I imagine that ostentatious KR inspired huddle will attract a very different reaction if we lose a couple of games. But fair play he's trying his damnedest to get us all on board
That was never a goal no one even appealed for it , real strange one and The tears if it had been given against us would flood the Sahara . Red card could have gone either way , I thought the ref leant towards us after that . Our time wasting was right up there as well and we got away with it , Pirates Life must be on meltdown with their dislike of us after today .
Some of our football was a joy to behold and long may it continue . Kashi unreal and Fosu looks a talent a bit different and pleased with everyone who started and played over 7 mins except the keeper , he got away with flapping one straight to their attacker first half who somehow missed (don't think the ref could believe it cos he signalled a corner, then changed his mind after seeing linos flag ) and he was on walkabouts a couple of times at corners , at first glance he looks like he'll give us heart attacks , one good stop with his feet in fairness . Great turnout from Rovers picture to follow and one of the huddle if I can download em .
You do realise that after your personal tirade against me on the poll that I will be watching your percentages every week to make sure they add up to 100.
Absolutely brilliant today. Not that beating Bristol Rovers at home 1-0 is absolutely brilliant but the fact we had to play 84+ mins with 10 men and take the lead with only 10 as well. I think if we'd played with 11 for 90 mins we'd have won comfortably. If Slade was in charge this would have been another 1-1 dropped two points to add to his collection but I thought we defended brilliantly and so many times broke up Bristol Rovers play reducing them to long shots none of which really tested Amos.
I know we were a Championship team when we signed Kashi but how on earth did we persuade him to come and play for us? He was incredible and looked just like his old self again breaking up play and picking a pass making it look so easy.
I've not seen any replays of the red card, I didn't think it was a red but I knew the ref would issue it the moment he blew up, it reminded me of Semedo was it? In an opening day red card at The Valley a few years back but think we still went on to win the game IIRC against Bournemouth?
Impossible to see from the NU if it was a goal but if the linesman on the corner spot gave it then surely it crossed the line? Either way I hope we don't see those officials again anytime soon!
I also fell into the trap of shouting at Watt to chase the defenders down but when I thought about it, it actually made sense Watt not to as Rovers would easily have cleared there lines anyway and Watt would have been right up the pitch out of the way but I can see why the criticism came his way as I did it myself initially! That said he also didn't do us any favours either and agree it's time to cut our losses and let him go on the basis we get another striker to challenge Magennis though looking back what a bargain we got, players like Magennis are never that cheap and so readily available.
I didn't think Rovers actually played that bad I just think our defence, Kashi and JFC were that good in snuffing out Bristol Rovers from creating any chances of note, by no means will they go down but they won't challenge the top six either.
A great first day but please lets not let it be another false dawn like two seasons ago after we beat QPR and Hull.
First league game for me for a while and I really enjoyed it! Fosu was impressive, Fashi was immense. Sending off looked harsh from where I was sitting. Didn't hear any protest songs at all from the NU, is everyone forgiving them now?
Lets get Bristol Rovers out of the way to start with. If anybody from the Bristol camp want to say 'yeah but this, yeah but that' they are deluded.
They played against a team with no striker, a team with ten men, for 80 odd minutes, yet Charlton thoroughly deserved to win, absolutely no argument, with flags out and knobs on it was a superb display. Simply excellent.
I have not seen any replays, so I don't know the ins and outs of our goal, and to me Novak was an idiot and deserved to go, but the way we reacted was astonishing. You prepare all week and everything changes with an early sending off, and the players have to think on their feet and adapt immediately. Maybe the sending off actually helped, because there was no complacency or looking for any excuses. We adapted with intelligence, phenomenal team work and a high level of pure skill and pure class. It felt good after Ipswich all right, but this feels better (if only to suggest Ipswich was no fluke) but we have the makings.
All right, we haven't played away yet, and we now have no Novak or Magennis, but it seems to me that we have a team at the moment who are all the things Karl Robinson has consistently said he is striving for. Attacking, skilled, great (almost on a Bournemouth level of telepathy) teamwork, positive and exciting. If we are going to get a season of this stuff we are going to enjoy ourselves. It is possible to take those generalisations from a game of particulars.
You could argue against the officials, not me personally, the goal was controversial at the time, and Bristol Rovers have a lot to do to sort their team and play out, but there were wonders to behold in moments and incidents everywhere.
Da Silva outjumped Bodin twice in the space of a minute first half, outjumped the bloke, Solly was so good you could take it for granted, yet here he was repeating that two way twist we saw against Ipswich, never failing in a one on one, bursting into the area where you could almost hear his thoughts zinging out of his head in the sheer magnificence of his work.
No player it seemed to me was lest than good, most very good, and several excellent. The keeper kept a clean sheet, early to judge him but he was there when needed. I have mentioned da Silva and Solly, Pearce was absolutely what was needed in the circumstances, and Bauer, goal notwithstanding was outstanding for every minute of the game.
I have been gushing so far so what is there left for both Kashi and JFC? You could argue that they were the game managers, who along with Clarke who adapted the most quickly to the sending off and sorted the team out. No hiding from JFC or Clarke, and I counted just the one poor ball from Clarke in the whole game. Seriously guys tho, am I smitten by man love, or was Kashi plain and simple brilliant? if you see another player better than Kashi in this league this season then Fleetwood would have signed Messi.
Then we have Holmes and Fosu. Bristol Rovers simply found both unplayable, and where the midfield sorted the coping mechanisms after the set back, it was Holmes and Fosu who turned damage limitation into a win. People might have thought after 25 minutes or so 'would you take a point now?' but not Holmes or Fosu, and by osmosis the rest of the team. No way was a single point good enough for them or for Charlton today, it was almost a rollercoaster three juicy points or die trying.
One swallow and all that, but Robinson and the coaching team have indicated that they have the wherewithall, they now need the backing...especially from the board, because the fans were excellent this afternoon.
Excellent review.
I'd add that Amos was lucky today & got away with a number of errors. I love Solly, but he looked slow and his passing wasn't great at times. Watt was apalling. Fosu edged Kashi as MOM and both were brilliant.
I don't remember as big a home crowd last season (actually there as opposed to announced). The Upper North had twice as many as last season (seemed to me). It was the best atmosphere and most satisfying win for years. One swallow doesn't make a summer, but whatever it means, it felt to me like we have our Charlton back.
All we need is RD to strengthen and please not weaken the squad in the next 3 weeks and a few more fans to join the feel good factor and we may be cooking on gas
Re the sending off the lino didn't flag at all for Novaks challenge when he was reasonably close and his flag definitely worked , just look at our goal !
Didn't hear any protest songs at all from the NU, is everyone forgiving them now?
Yep I believe so . Well not everyone my 5 year old was singing we want Roland Out , I didn't sing it today so automatically I have forgiven on that basis .
I thought that was a class performance and I'm proper buzzing after that. Real character
Over to you
Please read Tony Watt's comments on Twitter as to the role he was asked to play by KR.
Please give him the chance to play a role which suits his game and that would only be when he's got a full team on the pitch and they play more to his strengths, a good team set up would ensure they brought him into the game.
The misread pass to Ahearne-Grant looked worse than it was - if you've seen KAG play regularly you'll know that he naturally peels off left into space - Watt was doing the natural thing when understanding a team mate - his weight of pass was another matter, poor, tbf.
I believe KR started Novak as a poke at the CAFC board, highlighting the fact we had failed to get Mavididi on board and that we are still desperate for a natural goal scorer cum poacher - a fox in the box. Ironically, Novak's schoolboy challenge may have done us all a favour as it must now be apparent to Katrien that our recruitment is incomplete.
As for the performance today - I said to my lad that the mood at The Valley is changing - it was that apparent.
Every player today, barring one who didn't get fair chance to contribute, was excellent and we were a touch fortunate that it was not against a more threatening opponent - or were we just that good defensively that we made Rovers look to be of little threat?
Kashi is going to be so important for us but expect future opposition to try and take him out early doors because of this.
I watched Billy Clarke progress from Academy to 1st team at Ipswich Town and was disappointed and surprised they released him as a 21 year old - today he showed what he can do - a natural number 10 who mixes it up and works his socks off.
Two years ago I believed we had a squad good enough for the Championship play-offs but we were smashed by injuries. If Lady Luck shines on us and we have an injury-kind season and find a goal poacher, we will be in the mix, without a doubt.
KR is a young Manager who needs to learn the meaning of the word discretion when it comes to chasing players to bring in but his enthusiasm and positivity, with a decent rub of the green, can take us to the next level.
My man of the match today, Patrik Bauer, solid as a rock but that accolade could easily have gone to several other players and Kashi is one of my absolute favourites ever in his position at CAFC.
That was utterly disgraceful. I have watched Charlton since 1966, and today ranks down there with the most spineless, weak, dim-witted, stupid performances of them all.
Firstly, it's completely wrong to play only one striker, especially at home. It's an admission of defensive defeat, even before the kick-off. Two good strikers will worry the opposing defenders – spark panic and havoc – and take the pressure off our congenitally weak midfield.
Novak is not a good striker; that was patently obvious on his debut at Welling this time last year. Neither quick nor physical; a lump. When he was sent off after 10 minutes today, here came the most idiotic managerial indecision in Charlton history.
As a manager, you would take off a midfielder and throw on a striker. Robinson played 80 minutes with the formation of 4-6-0. No-one at all up front. Nothing.
This is the man who signed Simon Church and Danny Green when they had palpably flopped. The man who relegated his team, below us.
This marvellous six-man midfield! With the exception of Holmes they are utterly vacuous. Our keeper – dodgy anyway, third choice at Bolton and failed on loan at Cardiff – hoofs a high ball, and during the trajectory we in the Covered End know our men will not win it.
None of our midfielders jump. Ball plops in absent space, Bristol Rovers set about another attack, getting round our flaky defence, swinging crosses in to the box.
Did we have a single shot on goal in the entire second half? No. A limp Holmes free-kick over the wall, easily saved.
From Cray Wanderers to Man City, football is about guts and fire: getting the ball in to the box with strength and precision. We are miles away. If we continue to play without a striker we'll get ripped apart from here to kingdom come.
And what a cheating git number 24 was, down like he had a broken leg , straight up after the sending off, plus his team mates over reaction to the challenge. He played out the rest of the game with no ill effects to the challenge, so well done, he must feel proud of himself tonight.
He had a shite beard though so was instantly an embarrassment for that alone!!
That was utterly disgraceful. I have watched Charlton since 1966, and today ranks down there with the most spineless, weak, dim-witted, stupid performances of them all.
Firstly, it's completely wrong to play only one striker, especially at home. It's an admission of defensive defeat, even before the kick-off. Two good strikers will worry the opposing defenders – spark panic and havoc – and take the pressure off our congenitally weak midfield.
Novak is not a good striker; that was patently obvious on his debut at Welling this time last year. Neither quick nor physical; a lump. When he was sent off after 10 minutes today, here came the most idiotic managerial indecision in Charlton history.
As a manager, you would take off a midfielder and throw on a striker. Robinson played 80 minutes with the formation of 4-6-0. No-one at all up front. Nothing.
This is the man who signed Simon Church and Danny Green when they had palpably flopped. The man who relegated his team, below us.
This marvellous six-man midfield! With the exception of Holmes they are utterly vacuous. Our keeper – dodgy anyway, third choice at Bolton and failed on loan at Cardiff – hoofs a high ball, and during the trajectory we in the Covered End know our men will not win it.
None of our midfielders jump. Ball plops in absent space, Bristol Rovers set about another attack, getting round our flaky defence, swinging crosses in to the box.
Did we have a single shot on goal in the entire second half? No. A limp Holmes free-kick over the wall, easily saved.
From Cray Wanderers to Man City, football is about guts and fire: getting the ball in to the box with strength and precision. We are miles away. If we continue to play without a striker we'll get ripped apart from here to kingdom come.
Wow, that is a scary view!
Were you at the game?
He wasn't playing one striker at all. The reason Kashi was sitting in between the two centre backs was because we were pushing the full backs forward so, in possession we were effectively 4-3-3, without the ball the full backs were dropping to create a 4-5-1 but that is irrelevant as we don't have the ball in that situation.
With Clarke playing behind the striker and often in league with him we were well covered going forward, imho.
We played very well. With 11 I think we would have got 2 or 3. Our passing and slowing the game down at crucial times I thought was excellent today. We now have the players who can make nice simple passes and get the opposition to chase the ball. Basically we more or less controlled the game throughout. I don't think we were really troubled.
Kashi, Fosu, Holmes, DaSilva and Bauer were excellent I thought. Amos was a bit dodgy in my opinion. Looked like he was lacking confidence and didn't look the answer. Giving him the benefit of the doubt he may improve with confidence. And I thought Tony Watt was a total waste of space. I think he's being found out with better players around him.
That was utterly disgraceful. I have watched Charlton since 1966, and today ranks down there with the most spineless, weak, dim-witted, stupid performances of them all.
Firstly, it's completely wrong to play only one striker, especially at home. It's an admission of defensive defeat, even before the kick-off. Two good strikers will worry the opposing defenders – spark panic and havoc – and take the pressure off our congenitally weak midfield.
Novak is not a good striker; that was patently obvious on his debut at Welling this time last year. Neither quick nor physical; a lump. When he was sent off after 10 minutes today, here came the most idiotic managerial indecision in Charlton history.
As a manager, you would take off a midfielder and throw on a striker. Robinson played 80 minutes with the formation of 4-6-0. No-one at all up front. Nothing.
This is the man who signed Simon Church and Danny Green when they had palpably flopped. The man who relegated his team, below us.
This marvellous six-man midfield! With the exception of Holmes they are utterly vacuous. Our keeper – dodgy anyway, third choice at Bolton and failed on loan at Cardiff – hoofs a high ball, and during the trajectory we in the Covered End know our men will not win it.
None of our midfielders jump. Ball plops in absent space, Bristol Rovers set about another attack, getting round our flaky defence, swinging crosses in to the box.
Did we have a single shot on goal in the entire second half? No. A limp Holmes free-kick over the wall, easily saved.
From Cray Wanderers to Man City, football is about guts and fire: getting the ball in to the box with strength and precision. We are miles away. If we continue to play without a striker we'll get ripped apart from here to kingdom come.
Just got in. Last home Game I went to was beginning of season before last. I have being boycotting Charlton games for several years now more because of the shit football that was on offer rather than anything to do with Roland. Today was an excellent footballing performance. I was sitting in the upper West on the centre line. Not seen any replays yet but at the time I thought it was a strange way to make a tackle. Not reckless but I could understand why the red card was issued. Really looking forward to how we do with 11 players on the field for 90 minutes. Just don't get Tony Watt. There was no captain out there today. We desperately need a vocal captain in central defence or central midfield.
That was utterly disgraceful. I have watched Charlton since 1966, and today ranks down there with the most spineless, weak, dim-witted, stupid performances of them all.
Firstly, it's completely wrong to play only one striker, especially at home. It's an admission of defensive defeat, even before the kick-off. Two good strikers will worry the opposing defenders – spark panic and havoc – and take the pressure off our congenitally weak midfield.
Novak is not a good striker; that was patently obvious on his debut at Welling this time last year. Neither quick nor physical; a lump. When he was sent off after 10 minutes today, here came the most idiotic managerial indecision in Charlton history.
As a manager, you would take off a midfielder and throw on a striker. Robinson played 80 minutes with the formation of 4-6-0. No-one at all up front. Nothing.
This is the man who signed Simon Church and Danny Green when they had palpably flopped. The man who relegated his team, below us.
This marvellous six-man midfield! With the exception of Holmes they are utterly vacuous. Our keeper – dodgy anyway, third choice at Bolton and failed on loan at Cardiff – hoofs a high ball, and during the trajectory we in the Covered End know our men will not win it.
None of our midfielders jump. Ball plops in absent space, Bristol Rovers set about another attack, getting round our flaky defence, swinging crosses in to the box.
Did we have a single shot on goal in the entire second half? No. A limp Holmes free-kick over the wall, easily saved.
From Cray Wanderers to Man City, football is about guts and fire: getting the ball in to the box with strength and precision. We are miles away. If we continue to play without a striker we'll get ripped apart from here to kingdom come.
What a complete and utter utter utter load of bollocks. Troll off.
That was utterly disgraceful. I have watched Charlton since 1966, and today ranks down there with the most spineless, weak, dim-witted, stupid performances of them all.
Firstly, it's completely wrong to play only one striker, especially at home. It's an admission of defensive defeat, even before the kick-off. Two good strikers will worry the opposing defenders – spark panic and havoc – and take the pressure off our congenitally weak midfield.
Novak is not a good striker; that was patently obvious on his debut at Welling this time last year. Neither quick nor physical; a lump. When he was sent off after 10 minutes today, here came the most idiotic managerial indecision in Charlton history.
As a manager, you would take off a midfielder and throw on a striker. Robinson played 80 minutes with the formation of 4-6-0. No-one at all up front. Nothing.
This is the man who signed Simon Church and Danny Green when they had palpably flopped. The man who relegated his team, below us.
This marvellous six-man midfield! With the exception of Holmes they are utterly vacuous. Our keeper – dodgy anyway, third choice at Bolton and failed on loan at Cardiff – hoofs a high ball, and during the trajectory we in the Covered End know our men will not win it.
None of our midfielders jump. Ball plops in absent space, Bristol Rovers set about another attack, getting round our flaky defence, swinging crosses in to the box.
Did we have a single shot on goal in the entire second half? No. A limp Holmes free-kick over the wall, easily saved.
From Cray Wanderers to Man City, football is about guts and fire: getting the ball in to the box with strength and precision. We are miles away. If we continue to play without a striker we'll get ripped apart from here to kingdom come.
I know we were a Championship team when we signed Kashi but how on earth did we persuade him to come and play for us? He was incredible and looked just like his old self again breaking up play and picking a pass making it look so easy.
In short it was down to Guy Luzon, apparently. Kashi was the one personal target, rather than players chosen by Driessen et al.
That was utterly disgraceful. I have watched Charlton since 1966, and today ranks down there with the most spineless, weak, dim-witted, stupid performances of them all.
Firstly, it's completely wrong to play only one striker, especially at home. It's an admission of defensive defeat, even before the kick-off. Two good strikers will worry the opposing defenders – spark panic and havoc – and take the pressure off our congenitally weak midfield.
Novak is not a good striker; that was patently obvious on his debut at Welling this time last year. Neither quick nor physical; a lump. When he was sent off after 10 minutes today, here came the most idiotic managerial indecision in Charlton history.
As a manager, you would take off a midfielder and throw on a striker. Robinson played 80 minutes with the formation of 4-6-0. No-one at all up front. Nothing.
This is the man who signed Simon Church and Danny Green when they had palpably flopped. The man who relegated his team, below us.
This marvellous six-man midfield! With the exception of Holmes they are utterly vacuous. Our keeper – dodgy anyway, third choice at Bolton and failed on loan at Cardiff – hoofs a high ball, and during the trajectory we in the Covered End know our men will not win it.
None of our midfielders jump. Ball plops in absent space, Bristol Rovers set about another attack, getting round our flaky defence, swinging crosses in to the box.
Did we have a single shot on goal in the entire second half? No. A limp Holmes free-kick over the wall, easily saved.
From Cray Wanderers to Man City, football is about guts and fire: getting the ball in to the box with strength and precision. We are miles away. If we continue to play without a striker we'll get ripped apart from here to kingdom come.
That was utterly disgraceful. I have watched Charlton since 1966, and today ranks down there with the most spineless, weak, dim-witted, stupid performances of them all.
Firstly, it's completely wrong to play only one striker, especially at home. It's an admission of defensive defeat, even before the kick-off. Two good strikers will worry the opposing defenders – spark panic and havoc – and take the pressure off our congenitally weak midfield.
Novak is not a good striker; that was patently obvious on his debut at Welling this time last year. Neither quick nor physical; a lump. When he was sent off after 10 minutes today, here came the most idiotic managerial indecision in Charlton history.
As a manager, you would take off a midfielder and throw on a striker. Robinson played 80 minutes with the formation of 4-6-0. No-one at all up front. Nothing.
This is the man who signed Simon Church and Danny Green when they had palpably flopped. The man who relegated his team, below us.
This marvellous six-man midfield! With the exception of Holmes they are utterly vacuous. Our keeper – dodgy anyway, third choice at Bolton and failed on loan at Cardiff – hoofs a high ball, and during the trajectory we in the Covered End know our men will not win it.
None of our midfielders jump. Ball plops in absent space, Bristol Rovers set about another attack, getting round our flaky defence, swinging crosses in to the box.
Did we have a single shot on goal in the entire second half? No. A limp Holmes free-kick over the wall, easily saved.
From Cray Wanderers to Man City, football is about guts and fire: getting the ball in to the box with strength and precision. We are miles away. If we continue to play without a striker we'll get ripped apart from here to kingdom come.
That was utterly disgraceful. I have watched Charlton since 1966, and today ranks down there with the most spineless, weak, dim-witted, stupid performances of them all.
Firstly, it's completely wrong to play only one striker, especially at home. It's an admission of defensive defeat, even before the kick-off. Two good strikers will worry the opposing defenders – spark panic and havoc – and take the pressure off our congenitally weak midfield.
Novak is not a good striker; that was patently obvious on his debut at Welling this time last year. Neither quick nor physical; a lump. When he was sent off after 10 minutes today, here came the most idiotic managerial indecision in Charlton history.
As a manager, you would take off a midfielder and throw on a striker. Robinson played 80 minutes with the formation of 4-6-0. No-one at all up front. Nothing.
This is the man who signed Simon Church and Danny Green when they had palpably flopped. The man who relegated his team, below us.
This marvellous six-man midfield! With the exception of Holmes they are utterly vacuous. Our keeper – dodgy anyway, third choice at Bolton and failed on loan at Cardiff – hoofs a high ball, and during the trajectory we in the Covered End know our men will not win it.
None of our midfielders jump. Ball plops in absent space, Bristol Rovers set about another attack, getting round our flaky defence, swinging crosses in to the box.
Did we have a single shot on goal in the entire second half? No. A limp Holmes free-kick over the wall, easily saved.
From Cray Wanderers to Man City, football is about guts and fire: getting the ball in to the box with strength and precision. We are miles away. If we continue to play without a striker we'll get ripped apart from here to kingdom come.
That performance was about good coaching and team spirit. That's all down to Robinson.
I look forward to my trip to Plymouth next week where I hope to see the fruits of 11 players not 10.
Massive credit to KR.
One of the most technical and enterprising Charlton performances for several years combined with no small amount of grit.
I wonder how much Lee Bowyer had to to with the improvement.
I get the idea, watching them yesterday from close to the dugout, that Robbo, Bowyer AND Jackson make a very very good team .. Robbo and Bowyer were at the fourth ref ALL game long .. in a usually humorous but still forceful way .. almost felt sorry for the fourth man, he looked to be aged about 18 .. he certainly aged after that game ((:>) .. Robinson does a lot of shouting and screaming, Jackson and Bowyer are more measured and analytical .. let's hope that it continues as successfully as yesterday, because that was a GREAT team performance from management and the players .. 10/10 all round
Comments
But fair play he's trying his damnedest to get us all on board
I know we were a Championship team when we signed Kashi but how on earth did we persuade him to come and play for us? He was incredible and looked just like his old self again breaking up play and picking a pass making it look so easy.
I've not seen any replays of the red card, I didn't think it was a red but I knew the ref would issue it the moment he blew up, it reminded me of Semedo was it? In an opening day red card at The Valley a few years back but think we still went on to win the game IIRC against Bournemouth?
Impossible to see from the NU if it was a goal but if the linesman on the corner spot gave it then surely it crossed the line? Either way I hope we don't see those officials again anytime soon!
I also fell into the trap of shouting at Watt to chase the defenders down but when I thought about it, it actually made sense Watt not to as Rovers would easily have cleared there lines anyway and Watt would have been right up the pitch out of the way but I can see why the criticism came his way as I did it myself initially! That said he also didn't do us any favours either and agree it's time to cut our losses and let him go on the basis we get another striker to challenge Magennis though looking back what a bargain we got, players like Magennis are never that cheap and so readily available.
I didn't think Rovers actually played that bad I just think our defence, Kashi and JFC were that good in snuffing out Bristol Rovers from creating any chances of note, by no means will they go down but they won't challenge the top six either.
A great first day but please lets not let it be another false dawn like two seasons ago after we beat QPR and Hull.
Fosu was impressive, Fashi was immense.
Sending off looked harsh from where I was sitting.
Didn't hear any protest songs at all from the NU, is everyone forgiving them now?
I'd add that Amos was lucky today & got away with a number of errors.
I love Solly, but he looked slow and his passing wasn't great at times.
Watt was apalling.
Fosu edged Kashi as MOM and both were brilliant.
I don't remember as big a home crowd last season (actually there as opposed to announced). The Upper North had twice as many as last season (seemed to me). It was the best atmosphere and most satisfying win for years.
One swallow doesn't make a summer, but whatever it means, it felt to me like we have our Charlton back.
All we need is RD to strengthen and please not weaken the squad in the next 3 weeks and a few more fans to join the feel good factor and we may be cooking on gas
Please give him the chance to play a role which suits his game and that would only be when he's got a full team on the pitch and they play more to his strengths, a good team set up would ensure they brought him into the game.
The misread pass to Ahearne-Grant looked worse than it was - if you've seen KAG play regularly you'll know that he naturally peels off left into space - Watt was doing the natural thing when understanding a team mate - his weight of pass was another matter, poor, tbf.
I believe KR started Novak as a poke at the CAFC board, highlighting the fact we had failed to get Mavididi on board and that we are still desperate for a natural goal scorer cum poacher - a fox in the box.
Ironically, Novak's schoolboy challenge may have done us all a favour as it must now be apparent to Katrien that our recruitment is incomplete.
As for the performance today - I said to my lad that the mood at The Valley is changing - it was that apparent.
Every player today, barring one who didn't get fair chance to contribute, was excellent and we were a touch fortunate that it was not against a more threatening opponent - or were we just that good defensively that we made Rovers look to be of little threat?
Kashi is going to be so important for us but expect future opposition to try and take him out early doors because of this.
I watched Billy Clarke progress from Academy to 1st team at Ipswich Town and was disappointed and surprised they released him as a 21 year old - today he showed what he can do - a natural number 10 who mixes it up and works his socks off.
Two years ago I believed we had a squad good enough for the Championship play-offs but we were smashed by injuries.
If Lady Luck shines on us and we have an injury-kind season and find a goal poacher, we will be in the mix, without a doubt.
KR is a young Manager who needs to learn the meaning of the word discretion when it comes to chasing players to bring in but his enthusiasm and positivity, with a decent rub of the green, can take us to the next level.
My man of the match today, Patrik Bauer, solid as a rock but that accolade could easily have gone to several other players and Kashi is one of my absolute favourites ever in his position at CAFC.
Firstly, it's completely wrong to play only one striker, especially at home. It's an admission of defensive defeat, even before the kick-off. Two good strikers will worry the opposing defenders – spark panic and havoc – and take the pressure off our congenitally weak midfield.
Novak is not a good striker; that was patently obvious on his debut at Welling this time last year. Neither quick nor physical; a lump. When he was sent off after 10 minutes today, here came the most idiotic managerial indecision in Charlton history.
As a manager, you would take off a midfielder and throw on a striker. Robinson played 80 minutes with the formation of 4-6-0. No-one at all up front. Nothing.
This is the man who signed Simon Church and Danny Green when they had palpably flopped. The man who relegated his team, below us.
This marvellous six-man midfield! With the exception of Holmes they are utterly vacuous. Our keeper – dodgy anyway, third choice at Bolton and failed on loan at Cardiff – hoofs a high ball, and during the trajectory we in the Covered End know our men will not win it.
None of our midfielders jump. Ball plops in absent space, Bristol Rovers set about another attack, getting round our flaky defence, swinging crosses in to the box.
Did we have a single shot on goal in the entire second half? No. A limp Holmes free-kick over the wall, easily saved.
From Cray Wanderers to Man City, football is about guts and fire: getting the ball in to the box with strength and precision. We are miles away. If we continue to play without a striker we'll get ripped apart from here to kingdom come.
Were you at the game?
He wasn't playing one striker at all. The reason Kashi was sitting in between the two centre backs was because we were pushing the full backs forward so, in possession we were effectively 4-3-3, without the ball the full backs were dropping to create a 4-5-1 but that is irrelevant as we don't have the ball in that situation.
With Clarke playing behind the striker and often in league with him we were well covered going forward, imho.
Kashi, Fosu, Holmes, DaSilva and Bauer were excellent I thought. Amos was a bit dodgy in my opinion. Looked like he was lacking confidence and didn't look the answer. Giving him the benefit of the doubt he may improve with confidence. And I thought Tony Watt was a total waste of space. I think he's being found out with better players around him.
Overall an excellent performance with 10 men.
I look forward to my trip to Plymouth next week where I hope to see the fruits of 11 players not 10.
Massive credit to KR.
One of the most technical and enterprising Charlton performances for several years combined with no small amount of grit.
Thanks Guy.
1+4+6=11!!!!
We are still lacking 3/4 players in the squad. Hopefully, the old man in Belgium will allow those signings.
Another striker is an absolute must.
Robbo and Bowyer were at the fourth ref ALL game long .. in a usually humorous but still forceful way .. almost felt sorry for the fourth man, he looked to be aged about 18 .. he certainly aged after that game ((:>) ..
Robinson does a lot of shouting and screaming, Jackson and Bowyer are more measured and analytical .. let's hope that it continues as successfully as yesterday, because that was a GREAT team performance from management and the players .. 10/10 all round