Yeah, I don't think sacking managers is any good (and a lot of those yelling for it now are convinced the untried Johnny Jackson will be a saviour, which is quite optimistic given his lack of experience. But today was bad again, and we only took the game to them at the end because their manager thought it was all over and made some sill substitutions. It's a no from me, but we need a big change in the dynamic.
I'm not saying Johnnie Jackson or Curbs or any specific person should step into the job. Choosing the right replacement is far beyond my ability as a fan. And I know Elfs is willing to wait until 15 games have passed before he makes a judgment on Adkins. But in the light of the performances as well as the results, I regret I would not wait that long. We're 23rd in the table now. Unless Charlton are 20th or higher in 3 league games' time, if I were TS I would dismiss Adkins. Our long term future, the rebuilding of the infrastructure that is going on - these are more important things than giving Adkins chance after chance. I don't think our squad is the 23rd best in the league.
Adkins will probably be sacked quite soon, but that may not bring an upturn. There seems to be too many cooks behind the scenes, what with the complicated recruitment team, and the owner being such a prominent presence. I've not known anything like this set-up before, and I don't know where the problem lies, but there appears to be a malaise at the heart of the club. Duchatelet still owns all the assets, maybe we will never get our character back until he sells up, which seems unlikely. Very worrying times.
Someone needs to tell Adkins we are starting the match 2-0 down, appears to be the only time he’s willing to show some attacking intent. It seems crazy to sack a manager in September, but it’s hard to justify keeping him as the weeks go on
Err, not actually sure if we had a formation at all. It was the usual Stockley show to begin with though.
I’m convinced that playing two up front will make a difference. We have nobody running in behind defenders, or getting on to Stockleys knockdowns. I’d start Washington then bring Leko late on. Then rotate as and when. It means we will continue to play agricultural football, but it might get us a win. Which brings confidence. Which means we might play better. I certain this is an obvious solution, one that Adkins must have considered. Or am I posting utter drivel?
Sounds like good sense to me. It seems playing 'three' up front didn't work. Presumably it just became one - Stockley. If 4-4-2 (or even 3-5-2) is going to save our season and give us a chance to push up into the top half of the table, then let's do it for pity's sake... Adkins, give us a break! It's not rocket science.
When we have played three up front, the two wide players have stayed very wide. In possession, the player on the opposite wing doesn’t seem to cut inside to support Stockley.
The honeymoon period (such as it was) for Nigel Adkins is now well and truly over. Just one defeat in his matches at the end of last season is on the record, but means very little here and now. The very late assembly of our squad - not Adkins' fault - and the effect that all Charlton fans knew it would have on the opening weeks of our season, is again a matter of history now. It happened and we didn't want it that way, but it's done. Now it is time for these players to get stuck in and want the game more, win by guts and aggression alone if necessary. Show the fans they they have the fire in their bellies to go to war on this Division. Summer's gone. Transfers and stand naming and all the feel-good stuff. I didn't mind all that, but there is a time to knuckle down and grind out results. That time is NOW. The party is over, and 23rd place is not going to be tolerated. These next few games, next few months, need to be Charlton's Agincourt, not our Waterloo. "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead. In peace there's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility: But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger; Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage; Then lend the eye a terrible aspect; Let pry through the portage of the head Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it As fearfully as doth a galled rock O'erhang and jutty his confounded base, Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean. Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide, Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit To his full height. On, on, you noblest English. Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof! Fathers that, like so many Alexanders, Have in these parts from morn till even fought And sheathed their swords for lack of argument: Dishonour not your mothers; now attest That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you. Be copy now to men of grosser blood, And teach them how to war. And you, good yeoman, Whose limbs were made in England, show us here The mettle of your pasture; let us swear That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not; For there is none of you so mean and base, That hath not noble lustre in your eyes. I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, Straining upon the start. The game's afoot: Follow your spirit, and upon this charge Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!" William Shakespeare, Henry V October 25th was Saint Crispin's Day. By October 25th this season Charlton should have played 15 league games - away at Sunderland on the 23rd. I want us up in mid-table by then, and giving every opponent a game they know they've been in. We aren't just some feeder Club, or a £1 bargain basket case. And we aren't going to go quietly. We're Charlton Athletic - and we'll fight for our Club's pride.
Sadly no. After quitting, Royston said he would pay Elfs £1,000 if he (Royston) ever returned to not606 Charlton He says we don't talk enough about football on this forum. What he really means is we aren't anti-Sandgaard enough.