PWR, we didn’t start really playing till the 70th minute something we’ve seen quite regularly.
What worries me is that we regularly start on the back foot, and it takes till the second half and some changes for us to take a grasp of the game, why isn’t Jones getting the starting 11 right? We are over 10 games in.
For me, Anderson needs to lose his spot, A Campbell as well - stop tinkering play the best 11 from the start.
Where's our Johnnie Jackson or Andy Reid type player... That is what we're seriously lacking.
Berry scored two very tidy finishes last night, but elsewhere on the pitch he is slow to react, doesn't stick a foot in and isn't blessed with pace.
Next game I'd like to see us start in a more 3-4-1-2 (ignoring rumours of time out)
Mannion REG - Jones - Mitchell Small - Coventry - Taylor - Campbell Berry Godden - Leaburn
With Berry more advanced, actually attack sides. If Leaburn can find his passing boots he might even get an assist or two. We also need to be better at shooting from 18+ yards rather than trying to dribble the ball to within 12 yards before shooting. The Barnsley keeper was there for the taking. He was ham fisted at saving almost every opportunity.
On reflection, and in the cold light of day, Mannion has to go on the bench Saturday. Despite a couple of good saves he was at fault for the first goal and too many flaps at crosses.
Can't agree with this. Mannion isn't great - he's especially vulnerable to long shots - but he's still a lot better than AMB, Isted or any of the other recent keepers we've had.
I said it on the match thread but what gets me is the need to have all 10 players defending a corner. We clear, the ball comes straight back
campbell is what 5’7? What is the point of him back defending?
leave him on the half way line and they leave someone else back. Their keeper drops deeper and doesn’t have the time or space to put it straight back into our penalty area.
Campbell chases and the ball doesn’t come straight back
its such a basic thing to do in my eyes but modern coaches don’t seem to do this.
I said it on the match thread but what gets me is the need to have all 10 players defending a corner. We clear, the ball comes straight back
campbell is what 5’7? What is the point of him back defending?
leave him on the half way line and they leave someone else back. Their keeper drops deeper and doesn’t have the time or space to put it straight back into our penalty area.
Campbell chases and the ball doesn’t come straight back
its such a basic thing to do in my eyes but modern coaches don’t seem to do this.
I totally agree with you but TC isn't in the box to win headers. He's there to be a blocker and because he can get to the edge of the box quickly to close down whoever the ball falls to. He would be useful to have as an outlet further up the pitch though, as shown in the closing stages against Birmingham
I said it on the match thread but what gets me is the need to have all 10 players defending a corner. We clear, the ball comes straight back
campbell is what 5’7? What is the point of him back defending?
leave him on the half way line and they leave someone else back. Their keeper drops deeper and doesn’t have the time or space to put it straight back into our penalty area.
Campbell chases and the ball doesn’t come straight back
its such a basic thing to do in my eyes but modern coaches don’t seem to do this.
It's been going on for years. Even under Curbushly we did it. I agree with you by the way I would leave one up.
Watched it on and off on my iPhone in the pub during a quiz night with Mrs SB berating me so probably not the best way to form an opinion. However, from what I did see, we look like a mid table side. A couple of injuries to our key players and, as always, we struggle. I plead guilty to searching for faults with our little Welsh ball of fire but I do grow tired of his thinly veiled criticism of his players. He bought them, he picks them, and he decides the tactics. We have been pretty rubbish all season with the exception of two and a half games (Bolton, Brum and the second half v Stockport). It says something about this league that we are still a point off the playoffs despite scoring a bout ten goals in 12 games and not having a clue about our best starting 11. There is still hope but we are a couple of bad results away from it beginning to turn against the aforementioned ball of fire (ref the mood after Bristol Rovers). Mind you, put 5 past Wrexham and who knows…..
So frustrating we can't string a run of decent performances together but the positives are we nicked a point at Barnsley which I will take. Back to the drawing board re personnel for the Wrexham game. Coventry was abysmal but he has credit in the bank at the moment
How was he 'abysmal'? He was the only midfielder doing any serious tackling. What you mean to say is that a few of his through-balls went wrong. That is what happens to through-balls, they're low percentage. When he did find a player with one, Godden blazed a good chance uselessly over. The only seriously bad moment was the one straight out of play, but idk how you extrapolate 'abysmal' from that. Or single him out when almost everyone else was significantly worse
He was caught out of possession a ridiculous amount of times, out of position, careless with his passing, late to track back. You're right they were pretty much all bad but from a player who's set a reasonable standard of himself these opening games and had fresh legs I was very disappointed in him.
In a parallel universe both Leaburn and Godden square the ball to Campbell and he pokes the ball into the net. Or we win a defensive header and have some nous to claim the win after Berry's brace.
Unfortunately we are in this dystopian reality and it's hell where the two best defenders, Ramsey and Jones are injured and then to compound this low we then mug Barnsley with the help of Berry BUT instead of heading home with the 3 points we decide to stop and give the booty back to the victim !
We snatched a draw from the Jaws of Victory and after a dozen games, mid table Mediocrity beckons yet again.
Deflated after a 2-2 draw away from home is perhaps a good sign as we should have closed the game out. I thought Coventry and TT worked well together in the main. Miles looks sharp and will get better with minutes Campbell and Anderson run around alot but contribute little infact Anderson stalled alot of potential attacking options last night Defense seems to have regressed back to being struck down by panic when under pressure
I still think we will make the playoffs this year but its going to be a rollercoaster in terms of performances from one week to another
An uninspiring performance by two teams combatting with each other at times to see which one can lower the level of mediocrity further. TBF, at 2-1 it was incredulously in Barnsley’s favour of taking the prize outright after a couple of skilfully choreographed moments late on to let Berry bag a brace but, not to let them snatch it at the last minute, Charlton responded with one last effort by letting Barnsley equalise to make it honours even, only spoilt by the fact that Charlton had extended their unbeaten run to 3 games to take away the shine of their efforts to get Wrexham over confident ahead of this Saturday’s big game.
NJ keeps coming out and saying we were miles off it, didn't go the basics, etc. I always thought the 100% effort was the minimum he got from his teams. He's built this squad and some days they're just not turning up.
No one has mentioned the ref to date which makes a pleasant change. Thought he was very good tonight, can’t remember him getting much wrong and wasn’t overly fussy.
Has had championship and Premier league games this season. And I can see why. Thought he was excellent.
I just can't get over how bad Gillesphey is. I generally try to defend where possible because I'm a positive person but I can't see a single redeeming quality about his play. Even his long throw is mediocre.
really poor player, worse then Lavelle
Behave! Gillesphey has nearly as many clean sheets just this season as Lavelle had in his whole time with us. I don't know if we've ever had a worse supposedly first choice CB than Lavelle. Gillesphey is a LCB in a 3 or a LB, he's not built to play CB in a two and we're paying for the squad being built up in January with a back 3 in mind. Neither Gillesphey or REG are really the types of CB you want in a Jones-style 4, nor are they progressive enough to be the full backs. Gillesphey did pretty well at the start of the season in that back 3. He wasn't as good as the other two but he was a big part of the 4 clean sheets we had in the first 6 games and he's only really started causing goal leaks since being put in a role where he isn't suitable due to the Lloyd Jones injury. Worse than Lavelle is too big an insult
It goes back to the total lack of creativity, movement and attacking threat in the final 3rd. How Jones and the recruitment team didn't see that when putting this team together is beyond me.
We were 5th until Barnsley equalised. Reading thoughts on here you'd think we were back in depths of last winter under the stranglehold of Michael Appleton.
That is football fans for you, no patience and looking at wider pictures.
We were 5th until Barnsley equalised. Reading thoughts on here you'd think we were back in depths of last winter under the stranglehold of Michael Appleton.
Where are we now?
I agree with you, but tbf with @Callumcafc and his rose tinted goggles he does have a fair point.
Switched off the stream for half an hour second half. That's how tired I am of watching dross. I have a memory of Luton fans pre season saying that under Jones, football won't be pretty but the results will be good. Well Nathan now has a squad of players he wanted. He also helped off load our leading striker last season. We have some injuries, and the players available would probably not get promotion from league 2. Swapping May for Godden/Ahadme is the sort of daydream some of us have about taking control of Palace for a week. The lack of quality and composure is astounding. The high press has gone, as has the defence. The midfield can't distribute, doesn't seem to help defend, and would always prefer a lazy pass. We also need too many touches to decide what to do with the ball. Gives the opposition time to organise. Overall, miserable football from a mediocre dide.
Ultimately he'll be blamed for getting rid of May, a major mistake letting him go.
I'm already sort of resigned to us just having to scrape points in whatever way we can to stay in touch with the playoffs, and then hope for an excellent January window to push us up to the standard required for promotion (lol)
Our goalkeeper is prone to long range shots and last night flapped at a few crosses. Playing in front of a very poor defence won't be helping him settle. Mitchell is slow, but gives his all. REG was poor and a bad yellow card to concede so early Edwards was average and the positivity from the start of the season has subsided with him Gillesphey is a joke.
Our midfield - whoever we perm, has been utter wank all year. I'd try Coventry, Taylor, Berry, Doherty against the Welsh wizards.
Godden looks a little slow and Alfie May he sadly isn't. Leaburn started brightly but we need to give the lad some time.
TC added another game to his locker with no goals no assists. I don't see what he is bringing to the side - apart from not being as bad as Alan Campbell, Kanu and Ahadme and last night Anderson.
We are a very poor footballing team. The press is no more. We don't create enough chances. We look like conceding from most corners and crosses into the box and too many shots from 25 yards are ending up in our net.
Expressed my concerns in the preview in defence without Jones. We don’t have another centre back able to really dominate in the air alongside Mitchell.
The problem is, NJ doesn’t fancy Watson at right back and so that pushes REG out there, already making it a makeshift defence. It also means we can only play Gillesphey, Potts, or the young Zach Mitchell at centre back. Gillesphey is not good enough in a back 3 let alone alongside just one central defender so it means NJ either has to trust Watson and play REG alongside Mitchell or bring in his old faithful from Luton and hope Potts can be the step up. He’d at least be better in the covering position than Gillesphey so that’s a start.
Either way, it’s an area that needs addressing in the window because we’ve gone from looking hard to beat, to looking vulnerable to a straight ball into the heart of the defence.
Overall, the performance was not good enough. We were alright for 20 minutes but failed to take any kind of advantage. The rest of poor to put it mildly.
Leaburn has got into that position twice now, once against Stockport and he should’ve squared to Berry for a tap in, and again inside the first minute or so last night. Maybe the shot was right, test the keeper early etc, but the contact was poor and it makes it look the wrong decision again.
Berry’s finishes were top class and he’ll definitely start on Saturday.
We really lacked the running and pace of TC, we need to find a way once players are back fit of getting him, Godden and Leaburn in the team together with Berry in midfield. Right now, other than when Aneke is fit (which should be soon) and off the bench, those are the only players who look like they might score.
Once you’re in a winning position in added time, it’s inexcusable to concede in the manner we did. A win would not have been deserved, but we did deserve it on Saturday, so whatever way you look at it, we are at least 1 point behind what we should have.
We have been poor so much this season, but were excellent in the two previous games before last night, for different reasons. And we are only a point outside the playoffs and 3 behind Wrexham if we win on Saturday.
What this tells me is if we somehow manage to find a bit of consistency and find a way of scoring a few goals, this league is wide open for anyone to kick on and finish behind Birmingham, who will win the league.
Do I think we have enough in the squad to do it? No. We need a better keeper, another centre back, a creative midfielder or winger and a striker to push Godden and Leaburn. 4 players is a lot and a lot to get right.
But it’s still early and we are a quarter of the way through. By the new year we’d be halfway through. Let’s hope the next 11 games gets us at least 24 points (a big ask) and with that, we’d be well in the hunt for promotion.
I just can't get over how bad Gillesphey is. I generally try to defend where possible because I'm a positive person but I can't see a single redeeming quality about his play. Even his long throw is mediocre.
really poor player, worse then Lavelle
Behave! Gillesphey has nearly as many clean sheets just this season as Lavelle had in his whole time with us. I don't know if we've ever had a worse supposedly first choice CB than Lavelle. Gillesphey is a LCB in a 3 or a LB, he's not built to play CB in a two and we're paying for the squad being built up in January with a back 3 in mind. Neither Gillesphey or REG are really the types of CB you want in a Jones-style 4, nor are they progressive enough to be the full backs. Gillesphey did pretty well at the start of the season in that back 3. He wasn't as good as the other two but he was a big part of the 4 clean sheets we had in the first 6 games and he's only really started causing goal leaks since being put in a role where he isn't suitable due to the Lloyd Jones injury. Worse than Lavelle is too big an insult
Gary, I don't quite understand how Gillesphey isn't built to be a CB in a two ? He's 6ft 2in (at least) and the majority of his 183 apps at Carlisle, Brisbane Roar (matches shown early AM on BT) and Plymouth were as a CB though he did play a number of games as a LB at Plymouth I believe plus at CAFC as the LCB in the 3.
Sam Lavelle struggled at CAFC and comparisons are difficult though on a good day I agree with you though Sam is just the Quintessential CB that you see from League 2 and lower down the pyramid.
Gillesphey tries to play Nabby Sarr type 40 yard passes but with a lower success rate !
I just can't get over how bad Gillesphey is. I generally try to defend where possible because I'm a positive person but I can't see a single redeeming quality about his play. Even his long throw is mediocre.
really poor player, worse then Lavelle
Behave! Gillesphey has nearly as many clean sheets just this season as Lavelle had in his whole time with us. I don't know if we've ever had a worse supposedly first choice CB than Lavelle. Gillesphey is a LCB in a 3 or a LB, he's not built to play CB in a two and we're paying for the squad being built up in January with a back 3 in mind. Neither Gillesphey or REG are really the types of CB you want in a Jones-style 4, nor are they progressive enough to be the full backs. Gillesphey did pretty well at the start of the season in that back 3. He wasn't as good as the other two but he was a big part of the 4 clean sheets we had in the first 6 games and he's only really started causing goal leaks since being put in a role where he isn't suitable due to the Lloyd Jones injury. Worse than Lavelle is too big an insult
I'm not having that. You're just going off the back of him playing in a back 3 at Plymouth. Gillesphey is a 6ft2 centre back of course he can play in a two
Comments
For me, Anderson needs to lose his spot, A Campbell as well - stop tinkering play the best 11 from the start.
Berry scored two very tidy finishes last night, but elsewhere on the pitch he is slow to react, doesn't stick a foot in and isn't blessed with pace.
Next game I'd like to see us start in a more 3-4-1-2 (ignoring rumours of time out)
REG - Jones - Mitchell
Small - Coventry - Taylor - Campbell
Berry
Godden - Leaburn
With Berry more advanced, actually attack sides. If Leaburn can find his passing boots he might even get an assist or two. We also need to be better at shooting from 18+ yards rather than trying to dribble the ball to within 12 yards before shooting. The Barnsley keeper was there for the taking. He was ham fisted at saving almost every opportunity.
Any other season we'd be quite happy with that.
Lets move on to the biggest game of our whole lives, ever.
campbell is what 5’7? What is the point of him back defending?
leave him on the half way line and they leave someone else back. Their keeper drops deeper and doesn’t have the time or space to put it straight back into our penalty area.
its such a basic thing to do in my eyes but modern coaches don’t seem to do this.
Even under Curbushly we did it.
I agree with you by the way I would leave one up.
But we all have our own views don't we
Or we win a defensive header and have some nous to claim the win after Berry's brace.
Unfortunately we are in this dystopian reality and it's hell where the two best defenders, Ramsey and Jones are injured and then to compound this low we then mug Barnsley with the help of Berry BUT instead of heading home with the 3 points we decide to stop and give the booty back to the victim !
We snatched a draw from the Jaws of Victory and after a dozen games, mid table Mediocrity beckons yet again.
I feel discombobulated 🤦🏻♂️
I thought Coventry and TT worked well together in the main.
Miles looks sharp and will get better with minutes
Campbell and Anderson run around alot but contribute little infact Anderson stalled alot of potential attacking options last night
Defense seems to have regressed back to being struck down by panic when under pressure
I still think we will make the playoffs this year but its going to be a rollercoaster in terms of performances from one week to another
Mitchell is slow, but gives his all.
REG was poor and a bad yellow card to concede so early
Edwards was average and the positivity from the start of the season has subsided with him
Gillesphey is a joke.
Our midfield - whoever we perm, has been utter wank all year. I'd try Coventry, Taylor, Berry, Doherty against the Welsh wizards.
Godden looks a little slow and Alfie May he sadly isn't. Leaburn started brightly but we need to give the lad some time.
TC added another game to his locker with no goals no assists. I don't see what he is bringing to the side - apart from not being as bad as Alan Campbell, Kanu and Ahadme and last night Anderson.
We are a very poor footballing team. The press is no more. We don't create enough chances. We look like conceding from most corners and crosses into the box and too many shots from 25 yards are ending up in our net.
It's better than Appleton. That is all.
The problem is, NJ doesn’t fancy Watson at right back and so that pushes REG out there, already making it a makeshift defence. It also means we can only play Gillesphey, Potts, or the young Zach Mitchell at centre back. Gillesphey is not good enough in a back 3 let alone alongside just one central defender so it means NJ either has to trust Watson and play REG alongside Mitchell or bring in his old faithful from Luton and hope Potts can be the step up. He’d at least be better in the covering position than Gillesphey so that’s a start.
Either way, it’s an area that needs addressing in the window because we’ve gone from looking hard to beat, to looking vulnerable to a straight ball into the heart of the defence.
Overall, the performance was not good enough. We were alright for 20 minutes but failed to take any kind of advantage. The rest of poor to put it mildly.
Leaburn has got into that position twice now, once against Stockport and he should’ve squared to Berry for a tap in, and again inside the first minute or so last night. Maybe the shot was right, test the keeper early etc, but the contact was poor and it makes it look the wrong decision again.
Berry’s finishes were top class and he’ll definitely start on Saturday.
We really lacked the running and pace of TC, we need to find a way once players are back fit of getting him, Godden and Leaburn in the team together with Berry in midfield. Right now, other than when Aneke is fit (which should be soon) and off the bench, those are the only players who look like they might score.
Once you’re in a winning position in added time, it’s inexcusable to concede in the manner we did. A win would not have been deserved, but we did deserve it on Saturday, so whatever way you look at it, we are at least 1 point behind what we should have.
We have been poor so much this season, but were excellent in the two previous games before last night, for different reasons. And we are only a point outside the playoffs and 3 behind Wrexham if we win on Saturday.
What this tells me is if we somehow manage to find a bit of consistency and find a way of scoring a few goals, this league is wide open for anyone to kick on and finish behind Birmingham, who will win the league.
Do I think we have enough in the squad to do it? No. We need a better keeper, another centre back, a creative midfielder or winger and a striker to push Godden and Leaburn. 4 players is a lot and a lot to get right.
But it’s still early and we are a quarter of the way through. By the new year we’d be halfway through. Let’s hope the next 11 games gets us at least 24 points (a big ask) and with that, we’d be well in the hunt for promotion.
Gary, I don't quite understand how Gillesphey isn't built to be a CB in a two ? He's 6ft 2in (at least) and the majority of his 183 apps at Carlisle, Brisbane Roar (matches shown early AM on BT) and Plymouth were as a CB though he did play a number of games as a LB at Plymouth I believe plus at CAFC as the LCB in the 3.
Sam Lavelle struggled at CAFC and comparisons are difficult though on a good day I agree with you though Sam is just the Quintessential CB that you see from League 2 and lower down the pyramid.
Gillesphey tries to play Nabby Sarr type 40 yard passes but with a lower success rate !