Charlton Athletic 1 Middlesbrough 2
An emotional night ended with a fifth consecutive defeat.
The club and supporters as well as the referee, Boro’s team and fans beautifully remembered Headphones Norm, and there was a more spirited 2nd half to cling onto.
Yet cling we do as our slide down the table continues. I was always one that was looking down and not up, but somehow Nathan Jones has to stop the rot.
Despite just 12 minutes of play on Saturday, Jones changed the team quite a bit for tonight and sadly it was another game when players that have kept their place in recent months didn’t deliver.
The formation from kick off did not look solid, and Boro’s wide players were given so much room. Jones changed it, but I’d wish he would get it right from the off. It was another really sluggish start.
We were better and showed more battle when Docherty, Anderson, Fuller came on at half time, and had more about us offensively when Olaofe and Apter came on later. Apter’s assertive movement and cross assisted our goal, which was scored by one of Boro’s defenders.
We huffed and puffed after that 81st minute goal throwing men and balls forward but failed to create anything clear-cut. Olaofe had our best chance but spiralled a shot on the run well wide.
The first half we were outclassed again. Boro looked good and confident and after Kaminski made a hatful of saves, the away side eventually took the lead on 34 minutes.
Annoyingly Carey gave the ball away in the lead up, and when TC ducked a challenge high up the pitch, which had me screaming at the screen, Boro raced away in first half injury time and scored a 2nd.
That was pretty much game-over, but the 2nd half was a big improvement, but again for the fourth match running we were playing against a better side with their tails up who just had to fend us off and defend a lead.
There was less of an elment of them toying with us than in recent games, but we have to find ways to get teams on the back foot and create chances. We have yet to come back to win a game after being behind, and in fact it was only Hull when we came back to claim a point.
We simply have to be better. I don’t have the answers, but that is the task ahead of us.
🎙️”Over the last few games we have had a brutal run, playing four of the best teams in the league with arguably five of our starters out. We can compete at this level. The tough run has coincided with us being nowhere near full strength and that is showing at the moment.” – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Thomas Kaminski
🏟️ 17,258 (2,457 from Middlesbrough)
📸
Five consecutive defeats. Goals for 3 against 14. !!
NJ will and has already pointed to the injuries for a source of the problem and he may well be justified in doing so.
But there’s more to it than injuries. He starts every game with Campbell, who has to his name, one assist for the season. He starts every game with his preferred formation, despite not having the players that suit it.
We go behind and he then swops the formation around once, twice, three times. after that no one knows what they are doing.
These are his players, he demanded control of transfer targets and was given it.
We are now in a doom loop, dropping down the table like a stone. Our hard fought promotion last May is being thrown away.
January brings an opportunity for reinforcements. Who, if anyone would come to Charlton right now is something of concern.
Who decides on the next transfer targets, assuming the owners allow any, is perhaps the bigger question.
Daggs, Precisely 200% and we have Division one players and those who cost so much money not getting the minutes at all, so why sign them if they are not going to play.
Too many favorites, as stated so often and well, Campbell how on earth does he get a salary.
Seriously, we are looking we are going down to that poxy league and very tiresome stating the injuries again and againm yet a few small weeks ago he was happy with his squad and we have some real quality and have players to come in.
Really Jones and he has to find a way to solve so many problems, but cannot see where the next point is coming from, let alone a win.
I think we have been found out by other teams. We have only one way to play and if that doesn’t work we are lost.
I can’t understand why Anderson, Fullah and Docherty didn’t start the game and Aloafe in my opinion is better than most upfront. In the first half we weren’t anywhere near there players when we were supposed to be marking, making it so easy for them to move into space to receive passes. Second half was worth watching and we did put them under pressure at times moving and passing better, unfortunately we were mostly snatching at chances up front. Pleased Apter got on the pitch and in his first run showed what he can do when required which led to our goal. Let’s hope we can start turning things round, s draw would do.
Keep your chin up guys we have another 27 games left lets remember one aim this season granted it does look like that one aim is slipping away and it will slip away if they keep playing like they did in the first half AGAIN wasn’t Southampton, Stoke Coventry and now Middlesbrough all lost in the first half I used to like TC but I ve lost all patience with him now and Leaburn I think is playing a division too high Kaminski played great last night making crucial saves to keep us in the game NJ must get this sorted another tough game at the weekend but with all of our support we can do this COYR
Survival a priority I agree with Craig leaburn out of his depth, as for TC everyone I’ve spoke to are losing patience with him, apter got to get more game time along with aloafe coyr
Cheer up everyone !!! I know we are losing too many games but let’s be realistic.We are facing Championship teams that are more experienced and many with Premiership players for the first time.Thank God we has a great start to the season getting many points in the bag that hopefully will be an asset.January will be a critical time and hopefully we can get new blood in the help us remain in this league.Any realistic fan will agree that staying in the Championship is priority and I’m angry to hear some fans wanting Jones sacked….really ?????????
Keep the faith and results will come…
Some of us see all the angles and we can see things. so why can they not.
I realise it is not that easy, but too many favourites and FFS play players in their proper positions.
TC is woeful. Was bang average in league 1 & is so far out of his depth now that it’s almost laughable. One thing I thought he had was work ethic, but that’s now gone out of the window. How he wasn’t taken off last night is inexplicable & not sure why NJ loves him so much.
My son messaged at half time that in tribute to Norm he would be wearing headphones (over his eyes)!
😆😆