The general feeling last season was that we were playing awful turgid football - we put it down to Bowyer and playing to Stockley- but maybe, just maybe... We actually have shite players. We retained a fair few and shock, we're still playing shite. Who in the team is a "baller" Kirk and Gilbey with Morgan sometimes?
Adkins should definitely be getting more out of them, but if it's like he's said about players not following instructions, players not playing how he wants then the blokes got no chance really. We've played some football in patches but revert to smash it to Stockley...
Honestly don't think he got the parts he wanted and needed in the window, but if the players aren't going to respond and play his way, then you gotta get someone in who will manage them to their level of ability.
I believe so.
Lets be clear, we were shite under bowyer because he had Oshilaja and Pratley as his centre halves for a massive chunk of the season. He wasn’t without his faults, but he had excuses, Adkins hasn’t.
Think it all depends on just what/how Adkins is training them to play. If he is trying to implement some sort of pressing pass and move then we definitely don't have enough quality in the squad for it.
The problem has been apparent since the first game, the players that go out onto the pitch look like they haven’t been training together all week. They start well but it’s all huff and puff and no end result then the gaps begin to appear because players switch off and they get found out. NA may not be the one on the pitch but his job is to make a team out of them and have a game plan that works. If there is no indication that the errors of the first few games haven’t been addressed then waiting a few more games to see if they do get addressed makes no sense. SCP went 10 games (?) on a winless run, Curbs had a similar bad run in the PL, the fans stood behind both, not just because they were ex-Charlton but because we could see the players were having a go and trying to put it right. This lot just look like a shambles at times and the stats are just awful. Give Jackson a few games as caretaker, at least the fans will back him. Another game like we’ve seen and it will turn toxic.
All this talk of trouble in higher management ceo etc being the problem is just so much guff, the players train all week and when they cross the white line on a Saturday they should be focused on what they’re doing, nobody’s telling them to play like they are they’re clearly better players than their performances suggest they have to take responsibility for their own performances.
I'm never one for knee jerk reactions purely based on losing a few games. However something is not right, not only have we lost but it's the manner of those losses.
Recruitment has to be a part of that, I don't know the process and how involved each member of the 'committee' is, but to me it looks like 'we need a winger', someone runs stats as to who is the top 3/4 wingers at this level, we look at likely cost etc and try and buy one.
So to that end I think we've not really considered when buying players how they will overall fit into the team, surroundings etc.
We've also done it backwards I feel, bought players then tried to fit them into the style the manager wants rather than the other way around. For me Stockley and Washington are very good at this level and should be getting lots of goals, but we don't play to either of their strengths.
So despite where I started, I'd be inclined that unless there's a marked improvement soon in performances, he has to go. I'd certainly give JJ the caretakers and take a view. I feel he'll steady the ship minimum.
However if after 10-12 games we've not seen improvement then we can broadly write the season off for anything like promotion.
All this talk of trouble in higher management ceo etc being the problem is just so much guff, the players train all week and when they cross the white line on a Saturday they should be focused on what they’re doing, nobody’s telling them to play like they are they’re clearly better players than their performances suggest they have to take responsibility for their own performances.
It’s NA’s job to make sure they do. If that’s not happening then they clearly are not listening to him. We as Charlton fans know how to solve that little issue because we’ve dealt with it before and made it absolutely clear to the players that we 100%, unequivocally, back the manager. NA is unlikely to have that backing.
All this talk of trouble in higher management ceo etc being the problem is just so much guff, the players train all week and when they cross the white line on a Saturday they should be focused on what they’re doing, nobody’s telling them to play like they are they’re clearly better players than their performances suggest they have to take responsibility for their own performances.
Something clearly ain't right though is it and, as it is, it's impossible for the average fan to know exactly what it is. Quite a few people think the transfer window weren't the best, so then that would call into question the people who are responsible for that.
Was Adkins brought in purely as a coach to look after the team and told that transfers were not in his remit? If so, where do you point the finger when new players are shit or don't gel or whatever? (2 of those signed this window were dropped yesterday)
To me, Sandgaard is completely in the clear over this. He's stumped up funds and employed people to look after the technical side of things, so not sure what else he can do tbh
All this talk of trouble in higher management ceo etc being the problem is just so much guff, the players train all week and when they cross the white line on a Saturday they should be focused on what they’re doing, nobody’s telling them to play like they are they’re clearly better players than their performances suggest they have to take responsibility for their own performances.
Something clearly ain't right though is it and, as it is, it's impossible for the average fan to know exactly what it is. Quite a few people think the transfer window weren't the best, so then that would call into question the people who are responsible for that.
Was Adkins brought in purely as a coach to look after the team and told that transfers were not in his remit? If so, where do you point the finger when new players are shit or don't gel or whatever? (2 of those signed this window were dropped yesterday)
To me, Sandgaard is completely in the clear over this. He's stumped up funds and employed people to look after the technical side of things, so not sure what else he can do tbh
The general feeling last season was that we were playing awful turgid football - we put it down to Bowyer and playing to Stockley- but maybe, just maybe... We actually have shite players. We retained a fair few and shock, we're still playing shite. Who in the team is a "baller" Kirk and Gilbey with Morgan sometimes?
Adkins should definitely be getting more out of them, but if it's like he's said about players not following instructions, players not playing how he wants then the blokes got no chance really. We've played some football in patches but revert to smash it to Stockley...
Honestly don't think he got the parts he wanted and needed in the window, but if the players aren't going to respond and play his way, then you gotta get someone in who will manage them to their level of ability.
I believe so.
Lets be clear, we were shite under bowyer because he had Oshilaja and Pratley as his centre halves for a massive chunk of the season. He wasn’t without his faults, but he had excuses, Adkins hasn’t.
Think it all depends on just what/how Adkins is training them to play. If he is trying to implement some sort of pressing pass and move then we definitely don't have enough quality in the squad for it.
Hardly screams technical, pass and move free flowing football.
Kirk, Lee, Gilbey, Morgan have some ability and Leko, DJ CBT are Dynamic, but with injuries and form that's not enough.
Think Adkins is going to have to do what he did when he first took over and play to the strengths rather than re-invent Stockley's wheel.
Or, well, find someone who will....
Are they any less technical than Cheltenham’s players? We only had 43% of possession and although we had a similar number of shots half of Cheltenham’s 16 were on target, only 1 of our 14 were.
The biggest difference is belief, confidence, the mentality. We don’t have a settled team but we’re not even trying to play decent football. Players are scared to make a mistake so they pump the ball long.
We need a manager to give them that confidence and freedom to play. It’s not coming from Adkins.
All this talk of trouble in higher management ceo etc being the problem is just so much guff, the players train all week and when they cross the white line on a Saturday they should be focused on what they’re doing, nobody’s telling them to play like they are they’re clearly better players than their performances suggest they have to take responsibility for their own performances.
Something clearly ain't right though is it and, as it is, it's impossible for the average fan to know exactly what it is. Quite a few people think the transfer window weren't the best, so then that would call into question the people who are responsible for that.
Was Adkins brought in purely as a coach to look after the team and told that transfers were not in his remit? If so, where do you point the finger when new players are shit or don't gel or whatever? (2 of those signed this window were dropped yesterday)
To me, Sandgaard is completely in the clear over this. He's stumped up funds and employed people to look after the technical side of things, so not sure what else he can do tbh
So for the “it’s bigger than Adkins” side of the discussion. Is his positivity and pressers on a Thursday saying they’re in a happy place and that they’ve stepped up a gear all lies? I don’t see how someone with a straight face could come out with that utter nonsense if so.
Hope for his sake we win on Tuesday because the away end will turn vile, and he can’t walk down the tunnel cowardly in the same way he did yesterday as he’ll have to walk past our fans.
Hope for his sake we win on Tuesday because the away end will turn vile, and he can’t walk down the tunnel cowardly in the same way he did yesterday as he’ll have to walk past our fans.
A defeat on Tuesday will surely end him.
Walking out past our fans probably isn’t going to be that pleasant…
Hope for his sake we win on Tuesday because the away end will turn vile, and he can’t walk down the tunnel cowardly in the same way he did yesterday as he’ll have to walk past our fans.
A defeat on Tuesday will surely end him.
To be honest, he should be gone before then.
When a large proportion of an away end are singing for you to be sacked, it’s almost impossible to come back from that.
Hope for his sake we win on Tuesday because the away end will turn vile, and he can’t walk down the tunnel cowardly in the same way he did yesterday as he’ll have to walk past our fans.
Thomas has open channels to probably the two most influential and successful people that have been involved with the club in decades. Alan Curbishley and Peter Varney. Both have forgotten more about running a football club than either Thomas or Roddy know. If I was Thomas I’d have the humility and sense to have a long chat with both about their views of where it’s going wrong. Peter is still a fan and Curbs is probably more connected with the club now than he has been since he left. Both will have seen exactly what we all have. I’m not suggesting either would or should take up roles in the club but what a resource to have to fall back on. Thomas. Please don’t squander what might be the best two phone calls your ownership could possibly make.
Thomas has open channels to probably the two most influential and successful people that have been involved with the club in decades. Alan Curbishley and Peter Varney. Both have forgotten more about running a football club than either Thomas or Roddy know. If I was Thomas I’d have the humility and sense to have a long chat with both about their views of where it’s going wrong. Peter is still a fan and Curbs is probably more connected with the club now than he has been since he left. Both will have seen exactly what we all have. I’m not suggesting either would or should take up roles in the club but what a resource to have to fall back on. Thomas. Please don’t squander what might be the best two phone calls your ownership could possibly make.
Imagine Varney coming in with a conventional management team working under him.
How long is his contract? I assume quite long. In which case he isn’t going anywhere for a while. He’s got us in this mess, give him the chance to get us out. Players need to shoulder a lot too. Promotion has gone. Staying up is the only objective now.
Yesterday did feel like a turning point. When the "hard core" supporters turn against a manager, as opposed to the team more generally, it's hard to come back from that.
Joint bottom of L1, playing terrible football, Adkins can hardly feel hard done by if he gets the boot. Yes the transfer window wasn't great, with players arriving far too late, but that's no excuse for being outplayed by teams with much smaller budgets than us
You can't sack the team, but you can sack the manager. A new manager can get a team that isn't playing to play. We have seen that on countless occasions. That doesn't always mean it is the old manager's fault, fully or partially but it is the instant thing you can change.
Thomas has open channels to probably the two most influential and successful people that have been involved with the club in decades. Richard Murray and Tony Keohane.
Comments
Think it all depends on just what/how Adkins is training them to play. If he is trying to implement some sort of pressing pass and move then we definitely don't have enough quality in the squad for it.
Gunter, Matthews, Inniss, Lavelle, Famewo, Pearce, Purrington.
Watson, Dobson, Clare, JFC
Stockley, Washington, Davisson
Hardly screams technical, pass and move free flowing football.
Kirk, Lee, Gilbey, Morgan have some ability and Leko, DJ CBT are Dynamic, but with injuries and form that's not enough.
Think Adkins is going to have to do what he did when he first took over and play to the strengths rather than re-invent Stockley's wheel.
Or, well, find someone who will....
Recruitment has to be a part of that, I don't know the process and how involved each member of the 'committee' is, but to me it looks like 'we need a winger', someone runs stats as to who is the top 3/4 wingers at this level, we look at likely cost etc and try and buy one.
So to that end I think we've not really considered when buying players how they will overall fit into the team, surroundings etc.
We've also done it backwards I feel, bought players then tried to fit them into the style the manager wants rather than the other way around. For me Stockley and Washington are very good at this level and should be getting lots of goals, but we don't play to either of their strengths.
So despite where I started, I'd be inclined that unless there's a marked improvement soon in performances, he has to go. I'd certainly give JJ the caretakers and take a view. I feel he'll steady the ship minimum.
However if after 10-12 games we've not seen improvement then we can broadly write the season off for anything like promotion.
Was Adkins brought in purely as a coach to look after the team and told that transfers were not in his remit? If so, where do you point the finger when new players are shit or don't gel or whatever? (2 of those signed this window were dropped yesterday)
To me, Sandgaard is completely in the clear over this. He's stumped up funds and employed people to look after the technical side of things, so not sure what else he can do tbh
The biggest difference is belief, confidence, the mentality. We don’t have a settled team but we’re not even trying to play decent football. Players are scared to make a mistake so they pump the ball long.
We need a manager to give them that confidence and freedom to play. It’s not coming from Adkins.
A defeat on Tuesday will surely end him.
When a large proportion of an away end are singing for you to be sacked, it’s almost impossible to come back from that.
i’ll back him for now. At least until Christmas.
Joint bottom of L1, playing terrible football, Adkins can hardly feel hard done by if he gets the boot. Yes the transfer window wasn't great, with players arriving far too late, but that's no excuse for being outplayed by teams with much smaller budgets than us