The whole experience from the pitch to the paint to the available grub outside the stadium (chicken was good last night) to the players is just a level above last year. We were clearly not as good as Derby overall but we played some good stuff and we were very resilient. We now have real class in most areas of the team. I worry a bit about depth but we are a work in progress and we are at a point that is beyond any optimism that I had before the season. Hats off to all concerned. As for the game, my thoughts were:
1. Pope was disappointing compared to the cameo on Saturday. He needs to be carefully handled to protect confidence. 2. Saturday's weak links - JJ and Wiggins - were much better last night. Just shows that opinions should be formed over a period of time (unlike the tosser a few seats along from me who has decided that Wiggins is this year's whipping boy). 3. Tucudean is slowly convincing me that he is an unorthodox asset rather than a Bambi on ice liability. What was noticeable last night, despite some of the flicks and tricks going wrong, was how much better the ball "stuck" when we were attacking when he was on the pitch in comparison to the second half where we had more chances but the game was much more open and fragmented. 4. Despite 3, we need at least one more striker who is different from Moussa and Vetokele who are both great but very similar (and who isn't Church or Piggott). 5. Bob needs to get tough on the Cousins situation. I love the kid and he has a massive future but he, and we, are being done no good at all by being played on the wing. If JJ plays as he did last night, then I'm afraid Jordan is, for the moment, first reserve for one of the two central midfield slots. If either JJ or Buyens (what a find!) are out, the JC is in. Derby sussed out our relative weakness on the left very quickly last night and exploited it. 6. Gudmundsson is class. We need to work out where he is best. He may need to get used to being in a free role with license to roam.
When at your ground with Spurs we sang, u used to be good and now you're s..
Next time we'll be singing the opposite so it seems.
Told y'all Buyens and Vetokele were the bees knees (is that how you write it?) #smug
Been starting to get way too interested in Charlton , do they have meds for that ?
@Belgian_Spur I am massively impressed with what I have seen so far. Personally, I have always been of the opinion that RD wouldn't have invested the money he has unless he has a plan for us to succeed. I also believe the pull of the English league (even the championship) means that he will give us just as much of his attention as SL.
What I am also happy about, and I don't believe there is an English fan out there that can seriously challenge the fact that technically, the European continent and countries like Belgium, Holland and Germany are miles ahead of us in terms of bringing better players through. We only have to look back at the WC to see our next generation are looking on in envy and hope that we can catch up.
That was my first game last night, and I think only once did we try a long ball over the top. Last season, it was our everything. Peeters has obviously been educated in the right way to play football, and the style and manner in which he wants to approach games is very refreshing. Hell there were times last night when even I thought, 'shit, get rid of it, or get it down the other end'. Yet, the likes of Buyens just calmly collected the ball, saw the man, found the pass.
The thing is, this is probably standard fare for how you guys think football should be played. Yet for me, having always been brought up on a direct, physical game with set pieces etc, it was so refreshing. I'm not saying there is no place for the physical game. However, I believe that is something players can work into their game a lot easier than the technique, the passing. For me, I am glad we have BP, his philosophy and the likes of Buyens and Vetokele. I think we will be treated this season, and I am grateful for it
Honestly , we used to play like that for ages - big blokes and long balls up untill we started losing out on the big tournaments and we drastically changed our youth setup about 14 years ago , with a lot more focus on integrating the forgotten youths of immigrants and adding a bit of street football to our development squads. When i was young, all we did was run and learn to battle but nobody thought us to play 1 on 1, passing in narrow spaces, learn to take first touches with both feet and all that. Nowadays the youth sometimes plays without goals, just 5 vs 5 on a small pitch trying to learn how to deal with pressure, how to make the most of both your feet and get used to fast free flowing passing games. We nicked it of the french and the dutch , and so did the germans. Physique remains important but technique is becoming a lot more important, if you need two touches to control a ball you lose the momentum of the game - your opponent gets time to get close but if you can make the ball do the work for you, the defender is always on the back foot. Likewise, defenders learn to anticipate, learn to distribute and deal with difficult situations so that they dont panic and hoof it. Because hoofing a ball will mean most of the time that it comes to the opponent and directly back at you, you hoof for 40 meters to liberate your team while in reality it just gives the opponent the possibility to come directly back at you and lose a lot less energy chasing you around. Their forward players can stay in position while their holding players can split your disorganised team up with one or two well placed passes.
Football in its pure essence is played on the ground and into feet, knowing how to direct a pass at the right speed with the right curve so that the receiver doesnt have to wait for it or lose his stride is a thing of beauty. As a forward nothing is more rewarding than a ball that comes perfectly timed in front of you so that you can unleash your raw talent.
Haven't seen a game with that much quality at the Valley for a long time. Thought for long periods we were excellent, looking to work the ball rather than play hopeful long balls into the box, keeping possession when an open door is closed (will fans in this country ever not moan if a side passes backwards? Part of the problem with English players brought up this way but that's a moan for another time) and defensively very strong Bikey and TBH looked excellent together and as much as I love Morro I can see exactly why he isn't playing.
Now after the positives I'd like a couple of moans. I've never rated Wiggins as highly as a lot of fans, always felt he lacked defensive capabilities. Bob seems to (a bit like Riga although not to the same extent) to want to play full backs as full backs and not wing backs, this to me just exposes Wiggins' limitations even more. I don't want to be too harsh as we won but that left side is the one worry in the team at the moment for me.
Started to write a post for this thread last night but must have dozed off, was absoloutely smashed last night in celebration, and I'm at work now and pretty sure i'm still a bit pissed.
What a fantastic performance, that first 20 minutes... if we played like that for the whole game every week we would be in the premier league next season 100%. Don't want to get ahead of myself but we looked like such a unit last night, Derby are a good side, promotion favoruite and we limited them to next to nothing lat night - two chances in the first half, one which they took and not one clear cut chance in the second.
We passed the ball around marvelously last night and that first goal was just beautiful. The players seemed like they were oozing with confidence, Gudmundson was incredible, whenever he had the ball I genuinely felt he was going to create something, Jackson was fantastic I felt, ran his heart out and made some vital interceptions as well as setting up the 3rd. Lovely pen from Buyens who was a class act in midfield, Igor got his goal, George upfront looked like a proper centre forward last nigth and great work to win the penalty. Really a shame that Pope made that mistake at the end, but we defended well even then and Derby never looked like equalising.
Cracking atmosphere too, I was sitting in L block and felt we were fantastic, outsung Derby the whole game. So refreshing to actually feel positive about us on the field again. Early days yet but feel this season will no doubt be a lot more enjoyable than last.
I think the possession stat is slightly skewed - 30% of it was their keeper picking the ball out the net.
Great game, great passing football, MOM was Buyens.
Man of the first half was George T - now who was the tit that that told us he was pelt?? I'm glad I have the intelligence to watch a player and make my own mind up.
JJ - was excellent today, its nice to see him play with good players around him. Guudmunsson was also superb, he seemed to have an almost free role, if that makes sense. Bikey and TBH had a tough evening but came out of it on top, I don't think they will have too many tougher games. Well done Gomez, he had a good game, however he kept drifting towards the centre, no surprise there. Wiggins so much better. Igor! - What a player, great fitness and desire, a blood handful, a future CAFC legend? Pope - a very positive keeper, OK he made that error, but what keeper hasn't done that.
In fact hats off to them all, but my biggest praise goes to Bobby P - Derby scored their first goal because we sat back, not because they were better, his half time team talk sorted that and we got at them again in the second and stopped sitting too deep. Excellent use of subs, especially Wilson, and tactically spot on and when you consider he was up against a very good tactical Derby manager he excelled, some might like to hear it but he is light years in front of Chrissy and Riga.
Have to say surprised and impressed, pretty much a new team and seem to be coping very well with top half opposition - almost too well.. great result
Buyens - wasn't too impressed previously but I think my expectations had been set too high. I watched more carefully last night and he seems to be improving game by game (either that or I just noticed it) seems like he might be getting used to this league
Tucudean - pleased he scored and made some impact, hope he continues
Vetokele - a little under par by his standards but still good
Jackson - a little worrying as seems out of it a bit, and maybe duplication with Buyens but made some critical challenges here and there
Wiggins - still not back to his best which is a bit of a worry.
Gomez - was very poor, couldn't play right back let alone centre back, all big clubs should not bother even looking at him, if he is lucky we might offer him a deal. Not impressed.
Centre backs seem fine, Bikey seems to have it all bit of a find that one.
Overall seem to have got the quality level right, will be interesting to see how we do in more away games, the Valley pitch is looking great. Our marking was a little off at times are we zonal nowadays, there were moments were players didn't seem to know who's man it was - perhaps that's a gelling issue. Still in light of the result that may not be a biggy.
The whole tempo and approach is quite different not really sure how, perhaps others with better football brains that I can explain that - will now read back the thread. But right now trying not to get over excited at the good start.
cant remember the last time i saw our first 4 games--glad i did. Bob wanted a big pitch to play a passing game, at times good teams who love to do that will be a problem , Derby and Wigan are two of those teams but we found a way to win both games. Im sure that at some stage in the season this new team and its new players will be sussed out by this league-----but we are not the same old Charlton.-----However until they do enjoy it.
cant fault the new mob so far---George,Bikey,TBM,Buyens,Igor,Godmenson-----all players like our Manager id never herd of---well done RD
First game of the season. Great seats in the West Upper for £15. What an evening.
A few brief thoughts.
Gudmusson looks a class act but hardly got the ball in the 2nd half. We need to get him much more possession and maybe he needs to come into the middle to look for it more.
Cousins struggled on the left and Big Bob's major headache is going to be how to work things he can play in the centre of midfield.
Very impressed with the Ben Haim/Bikey combo though a striker with pace could ask a few questions that Derby didn't.
Gomez looked class. Definitely a future full England international IMO.
Apart from the Bobby Mimms moment thought Pope looked okay - has definitely got the physique to be a top modern goalkeeper.
First competitive game for me since the Stayen Cup and I was very impressed.
TBH or JJ for MOM. Both worked so hard and took control but there were a lot of very good performances.
The first 20 minutes was something special but then Derby realised that they needed to stop us playing it about. They pushed up and pressurised us and for the rest of the half were on top without creating too many clear cut chances.
The pen, obviously, turned the game and 2nd half we matched them and hit them on the break. JJ again with a wonderful cross for the third and he should have had an assist when he beat the offside trap and Igor took a ball that maybe should have been left for Moussa.
I do wonder if Igor is only ever going to score with his head. He had a couple of chances with his feet and fluffed them and then fell over but can't fault his hard work or team play.
Gomez is as good as those watching the kids have said. Big, composed and skillful.
Wilson made a big difference when he came on as DCFC had been getting both full backs forward to some effect but Lawrie both stopped that on his side and gave us a lot more going forward. Johan B Gud also looked comfortable on the other side.
Nervy last few minutes for us in the stands but the team seemed more in control.
Feel for Pope but it was a poor mistake. Fortunately it didn't cost us points and he kept going. It will be a test for him but I wish the defenders didn't give him so many fast paced back passes. Put him and the team under pressure but that was in part a result of Derby pushing up on the defence.
Felt Derby need better strikers but that takes nothing away from Bikey and TBH. Buyens was very good but seem to get sold a dummy for their first goal when he could perhaps have but a better block in. harsh perhaps
The future looks bright. The table doesn't lie but it is still early days and other teams will be looking to find ways to stop us.
The squad does still look thin and even more so with Henderson out and maybe Tucedean too. We missed have another physical striker to come on. Pigott? Delort? Church? Maybe not. George looked very clever on the ball but also "put it about a bit". Hope he is back soon.
The ground looked good although I'm not a fan of penalty circles. It should be a spot : - )
Didn't eat the food but seemed a lot on offer. The real ale and cider was said to be good.
Liked the big pictures around the ground. If you know your history....
And the programme. Wow, so much on the museum and history of the Club, well done the Comms team.
At the risk of repeating what many have said before - and I await the thanks Colin - I sat and watched the opening 20 minutes or so in near disbelief. Every time we had the ball it was passed around almost Barcelona style with no signs of a hoof ball at any time. And it was every member of the side looking comfortable in position and looking to move the ball on to a colleague. Truly I am scratching my head trying to remember the last time I saw a Charlton team play that way.
Quite clearly the players that have been recruited in the close season are in a different league to the ones who came in January. And if they can stay fit, they may literally be in a different league next year.
Finally, the first time I had seen young Gomez. From what I saw last night all those who had been saying this lad could be something special are right. Given I understand his preferred position is centre half, to fit in so comfortably at right back shows he is a complete footballer. Let's hope that both he, and Cousins, are still here on 1 September and that they haven't been added to the squads of one of the Premiership big boys by then.
Just great to watch Charlton and feel entertained. Not the finished article but very optimistic because:
Everyone looks comfortable on the ball We are not hoofing We create real chances Any one of our players is likely to do something special and make something happen Only special players are likely to trouble our defence Our wins so far have not been scruffy fortunate wins We have stood up to quality opponents
Bob said early on his strength was getting teams well organised and you can go a long way with good organisation. I can only see improvement as the team gels and players become more familiar with each other. I'd be a rubbish manager, I would have dropped JJ, but I can picture a team being built around Gudmunsson.
We've got better every (Championship) game and last night was very impressive against a good Derby team.
As it turned out those two home fixtures were exactly what we needed - if we'd played less fancied teams there would be more room for doubt.
As it is I think we will do well, maybe very well, although we clearly need another striker even if Tucudean turns out to be a success.
It's a shame there isn't another home game for three and a half weeks as there is an opportunity to build some momentum off the pitch as well as on it.
Not convinced it was a penalty, however. There was a foul outside the box but I don't know about inside. Sky said handball but that would have been very harsh. Having said that, it did look a pen live.
Forgot to say, got a bit panicky at the end as I remember a few years back, think it was the season we went down from the Champ, we were 2-1 up and they scored in the last minute to make it 2-2, not this time Derby. Also up yours Mclaren, a class A pr*ck.
First game at the Valley for a couple of seasons. Absolutely agree with what has been said above about first 20 mins. Pitch looks fantastic. Ground looks great.
But. But but! This season's kit is truly awful! Particularly the red shorts. And watching Charlton play in rugby league style shirts is something I will never get use to.
Whatever the result, it was undoubtedly a good game to watch - better than anything I have seen in recent years. The first 20 minutes were outstanding and Derby had trouble getting the ball. Then, things changed and Derby looked comfortably the better side. Just before we won the penalty, I remarked that the whistle can't go soon enough for half time and that I would settle for a point right now.
The second half was arguably a steadier performance, although not to the standard of the first 20 minutes. We looked more solid and more dangerous, which is a good combination. The error by Pope meant we had an uncomfortable few minutes at the end.
I think that games are going to be much more pleasurable to watch. There's a certain something about the way we played. We look like a team that will get some luck and, more importantly, score some goals.
Derby were a decent side and outplayed us for a period at the end of the first half. There were some concerns in this period. The midfield looked overwhelmed and the defence looked like letting a second goal in at any moment. I am not quite sure what went wrong. Maybe, it was just Derby playing above themselves for a while.
I don't know either why I think this team will get more luck than the previous team. There's a confidence in the side and I can see teams being worried about playing us. This is good news.
Overall, a draw might have been a fairer result, but what the heck. I asked a Derby fan on the way out if it was a penalty - and he said "no way" - he looked an honest type. However, I think this team will get its share of luck and win games that are close whereas the previous team lost games that were tight. And, in a tight division, this is crucial.
The last two seasons at home have been pretty dire for the most part. I think we will see plenty of goals at both ends. There is room for improvement but it's a new team so you'd expect that to come. We were excellent for the first twenty minutes especially and we beat a very good side who I expect to be in top 3.
Hardly any Uni of Greenwich signage around the pitch. Still Andrews everywhere. Strange for a main shirt sponsor.
But where there are signs and on the press backdrop board the proper logo and font. Odd.
Andrews Air Conditioning are still one of our Sponsors as well though... Did the Uni of Greenwich pay that much money to Sponsor us or was the deal just for their name to be on the shirt
Hardly any Uni of Greenwich signage around the pitch. Still Andrews everywhere. Strange for a main shirt sponsor.
But where there are signs and on the press backdrop board the proper logo and font. Odd.
Andrews Air Conditioning are still one of our Sponsors as well though... Did the Uni of Greenwich pay that much money to Sponsor us or was the deal just for their name to be on the shirt
Could well be but U of G are the main shirt sponsors and in the past the deal has included a lot of ground advertising which would show up on TV/photos etc.
Just seemed strange but I'm sure there is a reason for it. Maybe they paid less for just the shirt. The Logo thing is still odd as they are using different logos. Their choice it has been said but still seems an odd thing to do.
Bit gutted I missed the Tucudean penalty drama, was having a slash. Silky skills. That goal of his looks miles better on tv than it did live, could have some player on our hands if he performs consistently like that.
Comments
1. Pope was disappointing compared to the cameo on Saturday. He needs to be carefully handled to protect confidence.
2. Saturday's weak links - JJ and Wiggins - were much better last night. Just shows that opinions should be formed over a period of time (unlike the tosser a few seats along from me who has decided that Wiggins is this year's whipping boy).
3. Tucudean is slowly convincing me that he is an unorthodox asset rather than a Bambi on ice liability. What was noticeable last night, despite some of the flicks and tricks going wrong, was how much better the ball "stuck" when we were attacking when he was on the pitch in comparison to the second half where we had more chances but the game was much more open and fragmented.
4. Despite 3, we need at least one more striker who is different from Moussa and Vetokele who are both great but very similar (and who isn't Church or Piggott).
5. Bob needs to get tough on the Cousins situation. I love the kid and he has a massive future but he, and we, are being done no good at all by being played on the wing. If JJ plays as he did last night, then I'm afraid Jordan is, for the moment, first reserve for one of the two central midfield slots. If either JJ or Buyens (what a find!) are out, the JC is in. Derby sussed out our relative weakness on the left very quickly last night and exploited it.
6. Gudmundsson is class. We need to work out where he is best. He may need to get used to being in a free role with license to roam.
Football in its pure essence is played on the ground and into feet, knowing how to direct a pass at the right speed with the right curve so that the receiver doesnt have to wait for it or lose his stride is a thing of beauty. As a forward nothing is more rewarding than a ball that comes perfectly timed in front of you so that you can unleash your raw talent.
Now after the positives I'd like a couple of moans. I've never rated Wiggins as highly as a lot of fans, always felt he lacked defensive capabilities. Bob seems to (a bit like Riga although not to the same extent) to want to play full backs as full backs and not wing backs, this to me just exposes Wiggins' limitations even more. I don't want to be too harsh as we won but that left side is the one worry in the team at the moment for me.
Finally, S Club 7? Really?!
Started to write a post for this thread last night but must have dozed off, was absoloutely smashed last night in celebration, and I'm at work now and pretty sure i'm still a bit pissed.
What a fantastic performance, that first 20 minutes... if we played like that for the whole game every week we would be in the premier league next season 100%. Don't want to get ahead of myself but we looked like such a unit last night, Derby are a good side, promotion favoruite and we limited them to next to nothing lat night - two chances in the first half, one which they took and not one clear cut chance in the second.
We passed the ball around marvelously last night and that first goal was just beautiful. The players seemed like they were oozing with confidence, Gudmundson was incredible, whenever he had the ball I genuinely felt he was going to create something, Jackson was fantastic I felt, ran his heart out and made some vital interceptions as well as setting up the 3rd. Lovely pen from Buyens who was a class act in midfield, Igor got his goal, George upfront looked like a proper centre forward last nigth and great work to win the penalty. Really a shame that Pope made that mistake at the end, but we defended well even then and Derby never looked like equalising.
Cracking atmosphere too, I was sitting in L block and felt we were fantastic, outsung Derby the whole game. So refreshing to actually feel positive about us on the field again. Early days yet but feel this season will no doubt be a lot more enjoyable than last.
Bobby Peeters Red And White Army!
Must be an age thing!
Great game, great passing football, MOM was Buyens.
Man of the first half was George T - now who was the tit that that told us he was pelt?? I'm glad I have the intelligence to watch a player and make my own mind up.
JJ - was excellent today, its nice to see him play with good players around him.
Guudmunsson was also superb, he seemed to have an almost free role, if that makes sense.
Bikey and TBH had a tough evening but came out of it on top, I don't think they will have too many tougher games.
Well done Gomez, he had a good game, however he kept drifting towards the centre, no surprise there.
Wiggins so much better.
Igor! - What a player, great fitness and desire, a blood handful, a future CAFC legend?
Pope - a very positive keeper, OK he made that error, but what keeper hasn't done that.
In fact hats off to them all, but my biggest praise goes to Bobby P - Derby scored their first goal because we sat back, not because they were better, his half time team talk sorted that and we got at them again in the second and stopped sitting too deep. Excellent use of subs, especially Wilson, and tactically spot on and when you consider he was up against a very good tactical Derby manager he excelled, some might like to hear it but he is light years in front of Chrissy and Riga.
COYRs
Have to say surprised and impressed, pretty much a new team and seem to be coping very well with top half opposition - almost too well.. great result
Buyens - wasn't too impressed previously but I think my expectations had been set too high. I watched more carefully last night and he seems to be improving game by game (either that or I just noticed it) seems like he might be getting used to this league
Tucudean - pleased he scored and made some impact, hope he continues
Vetokele - a little under par by his standards but still good
Jackson - a little worrying as seems out of it a bit, and maybe duplication with Buyens but made some critical challenges here and there
Wiggins - still not back to his best which is a bit of a worry.
Gomez - was very poor, couldn't play right back let alone centre back, all big clubs should not bother even looking at him, if he is lucky we might offer him a deal. Not impressed.
Centre backs seem fine, Bikey seems to have it all bit of a find that one.
Overall seem to have got the quality level right, will be interesting to see how we do in more away games, the Valley pitch is looking great. Our marking was a little off at times are we zonal nowadays, there were moments were players didn't seem to know who's man it was - perhaps that's a gelling issue. Still in light of the result that may not be a biggy.
The whole tempo and approach is quite different not really sure how, perhaps others with better football brains that I can explain that - will now read back the thread. But right now trying not to get over excited at the good start.
cant fault the new mob so far---George,Bikey,TBM,Buyens,Igor,Godmenson-----all players like our Manager id never herd of---well done RD
PS Shame the Pikeys got a point.
A few brief thoughts.
Gudmusson looks a class act but hardly got the ball in the 2nd half. We need to get him much more possession and maybe he needs to come into the middle to look for it more.
Cousins struggled on the left and Big Bob's major headache is going to be how to work things he can play in the centre of midfield.
Very impressed with the Ben Haim/Bikey combo though a striker with pace could ask a few questions that Derby didn't.
Gomez looked class. Definitely a future full England international IMO.
Apart from the Bobby Mimms moment thought Pope looked okay - has definitely got the physique to be a top modern goalkeeper.
to this
First competitive game for me since the Stayen Cup and I was very impressed.
TBH or JJ for MOM. Both worked so hard and took control but there were a lot of very good performances.
The first 20 minutes was something special but then Derby realised that they needed to stop us playing it about. They pushed up and pressurised us and for the rest of the half were on top without creating too many clear cut chances.
The pen, obviously, turned the game and 2nd half we matched them and hit them on the break. JJ again with a wonderful cross for the third and he should have had an assist when he beat the offside trap and Igor took a ball that maybe should have been left for Moussa.
I do wonder if Igor is only ever going to score with his head. He had a couple of chances with his feet and fluffed them and then fell over but can't fault his hard work or team play.
Gomez is as good as those watching the kids have said. Big, composed and skillful.
Wilson made a big difference when he came on as DCFC had been getting both full backs forward to some effect but Lawrie both stopped that on his side and gave us a lot more going forward. Johan B Gud also looked comfortable on the other side.
Nervy last few minutes for us in the stands but the team seemed more in control.
Feel for Pope but it was a poor mistake. Fortunately it didn't cost us points and he kept going. It will be a test for him but I wish the defenders didn't give him so many fast paced back passes. Put him and the team under pressure but that was in part a result of Derby pushing up on the defence.
Felt Derby need better strikers but that takes nothing away from Bikey and TBH. Buyens was very good but seem to get sold a dummy for their first goal when he could perhaps have but a better block in. harsh perhaps
The future looks bright. The table doesn't lie but it is still early days and other teams will be looking to find ways to stop us.
The squad does still look thin and even more so with Henderson out and maybe Tucedean too. We missed have another physical striker to come on. Pigott? Delort? Church? Maybe not. George looked very clever on the ball but also "put it about a bit". Hope he is back soon.
The ground looked good although I'm not a fan of penalty circles. It should be a spot : - )
Didn't eat the food but seemed a lot on offer. The real ale and cider was said to be good.
Liked the big pictures around the ground. If you know your history....
And the programme. Wow, so much on the museum and history of the Club, well done the Comms team.
Quite clearly the players that have been recruited in the close season are in a different league to the ones who came in January. And if they can stay fit, they may literally be in a different league next year.
Finally, the first time I had seen young Gomez. From what I saw last night all those who had been saying this lad could be something special are right. Given I understand his preferred position is centre half, to fit in so comfortably at right back shows he is a complete footballer. Let's hope that both he, and Cousins, are still here on 1 September and that they haven't been added to the squads of one of the Premiership big boys by then.
Everyone looks comfortable on the ball
We are not hoofing
We create real chances
Any one of our players is likely to do something special and make something happen
Only special players are likely to trouble our defence
Our wins so far have not been scruffy fortunate wins
We have stood up to quality opponents
Bob said early on his strength was getting teams well organised and you can go a long way with good organisation. I can only see improvement as the team gels and players become more familiar with each other. I'd be a rubbish manager, I would have dropped JJ, but I can picture a team being built around Gudmunsson.
As it turned out those two home fixtures were exactly what we needed - if we'd played less fancied teams there would be more room for doubt.
As it is I think we will do well, maybe very well, although we clearly need another striker even if Tucudean turns out to be a success.
It's a shame there isn't another home game for three and a half weeks as there is an opportunity to build some momentum off the pitch as well as on it.
Not convinced it was a penalty, however. There was a foul outside the box but I don't know about inside. Sky said handball but that would have been very harsh. Having said that, it did look a pen live.
Derby have only won once on their last six visits to the Valley. That victory, which came last season, was their only win there this century.
Yes... there have only been 14 years this century and five matches at the Valley!!
Derby view
But. But but! This season's kit is truly awful! Particularly the red shorts. And watching Charlton play in rugby league style shirts is something I will never get use to.
The second half was arguably a steadier performance, although not to the standard of the first 20 minutes. We looked more solid and more dangerous, which is a good combination. The error by Pope meant we had an uncomfortable few minutes at the end.
I think that games are going to be much more pleasurable to watch. There's a certain something about the way we played. We look like a team that will get some luck and, more importantly, score some goals.
Derby were a decent side and outplayed us for a period at the end of the first half. There were some concerns in this period. The midfield looked overwhelmed and the defence looked like letting a second goal in at any moment. I am not quite sure what went wrong. Maybe, it was just Derby playing above themselves for a while.
I don't know either why I think this team will get more luck than the previous team. There's a confidence in the side and I can see teams being worried about playing us. This is good news.
Overall, a draw might have been a fairer result, but what the heck. I asked a Derby fan on the way out if it was a penalty - and he said "no way" - he looked an honest type. However, I think this team will get its share of luck and win games that are close whereas the previous team lost games that were tight. And, in a tight division, this is crucial.
Hardly any Uni of Greenwich signage around the pitch. Still Andrews everywhere. Strange for a main shirt sponsor.
But where there are signs and on the press backdrop board the proper logo and font. Odd.
Just seemed strange but I'm sure there is a reason for it. Maybe they paid less for just the shirt. The Logo thing is still odd as they are using different logos. Their choice it has been said but still seems an odd thing to do.