3-2 is the final score! CAFC are 4th in the league after Millwalls late equaliser takes them back above us on GD. However, only 1 goal separates us and first place. Sounds like it was impressive, but very keen to hear your thoughts. COYR
A fantastic result, never expected to have 7 points after 3 games. Were we all a little too critical of Bob Peeters & Roland, hope this continues & the Valley becomes a fortress.
Yes yes yes yes yes. Certainly the start I hoped for (a bit better than I expected) though I did say I did'nt have a clue how we'd shape up after the shake up we had. Still VERY early days, but at least we look better, beat good teams and score goals. I got a Watsapp from a mate who said it's been ages since he saw us play like that, and between that and the result, I'm gonna sleep the sleep of tbe happy and victorious tonight. Happy days.
Just back, was Brilliant, I'll let Pope off the mistake, a little mistake but was calm the rest of time, bit iffy kicking, but when have we had a keeper that isn't? Bikey, Gomez tanks, Jacko was superb, Buyens great, Gudmunsson best Charlton player on pitch. Igor got the goal and ran, probs should have got more. Biggest mention is Tucudean... I wrote him off, and although only playing 45 mins was superb! His touches for the penalty were great, so so good tonight. If we keep doing this I will start getting silly dreams but great win...COYR
Ditto. I much prefer the pre-match build-up now. They don't show that film with Killer etc, Big Dave has toned down his "THIS IS THE VALLEY..............GET BEHIND THE BOYS and MAKE SOME NOISE.........." and so on. Less of that American-type hype, and let the fans create the atmosphere, which they did. And none of the pre-match smashing pretendy goals in in front of the North stand, even though it was fun to watch. ESpecially well done Joe Gomez, making his league debut out of position and doing very well. If Bob wants a team which builds from the back Joe will have to play at CB. Bikey and TBH are solid defensively but Gomez is the one with the class.
Well chaps, that's a bit of a turn-up. Say what you want about Wigan Saturday, but Derby were a good team, very well organised at the back and a threat going forward... and we beat 'em good an' proper. So, for the traditional match ratings Pope - 4 - Ah, sorry lad, I want to give you more, I really do, and you made one decent stop in the 1st half about 10 seconds before the goal. But he looked very nervous all game, distribution was poor, and he was nothing better than solid. And I'm sorry, but if I don't dock 2 points for putting us through hell for 10 minutes when we were so dominant by that point then I never will. He'll have much better games. Gomez - 7 - what a find he is. Very strong tackler, good on the ball, good in the air. He doesn't get an 8 as his positioning against the winger was not as good as Solly, he let him go on a couple of occasions as he didn't predict the turns, but that'll come. He also got a really really dumb booking... if you're gonna kick it away, at least do it properly. But he's a class act Ben Haim - 7 - Very strong and a couple of good late tackles, but generally the defence were not quite as solid as against Wigan Bikey - 7 - Lost more in the air today than in the previous 3 games combined. Still a bloody tank, though. They're a really solid CB pair Wiggins - 7 - Much better than against Wigan, got out of some tricky situations with very good first touches. But still not stellar. Gudmundsson - 8 - Covered a hell of a lot of ground and was our main outlet in tough situations. Struggling to remember any player we've had with a better first touch for control. Just a bit more end-product required... should've done better with his shots from distance Buyens - 8 - It says a lot that the one time in the first half he got dragged out wide, we suddenly lost our ability to close down and conceded a (very good) goal. Fast becoming a contender for POTY, hope we can make the move a permanent one Cousins - 6 - Not quite the presence he was on Saturday, and seemed reluctant to get the ball in the box. Substituted appropriately. Didn't do a lot wrong, but we never looked a threat down that side (at least until he went off and Gudmundsson went across) Jackson/Vetokele - First Half - 6 - Second Half - 8 - Now this is what's impressing me most about Peeters so far, he can turn players around at half time. JJ looked a bit slow in the first half and Igor looked reluctant to get involved (I don't know how many times he touched the ball in the first 45 but I bet I could count it on the fingers of both hands). 2nd half they were both monsters, Igor chasing down everything, even when he could barely walk at the end, and was in the right place for his goal, JJ - Man of the Second Half - at least 6 superb tackles at key moments, just seemed to be everywhere when previously he'd looked lost. Tucudean - 8 - Man of the First Half - 3 moments of magic, one ruined by a spectacularly bad shot. The first goal showed confidence and class, the penalty was extremely well earned, and more of his touches were coming off than previously. Still going to give away possession with passes and through balls that don't cpme off, but showed far better control. If this is the real Tucudean, let him please stand up. Moussa - 7 - Looks dangerous again, a good sub as he really adds more pace to the team and a real threat on the break, also showing signs of good link up with Igor. Didn't do anything special, though Wilson - 7 - Involvement in the goal, but more importantly he was involved again going forward and looked a threat and an outlet. Definitely pushing for a RW berth with Gudmundsson on the left, but I don't think we'll see that on Saturday. Fox - No rating, not on enough Overall a good win against a good side. Very happy with that. And the new chicken place behind the West Stand is pretty good... watch their Inferno sauce, it doesn't disappoint!! Of course, they managed to run out of chicken this evening... which is a bit careless for a chicken place.
Fantastic game. We started playing a confident passing game I cannot recall any Charlton side doing before. Gudmundsson has so much class it's a wonder we got him - just ask Will 'Boris Johnson's Lovechild' Hughes, whom JBG left looking like a right plum at one point. But everyone was involved in it, and it was invigorating to see. Funnily enough, I thought Tucudean was the one weak link, having lost the ball on a couple of occasions, but he took his goal superbly. Gradually, Derby got more and more into the game, and Jamie Ward in particular looked a handful. He scored a very good goal after being given just too much time on the edge of the box, and it was well deserved. Just as I was hoping we could get to half time without conceding another, we were awarded a penalty. A mistake at the back let Tucudean in, and he jinked one way, then the other, then the other way again, at which point I thought he'd lost the chance. But the Derby defender challenging back caught him, and the referee (who was some distance away) pointed to the spot. Buyens scored confidently, sending the keeper the wrong way. After half time Derby continued to press, without creating any real chances. For that, an awful lot of credit must go to Ben Haim and Bikey, who kept making crucial interceptions. There was one moment, when Derby were breaking into our penalty box, when Ben Haim came across, just after the Derby player got to the ball. I can't help but think that Morrison would have dived in and probably conceded a penalty, but Ben Haim pulled back and let the ball run out of play. Wilson came on for the tiring Cousins and took JBG's place on the right as the Icelander moved to the left. And the virtues of playing Wilson in that position were apparent with our third goal. Jackson retrieved an overhit cross from the left and curled it back in to the near post. Wilson flicked it on, and Vetokele was perfectly placed to nod it in. 3-1, 10 minutes to go, and I thought that we might just win this. Then came a howler from Nick Pope, letting a tame effort straight through his body, which I'll put it down to nerves. Suddenly the match was in the balance again. But we were able to hold off the Derby onslaught, Bikey being the perfect man to cope with the added physical presence of Leon Best after his arrival from the bench. One cross-shot wide of the target was all Derby could really muster in the last few minutes before the referee blew the final whistle. Pope: 5 - one lapse in concentration in the first half when he nearly lost the ball to the Derby forward aside, he was OK. Until he let that goal in. Hopefully he'll not get too down over it, as he's clearly a talented keeper. Gomez: 8 - once again, very good. Confident enough to run with the ball and strong and athletic enough to win it back. We have nothing to worry about when Solly can't play at right back. Ben Haim: 7 - his driving run was key in the build-up to our first goal. Not as big as Bikey but with a better brain. Bikey: 7 - less adept with the ball than Ben Haim but a monster in the air. Made some crunching tackles and important interceptions. One lapse in the first half from a Derby knock-down nearly gifted them a sight of goal, but we were able to recover. Wiggins: 7 - nothing wrong with his performance, even if there was little that stood out. Gudmundsson: 8 - integral to our passing game and more skilled than anyone else in the team. Keeps the ball moving and drives forward. His influence faded as the match wore on, but he will be a big player for us this season. Buyens: 7/8 - calm and composed, and again made no glaring errors. Jackson: 8 - won lots of tackles that stifled Derby's progress with a performance full of the bite you would expect from the captain of Charlton. One brilliant forward run early in the second half sprang the offside trap, resulting in Moussa taking it off Vetokele's toes before shooting wide via a deflection. I doubt Jackson can play every game this season, but he was very good tonight. Cousins: 6 - perhaps I'm being harsh, but in the second half he seemed to tire and stopped getting close to the man with the ball. Rightly subbed for Wilson Tucudean: 7 - great finish and wonderful jinking run for the penalty. Hope his injury isn't too bad. Vetokele: 7 - classic poacher. Chased the Derby defenders around a lot, and to good effect when it led to our third goal. Seems to get overexcited when through on goal, but if he provide the chances he will take them. Subs: Wilson: 6 - very good flick-on for Vetokele's goal, otherwise just about OK. Moussa: 6 - took the ball of Vetokele's toe when perhaps he should have let it run, although you can hardly blame him. More to come from him I hope. Fox: N/A - not on long enough to do anything. Overall this was a very good performance against a top Championship side. There is a confidence to our play I haven't seen for a while, and although I feel we could be a little more positive in attempting the odd through ball and so on(we often turn back to our defenders and goalkeeper), the signs are definitely promising. I cannot see us being involved in a relegation scrap, even if the play-offs are probably beyond us.
Top report from Captain B, so I'll just offer my moots - Pope 5 - Shaky from start to finish, poor kicking, an accident waiting to happen (and it did) Gomez 7 - Impressive young man, but must work on his positioning Wiggins 6 - Solid again Ben Haim 7 - Intelligent defending Bikey 8 - A monolith of a man Jackson 7 - Calming influence, especially near the end Cousins 5 - Not comfortable out left, but did work hard Buyens 8 - Impressive yet again and knows how to take a penalty Gudmundsson 7 - Slick passing, great vision, and a terrific work rate Vetokele 7 - Needs to hone his finishing, but gets into space on a regular basis Tucudean 8 - Burst into life with the goal and then mazy run for the penalty Big Bob is winning me over with this exciting brand of football. There is talent running through the starting line-up, and a couple of additions to the squad will see us comfortable this season. Strengthening is still needed in goal, out on the left of midfield, and the subs' bench, but so far I'm more than enthused. Cracking atmosphere tonight. Can't wait to get back.
Please give The Pope a chance PEA, he's a very good keeper in development and hopefully last night was a bit of a kick up the pants for him to move onto the next level.
It is all very encouraging and un-Charlton like After the arid stench of failure which has filled our nostrils these last two years, we are now whiffing the sweet smell of success. Not only that....we seem to have stumbled across some decent footballers. Very impressed with Bikey, Ben Haim, Buyens & Gudmondsen. If only we had kept Poyet to play alongside Yoni, it would have given us the best midfield in the Championship. I can't see Jackson or Wiggins lasting the season based on their early showings. Terrific from Gomez & Cousins, and be patient with Pope, the boy just needs experience. I gambolled up the hill to Charlton Village last night at full time like a spring lamb...it is what a good side does to you.
Ha typical, the first season in years I don't get a season ticket and we start playing wonderful looking football and winning games...just wait, the first game I attend we'll lose! Bobs definitely winning people over, as are this team, really starting to believe we're better then relegation contenders this year
Cheers for the reports boys! I guess peeters first problem is whether to keep pope in to redeem himself (and to not hurt his confidence) or bring Henderson back in to the fold.
Spot on, he'd have not only saved it but held onto that shot 999 times out of 1,000, bad mistake, everyone makes them, lets just hope it's his 1 howler a season.
Derby targetted Pope from early on, obviously knew we an inexperienced keeper, and their no. 9 pressured him (legally) at every opportunity. Some of the back-passes he received played into Derby's hands, and I can only think that Derby's attempts to unsettle him succeeded. I didn't think he looked nervous, and hope he is not affected by his howler which thankfully did not cost us the win.
I still think we are 1-2 players light in terms of having a really decent season. We need another central midfielder & certainly another striker.
Definitely. Church and the pig in reserve is suicide - especially when we're building such momentum. If Tucudean is injured for Saturday, then I expect moussa will start ahead of them, with a shift in formation. Says it all.
I get the impression that Peeters does not rate Piggot. Just a hunch from watching his interaction with him. Would not be a total surprise to see JP shifted out before the close of the window.
I reckon we need two more Strikers... nothing against Church and Pigott yet neither were able to provide the goals in a Relegation fight so dont really expect them to score the goals in possible promotion fight either. Hopefully we can beat Huddersfield and that'll really show RD how dangerous we can be and he may up the bid for Andy Delort or be in the process of bringing someone else in
Pigott hardly played, which made it hard to score. Unfortunately his future seems to be at another club.
