A good game, against very good opposition. I'm glad Jackett is no longer managing Millwall!
We were lucky on Saturday to win, and probably slightly fortunate to draw tonight, as we were overrun in the second half. Wiggins has struggled this season, while Gomez showed that he has a lot to learn defensively (understandable for someone that age). What we really needed in the second half was more protection for the defence, an experienced holding midfielder to protect the back four, as Buyens while having bags of class doesn't give the back 4 that much protection Tucudean was poor, but Ventekole was superb, his workrate, and the chances he set up for others. If only we could clone him and have 2 of him up front, as he's the all round striker, and can play Number 9 or 10.
Can't complain about the result tonight. Thought a draw was fair. Could've had 3 goals in the first half but didn't take our chances. Bulot looked lively when he came on and made a difference and should start on Saturday. Thought the game passed JJ by for large periods when we needed him to give Buyens more support. Anyway, onwards and upwards to Rotherham. The future's bright, the futre's red n white #COYA
Sorry, but I don't get this " still unbeaten " crap. If you play 2 & draw them both , you get 2 points. If you play 2, win won & lose one you get 3 points. I know which I prefer.
and by the way - you could go all season unbeaten & still get relegated.
If you play two, win one and draw one, you get four points! Exactly what our team have just done.
That was piss-poor. Where in heaven's name is our midfield? Our defence stands firm - they clear their lines - and the ball drops in this vacant space fifteen yards outside our box. Occasionally we challenge for the ball, yet we haven't got the physical strength or technical ability to seize possession, and then our defence is under siege again.
We are lapsing in to the same old vapid and vacuous midfield problem - we have witnessed this for two seasons at least. It ain't entertainment. We are at home at The Valley and are simply unable to stamp our authority on the game.
This fundamental failing means that our strikers - or striker, singular, this afternoon - doesn't have an earthly chance. Who are these midfielders? What are they doing? We were damn lucky to get away with a draw today. As my neighbour in the Covered End puts it succinctly: "At home, we play as if we are away."
Did anyone else think buyens was really poor? Outmuscled by their midfield and very negative
Absolutely. It was the first game I've got to this season. I couldn't believe the hype I'd read on here previously, he was so far off the pace of the game I was convinced he was injured. The last 10 mins he actually came into the game more finally.
Questions Cousins, wing or not? Ben Haim, should he start? Did we lack a middle of midfield?
No
Yes
Yes - the lack of energy means we can't stop teams over-running us there. Especially when we are facing opponents with 3 in the middle. We have come off 2nd best in CM every game really.
Yoni Buyens has good touch for a destroyer type of CM but not for a creative position. He is usually blowing about the 60m mark. Respect to his efforts but surely it would help to have an athlete like Jordan Cousins alongside him.
However, it's a brilliant start and we cant complain. Fans are always going to want more.
I can't remember a Charlton team that produces so many clear cut chances out of nothing.
That was piss-poor. Where in heaven's name is our midfield? Our defence stands firm - they clear their lines - and the ball drops in this vacant space fifteen yards outside our box. Occasionally we challenge for the ball, yet we haven't got the physical strength or technical ability to seize possession, and then our defence is under siege again.
We are lapsing in to the same old vapid and vacuous midfield problem - we have witnessed this for two seasons at least. It ain't entertainment. We are at home at The Valley and are simply unable to stamp our authority on the game.
This fundamental failing means that our strikers - or striker, singular, this afternoon - doesn't have an earthly chance. Who are these midfielders? What are they doing? We were damn lucky to get away with a draw today. As my neighbour in the Covered End puts it succinctly: "At home, we play as if we are away."
This
In other news, it seems wigan fans are getting on any Delorts back already. Lovely to see I must say
End to end with Wolves getting their just deserts.
This game in particular showed up our deficiencies. Central midfield was overrun and full backs caught time after time. I excuse Gomez but I thought Wiggins was a liability throughout. George needs a goal from somewhere. Tonight he should have scored two.
I'm sure I'll get shot down but Jackson is not mobile enough for the way we now play. I would like to see Cousins brought in from wide and JJ on the bench.
Thought Buyens was alone for much of the match.
Bulot looked useful.
We need players in. Having said that. Still unbeaten and looking like a side that's on the up.
. Time to consider morrison because whilst bikes is excelling, Ben haim is shaky t times and slowish.
Seriously? Bikey was caught a couple of times tonight-TBH is calmness personified and looks quality every game. As much as I love Morrison, I wouldn't even think about dropping either of the two centre halves.
I sometimes think I'm watching a different game to others, "Wilson hiding" "Us bossing the first half" etc, so much I disagree with but that's football I guess.
My take on things is that we're a team getting used to playing the passing game which is all very well but smart managers like Kenny Jackett will have seen that in our earlier games and instructed his players accordingly to defend from the front-this led to possession being lost on a number of occasions and overall they had much more of the play. This will be a recurring theme in future games and we'll need to deal with it. However, I thought it was an improvement on Saturday insofar as we created much better chances; Tucudean's two in the first half, Jackson clean through after a great move and Vetokele at the end after Jackson's brilliant pass as well as a couple of half chances. We need to be taking them!
Definite concerns are the form of Rhoys Wiggins and whether George Tucudean is good enough. We've seen enough of Rhoys to hope that he'll come good but we do seem to be carrying Tucudean and occasional flashes aren't good enough-that first chance just after we scored would have really changed the game. I hope no one gets on his back though and fingers crossed he'll come good.
Also Igor's slide tackles and running back is all very well but shouldn't he be reserving a bit of that energy? He looked absolutely mullered at the end (again!) and he might have scored that chance if he'd kept a bit in the tank.....
Overall can't complain though and it's been a great start.
Thoroughly annoying when the defence boot the ball clear and the crowd shout "who's that to?!"
Then when they try and play it out people shout "just get rid of it!!!"
Furthermore, everyone was shouting "get forward!!" But the times we tried to play balls forward and lost it, everyone loudly groaned.
And finally...it seems the crowd would rather us lose the ball than just pass it round the back. At one point, Gomez had nothing on so wisely passed back to TBH. The crowd let out one agonising moan. Was he supposed to just give it to Sakho?!
Not impressive. Too many players gave performances only their mums and their agents could applaud. Clearly we miss Johnny B Gud, and if Igor continues to suffer batterings like tonight and Saturday's keeper he won't last till the next international break, never mind the season. It's still early days, though, and the squad continues to develop. What happens in training is very important, of course, but the acid test only comes when they cross that white line, and that's when things get tough and there's no hiding place. Better days (and some worse) to come - still everything to play for, still undefeated, and still with a group of players and staff I'm proud to say I'd swap for no other. COYA !!
That was piss-poor. Where in heaven's name is our midfield? Our defence stands firm - they clear their lines - and the ball drops in this vacant space fifteen yards outside our box. Occasionally we challenge for the ball, yet we haven't got the physical strength or technical ability to seize possession, and then our defence is under siege again.
We are lapsing in to the same old vapid and vacuous midfield problem - we have witnessed this for two seasons at least. It ain't entertainment. We are at home at The Valley and are simply unable to stamp our authority on the game.
This fundamental failing means that our strikers - or striker, singular, this afternoon - doesn't have an earthly chance. Who are these midfielders? What are they doing? We were damn lucky to get away with a draw today. As my neighbour in the Covered End puts it succinctly: "At home, we play as if we are away."
This
Buyens is quality but most of his passes tonight were backwards or sideways due to limited options going forward. The midfield has zero link play and I sincerely hope that Bulot fills the gap. We defend well and can score goals but Vetokele is becoming increasingly isolated and he will get fed up of it - he wants to score goals and on his own up front with a malfunctioning midfield is not gonna make that happen. Let's be clear - this squad is much better than last year but if we don't sort out the possession issue then, firstly, we will have tired legs before a game and, secondly, we will eventually get punished by a side having a good day. We are going in the right direction but currently our tactics are like Ali v Foreman rope-a-dope - throw whatever you have at us until you tire. Ali ended up with severe brain damage in so doing.
Thoroughly annoying when the defence boot the ball clear and the crowd shout "who's that to?!"
Then when they try and play it out people shout "just get rid of it!!!"
Furthermore, everyone was shouting "get forward!!" But the times we tried to play balls forward and lost it, everyone loudly groaned.
And finally...it seems the crowd would rather us lose the ball than just pass it round the back. At one point, Gomez had nothing on so wisely passed back to TBH. The crowd let out one agonising moan. Was he supposed to just give it to Sakho?!
The total lack of logic drives me insane.
It is annoying. Its as if they think Wolves are just going to let us pass through them and score. Kenny Jackett is a shrewd manager and it showed tonight. I was actually surprised to see him change it after the equaliser as the game was there for the taking.
Did anyone else think buyens was really poor? Outmuscled by their midfield and very negative
Absolutely. It was the first game I've got to this season. I couldn't believe the hype I'd read on here previously, he was so far off the pace of the game I was convinced he was injured. The last 10 mins he actually came into the game more finally.
He was much better on Saturday but no surprise his head has dropped as the support he gets in midfield is zilch and zero link play - he is quality, I assure you but is used to having better around him
1st game of the season for me tonight. Observations Wolves are a good team for sure. Back four playing far too deep, leaving a bloody great hole in midfield. Far too much passing backwards, breaking up momentum of attacks. Cousins should be playing CM (Buyens needs this). Rate Buyens, don't care what others have said. We need some bodies (loans) in soon before season starts to fade. Not sure Tuccadean is strong/good enough Still lots of encouraging signs/Work in progress Thought Bulot looked a player, for the short time he was on
A point gained But why oh why did we persist with Henderson hoofing to Cousins who was trying to do the greedy Frenchmans role. The ball either went out of play or came straight back. Time after time TBH or Bikey called for the short ball but he kept hoofing it forwards BP did nt look happy about it!
Pleased with the progress the club haas made and four points from last two home games is not to shabby . But have this nagging thought that we are not as good as our unbeaten record suggests
Basically a decent game to watch but yet again we rode our luck and got away with it. Still early days and we've played decent decent sides so still a long way to go before we can really make an assessment about where we are as a team/squad in my opinion.
I'll admit the last two games have taken me from believing we are a team that is happy and confident to let the opposition have the ball and then be effective on the break, to the reason we let the other team have the ball is because we keep giving it away with dreadful passing and being caught in possession and frankly our counter attacking has been piss poor.
I don't think anyone can genuinely say they know how good (or bad) we are despite our great start and points tally. Only time, and playing supposed lesser opposition on paper like Rotherham, will give us a clearer picture. Ah well, it's interesting at least.
I thought it was a very good game of football played by two good sides.
The dicipline to defend as we have this season is very impressive, but it takes a toll. Cousins worked so hard and when he moved into midfield his vision and skill to deliver a pass nearly created a goal. Bulot looks like he is very useful and could be the attacking midfielder we have been looking for. I was very impressed.
Henderson made a couple of great saves and looked like he got a hand to the shot that hit the post in the first half.
Our squad is a bit thin and we could do with a strong front man.
Happy enough with a point in the end. I thought 1 or 2 of the players were feeling it after the Watford game and was also impressed With wolves whom I fancied to do well this season and tonight only confirmed that. 13pts from 7 games and still unbeaten in the league is a very good start however, also wondering if BP will rotate things a bit at Rotherham and bring 1 or 2 fresh faces in.
How we are unbeaten and 5th in the league is beyond me, we must be the luckiest team in the league and are definitely punching above our weight. I think as the season progresses we will start to become unstuck, especially with the size of our squad. The last 3 or 4 games I think we have played poor and just can't keep the ball. We try to play football from the back which is a good thing but the midfield find it extremely hard to penetrate and always seem to play the ball back to the defence. Wiggins is just not playing good enough lately, he miss places far too many balls and puts us in danger a lot of times. JJ is a yard of the pace, and George just isn't the answer to play with igor up front. On the other hand Igor is such a quality player, not only is he mustard but he works his socks off, one of the best forwards to play for us in a long time. All in all happy with our league position but fear we will start to slip down it more and more as the season progresses without adding to the squad.
My overwhelming thought at the end of all that was one of relief and to be extremely grateful for the point. Wolves were a hardworking side and had they not been so profligate in front of goal we could easily have lost by two or three.
There was a listlessness and nerviness about our players which I attribute to fatigue after a Watford game where we had to work very hard to hold on. It is therefore commendable that, despite being collectively off colour, our lads dug in and rode their luck to salvage a point and preserve the unbeaten run. I would definitely have taken 4 points out of 6 last Friday.
However there were a number of reality checks in that we created very little at all as an attacking force and our one attacker of genuine class appeared to be seriously injured as he left the pitch. I think tonight dispelled any over optimistic, premature thoughts of promotion. We are progressing well but are by no means the finished article and it remains to be seen how we weather injuries to key players like Vetokele.
Last word goes to Bikey and, to quote the yoof, massive respect for that somersault after scoring!
Pleased with a point although to draw after being ahead at home is difficult to take. From what I was hearing it was the midfield that let us down a bit today which is stopping us being a complete team. I think we need a creative midfielder and another forward to really be able to push on. Having Gud and Bulot in the team will make a difference.
It sounded like Wolves had something about them though and should be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.
As for us, the rebuilding is only just getting going. I feel this will be an exciting season for all the right reasons.
A few people have mentioned tiredness from the Watford game. But the trouble with that is what do we blame for the exact same poor passing, being caught in possession and poor counter attacking which was evident from the 20th minute against Watford and after most of the players had had weeks off?
We have had a brilliant start given the sides we've faced, but for the 4th game running we have struggled to keep the ball which is a worry.
Tonight Wolves really should have won given their possession and pressure, but we had our own chances which we failed to put away. George looks off the pace for this level, need a better hold up player
Defensively we are sound as proven by the amount of pressure they've dealt with, but we need to get the ball to the wide players quicker, Wolves did tonight as did Watford and it caused us problems
Comments
We were lucky on Saturday to win, and probably slightly fortunate to draw tonight, as we were overrun in the second half. Wiggins has struggled this season, while Gomez showed that he has a lot to learn defensively (understandable for someone that age). What we really needed in the second half was more protection for the defence, an experienced holding midfielder to protect the back four, as Buyens while having bags of class doesn't give the back 4 that much protection Tucudean was poor, but Ventekole was superb, his workrate, and the chances he set up for others. If only we could clone him and have 2 of him up front, as he's the all round striker, and can play Number 9 or 10.
We are lapsing in to the same old vapid and vacuous midfield problem - we have witnessed this for two seasons at least. It ain't entertainment. We are at home at The Valley and are simply unable to stamp our authority on the game.
This fundamental failing means that our strikers - or striker, singular, this afternoon - doesn't have an earthly chance. Who are these midfielders? What are they doing? We were damn lucky to get away with a draw today. As my neighbour in the Covered End puts it succinctly: "At home, we play as if we are away."
Yes
Yes - the lack of energy means we can't stop teams over-running us there. Especially when we are facing opponents with 3 in the middle. We have come off 2nd best in CM every game really.
Yoni Buyens has good touch for a destroyer type of CM but not for a creative position. He is usually blowing about the 60m mark. Respect to his efforts but surely it would help to have an athlete like Jordan Cousins alongside him.
However, it's a brilliant start and we cant complain. Fans are always going to want more.
I can't remember a Charlton team that produces so many clear cut chances out of nothing.
This
In other news, it seems wigan fans are getting on any Delorts back already. Lovely to see I must say
This game in particular showed up our deficiencies. Central midfield was overrun and full backs caught time after time. I excuse Gomez but I thought Wiggins was a liability throughout. George needs a goal from somewhere. Tonight he should have scored two.
I'm sure I'll get shot down but Jackson is not mobile enough for the way we now play. I would like to see Cousins brought in from wide and JJ on the bench.
Thought Buyens was alone for much of the match.
Bulot looked useful.
We need players in. Having said that. Still unbeaten and looking like a side that's on the up.
I sometimes think I'm watching a different game to others, "Wilson hiding" "Us bossing the first half" etc, so much I disagree with but that's football I guess.
My take on things is that we're a team getting used to playing the passing game which is all very well but smart managers like Kenny Jackett will have seen that in our earlier games and instructed his players accordingly to defend from the front-this led to possession being lost on a number of occasions and overall they had much more of the play. This will be a recurring theme in future games and we'll need to deal with it. However, I thought it was an improvement on Saturday insofar as we created much better chances; Tucudean's two in the first half, Jackson clean through after a great move and Vetokele at the end after Jackson's brilliant pass as well as a couple of half chances. We need to be taking them!
Definite concerns are the form of Rhoys Wiggins and whether George Tucudean is good enough. We've seen enough of Rhoys to hope that he'll come good but we do seem to be carrying Tucudean and occasional flashes aren't good enough-that first chance just after we scored would have really changed the game. I hope no one gets on his back though and fingers crossed he'll come good.
Also Igor's slide tackles and running back is all very well but shouldn't he be reserving a bit of that energy? He looked absolutely mullered at the end (again!) and he might have scored that chance if he'd kept a bit in the tank.....
Overall can't complain though and it's been a great start.
Then when they try and play it out people shout "just get rid of it!!!"
Furthermore, everyone was shouting "get forward!!" But the times we tried to play balls forward and lost it, everyone loudly groaned.
And finally...it seems the crowd would rather us lose the ball than just pass it round the back. At one point, Gomez had nothing on so wisely passed back to TBH. The crowd let out one agonising moan. Was he supposed to just give it to Sakho?!
The total lack of logic drives me insane.
Not impressive. Too many players gave performances only their mums and their agents could applaud. Clearly we miss Johnny B Gud, and if Igor continues to suffer batterings like tonight and Saturday's keeper he won't last till the next international break, never mind the season. It's still early days, though, and the squad continues to develop. What happens in training is very important, of course, but the acid test only comes when they cross that white line, and that's when things get tough and there's no hiding place. Better days (and some worse) to come - still everything to play for, still undefeated, and still with a group of players and staff I'm proud to say I'd swap for no other. COYA !!
The midfield has zero link play and I sincerely hope that Bulot fills the gap.
We defend well and can score goals but Vetokele is becoming increasingly isolated and he will get fed up of it - he wants to score goals and on his own up front with a malfunctioning midfield is not gonna make that happen.
Let's be clear - this squad is much better than last year but if we don't sort out the possession issue then, firstly, we will have tired legs before a game and, secondly, we will eventually get punished by a side having a good day.
We are going in the right direction but currently our tactics are like Ali v Foreman rope-a-dope - throw whatever you have at us until you tire. Ali ended up with severe brain damage in so doing.
Observations
Wolves are a good team for sure.
Back four playing far too deep, leaving a bloody great hole in midfield.
Far too much passing backwards, breaking up momentum of attacks.
Cousins should be playing CM (Buyens needs this). Rate Buyens, don't care what others have said.
We need some bodies (loans) in soon before season starts to fade.
Not sure Tuccadean is strong/good enough
Still lots of encouraging signs/Work in progress
Thought Bulot looked a player, for the short time he was on
Vetokele runs half the pitch chasing down a defender who then passes the ball to another Wolves player. Vetokele stops running.
"Well don't just stand there Igor, get after him!!"
I mean WTF
But why oh why did we persist with Henderson hoofing to Cousins who was trying to do the greedy Frenchmans role. The ball either went out of play or came straight back. Time after time TBH or Bikey called for the short ball but he kept hoofing it forwards BP did nt look happy about it!
I'll admit the last two games have taken me from believing we are a team that is happy and confident to let the opposition have the ball and then be effective on the break, to the reason we let the other team have the ball is because we keep giving it away with dreadful passing and being caught in possession and frankly our counter attacking has been piss poor.
I don't think anyone can genuinely say they know how good (or bad) we are despite our great start and points tally. Only time, and playing supposed lesser opposition on paper like Rotherham, will give us a clearer picture. Ah well, it's interesting at least.
Solly - TBH - Bikey - Fox
----Cousins - Buyens
Gudmun - Moussa - Bulot
-------Vetokele
Saturday please
The dicipline to defend as we have this season is very impressive, but it takes a toll. Cousins worked so hard and when he moved into midfield his vision and skill to deliver a pass nearly created a goal. Bulot looks like he is very useful and could be the attacking midfielder we have been looking for. I was very impressed.
Henderson made a couple of great saves and looked like he got a hand to the shot that hit the post in the first half.
Our squad is a bit thin and we could do with a strong front man.
Confident we can finnish mid table this year.
My overwhelming thought at the end of all that was one of relief and to be extremely grateful for the point. Wolves were a hardworking side and had they not been so profligate in front of goal we could easily have lost by two or three.
There was a listlessness and nerviness about our players which I attribute to fatigue after a Watford game where we had to work very hard to hold on. It is therefore commendable that, despite being collectively off colour, our lads dug in and rode their luck to salvage a point and preserve the unbeaten run. I would definitely have taken 4 points out of 6 last Friday.
However there were a number of reality checks in that we created very little at all as an attacking force and our one attacker of genuine class appeared to be seriously injured as he left the pitch. I think tonight dispelled any over optimistic, premature thoughts of promotion. We are progressing well but are by no means the finished article and it remains to be seen how we weather injuries to key players like Vetokele.
Last word goes to Bikey and, to quote the yoof, massive respect for that somersault after scoring!
It sounded like Wolves had something about them though and should be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.
As for us, the rebuilding is only just getting going. I feel this will be an exciting season for all the right reasons.
Tonight Wolves really should have won given their possession and pressure, but we had our own chances which we failed to put away. George looks off the pace for this level, need a better hold up player
Defensively we are sound as proven by the amount of pressure they've dealt with, but we need to get the ball to the wide players quicker, Wolves did tonight as did Watford and it caused us problems