Full time. This home form is starting to become ridiculous, even though Middlesbrough are a good side. Look forward to hearing from those who were there
Sounds like an abysmal performance, kinda glad I wasn't there looking at the stats and the sound of the match
Just happy not to be there today. This on it's own would'nt have beena bad result, but as a whole, results wise, we're in a nose dive at the moment, and the draws away from home by no means compensate for the losses at the Valley. Gutted.
Our defense went AWOL today. Their second-half goals were ridiculously easy. 'Boro hit us on the break with some decent play whereas our attacks became hopeful lobs once we got to the box. We missed Wilson , who was injured by a reckless late tackle which only received a yellow. Reading this thread I notice no-one mentions JJ- that's because his contribution was limited to taking corners and free-kicks.
First half decent should gone 2 1 up through hulse header then bailey saves on line 10 seconds later its 2 1 confidence shot coulda been six Boro looked very very average but capitalised on our awful defending that was it. Pluses first half and Pritchard who worked hard Hamer who was blameless minus's back four who were shocking
I did not get down today, word on the CL is that Powell is looking at 4 games to turn it round. I can't see that as being anything more than knob talk. I'm telling ya now. We will be ok, (and by ok i mean not get relegated) which suits me just fine.
Sack Powell never his team is ravaged by injury it's the bare bones add Wilson that list now kerkar was left back FFS
Wilson's loss was key today - he was having a tremendous game and was then fouled badly by Friend who was carded, then again right in front of the lino, who apparently saw nothing, and it was clear he wasn't going to reappear. The midfield promptly disintegrated and it was as much their lack of cover as the poor showing from the defence which really undid us. Kerkar was scarily entertaining at full back, but his crossing today was rank, awful beyond belief. 7-1 wouldn't have flattered Boro, whose fans (and a hell of a lot of them) were tremendous throughout. I'm beginning to get mildly concerned now, and if we fail to gain anything from Tuesday's game that may rapidly turn to worry.
I'm going to be a little more blunt than other friends on here have been. Everything is caveated by the fact that we have been dealt a very bad injury hand. However, I could not believe the team selection or the tactical changes today. For the first time I'm afraid I am beginning to wonder about SCP. It was telling that immediately before kick off there were players pointing at spaces and reminding each other where they were supposed to be playing. We are down to the bare bones but we ended up with seven players playing out of position. Boro were well organised and had an energetic diamond in McDonald. But we were rank. The irony is that we could have been two or three up if Hulse had taken an easy headed chance and Pritchard had taken a more difficult one. But let's be under no illusions. We were second best and I didn't think the score flattered boro at all. It could have been much worse. As to player performances I thought Hamer was ok and that was about it. Dervite looked like what he is - a centre back playing in midfield. Pritchard is so energetic but he is simply not up to this level of football. Neither is Jackson. Kerkar is not a left back. I thought Wilson was anonymous. Hulse, well taken goal aside, was crap. Woodgte totally bossed BWP. The substitutions were just plain silly. Stephens started like a man possessed and was very lucky not to get a straight red for a two footed lunge then just got pissed off cos no one else is on his wavelength. Cook looks crap too. Our defence which has been our ro k decided to have a very bad day at the Office. With three centre backs we couldn't stop a free header from a set piece and after Morro's mistake for the second Cort allowed McDonald a bad touch and put him under no pressure at all. All too depressing. I now fear for our future in this league.
How was Hamer just ok he could do nothing about the goals and made 2 tremendous saves as for Boro they gave the ball away more than us agree at the end they coulda got two more but at 3 1 our chins were on the floor we need kermogant and wiggins fit desperately I was very very disappointed with Boro apart from their finishing Bikey was dreadful gave us a goal and we should of capitalised more on his mistakes
I was there today and I have to say that I was shocked by Powell's team selection.Dervite(a centre half)played in a 4-4-2,madness Kerkar at left back,madness.We played ok in the first half and perhaps had the better chances.But as the second goal went in courtesy of a terrible pass from Morrison,we fell apart and lost our discipline.Not helped by Powell's formation.Cook on the right, when Green is on the bench.The players didn't seem to be sure where they were supposed to be or what they were supposed to do and that is down to Powell.All the talk of Powell being replaced is premature,but he needs to learn fast or we are toast.Injuries have not helped us but every club has injuries,we just have to get on with it.
Hamer - 6: Made some fine saves - once we were well beaten! Solly - 6: Same old, same old Morro - 5: Looks shellshocked Cort - 4: All over the place Kerkar - 5: Will never be a left-back Wilson - 7: Gutted for him Pritchard - 6: Game of two halves - first okay/second **** Dervite - 5: Put him in Cort's place Jackson - 4: Should have played at left-back, or not at all BWP - 4: Chases, but nothing else Hulse - 5: Good goal, little else Stephens - 6:Tough tackles Cook - 3:Who? Why? Haynes - 2: Wearing gloves in November equals TWAT Highlight of the day was meeting Bob Mortimer near Makro.
Hamer 7.5 - If it wasn't for him (and some dodgy finishing by Boro) we would have lost by at least 7-1. Made some great saves. Poor positioning though to get chipped for one of the goals. Solly 7 - Was solid throughout, and probably the only player I can safely say has been consistently strong this season. Cort 5.5 - Poor mistake for one of the goals, sloppy game by his standards Morrison 5.5 - again, sloppy performance by his standards. Two stupidly misplaced passes, one of which led to a goal. Was a good attacking threat though. Kerkar 3 - absolute clown and I don't wish to see him in a CAFC shirt again. Lost out in every physical battle, failed to read the runs of opposition players, incapable of controlling the ball with either his chest or his feet (and simply cannot header). Seems to think he is at the same skill level as Lionel Messi, yet is completely one paced and falls over every time he tries a step over. Gave away the ball every time he got into a decent attacking position and is a woeful crosser. Wilson 6.5 - more anonymous today than usual. I highly rate the guy. His injury was unfortunate and I hope he gets well quickly. Dervite 4.5 - completely liability today. Lost the ball on countless occasions, gave away stupid challenges and when he was dropped back to CB later in the game, seemed intent on bear-hugging every player who came near to him. That said, showed some interesting skill, composure and close-control at times and had a good start. Distributes the ball quite well when in the mood. Pritchard 8 - was firing on all cylinders from the moment the game started. Nearly claimed a handful of assists and almost got himself on the scoresheet. Made some brilliant tackles and got into good positions, never gave up all game. Sadly all the energy and excitement he gave us was lost when Powell put him on the wing. Jackson 4 - anonymous...until he made a mistake, then anonymous again. Hulse 4.5 - don't think I've ever seen a target man so incapable of heading/jumping, and with such poor positional sense. Well taken goal, but seemed to take him a lifetime to just hit the bloody thing. BWP 7.5 - was really fighting for his place in the side from the moment the game begun. Never stopped running and had a few good chances. Sadly tired himself out so was knackered by the time he was taken off. --- Stephens 5.5 - made some great sliding challenges, but his unwillingness to make standing tackles, and his inability to header/use his left foot were not suited to a team (feebly) fighting for a comeback. Haynes N/A - not enough time to impress, a shame he didn't come on earlier because he's the sort of pacey, exciting player who could have grabbed us a goal(/assist) or two when we were chasing the game. Cook N/A - again, not enough time to impress, but made a few decent challenges and seemed to be trying hard. ----- The starting line-up worked very well. For once, our central midfield (Pritchard and Dervite) were strong and showed their presence (something even our title winning side last year never managed to do). Sadly Powell made the mistake of moving Pritchard out of position (who was having the best game of his Charlton career in my opinion), to accomodate Stephens coming into midfield, rather than bringing on a natural winger like Cook or Green, or even Haynes, whose pace would have caused problems and could have helped us to increase our lead. In my opinion, that midfield change costed us the game. One of the most embarrassing performances I've seen for a long time. In all honesty, Middlesboro' were truly very poor throughout, and had they been able to finish (and had Hamer not had such a good game), would surely have won by a much higher margin. Strange as it may seem, this may be the best time to play the league leaders (Cardiff on Tuesday night), I'm certain Powell will mix things up a bit, and the team will be fighting to prove themselves, both to the manager and to us.
The football league show actually said Boro were really good yesterday obviously weren't there good finishing when handed chances on a plate but they gave ball away more than us Barnsley were way better last home game Must say the Hamer bashing gets on my nerves he's our best player this seaon and one of our best last seaon and his distribution is better than the rest of the team too
I have to agree that moving Pritchard out to the right just to accommodate Stephens was a mistake. The duracell bunny has shown a particularly strong brand of harrassment at central midfield but he cannot play on the wing. I sat at ha.lf time wondering why GReen was on the field with the other subs. CP has to learn that a slightly smaller square peg in a square hole always works better than a rounded one. That lesson has been shown at wolves and leeds when Evina played at left back and made a better job of it than Solly had done playing out of position. We had to many players playing out of position yesterday. If you have an injury to two players in the slot (wiggins and evina) blood a youngster rather than destroy the shape of the team. I am probably the only one that thought that Hamer was to far off his line for the third goal and that overall his positioning caused problems during both halves. Time to blood a young left back, drop jacko for lack of commitment (seriously bad failure to not chase a ball my 73 year old father in law would have got) play Dervite and Green in positions they feel comfortable in and start Haynes with Hulse up front. Oh and with Wilko injured call Waggy back from the Os to be on the bench when Green plays RM. We are injury ravaged but we have some first rate youth product that would love to show how good they are in position and balance the team.
Hello, not here to gloat, no other palace fans on here!! Anyway have you all kept your league 1 maps for your away fixtures next year........ (que comebacks about crowds, nigels. Etc etc)
