The official attendance figure is bizarre to say the least. In the greater scheme of things it does not really matter very much, but it does show that on this occasion at least, the system being used to count attendance figures at the Valley just did not function correctly. For the whole season the official attendance figures have been at least 2,000 higher than the number of people actually inside the Valley, and on several occasions the difference was probably in excess of 3,000 (granted this goes on at many other Clubs too). Then however, the first time we get a well attended match and there are no season tickets to factor in, the official estimate is too low by at least 3,000. I agree with Royston, there were at least 17,000 fans inside the Valley last night, probably more like 18,000. Either the counting of the ticketmaster & direct ticket sales went markedly wrong, or if last night's count was accurate then the official attendance figures for the rest of the season were even further out than most of us suspect. If there really were only 14,367 fans in the ground yesterday, then at some other home games earlier in the season the real attendances must have been well below 5,000 (not around 6,000 to 7,000 as I had sometimes estimated or the 9,000+ which the Club usually stated).
As for the football - the second half was very frustrating. Yes, Shrewsbury were time-wasting for fun. But we surely expected that would happen. It was disappointing that the officials seemed not to mind; there should have been at least 3 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half and 7 minutes at the end of the second half to compensate for the time wasting. But in the end Shrewsbury deserved their win. They competed well enough to disrupt most of our attacking moves, their first touches and control of the ball was better than ours, their movement off the ball and the awareness of each of their players of where his team-mates were or would be was usually much better than ours. Too many Charlton players were mis-placing passes or getting tackled too easily or not reading the movement of team-mates properly. Clearly we were trying hard (maximum effort is an absolute minimum requirement under Lee Bowyer) but sometimes that is not going to be enough. Shrewsbury played most of the better football as well as executing their game plan effectively. How many times did we make their goalkeeper work in the second half? How often did we even get within 35 yards of their goal before our attacking moves were broken up? Lee Bowyer is right of course when he says it is not over yet But it is certainly advantage Shrewsbury at this point. We will need nothing short of a heroic team performance and probably the rub of the green to be on our side on Sunday if we are going to be looking forward to a Wembley visit by full time.
On reflection, and having just discussed the game in detail with @baraettmattesvensson on the train to work, I would say last night is about as good as we are. In other words - not good enough. We needed the spine of the team to step up. Amos and da Silva were both excellent. Pearce and Bauer were both decent. BUT...the creative spine of the team was non existent. Kashi...Caskey...Reeves....dear oh dear..to paraphrase Delia Smith "lets be having you" ....where were they all night? Mavididi is what he is, a talented step-over king and footballing gadfly who will influence one game in every five when he starts. As for Ajose and Magennis up front...you would get more chemistry and understanding if you sent Jim Davidson on a date with Diane Abbott. Andrew Muir is going to need very deep pockets if that side somehow flukes it’s way into the Championship.
Stopped in the McDonalds on the A20, on thelong-ish drive home, into the Kent Heartland. Was packed full of Charlton fans and pretty much all agreed that, that, "was f×××ing s×××!" Started well and had some good chances on goal, but my thoughts: (1) we just was not clinical enough with our shots on goal (2) we gave shrewsbury far too much space, allowed them to come onto us. It's a two legged race, I get, Bowyer game plan, don't give away stupid free kicks or pick up unecessary bookings (3) needed more aggression.... Simple! Don't think they were aggressive enough (4) Malvidi and Reese were poor, the former is not Ronaldo, kept giving away the ball and has no pace; Reese passing was just f×××ing poor (5) long ball from the back didn't work I'm not going away leg, but I brought myself a 250watt Soundbar to blast the sound around the house
Not the place for a Pompey v Plymouth **** sling Wooperts. This is Charlton's board not our's. I'll leave you play with yourself.
I think people have been underestimating Shrewsbury for most of the season. It's perhaps why they ended up with so many more points than the rest of the play off teams. It doesn't guarantee they will win the thing but I think they are a much better side than given credit for by some. Time wasting or game management depending if you are giving it or receiving it is something every single side does. We have played loads of sides at Home Park who have taken an age to kick a ball back into play or take a free kick dubiously won or a throw in. Many a player has crumpled to the grass in agony only to rise and sprint away 3 or 4 minutes later. If Charlton were 1 - 0 up in the second game away then they would no doubt slow everything down if they could. The tie isn't over by a long shot. This could still go either way and I wouldn't be surprised if either side won through. Round 2 is going to be just as hard for both.
You slagged off Shrewsbury for being not all that in your post Wooperts. I pointed out that they were 21 points better than your club. That isn't starting anything that is pointing out a fact. I actually think you don't rate them because they are "little Shrewsbury" and they shouldn't have the nerve to be where they are. Just an opinion of course.
Blimey, you really are a legend in your own mind, aren't you sensible ? please log in to view this image
One of our problems I think is that we overestimate ourselves (that is, some of our players do). We do seem to play more like individuals and less like a team than Shrewsbury do. And right throughout this season - not just yesterday - too many of our players show they are not fully skilled in the first thing they should have learned as footballers; how to control the ball. I don't know what we work on in training, but during a full-on competitive match against opposition players who are doing their best to get in our faces and break up anything we try to build our players must be able to bring the ball under control with the first touch. Doesn't matter if it comes in at speed or not quite right in any other respect. You make the ball yours or you blow everything the first time you touch it. How often do we see a player receive the ball only to have it bounce off him, often up off the ground and a yard or two away. In the next second that it takes to gain control of it the opposing player has closed you down, blocked you off, got in a tackle. There is no excuse for a sloppy first touch even at 5th or 6th tier level, never mind in the third division. Players are being paid far too much to make the kind of mistakes you see in the local park on a Sunday morning. As well as having much better awareness of where team-mates were, the Shrewsbury players mis-controlled the ball less often than our players did. That was certainly the impression I got anyway. If that is true, it is not something which can be put right in three days. It is something that players should work all their careers to improve no matter how good they think they are. As players they should never believe they have long since mastered 'the basics' and maybe feel insulted if their coaches dare to suggest they should not continue to practice the first skill they should have learned as youngsters.
I had a discussion with somebody some time ago about youngsters in this Country who get into football and how they are brought up and what the English game is looking for. I actually think that the problem a lot of English players have started when they were kids being trained by professionals and what they were being taught. In England it is often work rate that is the most sought after, They all love a player with "an engine" and it is often the biggest kid on the block who is looked on as an option to progress. Running around the pitch to build up endurance and stamina is paramount. A few years ago I was in Santander in Spain and was watching a load of kids going through a football training session. They were all shapes and sizes but there was no running around all over the place for them. They all had time playing with an actual ball. They were being taught control and how to receive a pass and make one. First time touches. The difference in ball skills between their kids and ours was obvious to see. Not surprising therefore that Spain's national side have been so successful over recent years. I genuinely believe it all starts there.
Our passing on Thursday was awful. The midfield was overrun by Shrewsbury. Magennis and Ajose got very little service. Fair play to the Shrews, they closed us down quickly and didn't give us anytime or space. The only way I can see us getting back into the tie is to score early. That will put the pressure back on them. It they get an early goal I am afraid it is all over.
The stakes tomorrow are massive. We can almost definitely rely on 5/6 players to deliver a quality standard of performance- Amos da Silva Konsa Pearce Bauer Fosu What the rest do tomorrow will determine our fate.
Bowyer may have to abandon 4-4-2. Magennis and Ajose is a useless combination, but they are all we have. How about 4-3-3? Amos Konsa, Bauer, Pearce, Page; Aribo, JFC, JdS; Marshall, Magennis, Fosu.
Absolutely agree that people have underestimated Shrewsbury. Not suggesting the Charlton fans have, just mean in general. I was watching a periscope interview with Darragh McAnthony, Barry Fry and Steve Evans this morning, it seemed to be the general feeling that Shrewsbury are going all the way. It was highlighted that it should not be forgotten that the Shrews have already been to Wembley this season, when they lost to Lincoln 1-0 in the Checkatrade. So Shrewsbury will already have had an experience this season they will bring in to this final run-in. I probably should wish the Charlton lads good luck, but looking a decent L1 season next season with or without them, so they might as well stick around for the fun.
