Match Day Thread versus Charlton

What could possibly go wrong this time? Well apart from the grim reaper turning up at half time and claiming the crowd the same as the last two matches according to some.

The problem this season is that we don't know that much about most of the opposition on any given day so to post about what might be is a tad difficult. First match at home this season in anger so it could be anything from a narrow defeat to a big dicking (I'm with you Plym). Can we even consider a win? I don't bleddy know but I'm hopeful.

 

My son and grandson are Charlton supporters....there I got that off my chest without feeling too embarrassed.....I used to take my son down the Valley when he was 10ish with his mate......and he kept going later on now and again when he grew up (it could of been worse, it could have been Millwall).....my grandson was team mascot about two years back for the Reading game which they won....the player that he walked out with scoring twice....he was chuffed as bits over that.
They seem to be getting their act together with their latest manager...although the fans are still in dispute with their Belgium owner.....this I think is an important game for Adams to win and also establish a solid home "fortress" situation....which as we know came unstuck a few times last season against the most unlikely opposition....costing us the title in the end.
I'm not sure that Carey and Lamieras make a natural partnership playing together....probably makes the mid-field a little lightweight defensively.....but we need to find a way of playing without a dominant striker up front....or go out there and actually pay good money for one....maybe retaining Carey has bust the bank regarding us buying anyone.....and Adams is waiting for the end of the transfer window when Premier and Championships clubs know their situations and then are willing to release a surplus striker out on loan.
Carey seems rather quiet at the moment lets hope that Div one teams don't snuff him out....maybe that's why no Championship or top Div one outfit offered him a contract that he couldn't refuse for this season.
I think the drubbing at City has answered a few questions for Adams regarding his "depth" of squad....far more than a good win or draw would have done....so maybe it wasn't all negatives on Tuesday night.

 

We now need two strikers: ideally one a season long loan and one until January to cover Taylor's recovery. Argyle were reportedly in negotiations with 4 parties before Taylor's injury so there's no lack of willingness at this end.

I don't think Carey is being snuffed out but his form doesn't seem great: His deadball accuracy doesn't seem to be there at present and the opposition can't snuff that out as they might free play. Possibly a season last year in which he played practically every minute of every game followed by a long closed season burdened with uncertainty where he would play this time around have taken their toll. He'll be back to form in a game or two I'm sure.

 

These four offers for strikers have probably been on the table for a few weeks.....this suggests that they are still all available and their clubs have not yet sorted out their requirements player wise for this coming season.....none are requiring a fee to buy from what has been said.

 

With Taylors injury I think we will be seeing Blissett start again on Saturday - We do need at least one striker in soon and possibly another on loan (I like Fletcher but I feel that we need someone a little more experienced to provide the back up).

Good opportunity for Blissett to take his chance though.

 

Half time here at Home Park. This is quite a step up from League 2 in my opinion.

Charlton looking assured in possession and Argyle relying more on the quick break. I doubted we'd make half time without conceding early on but Argyle finished the half a bit stronger. Wouldn't say Bradley is having a great game and Miller a weak link.

Good chances for both sides including Argyle having to clear off the line once.

Could go either way: first goal will be vital.

 

No subs for Argyle at half time but a different team has come out.....

 

Great 2-0 result....I didn't see that coming.....really pleased.....I of little faith.

 

Didn't see it coming after 15 minutes that's for sure!

Much better in the 2nd half though. Two good goals and Charlton looking frustrated at the end having missed an absolute sitter with 10 minutes to go.

My MoM was Fox with a special mention for Grant.

Dive of the day was Fosu-Henry. Absolute disgrace. Luckily the ref wasn't fooled but should have booked him.

 

Happy camper after the first half domination on text commentary! COYG.

 

Geddon bheys.............

Said to son after 10 minutes that this was not looking good. Charlton are a very good team who find space and pass the ball about very very well. Argyle were playing chase ball. However, I felt that Argyle grew into the job as the match went on and even matched Charlton on the passing front in the end. Both sides had chances which just wouldn't go in despite very near misses. Luke pulled off a stunning double stop which in any top flight game would have had the pundits waxing lyrical for days. Truely world class. I am not sure how this game got to halftime without a goal. It could have been 3 - 3 easily.

Second half kicked off without much change to the first. Chances being made, chances going begging. Out of the blue it was 1 - 0. Argyle got a corner, Carey chipped it in, the ball bobbled about a bit and dropped behind Jervis who backhealed it in from a crowd. I think that gutted Charlton a lot but they did continue to try to play the ball around and still caused some problems although Argyle's defence had somehow got a bit of an upperhand over their forwards. Carey took a poke at goal from distance which fair flew like a cannonball. It deserved to be a goal but it was just wide. Jervis then picked up the ball from a break away and let one fly from around the edge of the box before he was challenged. Their keeper couldn't hold it and it was 2 - 0 with not long to go. Game over.

A couple of points. I don't think any Argyle player was poor today and that includes Miller for me notdistant. He did ok after a bit of a shakey start. I think that Argyle players learned a bit as they were playing today. They learned quite well. The longer the game went on the better they got. Adams would have learned a lot as well. Charlton will beat a lot of sides this season and have some decent players. One or two could do with stopping with the diving and moaning thing. They got more than their fair share of decisions today and couldn't have much to moan about but still did. There were a few off the ball things they got away with like stopping Luke from taking a quick kick out after corners. At least 3 times one player did this and nobody saw it who had a flag or whistle. Makes you wonder what they do see at times. The Ref today gave some really bizaar decisions which I don't think anyone in the ground saw at all. He wasn't bad but he wasn't exactly good either. Very inconsistant at times. Booked Miller in the first half for what looked to me like the opposition player just running into him when he couldn't get out of the way if he had wanted to. Didn't book one of theirs for a blatant foul which was probably worse in that he meant it rather than it being accidental. Made Argyle go back a few yards with a free kick and play it from an exact position then didn't challenge Charlton for doing the same but much further from the foul position. You have to give MOM to Jervis today. He ran his guts out and scored 2.

 

Interesting that Peterborough won 4-1 at Bristol Rovers.

 

Couldn't give a monkeys about them. I hope their legs fall off and they fall on their arses. Classless club.

 

It just puts into perspective last weeks narrow defeat against them.

 

What did you think about the standard of football Sensible?

 

For the first 20 minutes I was not impressed with much notdistant. However, they grew into the game and the football played by both sides was a big improvement on league 2. Thought Argyle were quite presentable and held their own well.

 

It wasn't just Argyle I was asking about, although I agree that after a decent first 5 minutes, we were under the cosh for a good bit of the first half but much better in the second half. I suspect Adams made some changes: I think Sarevic may have moved to block the gap between Miller and Jervis to block the space Charlton exploited in the first half.

It's hard to tell how good Charlton are of course: mid-table-ish last season but this is a new year. I too thought the football from both sides was quite a bit better than League 2 to be honest and it was all quite intense. Mistakes are more likely to be punished in this league.

Charlton are a small side compared to us (including the smallest right back in League history) but were mobile and passed it around well. If they'd taken a chance in the first half, things might have been very different but they didn't and we came out on top. We played more on the break but I thought Jervis and Grant were excellent and Fox looked a division better than League 1 let alone League 2. Carey can play at this level with ease but hasn't got his sights calibrated yet. Sawyer was immense and Edwards looked calm and solid. Bradley struggled a bit in the first 45 but was better in the second, perhaps another tweak from Adams.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed it. More like that please.

 

Didn't Bradley break his nose in the Peterborough game ?....hasn't been rested like nine others had.

 

I'd already commented about Charlton in my first post notdistant so didn't repeat it. They, that is Charlton are an excellent passing side. Ball on the ground and pass and move. Much better than hoof and rush stuff. To be fair though I think a lot of league 2 sides are trying to pass it around now and that will only improve it. If Charlton are average then we have some very tough games to come but the spectacle is going to be much higher than previous.

 

Hard to judge how good Argyle were.....having seen the video highlights....I would say we rode our luck in the first half....some poor finishing by Charlton kept us in the game.....plus an excellent double save by McCormick.....all meant we didn't have to come back from being behind.....which we don't always do very well.