Sordell and Green need to stop trying to be heroes and need to use their team mates... About three times in the second half Sordell picked up the ball in the middle of their half and just ran with it when there were options available (Before shooting into a blocking man), Green was the same, he had a brilliant chance to put Wilson through on the overlap but decided to go into a cul-de-sac... Play for the shirt not the name on the back of it
Last comment about Sordell but it sadly pleases me that its not just the fans fed up with him... Wilson put a lovely cross into him at one point 2nd Half and the lazy bugger didnt even bother jumping (ironically it was the defender behind him who jumped and cleared it), a few minutes later it happened again and you saw Wilson absolutely scream at Sordell in frustration!!
In regards to Thuram cant say much for the last two games he's played but the first Goal was one of those crosses put into the sort of area where the 'keeper cannot come for it, if they do then they may as well commit suicide its more sensible... the second goal again couldnt do much about
He made just the one commanding punch from a corner which cleared the ball quicker than our defenders do sometimes from such play and made some good catches, he miss-kicked it twice but those who are bemoaning that cant have been around during the times of Kiely because his distribution in the first half was excellent (quickly got rid of the ball to start new attacks as well) - He also made an excellent save shortly after it went 1-0 to stop Burke one-on-one!!
Evina needs to be loaned out to League One... He needs some confidence and its gonna start costing us... It was him sleeping that allowed Burke in for the one-on-one
Poyet is gonna be come a class player and like Cousins now I reckon he'll become a regular feature in the Midfield... Some might be surprised and disagree with me about saying this but I prefer him to Stephens, under him there would be too many sideways / backwards passing whereas Poyet will always drop deep to the Defenders pick up the ball and start an attack.
Ajdarevic... This guy really surprised me and I'd like him to stay on a perm basis, he must have been given a free-role as countless times I saw him drift over to the right by Cousins (which is a slight concern seeing he left Evina on his own a bit) yet the countless times he kept the ball in play was amazing, that with his flick-ons actually going to team mates I reckon we've found a more creative player in Midfield than Kermorgant when playing up front (Bit of a spongefoot when shooting though).
Reza... I liked the runs he kept trying to make, dropped deep to get the ball... reckon if we have him and Church up front they could leave defences paranoid with the amount of running both players do, fraid Powell needs to take him aside and get him to cut out the diving, if he did dive then well done the Referee (It was the only good thing he did all game)
All in all I reckon you've got to look at this result long term... You can see that this team is gonna be passing it around more rather than lumping it forwards and not making excuses for the defeat yet it was difficult trying to do that with the pitch how it was as the players didnt know how hard to pass the ball (when you also combine the fact when the ball would bounce it would be like a rugby ball as there were a few times when Charlton players would position themselves to bring the back under control after the bounce and it would end up elsewhere) etc... so hopefully we can really improve the pitch over the summer
Think overall it was a harsh defeat... We certainly created opportunities but (1) the ball just wouldnt sit for us or (2) We'd have Randolph in the way and I always knew coming into this match that we'd have to come up with something special to beat him
Substitutes... I know a lot of people have criticised Powell's timing and choice of sub today yet felt he got it spot on... Church was brought on to make a nuisance of himself and like I said above... make the defenders paranoid whilst Green was put on to try and add some width (Just I doubt his instructions were definitely not to lose the ball in the middle of the pitch and so concede)...
Had we been 1-0 up I reckon Piotr would have been put on to try and hold the ball up but Church is definitely the man to use when chasing the game... Would like to see Church and Reza start against Sheffield Wednesday with Piotr given a longer cameo (Depending on the score)
Last comment about Sordell but it sadly pleases me that its not just the fans fed up with him... Wilson put a lovely cross into him at one point 2nd Half and the lazy bugger didnt even bother jumping (ironically it was the defender behind him who jumped and cleared it), a few minutes later it happened again and you saw Wilson absolutely scream at Sordell in frustration!!
In regards to Thuram cant say much for the last two games he's played but the first Goal was one of those crosses put into the sort of area where the 'keeper cannot come for it, if they do then they may as well commit suicide its more sensible... the second goal again couldnt do much about
He made just the one commanding punch from a corner which cleared the ball quicker than our defenders do sometimes from such play and made some good catches, he miss-kicked it twice but those who are bemoaning that cant have been around during the times of Kiely because his distribution in the first half was excellent (quickly got rid of the ball to start new attacks as well) - He also made an excellent save shortly after it went 1-0 to stop Burke one-on-one!!
Evina needs to be loaned out to League One... He needs some confidence and its gonna start costing us... It was him sleeping that allowed Burke in for the one-on-one
Poyet is gonna be come a class player and like Cousins now I reckon he'll become a regular feature in the Midfield... Some might be surprised and disagree with me about saying this but I prefer him to Stephens, under him there would be too many sideways / backwards passing whereas Poyet will always drop deep to the Defenders pick up the ball and start an attack.
Ajdarevic... This guy really surprised me and I'd like him to stay on a perm basis, he must have been given a free-role as countless times I saw him drift over to the right by Cousins (which is a slight concern seeing he left Evina on his own a bit) yet the countless times he kept the ball in play was amazing, that with his flick-ons actually going to team mates I reckon we've found a more creative player in Midfield than Kermorgant when playing up front (Bit of a spongefoot when shooting though).
Reza... I liked the runs he kept trying to make, dropped deep to get the ball... reckon if we have him and Church up front they could leave defences paranoid with the amount of running both players do, fraid Powell needs to take him aside and get him to cut out the diving, if he did dive then well done the Referee (It was the only good thing he did all game)
All in all I reckon you've got to look at this result long term... You can see that this team is gonna be passing it around more rather than lumping it forwards and not making excuses for the defeat yet it was difficult trying to do that with the pitch how it was as the players didnt know how hard to pass the ball (when you also combine the fact when the ball would bounce it would be like a rugby ball as there were a few times when Charlton players would position themselves to bring the back under control after the bounce and it would end up elsewhere) etc... so hopefully we can really improve the pitch over the summer
Think overall it was a harsh defeat... We certainly created opportunities but (1) the ball just wouldnt sit for us or (2) We'd have Randolph in the way and I always knew coming into this match that we'd have to come up with something special to beat him
Substitutes... I know a lot of people have criticised Powell's timing and choice of sub today yet felt he got it spot on... Church was brought on to make a nuisance of himself and like I said above... make the defenders paranoid whilst Green was put on to try and add some width (Just I doubt his instructions were definitely not to lose the ball in the middle of the pitch and so concede)...
Had we been 1-0 up I reckon Piotr would have been put on to try and hold the ball up but Church is definitely the man to use when chasing the game... Would like to see Church and Reza start against Sheffield Wednesday with Piotr given a longer cameo (Depending on the score)
You cannot be a "keyboard warrior" old son when you have seen your team in over 1,000 live games home and away. That makes you a credible judge, whether you agree with the opinion, or not.