Sarr needs to step up. To have Lennon on as a start is embarrassing for the lad and he is very shy of the ball for a CD from what I've seen. Distribution also without any confidence. Needs a confidence building run elsewhere. I think we need a good central defender to hold the line, particularly if Bauer is suspended and Diarra is in midfield.
That people are saying losing to Brighton is not too bad a thing shows how far this great club has fallen over the years in expectation, ambition and reality.
We are third from bottom and going nowhere under this strategy. There are no positives. Wake up Roland. This is all so unavoidable which is the real kick in the bollocks.
But it is no bad thing losing to Brighton... Too many fans live in the past, the present states that Brighton are in a better position than us and the table doesnt lie.
You could say the same about Bournemouth being above us in the Premier League whilst Huddersfield who won three First Division titles could say they should be beating Charlton and regularly finishing above us.
Simply put... A clubs history gets you no where in the present, yet to KM it is worth remembering it and not worth completely ignoring it
We lack ambition as a club under this ownership. It's shown in our derby performances, lack of cup runs, transfer windows, managerial appointments, player sales and recruitment. This latest turgid shambles experiment by this raving lunatic is taking the piss out of us Charlton supporters. Jiminez and co turned out to be divs but at least they knew what football is about and we would be better off under them had the cash not run out than this.
Yes they've stopped us going into admin but where does the gratitude end for that? If merely keeping a club out of admin, is an achievement these days then the game's fucked and I'm out. It was understandable when Richard Murray had done his best and we were genuinely living hand to mouth and doing the best to stay afloat...I hated it and didn't rate Parkinson but at least you could relate to why it was happening and we sucked it all up and got on with it during the relegations and humiliations against Northwich etc and it was still our club and there was a strong bond and in it together with the board, manager, players and fans.
This is different...the bloke has NO affinity for Charlton Athletic any more than he does for any of the sunday league clubs he's bought up round Europe and regardless of all the tosh that dippy CEO spouts about us being "his children"...fuck off with that patronising rubbish you no marks. You're a multi millionaire/ billionaire....learn something about this league, learn something about this club and learn that your poxy experiment will lead us nowhere and change the approach....or Fuck right off before you relegate us, lose interest and leave us in a worse position than we were in before you rolled up with your circus.
I went with a Brighton fan and sat in their end. We started the game with a 4-2-3-1 formation, Cousins and Diarra holding, JBG on the right, Reza centrally behind Vaz Te and Lookman on the left. It was roughly the team I expected as I couldn't see Fraeye sticking with the diamond after the Ipswich game or going back to 4-4-2.
With the front 4 players we had pace and ability on the ball giving us a real threat on the counter. It almost didn't feel real to see us score twice, especially with our first half and away scoring records. Brighton had a lot of the ball but in the first half we competed and looked like we could/should get a result. As the highlights show we had chances to score a few more.
Second half very frustrating to concede so early on and in the way we did. Diarra gave the ball away and we let Wilson run straight through the middle and score. Watching the highlights Bauer had Solly to his right in space but chose to pass Diarra who was closed down very quickly. Brighton haven't won by more than one goal all season and decisions like that can make the difference.
Brighton controlled the whole second half and even though it was an away game and they're at the top we need to be better than that. We were under so much pressure, I couldn't see how we were going to hang on.
Once Bauer was sent off I said we'd probably lose 3 or 4-2 now. You could see it coming by that point. We couldn't keep possession, lost any threat we had going forward and it was down to Brighton making wrong decisions and missing chances that we were still ahead late on.
One of the worst things for me was to see our team at 3-2 down look like they were the ones defending the lead. With not long left we were still sitting back and trying to hold out shape rather than close them down. We the pushed Diarra up front with minutes left but of course without the ball it came to nothing.
Henderson picked up some sort of injury as Sarr had to take one of his goal kicks. Losing Lennon didn't help in that we had one less sub we could make. Bringing on Makienok, as poor as he was last week, would have given us a different type of threat up front.
I didn't want to go over the top with Lookman after last week, but today it was a performance that made him look closer to our best academy players in Gomez, Shelvey etc. Today Brighton pushing up gave him plenty of space on the counter, it'll be interesting to see how he copes as teams become more aware of him and at home where opponents may sit a lot deeper. As well as his well taken goal (with his weaker left foot) and obvious pace he also showed a good touch and used his pace to get a couple of decent tackles in.
I'd have liked THD to start, he's got that bit more pace and skill than Solly or especially Fox which could give us more going forward.
We're in a similar position to last year. Once again it's down to RD to improve our chances of staying up. We need a new manager, a handful of good signings in January and to keep our better players. We've done enough in the last two seasons but if we continue like we are at some point it won't be enough and we'll be back in League One.
That people are saying losing to Brighton is not too bad a thing shows how far this great club has fallen over the years in expectation, ambition and reality.
We are third from bottom and going nowhere under this strategy. There are no positives. Wake up Roland. This is all so unavoidable which is the real kick in the bollocks.
But it is no bad thing losing to Brighton... Too many fans live in the past, the present states that Brighton are in a better position than us and the table doesnt lie.
You could say the same about Bournemouth being above us in the Premier League whilst Huddersfield who won three First Division titles could say they should be beating Charlton and regularly finishing above us.
Simply put... A clubs history gets you no where in the present, yet to KM it is worth remembering it and not worth completely ignoring it
We lack ambition as a club under this ownership. It's shown in our derby performances, lack of cup runs, transfer windows, managerial appointments, player sales and recruitment. This latest turgid shambles experiment by this raving lunatic is taking the piss out of us Charlton supporters. Jiminez and co turned out to be divs but at least they knew what football is about and we would be better off under them had the cash not run out than this.
Yes they've stopped us going into admin but where does the gratitude end for that? If merely keeping a club out of admin, is an achievement these days then the game's fucked and I'm out. It was understandable when Richard Murray had done his best and we were genuinely living hand to mouth and doing the best to stay afloat...I hated it and didn't rate Parkinson but at least you could relate to why it was happening and we sucked it all up and got on with it during the relegations and humiliations against Northwich etc and it was still our club and there was a strong bond and in it together with the board, manager, players and fans.
This is different...the bloke has NO affinity for Charlton Athletic any more than he does for any of the sunday league clubs he's bought up round Europe and regardless of all the tosh that dippy CEO spouts about us being "his children"...fuck off with that patronising rubbish you no marks. You're a multi millionaire/ billionaire....learn something about this league, learn something about this club and learn that your poxy experiment will lead us nowhere and change the approach....or Fuck right off before you relegate us, lose interest and leave us in a worse position than we were in before you rolled up with your circus.
Yours in sport
Peeved of Beckenham
That was weird.
The whole time I was reading I was thinking "I could have written this" and then you finished it with "peeved of Beckenham" and I freaked out a little haha.
I went with a Brighton fan and sat in their end. We started the game with a 4-2-3-1 formation, Cousins and Diarra holding, JBG on the right, Reza centrally behind Vaz Te and Lookman on the left. It was roughly the team I expected as I couldn't see Fraeye sticking with the diamond after the Ipswich game or going back to 4-4-2.
With the front 4 players we had pace and ability on the ball giving us a real threat on the counter. It almost didn't feel real to see us score twice, especially with our first half and away scoring records. Brighton had a lot of the ball but in the first half we competed and looked like we could/should get a result. As the highlights show we had chances to score a few more.
Second half very frustrating to concede so early on and in the way we did. Diarra gave the ball away and we let Wilson run straight through the middle and score. Watching the highlights Bauer had Solly to his right in space but chose to pass Diarra who was closed down very quickly. Brighton haven't won by more than one goal all season and decisions like that can make the difference.
Brighton controlled the whole second half and even though it was an away game and they're at the top we need to be better than that. We were under so much pressure, I couldn't see how we were going to hang on.
Once Bauer was sent off I said we'd probably lose 3 or 4-2 now. You could see it coming by that point. We couldn't keep possession, lost any threat we had going forward and it was down to Brighton making wrong decisions and missing chances that we were still ahead late on.
One of the worst things for me was to see our team at 3-2 down look like they were the ones defending the lead. With not long left we were still sitting back and trying to hold out shape rather than close them down. We the pushed Diarra up front with minutes left but of course without the ball it came to nothing.
Henderson picked up some sort of injury as Sarr had to take one of his goal kicks. Losing Lennon didn't help in that we had one less sub we could make. Bringing on Makienok, as poor as he was last week, would have given us a different type of threat up front.
I didn't want to go over the top with Lookman after last week, but today it was a performance that made him look closer to our best academy players in Gomez, Shelvey etc. Today Brighton pushing up gave him plenty of space on the counter, it'll be interesting to see how he copes as teams become more aware of him and at home where opponents may sit a lot deeper. As well as his well taken goal (with his weaker left foot) and obvious pace he also showed a good touch and used his pace to get a couple of decent tackles in.
I'd have liked THD to start, he's got that bit more pace and skill than Solly or especially Fox which could give us more going forward.
We're in a similar position to last year. Once again it's down to RD to improve our chances of staying up. We need a new manager, a handful of good signings in January and to keep our better players. We've done enough in the last two seasons but if we continue like we are at some point it won't be enough and we'll be back in League One.
Agree with much of that, but we are in a much worse place than last year. We had 28 points going into match 19 last season. We currently have 16. That is a huge difference and if we don't claw some of that back by the end of December we will be stuffed, regardless of what happens in January.
Brighton were so dominant from the start of the 2nd half that I think we probably would have lost even if Bauer hadn't been sent off.
Lookman is class, Sarr is a liability and after an awayday at the Amex you can't help but feel that Brighton have nailed the whole 'matchday experience' that our CEO is so desperately trying to achieve.
I went with a Brighton fan and sat in their end. We started the game with a 4-2-3-1 formation, Cousins and Diarra holding, JBG on the right, Reza centrally behind Vaz Te and Lookman on the left. It was roughly the team I expected as I couldn't see Fraeye sticking with the diamond after the Ipswich game or going back to 4-4-2.
With the front 4 players we had pace and ability on the ball giving us a real threat on the counter. It almost didn't feel real to see us score twice, especially with our first half and away scoring records. Brighton had a lot of the ball but in the first half we competed and looked like we could/should get a result. As the highlights show we had chances to score a few more.
Second half very frustrating to concede so early on and in the way we did. Diarra gave the ball away and we let Wilson run straight through the middle and score. Watching the highlights Bauer had Solly to his right in space but chose to pass Diarra who was closed down very quickly. Brighton haven't won by more than one goal all season and decisions like that can make the difference.
Brighton controlled the whole second half and even though it was an away game and they're at the top we need to be better than that. We were under so much pressure, I couldn't see how we were going to hang on.
Once Bauer was sent off I said we'd probably lose 3 or 4-2 now. You could see it coming by that point. We couldn't keep possession, lost any threat we had going forward and it was down to Brighton making wrong decisions and missing chances that we were still ahead late on.
One of the worst things for me was to see our team at 3-2 down look like they were the ones defending the lead. With not long left we were still sitting back and trying to hold out shape rather than close them down. We the pushed Diarra up front with minutes left but of course without the ball it came to nothing.
Henderson picked up some sort of injury as Sarr had to take one of his goal kicks. Losing Lennon didn't help in that we had one less sub we could make. Bringing on Makienok, as poor as he was last week, would have given us a different type of threat up front.
I didn't want to go over the top with Lookman after last week, but today it was a performance that made him look closer to our best academy players in Gomez, Shelvey etc. Today Brighton pushing up gave him plenty of space on the counter, it'll be interesting to see how he copes as teams become more aware of him and at home where opponents may sit a lot deeper. As well as his well taken goal (with his weaker left foot) and obvious pace he also showed a good touch and used his pace to get a couple of decent tackles in.
I'd have liked THD to start, he's got that bit more pace and skill than Solly or especially Fox which could give us more going forward.
We're in a similar position to last year. Once again it's down to RD to improve our chances of staying up. We need a new manager, a handful of good signings in January and to keep our better players. We've done enough in the last two seasons but if we continue like we are at some point it won't be enough and we'll be back in League One.
Agree with much of that, but we are in a much worse place than last year. We had 28 points going into match 19 last season. We currently have 16. That is a huge difference and if we don't claw some of that back by the end of December we will be stuffed, regardless of what happens in January.
True, I was more thinking in terms of us yet again being in a relegation battle. Of course last season our better start meant it didn't look that way until January/February time.
First half we were brilliant and probably should have been at least 3-0 up. Bauer's sending off completely changed the game and Brighton dominated from then on. With 10 men we defended quite well and at the 81st minute I thought that we might hang on.
We didn't deserve to conceed two goals late on and lose. No way. Definitely deserved at least a point I feel.
Just got home. After our amazing start only 3 top saves from their keeper kept them in the game. I can't recall them having one effort on target in the first half. Lennon going off was a massive blow. We never threatened in the second. Bauer and Noby messed up for their first goal. Once Bauer went I think it was clear to everyone that we needed miracles by the bucket load to hang on. Have not yet looked on here to see whether he went for denying scoring opportunity or dangerous tackle. My failing eyesight, although still better than most championship referees, could not tell from the other end of the ground. Been a strong supporter of Fox in the past, but he needs a break, as the opposition are targetting him. Lookman got him out of jail more than once. Only one trademark "air shot" from Noby today, which he got away with this time. Totally pissed off!
I can confirm that I was at the same match as you today, CAFCspooney unlike some of our fellow Addicks.
This was THE game of 2 halves....The players, Jekyll & Hyde at their best/worst.
KF's decision to start with Vaz Te, Lookie AND Reza was well received in the away end & his faith in their ability to work together to make things happen going forward was repaid in spades. It's been many a moon since we witnessed such confidence on the ball, such sublime interplay and finally such finishing. As others have rightly stated, BHA hardly got a look(man) in for the first 45 minutes & but for their 'keeper, we could have scored 3 or 4.
But this is Charlton. Lady Luck was busy Christmas shopping this afternoon, it would seem.
Lennon's injury, the early response from the Seagulls in the 2nd half followed by Bauer's dismissal knocked the stuffing out of our lads & our turkey was well & truly cooked.The non stop pressure that followed would only end one way.
Add to this the injury to Guddy, a hobbling Hendo and, I now read a struggling Jordan and there is very little Christmas cheer to look forward to as we approach the halfway mark in an increasingly worrying season.
I believe it was Red who earlier stated that RD doesn't understand how ill equipped a paper thin squad is to play 50 odd games in the Championship, let alone with more inexperienced young players than "old heads" in the squad to balance things somewhat. It was as clear as the smirk on Katrien's face that we would struggle once injuries and suspensions kicked in and that's just where we find ourselves at this moment in time. Sinking with no lifebelt in sight.
I WANT to believe that KF is the man to get us out of this nightmare ; that the 2 wins since his 2nd coming were not flukes.
But, although today was a match we didn't expect to win, the strikers had prised open the door only to find that the squad was too lightweight & ill equipped to prevent it slamming shut in their faces. Very few managers would be capable of producing results with such a poorly balanced set of players, let alone one with no experience of this demanding & unforgiving league.
THIS is what disappoints & angers the faithful more than anything under the current regime and their "cunning plan". Any incoming once the January window opens may be too little, too late. And new recruits may only be sought if Roland receives a brand new crystal ball for Christmas ...one that can see a disturbing league table come next May.
We are where we are, thanks to RD . The honest senior players in this current squad and the young guns that have been thrust into the mix deserve better from the owner. He should dwell on Igor's injury and how its severity was inevitably enhanced as a result of being played when resting was the sensible option. He should consider the implications of bringing in several players with no experience of the English game & the number of matches they would be expected to play without the winter break....and that's without the pressure of the Christmas/New Year/FA Cup games. And, IF we fail to beat the likes of Bolton & Bristol City over the next few weeks, perhaps the issue of a non English manager might dare to rudely interrupt Roland's beauty sleep ? Lots to mull over....or maybe not.
There were promising signs out there this afternoon. I can't deny that. But the fans and the players need & deserve more than that.
Unfortunately the early second half goal changed the game. Had we scored a third in the first half we would have gone on to win comfortably. That early goal makes the defence more nervy, which leads to Bauer pulling Zamora back, and 10 away from home to the team leading the division I'd always going to be tough. Having to make 2 enforced changes doesn't help matters and ultimately it's cost us.
Anyone claiming the players bottled it or claiming the head coach is tactically inept is quite frankly a moron, there's no manager in the world who's good enough to mastermind a game plan to deal with a sending off and 2 injuries in that situation
But whatever I'm sure many of you will claim Michael Morrison would never have got sent off in that situation, that Tony Watt would have scored Reza's chances and that Chris Powell would have managed us to a glorious win and its all the fault of 'that bitch' Katrien, 'the puppet' Fraeye and the 'Belgian twat' Roland
Haha who's flagged me on this? My second ever flag, and the only other time was also when I mentioned Michael Morrison's name.
Thought Ade's goal was much better than those shortlisted on SSNHQ earlier. The angle and power amazing. There have been a few on here questioning the power in his shooting. Jason Euell needs to take a lot of credit for nurturing his talent over the last year or so.
Thought Ade's goal was much better than those shortlisted on SSNHQ earlier. The angle and power amazing. There have been a few on here questioning the power in his shooting. Jason Euell needs to take a lot of credit for nurturing his talent over the last year or so.
He seemed to struggle getting a good connection previously. He would beat a man and sort of scuff it. No such problem today, a rifle into the roof from a tough angle.
Can't be bothered to read other posts. My take. Great effort from the players, could have been four up by half time ( also the opinion of a Seagulls fan we chatted to on the train back to Brighton ). Their keeper played well, they scored a couple of goals that wouldn't have happened on another day. We never, ever, ever, ever hold out for a result when under the cosh.
6 pages of mostly utter bollocks, imho opinion we were 10 mins away from a comfortable win, I hate laying blame for a performance when 14 players put it in, but Diarra killed us today with the mistake for the goal, he wins a great tackle then loses it in the wrong place. Lennon was having a great game, but for you lot looking for a scapegoat, leave Sarr out of it he put in a shift and weren't at fault, and those wanting to slate Fox fuck off as well as Lookman left him exposed time and time again, although after doin it recovered well. The third goal is so lucky spun in after keeper gets his hand to it, second goal is ping pong that drops to Zamora. Do you know what, we put a great shift in, I was proud of them, and you all need to put more effort into supporting them instead of sagging off the board.Lookman is so raw,people ain't got a clue how to play him and has to play through the middle, Vaz T e shouldn't have gone had to be Rezza or Lookman, the space Bruno got second half relates to Lookman, he doesn't have the nous to play in midfield, but another day with my mates supporting the club I love and I wouldn't change it for the world.
We were close to getting something from this game, but fate is not in our favour at present. I don't doubt the players commitment today. They gave their all by all accounts, but we are a team shipping 3's far too often and this is going to result in losses most weeks when we have one of the poorest strike rates in the division.
If we were playing better and in top 6 this result would have devastated me, but today it is mere disappointment. Apathy is looming, which is something i've never really felt before. I don't really know what will bring about change in our fortunes, by they say fortune favours the brave. Well who is brave at our club right now, on and off the pitch?
Some 'highlights' picked out from previous postings that seem pertinent as a summing up..
We played well for 45 mins - should/could have been 4 up. We never hold out when under the cosh.-very true. We are physically and mentally weak -also very true. Probably down to lack of talismanic leadership without JJ We *might* have found something in VT/Reza/AL partnership up front. Sorry, but Fox is now being targeted by every team, as they know he's poor.Shouldnt be near the team again this season.
However, the past few weeks have given us some positives in the emergence of AL and THD (dunno why he didnt start yesterday, presumably to rest, buy why an 18 year-old would need a rest is beyond me) - and therefore, should (and of course its a big should) we ever have a fully-fit squad, then we aint got a bad side....
Hendo Cousins/Bauer/Diarra/THD JBG/Kashi/JJ VT/Reza or Vetokele/AL Yes, beyond that its thin, but because of the emergence of those 2 , i dont think it needs THAT much more to make us a side that should escape relegation - maybe 2 players - 1 central defence, 1 middle of midfield - 2 players with experience and nous at this level who have that physical and mental strength for the fight. My worry though is does KF have the nous and respect from the players to get them fully onboard - because without that we're doomed.
I was at Wigan a couple of years ago - the second half reminded me of that game.
Was there. The sending off was bollox. The injuries and the sending off changed the game
We played well and they were lucky only to be 2 down at half time
Haven't seen the sending off, but let me clarify that part of the relevant law.
If, in the opinion of the referee, (not Joe Bloggs in the stand), an offence has been committed, anywhere on/off the field that the referee considers to be Serious Foul Play, then the player should be sent off.
In trying to clarify the Law, the football authorities, have in my humble opinion, muddied the waters. They now state that any offence such as tripping, holding, striking etc a player in a potential goal scoring position (often defined as "last player" fouls) , MUST be classed as Serious Foul Play or Violent Conduct and MUST be sent off.
That misunderstanding has led to some contributors on here falsely stating that Baer should not have been sent off because the opposing forward was not in a clear goal scoring position.
As I said, I haven't seen the incident, but presumably, in the opinion of the referee, the holding (?) was seen as Serious Foul Play and thus, if so, Baer was rightly sent off.
6 pages of mostly utter bollocks, imho opinion we were 10 mins away from a comfortable win, I hate laying blame for a performance when 14 players put it in, but Diarra killed us today with the mistake for the goal, he wins a great tackle then loses it in the wrong place. Lennon was having a great game, but for you lot looking for a scapegoat, leave Sarr out of it he put in a shift and weren't at fault, and those wanting to slate Fox fuck off as well as Lookman left him exposed time and time again, although after doin it recovered well. The third goal is so lucky spun in after keeper gets his hand to it, second goal is ping pong that drops to Zamora. Do you know what, we put a great shift in, I was proud of them, and you all need to put more effort into supporting them instead of sagging off the board.Lookman is so raw,people ain't got a clue how to play him and has to play through the middle, Vaz T e shouldn't have gone had to be Rezza or Lookman, the space Bruno got second half relates to Lookman, he doesn't have the nous to play in midfield, but another day with my mates supporting the club I love and I wouldn't change it for the world.
APOLOGIES STEVE. THAT WAS AN ACCIDENTAL FLAG - was going for the quote button without my glasses!! (Admin please move).
Great post and as I saw it also. As for the Fox comment. There was a fella sitting a few rows behind me (about 14 back from the middle of the goal) who should be utterly ashamed of the dogs abuse he gave Fox for about ten minutes near the end of the first half. Irrespective of Fox's performance (and it wasn't that bad), his torrent of one syllable diatribe was disgusting and at times Fox was definitely within earshot. If he thinks that's the kind of encouragement a player needs then I would like to know how many moons orbit his planet and what they put in the oxygen up there!!?? Hopefully he will get to read this but I fear that someone may well need to read it to him.
Yep, we all get disappointed/angry/annoyed etc at times; but we were 2-0 up and they weren't even threatening at that stage. If that's how we need to react towards a player when we are looking for a scapegoat then I am watching the wrong sport!
As an aside, some advice for the handful of 'fans' spouting the stereotypical homophobic tosh that Brighton routinely have to suffer. - Get yourselves out away from your X-boxes et al and treat yourselves to some education for Xmas. Your narrow mindedness is pitiful!
We picked up a lot of knocks in the Brighton game and our thin squad will be exposed in a busy December. Unless we get 4 or 5 decent loans to boost the squad we will drop like a stone to the bottom.
Once again we have conceded three, and Bauer has not learnt from his mistake a few weeks ago. We have no leadership on the field without Jacko.
Lennon in a bandage. Berg limping Cousins limping Hendo hurt back / shoulder (again?)
Even with several loan players (assuming they were good enough quality), it is unlikely they would go straight into the side and make an impact.
Once again it is apparent that our Owner/CEO/Manager do not understand the league we are competing in.
I expect us to go down, RD will then sell any decent player assets and walk away.
Prepare for bad times, but let's get these Wafflers out of our club and start to rebuild from the bottom.
If you pull a player back who is free on goal it is a sending off. What we have to do - or had to do against a team like Brighton was be a bit braver. Also need more quality in our passing - in second half too many passes went to Brighton player - Fox was a culprit. Giving the ball away cheaply, ultimately leads to goals. Lot of potential within the squad to make a more than decent team out of it with a bit of investment and direction. Oh well - with the shower running our club, we can but dream. Do they honestly not know they are a shower though, or is it our fault?
Comments
Yes they've stopped us going into admin but where does the gratitude end for that? If merely keeping a club out of admin, is an achievement these days then the game's fucked and I'm out. It was understandable when Richard Murray had done his best and we were genuinely living hand to mouth and doing the best to stay afloat...I hated it and didn't rate Parkinson but at least you could relate to why it was happening and we sucked it all up and got on with it during the relegations and humiliations against Northwich etc and it was still our club and there was a strong bond and in it together with the board, manager, players and fans.
This is different...the bloke has NO affinity for Charlton Athletic any more than he does for any of the sunday league clubs he's bought up round Europe and regardless of all the tosh that dippy CEO spouts about us being "his children"...fuck off with that patronising rubbish you no marks. You're a multi millionaire/ billionaire....learn something about this league, learn something about this club and learn that your poxy experiment will lead us nowhere and change the approach....or Fuck right off before you relegate us, lose interest and leave us in a worse position than we were in before you rolled up with your circus.
Yours in sport
Peeved of Beckenham
With the front 4 players we had pace and ability on the ball giving us a real threat on the counter. It almost didn't feel real to see us score twice, especially with our first half and away scoring records. Brighton had a lot of the ball but in the first half we competed and looked like we could/should get a result. As the highlights show we had chances to score a few more.
Second half very frustrating to concede so early on and in the way we did. Diarra gave the ball away and we let Wilson run straight through the middle and score. Watching the highlights Bauer had Solly to his right in space but chose to pass Diarra who was closed down very quickly. Brighton haven't won by more than one goal all season and decisions like that can make the difference.
Brighton controlled the whole second half and even though it was an away game and they're at the top we need to be better than that. We were under so much pressure, I couldn't see how we were going to hang on.
Once Bauer was sent off I said we'd probably lose 3 or 4-2 now. You could see it coming by that point. We couldn't keep possession, lost any threat we had going forward and it was down to Brighton making wrong decisions and missing chances that we were still ahead late on.
One of the worst things for me was to see our team at 3-2 down look like they were the ones defending the lead. With not long left we were still sitting back and trying to hold out shape rather than close them down. We the pushed Diarra up front with minutes left but of course without the ball it came to nothing.
Henderson picked up some sort of injury as Sarr had to take one of his goal kicks. Losing Lennon didn't help in that we had one less sub we could make. Bringing on Makienok, as poor as he was last week, would have given us a different type of threat up front.
I didn't want to go over the top with Lookman after last week, but today it was a performance that made him look closer to our best academy players in Gomez, Shelvey etc. Today Brighton pushing up gave him plenty of space on the counter, it'll be interesting to see how he copes as teams become more aware of him and at home where opponents may sit a lot deeper. As well as his well taken goal (with his weaker left foot) and obvious pace he also showed a good touch and used his pace to get a couple of decent tackles in.
I'd have liked THD to start, he's got that bit more pace and skill than Solly or especially Fox which could give us more going forward.
We're in a similar position to last year. Once again it's down to RD to improve our chances of staying up. We need a new manager, a handful of good signings in January and to keep our better players. We've done enough in the last two seasons but if we continue like we are at some point it won't be enough and we'll be back in League One.
The whole time I was reading I was thinking "I could have written this" and then you finished it with "peeved of Beckenham" and I freaked out a little haha.
Lookman is class, Sarr is a liability and after an awayday at the Amex you can't help but feel that Brighton have nailed the whole 'matchday experience' that our CEO is so desperately trying to achieve.
What I saw is a team come out and work hard but the entire team tired in the second half.
The red card ended us. So disappointed.
I was so happy to see Lookmans first and Reza score again.
We played well and they were lucky only to be 2 down at half time
This was THE game of 2 halves....The players, Jekyll & Hyde at their best/worst.
KF's decision to start with Vaz Te, Lookie AND Reza was well received in the away end & his faith in their ability to work together to make things happen going forward was repaid in spades. It's been many a moon since we witnessed such confidence on the ball, such sublime interplay and finally such finishing. As others have rightly stated, BHA hardly got a look(man) in for the first 45 minutes & but for their 'keeper, we could have scored 3 or 4.
But this is Charlton. Lady Luck was busy Christmas shopping this afternoon, it would seem.
Lennon's injury, the early response from the Seagulls in the 2nd half followed by Bauer's dismissal knocked the stuffing out of our lads & our turkey was well & truly cooked.The non stop pressure that followed would only end one way.
Add to this the injury to Guddy, a hobbling Hendo and, I now read a struggling Jordan and there is very little Christmas cheer to look forward to as we approach the halfway mark in an increasingly worrying season.
I believe it was Red who earlier stated that RD doesn't understand how ill equipped a paper thin squad is to play 50 odd games in the Championship, let alone with more inexperienced young players than "old heads" in the squad to balance things somewhat. It was as clear as the smirk on Katrien's face that we would struggle once injuries and suspensions kicked in and that's just where we find ourselves at this moment in time. Sinking with no lifebelt in sight.
I WANT to believe that KF is the man to get us out of this nightmare ; that the 2 wins since his 2nd coming were not flukes.
But, although today was a match we didn't expect to win, the strikers had prised open the door only to find that the squad was too lightweight & ill equipped to prevent it slamming shut in their faces. Very few managers would be capable of producing results with such a poorly balanced set of players, let alone one with no experience of this demanding & unforgiving league.
THIS is what disappoints & angers the faithful more than anything under the current regime and their "cunning plan". Any incoming once the January window opens may be too little, too late. And new recruits may only be sought if Roland receives a brand new crystal ball for Christmas ...one that can see a disturbing league table come next May.
We are where we are, thanks to RD . The honest senior players in this current squad and the young guns that have been thrust into the mix deserve better from the owner. He should dwell on Igor's injury and how its severity was inevitably enhanced as a result of being played when resting was the sensible option. He should consider the implications of bringing in several players with no experience of the English game & the number of matches they would be expected to play without the winter break....and that's without the pressure of the Christmas/New Year/FA Cup games. And, IF we fail to beat the likes of Bolton & Bristol City over the next few weeks, perhaps the issue of a non English manager might dare to rudely interrupt Roland's beauty sleep ? Lots to mull over....or maybe not.
There were promising signs out there this afternoon. I can't deny that. But the fans and the players need & deserve more than that.
Before it's too late.
What's your handle on here then MM?
http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/10090346/brighton-3-2-charlton
If we were playing better and in top 6 this result would have devastated me, but today it is mere disappointment. Apathy is looming, which is something i've never really felt before. I don't really know what will bring about change in our fortunes, by they say fortune favours the brave. Well who is brave at our club right now, on and off the pitch?
13th-21st 50%......... Bottom three 50%
We played well for 45 mins - should/could have been 4 up.
We never hold out when under the cosh.-very true.
We are physically and mentally weak -also very true. Probably down to lack of talismanic leadership without JJ
We *might* have found something in VT/Reza/AL partnership up front.
Sorry, but Fox is now being targeted by every team, as they know he's poor.Shouldnt be near the team again this season.
However, the past few weeks have given us some positives in the emergence of AL and THD (dunno why he didnt start yesterday, presumably to rest, buy why an 18 year-old would need a rest is beyond me) - and therefore, should (and of course its a big should) we ever have a fully-fit squad, then we aint got a bad side....
Hendo
Cousins/Bauer/Diarra/THD
JBG/Kashi/JJ
VT/Reza or Vetokele/AL
Yes, beyond that its thin, but because of the emergence of those 2 , i dont think it needs THAT much more to make us a side that should escape relegation - maybe 2 players - 1 central defence, 1 middle of midfield - 2 players with experience and nous at this level who have that physical and mental strength for the fight.
My worry though is does KF have the nous and respect from the players to get them fully onboard - because without that we're doomed.
I was at Wigan a couple of years ago - the second half reminded me of that game.
If, in the opinion of the referee, (not Joe Bloggs in the stand), an offence has been committed, anywhere on/off the field that the referee considers to be Serious Foul Play, then the player should be sent off.
In trying to clarify the Law, the football authorities, have in my humble opinion, muddied the waters. They now state that any offence such as tripping, holding, striking etc a player in a potential goal scoring position (often defined as "last player" fouls) , MUST be classed as Serious Foul Play or Violent Conduct and MUST be sent off.
That misunderstanding has led to some contributors on here falsely stating that Baer should not have been sent off because the opposing forward was not in a clear goal scoring position.
As I said, I haven't seen the incident, but presumably, in the opinion of the referee, the holding (?) was seen as Serious Foul Play and thus, if so, Baer was rightly sent off.
Hope that clarifies the situation.
Great post and as I saw it also. As for the Fox comment. There was a fella sitting a few rows behind me (about 14 back from the middle of the goal) who should be utterly ashamed of the dogs abuse he gave Fox for about ten minutes near the end of the first half. Irrespective of Fox's performance (and it wasn't that bad), his torrent of one syllable diatribe was disgusting and at times Fox was definitely within earshot. If he thinks that's the kind of encouragement a player needs then I would like to know how many moons orbit his planet and what they put in the oxygen up there!!?? Hopefully he will get to read this but I fear that someone may well need to read it to him.
Yep, we all get disappointed/angry/annoyed etc at times; but we were 2-0 up and they weren't even threatening at that stage. If that's how we need to react towards a player when we are looking for a scapegoat then I am watching the wrong sport!
As an aside, some advice for the handful of 'fans' spouting the stereotypical homophobic tosh that Brighton routinely have to suffer. - Get yourselves out away from your X-boxes et al and treat yourselves to some education for Xmas. Your narrow mindedness is pitiful!
Unless we get 4 or 5 decent loans to boost the squad we will drop like a stone to the bottom.
Once again we have conceded three, and Bauer has not learnt from his mistake a few weeks ago. We have no leadership on the field without Jacko.
Lennon in a bandage.
Berg limping
Cousins limping
Hendo hurt back / shoulder (again?)
Even with several loan players (assuming they were good enough quality), it is unlikely they would go straight into the side and make an impact.
Once again it is apparent that our Owner/CEO/Manager do not understand the league we are competing in.
I expect us to go down, RD will then sell any decent player assets and walk away.
Prepare for bad times, but let's get these Wafflers out of our club and start to rebuild from the bottom.