MATCH THREAD [+POST p29]: Cambridge Utd V Charlton Athletic: Lge Cup Rd2 : Tue 26th Aug 2025 KO19:30

Cambridge deserved to win and we deserved to lose . Simple as that . 

fenaddick said:

SELR_addicks said:

Does that red affect the league at all? 

Yes, can't play against QPR

Thank fuck

Couldn’t have gone much worse could it? Don’t think the kids were helped by some pretty poor performances by the senior pros amongst them. Ref was shit. One to immediately consign to the bin.

Nathan Jones, put the love fest into reverse for the first time in months….. !  Now does he defend that pile of crap, or openly admit he fucked up and no one came out of that with any credit. Including him….

ct_addick said:

NJ needs to tell fans he is going to play youngsters so people don’t waste their money travelling 

Based on that then our previous managers over the last five years should have let us know they were putting out a shit team week in week out and then we wouldn't have wasted our money. 

ForeverAddickted said:

ct_addick said:

NJ needs to tell fans he is going to play youngsters so people don’t waste their money travelling 

Why... Do the kids not represent Charlton Athletic?

Is Charlton Athletic only worth supporting if the First Team are out there?

Could've thrown in a line about a short turnaround in the league and needing some rotation. 

Maybe then the people travelling will know they're cheering on a few prospects rather than going expecting a similar first-team squad like against Stevenage. 

The bench was the most disappointing part for me. I understand not starting players but at 2-1 down at half-time was a chance for a few players to get a couple goals/assists in the last 30 mins or so. 

AberystwythAddick said:

ForeverAddickted said:

ct_addick said:

NJ needs to tell fans he is going to play youngsters so people don’t waste their money travelling 

Why... Do the kids not represent Charlton Athletic?

Is Charlton Athletic only worth supporting if the First Team are out there?

For price it costs yes, not fair to have fans pay all that for what was for all intents and purposes one of those Charlton XI whilst the main team were in Slovenia 

Its the risk you pay for buying a ticket I'm afraid - There are no guarantees in Football, not the result, not the team selection... and we as fans should be fully aware of that when buying.

In terms of the starting eleven, the only difference between tonight and the Stevenage game was Maynard-Brewer in for Mannion; Hobden in for Mitchell, Josh Laq in for Rylah and Kelman in for Leaburn... Yes the bench was the surprise, but I wonder what the reaction would be right now, if a First Teamer came on and got injured?

Come on, the writing was on the wall as to who would be starting tonight. 

An embarrassing result that felt a bit unnecessary and a waste of time making the effort to travel. Jones clearly doesn’t value the competition but could have least have had some experience off the bench for when it inevitably went pear shaped.

Kelman probably the best of a bad bunch of the ‘seniors’ but JRC and Olaofe were particularly poor.

oh well on to QPR

Meanwhile Millwall are beating Coventry 2 nil at the moment. 

Was hoping for better of course, but they’re mostly youngsters gaining experience. Can’t expect it to click every time. On balance I suspect NJ wants the players to have these experiences, vs. the chance of realistically making it a round or two further. Will give the coaches some idea of what they need to do with the squad players to develop and help them slot in when needed. Can’t wait for Saturday, need that winning feeling back!

Chunes said:

About what you'd expect with that amount of youth players in the side. NJ clearly wanted out, although he will likely say otherwise. 

Most disappointed with the senior players who were, almost to a man, passive and lifeless. 

I couldn't give a crap about drawing a prem team, so I'm not too bothered about this competition, but I'd be angry if I travelled to watch that. 

Chunes, if I were to have made that journey, I don't think I would expect to see too many first team players in the line up, please tell me who would you have put in that team ?

That was pathetic. Who turned the clock back 9 months?

Almost all the youngsters looked way out of their depth. Only Ibby Fullah really took the opportunity to strengthen his claim to a meaningful place in the first team squad.

The expensive, experienced and high quality players we had in midfield for 60 minutes totally failed to stamp any kind of control and authority on the game.

Neither Kelman or Oloafe made a decent claim to displace Leaburn or Campbell in out starting attack.

Yes, it was "only" the cup and it gave all those involved some useful experience but it was hugely disappointing to be outplayed and outfought in the way we were. Got to bounce back from that at the weekend but we will have to play with a lot more strength, guile and ambition if that's going to happen.

I don't think it's unreasonable for people to be disappointed that they've wasted an evening and shelled out decent money for what could have been an u23 line up.

If you're just turning the channel over and making yourself a cup of tea at the FT whistle, you're far less likely to be arsed. 

Most disappointing thing for me was how poor the senior players looked. No one staked a claim to be included from the off on Saturday.

Sounds disappointing. 

I guess just the under 21s will be good for squad players to get a run out.

Just the league and FA cup 3rd round to focus on