Not going to panic too much yet, obviously Wigan was a disaster but we should probably have got something today. 5 wins from 8 continued over a season is promotion form.
The time to panic will be if we lose next week as well.
There were loud alarms on Tuesday: comprehensively outplayed by Wigan. The excuses from posters on this forum ranged from the rainy weather, to a corrupt ref, to “Oh, Wigan are better than us, anyway.”
Which is the most stupid excuse of all. We should learn from good players: the way they send killer balls down the channels to willing strikers, knowing intuitively three passes ahead. Our men are pansies under the slightest pressure.
This is why Robinson plays only one up front: because he doesn't trust the midfield to cope with the opposition. In that sense, he is damn right: the Wigan man walking past our man – simply brushed aside – who couldn't even be bothered to chase him.
We need two strikers in our starting formation. Even before the goals, two strikers will make the midfielders play better: more options, closer forward passes. Essentially, Robinson wants our midfield men to defend. Yet, it doesn't much matter how many stiffs we have in our box when a low, hard cross beats them all.
Two good strikers worry any defence: the instinctive touches, feints to deceive, sprints to receive. Moves rehearsed to be smooth and quick. Morison and Gregory – 25 goals last season, ex-Halifax, note – to get Millwall up. We are a disjointed bunch, a rag-bag that wilts under pressure and panics up front. Those shots: muffed, shanked and skied.
Two strikers. Magennis is a superb player: chases defenders, wins headers and nods on to his perfect partner. Who isn't there. Ajose wasn't there, even when he was. You know exactly.
A pair of tough and intelligent marauders cause havoc in any division. A few weeks' intense training with a top coach pre-season – not poor Dodoo, an eleventh-hour capture who has played only 22 first-team games in four years.
We got dumped by Gillingham, who were bottom of the league. That is scandalous. Two-and-a-half thousand travelling fans demand much better.
Yes we missed chances but we never looked like scoring. We moved the ball so slow, we were too casual and absolutely no urgency whatsoever. We resulted in putting Bauer up front in the end and we didn't win a second ball once.
Crap bench, no one to bring on and even seem threatening. Said before but Dodoo is exactly that, he looks lost out there.
There seems to be a lack of cutting edge; whether through thinking we are really good and don't need to try too hard or is it certain players that are letting things down. I can mention Fosu as a player who is threatening to have the same impact on a game as Ajose and who knows it and is losing confidence very quickly. No matter how much we put the ball into their final third it was only Holmes who provided any threat and that is what was wrong last season. You cannot rely on Holmes; we need Marshall fit or move Billy up front and bring Konsa on. It cant be any worse than having a Fosu who loses the ball or who has no goal mouth threat. The other players must feel quite frustrated. We are predictable and this is Ok if you have players like Holmes. Today we did not. We never really looked like winning this or even drawing it as, again, we did not have the fight. Had any shots for us gone in then it may have been another story but I repeat, we cannot rely on Holmes as our only attacking threat.
Still can't believe we didn't get something from that but the decision making in the final third was just shocking from the first minute to the 104th.
Rely on Holmes far too much, hoping that Marshall and Reeves can shake it up a bit but with Robinson's fixation with this system I'm not sure it will make a difference
Today, I thought Gillingham deserved it. We were just off all over the pitch. I thought Holmes let us down. First half I thought he was trying to do it on his own and made some poor decisions. And that seemed to affect the flow of the game. And he should be shot for his booking at the end. Petulant behaviour. Probably seeing now why he hasn't played at a higher level. I like Ricky. Our major threat. But today I think he let us down.
@Leeds_Addick can you confirm what did Dodoo do or what did Dodon't do to deserve a 2?
That's for me like he two footed his own player or got sent off deliberately as well as showing zero football ability.
Maybe he deserved a 3 but I thought he didn't do anything good at all.
One of the only real chances he had was a ball through for him to chase down, he was favourite to get to it first and he kind of just jogged towards the ball, didn't seem to make a real attempt to get to it. That's just one example of course but I thought he was really bad today.
EDIT: have amended to a 3 though, can see why 2 would be a bit harsh
At the game with the 4 yr old. He loved it which was the main thing. He loved randomly shouting 'red army' and was luckily tall enough to stand on the seat and have a view. He loved the smoke bombs.
Onto the performance. Far too slow in possession. Gillingham just allowed is to have it and just stuck 10 men behind the ball. JFC, Clarke, Kashi seemed to get in each others way as all dropped deep to get the ball. Holmes was the only spark. When teams don't come at us and leave gaps we struggle badly. No plan b. No decent options on the bench. Hopefully that changes when Marshall and Reeves get fit. Yes we did create enough chances to win, but I feel this will keep being banded about as an excuse. Josh barely moved up top. Had noone willing to stretch Gillingham by running in the channels.
Rain held off. Atmosphere was poor but with no roof that's expected I guess.
Well, we dominated them, didn't take our chances and then conceded a carbon copy of Wigan's first goal. Need more of a cutting edge, maybe need to start playing Dijksteel. Come in Number 20? (Oh god...)
what needs to be done won't be done .. 4231 is just not suitable for this league .. we need to be more attacking, more confident and not just assume that we will turn over most teams which are all, if not over burdened with talent, are well organised and competitive .. they do their thorough research, we have no plan other than A, they know what to expect from us and can deal with it .. as has been said above, teams that are tight in midfield and at the back just lap us up ..
3 4 3 is the way to go .. drop da Silva and/or Solly, bring in Sarr .. like this .. Sarr, Bauer, Pearce .. Konsa, Kashi, F-Caskey, Fosu/Reeves .. Holmes, Clarke, Magennis .. of course .. it will never happen, Robinson has improved but he's still a one trick dream merchant .. we will never score the necessary goals playing his 4231 way, especially with Magennis as the sole striker .. he's strong, honest and willing but just does not have the required scoring ability to be left alone up front
To slow and lathargic. We do some nice triangle stuff, but basically it's get the ball down the wings, and lump it into Mcgennis. That might be alright, but in reality the wingers run into a blind alley, and if they do manage to get a cross in, it's always over hit. Also from every corner or set piece, it's always aimed at Bauer, mix it up a bit for God's sake. We look like we think we're better then we really are, all that playing out from the back all the time for instance. Gillingham were a fraction quicker,stronger and more honest then us today.I heard their manager saying some of their players are on £400 a week!. Fucking hell Robinson support it out.
Comments
The time to panic will be if we lose next week as well.
& why the fuck do I have the tune "The Wheels on the Bus" going on in my head...yes might have something to do with Al n Co...hic...!!
It's all falling apart...arrrrrgggghhhh
There were loud alarms on Tuesday: comprehensively outplayed by Wigan. The excuses from posters on this forum ranged from the rainy weather, to a corrupt ref, to “Oh, Wigan are better than us, anyway.”
Which is the most stupid excuse of all. We should learn from good players: the way they send killer balls down the channels to willing strikers, knowing intuitively three passes ahead. Our men are pansies under the slightest pressure.
This is why Robinson plays only one up front: because he doesn't trust the midfield to cope with the opposition. In that sense, he is damn right: the Wigan man walking past our man – simply brushed aside – who couldn't even be bothered to chase him.
We need two strikers in our starting formation. Even before the goals, two strikers will make the midfielders play better: more options, closer forward passes. Essentially, Robinson wants our midfield men to defend. Yet, it doesn't much matter how many stiffs we have in our box when a low, hard cross beats them all.
Two good strikers worry any defence: the instinctive touches, feints to deceive, sprints to receive. Moves rehearsed to be smooth and quick. Morison and Gregory – 25 goals last season, ex-Halifax, note – to get Millwall up. We are a disjointed bunch, a rag-bag that wilts under pressure and panics up front. Those shots: muffed, shanked and skied.
Two strikers. Magennis is a superb player: chases defenders, wins headers and nods on to his perfect partner. Who isn't there. Ajose wasn't there, even when he was. You know exactly.
A pair of tough and intelligent marauders cause havoc in any division. A few weeks' intense training with a top coach pre-season – not poor Dodoo, an eleventh-hour capture who has played only 22 first-team games in four years.
We got dumped by Gillingham, who were bottom of the league. That is scandalous. Two-and-a-half thousand travelling fans demand much better.
Yes we missed chances but we never looked like scoring. We moved the ball so slow, we were too casual and absolutely no urgency whatsoever. We resulted in putting Bauer up front in the end and we didn't win a second ball once.
Crap bench, no one to bring on and even seem threatening. Said before but Dodoo is exactly that, he looks lost out there.
Rely on Holmes far too much, hoping that Marshall and Reeves can shake it up a bit but with Robinson's fixation with this system I'm not sure it will make a difference
Too many off days today
That's for me like he two footed his own player or got sent off deliberately as well as showing zero football ability.
One of the only real chances he had was a ball through for him to chase down, he was favourite to get to it first and he kind of just jogged towards the ball, didn't seem to make a real attempt to get to it. That's just one example of course but I thought he was really bad today.
EDIT: have amended to a 3 though, can see why 2 would be a bit harsh
Win or lose on the booze Still on the booze
It's over.
Onto the performance. Far too slow in possession. Gillingham just allowed is to have it and just stuck 10 men behind the ball. JFC, Clarke, Kashi seemed to get in each others way as all dropped deep to get the ball. Holmes was the only spark. When teams don't come at us and leave gaps we struggle badly. No plan b. No decent options on the bench. Hopefully that changes when Marshall and Reeves get fit. Yes we did create enough chances to win, but I feel this will keep being banded about as an excuse. Josh barely moved up top. Had noone willing to stretch Gillingham by running in the channels.
Rain held off. Atmosphere was poor but with no roof that's expected I guess.
Charlton s for life not just Christmas
we need to be more attacking, more confident and not just assume that we will turn over most teams which are all, if not over burdened with talent, are well organised and competitive .. they do their thorough research, we have no plan other than A, they know what to expect from us and can deal with it .. as has been said above, teams that are tight in midfield and at the back just lap us up ..
3 4 3 is the way to go .. drop da Silva and/or Solly, bring in Sarr .. like this .. Sarr, Bauer, Pearce .. Konsa, Kashi, F-Caskey, Fosu/Reeves .. Holmes, Clarke, Magennis .. of course .. it will never happen,
Robinson has improved but he's still a one trick dream merchant .. we will never score the necessary goals playing his 4231 way, especially with Magennis as the sole striker .. he's strong, honest and willing but just does not have the required scoring ability to be left alone up front
We do lack players to come on and change the game. Apart from Pearce we lack real leaders in the side when things aren't going well.
Would like to see Solly and Silva push forward more and overlap to give us more options moving forward
The problem though is consistency so your always running a very fine line