Stoke City 4 Charlton Athletic 0
An absolute horror show today.
I understand the need to use the squad, but there were just too many changes. We were over-run in midfield and the whole team crumbled after the penalty. Many similarities to last season up there, and Stoke are in Nathan Jones’ head, not the other way around.
Jones made four changes to the side and handed full league debuts to Oliver Skipp and Timothy Ouma. Joe Rankin-Costello also started and Ivan Mesik replaced Danny McNamara at right back.
We started well, the Addicks fans were in full voice and we looked confident.
That all ended when the referee, Robert Madley, made his first dreadful decision of the afternoon with the penalty award.
They then played like strangers and not helped by the midfield two actually being strangers and a referee who was up there as one of the worst in recent memory.
Three goals conceded in ten minutes and another before half-time and no one came out of that first half display with any credit, but particularly Ouma, who did not re-appear in the 2nd half.
The crazy refereeing decisions continued and then we had McNamara sent off for two yellows in two minutes. McNamara was stupid to give the referee the opportunity to send him off, but how the foul on Leaburn, which sparked the whole incident, went unpunished was yet another mystery only known to Madley.
After that it was damage limitation and Stoke just played the game out.
Meanwhile whilst Stoke’s fans abused Nathan Jones, the large contingent of Addicks continued to back and get behind the team 👏.
It was a terrible performance and we won’t be immune to them as we weren’t last season. This squad is still light on this level quality and I don’t expect Oliver Shipp is that next level midfielder we need to progress, and on the early looks, most definitely Ouma isn’t either.
A game to quickly draw a line under and get back to our core qualities and look to bounce back this week.
As of this writing we are still joint top, so let’s not undo the good and intrepid work to this point.
🎙️ “But we’ve done it twice here. That’s the thing that hurts me and hurts my teams, us going under like that. They [Stoke] need me to come here because they get better results when I get back.” — Nathan Jones
⭐️ Miles Leaburn
🏟️ 21,071 (1,322 Addicks)
📸
⏭️ Looking to bounce back at The Valley on Wednesday with QPR the visitors.
I did worry about the tinkering with the line-up again, especially considering that it was the whole midfield. I understand that we’ve had two tough away games in the space of a few days, but we only seem to have a handful of players (Lloyd Jones, TC) capable of playing 46 games in a season. Why were we resting Coventry and McNamara already?
We are missing Chalobah, and yet again, our injuries never just seem to be for a game or two…
I do like the look of Mesik. I think Ouma has been handed a few harsh lessons, which I hope he recovers from, so I’m reserving judgement on him for a little longer. And what is going on with Apter? I know that they were tough circumstances today, but he seems determined to throw away his opportunities.
That said, ten points from five games is a positive start to the season. I think we are stronger than last season, and the switch in formation is welcome!
For anyone who didn’t see the game you summed it up succinctly, CA.
I do think there might be a useful player in Skipp, although need to see him in a couple of more games.
As for Apter I probably dispair more than Jon W, saying to a pal of mine I don’t want to see him anywhere near the pitch again, even as a ball boy.
Think you hit the nail on the head CA in regard to Stoke living in NJ head. It is and the same with Southampton. I don’t like the abuse he gets from the opposition but he’s playing into their hands. He needs to shut it down now as it’s obvious it gets to him. It may and I only say may feed into the players and his team selection as he’s so desperate to win. Just a thought
I think that is a very valid thought.
I wonder if he builds these games up too much with the players. As opposed to the usual ‘it’s just another game.’
Oh well it could have been worse it could have been raining 😃
We were totally out of sorts and the referee was the worst I’ve ever seen …..what will his assessor grade his performance ?
I fear that the changes Jones made unsettled our rhythm and om not impressed with Skipp who did nothing to improve our play.
We have QPR this week at home and maybe Curtis can have a word on the quiet with Jones to put out a team that gets us back to the high standard we expect.
Amazing how people look at the referee when they have lost. As for the penalty – wrestling is a major sport in US but not on football fields.
The referee had no impact on the result, he was just terrible.
That was a reminder of where we truly are. Yes,great results in the first three games, but to do that consistantly was always going to be a hard task. We still do not have enough quality in the squad. Stoke have spent £10m on three players in the last week, all of whom have at least Championship pedigree. We are going to have days like this throughout the season, and realisticaly, if we can improve on last seasons finish position,that will be a successful campaign.
Having said all that, it was an abominable display from Bobby Maddeley. As a rule I shy away from barating referees,as I was a Class One referee for 10 years in the late nineties/early noughties.
Unfortunately Maddeley was fast-tracked by the F.A to the Premier League panel too quickly, and it went to his head. He was sacked by the Premier League for ridiculing disabled people in an online video several seasons ago.
He seems to be one of these referees who always needs to be centre stage and be controversial The best referees are the ones you ‘don’t see’or talk about.
His brother Andrew is a far better official, and on the Premier League list now.
Anyway,rant over, and on to host QPR. COYR.
Ok first defeat of many in this very tough league I’m a bit disappointed about the changes made skipp looks bloody useless but let’s see what happens not sure about Bildon either
I missed watching the highlights why TC was taken off was it a injury or very bad tactics on NJ behalf
I’m not a big fan of our manager because of the fact he seems to think he never should have been sacked from stoke or Southampton but it’s a results business and he wasn’t good enough at the time I really want him to get over it his comments after the game was just stupid
I like NJ tactics when we attack teams but the defensive side seems to go astray
A long way to go but it’s not a easy league we still need someone in midfield to create chances
I still think we will finish in the top 10 which is progress maybe even nick that last 8 spot
Everything shambolic today referee, result what on earth was that silly billy Mcnamara doing talk about throwing yourself to the lions did TC get injured as I ve just watched the highlights as I wasn’t at the match, was down in red lodge suffolk uk watching my son win 4 out 4 races in his karting championship now leading by 95 points with 2 rounds to go glad somebody won for my birthday. Lets get back to winning ways pretty soon…COYR
Happy birthday, Craig.
TC not injured.
We need Doc back
After that display yesterday I’ve mulled overnight to put in any sort off comment, first the midfield 3 where dreadful why Jones changed all 3 from midweek was a mystery I understand games are coming thick and fast but that was the wrong decision, dreadful refereeing in this league went to another level yesterday.on players the Kenyan doesn’t look fit, skipp looked slow and jrc is better coming off the bench , one other point is cholabah another burke. Still we have 10 points from 5 games let’s hope it carries on, coyr
Poor team selection
Poor 20 minutes
Poor Referee
I said at the time it was a big mistake selling Anderson and I still believe he would have made a difference yesterday.
As you know I’m not a huge fan of NJ 😅
One of his failings was demonstrated perfectly yesterday. He’s too focused on the next game(s)
Putting out a weakened side V Stoke, because we have QPR next. It’s a crazy tactic. Put out your strongest team every game.
I know we collect injuries like kids collect conkers in the woods (well we did when I was kid) But using the best players gives the best chance of victory. Use replacements only when forced to.
That is a good point, Daggs. I don’t think NJ is alone. I thought the phrase was you can only beat what is in front of you, not the opponent after next!
That was our third different central midfield pairing in as many games and it was asking too much of Ollie Skipp and Timothy Ouma who probably have barely done anything more than shake hands to play together. A mistake by NJ…on hindsight Coventry plus Skipp should have started and maybe it was a game for Sonny Carey who hasn’t been in good form but his gritty qualities might have been what we needed.
I didn’t think it was a penalty but I can see why it was given and McNamara on a yellow should not be giving the referee a reason to give him a second and especially not for dissent (or was it for asking that Galbraith get booked?) either way it was foolish.
With so many defenders out injured (and I hear that Collins Sichenje is out for the season) we are down to four starting defenders in the squad for QPR. We’ve recalled Josh Laqeretabua from his loan spell at Dorking where he played a few games but we need one or more of those injured defenders to return PDQ.
I think we will be better off post the International break, but we have 3 more games before then.
McNamara def booked for imaginary card waving – despite 150 games in Championship – gave ref no option. Skipp I thought showed busy and enthusiastic all through to the bitter end. All that followed the penalty undid a very promising first 12months. Onwards and upwards I hope.
While Ouma needs to sit for a bit to get more acclimated, do think there’s still a player in there. Not worried about Skipp at all, believe he’ll prove useful. Games like this happen on occassion. Take it for what it was… one game . Too long of a season to wallow in it, move on to the next. Think we have a squad that can keep us up provided injuries don’t ravage us further.
Curbs always used to say, don’t get too high or too low, that is worth remembering now.
I thought Mesic deserved a start, but not at RB when McNamara had been stand out (square pegs in round holes rarely work). Possibly Too many changes at once, which can unsettle. We are missing Ramsay, Edwards and Billy, the latter had looked very good indeed, and we know the quality of the other two. Timothy will need time to settle but still hope there is a player in there. Skipp; least said for now. the return of Chalabah would be welcome. TC and Miles have stepped up this year, add to that, we have Kelman to provide competition/relief. Hopefully all the aforementioned absentees are close, then we have real competition.
A few weeks back, we thought we were being sold, post that, the board have demonstrated outstanding support for the longer term Charlton (TC, Ramsay, Mbick, academy 1 project by way of example)
This years squad would definitely beat last years, so we just need that little bit of luck in running. It might be that we have to be patient until after the International break to see the the real 2026/7 Charlton. Until then, stay with it, 10 points from 5 would put us in the play offs!
Lastly- the referee was bloody awful. He didn’t decide the outcome but he had a bloody big say, and felt he enjoyed the controversial call a little too much.
Post of the week 📨.
Thanks Keith. Well put.