If I was to pick one thing, it would be the return of Lloyd Jones, and the defensive solidity since he returned
We started the season well, based on defensive solidity. The plan was always to make us hard to beat, and then become better in attack, but in the autumn the defence started wobbling, and the we lost Jones (and Ramsay).
The nadir was the Crawley defeat, but the good news was that Jones returned from injury with a late cameo off the bench. The next game Jones started, and we drew 0-0, followed by another 0-0. The defensive foundations that enabled us to go on and start winning games.
Since Crawley, and with Jones back in the team and playing every minute, we've lost just 2 out of 17.
The return of Ramsay would be a close second for me.
Obviously it isn't as simplistic as one dominant factor Henry Irving listed all the contributory elements If there's one thing underpinning the current upward trajectory that had been missing for eons it might be that NJ has been given both time and resources to mould this current outfit. At least in comparison to everyone since Chris Powell and Peter Varney under the spivs. No manager/head coach/whatever has been allowed to operate in a sensible sustainable environment since Powell in 2011 and even that turned out to be built on sand cos Mr Cash wasn't as well named as we'd been led to believe. Lee Bowyer achieved promotion in spite of the delusional douchebag. Money talks in this business but it needs to be utilised well. Never forget the role of luck, luck with injuries, luck with deflections, luck with the insidious random interference of the woefully inadequate officials blighting the 3rd division.
Henry is right it won't be down to one thing. I would say a big thing will be that Jones has found a system that works with the wide men, Jones makes the defence that is decent enough, as good as any at this level. The players will have a better understanding of other's game and we will now be supremely confident. Injuries, or lack of them has to be a be factor too.
If I was to pick one thing, it would be the return of Lloyd Jones, and the defensive solidity since he returned
We started the season well, based on defensive solidity. The plan was always to make us hard to beat, and then become better in attack, but in the autumn the defence started wobbling, and the we lost Jones (and Ramsay).
The nadir was the Crawley defeat, but the good news was that Jones returned from injury with a late cameo off the bench. The next game Jones started, and we drew 0-0, followed by another 0-0. The defensive foundations that enabled us to go on and start winning games.
Since Crawley, and with Jones back in the team and playing every minute, we've lost just 2 out of 17.
The return of Ramsay would be a close second for me.
It’s this. Both in terms of defensive solidity but also the confidence we have as a team with them that allows us to be more aggressive in attacking areas too.
Our record without LJ starting the game is won 1, drawn 3, lost 3 (0.86 PPG).
Our record when he does start is won 16, drawn 5, lost 6 (1.96 PPG).
Our record without Ramsay is won 5, drawn 5, lost 4 (1.43 PPG).
When he plays it’s won 12, drawn 3, lost 5 (1.95 PPG).
With both Ramsay and Jones: won 12, drawn 2, lost 5 (2.00 PPG).
If I was to pick one thing, it would be the return of Lloyd Jones, and the defensive solidity since he returned
We started the season well, based on defensive solidity. The plan was always to make us hard to beat, and then become better in attack, but in the autumn the defence started wobbling, and the we lost Jones (and Ramsay).
The nadir was the Crawley defeat, but the good news was that Jones returned from injury with a late cameo off the bench. The next game Jones started, and we drew 0-0, followed by another 0-0. The defensive foundations that enabled us to go on and start winning games.
Since Crawley, and with Jones back in the team and playing every minute, we've lost just 2 out of 17.
The return of Ramsay would be a close second for me.
It’s this. Both in terms of defensive solidity but also the confidence we have as a team with them that allows us to be more aggressive in attacking areas too.
Our record without LJ starting the game is won 1, drawn 3, lost 3 (0.86 PPG).
Our record when he does start is won 16, drawn 5, lost 6 (1.96 PPG).
Our record without Ramsay is won 5, drawn 5, lost 4 (1.43 PPG).
When he plays it’s won 12, drawn 3, lost 5 (1.95 PPG).
With both Ramsay and Jones: won 12, drawn 2, lost 5 (2.00 PPG).
Without both: won 5, drawn 6, lost 4 (1.40 PPG).
What’s our record with TC in the team and Small at RWB?
Jones and Ramsay returning for me. The high press only works with them there. Otherwise teams can just go long and avoid our press, but Jones aerial ability and Ramsay’s covering defending mean that we can confidently press high knowing that we either win the ball back high, or Jones or Ramsay deal with any team that goes long or is able to play through our press
In answer to your ‘one thing’, Small being played on the right. He was brought back into the team against Mansfield after the poor Crawley, Lincoln performances. We drew that one then had the season changer v Northampton.
with him we gained width, pace, an outlet and a player to carry the ball. There’s been a number of factors to throw into the mix since that Northampton game, but that’s my number one.
In answer to your ‘one thing’, Small being played on the right. He was brought back into the team against Mansfield after the poor Crawley, Lincoln performances. We drew that one then had the season changer v Northampton.
with him we gained width, pace, an outlet and a player to carry the ball. There’s been a number of factors to throw into the mix since that Northampton game, but that’s my number one.
So who is going to claim the credit for that? Jones said someone suggested it to him in a Christmas card. Was it you @AFKABartram?
Think all the key tactical changes have been covered, perhaps barring the weird idea of playing defensive minded centre mids in advanced roles.
Doherty, Anderson and Alan Campbell were all (inevitably) uncomfortable there and played poorly as a result. It really added to our lack of fluency and chance creation. Leaving just one in that position and letting Berry do it has made a massive difference.
If I was to pick one thing, it would be the return of Lloyd Jones, and the defensive solidity since he returned
We started the season well, based on defensive solidity. The plan was always to make us hard to beat, and then become better in attack, but in the autumn the defence started wobbling, and the we lost Jones (and Ramsay).
The nadir was the Crawley defeat, but the good news was that Jones returned from injury with a late cameo off the bench. The next game Jones started, and we drew 0-0, followed by another 0-0. The defensive foundations that enabled us to go on and start winning games.
Since Crawley, and with Jones back in the team and playing every minute, we've lost just 2 out of 17.
The return of Ramsay would be a close second for me.
It’s this. Both in terms of defensive solidity but also the confidence we have as a team with them that allows us to be more aggressive in attacking areas too.
Our record without LJ starting the game is won 1, drawn 3, lost 3 (0.86 PPG).
Our record when he does start is won 16, drawn 5, lost 6 (1.96 PPG).
Our record without Ramsay is won 5, drawn 5, lost 4 (1.43 PPG).
When he plays it’s won 12, drawn 3, lost 5 (1.95 PPG).
With both Ramsay and Jones: won 12, drawn 2, lost 5 (2.00 PPG).
Without both: won 5, drawn 6, lost 4 (1.40 PPG).
What’s our record with TC in the team and Small at RWB?
Since Northampton when we first used Small on the right it’s won 11, drawn 2, lost 2 (2.33 PPG).
In answer to your ‘one thing’, Small being played on the right. He was brought back into the team against Mansfield after the poor Crawley, Lincoln performances. We drew that one then had the season changer v Northampton.
with him we gained width, pace, an outlet and a player to carry the ball. There’s been a number of factors to throw into the mix since that Northampton game, but that’s my number one.
So who is going to claim the credit for that? Jones said someone suggested it to him in a Christmas card. Was it you @AFKABartram?
Even if TC and Small don't have their best games, they are a threat which needs to be covered. This adds another dimension to league one defenders which exposes a lot of them. Yes, getting bodies behind the ball centrally has been very effective as a tactic against us in recent times but it doesn't work anymore.
It’s such a tricky one and one we will never have the answer to. The irony is that things have worked that arguably shouldn’t have or we didn’t expect: Small playing on the right, TC finding form up front, Gillesphey going from Phil Chappell to Frank beckenbauer, leaburn not starting, not losing half the team to injuries! Also, I read a lot ”since Northampton” but we lost to Rotherham after that and people were doing their beans. The key win was Bolton imo.
I am watching PSG v Liverpool. PSG are looking a lot better than Liverpool because they are playing on the front foot and really going for them. A bit like Rotherham did to us and Orient at the start of the second half. Liverpool are for me the best team in Europe so it shows you can unsettle teams. Good teams. Of course PSG are a very strong team but I think Liverpool are more likely to win the Champions League than they are.
Northampton was when things turned as it was when we started playing with width and Rotherham was one of those games and we need to credit them for their performance that day. I can add Birmingham did it to us in the first half too. It is something we can and probably will improve on but only a decent side can do this which probably suggests Rotherham have under acheived. Being fair, Bolton did it in spells during our recent victory there.
Here's a set of figures that are worth considering (E&OE). I have highlighted two important ones.
129 16 24 29 12 20 16 74 118 13 34 17 32 28 50
Some will guess what this list represents; and those who do will understand why the first and ninth are highlighted.
The list represents the number of league games each Charlton Manager has been in place. The two highlighted numbers represent the tenures of Chris Powell and Lee Bowyer. It is no coincidence at all that these two achieved promotion, while all others left the role before they delivered any success.
Nathan Jones is now third on the list and is showing signs that he could be the next name on the list to achieve the double of promotion and a century of league games in charge. Everyone knows it takes time to harvest, harden, hone and hoist a squad, over a season. In the last decade and a half, we've taken twelve opportunities to fail to do exactly that. This season, we've stuck with slow, gradual success. And it's paying off.
Season after season, Charlton have pulled the trigger on a manager before he's had the chance to succeed or fail. What's changed over the last few weeks is - in my view - we haven't sacked the manager. And that's what has caused the successes we're seeing now.
But does that prove that giving managers time gets you promoted, or does it prove that getting promoted earns you more time in the job?
Possibly a serious improvement in the medical team, keeping the team much fitter, much less guff and input from the SMT may have helped to give Nut Job a chance to put his plans in place. Long may it continue.
Comments
We started the season well, based on defensive solidity. The plan was always to make us hard to beat, and then become better in attack, but in the autumn the defence started wobbling, and the we lost Jones (and Ramsay).
The nadir was the Crawley defeat, but the good news was that Jones returned from injury with a late cameo off the bench. The next game Jones started, and we drew 0-0, followed by another 0-0. The defensive foundations that enabled us to go on and start winning games.
Since Crawley, and with Jones back in the team and playing every minute, we've lost just 2 out of 17.
The return of Ramsay would be a close second for me.
Henry Irving listed all the contributory elements
If there's one thing underpinning the current upward trajectory that had been missing for eons it might be that NJ has been given both time and resources to mould this current outfit. At least in comparison to everyone since Chris Powell and Peter Varney under the spivs.
No manager/head coach/whatever has been allowed to operate in a sensible sustainable environment since Powell in 2011 and even that turned out to be built on sand cos Mr Cash wasn't as well named as we'd been led to believe.
Lee Bowyer achieved promotion in spite of the delusional douchebag.
Money talks in this business but it needs to be utilised well.
Never forget the role of luck, luck with injuries, luck with deflections, luck with the insidious random interference of the woefully inadequate officials blighting the 3rd division.
And giving Nathan time to instill his beliefs & tactics into the squad. Would have been so easy to sack him in December.
Our record without LJ starting the game is won 1, drawn 3, lost 3 (0.86 PPG).
Our record when he does start is won 16, drawn 5, lost 6 (1.96 PPG).
Our record without Ramsay is won 5, drawn 5, lost 4 (1.43 PPG).
When he plays it’s won 12, drawn 3, lost 5 (1.95 PPG).
With both Ramsay and Jones: won 12, drawn 2, lost 5 (2.00 PPG).
Without both: won 5, drawn 6, lost 4 (1.40 PPG).
with him we gained width, pace, an outlet and a player to carry the ball. There’s been a number of factors to throw into the mix since that Northampton game, but that’s my number one.
Doherty, Anderson and Alan Campbell were all (inevitably) uncomfortable there and played poorly as a result. It really added to our lack of fluency and chance creation. Leaving just one in that position and letting Berry do it has made a massive difference.
I reckon NJ has binged watched Ted Lasso and stuck a ‘Believe’ sign up in the changing room
👏🏻 Spot on.
Did he find Karel Fraeye's notes left in a draw in the manager's office.😁
Northampton was when things turned as it was when we started playing with width and Rotherham was one of those games and we need to credit them for their performance that day. I can add Birmingham did it to us in the first half too. It is something we can and probably will improve on but only a decent side can do this which probably suggests Rotherham have under acheived. Being fair, Bolton did it in spells during our recent victory there.
Benched the choccy fingers.
Subbed off the humbugs.
Promoted the Smints.
Result ?
The Tingle is back