The idea that the reason for Stockley's poor form is that we're not playing to his strengths is a myth. Every time a cross has been put on his head this season he has fluffed it or headed straight at the keeper. Last night Kirk put in a perfect ball for Stockley to slide in at the back post and he just strolled in and made no atempt to tap the ball in.
His lack of ability to win a header, inability to do anything with the ball at his feet, inability to run, and generally awful positioning is the reason he has been so poor, not the system (which by the way has been changed to the system that allegedly suits him and was going to make him the excellent League One striker that he's never actually been).
Calling him the Posh Paul Benson would be overly polite.
Exactly how I see it. And when he comes back to try and get involved in play he loses the ball with a heavy touch, or misplaced pass, and just ruins all the work done by those around him.
I feared this result and MK Dons played as expected and there was no room in our final third. The only player who looked like he might do something was JRS who ran at them. We will be critical of our midfield but they had to produce inch perfect balls and the ball behind was not on. I think we could have gone three at the back before the sending off. In a game like that O'Connell and Inniss are just extra passes. Clare offensivley is a dead loss at left back as every ball he has to stop and cut in or pass back so he actually stifled moves playing in that position. CBT plays and it creates space as defenders have to stand off him.
We can argue the penalty wasn't a foul or at least in the area but MKDons deserved that result to be fair. I would have liked to see Aneke come on for the second half and play with Stockley. It shows a big thing holding us back that Garner can't do this. If I was advising Ipswich, I would say set up like MKDons, but they will probably be more open and try to beat us and we will have CBT back, hopefully, and start Sessengnon on the left so I think we have a decent chance.
The only problem I have with a Stockley, Anke combo is that crosses need to be delivered into the box to provide chances and as bad as Stockley was last night,once Campbell went off we did not put one cross into the box and the physical presence of both those players would have been lost regardless.
Psychologically, last night the three points were in the bag before kick off playing a team, bottom of the league and out of form.
Altering the team selection to protect players for Saturday`s game against the league leaders backfired. The three points we should have captured last night have been conceded to "the chance" of gaining some on Saturday. Looks like we could now end up with the body blow of zero points gained after the two games.
If Sessegnon was good enough for the bench he should have started to balance the team and give us the best chance of getting three points and retaining our unbeaten run of form. Chancing Clare at LB was a poor decision (I rate Clare highly when he plays on the right sde) and he was struggling throughout the game. This decision also had a large effect on Campbell`s performance as Clare failed many opportunities to bring him into the game as he was obviously unconfortable and lacking confidence playing at left back.
Perhaps it is better to go full throttle to secure three "easier" points against the out of form teams than to hope you can achieve unexpected success in the next match against a tougher side? IMO, a player`s psychology to win naturally kicks in against stronger opposition as they tend to rise to the occassion.
MK Dons clearly had a plan against us and it worked well. They made us struggle to get our game together and pressed us continuously. They deserved the win on the night but we threw away a great opportunity to continue our form and add another three points to our tally and consolidate a position close to the playoff zone.
I hope there is a positive response against Ipswich on Saturday to restore our belief in the team and return us to the good form we reached in the three previous wins.
Ipswich will be as expectant on Saturday as we were last night. Maybe that might just lull them into a false state of security. They sold out their full allocation in Jimmy Seed in 1 hour. Impressive and puts into perspective the competition in this league.
During the second half, after a defensive error by Innis, Steve Brown said on commentary that he was good for two mistakes a game & hoped he’d made his two for this game. I said out loud to myself “he must be due another sending off as he hasn’t had one for a few weeks!”
I make that four red cards now in his short Charlton career; I think he is a liability & doesn’t seem to learn from his ‘mistakes’.
Still pissed off this morning … MK Dons would still not have scored if it had not been for two very poor ref calls last night very disappointing and not the first time poor ref decision has cost us points !!!
It's swings and roundabouts, forget about it. If we'd have actually put the round spherical object between the white stick things into the onion bag it wouldn't matter anyway but we didn't. One shot on target in 90 minutes won't win you games.
Ipswich might well spank us like they did at the end of the season I think.
Think back to how many goals MK could have scored had they not been so powderpuff/blind to final pass. Easily 4. Ipswich will be clinical and take them.
Innis is always a worry when hes on a yellow but last night was shocking refereeing. For me, no foul and 100% outside the box. He didnt play well and done his best to gift them a goal or 2 before the "foul".
Clare is horrifically negative...always going back, needs to be braver and go for the positive pass.
We lost and now we need to make sure we dont let Ipswich have there way with us,
Ref Stockley, he might not be clever on the floor but lets be honest, we arent trying to stick it on his head are we!
Yes, Clare definitely was very negative last night, no question but that’s not the case when he’s at right back……I rather like him and I think might even be a good choice at right wing back if needs be.
It's hard for me to imagine how a footballer can reach this level being as one-footed as Claire is. It's also hard to imagine that a coaching staff can see how bad he is on the practice pitch, day in and day out, and pick him to play on his "wrong" side.
Who was the Man Utd player who could only kick with one foot? I recall them showing the stats after a game where he touched it with one foot about ninety times and the other about three? Can't for the life of me recall who it was?
Who was the Man Utd player who could only kick with one foot? I recall them showing the stats after a game where he touched it with one foot about ninety times and the other about three? Can't for the life of me recall who it was?
It's hard for me to imagine how a footballer can reach this level being as one-footed as Claire is. It's also hard to imagine that a coaching staff can see how bad he is on the practice pitch, day in and day out, and pick him to play on his "wrong" side.
Who was the Man Utd player who could only kick with one foot? I recall them showing the stats after a game where he touched it with one foot about ninety times and the other about three? Can't for the life of me recall who it was?
Not a Man United player but Hristo Stoichkov never touched the ball with his right foot.
Why anyone would clap Innis off is beyond me. Get rid of him ffs, gave the ball away twice under no pressure whatsoever and then rightly gets sent off.
Harsh foul, harsh yellow, harsh pen, that's why he was clapped.
Watching with rose tinted spectacles! A push in the back and a definite foul. Although it may have been factionally outside the box and a harsh penalty it was a silly clear foul. The question is why wasn't it a straight red for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. They created much more than we did over the game even up until that point. We had one shot on target and didn't even get a corner until late on. Garner then surrendered at 2 0 down which is not the way I ever played. This is going to be an up and down season.
Funny how everybody sees the same incident differently. Curbs & Brownie didn’t think it was a foul after watching replays, which is good enough for me.
Doesn’t matter though. What matters is that we work out a way of beating these bus parkers.
Who was the Man Utd player who could only kick with one foot? I recall them showing the stats after a game where he touched it with one foot about ninety times and the other about three? Can't for the life of me recall who it was?
Ralph Milne perhaps.🤭
He was a foreigner like Milne, but from somewhere further afield...
Garner very level headed in his analysis, couple of digs at the ref though.
Sticking to his story like a tory politician Total refusal to accept he hamstrung the team from the start, has barely a plan A and nothing like a plan B, then fucked it up royally 2nd half:
Sean Clare is not really a full back, he's definitely not left sided - so Garner hangs him out to dry at left back Sean Clare is allowed all the possession he wants by Dons cos they can see he's impotent at left back - Garner has a proper full back on the field in Egbo and Clare has acquitted himself at right back previously but Garner's plan is the best innit? It's obvious Garner's plan ain't troubling the Dons but he sticks with it. Charlie Kirk has offered naff all ever, on the left but shows far better more centrally - so 2nd half he's posted out left Jack Payne has managed one cross in all his time in red and is as hopelessly one footed as many of his colleagues, he's never been a winger so Garner snuffs out the tiny chance this midget makeweight could provide anything positive by shoving him out on the right, never once playing the wider players on their natural sides - against a team that's parked the bus Jes Rak-Sakyi was worrying the dons on the right in the first half - so Garner moves him central to accommodate the inept Payne on the right
Inniss concedes a typically needless booking early 2nd half and goes to pieces, giving the ball away with every touch. But with a CH on the bench, or even Clare as an alternative at the back, Garner leaves Inniss on for the inevitable second booking. The penalty might have been debatable but Inniss's departure was beyond doubt.
Still no JFC in the matchday squad - McGrandles is a Sunday pub team reserve player at best, the ball bounced off him repeatedly yesterday he never got near a white shirt but "JFC's non-selection is on merit" lying bastard.
Garner "the penalty changes the game" That has to be a flat out lie, if Garner believes any bit of that at all he's a moron. He set us up to fail against the worst team in the division. Dons parked the bus. Beating them wouldn't necessarily be easy but losing to them is a disgrace. Lying about how that was achieved is reprehensible.
The jury's in on Garner - he's an overpromoted delusional clown.
Send out a team with that many square pegs in round holes against Ipswich and they'll rack up a record score - that will be painful but it will at least prod Skintgaard into action. We're up the shittiest of shitty creeks, in a leaky tub with no paddles, no rudder and a deluded ninny standing up in the middle telling us it's not him rocking the boat.
See y'all Saturday FFS
Can you please type these unhinged rants into a word document entitled MY THOUGHTS next time and spare us all
Stockley is a big useless lump and we should sack him asap
He's not playing well. However I feel a bit sorry for him. How many chances have we created for him this season? Probably count on one hand. I don't think Haarland would have scored many for us.
But isn't it strange how many chances Leaburn and Aneke find themselves having whenever they're on the pitch? They know how to move across the line and find space.
This.
If the argument is that Stockley isnt being given any chances then how good is Leaburn (or how bad is Stockley) that Leaburn has 4 goals to Stockley's 1 (from open play) when Stockley has had far more playing time. Just shows that age & experience is no prerequisite to being able to put the ball in the net.
And I don't even think Leaburn is as good as most on here think.
JFC is left-footed isn't he? I'm sure he could do a more than decent job at left-back.
Good shout. I don't think he's a defender but at least he has a left foot & therefore would not automatically cut back onto his right ala all our right footed players.
It's hard for me to imagine how a footballer can reach this level being as one-footed as Claire is. It's also hard to imagine that a coaching staff can see how bad he is on the practice pitch, day in and day out, and pick him to play on his "wrong" side.
Clare was probably 2nd to Dobson last season for POTY & started this season ok before Egbo was fit & starting at right back.
I dont know what training they do during the week to "help" players like Clare to play on the "wrong" side, but I'd like to think they do something to help him get over the aversion to stop & cut inside......but from what I've seen on matchdays I dont think they do.
I don't know if people can remember when Stockley was playing for Preston against us at the Valley. It was a Championship game but he looked Sunday league. His confidence was totally shot and he was about to be subbed. Then he scored but that happens against us for some reason. But the point that stuck with me was how shit he was. I was worried when we signed him based on that performance but he proved me wrong and has been a real asset. I just fear that our system has drained the confidence out of him. He lacks the attack and drive he had last season and seems to be on auto pilot! Garner has to sort that out. Sadly he can't rest him because we have no strikers who can start! This is quite frankly ridiculous.
The most frustrating thing for me was that Garner didn’t swop Clare for Sessegnon at HT.
Everyone in the stadium could see that Clare was hugely out of place at left back and killing every attack down the left.
Au contraire Mon ami, according to a fellow poster a few posts ago, Clare won MOM in the lounge. I can only assume that said loungees had availed themselves freely of the hospitality before the game. An astonishing decision.
Possibly too much self-medication after seeing the first half and drowning of sorrows afterwards, or a number of MK Dons fans in enjoying the hospitality?
Why anyone would clap Innis off is beyond me. Get rid of him ffs, gave the ball away twice under no pressure whatsoever and then rightly gets sent off.
Harsh foul, harsh yellow, harsh pen, that's why he was clapped.
Watching with rose tinted spectacles! A push in the back and a definite foul. Although it may have been factionally outside the box and a harsh penalty it was a silly clear foul. The question is why wasn't it a straight red for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. They created much more than we did over the game even up until that point. We had one shot on target and didn't even get a corner until late on. Garner then surrendered at 2 0 down which is not the way I ever played. This is going to be an up and down season.
Funny how everybody sees the same incident differently. Curbs & Brownie didn’t think it was a foul after watching replays, which is good enough for me.
Doesn’t matter though. What matters is that we work out a way of beating these bus parkers.
Surprised at their conclusion. Definitely agree your final conclusion though
The highlight of the evening for me was hearing MK fans singing a song (can't remember which one) about their history. They must have been singing about the Robinson era
Stockley is a big useless lump and we should sack him asap
He's not playing well. However I feel a bit sorry for him. How many chances have we created for him this season? Probably count on one hand. I don't think Haarland would have scored many for us.
But isn't it strange how many chances Leaburn and Aneke find themselves having whenever they're on the pitch? They know how to move across the line and find space.
This.
If the argument is that Stockley isnt being given any chances then how good is Leaburn (or how bad is Stockley) that Leaburn has 4 goals to Stockley's 1 (from open play) when Stockley has had far more playing time. Just shows that age & experience is no prerequisite to being able to put the ball in the net.
And I don't even think Leaburn is as good as most on here think.
Who was the Man Utd player who could only kick with one foot? I recall them showing the stats after a game where he touched it with one foot about ninety times and the other about three? Can't for the life of me recall who it was?
Ralph Milne perhaps.🤭
He was a foreigner like Milne, but from somewhere further afield...
Strange game although entirely predictable result - first half too predictable as usual, second started well and thought here we go but kept giving away chances on the counter - it really was who was a case of who’s gonna score first and of course it was them - Payne on made us worse - should have just put aneke on and put Kirk out wide
We got better recently because we had our best two full-backs on the pitch.
We then play today without one and look awful, i'm sure it's not a coincidence.
I've said for sometime that Clare is not good as a defender. Ok he was on the left and not the right. Yes, he has some good games, but he also has some average, poor and very poor games.
What the hell was he doing when running back to defend in the first half, when he ran straight past the ball and let them in & they hit the bar?
Absolutely shocking and I don't care whether he can kick with his left foot or not. Surely he is able to stop running with his left foot? Comical. He's not a competent defender regardless of what others may say. Competent, as in consistently good.
As Lookout said, why did we spend the vast majority of the game trying to attack down the left, by giving the ball to Clare, for him to turn inside & pass it back again? It was truly astonishing. I'd had enough of that nonsense after about 10 mins and yet we continued for the rest of the first half.
We played Inniss and that was a gamble that failed. He was obviously struggling early in the 2nd half, when he gifted possession to MKD twice. He should have been subbed after the first cock up and Aneke should have come on for Stockley (truly shite) after 60 mins.
If that have happened we may have gone 1 up in stead of 1 down.
NB MKD won't be going down on that display, more like half way.
Comments
So frustrating watching him play.
Altering the team selection to protect players for Saturday`s game against the league leaders backfired. The three points we should have captured last night have been conceded to "the chance" of gaining some on Saturday. Looks like we could now end up with the body blow of zero points gained after the two games.
If Sessegnon was good enough for the bench he should have started to balance the team and give us the best chance of getting three points and retaining our unbeaten run of form. Chancing Clare at LB was a poor decision (I rate Clare highly when he plays on the right sde) and he was struggling throughout the game. This decision also had a large effect on Campbell`s performance as Clare failed many opportunities to bring him into the game as he was obviously unconfortable and lacking confidence playing at left back.
Perhaps it is better to go full throttle to secure three "easier" points against the out of form teams than to hope you can achieve unexpected success in the next match against a tougher side? IMO, a player`s psychology to win naturally kicks in against stronger opposition as they tend to rise to the occassion.
MK Dons clearly had a plan against us and it worked well. They made us struggle to get our game together and pressed us continuously. They deserved the win on the night but we threw away a great opportunity to continue our form and add another three points to our tally and consolidate a position close to the playoff zone.
I hope there is a positive response against Ipswich on Saturday to restore our belief in the team and return us to the good form we reached in the three previous wins.
Over to you Mr Garner.
During the second half, after a defensive error by Innis, Steve Brown said on commentary that he was good for two mistakes a game & hoped he’d made his two for this game. I said out loud to myself “he must be due another sending off as he hasn’t had one for a few weeks!”
I make that four red cards now in his short Charlton career; I think he is a liability & doesn’t seem to learn from his ‘mistakes’.
Think back to how many goals MK could have scored had they not been so powderpuff/blind to final pass. Easily 4. Ipswich will be clinical and take them.
If the argument is that Stockley isnt being given any chances then how good is Leaburn (or how bad is Stockley) that Leaburn has 4 goals to Stockley's 1 (from open play) when Stockley has had far more playing time. Just shows that age & experience is no prerequisite to being able to put the ball in the net.
And I don't even think Leaburn is as good as most on here think.
I dont know what training they do during the week to "help" players like Clare to play on the "wrong" side, but I'd like to think they do something to help him get over the aversion to stop & cut inside......but from what I've seen on matchdays I dont think they do.
wANk
Ok he was on the left and not the right.
Yes, he has some good games, but he also has some average, poor and very poor games.
What the hell was he doing when running back to defend in the first half, when he ran straight past the ball and let them in & they hit the bar?
Absolutely shocking and I don't care whether he can kick with his left foot or not.
Surely he is able to stop running with his left foot? Comical.
He's not a competent defender regardless of what others may say.
Competent, as in consistently good.
As Lookout said, why did we spend the vast majority of the game trying to attack down the left, by giving the ball to Clare, for him to turn inside & pass it back again?
It was truly astonishing.
I'd had enough of that nonsense after about 10 mins and yet we continued for the rest of the first half.
We played Inniss and that was a gamble that failed.
He was obviously struggling early in the 2nd half, when he gifted possession to MKD twice.
He should have been subbed after the first cock up and Aneke should have come on for Stockley (truly shite) after 60 mins.
If that have happened we may have gone 1 up in stead of 1 down.
NB MKD won't be going down on that display, more like half way.