Charlton Athletic 1 Derby County 2
Very disappointed about that. This should be a winnable home game, at least a game not to lose.
First league defeat of the year, but we have limped to this point, and too often tonight we were loose and ponderous in our play all over the pitch.
I didn’t like Leaburn and Dykes together up front, and it appeared nor did Jones after 45 minutes.
I understand Ramsey moving out to the right with Burke back, and Clarke on the bench, although when he came on I thought the Ipswich man was good again.
Coventry did not impose himself on the game and Gillesphey and Anderson are playing a level above their abilities.
We started okay 1st half, but only okay. There were no fireworks though and we did not manipulate the trajectory of the game, either through lack of ability or effort.
Then they scored 17 minutes in, a goal conceded due to a mix of poor defending and bad luck.
After that in the half I started to get the sweats because we looked like we did not have a clue how to get back into the game. We move the ball so slowly, and back, and slow. It also needed Kaminski again to keep us in it, saving from ex-Addick CBT when clean through.
Jones did change it at the break, taking off Leaburn and introducing Fullah, who I honestly think could be a catalyst for survival, and my do we need one.
Now we had Fullah, Carey and TC finally moving themselves and the ball quicker and with potency. Clarke was good on the right and Dykes was causing a nuisance.
It was better, until it wasn’t as we gave away another poor goal, which might not have happened if Lloyd Jones was on the pitch. Nonetheless if we have any chance of staying in this division, then we have to remove the defensive lapses and errors of judgement from our game. Nathan Jones still has credit in the bank with me, but this now is all about you Nathan.
Whether that is by going back to basics or new signings, it has to happen now, and Nathan, I care less about what happened a year or two ago, but what is happening tomorrow.
At 0-2 there was a very big chance then that the game was over, but we got back into from a brilliant goal by TC, who we know has that in his locker, just not anywhere near enough, but I thought he had a good game tonight.
Then of course it was all out attack. Kelman, Godden and Berry were all on, and Derby went down to 10 men on 85 minutes. It’s just a real shame that we had to wait until this point to raise the temperature, although in fairness The Valley crowd were good on a horrible weather night in SE7.
There was no comeback and it was a lot of huff and puff, but too little too late and I really don’t want that to be written on this season’s epitaph.
🎙️ “What we need to do is making sure we go back to keeping clean sheets. There aren’t many games when we don’t score, we need to go back to keeping clean sheets and defending properly. We need to stay together; [the players] are giving everything. We have had a tough run, today was a hard one to take, I wanted to go back-to-back wins.” – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Tyreece Campbell
🏟️ 16,266 (1,980 Derby)
📸
Leaburn & Dykes together was definitely a disappointment. I believe that Kelman and Godden will be the ones to benefit playing alongside Dykes, latching on to the flick-ons etc.
It feels like NJ is still trying to find a balance in midfield and up-front, and is always tinkering with the starting eleven, which is a bit of a worry now that we are 27 games in.
As you say, NJ does have credit in the bank, and with a couple more quality signings in this window, I think that we will have enough to be playing Championship football next season.
Hopefully, Lloyd Jones’ substitution was just cautionary, as he would be a big loss.
Jon, Agree 2 big lumps up front 1st Half, and of course, no service as we have no one able to cross the ball, and a bit ironic Clarke came on 2nd half and yes played well again, and yes he was crossing from deep.
I do not believe we are going to get 2 quality signings in, and think Jones might well panic and get sub-standard players in.
Chicagoaddick yet another very poor 1st half and the same problems, and I wish Jones would swallow his pride and ego and drop this senseless wing-back situation, as it clearly does not work, but Mr Stubborn refuses to change the formation right.
Like you, and not one CAFC supporter has not appreciated what Jones has done over the last 18 months and no one is disputing this.
However, we are sick to death of him stating the same things over and over again about what I did for the club, and that was then and history and still, when he gets the chance to have this pathetic dig at the wonderful supporters.
Surely, the Owners can see he has spent a small fortune on the so-called cream of Division One quote ” I have brought in some really great quality in and am very happy with the squad I have assembled” HIS PLAYERS NOW!!
What of course, he did not mention was that several were injury-prone or had no pre-season training at all.
However, there were huge fees paid out for Aptley, Knipps, Tango and Rankin and hardly played them, and especially of course the diabolical “treatment” of Aptley.
Swallow your pride, Jones on the last one, but he won’t and reminds us of his similar antic with May in the other season!!!
Surely the Board should have noticed and do wonder their ambition for this club at times.
Agree JW300, NJ has just one way of playing and he won’t change the game plan. It was crying out for someone like Apter, who wasn’t even on the bench, to come on and put crosses over to two of the biggest forwards on the pitch. So have no idea why NJ put two big lumps on together, when apart from, at last some decent corners by Carey, we had no winger who could put the ball over to them!
You only have to look at several of the last games, Southampton, Stoke, Coventry(away), Middlesborough,Sheff Utd, Derby, all who play with wingers, who we struggled against down both sides. So in affect it really doesn’t matter who he plays up front it they don’t get the service, as we see every week, its not their entire fault, its the continue same gameplan and style that NJ continues to play no matter what.
Unfortunately NJ also has this very large ego and its either his way or the highway and anyone who even slightly disagrees, will be on that highway. So wouldn’t be surprised if Apter will be gone before the transfer window, which considering how well he was playing before, one of NJ’s past favourites Bree, took his place as soon as he arrived! Which would be a great shame as he looked a real find on that wing, as apart from him being able to take on players and put decent crosses over with either feet he brought a lot of excitement for the fans, which has mostly sadly been missing.
The real issue for me is, if NJ, does not want to play with out and out wingers, why did he buy Apter? As JW has implied, its also not just Apter, there are several players who have not really had a fair run in the team and only given cameo roles, or a one off game, including also injured, injury prone players signed, which surely the board must be concerned with? As these are big business men and am positive would expect more due dillegence done, before laying out large sums and big wages for certain indivuals, you only have to look at the biggest outlay last year Ahadme, who can’t even get on the bench at Stevenage! We probably couldn’t even give him away now so will be stuck with his wages, for I believe another two years after this season.
I’m worried, Millwall next, away at Leicester then 5 games in Feb that will define the last part of the season. Right now we can’t catch a break, as we bring in players we add injuries (Knibbs, Jones) players who were over performing seem worn out (Ramsey, Coventry, Carey). Leaburn and Dykes was a static combo, much better to have Kelman or Godden working along side him, then bringing on Leaburn.
TC had a magic moment but before that, his quality was poor, cutting inside and hitting shots when a cross to Dykes was the better option. The mystery of not playing Apter continues, I’d love to see him get a run as his delivery has been good when he has had a chance.
If we assume Oxford join Sheffield W it’s one space to fill and I’m hoping it’s one of Portsmouth, Blackburn or West Brom who fill it. 19 games to go and we need 17 points or so, it sounds doable but we need to be more solid and score first.
Focus should be on finding Championship ready defenders and fast, not a new manager. If Bell and Edwards were and had been available, league position would be vastly different.
If the Mbick ticket can be pushed close to £5M then I’d say it’d be time to cash in and invest in the here and now.
Yes, the IFS and Buts, and we should or could have and agree Edwards and Godden both a huge miss,
The top line is that was a game where we should of got points and we didn’t, certain players not good enough for the championship, desperately need reinforcements especially left side hopefully signings in before the deadline coyr
Yes, where we getting them from?
It was to easy for Derby. To be honest they should have been 3-0 up at half time. What system are we playing ?because it’s not working. Every team we play have so much time on the ball . We need to go to man for man even if we lose 10-0 you will find out who not doing their job and who’s not good enough. TC is not good enough at this level yet or Anderson . Ok to be fair TC did score but if you watch every game he’s played which is a lot he can not defend. His crossing is terrible, he can’t head the ball. The only thing he has is pace which 9 times out of 10 he will wait for the defender to get goal side. I can go on and on but Jones need to change things quick . We need a strong centre halve and a left sided full back as priority. Plus a ball with Velcro so it will stick to our players.
In the first few matches of the season Apter was our best player, what has happened to him? When I first looked at the team sheet and saw that Dykes and Leaburn were up front, Anderson in midfield and Campbell playing as a wing back I knew we were likely to struggle. In my view if you are going to play Campbell it should be as an out and out winger, he can’t defend, he cost us the win at Blackburn. To date I have nothing but praise for Nathan Jones but I am beginning to lose faith in his team selection and his ability to keep us in the championship.
Precisely 100%, and Jones stop looking back at what has gone, and everyone knows and appreciates it. but it is the here and the future which matters.
How anyone can still support NJ after the shambolic and regressive shower we’ve become, is beyond me. The bloke is a clueless, stubborn, bighead. Millwall will be relishing our impending visit.
Relegation beckons……
If we carry on with this form, then we will, and quite frankly, it has been hoof-ball the last 3 months, then we will, unless there are two worse teams and we have to prove we are not one of them, and Jones, swallow your pride and your huge ego and change things up NOW!!
I personally think we are doomed we keep losing first halves and playing better in the second halves and cant keep playing like that in this division or we will keep getting punished time and time agsin. Campbell played in the second half like we know he can but he doesn’t do it often enough Leaburn completely out of depth in this league why he doesn’t win any of the balls coming in from corner kicks lord knows he s 6 inches taller than most defenders. Poor old Godden looked tired and beat as soon as he came on (so much respect for him) didn’t like Dykes and Leaburn up front no matter who NJ puts up front they won’t be like Mendonca and Hunt getting dick of saying this recall Kanu think that might be a good move or at least try. One thing is for sure if we do get relegated and keep half the team at least we ll stand a chance of promotion
Most of them will leave?
TC in a moment rarely previously seen, scored a goal. That will guarantee him a start in the next ten games, despite his overall inability.
Lots of possession but we didn’t do anything with it, Derby were prepared to sit deep and press, we didn’t have the movement to create an opening.
I think the goal has to be 50 points and survival and then regroup in the summer.
From here that’s six wins or maybe four wins and a few draws.
But we need to start creating opportunities. TC’s goal came from nowhere other than a few long distance shots from free-kicks we didn’t create enough.
Charlton could have been dead and buried by half time. That’s been a feature of so many games. The intensity that they played with after TC’s goal is how they need to be starting games. It’s no good just playing in patches, or waiting to concede first. God only knows what NJ is saying to the players before the start of games because they regularly come out and start slowly. Are the players listening anymore? They will need to be at it from the off and sustain it against Millwall.
I really think he has lost the dressing room months ago!!!
Time to change things NJ before you run out of games, and we all run out of patience ……four points above the drop….I look at the next four or five games and can’t see where the next point is coming from. Quality incomings are needed now, and a drastic change in formation……we can all see where our weaknesses are. Could someone tell me the advantage of having Leaburn and Dykes starting together as a front two????
Yeap, indeed and in the 1st Half there was no one who could cross the ball.
That was disappointing but Derby have top quality experienced players and it showed.I understand we are looking to get another player in this week.
Please keep the faith I know it’s challenging but we do pull a lot of rabbits out of the hat and get unexpected results.Remenber too that others around us won’t have it easy too.
COYRs
We would hope that they won’t!!
Not sure Campbell or Leaburn are good enough for this league. We need a wide man who can put in decent balls, why is Apter being overlooked.
Don’t know Cliff. I’d really like to see more of him, but I have people that report to me that some folks think are rockstars, but they don’t work with them every day.