We have one of the smallest & weakest squads in this division. Many think Millwall will struggle to stay up (me included) and yet they appear to be spending more than us (not necessarily wisely). Quite frankly, we should probably be lower mid table at best.
We only have ONE very good experienced striker in Vetokele. Tucudean & 17 year old Ahearne-Grant wouldn't rank in Norwich's first 4/5 strikers for example.
The midfield has been overrun for years and still is.
Our defence is superb, marshalled by the outstanding Bikey & Ben Haim, who are ably assisted by Solly and Henderson.
Wilson had a good game last night & Wiggins & Gomez have been average at best. That is, comparing Gomez, to the vastly more experienced centre halves & Solly. He's doing very well, all things considered.
Peeters has the team playing to their strengths, which is obviously how it should be. You wouldn't want your team playing to their weaknesses.
He's got us playing in the Chelsea style of 2 banks of 4. Keep your shape and you don't get caught out like Bolton did for our 2nd goal.
Keep your shape and give the opposition, little room to manoeuvre. They can't get through you, so they have to either get round the full backs or shoot from distance. The opposition have had some success getting behind Wiggins, but little success getting behind Solly.
Yes we have conceded, let's say 5 goals from zonal marking, but when you consider the amount of corners we concede, then I think in all honesty, we would probably have conceded more by man marking.
Anyway, the point is, IT IS NOT LUCK, that we have been beaten only once in the league, from thirteen games.
It is because we have an excellent plan, that the players have stuck to week in week out.
I for one, thought it was a great win last night, to hold on for 30+ mins, with a weakened team, clearly not at their best.
We have a manager and team who are playing to their optimum and long may that continue.
I think nearly everyone can see this, but for the few that can't, please have a re think.
I give you :-
"Prediction :- 0-3 with our first shot after 75 mins."
So we win and then we get :-
"Yes, we won
Yes, its 3 more points
Yes, we were missing 3 of our best players.
BUT
If you think that game was entertaining then think again. I've never seen a team ride their luck game after game. Absolutely abysmal that a home side can have 1 corner to the opponents 16 & just 2 shots on target all night. We didn't have a meaningful attack after we scored our second goal - that's 39 mins +6mins injury time of sitting deep and defending. SHOCKING.
I cant wait for Friday - we will get laughed out of town if we put in a performance like that. Now we all know why Sky don't like showing us. They have a reputation to keep up & don't want thousands of viewers ringing up to complain that they have just violated the Trade Descriptions Act."
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Comments
...or not, in fact - they only have one mode and it is constant, regardless of match situation: it is the externalisation of a life's frustration that no football club could ease. I say empathise and ignore
I give up reading the negativity that fans write about after 3 points against a team that on paper should be challenging for play offs come the end of the season.
Last night I thought we were brilliant. Perhaps not in the quality of our attacking but in the defending and work rate from all 11 on the pitch. To see Cousins and a couple of others just drop to the floor as the full time whistle sounded was a reflection of that.
Yeah sure he gave the ball away a few times but by Christ did he work hard for the team, the manager and us fans watching.
Bob must have instilled "something" into our team that's for sure. The way he collapsed at the final whistle was fantastic (for me anyway) to watch, it just goes to show how much he wanted it! I think Tal Ben Haim also collapsed, he also was a giant at the back along with AB, It has been a very long time since I have seen this much commitment from a Charlton team, LONG MAY IT CONTINUE!!!
Opposition teams have had numerous corners, free kicks, chances, dominated possession, but haven't been good enough to capitalise. Overrated Championship Strikers have missed chance after chance. Henderson - Bikey - Ben Haim have been outstanding as a solid defensive base. Long May it continue. 11 points clear of the relegation zone and pulling away.
Dont think we have that much quality in the squad in comparison to other teams in this league and like I say, no major advantage over other teams in terms of natural ability anyway, If none at all.
Where lightweight in the middle of the park...The addition of Buyerns helped a little, but not really.
We prepare ourselves well against better bigger and stronger opposition and it has 9/10, worked everythime this season.
We will certainly find out how "Lucky we are" after 46 games...
Another Lie was Blackpool being top at the end of october last season, and just staying up by the odd point.
The only time it's tells the truth, the whole truth is after 46 games in the championship.
The rest of the time it's just an indicator of the ebb and flow of a game of chance. (not in the prem; Money rules)
Totally ephemeral and transient until that large lady knocks out the aria as the last ball is kicked.
I agree with @Covered End, and all concerned deserve great credit for getting us to this point at this time, which is considerably ahead of my own forecast for the season (14th)
Add in three more experienced pros and it could be happy days.
Back to the thread and take a look at the Tucudean goal last night - no luck, just sweet control with the outside of the boot and bosch 1-0.
Ten games to the halfway point and 14 points needed to be 6th or thereabouts.
I know I've posted loads on Staprix and this and that but let's remind ourselves that we have the youngest squad in the league and that our first XI is a match for anyone.
Add more quality in January and we might, just might get a trip to Wembley sometime soon. The bookies have us 6-1 to make the play-offs and 28-1 for the drop - that's a lot lot better than July!
Our test, starting last night is whether we can beat lower half teams - no excuses about new managers or players injured just very simply can we score more goals than teams on the slide.
I'll say it now - Millwall at home is going to be a tad different this time with Peeters, Ben Haim and Bikey around!
A famous golfer once said ' the more I practice, the luckier I get'.
That is us. Not luck.
It's an unbelievably one sided rivalry.
http://www.11v11.com/teams/millwall/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Charlton Athletic
For the uninitiated, Belgians can get the the hump about quite a lot!
In all seriousness, time to bury Millwall with the top ten squad we now enjoy - we need the win to keep the momentum going for a game changing season.
Sure I'm over-reaching but it's the same with the massives and we don't have a problem beating them!
(Let's not talk about it)