| Arrogance on and off the pitch 10:22 - Oct 22 with 607 views | tractorshark |
Here’s a few of my thoughts with a clearer head in the cold light of day.
On paper, we’ve got a better squad than the last time we were in the Championship but, at the moment, not a better team. There was an arrogance to our performance last night (and Preston, Derby etc) that we just expect to blow teams away with our possession and they’ll roll over. But you have to do the hard graft and the basics well and we’re not.
It exists in the stands as well. All the HMS P**s The League stuff is just nonsense. The Championship is unforgiving. I think 19 of the 24 teams have been in the Prem. Parachute payments and big money signings don’t guarantee you instant promotion.
Look at Leeds two years ago and they’re a much bigger club than us. We have a target on our backs right now for teams like Charlton. We can’t play on the counter like we did two seasons ago.
As for the actual performance…
For me the defence look lopsided with Young. With Davis pushing forward, our right side has always been crucial in becoming a 3 man defence. Harry Clarke did it, Tzuanebe did it, Furlong does it. Young pushed forward and Charlton worked out in the second half if they got the ball forward quick, they’d be 1 on 1 with O’Shea and Greaves who were terrible after the break.
Cajuste and Nunez actually dominated the midfield battle for the most part in terms of possession. But their positional sense as a 6 was flawed and certainly not strong enough in the defensive areas of the pitch. I’m not sure Taylor is a natural 6 either. Do we get Morsy back as cover in January?
McAteer is bang average. I hope he can develop and he shows a few touches but, as others have said, he doesn’t look capable of going past a man with trickery.
Our set-piece coach is stealing a living. No invention, no variation, we didn’t even know who was taking a corner in the second half. Embarrassing.
In isolation, there were a few bright sparks. Jack Clarke was a threat on both flanks. Yes he doesn’t have a left foot but he can beat a man.
Akpom looked much better and Azon showed promise but both need a goal. When we went up last time, our goals came from Broadhead, Burns and Chaplin. Right now they’re only coming from the left. It’s easy to blame the defence last night but our problems are at both ends of the pitch.
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| Arrogance on and off the pitch on 10:36 - Oct 22 with 468 views | rkc123 |
Last night was the first time I really thought the lack of leadership is a big issue, after the first and second goals we were waiting in place for them to finish celebrating and no one was doing anything, there was the odd cursory clapping of the hands and a 'come on lads', but everyone just stood waiting. I remember when we went down a couple of seasons ago in the championship you saw players going around to each other, talking, shouting, they looked engaged and you would see in how we responded to going behind. I think the key to that resilience we used to have is that the players had a sense accountability for not just their own performance, but that of the team, I just don't see that at the moment.
I feel for McAteer, he is probably worth about a quarter of what we paid for him, and if we had paid say 2-3 million then it would seem like a sensible signing, a bit of a project player with some of the qualities of Burns who can learn and grow into the role, but the amount we paid is crazy and I honestly find to be a worrying indictment of those responsible for our recruitment.
As for the set piece coach, I couldn't agree more, they have got worse since he joined. | | | |
| Arrogance on and off the pitch on 10:56 - Oct 22 with 344 views | Moggasknockdown |
I agree with most of that. Every successful manager over a long period of time has to build a number of teams- this is a squad in huge transition - not an excuse, but certainly a mitigating factor, and the stability of the squad was blown apart by an expedited promotion. Last night has to be a low water mark- it cannot happen again, but I dont have any evidence to suggest it wont.
The volume of changes last night were unnecessary and smacked of 'believing the hype', and arrogance- one or two, maybe- not seven- Charlton are a well coached, structured and effective team- one of many in the league. Respect the league and the teams in it first. Mick Mills referenced Arsenal as a good example of tinkering with but not sweeping changes each week with Europe etc.
I do not understand why you would not persist with OShea and Kipre- they compliment each other and looked a settled partnership. Greaves looks shot to pieces for confidence, and does not win enough duals at the moment to justify consideration. Your centre half partnership is the bedrock of a good defensive performance. Don't prat around changing it every other week. We missed Matusiwa- he covers space so well, and in turn provides insurance for the centre halves. Last night proved we are one injury to him away from the wheels coming off- nobody else can do what he does. Again- partnerships first, familiarity and structure- give your best players a platform to perform.
I do not understand why you would not at least persevere with 2/3 of the forwards to try to generate familiarity and patterns. Never mind this planning for the 3 game week- deal with the game and take points where you can. How many times last night did our buildup look laboured- those forwards have barely played together- it is hardly surprising. We do not work any goalkeeper anywhere near enough as a general trait- its all too formulaic and predictable. 30 shots, 5 on target. Our forwards should take a lot of responsibility for being so profligate last night- Akpom in particular.
Finally, you live and die by your recruitment. It has been so poor this season. Letting too many leave, bringing too many in, and the intangibles - leadership and desire, stark in their absence. Some proven championship players might well have provided a predictability, nous and structure that would provide a better platform to play from, but we seem to be swayed by sparkling new players. A Lewis O'Brien, Alan Browne, Lewis Travis (not withstanding Morsy/ Luongo) would have provided much needed leadership and knowledge of the league (for example). All speculation though- just my own rambling thoughts after a chastening performance. | |
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