Full time 2-2. Decent fightback, but we shouldn't have had to do it. If we'd played like we did in the second half for the whole game we would surely have won. Anyway, on to the Kassam next Tuesday. Looking forward to hearing from those who were there.
Didn't Oxford knock us out of one of the cups at the Valley when we were in Div.1 and they were in div.4?
Why oh why did I go tonight? That performance was dog turd. I have seen one of the worst performances from a pro footballer in Pritchard's. He would struggle to get into Welling's side. Cook -awful, Cousins his worst performance for us and gave away their second goal. Church- please leave and become a runner because you don't make it as a footballer. Jackson his legs have gone. The first half was one of the worst performances I have seen in recent times. Without significant investment we are going to be relegated.Sorry this report is so downbeat but for once I would like to leave the Valley having enjoyed a match.
Fair play for going dick, I didn't bother. I was amazed to hear Pritchard started on the right again. How much more proof is needed ? In the long run a defeat last night might not have been a bad thing, a few issues at the Club now need to be brought to a head. We are just drifting. If the Belgian rated Powell then where is his new contract ?
Perhaps a number of the first team have not had their contracts renewed for reasons OTHER than the takeover? Perhaps it is more to do with what they can actually offer the club going forward?
I've said it before but the contracts thing is a bit of a red herring. If we aspire to top half championship or higher then the only currently contract-less players who should get one are Wiggins and Stephens and Wood. If our ambition is to be mid level championship then Kermit (fitness permitting and one of the goalies) could be retained too. The rest are league 1 standard or shot to bits (Jacko). CP himself is a conundrum. I love him to bits and its great to have a dyed in the wool Spurs,sorry charlton, guy at the reigns but we cannot go forward with our current tactics. If there is a pot of money to spend I'm not sure that I trust CP to spend it even though it pains me to say that. Worrying times but the new broom may well sweep clean and last night may well have fortified his resolve in that regard.
Agree wholeheartedly with Dickplumb, Funny how on another thread we have been discussing the worst performances some of us have seen, the first half last night would have been right up there. Starting with the back four Morrison terrible and Wood was constantly bullied by (fairly in my opinion) by Constable. Wilson was one of only two or three for me who had an 'ok' first half, but went backwards in the second. Wiggins was my MOM. Pritchard is not a footballer and his industry and willingness to run through brick walls should only be hidden as part of a midfield 5, not out on the right where you need to be able to control the ball and occasionally take on a player. Cousins had his worst game in a Charlton shirt but to give him credit he never shyed away and kept wanting the ball, very admirable of one so young. Jackson huffed and puffed but unfortunately his legs have gone, Cook showed a couple of flashes of quality but on the whole was poor. Kermorgant tried to make things happen and seems to have velcro on his boots, Church will run and run but couldnt control a bag of cement. The subs changed the game, Green looked to take men on and put in numerous dangerous crosses. Harriott didnt quite have the same effect on the left but carried more threat that Cook. If nothing else, one positive to take from last night was that we have a group of players that have enough character to turn around a bad situation, we made need to call on that once or twice between now and the end of the season if we contuinue to be in a relegation battle. Credit to Powell, he must have put a rocket up them at half time and made substitutions that had an effect on the game. Although the 'Powell Out' brigade will argue that had he been able to get the team going from the start, he wouldnt have had to, which I guess is a valid enough point.
Powell said that the reason Stephens and Solly didn't play was that there was a virus running through the squad. Yet Stephens was sitting in the stands. If he wasn't playing because he was Ill surely he would be at home. I know there is over two weeks of the transfer window to go but there seems to be little sign of anybody coming in. I also have a feeling that one of our better players will be sold. I am feeling very low about Charlton at the moment, it is a combination of the pitch, the dire football being played,Saturdays debacle, and the lack of investment in the team.
