Cambridge United 3 Charlton Athletic 1
I am about as least worried by exiting the League Cup than I have been for many seasons. The phrase we need to concentrate on the league is just.
I didn’t listen or pay any real attention but it did not sound good.
Certainly Jones wasn’t happy, but although he made eleven changes we had a front three of Knibbs, Kelman and Oloafe. Then add in Anderson, Rankin-Costello and Gillesphey and that is a core group of first team players.
From Jones’ comments afterwards it sounds as if he has gone from possibly adding one more player this week to needing a few, but that’s what happens when you move out six players on loan, most of which can be considered first team squad players.
Squad depth has suddenly become a problem, and heaven help us if we get an injury crisis because the replacement back five has just shown that they can’t compete with a League Two team. We will have to see what happens in the remainder of this transfer window
As for the game, the team sheet looked like a load of players just thrown together and the bench was a little embarrassing. No disrespect to any of the young players, but none of those were going to be game changers.
Also very odd that Ewens-Findlay, Reid and Lock all played for the U21’s at The Valley just a few hours earlier! I’m not annoyed about going out of the competition but I question if we were ever going to win the game.
I’ve read subsequently from those that were there that the front two of Kelman and Oloafe, who had real reasons to make an impression, were offered pitiful service all game.
One to forget, and a valid reminder of keeping up our levels.
🎙️“It will be a learning curve for everyone because I won’t allow that (performance) to creep into our environment. I’m disappointed with that tonight, I really am.” – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Ibrahim Fullah
🏟️ 3,231 (736 Addicks)
📸 Kyle Andrews
Unlike you Chig I am annoyed about going out of the League cup. It was a chance to have a cup run, to perhaps get a glamour tie. To bring in some extra money. It is even a route to Europe. It’s early in the season, our injury pile-up hasn’t started yet !!
As soon as I saw the team selected, I said to myself, that’s a team picked to lose. It’s an insult to the competition and more than that, an insult to the fans that travelled and paid to watch it.
That I’m sorry to say was Nathan Jones at his his worst. He may as well have phoned the Football League and said ‘give Cambridge a bye cos I ain’t interested’
I hope he looks back and considers the folly of his actions and never repeats them.
Not too worried about exiting the competition, more worried about Kelman, Oleafe, and Knibbs not being able to score against League Two opposition.
It was expected….some of the team were academy players with a few first teamers….Cambridge looked and played a structured game under Neil Harris and to be frank their win was deserved.
I watched the U21 game against Barnsley yesterday afternoon and again we fielded a young team but deserved the 1-1 draw.
QPR looked and I’m sure Jones and the coaching team will get us back to winning ways !!
We played an Academy team with some experienced players here and there, and the bench, bar Will Mannion, was entirely composed of 18/19 year old players. And several of those experienced players were subbed off in the second-half.
Regarding the defence, Reece Burke is back in training and should be match squad ready in a week or two -no idea when as under NJ we rarely get updates on injured players.
Essentially we picked a side to make sure that the first team starters could rest and the bench players got some game time. If we win on Saturday then it’ll have been worth it – and we need league points.
Last night showed exactly where NJ’s priorities were.
Jones actually started with 8 first team experinced squad players and only three academy players! Plus Cambridge I believe did also not play all of their first team main squad.
So its no excuse for such a poor performance, as those players presumingly want to get a shot at playing in the first eleven, you would have thought much more effort would have been put in!
Obviously Jones thought so as he has slammed them all, bar one!
I thought there were some good points about the game. Fullah looks a prospect and Gough did well when he came on as the last sub. Rylah was better than in the Stevenage game and put in some good crosses. Zach reinforced my opinion that he is not strong enough for a No.5, he needs to play on the RHS of a 5. Anderson was unfortunate with the red card as it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, having said that it was the correct decision. He will miss the next 3 games which could be significant as he and Knibbs are back up for the first team. Rankin Costello does not look ready for the first team.
It is worrying that Olaofe and Kelman provided little threat against a Div.2 side.
Agree with rierti, didn’t watch the match but saw the highlights and Zac Mitchell looked all over the place for two of the goals, looks like Jones sent the wrong Mitchell out on loan! Also concerned about Kelman and Costello, not about Olafe as he has played really well when he has come on as a sub with Leaburn. Kelman has looked totally lost when he has played the league games and looks like he did nothing yesterday, when he should have been playing his heart out to show what he can do to get back in the side. Just hope we haven’t made another complete cock up again with our most expensive purchase , who isn’t ready for a jump up in leagues! As for Costello, I have not seen him, but my friend who I go with, also saw him previously in non league game and said the same, he was very poor, considering he was Blackburn regular! Plus surprised Reece Burke was not playing, as he was in the match squad against Leicester, so is he still injured or not match fit, as surely this would have given him some game time, which he must need?
So at present it doesn’t appear we have such a large squad as Jones wanted, who are ready to step in when others are injured &/or don’t perform, as in the Championship you really do need the extra bodies, to be able to come straight in and perform, when required!
With only Godden to return, which probably won’t be until end of September/October, maybe he should also have kept Kanu and not sent him out on loan.
These results happen, look at Man Utd..
We go forward to Saturday and will judge performances in that environment. I repeat it is a marathon not a sprint. We are adapting and new players need time to bed in. Let’s get behind them! Godden, May and JRK were slow starters. Those critics were sharpening their knives early in the season. Sorry neither Kanu or Alex Mitchell loans are a bad move.