Phew that was relief! i thought we were going to get tonked by 3 or 4 tonight , thought the players really upped their game tonight and showed a lot of guts , it almost felt like a win , still need to improve our finishing in the final 3rd if we are to get back to winning ways, but some big improvements tonight, i'm sure Chris is still learning lots about this team , lets hope we can keep it going down at Bournemouth , well done North Standers , the place was rocking in the last 5 minutes, left the valley with a smile on my face at last!
[cite]Posted By: Henry Irving[/cite]
Saints were rocking after we scored and I thought we might snatch but credit to soton they came back at us.
Whoever writes the tweets on the official Saints twitter says that they were in line with N'Guessan (the guy who scored our disallowed goal) and they say his run was timed perfectly and the goal should have stood, likewise Adkins says the video footage looks like the lino got it wrong. Will be a bit of a tough pill to take if he was onside but I guess we could see it as Karma for your two close disallowed goals last season at The Valley.
So was I. He was. By about a yard. Looked it anyway. Would like to see it again.
Great game of football. Proud of the fighting spirit we've been waiting so long to see.
Sounds like we were better tonight, but the pressure was off as it probably will be on Saturday. We won't really know if we've turned a corner until we next play a team we're expected to beat.
We battled hard and scored a great goal. In need of improvement going forward. I just hope it's not normal services resumed when we play more average teams. We can't dominate games, we need to play like we did tonight for the rest of the season.
We DEFINITELY deserved that point tonight ! Well done to all the lads for a committed, spirited performance. That's all I ask for, every match .
What a difference Bessone & Solly made at the back - the former looks the classy fullback we've been craving. And the latter....bless his cotton socks !
IMHO no-one out there tonight had a poor game although Waggy needs to do more for me and BWP could look a bit more interested over the 90 mins.
If SCP can put this team out week after week until the end of this season, with no injuries or suspensions, then I believe we'll finish with a decent number of points.
" Oh I do love to be beside the seaside..!" Think I'm already looking forward to Saturday ....
[cite]Posted By: AFKABartram[/cite]Perhaps we have been harsh on the Palace Nigels over the years, perhaps there is a general thickness scattered over the Croydon region judging by this post on the Saints board:
[cite]Posted By: CroydonSaint[/cite]Just back from game. Frustrating game. Should not have lost.
Croydon should be cut off from the rest of England with some sort of electric fence.
Was a huge improvement - Southampton are a good side -they play to a style- a bit route 1ish with lots of long balls but they back their front men to get to the balls which they are effective at. Not quite the quality I expected -we had the best player on the pitch in Racon. Thought whilst we competed throughout we were a little toothless up front but Southampton weren't peppering our goal either. Nouble is a bt raw -BWP looked up for it and the dynamic certainly changed with the subs -Eccleston for Waggy and Anyinsah for Nouble- Think these swaps should hold for Saturday -think we are more dangerous like that. BWP mis cue, Racon across goal needing a tap in, Llera's shot on the bar the penalty shout -yes a massive improvement.
But Saints came to beat us a probably paid us no respect -now we have to beat teams that are inferior and try to stop us. Special mention for Parret - he looked a bit lightweight to begin with but as the game went on showed he is creative with an excellent workrate- we ought to try to keep him for nest season. Definitely have to go with Semedo (who wasn't his usual self), Racon and Perret for the rest of the season if fit.
Put in performances like that from now until the end of the season and we will finish top half.
First half wasn't a great one. Saints perhaps edged it overall, but we started brightly with passion & commitment. Racon's flash across goal five minutes before the end of the half swung the momentum our way however and it was a shame that the half ended there. Saints were relieved to hear the half-time whistle. Was fearful of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain before the game started tonight, thought he might rip us apart but Bessone had him in his backpocket throughout the game, full credit to him.
Parrett looked very assured on the ball. Reminded me of Lee Martin's commitment & skill but more aware and able to pick out the right pass rather than trick&flick overkill. The second half was also tight and I felt their goal perhaps came against the run of play. Believe it came indirectly from a set-piece which we will still to work out how to defend properly.
The momentum shifted back to Saints for 10 or 15 minutes as they looked to kill the game off with a second but they couldn't break through and with ten or so minutes left we brought Eccleston on. He didn't make an immediate impact but he certainly can run with the ball and when he cut inside and passed to Parrett for the audacious chip over the Saints back line, it left BWP with only the keeper to beat to score his sixth league goal since joining. Again it appeared to be his only contribution but I won't mind as long as he keeps doing it.
In the last five minutes both teams pressed and pressed for a winner and we almost found one, but the cross in from the right was taken off BWP's head by a Jaidi glancing header.
Overall, it was a very positive night and one I'm very glad I attended.
We did not 'put the ball out' for Parrett's injury, Llera was clearly trying to play a long ball to BWP. There is no way that could be interpreted as putting it out for the injury, else he would've kicked it off sideways.
Surprised everyone thought the full backs did so well. They were solid, but nothing more.
Best performance under Powell so far. When you see a side give it there all,
I will clap them off the pitch every time, even if they lose. Well done all.
First enjoyable match at the Valley for a long time because we looked like a team interested in a fight . Thanks to BWP we dont need to create too many chances.
I think 78.5% of Addicks thought we would lose tonight so a draw at home feels like a win. Coming from behind against an in-form team, instead of callapsing in a heap team shows some real balls.
Feeling less grumpy than usual but lets not forget that we were out muscled in midlfield (again) and too much of the game was played in our half. Lots of mistakes were made from a team very low on confidence. Sorry to mention it but Prince Semedo of Perfection made some real howlers. Thought Racon was excellent tonight and very delighted to see that McOxo was nowhere to be seen.
I think that will give us and CP lots of confidence going forward.
Maybe a corner has been turned..or taken..or conceded ..or something
A much better performance and even though we lacked a lot of quality with the final ball, maybe made a few sloppy passes, there was a lot to cheer about. Bessone had Chamberlain in his back pocket, was great going forward with the ball and was very composed when making the simple passes. Parrett improved in the second half and the cute lob for phillips goal was class. We looked like a totally different team tonight and has made me feel a lot more comfortable with our run in. Felt like a team that wanted to fight for the cause just like the good old days. Onwards and upwards.....Mig or Bessone my MOM.
Really enjoyed tonight’s game, especially 2nd half, was exciting end to end stuff.
Thought we started really well for first 10-15. We looked positive and up for it. Sadly this has been the case for years now, start well but go in losing at half time. Not tonight though, sure Soton shaded the first half but you could hear the huge sigh of relief as we went in level after 45.
Much better crowd tonight than I'd expected, was it a case of Car Crash Football? Had some just turned up to see us get thrashed to enable them to have a good moan and boo?
Have to take my hat off to Soton fans for filling the South Stand, not seen that much lately.
Can't believe no one has mentioned our Geoff Hurst / Russian linesman moment? I thought it went in. I would also like to see their disallowed goal again. I thought their forward was too quick for the lino.
Honestly didn't think we'd come back after conceding, shows that there IS some spirit left in the squad.
If I had to criticise, thought subs were too late, apart from the Doc! Eccelscake looked great but why was ignored so much when standing in acres of space on the right screaming for the ball? Amazingly this happened either side of his lead up to our goal.
I don't think players should kick the ball out unless it's an emergency. They're not actually supposed to. It's the refs call. Don't blame the Soton No.3 for taking the throw as normal, I didn't realise we'd put it out on purpose anyway. Was funny though as bloke behind me went MAD. Really loud BOOs! The called him Sportsman of The Year very loudly for the rest of the match. Made me laugh.
Got my CL badge eventually tonight, hope it's genuine as I bought off some spiv in the East Stand........ ;-)
What Parrett gives us, and I saw it a lot tonight, is a midfield player willing to break forward, which we haven't had yet this season. Whenever thx full backs had the ball he was darting forward to try a link up with the forwards. That is a positive sign.
[quote][cite]Posted By: dabos[/cite]We did not 'put the ball out' for Parrett's injury, Llera was clearly trying to play a long ball to BWP. There is no way that could be interpreted as putting it out for the injury, else he would've kicked it off sideways.
Surprised everyone thought the full backs did so well. They were solid, but nothing more.[/quote]
Big MIG was trying to be cute, definitely put it out and hoping for possession back as well. No way. I thought the throw that led to corner and their goal was ours and D'Urso had his usual poor game, linos little better. BWP got card for shot after whistle but Waggy nutmeg and pull back got nothing for a guilt edged chance. He was also blatantly pushed on own in area but nothing. Didn't see possible pen on Llera effort on bar but he seemed to use a hand down other end. Anyone get a good view of these?
Good performance with lots of effort and some skill too. A point on the board from a game where most were predicting us to get a right tonking. Best of all though is that each and every one of those players can go into work tomorrow look the manager in the eye and honestly say, I can do a good job if you pick me. They have set themselves a standard; now lets see them keep it up :-)
Posting without reading so apologies in advance for any repetition.
I'll take that given the recent abysmal run. The players showed some pride and fight which is all I really expect. As I used to say to my daughters when they were at school, I can forgive lack of ability but not lack of application. Tonight we had the application.
Despite that application I don't remember Davis having a save to make in the first half although Robbie only had that free kick to his right hand post really. In the second half the game opened up a lot more and we fought to stay in it. After Jaidi's goal from a corner I thought Charlton heads would drop but they didn't and I noticed Miguel Llera geeing up the others, a proper Charlton player. I love his determined attitude. The equaliser was well worked and deserved paricularly as I thought Llera's earlier effort did cross the line. In fairness though it happened fast and if the officials have a doubt they shouldn't give it.
A final comment about Racon. I'm not his biggest fan because he flatters to deceive and disappears normally. Not tonight though. An excellent performance. A cynic might suggest he is playing for a new contract but that is the response and attitude we need.
One worry: the absence of Jenkinson. He hardly deserves to have been dropped so is he injured or on his way to better things elsewhere?
Nouble yet to impress me... Ecclestone looked very skillfull and energetic when he came on, super sub or trying to fight for more starts...
Can't drop BWP as he seems to get some important goals, however invisible he is for the rest of the game (p.s. that defender was all over him, good for BWP scoring, shut the defender up!)
Parrett MotM for me. Looks a good prospect. Nice touches at times, plenty of enthusiasm and not afraid of a tackle. Plus a great pas for the goal.
Just a shame he's not ours.
I wasn't going to go to the match but was dragged there, kicking and screaming. After the Daggers match, I was really down. I work in Essex alongside a frigging Daggers supporter who's been winding me up for the past couple of days. Enough.
In the first half, it always felt like the Saints were going to score but our defence did their job. Llera, Bessone, Dailly and Solly all played really well. I thought that Llera and Bessone seemed to work really well together. Solly seems to add the pace in defence I haven't seen for a while. Christian Dailly was massive, a real captain - leading by example! I was so glad to see Elliot back - his 'holiday' seems to have done him good too (he had no chance with the Saints goal which was superb). Robbie did some great saves.
In the second half, Nathan Ecclestone came on. This proved to be a good move as Wagstaff had been having a woeful game (what's gone wrong with him?). Ecclestone's appearance seemed to change the course of the game. Bringing on Anyinsah a short while after was a master stroke. The last 20 minutes of the game was exciting stuff - absolutely brilliant play from all the players. The momentum continued to the crucial goal and after to fulltime. Loved it!
I came away from the ground with a feeling that we had just won. Going a goal down then coming back to 1-1 felt like a win to me. So much better than the other way around. I'm sure it felt like a defeat to Southampton who were chanting "we are going up" after they scored. They probably are but this was certainly a reality check for them - in League One, anything can happen.
Our best performance under CP and that includes the 4 wins.
Against a decent team we competed all over the park.
Better discipline and more urgency evident when we lost possession. Some decent passing movements and quicker use of the ball when we had it.
The two players who stood out for me were Bessone and Racon.
I'd be very happy with Bessone at left back next season. Quick across the ground, he inspires confidence defensively and looks to make good use of the ball when he has the time to do so.
Racon did what we know he can. I've always been a fan of his, but I acknowledge he doesn't always produce the goods. Tonight I really enjoyed watching him play and I'm sure there are many others who will miss that sort of display when he moves on in the close season.
I thought Bessone was brilliant tonight, handled Chamberlin really well considering the emerging talent he is said to be, also thought Racon was great, a real asset to us if we use him and play to his strengths.
[quote][cite]Posted By: grumpyaddick[/cite]First enjoyable match at the Valley for a long time because we looked like a team interested in a fight . Thanks to BWP we dont need to create too many chances.
I think 78.5% of Addicks thought we would lose tonight so a draw at home feels like a win. Coming from behind against an in-form team, instead of callapsing in a heap team shows some real balls.
Feeling less grumpy than usual but lets not forget that we were out muscled in midlfield (again) and too much of the game was played in our half. Lots of mistakes were made from a team very low on confidence. Sorry to mention it but Prince Semedo of Perfection made some real howlers. Thought Racon was excellent tonight and very delighted to see that McOxo was nowhere to be seen.
I think that will give us and CP lots of confidence going forward.
Maybe a corner has been turned..or taken..or conceded ..or something[/quote]
78.5 % ? do you really think so. I would put it closer to 79'.3 % myself but I guess it's all about opinions ;0)
The sort of team performance that for the first time seemed to reflect CP's attitude. Determined and all put a shift in. Crowd behind them willing them on because we could see them battling for it out there. Heartening stuff. The main difference for me between the two teams was upfront. The link up play between their midfield and strikers was pacier and more accurate than our efforts, but confidence and familiarity with each other played a big role here I suspect. Think Joe offers more than Nouble, and I think Eccs brought pace and danger when he came on. Happy with the point. We deserved it. Well done Chris and the team.
Comments
Great game of football. Proud of the fighting spirit we've been waiting so long to see.
What a difference Bessone & Solly made at the back - the former looks the classy fullback we've been craving. And the latter....bless his cotton socks !
IMHO no-one out there tonight had a poor game although Waggy needs to do more for me and BWP could look a bit more interested over the 90 mins.
If SCP can put this team out week after week until the end of this season, with no injuries or suspensions, then I believe we'll finish with a decent number of points.
" Oh I do love to be beside the seaside..!" Think I'm already looking forward to Saturday ....
Croydon should be cut off from the rest of England with some sort of electric fence.
I was expecting humiliation and was pleasantly surprised. Saints werent exactly great though or did we stop them playing (hard one to work out).
But Saints came to beat us a probably paid us no respect -now we have to beat teams that are inferior and try to stop us. Special mention for Parret - he looked a bit lightweight to begin with but as the game went on showed he is creative with an excellent workrate- we ought to try to keep him for nest season. Definitely have to go with Semedo (who wasn't his usual self), Racon and Perret for the rest of the season if fit.
First half wasn't a great one. Saints perhaps edged it overall, but we started brightly with passion & commitment. Racon's flash across goal five minutes before the end of the half swung the momentum our way however and it was a shame that the half ended there. Saints were relieved to hear the half-time whistle. Was fearful of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain before the game started tonight, thought he might rip us apart but Bessone had him in his backpocket throughout the game, full credit to him.
Parrett looked very assured on the ball. Reminded me of Lee Martin's commitment & skill but more aware and able to pick out the right pass rather than trick&flick overkill. The second half was also tight and I felt their goal perhaps came against the run of play. Believe it came indirectly from a set-piece which we will still to work out how to defend properly.
The momentum shifted back to Saints for 10 or 15 minutes as they looked to kill the game off with a second but they couldn't break through and with ten or so minutes left we brought Eccleston on. He didn't make an immediate impact but he certainly can run with the ball and when he cut inside and passed to Parrett for the audacious chip over the Saints back line, it left BWP with only the keeper to beat to score his sixth league goal since joining. Again it appeared to be his only contribution but I won't mind as long as he keeps doing it.
In the last five minutes both teams pressed and pressed for a winner and we almost found one, but the cross in from the right was taken off BWP's head by a Jaidi glancing header.
Overall, it was a very positive night and one I'm very glad I attended.
Surprised everyone thought the full backs did so well. They were solid, but nothing more.
I will clap them off the pitch every time, even if they lose. Well done all.
I think 78.5% of Addicks thought we would lose tonight so a draw at home feels like a win. Coming from behind against an in-form team, instead of callapsing in a heap team shows some real balls.
Feeling less grumpy than usual but lets not forget that we were out muscled in midlfield (again) and too much of the game was played in our half. Lots of mistakes were made from a team very low on confidence. Sorry to mention it but Prince Semedo of Perfection made some real howlers. Thought Racon was excellent tonight and very delighted to see that McOxo was nowhere to be seen.
I think that will give us and CP lots of confidence going forward.
Maybe a corner has been turned..or taken..or conceded ..or something
Thought we started really well for first 10-15. We looked positive and up for it. Sadly this has been the case for years now, start well but go in losing at half time. Not tonight though, sure Soton shaded the first half but you could hear the huge sigh of relief as we went in level after 45.
Much better crowd tonight than I'd expected, was it a case of Car Crash Football? Had some just turned up to see us get thrashed to enable them to have a good moan and boo?
Have to take my hat off to Soton fans for filling the South Stand, not seen that much lately.
Can't believe no one has mentioned our Geoff Hurst / Russian linesman moment? I thought it went in. I would also like to see their disallowed goal again. I thought their forward was too quick for the lino.
Honestly didn't think we'd come back after conceding, shows that there IS some spirit left in the squad.
If I had to criticise, thought subs were too late, apart from the Doc! Eccelscake looked great but why was ignored so much when standing in acres of space on the right screaming for the ball? Amazingly this happened either side of his lead up to our goal.
I don't think players should kick the ball out unless it's an emergency. They're not actually supposed to. It's the refs call. Don't blame the Soton No.3 for taking the throw as normal, I didn't realise we'd put it out on purpose anyway. Was funny though as bloke behind me went MAD. Really loud BOOs! The called him Sportsman of The Year very loudly for the rest of the match. Made me laugh.
Got my CL badge eventually tonight, hope it's genuine as I bought off some spiv in the East Stand........ ;-)
Jury's still out on Big Frank - I'd prefer Big Joe up front with BWP to start on Sat.
Racon get better as the game went on - shame he was on the opposite side to me 2nd half.
Parrett may only be young and will make mistakes, but showed what we have been missing all season with the ball for our goal.
Glad to see the players being clapped off at the end rather than to a corous of boos.........
What Parrett gives us, and I saw it a lot tonight, is a midfield player willing to break forward, which we haven't had yet this season. Whenever thx full backs had the ball he was darting forward to try a link up with the forwards. That is a positive sign.
Surprised everyone thought the full backs did so well. They were solid, but nothing more.[/quote]
Big MIG was trying to be cute, definitely put it out and hoping for possession back as well. No way. I thought the throw that led to corner and their goal was ours and D'Urso had his usual poor game, linos little better. BWP got card for shot after whistle but Waggy nutmeg and pull back got nothing for a guilt edged chance. He was also blatantly pushed on own in area but nothing. Didn't see possible pen on Llera effort on bar but he seemed to use a hand down other end. Anyone get a good view of these?
I'll take that given the recent abysmal run. The players showed some pride and fight which is all I really expect. As I used to say to my daughters when they were at school, I can forgive lack of ability but not lack of application. Tonight we had the application.
Despite that application I don't remember Davis having a save to make in the first half although Robbie only had that free kick to his right hand post really. In the second half the game opened up a lot more and we fought to stay in it. After Jaidi's goal from a corner I thought Charlton heads would drop but they didn't and I noticed Miguel Llera geeing up the others, a proper Charlton player. I love his determined attitude. The equaliser was well worked and deserved paricularly as I thought Llera's earlier effort did cross the line. In fairness though it happened fast and if the officials have a doubt they shouldn't give it.
A final comment about Racon. I'm not his biggest fan because he flatters to deceive and disappears normally. Not tonight though. An excellent performance. A cynic might suggest he is playing for a new contract but that is the response and attitude we need.
One worry: the absence of Jenkinson. He hardly deserves to have been dropped so is he injured or on his way to better things elsewhere?
Elliot
Francis-Dailly-Fortune-Jackson
Martin-McOxo-Semedo-Racon-Reid
Benson
Elliott
Solly-Dailly-Llera-Bessone
Wagstaff-Semedo-Parret-Racon
WrightPhillips - Nouble
On paper a much better balanced stronger side tonight. I am very impressed with Powell's acquisitions/loans so far.
Can't drop BWP as he seems to get some important goals, however invisible he is for the rest of the game (p.s. that defender was all over him, good for BWP scoring, shut the defender up!)
Just a shame he's not ours.
In the first half, it always felt like the Saints were going to score but our defence did their job. Llera, Bessone, Dailly and Solly all played really well. I thought that Llera and Bessone seemed to work really well together. Solly seems to add the pace in defence I haven't seen for a while. Christian Dailly was massive, a real captain - leading by example! I was so glad to see Elliot back - his 'holiday' seems to have done him good too (he had no chance with the Saints goal which was superb). Robbie did some great saves.
In the second half, Nathan Ecclestone came on. This proved to be a good move as Wagstaff had been having a woeful game (what's gone wrong with him?). Ecclestone's appearance seemed to change the course of the game. Bringing on Anyinsah a short while after was a master stroke. The last 20 minutes of the game was exciting stuff - absolutely brilliant play from all the players. The momentum continued to the crucial goal and after to fulltime. Loved it!
I came away from the ground with a feeling that we had just won. Going a goal down then coming back to 1-1 felt like a win to me. So much better than the other way around. I'm sure it felt like a defeat to Southampton who were chanting "we are going up" after they scored. They probably are but this was certainly a reality check for them - in League One, anything can happen.
Against a decent team we competed all over the park.
Better discipline and more urgency evident when we lost possession. Some decent passing movements and quicker use of the ball when we had it.
The two players who stood out for me were Bessone and Racon.
I'd be very happy with Bessone at left back next season. Quick across the ground, he inspires confidence defensively and looks to make good use of the ball when he has the time to do so.
Racon did what we know he can. I've always been a fan of his, but I acknowledge he doesn't always produce the goods. Tonight I really enjoyed watching him play and I'm sure there are many others who will miss that sort of display when he moves on in the close season.
I think 78.5% of Addicks thought we would lose tonight so a draw at home feels like a win. Coming from behind against an in-form team, instead of callapsing in a heap team shows some real balls.
Feeling less grumpy than usual but lets not forget that we were out muscled in midlfield (again) and too much of the game was played in our half. Lots of mistakes were made from a team very low on confidence. Sorry to mention it but Prince Semedo of Perfection made some real howlers. Thought Racon was excellent tonight and very delighted to see that McOxo was nowhere to be seen.
I think that will give us and CP lots of confidence going forward.
Maybe a corner has been turned..or taken..or conceded ..or something[/quote]
78.5 % ? do you really think so. I would put it closer to 79'.3 % myself but I guess it's all about opinions ;0)
Determined and all put a shift in. Crowd behind them willing them on because we could see them battling for it out there. Heartening stuff.
The main difference for me between the two teams was upfront. The link up play between their midfield and strikers was pacier and more accurate than our efforts, but confidence and familiarity with each other played a big role here I suspect.
Think Joe offers more than Nouble, and I think Eccs brought pace and danger when he came on.
Happy with the point. We deserved it.
Well done Chris and the team.
Why?
Always read what others have said before you. Then you can get some of your questions answered and answer some of other peoples.
It's a forum.
And to think Len, you love the phrase.....Lazy journalism!
;-)