15 out of 18 points dropped against AFC Wimbledon, Oldham and Rochdale this season - says it all really.
When you add in Fleetwood too, who I know are above us, but that's 5 points from a possible 24, that's ridiculous. I'm convinced now that we have no hope with play-offs, and at the start of the month I was fairly optimistic.
Maybe now the unpersuaded will realise that under RD we are going nowhere fast. Any time that we develop players with talent they will be sold on (and not replaced) and the rest of the squad will be left to struggle on. The result? Perpetual mediocrity, with the occasional relegation....
Why do we keep on wanting to sack the Manager? We all know what the problem is with us. He resides in his Ivory Tower in Belgium. Every transfer window is shite. He gives with one hand and takes more away with the other hand. The only way I can see us breaking this downward spiral is for him to sell up. Robinson needs time to turn it around. We can't keep on repeating the same mistakes. Time to back the Manager in the Summer. Let him Manage without interference.
Why do we keep on wanting to sack the Manager? We all know what the problem is with us. He resides in his Ivory Tower in Belgium. Every transfer window is shite. He gives with one hand and takes more away with the other hand. The only way I can see us breaking this downward spiral is for him to sell up. Robinson needs time to turn it around. We can't keep on repeating the same mistakes. Time to back the Manager in the Summer. Let him Manage without interference.
Nice thought Dick, but realistically it ain't gonna happen.
Why do we keep on wanting to sack the Manager? We all know what the problem is with us. He resides in his Ivory Tower in Belgium. Every transfer window is shite. He gives with one hand and takes more away with the other hand. The only way I can see us breaking this downward spiral is for him to sell up. Robinson needs time to turn it around. We can't keep on repeating the same mistakes. Time to back the Manager in the Summer. Let him Manage without interference.
Very true but Roly will have to change his ways for that to happen ...so it won't.
Why do we keep on wanting to sack the Manager? We all know what the problem is with us. He resides in his Ivory Tower in Belgium. Every transfer window is shite. He gives with one hand and takes more away with the other hand. The only way I can see us breaking this downward spiral is for him to sell up. Robinson needs time to turn it around. We can't keep on repeating the same mistakes. Time to back the Manager in the Summer. Let him Manage without interference.
The interference is nothing to do with the fans.
Duchatelet sacked 7 managers not the fans.
I agree that Robinson isn't the core problem, that's Duchatelet, but his team selection, tactics and public announcements are all open for criticism.
Konsa's injury saved us ... from the start he just could not cope with Andrew (a k a Zorro) and Thompson, the dangerous, quick and terrific in the air Rochdale strikers ..
I'll get my whinge out the way first .. I have seen Konsa play central defender several times this season, each time he has looked dodgy at best .. at Oldham he was terrible and yet Robinson STILL keeps him in with Tex on the bench .. Tex comes on we are tighter at the back, though still not that clever and he scores twice .. game set and match, q e d .. Karl me ol mucka ... KONSA COULD BECOME A VERY GOOD MIDFIELDER OR FULL BACK .. HE IS NOT A CENTRAL DEFENDER
THE GAME .. was one of the best I have seen this season and a terrific show from both teams, end to end, skilful, committed and generally devoid of malice or bad foul play ... we were under the cosh from the start .. Dale are a terrific clever team, big yet mobile and they shook us up, scored early and hit the post, .. credit to our team, we came back at them especially in the second half .. had some fortune with our equaliser, Botaka (bless him) did his best to miss it but put it away at the second attempt .. we got better as the game went on and Dale ran out of steam a bit but on the break we conceded twice, go figure as 'they' say in America F - Caskey got better & better, Page was excellent, Botaka had his best game, Didi nearly scored the goal of the season, Solly was Solly ... Magennis was his usual hard working self, but Josh me ol darling f f s learn the offside law ... Crofts was steady, Bauer and Tex at the back were good though they lack a bit of pace as a partnership .. and Ricky Holmes scared the life out of the Dale defenders every time he ran at them ..
Rudd made a game saving save from Zorro a k a Calvin Andrew (he was wearing a 'mask' as injury protection) and was generally efficient .. Watt tried hard but was well held, (keep up the good work Tony, it'll come good soon) .. Novak did little in the short time he was on .. pity we only took the one .. BUT I for one have not given up hope of a play off spot .. IF IF IF we can keep this kind of performance going, no doubt, we will be there or thereabouts .. congrats also to Rochdale, nice little club, decent old fashioned ground, very good team but how they keep going on crowds of well under 3,000, god alone knows
On balance it was hard to not come away with the three points but it was a bloody good game. Rudd pulled off a couple of really good saves and we didn't create that much despite dominating for large periods.
Echo much that has been written above. It seemed like we had the better players but Rochdale the better team. Maldivini looks particularly skillfull. Must have beaten 5 players on that one run from his own area and showed a few other lovely touches.
Away support was very vocal. Lots of anti-regime chants.
Tidy ground, playing surface looked good which I believe has just been relaid and conditions decent for this time of year.
We should have taken the lead shortly after kick off but Big Josh fluffed his lines 1on 1. A few minutes later a hopeful ball into the 6 yard box which should have been meat and gravy seemed to be spilled by Rudd and 0- 1 down with 86 minutes to go. He may have been impeded so I need to see the highlights.
We struggled to get any sort of hold on the game 1st half and despite his efforts nothing came off for TWWW. Page seemed to struggle with the pace of the game early on and Konsa was being pressurised and was the recipient of several niggly fouls by their forwards. Eventually he took one knock too many and had to be subbed before half time by Tex, who as you know comes from Portugal and hates the Spanners. Damn good job he entered the fray as it turned out.
Just as the first half was coming to a close Botaka was put through and for once the lino gave us the benefit of doubt as he bore down on the keeper and pulled the trigger but hit the post! Luckily it rebounded to him and he somehow managed to squeeze the ball through several pairs of legs for the equaliser. The travelling faithful at last had something to celebrate and went for their half time refreshments with hope of a better second half performance.
Not sure what was said at half time but we looked much more up for it and with Page and JFC much improved. TWWW was replaced by Mivdidi (sic) on the hour and he almost immediately went on a mazy run beating about five players before being thwarted in a 1on 1 with their keeper. Had he scored it would have been goal of the decade for me. The resultant corner gave us the lead when Tex headed home from close range. Rochdale lacked height in their side and always looked uncomfortable against Tex, Bauer and big Josh. 'You're not singing anymore' rang out from the away fans which was quite ironic really because the home fans hardly sang all game!
Just when you think we've turned things round Charlton always bring you down to earth and that Palace reject, sporting a Phantom of the Opera mask, Calvin Andrew pops up at the far stick in the left back slot to nod an equaliser. Ok so we go again but no, heads were down and a speculative shot from all of 25 yards beat Rudd who may have been unsighted 2-3 undeserved in my opinion because Rochdale never outplayed us.
To their credit the team gave it one more throw of the dice and it was our turn to score late in the game this week to break the hearts of the Dale faithful, yes it was that man Tex netting again in their 6 yard box 3-3. Scoring 3 goals away from home should win you games but our expansive style will always leave us vulnerable. Dale were tidy but are punching above their weight imo and if they make the play offs I can't see them getting promoted.
Well done to our fans today who sang throughout and got behind the team as well as letting any of the heirachy in attendance know that we still want Roland Out. It would have been a travesty if they had to make long journey home pointless.
Weird feeling leaving an away game disappointed with grabbing a late equaliser but I doubt I'm the only Addick who feels like that tonight.
We should never have been in that position in the first place in the second half (dreadful in the first) after going 2-1 up. I have no idea why Robinson decided to switch our only decent forward, Magennis, out to the left after that with Holmes still on the pitch playing off of Novak. Their third goal came directly from Magennis losing the ball deep in their territory, and then allowing them to walk through us - great finish from their lad to be fair though.
We were dreadful in the first half and were incredibly lucky to go in at half-time level after Botaka made hard work of his goal. He was particularly frustrating today, pulling out of challenges.
Rochdale found us out easily and early on, simply playing quick, direct balls down the channels catching us out when pressing high. It became so predictable, yet we had no answer for it. They should have been three up at half-time.
No excuse for their first, Rudd is the only one to blame, just drops the ball at the bloke's feet. Not going to dig him out though as he's kept us in a lot of games this season and made a couple of excellent saves again today.
Not sure how Tex and Bauer can cause so many problems in the opposition area but fail to defend our own so frequently.
Positives are Holmes and Magennis coming back and the boy Mavididi. He looks decent and was involved in our second. Great run from his own half past about four players just before that too. Worth catching that if you weren't there.
Hope Konsa is alright.
Finally, Robinson has drawn three our of the last four games from winning positions, two against what could've been promotion rivals. I haven't seen whatever excuse he's come out with this time but I hope he takes some responsibility and gets this right as I do admire his approach to the game despite his big mouth.
Up until 8 days I was still optimistic that we could go on a bit of run, certainly enough of a run to reach 5th or 6th. It was perfectly reasonable to expect 7 points out of these 3 games, which would have left us in 9th with a game in hand.
Tuesday killed those thoughts off for me completely, I can see our season petering out now.
To me the player we've missed in this terrible run of form is Pearce, a no nonsense defender, who defends and knows how to play at this level. To me, all our current CBs have problems coping with these sort of teams, small clubs with players who give 100% energy and physical commitment
Poor Karl. Like a lot of supporters he was tricked by Watt and thought he could score the goals to get us up. He is probably starting to wonder himself how someone with natural ability sucks so much. Regardless of how he plays he is there to score goals which he can't do. He won't be the last manager and we won't be the last fans. Nicking a living.
On the train back to Euston. Will start with the positives:
Had a great day out. Met some good Charlton fans, including Sam, the guy who wrote to Robinson and was invited to meet him recently (with two members of the supporters trust). Top fella. Interesting chat with him.
Good ground. Friendly fans. Newly laid pitch.
I liked the team line-up, although having seen Mavididi, KR is going to have to consider starting him. But hopefully not at Botaka's expense. He had a good game, although received too many long balls to his head. He's got a great first touch and good control.
We looked very lively, but the final pass was missing on occasions. Page looked good. Better than Chicksen. Forster-Caskey also looked decent. Holmes is back on his game. Watt was ok, worked hard. And we scored from set pieces. Mavididi. Bloody brilliant. We got a third goal just as the fans were expecting the worse.
Negatives: Very rare slip up by Rudd for crazy first goal. Terrible start. Switched off for the third goal. No challenge in the build up or the shot. Magennis isn't doing it for me. Shouldn't have brought Novak on. Desperately need a striker. Desperately need a midfield maestro. Need Pearce back big time.
Overall, it was great entertainment, but yet again a draw when we could have won.
BUT. What an improvement from the home match, where we were so dire my son refused to come for the next three matches.
Sorry all, but pleeeease don't support Duchâtelet in sacking yet another manager. It won't work.
@Lincsaddick I thought Forster Caskey looked lazy and only put in the odd challenge. Other than that I agree with you.
A frustrating game because we could so easily have won that game. Not quite sure why we looked so shaky at the back today. Too often it appeared Dale had an extra man in midfield.
Excellent support from the customers today. Thanks for the free coach trip Charlton but did we really need to make the logistics so drawn out and complicated. Left Dartford at 6:40 and eventually left Charlton around 8:15ish.
Making the most of being in this league by chalking off all the grounds I hadn't done. So thanks Roland but don't mind me, I really won't take offence if you decide to sell and let us get back to Championship mediocrity.
I'll say it again. We won't get a better manager than Karl Robinson. BUT that is due to the people running this club! It's an ever decreasing circle....
We do have decent players, but I'm still not convinced about the team and the tactics employed. KR seems to agree as in his after match comments he mentioned what I was discussing at the match. When we pressed in the first half it was not coordinated. One player would go, then another, and it became easy for 'Dale to go through us. This aspect was much improved in the second half, probably after words, with groups of players working together. In fairness to the players, if you look at the number of games some of our players have had in the team, it's probably not that many. The game was open and enjoyable, but the draw probably ends any playoff hopes. Maginess still looks a little off the pace after injury. Holmes is looking better after a few indifferent performances. Mavididi's run from the edge of our box to be one on one with their keeper was worth going for. With the playoff's out of sight now I would like to see a period of stability. I don't want Robinson sacked if we don't get promotion, but I would like to see a steady improvement in the team play, working as a unit and developing tactics and formations that suit our players.
Comments
Duchatelet sacked 7 managers not the fans.
I agree that Robinson isn't the core problem, that's Duchatelet, but his team selection, tactics and public announcements are all open for criticism.
He promises a lot, he delivers a lot less.
Just win games.
I'll get my whinge out the way first .. I have seen Konsa play central defender several times this season, each time he has looked dodgy at best .. at Oldham he was terrible and yet Robinson STILL keeps him in with Tex on the bench .. Tex comes on we are tighter at the back, though still not that clever and he scores twice .. game set and match, q e d ..
Karl me ol mucka ... KONSA COULD BECOME A VERY GOOD MIDFIELDER OR FULL BACK .. HE IS NOT A CENTRAL DEFENDER
THE GAME .. was one of the best I have seen this season and a terrific show from both teams, end to end, skilful, committed and generally devoid of malice or bad foul play ...
we were under the cosh from the start .. Dale are a terrific clever team, big yet mobile and they shook us up, scored early and hit the post, .. credit to our team, we came back at them especially in the second half .. had some fortune with our equaliser, Botaka (bless him) did his best to miss it but put it away at the second attempt .. we got better as the game went on and Dale ran out of steam a bit but on the break we conceded twice, go figure as 'they' say in America
F - Caskey got better & better, Page was excellent, Botaka had his best game, Didi nearly scored the goal of the season, Solly was Solly ... Magennis was his usual hard working self, but Josh me ol darling f f s learn the offside law ... Crofts was steady, Bauer and Tex at the back were good though they lack a bit of pace as a partnership .. and Ricky Holmes scared the life out of the Dale defenders every time he ran at them ..
Rudd made a game saving save from Zorro a k a Calvin Andrew (he was wearing a 'mask' as injury protection) and was generally efficient .. Watt tried hard but was well held, (keep up the good work Tony, it'll come good soon) .. Novak did little in the short time he was on .. pity we only took the one .. BUT I for one have not given up hope of a play off spot ..
IF IF IF we can keep this kind of performance going, no doubt, we will be there or thereabouts ..
congrats also to Rochdale, nice little club, decent old fashioned ground, very good team but how they keep going on crowds of well under 3,000, god alone knows
Echo much that has been written above. It seemed like we had the better players but Rochdale the better team. Maldivini looks particularly skillfull. Must have beaten 5 players on that one run from his own area and showed a few other lovely touches.
Away support was very vocal. Lots of anti-regime chants.
The highlight of the day was a very agreeable two pints of Lees bitter. However, the football was very disagreeable.
This could all culminate in a meltdown at Vale Park as I make my 25th visit to Burslem.
Contemplating my remaining futile away games this season on a draughty coach.
Tidy ground, playing surface looked good which I believe has just been relaid and conditions decent for this time of year.
We should have taken the lead shortly after kick off but Big Josh fluffed his lines 1on 1. A few minutes later a hopeful ball into the 6 yard box which should have been meat and gravy seemed to be spilled by Rudd and 0- 1 down with 86 minutes to go. He may have been impeded so I need to see the highlights.
We struggled to get any sort of hold on the game 1st half and despite his efforts nothing came off for TWWW. Page seemed to struggle with the pace of the game early on and Konsa was being pressurised and was the recipient of several niggly fouls by their forwards. Eventually he took one knock too many and had to be subbed before half time by Tex, who as you know comes from Portugal and hates the Spanners. Damn good job he entered the fray as it turned out.
Just as the first half was coming to a close Botaka was put through and for once the lino gave us the benefit of doubt as he bore down on the keeper and pulled the trigger but hit the post! Luckily it rebounded to him and he somehow managed to squeeze the ball through several pairs of legs for the equaliser. The travelling faithful at last had something to celebrate and went for their half time refreshments with hope of a better second half performance.
Not sure what was said at half time but we looked much more up for it and with Page and JFC much improved. TWWW was replaced by Mivdidi (sic) on the hour and he almost immediately went on a mazy run beating about five players before being thwarted in a 1on 1 with their keeper. Had he scored it would have been goal of the decade for me. The resultant corner gave us the lead when Tex headed home from close range. Rochdale lacked height in their side and always looked uncomfortable against Tex, Bauer and big Josh. 'You're not singing anymore' rang out from the away fans which was quite ironic really because the home fans hardly sang all game!
Just when you think we've turned things round Charlton always bring you down to earth and that Palace reject, sporting a Phantom of the Opera mask, Calvin Andrew pops up at the far stick in the left back slot to nod an equaliser. Ok so we go again but no, heads were down and a speculative shot from all of 25 yards beat Rudd who may have been unsighted 2-3 undeserved in my opinion because Rochdale never outplayed us.
To their credit the team gave it one more throw of the dice and it was our turn to score late in the game this week to break the hearts of the Dale faithful, yes it was that man Tex netting again in their 6 yard box 3-3. Scoring 3 goals away from home should win you games but our expansive style will always leave us vulnerable. Dale were tidy but are punching above their weight imo and if they make the play offs I can't see them getting promoted.
Well done to our fans today who sang throughout and got behind the team as well as letting any of the heirachy in attendance know that we still want Roland Out. It would have been a travesty if they had to make long journey home pointless.
Weird feeling leaving an away game disappointed with grabbing a late equaliser but I doubt I'm the only Addick who feels like that tonight.
We should never have been in that position in the first place in the second half (dreadful in the first) after going 2-1 up. I have no idea why Robinson decided to switch our only decent forward, Magennis, out to the left after that with Holmes still on the pitch playing off of Novak. Their third goal came directly from Magennis losing the ball deep in their territory, and then allowing them to walk through us - great finish from their lad to be fair though.
We were dreadful in the first half and were incredibly lucky to go in at half-time level after Botaka made hard work of his goal. He was particularly frustrating today, pulling out of challenges.
Rochdale found us out easily and early on, simply playing quick, direct balls down the channels catching us out when pressing high. It became so predictable, yet we had no answer for it. They should have been three up at half-time.
No excuse for their first, Rudd is the only one to blame, just drops the ball at the bloke's feet. Not going to dig him out though as he's kept us in a lot of games this season and made a couple of excellent saves again today.
Not sure how Tex and Bauer can cause so many problems in the opposition area but fail to defend our own so frequently.
Positives are Holmes and Magennis coming back and the boy Mavididi. He looks decent and was involved in our second. Great run from his own half past about four players just before that too. Worth catching that if you weren't there.
Hope Konsa is alright.
Finally, Robinson has drawn three our of the last four games from winning positions, two against what could've been promotion rivals. I haven't seen whatever excuse he's come out with this time but I hope he takes some responsibility and gets this right as I do admire his approach to the game despite his big mouth.
Tuesday killed those thoughts off for me completely, I can see our season petering out now.
To me the player we've missed in this terrible run of form is Pearce, a no nonsense defender, who defends and knows how to play at this level. To me, all our current CBs have problems coping with these sort of teams, small clubs with players who give 100% energy and physical commitment
Will start with the positives:
Had a great day out. Met some good Charlton fans, including Sam, the guy who wrote to Robinson and was invited to meet him recently (with two members of the supporters trust). Top fella. Interesting chat with him.
Good ground. Friendly fans. Newly laid pitch.
I liked the team line-up, although having seen Mavididi, KR is going to have to consider starting him. But hopefully not at Botaka's expense. He had a good game, although received too many long balls to his head. He's got a great first touch and good control.
We looked very lively, but the final pass was missing on occasions.
Page looked good. Better than Chicksen. Forster-Caskey also looked decent. Holmes is back on his game.
Watt was ok, worked hard.
And we scored from set pieces.
Mavididi. Bloody brilliant.
We got a third goal just as the fans were expecting the worse.
Negatives:
Very rare slip up by Rudd for crazy first goal. Terrible start.
Switched off for the third goal. No challenge in the build up or the shot.
Magennis isn't doing it for me.
Shouldn't have brought Novak on.
Desperately need a striker.
Desperately need a midfield maestro.
Need Pearce back big time.
Overall, it was great entertainment, but yet again a draw when we could have won.
BUT. What an improvement from the home match, where we were so dire my son refused to come for the next three matches.
Sorry all, but pleeeease don't support Duchâtelet in sacking yet another manager. It won't work.
A frustrating game because we could so easily have won that game. Not quite sure why we looked so shaky at the back today. Too often it appeared Dale had an extra man in midfield.
Excellent support from the customers today. Thanks for the free coach trip Charlton but did we really need to make the logistics so drawn out and complicated. Left Dartford at 6:40 and eventually left Charlton around 8:15ish.
Making the most of being in this league by chalking off all the grounds I hadn't done. So thanks Roland but don't mind me, I really won't take offence if you decide to sell and let us get back to Championship mediocrity.
When we pressed in the first half it was not coordinated. One player would go, then another, and it became easy for 'Dale to go through us. This aspect was much improved in the second half, probably after words, with groups of players working together.
In fairness to the players, if you look at the number of games some of our players have had in the team, it's probably not that many.
The game was open and enjoyable, but the draw probably ends any playoff hopes.
Maginess still looks a little off the pace after injury. Holmes is looking better after a few indifferent performances.
Mavididi's run from the edge of our box to be one on one with their keeper was worth going for.
With the playoff's out of sight now I would like to see a period of stability. I don't want Robinson sacked if we don't get promotion, but I would like to see a steady improvement in the team play, working as a unit and developing tactics and formations that suit our players.
great team spirit blah blah, come back blah blah. young players and stuff and stuff, next season yada yada and stuff.
Feb was our month to put a play-off run together and so far we have 3 points from 4 games - that's relegation form.