The debate on whether to stick with a winning team or make unforced changes has expanded in the Exeter match thread (beyond its relevance to that particular match) to such an extent that I think it merits a thread of its own. For conveneience I repeat some of the opinions expressed here (apologies to anyone omitted): ybabobmij before the Exeter game What do we think guys and gals? A little shake up in midfield with Hughes or Stephens in for Pritchard and I'd give BWP or Kermit a rest with another game on tuesday coming up but I doubt CP will see it that way. eddiefirmani after the Exeter game (as are all following comments) This sounds a tired performance by Charlton. Surely needs freshening up against Bury? No reflection on the players. They are doing all that could be expected, and more. But they cannot all keep on playing match after match. What have we got this huge squad for if not to give one or two a rest for midweek games? I would bring in Hayes and Hughes against Bury. And if we are winning, bring on Stephens for Hollands. Then if we win that one we could afford to rest BWP and Green against Rochdale and give Haynes and Wagstaff a game. They are just examples of the modest changes we could make without weakening the team or altering the shape. No top manager keeps on playing the same team all through the season. You need a little rotation. ybabobmij I'm in the freshen it up camp. This run of ours is really out of this world but we are doing it without playing particularly well (although we are clearly doing something right!). Time we really gave someone a going over and got back to the silky football. Bury anyone? But if its win ugly I'll keep taking it. Tewks I've heard of winning ugly, but this was monkey-butt ugly ... this team is looking tired, mentally and physically. We underestimate the pressure of being at the top of the league for so long, at our peril. Ken Shabby I sort of agree with the freshen it up view, but looking at it from Powells perspective, imagine the reaction if he changed a couple of faces and we lost to Bury (Whaddaya doin' changin a winning team ffs?). Give Stephens a run. Give BWP a rest? Sounds good but as the yorkshiremen say, if it ain't broke don't fix it. eddiefirmani It is often cheaper and more effective to service or repair things while they are still working and before they break down ... The last time we had a comfortable win was Nov 5 against Preston. Since then we have have ten league matches when the boys have had to dig deep to take the lead, or hang on to the lead, or (in the case of Orient, unsuccessfully) try to salvage a point. That takes its toll. Yes, we could field the same team and probably grind out wins against Bury, Rochdale and Chesterfield, but if the wheels then come off in four very physical games against the Franchise, Tranmere, Stevenage and away to Bournemouth, it would be hard to raise the spirits again. I would never advocate many changes (as for the Brentford and Preston Cup matches). It is not that the incoming players are that much inferior. Most of them could hold down a place in other Div One sides (and many have done so). It is the understanding and pattern of play which is disrupted. But to give a couple of players a one-game rest in each of our next three fixtures shouldn't be disruptive and the "reserves" should be up to the job. I am talking about players like Cort, Evina, Hughes, Russell, Wagstaff, Hayes and Clarke, who are all tried and tested at this level. (Stephens' return looks already decided). If they are going to let us down against Bury, Rochdale and Chesterfield, what use will they be in the Championship next season? And I thought that was the goal of our squad building. CP is paid big money to do what he thinks is right, not creep about trying to please the fans. Maybe CP doesn't take my view. But if he does, I don't imagine he will hold back from making changes just because he is scared of what the fans think. Bringing in Russell and Ephraim against Huddersfield supports that view. Captain Blackaddick Re making changes: it sounds strange to say it but the team does seem to have gone a little stale of late up front. I wouldn't be averse to giving Hayes a run against Bury, as they're likely going to park the bus and so we will need to play through them rather than rely on Kermo's knock downs. I would also bring Stephens back, for the same reason, potentially in place of Hollands. That's only because Hollands has played pretty much every game this season and I think Pritchard is good enough to do his job with Stephens in the attacking role. Mike Tyson We can criticise all we want and true we havent played particularly well for a while BUT we are winning and winning ugly or with flowing football its 3 points all the same.
I am sure no-one is complaining or criticising. We are all pinching ourselves at what has been achieved. We are just spinning our wheels between fixtures and we know CP will do his own thing whatever the fans say (at least I hope he would). But to carry on "wheelspinning", your post suggests two issues to me. (1) Would you prefer to watch Charlton winning ugly most weeks for the rest of your life, or would you be happier if they won fewer games, but played more attractive football. Is your team winning more important than the "beautiful game". This is a highly theoretical question regarding Charlton at present because CP has only been in charge for a year and also because we all agree that we have to get out of this horrible division where playing good football is almost impossible. But is it possible to be Mr Hyde this season and effortlessly switch to Dr Jekyll for future seasons? Would you rather be an Arsenal fan watching George Graham's championship team or Wenger's less than championship team? There are probably better examples but certain clubs' fans have rebelled in the past, not because the team was not winning, but because it was not playing the brand of football which they were used to. (2) Even if we all agree that we would be happy to see the team scraping enough 1-0 wins to win the division, is that actually a viable strategy? My point, and I think Tewks's too, is that is a harder thing to do for a sustained period than to win by playing good football. It is physically and mentally more draining. Some of the points we have won lately have been lucky. Our luck may not last. For that reason I am suggesting resting most of the key players in turn and keep those who are out of the team committed to the program with something more than pep talks and assurances that they are valued because we are surely going to need them sooner or later.
Cant see any merit in changing a winning team- ever. What happens if he changes a couple of players on rotation for Tuesday and they do really well? does he drop them for next game? No. cant see it. Keep Stephens and Whoever else on bench, bring them on if need be.
It's worth pointing out that we mustered very few shots on target against Exeter, and that it was a 0-0 game with a freak goal that won't happen again for a while. Against Bury we really need to return to our free-flowing attacking style that has been lost of late. As such, I think Stephens should come in, not for Pritchard but for Hollands (as I said above), who needs a break. I also wouldn't mind seeing Paul Hayes for Kermo - as much as I love Yann, his partnership with BWP has not been particularly effective recently. Put Yann on the bench to be the impact sub as he was in his first few games (Chesterfield, MK Dons, Sheff U), if Hayes cannot rekindle his link-up play with BWP that was tearing defences apart earlier on in the season.
Thanks eddie for a useful summary Powell and the medical team know the physical condition of the players, and while I wouldn't want mass changes, it might be sensible to rest the odd player as we have a large squad. It would be good for squad morale for other players to get a game, but more importantly to keep energy levels up in the team. Stephens in for Holland Is Clarke now our 3rd choice striker, as while a few people have mentioned hayes, he seems to slipped well down the pecking order?
That's a really useful summary, eddie - thanks. My point is, I suppose, that we've got 19 games to go. I don't mind us losing games if we're outplayed but with a squad this size, what's the point in losing games simply because the players are knackered? The reason we signed all these players in the first place was surely to boost the squad in the event of injury/suspension etc. CP must think they can do a job at this level, and perhaps higher, or else they wouldn't be here. I can sympathise with your view Stu, but change a winning side is exactly what CP did when Ephraim and Russell were recruited. It didn't hurt the side then and IMO, minor changes wouldn't hurt our momentum now.
Problem is, if we don't play well we won't keep winning. I'm sorry for bringing up the name, but we were under a similar situation with Parky last season. While results tended to be decent to start with, performances were awful. Then as performances like that continued we went about 13 games without a win before he was sacked. We might have got nine points in the last three games, but we could have easily ended up with 5.
It's important not to make too much of this because where we are and the season we are having is the stuff of dreams. So i'm a happy bunny for the record! That said, I have a few niggling issues that suggest to me that CP should tinker: 1. While a win is a win, however ugly, and the important thing is getting out of this league, I don't think that anyone can deny that the last ten or so performances have not been pretty. I came away from the udders and Sheffield games thrilled with the wins but a tadge disappointed with the performances and the feeling that we had got a bit lucky. IMHO that luck will run out at some point. 2. We can clearly play better! Reference the first ten or so games. Can we do it again please 3. Some players are bound to be knackered. 4. Some players who I think have been very unlucky to be out of the team (Hayes & Hughes) may be growing disillusioned. Others who I am less fussed about (Waggy) may likewise be miffed and they are only real back up in key positions should we get injuries. 5. I'd like to see some of this squad who risk being nothing but a name (Evina who's purchase excited me way back when). 6. If the bubble does burst I'd rather it happened when we were playing some good stuff (I know that one makes no sense but there y' go) 7. I've seen one too many performances like the Oldham game where you just knew the equaliser was coming. They did a job in us and we just knew that 1-0 wasn't going to be enough. We need a midfield spark. As I say, despite the above,, we are in dreamland and I'll take 1-0 ugly wins. From now till whenever we are mathematically promoted. But I do yearn for a return to the style of September and October.
Chill out lads⦠Mark my words; this set of players will not allow the good work they have done thus far to go to waste. Thereâs a real grit, determination and bulldog spirit amongst these boys that I have only ever seen once in a Charlton squad. I almost have to pinch myself when I say this because itâs unusual for me where my beloved Charlton are concerned but, I am so relaxed about things itâs just ridiculous. Nothing will stop us Iâm 100% confident of thatâ¦!!
I respect your view Stu and don't really have any strong views myself, but that seems a very odd argument against making a couple of changes, the danger that the incoming players might do really well! I should think that if CP felt that was going to happen he would be falling over himself to bring them in.
At least this is a good problem for CP to have. I have a feeling Stephens will come in or Pritchard tomorrow. As for what I would do... I think I would freshen it up a little. No point in having such a large squad if you don't intend to utilise it a little. Ive been very impressed with BWP and especially kermo recently, but for doing everything else with the exception to scoring. The service hasn't been as good, but I think I'd like to see BWP and Hayes given another run out (though it tears me to think of kermo not starting). But as pointe out(rightly), Hayes is now 5th choice, so I'm thinking kermo and Haynes as a possibility for tomorrow. With Stephens playing the through balls, no defender will be able to catch haynes. Defence is business as usual, and hamer between the sticks. Hamer Solly Morro Taylor wiggins Green Stephens Hollands JJ Kermo Haynes
CP has a bit of thinking to do about our front 2 whose goals have dried up. Does he keep Hayes out in the cold? Why bring in 2 new strikers and not play them? Is BWP really so good that he should always be an automatic choice? What combination would trouble defences the most, and would link up best with the midfield?
