A hugely disappointing way to finish before the international break. After an improvement in results, and performances, today was a big step back. Not sure there was anything positive to take at all from today. Ayew did ok and got his first goal and Donovan was lively throughout but overall, we never got going. Charlton were not exactly great but fought hard today and in the end, they just shaded a poor game. The goals were horrific. The first saw us lose several 50-50 challenges and then we let an uncontested shot come in. Cooper has to better and lets it in, on his near post. They could have had a second but their lad made a mess of a free finish after more defending where we stood off.
We found a way back as Ayew headed in after a rebound biuncdd his way and you thought we might settle down but it never happened. We created little, did not win midfield and Charlton won too many loose balls. Not sure we ever had control of the game. Charlton had not won in 11 but gained confidence from a Blades side who did not assert themselves, individually, or collectively. Half time and we took off the dreadful Choudhury, but disaster struck when Seriki picked up a really serious injury (that turns out to be season ending). We still never really threatened but neither did they. Seemed to be drifting to a 1-1 stalemate but then Burrows stands off, the cross comes in and nobody reacts. Gooden finishes and we are behind. Peck had a late chance but we did not deserve anything.
It was a timid performance, where we did not battle, win the ugly stuff but played little football of note. We created very little. It was back to the performances of a few weeks ago, where we had no clear game plan at all. Charlton are a side that have plummeted like a stone and Jones was under pressure but they simply fought a bit and we offered no resistance. We have so many physically weak players who lack drive and urgency. It is a nothing set of men who will probably do just enough to stay away from trouble but are miles off a side that will be anywhere near the top 8. We have played some dire sides recently and today was one we needed to get something from but got nothing, deservedly. Throw in losing a key man and it’s been a really bad day.
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Cooper 4/10 – Praised him a lot this season but he has to do better on the first goal. It goes in near post, way too easily. After this did not have loads to do. The 2nd goal, was down to others rather than him.
Choudhury 3/10 – Thought he was our weakest player first half as they came down this side routinely. Out of position constantly and so slow to react to situations. He was poor on the ball too. Thankfully hauled off at HT.
Burrows 4/10 – First goal he is nowhere to be seen as his winger smashes a shot in. Second goal, he backs off, does not engage and then fails to stop the cross. He struggled defensively but had a few moves going forward, including one surging run and shot blocked. Major question marks on the winner though.
Tanganga 4/10 – Another nothing sort of game. Not sure we particularly dominated in any area of the field. He was sloppy in possession and did not really win many tackles/headers. Winner, the whole defence is so slow to react.
Kitching 5/10 – Best defender but that is not saying much. Even he was just average. Won a few tackles and interceptions and tried to carry it out.
Phillips 4/10 – Poorest game he has had for a while. He looked off the pace & never really got on the ball. I was really disappointed with the whole midfield today as against a poor side, we never had any control at all. He had one free kick saved but nothing else really that effective.
Peck 4/10 – As above. Game just passed him by but we never really went through midfield at all. They just lived off scraps but both needed to do much more. They should dominate against such a poor side but did not do that. One late shot saved.
Donovan 6.5/10 – Our best player by some distance. He looked to get on the ball, try and drive at players and was always positive. Not everything came off but he kept trying to find a moment. Needed more help but did not get it
Chong 3.5/10 – Thought our right side was atrocious again. Weak, out of position and offered nothing going forward. He constantly looked to go inside but no end product. A lot of meek challenges and no end product. One shot at the keeper apart, he offered next to nothing.
Brereton Diaz 4/10 – An ineffectual game where he looked sluggish and cannot recall a shot/cross/assist. He looked off the pace and never really affected the game. Kept looking at the bench, perhaps looking for his number, that is how tired he looked.
Ayew 6/10 – Reacted to score from the rebound and generally looked the most lively and dangerous attacker, but again a low bar. He at least had a few touches, bits of link play but we created very little really all game.
Subs –
Serki – Not sure he touched the ball and then suffers an awful injury. We lose him for the season now. I know this is a freak injury and can happen to anyone, but he does seem very injury prone sadly. Rarely does he go a few months without an injury of some sort. Will be missed though as Choudhury has really struggled. No idea why Doherty is here though, if he still does not play?
McGuinness 4/10 – Usual mix of clumsy pieces of play with weak headed attempts. He was put up top for the end but won nothing. Seems to shrink in chalkenges. So weak for a big guy.
Cannon 3/10 – Did nothing positive and got shrugged off too easily. So weak and lacks pace/strength to really contribute anything.
Arblaster – A few threaded passes but a few giveaways too.
Campbell – Came on too late for me. No real chance to get in the game.
Manager Rating: Wilder 3/10 – Timid showing. Slow to start and then even when back in the game, did not push on. 2nd half was a nothing performance. Did not even try and win the game. Got what we deserved. A worry that even Nathan Jones seemed to have more tactical ideas.
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Charlton – Somehow did the double over us last season – make it three now. Last season stayed up with a few games to spare – mainly due to the shocking quality of the sides in the division but credit Jones for keeping them up first season. He is an obnoxious and irritating little man but does seem to get the most out of a poor squad and you cannot say he does not give it all – but like Holloway and a few others – all seems a bit performative his antics/gimmicks. They started quite well and had some surprise win but have tumbled like a stone in the last weeks and are now back down near where I expected them to be. I like some of the recruitment actually (Alli and Grant did well at this level for Pompey and WBA) and already had a decent mix of experience so I thought they may just have enough to stay away from the bottom three but have regressed badly and now seem in a bit of a rut. I like the look of Tyrese Campbell (their one!) but seems rather in and out. Kelman pops up with the odd goal but I have reservations about some quite agricultural defenders and have added a suspect keeper, Okonkwo, from Wrexham, who has now been dropped.
Today, they scored a good individual first goal, then recovered after conceding an equaliser and in the end did just enough to get a much needed win. They did battle and fight but had little quality but found the moments they needed to win. Will have been surprised how little we offered really.
Opposition player of the match – Alli scored a really good goal and was a threat, as was Campbell, on the other side. They had far better wide threats.
Opposition weak link – The defence was not really tested but Bindon was poor. Had a number booked and skirted close to the edge.
Referee – Booked a fair number of the Charlton players rightly for some cynical challenges. Not sure why the Charlton fans were so annoyed with him? Certainly his performance did not affect any major decisions/ result.
Day out - Rare away day for me. My lad got on at Derby from Uni and 7 of us (Roy, Bladespod, Travelling Blade etc) went down meeting a few fown there including Phil (Carrier Bag), Jon (4 Blades) and Sam (Pinch). Bit of a crawl round Greenwich and then Deptford post game. Like a number of away days. Good day spoilt by the football!
