Charlton Athletic 0 Millwall 1
I’ve been counting ever since the final whistle. Counting and hoping to calm the hell down. I don’t mind losing, I have had almost 40 years to get used to it, but to lose in a gutless fashion like that is not good enough.
It was a spineless performance again against one of only two teams out of the entire other 91 that Charlton fans hope their players, whatever the generation, or ability show up for.
All the pre-match chest thumping and we know what this game means, you can keep, we don’t want to hear it. Lose yes, but show some heart. From what I saw only a couple of players can sleep tonight on the knowledge that they at least respected the occasion.
Millwall were pretty dire too, and only a wickedly deflected shot gave them the victory, but their stranglehold over us knows no bounds and I would dare anyone to give me the history of a more one-sided local derby.
Joe Pigott had a game that will definitely keep him awake tonight, and proved if nothing else that the board have paired Powell’s squad down to the bone. This is a relentless division and a few players injured or not up for it and you will lose.
Yann has to play for me to make a 3-5-2 work, you need a water carrier, someone to drop deep to link the strikers and midfield, likewise someone also needs to do that job in front of the centre-halves.
Anyway it is not a day to dissect tactics and team selection. It’s a day to forget.
Addick Bloggers at The Valley: Drinking During the Game; Hungry Ted; Blackheath Addick; Charlton Casualty
Powell-ometer: Despite battling words before the game, he send out a side devoid of any passion and must take a chunk of the responsibility for an embarrassing performance.
Elsewhere: QPR won agaon by a single goal, at Yeovil and are top, Burnley continued their great start to the season winning at Leeds. I wonder of the Clarets are this season’s Palace? Blackpool and Leicester stay 4th and 3rd after a 2-2 draw, a late Andy Reid goal gave Forest a draw at Doncaster and Watford thrashed Barnsley at Oakwell. Similarly Birmingham hammered Sheffield Wednesday with on-loan Jesse Lingard scoring all four of the Blues’ goals. Reading won at Derby and Brighton came from a goal behind to beat Bolton. Middlesbrough drew again, 3-3 at home to Bournemouth and Blackburn and Blackburn and Huddersfield ended 0-0.
The defensive six all played OK CA, and you cannot really have much of a go at any of them. The midfield was poor though, and completely out-shone with Pritchard having an awful game (even by his low standards). As for the front two – Church moved about a lot but had poor service (again) and Pigott just had a ‘mare. Joe should be loaned out now (fourth tier would be just right for him) and someone with presence (like Obika) brought in. We cannot rely on Yann every week…
And Yann is always likely to pick up an injury. I wonder if the board will support Powell by allowing him to bring in Obika. He clearly wants him.
Morning CA.I’ve waited a while before posting, to cool down a bit. On Saturday I even booed at the end – the fist time since 1978! I know how to cause a riot..
First off a question for you – how did the atmosphere appear on telly? I thought we made a lot of noise up until about 15 mins to go when we realised just how cack we were.
The Sky commentator (Breiger?) at half time summed up nicely – we don’t go at a team from the off when at home. Haven’t done so for as long as I can remember under Chrissy. Not sure why we try to pass the ball around – we simply don’t have the technical ability (nor do Liverpool by the looks). We can’t lump it forward all the time as Kermit is the only striker/midfield player who can win in the air. So what should our system be? If Chrissy hasn’t worked it out yet, how long does he want?
I think we have an L1 standard squad with some Championship level players and need to find a system that suits our limitations, whilst enabling us to take the game to the opposition when at home. That we don’t have such a system by now indicates Chrissy might not be up to the job.
Lack of commitment and passion in the players on Saturday tells me that if he can’t generate that for our most important match of the season he isn’t the man manager i thought he was. it also tells me that the players aren’ fit to wear the shirt either. Not sure if I’ll ever forgive those who played Saturday.
We are in a very bad place at the moment, and I don’t believe in the fairy stories about Poyet, Pulis and new owners. Heard it all before. We’ll have to make do with what we’ve got for the moment So what part can I play to change things ? Any suggestions?
Pembury Addick
Morning PA. From the ‘telly’ and I was watching on a feed, the atmosphere didn’t sound that great to be honest.
The home form is very worrying. Inferior teams we can’t break down, superior or derby sides we are act scared and are super conservative and they have the quality to pick us off. We cannot rely again on our away form and CP needs to quickly find a solution I agree.
That was the most upsetting thing for me PA. Whatever the team, or formation rarely have fans had any qualms about attitude or heart from a Powell side, and obviously they were massively absent on Saturday. Then again in pretty much 50 years we have lied down and been walked all over in this fixture – whoever the manager or players.
I think PA, and you are one of the most steadfast fans I read and listen too, we have to simply back them and CP. I think in the circumstances he is doing a good job. Yes, he has made mistakes, but his record on the whole is in the black. For me anyway.
Leicester at home was evidence that we can beat anyone in this division, although we need the majority of the team to play 100%. The squad is very thin though. Yet in Cousins, Harriot, Stewart and Evina I think he has some players who can freshen it up for Saturday – IF HE IS BRAVE ENOUGH TO DO IT.
Behind the scenes is not good. Powell has to manage that (others would have walked away believe me) and he has 20 odd players out of contract in 9 months time plus his whole coaching staff. Powell never knew when to shirk a challenge or walk away in a 20-year playing career. He ain’t going to start now, and nor should we. If I was fortunate enough to be in the UK on Saturday, I would be at Turf Moor.
Well said CA! It’s a shame we can’y have Curbs back in some sort of advisory capacity to assist SCP. The current ownership situation can’t be helping us with a Board that says and seems to do nothing.