Nothing wrong with grinding out the occasional draw, but reports from last night claim that our tactics were somewhat negative. Is Bob shaping up as one of those coaches that consider 3 draws a better outcome than 1 win and 2 defeats? Without investment in better players, I don't see us progressing under him if that is the case.
It's been reported recently that the full-backs are not to get forward, which, if true, makes this a fair point. I wonder if Wiggins got a bollocking after Saturday for getting forward. His runs forward are a potent attacking weapon, and Solly is the best crosser we have, so I'm a bit confused about this. Solly and Wilson have been making fewer overlapping runs, and when they have they've often been ignored, particularly by Moussa. Listening to the commentary last night it did not sound as though we were negative.
4-3-3 would suggest he's trying to be more adventurous, but it's fair to argue he's been forced in to this due to our lack of striking options. If you are to play 4-3-3 though, your full backs need to get forward.
I read a post this week from a fan who hjad spoken to Wiggins, and commented that he is not getting forward so much this season. Wiggins replied that Bob had told him not to.
Bob Peeters is doing an excellent job with the squad he has got. Yes we are drawing a lot of games, but if we had another goal scoring forward to complement Vetokele some of those draws would be turned into wins. Peeters has made us hard to beat, if you listen to some Charlton fans you would think that is a bad thing. The players showed a hell of a lot of grit and determination last night which bodes well for the rest of the Season. Plusses were Gudmundsson with two goals, Coquelin who came on and did very well. Ben Haim and Bikey who were excellent as usual. Negatives were Tucudean- he really is not up to it and Wiggins with his metatarsal injury, he could be out for a while. This squad still has deficiencies which I hope will be addressed in January, but if we finish halfway up the table I would be happy. I think talk of the play offs is fanciful.
I hope Bob relaxes this tactic. The best defenders like Solly know when to get forward and when to stay back, and if you've got someone like Wilson in front he'll cover for you anyway. Danny McGrain was the best full-back I've ever seen , was never caught out going forward, and it would be a foolish manager who put the shackles on him (Jock Stein didn't). My favourite Charlton defender in this respect was Rufus, his positional sense was a joy to watch.
To build a successful Football team you HAVE to start from the back... Just look at Liverpool and Manchester United, failing to win the Premier League because their Defence's are ****e. And to top it off... A defeat I go home miserable... a win I go home in a great mood... a draw I'm in the middle but least I'm not miserable (Well only been the case twice this season)
All fair points. I just think we are shaping up for a season of mid table obscurity. Not complaining, it is better than being in Blackpool's position.
Unless Gartside's trip to Thailand was successful I think we're in a better position than Bolton and possibly a few other clubs as well
Mid-table obscurity is fine by me. Sustainable progress and a serious tilt at promotion maybe season after next is what I'd call reasonable ambition. Hopefully the hit-and-miss nature of our scouting will improve enough to make this possible.
Mid table obscurity is good for those of us who haven't given up the past 6 years. It however won't get more bums on seats. If RD and KM haven't budgeted for an increase, then I suppose that's fine.
"Not losing" is not good enough. You could draw every match and still get relegated in a bad year with 46 points. On the other hand, if you won 23 and lost 23 you might scrape into the play-offs with 69 points. A minor point is that winning and losing rather than drawing invariably implies more goals scored and conceded, so better entertainment for spectators. We have scored 11 goals in 8 home games, Not the stuff to attract a new generation of fans. ............................................................................................ In our promotion year and first year back, Solly and Wiggins attacking down the wings were a major cause of our goals scored and success. With four essentially defensive MFs in front of the back four there should be enough cover for them to continue to do so, and there is a need for them to do so to compensate for the absence of an attacking midfielder and/or second striker.
