not been to either game so far this season so will reserve judgement until after Saturday..........
however , I will say that this is the lowest I have ever felt supporting this club , There are so may things wrong about the team I dont know where to start- lack of creativity, no squad depth, too many youngsters/too many aging players ( how many players in their prime do we have, ie between the ages of 25-30)
I learnt something new this week....in fact, 2.
Firstly I have lived on the s/r London & Kent border all my life (Bexley, Dartford,Gravesend,....) and have spent many years commuting into London. On Monday I had to see a client in E London. Stratford to be precise. Usually I drive to appts but this time I thought I would try the train. couldn't believe it. it took just 11 mins to get there from Ebbsfleet !! it takes that long to get to Dartford from nearby Gravesend ffs
that then led to the second point........the Olympic park - mores specifically, West Ham,. Couldn't believe how close it was to the station I have a premiership ground virtually on my doorstep - no parking problems, no train delays and (I would expect) plenty of available tickets.
sorry chaps,,,,I know where I will be going if we sink any lower.
Listened to the Slade interview and it was poor from him.
There I am praising the pre Bury press conference now here I am less than a week later and huge doubts creep back in.
God knows what would have happened had Louis asked about Johnson, but in its own way Slade came across as from the same place as Katrien saying fans have to accept the owner does it his way, and Johnson telling fans what to do if they don't like it, and now Slade wagging the finger at Louis for being 'pessimistic', and not recognising the clubs brilliant use of patience.
They all seem to hate us, tetchy ticket office staff, football and non football staff criticising us, cameras, banning orders, blue jacket stewards taking out kids at the match, simply chite after chite piled up on more chite.
Right now I see the 'team' and the 'regime' as welded together. The only redeeming feature the football staff could show is winning matches and that has been well out of reach so far.
Anyway piss poor interview from Slade but not from Louis who was respectful and restrained.
Did ask about RoJo - BBC cut it off. Was rather uncomfortable but the quotes will be released in the SLP tomorrow.
not been to either game so far this season so will reserve judgement until after Saturday..........
however , I will say that this is the lowest I have ever felt supporting this club , There are so may things wrong about the team I dont know where to start- lack of creativity, no squad depth, too many youngsters/too many aging players ( how many players in their prime do we have, ie between the ages of 25-30)
I learnt something new this week....in fact, 2.
Firstly I have lived on the s/r London & Kent border all my life (Bexley, Dartford,Gravesend,....) and have spent many years commuting into London. On Monday I had to see a client in E London. Stratford to be precise. Usually I drive to appts but this time I thought I would try the train. couldn't believe it. it took just 11 mins to get there from Ebbsfleet !! it takes that long to get to Dartford from nearby Gravesend ffs
that then led to the second point........the Olympic park - mores specifically, West Ham,. Couldn't believe how close it was to the station I have a premiership ground virtually on my doorstep - no parking problems, no train delays and (I would expect) plenty of available tickets.
sorry chaps,,,,I know where I will be going if we sink any lower.
Note to Russell Slade! Charlton teams have always tried to play football on the deck not wack it and hope long ball out from the back!! We didn't even play like that when we had the 6'4 Carl Leaburn!!!!! Playing the ball high from defence to Ajose and Hanlan is clearly a ridiculous thing to do, your at Leyton Orient or Yeovil now mate !!
I know we don't cups but tonight is a new low. Slade has to put a positive spin on the present situation but who is he trying to convince? He might be happy trying to keep us in the third tier of English football but I have higher ambitions for my team. He accuses the interviewer of being pessimistic, it's hard to see where Slade can get his optimism from. He needs reminding, we haven't worried the opposition in two competitive games let alone scored a goal. He talks,(over the last few weeks), of multiple players in, then about adding a player and then about we want a player but the deal takes longer than expected. Who's he kidding, players stall on deals to see if the is interest from other clubs and if there is I suspect Charlton won't be their choice. The football is utter crap under this mob and looks likely to continue until either they go or they genuinely learn from their " mistakes ", which I doubt is possible as they wouldn't know what mistakes have been made. I want Slade to be successful here, it's our football club ffs but he ain't up to it and none of his predecessors were. It's an impossible job, you could have Jugen Klopp or Ricky Tomlenson or both doing their best but the result would be the same. if you haven't the means to do the job the job doesn't get done. Simple as that.
watched in despair as fairly on in first half a ball was whacked long over the top for Ajose who was being marked by a defender about a foot taller. All he could do was run behind in the hope that defender missed it - he didn't!
The disallowed 'goal' early on looked ok to me and those around me. Hanlon looked good prospect.
So disenchanted with the regime these days that couldn't really summon up much enthusiasm for the game. Thought the negative chanting at the end from a section of the support when the players came over was uncalled for though.
Listened to the Slade interview and it was poor from him.
There I am praising the pre Bury press conference now here I am less than a week later and huge doubts creep back in.
God knows what would have happened had Louis asked about Johnson, but in its own way Slade came across as from the same place as Katrien saying fans have to accept the owner does it his way, and Johnson telling fans what to do if they don't like it, and now Slade wagging the finger at Louis for being 'pessimistic', and not recognising the clubs brilliant use of patience.
They all seem to hate us, tetchy ticket office staff, football and non football staff criticising us, cameras, banning orders, blue jacket stewards taking out kids at the match, simply chite after chite piled up on more chite.
Right now I see the 'team' and the 'regime' as welded together. The only redeeming feature the football staff could show is winning matches and that has been well out of reach so far.
Anyway piss poor interview from Slade but not from Louis who was respectful and restrained.
Did ask about RoJo - BBC cut it off. Was rather uncomfortable but the quotes will be released in the SLP tomorrow.
Posting without reading any posts as I'm waiting in the drive thru at KFC on the Old Kent Road.
Admittedly, I wasn't at Bury due to work commitments but tonight was shit.
Ajose will not score goals without a creative midfielder. That's evident. Ricky Holmes was our most creative player and when he got taken off for KAG, we were never going to score. Lookman played well in the first half. Very well in fact, embarrassing their players throughout but the second half they closed him down in numbers and he was very ineffective.
Hanlan is extremely raw and I don't think he's ready for the first team.
Konsa worked hard and put in some good tackles but again, I don't think he's ready for the first team. Johnson will clear up everything in the air but positionally he is awful. Slade might have apologised on his behalf but he was still having a pop at fans behind the goal.
Well done to Rudd who apologised to the fans and was in conversation with them at the end of the game. Had a decent game.
The most worrying aspect is a CM partnership of Crofts and Jacko. Zero pace and will constantly get over run. A lot of poor passes from Crofts tonight.
All in all a shit performance with only 3 or 4 changes from Bury, one of which being Lookman coming in and another being Foley moving to right back.
I honestly feel that the end game has started. Bring it on.
This cannot and must not go on for much longer. The time for playing by the book is over, this club is rotten to the core, we know it, the players know it and the football world know it. Time for drastic action now.
I honestly feel that the end game has started. Bring it on.
This cannot and must not go on for much longer. The time for playing by the book is over, this club is rotten to the core, we know it, the players know it and the football world know it. Time for drastic action now.
So what your saying is us nice Charlton fans need to get much nastier?
Listen like I said in another post the other day. If we do go out the league at the end of next season I will wear a burka and post it on Charlton Life. You can quote me on that.
At least we can concentrate on the league !!!!! Complete poppycock. From Chairman , CEO, directors, manager. We are like a sinking ship at the moment. So glad I'm not going until this shit has gone from our once great club. Bury and now Cheltenham. Humiliating. We are and will be the laughing stock unless this gets sorted sooner rather than later. Russell sort it out or walk.
I honestly feel that the end game has started. Bring it on.
This cannot and must not go on for much longer. The time for playing by the book is over, this club is rotten to the core, we know it, the players know it and the football world know it. Time for drastic action now.
So what your saying is us nice Charlton fans need to get much nastier?
Slade talks absolute nothing's in his interview , then gets rude when called out! Simple as... He can talk the talk, but he's yet to walk the walk - whether through fault of his own or not!
Got back a while ago after a long day in the Cotswolds. A disappointing performance and result but hardly surprising, given the shambolic way in which this club has been run and the skeletal playing resources at Russell Slade's disposal. Maybe Roland's "refusal to plan for League 1" last Spring wasn't such a smart play after all.
There was certainly no injustice tonight and Cheltenham fully deserved their victory. They started on the front foot, caused us a number of problems, got their noses in front and could easily have had one or two more. By the same measure, Holmes and Lookman were both dangerous in the first half and Ajose could have had a brace - the second chance, in particular, was a bad miss, following an excellent low cross from Holmes. Aside from that and a decent save by the keeper from Johnson, I felt that Cheltenham defended well and dealt with us reasonably comfortably.
Our level of performance dipped in the second half, Pell and Whitehead bossed the midfield and I think we could have played until midnight without scoring. Holmes went off midway through the second half and I felt that any chance we might have had of getting back into the game went with him. Lookman tried to do too much on his own after half time and the only real sniff we had was a chance for Ahearne-Grant (I think), which he screwed wide. Holmes-Dennis came on near the end for Hanlan and the poor lad couldn't do a thing right. With Ahearne-Grant ineffective on the right wing, we ended up a bit of a rag, tag and bobtail outfit.
As others have emphasised, the core problem with the team is in central midfield, where we are one-paced, unable to run with the ball and completely lacking in any creativity. To compound matters, Jacko and Crofts were not even effective in closing down the opposition, with a number of Cheltenham players running straight through us and directly at our back four with impunity. Crofts had a better second half but his distribution in the early part of the game was bloody awful. This key area of the team needs to be addressed as an absolute priority or we are very soon going to find ourselves in the lower reaches of League 1, looking over our shoulders.
It's difficult to take any real positives from tonight, save for a very composed and classy debut from Ezri Konsa. Brandon Hanlan worked very hard and did well but I don't think he's ready for the first team at this stage. The defence overall was ok, save for leaving Pell unmarked for the goal (or so it seemed from the other end). Curious, as the bloke's about 6ft 4" at least and pretty difficult to miss. Our midfield was completely bovine (with the exception of Holmes and, in the first half, Lookman) and, up front, we lacked composure in the final third and were unable to mount any sustained threat (recognising that the service was poor).
It is sobering to think that, last season, Cheltenham were three divisions below us; tonight, they outplayed us and won with something to spare. Good luck to them - I think they will be very competitive in League 2.
For all that, a thoroughly enjoyable day (for the most part), although that may have more to do with an excellent lunch and walk en route at Burford and a pre-match beer in the Kemble Brewery pub near the ground. In these troubled times, I think it's always important not to let the crap on the field - and off it - spoil a good day out.
Seen a few times people suggest that Slade can "talk a good game".
But let's be honest with ourselves - he doesn't. He speaks English as a first language and seems a nice bloke most of the time. That alone means he is probably the easiest listening manager we have had in 2 years. Doesn't exactly mean he "talks a good game"
Well she promised us a 'new era' and we certainly have that.
From toxic, incompetent, vindictive and dishonest to new depths of failure and alienation perhaps never before plumbed in the history of English association football.
Ms Nightmeire, I salute you.
PS She must be loving the vitriol now being directed at Slade a man given a ten bob note and a few geriatrics and kids and left to build a football team. It's almost as though her and Roly might have planned this entire scenario just as an act of petty vengeance for fans being critical of her.
However low we've been in the football league, I think we'll probably finish lower under this incompetent and evil regime. A record low finish, in the relegation zone of League One. I still do Charlton news updates regularly on Weibo but I rarely mention us in a football conversation in real life these days because honestly speaking, the past year's performances have been a constant embarrassment. I don't want my colleagues, parents or friends to know how bad we are now and how low we've fallen...
Comments
however , I will say that this is the lowest I have ever felt supporting this club , There are so may things wrong about the team I dont know where to start- lack of creativity, no squad depth, too many youngsters/too many aging players ( how many players in their prime do we have, ie between the ages of 25-30)
I learnt something new this week....in fact, 2.
Firstly I have lived on the s/r London & Kent border all my life (Bexley, Dartford,Gravesend,....) and have spent many years commuting into London. On Monday I had to see a client in E London. Stratford to be precise. Usually I drive to appts but this time I thought I would try the train. couldn't believe it. it took just 11 mins to get there from Ebbsfleet !! it takes that long to get to Dartford from nearby Gravesend ffs
that then led to the second point........the Olympic park - mores specifically, West Ham,. Couldn't believe how close it was to the station I have a premiership ground virtually on my doorstep - no parking problems, no train delays
and (I would expect) plenty of available tickets.
sorry chaps,,,,I know where I will be going if we sink any lower.
He needs reminding, we haven't worried the opposition in two competitive games let alone scored a goal.
He talks,(over the last few weeks), of multiple players in, then about adding a player and then about we want a player but the deal takes longer than expected. Who's he kidding, players stall on deals to see if the is interest from other clubs and if there is I suspect Charlton won't be their choice.
The football is utter crap under this mob and looks likely to continue until either they go or they genuinely learn from their " mistakes ", which I doubt is possible as they wouldn't know what mistakes have been made.
I want Slade to be successful here, it's our football club ffs but he ain't up to it and none of his predecessors were. It's an impossible job, you could have Jugen Klopp or Ricky Tomlenson or both doing their best but the result would be the same. if you haven't the means to do the job the job doesn't get done. Simple as that.
watched in despair as fairly on in first half a ball was whacked long over the top for Ajose who was being marked by a defender about a foot taller. All he could do was run behind in the hope that defender missed it - he didn't!
The disallowed 'goal' early on looked ok to me and those around me.
Hanlon looked good prospect.
So disenchanted with the regime these days that couldn't really summon up much enthusiasm for the game.
Thought the negative chanting at the end from a section of the support when the players came over was uncalled for though.
Admittedly, I wasn't at Bury due to work commitments but tonight was shit.
Ajose will not score goals without a creative midfielder. That's evident. Ricky Holmes was our most creative player and when he got taken off for KAG, we were never going to score. Lookman played well in the first half. Very well in fact, embarrassing their players throughout but the second half they closed him down in numbers and he was very ineffective.
Hanlan is extremely raw and I don't think he's ready for the first team.
Konsa worked hard and put in some good tackles but again, I don't think he's ready for the first team. Johnson will clear up everything in the air but positionally he is awful. Slade might have apologised on his behalf but he was still having a pop at fans behind the goal.
Well done to Rudd who apologised to the fans and was in conversation with them at the end of the game. Had a decent game.
The most worrying aspect is a CM partnership of Crofts and Jacko. Zero pace and will constantly get over run. A lot of poor passes from Crofts tonight.
All in all a shit performance with only 3 or 4 changes from Bury, one of which being Lookman coming in and another being Foley moving to right back.
This cannot and must not go on for much longer. The time for playing by the book is over, this club is rotten to the core, we know it, the players know it and the football world know it. Time for drastic action now.
Simple as...
He can talk the talk, but he's yet to walk the walk - whether through fault of his own or not!
Poor performance and we just didn't look like scoring.
There was certainly no injustice tonight and Cheltenham fully deserved their victory. They started on the front foot, caused us a number of problems, got their noses in front and could easily have had one or two more. By the same measure, Holmes and Lookman were both dangerous in the first half and Ajose could have had a brace - the second chance, in particular, was a bad miss, following an excellent low cross from Holmes. Aside from that and a decent save by the keeper from Johnson, I felt that Cheltenham defended well and dealt with us reasonably comfortably.
Our level of performance dipped in the second half, Pell and Whitehead bossed the midfield and I think we could have played until midnight without scoring. Holmes went off midway through the second half and I felt that any chance we might have had of getting back into the game went with him. Lookman tried to do too much on his own after half time and the only real sniff we had was a chance for Ahearne-Grant (I think), which he screwed wide. Holmes-Dennis came on near the end for Hanlan and the poor lad couldn't do a thing right. With Ahearne-Grant ineffective on the right wing, we ended up a bit of a rag, tag and bobtail outfit.
As others have emphasised, the core problem with the team is in central midfield, where we are one-paced, unable to run with the ball and completely lacking in any creativity. To compound matters, Jacko and Crofts were not even effective in closing down the opposition, with a number of Cheltenham players running straight through us and directly at our back four with impunity. Crofts had a better second half but his distribution in the early part of the game was bloody awful. This key area of the team needs to be addressed as an absolute priority or we are very soon going to find ourselves in the lower reaches of League 1, looking over our shoulders.
It's difficult to take any real positives from tonight, save for a very composed and classy debut from Ezri Konsa. Brandon Hanlan worked very hard and did well but I don't think he's ready for the first team at this stage. The defence overall was ok, save for leaving Pell unmarked for the goal (or so it seemed from the other end). Curious, as the bloke's about 6ft 4" at least and pretty difficult to miss. Our midfield was completely bovine (with the exception of Holmes and, in the first half, Lookman) and, up front, we lacked composure in the final third and were unable to mount any sustained threat (recognising that the service was poor).
It is sobering to think that, last season, Cheltenham were three divisions below us; tonight, they outplayed us and won with something to spare. Good luck to them - I think they will be very competitive in League 2.
For all that, a thoroughly enjoyable day (for the most part), although that may have more to do with an excellent lunch and walk en route at Burford and a pre-match beer in the Kemble Brewery pub near the ground. In these troubled times, I think it's always important not to let the crap on the field - and off it - spoil a good day out.
But let's be honest with ourselves - he doesn't. He speaks English as a first language and seems a nice bloke most of the time. That alone means he is probably the easiest listening manager we have had in 2 years. Doesn't exactly mean he "talks a good game"
If you can't take the heat Russ...........
Well she promised us a 'new era' and we certainly have that.
From toxic, incompetent, vindictive and dishonest to new depths of failure and alienation perhaps never before plumbed in the history of English association football.
Ms Nightmeire, I salute you.
PS She must be loving the vitriol now being directed at Slade a man given a ten bob note and a few geriatrics and kids and left to build a football team. It's almost as though her and Roly might have planned this entire scenario just as an act of petty vengeance for fans being critical of her.
http://mobile.cafc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/charlton-russell-slade-cheltenham-town-ezri-konsa-brandon-hanlan-3237282.aspx
Amusing to see it reported that we "Set out our stool..."
Maybe we can assume that Russell admits we are turd?