Most of our comments -- other than our observations about the dire events we are witnessing, with our own eyes, on the pitch -- are based on guesswork and emotion-fuelled fantasy. We are crying out for actual information, yet when people who have direct access to first person info try to inject a little reality into our interminable rounds of collective breast-beating, some of us turn on them, doubting their truthfulness and snarling about dubious motives and so on. We really are in danger of losing our wits along with our rags.
Thank you Mick and Airman for the leads you have tried to give us. Some of us appreciate it.
I think we all appreciate it - but people don't have to lap it all up. Everybody is entitled to their view - Mick supports Powell and what he is doing and believes it wil reap its rewards - you can undertsand somebody not agreeing with that view though, whether they are close to the inner workings of the club or not. I think this has been an excellent debate and whilst I still have faith in Powell I don't think anybody can be critical of the strong counter opinions that frustration and a love for the club generates.
I have tried to be consistent in that I support the Manager and hope he will pull us out of the mire whoever he is .
SCP needs to be given the whole of next season before we lose the faith . Only then do I feel we can judge him , but then I said the same about Parky . The Swindon game was what altered my view as I could not see Parky delivering promotion this season . Maybe the Board acted too quickly and he should have seen this season through as this was the first season I felt it was really Parky's team and not Pardews.
The truth is that there is some validity in both the view that Powell is maybe slightly tactically naive and that some players are planning a future away from the Valley and are not currently bursting a gut for the cause because they know that the style of football SCP wants to play some of them are not suited to .
Either way lets support him . He is a legend but is still learning as a manager he will make mistakes .I still think it was the right appointment and hope he can turn it around.
I think Tranmeres performance at the valley shows that inept, poor players can still be set up to get a result however ugly and undesirable that maybe. Our players are better than that and should be getting better results, what the real reason is is probably a combination of the many posts on here.
For what it is worth, Granpa raises the point about employees, I'd turn it around and make a point about employers. Employees find it very difficult to give 110% when they have lost faith in their employers. A number of players were loyal to Parkie, came here because of parkie. when he was sacked after a few days of the club being taken over they may well have felt it was unfair, some of the tweets at the time hinted at that. They may have felt bringing in a rookie manager who then changed a formula that they felt was working was wrong. Thye may have felt that the club did not know what they were doing and deluded or not they then put the blame on the new regime in its entirety, its naturakl and what happens in evfery place of work.
Some of those players may well have been the natural leaders in the team - Dailly once said that Parkie would do great things in his careeer and he wanted to be there when it happened. I don't think he is the player he was last season and now not the player he was in the first half of the season. hs he stopped trying no, but he is now doing a job of work not playing for the man or the shirt, what does Jacko think of it all, he came here for Parkie. these are two of the most influential players in the team. They have not stopped being part of the club but maybe it has become a job of work and no longer a passion, if that permeates to other players then their weaker characters (Kyle Reid - a confidence player, Scott wagstaff - a confidence player etc,.) will follow the opinion formers. that is waht I hypothesise may have happened.
They should be more professional than to alow that, but in my expereince few people are. Of course, Henry as an HR expert may have an alternative view.
[cite]Posted By: Cordoban Addick[/cite]So is CP changing too much to fast or is it all the fault of the lot that used to run the club?
Its something that has been concentrated on, but is a bit of a smokescreen to be honest CA. The style of football hasn't really improved too greatly, other than wanting to pass it around in our final third a bit more, and that is something that has created increased pressure as we have been punished when losing the ball in that area.
The way i see it, having a 'footballing ethos' is very admirable and something to strive for, but first and foremost you work with what you have. The ultimate goal is results, which at a much higher level Mr Wenger loses focus on, and at a worryingly similar analogy, John Barnes failed to install into a League 1 team.
'Good football' comes from players with an equal measure of ability and confidence in their own game. Its why the higher up the chain you go, the probabilities increase you are more likely to see 'good football'.
You analyse what you have, and you form a plan to create the best set up possible to attain favourable results. If successful, you then over time try and tinker with both team shape and personnel to get to your ultimate goal. It has a lot more chance of working on a base of confidence, as players are then more included to want and receive the ball in pressured situations, and a crowd are more forgiving of mistakes.
Having desired principles is all well and good, but sometimes in football you have to abandon them.
I think there could be some truth in this but as a footballer- you would expect that you would get used to managers changing -it's the one constant every season. If you are looking to get away from a club, you best bet is surely to play as well as you can if you are out of contract. By not doing so you run the risk of playing at a lower level or not being wanted at all. I think we won 4 matches with a bit of luck, lost a couple but the killer blow was Notts County. That was a game in which we created all of the meaningful chances (several) but the forward line of Anyinsah, BWP and Ecclestone who on paper looked excellent for this division cost couldn't hit a cows proverbial with a banjo that night. But they did pose problems and I think Powell was onto soemthing - Anyinsah being the key player. Unfortunately Anyinsah got himeslf injured and BWP needs a player like him next to him - Eccleston is a confidence player and Benson doesn't terrorise defences- he is more of a get in the right place player. So without Anyinsah a good attack became a toothless one. Then you have the lack of width with no left back and Francis (after a couple of terrible mistakes) out of the side. Francis gives us attacking width and for all of Jenkinson's undoubted potential - we lack something going forwards with him in the side.
In midfield - Racon continued to frustrate and the only other option was McCormack. He worked hard enough but has no quality whatsoever - Semedo is a battler but a very defensive midfielder who doesn't give you anything going forwards. To be honest- to get the best out of Semedo- you need a bit of creativity in the middle and have a 3- even more reason to have width from the full backs.
Then the defence - No pace in teh centre but looks more terrifying than it actually is at this level. Biggest problem has been mistakes from Francis (Fans haven't helped here) and mistakes every game by Fry.
Anyway that highlights the problems- know the problems and use that to find the solutions! Feels to me that 4-3-3 is the way to go and Nouble could fill in for Anyinsah - width has to come from the full backs though - as windgers that can't beat their men are a luxury. At home against weaker teams you could play Reid and have 3 at the back with Semedo support the defence from midfield but we really do need a proper left back.
But I meant the facts about what's going on behind the doors that are closed to the likes of us.
But Mick said "This was just my view on things - nobody else's." and he then went on to say that his "opinion" was no more or less valid than anyone elses, quite correctly.
So not "facts". He may well be spot on but even Mick isn't claiming it is fact.
[quote][cite]Posted By: BigRedEvil[/cite]One major point which hasn't been covered in this is whether we'll see Abbott performing for Poland next summer?
[cite]Posted By: Cordoban Addick[/cite]So is CP changing too much to fast or is it all the fault of the lot that used to run the club?
Its something that has been concentrated on, but is a bit of a smokescreen to be honest CA. The style of football hasn't really improved too greatly, other than wanting to pass it around in our final third a bit more, and that is something that has created increased pressure as we have been punished when losing the ball in that area.
The way i see it, having a 'footballing ethos' is very admirable and something to strive for, but first and foremost you work with what you have. The ultimate goal is results, which at a much higher level Mr Wenger loses focus on, and at a worryingly similar analogy, John Barnes failed to install into a League 1 team.
'Good football' comes from players with an equal measure of ability and confidence in their own game. Its why the higher up the chain you go, the probabilities increase you are more likely to see 'good football'.
You analyse what you have, and you form a plan to create the best set up possible to attain favourable results. If successful, you then over time try and tinker with both team shape and personnel to get to your ultimate goal. It has a lot more chance of working on a base of confidence, as players are then more included to want and receive the ball in pressured situations, and a crowd are more forgiving of mistakes.
Having desired principles is all well and good, but sometimes in football you have to abandon them.
I think that is how I view things AFKA. Have barely been to any games over the last few years so I hate to comment on what I haven't seen. Whilst it is good to change the way we play, an experienced manager, in any job works to get the best out of his players and works to minimalise the risk of the disruptive ones who wont change. Its a very difficult thing to get right, a disruptive employee disrupts weaker colleages and the whole thing can go pear shaped very quickly.
In my opinion, which is not worth anything, CP appears to have gone in full of enthusiasm, good intentions and new ideas and has expected the players to respond in the same manner. Any manager taking over any kind of team will tell you that this rarely happens, old wounds and old loyalties fester. I think at the moment CP is failing to play a bad hand well, but this is the hand that he must play with. Having said that I want our manager to have high expectations of our players, the right players will respond to that and improve.
I have been watching the team all season under the assumption that things would at some point click into place. I have been ignoring the clues i.e. when a player can't make a 2 yard pass when under no pressure - when the law of averages says if you make enough crosses some ought to be decent but none are, when the defence can gift a chance to opponents out of sheer panic, when easy chances are rushed etc... Yes a poor hand, but that wasn't Parky's fault - he lost his best players and had no money and had to put a team together in difficult circumstances and whilst not setting the world alight he was playing that hand better than many of us thought- the team was certainly competitive if not great fun to watch. The 4 wins probably did more damage and made Powell think (as most of us probably did) that this team could push on when in reality it couldn't. Powell is to blame for clearly pushing the team beyond its collective limitations but in all honesty we needed to push on - had we made the play offs we would probably have come up short anyway.
If certain players are not sweating blood to put things right, well it's better to find out who they are now I suppose. That can be corrected next season. The point is, when do you stop flogging the dead horse. We have what we have, but maybe it's time to look at playing a bit differently - utilising the attributes we have within the squad. Ok, we may not want to play that way next season but at least it might make the remainder of this a little less painful.
Here's my tuppence worth.
I watched the team going through its warm-up routine before the game at Dagenham. There was an almost total lack of banter between the players or much communication with the management team. The only marginally chirpy individual out there was Keith Peacock as he regaled one of the players with a no doubt amusing story from yesteryear.
There is, clearly, something very, very wrong.
I watched, bemused, as Alex Dyer went around handing out green bibs to certain players: nothing appeared to be said by Alex to any of the players; nor did any of the players seem to speak to Alex. Alex looked very downbeat as he trudged round with a hangdog expression. Why didn't the players already know their roles in green bibs? Why wasn't Alex looking more upbeat? Small points I know but perhaps an insight into a greater malaise?
There was little sign of any professionalism or appetite for the upcoming game. Only the keepers gave the impression they knew what they were supposed to be doing and why.
If pre-match looked bad that was nothing compared to the game itself. Tactics - they're those small mints in a clear plastic box aren't they? Every one of our corners was executed in the same way. D & R soon got very used the the concept. And there was little else to worry them.
In my opinion the current team would struggle to win a game in the Conference.
Now, to an extent I buy Mick's arguments on players looking for a new job but surely even their agents will have been cajoling them into putting in good performances while in the shop window: if only to enhance their own fees.
That shambles of a team needs the fear of god putting into it. That fear should be coming from the management. Perhaps SCP could borrow SAF's hairdyer for a couple of weeks?
The fear should have kicked in by now. Perhaps it all should have started at Dagenham by them not actually being allowed to trudge off the pitch at half-time. Perhaps the team talk should have been conducted in front of the away supporters.
The first change I'd make is cut out all the crap music they listen to pre-match in the dressing room. Perhaps they could listen to the management instead? Have it drummed into their heads what their roles are and be reminded of how important it is to be committed to the cause and do the ugly things like hounding the opposition midfield every once in a while rather than allowing them the freedom of the park.
Perhaps SCP should be saying to the players that when he says "going back to basics" what he means is that's the only food products they'll be able to afford at Sainsbury's if they don't buck their ideas up.
Obviously I have no insight into what's going on behind closed doors. I haven't got the answers. Actually I'm not even in a position to know what the question is. But what I do know is that something has got to change and it has got to change quickly.
Great post that has had some excellent replies, one thing is for sure if the players showed 10 percent of this passion on the pitch then we would not be in the brown stuff at present.
If, and it is a big 'IF' some of the players are sulking, depressed, not behind the club then frankly they do not deserve to be professionals. When they come out on the pitch, there contract, what they are paid, and the petty infighting should be put aside. Frankly, what team want's to buy players that give not a jot/toss/s**t!.
Tommorow night seems like 'Powells Waterloo'.
The betting is around 3-1 for a Charlton win, ( so I was informed) I get the feeling that some fans think it is nearer to 8-1!.
I am not a great supporter that the 'do something now' position, wether it be parking the bus in defence , or playing 5 midfield will work!. Football is about belief, confidence, and ability, we seem to have little of that at present on the pitch!. I hope, that we as fans support the team tommorow, and that some player played like Mendoncca did in the first game at the valley when in the prem and scored his hatrick against Southampton!, it all seemed so easy, and exciting in those days, but in the end it comes down to the players, the managers ability to motivate, and the crowd supporting the team!
I am all for bollocking any player, if they do not do there shift, but it is our team, and a Charlton team!, Let us give them a decent chance at least!
Chris Powell for all his faults is a Charlton man, and for that he has my support at present!
You re right about belief being big factor but playing pass and move football is harder than a more basic physical approach. For me this is our best chance tomorrow. Back to basics with 100% workrate - up their a*ses. Get s much pace- fitness and physility in the team as possible. Call it plan B.
Lets do what we have to do this season then try to address the issues in the summer.
After a few games where the voting was fairly even, finally us fans have decided... Sadly, we've decided we're going to lose. I hold my hand up - I voted for a loss.
I am very worried about what cafcfan said about the state of mind of our players at D&R - what the hell is the problem?
Some of the players are not only shortchanging the fans by their performances, they are shortchanging themselves by calling themselves professionals, they need one big kick up the arse Mr Powell, I will not boo tomorrow evening , I will be vocal for my club however, I urge the north stand to get behind the team and urge the players to show the fans some respect and Put in a decent performance.
Chis Powell please look at your team , suss out where it's working and have the balls and courage of your convictions to sort out where it is not working , don't worry about upsetting the players, we are all in this crap together , and will only get out of it together.
I think the fact that Chris hasn't got an experienced Number 2 guy with him is a big miss.
This is an interesting and grown up thread - it is also heartbreaking in parts...
I am still trying to keep the faith and just hope that we can scrape enough points together to survive (talk about readjusting expectations, eh....) so that we can sort out the situation over the summer. But in the meantime, some very legitimate concerns have been raised here about tactics, substitutions etc. (not to mention the rather worrying post from cafcfan, above) and I hope that we see an improvement pretty damn soon, because it became rather difficult to defend how Saturday's team, tactics and substitutions were handled. However, just shouting at them isn't going to do the trick, I fear - would that it were that simple...We are in a terrible position in that he have to try and make people who don't give a shit, give a shit. Not an easy thing to do....
FWIW, I never expected us to get promoted anyway (yup, those players again), but to be fearing relegation shows that something has gone seriously awry in the short term part of the long term plan. I want to believe, I really do. I just hope that we can hold this leaky ship together long enough to see out the season and then, hopefully, we will see some real change and (dare to dream) a reversal in our fortunes...
Since I put a Charlton car sticker in the motor after the Posh game, we haven't won.
Now that is spooky - I too bought a car sticker at the posh game. But - and this is the thing - I did not get around to putting it in my car. As I live near Plymouth I have been subject to bemused "fucking hell, and you had BWP off us too!" comments.
I can't face the thought of a whole city full of people pointing and laughing every time I drive down the road, though god knows they need the distraction.
However, I'm heartened by the posters who call for us to get behind the team tomorrow night. As BDL pleads before every match " Let's make some noise !"
Maybe, just maybe, we'll get a positive reaction from the players : surprise them by the fact that we do still care and are doing our bit . That we're not their enemies & we want them so much to succeed. Cheers rather than jeers must help instill a modicum of confidence which is undoubtedly lacking at present.
I'm nervous, sounds like Henry is too and I'm damned sure that everyone coming out of the home dressing room will feel like Russell Crowe entering the gladatorial arena.
Please let's give them the benefit of the doubt & shout our encouragement. Surely that's not too much to ask ?
You never know, this match might be the ONE to stop the "rot" . Like Caesar we might be giving the thumb(s) up at the final whistle, instead of the thumb(s) down....
[cite]Posted By: cafcfan[/cite]Here's my tuppence worth.
I watched the team going through its warm-up routine before the game at Dagenham. There was an almost total lack of banter between the players or much communication with the management team. The only marginally chirpy individual out there was Keith Peacock as he regaled one of the players with a no doubt amusing story from yesteryear.
There is, clearly, something very, very wrong.
I watched, bemused, as Alex Dyer went around handing out green bibs to certain players: nothing appeared to be said by Alex to any of the players; nor did any of the players seem to speak to Alex. Alex looked very downbeat as he trudged round with a hangdog expression. Why didn't the players already know their roles in green bibs? Why wasn't Alex looking more upbeat? Small points I know but perhaps an insight into a greater malaise?
There was little sign of any professionalism or appetite for the upcoming game. Only the keepers gave the impression they knew what they were supposed to be doing and why.
100% agree with this, I watched exactly the same things and all the body language said that we were going to lose. I go with Ms Fanackapan as well. Nothing left now but to try and conjure up some magic from the supporters.
here is an idea, dailly is a key opinion former in the team, if not the opinion former of the team, following my post earlier in this thread. I also think he is one of the players whose head has dropped since parkie went. Somemay say make him walk, but there is another way of approaching it and as club captain also bring him into the coaching staff, with responsibilty for team morale and for adding his ideas and thoughts to the team set up. It could be that as an opinion leader he could get the players playing where CP can't at this moment in time.
Since I put a Charlton car sticker in the motor after the Posh game, we haven't won.
Now that is spooky - I too bought a car sticker at the posh game. But - and this is the thing - I did not get around to putting it in my car. As I live near Plymouth I have been subject to bemused "fucking hell, and you had BWP off us too!" comments.
I can't face the thought of a whole city full of people pointing and laughing every time I drive down the road, though god knows they need the distraction.
Ah, so now we can see where the blame really lies. JT, get that sticker out of your car right now! And wheresmeticket, if that hasn't helped after a couple of games I'm afraid you're going to have to bite the bullet and put yours in your car. Come on man, you can take a bit if ritual humiliation for the good of the club, can't you?
[cite]Posted By: Kap10[/cite]here is an idea, dailly is a key opinion former in the team, if not the opinion former of the team, following my post earlier in this thread. I also think he is one of the players whose head has dropped since parkie went. Somemay say make him walk, but there is another way of approaching it and as club captain also bring him into the coaching staff, with responsibilty for team morale and for adding his ideas and thoughts to the team set up. It could be that as an opinion leader he could get the players playing where CP can't at this moment in time.
Maybe they don't want to play for Powell? With the way Parky got sacked and a whole new backroom staff plus a new board brought in, there's a possibilty they don't like the way new Charlton is being run and aren't happy with the way things are.
Comments
Thank goodness that we don't have that kind of dichotomy when it comes to deciding who is right or wrong in government.
Thank you Mick and Airman for the leads you have tried to give us. Some of us appreciate it.
SCP needs to be given the whole of next season before we lose the faith . Only then do I feel we can judge him , but then I said the same about Parky . The Swindon game was what altered my view as I could not see Parky delivering promotion this season . Maybe the Board acted too quickly and he should have seen this season through as this was the first season I felt it was really Parky's team and not Pardews.
The truth is that there is some validity in both the view that Powell is maybe slightly tactically naive and that some players are planning a future away from the Valley and are not currently bursting a gut for the cause because they know that the style of football SCP wants to play some of them are not suited to .
Either way lets support him . He is a legend but is still learning as a manager he will make mistakes .I still think it was the right appointment and hope he can turn it around.
For what it is worth, Granpa raises the point about employees, I'd turn it around and make a point about employers. Employees find it very difficult to give 110% when they have lost faith in their employers. A number of players were loyal to Parkie, came here because of parkie. when he was sacked after a few days of the club being taken over they may well have felt it was unfair, some of the tweets at the time hinted at that. They may have felt bringing in a rookie manager who then changed a formula that they felt was working was wrong. Thye may have felt that the club did not know what they were doing and deluded or not they then put the blame on the new regime in its entirety, its naturakl and what happens in evfery place of work.
Some of those players may well have been the natural leaders in the team - Dailly once said that Parkie would do great things in his careeer and he wanted to be there when it happened. I don't think he is the player he was last season and now not the player he was in the first half of the season. hs he stopped trying no, but he is now doing a job of work not playing for the man or the shirt, what does Jacko think of it all, he came here for Parkie. these are two of the most influential players in the team. They have not stopped being part of the club but maybe it has become a job of work and no longer a passion, if that permeates to other players then their weaker characters (Kyle Reid - a confidence player, Scott wagstaff - a confidence player etc,.) will follow the opinion formers. that is waht I hypothesise may have happened.
They should be more professional than to alow that, but in my expereince few people are. Of course, Henry as an HR expert may have an alternative view.
WWDLLWDDWLDLWWWWWDLDDLDWWWWLLLLDLLL ....
Its something that has been concentrated on, but is a bit of a smokescreen to be honest CA. The style of football hasn't really improved too greatly, other than wanting to pass it around in our final third a bit more, and that is something that has created increased pressure as we have been punished when losing the ball in that area.
The way i see it, having a 'footballing ethos' is very admirable and something to strive for, but first and foremost you work with what you have. The ultimate goal is results, which at a much higher level Mr Wenger loses focus on, and at a worryingly similar analogy, John Barnes failed to install into a League 1 team.
'Good football' comes from players with an equal measure of ability and confidence in their own game. Its why the higher up the chain you go, the probabilities increase you are more likely to see 'good football'.
You analyse what you have, and you form a plan to create the best set up possible to attain favourable results. If successful, you then over time try and tinker with both team shape and personnel to get to your ultimate goal. It has a lot more chance of working on a base of confidence, as players are then more included to want and receive the ball in pressured situations, and a crowd are more forgiving of mistakes.
Having desired principles is all well and good, but sometimes in football you have to abandon them.
In midfield - Racon continued to frustrate and the only other option was McCormack. He worked hard enough but has no quality whatsoever - Semedo is a battler but a very defensive midfielder who doesn't give you anything going forwards. To be honest- to get the best out of Semedo- you need a bit of creativity in the middle and have a 3- even more reason to have width from the full backs.
Then the defence - No pace in teh centre but looks more terrifying than it actually is at this level. Biggest problem has been mistakes from Francis (Fans haven't helped here) and mistakes every game by Fry.
Anyway that highlights the problems- know the problems and use that to find the solutions! Feels to me that 4-3-3 is the way to go and Nouble could fill in for Anyinsah - width has to come from the full backs though - as windgers that can't beat their men are a luxury. At home against weaker teams you could play Reid and have 3 at the back with Semedo support the defence from midfield but we really do need a proper left back.
Good reply.
But I meant the facts about what's going on behind the doors that are closed to the likes of us.
TBF thats a pretty decent run up until the last 7 or 8 games.
But Mick said "This was just my view on things - nobody else's." and he then went on to say that his "opinion" was no more or less valid than anyone elses, quite correctly.
So not "facts". He may well be spot on but even Mick isn't claiming it is fact.
I think not somehow.
I think not somehow.[/quote]
As a pole he maybe standing in the corner!
I think that is how I view things AFKA. Have barely been to any games over the last few years so I hate to comment on what I haven't seen. Whilst it is good to change the way we play, an experienced manager, in any job works to get the best out of his players and works to minimalise the risk of the disruptive ones who wont change. Its a very difficult thing to get right, a disruptive employee disrupts weaker colleages and the whole thing can go pear shaped very quickly.
In my opinion, which is not worth anything, CP appears to have gone in full of enthusiasm, good intentions and new ideas and has expected the players to respond in the same manner. Any manager taking over any kind of team will tell you that this rarely happens, old wounds and old loyalties fester. I think at the moment CP is failing to play a bad hand well, but this is the hand that he must play with. Having said that I want our manager to have high expectations of our players, the right players will respond to that and improve.
If certain players are not sweating blood to put things right, well it's better to find out who they are now I suppose. That can be corrected next season. The point is, when do you stop flogging the dead horse. We have what we have, but maybe it's time to look at playing a bit differently - utilising the attributes we have within the squad. Ok, we may not want to play that way next season but at least it might make the remainder of this a little less painful.
I watched the team going through its warm-up routine before the game at Dagenham. There was an almost total lack of banter between the players or much communication with the management team. The only marginally chirpy individual out there was Keith Peacock as he regaled one of the players with a no doubt amusing story from yesteryear.
There is, clearly, something very, very wrong.
I watched, bemused, as Alex Dyer went around handing out green bibs to certain players: nothing appeared to be said by Alex to any of the players; nor did any of the players seem to speak to Alex. Alex looked very downbeat as he trudged round with a hangdog expression. Why didn't the players already know their roles in green bibs? Why wasn't Alex looking more upbeat? Small points I know but perhaps an insight into a greater malaise?
There was little sign of any professionalism or appetite for the upcoming game. Only the keepers gave the impression they knew what they were supposed to be doing and why.
If pre-match looked bad that was nothing compared to the game itself. Tactics - they're those small mints in a clear plastic box aren't they? Every one of our corners was executed in the same way. D & R soon got very used the the concept. And there was little else to worry them.
In my opinion the current team would struggle to win a game in the Conference.
Now, to an extent I buy Mick's arguments on players looking for a new job but surely even their agents will have been cajoling them into putting in good performances while in the shop window: if only to enhance their own fees.
That shambles of a team needs the fear of god putting into it. That fear should be coming from the management. Perhaps SCP could borrow SAF's hairdyer for a couple of weeks?
The fear should have kicked in by now. Perhaps it all should have started at Dagenham by them not actually being allowed to trudge off the pitch at half-time. Perhaps the team talk should have been conducted in front of the away supporters.
The first change I'd make is cut out all the crap music they listen to pre-match in the dressing room. Perhaps they could listen to the management instead? Have it drummed into their heads what their roles are and be reminded of how important it is to be committed to the cause and do the ugly things like hounding the opposition midfield every once in a while rather than allowing them the freedom of the park.
Perhaps SCP should be saying to the players that when he says "going back to basics" what he means is that's the only food products they'll be able to afford at Sainsbury's if they don't buck their ideas up.
Obviously I have no insight into what's going on behind closed doors. I haven't got the answers. Actually I'm not even in a position to know what the question is. But what I do know is that something has got to change and it has got to change quickly.
If, and it is a big 'IF' some of the players are sulking, depressed, not behind the club then frankly they do not deserve to be professionals. When they come out on the pitch, there contract, what they are paid, and the petty infighting should be put aside. Frankly, what team want's to buy players that give not a jot/toss/s**t!.
Tommorow night seems like 'Powells Waterloo'.
The betting is around 3-1 for a Charlton win, ( so I was informed) I get the feeling that some fans think it is nearer to 8-1!.
I am not a great supporter that the 'do something now' position, wether it be parking the bus in defence , or playing 5 midfield will work!. Football is about belief, confidence, and ability, we seem to have little of that at present on the pitch!. I hope, that we as fans support the team tommorow, and that some player played like Mendoncca did in the first game at the valley when in the prem and scored his hatrick against Southampton!, it all seemed so easy, and exciting in those days, but in the end it comes down to the players, the managers ability to motivate, and the crowd supporting the team!
I am all for bollocking any player, if they do not do there shift, but it is our team, and a Charlton team!, Let us give them a decent chance at least!
Chris Powell for all his faults is a Charlton man, and for that he has my support at present!
Lets do what we have to do this season then try to address the issues in the summer.
I am very worried about what cafcfan said about the state of mind of our players at D&R - what the hell is the problem?
Chis Powell please look at your team , suss out where it's working and have the balls and courage of your convictions to sort out where it is not working , don't worry about upsetting the players, we are all in this crap together , and will only get out of it together.
I think the fact that Chris hasn't got an experienced Number 2 guy with him is a big miss.
I am still trying to keep the faith and just hope that we can scrape enough points together to survive (talk about readjusting expectations, eh....) so that we can sort out the situation over the summer. But in the meantime, some very legitimate concerns have been raised here about tactics, substitutions etc. (not to mention the rather worrying post from cafcfan, above) and I hope that we see an improvement pretty damn soon, because it became rather difficult to defend how Saturday's team, tactics and substitutions were handled. However, just shouting at them isn't going to do the trick, I fear - would that it were that simple...We are in a terrible position in that he have to try and make people who don't give a shit, give a shit. Not an easy thing to do....
FWIW, I never expected us to get promoted anyway (yup, those players again), but to be fearing relegation shows that something has gone seriously awry in the short term part of the long term plan. I want to believe, I really do. I just hope that we can hold this leaky ship together long enough to see out the season and then, hopefully, we will see some real change and (dare to dream) a reversal in our fortunes...
Now that is spooky - I too bought a car sticker at the posh game. But - and this is the thing - I did not get around to putting it in my car. As I live near Plymouth I have been subject to bemused "fucking hell, and you had BWP off us too!" comments.
I can't face the thought of a whole city full of people pointing and laughing every time I drive down the road, though god knows they need the distraction.
However, I'm heartened by the posters who call for us to get behind the team tomorrow night. As BDL pleads before every match " Let's make some noise !"
Maybe, just maybe, we'll get a positive reaction from the players : surprise them by the fact that we do still care and are doing our bit . That we're not their enemies & we want them so much to succeed. Cheers rather than jeers must help instill a modicum of confidence which is undoubtedly lacking at present.
I'm nervous, sounds like Henry is too and I'm damned sure that everyone coming out of the home dressing room will feel like Russell Crowe entering the gladatorial arena.
Please let's give them the benefit of the doubt & shout our encouragement. Surely that's not too much to ask ?
You never know, this match might be the ONE to stop the "rot" . Like Caesar we might be giving the thumb(s) up at the final whistle, instead of the thumb(s) down....
Keep the faith.
100% agree with this, I watched exactly the same things and all the body language said that we were going to lose. I go with Ms Fanackapan as well. Nothing left now but to try and conjure up some magic from the supporters.