A Man For All Seasons

5pm on the last Saturday in February and all was gloom and doom in S.E.7. The Addicks had just suffered a 3-0 loss to Blackpool with two players red carded.

If you believed the Twitterati, the players didn’t care and Lee Bowyer should be banished from S.E.7 because he’d clearly lost the dressing room.

A new manager was needed and they were going to instantly turn around our fortunes and lead straight back up to the Championship.

That’s the narrative that some fans would have you believe.

Fast forward to today and things, thankfully look a little better and a more rational point of view would seem to be in order.

You’ll gather from the above that I’ve never felt that ridding ourselves of a manager who has performed miracles and shown incredible loyalty against the hideous backdrop in a vicious pandemic and similar previous ownership was a good idea.

I’m quite prepared and happy to admit that Bowyer has made mistakes this season having previously been almost faultless in the past.

It’s easy to forget that he is still learning his trade and there are aspects of his management that need refining. Not least amongst these is appreciating that not all players are in his own image and can be motivated in the same way.

Personally I’m aware of several professional footballers who don’t like the game that much. Away from the pitch they’ve no interest in watching games and don’t really follow it all.

That has come as a surprise to me but in reality it ought not to be. I’m sure there are many who are good in their particular field and enjoy their occupation. However, does it occupy their every waking moment? I suspect not.

It should be remembered too that the best players don’t always make the best coaches and managers. Largely that’s because they had a natural talent and won’t necessarily appreciate how hard some have to work to reach the top.

Similarly, they won’t always have a burning desire or hunger that others have. Events and circumstances shape our lives and a hard life or tough background can produce great desire and drive to escape from it.

Bowyer has also made mistakes with team selection and formations. Funnily enough though a number of us are wise after the event!

In this, of all seasons, any manger is deserving of a little latitude. Lee is probably deserving of more than most though.

The uncertainty and squabbling with the ownership, a decimated squad following the refusal to play and departure of a number of players, the salary cap, empty stadia etc. are unlikely to give the firm foundations to launch a promotion campaign.

No real pre-season and no opportunity to really bond players and get the team spirit that one usually associates with the Charlton team.

The constant slog of two games a week leaving little time to plan and work through styles of play doesn’t help much either.

Players exist in bubbles and don’t get a chance to mix outside of the sterile football environment.

All these issues are contributing factors to making this a unique and unpredictable season.

The arrival of Thomas led, I think, to some fans losing sight of reality and expectations rose disproportionately. For whatever reason ( it may include some of the factors mentioned above ) our January acquisitions haven’t really hit the ground running.

Yes, we have a good squad and in the normal course of events we ought to expect to be in a better position. However, these are not normal times.

It’s best to see where this season takes us and if we should get in to the play-offs then we need to acknowledge how well we’ve done and see where we go from there.

If not, then we ought to accept our fate with good grace and look forward to, hopefully, a more normal season next time and that we can be there in person to witness it.

The Shrews are next up on Saturday and one hopes that having secured a home win on Tuesday we can make it back to back home victories.

Shrewsbury are in a run of very indifferent form but as with any team in league one they shouldn’t be underestimated and we know it will be tough like all the rest.

Here’s hoping for another 3 points at home!

Come on you reds!

University Challenge

The Addicks find themselves back on the road again on Saturday and that can only be a good thing. The benefits of playing at home clearly don’t apply in a pandemic as can be evidenced across the top 4 tiers of English football.

I don’t do many away games but have made the trip to the Kazzam a few times in recent years mainly because it’s close to home. At least I won’t have to endure the endless post-match wait in the car park this season!

We find ourselves reunited with Robinson whose only useful contribution to our club was the recruitment of Lee Bowyer. I really don’t miss those pre and post-match interviews full of sound bites and rhetoric as they were.

My last recollection of him was departing down the tunnel after a dreadful 0-0 draw on one of the coldest days known to man. He was grinning away probably safe in the knowledge that within the following few days he was off to Oxford.

From a dreadful start to the season Robinson has somehow managed to get Oxford up the league. This may, in part, have been down to the postponement of many games earlier in the season that afforded them more rest.

United are now playing catch up not helped by a run to the semi-finals of the pizza cup that incurred more games of course.

Despite that the U’s have been on a decent run with, I believe, a loss of only 2 league games in the last 17 matches. More recently they haven’t won in 5 games in drawing 3 and losing 2 whilst scoring only once.

In the home game keeper Simon Eastwood was at fault for at least one of our goals. He turned in a string of poor performances following it and we dropped soon after. He hasn’t found his way back since as his replacement, Jack Stevens, has been on top form. Indeed, he produced a man of the match performance on Tuesday in shutting out the Posh in a 0-0 draw.

Injuries are now taking their toll on Oxford though. Influential midfielder, Marcus McGunae, looks set to be missing for some time. Similarly too, experienced winger James Henry and striker Sam Winnall are both likely to be absent.

Tuesday’s game saw two more players get early baths due to injury. Eliot Lee appears to have a nasty knee injury and Sam Long has pulled a hammy. Neither is expected to feature on Saturday.

United have a local derby against rivals Swindon on Tuesday and that may play a part in Robinson’s team selection although he is somewhat limited as a result of the aforementioned injuries.

As far as the Addicks are concerned then clearly one hopes that Aneke is fit to play. Unless Stockley gets decent service, which is pretty rare, then we don’t carry much of a threat up front in his absence.

As good a finisher as he is, Schwartz doesn’t seem able to make an impact and offers next to nothing in  terms of assists.

Washington has failed to impress after a good start to the season. One might say there are mitigating circumstances with ever changing strike partners which I get. However, of late, he’s not done enough for me.

Tuesday’s win, albeit against the bottom team, was important as was the clean sheet. We can but hope we’ve turned a corner.

Whether it’s enough to dispel rumours that the players aren’t happy with Bowyer or playing for him only time will tell. However, despite the call from some fans to dispense with the manager, I’d guess that Thomas hasn’t any plans to do so.

On that basis alone, I’d suggest it would serve the club well for all fans to get behind the team and the manager until at least season end.

This game will be a good assessment of where we are and although a play-off spot would appear to be beyond, us a strong end to the season is important in terms of future plans.

Come On You Reds!

 

Pugwash 1 Hogwash 1

My Saturday afternoon started with the pre-match entertainment that is provided courtesy of Messrs Brown, Curbishley and Minto.

All jolly good stuff with interesting discussion and reminiscence interspersed with the inevitable banter which, as always, was top drawer!

Amongst the pre-match chat was talk of how The Addicks are one of, if not the most watched, club in League One in terms of televised games by clubs. If we get much more of the dross that followed I fear that Thomas may have to stump up for another Range Rover!

The game itself started well and I asked myself how I could question Millar starting on the right and why Smith, Schwartz and Maatsen got the nod ahead of Morgan, Washington and Purrington.

The superbly crafted early goal proved to be a false dawn and what followed was a rather insipid and gutless display.

Even park footballers know to keep the ball on the deck when it’s a bit blowy!!

Hoof it in the air might be alright for the likes of teams managed by the odious Steve Evans who wouldn’t know decent passing football even if it was served up with a bag of chips.

Having given Maatsen the nod over Purrington I don’t what the thinking was in not providing him with the cover that the hard working Millar would have provided. That needed to change as soon as because the biggest threat Fleetwood had was down our left. Sadly, no change until half time by which time the damage, in terms of their goal, was done.

I understand that, to a degree, Bowyer must be under pressure to play Maatsen. He did say prior to kick off that the left back hadn’t done much wrong to be left out. Sadly, over the course of 90 minutes he didn’t do much to justify staying in!

Collectively it was poor but it would be wrong to give blanket criticism to the team. Famewo showed how much we’ve missed him with a calm and assured performance albeit a little bit rusty on occasion.

Stockley worked hard as always and won more than his fair share of headers. Millar provided tireless running and always carried a threat.

For me, Smith and Schwartz failed to grab their chance and were largely anonymous. If the conditions are to your liking then you’ll have to make things happen.

I’m sorry Ronnie but in case you hadn’t worked it out by now, you’re not going to get chances laid on a plate for you.

The second half failed to improve things and in fact we got worse. Retreating into our shell and rarely getting into the final third. Four subs in 5 minutes failed to make it better.

Watson disappointed again with his success in managing not to get carded the only plus point!

Again we were made to look second best by a team that is simply well organised and hard working. As much as anything the lack of fight from our boys was a major disappointment. All we ask for is that you give it your when you put on the shirt.

If you’re reading this thinking he’s changed his tune from last week and that I think Bowyer should go, I don’t.

He and his management team have made mistakes for sure. I’ve outlined some of them above. However, I have faith in him and he deserves a full summer transfer window unencumbered by all the crap that has gone before.

All that aside, this isn’t the season to judge any manager really.

In addition, as I alluded to the players ought to accept responsibility for their part in failing with effort and lacking common sense to adjust to the match conditions. They’re experienced and old enough to know better.

Sadly, social media remains as toxic as always and is probably best avoided. It seems that some folk can’t put over their point of view without nasty comment, and reasoned argument is a stranger to them.

Let’s hope the team can get it right on Tuesday especially as we need to exorcise the demons of our visit to Burton earlier in the season!

Come On You Reds!

 

 

What Have The Romans Ever Done For Us?

There seems to be a number of Addicks who feel that Lee Bowyer should be sacked. It’s difficult to say how big that number is. My view is that it’s a very small minority. The most vocal tend to take to social media etc. and that isn’t always a good gauge of public opinion as we know.

Whilst I’ll readily acknowledge that the gaffer has made mistakes I’ll not be joining the ranks of those calling for his dismissal.

I accept that some of Lee’s team selections, post-match comments and to an extent, not getting a central defender in during the last transfer window are some of them.

I think Bowyer is deserving of some leeway especially during this, the most difficult season for any team, in recent memory.

One only needs to look at the league tables for all 4 top leagues in England to realise that something’s amiss. West Ham are 5^th in the Prem. Yes, I know!!

Teams you could bet your mortgage on winning games at home are spectacularly failing to do so. Liverpool ( who have suffered similar central defensive problems but ought to be a damn sight better equipped to cope with them ) losing at home to Burnley and Brighton for example.   

Our fans really do make a difference and that’s exacerbated in League One as very few of the other clubs have such imposing crowds.

I’ll further cite individual defensive errors and the ridiculously uncertain start we had at the start of the season. Whilst we were scraping a side together other clubs were bonding, establishing patterns of play etc.

I’ll also cite some errors at the other end of the pitch too. Defensive errors frequently lead to goals of course and attacking ones don’t! Better decision making and execution in and around the box would also have seen us pick up more points.   

To me the negative attitude of some all smacks of shades of the Life of Brian and the Romans!

What have they ever done for us?

The Aqueduct, sanitation, the roads, irrigation, medicine, education, the wine, public baths, peace….

All right but apart from the aqueduct, sanitation, the roads, irrigation, medicine, education, the wine, public baths, peace…..what have the Romans ever done for us?

Similarly, apart from a play-off semi-final, promotion from League 1 via a most memorable Wembley play-off final, nearly keeping us in the Champ against all the odds, managing the club under the most stressful of circumstances, showing unbelievable loyalty………really, what has Lee Bowyer ever done for us?

It seems that the one downside of Thomas’s acquisition is the raising of the level of expectation. Perhaps instant gratification is the modern way but to undo years of neglect in the midst of a pandemic really will take time.

There are more reasons to keep Bowyer and his management team than to dismiss them. Patience is a virtue and we’d do well to keep the faith and in so doing, repay that which he has given us.

We are well placed financially unlike a number of clubs and especially the majority of those in League One. If we don’t make it this season (and personally, I haven’t yet ruled out making the play-offs ) then we’ll be fantastically well placed to do so in the next.

I’d rather that Bowyer was at the helm when we do so!

Come On You Reds!

More Like It!

 A solid performance defensively from the whole team saw The Addicks leave MK with all 3 points.

Of late, only against the Posh have we scored first and unlike that game we went on to win. There was an absence of the basic defensive errors that have seen us gift goals to the opposition.

It was a more disciplined and cohesive display from Charlton who were happy to allow MK the lion’s share of possession whilst limiting them to few clear cut chances.

From the off, and throughout, the boys in red pressed MK not allowing them much time or freedom on the ball. Central to this was Pratley’s marking of Fraser who was so closely attended to that he carried none of the threat he did in the reverse fixture.

Pratley’s tireless performance epitomised that of all Addicks. There were several examples of closing down and notable interceptions with Millar’s defending late on at the far post a superb case in point.

If one had to be critical then one would have to say that we ought to have done better with the excellent chances we created in the first half. As I said in my previous post, in and around the box we need to improve our decision making and to be more clinical.

Millar had a great game and he has certainly given us a greater attacking threat that has been missing since Doughty’s injury. His direct running and crossing is affording us more scoring opportunities.

Another player who added to our attacking capability is Shinnie. How much have we missed him of late? It’s so good to have him back in the side.

Stockley put in a fine all round display that augers well for the remainder of the season.

We now face a run of Saturday games that isn’t affected by midweek fixtures. A full week’s preparation and the chance to field a settled side now presents itself.

That should give rise to us putting a decent run together whilst others in and around us play catch up on their games in hand.

Until the return of Famewo and Inniss I think Gunter and Deji have done enough to retain their central pairing.

I’d like to see Aneke and Schwartz start on Saturday against Portsmouth and for the foreseeable.

Hopefully stability and confidence have returned to the team and we can now start to at least cement a top 6 place if not threaten the top two places.

Here’s hoping!

Time To Kick Start Our Season

Charlton have always liked to do things the hard way. Most of the time that tends to be matters off the pitch. Of late, it has very much been in respect of matters on the pitch.

Back in the autumn, we went on a great run and didn’t concede a goal in 6 consecutive games. Subsequently, we have kept a clean sheet twice in 16 games.

In those games on occasions we have conceded two or more goals. No wonder we’ve only collected 3 points from 4 of those 16 games.

For the most part we have conceded first and then had to battle to try and get something from the matches.

Saturday was no different of course with two individual errors accounting for the first goal and whilst a bit unlucky with a deflection, a failure to track a run helped Swindon with the second.

It’s been a familiar sequence of events that I’m sure has most Addicks pulling out what remains of their hair!

At one time we looked devoid of ideas all over the pitch and after 30 minutes of one game, ( I can’t recall exactly which one now ) so insipid was our performance, that I was close to giving up and closing down the laptop!

Thankfully, the addition of some new recruits, allied to the return from injury of a couple of players, has meant that, of late, we have carried more purpose and threat.

Sadly, as mentioned, those defensive errors remain although we are creating more chances. The only issue outstanding is that we need to take a greater majority of them!

The need to be more clinical is greater than ever if we’re to seriously mount a challenge at the top. Time is running out and an automatic place will prove out of reach if we don’t go on a run soon.

It’s not just our strikers who are to blame for the poor goals to chances ratio. Our midfielders have been guilty of poor finishing or decision making in and around the box.

Often players have shot when they should have passed or vice versa!

The condensed fixture list and sudden postponements haven’t helped and suspensions along with injuries play their part too.

We do seem to have had more than our usual return of red cards. In addition, we’ve seen a few 5 yellow cards suspensions with Watson leading the way early on of course!

On a positive note, things seem to have settled a bit and at just past the halfway mark in terms of games we now pretty much know who should be in our starting eleven.

Bowyer hasn’t always picked the best side or squad and it has cost us a couple of times. However, I’m sure he now has a pretty clear idea of who is going to getting us to the promised land!

After the MK game tonight we will have a break ( Covid permitting ) from the relentless run of Saturday – Tuesday games. This ought to allow the manager to choose a more settled and consistent side as well as having the full week to prepare for each game.

This is the one advantage we will have over other teams in and around us as they play their games in hand. Surely, that will take its toll on them.

The return of Famewo and Inniss will be a real boost to help shore things up at the back as well as carrying an additional threat at corners and set pieces.

The time to start that good run is tomorrow and to do so, we must be more clinical and make better decisions where it really matters!

Come On You Reds!

     

Getting Back On Track

The Addicks will want to put the memory of Friday night to bed asap. The re-arranged game v Rochdale tonight gives them an early opportunity to do just that.

It was an improvement from the performance against Hull but we were secondbest for most of the evening. Quite why the wheels have come off the Charlton bus so spectacularly is probably down to a number of factors.

Firstly, there are the injuries to Innis and Famewo. Neither is a short term one and their absence is a clear reason to lack of clean sheets of late.

Secondly, there has probably been too much rotation within the team. Added to that we have seen players playing out of position. One understands the thinking behind that but the combined effect of it has only served to disrupt the team.

It was a telling stat on Friday that we have made more changes in personnel than any other team.

I’m yet to be convinced that not starting Aneke is a wise move. Yes, he has scored goals off the bench, that’s obvious. However, when he comes on we are invariably chasing the game.

He needs a run in where he is starting games. It was clear on Friday that nothing was sticking up front and up against a physical ( not dirty ) team we had no physical presence ourselves.

The midfield looks unbalanced and is in desperate need of one of Pratley or Watson to play there. My preference is for Pratley as he shades it for me over Watson. However, with one suspended and one injured it’s academic at present.

The handling of some of players is something of a mystery. One or two have been openly criticised and yet when they respond they don’t start the next game. This is particularly true of Maddison and Williams.

Maddison is clearly a player of some talent and he’d start every time for me. He needs a run in the team and poses more of a threat than most. His ability form set pieces and shooting from long range is second to none in our team.

Maddison is clearly a player who needs careful handling and it won’t help when he sees other players starting ahead of have not exactly been pulling up any trees!

Added to all of the above and Bowyer has seemingly not set the team up right a few times now. The disappointment of this is magnified as we’ve had two or three weeks now with no midweek game to interrupt training sessions. A clear run at prepping for the weekend match.

Finally, Bowyer has taken to very publicly criticising the players. On Friday virtually no one escaped unscathed. To go as far as to say he didn’t care about a player being injured wasn’t right. I’m sure it was a heat of the moment thing but I don’t think you can do that.

Lee has played under some great managers who have clearly had a bearing on his approach to management. He ought to take time to reflect on how some of them would have reacted to some of the games of late.

I can’t recall Bobby Robson, for example, exploding too many times post-match. Only once can I think of an occasion; when we beat Newcastle on a Sunday and he was fuming that they were about to go La Manga for a break. Bobby didn’t think they deserved it!

Lee has high standards and has played at the highest level of the game. Sadly, few players at our club will match that ability, however determined or driven they are. It’s fair enough to demand 100% but try as they might, many will not achieve a consistent level of performance.

That’s in no way an attempt to excuse some poor performances that we’ve seen from a few players this season more that Lee needs to adjust his expectations a tad.

Bowyer deserves more time and patience from some of our fans. He’s certainly earned it from his achievements to date and incredible loyalty in the face of adversity. Now he has decent backing from Thomas and we too should mirror that.

We still have a good squad and Bowyer along with Gallen can be trusted to get the right players in to complete the jigsaw. Once that’s done he just needs to be clear and consistent on team selection and how he deals with the players.

It will take time to right the neglect and wrongs of the Duchatelet era. All the pieces are starting to be put into place. Overall, if we end up in a play-off place I think we can consider it a job well one.

To achieve that we need to get back to winning ways and a win tomorrow over Rochdale would be a very welcome step in the right direction.

Come On You Reds!