I've always disliked him - not personally, but because to me he still symbolises the reckless, inept player recruitment during the melt-down relegation season of 2015-16. Not exactly Naby's fault I accept, but can't help it. According to Royston he cost us a goal at QPR yesterday, so Naby did no more than cancel out his mistake. But his late goal did save a point and it is a team game. So well done the Nabster Keep banging them in, and the covered end crowd will keep singing the seasonal 'walking in a Naby Wonderland'...
Lee Bowyer says that Leko has gone back to WBA with what looks like a nasty knee injury. Just for treatment at this stage. He was also critical of Ben Purrington’s performance before he was substituted in the first half, and said the coaching staff would work with him. “I needed my Captain on the pitch” said LB....although Pearce was also poor when he came on. We urgently need new defenders in Jan.
It seems that the Championship is a step too far for the Nabster, but at a personal level it's pleasing to see something come off for him. He was sh1te when he first came to Charlton, ended up being shunted to a lower league French club, came back, had the indignity of being hooked at H/T at Wembley, but still keeps going. There is a player in there; trouble is, there's also a mistake in there waiting to happen. Atm he's a bit like a Les Berry or a Carl Leaburn, a cult despite obvious weaknesses. His contract is unlikely to be renewed, but good luck to him in the future. A CB to partner Lockyer is still top priority.
There is no doubt that Naby’s heart is in the right place. He was screaming at himself after his mistake yesterday led to their first goal. His defensive concentration isn’t good enough as this level and his double error at Millwall I think has led to the writing on the in terms of his Charlton career. He’s a squad player at the very best.
Yeah, he doesn't hide, tries his best, and now oddly has two goals in two starts. But the mistakes he makes seem to be part of his game, and though he has improved since his arrival, I don't see him getting much better, and we need to improve at the back. Keep him till the summer, and wish him good luck.
An opposition point of view you didn’t ask for but when you moved to a three at the back he looked surprisingly comfortable to me. Passing was fine by this poxy division’s standards and he’s difficult to stop when he forays forwards. You could do a lot worse- our defenders, for example
My Dad hated Carl Leaburn. Never had a good word for him (but plenty of bad ones). My old man was a bit like a cross between Victor Meldrew and Malcolm Tucker when he got going
His goal ratio was 1 in 6 from memory, but he brought much more to the team that many(which I understood) could not see.
That's why Curbs kept playing him, mainly his hold up play. He didn't have a proper striker's shot though.
Agreed, the likes of Melrose and Williams could feed off him. I went to a meeting at Bromley last year which had Leaburn and Mortimer doing a Q&A, as much as I liked Morts as a footballer I almost choked on my beer when he came out with that Leaburn was the best striker he had played with. I am not joking with this final comment, @Clb74 can vouch for this.
It was a cracking away day yesterday, regardless of the performance. The numbers & atmosphere were excellent - and much remarked upon by QPR fans on social media. These games are a reward for the diehard away fans, who stuck with the club thru thin & even thinner. £36 yesterday but I’d much rather be going to the likes of QPR than Oldham & Rochdale.
I hope you went to Westfield after the game to sort your wardrobe out. Otherwise, you are welcome to my January sale in the shop upon my return.
