This has the stink of the Premier League relegation season all over it. Tactically uninspiring manager with under-prepared squad gets given the boot and replaced by an inexperienced dud because, sod it, the owner knows him and that'll do. Inexperienced dud proceeds to do even worse before being replaced too late for our fortunes to change. Considering we still haven't truly recovered from that season I dread to think where we'll end up after this one
Just got back - very poor tonight although second half was more spirited. That said we created no clear cut chances. Watt had a few decent attempts but probably should have passed rather than shoot. MK Dons awful, we were worse. No way was there 9000 in the ground. Little sick of Big Mak's post match behaviour. If he cared as much as he makes out, perhaps he could put a bit more effort in when he comes on. Perhaps harsh if he's not fit enough to be out there. Fox shocking tonight.
Out of curiosity, what was his demeanour after the final whistle?
Just got back - very poor tonight although second half was more spirited. That said we created no clear cut chances. Watt had a few decent attempts but probably should have passed rather than shoot. MK Dons awful, we were worse. No way was there 9000 in the ground. Little sick of Big Mak's post match behaviour. If he cared as much as he makes out, perhaps he could put a bit more effort in when he comes on. Perhaps harsh if he's not fit enough to be out there. Fox shocking tonight.
Out of curiosity, what was his demeanour after the final whistle?
Just got back - very poor tonight although second half was more spirited. That said we created no clear cut chances. Watt had a few decent attempts but probably should have passed rather than shoot. MK Dons awful, we were worse. No way was there 9000 in the ground. Little sick of Big Mak's post match behaviour. If he cared as much as he makes out, perhaps he could put a bit more effort in when he comes on. Perhaps harsh if he's not fit enough to be out there. Fox shocking tonight.
Out of curiosity, what was his demeanour after the final whistle?
He flaked out in the centre circle again
We can do without the drama queen act . That isn't washing anymore. The players need to grow a pair.
Just home ( again ) after a nightmare evening. A closure on the M25 forcing us through Farningham, Eynsford, Otford & Sevenoaks didn't help , then a police incident on the A21( woman walking along & in danger of being run down- silly c*w!) closed a section for 15 minutes and finally thick fog engulfed us for the last lap of our journey. En route, at the witching hour, I wished Mr F a happy 69th birthday ....but he wasn't amused.
The match ? Well, what did we expect....All I will say is thank goodness for Alou Diarra and Hendo ! And to thank Churchy for not making the defeat worse.
For me, tonight emphasised how far we have fallen under the current regime. To hear a group of our fans sing " You're not fit to wear the shirt" as the dejected team left the pitch was like an arrow in my heart.
Fair enough, it was yet another fairly dire performance although there were glimpses of the players we used to know....and Reza definitely added something to the starting line up when he stayed on his feet. But the number of our lads queuing for the physio's table tomorrow increased & JJ was out on his feet after 98+minutes as expected. Our paper thin squad cannot cope with the rigours of this league and this MUST be high on next Wednesday's agenda and answers HAVE to be given.
This erosion of our playing squad is destroying any confidence our lads might have retained and match by match, destroying any hope we may have of avoiding the dreaded drop next May.
I could see the writing on the wall after the Rotherham, Huddersfield and Blackburn games. I did my yearly pilgimage from California, in September this time. I always arrange my trip around Charlton games and I like to take in a couple of aways if possible. Through thick and thin I've done this for years. And I've always been positive about Charlton, me being a natural optimist. However, this time it was different. I could just see in those games that things were different. Different than I've ever seen before. That is the first time I've ever felt disinterested in Charlton because it just felt wrong. From the lunatic on the sidelines to the general apathy of the players. Everything just felt dead. And it depressed me and, to be honest, spoiled my trip back a bit which I always so enjoy. I remember thinking before the Blackburn game that I was crazy going all the way up there when I was flying out from Heathrow early the following morning. I could have spent it with members of my family who I won't see for another year. But, I went anyway, and it was a waste of time from a Charlton perspective and that's the first time I've ever felt like that. The only saving grace was that I went with my eldest son and brother and we did have a laugh, a few beers and a great mixed grill at a Beefeater (which you just can't get over here).
I went to my first game as a real nipper in 1961 and since then I have absolutely adored this club. Everything about it. The red shirts. The green grass at the Valley. Walking up from the station or down through the park to get to the ground. The old club shop where I could always pick up old programs. Everything. It just always felt special and different. Even this time, between the Huddersfield and Blackburn games, I spent half a day at the Valley on a cold Wednesday just walking around the ground, taking pictures of Sam Bartram's statue, Don Welsh with the cup in 1947, Stuart Leary at the Valley in 1957, Back to the Valley in 1992, Killer Hales in 1976, that 2012 promotion squad with Chrissy Powell, and Sasa and Clive doing their nuts in at Wembley in 1998. I even took pictures of the local roadsigns - Floyd Road, Sam Bartram Close, Lansdowne Mews - just so I had something to gaze at now and again from over here. Even an exotic picture of Charlton Lane FFS and the 'Welcome to the Charlton Athletic MUSEUM Third Floor' sign.
Now, I feel I'm losing all that. I would never support another club and Charlton will always be my team but we are being destroyed by a bunch of Belgians who appear to know nothing about the game.
I ask you. Without being too jingoistic but what has Belgium ever done on the World stage? And now we are being subjected to a Belgian owner who likely has a deep down inferiority complex, but one who does have the money to ruin an English football club. And whether that is intentional or not I don't know but his arrogance shows no bounds.
Roland and Katrien, whatever your names are, I hope you read this and are proud of yourselves. You should actually be ashamed.
I'll reiterate, you should be ashamed of yourselves.
Have to say i knew the game was on, but didn't look for score until i arrived at work at 10pm. Saw the result and just thought, it's just another loss. For first time apathy is setting in. I have no expectation other than to lose every game we play right now. I don't even know if i'm angry or just numb! I'm starting to feel like i just want putting out of my misery and the end of the season can't come soon enough, with the enevitable relegation that has to be odds on by now. As for Belguim, the only positive i can think of that came out of that country is an icing topped bun i'm currently consoling myself with.
We're starting to make the shenanigans at Leeds look like a stable Arsenal-esqe club. We're offically a joke with no punch line just a punch in the stomach.
Roland, I hope you lose every penny you spent on our club. Please just go and never darken our door again.
I've never seen the front page of the post-match thread look so desperate and apathetic. We lost. We expected to lose. That's how it came across and that's how I feel as well. And this against the mighty MK Dons!
As for Ms Fry's post match comments, the less said the better. He is as out of his depth as the owner and the CEO.
Sad. Even under Les Reed, even in the last relegation season, there seemed to be some hope. But this time round it really does appear different.
Perhaps things have to get really bad before anything changes .... like relegation and we start again. I have not given up hope but have very little expectation. I will still go to home games and some aways but this is more out of solidarity and commitment than anything to do with enjoyment. In fact people talk to each other more at the ground when things are this dire and that is the one positive I can take. We may as well be playing the Under 21's and getting them some experience.
New Interim Manager same old problem, persisting with 4.4.2 and getting over run in midfield and unable to create anything, they cut through us like a training exercise for the goal. Surely we need to go 4.5.1 and compete in the middle to give ourselves a chance
New Interim Manager same old problem, persisting with 4.4.2 and getting over run in midfield and unable to create anything, they cut through us like a training exercise for the goal. Surely we need to go 4.5.1 and compete in the middle to give ourselves a chance
Our problems go much deeper than just formations. That team didn't want it last night.
Lifeless, clueless, nothing up front and Fraeye couldn't or wouldn't even come over to acknowledge the supporters.
Reza, what point is someone trying to prove?.
RD told Powell who to play, putting players in the shop window. The arrogant tosser won't have changed in 20 months, especially now he has his favourite Belgian 3rd tier stooge in place.
MK Dons were better than us last night but not by that much. It was two pretty poor teams out there. Our quality on the ball was fairly non-existent apart from a great turn by Ahearne-Grant and a couple of moments from Lookman. There were a couple of promising moves which were ruined by an over-hit through ball (EG one big chance for Fox to slide Watt in 1st half) but the lack of confidence has ruined the ability to do the most simple things.
In terms of players only, on last night's evidence (and I understand that players often look bad because the bloke playing next to them has dropped them in it...) we ought to be looking for a new left-back, a new left midfielder, two new centre-midfielders and a new right winger to allow JBG to play centrally in midfield in a 4-3-3.
We hear a lot about signing players with Championship experience. Well, we've got four that have got plenty of that (Solly, Jackson, Fox, Cousins) but last night they looked League One standard on the ball. They and the others need to up their game or be moved on. Let's hope they up their game.
Despite that, when looking at players, I'm prepared to take any positives out of any situation, so it should be said that Henderson, Diarra, Ahearne-Grant (on the left and right) and Lookman (on the right) all looked ok. As the game wore on, Diarra got stronger and looked more like the player from the QPR and Hull games. In the case of Lookman, it was a decent cameo and gave a glance at what he might become as he develops. I just wish Ahearne-Grant had had a shot when he got space in the area 2nd half but instead took a couple of chances and got closed out. The main plus was Henderson. He's just a really good goalie and it's good to have him back.
I know we're crap but it was sad to see us trying to get a something out of the game late on, with ten men, Jackson almost gone and Watt struggling with a knock. Losing Gudmonsson was/is a major blow because despite being totally out of form, he's a must in this team.
Lastly, I know it's a weird place and MK are a weird club, but that stadium is superb.
New Interim Manager same old problem, persisting with 4.4.2 and getting over run in midfield and unable to create anything, they cut through us like a training exercise for the goal. Surely we need to go 4.5.1 and compete in the middle to give ourselves a chance
Our problems go much deeper than just formations. That team didn't want it last night.
I agree with you but I also hoped that a new manager albeit interim might at least try something to make a difference rather than carry on blindly
We bmust accept that the players are not goodenough, which is the fault of Roland and the coach for bringing in or holding onto poor players without the skills to play football. Just look at how poor are tackling is in midfield we hardly ever stap an attack there.
OH, and when you see the goal... absolutely pathetic. Made MK Dons look like Manchester City. If we dont appoint a proper manager before Saturday then that may be the day when I start my indefinite break. Not worth my time at the moment.
With all the youngsters appearing for the First Team, our Midfield seriously needs something different but you don't see Oliver's name either for the U21s or mentioned as being part of the First Team, maybe we should give him a chance? (Especially if Cousins is now injured)
With all the youngsters appearing for the First Team, our Midfield seriously needs something different but you don't see Oliver's name either for the U21s or mentioned as being part of the First Team, maybe we should give him a chance? (Especially if Cousins is now injured)
The academy players are not the answer. It's unfair to be placing the weight on their shoulders this early. Lookman looked like a really exciting player when he came on, but within a few minutes he looked just as demoralised as the rest of them.
Comments
Easy, easy!
The match ? Well, what did we expect....All I will say is thank goodness for Alou Diarra and Hendo ! And to thank Churchy for not making the defeat worse.
For me, tonight emphasised how far we have fallen under the current regime. To hear a group of our fans sing " You're not fit to wear the shirt" as the dejected team left the pitch was like an arrow in my heart.
Fair enough, it was yet another fairly dire performance although there were glimpses of the players we used to know....and Reza definitely added something to the starting line up when he stayed on his feet. But the number of our lads queuing for the physio's table tomorrow increased & JJ was out on his feet after 98+minutes as expected. Our paper thin squad cannot cope with the rigours of this league and this MUST be high on next Wednesday's agenda and answers HAVE to be given.
This erosion of our playing squad is destroying any confidence our lads might have retained and match by match, destroying any hope we may have of avoiding the dreaded drop next May.
And it has to stop NOW.
I went to my first game as a real nipper in 1961 and since then I have absolutely adored this club. Everything about it. The red shirts. The green grass at the Valley. Walking up from the station or down through the park to get to the ground. The old club shop where I could always pick up old programs. Everything. It just always felt special and different. Even this time, between the Huddersfield and Blackburn games, I spent half a day at the Valley on a cold Wednesday just walking around the ground, taking pictures of Sam Bartram's statue, Don Welsh with the cup in 1947, Stuart Leary at the Valley in 1957, Back to the Valley in 1992, Killer Hales in 1976, that 2012 promotion squad with Chrissy Powell, and Sasa and Clive doing their nuts in at Wembley in 1998. I even took pictures of the local roadsigns - Floyd Road, Sam Bartram Close, Lansdowne Mews - just so I had something to gaze at now and again from over here. Even an exotic picture of Charlton Lane FFS and the 'Welcome to the Charlton Athletic MUSEUM Third Floor' sign.
Now, I feel I'm losing all that. I would never support another club and Charlton will always be my team but we are being destroyed by a bunch of Belgians who appear to know nothing about the game.
I ask you. Without being too jingoistic but what has Belgium ever done on the World stage? And now we are being subjected to a Belgian owner who likely has a deep down inferiority complex, but one who does have the money to ruin an English football club. And whether that is intentional or not I don't know but his arrogance shows no bounds.
Roland and Katrien, whatever your names are, I hope you read this and are proud of yourselves. You should actually be ashamed.
I'll reiterate, you should be ashamed of yourselves.
As for Belguim, the only positive i can think of that came out of that country is an icing topped bun i'm currently consoling myself with.
We're starting to make the shenanigans at Leeds look like a stable Arsenal-esqe club. We're offically a joke with no punch line just a punch in the stomach.
Roland, I hope you lose every penny you spent on our club. Please just go and never darken our door again.
As for Ms Fry's post match comments, the less said the better. He is as out of his depth as the owner and the CEO.
Sad. Even under Les Reed, even in the last relegation season, there seemed to be some hope. But this time round it really does appear different.
100% Relegated
And I believed it!
In terms of players only, on last night's evidence (and I understand that players often look bad because the bloke playing next to them has dropped them in it...) we ought to be looking for a new left-back, a new left midfielder, two new centre-midfielders and a new right winger to allow JBG to play centrally in midfield in a 4-3-3.
We hear a lot about signing players with Championship experience. Well, we've got four that have got plenty of that (Solly, Jackson, Fox, Cousins) but last night they looked League One standard on the ball. They and the others need to up their game or be moved on. Let's hope they up their game.
Despite that, when looking at players, I'm prepared to take any positives out of any situation, so it should be said that Henderson, Diarra, Ahearne-Grant (on the left and right) and Lookman (on the right) all looked ok. As the game wore on, Diarra got stronger and looked more like the player from the QPR and Hull games. In the case of Lookman, it was a decent cameo and gave a glance at what he might become as he develops. I just wish Ahearne-Grant had had a shot when he got space in the area 2nd half but instead took a couple of chances and got closed out. The main plus was Henderson. He's just a really good goalie and it's good to have him back.
I know we're crap but it was sad to see us trying to get a something out of the game late on, with ten men, Jackson almost gone and Watt struggling with a knock. Losing Gudmonsson was/is a major blow because despite being totally out of form, he's a must in this team.
Lastly, I know it's a weird place and MK are a weird club, but that stadium is superb.
With all the youngsters appearing for the First Team, our Midfield seriously needs something different but you don't see Oliver's name either for the U21s or mentioned as being part of the First Team, maybe we should give him a chance? (Especially if Cousins is now injured)