For me the only real difference between tonight and Sunday is that Sheffield United are much better than Huddersfield. We had good possession, but really didn't create a lot and what we did create we inevitably wasted. I think we'll stay up, but tonight demonstrated (again) it really isn't about the manager - it's the paucity of the squad.
I'm annoyed at Sordell. If he'd put half that effort in for Powell maybe we and he wouldn't be so short of goals. He missed two good chances, although his movement was key to both to be fair.
I also thought we rarely showed any consistent shape. It appeared to be some kind of 4-5-1, but Reza got bored on the right and kept drifting inside and popping up front instead, Jacko frequently pulled right to cover some of the gap. It didn't help that Ajdarevic looked shot after half hour.
Wiggins poor - new kid a factor no doubt. Thought the rest in the back line did fairly well though. Jackson probably the best performance on the pitch, Ajdarevic looked great for 30 minutes, Reza looked lost in a wide role. I really do think with the players we have we should be playing 4-2-3-1.
Subs. Hmm. Can only imagine Dyer was taking the piss and suggested them. You think Cousins is poor on the right, he's entirely lost on the left. Not sure how Pritchard for Reza would make us more threatening, nor popping Spongefoot on at the expense of a lively-ish Sordell. Random subs.
I thought Riga said all the right things in his Sky interview after the game. He comes across well, but it does seem as if he's a temporary recruitment. Let's not kid ourselves he only heard about the job two days ago. I sincerely doubt that anyone would leave the sort of job he had at one of Europe's leading clubs to pop over to bottom-of-the-second-division Charlton for 3 months just because RD called in a last minute favour. My money's on Paul Hart leaving in the summer, Riga taking over the academy for a nice wedge, and a new manager - sorry, first team coach - being appointed.
As for Dyer and Matthew, I'm quite sure RD is hoping they'll resign and save him some cash. In fact, I think he hoped Powell would do the same but lost patience.
Finally, I think Powell's Charlton would have won that game. I think the ground would have been more passionate - strangely subdued in the stadium, bore draw notwithstanding. A strange atmosphere - a bit like the first family gathering after a death. Anyway, I think we'll stay up, because as tough as it's been this year I think there are 3 or 4 worse sides than us. But that's it, 3 or 4.
He's worked so hard for us and if he left tomorrow he should be thanked for all he did for us. He helped get us up a league and keep us here last season with the most assists and at one point was our most effective player.
An okay performance. First half we played with an attacking intent, but in them spells you need to score. 2nd half it was all Hudders on the left until Pritchard came on. Reza is not a winger if we are going to play that formation you need someone who can defend and tackle but he can't.
Poyet created the only real bit of quality with a great chip to send through Sordell who should have scored.
Hamer was all over the place at the back, made for some nervy moments as he didn't want to claim anything. Wouldn't be surprised if Thuram comes back in if Roland was watching.
We need a striker, desperately and a right winger. Only realistic one I can think of is Beechio
Fanny, I don't agree with what you were told. He did not snub Ben at all. Riga was engaged in conversation with the linesmen as Ben walked past to the tunnel. Nothing to it IMO.
That's good, Anni. Didn't like the sound of what I was told.
My thoughts exactly Riko, Sheff Utd are a better team and showed more venom/intent than Hudders, but we were very similar in the way we approached the game, had we played like this against Sheff Utd on Sunday it still would have been 2-0 loss imo. Players were lost at times, the effort can't be questioned but thankfully we weren't up against a quality attacking team tonight, we'd be staring at a different scoreline.
Onwards and upwards and see if Rigas cogitraining can work magic in just a couple of days!
reiterating others points , what's happened to Wiggo have Standard done a swap for a crappy lookalike he's been huhrrendous these last couple of games
Morrison might wanna wake up , when he goes up for corners, both at Sheff Utd and tonight he's been in great positions but has failed to anticiapte the ball getting to him and missed the opportunity
Unlike others I'm keen on Rezza , I think he just needs to break his duck and he'll set off on a scoring run and Sordell looked livelier tonight
one small footnote at the end of the game Jose shook all our players hands as they came off the pitch but just before Hamer got to his vacinity Riga went and spoke to the ref , it may be nothing but I'm not sure if Hamer was blanking him or he was blanking Hamer
Promising at times and we probably should have won it. A few chances from the corners and Sordell twice got in behind (pleasing to see as we rarely create that type of chance) but put one wide and the other was saved.
As said we tried to pass the ball on the floor and looked a bit more positive. Not sure it really shows how Riga wants us to play, we did similar things in Powell's first few games.
On the formation I'd call it 4-4-1-1 really, when we defended we had a flat midfield 4 and I wouldn't say Jackson and Poyet were both playing holding roles. Main difference from Powell was Reza on the right. He didn't really get into the game but I do feel if we can create more chances for him in the box he could get us a few goals.
Subs were a bit odd, Pritchard right midfield perhaps but very surprised to see Cousins come on and play left midfield. Harriott and Sordell had pretty good games which made the subs even more surprising.
Ajdarevic looked tired in the second half. Wiggins didn't have a good game. Sordell played with more energy than I've seen from him in any other game season. Another day he'd have taken one of those chances and we'd have won the game.
It kind of felt a bit like a friendly by the end of it, especially with the subs made, felt like they came on for a run out rather than to make an impact.
Need to start taking our chances but we can get out of this. We have games in hand and have to play the teams just above us. The worry is the number of games coming up, if we pick up a few injuries we'll be running out of options.
Some interesting comments, which may partially explain some of the poor first touch and control
“The Stadium is fantastic, but the pitch is absolutely shocking! I’ve never seen anything like it to be honest; it was rock solid in places and there were puddles in others. It wasn’t a pitch where we could get the ball down and play like we want to. We had a bit of a game-plan ahead of the match and I thought we played the conditions quite well.”
Sordell has barely played in a month, so taking him off for the knackered Church was weird. After previous events at the Den, Sordell HAS to play on Saturday, it's written in the stars that he scores the winner and writes all the headlines :-)
Thought we very much tried to pass the ball rather than just hoof it. We could (should) have scored from at least one of the chances we had. Generally we looked pretty solid at the back.
Not the most spectacular of games and I'm disappointed that we didn't get the win but, if I was Riga, I'd probably be thinking we did most things right but just didn't score. Results breed confidence but there was probably enough there to suggest there's something to work with.
But now we go to Millwall - now there's a place that the players are really going to have to stand up and be counted. Maybe not yet a must win but probably very close to a must not lose.
So, for the benefit of those not there, what, if anything, was the difference from Powell being in charge?
Minimal, on current evidence, though certainly more attacking intent than I recall from recent performances under CP - sadly as ineffectual as ever. That said, Riga has had barely any time to influence or change things to a great degree, and by most accounts Dyer was responsible for team selection tonight. Far, far too early to judge for me.
I thought as a team we were much more positive than usual. Reza put one wide he maybe could have done better with and had another blocked from a Wilson cross that should have been pulled back for an unmarked Sordell. AA had a couple of decent efforts blocked and we had a multitude of corners which all came to nought. Harriott had a decent enough game too. Sordell was like a different player than we'd seen before. Maybe a new man coming in with new ideas and no preconceptions is a bonus. Thought Poyet and Jacko struggled in CM and Wiggins had another poor game. I saw an overall improvement though and no sign of any player not playing for the manager as had been suggested elsewhere. All in all, considering he's been there all of two days and one of them a match day, a solid start from Jose and I think things will gradually improve week on week and we will be ok. A couple of decent loanees wouldn't go amiss though Mr Mourinho.
So, for the benefit of those not there, what, if anything, was the difference from Powell being in charge?
That's a good question but perhaps very early in the game and we have to see how this goes. We were back to creating chances (10) after virtually nothing in the last two games and you just have to look at the team sheet to see the difference compared to Sunday. The atmosphere was cagey and I expect that as per this site, fans are dealing with this in different ways. Saturday will be another chapter - I sincerely hope it is one that takes us above Millwall on goal difference.
An ok point, but enough chances to win 2/3 games. Past and current owners to blame for not keeping the likes of Yann, Bwp, Fuller and Haynes. Hence the current league position.
Liked the formation (4-2-3-1). Good first half, scrappy 2nd half.
Need Riga's ideas to kick in quick or League one beckons
I thought a game much like we have witnessed all season. Huddersfield were poor but did enough to get a point. We have lost games like this due to a deflection, the Spanners game springs to mind. We are crying out for a striker but have been all season and until this is addressed there will be more games like this.
I find it interesting that those that are happy for Chris Powell to go on ITTV and CL are falling over themselves to put a positive spin on the performance. The truth is, is the lack of depth in the squad and the weakness up front and lack of goals that is the major problem. That is the same under Chris Powell as under the new caretaker coach, Riga. If it had been addressed in the New Year under Powells leadership, Charlton would be turning these games into victories. Riga will struggle to get victories and goals the same as Chris Powell. The reality of this will hopefully remove the blinkers.
I would prefer it though if Charlton would strengthen up front. Games in hand mean nothing if Charlton are not putting the ball in the back of the net.
Started bright and breezy crating a few chances with some defence splitting passes. Everyone was in the position that suits them best, even marvellous Marvin, who clearly had "go out and show them son" ringing in his ears, was up for it. By the end we had CP favourite Bradley Pritchard on, god the boy must be something in training, Jorden on the wing, and Simon Church up front, sound familiar?
So the new broom lasted around 60 mins before we got the no goals and the sort of tactics that had some elements of our support calling for Chris Powell's head.
Put another way it took 60 mins for the new man to see what a shit hand his has been dealt and to start experimenting, strange how quickly he came round to Chris's way of thinking. Sorry we will have to do better than this if we are going to get out of this mess, but there was at least signs that it is achievable.
Please tell Marvin that Millwall hate him with a passion, then start him Saturday.
The passing game suited Sordell much more playing off the shoulder of Kermorgant. He also hasn't played much before with Poyet supplying the passes and those might be a couple of reasons for his improvement last night. It's also a fresh start for him. Whatever his form/attitude in the past, it can't have been much fun sitting on the bench getting 5 mins here and there....so maybe...just maybe...his season started last night?
I also thought Simon Church did really well when he came on last night. He looked hungry and caused a few problems.
As for Cousins on the left, I think that was just a case of someone just doing a job for 10 minutes or so. Church had just made a break down the right and looked to play a ball across the box but Harriot was still a long way behind (as were AA and the others) so he had to check back and eventually play the ball back. Harriot had put in a really hard shift...up and back...up and back...and he was tired. We didn't want to concede down his side so we went for Cousins to be solid. I wouldn't be too concerned.
Thought Dervite and Morrison looked a good pairing last night. Dervite is a really powerful player at times and both will need to be just as good on Saturday at Millwall.
Agree that Wiggins wasn't at his best....the cross deep into the away stand was poor....but then he hit the cross of the night which was superbly curled round to the far post (I had a great view of that one)...Pritchard couldn't get in front of his marker though.
The starting formation was 4-4-1-1 with AA playing behind Sordell.
I think a couple more games before everyone should judge Riga.
Reza isn't a right winger and Cousins certainly isn't a left midfielder tho, so we need to stop all this square pegs round holes shit all together and quickly.
Problem is, until we get some extra round pegs, we're going to have to make do with square ones. Changing the person who has to try to hammer them into place doesn't solve that fundamental issue.
I agree but surely being a manager/coach at this level you need to be versatile and understand what you have.
It would make more sense to play a formation with the players they have, rather than trying to fit players into a formation they want.
Maybe that's too simplistic a view and why I don't have a UEFA A license and a career in football management.
Comments
Would be a lot easier going to Millwall genuinely being behind the club, and I say club not team
I'm annoyed at Sordell. If he'd put half that effort in for Powell maybe we and he wouldn't be so short of goals. He missed two good chances, although his movement was key to both to be fair.
I also thought we rarely showed any consistent shape. It appeared to be some kind of 4-5-1, but Reza got bored on the right and kept drifting inside and popping up front instead, Jacko frequently pulled right to cover some of the gap. It didn't help that Ajdarevic looked shot after half hour.
Wiggins poor - new kid a factor no doubt. Thought the rest in the back line did fairly well though. Jackson probably the best performance on the pitch, Ajdarevic looked great for 30 minutes, Reza looked lost in a wide role. I really do think with the players we have we should be playing 4-2-3-1.
Subs. Hmm. Can only imagine Dyer was taking the piss and suggested them. You think Cousins is poor on the right, he's entirely lost on the left. Not sure how Pritchard for Reza would make us more threatening, nor popping Spongefoot on at the expense of a lively-ish Sordell. Random subs.
I thought Riga said all the right things in his Sky interview after the game. He comes across well, but it does seem as if he's a temporary recruitment. Let's not kid ourselves he only heard about the job two days ago. I sincerely doubt that anyone would leave the sort of job he had at one of Europe's leading clubs to pop over to bottom-of-the-second-division Charlton for 3 months just because RD called in a last minute favour. My money's on Paul Hart leaving in the summer, Riga taking over the academy for a nice wedge, and a new manager - sorry, first team coach - being appointed.
As for Dyer and Matthew, I'm quite sure RD is hoping they'll resign and save him some cash. In fact, I think he hoped Powell would do the same but lost patience.
Finally, I think Powell's Charlton would have won that game. I think the ground would have been more passionate - strangely subdued in the stadium, bore draw notwithstanding. A strange atmosphere - a bit like the first family gathering after a death. Anyway, I think we'll stay up, because as tough as it's been this year I think there are 3 or 4 worse sides than us. But that's it, 3 or 4.
He's worked so hard for us and if he left tomorrow he should be thanked for all he did for us. He helped get us up a league and keep us here last season with the most assists and at one point was our most effective player.
Why oh why are people booing him. That is awful.
Poyet created the only real bit of quality with a great chip to send through Sordell who should have scored.
Hamer was all over the place at the back, made for some nervy moments as he didn't want to claim anything. Wouldn't be surprised if Thuram comes back in if Roland was watching.
We need a striker, desperately and a right winger. Only realistic one I can think of is Beechio
Onwards and upwards and see if Rigas cogitraining can work magic in just a couple of days!
Huddersfield player talking about our pitch.
Morrison might wanna wake up , when he goes up for corners, both at Sheff Utd and tonight he's been in great positions but has failed to anticiapte the ball getting to him and missed the opportunity
Unlike others I'm keen on Rezza , I think he just needs to break his duck and he'll set off on a scoring run and Sordell looked livelier tonight
one small footnote at the end of the game Jose shook all our players hands as they came off the pitch but just before Hamer got to his vacinity Riga went and spoke to the ref , it may be nothing but I'm not sure if Hamer was blanking him or he was blanking Hamer
25% Championship football 75% League One
As said we tried to pass the ball on the floor and looked a bit more positive. Not sure it really shows how Riga wants us to play, we did similar things in Powell's first few games.
On the formation I'd call it 4-4-1-1 really, when we defended we had a flat midfield 4 and I wouldn't say Jackson and Poyet were both playing holding roles. Main difference from Powell was Reza on the right. He didn't really get into the game but I do feel if we can create more chances for him in the box he could get us a few goals.
Subs were a bit odd, Pritchard right midfield perhaps but very surprised to see Cousins come on and play left midfield. Harriott and Sordell had pretty good games which made the subs even more surprising.
Ajdarevic looked tired in the second half. Wiggins didn't have a good game. Sordell played with more energy than I've seen from him in any other game season. Another day he'd have taken one of those chances and we'd have won the game.
It kind of felt a bit like a friendly by the end of it, especially with the subs made, felt like they came on for a run out rather than to make an impact.
Need to start taking our chances but we can get out of this. We have games in hand and have to play the teams just above us. The worry is the number of games coming up, if we pick up a few injuries we'll be running out of options.
We are royally fucked
Chrissy Powells red and white army
is there a feud between Hamer and Jose
Not the most spectacular of games and I'm disappointed that we didn't get the win but, if I was Riga, I'd probably be thinking we did most things right but just didn't score. Results breed confidence but there was probably enough there to suggest there's something to work with.
But now we go to Millwall - now there's a place that the players are really going to have to stand up and be counted. Maybe not yet a must win but probably very close to a must not lose.
Dervite my motm
The atmosphere was cagey and I expect that as per this site, fans are dealing with this in different ways.
Saturday will be another chapter - I sincerely hope it is one that takes us above Millwall on goal difference.
Liked the formation (4-2-3-1). Good first half, scrappy 2nd half.
Need Riga's ideas to kick in quick or League one beckons
We have lost games like this due to a deflection, the Spanners game springs to mind.
We are crying out for a striker but have been all season and until this is addressed there will be more games like this.
I would prefer it though if Charlton would strengthen up front. Games in hand mean nothing if Charlton are not putting the ball in the back of the net.
By the end we had CP favourite Bradley Pritchard on, god the boy must be something in training, Jorden on the wing, and Simon Church up front, sound familiar?
So the new broom lasted around 60 mins before we got the no goals and the sort of tactics that had some elements of our support calling for Chris Powell's head.
Put another way it took 60 mins for the new man to see what a shit hand his has been dealt and to start experimenting, strange how quickly he came round to Chris's way of thinking. Sorry we will have to do better than this if we are going to get out of this mess, but there was at least signs that it is achievable.
Please tell Marvin that Millwall hate him with a passion, then start him Saturday.
I also thought Simon Church did really well when he came on last night. He looked hungry and caused a few problems.
As for Cousins on the left, I think that was just a case of someone just doing a job for 10 minutes or so. Church had just made a break down the right and looked to play a ball across the box but Harriot was still a long way behind (as were AA and the others) so he had to check back and eventually play the ball back. Harriot had put in a really hard shift...up and back...up and back...and he was tired. We didn't want to concede down his side so we went for Cousins to be solid. I wouldn't be too concerned.
Thought Dervite and Morrison looked a good pairing last night. Dervite is a really powerful player at times and both will need to be just as good on Saturday at Millwall.
Agree that Wiggins wasn't at his best....the cross deep into the away stand was poor....but then he hit the cross of the night which was superbly curled round to the far post (I had a great view of that one)...Pritchard couldn't get in front of his marker though.
The starting formation was 4-4-1-1 with AA playing behind Sordell.
Decent shift put in last night and we should've won.
Hamer didn't have his greatest game, Sordell had his best game
MOM Dervite, he won everything
Powell would never have started with that side
It would make more sense to play a formation with the players they have, rather than trying to fit players into a formation they want.
Maybe that's too simplistic a view and why I don't have a UEFA A license and a career in football management.