Went to this today. Was due to start at 1.30 but delayed for an hour as the Swindon coach broke down!!
Anyway we won 2-0 with Pigott getting them both, one in each half. On another day he could have had five. The difference with him and all our other strikers is that he can create his own chances and is not afraid to miss. I hope we persevere with him.
We had a 20 year old Kosovan international playing in midfield who looked very promising for the hour he was on. I was speaking briefly to his Dad who says he is at Arsenal and may look to move from there. On first appearance he looked worth a punt.
The less said about Polish Pete the better. He brings nothing to the table and I can not see him ever getting a regular place for the first team, unless we slip down the leagues. Harry Lennon looks a class above following his first 11 experience.
No team sheets produced but think it was:
Bulgarian goalie; Daniel, Lennon, Osborne, Bobson; Munns, Muldoon, Kosovan international, Cumberbatch; Polish Pete, Pigott. Harry Gerrard came on as a sub along with two others who I did not recognise or recall seeing before.
Michael Smith and Kevin Feely were watching from the touchline.
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Comments
The Kosovan was called Alban Bunjaku, was at Slavia Prague for a spell earlier this season. He certainly knew what he was doing, but his left foot is for standing on only, if he only used his left foot 10% of the time he would be a good acquisition.
Swindon were denied a pen late on by the ref who I believe was called Wally, but once again Jack Munns was our best player. If only Jack had an extra couple of inches he would be a real contender (as the actress said to the bishop). If any player deserves at least a bench appearance during these last three games it is Jack, if only because he is certainly the non first team player player of the year.
Kurtis Cumberbatch was the better of the two players on loan having been released by Watford, but Bobson Bawling was playing out of his normal position and needs to learn how to play right back if that is what he wants to be, technically sound though.
I am very very sorry to report that Polish Pete needs to go somewhere to rebrand his footballing algorhythmic karma, and then come back refreshed, he is really not ready and Joe Piggott was far better...make of that what you will.
The Swindon minibus didn't break down btw, I was told by a staff member that they ran out of petrol!!
We never even gave him a sniff of first team action and he is a great lad - big mistake by us.
http://www.onlinearsenal.com/archive/index.php/t-25191.html
http://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/questions-left-unanswered-regarding-bunjaku-whilst-three-others-have-a-point-to-prove/
http://weloveyouarsenal.wordpress.com/tag/bunjaku/
Do we create a situation where we play with our own singular inimitable style next season? Where we create our own template, with players who can play accordingly, and where we risk either losing all the time, or being so astonishingly 'other' and effective we win all the time, either way paying not much heed to the context within which we play.
Or do we need to develop a strategy to cope with the context, where there are significant people within the camp who will understand the competitive nature of the league, and especially the strengths and weaknesses of the opponents, and can arrange things accordingly.
I find it less than credible that in his tenure so far Jose has thought very deeply about each opponent, and adapted our play accordingly, it is more likely that he has had enough to do sorting Charlton out, without getting complications in considering in any depth the other teams we play.
Does a Charlton manager next season need to think much (and plan for) the opposition?
It's got to be a mental problem hasn't it?? If so, I don't think it's right to write him off yet.
Thuram
Nego Morrison Dervite Wiggins
Koc Jacko Poyet Astrit
Reza PolishP
In my view we would be struggling big time, and going down for certain.
And actually I just checked back on their site and there is a news item which says that he is returning on Friday to visit and 'say a proper farewell to the fans'.
But the home grown lad who always seems to shine was Olly Muldoon - great engine, totally committed to winning back the ball and constantly surging forward with pace & skill. Definitely one for whoever is next season's coach to keep a close eye on.
And second to Olly was our sometimes striker Joe P. Mr F commented on his close control under pressure & his ability to hold up the ball. In fact, at times, he seemed to have said ball stuck to his boot . And he knows where the onion bag is....
Polish Pete ? Not overly impressed ( his Dutch girlfriend even referred to him by this moniker!) but perhaps he does need more time to settle in. Seth did say that he looked lonely ..and that was on the pitch ! Although a couple of inches smaller than Piggy, at a quick glance, they could be mistaken for twins...a cunning plan to play both alongside each other & confuse the opposition ?
And yours truly successfully identified Danny N'Guessan in the Swindon no 20 shirt before Olly confirmed it !! Good spot , Fanny!
PP's Dutch 'significant other' was watching him at Sparrows Lane today, so he has a bit of company against the loneliness, today at least.
Give him the summer to bulk up, a pre season with the squad and maybe a loan spell out for a few months out.
Well at least if his girlfriend is here, that's good. But maybe she is not a permanent resident with him yet, but just visiting, and that might be one reason why he will be back in the Netherlands this weekend?
I think the purchase was unwise in the context of the club's priorities at the time, but I really hope it is a settling in thing, and that he will come good.
Which leaves me wondering if we used all the Yann/Dale/Smith/Cup money all up on Polish Pete.
I am not really much of a judge, but I felt yesterday that PP needs someone to closely help him to adjust to his new circumstances, I reckon there might be a player in there somewhere.
In the meantime, I am grateful to Riga for being his own man and playing who he thinks we should play.
it would also put a different perspective on any transfer of PP within the network.
either way it would have been sensible to have used the money to replace Yann.