I am a big believer in progress in a club and that there is no instant fix (Unless maybe you throw £25million in League one which is ludicrous). It was always going to be attritional and we really stood up to it. Steve Evans in charge of JCH/ Wilkes/Nombe/Hugill would have previously terrorised us. We are now so well organised and really hard to break down and limited them to next to nothing.
We haven't clicked yet going forward. I thought for about ten minutes at the start of the game Ahadme finally looked like the player we thought we had signed and after he missed his chance, he seemed to lose his confidence. I think Leaburn coming back will allow him to come off the bench a bit to get a bit of time against tired defences.
We are 2 points per game and I think every fan would have taken that at the start of the season. There is undoubtedly more to come, but as a club/team, we are making progress.
He said: “When you break down statistics in this league there are two or three teams that eye candy stick out – your Birminghams, your Wrexhams etc. When I broke down Charlton I saw a couple of injury-time winners. Take them away and it’s not a top versus 17th clash, which is how it was built up locally here.
Don't understand how clubs keep on appointing him. I know Rotherham are probably scarred from the Matt Taylor (one that played for us not the Pompey one) experiment that went really wrong but surely there's better than appointing Evans multiple times.
He said: “When you break down statistics in this league there are two or three teams that eye candy stick out – your Birminghams, your Wrexhams etc. When I broke down Charlton I saw a couple of injury-time winners. Take them away and it’s not a top versus 17th clash, which is how it was built up locally here.
What on earth is he going on about?
It’s bollocks but I think he means our late goals v Wigan and Orient, if taken away would put us where he considers us to be in terms of league position. If my auntie had wheels she’d be a motorbike.
A big chance to start to put distance between the points we picked up last season and this current season’s efforts.
Comparing this season to last & being happy with the improvement is a very low bar to set.
I'd be apoplectic if we do worse this season. Looking at the next 4 games coming up I'd be looking at no less than 7 points.
We got 53 points last season. I agree that’s a really low bar.
If we improve by four points every five games this season, we’ll end up on in the right range for automatic promotion after 46 played. That’s all I was trying to say.
We are in the right range for automatic promotion right now, but of course are vulnerable to injuries, suspensions, bad refereeing and bad luck. I want us to be more comfortable with a bigger cushion against those things we might be vulnerable to. Get a lot of points in the bank against things going wrong later in the season is my hope.
Don't understand how clubs keep on appointing him. I know Rotherham are probably scarred from the Matt Taylor (one that played for us not the Pompey one) experiment that went really wrong but surely there's better than appointing Evans multiple times.
He’s horrible, his football is horrible BUT his record is excellent. He’ll keep walking into jobs while he keeps improving the positions of his teams. The job he did at Stevenage was incredible. Don’t let the fact that he’s a laughable joke of a person fool you into thinking he doesn’t do effective jobs at the clubs he’s at.
Of the three goals we have conceded this season two have been excellent efforts, one clearly our mistake. We may not be battering others, but neither are we being battered ourselves.
People seem to think that we will have all the answers and playing title winning football straight away.
There were wholesale changes to the squad in the summer which will take time to gel and come together, more so going forward if you look at recent games.
To have secured 2 points per game after such a big overhaul I think is a great start. Plenty to get right yet, but it’s a long season.
Being hard to beat is the key. Everything else can be added on to that base
Would have probably lost that last season. Draw fair result. I felt once we scored we played like we were happy with a draw. All in all ok. Need Leaburn back up front. Ramsey gets better every game. Great finish by Chuks. I felt him and Campbell linked up okay. Need to win at Shrewsbury next week.
Seriously ? Well we should avoid relegation if that's what you mean, no way are we finishing top 6
Seems you're one of those negative nellies. Coming out with that crap after five games? And of course, in the event "We" happen to finish top 6, you will be doing the vomit inducing "Happy to eat humble pie' bollox. Supported 'My' club. for nearly 70 years. So many ups and downs. Right now, there seems to be a project in place with some people who know what they are doing - finally. Rome wasn't built in a day - so if you can't handle that, I would suggest you and all the other bed wetters, whiners and keyboard snipers fuck off and 'Support' another club.
A "negative nellie" ? What does that actually mean ? So recognising that we have no creativity in this team & strikers that rarely look like scoring goals is crap ? It's my opinion & I very much doubt I'll be eating humble pie but should "your" club finish in the top 6 I do hope you'll enjoy choking on your vomit when everyone with a different opinion to yours holds up their hands & says Lordy Lordy I was wrong. Bed wetters ? Oh I'm sure that you know all about that so you'd better fuck off & get your Tena pants on.
You genuinely want someone to explain what negative nellie means? You do like to wet the bed by the way
If I ever wet the bed I'll be sure to let you know whether I liked it or not.
He said: “When you break down statistics in this league there are two or three teams that eye candy stick out – your Birminghams, your Wrexhams etc. When I broke down Charlton I saw a couple of injury-time winners. Take them away and it’s not a top versus 17th clash, which is how it was built up locally here.
What on earth is he going on about?
Basically what a few people have been saying on here. We won 2 games with a single goal, one in injury time & the other on 85 mins. We haven't been banging goals in & looking dominant. We don't look a top 6 side. Give it another 6-8 games - we play a few of the bottom teams away & then Wrexham & Birmingham at home, then we'll be in a better place to judge
He said: “When you break down statistics in this league there are two or three teams that eye candy stick out – your Birminghams, your Wrexhams etc. When I broke down Charlton I saw a couple of injury-time winners. Take them away and it’s not a top versus 17th clash, which is how it was built up locally here.
What on earth is he going on about?
Basically what a few people have been saying on here. We won 2 games with a single goal, one in injury time & the other on 85 mins. We haven't been banging goals in & looking dominant. We don't look a top 6 side. Give it another 6-8 games - we play a few of the bottom teams away & then Wrexham & Birmingham at home, then we'll be in a better place to judge
It wasn't the most enjoyable game but we would 100% have lost that one last season, and quite easily. Credit to the defence again who didn't give away any real chances and kept some good players quiet. Rotherham will create a lot this season but we are very hard to break down.
In midfield, thought Coventry was outstanding and his best game for us by far. Excellent use of the ball and always where he needed to be defensively. Campbell looked very lively when he came on and think he'll be a level above anything we've got. Echo the comments on Docherty who has been competent but underwhelming so far. Don't notice him much and thought he'd be having more of an influence.
There was a palpable difference in our attacking threat with Chuks on because if we're going to keep going long, we need a striker who can make it stick. Thought Chuks & TC looked like they have a natural understanding. TC peeling off wide and then attacking like a winger suits him because he knows that game so well.
We've had a tough run of games and picked up a decent return of points. In previous seasons we've always been looking at the run of 'easier' games to make up the difference, and then gone on to lose those as well...! In this league we are not going to win every game, we just have to keep on picking up a steady supply. We don't look like the finished article but we've got a lot more about us this year and I feel confident that we'll be up there, especially if we get Leaburn back, fit and firing and can have more of a focal point up front.
He said: “When you break down statistics in this league there are two or three teams that eye candy stick out – your Birminghams, your Wrexhams etc. When I broke down Charlton I saw a couple of injury-time winners. Take them away and it’s not a top versus 17th clash, which is how it was built up locally here.
What on earth is he going on about?
Basically what a few people have been saying on here. We won 2 games with a single goal, onein injury time & the other on 85 mins. We haven't been banging goals in & looking dominant. We don't look a top 6 side. Give it another 6-8 games - we play a few of the bottom teams away & then Wrexham & Birmingham at home, then we'll be in a better place to judge
Sounds just like Portsmouth last season, lost count of the amount of games won or drawn in the last 5 minutes of games, and it didn't do them any harm and resulted in the aim of promotion, no reason why the same couldn't happen to us...
Dull day, dull game brightened by two bullet goals. Looks like we are in for quite a few of these types of afternoons going forward.
The team is defense heavy with the wing backs, particularly Small, looking a little lost once they go over the half way line. The 'spare' back, Gillesphey, offers little apart from the odd block and rather ordinary distribution. Meanwhile, the midfield looks a little lost sometimes and the front two are isolated and not big enough nor clever enough to make things happen on their own. Until A Campbell appeared, we were lacking someone to fill the number 10 space and create more openings for the front two. Once the Campbells and Chuks got to work, Phillips and his defenders were suddenly having to earn their pay.
Their goal was poor from a Charlton perspective. The number 4 collected the ball and ran 20 yards towards the box, making two touches of the ball untroubled by anybody before being almost invited to have a crack, which he certainly did.
Fortunately, plan A worked this week though. The three substitutes all made an impact. Tyreece is a terror for tiring defenders with his pace and tenacity, and Chuks is Chuks bringing his touch of class.
So we’re shite but we have 10 points from 5 games.
Better than being shite and having 3 points from 5 games and your manager gets sacked like this time last year.
Get out of this league however we can. I will take winning 3 out of every 5 games between now and the end of the season.
The only teams we have beaten at the moment stand in the bottom seven. Yesterday Rotherham stood eighth before kick off. I am sure everyone would take winning 3 out of every 5 games ,that would surely see top two and promotion. But hand on heart can we see that happening with our team?
I imagine us beating Manchester City in the third round of the FA Cup and you pointing out that beating City's not that impressive, they didn't even make it to the fourth round of the FA Cup
Made to look and feel like the away team. All back to defend every corner and set piece is inviting pressure as the ball invariably comes back in again. The vim of the first few weeks is missing until TC came on to inject some pace and stretch the play. Didn't enjoy Godden and especially with Ahadme. Couple of duff ones methinks. Docherty wasn't receiving or feeding either as too often square to the play.
Rotherham looked like they will get better over time. They have invested in their squad and should improve. Odafin and Clarke-Harris their standouts for me. Possibly a good time to have played them!
I’ve been saying it for 3 seasons: When defending a set-piece -
Leave our smallest guy / fastest runner in the centre circle and big boot the danger clear - every chance of a counter attack, plus they have to leave 2 defenders back for their own set-piece.
May was perfect for this, so is Tyreece.
Why instead, do we tippy tap around in our own half while we wait for an out- ball option ?
So we’re shite but we have 10 points from 5 games.
Better than being shite and having 3 points from 5 games and your manager gets sacked like this time last year.
Get out of this league however we can. I will take winning 3 out of every 5 games between now and the end of the season.
The only teams we have beaten at the moment stand in the bottom seven. Yesterday Rotherham stood eighth before kick off. I am sure everyone would take winning 3 out of every 5 games ,that would surely see top two and promotion. But hand on heart can we see that happening with our team?
I imagine us beating Manchester City in the third round of the FA Cup and you pointing out that beating City's not that impressive, they didn't even make it to the fourth round of the FA Cup
I'll be bloody impressed if we even make the 3rd Round. That'll be an improvement in itself.
Made to look and feel like the away team. All back to defend every corner and set piece is inviting pressure as the ball invariably comes back in again. The vim of the first few weeks is missing until TC came on to inject some pace and stretch the play. Didn't enjoy Godden and especially with Ahadme. Couple of duff ones methinks. Docherty wasn't receiving or feeding either as too often square to the play.
Rotherham looked like they will get better over time. They have invested in their squad and should improve. Odafin and Clarke-Harris their standouts for me. Possibly a good time to have played them!
I’ve been saying it for 3 seasons: When defending a set-piece -
Leave our smallest guy / fastest runner in the centre circle and big boot the danger clear - every chance of a counter attack, plus they have to leave 2 defenders back for their own set-piece.
May was perfect for this, so is Tyreece.
Why instead, do we tippy tap around in our own half while we wait for an out- ball option ?
Dixon will be even more perfect when he’s available. His pace is supposed to be very quick.
Not a surprising result, we’ve become harder to beat under Jones and Rotherham especially with Evans as manager were always going to be an opponent like that too.
We’ve improved defensively under Jones this season but that’s a third goal from outside the box which is a bit concerning.
Ramsay was very good as said, if there’s something for him to improve on it’s creating chances and scoring the odd goal - in this formation we need the wing backs to play a big part in our attacking play. He has some decent moments but I’m more confident in his defending than his attacking play at the moment.
I don’t think Small is that different to last season - we just have expectations for a promotion challenge, last season was about grinding out enough results to stay up and being better than Edun. His crossing has never been consistently good game after game.
Lloyd Jones had a few good moments on the ball - some nice passes into midfield and one moment where he ended up dribbling down the left wing. He’s not shown loads of that so far in his time here but it’s one of a few things we can look at to improve our attacking play. Of course any CB playing out comes with the risk of losing the ball, so it’s about finding the right balance.
Good to see Allan Campbell make his debut, it’ll be interesting who goes on to be our first choice midfield three. We’ll get a few goals out of them as in these five games they’ve got in decent attacking positions, but the big question is will they score and create enough. Are we still yet to find the right combination?
Up front Ahadme had some better moments but the miss of course stands out. I can see him improving during his career but it’s another big question - will he improve enough and quick enough to make an impact with us.
Godden didn’t really get in the game, so we’re back to the issue of whether Campbell’s pace and skill gives us more threat, or do we stick with Godden from the start to give us a natural goalscorer.
Same story with our attacking play as we saw in other games. Our crossing and set piece delivery needs to improve especially if we’re continuing with always having a target man up front. There’s also still room to find the right balance when we have the ball to pass short rather than go long, but without completely opening up defensively.
We’re not great to watch but I think it’s easy to forget how far being tough to beat and strong defensively gets you at this level. We went on that long run without a win last season and despite threat of relegation we finished safely in lower mid table.
Looking forward to having Leaburn available to start fairly soon. Jones wants a target man up there but with Aneke’s fitness Ahadme currently doesn’t have any real competition for his place. With so many options up there it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out over the season and who ends up being our first choice front two.
I’d have taken 10 points from 5 games in the summer, but it would probably feel more positive if we were better going forward at the expense of not being quite as solid defensively. No doubt Jones will be working on our attacking play but I get the concerns that the types of players we have are the issue and coaching will only go so far.
In football though it's much harder (especially in the middle of a season) to make the defence solid and not give much away than it is to get the attack going.
We appear to have the defensive side of things (aside from closing down players shooting from distance) looking quite solid. So if Jones can get the attack going, which could well happen once we see the return of Leaburn and probable introduction of Dixon, then i think we'll be ok.
In the interview aired on Charlton Live, Jones seems to give clear acknowledgement that the attacking play needs to improve and says they'll be looking at that in the coming weeks.
He said: “When you break down statistics in this league there are two or three teams that eye candy stick out – your Birminghams, your Wrexhams etc. When I broke down Charlton I saw a couple of injury-time winners. Take them away and it’s not a top versus 17th clash, which is how it was built up locally here.
What on earth is he going on about?
Basically what a few people have been saying on here. We won 2 games with a single goal, one in injury time & the other on 85 mins. We haven't been banging goals in & looking dominant. We don't look a top 6 side. Give it another 6-8 games - we play a few of the bottom teams away & then Wrexham & Birmingham at home, then we'll be in a better place to judge
I agree with this. I think we will have a much better idea by the end of October. I think we will be top half for certain but we don't have enough information beyond that.
This turned into the game that most people predicted it would be. Pretty turgid, horrible to watch, and a test of who’s up for the battle more than any measure of quality. (Aside from both goals, ironically).
If this Charlton team was anything like the sides we’ve had to watch over the last few years, I’m convinced we lose this game 9 times out of 10. On that basis, happy enough with a point.
That said, since day 1, Jones has talked about getting the structure in place first and then layering in the quality. Like most people I was amazed how quickly he came in and achieved the first part last year, and how much it improved us, without necessarily showing much attacking flair.
If I’m honest I’d hoped that with the head start last season and a full pre-season, early transfer business etc, we’d be further along by now. But there’s no doubt the structure is in, and a good base to build from. Shrewsbury is a test. We need to look capable of blowing bad teams away at some point. Low margin games against the best teams is fine, but against the poor sides it only ever leave you 1 dodgy decision or misplaced pass away from disaster. Hoping for a big week on the training field.
Still not fluid enough but 7 points off Wigan, Bolton and Rotherham is a great return. The Reading game was a disappointment but I'd rather we were getting results while still needing to gel than letting the teams who should be near the top take too many points off us while we settle. In the end exactly what always happens happened; we didn't manage to beat a Steve Evans team and Chuks scored against one. The important thing is that we bounced back from a loss with a point against a tough side, Curbs will be satisfied.
Ahadme is obviously the lightning rod for criticism but Docherty is the one I'm a little bit worried about. Berry and Coventry obviously know what they're doing but Docherty looks a bit lost in this midfield and for a player I was expecting to be a 7 out of 10 every game he's not taking enough care of the ball and I can't honestly say what he does well yet. Lots and lots of time yet for him to get there but wouldn't be the worst thing to see ACampbell in for him next game, show that no-one is safe
I came here a day late to post the same thing. He's tough and physical but we need to see more from him on the ball. He also made some poor decisions in the press yesterday as well. I think he needs to be better because Karoy and Campbell will be knocking on the door.
Comments
We haven't clicked yet going forward. I thought for about ten minutes at the start of the game Ahadme finally looked like the player we thought we had signed and after he missed his chance, he seemed to lose his confidence. I think Leaburn coming back will allow him to come off the bench a bit to get a bit of time against tired defences.
We are 2 points per game and I think every fan would have taken that at the start of the season. There is undoubtedly more to come, but as a club/team, we are making progress.
What on earth is he going on about?
I want us to be more comfortable with a bigger cushion against those things we might be vulnerable to.
Get a lot of points in the bank against things going wrong later in the season is my hope.
We may not be battering others, but neither are we being battered ourselves.
To have secured 2 points per game after such a big overhaul I think is a great start. Plenty to get right yet, but it’s a long season.
You can’t just take goals away because of when they were scored 🤣
If anything, late goals show we are more resilient, fitter and more adaptable.
Fat slob is just talking complete nonsense.
In midfield, thought Coventry was outstanding and his best game for us by far. Excellent use of the ball and always where he needed to be defensively. Campbell looked very lively when he came on and think he'll be a level above anything we've got. Echo the comments on Docherty who has been competent but underwhelming so far. Don't notice him much and thought he'd be having more of an influence.
There was a palpable difference in our attacking threat with Chuks on because if we're going to keep going long, we need a striker who can make it stick. Thought Chuks & TC looked like they have a natural understanding. TC peeling off wide and then attacking like a winger suits him because he knows that game so well.
We've had a tough run of games and picked up a decent return of points. In previous seasons we've always been looking at the run of 'easier' games to make up the difference, and then gone on to lose those as well...! In this league we are not going to win every game, we just have to keep on picking up a steady supply. We don't look like the finished article but we've got a lot more about us this year and I feel confident that we'll be up there, especially if we get Leaburn back, fit and firing and can have more of a focal point up front.
The team is defense heavy with the wing backs, particularly Small, looking a little lost once they go over the half way line. The 'spare' back, Gillesphey, offers little apart from the odd block and rather ordinary distribution. Meanwhile, the midfield looks a little lost sometimes and the front two are isolated and not big enough nor clever enough to make things happen on their own. Until A Campbell appeared, we were lacking someone to fill the number 10 space and create more openings for the front two. Once the Campbells and Chuks got to work, Phillips and his defenders were suddenly having to earn their pay.
Their goal was poor from a Charlton perspective. The number 4 collected the ball and ran 20 yards towards the box, making two touches of the ball untroubled by anybody before being almost invited to have a crack, which he certainly did.
Fortunately, plan A worked this week though. The three substitutes all made an impact. Tyreece is a terror for tiring defenders with his pace and tenacity, and Chuks is Chuks bringing his touch of class.
When defending a set-piece -
Leave our smallest guy / fastest runner in the centre circle and big boot the danger clear - every chance of a counter attack, plus they have to leave 2 defenders back for their own set-piece.
We appear to have the defensive side of things (aside from closing down players shooting from distance) looking quite solid. So if Jones can get the attack going, which could well happen once we see the return of Leaburn and probable introduction of Dixon, then i think we'll be ok.
If this Charlton team was anything like the sides we’ve had to watch over the last few years, I’m convinced we lose this game 9 times out of 10. On that basis, happy enough with a point.
That said, since day 1, Jones has talked about getting the structure in place first and then layering in the quality. Like most people I was amazed how quickly he came in and achieved the first part last year, and how much it improved us, without necessarily showing much attacking flair.
Great shot by Chucks.