Middlesbrough 3 Charlton Athletic 0
Every Charlton fan in that photo – men, women and poor children who were dragged away from trick and treating – heroes all.
No heroes on the pitch sadly, and a not surprising defeat today on Teeside to extend our run to 10 games without a win.
After thinking about it for a few hours there was no lack of effort, and we didn’t play too badly, although the expectation was zero, so not difficult to exceed.
Jones made 5 changes, Bindon came in from the dark to play alongside Jones (L) and Koumetio with Ramsey and Bell either side. Skipp and Knibbs returned and Leaburn partnered Kelman up top. TC, Grant, Coventry and Chalobah included on the bench.
A very narrow line-up but no one that was dropped could’ve had any complaints and at this kind of place, Leaburn and Kelman together made sense. I am sure the next two games also played into the manager’s selection.
We started brightly but were one-down after 12 minutes. Another shot from outside of the box conceded and Okonkwo should have stopped it.
I felt for the bulk of the 1st half we were in the game, there were a couple of scrappy chances but then we surrender a second right on half-time, which as always is a crushing blow.
We were carved open through the middle and Lankshear wasn’t going to miss.
McNamara replaced an injured Ramsey at the break, but for a long period there was an element of Boro toying with us, however just as we came back into it they scored a nail in the coffin third.
Chalobah just on slipped over in almost his first involvement and Lankshear swept home majestically like a man at the top of his game.
A few comments on some of the players today. I thought Knibbs was good, I wonder if he could play alongside Skipp. He was a million times better not playing with Coventry. JRC had some good moments Bell had a tough assignment against Cozier Duberry, but did a good job on him.
Finally Lloyd Jones pretty much came out on top of every opponent last season, but he looks a shadow of himself at the moment.
In fact the whole team are a shadow of themselves at present, especially defensively. Goals were a problem last season, but we have conceded 10 more goals than at this stage last season, which tells its own story.
The buck stops with Nathan Jones, but I’d maintain he got no support from the ownership in the summer and is not getting much from those on the pitch in the autumn, but it is he that has to find a solution to end this dismal run which is becoming a bit of a runaway train.
🎙️“If results and performances don’t change then something will change” — Nathan Jones
⭐️ Harvey Knibbs
🏟️ 29,831
📸
⏭️ A big, big week at The Valley
Tough times and times for steady nerves.
4th lowest budget means anywhere above 21st is an over achievement.
UTFA
Same. same crap from a so-called Professional football club and include all departments from top to bottom.
Total BS for Jones, as per usual and get him out NOW jOHN WEST
You can’t keep blaming the budget all the time, other teams over the years have done wonders in various divisions, with small budgets. If you have a good manager and get the players playing as team with good tactics, hard work, togetherness and can change tactics around quickly if something isn’t working, plus know how to pick up good/reasonable players for not too much, you can do wonders with a small budget.
You only have to look at some of the other clubs who are struggling with much larger budgets, to see its not all about how much money you have!
We have some good decent players in the team, but can’t even play simple passes to one another, let alone all the other faults, so who is to blame for that? It has to be the Manager plus also who is training them! Until that is sorted, whether we stay up or go down, it’s not going to alter in the negative way we play and struggle to score in most games. As many have said on various forums, Harland would struggle in the way we play.
Problem with jones and the club is they jumped in to giving him a 5 year contract because he might have gone to Cardiff so to get rid off him will cost them money
I had already written this game of didn’t even think we could get a draw but I do think we can get some results in this topsy turvy league nothing is a given home or away look at West Brom away at West Ham today as a example
If we don’t get at least one win from our next two home games we are in trouble and the board will have to make a tough decision but as I’ve said for ages who takes over
On another note I’ve seen that the bbc have shortlisted Shaun bartletts goal against Leicester as one of the top 25 goals of the premier league and it was a stunning goal
I started watching those games when we was in the early stages of our stint in the Premier League and the players we had were not house hold names or multi million pound players but seemed just to enjoy playing for Charlton and gave everything on the pitch how we could do with that passion now
Lived two doors down from me did Shaun. Lovely bloke.
We already in serious trouble?
CA he seemed such a humble guy his debut against man united was spectacular but scored his two goals and just celebrated with a big warming smile top man
Another game another defeat not surprising this one though I don’t know whsts hsppened yo our usually solid defence but the last few games it looks like a different charlton team, knibbs did play well tho so maybe start him every game. We had 20 points by game 13 last season so are naturally concerned, i see our lad kanu scored for Notts county today. Just a thought if we fo get relegated maybe plsy him with kelman 🤔. Onwards for Tuesdays game against Bolton…COYR
If we get relegated ???
Just noticed some spelling mistakes predicted texts but you get the jist
👍
NJ is a polarising manager, no doubt about it. He’s Marmite: people seem to either love him or hate him.
What I don’t understand is that the owners obviously saw enough in him to offer a five-year contract. You’d imagine that meant agreeing on a vision for the club and the financial support needed to achieve it.
So what’s changed? Did the money for better players not materialise, or have the scouting/recruitment team and manager just got the signings wrong, with too many of them not being good enough for the Championship?
Something isn’t it.
Well put CA, but what more can people say everyone knows the club and NJ are in trouble, so what needs to change ?
If I knew that I’d be the next manager. But just like at every other club 20,000 Charlton fans think they know the answers.
It’s always the manager who gets the boot. It’s the game. Sadly owners can’t sack themselves and players just stop playing.
Man Utd is the object lesson.
We all knew that getting anything at Boro was not on the cards so we fight on and on.
I read all the gloom merchants comments with a sense of disappointment but understand their frustration. So many other teams around us lost yesterday and I feel we are not alone in a fight.
Let’s try to remain calm and I was pleased that we played well despite the result.
Bolton and Sheffield are next at The Valley and we all need to get behind the team and spur them on each game.
Smile everyone it could be worse,it could be snowing !!!
I was surprised to see Bindon start yesterday, not the place for a young centre half who has struggled. I am also worried by the keeper, he gives me the jitters and I think the defence sense the same (a shot stopper, not a commanding keeper at crosses etc), that area has weakened and I would consider bringing Mannion back in. On the flip side, very encouraging from Knibbs (we have options!) .
The result was as expected and it is all about the next two, where 4 point is the minimum ask. If we can achieve that, it will be a c+ start to the season. The club has recognised the importance of home support and positivity, and have tried to garner that, it is needed now more than ever, but fear it is in short supply. You only have to look at West Sham, it is no surprise they lost two on the spin at home, the knives are out and the expectation level too high, they are nervous. They will ride it eventually, we don’t need it, and can’t afford it!!!
We need to trust the process and let it play out while giving it every chance to succeed by creating the best possible atmosphere. Treat every home game like the last game of a relegation fight, because that is what we are in snd I can’t stomach league 1 so soon.
This squad is capable , as is the manager. If not, the people paying huge sums of their own money should decide that fate. I fear the supporters may make that a self fulfilling task (supporters turn, the manager walks, new manager has a short term bounce if lucky, if not, league 1 beckons) Be careful what you wish for….
COYA – 3 points on Tuesday please
Let’s be realistic. A commanding keeper who is great at shot-stopping, accomplished at coming to collect the ball while in the air, as well as having reliable kicking and distribution skills will not be playing in the Championship let alone at Charlton. Okonkwo is an upgrade on his predecessor.
He is. Another suffering from no confidence.
I’m sorry to say I give up on the game as soon as the team was out.
Bell may have played well but I would have started him in the centre 3 and put Mesic as the wing back.
Mwamba should have started instead of Costello , I’m sorry to say I don’t get Costello.
I have a season ticket and have had one on and off since the late 60s but I can’t remember a time when team selection and tactics are so lost on me.
A number of years ago my Son and I were leaving a game after another defeat and I said to him why have we got season tickets when we are not enjoying the games.
Charlton is and will always be my team but I am not dedicated enough to follow them down the leagues again.
It’s a drug Les. The best and worst of a kind.
Not much to say. Ten games no win, manager with no idea. The tide has turned, even NJ recognises it. Most saying give him the two home games prior to the international break. Bolton are in trouble, they will relish coming to The valley.
Lets get real, we were never expected to get anything out of the game yesterday,and so it was. Glad Knibbs had a good game, there is a good player in there given the chance. Lets hope NJ doesn’t stick him back on the bench again on Tuesday.
Bolton are beatable, and are only one place above us in the table, so three points is almost a must. NJ will be on a very slippery slope if that game doesn’t change our winless run.
I like Knibbs. Talks well too. Despite hardly being given a chance (injuries have been unkind) he always looks committed.
NOW!!!! FOR 2 BIG FIREWORK DISPLAYS!! WILL WE BE ENTERTAINED WITH LOTS OF ROCKETS GOING OFF!!! OR ARE WE JUST LEFT WITH A COUPLE OF SPARKLERS THAT DONT LAST VERY LONG AND DIE OUT QUICKLY!!!!…….TWO BIG GAMES !! WE NEED BIG PERFORMANCES FROM EVERYONE OF THESE PLAYERS!!! …..AND PLAYING FOR THE SHIRT!! …100% COMMITMENT………COME ON YOU REDS!!! COME ON CORPORAL JONES!!!. ..THEY DONT LIKE IT UP EM !! ………..THATS THE POSITIVE NOTE NOW JUST A SMALL NEGATIVE ONE !!…..I HEAR DOHERTY IS TRAINING WITH PRESTON !!…..CANT BELIEVE WE LET HIM GO!! ……COULD OF DONE WITH HIM WITH THESE 2 BIG GÀMES HE ALWAYS WAS COMMITTED 100%….AND I COULD THINK OF A FEW PLAYERS I WOULD LIKE TO SEND TO PRESTON WAY AHEAD OF HIM !! ALL THE BEST SKIPPER!!.. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AND YOU ALWAYS PUT A SHIFT IN!!…..(JUST HOPE YOU DONT COME BACK TO HAUNT US ALL!!!!
”Bolton are in trouble”, that should be seen as an opportunity. If we lose, so be it and change may be on the cards regardless of our differing opinions, but let’s not beat ourselves before the game!
Think the support in the summer would have come in the shape of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi but for the greedy agent. Be interested to see if that gets resolved in January albeit our problem at the moment is defensively, and given the current position we may not be such an attractive destination for JRS.
Or it appears any compensation paid to Jones comes out of the transfer budget.
If Jones was any sort of decent man. He would resign and accept a payment to the end of this season, waiving the rest.
Because we’d all do that in our day jobs, wouldn’t we.
My day job never paid almost £500,000/year.
Jones will not be sacked, fortunately the board and ownership group are blessed with common sense and realism.
4th lowest budget = 21st end of, anything higher is over par.
If we do get relegated (which I don’t think we will but it could happen), the decision then would be who’s the best man to take us back up or see us languish for another 5 years in L1 or worse.
Surviving by the skin of our teeth with these stingy owners will be another massive achievement, everyone can cry but that’s where we’re at with a bunch of academies and lower league punts.