why ? .. because we have a team that looks VERY together and well bonded under a revelation of a terrific manager, new players so far look like fantastic bargains and shrewd deals .. we're playing good football and have taken points from fancied teams with good pedigrees .. this reminds me so much of Powell's new model army .. except .. a LOT better
The team spirit is notably much better than last year for me. Yes we were getting decent results but there was a scrappy quality about our style and the team just felt a bit patchwork and cobbled together - there was a slight feeling that the good results were despite the team not because of it. Bob was charming enough but even early on there were questions about if he could keep it together in tougher times - which he rather spectacularly failed to do and promptly got the heave ho.
This season, Luzon has got a bunch of players who are clearly a team in spirit as well as in name. They work well together, they seem to enjoy playing together and despite the wide variety of languages and backgrounds of the players, they are all together in Charlton colours. Moreover, despite his reputation for being a bit volatile Luzon has clearly got something about him the players respond postively to, and he does seem to have improved tactically too. Fire and brimstone atnd panto dramatics are still his favoured style but if things on the pitch aren't working he can and will change it around, and with a weakened hand on Saturday he still managed to get the same passion and determination from the players and the fans.
Kashi is better than Buyens, Makionek better than George,Watt fitter than Vetokele (hopefully)-all other positions at least as good as the first team last season. But the squad as a whole is still 2 experienced players light.
We seem to have at least 3 players this season who would not be out of place in a prem side - Bauer, Kashi & JBG whereas last year I would have only said that about JBG
I never really took to Peeter’s game plan. Remember, our possession stats rarely rose above 40 percent. TBF he had a some success in the early days, but the old Italian slow, slow, quick quick slow style suited neither Charlton Athletic or British football (imo).
Luzon has reintroduced a bit of blood and thunder into the side - epitomised by Saturday’s performance. Every ball contested, desired and fought for - the work rate and will to win - in 30 degree temperatures quite awesome. The ‘feel good’ factor is high. It is easy to get behind a team like this, long may it continue.
last season home games against all three relegated teams got us four points, we already have six. Last season we lost at Derby, as you know we drew up there this time, and Forest away is the same result. So far you could argue that we are three points better off. If we lose at Wolves, but beat Rotherham at home that will represent another point gained compared to last season, indeed, one win from those two matches would be a gain, two draws a neutral. Compared to last season things are already 40 odd percent better. Which exceeds the target I personally have of about a 20% improvement. So it all feels a whole lot better to me.
Definitely early days. Last year I thought at this stage of the season Bikey and JBG looked sound and a lot of the other players looked touch and go with the exception of vetokele who looked dynamite then.
This year, nearly all the new players look more accomplished. Bauer is very very good, kashi is very good, jbg remains very very good, watt is very good when fit and motivated (slight concerns about how often those two align), Diarra has a lot of quality and is doing a superb job out of position, fox has improved immeasurably, I rarely am out of my seat shouting 'come on fox' these days, supporting players also look like they have something about them.
We no longer feel like an appendage to Standard Liege as its been sold.
Continued investment in the ground.
The football has been exciting and generally of good quality, the bits I've seen.
Overall it feels different to me even if it ends up the same.
Last year I felt we were always going to dip... This season I had low expectations, but the league is tight, we've beaten two relegated teams and drew away at good teams... I think there's potential
We do have a team that looks very together at the moment. The Championship is demanding though. So it all depends on how they stand the pace and what backups we have when injuries occur which they will. Our subs on Saturday were very inexperienced so that is a concern and I'm sure GL knows that.
For me the big difference is that last year we were hanging on to draws. Last year's team (and management set-up) would have taken the point when we conceded. The determination of the players and Luzon's comments on the C5 program are completely different.
The team have a more 'aggressive' attitude. They 'dare to win' as Sven used to say.
It feels different. That doesn't mean to say that it will end up different but I'd take mid table and development over the season.
Certainly different from how I felt after 5 games, Danny Baker always said Charlton went up like a balloon, and down like a stick.
Still the good news just keeps on coming, just heard Oliver Giroud has been sent off for Arsenal. He went in my dream team as an emergency transfer 2 days ago....
I know its pure coincidence but since that Palace draw its gone off the rails. Wolves was ok but we deserved no more than a draw, same with Rotherham and I did not see last night. Fully expect a repeat of last season up at Blackburn and then yes the feel good factor that I did feel really has gone. Couldn't care less about Palace because even a win will still only be League Cup win. It just seems we are revisiting last season albeit we could be approaching the bleak winless winter already? Come on Guy, you can sort it out...
yes, its different this season.......its worse !!!
Yes, last year we were unbeaten in the league until October 18th. I remember us winning at Reading at the start of November, the away fans chanting Bob's name, and everything looking good...
Things don't feel THAT much different from last season. Just like last, we have a big crop of new players that need time to gel. We have the potential to win games and also all the same vulnerabilities that end in defeat in equal measure. I suspect we will struggle to actually go to the next level when we give managers no time for that vital season of 'gelling' before the star player ( Joe Gomez) last season and next season (Gudmundsson, Cousins et al) are released and yet another gelling has to take place. To that end predicting anything other than Win 14 Draw 14 Lose 14 is proving very difficult for this current season's forecast.
I must say I think it feels much worse this season, Igor is already injured, Watt is already even more unfit that usual and losing interest rapidly. Might as well demote us now and get in out the way...
I must say I think it feels much worse this season, Igor is already injured, Watt is already even more unfit that usual and losing interest rapidly. Might as well demote us now and get in out the way...
No you've got to sit through the rest of the season!
It feels like the same wanky boring Belgian experiment it was last year but this year we have a very nice training ground facility going up that I can read about where as last year we had new seats and a pitch to whet our appetite and take our minds off the fact that we are going nowhere fast , except maybe down
I must say I think it feels much worse this season, Igor is already injured, Watt is already even more unfit that usual and losing interest rapidly. Might as well demote us now and get in out the way...
Leave it out Harry Boy ?
Some of us had the Kahunas to bet on CAFC to finish in the top 12.
It feels exactly like last season now, a promising start, then total disaster. In fact its even worse than last season as its started earlier!
That just means that instead of having to wait until February for our form to improve, we can expect our fortunes to change in October which will give us plenty of time to make a push for the play-offs!
Comments
At least I think they said Addicks and excitement?
This season, Luzon has got a bunch of players who are clearly a team in spirit as well as in name. They work well together, they seem to enjoy playing together and despite the wide variety of languages and backgrounds of the players, they are all together in Charlton colours. Moreover, despite his reputation for being a bit volatile Luzon has clearly got something about him the players respond postively to, and he does seem to have improved tactically too. Fire and brimstone atnd panto dramatics are still his favoured style but if things on the pitch aren't working he can and will change it around, and with a weakened hand on Saturday he still managed to get the same passion and determination from the players and the fans.
Also there's more togetherness (apparently)
Imagine the injuries we would have had if Peeters jumped on to of a pile of players.
But the squad as a whole is still 2 experienced players light.
Luzon has reintroduced a bit of blood and thunder into the side - epitomised by Saturday’s performance. Every ball contested, desired and fought for - the work rate and will to win - in 30 degree temperatures quite awesome. The ‘feel good’ factor is high. It is easy to get behind a team like this, long may it continue.
So far you could argue that we are three points better off. If we lose at Wolves, but beat Rotherham at home that will represent another point gained compared to last season, indeed, one win from those two matches would be a gain, two draws a neutral.
Compared to last season things are already 40 odd percent better. Which exceeds the target I personally have of about a 20% improvement. So it all feels a whole lot better to me.
This year, nearly all the new players look more accomplished. Bauer is very very good, kashi is very good, jbg remains very very good, watt is very good when fit and motivated (slight concerns about how often those two align), Diarra has a lot of quality and is doing a superb job out of position, fox has improved immeasurably, I rarely am out of my seat shouting 'come on fox' these days, supporting players also look like they have something about them.
We no longer feel like an appendage to Standard Liege as its been sold.
Continued investment in the ground.
The football has been exciting and generally of good quality, the bits I've seen.
Overall it feels different to me even if it ends up the same.
And long may it continue.................
The team have a more 'aggressive' attitude. They 'dare to win' as Sven used to say.
It feels different. That doesn't mean to say that it will end up different but I'd take mid table and development over the season.
Still the good news just keeps on coming, just heard Oliver Giroud has been sent off for Arsenal. He went in my dream team as an emergency transfer 2 days ago....
Things don't feel THAT much different from last season. Just like last, we have a big crop of new players that need time to gel. We have the potential to win games and also all the same vulnerabilities that end in defeat in equal measure. I suspect we will struggle to actually go to the next level when we give managers no time for that vital season of 'gelling' before the star player ( Joe Gomez) last season and next season (Gudmundsson, Cousins et al) are released and yet another gelling has to take place. To that end predicting anything other than Win 14 Draw 14 Lose 14 is proving very difficult for this current season's forecast.
Might as well demote us now and get in out the way...
but this year we have a very nice training ground facility going up that I can read about where as last year we had new seats and a pitch to whet our appetite and take our minds off the fact that we are going nowhere fast , except maybe down
Some of us had the Kahunas to bet on CAFC to finish in the top 12.
I blame the Sofa.