man as we not as direct as we were.
The rest of the team all benefit from us having a more balanced style. Jones is playing the best football of his career and Coventry would probably think so too.
Very good analysis, but I think it's even more fluid in attack than that at times now. We seem to be seeing more of Lloyd Jones in attack recently, and not just putting the big man up for a corner. Last night he bombed forward on one occasion. When that move broke down, he didn't do what you'd normally expect from a centre half (look embarrassed at their over indulgence and quickly scurry back to their natural position), he stayed there for the next phase of play. I guess that shows the old truism really that the formation numbers were only ever intended to describe team's starting (defensive) positions.
He can do that now because he has confidence that between them Coventry, Docherty and Ramsay will cover that space. Ramsay spent a decent chunk against Orient playing in the middle of the back 3. Clearly they are incredibly well drilled now
What is our formation? It really is baffling me. It's listed as a 3-5-2, but I really don't think that's the case. It's a kind of hybrid. As far as I can see, Ramsay tucks into the centre with Jones and Gilesphey. Edwards plays as an old fashioned left back and doesn't venture up the pitch too much His counterpart Small spends much of the time higher up the pitch than TC.....And TC is a supposed to be in the two up top!..... that does most of his work out on the left flank. It's working, whatever it is. If I'm honest, I'm amazed we manage to keep our right side so well protected such is the vast gap between Ramsay and Small.
It’s 5-3-2 when we defend and moves to 4-2-3-1 in attack. It’s great how it fits together and suits our players so well, despite the shift to 4-2-3-1 in attack not being the original plan.
It gets more out of TC as although he works hard he’s not a natural defender. It means his defensive weaknesses aren’t really an issue and he can focus on improving the attacking side of his game.
Small has the legs to get up and down the right, and he’s less predictable than on the left where the easy option was to drive down the line to get crosses in.
It suits Ramsay because despite his pace and close control he’s not great at offering width and getting crosses in. He’s better at sitting deep or cutting in and picking out a dangerous pass than he is bombing down the line, and he’s strong and good enough in the air for the hybrid RCB/RB role.
Then you have Docherty who is now playing to his strengths, he can support Coventry defensively and only has to get forward occasionally. It’s no surprise the midfield three look better now they’re getting on the ball more, and have outlets on both wings in TC and Small.
Edwards suits it too, he’s decent going forward which we still use at times, but sitting back gives TC space to work in.
The much better football also means Godden can play as the main striker, we don’t need a big target man as we not as direct as we were.
The rest of the team all benefit from us having a more balanced style. Jones is playing the best football of his career and Coventry would probably think so too.
Very good analysis, but I think it's even more fluid in attack than that at times now. We seem to be seeing more of Lloyd Jones in attack recently, and not just putting the big man up for a corner. Last night he bombed forward on one occasion. When that move broke down, he didn't do what you'd normally expect from a centre half (look embarrassed at their over indulgence and quickly scurry back to their natural position), he stayed there for the next phase of play. I guess that shows the old truism really that the formation numbers were only ever intended to describe team's starting (defensive) positions.
I agree, and Coventry has also done the same, for example with his involvement in one of our recent goals (can’t remember which game) and getting forward for his long range shot last night.
It might have been on Charlton Live the other day that Jones talked about we’ll be even better in another 3 months, and 3 months after that etc. It does feel he has a plan on how he evolves the team and playing style.
Now we have such a strong defensive base to build on and a style of play, he can focus more on our play in possession, our movement, how create chances etc. With recruitment, we can add a few key signings in the summer and slot them into the structure without having to completely change everything to fit them in.
We’re in a good place, the ownership made the right call to give him time. Had he been sacked we could have been set back months.
wonder where all the haters of the ownership are now? Maybe all the money spent behind the scenes is working..
I’m not sure the ownership are getting lots of credit at the moment, that’s certainly not the impression I get at matches. I think Jones is getting credit for turning things around and finding a decent side from what looked like an abject failure.
wonder where all the haters of the ownership are now? Maybe all the money spent behind the scenes is working..
Reading the room.
They won't have gone anywhere, but time their posts holding them to account, in some cases slating them using derogatory terms, to coincide with when things are going badly on the pitch, which has been more often than not since they arrived unfortunately.
It's understandable that fans want to see progress and success and are impatient for it. The owners will know and appreciate that.
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But if the top 2 or 3 are also averaging 2 points per game, then we’ll have to win most games and rely on them starting to lose.
We felt a lot of the players were not good enough, but they have shown that they are. He said they were and said we would get better and they have and he was right. Even if we do not make it this season, I will just go with the plan and think the best way to do it next season is to stick with Jones. But, we could do it this season. Why not now?
Yes I enjoyed 'Plethora' and I hope I hear Nathan say at Stockport or Crawley:
"Look, it was good, we scored 3 after a myriad of chances"
Shows how you need a bit of luck in football too - he could easily have been sacked at that point, and would have then failed everywhere except Luton, including in L1. Get up and he's back to being seen as a very good manager who has done well with us and Luton and maybe circumstances weren't right at Stoke and Southampton etc.
However, thousands of miles away the emotion and suffering is less. I speak with experience.
https://www.charltonafc.com/news/nathan-jones-manager-month-award
Maybe all the money spent behind the scenes is working..
It might have been on Charlton Live the other day that Jones talked about we’ll be even better in another 3 months, and 3 months after that etc. It does feel he has a plan on how he evolves the team and playing style.
Now we have such a strong defensive base to build on and a style of play, he can focus more on our play in possession, our movement, how create chances etc. With recruitment, we can add a few key signings in the summer and slot them into the structure without having to completely change everything to fit them in.
We’re in a good place, the ownership made the right call to give him time. Had he been sacked we could have been set back months.
They won't have gone anywhere, but time their posts holding them to account, in some cases slating them using derogatory terms, to coincide with when things are going badly on the pitch, which has been more often than not since they arrived unfortunately.
It's understandable that fans want to see progress and success and are impatient for it. The owners will know and appreciate that.