If the club's sold he will be gone with the "deadwood." If we aren't, he will see anyone we can sell flogged off and anyone big wage earners we can lose, lost. He will get a fraction of the proceeds and savings with which to bring in a load more League One/Two players. Flag Quote · 1Like LOL
We are nowhere near safe. Most of the teams below us have 8 games left to our 7. Port vale have 10 left. Those teams get an average of 1 point for their games in hand and we are 3 points above relegation.
Not safe but it helps we have to go to Coventry and Chesterfield, who are dead in the water, as Swindon are likely to be on the last day. Even if Port Vale get out, I reckon we'll finish above Gillingham. Woo-hoo!
It has taken KR too long to realise that 4-2-3-1 does not work, I am sure if we had played 4-4-2 from the start of his reign with probably Ajose playing as one of 2 strikers we would have had more points than we have
But he played in a 4-4-2 in the first half of the season and looked lost and from the sounds of things it was like playing with ten men when he was on the pitch. I think a mid-lower table League One club is his level, and admittedly that's where we are but hopefully that's not where we will be in future.
Also, the fact that our players can't play a 4-2-3-1 boggles my mind. I know it's League One, but it's a formation that's been in fashion for 10+ years now. Admittedly it requires more specialization and discipline than a 4-4-2 can but...well to me it is another brick in the wall the poor tactical knowledge of many British players.
We won't go down this season but if RD remains and we have the same level of transfer window as previous ones we will next year.
Stripping out the higher earners and few saleable assets we have left and replacing them with poorer quality would be mad but consistent with every other transfer window under RD's reign.
Went fearing the worst came away disappointed we didn't get something from the game. Bright confident start and early goal from a sweet free kick by Holmes which he got up and over the defensive wall from 22 yards.
Yet again we couldn't hold onto a lead on our travels, apart from Bolton with 10 men, Jimmy doesn't know how to grind out a result or have the players to achieve it. The closing down for their equaliser was poor. I haven't seen highlights of the match yet but to me Rudd looked flat footed. HT 1-1 but I felt we had more than matched them.
Missed their winner whilst still consuming a £4 lager from a plastic bottle but understand we were slow to get out of the blocks and failed to prevent another cross coming in. Much more even 2nd half with Watt always trying to create something, Holmes blasting two half chances over from 18 yards and Konsa fluffing his lines in front of goal.
The Bkades fans I spoke to couldn't believe we are near the bottom so I gave them a quick précis of our plight. They're top for a reason working hard for one another and hunting in pairs. We stand off far too much and for all his quality at such a young age Konsa needs to add a bit of an edge to his game and get stuck in occasionally. Why Robinson persists with playing Byrne at full back instead of Konsa only Tarbuck knows, neither player is suited to roles they are being asked to perform. I've lost all patience with Novak as a target man or an attacking threat sorry but he reminds me of an upmarket Pawel Abbott.
We now have a 2 week break whilst the teams below us have the opportunity to close the gap. Hopefully with a couple of players returning from injury to strengthen the match day squad we should just about crawl to safety. The position we find ourselves in is all so unnecessary as was last years relegation.
We are in a relegation scrap and with the lack of winning ethos in our club I genuinely think this could be the year we finally get to see what the fourth division is really like. I didn't think we would get anything from today so the result is not too disappointing but stating the bloody obvious the damage has been done and continues to be done. I find it hard to believe that anyone could buy a football club and deliberately not want it to be competitive at any level but the evidence is there for all to see, even the collaborators can't deny this now. Not a bad result today against a team that's heading out of this league but it's another loss to add to the others.
Roly won't be to bothered...Konsa will be on his way for 10 mil at the end of the season...that's another 10 mil to Strapix.
We currently have 47 points. With 46 games you would normally expect 50 to be enough to stay up. However this year everybody has at least 5 more points than games playeed. Could be 51 or 52 is cut off point. This means minimum of 5 required from last 7 games . Should do that but our return from our last 7 games is 5 points! So could be tight unless we improve
Was at the game. Enjoyed a nice couple of pints in the Beer Engine with my brother n law who lives within walking distance of Bramall Lane but is a Palace supporter! Was still chomping on my Balti pie when we took the lead and yes we played well for the first 15 min but then came a weak equaliser from our point of view. For the rest of the half, they were in the ascendancy. 2nd half, we did our usual 'you can tickle our tummy and we will just be as accommodating as you require'. Ricky Holmes lacked composure with two chances he had. There was one particular passage of play that infuriated me when Watt had the ball and could of fed Da Silva who had just had a very good confident first touch on the ball. I felt with him breaking into the penalty area it could of created a first class opportunity. Can't buy into Karl's post match comments of we did this well, we did that well. What we fall down on big time,is game management. Protect your lead with more solidity and be strong at key moments ie just after half time. Port Vale at Coventry on Tues which frightens the life out of me. Another rubbish Sunday to endure now.
It seems to me that we have seen further encouraging signs that KR is starting to get a tune out of this squad. We're yet to string a full 90 mins of it together yet, but we dominated for spells against Sheff U and Bradford, two of the best teams in the League. I think KR should get at least a little bit of credit for turning things around somewhat from where we were 4 games ago, when I thought we were looking relegation certaintities.
Of course, we want to be more than just relegation maybes, we want to be promotion certainties, and we still look a way off that, but maybe we can at least see evidence that the seeds for that are currently being sowed.
There are a few fundamental flaws that are still holding us back.
1) the lack of a proper goal scoring striker. We've had periods of domination in the last two or three games where we created enough chances to put all of the games to bed but our failure to press home the advantage has cost us. Watt seems to be motivated and playing well - IF he stays that way then he can be a weapon for us, but we need a goal scoring target man along side him. Easier said than done to find one but they'll be a vital cog if we're successful next season.
2) we concede too easily from crosses. Not sure if this is the centre back or full backs that are the problem here, or both, but we just don't defend crosses well enough - a massive Achilles heel at this level. The diamond formation suits our current midfielders but opens our flanks a bit. If we're going to play it next season, we need Solly to refind his best form and a quality left back. Getting Pearce back fit may help too, but he needs a aerially dominant partner - one of those guys who's head seems to be a magnet for balls into the box.
3) decision making in the final third. This feeds into point 1, but we're getting into good positions and too often failing to convert that into a chance on goal. Confidence will help and we do seem to be getting there with that. A settled starting line up would help too so players can build a proper understanding. And a consistent managerial approach which is reliant on KR keeping his job, and who knows on that with Roland in charge and takeovers possibly on the horizon.
The problem, of course, is how much of this squad will be here next season. In its current guise, it is maybe only 3 orb 4 players away from being a very good league 1 side,but what guise will it be in come August, and how well will KR be backed in the summer. Wil the budget be rigid and have to be spread thin to get the numbers in, or will it be stretched to afford that special striker, or that one extra player that could make the difference?
I think that may well hinge on how well any due diligence goes over the coming days and weeks.
PARAS (Posting After Reading All Submissions) (Coz I can without letting other posts influence me!!).
Good first half; not so good second half. Token gesture by that manager type character, in his MacLean white 'look at me' trainers and ill fitting training top, to attempt to thank fans at end.
That's it really. All very depressing. However, Depeche Mode's new album will cheer you up.
Amazingly, I am listening to it right now. I don't know about cheer you up. They sound as angry as we are. Good though, and I have never been a fan.
I am just a little strange Prague in all honesty. Depeche and Radiohead (with some 'Editors' thrown in) really do make my day.
Was at the game. Enjoyed a nice couple of pints in the Beer Engine with my brother n law who lives within walking distance of Bramall Lane but is a Palace supporter! Was still chomping on my Balti pie when we took the lead and yes we played well for the first 15 min but then came a weak equaliser from our point of view. For the rest of the half, they were in the ascendancy. 2nd half, we did our usual 'you can tickle our tummy and we will just be as accommodating as you require'. Ricky Holmes lacked composure with two chances he had. There was one particular passage of play that infuriated me when Watt had the ball and could of fed Da Silva who had just had a very good confident first touch on the ball. I felt with him breaking into the penalty area it could of created a first class opportunity. Can't buy into Karl's post match comments of we did this well, we did that well. What we fall down on big time,is game management. Protect your lead with more solidity and be strong at key moments ie just after half time. Port Vale at Coventry on Tues which frightens the life out of me. Another rubbish Sunday to endure now.
I wouldn't worry about it, Coventry fans aren't that scary.
Forget this season (sod all the play for any more and a lot of bullshit to come from the manager), does anyone have any faith that even were he let off the leash by Roland, that Robinson could make sensible signings and then have the managerial ability to steer us to promotion?
We are nowhere near safe. Most of the teams below us have 8 games left to our 7. Port vale have 10 left. Those teams get an average of 1 point for their games in hand and we are 3 points above relegation.
Not safe but it helps we have to go to Coventry and Chesterfield, who are dead in the water, as Swindon are likely to be on the last day. Even if Port Vale get out, I reckon we'll finish above Gillingham. Woo-hoo!
You don't take into account the impact of the team having to listen to Gobby for the next two weeks with no games to dull the pain.
Today's result means we are no longer in the running for automatic promotion. I really believed we were going up until today.
We're still hopng for top 6 as our owner has promised us. Hope the collaborators are also supporting our team to meet this objective. Would be disingenuous for the Vol Au Vents and the Sewer to claim this is no longer realistic.
What are you in 1945? Warmed up you're tar yet and plucked your feathers?
A weekend in Sheffield with 4 good friends and a decent match to boot. What's not to like ?
It was not a promising beginning though. A bottle of wine to see us through the 2 hour + train journey remained disappointingly unopened ( shock horror!) due to the lack of a bottle opener. One of my companions( who shall remain nameless) tried her best, visiting the buffet coach to no avail ( sorry, we're not allowed to carry such an item for safety reasons, madam ) and every other passenger in our vicinity but to no avail. Clearly, no boy scouts en route to Yorkshire.
However, thankfully, things did improve as we met up with 2 lovely ladies who promised to show us a good time....and we were not disappointed....but in the best possible taste of course.
A liquid lunch in one of many jam packed pubs raised our flagging spirits in the company of other Addicks ,followed by the walk to Bramall Lane in the drizzle. Fanny's trusty brolly was regarded with some envy by the other ladies in our party....
We took our seats in the top tier with a perfect view of proceedings on the pitch & we were rewarded for our trek north by a surprise, if not deserved early goal with our Rickeeee doing what he does best. We couldn't have asked for a better start and our optimism increased with some good passages of play for the purple ronnies until the Blades managed to equalise. And from that point, the home team regrouped , playing to their strengths & showing us why they will be a Championship side next season. Sadly, several poor attempts to beat the home 'keeper for a second time when given excellent opportunities came to nothing with Rickeee turning from hero to zero together with a scuffed shot from our latest England international when he looked odds on to add to our tally. And inevitably what would have been a deserved point gained against the L1 leaders ( as their fans kept reminding us) was torn from our grasp and the rest is history. But for the first time in many months, my enthusiasm for the fight had returned with a very creditable performance from our lads & my dulcet tones could be heard once again, urging them on.
As I believe others have stated, the home fans were very complimentary about our showing, stating we were one of the best teams to visit this season. However such praise merely served to remind us of what might have been. We, in turn, ensured that they were aware of the reason why we are looking towards the bottom as opposed to the top of the league. We wished them well next season although the ones we spoke with remained unconvinced that they will be visiting grounds such as Loftus Road & Pride Park ... well, that's what they said after so many disappointments over the past few years.
The remainder of the day passed in a haze due in part to the very early start to the day and the copious amounts of wine consumed but we did manage to see parts of the rugby - yet another disappointment to bear in one day. A nice meal with plenty of laughs followed by yet another walk back to our hotel in the rain completed proceedings & a couple of ibuprofen ensured a clear head this morning. Not such a successful end to the night for our friends as a party with accompanying deafening disco welcomed them back in their rooms at the opposite end of the hotel. This morning we were regaled with the tale of furious Addicks stomping down 2 flights of stairs to politely request the lowering of the volume, followed swiftly by the demand " to turn it off now before I do it for you!" Very out of character from said guests but fortunately no fisticuffs were required and no bills were presented at check out this morning ! So, one good result over the weekend after all !
For various reasons, this may have been our final away game of this disappointing season but it was an enjoyable one thanks in part to the company and to the best endeavours of our players in a match which few would have given us much of a chance. Sadly, it's all too little, too late but we look forward to much improved times ahead and the celebration to end all celebrations for many a year.
( Note to self - Add several packs of ibuprofen to the shopping list for the morning after...they'll be sorely needed!)
It's was as plain as the nose after half a dozen games that a squad not battle hardened to SBL1 would not saunter back to the SBC at the 1st time of asking. Rat can relieve some of the pressure by allowing Meire to take FA job they are desperate to give her. Penance to be done as any blade would've told a travelling addick last Saturday. Sheff U a much bigger club than Charlton. Talk of L2 is nonsence but Robbo needs a decent finish to half a chance of keeping job.
Comments
Also, the fact that our players can't play a 4-2-3-1 boggles my mind. I know it's League One, but it's a formation that's been in fashion for 10+ years now. Admittedly it requires more specialization and discipline than a 4-4-2 can but...well to me it is another brick in the wall the poor tactical knowledge of many British players.
Stayed in Sheffield for a night out with mates, absolutely hanging after getting in from 'Popworld' at about 4am. This train is killing me.
Stripping out the higher earners and few saleable assets we have left and replacing them with poorer quality would be mad but consistent with every other transfer window under RD's reign.
Went fearing the worst came away disappointed we didn't get something from the game. Bright confident start and early goal from a sweet free kick by Holmes which he got up and over the defensive wall from 22 yards.
Yet again we couldn't hold onto a lead on our travels, apart from Bolton with 10 men, Jimmy doesn't know how to grind out a result or have the players to achieve it. The closing down for their equaliser was poor. I haven't seen highlights of the match yet but to me Rudd looked flat footed. HT 1-1 but I felt we had more than matched them.
Missed their winner whilst still consuming a £4 lager from a plastic bottle
The Bkades fans I spoke to couldn't believe we are near the bottom so I gave them a quick précis of our plight. They're top for a reason working hard for one another and hunting in pairs. We stand off far too much and for all his quality at such a young age Konsa needs to add a bit of an edge to his game and get stuck in occasionally. Why Robinson persists with playing Byrne at full back instead of Konsa only Tarbuck knows, neither player is suited to roles they are being asked to perform. I've lost all patience with Novak as a target man or an attacking threat sorry but he reminds me of an upmarket Pawel Abbott.
We now have a 2 week break whilst the teams below us have the opportunity to close the gap. Hopefully with a couple of players returning from injury to strengthen the match day squad we should just about crawl to safety. The position we find ourselves in is all so unnecessary as was last years relegation.
Enjoyed a nice couple of pints in the Beer Engine with my brother n law who lives within walking distance of Bramall Lane but is a Palace supporter!
Was still chomping on my Balti pie when we took the lead and yes we played well for the first 15 min but then came a weak equaliser from our point of view. For the rest of the half, they were in the ascendancy.
2nd half, we did our usual 'you can tickle our tummy and we will just be as accommodating as you require'. Ricky Holmes lacked composure with two chances he had.
There was one particular passage of play that infuriated me when Watt had the ball and could of fed Da Silva who had just had a very good confident first touch on the ball. I felt with him breaking into the penalty area it could of created a first class opportunity.
Can't buy into Karl's post match comments of we did this well, we did that well. What we fall down on big time,is game management. Protect your lead with more solidity and be strong at key moments ie just after half time.
Port Vale at Coventry on Tues which frightens the life out of me.
Another rubbish Sunday to endure now.
It seems to me that we have seen further encouraging signs that KR is starting to get a tune out of this squad. We're yet to string a full 90 mins of it together yet, but we dominated for spells against Sheff U and Bradford, two of the best teams in the League. I think KR should get at least a little bit of credit for turning things around somewhat from where we were 4 games ago, when I thought we were looking relegation certaintities.
Of course, we want to be more than just relegation maybes, we want to be promotion certainties, and we still look a way off that, but maybe we can at least see evidence that the seeds for that are currently being sowed.
There are a few fundamental flaws that are still holding us back.
1) the lack of a proper goal scoring striker. We've had periods of domination in the last two or three games where we created enough chances to put all of the games to bed but our failure to press home the advantage has cost us. Watt seems to be motivated and playing well - IF he stays that way then he can be a weapon for us, but we need a goal scoring target man along side him. Easier said than done to find one but they'll be a vital cog if we're successful next season.
2) we concede too easily from crosses. Not sure if this is the centre back or full backs that are the problem here, or both, but we just don't defend crosses well enough - a massive Achilles heel at this level. The diamond formation suits our current midfielders but opens our flanks a bit. If we're going to play it next season, we need Solly to refind his best form and a quality left back. Getting Pearce back fit may help too, but he needs a aerially dominant partner - one of those guys who's head seems to be a magnet for balls into the box.
3) decision making in the final third. This feeds into point 1, but we're getting into good positions and too often failing to convert that into a chance on goal. Confidence will help and we do seem to be getting there with that. A settled starting line up would help too so players can build a proper understanding. And a consistent managerial approach which is reliant on KR keeping his job, and who knows on that with Roland in charge and takeovers possibly on the horizon.
The problem, of course, is how much of this squad will be here next season. In its current guise, it is maybe only 3 orb 4 players away from being a very good league 1 side,but what guise will it be in come August, and how well will KR be backed in the summer. Wil the budget be rigid and have to be spread thin to get the numbers in, or will it be stretched to afford that special striker, or that one extra player that could make the difference?
I think that may well hinge on how well any due diligence goes over the coming days and weeks.
That was a toned down version. Was seething on the journey back home.
Glad to see he's calmed down since Tuesday at Bradford. He was at breaking point after they equalised
It was not a promising beginning though. A bottle of wine to see us through the 2 hour + train journey remained disappointingly unopened ( shock horror!) due to the lack of a bottle opener. One of my companions( who shall remain nameless) tried her best, visiting the buffet coach to no avail ( sorry, we're not allowed to carry such an item for safety reasons, madam ) and every other passenger in our vicinity but to no avail. Clearly, no boy scouts en route to Yorkshire.
However, thankfully, things did improve as we met up with 2 lovely ladies who promised to show us a good time....and we were not disappointed....but in the best possible taste of course.
A liquid lunch in one of many jam packed pubs raised our flagging spirits in the company of other Addicks ,followed by the walk to Bramall Lane in the drizzle. Fanny's trusty brolly was regarded with some envy by the other ladies in our party....
We took our seats in the top tier with a perfect view of proceedings on the pitch & we were rewarded for our trek north by a surprise, if not deserved early goal with our Rickeeee doing what he does best. We couldn't have asked for a better start and our optimism increased with some good passages of play for the purple ronnies until the Blades managed to equalise. And from that point, the home team regrouped , playing to their strengths & showing us why they will be a Championship side next season. Sadly, several poor attempts to beat the home 'keeper for a second time when given excellent opportunities came to nothing with Rickeee turning from hero to zero together with a scuffed shot from our latest England international when he looked odds on to add to our tally. And inevitably what would have been a deserved point gained against the L1 leaders ( as their fans kept reminding us) was torn from our grasp and the rest is history. But for the first time in many months, my enthusiasm for the fight had returned with a very creditable performance from our lads & my dulcet tones could be heard once again, urging them on.
As I believe others have stated, the home fans were very complimentary about our showing, stating we were one of the best teams to visit this season. However such praise merely served to remind us of what might have been. We, in turn, ensured that they were aware of the reason why we are looking towards the bottom as opposed to the top of the league. We wished them well next season although the ones we spoke with remained unconvinced that they will be visiting grounds such as Loftus Road & Pride Park ... well, that's what they said after so many disappointments over the past few years.
The remainder of the day passed in a haze due in part to the very early start to the day and the copious amounts of wine consumed but we did manage to see parts of the rugby - yet another disappointment to bear in one day. A nice meal with plenty of laughs followed by yet another walk back to our hotel in the rain completed proceedings & a couple of ibuprofen ensured a clear head this morning. Not such a successful end to the night for our friends as a party with accompanying deafening disco welcomed them back in their rooms at the opposite end of the hotel. This morning we were regaled with the tale of furious Addicks stomping down 2 flights of stairs to politely request the lowering of the volume, followed swiftly by the demand " to turn it off now before I do it for you!" Very out of character from said guests but fortunately no fisticuffs were required and no bills were presented at check out this morning ! So, one good result over the weekend after all !
For various reasons, this may have been our final away game of this disappointing season but it was an enjoyable one thanks in part to the company and to the best endeavours of our players in a match which few would have given us much of a chance. Sadly, it's all too little, too late but we look forward to much improved times ahead and the celebration to end all celebrations for many a year.
( Note to self - Add several packs of ibuprofen to the shopping list for the morning after...they'll be sorely needed!)