I saw welling lose to Truro yesterday but probably saw more successful passes in that than my 5 or 6 charlton games this season combined. Good honest commitment from both sides. Even had a decent referee.
It’s not that we lose games . That’s inevitable. It’s the way we play or lack of quality that’s so depressing. It’s definitely the ugliest team ( football Wise ) to watch since I saw my first game in 1977.
Some teams can play ugly but theres an effectiveness to that way of playing . This team doesn’t have a clue how we are meant to play and that must fall on the manager .
Absolutely Beds, but even when winning we were not an enjoyable watch and the 'winning ugly' phrase is always used for good teams that have an off day, we have had a lot of off days and very few games where we have dominated. It's been a story of don't over commit in the first 45, which is backed up the record of two goals in total scored in the first half, then if we want to win, draw or save a point, we just bash it long.
It was a massive gamble by the powers to be to see CBT, Dobson and May all leave the club when they were the 3 most influential players.
Agree we weren't successful with them here but anyone paying attention know that May scored goals, George was the heart beat of midfield and played 100 minutes week in, week out and Corey had the X factor with goals and assists even if in some games he was erratic.
Replacing CBT with a more consistent wide player would've made sense but we haven't, in fact we struggle to use the wide attacking areas.
Nathan Jones shaped this squad and the only mitigation is about 9 players who would've been in the 18 man squad were missing yesterday.
A damaged fanbase battered by mediocrity over several seasons want NJ to be successful but it looks clunky not helped by chances being missed and no style or poise on display.
Get fit soon to Ramsey, Jones, Tyreece Campbell, Kanu etc though until I learn the funny handshake I won't be told !
I don't understand how we expect to score goals, what our plan of attack is. We pass it sideways, go nowhere, then hoof it forward, hoping for something to happen.
This is a goal scored by Notts County yesterday in L2. When was the last time we played flowing, incisive football like this?
I do like how Notts County's owners have stuck to their principles , played really really good football under Luke Williams - obviously Williams went to Swansea off the back of it , brought in Stuart Maynard who had done a lot with part time Wealdstone and it's continued.
Would love us to play that kind of football but doubt you'll see it under Nathan Jones
the key to Notts County continuing to play well is that when their manager got poached they appointed someone who plays a similar style. Obviously you need a style in the first place for that but it means you don’t need to overhaul the squad every time you need a new manager
Exactly , I don't think we've ever really had continuity of style so we end up with these mismashed squads of players brought by different managers. Must make the academy's life difficult if they're trying to adopt a club style and the manager is constantly changing.
Without TC, we do have wingers. Small is decent at this level, NJ chose 3 FBs on the bench rather than Dixon, and Rylah has a handful of appearances over three seasons.
No passion No width No plan B No entertainment No creativity No hope
After the first few matches, I commented that we are awful to watch. The response from most was along the lines of "I don't care as long as we keep winning and get out of this shit league".
3 months down the line and the performances haven't improved and we can't buy a win. Jones needs to swallow his pride and admit he's completely fucked this up and either walk away, or change his approach ASAP. He's relied too much on players that did it for him at Luton, but 5(?) years ago, they were hungry young players. Now they find themselves back in league 1 with very little motivation. His tranfer policy hasn't worked, and his formation/style of play hasn't worked. The problem is I really can't see him changing anything, as he seems very stubborn and not the type to admit he's got it all wrong.
I'll be surprised if he's still here in the summer, and I won't be upset at his departure.
Bizarre how he can be so angry with us narrowly losing to Reading in a game where we played well and being unbelievably blasé about us losing to Exeter. Fuck knows what's going on anymore
He probably thought we were in with a chance of reaching the play offs then and has now realised it's a pipe dream.
Could be worse. Man City are on the verge of losing 4 in a row... puts our issues into perspective. Imagine supporting them right now...
Need some owners who are willing to invest.
Please, not this old bollocks again.
Totally fed up listening to football fans with no idea about how a business works just demanding more money gets spent. As if that's a guarantee for success.
Not sure if got joke or making general point......(That I agree with)
I don't understand how we expect to score goals, what our plan of attack is. We pass it sideways, go nowhere, then hoof it forward, hoping for something to happen.
This is a goal scored by Notts County yesterday in L2. When was the last time we played flowing, incisive football like this?
I do like how Notts County's owners have stuck to their principles , played really really good football under Luke Williams - obviously Williams went to Swansea off the back of it , brought in Stuart Maynard who had done a lot with part time Wealdstone and it's continued.
Would love us to play that kind of football but doubt you'll see it under Nathan Jones
the key to Notts County continuing to play well is that when their manager got poached they appointed someone who plays a similar style. Obviously you need a style in the first place for that but it means you don’t need to overhaul the squad every time you need a new manager
Exactly , I don't think we've ever really had continuity of style so we end up with these mismashed squads of players brought by different managers. Must make the academy's life difficult if they're trying to adopt a club style and the manager is constantly changing.
We’ve constantly switched between managers who want to play passing and/or attacking football and replaced them with a more pragmatic manager when it starts going wrong.
Our best managers in recent years found a balance. Powell was slightly more direct and defensive, Bowyer’s team had players to play out from the back more. Neither were out and out route one or tippy tappy sides, both had a balance and we’d adapt game by time.
Jones has built a squad of hard workers (on paper, whether some are offering that is another question) and we try to grind our way through every game, playing mostly in a very direct way but without being able to really make it work.
Even route one teams usually have a few dangerous wide players who can put a good cross in. Without TC we can’t even try playing that way.
Jones seemed to tick so many boxes except a big one in style of play. Any style could work with the players, but even the signings we’ve brought in don’t seem to fit it as much as they need to.
We could see the problems in pre-season, that is the most galling thing about this situation. It was clear as day that we had no quality through the middle. We are not even professional football people – how the people at the club could not see it... I don't know, but it's a damning indictment of their ability.
Towards the end of the window, NJ said he was looking to finally bring in some "real, real quality" and then he signed Alan Campbell.
NJ obviously had a 'masterplan' in his mind about how this team would play, and how the players he brought in would be a part of that system. But whatever it was – it doesn't work. I think he's misread both the system and this league. And now, with a midfield full of the exact same player, there's no clear way to improve this team before January.
The previous terrible windows were down to Scott.
But the last window was definitely down to Jones, albeit he had little to no funds to spend, without selling May.
I recall Jones bragging after Docherty scored v Brum that "people" at the club said he couldn't be converted into a creative goal scoring midfielder.
"People" at the club were right. (I assume it was Scott and possibly Rodwell).
I said at the start of the season that Jones put all his eggs in one basket regarding formation. The lack of any first team wingers meant we were 532 or 352 whatever you want to call it. When that stopped working we reverted to the box midfield which superbly nullified Birmingham and got us a great 1-0 victory. What worries me is that he's now stuck with that formation regardless of the opposition. Yesterday was screaming out for a couple of wingers to get in behind their back line but guess what we haven't got any! Finally he brought Small on the left which gave us something different but it was too little too late. Who is our most creative player? Most fans would struggle to tell you and quite frankly yesterday was embarrassing. I can't understand how the coaching staff looked at this team in pre season and thought "Yeah he'll make us a load of goals"
I've managed a couple of teams in my time and when getting the squad together in pre season we always make sure we had the following:
1) a goalkeeper who would nick you a few points with good saves 2) two centre backs who could head and tackle 3) a midfielder that would score goals and assists 4) a striker that would score twenty
I always found if you had those 4/5 players that could do this you always have a reasonably successful season. We are lacking 2 of those 4 when everyone is fit. The coaching team have left us short this season
Totally agree with this re the box formation. That Birmingham game was tactically perfect and the best performance I’ve seen from a Charlton team in recent years. Yet perversely, it is contributing to us throwing the season away as Jones has made the bizarre decision to stick with it ever since. We are playing four centre midfielders every week, and the two in the attacking points of the square are yet to do anything of note in a Charlton shirt other than Doherty’s goal against Bolton.
What pissed me off most about yesterday is that he didn’t change it at half time. We were so poor in the first half but, due to some decent defending, managed to get in at 0-0 - that’s the time to take the initiative and bring some pace on in Small, revert to wing backs to open up the pitch, and take the game to Exeter. Yet he waited until we were losing (again) before pulling his finger out and, surprise, surprise, we looked much more dangerous. But it was too late and we came away with exactly what we deserved.
He needs to bin off the box and not bring it back until Birmingham away or any other games of that ilk. I certainly don’t want to see it at Valley again this season.
On a slightly more positive note, what a lovely place Exeter is…..
Jones talked about injuries but many of them realistically don’t improve that team.
He said 10 players but mentioned Edun who despite not really being able to play was on the bench. He’s our 3rd choice LB/a back up CM.
Mannion isn’t going to create or score goals.
Watson is an average at best L1 player.
Aneke, a miss yes but only capable of playing 30 minutes. Doesn’t improve us in the first 60, and Jones admitted we weren’t good enough in the first half.
Turned out Anderson had an injury. Might have been better than Allan Campbell or Docherty, but Jones chose to sign them this summer.
TC’s pace is a miss, but Jones chose not to sign another winger, that’s on him. Unless you count Dixon, who couldn’t make the bench ahead of Hylton, despite Ahadme being back.
Dan Potts probably doesn’t start ahead of Gillesphey, but neither are starters is L Jones is fit.
Kanu would no doubt be in the squad, but Leaburn and Godden on paper at least is our best front two. Either way a different striker doesn’t get the FBs an midfield playing better football, other than Kanu being the best at chasing lost causes.
Jones talked about injuries but many of them realistically don’t improve that team.
He said 10 players but mentioned Edun who despite not really being able to play was on the bench. He’s our 3rd choice LB/a back up CM.
Mannion isn’t going to create or score goals.
Watson is an average at best L1 player.
Aneke, a miss yes but only capable of playing 30 minutes. Doesn’t improve us in the first 60, and Jones admitted we weren’t good enough in the first half.
Turned out Anderson had an injury. Might have been better than Allan Campbell or Docherty, but Jones chose to sign them this summer.
TC’s pace is a miss, but Jones chose not to sign another winger, that’s on him. Unless you count Dixon, who couldn’t make the bench ahead of Hylton, despite Ahadme being back.
Dan Potts probably doesn’t start ahead of Gillesphey, but neither are starters is L Jones is fit.
Kanu would no doubt be in the squad, but Leaburn and Godden on paper at least is our best front two. Either way a different striker doesn’t get the FBs an midfield playing better football, other than Kanu being the best at chasing lost causes.
Jones and Ramsay were no doubt missed.
We do have injuries, but that points up is that ever season we have large squad but the back ups are not as good as the best starting eleven, and they are not thst good. Your squad has to be made up of good quality players through out. You should look at the players not making the match day squad and know any other team would have them in their starting eleven. We have never has a squad any where near that good. Do I believe we are the 4th highest spenders on players in the league, no!
My point was most of the injured players don’t get in the starting 11, and those that are good subs wouldn’t have changed the poor first half.
On wages probably around there, the clubs share their budgets which is why Methven is able to estimate that’s how much we’re spending.
You don’t need 20-25 top quality players. Bowyer and Powell had plenty of average players making up their squads. Other clubs weren’t jealous that we had the likes of Wagstaff, Evina, Reeves, Marshall etc.
What this squad doesn’t have is enough players who could play at Championship level. We were supposed to get they in Docherty, Campbell and so on, but they look nowhere near it.
Jones has reached that point where he has run out of excuses and give us more time etc.
If he puts the blame on the players, he’s in danger of “losing the dressing room”.
If he blames himself he’s putting his job in greater jeopardy, so blame some of it on injuries.
American Billionaires tend not to suffer fools gladly. It's only a question of time before they lose patience with Charlie and his chums. The thing then is do they replace them all with a new senior management team or do they look to sell up. Time will tell I suppose.
Sell WHAT? This club is a liability.
I expect that Leaburn ,TC and Kanu will all be sold.
Recruiting “has beens “ from other clubs has not helped us - dumb decision to let our best 2 players go last summer.
The squad is weak & NJ cannot get the best out of this squad.
Ramsey, Kanu, Jones will make a difference when they come back, but we get this every season with injuries.
I am a fan of AMB, been watching his progress since he played for Hamlet a while ago.
I appreciate there is a lot of negativity towards him after his performance last season, particularly failure to control his area, I personally feel he was devoid of confidence playing behind a keystone cops defence.
Anyway, I notice that his scores yesterday went from 5 to 7 possibly even a 4. I'm interested in those that marked him under 6, why? And the question is based on when i mark 6 tends to be ok, 5 poor 4 shite, 3 absolute shite, 2 & 1was he on the pitch. Was he so bad as to warrant a 5 yesterday, and if so in what way as a number have also said that he did ok.
I think majority of Charlton fans are a bit self entitled,yes many moons ago we were a premier league team for a few years, before that we were not very good , yes had our moments buy generally not very good, we are were we are, yes we’ve been owned by various morons but again we are were we are, we’ve got to stop this rot of sacking managers just because we’re not winning every game,jones is a ok manager for where we are, we are a big ish name in this league because of our history,but at the moment we’re still looking for that magic formula for success, NJ has been in post for year almost, he’s had a window that has not been brilliant but at start of season I was hopeful, we are lacking in certain areas , NJ is not an idiot, hopefully and can see where we are lacking and can hopefully improve, yes footballs not great but sacking jones is not the answer, yet!!things are not gonna change overnight, even spending millions is no guarantee, all we can hope is jones , his coaches, and our owners are all in sync and address our shortcomings, in the meantime get behind him and the team and see how things pan out.
And yet everyone except Jones could see where we were lacking before the season started (no midfield creativity).
I think majority of Charlton fans are a bit self entitled,yes many moons ago we were a premier league team for a few years, before that we were not very good , yes had our moments buy generally not very good, we are were we are, yes we’ve been owned by various morons but again we are were we are, we’ve got to stop this rot of sacking managers just because we’re not winning every game,jones is a ok manager for where we are, we are a big ish name in this league because of our history,but at the moment we’re still looking for that magic formula for success, NJ has been in post for year almost, he’s had a window that has not been brilliant but at start of season I was hopeful, we are lacking in certain areas , NJ is not an idiot, hopefully and can see where we are lacking and can hopefully improve, yes footballs not great but sacking jones is not the answer, yet!!things are not gonna change overnight, even spending millions is no guarantee, all we can hope is jones , his coaches, and our owners are all in sync and address our shortcomings, in the meantime get behind him and the team and see how things pan out.
And yet everyone except Jones could see where we were lacking before the season started (no midfield creativity).
You're assuming Jones couldn't see the gaps, because publicly he made out he was happy.
In reality, I doubt he was pleased with our business, but he can't really say to the players we had signed or the players we already had and say they were 2nd or 3rd or worse choice for us.
I'm not happy with where we sre, Jones is clearly aware we are not where we should be, he keeps telling everyone we're not good enough, the players aren't performing etc. Imo he is sending a message to the board, if he hasn't already discussed it with them.
I’m more angry today than I was yesterday unusually after a defeat. I think the reason why is there is no way on earth this team should be putting in performances like that. We are so predictable!!! 3/4 passes across the back line then pump it forward and hope we get something. Teams don’t have to worry about our midfield because they may as well not be there. It’s boring and ineffective football but I think NJ is so stubborn he is unlikely to change. I appreciate that we have injuries but that team should never be losing yesterday. Such a shame after all the positive vibes and hope that our season will be done by Xmas again
I think majority of Charlton fans are a bit self entitled,yes many moons ago we were a premier league team for a few years, before that we were not very good , yes had our moments buy generally not very good, we are were we are, yes we’ve been owned by various morons but again we are were we are, we’ve got to stop this rot of sacking managers just because we’re not winning every game,jones is a ok manager for where we are, we are a big ish name in this league because of our history,but at the moment we’re still looking for that magic formula for success, NJ has been in post for year almost, he’s had a window that has not been brilliant but at start of season I was hopeful, we are lacking in certain areas , NJ is not an idiot, hopefully and can see where we are lacking and can hopefully improve, yes footballs not great but sacking jones is not the answer, yet!!things are not gonna change overnight, even spending millions is no guarantee, all we can hope is jones , his coaches, and our owners are all in sync and address our shortcomings, in the meantime get behind him and the team and see how things pan out.
And yet everyone except Jones could see where we were lacking before the season started (no midfield creativity).
You're assuming Jones couldn't see the gaps, because publicly he made out he was happy.
In reality, I doubt he was pleased with our business, but he can't really say to the players we had signed or the players we already had and say they were 2nd or 3rd or worse choice for us.
I'm not happy with where we sre, Jones is clearly aware we are not where we should be, he keeps telling everyone we're not good enough, the players aren't performing etc. Imo he is sending a message to the board, if he hasn't already discussed it with them.
Jones talked about injuries but many of them realistically don’t improve that team.
He said 10 players but mentioned Edun who despite not really being able to play was on the bench. He’s our 3rd choice LB/a back up CM.
Mannion isn’t going to create or score goals.
Watson is an average at best L1 player.
Aneke, a miss yes but only capable of playing 30 minutes. Doesn’t improve us in the first 60, and Jones admitted we weren’t good enough in the first half.
Turned out Anderson had an injury. Might have been better than Allan Campbell or Docherty, but Jones chose to sign them this summer.
TC’s pace is a miss, but Jones chose not to sign another winger, that’s on him. Unless you count Dixon, who couldn’t make the bench ahead of Hylton, despite Ahadme being back.
Dan Potts probably doesn’t start ahead of Gillesphey, but neither are starters is L Jones is fit.
Kanu would no doubt be in the squad, but Leaburn and Godden on paper at least is our best front two. Either way a different striker doesn’t get the FBs an midfield playing better football, other than Kanu being the best at chasing lost causes.
Jones talked about injuries but many of them realistically don’t improve that team.
He said 10 players but mentioned Edun who despite not really being able to play was on the bench. He’s our 3rd choice LB/a back up CM.
Mannion isn’t going to create or score goals.
Watson is an average at best L1 player.
Aneke, a miss yes but only capable of playing 30 minutes. Doesn’t improve us in the first 60, and Jones admitted we weren’t good enough in the first half.
Turned out Anderson had an injury. Might have been better than Allan Campbell or Docherty, but Jones chose to sign them this summer.
TC’s pace is a miss, but Jones chose not to sign another winger, that’s on him. Unless you count Dixon, who couldn’t make the bench ahead of Hylton, despite Ahadme being back.
Dan Potts probably doesn’t start ahead of Gillesphey, but neither are starters is L Jones is fit.
Kanu would no doubt be in the squad, but Leaburn and Godden on paper at least is our best front two. Either way a different striker doesn’t get the FBs an midfield playing better football, other than Kanu being the best at chasing lost causes.
I think majority of Charlton fans are a bit self entitled,yes many moons ago we were a premier league team for a few years, before that we were not very good , yes had our moments buy generally not very good, we are were we are, yes we’ve been owned by various morons but again we are were we are, we’ve got to stop this rot of sacking managers just because we’re not winning every game,jones is a ok manager for where we are, we are a big ish name in this league because of our history,but at the moment we’re still looking for that magic formula for success, NJ has been in post for year almost, he’s had a window that has not been brilliant but at start of season I was hopeful, we are lacking in certain areas , NJ is not an idiot, hopefully and can see where we are lacking and can hopefully improve, yes footballs not great but sacking jones is not the answer, yet!!things are not gonna change overnight, even spending millions is no guarantee, all we can hope is jones , his coaches, and our owners are all in sync and address our shortcomings, in the meantime get behind him and the team and see how things pan out.
And yet everyone except Jones could see where we were lacking before the season started (no midfield creativity).
You're assuming Jones couldn't see the gaps, because publicly he made out he was happy.
In reality, I doubt he was pleased with our business, but he can't really say to the players we had signed or the players we already had and say they were 2nd or 3rd or worse choice for us.
I'm not happy with where we sre, Jones is clearly aware we are not where we should be, he keeps telling everyone we're not good enough, the players aren't performing etc. Imo he is sending a message to the board, if he hasn't already discussed it with them.
It’s not as if we’ve signed a poor creative midfielder or winger though, he’s chosen to have TC has our only winger and only sign defensive/box to box midfielders.
He talked about Docherty becoming a goalscoring attacking midfielder, he even gave him the 10 shirt to reflect the role.
Do you see him changing his mind? The concern for me is he stubbornly sticks to this style and tries to improve on what we have rather than move to a more balanced approach. Even a direct team can have a playmaker who plays higher up the pitch, a natural goalscoring midfielder, and/or play with wingers. The closest we have is Berry who can’t start regularly or Jones doesn’t want to start regularly.
We were absolutely dire in the first half, incapable of putting two passes together (other than along the back line) and shaky at the back. Somehow we survived until half time but a dozy lack of marking at Exeter’s umpteenth corner early in the second half left their guy free for a near post header for what proved to be the winner.
We were better in that second half - we could hardly have been worse - but were unable to take either of two very decent chances, which would have earned us a point against a relatively modest Exeter side. Our loyal travelling support certainly deserved better.
What is now abundantly clear is that Nathan Jones has failed to construct a team with a discernible and effective style of play and anything approaching tactical nous. To compound matters, this summer’s recruitment has, with a couple of exceptions, been pretty lamentable. Although two of the manager’s favourites from Luton are on short-term deals until January, we are now saddled with 2,3 and 4 year contracts for a number of sub-standard players. Allied to Andy Scott’s generally poor recruitment in the two previous windows, we are now left with an under strength and unbalanced squad.
To make matters worse, Jones seems incapable of getting a tune out of them and his tactical, long-ball approach is neither effective nor remotely attractive to watch. We do have some good players but not enough of them and, even if we were able to acquire some quality in January (whether in permanent deals or on loan), I have little confidence that the manager would moderate his long-ball percentage game.
If the American owners have been labouring under a misapprehension about the level of investment required to make a credible attempt at achieving a top 6 finish, they will not be happy and the management team - on both the business and football fronts - may have some difficult questions to answer.
Don't worry, Charlie Methven told us at the Bromley meeting, that what the locals and fans wanted most, was a good fans zone and that the crowds would increase regardless of whether we were playing L1 dross football or not.
Jones talked about injuries but many of them realistically don’t improve that team.
He said 10 players but mentioned Edun who despite not really being able to play was on the bench. He’s our 3rd choice LB/a back up CM.
Mannion isn’t going to create or score goals.
Watson is an average at best L1 player.
Aneke, a miss yes but only capable of playing 30 minutes. Doesn’t improve us in the first 60, and Jones admitted we weren’t good enough in the first half.
Turned out Anderson had an injury. Might have been better than Allan Campbell or Docherty, but Jones chose to sign them this summer.
TC’s pace is a miss, but Jones chose not to sign another winger, that’s on him. Unless you count Dixon, who couldn’t make the bench ahead of Hylton, despite Ahadme being back.
Dan Potts probably doesn’t start ahead of Gillesphey, but neither are starters is L Jones is fit.
Kanu would no doubt be in the squad, but Leaburn and Godden on paper at least is our best front two. Either way a different striker doesn’t get the FBs an midfield playing better football, other than Kanu being the best at chasing lost causes.
Jones talked about injuries but many of them realistically don’t improve that team.
He said 10 players but mentioned Edun who despite not really being able to play was on the bench. He’s our 3rd choice LB/a back up CM.
Mannion isn’t going to create or score goals.
Watson is an average at best L1 player.
Aneke, a miss yes but only capable of playing 30 minutes. Doesn’t improve us in the first 60, and Jones admitted we weren’t good enough in the first half.
Turned out Anderson had an injury. Might have been better than Allan Campbell or Docherty, but Jones chose to sign them this summer.
TC’s pace is a miss, but Jones chose not to sign another winger, that’s on him. Unless you count Dixon, who couldn’t make the bench ahead of Hylton, despite Ahadme being back.
Dan Potts probably doesn’t start ahead of Gillesphey, but neither are starters is L Jones is fit.
Kanu would no doubt be in the squad, but Leaburn and Godden on paper at least is our best front two. Either way a different striker doesn’t get the FBs an midfield playing better football, other than Kanu being the best at chasing lost causes.
Jones and Ramsay were no doubt missed.
We do have injuries, but that points up is that ever season we have large squad but the back ups are not as good as the best starting eleven, and they are not thst good. Your squad has to be made up of good quality players through out. You should look at the players not making the match day squad and know any other team would have them in their starting eleven. We have never has a squad any where near that good. Do I believe we are the 4th highest spenders on players in the league, no!
My point was most of the injured players don’t get in the starting 11, and those that are good subs wouldn’t have changed the poor first half.
On wages probably around there, the clubs share their budgets which is why Methven is able to estimate that’s how much we’re spending.
You don’t need 20-25 top quality players. Bowyer and Powell had plenty of average players making up their squads. Other clubs weren’t jealous that we had the likes of Wagstaff, Evina, Reeves, Marshall etc.
What this squad doesn’t have is enough players who could play at Championship level. We were supposed to get they in Docherty, Campbell and so on, but they look nowhere near it.
Jones has reached that point where he has run out of excuses and give us more time etc.
If he puts the blame on the players, he’s in danger of “losing the dressing room”.
If he blames himself he’s putting his job in greater jeopardy, so blame some of it on injuries.
Nathan does have some mitigation with injuries, with 9 missing players from the 18 yesterday BUT even when most of those players were available we've looked bereft of skill and team cohesion other than Birmingham and Bolton where we negated their attacking skills and took our limited chances.
I am a fan of AMB, been watching his progress since he played for Hamlet a while ago.
I appreciate there is a lot of negativity towards him after his performance last season, particularly failure to control his area, I personally feel he was devoid of confidence playing behind a keystone cops defence.
Anyway, I notice that his scores yesterday went from 5 to 7 possibly even a 4. I'm interested in those that marked him under 6, why? And the question is based on when i mark 6 tends to be ok, 5 poor 4 shite, 3 absolute shite, 2 & 1was he on the pitch. Was he so bad as to warrant a 5 yesterday, and if so in what way as a number have also said that he did ok.
I marked him 6 but what let's him down imo is that he elects to punch everything when there was at least 2 crosses in the first half which he could've caught, he's also very slow at his distribution, even when we had a couple of big strikers on near the end.
Comments
Agree we weren't successful with them here but anyone paying attention know that May scored goals, George was the heart beat of midfield and played 100 minutes week in, week out and Corey had the X factor with goals and assists even if in some games he was erratic.
Replacing CBT with a more consistent wide player would've made sense but we haven't, in fact we struggle to use the wide attacking areas.
Nathan Jones shaped this squad and the only mitigation is about 9 players who would've been in the 18 man squad were missing yesterday.
A damaged fanbase battered by mediocrity over several seasons want NJ to be successful but it looks clunky not helped by chances being missed and no style or poise on display.
Get fit soon to Ramsey, Jones, Tyreece Campbell, Kanu etc though until I learn the funny handshake I won't be told !
Exactly , I don't think we've ever really had continuity of style so we end up with these mismashed squads of players brought by different managers. Must make the academy's life difficult if they're trying to adopt a club style and the manager is constantly changing.
No width
No plan B
No entertainment
No creativity
No hope
After the first few matches, I commented that we are awful to watch. The response from most was along the lines of "I don't care as long as we keep winning and get out of this shit league".
3 months down the line and the performances haven't improved and we can't buy a win. Jones needs to swallow his pride and admit he's completely fucked this up and either walk away, or change his approach ASAP. He's relied too much on players that did it for him at Luton, but 5(?) years ago, they were hungry young players. Now they find themselves back in league 1 with very little motivation. His tranfer policy hasn't worked, and his formation/style of play hasn't worked. The problem is I really can't see him changing anything, as he seems very stubborn and not the type to admit he's got it all wrong.
I'll be surprised if he's still here in the summer, and I won't be upset at his departure.
There are no words ....
Not sure if got joke or making general point......(That I agree with)
Our best managers in recent years found a balance. Powell was slightly more direct and defensive, Bowyer’s team had players to play out from the back more. Neither were out and out route one or tippy tappy sides, both had a balance and we’d adapt game by time.
Jones has built a squad of hard workers (on paper, whether some are offering that is another question) and we try to grind our way through every game, playing mostly in a very direct way but without being able to really make it work.
Even route one teams usually have a few dangerous wide players who can put a good cross in. Without TC we can’t even try playing that way.
Jones seemed to tick so many boxes except a big one in style of play. Any style could work with the players, but even the signings we’ve brought in don’t seem to fit it as much as they need to.
But the last window was definitely down to Jones, albeit he had little to no funds to spend, without selling May.
I recall Jones bragging after Docherty scored v Brum that "people" at the club said he couldn't be converted into a creative goal scoring midfielder.
"People" at the club were right. (I assume it was Scott and possibly Rodwell).
He needs to bin off the box and not bring it back until Birmingham away or any other games of that ilk. I certainly don’t want to see it at Valley again this season.
On a slightly more positive note, what a lovely place Exeter is…..
As lots of already said, we can’t just keep chopping and changing managers…..
If he puts the blame on the players, he’s in danger of “losing the dressing room”.
If he blames himself he’s putting his job in greater jeopardy, so blame some of it on injuries.
I expect that Leaburn ,TC and Kanu will all be sold.
Recruiting “has beens “ from other clubs has not helped us - dumb decision to let our best 2 players go last summer.
The squad is weak & NJ cannot get the best out of this squad.
Ramsey, Kanu, Jones will make a difference when they come back, but we get this every season with injuries.
League 1 mid table mediocrity is all we are.
I appreciate there is a lot of negativity towards him after his performance last season, particularly failure to control his area, I personally feel he was devoid of confidence playing behind a keystone cops defence.
Anyway, I notice that his scores yesterday went from 5 to 7 possibly even a 4. I'm interested in those that marked him under 6, why? And the question is based on when i mark 6 tends to be ok, 5 poor 4 shite, 3 absolute shite, 2 & 1was he on the pitch. Was he so bad as to warrant a 5 yesterday, and if so in what way as a number have also said that he did ok.
In reality, I doubt he was pleased with our business, but he can't really say to the players we had signed or the players we already had and say they were 2nd or 3rd or worse choice for us.
I'm not happy with where we sre, Jones is clearly aware we are not where we should be, he keeps telling everyone we're not good enough, the players aren't performing etc. Imo he is sending a message to the board, if he hasn't already discussed it with them.
He talked about Docherty becoming a goalscoring attacking midfielder, he even gave him the 10 shirt to reflect the role.
Do you see him changing his mind? The concern for me is he stubbornly sticks to this style and tries to improve on what we have rather than move to a more balanced approach. Even a direct team can have a playmaker who plays higher up the pitch, a natural goalscoring midfielder, and/or play with wingers. The closest we have is Berry who can’t start regularly or Jones doesn’t want to start regularly.
Nathan does have some mitigation with injuries, with 9 missing players from the 18 yesterday BUT even when most of those players were available we've looked bereft of skill and team cohesion other than Birmingham and Bolton where we negated their attacking skills and took our limited chances.