After last nights' performance I'm just curious if anyone still believes that we don't have the players to be competitive playing 4 in midfield? Was it just a fluke, or have some players, Stephens and Pritchard in particular been under rated? Personally I think it's been about finding the right blend, and the midfielders actually having good movement in front of them to provide passing options and open up defences.
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Bear in mind too that we started as a 5 with Haynes wide right so we didn't play the 4 for 90 (or rather 96) minutes.
In my view it will be asking an awful lot of Pritch to get through that amount of work every time.
I'd stick with the 5 away from home as it has been proved to work and mix and match, as we did last night, at home depending on who is fit and available.
It was an absolute fantastic recovery - albeit against a Cardiff defence and midfield that totally lost its way on the night.
If you take stock and look at it from a level headed perspective you will remember that although JJ scored 2 and provided true captain's spirit and leadership, he was at fault for their 1st goal and was found wanting pace and stamina wise (again) for their 3rd and 4th.
Pritchard spirit wise is everything that our vision of a Charlton player should be. He never gives less than 110%. But if you take off the rose tinted glasses the Championship is a step to high for him to compete in technically.
Stephens ended the game like we all hope that he can every game, but he did start off very poorly again. He didnt want to get stuck in until we mounted the fight back.
Our defence was all over the place early doors and almost everyone was scratching their heads at SCP's formation - especially Morro at right back who kept falling back into central defence due to the natural thinking of a centre back.
Saying all that I was overjoyed at the spirit of the team on the night. But with that midfield out on the park, we will lose a lot more games than we will win because this is where we dont match up and tend to lose our way.