Tough nut to crack
Talking Point š£ļø
We have been a tough nut to crack whilst on this stupendous run, but Peterborough took a hammer to us on Saturday.
Good teams bounce back, but we also need to recharge our batteries for the run-in as theyāve been looking a little bit on the low side.
Jonesā team play to the point of exertion, and he has mostly relied on the same players these past few months. We were never going to keep winning and being brought back to earth once in a while means a refocus on all the good things that got us to where we are in the first place.
These players are fit and show a lot of hunger, but the biggest impediment was always going to be if we picked up injuries. I understood Jonesā wish to streamline the squad, but beyond about 15 or 16 of them the quality does drop off, or becomes very young and inexperienced, and this is not the time to experiment with youth.
There has been games when I have looked at our bench and thought, to coin a phrase, they are all players that could change a game, but we are running on empty a bit, and sadly Chuks is deep into the red of his career. It was a little sad, and frankly annoying, watching his performance in the 2nd half on Saturday.
True to form we donāt know how injured Edwards, Leaburn or Kanu are, but we most defintely need Josh back as our balance is not as threatening without him. Moreover, even a half fit Miles is better than a fit Ahadme.
Lots of football to be played, and a little reset may be no bad thing. COYR
Our best 3rd is our back 3rd and if weāre gonna make playoffs and succeed in playoffs itāll have to stay fit and stay functioning as it had been up to Saturday. Even with Chuks loafing around ineffectually we might have got a point at least were it not for the Mannion/Watson horror show.
Funny how one game shifts the mood and perspective, onto the next massive game Saturday, a win and weāre back on track, lose and weāre doing an Orient š.
Steve, 100% Agree and have been saying this for a while and yes not only is this Hudds game very crucial but would suggest that it is mammoth and if we win or at least get a draw I will be a little more confident and yes our so-called strikers apart from Godden are not scoring and we have to start Gilbert but have this gut-wrenching feeling we about to do an Orient and hope not. Yes all these statistics and hope we are not due a home defeat and we have not exactly smashed anyone at home but we need wins and more wins and at the moment concerned about our defence but to be fair have been magnificient this season. COYR and Hudds are a really good side and God forbid they beat us and then have a game in hand on us.
It isn’t often I disagree with you but Leaburn hasn’t looked anywhere near the player he was before the injury. Ahadme really hasn’t had a chance through injury and illness. I think he’s a much better player than we’ve seen so far. Time will tell. I really enjoy reading your blog.
Thank you Richard.
This could be Ahadmeās time. Would be great to see.
Seen this and perhaps and about time!!
Re Ahadme, before his injury &/or illness or whatever excuses for Jones made for him not even being on the bench until lately, he played quite a few games previously, with Jones trying every other forward to play alongside him, as he was going to be our main striker replacing Alfie May! Apart from him being absolutely hopeless in every game, there was not one glimmer of seeing something in him that you could see he had some skill and would be a great asset to the team.
In all honesty, I would love to see him suddenly being able to perform, but that appears extremely unlikely, as after watching Charlton for over 50 years, he is probably the worst number nine I can ever remember. Jones was sold a pup with a very large price tag and I think that has cost us in not really challenging for an automatic place earlier on in the season!
Besides Ipswich quickley off loading him once one Charlton came in with a ridiculous bid, as they had sold May and as per usual probably panicked as they had no one to replace him, I only recently found out Portsmouth had previously had him on trial before and sent him back after two weeks and that was when they were also in league one!
Cometh the hour, cometh the man !!!!…..Maybe!!!….we hope !!!
Ahadme recently played in an U21 game and was totally pathetic, lacking technical skill and physically very weak so I was surprised to see him included on the bench last Saturday.
I would rather resort to the tactic used in the past by putting a defender up front to press and hassle and compete in the air. As per Paul Went for us and Elliot for Leicester and Scotland. Otherwise Aneke and Hylton could share the target man role, but Dixon should be considered as cover for Godden as second striker.
Yes and not so sure great to see, but I reserve judgement and not that our options are that great to say the least but we may well have to throw him in but hope that the wide players can provide service to hime and Godden.
Agree with you on all your points here. Chuks, unfortunately gives away a lot of fouls and is becoming extremely frustrating to watch. I think we have to go with Ahadme and Kanu as our subs.
Kanu is injured though.
thereās always Patrick Casey, young, keen obviously inexperienced but with Leaburn and Kanu injured, he may be our best option.