We've been rubbish, but Charlton have been effective in neutralising us.
I'm worried that between the Bolton game and this, we've seen a couple of ways that teams can totally shut us down.
Today especially, we had absolutely no response to their aggressive press, the one goal coming from some Kone magic. Apart from that we created nothing. Even at the end, with all the momentum and energy behind us, I felt we were just as likely to get caught in possession and concede a goal as we were to break through them and score again.
ref missed a foul for their second and also missed a blatant pen on Kodua, we did not play well but refs need to prove there fitness , he looked off the pace and looked like he was on the beers and kebabs ...an embarrassment to the reffing profession
Just gave ourselves too much to do. But encouraging scenes later on.
However, a huge run of home games now, and we really need to get the home form back going after 1 win from 3 in the league - that being a last min fluke.
Yeah, if the pen had been given and scored we would have had a lot more time but we can't give people leads like that and hope to come back. They should be embarrassed by their league position and pitch really but they have some very good players at this level.
Ok we lost, lots of ifs and buts 19 unbeaten is brilliant so let’s just work hard and get back on track , Birmingham and Wrexham won’t win every game so every chance of being in the top two position . If we are in playoffs let’s pray we don’t get Charlton
I think the biggest problem today was that none of our wide forwards - McCleary, Fred, Lubala, Udoh and Kodua - were effective at creating chances for the strikers... hence why Kone had to create his own bit of magic. Why was that? Partly I think the full backs both had off days with their passing, partly we were losing the midfield battle second half. I wonder how much of that can be put down to a dodgy pitch. Probably quite a lot, which is an issue, because we're now entering the phase of the season where dodgy pitches will become more of a feature. Thankfully Adams Park holds up well so our home form should be ok. But certain away matches could end up a struggle unless we come up with a new plan. I would certainly be starting Kone every time we're on a substandard surface - his non-league goal tally shows he knows how to play on them effectively.
Stop blaming the pitch and the ref people, we wasn't very good today and lost, it happens. The pitch didn't stop Charlton, the pitch didn't make Rav stand in no man's land for the 2nd goal. It wasn't a penalty, too many players just had a bit of an off day. Here's to another 19 unbeaten now !
Tough day today. A few players with off days and clearly Charlton were really up for it. We struggled to play around their press, and didn't quite match them physically. A shame that Kone was on the bench to start with and that Scowen isn't quite ready to start - today's game was made for them both. We go again - Huddersfield at home is going to be a real 6 pointer.
I can't understand why we didn't lift a few balls in behind the full backs.
Seemed to me that making Charlton face their own goal and chase a ball down the channel would have been worth a go. Kodua looked capable of causing problems. But the wingers showed short for the ball all game.
An off day today but our unbeaten run was always going to come to an end. Bit of an understatement but January is going to be a defining month. 5 out of 6 games at home and also which players leave and who comes in. I’m still confident we can push for automatic promotion.
The thing is when I hear ‘wide player’ I think Steve Guppy getting to the goal line and getting a cross in. We don’t employ wide players like that (nor do many teams in all fairness) we employ 2 wide strikers. Teams can play 5 at the back and allow their wing backs to cover our wide striker and swallow up the central guy with the 3 other defenders. Also the wide forward has to be good at tracking back to cover the wing back. I’m not sure what the data shows but I’m guessing against a back 4 we are more effective.
Anyway. No stand outs today, good or bad (Kone aside). 6/10 all round and the result showed.
What a hugely frustrating watch. I had long hoped that when defeat finally came it was because of a moment of brilliance from the opposition or they simply looked too good. Instead we gave them two absolute gifts and created next to nothing. Credit to the way Charlton went after the game and their press was effective at preventing our quick releases for the most part.
Those that came into the starting line-up were not good enough today and MB took far too long to bring them off. Batkinson should have been pulled at half time for either Scowen or Leahy. McCleary had one of those days where from the first minute he went away from goal, rather than at it, which is never a good sign.
Back to a front three of Fred, Kone & Lubala/Kodua on NYD, with Scowen also back doing his thing in midfield, please.
Two wins in six. It’s not time to panic but we do need to find the winning habit again.
And here was me thinking I was the only person who didn’t think it was a penalty. I would have raging if that had been given against us
Ref wasn’t good, some strange decisions but he was up with play so trying to blame extra kebabs is laughable.
Bottom line is, today we were second best. The thing is not to let us get too down about it, even if we end the day in third place, but to restart again against Exeter
Comments
Just too many players having a a slight off day and a pretty decent performance from Charlton.
We've been rubbish, but Charlton have been effective in neutralising us.
I'm worried that between the Bolton game and this, we've seen a couple of ways that teams can totally shut us down.
Today especially, we had absolutely no response to their aggressive press, the one goal coming from some Kone magic. Apart from that we created nothing. Even at the end, with all the momentum and energy behind us, I felt we were just as likely to get caught in possession and concede a goal as we were to break through them and score again.
Not a good day.
And Wycombe heads going down. They really weren't.
The level of smug emanating from Reverend Jones after this will power a fleet of Nissan Leafs until the end of time.
ref missed a foul for their second and also missed a blatant pen on Kodua, we did not play well but refs need to prove there fitness , he looked off the pace and looked like he was on the beers and kebabs ...an embarrassment to the reffing profession
Could have done with throwing Vokesy on at the end, Probably need to look at someone else who can do that job.
Just gave ourselves too much to do. But encouraging scenes later on.
However, a huge run of home games now, and we really need to get the home form back going after 1 win from 3 in the league - that being a last min fluke.
Have to stew on our 3 rivals all having highly winnable home games now...but you never know.
And a really dodgy pitch and ref. 🤦🤦
Yeah, if the pen had been given and scored we would have had a lot more time but we can't give people leads like that and hope to come back. They should be embarrassed by their league position and pitch really but they have some very good players at this level.
5 of the next 6 league games are at home now. Really need the fortress back up and running.
Why do I have this horrible feeling that we're going to drop into the play-offs and face the Rev?
Ok we lost, lots of ifs and buts 19 unbeaten is brilliant so let’s just work hard and get back on track , Birmingham and Wrexham won’t win every game so every chance of being in the top two position . If we are in playoffs let’s pray we don’t get Charlton
I think the biggest problem today was that none of our wide forwards - McCleary, Fred, Lubala, Udoh and Kodua - were effective at creating chances for the strikers... hence why Kone had to create his own bit of magic. Why was that? Partly I think the full backs both had off days with their passing, partly we were losing the midfield battle second half. I wonder how much of that can be put down to a dodgy pitch. Probably quite a lot, which is an issue, because we're now entering the phase of the season where dodgy pitches will become more of a feature. Thankfully Adams Park holds up well so our home form should be ok. But certain away matches could end up a struggle unless we come up with a new plan. I would certainly be starting Kone every time we're on a substandard surface - his non-league goal tally shows he knows how to play on them effectively.
Only two teams in the entire EFL have lost fewer games than us this season
3 points from 2 potentially difficult away games is better than 2 draws and preserving the unbeaten run. Onwards to 2025. COYB!
Stop blaming the pitch and the ref people, we wasn't very good today and lost, it happens. The pitch didn't stop Charlton, the pitch didn't make Rav stand in no man's land for the 2nd goal. It wasn't a penalty, too many players just had a bit of an off day. Here's to another 19 unbeaten now !
Tough day today. A few players with off days and clearly Charlton were really up for it. We struggled to play around their press, and didn't quite match them physically. A shame that Kone was on the bench to start with and that Scowen isn't quite ready to start - today's game was made for them both. We go again - Huddersfield at home is going to be a real 6 pointer.
I can't understand why we didn't lift a few balls in behind the full backs.
Seemed to me that making Charlton face their own goal and chase a ball down the channel would have been worth a go. Kodua looked capable of causing problems. But the wingers showed short for the ball all game.
it was a blatant pen and a foul for their 2nd ....yes we did not play well but do not give the ref a pass...he did not deserve it
An off day today but our unbeaten run was always going to come to an end. Bit of an understatement but January is going to be a defining month. 5 out of 6 games at home and also which players leave and who comes in. I’m still confident we can push for automatic promotion.
Please don’t use the name number 6 when referring to Huddersfield!! The scars have barely healed.
No it wasnt
The thing is when I hear ‘wide player’ I think Steve Guppy getting to the goal line and getting a cross in. We don’t employ wide players like that (nor do many teams in all fairness) we employ 2 wide strikers. Teams can play 5 at the back and allow their wing backs to cover our wide striker and swallow up the central guy with the 3 other defenders. Also the wide forward has to be good at tracking back to cover the wing back. I’m not sure what the data shows but I’m guessing against a back 4 we are more effective.
Anyway. No stand outs today, good or bad (Kone aside). 6/10 all round and the result showed.
Did Aaron Morley give any indication that he was staying?
Tough at the top. Unbeaten since 17th August and could be 3rd in a couple of hours.
Next 2 games are biggest of the season
Time to watch Shrewsbury now
Ah crap, I forget about Wrexham. Oh well, we have a game in hand and are generally better than them.
What a hugely frustrating watch. I had long hoped that when defeat finally came it was because of a moment of brilliance from the opposition or they simply looked too good. Instead we gave them two absolute gifts and created next to nothing. Credit to the way Charlton went after the game and their press was effective at preventing our quick releases for the most part.
Those that came into the starting line-up were not good enough today and MB took far too long to bring them off. Batkinson should have been pulled at half time for either Scowen or Leahy. McCleary had one of those days where from the first minute he went away from goal, rather than at it, which is never a good sign.
Back to a front three of Fred, Kone & Lubala/Kodua on NYD, with Scowen also back doing his thing in midfield, please.
Two wins in six. It’s not time to panic but we do need to find the winning habit again.
And here was me thinking I was the only person who didn’t think it was a penalty. I would have raging if that had been given against us
Ref wasn’t good, some strange decisions but he was up with play so trying to blame extra kebabs is laughable.
Bottom line is, today we were second best. The thing is not to let us get too down about it, even if we end the day in third place, but to restart again against Exeter