However,drawing games and not losing them during a blip is no bad thing and shows how far we've come.Probably would have lost games like today a season or two ago.
Having said that,I do think that Russel and Hollands are far too similar.Great players the pair of 'em, but when they're both in the side I think we are always going to lose a bit of drive and creativity going forward.
I expect a bit of squad rotation by Powelly and a return to winning ways on Boxing day.
Predicted a tight game, thought Oldham would time waste from 20 minutes onwards and if we got an early goal we'd be alright.
We didn't and it became a slog, Oldham did what they and plenty of sides have done to us in the past, come down to The Valley and frustrate us, after all the hard work against Preston/Brentford and Huddersfield we've had 2 disappointing results.
Just didn't happen today BWP had the big chance to make it 2-0 and after that you knew Oldham would have get a chance. Have to learn how to deal with sides like Tranmere/Oldham etc who will come and try and frustrate us. Also agree with the lack of options on the bench seems like they have just been there to make up the numbers at times.
At least only Sheff Utd gained points on us, MK losing at home to managerless Preston shows how unpredictable things can be. Next 5 league games Yeovil, Orient, Brentford then Sheff W and Sheff U, good amount of points from that lot and we'll be in a very good position for the 2nd half of the season to go on and win the league imo
Thought it was a better game than some others are suggesting.
Apart from their keeper's time-wasting, Oldham were much better and more interested in trying to win the game than I thought they would be.
Was in the third row of the east stand on centre circle and watched Ephraim closely in the first half. In that 45 mins I reckon he had close to a 100 per cent completed pass rate. Obviously, second half I couldn't see him at such close quarters but got the impression that he faded somewhat.
Criticisms of BWP are harsh. Thought he did everything we should expect but score when he had several good opportunities. Kermit was excellent but we are in danger of playing far too many long balls to him; we're always better when playing it in to feet, as Ephraim was trying to do in the first half.
Green put in a good shift and is clearly desperate to score, and probably should have done, possibly in both halves. Am I right in thinking he hasn't got on the score sheet yet? He is right in thinking that he needs to, or else Waggy will have a growing case for a recall as he has always had the happy knack of popping up with goals.
The one disturbing thing today was that something happened after we scored. Did we think the game was already won? Thought we got a bit scrappy and slightly careless after taking the lead.
Still, although I know our result is 'the only one that mattered', we got away with dropping two points - and they were definitely dropped - because thankfully, apart from Shef U, nobody could take advantage of our little 'stutter' today.
I still reckon that we haven't yet worked out what to do with all the frustration when teams like Oldham (and Wassail) decide to time waste and break up the rhythm. BWP seems particularly disturbed by it, whilst others like Big Yann and Wiggins decide that they are not going to get away with it and pull out the stops. I just reckon we're getting a bit jumpy, but don't worry yet cos CP et al will get it sorted, We've got out big names returning soon and the revival will start at Yeovil, (once i've told everyone to siddarn ;-)
Plus I heard that there's another little Addick growing in a tummy. Happy holly days.
I still reckon that we haven't yet worked out what to do with all the frustration when teams like Oldham (and Wassail) decide to time waste and break up the rhythm. BWP seems particularly disturbed by it, whilst others like Big Yann and Wiggins decide that they are not going to get away with it and pull out the stops. I just reckon we're getting a bit jumpy, but don't worry yet cos CP et al will get it sorted, We've got out big names returning soon and the revival will start at Yeovil, (once i've told everyone to siddarn ;-)
Plus I heard that there's another little Addick growing in a tummy. Happy holly days.
You, too? Congrats. Went to the game with my oldest son today and he and his wife are about to make me a grandfather for the first time. We were talking at half time and agreed that a reasonable target would be to make grandson's first Charlton match (when he's five, we're estimating) a prermiership fixture. We might even do it quicker than that. But I'll settle for premeirship by 2016 !!!
When you're playing a team looking to waste time from 5 minutes into the second half its always going to be difficult to break them down (why didn't the ref get involved in that much earlier???).
But...having got in front its dissapointing to let them back into it. Tbf they looked likethey can play a bit when they have to and too many of ours had an off day. Wld have liked to have seen a dub on much e
1) Celebrated todays goal more than any other goal
2) They have done a job on us 4 two years when u go 2-1 up you see the game out when you are playing shit.
3) The uppernorth standing up massive you were shit don't wank youself off about selling 7k at Fulham when u are mutes at home.
4) Powelly most disappointed when u can see Greenie is having nightmare have the nuts to change it.We all said he would cost us the game as he didn't help Soll's out for 15 mins before they scored and that proved to be the case. Good managers r ruthless. Contrary what I said earlier in the season if it aint working change it.
1st half we looked like we were controlling the game but we never really created many clear chances. I thought we were a bit sloppy at play. I thought Kermongant was playing a little bit too deep today and BWP was completely frustrating as every time he had the ball he always lost it and when I am thinking he is going to do something special it backfires on him.
I thought we defended well and Oldham's goal was good but what frustrates me in the 2nd half is that we invite them to push forward and when they score we ended up pushing up trying to get another goal, of course it was too late by then.
Disappointing spectacle and a disappointing result. There's still a very pleasing look to the league table though, so no need to get panicky or too despondent.
There seemed to be a lot of head tennis at times today when we'd have been better off getting the ball down. Also we weren't quick enough to loose balls and let them have too much time unchallenged; as for their goal, you could just see it happening. Agree with others that Kermorgant was our best player and that the ref was pony.
agree about missing JJ and Stephens and we're not playing much good passing football at the moment. I would have had Wagstaff on much earlier, taking Ephraim off and switching Green over to the left. BWP is a bit off form but that happens. A month ago, he'd have scored a couple today. I think we're trying to force ita bit too much as well when we could do with just knocking it about a bit. BWP and Kermo are both very good but we definitely need at least one more striker.
Very subdued both on and off the pitch. At times it was so quiet you could have heard a mouse fart (one of my dad's favourite expressions.) We were disjointed for the most part and resorted to hoofball more than we should have done. Their defence improved significantly in the second half and won most of the aerial battles in their box. Despite his injuries Yann battled well up front but he and BWP not on the same wavelength today. Ephraim is clearly not the solution to our left-side. He is 'Jerome Thomas-lite' and the sooner JJ is back the better. Still, results elsewhere did us no harm. We go into the New Year in pole position so let's make the others worry about who is second.
i feel the teams needs a shake up!!! CP has always said if the team is winning the team stays the same but it not working at the moment so maybe a few fresh faces
Yann & Wiggy our best players this afternoon for me.
Yes, a mite disappointing today but loins will be girded (?) and SCP will get the boys firing on all cylinders for a cracker of a Boxing Day encounter in deepest Zummerset . On to a NYE to remember at Brisbane Rd with a packed away end spurring the lads to a final 3 points in 2011.
Then, watch out, 2012 ....here we come ! Just keep the faith...
It seems churlish to complain when we are 5 points in front and only lost 1 game all season,but..........................we haven't looked good for 3 games and fuuny how our "dip" in form has co-incided with the loss of JJ & Stephens !!
BWP is not the player he was a month ago & should be dropped...........but we don't have back up & that is the worrying part of it all. Benno is obviusly going & Euell isn;t fit to lace BWP's boots - but where is Hayes ?? he should at least be on the bench. I said it at the start of the season that we wouldn't get promoted with the strike force we had at Aug 31st and only the signing of Big Yann has made me think again - but I'm now thinking again that we need at least another striker come Jan 1st.
A bad day at the office, was always going to happen at some point.
Thought Wiggins and Big Yann were the only two who stepped up to the plate. Wiggins MOM for me.
Took a few non-Charlton pals along today, they all commented on how uninterested BWP looked and his lack of effort. Not saying I agree, but an interesting thought from others not looking at the game through our glasses.
Think we need to forget the Benson thing. He ain't ever playing for us again. He will be replaced in January.
Agreed whether you are pro Benson (I am) or against it is clear he is history and will not play,lets look forward and there is the potential that Schlup will soon be with us.
It was a poor game all round today, Oldham are such a horrible negative moaning time wasting team that reflect their manager whose only saving grace is that every time I hear his name I think Pull Dick off and giggle. They need a strong referee and that was lacking today. We should have had at least one pen in the first half.
On our front BWP has had his third poor game in a row,but I thought Kerm was immense. On the player marks thread someone has marked both of our forwards as 6, I can't see it myself.
Think Russell is a great addition to the team,i think we miss Jacko on the left rather than a need to bring back a rather limited Hughes.
Lack of substitutions to change the game is a worry,can't understand why BWPwas not taken off.
We have bought in 19 or is it now 20 new players this season but still we do not have a plan b from the bench which is something Powell needs to rectify.
But we are 1st 5 points clear and looking good - no wrist slitting, but need to win at Orient for end of year 50 points, which would be nice but not essential
I wasn't there today so can't comment on today. but he was the signing I was most looking forward to watching I've seen it flashes but he has probably been the one who has taken a little longer to settle in. Still early days for him but waggy must be thinking I got a game soon
Oldham came to frustrate and niggle and succeeded admirably from their perspective and annoyingly from ours. We do seem unable to cope with this type of team although we didn't lose and 48 points at Christmas from 21 games is pretty damned good.
Nobody really under performed for us with the possible exception of BWP whose first touch let him down time and time again. However he didn't get a lot of service really. Yann stuck to his task bravely but he wasn't the same player, understandably in some ways, after his head injury and I think BWP suffered as a result.
Yann's injury demonstrated to me just how important a player he has become for us.
If I have a criticism it is that having got the goal we did our usual sit back and soak it up. The Oldham goal was "coming" for most of the second half once we'd scored and by the end I felt only one team would win it and that wasn't us! I think SCP should have got Waggy on earlier and replaced Green rather than Ephraim but easy to be wise after the event.
Speaking of SCP how many managers, moments before an important match, would take the time to shake the hands of family members like SCP did with the Crokers.
Comments
We didn't and it became a slog, Oldham did what they and plenty of sides have done to us in the past, come down to The Valley and frustrate us, after all the hard work against Preston/Brentford and Huddersfield we've had 2 disappointing results.
Just didn't happen today BWP had the big chance to make it 2-0 and after that you knew Oldham would have get a chance. Have to learn how to deal with sides like Tranmere/Oldham etc who will come and try and frustrate us. Also agree with the lack of options on the bench seems like they have just been there to make up the numbers at times.
At least only Sheff Utd gained points on us, MK losing at home to managerless Preston shows how unpredictable things can be. Next 5 league games Yeovil, Orient, Brentford then Sheff W and Sheff U, good amount of points from that lot and we'll be in a very good position for the 2nd half of the season to go on and win the league imo
BWP really frustrated me today
Awful game of football mainly due to oldham takin the sting out of us whenever we looked like gettin goin...takin forever to take set pieces etc.
Really flat game and atmosphere but not too much to worry about seein as we didn't lose and the draw at hillsbrough
Ephraim leaves huge holes as he keeps floating inside to the attacking mid position.
Apart from their keeper's time-wasting, Oldham were much better and more interested in trying to win the game than I thought they would be.
Was in the third row of the east stand on centre circle and watched Ephraim closely in the first half. In that 45 mins I reckon he had close to a 100 per cent completed pass rate. Obviously, second half I couldn't see him at such close quarters but got the impression that he faded somewhat.
Criticisms of BWP are harsh. Thought he did everything we should expect but score when he had several good opportunities. Kermit was excellent but we are in danger of playing far too many long balls to him; we're always better when playing it in to feet, as Ephraim was trying to do in the first half.
Green put in a good shift and is clearly desperate to score, and probably should have done, possibly in both halves. Am I right in thinking he hasn't got on the score sheet yet? He is right in thinking that he needs to, or else Waggy will have a growing case for a recall as he has always had the happy knack of popping up with goals.
The one disturbing thing today was that something happened after we scored. Did we think the game was already won? Thought we got a bit scrappy and slightly careless after taking the lead.
Still, although I know our result is 'the only one that mattered', we got away with dropping two points - and they were definitely dropped - because thankfully, apart from Shef U, nobody could take advantage of our little 'stutter' today.
I still reckon that we haven't yet worked out what to do with all the frustration when teams like Oldham (and Wassail) decide to time waste and break up the rhythm. BWP seems particularly disturbed by it, whilst others like Big Yann and Wiggins decide that they are not going to get away with it and pull out the stops. I just reckon we're getting a bit jumpy, but don't worry yet cos CP et al will get it sorted, We've got out big names returning soon and the revival will start at Yeovil, (once i've told everyone to siddarn ;-)
Plus I heard that there's another little Addick growing in a tummy. Happy holly days.
But...having got in front its dissapointing to let them back into it. Tbf they looked likethey can play a bit when they have to and too many of ours had an off day. Wld have liked to have seen a dub on much e
1) Celebrated todays goal more than any other goal
2) They have done a job on us 4 two years when u go 2-1 up you see the game out when you are playing shit.
3) The uppernorth standing up massive you were shit don't wank youself off about selling 7k at Fulham when u are mutes at home.
4) Powelly most disappointed when u can see Greenie is having nightmare have the nuts to change it.We all said he would cost us the game as he didn't help Soll's out for 15 mins before they scored and that proved to be the case.
Good managers r ruthless. Contrary what I said earlier in the season if it aint working change it.
I thought we defended well and Oldham's goal was good but what frustrates me in the 2nd half is that we invite them to push forward and when they score we ended up pushing up trying to get another goal, of course it was too late by then.
agree about missing JJ and Stephens and we're not playing much good passing football at the moment. I would have had Wagstaff on much earlier, taking Ephraim off and switching Green over to the left. BWP is a bit off form but that happens. A month ago, he'd have scored a couple today. I think we're trying to force ita bit too much as well when we could do with just knocking it about a bit. BWP and Kermo are both very good but we definitely need at least one more striker.
Yann & Wiggy our best players this afternoon for me.
Yes, a mite disappointing today but loins will be girded (?) and SCP will get the boys firing on all cylinders for a cracker of a Boxing Day encounter in deepest Zummerset . On to a NYE to remember at Brisbane Rd with a packed away end spurring the lads to a final 3 points in 2011.
Then, watch out, 2012 ....here we come ! Just keep the faith...
Onwards & upwards !
It seems churlish to complain when we are 5 points in front and only lost 1 game all season,but..........................we haven't looked good for 3 games and fuuny how our "dip" in form has co-incided with the loss of JJ & Stephens !!
BWP is not the player he was a month ago & should be dropped...........but we don't have back up & that is the worrying part of it all. Benno is obviusly going & Euell isn;t fit to lace BWP's boots - but where is Hayes ?? he should at least be on the bench. I said it at the start of the season that we wouldn't get promoted with the strike force we had at Aug 31st and only the signing of Big Yann has made me think again - but I'm now thinking again that we need at least another striker come Jan 1st.
Jackson we do miss, Ephraim hasn't done badly though, a goal and assist last week.