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.
So we don't play youngsters in case they are any good and we have to sell them? We are a selling Club, just like all the other Clubs. Develop, play and enjoy them while we can.
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.
So we don't play youngsters in case they are any good and we have to sell them? We are a selling Club, just like all the other Clubs. Develop, play and enjoy them while we can.
Charlton aren't a selling club because they have to sell. The owner is a multi-millionaire. Charlton are selling club because they want to sell. It's about Roland making money, not building a competitive Charlton team.
Did you enjoy all of Joe Gomez's 21 games? Probably not as much as you enjoyed Scott Parker's 128 games I'd guess.
If everyone stays fit and we take all our chances this will be an easy season. However I fear that an injury to Solly/Da Silva, Kashi/JFC or Josh Maggennis will mean we're a play off team at best. If we get in 2 or 3 more players in those areas I'll be really confident about the season
If everyone stays fit and we take all our chances this will be an easy season. However I fear that an injury to Solly/Da Silva, Kashi/JFC or Josh Maggennis will mean we're a play off team at best. If we get in 2 or 3 more players in those areas I'll be really confident about the season
It will be interesting to see the attendances should we maintain a top 6 spot all season.
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.
So we don't play youngsters in case they are any good and we have to sell them? We are a selling Club, just like all the other Clubs. Develop, play and enjoy them while we can.
Where did I say we don't blood youngsters. I even said Robinson is well respected for nurturing Young talent. I dare say it helped him get the job.
What we don't need is kids being thrown in at the wrong time. Before they are ready or can offer something to the team.
We are still a football club where results matter or at least that's what I want us to be. It's great we have a good academy and a reputation for bringing through good young players but I don't want that's all we are noted for. Someone needs to tell Roland.
Regarding right back, we have cover for Solly in the form of both Dijksteel and Konsa. Not forgetting RCC has played there in the past as well. I know they're all youngsters but if you said to me you can have two of a striker, a keeper and a right back then I would leave the right back cover for another window. I'm far more concerned about left back.
Dijksteel is being giving the thumbs up on one performance. However he has not been playing at right back for the youth teams. He might be able to fill in for the odd game or two but I would be worried about him being found out if Solly was out for any serious length of time. I think KAG can play a good role for us this season coming on as sub against tiring defences, much as he did yesterday. However I think if he was forced to play 20 games on the trot due to an injury to Holmes or Fosu we would not get the best out of him and it would damage him longer term. Konsa is definitely a diamond but I suspect Robbo is not quite sure what to do with him (bit like Parky and Jonjo). Whether he could fill in for either Solly or Kashi if they got long term injuries I am not sure.
I saw Dijksteel play at Exeter in the cup, he's absolute mustard. Regardless of who the opposition was he really looked the part. I wouldn't be surprised if he makes the breakthrough this season and holds onto his place in the team should he get a run in the team.
He reminded me of when Solly first broke into the team.
Regarding right back, we have cover for Solly in the form of both Dijksteel and Konsa. Not forgetting RCC has played there in the past as well. I know they're all youngsters but if you said to me you can have two of a striker, a keeper and a right back then I would leave the right back cover for another window. I'm far more concerned about left back.
And Barnes has had a number of strong performances at right back...
Last season we were sussed out early on and didn't have the game to compete against any team playing an effective press against our midfield. The last few games have shown the team has a far greater passing ability and a higher tempo the anything seen last year.
It's a basis for optimism, but no one is expecting things to run smoothly. Why would you if the owner of the asylum is an inmate.
That was superb. We are quick, accurate, and tough. My pal hadn't seen Charlton since the days of BWP and Kermorgant, and as a host I was expecting the worst...
Yet, our players have had a lobotomy, injected with speed left from Tony Watt's mates' stash. We were first to the spare ball, Kahsi and Pearce darting in to the tackle – winning possession and passing precisely. Rapid, sharp-angled moves: forward. The six-feet-eight basketball players of Northampton were reduced to the gangling kids at the back of the class at school – tall, pale and weak.
It's lovely. Straight from the start, we went for the jugular: turned the defence, crossed accurately – for a change – and Magennis leaped and powered in. He's a bull of a man. In the second half, did you notice him sprint to the corner, overtaking the defender, and muscling in? It's our throw!
At The Valley we have all endured many seasons of crab-like lateral passes, the pussy-footing and navel-gazing – then the pass back to the keeper, who hoofed it in to Row Z. I have never seen Forster-Caskey score a goal like that: from 25 yards, a delicious, curving arc to the onion-bag to send the Covered End to delirium.
We were visceral today, animal-like. Raw – and clever. In the second half, our player seized the ball in our own box and sprinted forward, ball at foot. Last season he would have paused at the half-way line, chatted with Claude over the garden fence, and eaten a corned-beef sandwich.
He powered on today, aware – crucially – that he was solo: shit or bust. A step-over on the edge of their box, the double-shuffle, and shot hard and low. Keeper dives, and rages at his centre backs, puffing up behind. Love it!
Red shirts mean blood and danger. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't storm the league this season.
That was superb. We are quick, accurate, and tough. My pal hadn't seen Charlton since the days of BWP and Kermorgant, and as a host I was expecting the worst...
Yet, our players have had a lobotomy, injected with speed left from Tony Watt's mates' stash. We were first to the spare ball, Khasi and Pearce darting in to the tackle – winning possession and passing precisely. Rapid, sharp-angled moves: forward. The six-feet-eight basketball players of Northampton were reduced to the gangling kids at the back of the class at school – tall, pale and weak.
It's lovely. Straight from the start, we went for the jugular: turned the defence, crossed accurately – for a change – and Magennis leaped and powered in. He's a bull of a man. In the second half, did you notice him sprint to the corner, overtaking the defender, and muscling in? It's our throw!
At The Valley we have all endured many seasons of crab-like lateral passes, the pussy-footing and navel-gazing – then the pass back to the keeper, who hoofed it in to Row Z. I have never seen Forster-Caskey score a goal like that: from 25 yards, a delicious, curving arc to the onion-bag to send the Covered End to delirium.
We were visceral today, animal-like. Raw – and clever. In the second half, our player seized the ball in our own box and sprinted forward, ball at foot. Last season he would have paused at the half-way line, chatted with Claude over the garden fence, and eaten a corned-beef sandwich.
He powered on today, aware – crucially – that he was solo: shit or bust. A step-over on the edge of their box, the double-shuffle, and shot hard and low. Keeper dives, and rages at his centre backs, puffing up behind. Love it!
Red shirts mean blood and danger. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't storm the league this season.
Let's not get too carried away with regards to storming the league. An impressive performance yes but against a poor Northampton side.
Don't mean to be pessimistic though, really enjoyed yesterday. We need 1/2 more in though and then I will get excited for promotion.
The midfield is the best we have had outside the Prem when you take what we are up against. We need a striker like Grigg and we need luck with injuries at the back but things are in place for a real shot at promotion that's for sure.
Good team performance. It was one of those days where the videprinter should have been spelling out our score. We got away with it yesterday but some days we'll be punished for our wastefulness.
Amos looked better yesterday. At one point in the first half he collected a cross into the box over the heads of a group of players (almost like a good Auusie Rules pack mark) - Robbo came to the edge of the pitch and made a very big gesture of applauding the keeper for a ling time as if to say "I'm backing you and I want everyone to know I'm backing you". Mind you, communication didn't seem that good with Pearce (I think) in the first half when the defender was trying to shepherd a through ball but Amos refused to come off his line to collect it so Pearce had to turn and hoof it upfield/out of play instead.
Kashi reminds me of my favourite Bulgarian footballer. No nonsense, non-stop, end-to-end, with a bit of guile and skill for good measure. Kashi = Kish 2.0. At the start of the second half he went on a run through the Northampton half and had a shot which was well saved. Instead of standing there with a "look at me, how good was that run and how unlucky I didn't score" pose he just turned round and sprinted back to his position.
Clarko was Man Of The Match for me. He was the link between the half-backs of JFC and Kashi, and the half-forwards of Ricky and Fosu. He seemed to be everywhere and at the heart of everything. It was a shame that he couldn't get a goal to top off his performance.
That was superb. We are quick, accurate, and tough. My pal hadn't seen Charlton since the days of BWP and Kermorgant, and as a host I was expecting the worst...
Yet, our players have had a lobotomy, injected with speed left from Tony Watt's mates' stash. We were first to the spare ball, Kahsi and Pearce darting in to the tackle – winning possession and passing precisely. Rapid, sharp-angled moves: forward. The six-feet-eight basketball players of Northampton were reduced to the gangling kids at the back of the class at school – tall, pale and weak.
It's lovely. Straight from the start, we went for the jugular: turned the defence, crossed accurately – for a change – and Magennis leaped and powered in. He's a bull of a man. In the second half, did you notice him sprint to the corner, overtaking the defender, and muscling in? It's our throw!
At The Valley we have all endured many seasons of crab-like lateral passes, the pussy-footing and navel-gazing – then the pass back to the keeper, who hoofed it in to Row Z. I have never seen Forster-Caskey score a goal like that: from 25 yards, a delicious, curving arc to the onion-bag to send the Covered End to delirium.
We were visceral today, animal-like. Raw – and clever. In the second half, our player seized the ball in our own box and sprinted forward, ball at foot. Last season he would have paused at the half-way line, chatted with Claude over the garden fence, and eaten a corned-beef sandwich.
He powered on today, aware – crucially – that he was solo: shit or bust. A step-over on the edge of their box, the double-shuffle, and shot hard and low. Keeper dives, and rages at his centre backs, puffing up behind. Love it!
Red shirts mean blood and danger. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't storm the league this season.
Ricky needs a song (it's prolly been said before but never sung) and I've got it to the tune of oh Mickey you're so fine
Oh Ricky , you're so fine You're so fine you blow my mind, hey Ricky, Hey Ricky Repeat repeat ....then clap ourselves at the end if we manage to sing a song
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.
Sorry I wrote this before seeing a couple others made similar points. Worth noting Dijksteel was apparently brilliant at RB against Championship Norwich and Exeter. He also played 10-15 minutes at CB against Dover and I thought he looked very good, strong, tough, good in the air. It seems since KR came in he has been identified as the youth player closest to being ready to make the step up.
I second this. You can add Sarr and Barnes as cover at left back and Barnes and RCC cover as right back. RCC, Barnes, and Dijksteel are all unproven, but all look good prospects and can potentially cover multiple positions, spreading out the risk should one have a dip in form or confidence.
For me we're one striker short, assuming we keep Novak.
If we get someone in markedly better than Josh, great, but I think that's a big ask at our level. I'd be happy with someone competing with Novak for the back up role.
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.
So we don't play youngsters in case they are any good and we have to sell them? We are a selling Club, just like all the other Clubs. Develop, play and enjoy them while we can.
Charlton aren't a selling club because they have to sell. The owner is a multi-millionaire. Charlton are selling club because they want to sell. It's about Roland making money, not building a competitive Charlton team.
Did you enjoy all of Joe Gomez's 21 games? Probably not as much as you enjoyed Scott Parker's 128 games I'd guess.
Wasn't we a premiership club with Parker therefore we wouldn't have to sell with the TV money and gate receipts coming in. Gomez conducted himself in a far more professional manner as did Lookman when he left the club rather than Parker who threw his toys at the pram and stitched the club up.
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.
So we don't play youngsters in case they are any good and we have to sell them? We are a selling Club, just like all the other Clubs. Develop, play and enjoy them while we can.
Charlton aren't a selling club because they have to sell. The owner is a multi-millionaire. Charlton are selling club because they want to sell. It's about Roland making money, not building a competitive Charlton team.
Did you enjoy all of Joe Gomez's 21 games? Probably not as much as you enjoyed Scott Parker's 128 games I'd guess.
Wasn't we a premiership club with Parker therefore we wouldn't have to sell with the TV money and gate receipts coming in. Gomez conducted himself in a far more professional manner as did Lookman when he left the club rather than Parker who threw his toys at the pram and stitched the club up.
Point is, Parker contributed to the club's success. Gomez's appearances were nothing more than an ad campaign for the club to cash him in (too cheaply!)
1. The current batch (RHF aside) of promising graduates are all 19/20 years old this season. That is a big difference in terms of their development to being 17/18 as they were when they were first being used in the first team under Luzon and Fraeye.
2. It looks more likely this season that if they need to come in then they will be coming into a team playing reasonably well and with the fans behind them, rather than having to try and lift a team in bad form and with the fans in an already negative frame of mind.
It feels very much like these young players are 'ready' this season in a way that they haven't been in previous seasons.
Also worth remembering that Konsa's break through year was last year and he played a lot of games. I know right back and defensive midfield may not be his best positions, but mentally he should be plenty able to come in and handle the responsibility of playing a prolonged spell in the team. Heck, he's arguably unlucky not to be in the first choice XI already.
The area where the above does not apply is our young strikers which is why it so important that at least one more senior forward is signed.
1. The current batch (RHF aside) of promising graduates are all 19/20 years old this season. That is a big difference in terms of their development to being 17/18 as they were when they were first being used in the first team under Luzon and Fraeye.
2. It looks more likely this season that if they need to come in then they will be coming into a team playing reasonably well and with the fans behind them, rather than having to try and lift a team in bad form and with the fans in an already negative frame of mind.
It feels very much like these young players are 'ready' this season in a way that they haven't been in previous seasons.
Also worth remembering that Konsa's break through year was last year and he played a lot of games. I know right back and defensive midfield may not be his best positions, but mentally he should be plenty able to come in and handle the responsibility of playing a prolonged spell in the team. Heck, he's arguably unlucky not to be in the first choice XI already.
The area where the above does not apply is our young strikers which is why it so important that at least one more senior forward is signed.
1. The current batch (RHF aside) of promising graduates are all 19/20 years old this season. That is a big difference in terms of their development to being 17/18 as they were when they were first being used in the first team under Luzon and Fraeye.
2. It looks more likely this season that if they need to come in then they will be coming into a team playing reasonably well and with the fans behind them, rather than having to try and lift a team in bad form and with the fans in an already negative frame of mind.
It feels very much like these young players are 'ready' this season in a way that they haven't been in previous seasons.
Also worth remembering that Konsa's break through year was last year and he played a lot of games. I know right back and defensive midfield may not be his best positions, but mentally he should be plenty able to come in and handle the responsibility of playing a prolonged spell in the team. Heck, he's arguably unlucky not to be in the first choice XI already.
The area where the above does not apply is our young strikers which is why it so important that at least one more senior forward is signed.
Completely agree, don't mind them playing the odd game but you don't want to rely on them all season.
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.
So we don't play youngsters in case they are any good and we have to sell them? We are a selling Club, just like all the other Clubs. Develop, play and enjoy them while we can.
Charlton aren't a selling club because they have to sell. The owner is a multi-millionaire. Charlton are selling club because they want to sell. It's about Roland making money, not building a competitive Charlton team.
Did you enjoy all of Joe Gomez's 21 games? Probably not as much as you enjoyed Scott Parker's 128 games I'd guess.
Wasn't we a premiership club with Parker therefore we wouldn't have to sell with the TV money and gate receipts coming in. Gomez conducted himself in a far more professional manner as did Lookman when he left the club rather than Parker who threw his toys at the pram and stitched the club up.
Point is, Parker contributed to the club's success. Gomez's appearances were nothing more than an ad campaign for the club to cash him in (too cheaply!)
Parker contributed the clubs success? The same Parker that wanted out when we were forth in the premiership and could have got into Europe if he had stayed meaning that we could attracted a better player and pushed us on further. Liverpool activated a clause in the contract of Joe Gomez and both parties conducted themselves in a,professional unlike some clubs when trying to get a player and unsettle him, and to be fair who can blame Joe and now is on there starting 11. Lookman was a great deal, however he now appears to have dropped down the pecking order and may move on loan so all in all good business.
Nothing really to add to what has already been said, others than once again I really enjoyed the game. Also, although 4-1 was a fair reflection overall, there were periods when it looked like we were running out of ideas and might chuck it away. This side is still a work in progress and although I wasn't slitting my wrists after last week I don't think it's suddenly going to become a cakewalk. See how we are after 10 games.
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.
So we don't play youngsters in case they are any good and we have to sell them? We are a selling Club, just like all the other Clubs. Develop, play and enjoy them while we can.
Charlton aren't a selling club because they have to sell. The owner is a multi-millionaire. Charlton are selling club because they want to sell. It's about Roland making money, not building a competitive Charlton team.
Did you enjoy all of Joe Gomez's 21 games? Probably not as much as you enjoyed Scott Parker's 128 games I'd guess.
I disagree. Charlton has been a selling Club for as long as I have followed them (late 50s), even in our Premier days. This has been irrespective of owners.
Nothing really to add to what has already been said, others than once again I really enjoyed the game. Also, although 4-1 was a fair reflection overall, there were periods when it looked like we were running out of ideas and might chuck it away. This side is still a work in progress and although I wasn't slitting my wrists after last week I don't think it's suddenly going to become a cakewalk. See how we are after 10 games.
I always go by where a team is after 15 games. That is usually a good barometer for how the season will pan out.
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Charlton aren't a selling club because they have to sell. The owner is a multi-millionaire. Charlton are selling club because they want to sell. It's about Roland making money, not building a competitive Charlton team.
Did you enjoy all of Joe Gomez's 21 games? Probably not as much as you enjoyed Scott Parker's 128 games I'd guess.
What we don't need is kids being thrown in at the wrong time. Before they are ready or can offer something to the team.
We are still a football club where results matter or at least that's what I want us to be. It's great we have a good academy and a reputation for bringing through good young players but I don't want that's all we are noted for. Someone needs to tell Roland.
I think KAG can play a good role for us this season coming on as sub against tiring defences, much as he did yesterday. However I think if he was forced to play 20 games on the trot due to an injury to Holmes or Fosu we would not get the best out of him and it would damage him longer term.
Konsa is definitely a diamond but I suspect Robbo is not quite sure what to do with him (bit like Parky and Jonjo). Whether he could fill in for either Solly or Kashi if they got long term injuries I am not sure.
He reminded me of when Solly first broke into the team.
It's a basis for optimism, but no one is expecting things to run smoothly. Why would you if the owner of the asylum is an inmate.
Yet, our players have had a lobotomy, injected with speed left from Tony Watt's mates' stash. We were first to the spare ball, Kahsi and Pearce darting in to the tackle – winning possession and passing precisely. Rapid, sharp-angled moves: forward. The six-feet-eight basketball players of Northampton were reduced to the gangling kids at the back of the class at school – tall, pale and weak.
It's lovely. Straight from the start, we went for the jugular: turned the defence, crossed accurately – for a change – and Magennis leaped and powered in. He's a bull of a man. In the second half, did you notice him sprint to the corner, overtaking the defender, and muscling in? It's our throw!
At The Valley we have all endured many seasons of crab-like lateral passes, the pussy-footing and navel-gazing – then the pass back to the keeper, who hoofed it in to Row Z. I have never seen Forster-Caskey score a goal like that: from 25 yards, a delicious, curving arc to the onion-bag to send the Covered End to delirium.
We were visceral today, animal-like. Raw – and clever. In the second half, our player seized the ball in our own box and sprinted forward, ball at foot. Last season he would have paused at the half-way line, chatted with Claude over the garden fence, and eaten a corned-beef sandwich.
He powered on today, aware – crucially – that he was solo: shit or bust. A step-over on the edge of their box, the double-shuffle, and shot hard and low. Keeper dives, and rages at his centre backs, puffing up behind. Love it!
Red shirts mean blood and danger. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't storm the league this season.
Keep them coming Viewfinder.
Don't mean to be pessimistic though, really enjoyed yesterday. We need 1/2 more in though and then I will get excited for promotion.
The midfield is the best we have had outside the Prem when you take what we are up against. We need a striker like Grigg and we need luck with injuries at the back but things are in place for a real shot at promotion that's for sure.
Amos looked better yesterday. At one point in the first half he collected a cross into the box over the heads of a group of players (almost like a good Auusie Rules pack mark) - Robbo came to the edge of the pitch and made a very big gesture of applauding the keeper for a ling time as if to say "I'm backing you and I want everyone to know I'm backing you". Mind you, communication didn't seem that good with Pearce (I think) in the first half when the defender was trying to shepherd a through ball but Amos refused to come off his line to collect it so Pearce had to turn and hoof it upfield/out of play instead.
Kashi reminds me of my favourite Bulgarian footballer. No nonsense, non-stop, end-to-end, with a bit of guile and skill for good measure. Kashi = Kish 2.0. At the start of the second half he went on a run through the Northampton half and had a shot which was well saved. Instead of standing there with a "look at me, how good was that run and how unlucky I didn't score" pose he just turned round and sprinted back to his position.
Clarko was Man Of The Match for me. He was the link between the half-backs of JFC and Kashi, and the half-forwards of Ricky and Fosu. He seemed to be everywhere and at the heart of everything. It was a shame that he couldn't get a goal to top off his performance.
Oh Ricky , you're so fine
You're so fine you blow my mind, hey Ricky,
Hey Ricky
Repeat repeat ....then clap ourselves at the end if we manage to sing a song
I second this. You can add Sarr and Barnes as cover at left back and Barnes and RCC cover as right back. RCC, Barnes, and Dijksteel are all unproven, but all look good prospects and can potentially cover multiple positions, spreading out the risk should one have a dip in form or confidence.
For me we're one striker short, assuming we keep Novak.
If we get someone in markedly better than Josh, great, but I think that's a big ask at our level. I'd be happy with someone competing with Novak for the back up role.
1. The current batch (RHF aside) of promising graduates are all 19/20 years old this season. That is a big difference in terms of their development to being 17/18 as they were when they were first being used in the first team under Luzon and Fraeye.
2. It looks more likely this season that if they need to come in then they will be coming into a team playing reasonably well and with the fans behind them, rather than having to try and lift a team in bad form and with the fans in an already negative frame of mind.
It feels very much like these young players are 'ready' this season in a way that they haven't been in previous seasons.
Also worth remembering that Konsa's break through year was last year and he played a lot of games. I know right back and defensive midfield may not be his best positions, but mentally he should be plenty able to come in and handle the responsibility of playing a prolonged spell in the team. Heck, he's arguably unlucky not to be in the first choice XI already.
The area where the above does not apply is our young strikers which is why it so important that at least one more senior forward is signed.
Liverpool activated a clause in the contract of Joe Gomez and both parties conducted themselves in a,professional unlike some clubs when trying to get a player and unsettle him, and to be fair who can blame Joe and now is on there starting 11.
Lookman was a great deal, however he now appears to have dropped down the pecking order and may move on loan so all in all good business.
Also, although 4-1 was a fair reflection overall, there were periods when it looked like we were running out of ideas and might chuck it away.
This side is still a work in progress and although I wasn't slitting my wrists after last week I don't think it's suddenly going to become a cakewalk.
See how we are after 10 games.