This isn't the eighteen-games-without-a-win, hopeless bunch of rabbit-in-the-headlights riff-raff that Phil Parkinson inherited from Alan Pardew.
This isn't the bloated, arrogant squad of the Curbishley-Dowie-Reed-Pardew year, most of whom were looking over their shoulders, not at their relegation rivals, but at their agents, hoping they would protect their flash cars, flasher contracts and multi-millionaire lifestyles.
This isn't even the squad of Lennie Lawrence's battered, bruised, punching-above-their-weight, homeless heroes, who'd seen the club ruined around them, yet carried on to promotion in exile, but couldn't last the pace in the dying embers of the "Football League, Division One".
This is Chris Powell's squad. Maybe not every player available right now would be his hand-picked, first-choice. But it's still his squad. And it's his first team. Maybe not suffused with the international stars in the squad when he played. But still the team he selects, prepares and makes sure they give their all, in every match. He alone determines what is going to happen from now until the end of the season. And it's not going to be lying down and letting the gloom overtake the squad.
In a few years' time, we're going to look back at this season with incredulity. It's been a living nightmare. But the short trip between now and the end of 2013/14 is going to be the making of Chris Powell and of Charlton.
Parkinson's team huffed, puffed and blew it.
Lennie's team gave everything in a losing cause.
And Pardew's failures gave up without a fight.
But Chris Powell's team of '14 have enough going for them. Experienced, determined professionals like Jackson and Hughes; hungry, angry newcomers like the bunch of gun-slingers brought in since the turn of the year; and the rough, yet clearly brilliant diamonds in Poyet, Cousins and Harriott.
It's set up for the big finish now. And I know we're not going down with a big bang. We're staying up with a bigger one.
Chizz, does your doctor know that you've doubled up on your tablets ?!
I do think we need to take the approach that if we win 2 and lose 4 it is better than drawing 5 and losing 1. That would be my one big critisism of Chrissy this season.
I do think we need to take the approach that if we win 2 and lose 4 it is better than drawing 5 and losing 1. That would be my one big critisism of Chrissy this season.
That's the 3rd time I've agreed with you in about 10 mins (see other threads)..........you not my doppelganger by any chance are you ??
This isn't the eighteen-games-without-a-win, hopeless bunch of rabbit-in-the-headlights riff-raff that Phil Parkinson inherited from Alan Pardew.
This isn't the bloated, arrogant squad of the Curbishley-Dowie-Reed-Pardew year, most of whom were looking over their shoulders, not at their relegation rivals, but at their agents, hoping they would protect their flash cars, flasher contracts and multi-millionaire lifestyles.
This isn't even the squad of Lennie Lawrence's battered, bruised, punching-above-their-weight, homeless heroes, who'd seen the club ruined around them, yet carried on to promotion in exile, but couldn't last the pace in the dying embers of the "Football League, Division One".
No, its Chris Powell's uniquely un-balanced squad of defensive midfielders, wingers who cant cross and shot-shy strikers who wear carpet slippers instead of football boots - capped off by a manager who makes Curbs look adventurous. This squad has scored the least amount of goals out of all the 92 league clubs and now, with 16 games to go, has to try to score at least a goal a game to stay up.
Mission Impossible ?? - even Tom Cruise wouldn't touch it.
A loud crowd does affect players on the pitch. You could see the players were shaken after the first goal and then the very loud Blades singing that followed definitely numbed them like it did us in the stands.
To the original poster- I totally respect your desire not to sing and don't see you as any less passionate. What was a shame yesterday, for whatever reason, is the usual singers didn't get going.
As for Powell going more positive- i wish he would, BUT the team who scores first usually wins in the Championship. So go all out attack and get picked off by better teams on the counter and you've then got no chance.
The sale of Kermorgant seems the most puzzling. Id be inclined to get someone with aerial presence in ASAP. Wilbraham was mentioned and could perhaps do a job.
This isn't the eighteen-games-without-a-win, hopeless bunch of rabbit-in-the-headlights riff-raff that Phil Parkinson inherited from Alan Pardew.
This isn't the bloated, arrogant squad of the Curbishley-Dowie-Reed-Pardew year, most of whom were looking over their shoulders, not at their relegation rivals, but at their agents, hoping they would protect their flash cars, flasher contracts and multi-millionaire lifestyles.
This isn't even the squad of Lennie Lawrence's battered, bruised, punching-above-their-weight, homeless heroes, who'd seen the club ruined around them, yet carried on to promotion in exile, but couldn't last the pace in the dying embers of the "Football League, Division One".
This is Chris Powell's squad. Maybe not every player available right now would be his hand-picked, first-choice. But it's still his squad. And it's his first team. Maybe not suffused with the international stars in the squad when he played. But still the team he selects, prepares and makes sure they give their all, in every match. He alone determines what is going to happen from now until the end of the season. And it's not going to be lying down and letting the gloom overtake the squad.
In a few years' time, we're going to look back at this season with incredulity. It's been a living nightmare. But the short trip between now and the end of 2013/14 is going to be the making of Chris Powell and of Charlton.
Parkinson's team huffed, puffed and blew it.
Lennie's team gave everything in a losing cause.
And Pardew's failures gave up without a fight.
But Chris Powell's team of '14 have enough going for them. Experienced, determined professionals like Jackson and Hughes; hungry, angry newcomers like the bunch of gun-slingers brought in since the turn of the year; and the rough, yet clearly brilliant diamonds in Poyet, Cousins and Harriott.
It's set up for the big finish now. And I know we're not going down with a big bang. We're staying up with a bigger one.
This isn't the eighteen-games-without-a-win, hopeless bunch of rabbit-in-the-headlights riff-raff that Phil Parkinson inherited from Alan Pardew.
This isn't the bloated, arrogant squad of the Curbishley-Dowie-Reed-Pardew year, most of whom were looking over their shoulders, not at their relegation rivals, but at their agents, hoping they would protect their flash cars, flasher contracts and multi-millionaire lifestyles.
This isn't even the squad of Lennie Lawrence's battered, bruised, punching-above-their-weight, homeless heroes, who'd seen the club ruined around them, yet carried on to promotion in exile, but couldn't last the pace in the dying embers of the "Football League, Division One".
This is Chris Powell's squad. Maybe not every player available right now would be his hand-picked, first-choice. But it's still his squad. And it's his first team. Maybe not suffused with the international stars in the squad when he played. But still the team he selects, prepares and makes sure they give their all, in every match. He alone determines what is going to happen from now until the end of the season. And it's not going to be lying down and letting the gloom overtake the squad.
In a few years' time, we're going to look back at this season with incredulity. It's been a living nightmare. But the short trip between now and the end of 2013/14 is going to be the making of Chris Powell and of Charlton.
Parkinson's team huffed, puffed and blew it.
Lennie's team gave everything in a losing cause.
And Pardew's failures gave up without a fight.
But Chris Powell's team of '14 have enough going for them. Experienced, determined professionals like Jackson and Hughes; hungry, angry newcomers like the bunch of gun-slingers brought in since the turn of the year; and the rough, yet clearly brilliant diamonds in Poyet, Cousins and Harriott.
It's set up for the big finish now. And I know we're not going down with a big bang. We're staying up with a bigger one.
Comments
I don't think so. By the time the Belgiums have finished with us mate we wont be able to blow our noses.
That's the 3rd time I've agreed with you in about 10 mins (see other threads)..........you not my doppelganger by any chance are you ??
Instead of holding the funeral service now, just see how it unfolds.
16 games left is a third of the season to play.
Don't choke on the vomit of your own negativity.
It won't help.
We'll see soon enough whether this team have got the will and the fight in them to want and stay up.
To the original poster- I totally respect your desire not to sing and don't see you as any less passionate. What was a shame yesterday, for whatever reason, is the usual singers didn't get going.
As for Powell going more positive- i wish he would, BUT the team who scores first usually wins in the Championship. So go all out attack and get picked off by better teams on the counter and you've then got no chance.
The sale of Kermorgant seems the most puzzling. Id be inclined to get someone with aerial presence in ASAP. Wilbraham was mentioned and could perhaps do a job.
Hamer
Wiggins Morrison Wood Nego
Harriott Ajdarevic Poyet Wilson
Tudgay, Reza
Cousins and Jackson on the bench. They need some time out