Only a pre season friendly I know , but the alarm bells are ringing loudly after today. We are not going up this season if all we can do is pick players who can run 20k per game. That new first choice midfield is bang average based on that showing - three players who are much of a muchness and created next to nothing between them . They run around a lot, but where is the creativity and guile, even against League 2 opposition ? Im afraid Nathan Jones is getting it wrong if he’s going to base this season solely on our running and out hustling sides. You’ve got to have a bit of creativity and pace, players who can unlock a defence and get behind full backs. We have got none of that . All I saw was three near identical grafters in the middle, falling over each other to perform the same tasks. We badly, badly need pace down the flanks and a quality No.10.
I know it’s only a pre season work out, and we know that Nathan Jones places a lot of emphasis on energy & work rate …but …you’ve got to have a bit of creative spark as well. I have never once been impressed with Conor Coventry in our shirt . His set piece deliveries are useless as well. All emphasis between now and the Wigan game must be on signing creative attacking players. This line up won’t work under Jones.
I am afraid that my gut feel is that time has gone now. Unless we get very lucky with loans we do not have a competitive promotion team. Every season start now for years, our squad building has been very blue cross and in the dented tin aisle.
I saw Coventry make his debut for us. I couldn’t see much of a player then , and despite the hype about the lad being “a West Ham player” , we have seen very little from him ever since . He’s no George Dobson - another player than Scott royally did over. I expected to see a lot more from us today against that quality of opposition. It’s clear we are still well short on quality.
Interesting post match interview with Nathan Jones. He resembled the Mad Scientist, who had unwrapped the bandages from his creation for the first time …and been scared at what he’d seen.
I did warn you about Nathan Jones. He's a Welsh Ian Holloway. He has 1 promotion on his CV and that was getting Luton out of League 2 with treble the crowds of all other teams in there - and it took him 2 seasons. Since then he has appalling records at Stoke and Southampton and a 25% win rate at Charlton - on a par with Les Miserables aka Santa Clueless.
Talking of smartasses - your most famous scout/forum owner/stacker of shelves thinks you should sign 35 year old Matt Smith
Let’s see what the season brings - Charlton heading North and scumwall heading south under Nil ,haven’t got a clue,Arris
He throws in about 10 player names a day in the vain hope of being able to boast “ right , I told you lot first “
