[cite]Posted By: ValleyGary[/cite]Im sorry but if we cant handle the pressure of being expected to win at home against Hartlepool, Leyton Orient and Tranmere then we dont deserve to go up!
But why invite unnecessary pressure, Gary ?
Do you want the team playing Hartlepool with one eye on the next match against Orient, and the crowd nervy and hugely critical because it's still 0-0 after half an hour against a team who've parked the bus?
No, of course not ....... better we all just get behind the team, create the right atmosphere and get 3 points.
That next match can wait until next week.
It's not important, vital or anything - and doesn't matter at all ....... until next week.
But im not disagreeing that we shouldnt take one match at a time Oggy. I expect our players to be professional and do a job. I just think that we should win the next three games, which i feel are vital. Get the 9 points on the board, job done. I expected us to go to Leeds & Norwich and drop points, just like expect to win the next 3 games.
When PP sat down at the beginning of the season, im sure he penned 9 points from these three games.
[cite]Posted By: CAFCBourne[/cite]I thought our "mental toughness" was fine on saturday they levelled but kept getting in positions to worry them.
Basey who has come in for a bit of stick was carrying and injury yet i seem to recall him knocking his bo11ocks out closing down wycombe.
when they equalised we seemed to have more belief in ourselves,it was like they were staggered that they were going to let this slip when they knew they ought to be pissing it already and set about doing something about it. shelvey played basey in and he in turn put a peach of a ball across the face of the goal for (can't remember who) to completely miss the ball when scoring would have been easier.
[cite]Posted By: ThreadKiller[/cite]shelvey played basey in and he in turn put a peach of a ball across the face of the goal for (can't remember who) to completely miss the ball when scoring would have been easier.
It was Sam, but to be fair the defender got a touch just before.
I feel more confident about catching Leeds than Norwich.
Just feel all the extra games in the FA Cup and JPT may bite them on the arse, although you cant deny their home record.
Feel that we should win our next 3 games and then lets see where we are, no point looking too far ahead.
If we are able to play the loan market well and get in a Championship level striker and centre back then I think we can do it.
I have said all along that 2 points per game as we are now will probably do it, although gotta say I am not so sure now, could be another 1997/98 when 3 or 4 sides deserved automatic promotion.
Only lost twice all season. Unbeaten at home. Scored more goals than the top side. Reproduce this from now till the seasons end and we won`t be too far off I rekon.
It will all be down to the luck or lack thereof we have in the big games & on the injury front. If we end up losing Bailey or Burton think we'll probably end up missing out on Top Two. If we steer clear of injuries think we'll have enough to do it, but as with all things Charlton I expect a lot of close games between now & the last game, I do not see us smashing everyone out of sight.
Think I was generally releaved about the result - I have confidence in this team but not in quite the same way as I had confidence in the two Curbishley sides which won promotion and it was important to start the year with 3 pts (ugly or otherwise) after the run of draws over Christmas.
I think the lack of a prolific goalscorer is a bit of a weakness, but over reliance on one is another weakness. Norwich have the real trump hand here because they have all of Holt, Hoolahan and Martin well into double figures and could probably afford to lose one to injury (maybe not Hoolahan as he seems to be the one that really makes them tick). Leeds however, I think are too reliant on 1 player and he doesn't bring much to the party if he's not scoring.
It would be good to see Burton on 15+ goals by now and another striker in double figures but I'd rather be spreading them around a bit like we are than be in Leeds situation as they're really going to suffer if they lose Beckford, for whatever reason. I'd obviously love to have their points total right now, though.
I expect we'll sign another striker in some form or another this month and we have to hope that one of he or Mooney can step up to the plate. Who knows, Dickson may even discover a hot streak like he hit for Gills, although that's a long shot.
We're creating chances and we carry a real goal threat from midfield. We're handy at set pieces too with Sodje around so I'm not too worried.
I think Norwich are flying and with the run they are on it may be difficult to catch them as I feel our run in is considerably harder than both their's and Leeds'. However, I do think Leeds are showing signs of tension - if they lose in the cup at the weekend they may just switch back into league mode and run away with it - not sure...
My gut feel is Charlton v Southampton play off final .... and you don't want to know my gut feeling about who will win ....
Still concerned with our shape & deep defending. A team of nobodies were able to pass through our star-studded midfield with ease because there was too much space to exploit. It's not about who starts but how you line up, for me Parky hasn't a clue and gets out of jail because of our quality going forward. If we go up, no matter who we buy or keep, we will be on the end of tonkings due to facing better quality finishers and in a relegation fight.
The 4 weeks from March 13-April 10 will go a long way to deciding our fate. In that time we have 2 winnable home games (Gills and Carlisle) but we also have a terrible run of away games. Millwall, Huddersfield, MK Dons and Southampton.
[cite]Posted By: Addickson's God[/cite]Still concerned with our shape & deep defending. A team of nobodies were able to pass through our star-studded midfield with ease because there was too much space to exploit. It's not about who starts but how you line up, for me Parky hasn't a clue and gets out of jail because of our quality going forward. If we go up, no matter who we buy or keep, we will be on the end of tonkings due to facing better quality finishers and in a relegation fight.
I know what you mean re quality of squad if in Championship but saying no matter who who we keep or buy won`t make us any better is questionable surely !!!
I think we will have to do it through the play-offs as Norwich now look to be unstoppable.
The difference between us and Leeds/Norwich is that they have strikers heading for 40 goals this season, which you need to go up automatically.
We haven't really closed many games off, or indeed dominated too many as yet. Although we have only lost twice (a great achievement, without doubt) we've drawn too many - the Christmas games being prime examples.
Regarding the day generally, I thought it was a really good day out. There seemed to be less idiots about for the size of the crowd and I'm glad to say I didn't hear that stupid song about incest once! Also, there seemed to be less standing than normal, which is good for our older and younger support. Maybe all the testosterone was focussed on the strippers beforehand!
I think the next 3 games are important to win because we are now 'chasing' Leeds & Norwich. Once we hopefully get on level pegging again then it is a case of one game at a time. The bonus of the home fixtures against the current top 2 would be just that rather than having them as make or break catch up games (if you see what I mean).
More importantly though. No more shooting ourselves in the foot (Norwich (away), Yeovil (away), Gillingham (away), Millwall (home), Swindon (home)). Particularly in local derbys!
We can win this League with the squad we have. Hopefully the pitches will get better as well, here on in, which should help our more skillful players.
Was at the game Saturday and I think once we get Richardson and Youga are back in the side we'll start to get back to our early season form. Omouzusi and Basey are good replacements but Richardson made a brilliant impact on the game when he came on, overlapping with Sam and driving the ball forward himself and looking to get crosses into the box. I also think we miss Youga's pace getting forward, especially as we have no real width on the left at the moment.
I thought Semedo, Shelvey and Bailey were superb. We should have killed Wycombe off and we could have got 3 or 4 in the end.
We should look to get 9 points from the next 3 home games and remember that Colchester, Norwich and Leeds have all got to come to The Valley - where I honestly can not see us losing all season. We have drawn too many games, notably over Xmas but if we had beaten Millwall, Swindon, Brentford and not chucked away a two goal lead at Norwich then we'd be top I think?
Basically, when everyone's fit we are the best team in the division. Start killing teams off at 1-0 and 2-0 up and we'll go up automatically.
Even if we finish in the playoff's it's not a disaster.
I don't think there was a problem with the mentality of the players and staff on Saturday. I felt they were there on buisness, and intended to get three points, and it was job done. Even Parkinsons substitution when they scored was matched by TWO Wycombe substitutions, it wasn't a panic measure, Dickson had been warming up for quite a while (as was Randolph incidentally).
If there was a problem it could have come down to a number of other things, the pitch was a pudding, made a convincing display difficult, the players hadn't had a game for a while, and there were changes from the last match anyway, and we were the away team. All in all we got in, got the points, and got out.
The question regarding the quality of the players and squad compared to our rivals is different. On the one hand I fear that Norwich, Southampton, Huddersfield and Leeds could beat us if the chips were down, yet having seen us be the better side at Leeds, dominate (the old) Norwich away, beat Huddersfield in a good and hard fought game, our players can do it if they want to.
The answer surely lies in tight focus, hard work and fitness, and winning each game as it comes. When faced with individual 'situations', like 0-2 Millwall, or 9 men against Swindon, or responding to fan turnouts at the likes of Leyton Orient, Wycombe, and to an extent Yeovil and Brentford, we have reacted, against that put Colchester, Carlisle, Gillingham and shamefully Northwich where we didn't.
We must learn and work hard...I don't think we have seen the last of Racon this season...and he can play football when he wants to, we have Youga and Sodje waiting in the wings, we really have to hold our nerve, get out there, get points, and get back.
Good post Seth. The raw ingredients are there - it's just about baking the cake now, and maybe finding a bit cash from somewhere to buy a few sprinkles and decorations to put on top!
[cite]Posted By: The Red Robin[/cite]Norwich's games in February where they WILL slip up (If you ignore Brighton!):
Sat 6 15:00 A Millwall
Sat 13 15:00 A Brighton
Sat 20 15:00 H Southampton
Tue 23 19:45 H Southend
Sat 27 15:00 A Oldham
They all look winnable to me and at the very least i'd expect them to get 13 points from that.
Maybe Norwich will get 13 or even 15 points from that run of fixtures.
But would you really be surprised if they didn't .....?
Millwall - don't know when they're beaten at home (or even at The Valley) and make scoring late, late goals a speciality. And until last Saturday, were the only team to beat Leeds in 24 games and then with a late goal.
Southampton have got belief in themselves now ...... if they hadn't started the season with that big handicap and then shot themselves in the foot with an appalling winless run of fixtures, they'd have been up with us, Leeds and Norwich.
Definitely one of the very strongest teams in the division.
Brighton can be a wild card - Gus Poyet is starting to put together a run of results now, so could cause a surprise.
Norwich evidently don't like going to minor grounds any more than we do ...... they really struggled at Wycombe a couple of weeks ago before nicking a late-ish winner - and conceded 3 at Yeovil, rescuing themselves only with a 95th minute equaliser.
Oldham and Southend .....? well, they should be wins - but no doubt that's what Leeds thought when they kicked off at Exeter last Saturday.
If Norwich pick up 10 points, I reckon they will have done well.
just think we arte too reliant on goals from bailey and deon, lets be honest for all deons great play he is hardly prolific, we are 2 players away from being strong enough for top 2 imo we need leeds or narwich to slip up and then hopefully we could pounce too manyt draws due to poor finishing
[cite]Posted By: nth london addick[/cite]too manyt draws due to poor finishing
Maybe you're right about too many draws, NLA.
A quick glance at the table shows:
Leeds ...= 6 draws
Norwich = 6 draws
Charlton = 9 draws
I suppose the 3 draws over Christmas were the difference.
Mind you, they were all battling back from being behind at crucial stages of the match.
These were games that could easily have been lost.
Leeds have only taken 1 point from 6, so maybe they're in a blip.
Norwich don't look like faltering, but they have a tricky run of fixtures coming up.
Injury, suspension, an off day or just a bit of bad luck - can even things up a bit.
but against both swindon and millsmall we missed chances at big moments i think we need someone upfront to find goals or we need someone in fast we only have deon, mckenzie (preffered left hand side mid) Dicko and mooney just worries me a tad looking forward to 2morrow with unc and fatrob
[cite]Posted By: Oggy Red[/cite]We'll have to see what the Hartlepool game brings, NLA ......... we could do with someone like Mooney grabbing a hatrick.
But even though we haven't got a Darren Bent or Clive Mendonca, the goals are spread out right across the team.
And we are 2nd highest League scorers.
[cite]Posted By: nth london addick[/cite]just think we arte too reliant on goals from bailey and deon, lets be honest for all deons great play he is hardly prolific, we are 2 players away from being strong enough for top 2 imo we need leeds or narwich to slip up and then hopefully we could pounce too manyt draws due to poor finishing
not as prolific as Beckford, but Burton has 12 league goals plus 7 assists, so that's 19 goals he has been directly Involved in. Exactly the same as Beckford who has 16 goals 3 assists...
Comments
But why invite unnecessary pressure, Gary ?
Do you want the team playing Hartlepool with one eye on the next match against Orient, and the crowd nervy and hugely critical because it's still 0-0 after half an hour against a team who've parked the bus?
No, of course not ....... better we all just get behind the team, create the right atmosphere and get 3 points.
That next match can wait until next week.
It's not important, vital or anything - and doesn't matter at all ....... until next week.
When PP sat down at the beginning of the season, im sure he penned 9 points from these three games.
At the beginning of the season PP penned an average 2 points for game as an overall target for automatic promotion.
He told us so.
He's also told us that he takes just one game at a time - and aims to win it.
when they equalised we seemed to have more belief in ourselves,it was like they were staggered that they were going to let this slip when they knew they ought to be pissing it already and set about doing something about it. shelvey played basey in and he in turn put a peach of a ball across the face of the goal for (can't remember who) to completely miss the ball when scoring would have been easier.
Therefore say he has Leeds, Norwich & Huddersfield away as draws, would he not have Hartlepool, Leyton O & Tranmere at home as wins? ;-)
Just feel all the extra games in the FA Cup and JPT may bite them on the arse, although you cant deny their home record.
Feel that we should win our next 3 games and then lets see where we are, no point looking too far ahead.
If we are able to play the loan market well and get in a Championship level striker and centre back then I think we can do it.
I have said all along that 2 points per game as we are now will probably do it, although gotta say I am not so sure now, could be another 1997/98 when 3 or 4 sides deserved automatic promotion.
When do Leeds go to Norwich??
.......
Saturday 27th March
I think the lack of a prolific goalscorer is a bit of a weakness, but over reliance on one is another weakness. Norwich have the real trump hand here because they have all of Holt, Hoolahan and Martin well into double figures and could probably afford to lose one to injury (maybe not Hoolahan as he seems to be the one that really makes them tick). Leeds however, I think are too reliant on 1 player and he doesn't bring much to the party if he's not scoring.
It would be good to see Burton on 15+ goals by now and another striker in double figures but I'd rather be spreading them around a bit like we are than be in Leeds situation as they're really going to suffer if they lose Beckford, for whatever reason. I'd obviously love to have their points total right now, though.
I expect we'll sign another striker in some form or another this month and we have to hope that one of he or Mooney can step up to the plate. Who knows, Dickson may even discover a hot streak like he hit for Gills, although that's a long shot.
We're creating chances and we carry a real goal threat from midfield. We're handy at set pieces too with Sodje around so I'm not too worried.
My gut feel is Charlton v Southampton play off final .... and you don't want to know my gut feeling about who will win ....
I know what you mean re quality of squad if in Championship but saying no matter who who we keep or buy won`t make us any better is questionable surely !!!
The difference between us and Leeds/Norwich is that they have strikers heading for 40 goals this season, which you need to go up automatically.
We haven't really closed many games off, or indeed dominated too many as yet. Although we have only lost twice (a great achievement, without doubt) we've drawn too many - the Christmas games being prime examples.
Regarding the day generally, I thought it was a really good day out. There seemed to be less idiots about for the size of the crowd and I'm glad to say I didn't hear that stupid song about incest once! Also, there seemed to be less standing than normal, which is good for our older and younger support. Maybe all the testosterone was focussed on the strippers beforehand!
More importantly though. No more shooting ourselves in the foot (Norwich (away), Yeovil (away), Gillingham (away), Millwall (home), Swindon (home)). Particularly in local derbys!
We can win this League with the squad we have. Hopefully the pitches will get better as well, here on in, which should help our more skillful players.
I thought Semedo, Shelvey and Bailey were superb. We should have killed Wycombe off and we could have got 3 or 4 in the end.
We should look to get 9 points from the next 3 home games and remember that Colchester, Norwich and Leeds have all got to come to The Valley - where I honestly can not see us losing all season. We have drawn too many games, notably over Xmas but if we had beaten Millwall, Swindon, Brentford and not chucked away a two goal lead at Norwich then we'd be top I think?
Basically, when everyone's fit we are the best team in the division. Start killing teams off at 1-0 and 2-0 up and we'll go up automatically.
Even if we finish in the playoff's it's not a disaster.
Sat 6 15:00 A Millwall
Sat 13 15:00 A Brighton
Sat 20 15:00 H Southampton
Tue 23 19:45 H Southend
Sat 27 15:00 A Oldham
If there was a problem it could have come down to a number of other things, the pitch was a pudding, made a convincing display difficult, the players hadn't had a game for a while, and there were changes from the last match anyway, and we were the away team. All in all we got in, got the points, and got out.
The question regarding the quality of the players and squad compared to our rivals is different. On the one hand I fear that Norwich, Southampton, Huddersfield and Leeds could beat us if the chips were down, yet having seen us be the better side at Leeds, dominate (the old) Norwich away, beat Huddersfield in a good and hard fought game, our players can do it if they want to.
The answer surely lies in tight focus, hard work and fitness, and winning each game as it comes. When faced with individual 'situations', like 0-2 Millwall, or 9 men against Swindon, or responding to fan turnouts at the likes of Leyton Orient, Wycombe, and to an extent Yeovil and Brentford, we have reacted, against that put Colchester, Carlisle, Gillingham and shamefully Northwich where we didn't.
We must learn and work hard...I don't think we have seen the last of Racon this season...and he can play football when he wants to, we have Youga and Sodje waiting in the wings, we really have to hold our nerve, get out there, get points, and get back.
They all look winnable to me and at the very least i'd expect them to get 13 points from that.
Maybe Norwich will get 13 or even 15 points from that run of fixtures.
But would you really be surprised if they didn't .....?
Millwall - don't know when they're beaten at home (or even at The Valley) and make scoring late, late goals a speciality. And until last Saturday, were the only team to beat Leeds in 24 games and then with a late goal.
Southampton have got belief in themselves now ...... if they hadn't started the season with that big handicap and then shot themselves in the foot with an appalling winless run of fixtures, they'd have been up with us, Leeds and Norwich.
Definitely one of the very strongest teams in the division.
Brighton can be a wild card - Gus Poyet is starting to put together a run of results now, so could cause a surprise.
Norwich evidently don't like going to minor grounds any more than we do ...... they really struggled at Wycombe a couple of weeks ago before nicking a late-ish winner - and conceded 3 at Yeovil, rescuing themselves only with a 95th minute equaliser.
Oldham and Southend .....? well, they should be wins - but no doubt that's what Leeds thought when they kicked off at Exeter last Saturday.
If Norwich pick up 10 points, I reckon they will have done well.
Maybe you're right about too many draws, NLA.
A quick glance at the table shows:
Leeds ...= 6 draws
Norwich = 6 draws
Charlton = 9 draws
I suppose the 3 draws over Christmas were the difference.
Mind you, they were all battling back from being behind at crucial stages of the match.
These were games that could easily have been lost.
Leeds have only taken 1 point from 6, so maybe they're in a blip.
Norwich don't look like faltering, but they have a tricky run of fixtures coming up.
Injury, suspension, an off day or just a bit of bad luck - can even things up a bit.
It's a 46 game season, remember.
But even though we haven't got a Darren Bent or Clive Mendonca, the goals are spread out right across the team.
And we are 2nd highest League scorers.
Enjoy tomorrow. See you against Tranmere!
will do bud you in the lib sat??
not as prolific as Beckford, but Burton has 12 league goals plus 7 assists, so that's 19 goals he has been directly Involved in. Exactly the same as Beckford who has 16 goals 3 assists...