Last two games Innis and Gilbey coming back have made us a much more solid and threatening side.
Matthews and Purrington at full backs we look more solid also.
Undefeated in 8 as well
Yes, we're a much taller team & no longer getting sand kicked in our face. Amos, Purrington, Inniss, Pearce, Gilbey, Pratley, Stockley, that's 7 tall players. Matthews, DJ & JFC aren't exactly small & lightweight. Maatsen was the only "small" player.
A lot harder to bully the above than Williams, Smyth, Morgan, Smith, Maatsen.
NB To the few that were saying Bogle & Smyth had left for better prospects or whatever. Donny have gone from top (I think) to 11th and Accrington from 5th with about 4 games in hand to 12th with none in hand.
Last two games Innis and Gilbey coming back have made us a much more solid and threatening side.
Matthews and Purrington at full backs we look more solid also.
Undefeated in 8 as well
Yes, we're a much taller team & no longer getting sand kicked in our face. Amos, Purrington, Innis, Pearce, Gilbey, Pratley, Stockley, that's 7 tall players. Matthews, DJ & JFC aren't exactly small & lightweight. Maatsen was the only "small" player.
A lot harder to bully the above than Williams, Smyth, Morgan, Smith, Maatsen.
NB To the few that were saying Bogle & Smyth had left for better prospects or whatever. Donny have gone from top (I think) to 11th and Accrington from 5th with about 4 games in hand to 12th with none in hand.
Our giant CB's name is Inniss, spelt Inniss and in case of doubt it's Inniss
We have a very workmanlike team that are grinding out results and we've gone 8 games undefeated. Whatever happens this season things seem to be improving slowly.
I don't think we're good enough to go up but at least we have a chance.
Why don’t you think we are good enough to go up?, we’ve just beaten the team before we played them everyone was saying we’re a shoeing for promotion. I haven’t got a clue what’s going to happen but I certainly wouldn’t say for a fact we are, or are not good enough. All I would say is that the squad we have should have been in a better position than we are, but that unfortunately was down to poor management. I’m happy we’re in the mix, let’s keep our fingers crossed 🤞
Just my opinion and I'm happy to be proved wrong. Our performances are getting better but our football is still pretty limited and I'm not sure it will be enough. The results seem better than the performances.
I think Hull and Pboro will be the top 2 and after that it will be a bit of a lottery. Sunderland are possibly under the most pressure given expectations.
I didn’t mean to come across having a dig. I think performances are a bit better because we seem more organised and maybe the players are happier and giving more than they were,( who to blame is down to individual opinion). If we make the top six I’m pretty sure the other sides will want to avoid us. Which is a good thing. I’m happy To look completely average and keep winning if that’s what it takes, worry about good football once we hopefully scramble up!!.
The big difference between the international break under Lee Bowyer earlier in the season and the recent one under Nads is you can see that the time spent at Sparrows lane has been more fruitful and the players appear to understand their roles better with the man from Birkenhead.
Enjoyed seeing the imput from Jason Euell with the players as well.
Stockley was so good in the air yesterday that the Opposition CB's stopped contesting the headers and tried to win the second ball instead, outside the area.
I just can't see Cafc scoring many goals at the valley with the successful formation of the last 2 away wins at Donny and Wearside. If Stockley has a top CB against him, we will struggle to score other than from set pieces.
Will Nigel Adkins trust Maatsen to play up top on the left and DJ on the right at the valley where they have the ability to go past their full backs and hopefully put in some good crosses. They can still do their defensive work and track back.
We need Conor and Chuks fit ASAP if we aren't to finish 7th.
We are a top 6 club away but a lower half team at home.
The Valley form has to improve at this business end of the season.
What top centre backs are there in this league? Apart from Inniss?
The big difference between the international break under Lee Bowyer earlier in the season and the recent one under Nads is you can see that the time spent at Sparrows lane has been more fruitful and the players appear to understand their roles better with the man from Birkenhead.
Enjoyed seeing the imput from Jason Euell with the players as well.
Stockley was so good in the air yesterday that the Opposition CB's stopped contesting the headers and tried to win the second ball instead, outside the area.
I just can't see Cafc scoring many goals at the valley with the successful formation of the last 2 away wins at Donny and Wearside. If Stockley has a top CB against him, we will struggle to score other than from set pieces.
Will Nigel Adkins trust Maatsen to play up top on the left and DJ on the right at the valley where they have the ability to go past their full backs and hopefully put in some good crosses. They can still do their defensive work and track back.
We need Conor and Chuks fit ASAP if we aren't to finish 7th.
We are a top 6 club away but a lower half team at home.
The Valley form has to improve at this business end of the season.
What top centre backs are there in this league? Apart from Inniss?
And what right do we have to question our home form under Adkins when we haven’t played at home under him yet?
The big difference between the international break under Lee Bowyer earlier in the season and the recent one under Nads is you can see that the time spent at Sparrows lane has been more fruitful and the players appear to understand their roles better with the man from Birkenhead.
Enjoyed seeing the imput from Jason Euell with the players as well.
Stockley was so good in the air yesterday that the Opposition CB's stopped contesting the headers and tried to win the second ball instead, outside the area.
I just can't see Cafc scoring many goals at the valley with the successful formation of the last 2 away wins at Donny and Wearside. If Stockley has a top CB against him, we will struggle to score other than from set pieces.
Will Nigel Adkins trust Maatsen to play up top on the left and DJ on the right at the valley where they have the ability to go past their full backs and hopefully put in some good crosses. They can still do their defensive work and track back.
We need Conor and Chuks fit ASAP if we aren't to finish 7th.
We are a top 6 club away but a lower half team at home.
The Valley form has to improve at this business end of the season.
What top centre backs are there in this league? Apart from Inniss?
Ok, let's say CB's who will contest a header. We has seen lots of CB good in the air this season who are mediocre on the desk. Jason Pearce is a typical CB in League 1 who gives 100 % but can get found out. Great pro who admits he can be dirty if need be.
If Inniss could stay fit and keep his discipline, with a sweeper type of player alongside him he would be a championship player.
So many question marks about Ryan and Chuks when it comes to fitness. Great physics for working on the door but both have to be wrapped in cotton wool which is a shame because 40 games each out of Inniss and Aneke and we are in the mix for top 2 not just top 6 in the 3rd tier.
Personally love the blue kit, long may it continue.
It doesn’t matter what colour shirts we use for away matches, we still tend to sing come on you reds even if the home team are in red (yellow Day at Forest was an exception).
I think our lack of a really prolific striker especially at home when teams invite us to break them down will probably be our ultimate downfall for the remainder of this season. Washington could make a difference but he’s not going to feature now is he ?
Not sure that the 1st half is really relevant. Ipswich is probably the only home game we have got left where not getting beaten is their first priority.
Crewe won't have anything to play for and Peterborough and Lincoln will need to try and win. Who knows what will be at stake when we get to Hull.
I know the gap between 4th and 14th actually got smaller at the weekend but games are running out fast.
A fine, professional team performance and a big statement of intent at this stage of the season. All the results went our way and, amazingly, despite our defensive ineptitude for much of the season, we are now very much in the hunt.
I thought that we carried a threat throughout, although we found it hard to play through Sunderland's press in the first period and looked vulnerable in the early stages. I thought that Sunderland played well in that first half and we had Ben Amos to thank for going in a goal ahead. Contrary to expectations, it was a different story in the second period as they ran out of ideas and momentum, something which was graphically illustrated by Johnson introducing four substitutes around the hour mark.
We defended resolutely and Sunderland's vulnerability at the back was exploited by Stockley's flick on and Gilbey's finish, following his late run into the box. We could have had more goals: apart from hitting the post in the first half, Stockley did likewise in the second from DJ's excellent cross and only a fine, last-ditch block deep into injury time denied Gilbey a second goal.
We looked comfortable at 2-0, although Sunderland's late reply made it a nervous last 20 minutes or so by the time the ref had added on 7 minutes or so of injury time. Be that as it may, we saw the game out without any major scares for a well-deserved and vital 3 points.
We were well organised throughout, the structure and shape of the side was good, everyone knew their job and we were happy take a pragmatic approach and go long, rather than footle around at the back and get caught in possession. Amos turned in a MoTM performance, although Inniss and Pearcey weren't far behind, turning in another collectively dominant performance in central defence. Purrington and Matthews were solid and we worked well as a unit.
Apart from one aberration in the first half which nearly cost us, Pratley had a good game - sometimes weak in his use of the ball but an expert at breaking play up, disrupting the opposition and getting his body between man and ball to win free kicks. JFC was good, as were his set plays, whilst Gilbey's late runs into the box were threatening throughout and will hopefully yield another goal or two in the remaining games.
Up front, Stockley was totally dominant in the air and thankfully his second half miss didn't matter in the end. DJ and Maatsen were pacey and effective, although there is a tendency for Stockley to become a little isolated, with many of his flick ons being mopped up by defenders. He managed to bring others into play more as the game wore on and there was a good cameo from Liam Millar, who looked dangerous after his introduction.
All in all, a great afternoon's work and just how good was it to see two of our greatest managers on Valley Pass with Scott Minto. A lot of our younger supporters won't really have heard the great Lennie Lawrence speak at length and what a pleasure it was. After returning from the 1-1 draw at Chelsea (aptly described in VoTV at the time as resembling a friendly between Iran and Iraq), we knocked back a couple of bottles of champagne during a celebratory tea at my mum's in Valiant House and then went down the Valley Club for the Player of the Year do, at which Lennie delivered one of his inspirational speeches. What a great night.
Hats off to Thomas Sandgaard. He is, through this outstanding Charlton TV service, reconnecting us with our history and energising supporters - young and old - everywhere. Looking forward to Matt Holland next weekend.
Comments
Amos, Purrington, Inniss, Pearce, Gilbey, Pratley, Stockley, that's 7 tall players.
Matthews, DJ & JFC aren't exactly small & lightweight. Maatsen was the only "small" player.
A lot harder to bully the above than Williams, Smyth, Morgan, Smith, Maatsen.
NB To the few that were saying Bogle & Smyth had left for better prospects or whatever.
Donny have gone from top (I think) to 11th and Accrington from 5th with about 4 games in hand to 12th with none in hand.
Billy_Mix's Player Marks are some true WOAT stuff, really worth a check
Notably when we lost in the Play Offs in 1995/96, 2008/2009 and in 2017/2018 we did not have a proper goal scorer in the team.
Yellow, white, grey, black and ecru gives great scope for variety.
Would Liverpool play in blue? Would Everton play in Red?
I equally disagree with this: https://www.millwallfc.co.uk/news/2020/november/millwall-launch-202021-third-kit/
Ok, let's say CB's who will contest a header. We has seen lots of CB good in the air this season who are mediocre on the desk. Jason Pearce is a typical CB in League 1 who gives 100 % but can get found out. Great pro who admits he can be dirty if need be.
If Inniss could stay fit and keep his discipline, with a sweeper type of player alongside him he would be a championship player.
So many question marks about Ryan and Chuks when it comes to fitness. Great physics for working on the door but both have to be wrapped in cotton wool which is a shame because 40 games each out of Inniss and Aneke and we are in the mix for top 2 not just top 6 in the 3rd tier.
Crewe won't have anything to play for and Peterborough and Lincoln will need to try and win. Who knows what will be at stake when we get to Hull.
I know the gap between 4th and 14th actually got smaller at the weekend but games are running out fast.
Of our 4 strikers, 2 are injured and the other one can't play the lone striker role, while we don't have much cover in wide attacking areas either
Instead we have 2 central midfielders on the bench (Shinnie and Watson), and another 2 in the stands (Morgan and Smith)
I thought that we carried a threat throughout, although we found it hard to play through Sunderland's press in the first period and looked vulnerable in the early stages. I thought that Sunderland played well in that first half and we had Ben Amos to thank for going in a goal ahead. Contrary to expectations, it was a different story in the second period as they ran out of ideas and momentum, something which was graphically illustrated by Johnson introducing four substitutes around the hour mark.
We defended resolutely and Sunderland's vulnerability at the back was exploited by Stockley's flick on and Gilbey's finish, following his late run into the box. We could have had more goals: apart from hitting the post in the first half, Stockley did likewise in the second from DJ's excellent cross and only a fine, last-ditch block deep into injury time denied Gilbey a second goal.
We looked comfortable at 2-0, although Sunderland's late reply made it a nervous last 20 minutes or so by the time the ref had added on 7 minutes or so of injury time. Be that as it may, we saw the game out without any major scares for a well-deserved and vital 3 points.
We were well organised throughout, the structure and shape of the side was good, everyone knew their job and we were happy take a pragmatic approach and go long, rather than footle around at the back and get caught in possession. Amos turned in a MoTM performance, although Inniss and Pearcey weren't far behind, turning in another collectively dominant performance in central defence. Purrington and Matthews were solid and we worked well as a unit.
Apart from one aberration in the first half which nearly cost us, Pratley had a good game - sometimes weak in his use of the ball but an expert at breaking play up, disrupting the opposition and getting his body between man and ball to win free kicks. JFC was good, as were his set plays, whilst Gilbey's late runs into the box were threatening throughout and will hopefully yield another goal or two in the remaining games.
Up front, Stockley was totally dominant in the air and thankfully his second half miss didn't matter in the end. DJ and Maatsen were pacey and effective, although there is a tendency for Stockley to become a little isolated, with many of his flick ons being mopped up by defenders. He managed to bring others into play more as the game wore on and there was a good cameo from Liam Millar, who looked dangerous after his introduction.
All in all, a great afternoon's work and just how good was it to see two of our greatest managers on Valley Pass with Scott Minto. A lot of our younger supporters won't really have heard the great Lennie Lawrence speak at length and what a pleasure it was. After returning from the 1-1 draw at Chelsea (aptly described in VoTV at the time as resembling a friendly between Iran and Iraq), we knocked back a couple of bottles of champagne during a celebratory tea at my mum's in Valiant House and then went down the Valley Club for the Player of the Year do, at which Lennie delivered one of his inspirational speeches. What a great night.
Hats off to Thomas Sandgaard. He is, through this outstanding Charlton TV service, reconnecting us with our history and energising supporters - young and old - everywhere. Looking forward to Matt Holland next weekend.