Post Match Washup Charlton v Reading

He never received much abuse from the crowd at matches just mainly on here. He played really well today as well as getting good support.

East_Stand_Loopy said:

Anyone who doesn't think Cousins was man of the match, must have been at a different game. Awesome!

I can not believe Gomez is only 17. Pace, power, good in the air, and can pick a pass. He is the real deal.

And credit to Bulot, in particular, a constant thorn in Reading's side. And still running back and defending in added time.

Think Bulot, Cousins, Gomez or Watt were all equal contenders they just make different contributions.

WSS said:

Nicholas said:

Shite first half. Come out fighting in the second half. We looked a proper team. One annoying thing though church really pissed me off with his goal celebration. That's 3 goals he has scored this season and every time he had acted like a cock, yes charlton fans have given him criticism and in my view rightly so as he was shit last season, but to give it the biggun to us when he has been injured all season is wank in my view.

So we're allowed to give it but Church is not?

It seems common practice not to celebrate when you score against you former club.

Second part of the first half we were completely off the pace going forwards and in defence. People have already stated how well we played to get back into it and good to see Fox playing so well.
Totally confused by Johnson as he started so well with us but these last couple of games not so good. I can't see him getting a new deal on these performances.
Up front Bulot and Gudmundsson were class...again! And where we really took over was our ability to switch play...and exploit resulting gaps.
As someone said above we need another quality striker. Eagles was OK but not his game and Igor was missed.

We will clearly get offers for our top players this summer. Does every player have a price or are we building a real challenger for 2015-16?

Dreadful first half, excellent second half. Gomez and Bulot stood out for me but Johnson seems to be going through a bad spell.
Buyens is the best penalty taker I've seen at the Valley
We could have easily scored 6 or 7 and the 3-2 scoreline didn't reflect the game.

Another point to add. Luzon must have given a cracking half time team talk. Looked a different side the second half, playing a much higher tempo

First double?

Honestly Yoni Buyens could score 5 overhead kicks from the halfway line and some here would still say "well he was ok I guess"

It's a sign of a good performance that there are so many MOM candidates but it's Yoni for me. Brilliant range of passing and the starting point for so many of our moves. Him and Cousins are superb in the middle and I would have Diarra for Millwall ahead of Jacko but either way Buyens will be a big miss.

We started OK, but gradually got worse during the first half. The running theme was poor decision-making when we got near the Reading penalty box, of which pretty much everyone was guilty. At the back we became increasingly wobbly and Johnson in particular seemed to be struggling. The period between Reading's goal and half time was the toughest to watch but we managed not to concede another.

The second half was a completely different story. Buyens and Cousins had both had indifferent first halves but began to dominate the midfield as we put sustained pressure on the Reading defence. What Hector was thinking with the handball I have no idea, and it meant that we a tangible reward for our improved performance. Eagles was perhaps the least effective of the front 6 and missed a golden opportunity when Gudmundsson's cross found him all alone at the back post; he had all the time in the world to place his header but could only land it on the roof of the net.

Gomez and Gudmundsson were posing much more of a threat in the second half than they had in the first and it was from the right hand side that our second goal came. The ball was fizzed in to the box and the onrushing Buyens knocked it in, with which part of his body I wasn't entirely sure. Today was definitely one of his better games and he deserved to get on the scoresheet from open play.

Church replaced Eagles and instantly had a glorious chance to put one over his former employers as a cut-back from the byline found him all alone in the box. His attempt to stroke it home was thwarted, however, by an impressive stop from Adam Federici. With 10 minutes left he did manage to score, although most of the credit should go to Tony Watt for taking on his man, beating him and playing the ball across the box so that all Church had to do was get some kind of contact on it.

We remained calm after that, possible too much so. Johnson and Diarra had both put in improved second half displays but were found wanting as a low cross from the right eluded everyone bar Pogrebnyak, who slid it home. There was still a minute or so of stoppage time left and our hearts were in our mouths as Reading won a free-kick not far outside the penalty area, but Henderson came and claimed confidently, and that was that.

It was a tough task for Gomez to deputise for the injured Solly at right back, even though he has played there before, and I thought he played well. Fox, too, showed his worth by making some good interceptions. In front of him Bulot ferreted his way around the pitch, making a nuisance of himself even if his play didn't yield much in the way of chances. Watt was Watt and richly deserved the standing ovation he got as he was substituted with a few minutes to go. He really is a special player to watch.

A good day's work all round. Luzon has shown that, even if the first half performance isn't up to scratch, he has what it takes to inspire a better one in the second half. He and the players have made it worth going to The Valley again.

Dansk_Red said:

Did anybody notice there was a TV camera pointing a GL for the entire match.

No but i hope they show him, pure entertainment - Curbs on crack!

AFKABartram said:

cabbles said:

AFKABartram said:

Blinding result, game aimlessly drifting into nothingness yet we once again pulled out a victory.

Will post more tomorrow but a win capped off a bloody perfect day

Is this to do with your above post re: alcohol? C'mon AFKA, you know I and the masses like nothing more than when you turn CL into a platform for your thoughts after you've had a few

Sorry to disappoint @cabbles but got a poorly boy so despite gagging for a sesh, straight home at final whistle. You'll get the benefit of my drunken wisdom if we beat the Spanners though :-)

Aah apologies, read as it might be in for some good posts....hope your lad isn't too ill

I thought we were superb in the 2nd half. The whole side played well but special mention for Cousins, Gomez & Bulot. I thought Watt struggled a bit at times today but showed how dangerous he can be when he set up the 3rd goal. I know Guy likes a bit of a tinker but I would love to see Gomez play for the rest of the season, as I think games under his belt will help for next season, when I believe he will even better.