At the game but sitting in the East Stand with CAFC fans to our right.
After only five minutes of the first half you could see it was men against boys. Fast direct accurate passing, players finding space, winning the ball back as soon as it was lost, forcing mistakes by the opposition, a front two who obviously work well together (Hayes was my MoM - only a world class save from Oakes preventing him flicking the ball into the back of the net).
It was all one way traffic in the first half and they couldn't have complained if we had scored 4 or 5. Elliot made his only real save of the match about two mins before half time.
They were more positive in the 2nd half. They took Izzet off who had been sitting in front of the back four in a 4-1-4-1 formation and went 4-4-2. They looked a bit more dangerous, but Elliot wasn't troubled as the back four looked solid with constant support from the midfield.
Their keeper managed to keep the score respectable with further saves from Hayes, BWP twice, Wagstaff and Euell. Colchester were poor, but I think our quality made them look poor - they reminded me of us last season, all huff and puff and no end product.
Great win, excellent team performance and a lot of noise from the 1800 or so who made the trip. Roll on Saturday.
Now that's what I call football! uite simply, it was the most enjoyable away game for many a year. An incisive and assured perormance and it almost doesn't seem possible. I think I'll wake up and find it was all a dream! Solly is my hero, Morrison is impressive and I'm even warming to BWP. The fans were brilliant and not a tut tut in ear sight. Jolly good show chaps.
We were very good and so comfortable it was almost a bit unrecognizable from a Charlton team. Everyone put in a shift and worked hard when we didn't have the ball but I really felt we still had more gears to use. Great team performance and roll on Saturday!
Was at the game tonight. Got to shake hands with Matty Holland before hand
Feels like there is something strange about this Charlton side. 2 0 up away from home and its nailbiting out of habit but, apart from the Odejayi chance, Colchester never looked like getting near us. It was like watching a game of cat and mouse. Charlton teasing Colchester to do something so they could squat them down again.
Our mob are oozing class befitting a Chris Powell suit and we should get used to it. 3 games 7 scored 1 conceded (set play none from open) against teams that gave us problems last season. We finally have a squad of players who want it as much as we do
Absolutely loving this Charlton team. Great win away from home again, really good first half. Some quality moves out there, the interchange between Waggy and Bradley for the first goal was a joy to watch. Oh how I wished Hayes back heeled flick to the far post had gone in. There is a real confidence about our side. Colchester played a lot better in the second half but we never looked troubled and seemed quite happy to just soak up their play and hit them on the break. Solly played really well, Taylor wins absolutely everything, Stephens wasn't as effective as the last couple of matches but still contributed, Hayes is a brilliant player, very very clever. Waggy as usual makes me exhausted just watching him, thought that was his best game this season. Bradley ran his socks off tonight, won't be hearing any lazy comments about that performance, unlucky not to get his hatrick. One negative for me was Wiggins, seems half a yard off the pace, wonder if he's lacking a bit of confidence or hasn't settled as well as the others. He didn't have a nightmare but was definitely the weak link.
As for the fans. Brilliant tonight. Did we sell out our end? Looked as if we did from where I was sitting. That's two away games where we've outsung the home fans. Can't wait for Saturday.
I'm still in shock , this team is so much better than last seasons , i was there tonight and predicted 2-0 , based on the theory that we were 2 goals better than when we played Notts County away last season and lost 1-0.
I've been to 5 pre season games , and 3 league games so far , and each game we've played have got better and better.
The game was won after 30 mins , ( Or so it seemed) as a Charlton fan you always nervous thinking your going to throw a good lead away , but as has been stated on another thread we have so much desire to want to win the ball back.
Some of our inter passing was beautiful to watch , as long as we continue to keep it simple , and not over complicate it will be alright , we look like a top 6 side at the moment , but we can't be complacent , we need to win the battle for possession first.
I thought the fans were magnificent tonight , really got behind the team , i really really hope the fans get behind the team as much as this at the Valley and get that place a rocking.
Great fun evening out , really enjoyed it , particularly as i'd been to the last 2 games at Colchester and seen us getting hammered 3-0 , (Still have images of Llera having a mare in that game) and then drawing 3-3 last season.
I still think we need a good look at squad depth , and maybe signing another couple of players , but hey what do i know , i'm only a supporter!
Thank you Chris Powell , and thank you Charlton for a great evening out!
Great sight to see an away stand packed with charlton, and a good solid away win. Just nice to see some good football and a team rather than a bunch of individuals. To be fair we should have been way out of sight with bradley close to his hat trick several times, waggy coming close, jackson and Euells chance at the end. Holland and Stephens were effective in the middle, Morrison after a shaky first 10/15 minute put in a good performance and Taylor was solid and helped solly out when required. After getting 2 up with two well worked goals I felt we sat off a little bit too much and always seemed vulnerable by the deep back post crosses. A better team than colchester would have probably nicked a goal and got back in the game, but there were signs later in the game that our defence were dealing with these types of balls in the box. 2nd half we came out and really should have put the game to bed. Never really did colchester look like scoring although did have large parts of the play. We continued to look dangerous on the break, think the subs came bout 5 min after when I would have made changes, but they did bring a fresh urgency on the ball. Was gutted Euell didnt bury that chance I really think you would have seen a large group of men with tears in their eyes if that had ended in the back of the net.
All in all a good away win and a great night, glad made the effort as until yesterday wasnt going to, now planning which away games i'm deff doing.
I still think we should hold our judgemental horses back until the end of September, but tonights performance makes it difficult to wait that long!
Briefly:
We were the better team, and deserved the win.
In the first half we played superbly, not only were our players better individually, although the new Colchester loanee was reasonable for them, but we were reall good as a team...a team still waiting to gel apparantly! The players were so so positive, always looking for a teammate, always looking to turn towards them, and play together with a really positive mindset.
Very very good.
Colchester came in to the game a bit in the second half but we created much the more dangerous chances, and might have had a few more goals. Totally authorative, and the coaching staff should take a fair bit of credit for all this....one particular feature I liked, and was very well shown in the second half, was the ides that you should defend in their half if you can...lots of chasing back, or challenges high up the pitch, and especially excellent and evident with Waggy and Jacko doing this, as 'defending attackers'.
All the players were at the very least good. In my view BWP was our best player, not simply because of his goals (which were team created anyway, not individual brilliance) but BWP was a nightmare for them all the time, if he appears lazy to some, then those critics should have seen him tonight...excellent.
I also thought Waggy and Solly were terrific, I worried a little bit with Morrison and Robbie, but a clean sheet tells it's own tale. It is amazing how quickly I am taking the wonderful Stephens, Hollands and Hayes for granted...they were class throughout.
We made a decent effort support wise in an awful soulless stadium with no accoustics, don't know how many we had, but the whold team clapped us during the mutual love in at the end.
Three juicy points, three wins on the bounce, lets not get complacent against a just relegated Scunthorpe.
Wasn't there Had to work, But when i got home about 8.50pm, all u could hear on BBC LONDON, was Chris'sy Powell's Red & White army for about 15 mins, also sounded like we bossed the game, Cant wait for saturday
was there what a great night and met mr slater in the car park afterwards told us had a big bet on us at 14 to 1 to up. Also said would not of signed euell but you have to trust your manager also said what he was impressed with was the teams fitness levels, which i agree with as in past teams we always struggled late in games but not tonight.
I was gutted that Jason Euell didn't score, Oakes made a superb save plus three others. No surprise he was CUFC man of the match,they could hardly have given it to CAFC! If Jason had scored I am sure I would have wept. Great team performance, worthy winners. To have seen a packed stand of CAFC fans must have lifted the players when they came out. And I renewed my STs today, have moved to H block North Upper!
We were excellent, it was a ruthless performance. We punished a Colchester mistake early on with amazing efficiency, brilliant work from BWP and Waggy. But from that moment on it was only a question of time that we'd get the second which we did quickly and then we just looked comfortable. I sat and thought that if I was a Colchester fan at one point I'd be spouting the same trash I was spouting about Charlton last year. They'll walk away saying "WE had loads of possession but just didn't create anything" "We deserved more as we had so much of the ball" etc etc The fact is that they had the amount of the ball that we let them, in the second half we didn't see much of it but Elliott didn't have to make a save, there were some crucial catches but no shots to deal with. We still looked the most likely to score which was so refreshing. After going 2-0 up I was never scared we'd capitulate.
Make no mistake about it, this is a top 4 team and I'd be very surprised if we don't finish in the top 2.
This was my first Charlton match this season.This being my 3rd Colchester away match since we've been in League One,I can instantly say that this year's team has more skill,pace and strenght then the other previous couple of years teams.In fact I haven't seen a Charlton side dominate midfield and pass the ball about intelligently since the midfield of Smertin, and Murphy.Individually we all know BRP is a different class but I was particularly impressed by Hayes.Everyone played well but Solly and Stephens were exceptional.Solly has to attack the cross and not wait for his opponent to connect.
Our counterattacking and running off the ball was also very good.I dont want to get carried away .Its a long season but we might finally be getting some joy back.COYR!
Was at the game last night and just like Saturday was impressed with the effort and skill on show. Unlike saturday we should have scored another 3 goals, but fair play to their keeper who was given MOM for them.
Bar a shocking miss by Oyedaji in the first half, we were comfortable at the back. Roll on Saturday.
Right who is willing to sponsor me to stay in Vegas to help sustain our winning run? Back for this sat so if there are no takers it's you lot to blame not me...
was at the game,good turn out,1800 singing chrissy powells red and white army,team looks good bwp unlucky not to get hat trick,lets hope we can keep it up saturday
Was At the game last night, took the Goat Herder & Medders to his First game in over a year. No point in going over the same stuff that everyone else has mentioned. I spent the whole game actually watching the match because it was worth watching, felt relaxed, no pent up aggression that you feel you need to vent at the team like in previous seasons. They are a joy to watch, Hollands MOM for me, we are far from the finished article, but I am gonna make sure I watch this side at as many away games as possible, because we will always have a chance of winning. Keep it up lads. Excellent away support BTW
at the game, cracking performance, make no mistake we are a very good team at this level, solid back 4 (the CB's are beasts), midfield have an awful lot of quality in them and if we keep the front 2 fit for the majority of the season then they will bang goals in...Hayes work rate is unbelievable, BWP is just class.
what with those we haven't seen yet, Green, Alonso etc...plus Euell and Hughes on the bench, this has the potential to be a quality season.
trying not to get to carried away at the moment, but it's difficult not to!
Cant add too much to what has already been said. The biggest change and pleasure for me was to see the old ponderous slow build up from the back swapped for clever, quick, incisive passing and movement.
And as for Hayes, he looks a hell of a player for this division.
Very enjoyable evening made even better by getting a whole drink from Plaayer.
Take a look at some of the very gracious and complimentary quotes on the Colchester forum (I logged in to access). They are seriously impressed:
"The bottom line is that against a team that at times looked as if they belonged in the Premier League, you will get punished for mistakes."
"Charlton have made some decent buys and I'd be very surprised if they don'y make it back to the Championship at the end of the year."
"We lost to a damn good side today. Chris Powell has really got them going after a poor season last year."
"One of those nights when you have to hold up your hands and say we were beaten by a better side. Charlton played some awesome football - fast, flowing, and Wright Phillips is the best striker in the league IMO."
"Can't remember the last time I saw a Div One team move so well as Charlton did in their purple patch. Certainly not in last few years. And they worked like mad and looked like a good Championship side."
"They are a different team to what we played last season and as others have pointed ....... you wont see a better midfield this season. We know we aint heading for league 1 champions but charlton are. The difference last ngt was a top league 1 team to one flirting with 6th."
Right who is willing to sponsor me to stay in Vegas to help sustain our winning run? Back for this sat so if there are no takers it's you lot to blame not me...
Sorry, but according to my kids, it will be my fault if we lose on Saturday (my first game of the season)!! Nice!
Take a look at some of the very gracious and complimentary quotes on the Colchester forum (I logged in to access). They are seriously impressed:
"The bottom line is that against a team that at times looked as if they belonged in the Premier League, you will get punished for mistakes."
"Charlton have made some decent buys and I'd be very surprised if they don'y make it back to the Championship at the end of the year."
"We lost to a damn good side today. Chris Powell has really got them going after a poor season last year."
"One of those nights when you have to hold up your hands and say we were beaten by a better side. Charlton played some awesome football - fast, flowing, and Wright Phillips is the best striker in the league IMO."
"Can't remember the last time I saw a Div One team move so well as Charlton did in their purple patch. Certainly not in last few years. And they worked like mad and looked like a good Championship side."
"They are a different team to what we played last season and as others have pointed ....... you wont see a better midfield this season. We know we aint heading for league 1 champions but charlton are. The difference last ngt was a top league 1 team to one flirting with 6th."
Now this means more than all the other comments on this thread!!
Comments
At the game but sitting in the East Stand with CAFC fans to our right.
After only five minutes of the first half you could see it was men against boys. Fast direct accurate passing, players finding space, winning the ball back as soon as it was lost, forcing mistakes by the opposition, a front two who obviously work well together (Hayes was my MoM - only a world class save from Oakes preventing him flicking the ball into the back of the net).
It was all one way traffic in the first half and they couldn't have complained if we had scored 4 or 5. Elliot made his only real save of the match about two mins before half time.
They were more positive in the 2nd half. They took Izzet off who had been sitting in front of the back four in a 4-1-4-1 formation and went 4-4-2. They looked a bit more dangerous, but Elliot wasn't troubled as the back four looked solid with constant support from the midfield.
Their keeper managed to keep the score respectable with further saves from Hayes, BWP twice, Wagstaff and Euell. Colchester were poor, but I think our quality made them look poor - they reminded me of us last season, all huff and puff and no end product.
Great win, excellent team performance and a lot of noise from the 1800 or so who made the trip. Roll on Saturday.
Now that's what I call football! uite simply, it was the most enjoyable away game for many a year. An incisive and assured perormance and it almost doesn't seem possible. I think I'll wake up and find it was all a dream! Solly is my hero, Morrison is impressive and I'm even warming to BWP. The fans were brilliant and not a tut tut in ear sight. Jolly good show chaps.
We were very good and so comfortable it was almost a bit unrecognizable from a Charlton team. Everyone put in a shift and worked hard when we didn't have the ball but I really felt we still had more gears to use. Great team performance and roll on Saturday!
Was at the game tonight. Got to shake hands with Matty Holland before hand
Feels like there is something strange about this Charlton side. 2 0 up away from home and its nailbiting out of habit but, apart from the Odejayi chance, Colchester never looked like getting near us. It was like watching a game of cat and mouse. Charlton teasing Colchester to do something so they could squat them down again.
Our mob are oozing class befitting a Chris Powell suit and we should get used to it. 3 games 7 scored 1 conceded (set play none from open) against teams that gave us problems last season. We finally have a squad of players who want it as much as we do
Absolutely loving this Charlton team. Great win away from home again, really good first half. Some quality moves out there, the interchange between Waggy and Bradley for the first goal was a joy to watch. Oh how I wished Hayes back heeled flick to the far post had gone in. There is a real confidence about our side. Colchester played a lot better in the second half but we never looked troubled and seemed quite happy to just soak up their play and hit them on the break. Solly played really well, Taylor wins absolutely everything, Stephens wasn't as effective as the last couple of matches but still contributed, Hayes is a brilliant player, very very clever. Waggy as usual makes me exhausted just watching him, thought that was his best game this season. Bradley ran his socks off tonight, won't be hearing any lazy comments about that performance, unlucky not to get his hatrick. One negative for me was Wiggins, seems half a yard off the pace, wonder if he's lacking a bit of confidence or hasn't settled as well as the others. He didn't have a nightmare but was definitely the weak link.
As for the fans. Brilliant tonight. Did we sell out our end? Looked as if we did from where I was sitting. That's two away games where we've outsung the home fans. Can't wait for Saturday.
All in all a good away win and a great night, glad made the effort as until yesterday wasnt going to, now planning which away games i'm deff doing.
Back from the game.
I still think we should hold our judgemental horses back until the end of September, but tonights performance makes it difficult to wait that long!
Briefly:
We were the better team, and deserved the win.
In the first half we played superbly, not only were our players better individually, although the new Colchester loanee was reasonable for them, but we were reall good as a team...a team still waiting to gel apparantly! The players were so so positive, always looking for a teammate, always looking to turn towards them, and play together with a really positive mindset.
Very very good.
Colchester came in to the game a bit in the second half but we created much the more dangerous chances, and might have had a few more goals. Totally authorative, and the coaching staff should take a fair bit of credit for all this....one particular feature I liked, and was very well shown in the second half, was the ides that you should defend in their half if you can...lots of chasing back, or challenges high up the pitch, and especially excellent and evident with Waggy and Jacko doing this, as 'defending attackers'.
All the players were at the very least good. In my view BWP was our best player, not simply because of his goals (which were team created anyway, not individual brilliance) but BWP was a nightmare for them all the time, if he appears lazy to some, then those critics should have seen him tonight...excellent.
I also thought Waggy and Solly were terrific, I worried a little bit with Morrison and Robbie, but a clean sheet tells it's own tale. It is amazing how quickly I am taking the wonderful Stephens, Hollands and Hayes for granted...they were class throughout.
We made a decent effort support wise in an awful soulless stadium with no accoustics, don't know how many we had, but the whold team clapped us during the mutual love in at the end.
Three juicy points, three wins on the bounce, lets not get complacent against a just relegated Scunthorpe.
i love our love ins, especially after performances like that!
We were excellent, it was a ruthless performance. We punished a Colchester mistake early on with amazing efficiency, brilliant work from BWP and Waggy. But from that moment on it was only a question of time that we'd get the second which we did quickly and then we just looked comfortable.
I sat and thought that if I was a Colchester fan at one point I'd be spouting the same trash I was spouting about Charlton last year. They'll walk away saying "WE had loads of possession but just didn't create anything" "We deserved more as we had so much of the ball" etc etc
The fact is that they had the amount of the ball that we let them, in the second half we didn't see much of it but Elliott didn't have to make a save, there were some crucial catches but no shots to deal with. We still looked the most likely to score which was so refreshing.
After going 2-0 up I was never scared we'd capitulate.
Make no mistake about it, this is a top 4 team and I'd be very surprised if we don't finish in the top 2.
Bar a shocking miss by Oyedaji in the first half, we were comfortable at the back. Roll on Saturday.
what with those we haven't seen yet, Green, Alonso etc...plus Euell and Hughes on the bench, this has the potential to be a quality season.
trying not to get to carried away at the moment, but it's difficult not to!
roll on Saturday.
Cant add too much to what has already been said. The biggest change and pleasure for me was to see the old ponderous slow build up from the back swapped for clever, quick, incisive passing and movement.
And as for Hayes, he looks a hell of a player for this division.
Very enjoyable evening made even better by getting a whole drink from Plaayer.
"The bottom line is that against a team that at times looked as if they belonged in the Premier League, you will get punished for mistakes."
"Charlton have made some decent buys and I'd be very surprised if they don'y make it back to the Championship at the end of the year."
"We lost to a damn good side today. Chris Powell has really got them going after a poor season last year."
"One of those nights when you have to hold up your hands and say we were beaten by a better side. Charlton played some awesome football - fast, flowing, and Wright Phillips is the best striker in the league IMO."
"Can't remember the last time I saw a Div One team move so well as Charlton did in their purple patch. Certainly not in last few years. And they worked like mad and looked like a good Championship side."
"They are a different team to what we played last season and as others have pointed ....... you wont see a better midfield this season. We know we aint heading for league 1 champions but charlton are. The difference last ngt was a top league 1 team to one flirting with 6th."