Well I have egg on my face about NJ, also Macca and Coventry, jury still out on Docherty. Some deadwood been removed and Ahadme forgotten.
But you have to ask, why we played four months of hoofball and what was the game plan. We could be nailed on 2nd
You weren't the only one and certain posters have the full Omelette on their face. I tried to give constructive criticism when he played on two occasions Leaburn, Godden and Ahadme which I said wouldn't work before KO and it was a failed plan when the three number 9's took turns to go wide 🤦🏻♂️
In mitigation for Nathan his whole manager's career was on the line after his Stoke and Saints experience and when Lloyd Jones and Ramsey were both out we really struggled for cohesion and cafc didn't appear to have any game plan other than to run around a lot like headless chickens. His interviews didn't match up with what the fan/critics had witnessed.
Once Ramsey, Lloyd Jones, Edwards and Small were in the same team, Macca went from a liability to CAFC version of Dan Burns plus AMB or Mannion showed at least they are fine behind the current defence with Coventry the defensive midfielder number 6.
The culling of the squad was a gamble but so far it's improved the 'we have each others backs' mentality which has helped to gain wins from draws.
The ending may still end in tears but turning out to be our best season since Bows and JJ were in tandem.
Nice use of the word 'plethora' by Jones in his post match interview. Not a word I recall Appleton using although tbf i don't remember anything he said
Yes I enjoyed 'Plethora' and I hope I hear Nathan say at Stockport or Crawley: "Look, it was good, we scored 3 after a myriad of chances"
Shouldn’t it be ‘after myriad chances’? I’d live to hear a ‘juxtaposition’ squeezed in too.
Nice use of the word 'plethora' by Jones in his post match interview. Not a word I recall Appleton using although tbf i don't remember anything he said
Yes I enjoyed 'Plethora' and I hope I hear Nathan say at Stockport or Crawley: "Look, it was good, we scored 3 after a myriad of chances"
Shouldn’t it be ‘after myriad chances’? I’d live to hear a ‘juxtaposition’ squeezed in too.
Nice use of the word 'plethora' by Jones in his post match interview. Not a word I recall Appleton using although tbf i don't remember anything he said
Yes I enjoyed 'Plethora' and I hope I hear Nathan say at Stockport or Crawley: "Look, it was good, we scored 3 after a myriad of chances"
Shouldn’t it be ‘after myriad chances’? I’d live to hear a ‘juxtaposition’ squeezed in too.
"After a myriad of chances" or "after myriad chances" are both grammatically correct and 'Juxtaposition' is a cracking word, wherever you stand on English Grammar 😀
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"* under Richard Murray's tenure at Charlton.
I could absolutely tolerate this NJ anti-football if it was getting us out of this sh*thole that is L1, but it's just not. At best, it's very rarely got us wins, and at worst, it's regularly lost us games and as good as written off our season before Xmas (if not arguably before).
This is what I said just before Xmas on 17th Dec - sitting 14th in League One, 7 points away from 6th. We had 24 points and the teams we are currently and potentially competing with for 2nd, Wycombe, Wrexham and Stockport were on 43, 41 and 33 points, respectively. 5 points above Crawley in 21st. I felt like we had no chance of getting 6th with the way we were playing at the time and I would have laughed in the face of anyone even suggesting the notion we could have a chance at 2nd. I thought there was a chance NJ had lost the dressing room and the cycle was repeating again. Sack him, get another face in, continue the struggle bus. Perpetual disappointment continues.
The transformation is nothing less than meteoric. After the 5-0 thumping we (what felt like) randomly slapped Northampton with at their place, we have never looked back. Something clicked, something happened and this group of players just got what he wanted. The form is just nuts. We just keep getting results and have turned from coin flip games to more "comfortable" results. Where once you felt we could throw games away, the defensive part of the game that he started with is now paying dividends. He found the settled side he needed and, with Godden starting more, the goals started to flow better too. The introduction of set piece goals have also been massive and been noticed. All those little incremental things leading to greater success. The tactical growth and player development of players like Small and Ramsay cannot also not be understated. The football really isn't anything transformatory or magical - it's just good, honest players giving everything they can and playing like it matters. That resonates with Charlton fans because, at least for my eyes, that's what we want.
NJ is obsessed with giving everything to football and demands the same of his players. That is absolutely marmite for some people, leading to binary outcomes like Stoke/Southampton or Luton/us. Players are absolutely human and will either gravitate one way or the other. It is a wafer thin line that can lead to powder keg results either way. I listen and hear that passion he gives in whatever he says and does. Absolutely mad as a box of frogs, but it can work and can get results. There is a pure truth and honesty to the way he does things that is inherently genuine and you cannot help but admire it. We needed someone like NJ to wrestle control of this team and club into some sort of position that will allow for the success we wanted.
I've said it before on this thread (and will say it as much as it remains relevant) - I was wrong and I thought he'd gone more Stoke than Luton here at the time. We were running on fine margins and, maybe if you had him with a pint and a truth detector, he might have thought that he was on the edge around Xmas too. It is absolutely a results based industry and he knows that only too well. If it had gone wrong here, he'd probably be struggling for another decent job elsewhere. He is absolutely a fascinating man that just lives this sport every second because he knows the privileged position it offers him. I said that I would accept the football if it got us out of this league, and somehow, it looks like he might well be the man to do it.
NJ - if you read this (and I think there's a decent chance he does, y'know) - a lot of us were wrong, but I'm glad you still here and we stuck it out. Hope you get the happy ending this season, because the journey has helped us believe again.
I had him down as a stuart pearce up and at em , give em 100% blah blah blah and said that will only get you so far but whatever tactical nuances have changed us from an underperforming bunch to this well oiled machine the cap has to be fully doffed to NJ the turnaround is miraculous. If we get promoted then it will be nearly as big a miracle as what Lennie achieved all them years back .
I had him down as a stuart pearce up and at em , give em 100% blah blah blah and said that will only get you so far but whatever tactical nuances have changed us from an underperforming bunch to this well oiled machine the cap has to be fully doffed to NJ the turnaround is miraculous. If we get promoted then it will be nearly as big a miracle as what Lennie achieved all them years back .
I had him down as a stuart pearce up and at em , give em 100% blah blah blah and said that will only get you so far but whatever tactical nuances have changed us from an underperforming bunch to this well oiled machine the cap has to be fully doffed to NJ the turnaround is miraculous. If we get promoted then it will be nearly as big a miracle as what Lennie achieved all them years back .
Resurrected this as I think I’m just about to enjoy a plate of humble pie. He’s a nutter no doubt but not one that’s unlikeable. I think he’s a coach that needs to have near total control of the playing side. His methods only work if he has that and everyone buys wholeheartedly into it. I very much doubt he got near that at either Stoke or Southampton. He definitely had it at Luton and I now think he’s the main man at The Valley. I’ve heard from very reliable sources that the spirit within the squad is quite exceptional. As good as it’s possible to be. Not hard to believe either as yesterday perfectly highlighted. Jones has improved many of our players and by way of example Campbell and Coventry are now both big assets. I know we haven’t achieved anything yet but NJ has without turned around not only the performances on the pitch but has the supporters excited and hopeful again. After criticising him early on I’m now a total convert. I think given support he’s going to deliver over the next few seasons. Pass that spoon please.
Resurrected this as I think I’m just about to enjoy a plate of humble pie. He’s a nutter no doubt but not one that’s unlikeable. I think he’s a coach that needs to have near total control of the playing side. His methods only work if he has that and everyone buys wholeheartedly into it. I very much doubt he got near that at either Stoke or Southampton. He definitely had it at Luton and I now think he’s the main man at The Valley. I’ve heard from very reliable sources that the spirit within the squad is quite exceptional. As good as it’s possible to be. Not hard to believe either as yesterday perfectly highlighted. Jones has improved many of our players and by way of example Campbell and Coventry are now both big assets. I know we haven’t achieved anything yet but NJ has without turned around not only the performances on the pitch but has the supporters excited and hopeful again. After criticising him early on I’m now a total convert. I think given support he’s going to deliver over the next few seasons. Pass that spoon please.
Happy to join in the humble pie contest. Thought he was a goner after Crawley at home because it felt like the end of Appleton. The turnaround has been absolutely remarkable.
Happy to join in the humble pie contest. Thought he was a goner after Crawley at home because it felt like the end of Appleton. The turnaround has been absolutely remarkable.
Might be worth asking the Club Shop to stock some hair shirts....
Happy to join in the humble pie contest. Thought he was a goner after Crawley at home because it felt like the end of Appleton. The turnaround has been absolutely remarkable.
Might be worth asking the Club Shop to stock some hair shirts....
Sometimes things just take time to click with a new group of players. Also the team we have now compared to when we played Crawley (below) in December is much better.
Resurrected this as I think I’m just about to enjoy a plate of humble pie. He’s a nutter no doubt but not one that’s unlikeable. I think he’s a coach that needs to have near total control of the playing side. His methods only work if he has that and everyone buys wholeheartedly into it. I very much doubt he got near that at either Stoke or Southampton. He definitely had it at Luton and I now think he’s the main man at The Valley. I’ve heard from very reliable sources that the spirit within the squad is quite exceptional. As good as it’s possible to be. Not hard to believe either as yesterday perfectly highlighted. Jones has improved many of our players and by way of example Campbell and Coventry are now both big assets. I know we haven’t achieved anything yet but NJ has without turned around not only the performances on the pitch but has the supporters excited and hopeful again. After criticising him early on I’m now a total convert. I think given support he’s going to deliver over the next few seasons. Pass that spoon please.
Spot on. I'm allergic to the rapid firing of managers. But in NJ's case I felt it would have been a disaster to get rid of him when our squad was short of vital players.
Sometimes things just take time to click with a new group of players. Also the team we have now compared to when we played Crawley (below) in December is much better.
I was dubious about his tactics and some of the early performances but he has proved me wrong. Trying to understand why we were so bad and are now so good, I can only assume Jones proritised finding the sweet spot of the side tactically and was willing to experiment to get there. The big change has been the introduction of pace out wide. Small and Campbell can be unstopable. Early doors Campbell was playing more conventionally as a striker but he now naturally drifts wide and it works a treat.
I was dubious about his tactics and some of the early performances but he has proved me wrong. Trying to understand why we were so bad and are now so good, I can only assume Jones proritised finding the sweet spot of the side tactically and was willing to experiment to get there. The big change has been the introduction of pace out wide. Small and Campbell can be unstopable. Early doors Campbell was playing more conventionally as a striker but he now naturally drifts wide and it works a treat.
I think he prioritised getting certain players to do certain things. eg. Changed Coventry by making him concentrate on simple defensive responsibilities before trying to be all things and the list of tweaks for players goes on. Jones has his methods and until everyone dances to his tune he perseveres until they do or gets rid. Obviously the possibility of promotion is an unknown factor here but should we fail then I suspect we’ll have a real job hanging onto a few of our players. He’d need support in rebuilding. Small and Campbell seem to be most obvious possible departures and won’t be easy to replace.
Comments
You weren't the only one and certain posters have the full Omelette on their face.
I tried to give constructive criticism when he played on two occasions Leaburn, Godden and Ahadme which I said wouldn't work before KO and it was a failed plan when the three number 9's took turns to go wide 🤦🏻♂️
In mitigation for Nathan his whole manager's career was on the line after his Stoke and Saints experience and when Lloyd Jones and Ramsey were both out we really struggled for cohesion and cafc didn't appear to have any game plan other than to run around a lot like headless chickens. His interviews didn't match up with what the fan/critics had witnessed.
Once Ramsey, Lloyd Jones, Edwards and Small were in the same team, Macca went from a liability to CAFC version of Dan Burns plus AMB or Mannion showed at least they are fine behind the current defence with Coventry the defensive midfielder number 6.
The culling of the squad was a gamble but so far it's improved the 'we have each others backs' mentality which has helped to gain wins from draws.
The ending may still end in tears but turning out to be our best season since Bows and JJ were in tandem.
I’d live to hear a ‘juxtaposition’ squeezed in too.
"After a myriad of chances" or "after myriad chances"
are both grammatically correct and 'Juxtaposition' is a cracking word, wherever you stand on English Grammar 😀
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"* under Richard Murray's tenure at Charlton.
* A Tale of two cities opening lines.
The transformation is nothing less than meteoric. After the 5-0 thumping we (what felt like) randomly slapped Northampton with at their place, we have never looked back. Something clicked, something happened and this group of players just got what he wanted. The form is just nuts. We just keep getting results and have turned from coin flip games to more "comfortable" results. Where once you felt we could throw games away, the defensive part of the game that he started with is now paying dividends. He found the settled side he needed and, with Godden starting more, the goals started to flow better too. The introduction of set piece goals have also been massive and been noticed. All those little incremental things leading to greater success. The tactical growth and player development of players like Small and Ramsay cannot also not be understated. The football really isn't anything transformatory or magical - it's just good, honest players giving everything they can and playing like it matters. That resonates with Charlton fans because, at least for my eyes, that's what we want.
NJ is obsessed with giving everything to football and demands the same of his players. That is absolutely marmite for some people, leading to binary outcomes like Stoke/Southampton or Luton/us. Players are absolutely human and will either gravitate one way or the other. It is a wafer thin line that can lead to powder keg results either way. I listen and hear that passion he gives in whatever he says and does. Absolutely mad as a box of frogs, but it can work and can get results. There is a pure truth and honesty to the way he does things that is inherently genuine and you cannot help but admire it. We needed someone like NJ to wrestle control of this team and club into some sort of position that will allow for the success we wanted.
I've said it before on this thread (and will say it as much as it remains relevant) - I was wrong and I thought he'd gone more Stoke than Luton here at the time. We were running on fine margins and, maybe if you had him with a pint and a truth detector, he might have thought that he was on the edge around Xmas too. It is absolutely a results based industry and he knows that only too well. If it had gone wrong here, he'd probably be struggling for another decent job elsewhere. He is absolutely a fascinating man that just lives this sport every second because he knows the privileged position it offers him. I said that I would accept the football if it got us out of this league, and somehow, it looks like he might well be the man to do it.
NJ - if you read this (and I think there's a decent chance he does, y'know) - a lot of us were wrong, but I'm glad you still here and we stuck it out. Hope you get the happy ending this season, because the journey has helped us believe again.
If we get promoted then it will be nearly as big a miracle as what Lennie achieved all them years back .
Hair shirt's in the post, SHG
( Maynard-Brewer; Edmonds-Green (T.Campbell 62), A.Mitchell, Gillesphey (Jones 86), Edwards; Taylor, Coventry (Kanu 61), A.Campbell, Godden (c) (Laqeretabua 82); Leaburn (Small 46), Ahadme)
I'm allergic to the rapid firing of managers.
But in NJ's case I felt it would have been a disaster to get rid of him when our squad was short of vital players.
Anyway, what a turnaround .