POST MATCH THREAD : Charlton Athletic V Leyton Orient : Saturday 17th August 2024 : KO 12:30

In terms of Alfie May, yes we will miss his goals but he could be frustrating as well. He works hard and knows where the goal is and can score a special goal out of nothing but he seems a player who tries too hard to get in a game/score a goal when it isn't going for him. As long as Birmingham are dominant, I think he is going to do well there. I am disapointed we sold him but I can sort of see why Jones didn't fancy him. Looking at our first three games, not sure he would be so effective in our team. Of course we need to have better to justify losing him and the jury is still out on that.

Kap10 said:

Garrymanilow said:

Hal1x said:

Mrkinski said:

Loved Small geeing up us oldies in the Lower West towards the end of the 2nd half. Seems to be enjoying it here.

shame that he supposedly cant be arsed and is looking to move, not what I saw today, thought he looked a threat.

Never underestimate people's ability to see a player have an off day and claim they're not interested in playing anymore. I remember Rhoys Wiggins going off injured against Palace and more than one poster claiming that he'd pretended to be injured and cried off because Zaha was giving him such a hard time down the left. He'd broken his foot.

But he's got two feet.

Wiggins right foot was only for standing on. Who can forget when he played right back when Solly was injured. Lol

Themightyath2 said:

Mannion does look solid, I just thought at times he could have released the ball earlier.

Agree with this. I think his distribution is good, would like him to release the ball to the wingbacks earlier.

Garrymanilow said:

Didn't realise how involved Coventry was in the goal until rewatching it. Great to see him reading the header off Chuks and getting to it first. I imagine he would have swung his left at it if Berry hadn't arrived when he did

Agreed. We had both Coventry and Berry running beyond the strikers in that move, so for all our defensive solidity they clearly have licence to get forward like that when circumstances allow. 

Thought the defence was very solid yesterday. Can anyone tell me when we last had back to back clean sheets?

golfaddick said:

Alwaysneil said:

golfaddick said:

RedRobin said:

A clean sheet win, what else can you ask for? 

To have scored 2 more then we'd be top.

It would just be our luck to finish 3rd, same number of points as 2nd but miss out on GD. Or worse, by goals scored.

So we win the first two games, keeping a clean sheet in both with some organised defence, and you focus on rhe negative. God it must be tiring. 

Its great that some people think I'm being negative but I'm really not. I am simply pointing out that although keeping a clean sheet is wonderful scoring goals is just as important & to the naked eye it may appear that whilst fixing one end (the defence) Nathan Jones has undone the other (the attack). 

Soon we will be tested (next week against Bolton ?) and when we go a goal down I'm hoping that we can respond. We didnt last Tuesday, but as that was a cup match and we are concentrating on the league it was glossed over a bit. 

You may all love a clean sheet win but I much prefer knowing that if we do concede we have the firepower to not only scored one back but score 2 and win. 

It's early days yet Golfie. I agree that for me the forwards have not clicked but Godden made his first appearance yesterday and Berry played a full 90 mins and scored the winner. For me the centre backs are the big plus, with the midfield three not far behind. At some point Miles Leaburn will return and as it proved yesterday, we don't just have Alfie May keeping our scoring rate going, we now have options. 

Two things stand out from yesterdays game
1)We are piss poor with set pieces,why this obsession with in swinging corners,we have some big guys,send a few out swingers over towards the penalty spot and let someone attack it,much more difficult to defend.
2) Watched on tv ,and do not recall Docherty being mentioned once (I could be wrong),this is not good enough,Berry and Coventry played very well but you do need all 3 midfielders on the ball and not one just playing a defensive roll.
All in all,very satisfying start to the season,strikers need to step up as the season goes on,but can see many more goals coming from other areas ,which since mr Jackson departed we havnt had.

ShootersHillGuru said:

One of the most encouraging things I’ve read on this thread is that NJ has hinted that the inward transfer business isn’t complete and might not be dependent on outgoings. That if I’m reading it correctly could be the difference between success and failure because we’re obviously close but not quite there with the squad as is. Personally I’m not convinced we need to bring in a GK. Mannion looks very competent especially with what looks like a good defence in front of him. The key piece of the jigsaw for me is a playmaker or at least someone who links up play between defence and attack and always on the front foot. At present we’re knocking it long a bit too much and when we run up against some quality defences, which we will, it’s not going to work. Same goes for trying to out fitness teams. That’s not a given either. We need more guile. Not sure Jones sees it that way though. 

The danger in bringing in an experienced keeper is they will probably need to start and that isn't always a positive. I said, when the Begovic deal fell through that it wasn't a bad thing in my mind. We have Mannion and AMB and I think there are other areas which are more of a priority.

A playmaker would be great but they don't grow on trees and they need other attributes, not just being a playmaker. I think without one, you need more from your attack. I thought the midfield was fine and won most of its battles. Ahadme didn't win enough headers/challenges for me and him and Campbell had to play better together. That is probably our biggest weakness at this moment. I don't know how some people couldn't see the how the whole dynamic changed when Aneke came on and the system worked much better. Yes Orient were tired, but the bloke uses his strength and fortunately for Orient, the ref thought wrestling was within the football laws.

I think there are different ways to win games and trust Jones knows what he is doing. 

killerandflash said:

Covered_End_Lad said:

Special mention to the ref, honestly one of the worst I’ve seen just consistently got everything wrong for both teams

When most managers get booked, that's usually a tell-tale sign. NJ went ape at one of his decisions, while Wellens was booked for sarcastically clapping the ref 

Was sat next to the away dugout and Wellens didn’t shut up the whole game. Was f’ing and blinding all the way and repeatedly approaching and attempting to intimidate the 4th official (who was the model of diplomacy). His minions were doing the same and at a certain point it was obvious the 4th had had enough.

Such language! I thought the West Stand was more salubrious!

blackpool72 said:

Lots of people giving the Ref a 5 on the players marks thread. 
He really wasn't worth more than a 3.

Bizarrely of the first seven posters in player marks, three people gave ref 6 and two went for 7! 

Braziliance said:

Very late post, I've had an absolute nightmare today with my camera. 

On to the game! A really enjoyable day out. Lovely weather, nice atmosphere, and 3 points to go with it. 

I felt although we were fluffing chances, and our crossing was poor, we look so tough to beat, and honestly, after the crap served up these last few years, I'll take it. Not many teams will beat us I imagine. 

Special mentions to Ramsay (motm) and Lloyd Jones, two very impressive performances from the pair. Also thought Coventry, Docherty, A.Mitchell, and of course, the match winner Berry, all had quietly good games, and looked fairly comfortable. 

I like the look of newboy Gassan, reckon with a proper striker partner, he will be a problem, and I feel Mannion may be really decent business. He has the benefit of a good defence infront of him, but he looks very assured. 

Roll on Bolton, which I feel is a real acid test for this team. 

Happy Sunday addicks! 

This is going to sound like I'm digging you out but I'm genuinely not! You were feeling much more negative after Birmingham but I don't think we played too differently. The difference was personnel not playstyle for me. What's prompted the change in mindset?

Braziliance said:

Very late post, I've had an absolute nightmare today with my camera. 

On to the game! A really enjoyable day out. Lovely weather, nice atmosphere, and 3 points to go with it. 

I felt although we were fluffing chances, and our crossing was poor, we look so tough to beat, and honestly, after the crap served up these last few years, I'll take it. Not many teams will beat us I imagine. 

Special mentions to Ramsay (motm) and Lloyd Jones, two very impressive performances from the pair. Also thought Coventry, Docherty, A.Mitchell, and of course, the match winner Berry, all had quietly good games, and looked fairly comfortable. 

I like the look of newboy Gassan, reckon with a proper striker partner, he will be a problem, and I feel Mannion may be really decent business. He has the benefit of a good defence infront of him, but he looks very assured. 

Roll on Bolton, which I feel is a real acid test for this team. 

Happy Sunday addicks! 

Are you ok? This is most unlike you, to be so positive.;)

blackpool72 said:

Lots of people giving the Ref a 5 on the players marks thread. 
He really wasn't worth more than a 3.

3 is too high to be honest.