My plea 12 months ago after the 1st home match of the season was #stockleyneedsapartner we were playing 4-3-3 and Washington was so wide on the left he had chalk on his boots. DJ was on the right and struggled to get into the box. No midfield support and Jayden was more isolated that single folk during Covid lockdowns.
We are back to 4-3-3 under Garner and at times it has worked and Stockley has led the line well but Plymouth were a man light and the whole team were at it.
When it works it's good on the eye but after 10 games of JJ caretaker role when we changed to 3-5-2 we had 20 points from 10 games with W6 D2 L2. Washington played closer to Jayden and they both looked better players despite both having limitations. The Lincoln home game showed Conor's limitations when he failed to convert 4 good chances despite the fact we only had 10 men because of Gilbey's straw brain.
3-5-2 took us from 22nd to 11th but that was as good as it got as the momentum was lost as we didn't have the squad to go higher and we finished 13th. No natural wing backs was always going to catch up with us.
The reason Ben Garner has such a difficult job is Charlton fans/critics not only want the 3 points but we must look good on the eye as well ! When did Cafc become West Ham or Spurs?
If Garner isn't backed over the next few days and players who will flourish in this system we will struggle to finish in the top 8 and if you don't why you really haven't been paying attention.
Decent point at Wycombe who play to the strengths of the players they have available.
My plea 12 months ago after the 1st home match of the season was #stockleyneedsapartner we were playing 4-3-3 and Washington was so wide on the left he had chalk on his boots. DJ was on the right and struggled to get into the box. No midfield support and Jayden was more isolated that single folk during Covid lockdowns.
We are back to 4-3-3 under Garner and at times it has worked and Stockley has led the line well but Plymouth were a man light and the whole team were at it.
When it works it's good on the eye but after 10 games of JJ caretaker role when we changed to 3-5-2 we had 20 points from 10 games with W6 D2 L2. Washington played closer to Jayden and they both looked better players despite both having limitations. The Lincoln home game showed Conor's limitations when he failed to convert 4 good chances despite the fact we only had 10 men because of Gilbey's straw brain.
3-5-2 took us from 22nd to 11th but that was as good as it got as the momentum was lost as we didn't have the squad to go higher and we finished 13th. No natural wing backs was always going to catch up with us.
The reason Ben Garner has such a difficult job is Charlton fans/critics not only want the 3 points but we must look good on the eye as well ! When did Cafc become West Ham or Spurs?
If Garner isn't backed over the next few days and players who will flourish in this system we will struggle to finish in the top 8 and if you don't why you really haven't been paying attention.
Decent point at Wycombe who play to the strengths of the players they have available.
We do have to remember that we had a long spell without Washington or Stockley and I think we lost every game during that spell. We were as toothless as a 90 year old sweet lover.
Sandgaard is an egotistical twat. How many other owner would clap their fans at an away ground. And its not like he's just taken over or funded the signing of Ronaldo.
The unusually warm weather didnt help. Players were spent with 10 to go.
Some good all round play but not having a decent finisher meant we didnt win. This season will go down as the "wasted" one. We will end up 8th -10th and rue not signing someone to challenge Stockley as a No 9.
Even though we need a striker we also need a left footed centre half. O'Connell showed how awkward it us trying to play out on the "wrong" foot.
4500 home fans for a team that lost in the play-offs. Dreadful. I think the league could be spiced up a bit if there was a handicap system based on season ticket sales. Sheff Wed would start on 12 points & teams like Wycombe & Accrington on minus 12. We would start on plus 4.
Cant think JRS can be too pleased having to help Clare out 10 yards from his goal. He is such an exciting player it hurts to see him having to battle for the ball at the wrong end of the pitch. By the time he runs 70 yards with it he's knackered. He should have a free pass to stay on the half way line & not have to come into his own half.
I said 8 points from our first 6 so we are 1 point better off......but I'm the pessimistic one around here.
Ps.
Still no Golfie today though. Oh well, one day we will concede on 13 minutes & end up winning. I might even be alive to see it.
What?! Our owner is now being criticised for applauding our fans… He might as well give up now if that pisses people off.
You had to be there to see it. It wasn't an owner coming over with the players at the end of the game to applaud the fans, but an owner being "escorted" from the directors box 10 mins before kick off & walking around the pitch to the away end to take in the adulation from the fans in a "look at me I'm the big cheese......and I'm a rock star too". What he got back was a chant of "sign a striker" so if he was looking for his moment in the sun he was very mistaken.
Sure some are going after Golfie simply because it is Golfie. It was all unnecessary and a bit bizarre. I’ve never seen an opposition owner paraded around the pitch before (and announced over the PA) like a celebrity other than when they’ve just taken over a club. Just completely random and unecessary for a middling L1 match.
Most people cheered him and sung his name (with do do do do Thomas Sandgaard later evolving into Sign a Striker), which supports my theory that the online version of our support differs a fair bit from the real life version.
According to Louis Mendez he (TS) was walking around the pitch with the Wycombe owner, don't know why but BOTH owners were out there, not just TS.
Didn't know the other bloke was the Wycombe owner - he was rather unprepossessing relative to our "rock star, cool dude" chappie. But he looked mildly embarrassed and certainly didn't walk around to seek the applause of the Wycombe fans.
Their two centre backs were monsters. Alfie Mawson once moved from Swansea to Fulham for a reported £20m. They obviously had their pants pulled down on that fee but still looked a big cut above L1 level.
Signing the right striker would take this team up a level or two. Stockley isn’t quick enough and the rest of his game isn’t making up for that weaknesses. A Lyle Taylor type who can hold up the ball, run in behind and drift wide would cause defenders the sort of problems Stockley doesn’t, and that would open up space for other players.
Garner’s said he wants a FB, CB and striker so it’s not as if the club don’t know that. Not long to find out if we give ourselves a chance of solving that problem.
JRS showed again he’s a goalscorer, the way he created space for himself is something you wouldn’t see from our other wide players.
We’ve clearly improved on last season and I’m enjoying the way Garner’s got us playing, but we need those last few signings to be players who really improve the team.
Other negatives were our late subs and another game without being a threat from set pieces.
Now for hopefully a few exciting days on the rumours thread.
Different system and manager, but Lyle Taylor never looked good as a lone striker for us.
Agree but it’s a different system as you say and I’m not saying bring him back. We need more all round striker who can do things Taylor did rather than a target man like Stockley.
Yes, they are the type that doesn't suit Stockley, especially when he is so isolated. He kept battling away which was a credit to him. It probably happens in a third of games where an alternative approach is needed but you need alternatives of course and you have to remember, especially away from home, that Stockley is one of our best defenders at set pieces.
20 mins first half...Good..then after the goals they dominated that first half.
Second half they were there for the taking and we were a little toothless. Personally I would have had brought Leaburn on for Stockley and DJ on for Kirk for more mobility.
Why oh why didn't Payne shoot instead of laying it off to Leaburn I'll never know!
I'll stick to my intial feeling that Wycombe are pretty shit and unless they have lumps in there team won't amount to too much.
And in reference to Sandgaard coming over to applaud the fans...why do people feel the need to moan about it? It was a decent gesture and not an ego trip in the slightest..give the guy a break ffs.
Tough tough game, I’d quiet happily never play Wycombe again. Good to see us pushing to win though and not sit back like we would have in previous years.
6 games in and we are the only team to have not played anyone lower than 12th, and we’ve got another tough away game against Bolton next week.
Defo need a couple more signings, and our injuries back, but how you can’t feel slightly positive about our start so far I don’t know.
And what odds would you give that when we play those teams who are currently 13th to 24th, they'll then be top half? Could we go the whole season playing no one the bottom half?
Shockingly the teams you would expect to be in and around the top 10, are in and around the top 10, and the teams at the bottom are at the bottom.
Theres a couple of outliers in Oxford, MK Dons and Exeter but are you telling me any of the teams from 18 and down are going to make it into the top 12?
Seriously? No, of course not, but wouldn't it just be our luck if they did?
Tough tough game, I’d quiet happily never play Wycombe again. Good to see us pushing to win though and not sit back like we would have in previous years.
6 games in and we are the only team to have not played anyone lower than 12th, and we’ve got another tough away game against Bolton next week.
Defo need a couple more signings, and our injuries back, but how you can’t feel slightly positive about our start so far I don’t know.
And what odds would you give that when we play those teams who are currently 13th to 24th, they'll then be top half? Could we go the whole season playing no one the bottom half?
Shockingly the teams you would expect to be in and around the top 10, are in and around the top 10, and the teams at the bottom are at the bottom.
Theres a couple of outliers in Oxford, MK Dons and Exeter but are you telling me any of the teams from 18 and down are going to make it into the top 12?
Seriously? No, of course not, but wouldn't it just be our luck if they did?
Ha ha, I wouldn’t put it past us to always come up against teams in form.
In all seriousness though if we had had Ipswich fixtures and had the same points return and Stockley not scoring I’d feel much more inclined to be complaining and worried. Until that happens I’m positive about what I’m seeing on the pitch.
As it is I think we have come up, on the most, teams where the points we have got is neither an above or below average return all whilst looking so so so much better then in previous years.
I know it’s a new season, and there’s lot of variables involved, but if you look at Wigan last year, if we are to compare the same fixtures (apart from Derby for obvious reasons) they had a return of 7 points compared to our 6.
This will add very little to an already obvious/laboured point, but that’s 0/6 from open play for Stockley now.
He has attributes, and can be effective, but as others have said, the system isn’t a good fit for him.
Interesting to hear Curbs’ comments and the criticism. I spent a large part of last season thinking he was too complimentary of some of the games under Jackson, praising poor players like Gilbey, saying things like ‘we’re unlucky, if we could’ve just got a goal first’. As someone mentioned, he’s forgotten more about this club than many will ever know, so interesting to hear less than positives about Garner’s approach.
I like Garner, I think he should be given time and backed to get another forward in, if we can, but it appears obvious what the gaping hole in the set up is already.
There was another post I semi agree with about the difference bringing in another striker will make. Very little difference if it’s just a body for body’s sake, but it could be an important difference if we can find someone who can pull defenders wide, and run in behind. Whether that person exists that is in our budget, available and we can make it happen by the end of the window is another question.
Re: a plan B. I personally don’t think many teams/coaches at this level have a plan B, or the resources to do it. I think Garner needs to be aware that blindly sticking to this set up with Stockley up top, unable to influence games will probably be the difference between mid table and the play offs.
Does anyone know what Wycombe's budget is in relation to the league?
They are the obvious outlier from the last season few seasons. They, like most league 1 clubs, only file small company accounts. In there last accounted league 1 season, and the one before that they lost between 1 and 2 million quid. Which is covered by the owners in share equity.
On the basis they own the the ground and training ground, don't have a massive academy I would guess it's topish of the bottom half but miles away from what ours was at the same time.
Does anyone know what Wycombe's budget is in relation to the league?
They are the obvious outlier from the last season few seasons. They, like most league 1 clubs, only file small company accounts. In there last accounted league 1 season, and the one before that they lost between 1 and 2 million quid. Which is covered by the owners in share equity.
On the basis they own the the ground and training ground, don't have a massive academy I would guess it's topish of the bottom half but miles away from what ours was at the same time.
Cheers mate.
So I suppose there is working proof that you don't need a big budget to get promoted if you build to an effective system.
My plea 12 months ago after the 1st home match of the season was #stockleyneedsapartner we were playing 4-3-3 and Washington was so wide on the left he had chalk on his boots. DJ was on the right and struggled to get into the box. No midfield support and Jayden was more isolated that single folk during Covid lockdowns.
We are back to 4-3-3 under Garner and at times it has worked and Stockley has led the line well but Plymouth were a man light and the whole team were at it.
When it works it's good on the eye but after 10 games of JJ caretaker role when we changed to 3-5-2 we had 20 points from 10 games with W6 D2 L2. Washington played closer to Jayden and they both looked better players despite both having limitations. The Lincoln home game showed Conor's limitations when he failed to convert 4 good chances despite the fact we only had 10 men because of Gilbey's straw brain.
3-5-2 took us from 22nd to 11th but that was as good as it got as the momentum was lost as we didn't have the squad to go higher and we finished 13th. No natural wing backs was always going to catch up with us.
The reason Ben Garner has such a difficult job is Charlton fans/critics not only want the 3 points but we must look good on the eye as well ! When did Cafc become West Ham or Spurs?
If Garner isn't backed over the next few days and players who will flourish in this system we will struggle to finish in the top 8 and if you don't why you really haven't been paying attention.
Decent point at Wycombe who play to the strengths of the players they have available.
This in spades.
Reading this highlighted the main 2 reasons why JJ's tenure petered out - the lack of decent wingbacks & the 4-6 week period when we were missing our 3 main strikers.
With Garner the first issue has been addressed.....sadly the second hasn't.
Swap Mcleary for Stockley yesterday and we would have won.
Sandgaard is an egotistical twat. How many other owner would clap their fans at an away ground. And its not like he's just taken over or funded the signing of Ronaldo.
The unusually warm weather didnt help. Players were spent with 10 to go.
Some good all round play but not having a decent finisher meant we didnt win. This season will go down as the "wasted" one. We will end up 8th -10th and rue not signing someone to challenge Stockley as a No 9.
Even though we need a striker we also need a left footed centre half. O'Connell showed how awkward it us trying to play out on the "wrong" foot.
4500 home fans for a team that lost in the play-offs. Dreadful. I think the league could be spiced up a bit if there was a handicap system based on season ticket sales. Sheff Wed would start on 12 points & teams like Wycombe & Accrington on minus 12. We would start on plus 4.
Cant think JRS can be too pleased having to help Clare out 10 yards from his goal. He is such an exciting player it hurts to see him having to battle for the ball at the wrong end of the pitch. By the time he runs 70 yards with it he's knackered. He should have a free pass to stay on the half way line & not have to come into his own half.
I said 8 points from our first 6 so we are 1 point better off......but I'm the pessimistic one around here.
Ps.
Still no Golfie today though. Oh well, one day we will concede on 13 minutes & end up winning. I might even be alive to see it.
What?! Our owner is now being criticised for applauding our fans… He might as well give up now if that pisses people off.
You had to be there to see it. It wasn't an owner coming over with the players at the end of the game to applaud the fans, but an owner being "escorted" from the directors box 10 mins before kick off & walking around the pitch to the away end to take in the adulation from the fans in a "look at me I'm the big cheese......and I'm a rock star too". What he got back was a chant of "sign a striker" so if he was looking for his moment in the sun he was very mistaken.
Sure some are going after Golfie simply because it is Golfie. It was all unnecessary and a bit bizarre. I’ve never seen an opposition owner paraded around the pitch before (and announced over the PA) like a celebrity other than when they’ve just taken over a club. Just completely random and unecessary for a middling L1 match.
Most people cheered him and sung his name (with do do do do Thomas Sandgaard later evolving into Sign a Striker), which supports my theory that the online version of our support differs a fair bit from the real life version.
According to Louis Mendez he (TS) was walking around the pitch with the Wycombe owner, don't know why but BOTH owners were out there, not just TS.
Didn't know the other bloke was the Wycombe owner - he was rather unprepossessing relative to our "rock star, cool dude" chappie. But he looked mildly embarrassed and certainly didn't walk around to seek the applause of the Wycombe fans.
My plea 12 months ago after the 1st home match of the season was #stockleyneedsapartner we were playing 4-3-3 and Washington was so wide on the left he had chalk on his boots. DJ was on the right and struggled to get into the box. No midfield support and Jayden was more isolated that single folk during Covid lockdowns.
We are back to 4-3-3 under Garner and at times it has worked and Stockley has led the line well but Plymouth were a man light and the whole team were at it.
When it works it's good on the eye but after 10 games of JJ caretaker role when we changed to 3-5-2 we had 20 points from 10 games with W6 D2 L2. Washington played closer to Jayden and they both looked better players despite both having limitations. The Lincoln home game showed Conor's limitations when he failed to convert 4 good chances despite the fact we only had 10 men because of Gilbey's straw brain.
3-5-2 took us from 22nd to 11th but that was as good as it got as the momentum was lost as we didn't have the squad to go higher and we finished 13th. No natural wing backs was always going to catch up with us.
The reason Ben Garner has such a difficult job is Charlton fans/critics not only want the 3 points but we must look good on the eye as well ! When did Cafc become West Ham or Spurs?
If Garner isn't backed over the next few days and players who will flourish in this system we will struggle to finish in the top 8 and if you don't why you really haven't been paying attention.
Decent point at Wycombe who play to the strengths of the players they have available.
This in spades.
Reading this highlighted the main 2 reasons why JJ's tenure petered out - the lack of decent wingbacks & the 4-6 week period when we were missing our 3 main strikers.
With Garner the first issue has been addressed.....sadly the second hasn't.
Swap Mcleary for Stockley yesterday and we would have won.
McCleary is a Winger rather than a Striker - So might be worth trying Jaiyesimi or CBT in that central role.
My plea 12 months ago after the 1st home match of the season was #stockleyneedsapartner we were playing 4-3-3 and Washington was so wide on the left he had chalk on his boots. DJ was on the right and struggled to get into the box. No midfield support and Jayden was more isolated that single folk during Covid lockdowns.
We are back to 4-3-3 under Garner and at times it has worked and Stockley has led the line well but Plymouth were a man light and the whole team were at it.
When it works it's good on the eye but after 10 games of JJ caretaker role when we changed to 3-5-2 we had 20 points from 10 games with W6 D2 L2. Washington played closer to Jayden and they both looked better players despite both having limitations. The Lincoln home game showed Conor's limitations when he failed to convert 4 good chances despite the fact we only had 10 men because of Gilbey's straw brain.
3-5-2 took us from 22nd to 11th but that was as good as it got as the momentum was lost as we didn't have the squad to go higher and we finished 13th. No natural wing backs was always going to catch up with us.
The reason Ben Garner has such a difficult job is Charlton fans/critics not only want the 3 points but we must look good on the eye as well ! When did Cafc become West Ham or Spurs?
If Garner isn't backed over the next few days and players who will flourish in this system we will struggle to finish in the top 8 and if you don't why you really haven't been paying attention.
Decent point at Wycombe who play to the strengths of the players they have available.
This in spades.
Reading this highlighted the main 2 reasons why JJ's tenure petered out - the lack of decent wingbacks & the 4-6 week period when we were missing our 3 main strikers.
With Garner the first issue has been addressed.....sadly the second hasn't.
Swap Mcleary for Stockley yesterday and we would have won.
McCleary is a Winger rather than a Striker - So might be worth trying Jaiyesimi or CBT in that central role.
They certainly may be more mobile than Jayden
Golfie: ‘We need a striker not a winger’ (usually in caps)
Also Golfie: ‘We would have won with a winger who has scored 50 less goals across his 7 more years in football up front instead of Stockley’
Aneke and/or CBT on the bench would have made a huge difference. The last 30mins everytime we won the ball back we were too knackered (or our players just too slow) to counter attack and we didn’t have any pace on the bench to bring on and address this
My plea 12 months ago after the 1st home match of the season was #stockleyneedsapartner we were playing 4-3-3 and Washington was so wide on the left he had chalk on his boots. DJ was on the right and struggled to get into the box. No midfield support and Jayden was more isolated that single folk during Covid lockdowns.
We are back to 4-3-3 under Garner and at times it has worked and Stockley has led the line well but Plymouth were a man light and the whole team were at it.
When it works it's good on the eye but after 10 games of JJ caretaker role when we changed to 3-5-2 we had 20 points from 10 games with W6 D2 L2. Washington played closer to Jayden and they both looked better players despite both having limitations. The Lincoln home game showed Conor's limitations when he failed to convert 4 good chances despite the fact we only had 10 men because of Gilbey's straw brain.
3-5-2 took us from 22nd to 11th but that was as good as it got as the momentum was lost as we didn't have the squad to go higher and we finished 13th. No natural wing backs was always going to catch up with us.
The reason Ben Garner has such a difficult job is Charlton fans/critics not only want the 3 points but we must look good on the eye as well ! When did Cafc become West Ham or Spurs?
If Garner isn't backed over the next few days and players who will flourish in this system we will struggle to finish in the top 8 and if you don't why you really haven't been paying attention.
Decent point at Wycombe who play to the strengths of the players they have available.
We do have to remember that we had a long spell without Washington or Stockley and I think we lost every game during that spell. We were as toothless as a 90 year old sweet lover.
Good point Muttley. Unless you start getting points for Artistic interpretation while playing the bolero, Any goals for Charlton whether it's an assist from the keeper or a 20 pass move should be applauded. Having two players capable of scoring 15 goals or 1 in 3 games will help that and if they need to be closer together to achieve this then so be it. Playing two up front really isn't passé if it works. Any formation fails if too many players aren't on their game. Oxford at home with Conor and Chelsea bound Mason Burstow in a two was a good example of that.
Ben Garner will succeed or fail with results. Football will always be a results business and if I was him I would be pleading to get another forward in who can play in any of the front 3 positions. May have to be a loan but we are short of a real push for top 6 at present.
The reaction across here varies but I don’t think anyone here wants to see Jayden toil all season alone as our only striker and I am sure TS, Gallen and Garner are of the same opinion. But if we bring the right one in this week then it was worth the wait.
He is a decent league one striker and in my opinion a really valuable member of the squad but of course he needs help with someone that can share the load.
Let’s now hope the recruitment team can get him that help and I think with that help keeping him fresh he’ll start scoring more.
He had an important role to play yesterday against Wycombe in his defence and keeping their defenders busy but it did leave him quite isolated at times.
Yes this season we are playing prettier football but with the exception of against 10 men of Plymouth, we are still not scoring enough goals. Against 11 men we average 1.00 goals per game, that is not good enough and no better than last season.
Obviously the club management won't be shouting from the rooftops which positions they wish to strengthen but I just hope that by the end of this week we have someone up front who can score goals in the Garner system because Stockley can't and another CB as Inniss isn't right nor fit enough for this system.
Does anyone know what Wycombe's budget is in relation to the league?
They are the obvious outlier from the last season few seasons. They, like most league 1 clubs, only file small company accounts. In there last accounted league 1 season, and the one before that they lost between 1 and 2 million quid. Which is covered by the owners in share equity.
On the basis they own the the ground and training ground, don't have a massive academy I would guess it's topish of the bottom half but miles away from what ours was at the same time.
Cheers mate.
So I suppose there is working proof that you don't need a big budget to get promoted if you build to an effective system.
You can but you have to incredibly lucky, have a good manager and not balls anything up. Even then you start every season as rank outsiders.
I think it's very difficult to scale it up as well. In the sense you can't say if we have a wage bill that is 150% of Wycombe's or Accrington's we should be 50% better. If we do everything else the same. It's the same with the "Peterborough model". If we finished 7-10th for a couple more seasons the club would would organically shrink.
44 seconds - the shove on Morgan feet away from the ref, totally ignored. Summed the referee up. I'd like to see the clatter on Clare in the first half again.
Great to be in a great away crowd of fellow Addicks again, shame about the match. I spent the last ten minutes trying to get a good photo of the Red Kites.
Was right in line for Fraser’s shot that was blocked on 1.52. It was heading for the back of the net, but doesn’t count as a shot on target apparently.
Comments
DJ was on the right and struggled to get into the box.
No midfield support and Jayden was more isolated that single folk during Covid lockdowns.
We are back to 4-3-3 under Garner and at times it has worked and Stockley has led the line well but Plymouth were a man light and the whole team were at it.
When it works it's good on the eye but after 10 games of JJ caretaker role when we changed to 3-5-2 we had 20 points from 10 games with W6 D2 L2. Washington played closer to Jayden and they both looked better players despite both having limitations. The Lincoln home game showed Conor's limitations when he failed to convert 4 good chances despite the fact we only had 10 men because of Gilbey's straw brain.
3-5-2 took us from 22nd to 11th but that was as good as it got as the momentum was lost as we didn't have the squad to go higher and we finished 13th. No natural wing backs was always going to catch up with us.
The reason Ben Garner has such a difficult job is Charlton fans/critics not only want the 3 points but we must look good on the eye as well !
When did Cafc become West Ham or Spurs?
If Garner isn't backed over the next few days and players who will flourish in this system we will struggle to finish in the top 8 and if you don't why you really haven't been paying attention.
Decent point at Wycombe who play to the strengths of the players they have available.
Second half they were there for the taking and we were a little toothless. Personally I would have had brought Leaburn on for Stockley and DJ on for Kirk for more mobility.
Why oh why didn't Payne shoot instead of laying it off to Leaburn I'll never know!
I'll stick to my intial feeling that Wycombe are pretty shit and unless they have lumps in there team won't amount to too much.
And in reference to Sandgaard coming over to applaud the fans...why do people feel the need to moan about it? It was a decent gesture and not an ego trip in the slightest..give the guy a break ffs.
In all seriousness though if we had had Ipswich fixtures and had the same points return and Stockley not scoring I’d feel much more inclined to be complaining and worried. Until that happens I’m positive about what I’m seeing on the pitch.
I know it’s a new season, and there’s lot of variables involved, but if you look at Wigan last year, if we are to compare the same fixtures (apart from Derby for obvious reasons) they had a return of 7 points compared to our 6.
Interesting to hear Curbs’ comments and the criticism. I spent a large part of last season thinking he was too complimentary of some of the games under Jackson, praising poor players like Gilbey, saying things like ‘we’re unlucky, if we could’ve just got a goal first’. As someone mentioned, he’s forgotten more about this club than many will ever know, so interesting to hear less than positives about Garner’s approach.
I like Garner, I think he should be given time and backed to get another forward in, if we can, but it appears obvious what the gaping hole in the set up is already.
Re: a plan B. I personally don’t think many teams/coaches at this level have a plan B, or the resources to do it. I think Garner needs to be aware that blindly sticking to this set up with Stockley up top, unable to influence games will probably be the difference between mid table and the play offs.
On the basis they own the the ground and training ground, don't have a massive academy I would guess it's topish of the bottom half but miles away from what ours was at the same time.
So I suppose there is working proof that you don't need a big budget to get promoted if you build to an effective system.
Reading this highlighted the main 2 reasons why JJ's tenure petered out - the lack of decent wingbacks & the 4-6 week period when we were missing our 3 main strikers.
With Garner the first issue has been addressed.....sadly the second hasn't.
Swap Mcleary for Stockley yesterday and we would have won.
They certainly may be more mobile than Jayden
(Our away fans have always got rightful plaudits)
Also Golfie: ‘We would have won with a winger who has scored 50 less goals across his 7 more years in football up front instead of Stockley’
Good point Muttley.
Unless you start getting points for Artistic interpretation while playing the bolero, Any goals for Charlton whether it's an assist from the keeper or a 20 pass move should be applauded.
Having two players capable of scoring 15 goals or 1 in 3 games will help that and if they need to be closer together to achieve this then so be it. Playing two up front really isn't passé if it works.
Any formation fails if too many players aren't on their game. Oxford at home with Conor and Chelsea bound Mason Burstow in a two was a good example of that.
Ben Garner will succeed or fail with results.
Football will always be a results business and if I was him I would be pleading to get another forward in who can play in any of the front 3 positions. May have to be a loan but we are short of a real push for top 6 at present.
He is a decent league one striker and in my opinion a really valuable member of the squad but of course he needs help with someone that can share the load.
Let’s now hope the recruitment team can get him that help and I think with that help keeping him fresh he’ll start scoring more.
Obviously the club management won't be shouting from the rooftops which positions they wish to strengthen but I just hope that by the end of this week we have someone up front who can score goals in the Garner system because Stockley can't and another CB as Inniss isn't right nor fit enough for this system.
https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/four-takeaways-from-charltons-point-at-wycombe-rak-sakyi-the-only-creative-spark-for-long-spells/
I think it's very difficult to scale it up as well. In the sense you can't say if we have a wage bill that is 150% of Wycombe's or Accrington's we should be 50% better. If we do everything else the same. It's the same with the "Peterborough model". If we finished 7-10th for a couple more seasons the club would would organically shrink.