Newport County 3 Charlton Athletic 1
Hmm, this building a winning mentality needs a bit of work.
It sounded woeful tonight, dumped out of the competition by a team who had conceded 18 goals in their past four games (three pre-season)
We were quite comfortable at the break with Daniel Kanu putting us ahead, but it went pear-shaped second half when we collapsed defensively – some of the errors for goals were pitiful – and then offensively started to play in the opposite way to Holden tells us he wants us to play.
Poor night all round with Tyreece Campbell, Manny Egbo and Richard Chin all getting injured.
Last season gave us memories of what a run in this competition can bring. Not this season it won’t. Pit those that made the long journey.
Patently Dean Holden needs more depth, more options, and players capable of bringing promotion, not bench sitters.
My eyes are on Andy Scott now. With Gallen gone the buck stops with Scott and his paymasters and the assembly of owners who have to back him over the next three weeks.
Dean Holden: “All three goals were really poor. We lost the ball in good areas. Obviously one of the goals the lad slips and there’s not a lot you can do about that, but we’re not marking well enough for the second one in the box, and the first one we gave the ball away in a key area. We shouldn’t be coming here and losing 3-1. It should never be happening to us,”
Cant help thinking ‘same old, same old’. It’s all very well saying we have great young players coming through, and to be fair, we have, and their time will come, but this squad still lacks hard experience and quality. I didn’t think, in the first game against Orient we were anything special against a newly promoted team, but took the win and the three points as a good enough start and hope of better things to come. Scott and the rest have three weeks to get a few Darren Pratley’s through the door if we are going to be a force to be reckoned with this season. On last night’s showing we will be languishing mid table at best again come end of the season.
Mmmm
Let’s be honest here, we have players in the squad who should have win this game.
It’s very disappointing to lose to Newport but they pressured us into submission, and I’m sure Dean will meeting with the team today to review what happened.
The result does not inspire confidence and Andy Scott has serious work to do.
Play an elective weakened team away at a club who can sense a scalp. Guess what? you lose.
What is it with Charlton players? We are already gathering injuries, two games in. We seem to have a knack of collecting injury prone players.
It’s like deja-vu all over again ………………
The back three last night all lack pace compared with Thomas, Jones and Elewere and of course Dobson was missing to cover. I made this point a few days ago after the Aberdeen game, The right and left hand side of the three need pace to cover when the wing backs are upfield or beaten.
When I saw the team sheet I was concerned.
Hmmm from me too. After all the PR about signing the right players Dean will have to put his mouth where the club’s money is now. The Lads not being in the right places isn’t good enough. Have we got a promotion squad? The jury’s out for now but it won’t be for long. Time flies. So do pigs.
At the beginning of every season there is optimism that this is the season we shall do well. My expectations were somewhat shattered by our very first league game against the O’s. With all the hype I expected more than a 1-0 win especially after a full pre-season for many of the players. Same goes for the humiliating loss to a league 2 team in a Cup that has dubious value, except to lower league teams. One would think DH would have fielded his strongest team for this game based on his comments before the game but no he fields 6 academy players, and only substitutes when its too late. Let’s hope this gloomy picture changes quickly or we will be seeking a new manager again.
I’m not too bothered about the League Cup and/or the EFL trophy (we aren’t going to win either) except that they can give squad players a run out and give Academy graduates a taste of first team football.
The League is our bread and butter and should be the main focus.
However…this defeat underlines that we need to develop a winning culture and that’s something we lack. Pre-season Dean Holden was invited to visit Carrington/Man Utd’s training HQ, hopefully one of the things he took away was that a culture of excellence and self-belief is necessary to get you through a long season.
DH made 10 changes from the Leyton Orient game and it might be that this match has helped make his mind up about those who are not up to the fight ahead in the league.
Me too Shadow, but as you say it is about culture and trajectory. Even the knocks we picked up stink of previous seasons. Somehow he (with the help of investment) has to shake this mindset.
Well that bit of optimism about the good start to this season from Deano didn’t last long, did it? All of 3 days before a dose of Welsh reality hit the Addicks between the eyes….
Thankfully I didn’t see the debacle at Rodney Parade last night. What I did see were the statistics – Charlton 70+% of the play, 1 goal – Newport 30% of the play, 3 goals. It’s no damn good having possession if you don’t take advantage of it and score goals! Didn’t anybody consider Newport’s recent league and FA cup record?
Something is badly wrong – is it tactics, team selection or a dose of reality for the new owners spread all over the USA that they had better put their hands in their pockets in the next 3 weeks to strengthen this below strength squad?
Deano has said he wants a “tight squad” – well he’s got that alright… tight thigh muscles, tight quads and whatever else is wrong with the fitness levels within the squad. At this rate we’d need a squad of 40 to cover for injuries this season!
Andy Scott had better get his finger out, and soon – he has big boots to fill in the now departed Gallen and his excellent wheeling and dealing in the market place. We need a proven striker or two (who can score goals), some solid defenders and to bring in some reliable, tough, skilful loanees. By all means bring in the youngsters, but only when they are ready and not to bring in 2 or 3 at the same time putting too much of a burden on them.
Deja vu time at the Valley again I’m afraid….. with a tough away game at Posh in 3 days time.
Maybe dump the black kit….or adopt the all blacks tactics.
Here, here! Get rid of the black. Now!!
It should be the third, with the white the second.
Newport’s Manager had it on record that he found it difficult to field the requisite number of players for the match as demanded of him. This struggle coupled with a leaky defence had him worried, to quote. Beside which he would struggled more so if Newport had 74% of the play, lost 3-1 and had a defence not unlike Charlton Arthritic. What seems like an abrupt end to a cup campaign begs further scrutiny if we consider the early stages of the EFL trophy as rudimental.