Shrewsbury Town 0 Charlton Athletic 0
I had high hopes today. We had built some momentum, more players were back to give Michael Appleton further options and I thought we’d come hurtling out of the blocks.
How wrong could I have been. The first half performance was dreadful, and it was another game of differing halves, but we had too many ineffectual players in what I thought was a very ineffective system.
A clean sheet is not to be sniffed at, our first in any competition since the opening day, but that was more by luck than judgement.
Whilst players such as CBT, Tyreece Campbell and Terry Taylor made none or little contribution to the game, Harry Isted in goal was the main feature.
I have not warmed to the former Luton goalie, but he kept us in the game at the break, and also at the death. In between he almost conceded from 60 yards, and decided to take a Shrews forward on at the edge of his penalty area, came a cropper and was lucky not to see red.
We did have our chances and again we improved when subs were thrown on. Louie Watson was a big upgrade on Taylor and both Tedic and especially Aneke were a bigger threat supporting May than CBT, Leaburn and TC were.
Appleton started in a 4-2-3-1 but I couldn’t work out any real understanding of how the offensive four players were meant to mesh. Certainly we were futile out wide, and other than pieces of the 2nd half we showed very little connectivity as a group.
Defensively we looked better. Hector was improved, Jones had another good game and Tennai Watson was solid. Thomas did okay at left back, but we missed Edun’s forays forward.
However our passing forward was generally rotten, and overall it was a crap game.
Onto Tuesday then where Appleton will need to take a good look at what didn’t work today, and there was a fair bit.
MoM: Harry Isted
Appleton of my eye: Still working out his best team and formation and with players returning that doesn’t make that any easier. Generally in his games in charge we have worryingly started games really apathetic.
Elsewhere: Oxford had the result of the day winning at Stevenage and they sit behind Pompey in the table, who won at Wigan. Fleetwood got their first win of the season at home to The O’s. Cheltenham are rooted to the bottom after going down at Lincoln. Tuesday’s opponents Exeter lost at home to Northampton.
Still can’t see why AMB was dropped
Agree with you Bill.
Possibly equal goalkeeping skills but distribution is better from Isted? To use a rugby term seen AMB kick from hand to go out on the full over the halfway line whereas HI is accurate and consistent.
GOOD TO SEE YOU ON HERE MR SKUDDER I AGREE 100 %
Fair summary CA, gotta feeling we’ll carry on being futile out wide on account of a squad that ain’t got no wingers…nothing other than 6 points from these 2 home games will get the pulse racing…
Agree with CA & Bill dreadful first half, as previously said we seem to be a team who can only play one decent half each game and that won’t get us anywhere near the top six!
Plus also can’t see why AMB was dropped, whilst Isted actually made some good saves in this game, he also most us the draw by stupidly trying to play past their attacker and lost the ball so had to bring him down which should have been a red card and also had to tear back to make a fumbled lucky clearance when he was way off his line, for some reason!
Also have no idea why Louie Watson was dropped as he had a good game last week and looked far better than Terry Taylor, apart from a couple of slips ups, who was only passing sideways and backwards, as he has done when previously played.
Have to agree with your comments CA and Bill.
There is so much work that needs to continue if we are to progress up the table, and the longer the process goes on the stark reality is that we could face trying to avoid relegation.
I’m sure MA will be in his office with his whiteboard and markers drawing arrows to show the players where the goal is.
Football is a very simple game….hit the ball into the onion bags as many times as you can in 90+ minutes.
Hi I think AMB has been dropped because Scott purchased him.
I would not be surprised if he sold at the next brake.
Agree completely re the formation. A schoolboy could see it wasn’t working. Best aerial threat on the right wing? CBT was shut out from the first few minutes. Didn’t notice Taylor was on until 40 minutes. Still spend 30% of our possession passing it back and forth across the backline when very clear we can’t make anything with it when forced to play out.