If Alfie May is ever asked to play up top on his own again, the manager should be instantly sacked - he should be escorted from the ground within 5 minutes of kick off. That first half was a new level of dross. Introducing Kanu was a game changer and exposed the initial line up as clear as night and day - we were good for 30 minutes, no longer shackled by an impossible team line up - then the manager fucked it up again and we drew. Its that simple. Yes, we are missing our 2 strikers with physical presence but why compound it by playing May up top on his own? Just utter nonsense.
I couldn't bring myself to comment on, or even look at this board until this morning. I can usually contain my frustration with Charlton results but this one had me steaming.
Watching the stream, at 2-0 I said to my wife that with this current team you never feel like a two goal lead is enough. I appreciate we have injuries but Appleton could have done better with his starting selections and substitutions. Alfie May is always going to be ineffective up front on his own against two centre backs, so why start out like that. Kanu should have started alongside him but Appleton seems absolutely wedded to starting with two wingers.
Then the substations at the end with 4 youngsters in the 11 trying to see the game out. Why did we have TC, Kanu and Mbick all on the pitch with 2 minutes of normal time to go? May should still have been on the pitch with Kanu, plus Appleton should have brought on Louis Watson (not Mbick) for Chad Campbell to bolster the midfield along with Elerewe (as he did) to bolster the defence.
This bloke should never have been given the job, blames everything but himself. Can't wait to see his next excuse.
It's your job to play to our strengths mate? Why take the job if you think there's this many issues.
I wonder who the next cheap option will be when Appleton inevitably gets the cut.
I think he is spot on in his assessment in all honesty. I am glad he knows the softness in the side and hope he can address it in January. Meanwhile he has to find a way to get as many points as possible in December. It was a mistake playing Rylah and he has to start Kanu from now on. It was a mistake making the subs he did but I think there were sound reasons for it. However, the mistake was that we are not a team that can sit on anything. That would be my main criticism. If we are thinking of next Saturday, those two points dropped were more accesable to us than any at Barnsley. Not to say we can't get a point or three there but it is going to be very tough.
I think it may be linked to our soft underbelly, but our performance both attacking and defending set pieces is incredibly poor.
so why drop Louis Watson who was fit, energetic, mobile, sharp etc etc and play fraser who, lets be honest has some attributes but physicality and mobility are woefully lacking - physically he is a bit he is a bit of a 'weed', as is mgrandles yet apples has dropped Louis Watson and tried to shoe horn these 2 in - bits of what he says are true but he ain't managing the situation well - far from it.
Don't believe anyone has commented on Dobbo's demeanour at the final whistle today. Several on here saying this was probably his worst game in the red shirt but no-one should complain about his continuous 100% effort for his team & as such, I don't believe any of the booing was aimed at him. But he looked totally pi**ed off, which is understandable.
He made no attempt to acknowledge the home fans in the Curbs' Stand as usual, but walked straight across to the tunnel, briefly clapping the Covered Enders as he did so. His body language said it all, and not for the first time this season.
It saddens me to admit it, but I'm seriously concerned at this moment in time that he may well accept an offer and depart in the January window....a loss for which I can't believe we'll go close to finding the kind of replacement we'd badly need. This will be a huge blow to the cohesion this ever present, hardest of hard workers gives
He might be pissed off with us, the fans? The fragility of the support, the way we can swing from singing the allez allez allez song to booing and singing ‘we’re fucking shit’ in the course of one match, or over a couple of matches at least, is understandable perhaps, but it’s never going to help the players perform.
I think it's the legacy of the Premier League era. We're understandably unhappy with being marooned in L1, and as a fan base we've done wonders helping to remove ownerships that have failed us; but right now, when the effectiveness of the ownership is unproven either way, we've turned our focus on the players. I've always said I'd only boo the team if they weren't trying. There were fans near me yesterday booking Henry Rylah. There were fans booing Hector because they've decided he's sh*t, just when he seems to have found the form that saw him playing in a Championship winning side. Who did the booing help? Cambridge. PS I was angry after the Gillingham game, I was angry at half time yesterday. But in the second half there was a real uplift in the performance, which got the Covered End choir going, and you could see the effect on the players morale. I'm not happy clappy; I would never clap the players when they play as badly as they did in that first half of course, but would rather boo the ownership than the players.
It’s almost like some are glad we didn’t win, and are annoyed that the ref’s mistake took the gloss off surrendering a 2-0 lead. Bizarre. Points are everything right now, and the mistake cost us two. End of.
Agree with other comments about the first half. Awful. Played mainly in our half with our midfield being bullied and the two wide players starved of the ball. The first 30 mins of the second half were a different story with Kanu injecting pace and some direct running to set up the May goal. Suddenly there was balance in the side with CBT finally getting the ball on a regular basis. The second goal was a beauty with CBT laying it on a plate for Campbell. Cambridge had to push forward which left huge areas of the Charlton left flank open for CBT to go on the charge and the poor little blonde right back was being exposed to a harrowing time of it. Then CBT picked up a knock and went off and the balance (and threatening pace) was gone. Shame but we were on the back foot from then on.
Was it Curbs who said don’t get too low with the defeats and don’t get too high with the wins? It wasn’t long ago many on here were quite happy with “Mickey Apples” - don’t forget that’s still only 2 league defeats in 13 under Appleton.
Those calling for Louis Watson to have come on yesterday - didn’t he play against Reading midweek and folk on here were saying he was shit?
Some on here are saying that CBT will leave in January which will be a disaster for our season and others are saying he is shit and lazy and doesn’t do anything. That’s our second top scorer and highest assister.
Appleton gets criticised for playing a weakened side in the FA cup, and then for playing a full strength side in the League Cup. He gets criticised for leaving senior players on until the end and also for taking them off with 5 on the clock. These players are not his players and people talk about the loans being frozen out - but they could well be leaving in January in any case.
Those criticising AMB - Isted would probably be first choice but he’s injured. I don’t think any of us want to see Walker again if it can be avoided.
Appleton has steadied the ship. At the end of August we were 19th, with 3 points from 5 games. With only 2 defeats since then, we’ve suffered injuries to key players (Chuks, Miles, Fraser, Camara to name but 4) and we’re still on the fringes of the play offs. May is on fire and even some of those who folk have decided are shit, like Thomas and Hector, have started to play better. We finally have a fit left back. The owners are talking about strengthening in January, with hopefully Appleton getting players in that are endorsed by him.
This is a key part of the season now, lots of games coming up and the January window. Let’s see where we are come 1st February before we write off the season, Appleton and the owners.
Was it Curbs who said don’t get too low with the defeats and don’t get too high with the wins? It wasn’t long ago many on here were quite happy with “Mickey Apples” - don’t forget that’s still only 2 league defeats in 13 under Appleton.
Those calling for Louis Watson to have come on yesterday - didn’t he play against Reading midweek and folk on here were saying he was shit?
Some on here are saying that CBT will leave in January which will be a disaster for our season and others are saying he is shit and lazy and doesn’t do anything. That’s our second top scorer and highest assister.
Appleton gets criticised for playing a weakened side in the FA cup, and then for playing a full strength side in the League Cup. These players are not his players and people talk about the loans being frozen out - but they could well be leaving in January in any case.
Those criticising AMB - Isted would probably be first choice but he’s injured. I don’t think any of us want to see Walker again if it can be avoided.
Appleton has steadied the ship. At the end of August we were 19th, with 3 points from 5 games. With only 2 defeats since then, we’ve suffered injuries to key players (Chuks, Miles, Fraser, Camara to name but 4) and we’re still on the fringes of the play offs. May is on fire and even some of those who folk have decided are shit, like Thomas and Hector, have started to play better. We finally have a fit left back. The owners are talking about strengthening in January, with hopefully Appleton getting players in that are endorsed by him.
This is a key part of the season now, lots of games coming up and the January window. Let’s see where we are come 1st February before we write off the season, Appleton and the owners.
This is delusional. 9 points adrift is not being on the fringes of the play offs. And the key thing is even though we have only managed to lose 2 of 13, the performances are still shite and barely a hint of anything vaguely resembling a top 6 side. The defending is atrocious and competent coaching should have been able to drastically improve this.
Was it Curbs who said don't get too low with the defeats and don't get too high with the wins? It wasn’t long ago many on here were quite happy with “Mickey Apples” - don’t forget that’s still only 2 league defeats in 13 under Appleton.
Those calling for Louis Watson to have come on yesterday - didn’t he play against Reading midweek and folk on here were saying he was shit?
Some on here are saying that CBT will leave in January which will be a disaster for our season and others are saying he is shit and lazy and doesn’t do anything. That’s our second top scorer and highest assister.
Appleton gets criticised for playing a weakened side in the FA cup, and then for playing a full strength side in the League Cup. He gets criticised for leaving senior players on until the end and also for taking them off with 5 on the clock. These players are not his players and people talk about the loans being frozen out - but they could well be leaving in January in any case.
Those criticising AMB - Isted would probably be first choice but he’s injured. I don’t think any of us want to see Walker again if it can be avoided.
Appleton has steadied the ship. At the end of August we were 19th, with 3 points from 5 games. With only 2 defeats since then, we’ve suffered injuries to key players (Chuks, Miles, Fraser, Camara to name but 4) and we’re still on the fringes of the play offs. May is on fire and even some of those who folk have decided are shit, like Thomas and Hector, have started to play better. We finally have a fit left back. The owners are talking about strengthening in January, with hopefully Appleton getting players in that are endorsed by him.
This is a key part of the season now, lots of games coming up and the January window. Let’s see where we are come 1st February before we write off the season, Appleton and the owners.
Ah, but he didn't say anything about draws though, so we have license to vent our collective spleens 😉
Was it Curbs who said don’t get too low with the defeats and don’t get too high with the wins? It wasn’t long ago many on here were quite happy with “Mickey Apples” - don’t forget that’s still only 2 league defeats in 13 under Appleton.
Those calling for Louis Watson to have come on yesterday - didn’t he play against Reading midweek and folk on here were saying he was shit?
Some on here are saying that CBT will leave in January which will be a disaster for our season and others are saying he is shit and lazy and doesn’t do anything. That’s our second top scorer and highest assister.
Appleton gets criticised for playing a weakened side in the FA cup, and then for playing a full strength side in the League Cup. These players are not his players and people talk about the loans being frozen out - but they could well be leaving in January in any case.
Those criticising AMB - Isted would probably be first choice but he’s injured. I don’t think any of us want to see Walker again if it can be avoided.
Appleton has steadied the ship. At the end of August we were 19th, with 3 points from 5 games. With only 2 defeats since then, we’ve suffered injuries to key players (Chuks, Miles, Fraser, Camara to name but 4) and we’re still on the fringes of the play offs. May is on fire and even some of those who folk have decided are shit, like Thomas and Hector, have started to play better. We finally have a fit left back. The owners are talking about strengthening in January, with hopefully Appleton getting players in that are endorsed by him.
This is a key part of the season now, lots of games coming up and the January window. Let’s see where we are come 1st February before we write off the season, Appleton and the owners.
This is delusional. 9 points adrift is not being on the fringes of the play offs. And the key thing is even though we have only managed to lose 2 of 13, the performances are still shite and barely a hint of anything vaguely resembling a top 6 side. The defending is atrocious and competent coaching should have been able to drastically improve this.
We may not be on the fringes of the play offs, but his record isn't delusional. It's unarguable and results are key, not performances.
Was it Curbs who said don’t get too low with the defeats and don’t get too high with the wins? It wasn’t long ago many on here were quite happy with “Mickey Apples” - don’t forget that’s still only 2 league defeats in 13 under Appleton.
Those calling for Louis Watson to have come on yesterday - didn’t he play against Reading midweek and folk on here were saying he was shit?
Some on here are saying that CBT will leave in January which will be a disaster for our season and others are saying he is shit and lazy and doesn’t do anything. That’s our second top scorer and highest assister.
Appleton gets criticised for playing a weakened side in the FA cup, and then for playing a full strength side in the League Cup. These players are not his players and people talk about the loans being frozen out - but they could well be leaving in January in any case.
Those criticising AMB - Isted would probably be first choice but he’s injured. I don’t think any of us want to see Walker again if it can be avoided.
Appleton has steadied the ship. At the end of August we were 19th, with 3 points from 5 games. With only 2 defeats since then, we’ve suffered injuries to key players (Chuks, Miles, Fraser, Camara to name but 4) and we’re still on the fringes of the play offs. May is on fire and even some of those who folk have decided are shit, like Thomas and Hector, have started to play better. We finally have a fit left back. The owners are talking about strengthening in January, with hopefully Appleton getting players in that are endorsed by him.
This is a key part of the season now, lots of games coming up and the January window. Let’s see where we are come 1st February before we write off the season, Appleton and the owners.
This is delusional. 9 points adrift is not being on the fringes of the play offs. And the key thing is even though we have only managed to lose 2 of 13, the performances are still shite and barely a hint of anything vaguely resembling a top 6 side. The defending is atrocious and competent coaching should have been able to drastically improve this.
We may not be on the fringes of the play offs, but his record isn't delusional. It's unarguable and results are key, not performances. You've deluded if you think losing matches but playing well buys you time. Not here it doesn't if anywhere.
We are still very much in the play off race .. 9 points is nothing in this league has we saw with Palace few years back and who remembers Oxford who was in bottom 8 in November and still pipped us for 6th spot under Nigel Atkins ….
Time for VAR in league one .. we have been the victim 5 times now this season when a poor ref decision has cost us points .. and influenced the result …. Standard of refs is at the lowest it’s ever been something hit to change … some sort of VAR has to be the answer ??
This bloke should never have been given the job, blames everything but himself. Can't wait to see his next excuse.
It's your job to play to our strengths mate? Why take the job if you think there's this many issues.
I wonder who the next cheap option will be when Appleton inevitably gets the cut.
I think he is spot on in his assessment in all honesty. I am glad he knows the softness in the side and hope he can address it in January. Meanwhile he has to find a way to get as many points as possible in December. It was a mistake playing Rylah and he has to start Kanu from now on. It was a mistake making the subs he did but I think there were sound reasons for it. However, the mistake was that we are not a team that can sit on anything. That would be my main criticism. If we are thinking of next Saturday, those two points dropped were more accesable to us than any at Barnsley. Not to say we can't get a point or three there but it is going to be very tough.
I think it may be linked to our soft underbelly, but our performance both attacking and defending set pieces is incredibly poor.
As I said yesterday, not at all in the Appleton out camp but keep May on the pitch and no doubt in my mind we have two more points this morning.
He not only is one of our most experienced players who would have kept half the Cambridge team focused on defending but also one of the very small number of players in our squad with the character currently to game the clock down.
A shame some fans seem so desperate to blame other fans, as if criticising anyone employed by our club makes us want our club to fail, utter nonsense.
Refs make mistakes, we got done by a major one yesterday but that is football, we have been the lucky ones too this season with dodgy ref decisions.
The reality is, when May wandered off to be replaced with a broadly at this level inexperienced young player everyone around me including my young nephew in his first season as a Charlton fan was talking about how we don't like this, just invites pressure, we said the same about whoever told the kids to try to play keep it in the corner with five minutes to play.
Twice in a week Appleton has rolled the dice with changes and both times it has cost us, we move, hopefully things get better, as I don't want yet another manager change, same as I don't want yet another ownership change, just want some signs that the club I love may have some actual success again.
I will continue to turn up in person for the majority of our games, cheering on our team, hoping for the best but you are not a lesser fan for not putting a positive spin on everything anyone at our club does.
So it's Appletons fault. Was it all of our previous managers who were shit then or something else. Think promises were made but not kept and some of them had their say and it looks like Aplleton is also going that way.
Was it Curbs who said don’t get too low with the defeats and don’t get too high with the wins? It wasn’t long ago many on here were quite happy with “Mickey Apples” - don’t forget that’s still only 2 league defeats in 13 under Appleton.
Those calling for Louis Watson to have come on yesterday - didn’t he play against Reading midweek and folk on here were saying he was shit?
Some on here are saying that CBT will leave in January which will be a disaster for our season and others are saying he is shit and lazy and doesn’t do anything. That’s our second top scorer and highest assister.
Appleton gets criticised for playing a weakened side in the FA cup, and then for playing a full strength side in the League Cup. He gets criticised for leaving senior players on until the end and also for taking them off with 5 on the clock. These players are not his players and people talk about the loans being frozen out - but they could well be leaving in January in any case.
Those criticising AMB - Isted would probably be first choice but he’s injured. I don’t think any of us want to see Walker again if it can be avoided.
Appleton has steadied the ship. At the end of August we were 19th, with 3 points from 5 games. With only 2 defeats since then, we’ve suffered injuries to key players (Chuks, Miles, Fraser, Camara to name but 4) and we’re still on the fringes of the play offs. May is on fire and even some of those who folk have decided are shit, like Thomas and Hector, have started to play better. We finally have a fit left back. The owners are talking about strengthening in January, with hopefully Appleton getting players in that are endorsed by him.
This is a key part of the season now, lots of games coming up and the January window. Let’s see where we are come 1st February before we write off the season, Appleton and the owners.
Good post, although we’re not in the fringes of the playoffs. They’re almost out of reach now, mainly because of our terrible start to the season.
We all want to be out of L1 asap, but people have to realise that so do almost all of the other clubs in L1, many of whom are just as well resourced as we are, (or even better resourced). Ok so we were in the Premier league in living memory, but that means nothing during a match. If anything it just adds pressure to perform.
Time for VAR in league one .. we have been the victim 5 times now this season when a poor ref decision has cost us points .. and influenced the result …. Standard of refs is at the lowest it’s ever been something hit to change … some sort of VAR has to be the answer ??
Who is going to pay for it and the running of the review system at the third tier level ?
It’s almost like some are glad we didn’t win, and are annoyed that the ref’s mistake took the gloss off surrendering a 2-0 lead. Bizarre. Points are everything right now, and the mistake cost us two. End of.
What a stupid post.
Exactly this, yes I'm sure we're all thrilled the fact we are limping through mid table in league 1, yet again! We're all glad we failed to beat Cambridge after being 2 - up in the 85th minute.
Was it Curbs who said don’t get too low with the defeats and don’t get too high with the wins? It wasn’t long ago many on here were quite happy with “Mickey Apples” - don’t forget that’s still only 2 league defeats in 13 under Appleton.
Those calling for Louis Watson to have come on yesterday - didn’t he play against Reading midweek and folk on here were saying he was shit?
Some on here are saying that CBT will leave in January which will be a disaster for our season and others are saying he is shit and lazy and doesn’t do anything. That’s our second top scorer and highest assister.
Appleton gets criticised for playing a weakened side in the FA cup, and then for playing a full strength side in the League Cup. These players are not his players and people talk about the loans being frozen out - but they could well be leaving in January in any case.
Those criticising AMB - Isted would probably be first choice but he’s injured. I don’t think any of us want to see Walker again if it can be avoided.
Appleton has steadied the ship. At the end of August we were 19th, with 3 points from 5 games. With only 2 defeats since then, we’ve suffered injuries to key players (Chuks, Miles, Fraser, Camara to name but 4) and we’re still on the fringes of the play offs. May is on fire and even some of those who folk have decided are shit, like Thomas and Hector, have started to play better. We finally have a fit left back. The owners are talking about strengthening in January, with hopefully Appleton getting players in that are endorsed by him.
This is a key part of the season now, lots of games coming up and the January window. Let’s see where we are come 1st February before we write off the season, Appleton and the owners.
This is delusional. 9 points adrift is not being on the fringes of the play offs. And the key thing is even though we have only managed to lose 2 of 13, the performances are still shite and barely a hint of anything vaguely resembling a top 6 side. The defending is atrocious and competent coaching should have been able to drastically improve this.
We may not be on the fringes of the play offs, but his record isn't delusional. It's unarguable and results are key, not performances. You've deluded if you think losing matches but playing well buys you time. Not here it doesn't if anywhere.
We are still very much in the play off race .. 9 points is nothing in this league has we saw with Palace few years back and who remembers Oxford who was in bottom 8 in November and still pipped us for 6th spot under Nigel Atkins ….
I'd love for such a transformation to happen, but evidence pointing to it is hard to see at present. The bigger that gap, the more pressure is applied, and that's what we're not handling that well. 3 points was key for me yesterday, the manner of losing them disastrous, although not irrecoverable with so many games left. I feel we'll rock up at Oakwell with an injury depleted team having to use youngsters low on confidence at some point like lambs to the slaughter. We'll then be further off the pace and the pressure, which we can't handle, builds.
For me, only a miracle sees us make play offs this year. Sorry, but not being my usual glass half full self. That got to me yesterday, because I knew it would happen. It won't have escaped the attention of our opponents how fragile we are either, which will only make life harder too.
Time for VAR in league one .. we have been the victim 5 times now this season when a poor ref decision has cost us points .. and influenced the result …. Standard of refs is at the lowest it’s ever been something hit to change … some sort of VAR has to be the answer ??
I’d rather put up with having dodgy decisions that go against us, because they also go for us on other occasions, than put up with that VAR bullshit. Somebody posted above that there are better refs in the PL than there are in L1. I’d argue the refs are better in L1 because they can make an instant decision and the games goes on. In the PL they’ve lost that ability and let VAR make the decision, and even then they don’t always get it right.
Only 2nd game I've been to this season after opening day win against Orient. 1st half was awful but 2nd half we had the game won before poor decision making and refereeing! As an aside, my 88 Year old Dad who is no longer fit enough to go asked me to buy him a programme & I duly bought one but having come home realize I've lost it,!!!! Does anyone know if/how to order one from the club?
Easiest way to order a programme is go to the tickets section of the website, go to the drop down menu, press more and you will see there is an option to order a programme
Was it Curbs who said don’t get too low with the defeats and don’t get too high with the wins? It wasn’t long ago many on here were quite happy with “Mickey Apples” - don’t forget that’s still only 2 league defeats in 13 under Appleton.
Those calling for Louis Watson to have come on yesterday - didn’t he play against Reading midweek and folk on here were saying he was shit?
Some on here are saying that CBT will leave in January which will be a disaster for our season and others are saying he is shit and lazy and doesn’t do anything. That’s our second top scorer and highest assister.
Appleton gets criticised for playing a weakened side in the FA cup, and then for playing a full strength side in the League Cup. These players are not his players and people talk about the loans being frozen out - but they could well be leaving in January in any case.
Those criticising AMB - Isted would probably be first choice but he’s injured. I don’t think any of us want to see Walker again if it can be avoided.
Appleton has steadied the ship. At the end of August we were 19th, with 3 points from 5 games. With only 2 defeats since then, we’ve suffered injuries to key players (Chuks, Miles, Fraser, Camara to name but 4) and we’re still on the fringes of the play offs. May is on fire and even some of those who folk have decided are shit, like Thomas and Hector, have started to play better. We finally have a fit left back. The owners are talking about strengthening in January, with hopefully Appleton getting players in that are endorsed by him.
This is a key part of the season now, lots of games coming up and the January window. Let’s see where we are come 1st February before we write off the season, Appleton and the owners.
This is delusional. 9 points adrift is not being on the fringes of the play offs. And the key thing is even though we have only managed to lose 2 of 13, the performances are still shite and barely a hint of anything vaguely resembling a top 6 side. The defending is atrocious and competent coaching should have been able to drastically improve this.
We may not be on the fringes of the play offs, but his record isn't delusional. It's unarguable and results are key, not performances. You've deluded if you think losing matches but playing well buys you time. Not here it doesn't if anywhere.
We are still very much in the play off race .. 9 points is nothing in this league has we saw with Palace few years back and who remembers Oxford who was in bottom 8 in November and still pipped us for 6th spot under Nigel Atkins ….
You are correct in saying 9 points is nothing. But It's only nothing if you are playing really well. We are playing rubbish most of the time. 9 points looks a huge gap when you are not playing well.
So it's Appletons fault. Was it all of our previous managers who were shit then or something else. Think promises were made but not kept and some of them had their say and it looks like Aplleton is also going that way.
No manager should be under any illusions about what resources etc will be available to him to use when they join Charlton. Even if loads of money was to be made available it doesn’t actually mean he will he will get the right players in immediately and it might take more than one transfer window to do so. If that’s the excuse then we, and every other team, don’t need the manager who uses it. We need somebody to look at what’s available, what needs fixing, or adjusting, and looking around the training ground for what or who is going to fix it. Good managers do it elsewhere with less resources all the time, that’s why Charlton are languishing where it is
Re Chem Campbell, whose treatment you put in the same bracket as L.Watson, I hesitate to agree there, because of a few posts on here. Of course I'm often among the first to warn against us collectively going overboard on the basis of unsubstantiated rumour, but there are a couple of interesting things about CC that have been mentioned recently. One, he allegedly turns up late for training (implied- more than one time) and the other players were pissed off. Two, somebody on this thread, sorry I can't recall who, noticed the goal celebration, where only two players directly congratulated him. Watching on the stream I did feel slightly uneasy about that celebration, contrasting sharply with that for May where Kanu was certainly getting his share too.
I suppose someone can say there might be hidden issues with Louie Watson too, but there certainly weren't earlier in the season when there were some stellar performances. He was well off the pace Wednesday, and no better than most at Gillingham. But in his case, not knowing anything more, I wonder what came first. The way Appleton has treated him in the last few weeks has not made much sense to pretty much all of us. Watson looks like a stroppy type and Appleton looks like someone who doesn't like people who have their say. But that's pure speculation on my part. The problem is in terms of both ability and work-rate, Watson is one of our top 3-4 players. Why aren't we making the best of him?
Substitutions fucked us bar Kanu who made a difference coming on at HT. Poor decision by the ref for their second but we bring it on ourselves. We are the only team I know that capitulates like we do, it’s bizarre and has been the same for a while now. Wigan away we just about held onto after being 3 nil up!!
The mentality is wrong and I agree with Appleton, we need experience in that team not 17/18 year olds who are making mistakes in our first team, when they should be making mistakes out on loan for other teams and learning.
Was it Curbs who said don’t get too low with the defeats and don’t get too high with the wins? It wasn’t long ago many on here were quite happy with “Mickey Apples” - don’t forget that’s still only 2 league defeats in 13 under Appleton.
Those calling for Louis Watson to have come on yesterday - didn’t he play against Reading midweek and folk on here were saying he was shit?
Some on here are saying that CBT will leave in January which will be a disaster for our season and others are saying he is shit and lazy and doesn’t do anything. That’s our second top scorer and highest assister.
Appleton gets criticised for playing a weakened side in the FA cup, and then for playing a full strength side in the League Cup. These players are not his players and people talk about the loans being frozen out - but they could well be leaving in January in any case.
Those criticising AMB - Isted would probably be first choice but he’s injured. I don’t think any of us want to see Walker again if it can be avoided.
Appleton has steadied the ship. At the end of August we were 19th, with 3 points from 5 games. With only 2 defeats since then, we’ve suffered injuries to key players (Chuks, Miles, Fraser, Camara to name but 4) and we’re still on the fringes of the play offs. May is on fire and even some of those who folk have decided are shit, like Thomas and Hector, have started to play better. We finally have a fit left back. The owners are talking about strengthening in January, with hopefully Appleton getting players in that are endorsed by him.
This is a key part of the season now, lots of games coming up and the January window. Let’s see where we are come 1st February before we write off the season, Appleton and the owners.
9 points adrift is not being on the fringes of the play offs.
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Watching the stream, at 2-0 I said to my wife that with this current team you never feel like a two goal lead is enough. I appreciate we have injuries but Appleton could have done better with his starting selections and substitutions. Alfie May is always going to be ineffective up front on his own against two centre backs, so why start out like that. Kanu should have started alongside him but Appleton seems absolutely wedded to starting with two wingers.
Then the substations at the end with 4 youngsters in the 11 trying to see the game out. Why did we have TC, Kanu and Mbick all on the pitch with 2 minutes of normal time to go? May should still have been on the pitch with Kanu, plus Appleton should have brought on Louis Watson (not Mbick) for Chad Campbell to bolster the midfield along with Elerewe (as he did) to bolster the defence.
We just look like amateurs on and off he pitch.
The fragility of the support, the way we can swing from singing the allez allez allez song to booing and singing ‘we’re fucking shit’ in the course of one match, or over a couple of matches at least, is understandable perhaps, but it’s never going to help the players perform.
I've always said I'd only boo the team if they weren't trying. There were fans near me yesterday booking Henry Rylah. There were fans booing Hector because they've decided he's sh*t, just when he seems to have found the form that saw him playing in a Championship winning side.
Who did the booing help? Cambridge.
PS I was angry after the Gillingham game, I was angry at half time yesterday. But in the second half there was a real uplift in the performance, which got the Covered End choir going, and you could see the effect on the players morale. I'm not happy clappy; I would never clap the players when they play as badly as they did in that first half of course, but would rather boo the ownership than the players.
Some on here are saying that CBT will leave in January which will be a disaster for our season and others are saying he is shit and lazy and doesn’t do anything. That’s our second top scorer and highest assister.
Appleton gets criticised for playing a weakened side in the FA cup, and then for playing a full strength side in the League Cup. He gets criticised for leaving senior players on until the end and also for taking them off with 5 on the clock. These players are not his players and people talk about the loans being frozen out - but they could well be leaving in January in any case.
Those criticising AMB - Isted would probably be first choice but he’s injured. I don’t think any of us want to see Walker again if it can be avoided.
Appleton has steadied the ship. At the end of August we were 19th, with 3 points from 5 games. With only 2 defeats since then, we’ve suffered injuries to key players (Chuks, Miles, Fraser, Camara to name but 4) and we’re still on the fringes of the play offs. May is on fire and even some of those who folk have decided are shit, like Thomas and Hector, have started to play better. We finally have a fit left back. The owners are talking about strengthening in January, with hopefully Appleton getting players in that are endorsed by him.
This is a key part of the season now, lots of games coming up and the January window. Let’s see where we are come 1st February before we write off the season, Appleton and the owners.
if we play in the third tier we will get third tier standard refs
He not only is one of our most experienced players who would have kept half the Cambridge team focused on defending but also one of the very small number of players in our squad with the character currently to game the clock down.
A shame some fans seem so desperate to blame other fans, as if criticising anyone employed by our club makes us want our club to fail, utter nonsense.
Refs make mistakes, we got done by a major one yesterday but that is football, we have been the lucky ones too this season with dodgy ref decisions.
The reality is, when May wandered off to be replaced with a broadly at this level inexperienced young player everyone around me including my young nephew in his first season as a Charlton fan was talking about how we don't like this, just invites pressure, we said the same about whoever told the kids to try to play keep it in the corner with five minutes to play.
Twice in a week Appleton has rolled the dice with changes and both times it has cost us, we move, hopefully things get better, as I don't want yet another manager change, same as I don't want yet another ownership change, just want some signs that the club I love may have some actual success again.
I will continue to turn up in person for the majority of our games, cheering on our team, hoping for the best but you are not a lesser fan for not putting a positive spin on everything anyone at our club does.
For me, only a miracle sees us make play offs this year. Sorry, but not being my usual glass half full self. That got to me yesterday, because I knew it would happen. It won't have escaped the attention of our opponents how fragile we are either, which will only make life harder too.
Easiest way to order a programme is go to the tickets section of the website, go to the drop down menu, press more and you will see there is an option to order a programme
But
It's only nothing if you are playing really well.
We are playing rubbish most of the time.
9 points looks a huge gap when you are not playing well.
Re Chem Campbell, whose treatment you put in the same bracket as L.Watson, I hesitate to agree there, because of a few posts on here. Of course I'm often among the first to warn against us collectively going overboard on the basis of unsubstantiated rumour, but there are a couple of interesting things about CC that have been mentioned recently. One, he allegedly turns up late for training (implied- more than one time) and the other players were pissed off. Two, somebody on this thread, sorry I can't recall who, noticed the goal celebration, where only two players directly congratulated him. Watching on the stream I did feel slightly uneasy about that celebration, contrasting sharply with that for May where Kanu was certainly getting his share too.
I suppose someone can say there might be hidden issues with Louie Watson too, but there certainly weren't earlier in the season when there were some stellar performances. He was well off the pace Wednesday, and no better than most at Gillingham. But in his case, not knowing anything more, I wonder what came first. The way Appleton has treated him in the last few weeks has not made much sense to pretty much all of us. Watson looks like a stroppy type and Appleton looks like someone who doesn't like people who have their say. But that's pure speculation on my part. The problem is in terms of both ability and work-rate, Watson is one of our top 3-4 players. Why aren't we making the best of him?