Appleton of my eye

Michael Appleton showed all the unruffled experience of someone that has managed over 420 games in his press conference today. There were a range of journo’s firing questions at the new Charlton head coach and I thought he handled it well.

Appleton said we have to hit the ground running, but Saturday brings a tough initiation with them top of L1 and with a renowned robust playing style representative of the bloke on the sidelines, and they don’t lose much at Broadhall Way either.

Still, we all start afresh and Appleton will have a big backing on Saturday with the away allocation selling out. As an aside I wish the club updated the away section of the website more often on tickets sold etc., they used too, and I don’t know whey they stopped other than possible staffing issues.

Anyway, Appleton has had good time to get his plans and strategies across to the players, and a back to basics style without strangling our attacking play would be welcome.

Due to such a poor start, we do have to hit the ground running but possibly the performance over the result will be a bigger line in the sand after Saturday. We then have two other tricky games before we have a run of Tuesday / Saturday’s when at that point a judgement can be made.

Whilst Appleton’s hiring doesn’t set the heart racing and I don’t think many will be rushing out to get a picture of him tattooed on their selves, although he may have one of himself on those arms, he was an intriguing pick, and I can see why he was chosen.

He does divide those that have been witness to watching him manage clubs in the past, doesn’t everybody other than Pep, but his best successes came at Lincoln and Oxford, although I refuse to compare those clubs to ours.

If you have not seen it, this Lincoln fan’s view, written since he was appointed, is about the best neutral view I have read.

Clearly Andy Scott has hired a coach first and foremost, and is someone known for working well with young players, and having a good success rate of picking and improving young loan players. Sadly five have already been picked for this season, unless that changes in January.

Appleton has been known to be abrasive though, both with players and fans, and I don’t expect him to be buying pints down the Oak anytime soon.

The article talked of favouritism, but I think all managers have their favourites, albeit his appointment might be enough for Conor McGrandles to get his arse of the treatment table.

One thing he said today was that despite the quality or at least the potential of our young players, there are too many in the team, so with alternatives still thin on the ground, it will be interesting to see who he starts, and in what formation on Saturday afternoon.

Whoever is in charge they represent my football team so will get my backing. Make lots of noise those that are going. COYR.