Charlton Away Match thread

[The Prisoner]

[manny96]

Well, I've had erectile dysfunction with more vigour than that. I can't say I was expecting a win but was really disappointed by the lack of fight in us.

- McCarthy didn't command his box in any way.
- Harte was woefully disinterested.
- I'm not sure Khumalo knew he was playing football.
- Morrison was alright.
- Cummings was probably our best player and seemed to be clearing up for everyone else.
- Not going to sing it but struggling to see the captain material in Jobi and he spent the first half far too deep.
- Tabb was all over the shop in a bad way, as was his passing.
- Howard was hit and miss at best but seemed the most likely to create anything and had a decent effort.
- Obita wasn't in the game at all...hoping for better.
- Church ran a bit. That's all.
- Manset was all bluster and not enough composure.

- HRK looked a bit more threatening but was trying to do too much.
- Mills actually looks promising although got caught out of position a bit. Decent delivery on him.

It's all very well saying it's just the Carling Cup but that will do their confidence no good at all. We really need a central defender with a bit of bite and who's able to marshall the others.

To top it all off, I forgot to touch out the oyster on the way there and so paid even more to watch that cack.

[muddyfeet]

Alex m was good and came for corners which made a change


Khumalo is getting worse, was just all over the place but will give him time. Harte was really poor not just slow just really poor, mills at least gave us more options going forwards. Tabb obv lacked match prac. Jobi didn't look up for it first half and no leadership at all. Kanu made a diff

Church tried but actually did nothing.

The whole outfit just looked shit tonight

[Magnus]

LOL. Was considering making the effort, glad I didn't.

[readingfc13]

We were really poor. The most worrying thing was no one seemed all that bothered. Morrison and Manset had decent games while Cummings was our man of the match (one magnificent goal line clearance to add to a number of times that he saved us). Tabb was poor in midfield repeatedly giving the ball away with Howard marginally better. Khumalo was shaky at best and continually out of position. It does make you wonder whether he is out of position as he has no positional sense or whether he is just covering the awful Ian Harte. Harte was just complete shite and Mills looked a much better option during his brief cameo. Both he, Morrison and Cummings need to come into the back for if we are going to improve any time soon. Church was non existent with his only notable contributions being a missed one on one and a near post header.

We don't just need a new central defender but a new forward is required too. The defence looks like it is always about to concede a goal whilst going forward we never look like creating much from open play. I do worry about the depth of the squad...

[SHORT AND CURLY]

Well that was poor!

Mcarthy Cant catch, looked to flap for the first. No better than Feds

Cummings and Morrison best of the bunch

Harte and Khumalo absolute rubbish. Khumalo is a liability. Cannot jump, cannot head, cannot read the game. Send him back. Morrison at CB with Pearce next game please Brian.

Tabb,terrible and at fault for 1st goal by losing ball in midfield, totally out muscled in midfield.

Howard was just poor but not quite as shite as Tabb.

McAnuff couple of decent touches. Has no no confidence to beat his man. Poor
game. Captain

Obita poor didn't do anything

Church ran around chasing hoofed balls

Manset see Obita and Church!

Atmosphere was awful. Even ChaLOLton fans couldn't be bothered.
Apart from that had a great evening.

I have only missed Leicester away and have not been impressed with what I have seen so far.
Its going to be along season folks!

[The Rouge]

The worst Reading performance I have seen since Barnet 4-1 Reading in the LDV Vans Trophy in 2001.

[FiNeRaIn]

- McCarthy didn't command his box in any way.

FAO Everyone claiming Feds needs to be dropped because he can't command his area.

[manny96]

Pains me to say it as I do rate McCarthy. But there were times he should have come for the ball and make catches tonight and didn't. Some decent stops but still.

[holsgrove breaks a leg]

jeeeezzzz we look like getting carved open at any opportunity,the middle of the team looks painfully fragile and the amount of balls given away led to more and more attacks that the back 4 could not cope with. Attacking wise we are also becoming far too predictable, little guile and all too route one either direct or longball. Cummings was one of the few to come out with any credit, he worked hard defensively and was sound with the ball. Not that this could be said re Khumalo,Harte and at times Morrison (who was 'ok') who just look like they are on a completely different planet. Harte was caught in possesion for the upteenth time whilst i am beginning to worry about even the basic ability of Khumalo summed up by the Rouge who likened him to a Striker having to play at CB !!

To be fair to Mccarthy he kept us in it in the 1st half with a series of decent stops but the powder puff options up front we have are not helping, Church largely annonymous again and Manset needing a decent foil alongside him. Very dissapointed with Mcanuff at the moment as well, no real urgency and a shrug of the shoulders and his ability to beat a man is clearly waining. I was most frustrated with Tabb's performance as i feel he is a player that has been ignored in the past when his performances had been really great - not a good way to force your way back in Brian's plans. We clearly need that CB in to ensure the basics are stuck to and bring in some mental toughness and focus, however its becoming more obvious that the striker options we have dont work well together and Brian needs another option there (williams not even figuring tonight!), someone with a poachers instinct, whilst i think we could do with someone other than the defensive/mid options we are littered with in the middle of there park to drive forward effectivly............

[LJ]

McCarthy and Federici are both good shot stoppers, and neither are very good at coming and catching balls and commanding their area. Don't understand the complete and devout love for McCarthy. I disagree about him being "quality" in the few games that he played for us last season in our miraculous winning run, namely Palace away, when he was complete toilet. Feds is number one, quite rightly so, and it will stay that way. Today showed why. There were three corners I counted where the ball found its way to McCarthy, who flapped and nearly hit the ball into his own net.

As for the game, horrendous. Harte should be taken and culled like an old lame horse, and Khumalo is just a poor man's Sonko, just without the heading ability i.e. he has nothing. No passing ability, no touch, can't jump, can't tackle, can't clear the ball, doesn't really know where he is most of the time, he is a serious issue. Please play Morrison alongside Pearce on Saturday, they looked assured together during pre-season, and Morrison looked decent tonight.

[Simon's Church]

McCarthy made a really good save in the first half when their striker was one on one after one of Tabb's hilarious pass backs.

The highlights of the match for me were probably McAnuff trying to take a throw despite the crowd and the linesman telling him numerous times it was a corner and Church winning a header was pretty fantastic.

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

Apart from the signing of Marcus Willams, BMs worst call to date ...making McAnuff captain ....rarely do you see a winger as a club captain and his performances dont inspire confidence in the players.....

BM had a couple of other choices for captain above McAnuff -Liegertwood or Pearce ...at least they play in central positions where they can influence the game

Obviously BM sees leadership qualities in McAnuff ......more worrying is that it makes him first name on teamsheet as well

[DOYLERSAROYALER]

The LOLing on here at those irritated that our (partial) reserves lost to Charlton reserves ignores the fact that this highlights the (some might say obvious) fact that our strength in depth is precisely nil. Worrying.

Following on from this point. Take Kebe out of Reading's team......Screwed. The only person who can on his day cause havoc at Championship level. The rest of the side as an attacking force, extremely mediocre.

We've got Mcanuff ........yeah fair point AP

[sandman]

JonnyFordham Jonny Fordham
FT: #cafc 2-1 #readingfc Sorry Royals lucky to keep the defeat down to just 2. Awful at the back and just as poor going forwards

Nuff said

and that is why we could be realistic relegation candidates this season. personally i'm glad we're out of the competition. no disruptive mid-week games we don't need. we can concentrate on the league - getting enough points to secure our place in the championship, and then think/dream about pushing on from there.

We won't go down and we won't go up. We will finish where we would have been last season were it not for the winning run.
The real problem is when there isn't a 6 million pound player to sell because apparently without that we're going out of business .

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

Charlton AWAY was always going to be a tough fixture they are on the way up after a few seasons in League 1

Not all doom and gloom, look at Norwich and QPR both losing at home to League 1 sides, now that would really p*ss me off.

[Avon Royal]

Charlton AWAY was always going to be a tough fixture they are on the way up after a few seasons in League 1

Not all doom and gloom, look at Norwich and QPR both losing at home to League 1 sides, now that would really p*ss me off.

Phew!

For a minute there I thought we were really shit, turns out we're ok after all.

[brendywendy]

pretty sure brian made the team play shit so hed get some money for new players, and im pretty sure hes told khumallo to play like a cnut in order that we can secure his permenant services in january for 20K

[Here for the KEBE]

- McCarthy didn't command his box in any way.

FAO Everyone claiming Feds needs to be dropped because he can't command his area.

Were you guys there? McCarthy may have flapped at a few crosses but don't do a lot else wrong in my opinion. It was pleasing to see a keeper throw the ball out at pace. He had a crap back 4 in front of him. Still better than Federici

[muddyfeet]

actually agreed, he came for corners and made a couple of good saves. Wasn't as good in the second half but I blame the shambles in front of him. Charlton were pushing forwards more and more and our back 4 were getting in a complete pickle. short back passes etc are hardly going to give confidence to the GK of whats going on in front of him