Fox is still an u21 so has time to improve, but do we have any reason to think that Wiggins will not make a complete recovery? At his best he is well up to good Championship standard. At the beginning of last season there was a consensus on here that he was our most valuable asset. On March 4th he played the first half of an u21 match. The OS reported that he "completed the first half without any apparent problems." The fact that he has not appeared since may or may not give the lie to that. But next season does not start for four months. That should give him time to recover and get in a complete pre-season. Holmes-Dennis may be ready to step up next season. He has been an automatic choice for both Oxford and Plymouth so seems to have mastered that level. Then the promising Archie Edwards is only another year behind him. So if we do need another LB we might not to want to splash the cash. Just sign a freebie to tide us over for a season. Someone at the end of their career. Ashley Cole will do. Best of luck with the operation, Ponders. I hope all goes smoothly and you make a rapid and complete recovery.
Tucudean is gone for good but I am not convinced Parzyszek is, knowing how RD likes to rotate his assets. Parzyszek was ill-served by the hype on his arrival, and it is easy to forget he is young. Same age as Pigott and a year younger than Michael Smith and he is currently doing as well in the Belgian second tier as Smith is in the English third tier. Maybe he "outgrew his strength" (to use the quaint Edwardian phrase) and can rebuild the promise he showed as an u19. After seeing the transformation in Bulot, anything is possible!
Guy Luzon quoted on the OS: "I think the second half was brilliant. We moved the ball well and as I have said, we could have scored three." Actually, Guy, we did score three.
Belated but here goes: We started OK, but gradually got worse during the first half. The running theme was poor decision-making when we got near the Reading penalty box, of which pretty much everyone was guilty. At the back we became increasingly wobbly and Johnson in particular seemed to be struggling. The period between Reading's goal and half time was the toughest to watch but we managed not to concede another. The second half was a completely different story. Buyens and Cousins had both had indifferent first halves but began to dominate the midfield as we put sustained pressure on the Reading defence. What Hector was thinking with the handball I have no idea, and it meant that we a tangible reward for our improved performance. Eagles was perhaps the least effective of the front 6 and missed a golden opportunity when Gudmundsson's cross found him all alone at the back post; he had all the time in the world to place his header but could only land it on the roof of the net. Gomez and Gudmundsson were posing much more of a threat in the second half than they had in the first and it was from the right hand side that our second goal came. The ball was fizzed in to the box and the onrushing Buyens knocked it in, with which part of his body I wasn't entirely sure. Today was definitely one of his better games and he deserved to get on the scoresheet from open play. Church replaced Eagles and instantly had a glorious chance to put one over his former employers as a cut-back from the byline found him all alone in the box. His attempt to stroke it home was thwarted, however, by an impressive stop from Adam Federici. With 10 minutes left he did manage to score, although most of the credit should go to Tony Watt for taking on his man, beating him and playing the ball across the box so that all Church had to do was get some kind of contact on it. We remained calm after that, possible too much so. Johnson and Diarra had both put in improved second half displays but were found wanting as a low cross from the right eluded everyone bar Pogrebnyak, who slid it home. There was still a minute or so of stoppage time left and our hearts were in our mouths as Reading won a free-kick not far outside the penalty area, but Henderson came and claimed confidently, and that was that. It was a tough task for Gomez to deputise for the injured Solly at right back, even though he has played there before, and I thought he played well. Fox, too, showed his worth by making some good interceptions. In front of him Bulot ferreted his way around the pitch, making a nuisance of himself even if his play didn't yield much in the way of chances. Watt was Watt and richly deserved the standing ovation he got as he was substituted with a few minutes to go. He really is a special player to watch. A good day's work all round. Luzon has shown that, even if the first half performance isn't up to scratch, he has what it takes to inspire a better one in the second half. He and the players have made it worth going to The Valley again.
What was everyone's interpretation of Luzon and Watt's chat after he came off? Certainly looked good natured. Wasn't there rumours they didn't get along at Liege though? Or have I misunderstood?
Watt said Luzon was the best manager he's played for I think? What's everyone's opinion of Johnson? Been shocking the last few games.
Don't know why but I had interpreted that as sarcasm! Perhaps that was my initial anti Luzon predisposition... To be fair Eagles compares Luzon to Owen Coyle and Sir Alex in the programme! Agree with Eddie re Johnson. But I'll give him the benefit of the doubt given he hasn't played a lot of football recently and that he comes with a decent reputation up until Wolves. I'd stick for next season.
Johnson was really struggling mentally towards the end of the first half. He had been caught the wrong side on a couple of occasions and I'm not sure if the frustration was with himself or him lashing out at others. He was better in the second half so I think you're being a tad harsh, Super. I definitely think he needs the pacier Gomez alongside him as he will always be beaten in a flat sprint with a nimble attacker. One of the potential problems he has is that Gomez has now established himself as the new home-grown wunderkind on the block, meaning that the mistakes he makes don't elicit half the number of groans in the crowd that Johnson's mistakes do. He'll never have Joe's (or indeed Bikey's) popularity and I just wonder if he might resent that a little. I'd be happy to keep him next season.
It seemed friendly enough to me too. I think Watt was removed both because he was exhausted and because Luzon worried he might get himself sent off after the altercation which lead to the Reading red card. He does have a knack for winding up opponents. I think as long as the fans continue to idolise him Watt will continue to enjoy his football and put in stellar performances.
Pity Church chose to celebrate his goal by shushing the crowd rather than going straight over to Watt as a sign of appreciation. I think Johnson's form has dipped suddenly in the last 2 games, and if he doesn't improve a bit he'll be dropped.
Church does that celebration every time he scores. Which is about 20 times in his career. I kid kid. Johnson - not as confident with him now after his impressive start. I'd like to see TBH and Gomez for the next match. Could be worth another year, but I'd like another CB brought in.
Same comment as re: LB. Perm two from the four old has-beens (TBH, Bikey, Johnson and Diarra) and hope that either Obileye or Lennon come through next season. Of course, if RD has cash burning a hole in his pocket, buy a ready-made CB. (Morrison would do). But it would not be my first priority position to strengthen.
Welcome win yesterday, but unlike the drooling buffoons on ITTV I am finding it very difficult to work up any enthusiasm. Nailed on that JBG and maybe Watt will be sold this summer at the first decent bid, so how can we feel any affinity with these players when they do well? I would rather watch Paul Hayes and Pawel Abbot in our shirt, with Parky in the dug outt. It was crap, but at least it was authentic Charlton crap. This just feels like an hallucination.
Why nailed on to be sold? We're 4 players away from having a starting XI capable of a promotion challenge and subsequant Premier Leage riches; given the last two transfer windows I would suggest we will be a buying club this summer as opposed to a selling club.
If Diarra were to be retained I would like him to be considered back in midfield, and not as a 4th choice CB. Ideally it would be Gomez nailed on to start, Johnson and TBH being good back up with a new CB. Bikey I think can move on, good start but I'd like to think we can progress from him.
Hope your right Kish regards the buying club, afraid for once I am in the Royston camp & fear our good players will be sold/rotated around network. If we hold on to the good players I may get a season ticket again for next season, I'll hold on 'till nearer the start of next season to decide.
Igor isn't playing well enough to fetch a decent price,and if Watt keeps playing like he is his value could double in a year, so for my money Gudmundsson, who only has a year left on his contract, is most likely to be sold. Gomez and Cousins are two more players whose value will probably increase next season, so hopefully we'll be seeing more of them.
