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POST-MATCH THREAD: Swansea City v Charlton Athletic: Saturday 2nd May 2026: KO 12:30
Comments
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The Swansea fans in the corner were class. The 2000 or so of them made more noise that the rest of the home areas combinedPemburyAddick said:the Swansea fans seemed to be applauding our fans at the end, which is a really nice touch. Some good chanting banter during the game. They were probably the best home fans I've seen out of 15 away games this season2 -
In a perfect shape, it's not his job. But we weren't in shape because they were overloading the other wing. In the scenario that plays out, if he doesn't go, nobody will and they have a free man. But you don't have to take my word for it. Luke Young knows a thing or two about shape and defending, having been part of a Curbs unit.killerandflash said:Surely it's not the number 9's job to be tracking runners? Especially one who had been on for 80 minutes, mainly as a lone striker which is a knackering role.
I'd expect one of the wide attackers or a midfielder to be tracking their right back there. Instead the whole team had been dragged over to the middle and right hand side.2 -
Totally agree.......NabySarr said:
Nothing will happen, and it shouldn’t. I’m sure some of our fans will be silly and jump on his back if we have a slow start, but we need to keep on giving him time and backing to deliver. If we’ve got a good number of new players then it might not be a fast start to next season while they settle inThe Red Robin said:
He’ll certainly start the season yes. I wonder what happens if we haven’t kicked on by October/November.eastterrace6168 said:Let's get one thing sorted, Nathan Jones is going nowhere, he will be here next season...imo 🤔
Derby were 20th in October, they have a good manager so stuck with him and nearly made the play offs. We have a good manager so we should be doing the same, wherever we are in October
I think a lot will depend on his choices for incoming players - especially midfield.
I just also also hope he settles quickly on his best 1st choice team and set up and gives them time to work together rather than too much tinkering. He now realises the necessary quality in this division and needs to get the right players in early.2 -
They were pretty good at the Valley as well. Apart from giving NJ stick but what do you expect? Decent banter. Good fans.PemburyAddick said:the Swansea fans seemed to be applauding our fans at the end, which is a really nice touch. Some good chanting banter during the game. They were probably the best home fans I've seen out of 15 away games this season2 -
Luke Young also partially excused him as being a forward, he wouldn't have that defensive instinct.Chunes said:
In a perfect shape, it's not his job. But we weren't in shape because they were overloading the other wing. In the scenario that plays out, if he doesn't go, nobody will and they have a free man. But you don't have to take my word for it. Luke Young knows a thing or two about shape and defending, having been part of a Curbs unit.killerandflash said:Surely it's not the number 9's job to be tracking runners? Especially one who had been on for 80 minutes, mainly as a lone striker which is a knackering role.
I'd expect one of the wide attackers or a midfielder to be tracking their right back there. Instead the whole team had been dragged over to the middle and right hand side.
If you're relying on a number 9, after 74 minutes of chasing shadows, to do your defensive work in open play, there's something very wrong with the shape and the rest of the team. If Dykes lost his man at a set piece, then I'd be blaming him, not an open play move like that. Big lumps up front aren't there to press right backs.
It was the first goal Young was talking about in that clip, and Knibbs was the player withdrawn straight after the goal, not Dykes, as he had flaked out. Cawley and Mendez in their podcast were surprised he wasn't one of the players withdrawn in the first changes, as he was gassed. Knibbs should have been the player pressing the right back, but instead he was ineffectively marking nobody.
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You’re correct in a way - Swansea deserve some credit for manipulating our block such that a tiring forward who isn’t usually responsible for tracking full backs was left in that position.killerandflash said:Surely it's not the number 9's job to be tracking runners? Especially one who had been on for 80 minutes, mainly as a lone striker which is a knackering role.
I'd expect one of the wide attackers or a midfielder to be tracking their right back there. Instead the whole team had been dragged over to the middle and right hand side.But it is unacceptable from Dykes, it didn’t require much effort and he still didn’t do it. If the ball was a riskier one and Dykes misses cutting it out by a half second you think “fair enough” but that wasn’t that in the situation.3 -
It’s prone to happening when the team is sat deep and throwing bodies in front of the ball but never actually getting the ball back.killerandflash said:
Luke Young also partially excused him as being a forward, he wouldn't have that defensive instinct.Chunes said:
In a perfect shape, it's not his job. But we weren't in shape because they were overloading the other wing. In the scenario that plays out, if he doesn't go, nobody will and they have a free man. But you don't have to take my word for it. Luke Young knows a thing or two about shape and defending, having been part of a Curbs unit.killerandflash said:Surely it's not the number 9's job to be tracking runners? Especially one who had been on for 80 minutes, mainly as a lone striker which is a knackering role.
I'd expect one of the wide attackers or a midfielder to be tracking their right back there. Instead the whole team had been dragged over to the middle and right hand side.
If you're relying on a number 9, after 74 minutes of chasing shadows, to do your defensive work in open play, there's something very wrong with the shape and the rest of the team. If Dykes lost his man at a set piece, then I'd be blaming him, not an open play move like that. Big lumps up front aren't there to press right backs.
It was the first goal Young was talking about in that clip, and Knibbs was the player withdrawn straight after the goal, not Dykes, as he had flaked out. Cawley and Mendez in their podcast were surprised he wasn't one of the players withdrawn in the first changes, as he was gassed. Knibbs should have been the player pressing the right back, but instead he was ineffectively marking nobody.The longer an opposition has the ball, the longer they can probe and find a situation to exploit, like they did.2 -
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Oh also, stinking, honkin, shambolic, disastrous, all the buzz words performance.
Would like to think it was cause they're hungover and didn't care, but hardly any of them played like they wanna be here next season or trying to earn a contract. All the parent clubs can keep the loans as far as I am concerned.
Gladly see the back of almost all of the squad. Cheers for keeping us up, but I want to see more desire and skill next season.
Jones says he is going to be ruthless, let's see if he's true to his word8 -
Nearly been sacked twice by the wayChunes said:
It's amazing considering what he's accomplished over the past three seasons that some fans have called for him to be sacked 4-5 times. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but some people don't know they're born.eastterrace6168 said:Let's get one thing sorted, Nathan Jones is going nowhere, he will be here next season...imo 🤔
After Crawley, and after Millwall. He even himself hinted at that in his speech after Hull at home regarding Crawley.
Fair play he's turned it around both times, and he deserves credit for that, but almost every coach/manager would get sacked in the modern games for some of his poor runs, especially with the performances to go with.
It's history now, he's done his job and imo, is our best manager since Curbs, but he himself knows the work that needs to be done, and you can tell by his press comments there is pressure. I reckon it's why he is speaking so strongly of the quality of player we have and now should be targeting.10 -
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End of season game, no stress. It was a tough watch at times, but nothing really mattered0
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Tell that to Nathan Jones.Dazzler21 said:End of season game, no stress. It was a tough watch at times, but nothing really mattered0 -
Unless you're claiming to be ITK, I'm gonna guess that's speculation dressed up as fact.Braziliance said:
Nearly been sacked twice by the wayChunes said:
It's amazing considering what he's accomplished over the past three seasons that some fans have called for him to be sacked 4-5 times. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but some people don't know they're born.eastterrace6168 said:Let's get one thing sorted, Nathan Jones is going nowhere, he will be here next season...imo 🤔
After Crawley, and after Millwall. He even himself hinted at that in his speech after Hull at home regarding Crawley.
Fair play he's turned it around both times, and he deserves credit for that, but almost every coach/manager would get sacked in the modern games for some of his poor runs, especially with the performances to go with.
It's history now, he's done his job and imo, is our best manager since Curbs, but he himself knows the work that needs to be done, and you can tell by his press comments there is pressure. I reckon it's why he is speaking so strongly of the quality of player we have and now should be targeting.
"Almost every coach/manager would get sacked in the modern games for some of his poor runs" Really? We have a bottom two budget and have not been in the bottom three once this season. At what point would he have been sacked?
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It’s quite clearly a load of bollocks. I don’t think Jones has been near to being sacked at all.Chunes said:
Unless you're claiming to be ITK, I'm gonna guess that's speculation dressed up as fact.Braziliance said:
Nearly been sacked twice by the wayChunes said:
It's amazing considering what he's accomplished over the past three seasons that some fans have called for him to be sacked 4-5 times. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but some people don't know they're born.eastterrace6168 said:Let's get one thing sorted, Nathan Jones is going nowhere, he will be here next season...imo 🤔
After Crawley, and after Millwall. He even himself hinted at that in his speech after Hull at home regarding Crawley.
Fair play he's turned it around both times, and he deserves credit for that, but almost every coach/manager would get sacked in the modern games for some of his poor runs, especially with the performances to go with.
It's history now, he's done his job and imo, is our best manager since Curbs, but he himself knows the work that needs to be done, and you can tell by his press comments there is pressure. I reckon it's why he is speaking so strongly of the quality of player we have and now should be targeting.
"Almost every coach/manager would get sacked in the modern games for some of his poor runs" Really? We have a bottom two budget and have not been in the bottom three once this season. At what point would he have been sacked?After the Crawley game if he was close to being sacked, then why wasn’t he after our next 3 games were 2 0-0s and an embarrassing cup defeat. He can’t have been that near after the Crawley game then if he survived another 3 games without a win?And he definitely wouldn’t have been close to being sacked this season. As you say we’ve never been in the bottom 3 once. Millwall was terrible but sacking him would have been a ridiculous decision and our owners seem a lot smarter than that
These owners are smarter than the majority of our fans, and didn’t hit the panic button and I don’t think they were even close to doing so. I think there’s probably a bit of people making up that he was close to being sacked because it makes them look less silly for wanting him sacked multiple times when we’ve gone from 20th in league 1 to 19th in the championship since he took over10 -
Thanks for doing these all through the season, I look forward to seeing them after the games, there are always things that make me smile and now and then it’s good to learn a new song from you and the people round youBraziliance said:Final one of the season, cheers all
Glad to hear there’ll be some content over the summer too……. cheers4 -
I reckon he was closer to being sacked after Millwall than we realise.3
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Is that based on anything, though? Fan anger was through the roof because we just got smashed by Millwall. But that's always going to be 10x more than what our American owners feel.The Red Robin said:I reckon he was closer to being sacked after Millwall than we realise.6 -
With our work done, a game in which neither team had much to play for should have been a chance to give youngsters a few minutes. However NJ chose to give our loanees a final sendoff. Swansea looked better than us from start to finish and the result didn't flatter them at all. After the heroics against Hull, this game was useful as it showed just how much of an upgrade we need to move into mid table safety. I'll miss the footie. There have been some memorable achievements over an exciting season. But Saturday was a tough watch. Fingers crossed we upgrade all over the pitch.5
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No I’m guessing but had we lost at Leicester a week later I think he would have been in serious trouble.Chunes said:
Is that based on anything, though? Fan anger was through the roof because we just got smashed by Millwall. But that's always going to be 10x more than what our American owners feel.The Red Robin said:I reckon he was closer to being sacked after Millwall than we realise.3 -
I'll be honest I wanted him gone after Millwall away, that was an appalling and embarrassing display. Guess it's a good thing I don't have the power to make that decision 😆3
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I don’t think he’s been close to getting sacked at all. Certainly he’s felt the pressure. Most managers do and Nathan Jones is obviously very heavily invested in everything he does. Remind me when he was given a five year contract by the owners ? The owners have communicated that CAFC are a long term project and that’s been echoed by Jones. It’s a journey with the intention to gather speed each year. Surviving the first year was the target on limited resources and we achieved that. Relegation to quote Jones would have been a disaster so without doubt he’s very relieved we stayed up but even had we got chopped I don’t think he’s was in danger of losing his job. Is he perfect ? No but I’d say perfect for us.8
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I will reword my original post, as I wasn't actually involved in any of the conversations.Chunes said:
Unless you're claiming to be ITK, I'm gonna guess that's speculation dressed up as fact.Braziliance said:
Nearly been sacked twice by the wayChunes said:
It's amazing considering what he's accomplished over the past three seasons that some fans have called for him to be sacked 4-5 times. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but some people don't know they're born.eastterrace6168 said:Let's get one thing sorted, Nathan Jones is going nowhere, he will be here next season...imo 🤔
After Crawley, and after Millwall. He even himself hinted at that in his speech after Hull at home regarding Crawley.
Fair play he's turned it around both times, and he deserves credit for that, but almost every coach/manager would get sacked in the modern games for some of his poor runs, especially with the performances to go with.
It's history now, he's done his job and imo, is our best manager since Curbs, but he himself knows the work that needs to be done, and you can tell by his press comments there is pressure. I reckon it's why he is speaking so strongly of the quality of player we have and now should be targeting.
"Almost every coach/manager would get sacked in the modern games for some of his poor runs" Really? We have a bottom two budget and have not been in the bottom three once this season. At what point would he have been sacked?
I believe he has nearly been sacked twice, I've been told the same stories by multiple people, 2 of which I see have no reason to lie and heard it from someone reliable.
After the Crawley loss, our form starting from our first season loss was 14 played, 3 wins, 4 draws and 7 losses. 13 points from an available 42. We had a top 3 or 4 wage bill. Our accounts now show we were losing money hand over fist. Logically, do you think owners who are very wealthy are going to look at that and think it's ok?
After the Millwall loss and counting from our first loss under the poor run of form. 14 games played, 2 wins, 3 draws and 9 losses. 9 points from an available 42. Again, horrific football performances to go with the form. A 14% win rate.
Most clubs will hold conversations over form like that unless they're in an extraordinary circumstance, like Sheffield Wednesday.
Like I said, it is history and thankfully it didn't happen on both occasions as we might still be in League 1, but to suggest or imply fans are crazy for wanting a switch of manager after such poor runs is wide of the mark. Modern football moves fast.3 -
I think the fans were crazy both times, maybe after Crawley was more forgivable but the league 1 managerial merrygoround we’d been on meant we really had to stick with someone. Thankfully the club had more sense and we are now in the championship rather than stuck in league 1 mid table limboBraziliance said:
I will reword my original post, as I wasn't actually involved in any of the conversations.Chunes said:
Unless you're claiming to be ITK, I'm gonna guess that's speculation dressed up as fact.Braziliance said:
Nearly been sacked twice by the wayChunes said:
It's amazing considering what he's accomplished over the past three seasons that some fans have called for him to be sacked 4-5 times. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but some people don't know they're born.eastterrace6168 said:Let's get one thing sorted, Nathan Jones is going nowhere, he will be here next season...imo 🤔
After Crawley, and after Millwall. He even himself hinted at that in his speech after Hull at home regarding Crawley.
Fair play he's turned it around both times, and he deserves credit for that, but almost every coach/manager would get sacked in the modern games for some of his poor runs, especially with the performances to go with.
It's history now, he's done his job and imo, is our best manager since Curbs, but he himself knows the work that needs to be done, and you can tell by his press comments there is pressure. I reckon it's why he is speaking so strongly of the quality of player we have and now should be targeting.
"Almost every coach/manager would get sacked in the modern games for some of his poor runs" Really? We have a bottom two budget and have not been in the bottom three once this season. At what point would he have been sacked?
I believe he has nearly been sacked twice, I've been told the same stories by multiple people, 2 of which I see have no reason to lie and heard it from someone reliable.
After the Crawley loss, our form starting from our first season loss was 14 played, 3 wins, 4 draws and 7 losses. 13 points from an available 42. We had a top 3 or 4 wage bill. Our accounts now show we were losing money hand over fist. Logically, do you think owners who are very wealthy are going to look at that and think it's ok?
After the Millwall loss and counting from our first loss under the poor run of form. 14 games played, 2 wins, 3 draws and 9 losses. 9 points from an available 42. Again, horrific football performances to go with the form.
Most clubs will hold conversations over form like that unless they're in an extraordinary circumstance, like Sheffield Wednesday.
Like I said, it is history and thankfully it didn't happen on both occasions as we might still be in League 1, but to suggest or imply fans are crazy for wanting a switch of manager after such poor runs is wide of the mark. Modern football moves fast.If we’d sacked him after Millwall it would have been a ridiculously stupid move and the footballing world would have looked at us like we are crazy. Thankfully again our owners had more sense and we aren’t staring at a return to league 1
Jones has shown twice now he can get out of the other side of a rough patch. Please can fans have a bit more patience in future rather than calling for a sacking every time we don’t win for a run of games?15 -
I don’t know the answer to this but when exactly was NJ rewarded with a five year deal ?0
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Also there is absolutely no way that anyone with the knowledge of it would reveal to fans that a manager was close to being sacked. It just wouldn’t happen, even after the fact3
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Oxford United before they sacked Rowett, 22 games, 4 wins, 7 draws, 11 loses. 18% win rate.
Norwich City before they sacked Manning, 15 games, 2 wins, 3 draws, 10 losses. 13% win rate.
Southampton before sacking Still, 13 games, 2 wins, 6 draws, 5 losses. 15% win rate.
You could probably do this across most leagues and the pattern will be similar. Not trying to be condescending, but Nathan Jones isn't unique and doesn't have an immunity pass. Charlton operate like any other club would results wise.
It's history, it worked out, but without being rude, I think it's a bit naive to think talks weren't held, and if they weren't, that would probably be more concerning.1 -
Liam Manning was bought out from Bristol City for 800k and given a 4 year deal. You can probably save yourself time reading his announcement, as all of them are the same. 'Projects, journeys, buying into something'.ShootersHillGuru said:I don’t think he’s been close to getting sacked at all. Certainly he’s felt the pressure. Most managers do and Nathan Jones is obviously very heavily invested in everything he does. Remind me when he was given a five year contract by the owners ? The owners have communicated that CAFC are a long term project and that’s been echoed by Jones. It’s a journey with the intention to gather speed each year. Surviving the first year was the target on limited resources and we achieved that. Relegation to quote Jones would have been a disaster so without doubt he’s very relieved we stayed up but even had we got chopped I don’t think he’s was in danger of losing his job. Is he perfect ? No but I’d say perfect for us.
Will Still also got given I think a 3-4 year deal. Same buzzwords.
All these managers are on journeys and adventures, it's a way of trying to build a rapport with fans. What's the alternative? "Hopefully I can win a few games before inevitably leaving for another club or being sacked myself".
If managers weren't getting sacked based on contract length, then no managers would have been sacked across all 4 professional leagues this season.1 -
I remember Louis Mendez talking about this before the season started. About how most fans seemed happy to finish 21st, but that would actually mean losing a LOT of games, and would this fanbase actually sit there and accept those kinds of poor runs. I guess we had our answer. Some will not tolerate poor runs.
From my POV, NJ has done more than enough to have the backing of the fans, even when we're struggling. He's certainly got mine.16 -
There are also countless examples of teams sticking with managers and doing well. And teams that changed managers and did just as badly or worseBraziliance said:Oxford United before they sacked Rowett, 22 games, 4 wins, 7 draws, 11 loses. 18% win rate.
Norwich City before they sacked Manning, 15 games, 2 wins, 3 draws, 10 losses. 13% win rate.
Southampton before sacking Still, 13 games, 2 wins, 6 draws, 5 losses. 15% win rate.
You could probably do this across most leagues and the pattern will be similar. Not trying to be condescending, but Nathan Jones isn't unique and doesn't have an immunity pass. Charlton operate like any other club would results wise.
It's history, it worked out, but without being rude, I think it's a bit naive to think talks weren't held, and if they weren't, that would probably be more concerning.
I’m sure these conversations go on all the time because there might come a time Jones is sacked or chooses to leave, and we should be regularly monitoring potential manager targets like we would signings. But that isn’t the same as he was nearly sacked, I just don’t think that was true. Maybe it’s because he was on a huge deal, but to me
it was very clear they were going to give him way more time than would be afforded usually to a manager in the EFL. The Crawley game is always quoted, but if he was on the verge of the sack how come he survived another 3 poor games after it?4 -
Cheers mateWrightCharlie said:
Thanks for doing these all through the season, I look forward to seeing them after the games, there are always things that make me smile and now and then it’s good to learn a new song from you and the people round youBraziliance said:Final one of the season, cheers all
Glad to hear there’ll be some content over the summer too……. cheers
Apologies for 4 posts in a row on this thread.
In a good mood etc and happy we stayed up. Just taking the emotion out of it all and having a discussion.
I've wanted Jones out twice and honest enough to admit it would have been the wrong call. I am heavily relying on his consistency in his second seasons here and at Luton.
I think if he recruits well this summer and we are still slogging it out near the bottom and putting in poor football displays I am going to want him gone, again. Anyone or any group that are directly causing Charlton to do poorly I am going to want gone. I have no loyalty to players or managers, will gladly admit that.
I am like an Aldi version of Real Madrid fans.2
https://youtu.be/ZXxpWfly9JM?si=D3omsRWoh5rxvdPD
