I got married in China yesterday Managed to forget it was Saturday, let alone that Charlton were playing.... when I started getting news about the performance and result (match ended at midnight here) it made a great day even sweeter.
Charlton came through for me at the right time. A rare and lovely feeling.
Magnificent result . Day started off bad when I picked my nephew up and realised he had shit on his trainers in my car . Car park that I use when taking niece and nephews is no longer , that's the one bottom end of Victoria Way . Couldn't find much grass on the way to ground and wiped most of it off in some leaves and weeds by the side of the road.
Magnificent result . Day started off bad when I picked my nephew up and realised he had shit on his trainers in my car . Car park that I use when taking niece and nephews is no longer , that's the one bottom end of Victoria Way . Couldn't find much grass on the way to ground and wiped most of it off in some leaves and weeds by the side of the road.
All been said above , Amos made one particular great save when their attacker shot across him first half and was much improved from his previous flappy experience, long may that continue . KAG nearly scored a Lisbie against Liverpool like goal after a long run and just couldn't curl it in the far post . Best cameo I've seen him play, almost as if he hasn't got Watt moaning at him he's free to express himself .
So far the league looks pony and we look a cut above , early days but I'm optimistic about our prospects.
I really enjoyed the thumping of a lesser team and we did look comfortable but it is worth remembering we have lost a third of our league games and failed to score in a third of them also. Also we have only managed to score more than one goal in a third of our league games.
I really enjoyed the thumping of a lesser team and we did look comfortable but it is worth remembering we have lost a third of our league games and failed to score in a third of them also. Also we have only managed to score more than one goal in a third of our league games.
Not quite the same reaction for the Shrewsbury result last season as the one for yesterday's performance then. In fact, in the first 3 pages about the only over the top comment seems to have come from me when I posted about holmes and whether he reminded me of killer in the way he focuses on going for goal or Robinson on the way he doesn't seem to give up. Fortunately somebody put me right on that and basically told me I was wrong because what a flash in the pan that holmes turned out to be...never scores and goes missing for most of the game.
Another great home performance . Can't give a MOM as so many good performances . Special mention for Ezri Konsa . Right back , Centre back , Defensive CMD , and now Attacking CMD . Can he play up top ? Crowd was class , how many teams fans for 5 to 10 mins after final whistle still chant the manager and team three games into new season ?
I really enjoyed the thumping of a lesser team and we did look comfortable but it is worth remembering we have lost a third of our league games and failed to score in a third of them also. Also we have only managed to score more than one goal in a third of our league games.
Chelsea have lost 100% of their league games so far. Nailed-on relegation.
I really enjoyed the thumping of a lesser team and we did look comfortable but it is worth remembering we have lost a third of our league games and failed to score in a third of them also. Also we have only managed to score more than one goal in a third of our league games.
Chelsea have lost 100% of their league games so far. Nailed-on relegation.
Surely Karl Robinson deserves some credit for transfer business done during the summer, and for the type of football we are currently playing.
I found Slade's football hard to watch at times, and although Robinson's early results weren't good our style of play gradually became more attractive.
The midfield is now beginning to look look quite special, and he's unloaded some Higher earning dead wood, (and Roger Johnson!), so hats off to him for that, particularly as he clearly wasn't given much cash for transfers.
I think we've won seven of our last nine league matches, albeit mainly against the less fancied clubs.
This. An excellent, excellent point.
Also, obviously time will tell this season, but last season we often struggled against teams around us or below us. And just looking at how we play, I think that when we come up against teams who come at, leaving more space and stretching the game, it will help out pressing and attack.
Both yesterday and today, when looking for comparisons, I seem to settle on that Brentford victory under Parky, in Sept 2009. To be fair that is probably because of my situation, in both cases it was my frst 90 minute look at the new team. Brentford was I think six games in. But in both cases, it was the style of football that got me excited.
On that day, you had JonJo running the game like a veteran, feeding Lloyd Sam, looking like he was finally going to fulfil his potential, and Deon Burton leading the line like the consummate pro he was. We had astute signings in Christian Dailly and Nicky Bailey, two good keepers (both now in the Prem), and an emerging talent in Chris Solly on the bench. Semedo also looked good in the Kashi role
What strikes me about that is that Deon Burton (and Dailly) was in the evening of his career, Josh is in his prime. Sam flattered to deceive while Ricky Holmes is the real deal. Kashi looks like he has more potential than Semedo. Jonjo..well it was just too early to build the midfield around him, I guess.
So overall that team faltered, and staggered into the playoffs. It did not have the strength in depth. Burton and Dailly at 34 understandably could not keep up their early performances, Sam faded, and Parky could not work out how to deploy JonJo. But he could not do much about it, because as we now know, we were lurching ever closer to administration.
So what do I conclude from that? Nothing frankly that hasn't been said by loads of others. In both cases, 2 or 3 decent signings in the right positions could make (have made) us a reallly potent force. The difference in 2009-10 was the money simply wasn't there. The story of JonJo that season also illustrates the danger of relying on kids to plug the gaps.
It seems to me that overall we have a better squad than the 2009 one. In both cases we have a manager who ideally wants to overwhelm the opposition with attacking football, which in turn, if delivered, brings in the "customers".
RD, and KM. You call yourselves "business people". Right then. Belatedly you seem to have learnt something about the type of squad needed in the English 3rd Division. However, if you want to maximise the sale price for the club, as I am sure you do, you must surely realise that the value will be hugely enhanced if we get back to the 2nd division. We are perhaps only two players short (if Amos comes good in goal). Get them in for chrissake, and do it now. Do not, under any circumstances sell anyone this window to fund it. The investment will more than pay off in May when you can sell - or possibly even in Jan if we are top two. Do it, get us up, and then you can go, and we will forget about you. We can all move on. But do it. Just do it.
I was really surprised Konsa was brought on in a more attacking role rather than say Aribo, but he looked the part yesterday, when last season he looked a bit lost at times, a quick learner
I really enjoyed the thumping of a lesser team and we did look comfortable but it is worth remembering we have lost a third of our league games and failed to score in a third of them also. Also we have only managed to score more than one goal in a third of our league games.
Cheer up and enjoy the moment
Just thought I'd try and swing the thread back a touch. Some people are getting a little ahead of the game here after two home games. We were head and shoulders the better team yesterday but we were playing a team that was very one dimensional from the start to the finish. Typical of this and their level really. Anyway I did enjoy the day from first drink to the train home. Let's hope we improve our defending, take our chances when presented with them and carry on thumping teams until next May.
If you think about the team yesterday, and the players who are out (Marshall) with the likes of Reeves,Konsa,Aribo,JJ,KAG and others sitting on the bench - are we really 2/3 players short ? Granted we need a striker, but could it be that is the only position where we need to bolster?
If you think about the team yesterday, and the players who are out (Marshall) with the likes of Reeves,Konsa,Aribo,JJ,KAG and others sitting on the bench - are we really 2/3 players short ? Granted we need a striker, but could it be that is the only position where we need to bolster?
I think everyone agrees the midfield is fine. RB cover is Dijksteel (fine) LB cover is Page (unproven, but may be ok) CB's: fine, especially if you like Sarr Keepers: I like Phillips, Amos improved yesterday, but only time will tell Strikers: I'm not crazy about either tbh, but others disagree So for me, strikers yes, anything else would be a bonus.
Not a brilliant performance but what fantastic goals. Billy Clarke my man of the match and Jay was superb. I think the midfield is the strength and forster caskey is a good example of how the midfield (just like when we won league 1 before) will get the goals. It would be nice to have another striker and if Novak goes then we can get a decent one on loan hopefully. Northampton are obviously a work in progress and I thought the score flattered us but another great day for Charlton and a good bounce back from last week.
Not a brilliant performance. Scoreline flattered us!
If "cover" is provided by a kid, is the test is, is that kid ready next week to step in and play 20 games if the incumbent is injured.
So for me the question is whether you can confidently say "yes" to Dijksteel. Maybe, I am not qualified to have an opinion.
They thought KAG was cover season before last. I am not sure he has recovered from that. That is the danger.
We all know, of course, that RD is obsessed with kids ( including at the dancing) but he understands football no better than any of us, and his obsession may be more business driven than a belief that it will bring results on the pitch.
If "cover" is provided by a kid, is the test is, is that kid ready next week to step in and play 20 games if the incumbent is injured.
So for me the question is whether you can confidently say "yes" to Dijksteel. Maybe, I am not qualified to have an opinion.
They thought KAG was cover season before last. I am not sure he has recovered from that. That is the danger.
We all know, of course, that RD is obsessed with kids ( including at the dancing) but he understands football no better than any of us, and his obsession may be more business driven than a belief that it will bring results on the pitch.
I think from watching Dijksteel he could cover the 20 games as per Gomes and Poyet but I think the real question is could KAG. UMERAH. Or RHC lead the line for 10 games even successfully and the answer had to be no
If "cover" is provided by a kid, is the test is, is that kid ready next week to step in and play 20 games if the incumbent is injured.
So for me the question is whether you can confidently say "yes" to Dijksteel. Maybe, I am not qualified to have an opinion.
They thought KAG was cover season before last. I am not sure he has recovered from that. That is the danger.
We all know, of course, that RD is obsessed with kids ( including at the dancing) but he understands football no better than any of us, and his obsession may be more business driven than a belief that it will bring results on the pitch.
If "cover" is provided by a kid, is the test is, is that kid ready next week to step in and play 20 games if the incumbent is injured.
So for me the question is whether you can confidently say "yes" to Dijksteel. Maybe, I am not qualified to have an opinion.
They thought KAG was cover season before last. I am not sure he has recovered from that. That is the danger.
We all know, of course, that RD is obsessed with kids ( including at the dancing) but he understands football no better than any of us, and his obsession may be more business driven than a belief that it will bring results on the pitch.
Blooding youngsters is a fine art and one which our current manager is well respected for. Hard to say exactly when it's right for a kid to be thrown in but it's definitely not right that the whole purpose of the club is to showcase kids just to sell on at the earliest oportunity.
That's what we have with Roland and that's what's wrong with our club. Until the purpose is to build, strengthen and progress as a club we will always be left wanting.
If you think about the team yesterday, and the players who are out (Marshall) with the likes of Reeves,Konsa,Aribo,JJ,KAG and others sitting on the bench - are we really 2/3 players short ? Granted we need a striker, but could it be that is the only position where we need to bolster?
Our season will (as it probably does with a lot of sides) depend on the injuries we get. If we get 35+ games out of the players you wouldn't want to miss too many games because of the lack of a decent back up (Magennis, Kashi, Holmes, Solly, JDS, Reeves/Clarke) then we'll be pretty close to automatic promotion. If the majority of that lot stay fit, then it's fine to have kids coming in for the odd game and playing 20 mins as a sub every other week.
The issue is if a key player gets a 2-3 month injury. We'd be in trouble if Kashi misses any length of time as we will if Holmes gets injured whilst Marshall is also out, and obviously Magennis up front unless someone else comes in.
Comments
Also, obviously time will tell this season, but last season we often struggled against teams around us or below us. And just looking at how we play, I think that when we come up against teams who come at, leaving more space and stretching the game, it will help out pressing and attack.
Both yesterday and today, when looking for comparisons, I seem to settle on that Brentford victory under Parky, in Sept 2009. To be fair that is probably because of my situation, in both cases it was my frst 90 minute look at the new team. Brentford was I think six games in. But in both cases, it was the style of football that got me excited.
On that day, you had JonJo running the game like a veteran, feeding Lloyd Sam, looking like he was finally going to fulfil his potential, and Deon Burton leading the line like the consummate pro he was. We had astute signings in Christian Dailly and Nicky Bailey, two good keepers (both now in the Prem), and an emerging talent in Chris Solly on the bench. Semedo also looked good in the Kashi role
What strikes me about that is that Deon Burton (and Dailly) was in the evening of his career, Josh is in his prime. Sam flattered to deceive while Ricky Holmes is the real deal. Kashi looks like he has more potential than Semedo. Jonjo..well it was just too early to build the midfield around him, I guess.
So overall that team faltered, and staggered into the playoffs. It did not have the strength in depth. Burton and Dailly at 34 understandably could not keep up their early performances, Sam faded, and Parky could not work out how to deploy JonJo. But he could not do much about it, because as we now know, we were lurching ever closer to administration.
So what do I conclude from that? Nothing frankly that hasn't been said by loads of others. In both cases, 2 or 3 decent signings in the right positions could make (have made) us a reallly potent force. The difference in 2009-10 was the money simply wasn't there. The story of JonJo that season also illustrates the danger of relying on kids to plug the gaps.
It seems to me that overall we have a better squad than the 2009 one. In both cases we have a manager who ideally wants to overwhelm the opposition with attacking football, which in turn, if delivered, brings in the "customers".
RD, and KM. You call yourselves "business people". Right then. Belatedly you seem to have learnt something about the type of squad needed in the English 3rd Division. However, if you want to maximise the sale price for the club, as I am sure you do, you must surely realise that the value will be hugely enhanced if we get back to the 2nd division. We are perhaps only two players short (if Amos comes good in goal). Get them in for chrissake, and do it now. Do not, under any circumstances sell anyone this window to fund it. The investment will more than pay off in May when you can sell - or possibly even in Jan if we are top two. Do it, get us up, and then you can go, and we will forget about you. We can all move on. But do it. Just do it.
Anyway I did enjoy the day from first drink to the train home. Let's hope we improve our defending, take our chances when presented with them and carry on thumping teams until next May.
Granted we need a striker, but could it be that is the only position where we need to bolster?
RB cover is Dijksteel (fine)
LB cover is Page (unproven, but may be ok)
CB's: fine, especially if you like Sarr
Keepers: I like Phillips, Amos improved yesterday, but only time will tell
Strikers: I'm not crazy about either tbh, but others disagree
So for me, strikers yes, anything else would be a bonus.
Some people have very high expectations.
So for me the question is whether you can confidently say "yes" to Dijksteel. Maybe, I am not qualified to have an opinion.
They thought KAG was cover season before last. I am not sure he has recovered from that. That is the danger.
We all know, of course, that RD is obsessed with kids ( including at the dancing) but he understands football no better than any of us, and his obsession may be more business driven than a belief that it will bring results on the pitch.
That's what we have with Roland and that's what's wrong with our club. Until the purpose is to build, strengthen and progress as a club we will always be left wanting.
The issue is if a key player gets a 2-3 month injury. We'd be in trouble if Kashi misses any length of time as we will if Holmes gets injured whilst Marshall is also out, and obviously Magennis up front unless someone else comes in.