Bristol Rovers 2 Charlton Athletic 1
Another dispiriting defeat to another late goal caused by amateur defending.
We came into the last 7 game period with 6 looking winnable. A chance for head coach and players to ignite a play-off contention and inspire fans as the transfer window opened. 5 weeks later the season is left on the cutting room floor.
We started the game well and May, starting out on the wing again, hit the bar. Slowly Rovers took control and dominated for the remainder of the half and had a goal disallowed just before the break.
Rovers continued in the same vein at the start of the second period but the game remained scoreless and we started to create chances. Nothing to get you off your seat and certainly nothing to indicate I was watching the same game as Michael Appleton, but Campbell (C) had a shot save, CBT blasted over and Kanu mis-controlled an opening he made for himself.
After 68 minutes our purple patch was over as the Gas took the lead when Chris Martin got in front of Edun to score. We reacted poorly hardly able to put a pass together and showing no sign of getting back into the game.
Appleton then further alienated himself with fans, especially the sold out away end, and took May off, who we found out later was carrying a knock, but was again truly wasted out on the wing often finding himself deep in his own half during the game. Why Campbell (C) is at 10 and May wide is a mystery only known to Appleton.
An actual winger Tyreece Campbell came on for May, and out of nowhere the youngster took advantage of a defensive error to cross for Tedic to sweep home in what might have been his first real involvement since coming on before we conceded.
We were undeservedly level and had the choice then to shut up shop and take home a point or show some enterprise and ambition and go for all three.
We did neither conceding in injury time again to another defensive cock up as 6 or 7 players in black shirts watched a quick free kick move into our box and across the face of the goal to be finished by Martin without a Charlton player breaking a sweat. Hector in particular seen walking back to the goal as they scored.
That is 5 goals conceded from the 80th minute onward in the last 5 L1 games. One win since the start of November and two clean sheets under Appleton’s leadership.
But don’t worry the transfer window opens on Monday.
MoM: I can’t pick a defender after that second goal, so maybe Campbell (C).
Appleton of my eye: I have watched that post match interview a couple of times and this sadly is a well worn road of a manager staring into the headlights and talking drivel.
Elsewhere: Below us Port Vale stuffed Blackpool 3-0, the O’s drew with Wycombe, Burton beat Shrewsbury and Wigan beat Carlisle.
In the interview Appleton did on X, he actually said that up until their second goal, we had done ‘great.’ It had me questioning my ability to watch and evaluate what i had seen. So thank you for validating my experience. Apart from League 2, I have no idea where we go from here.
To those people who disagreed with comments that Appleton didn’t have a game plan and is tactically inept after the Leyton Orient game, please tell us, what happened last night? Once again in his after match interview, he apparently watched a different game than the rest of us. His appointment was a mistake, and those people crying to give him more time and it will all be better after the window, will be, I think disappointed. As much as we don’t want to continue as a club with a managerial merry go round, Appleton is not the manager to take us forward.
I’m incandescent with rage after we yet again conceeded a late goal…..how many more times ?????
I think it’s five games on the bounce where we have let in very late goals,costing us valuable points.
Get Steve Brown in now !!!!!
We are so poor at the back and I’m thinking some of the players have downed tools fed-up with Appletons lack of tactical awareness and choice of starting players.
I fear the worst for Appleton if we lose on New Years Day….fans are not happy and feel sure will make their feelings known too.
Owners are VERY quiet….mmmmm wonder why ?
Look, harsh reality is Appleton’s got to go, us fans have been here so many times before …. Robinson …. Pardew …. I Agee absolutely with Richard, so often we wonder if we’re the only ones who can see what’s really happening on the pitch. My first game at CAFC was in 1968, I’ve never felt so negative about it.
Inept tactics, inept team selection, Alfie May on the wing, no passion, no drive, no ability to change things during the 90 mins, no charisma, no personality. and possibly losing the dressing room……Why did Appleton get the job ?
It is obvious Appleton has lost the dressing room.
It must be obvious to Scott as well. Once a manager loses his players there is only one outcome.
Even Dobbo playing now to avoid injury and CBT just going through the motions.
Leaderless on and off the pitch, we are on a slippery slope and these players are thieving a living.
If it were me I would:
1. Rip up Dobson and CBT contract offers. Let them go either now or summer.
2. I would not get shot of Appleton until we are clear of relegation.
3. I would not invest beyond the bare minimum in Jan. Who of anyone we wanted would come to us?
4. I would then do a complete rebuild starting in July once a new manager appointed. Let him choose his players in summer window.
5. For the love of christ do not let Appleton near any spending.
I watched the video last night that some guy took of Appleton during the match. Passionless throughout, just stood there for 90 mins with his hands in his pockets. Never once barked out orders even after the goals.
Appleton stood motionless dressed like a cat burglar on the touchline has been a regular thing recently stopping only for a sip of water. About as inspirational as a packet of tofu.
Agree with Mike H, until we actually pay out out for a decent manager who has a decent track record we are going nowhere no matter what players they bring in. All the managers Charlton have brought in since the early troubles began have been cheap options. They either been out of jobs &/or recently sacked or have been out of the game for years and have mostly only ever worked in lower leagues, with the majority having never achieved anything of note previously as a manager with most nothing any higher than league 2! Little wonder then we are where we are.
There have been various decent managers, with good track records in Divison one & the Championship who were available over the years, who when snapped up by someone else have proved their worth, but unfortunately as per the norm, Charlton have only been looking at the cheap options to save costs, so unless this changes with our new owners, can’t really see us ever really moving forward. As, hope I am wrong, but Appleton is just another Holden & previous managers who don’t have the know how to turn around things when it’s all going pear shaped, from league one upwards, both player wise and tactical wise, no matter what players they have at their disposal!
There’s a slight problem with that mate. No manager of any quality is likely to come near CAFC right now.
Daggs, exactly that.
Keep Appleton for now as we know the season is busted.
Wait till end season/early summer for complete clear out and that might attract someone decent to build up from scratch.
Yup, On the 28th I posted that as part of the conundrum the club face.
Keep him, let him have is window. Or sack him let the new manager have the window. Either way I see no promise for this season, sadly.
Hi Houndal and Daggs,
Appleton has lost the plot, players unsure of what to do, tactics are odd and squad selection strange.
The fans have not warmed to Appleton and everyone is frustrated with our current downward trend.
The owners and management have gone to ground…..where are you Methven and Scott ?
Only seem to see you when your entertaining your guests at home matches….
Sit back at your peril and don’t act now will result in a relegation battle and if we drop a league we are finished….
Am I the only one very very worried how the club is being badly run ?
Happy New Year !!!!
You cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear. Why is nobody questioning the players energy levels and motivation to simply run their hearts out on the pitch. These are things which have nothing to do with tactics. They’re things which committed pros simply do.
That is very true bgb and a point made very well by Steve Brown last week. I have really never got this ‘lost the dressing room’ stuff. You are a professional footballer. Show some pride!
In a darkened room at The Valley…..the red phone rings loudly on an empty desk….cobwebs and dust are blown away…
“Hi this is the Senior Management Planning Dept….How can I help ?”
“Give me some decent money and contract and I’ll sort out the team and save your season !”
“OK Neil (Warnock)…..jobs yours see you in January…”
Could do worse !!!
Could do a lot worse than Warnock – which is exactly why he wont be on the radar (apart from money). He does allegedly like a challenge though….
Or ……. Uncle Woy is about to get the bullet from Palace, give him a ring…
Or the ultimate – we have had the BFG, now for BFS…
Taxi for Appleton…….
The executive/senior management team have gone AWOL. Do they even exist?? The offices at the Valley must seem like a scene from the Marie Celeste….. Attendances are dropping along with revenue and what do we hear from the top dogs? Nothing.
There is NO leadership at our club from the top, the team manager or the team captain – we are like a rudderless ship, and we all know what happens to them. A football club should be all about passion – from the Directors, the team manager and the on-field Captain – I haven’t seen any of that in SE7 since Jacko was in charge.
The owners (or whatever titles Methven & Co have) have brought in the last two managers – both of whom are of the same ilk as several of those that have recently warmed the hot seat. Clueless tactically, bereft of personality and passion on the bench – and sadly Appleton is included in that description.
Charlton only do well it seems when they appoint a manager from within the club. Sir Chris was outstanding, Bow was a revelation, Jacko did as well as he could without any support from above ….. err, have I forgotten someone? Oh yes, and of course Curbs.
There he is sitting in the East Stand studio most games probably itching to get out there and knock some heads together and change things around. Sitting next to him is the ideal defensive coach in Brownie, just what the club needs at the moment. Would these two want to be nos. 1 & 2? Part of them would probably say “no thank you, I don’t need the hassle…” but I bet a part of them would also say “I can’t be any worse than what has gone before, why not?”.
This season is shot – NOW is the time with 2 transfer windows to come to start the big re-build for next season.
Sorry Michael, you’ve had your chance and proved to be not up for the job – I can see your point in putting Alfie around the box to poach when he can instead of making him a vulnerable target man….. but out on the wing??? For Pete’s sake…… he ain’t going to score from out there because he’s no Mo Salah – he’s a sniffer, a poacher, he needs to be IN the box.
I dread to think what next month is going to bring – but it’s more likely to involve cashing in on our best players (not that there’s many of those….) and bringing in more journeymen dross.
We think of ourselves as a big club – but the Titanic sank, didn’t it? At the moment we are closer to the bottom (again) than the top of the table, by the end of January we could well be in a dog-fight.
FFS can we see some Leadership from someone in the Club????