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POST-MATCH THREAD: Charlton Athletic vs Southampton - Saturday 22nd November 2025 - 12:30pm Kick-Of
Comments
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I agree with those that noted the hard work that Leaburn put in, and he does that in most games. But I do not believe he should start games, he is an impact sub this season. When he starts the team loses it`s structure.oohaahmortimer said:I’m wondering if I watch a different match to some of our fans, Leaburn grafted, put it about a bit and had some decent touches, it’s just he has limited options with what to do with the ball due to the lack of midfield support yesterday.
Yes yesterday there were other changes in the team because of injuries, so this comment is not based on just one game.1 -
Of course it wouldn't have mattered but
a) their 5th was offside
b) we should have had at least one penalty (Jones/Knibbs)
c) Olaofe was onside when sent through
Dreadful officiating, it really was as there was obviously the free kick the ref got in the way of and the blatant corner that wasn't given amongst other things on top.
As one sided as the game was it could have looked more respectable with proper officiating.
But also, if it had been closer I guess they wouldn't have bought the fan off the bench who I assume paid for his spot, Downs. He was the worst player we have played against all season. Their CB Woods was dreadful too. It gave me hope for the away game if we have our injured back. 🤣6 -
I feel that is grasping at straws, I understand why. Yesterday was a wake up call, reminding us that the vast majority of our players are not up there with the best in the Championship.Athletico Charlton said:Of course it wouldn't have mattered but
a) their 5th was offside
b) we should have had at least one penalty (Jones/Knibbs)
c) Olaofe was onside when sent through
Dreadful officiating, it really was as there was obviously the free kick the ref got in the way of and the blatant corner that wasn't given amongst other things.
As one sided as the game was it could have looked more respectable with proper officiating1 -
He was good against Sheffield United and Blackburn no doubt, but some of the praise was OTT. I just think he sticks out like a sore thumb at Championship level.AFKABartram said:
Devils advocate, Was he good enough last month when we were winning games and he was getting man of the match?cafcsinger said:There’s a reason Hull got shot of Docherty - no way near good enough, but he runs around a lot so people like him.2 -
It's a body language thing. When he's not on the ball he's got his shoulders hunched and his head down and he doesn't look like he's dying to get the ball back. Obviously generally when that happens he's just run up the pitch, won a physical battle with their player, seen the move break down and the ball is on the other side of the pitch but football fans are generally insane. I saw him get screamed at for not chasing a few times yesterday when he was nowhere near their defender and wouldn't be able to get near enough to put any pressure on. Bizarreoohaahmortimer said:I’m wondering if I watch a different match to some of our fans, Leaburn grafted, put it about a bit and had some decent touches, it’s just he has limited options with what to do with the ball due to the lack of midfield support yesterday.5 -
Agreed, but if we don’t sign anyone in January we will need extra backup. I am not sure the players on the bench are Championship quality either tbh.Sword65pf said:
The players out on loan are there for a reason, they aren’t good enough to be in the match day squad in the championship.pettgra said:I don’t know if we are in a position to bring quality players in January. If not I would bring back most of the loanees; even if they are not good enough to start it would give us some respite off the bench. None of these players are mugs, all hands to the pump.0 -
We could pick the bones out of this but we will have these games this season.
We spent 12 mil in the close season to make us stronger, but it's fish feed in this league. That lack of star quality will show now and again. Work rate gets you so far, and it's held us in good stead thus far. We were off the pace today.
One thing that slightly concerns me is NJ's persistents with certain players, and not mixing it up a bit more.
But overall, we got the spanking we deserved today. We were flat, and slow, and played with fear.
We move on.
UTA.4 -
There was hardly any Championship experience in our 11 yesterday. Southampton's players were different class.
Our survival strategy is based on solid defence and 4 of our 7 defenders were out yesterday.
There is not much more to say.
Against Stoke and Middlesbrough we have to pack the defence and midfield and hope we can staunch the flow until our injured defenders recover, or we buy some more.1 -
We've lost two games, one of which we didn't deserve to win but didn't deserve to lose. Yesterday's game was, once again, blighted by our injury list and a fast moving Southampton side showed no mercy and we, deserved nothing. Our midfield is getting criticism, rightly so, but the lack of wing backs, and potential options to replace the injured first choices in those positions is what, in the main, is affecting our performance. Also our front players are still not firing, but once again, injuries to two of the top scorers in league one is restricting us. Two teams are in the middle of an injury crisis at the moment, Millwall and Charlton, both teams have seen a recent drop in form because of those injuries. The form will improve, but not until Bell, Edwards, Burke, Godden and Kelman return.3
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A display of quite extraordinary ineptitude.
I've seen us lose heavily at home over the years (notably, 0-5 to Leicester in 1970 and 1-6 to Leeds in 2003) and at half-time, I feared that Southampton could end up with 7 or 8. Fortunately, with a full midweek programme and a game on Tuesday, they slipped into second gear and we managed to keep the score down.
Without Edwards and Bell, we are hopelessly exposed on the left flank and Lloyd Jones was limping heavily at the end. A difficult week in prospect.
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The upside of yesterday is it demonstrated that our flirtation with the playoff spots was not advisable lol imagine getting promoted and having that and worse happen every week lol
im going to Stoke and hoping for a reaction but not really expecting one. Fortunately we built enough points to handle a bad run but we really need players back from injury we are missing Bell, Edward’s etc badly2 -
The ref/linesmen were rubbish ✅️
Leaburn doesn't look interested ✅️
No Plan B ✅️
The big screen is shit ✅️
We're going to get thrashed next game ✅️
HOUSE!
That's my card filled for another week. See you next time!13 -
Good post.Sheepie1985 said:So I've held back from sharing my thoughts from yesterday until the morning, let's face it when we share thoughts straight after the whistle they're always full of emotion from the moment and I wanted some hindsight to kick in a bit.
And honestly? I'm not fussed by the result at all. Yes it was a VERY painful watch but I'm not concerned in the slightest about it in terms of what happens next. Do I expect us to go thump Stoke on Tuesday night? Not a chance. Do I think we'll get a point or more from Coventry, probably not to be honest. But look at this time last year when we had players out and we hit probably the lowest moment in recent history with the Crawley Town game, after that we had players return from injuries, and we turned things around so much that we've broken records and got ourselves promoted to the Championship.
The Championship is a mental league too and results like this are happening to teams across the league during the season, but they don't dictate the season ahead and they won't shape things either. If anything we probably needed some grounding as fans because we've been starting to dream of promotion already and we really need to be more sensible with our expectations, yesterday reminded us of that.
But I do think we'll ride this out and once we've got through the injuries, we'll have a real strong second half of the season that'll lead us to establishing our place in this league, and then we can start dreaming for more.
It's natural for people to overreact to yesterday as we were so comprehensively beaten but that has happened very rarely under Jones and he'll be keen to ensure it doesn't happen again. We'll have to be better without doubt because any upcoming opponent will surely just be watching the match video from yesterday to see where they can exploit us. But it's all a 'learning curve' as Jones said in his post-match interview.
If we take a step back and consider that 23 points from 16 games is still a decent return for a side that was pre-season relegation favourites and we are currently 13 points ahead of safety, then it's not so bad after all.
The task we have now is to ensure that the current 2 defeats in a row doesn't quickly become 4/5/6 defeats in a row and then we're on 23 points from 19-20 games and looking over our shoulder. I'm confident that we'll react well.5 -
My mistake. Felt like 4 in about 20 at the time 😂oohaahmortimer said:
hull scored their 4th in the 39th minute of that game when a hull player completed his hatrickcabbles said:
Not at home but I think we were 4 down after 20 odd minutes at Hull back in 2016 when we went onto lose 6-0, but yup, can’t recall anything like this. The worse thing is this during a good period in supporting the team. I could’ve accepted this more easily had it been the depths of Gilbey, Gunter, Adkins and Garner etc.Southbank said:
One for the stattos, but have we ever been 0-4 at home after 22 minutes. I certainly cannot remember that.KingKinsella said:
CAFC 0-6 Leeds Viduka Smith and others?holyjo said:From the NU we appeared obviously exposed so very quickly . The wing backs looked vulnerable and we were jittery and uncharacteristically slow. Their goals looked so inevitable as well.Not sure I can remember many games quite like that in the last 40 years. And I’ve seen some dross. It was surreal and paradoxically totally expected as it unfolded
CAFC0-4 Oxford Twine scoring for fun
must be others as well0 -
Watching Doc's post match video on the OS, and you could see he was hurting as indeed we all are, and felt rightly that they let the club and supporters down big time, must say he looked really upset and we need to bounce back Tuesday, just a 0-0 would be a huge result up there...COYR9
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And as really bad as it was yesterday,we are still only 2 points of the play offs…we have enough in this squad throughout out the rest of season to stay above the dreaded red line,now wasn’t that the aim for most of us at the beginning of the season,so why are some throwing in the towel already…as demoralising as it was for us sitting on the sides, I’m sure NJ & this set of players will hopefully learn not just from every win but just as much of the loses too,including the spankings….
Up The Addicks ❤️🤍5 -
6s and 7s on the player marks thread, not sure some of you even properly watched the game FFS7
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When your son told me you'd miss this one, I knew it was going to be a tough afternoon....TootingRedArmy said:First home match I’ve missed this season, away aboard, decided not to watch online so when my phone began pinging I needed to double check 5 goals…! These results happen it’s football, positives are we are still a couple of pts from play off’s & a lot more off relegation. The players will be hurting & will want to get back out on Tuesday and put in a performance - we might really struggle V Stoke & Coventry but it’s still November and we have long season ahead. Jones and players have been magnificent this season, its times like this where we need all perspective, we’ve been here before get a kicking and it will happen again..we go again on Tuesday. COYA’s0 -
Did you deliberately choose a picture of himForeverAddickted said:
No idea what you could possibly mean mate...eastterrace6168 said:
You tease FA...😂ForeverAddickted said:
Presume you're referring to Hernandez or Apter / Costello? - As they were our only "wingers" yesterdayRonnieMoore said:Watched the highlights again .. one big difference that stood out was that Southampton. Had a winger who created chance after chance unfortunately our winger again was invisible and created nothing of note … there lays our problem
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It wasn't. And I believe that was a Leeds side flirting with the Champions League. I remember a book about the club saying that when our players came back to tge changing rooms at full time,, they thought it wasn't a surprising result given the players and money spent by Leeds.Bedsaddick said:
Really ? That was a good side packed full of internationals. You could be right if it was early in the season.MrOneLung said:
Think Leeds were bottom as well.oohaahmortimer said:
Leeds was 1-6KingKinsella said:
CAFC 0-6 Leeds Viduka Smith and others?holyjo said:From the NU we appeared obviously exposed so very quickly . The wing backs looked vulnerable and we were jittery and uncharacteristically slow. Their goals looked so inevitable as well.Not sure I can remember many games quite like that in the last 40 years. And I’ve seen some dross. It was surreal and paradoxically totally expected as it unfolded
CAFC0-4 Oxford Twine scoring for fun
must be others as well
Rotherham 1-5 did Ronnie Moore get 4 ?1 -
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People definitely misremembering the Leeds game. They were in a relegation fight and we were flirting with a European spot.2
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Leeds were near the bottom, their financial issues were starting to take hold, we won the earlier fixture that season at elland road (parkers run), after they hammered us they won at arsenal a couple weeks after to stay up and give man utd the title, the day before that we were hammered at old trafford.ken_shabby said:
It wasn't. And I believe that was a Leeds side flirting with the Champions League. I remember a book about the club saying that when our players came back to tge changing rooms at full time,, they thought it wasn't a surprising result given the players and money spent by Leeds.Bedsaddick said:
Really ? That was a good side packed full of internationals. You could be right if it was early in the season.MrOneLung said:
Think Leeds were bottom as well.oohaahmortimer said:
Leeds was 1-6KingKinsella said:
CAFC 0-6 Leeds Viduka Smith and others?holyjo said:From the NU we appeared obviously exposed so very quickly . The wing backs looked vulnerable and we were jittery and uncharacteristically slow. Their goals looked so inevitable as well.Not sure I can remember many games quite like that in the last 40 years. And I’ve seen some dross. It was surreal and paradoxically totally expected as it unfolded
CAFC0-4 Oxford Twine scoring for fun
must be others as well
Rotherham 1-5 did Ronnie Moore get 4 ?0 -
Ronnie: Know that you won’t answer this but:RonnieMoore said:
What Campbell and Leaburn contributed nothing .. Campbell stats this season 1 assit 0 goals championship step to far for these twoAlwaysneil said:Positives:
i thought Campbell, Leaburn and Rankin-Costello had good games along with Ramsay and Jones.
Negatives
Hernandez should not play on the left
Apter should not play where he has to be a WB
We desperately need Bell or Edwards back as with neither the lack of pace of Gilleshpey and to a lesser extent Jones are exposed. Is that where Fukuda plays?
All their goals were from our midfield/defense being pulled out of shape to try and cover for wing backs in the wrong place.
Why do you keep saying that Kelman has been our best player whilst Campbell & Leaburn aren’t good enough for The Championship?
Kelman has 1 Goal and 0 Assists.Leaburn has 1 Goal and 0 Assists.
Campbell has 0 Goals and 3 Assists.
All of them have clearly been as ineffective as one another from the above stats.
It seems like you always just want to criticise the academy players, as Anderson & Kanu were always the worst players according to you too.4 -
"Houston we have a problem".
How does the Virgin Mary become slack Alice like we saw in the 1st half yesterday 🤔
From the sublime defence to the ridiculous; with the ridiculous being shite 🤷🏻♂️
As we were vulnerable out wide on both flanks the easy answer would be to say the wing backs or what Nathan admitted in post match speak: two wingers playing in those positions. Get fit soon Edwards and Bell because we were a lot tighter with both these lads in the left wing back and LCB positions. TBF to Hernandez he made a tackle or two in defence but his best play is in the opponents half like Apter. We were open everywhere just like I said with slack Alice and it was only a wonderland for Southampton fans as they had a high 🖐🏻before the break.
Now Rob Apter is a talented lad with the ball at his feet but unless we can find an attacking role for him my prediction that he would struggle when Ramsey can't cover him in defensive positions has come to fruition unfortunately; I said it after 3 games when he was doing well in an unusual position for him.
Was Lloyd Jones carrying an injury from early doors as he was shaky which then affected Macca and Ramsey was overwhelmed with covering everyone.
Our midfield were chasing shadows AKA Saint players as they ran with the ball and our flexible midfield of Docherty, Coventry and Carey were taking turns in running back but already behind !
Our forwards were out numbered as we weren't a coherent unit.
I was watching on TV yesterday after no sleep and in shock after the cricket defeat when England snatched a defeat from the jaws of victory. Because of the secret society now I have no idea when Edwards, Bell, Kelman, Godden etc will be back. Lloyd was limping and the mandatory injuries are screwing CAFC again.
Nathan saying they were 2 weeks closer tell us sweat FA even though that statement is correct.
Can we go back to the Ipswich game and Charlton fans being arrogant as they become sad quite quickly.
Nothing changes as this should be the consolidation season and 10 points clear of the trap door.
If Lloyd Jones is now unfit a cold wet Tuesday night in Stoke could be X-rated !
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We were playing Southampton!soapboxsam said:"Houston we have a problem".
How does the Virgin Mary become slack Alice like we saw in the 1st half yesterday 🤔
From the sublime defence to the ridiculous; with the ridiculous being shite 🤷🏻♂️
As we were vulnerable out wide on both flanks the easy answer would be to say the wing backs or what Nathan admitted in post match speak: two wingers playing in those positions. Get fit soon Edwards and Bell because we were a lot tighter with both these lads in the left wing back and LCB positions. TBF to Hernandez he made a tackle or two in defence but his best play is in the opponents half like Apter. We were open everywhere just like I said with slack Alice and it was only a wonderland for Southampton fans as they had a high 🖐🏻before the break.
Now Rob Apter is a talented lad with the ball at his feet but unless we can find an attacking role for him my prediction that he would struggle when Ramsey can't cover him in defensive positions has come to fruition unfortunately; I said it after 3 games when he was doing well in an unusual position for him.
Was Lloyd Jones carrying an injury from early doors as he was shaky which then affected Macca and Ramsey was overwhelmed with covering everyone.
Our midfield were chasing shadows AKA Norwich players as they ran with the ball and our flexible midfield of Docherty, Coventry and Carey were taking turns in running back but already behind !2 -
Some very brave and salient comments here as respects NJ's overriding ability as a defensive coach rather than an attacking one!? I reckon there is some truth here which many will want to avoidjimmymelrose said:
TBF means ’to be fair’, doesn’t it? I think all the comments on Apter are about the most unfair I have read about a player on CL, but they are a result of NJ’s unfair positioning of him. Everyone is now saying that it was madness to play with two attacking minded wingers in defense but, and you can check this out, there was only one person saying that in the pre-match thread.letthegoodtimesroll said:
If you are saying he is a one-trick pony then TBF in a team game he probably isn’t worth the effort of persevering with and we are not them team for him, or anyone else for that matter.jimmymelrose said:
Maybe, but only because NJ doesn’t understand how to use him effectively.ct_addick said:Apter is done…out on loan in Jan…gone in the summer
If there is any ’one trick pony’ then it’s NJ himself. He only has one playing style and he is unable to adapt. I’ve said it before that I’m happy to play this way if we can stay up for the next 2-3 seasons but after that if given the choice I would rather change manager and keep a player of Apter’s profile than have to lose the player. After 3 years I would start to expect to actually enjoy watching us.
There are loads of players like Apter - attacking players who can’t be relied on to defend. NJ just can’t accept that but he seems to accept that some defenders can’t attack. Wing backs are full backs who are asked to attack but NJ thinks he can convert around the other way. He’s a good defensive coach but not an attacking one. A good coach is one who can understand all his players’ strengths and adapt his system to take advantage of all of those. If we used Apter to his strengths we would have none of this nonsense about Leaburn being lazy either, because he’s be getting the kind of service he needs.
Here are two questions to our older fans: what would NJ do with Powell, Peacock, Flanagan and Hales? How would Robert Lee fit in without Humphrey backing him up?
Another question: who are your favourite attacking players currently in The Premier League? Do you think that NJ could use them effectively? Am I being unfair, or is NJ being unfair on Apter? If Apter leaves because of NJ then it won’t be like Alfie May who stayed in League One. We’ve seen glimpses of his potential at this level, he’s very young and will get better.
debating sensibly......
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Yeah Apter was poorRonnieMoore said:Watched the highlights again .. one big difference that stood out was that Southampton. Had a winger who created chance after chance unfortunately our winger again was invisible and created nothing of note … there lays our problem2 -
We’ve seen this before! Peterborough away last season. Yesterday Armstrong took Lloydy for a walk just like Ricky Jade Jones did last season, 30 yard gaps appear between CB’s centrally which were exposed at pace over and over. Better league, better opposition players and just like then we’ve got hammered trying to stay man for man.
Add the injuries, attackers playing as WB’s, our lack of speed centrally and we were fortunate it wasn’t worse. That style of football is the kryptonite to NJ’s method, fortunately not many we come across can adopt it4 -
Docherty i do feel is a weak link2
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If we don't have the players - wing backs - to play a formation, should we be playing that formation that need wing backs in the first place ? Gillesphy has lots of great qualities but pace is not one of them. He was totally exposed.Hoping Nathan Jones learns from the hiding yesterday.4
