Match Day Thread Away v Blackpool

Blackpool were awful.

A timely reminder that the standard of this league is still very poor, and just like two seasons again, a consistent run just about guarantees you a top 6 slot.

 

Amos didn't have a save to make. With Purrington out the way our completely new defense looks fine, which is quite an achievement.

 

Our team looks so much more solid with Innis and the Norwich lad. You need a good defence to have any chance of getting promoted.

 

A back 5 of Amos, Gunter, Famewo, Inniss and Maatsen is easily good enough at this level.

 

It's a pity about Blackpool.
They have been savaged for longer (and most would probably say even more severely) by their b***ard owners than even we were by the old Scrote and then ESI.
They are struggling to recover from those very bad days.
Their fan boycott was admirable, and it is a cruel irony that Coronavirus now keeps those fans away.

Glad we beat them, but I wish them and their fans well for the future.

 

It makes a nice change to have subs coming on who improve the team, and win the game even. The second half was much better. Maatsen looks a terrific prospect, although at 18 Bowyer won't want to overplay him. It was also pleasing that the heads didn't drop after a poor refereeing decision went against us. I'd say the L1 standard has dropped since we were last here, maybe due in part to the wage cap, and promotion this season seems quite possible, something I didn't believe month ago.

 

Our goal stemmed from a quality move. Shinnie & Maatsen interchanged down the left, and Maatsen’s cross was skilfully headed back by Doughty for Aneke to score with a deft header.

Even allowing for the dire standard of the opposition, we now have a completely new back 4 that combines height, skill & pace.

The two glaring weaknesses are the Pratley / Watson combo, which clearly doesn’t work & isn’t needed anyway when you are playing teams this poor, and the lack of a natural goalscorer. We are going to need Aneke to stay fit all season and contribute 15-20 goals like Taylor did.

 

What are opinions about Washington? I couldn't see what his role was, and he seemed to lack the ability to read the game, in contrast to Maatsen, who has an old head on young shoulders.

 

Maatsen really does remind me of DaSilva

 

A successful team always builds from the back. Long may our clean sheets continue.

 

Even better, from first viewing.

Innis could be a future Charlton captain.

 

Aneke's header looks better the more I see it. To get so much power on it he had to jacknife his body, which is why his leg shot out. I don't think he could have scored with such an athletic leap if he hadn't shed some extra timber, and I've got high hopes for what he can achieve now.

 

Aneke needs a run in the side. From what I have seen Aneke and Smyth are the best combination going forward. I have not been that impressed by Washington.