First impressions
A mate messaged our chat after 15 minutes. He couldn’t follow the game and asked how we were looking. I told him I’d report back after a further 45 and 3/4 games.
It’s impossible to judge based on one game, but still first impressions count, and it’s hard not to draw some early reflections and assumptions.
Jones is a defence first coach and that showed up in spades yesterday. He will make us much harder to play against, and I think the first thing he is addressing is to make draws into wins. Last season draws would be become losses and wins would become draws.
Mitchell, Mannion, Docherty and especially Edwards all played well on their debuts. Adhame fits Jones’ criteria of running through walls and being a big target up top, but he did look of the pace yesterday, but can’t be faulted for effort.
Josh Edwards’ display has got most Addicks talking, particularly in relation to where Thierry Small fits in. Wing backs are pivotal to Jones’ game plan, and I really do think that Edwards, Small, Ramsey and Watson will all get plenty of game time. They all bring slightly different competencies.
We were so powder puff last season at the back, and I would walk away from watching games in despair as Hector in particular would throw his arms up in the air after another mighty defensive cock-up.
It is only one game, but we looked so much better drilled yesterday and that aggressiveness that Jones always talks about was clear. Jones has also signed leaders, all noticeably outgoing too.
Yesterday was a bit of a slog, many L1 games are, but Jones needs to work on a myriad of game plans including how we are better in possession and can unlock teams with everyone behind the ball.
As for the transfer window, it is clear we still need players out. Almost certainly Fraser and Ness, possibly Edun will move on, and probably Asiimwe out on loan.
A new ‘keeper appears a priority, but after yesterday the calling for a creative midfielder type is louder. Someone who can unlock a tight game and provide some inventiveness. Anderson, Coventry and Docherty are very commensurate, so a player who can also notch a few goals would help propel my mind into promotion reckoning. We’ve not had that kind of player since Gallagher or Aribo.
Gillesphey is a squad player for me, and I would like to see a left-sided CB, which don’t grow on trees.
Finally, last season despite Alfie May’s collection, we were low scorers in the division. We have to find goals across the squad, but possibly we won’t always need four to win!
Tuesday I predict that Jones will make plenty of changes to get competitive minutes into more players. Small, Thomas, Edun, Asiimwe, REG, AMB, Zach Mitchell, Berry and Kanu I expect to all start.
A very long way to go, but I feel far more content with yesterday’s 1-0 win than I did a year ago when we beat Leyton Orient by the same score. Jones’ post match celebration was much more genuine too.
New sky channel cut off on 90th min and no highlights.
Yes, as the saying goes it was only one game but credit when it is due and yes there were some outstanding performances and yes have the same worries about the GK situation but Mannion played well but also concerned on teams coming to the Valley and 10 nen behind the ball and we do need a creative midfielder.
COYR keep your feet on the ground and do things quietly and ust hope we can get 2 or 3 in before the window shuts but that sepends on outgoings and ot seems hard to shiftm but even on loan frees up a space,
Also and we all saw it? but Ramsey’s unbelievable tackle and Edwards header amazing indeed and both had to be done.
Still not sure where the goals are coming from but we do have so-called strikers but everyone this year needs to chip in and Jones’s goal a real strikers effort!!
A welcome start. Let’s see where we are after ten games.
Top of the league after 10 games. COYR. 😎
We do have Luke Berry to come in, who reportedly has a goal or two in him. Knowing his previous history with NJ, can’t think he’ll be a benchwarmer all season.
Accidentally clicked on your Shrewsbury article from April after reading this. We’ve certainly made progress in 4 months…
If we consistently keep clean sheets then it only takes one goal to win a match.
It might be that the lack of creativity v Wigan was a feature not a bug, have an impenetrable defence, grab a goal on the goal on the break and nail things down defensively, and that’s what we did. A good strategy for away games and against teams who are expected to up there next May and one that has been used against us plenty of times in this league.
As others have said Josh Edwards was MoM and people are wondering if that means Thierry Small is going to sit on the bench from now on. Who knows, but Edwards looked to be picked to do a job on their speedy right-winger, Rankine, and he kept him quiet all game.
We still need to shift some players on – Edun, Ness, Fraser and Asiimwe etc and get a couple in but we saw the benefit of doing our work early doors. The new players are up to fitness levels and have been integrated and know NJ’s style (some have played with him before).