Important not to forget we had signed pretty much the whole squad before pre-season and they all had a chance to go and train in Spain together. Members of that squad regularly mention that the pre-season trip was the catalyst in us being such a good team. They were all mates off the pitch as well, which very rarely happens in football.
We also had very few injuries in that entire season, and if players did get injured it was weeks rather than months.
That all makes a huge difference in building relationships on the pitch and a manager understanding the best XI.
That squad was everything this squad isn’t. I remember the final game at the Valley, I was told by multiple people to savour this moment as it will likely never happen again - how right they were!
I think the last couple of games proceeding Hartlepool. I can't remember exactly but I was hoping for about 105 points which we fell a little short of. Not complaining btw.
I remember we were disappointed that we only drew 2-2 away at Preston, last away game was it?
I think the last couple of games proceeding Hartlepool. I can't remember exactly but I was hoping for about 105 points which we fell a little short of. Not complaining btw.
I remember we were disappointed that we only drew 2-2 away at Preston, last away game was it?
Most awesome season points wise in my lifetime and we still Charlton’d the last game.
I think the last couple of games proceeding Hartlepool. I can't remember exactly but I was hoping for about 105 points which we fell a little short of. Not complaining btw.
I remember we were disappointed that we only drew 2-2 away at Preston, last away game was it?
Most awesome season points wise in my lifetime and we still Charlton’d the last game.
Not quite the last game, remember Hartlepool, their Smurfs, a packed Valley, parachutists and Yann's wonder goal? We won 3-2.
I think the last couple of games proceeding Hartlepool. I can't remember exactly but I was hoping for about 105 points which we fell a little short of. Not complaining btw.
I remember we were disappointed that we only drew 2-2 away at Preston, last away game was it?
I think the last couple of games proceeding Hartlepool. I can't remember exactly but I was hoping for about 105 points which we fell a little short of. Not complaining btw.
I remember we were disappointed that we only drew 2-2 away at Preston, last away game was it?
yeah, correct.
Went to it at Deepdale - didn’t Graham Alexander score with his last kick in professional football near enough? We basically wrote him his dream script
Tough one with Famewo as Saturday is a big game but not sure whether it is worth risking him if he is not 100%. Could be worth giving one more week until Rochdale. However, it will be a huge boost for everyone if he can play against Pompey.
Tough one with Famewo as Saturday is a big game but not sure whether it is worth risking him if he is not 100%. Could be worth giving one more week until Rochdale. However, it will be a huge boost for everyone if he can play against Pompey.
No way do you throw a guy who's been out for weeks straight back into the side, he needs to be eased back in. I think he's made 1 start since October.
Sod playing Akin this weekend... Rest him until Rochdale or even the following game - Would rather risk two more games without him and have for the rest of the season rather than have him for two games and lose him for the rest of the season
Tough one with Famewo as Saturday is a big game but not sure whether it is worth risking him if he is not 100%. Could be worth giving one more week until Rochdale. However, it will be a huge boost for everyone if he can play against Pompey.
No way do you throw a guy who's been out for weeks straight back into the side, he needs to be eased back in. I think he's made 1 start since October.
How do you ease a centre half back into a team? Would that be one match in the side and one match rested, or would that be bringing him on a half-time or 60th mins?
Any other position on the pitch I agree but not sure how you do that with a centre defender without causing chaos during a match.
Tough one with Famewo as Saturday is a big game but not sure whether it is worth risking him if he is not 100%. Could be worth giving one more week until Rochdale. However, it will be a huge boost for everyone if he can play against Pompey.
No way do you throw a guy who's been out for weeks straight back into the side, he needs to be eased back in. I think he's made 1 start since October.
I bought the Portsmouth Stream area which usually allows me to watch the pre-match conference but saying I don't have sufficient permissions. Have they changed this?
Tough one with Famewo as Saturday is a big game but not sure whether it is worth risking him if he is not 100%. Could be worth giving one more week until Rochdale. However, it will be a huge boost for everyone if he can play against Pompey.
No way do you throw a guy who's been out for weeks straight back into the side, he needs to be eased back in. I think he's made 1 start since October.
How do you ease a centre half back into a team? Would that be one match in the side and one match rested, or would that be bringing him on a half-time or 60th mins?
Any other position on the pitch I agree but not sure how you do that with a centre defender without causing chaos during a match.
Yes bring him on with 15 mins to go, then 30 mins etc, if appropriate.
Tough one with Famewo as Saturday is a big game but not sure whether it is worth risking him if he is not 100%. Could be worth giving one more week until Rochdale. However, it will be a huge boost for everyone if he can play against Pompey.
No way do you throw a guy who's been out for weeks straight back into the side, he needs to be eased back in. I think he's made 1 start since October.
How do you ease a centre half back into a team? Would that be one match in the side and one match rested, or would that be bringing him on a half-time or 60th mins?
Any other position on the pitch I agree but not sure how you do that with a centre defender without causing chaos during a match.
Maybe give him the last 10-15 minutes if we're defending a lead on Saturday, perhaps give him 45 minutes in the U23 game v Millwall on Monday, then look to start him v Rochdale.
I bought the Portsmouth Stream area which usually allows me to watch the pre-match conference but saying I don't have sufficient permissions. Have they changed this?
Bowyer’s full pre-match press conference will be available to Valley Pass subscribers on Thursday. Click here to purchase Valley Pass. Maybe try again later.
Tough one with Famewo as Saturday is a big game but not sure whether it is worth risking him if he is not 100%. Could be worth giving one more week until Rochdale. However, it will be a huge boost for everyone if he can play against Pompey.
No way do you throw a guy who's been out for weeks straight back into the side, he needs to be eased back in. I think he's made 1 start since October.
How do you ease a centre half back into a team? Would that be one match in the side and one match rested, or would that be bringing him on a half-time or 60th mins?
Any other position on the pitch I agree but not sure how you do that with a centre defender without causing chaos during a match.
I'd consider giving him 10=15 mins at LB for his first team return.
I bought the Portsmouth Stream area which usually allows me to watch the pre-match conference but saying I don't have sufficient permissions. Have they changed this?
No. You've been barred on Valley Pass because you don't agree with Bowyer, Muttley.
Quite shocking behaviour from a manager really IMO
? We were told that he is over his injury and had a cold or something.
I just don't think he can be arsed. Making excuses not to come back into training - taking the money and playing everyone along. I don't know - its Just my opinion. The previous falling out he had with manager or team or life or whatever meant that Ferguson said he would never play for them again - and he didn't. Personally think its an attitude problem...
Keep thinking about Gilbey's nosedive in form, compared to the first couple of the games of the season when he was very influential - before he got injured.
I watched Gilbey carefully in the 1st half v Rochdale ....... and while he put in a better overall performance than many will give him credit for, he disappointed at certain key moments.
He's really struggling with lost mobility and quickness of feet, typical of players trying to come back from achilles injury.
Achilles damage is a real bugger of an injury, very unpredictable to assess how long before 100% recovery ..... and I remember myself, having picked up the injury and missing 6 weeks, despite playing every week afterwards it was really a year before I felt fully recovered.
And for players who rupture the achilles, that can be the end for some. Remember Man Utd wonderkid Norman Whiteside back in the 80s? A year out with achilles injury and never the same player again, retired at 26. And we all recall our own John Fortune rupturing his achilles at home v Palace - missed the rest of the season and when he finally returned, had lost all pace and quick turning ability.
Achilles can be a nasty injury. And to my eyes, it's no surprise that Gilbey is struggling to recover his previous form.
Wasn't it an achilles injury that Igor Vetokele got for us as well. When he finally returned he was never quite the same.
It's what did for Kashi too. Our most dynamic and important player in the Championship to third division football in France off a badly handled achilles injury
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We also had very few injuries in that entire season, and if players did get injured it was weeks rather than months.
We won 3-2.
As Mutts said, we should have won leading 2-0 but you know, we're Charlton, super Charlton ........
Maybe try again later.
The Comms team read Charlton Life, you know.