A4L has gone AWOL it seems, so let's have one here. I'll be there again today, so no match updates. My prediction - 1-1. Igor for us.
capt Noticed on Twitter yesterday that Bulot only got in to London last night, add that to Gudmundson being a doubt after getting injured on international duty we will have to shuffle the midfield around. I assume Wilson will come in on the right and Cousins should then keep his place on the left. All 4 will have their work cut out today! In terms of prediction I'm not overly optimistic. Think Vetokele will be fatigued from his travels, though he still should have a goal in him. 1-2
I can't see us winning this one 2-0 to them. They have got the best centre forward in Deeney and a very dangerous forward in Forrestiere.
Jackson does enjoy a goal against Watford so we could see it, he's due to open his account for the season.
solly's best game of the season. once wilson came on, their partnership that we saw last year took off. they were bombing down the right most of the game. buyens immense today. just bossed it.
Brief summary for those not there today... Fair to say we nicked the win. Gomes should have seen a red card in the 3rd min for our penalty. Watford got stronger as the game progressed, and we fell into our familiar habit of surrendering possession and falling too deep. Defence and keeper both excellent today. Jacko anonymous again, and Mouss and Tucadean both cack IMO. We need to tweak the tactics slightly and push up when we are in front.
Bit harsh. I thought we worth the win; we had to defend hard for the last 20 but did so admirably. Bikey and Ben Haim handled Deeny very efficiently. We were pretty impressive in the first half whilst Watford struggled early on; Buyens was really making us tick and as he faded in the second so did our keep ball game.
I'm with Vol on this one; I still can't believe we won. Defending-wise, we were superb, but we offered very little going forward. Igor needs a foil - and quick, or our luck will run out on us. Our counter-attacks hit a dead end once Moussa and Harriott got on the ball, and Tucudean is never going to be a Kermit. Watford, for all their dirty tricks, were a pretty decent side, and they will be scratching their heads and wondering how they never got something from the game. Bikey, Ben Haim and Henderson shone. Jackson needs to make way for Cousins, but who fills the LM position? Where was David Whyte's tribute? And no jackpot tickets. I would have won today as my luck is in; I managed to drive straight onto the Woolwich Ferry after it had been closed for an hour. Roll on Tuesday.
We stole that, but sign of a good team when winning and not at their best. Moussa was useless, prefered Tucudean and he didn't do much. From my view the Ben Haim tackle was a pen, and Deeney missed a sitter straight after our goal, apart from that immense, Wilson was great, Solly looked like his best but best of all Bikey... man is a monster and to keep Deeney quite at this level is something. Not the best win but will take it every day of the week, onwards and upwards, COYR
Good summary by Vol. Great games by particularly Henderson and Solly, and Bikey's aerial power is so important to us. We are desparate for another forward, why does Tucudean keep his place? Igor was knackered for the last 10 minutes but we had no subs left. Bring Back Church!!!!
Apologies all... Been on Holiday the last two weeks, managed to see a plucky win for the Addicks today though... Should have the Match Thread back to normal for Wolves on Tuesday
Agree with Vol and Ponders. Fortuitous, but a good win. Solly really had some fun in the second half, one or two outrageous bits of skill to get away from his man. Credit to Henderson for his save from Dyer in particular. Tucudean was really poor, he has no confidence on the ball so dallies and gets caught. One lovely touch early in the second half for Igor, but nothing else. Harriott and Moussa both showed poor decision making. I think both have League 1 Brains. Watford should be in the play-offs come the end of the season, so it's a feather in our cap to beat them, even if a draw might have been a fairer result.
Harriot and Moussa both worried me it is almost as if they have caught the nasty Church virus which leads to indecision in front of goal. In both of their cases it was reflected into a nasty case of the the superfluous stepovers whcih in Mousa's case was so bad it looked like a St Vitus dance in the opposition penalty box. It clearly impedes decision making and can only be cured by amputation from the side. Tucudean was poor yesterday but at least challenged, lacking energy rather than desire but this is curable. Cousins lacked what was needed on the left of mid but improved when in the centre after the departure of Jacko who hasstolen his centre mid berth without the merit to do so. Time to: Pass on the captains arm band Find another striker Either start Harriot on the left or replace him A fortuitous win indeed and very much heart in mouth.. players who earned their place: Henderson Bikey Ben Haim Solly Wiggins Wilson on as sub Boyens Gudmonsen Vetokele Players who earned extra training: Cousins Tucudean Players who need to warm the bench Harriot Moussa Player who need to wake from their nightmare Jacko Dont get me wrong I reckon Jacko as an inspirational leader but he has not earned his berth this season.
On the positive side: Igor ran his heart out Solly was near his best Hendeson was my man of the match and Ben Haim and Bikey were immense The ref deserved to grace the conference south
Does anyone else think that the team has general issues with its fitness ? Henderson went off v Wigan to chants of " you fat bastard" Buyens and Gud impress....but then get Astrid-itis, and palpably fade from games Tucadean and Moussa both look generally unfit, slow and cumbersome.
Agree with all of this, but don't write Jackson off just yet. He looks like he has lost another yard of pace, but is still a crucial part of the team for the other attributes he brings. Judge him at Xmas...he will get better.
Vol I wrote the criticism of Jacko with a sad heart. In the first matches his reading of the game made up for his lack of pace, but yesterday somebody stole his reading glasses. I agree he can get better but if he keeps Cousins from his best position in the centre is that a cost we can afford? Agree overall fitness is an issue with Tucudean Moussa an Bouyens all suffering in this regard. gudmonson was considered a risk to start after the international break so his fitness will return.