Just back from the match and I'm particularly disappointed. Thta's only a single point now from 3 games. And to be honest, we didn't deserve to win today. Sure, there will be claims for a penalty or two, but for me, we lost it in the first half.

It would be easy to say that Robson got it wrong. We were completely outplayed in midfield in the first half and sorely missed Rob Lee who would have controlled the play. If only YBR had checked the team pick competition and selected the same eleven as Clarky ;-)

I don;t think the defence could be blamed for the goal - might be wrong, but it was a long way away from me. From what I saw, the midfield simply opened up and leyt them run at us, and when the ball was played back into the middle it was a simple task to head it in. Maybe he could have been marked closer, but in reality, the ball should never have got as far as our area.

Midfield was a shambles, and we were lucky not to go 2 down when Charlton hit the bar. It would have been deserved if it had crept under the bar and we couldn't have complained. Nobby was havinbg a poor game and so was Dyer. Ketsbaia looked no different now he's grown a pony tail. Where was the one touch football that made us look so much better against Chelsea?

YBR's half time talk didn't seem to make much differnce and we still lacked control in midfield. It was only when he made drastic changes, replacing Solano, Charvet and Don Cordeone with Lee, Domi and debutant Lua Lua, with Griffin switching to the right. It seems the gane started for NUFC at this point and the midfield looked much stronger and able to compete at last. Rob Lee started to control things. If he was fit enough to be on the bench why didn't he start? Surely he must be in the starting eleven against Orient and City.

But the revelation was Lua Lua. He was everywhere, and despite losing the match, his performance was (almost) worth the entry money. Let's hope this is not a "flatter to deceive" performance. And let's not forget that Cordone started off like a house on fire in his first couple of games.

Robson has a lot to do to mould a bunch of talented individuals into a team. I don't think many would say that as individuals, Charlton could match NUFC, but they had much more team spirit and played better as a unit. I've been very disappointed with Dyer. He has not progressed as I would have hoped and to me, he doesn't look like a #6M player on present performances. SImilarly, Nobby looked out of sorts. What's wrong with Gavilan? Unless he is injured, he must surely play some part in the near future.

Apart from the last 25 mins or so when YBR made his triple substitution, the crowd were again flat. Maybe its because I sit directly below the away supporters, but I was again embarrased by the lack of atmospher from the home crowd. Fer fuxake, we're supposed to sing at home yet we were again eclipsed by a bunch of Cock-er-neys.

If things don't improve, we're going to find ourselves playing in no-man's land with only a few points ahead of the drop zone. Yes - I'm disappointed and I apologise to Dougal, Jonno, Softie, Steph, Gav and the rest who made it back to the Straabeery. The mood I was in, I'd not have been able to drive the car back home if I'd joined you as I probably wouldn't have left until I got hoyed oot. Next time, eh?

Outplayed, outwitted and bliddy well outsung. Bah!

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2000

Answers

I'm utterly, utterly p****d off! With the exceptions of the 3 subs, Given and possibly Griffin each and every one of them should be hung up by the ankles over a blazing fire.

I thought with Southampton, Charlton and City we'd be looking for 6 or 7 points - maybe I was being hopeful but after the shambles today we look like we'd strugle to finish above the drop zone!

The defence looked shaky as a unit, but I'd single Chravet out as playing like a heedless chicken. The goal was exactly like Southampton, letting a man run into the box completely unmarked. A gift. But going forward, bring back Kevin Dillon!

Solano needs to decide if he wants to play for us or Peru, becasue the travelling and the jetlag are the only excuse I can come up with for him playing so badly - his passing, which lets face it is 90% of him game, was utterly sh*te. Dyer - well Kieron, this is your make or break year, are you going to be greater than Mitchell or worse than Fereday. Right now I suggest you start growing that moustache. Cordone - f*** off. Cort - lots of effort but never threatened, just as well you've got the excuse of coming beck from a long lay off. Shearer - one chance, nearly scored. The rest of the time huffing and puffing but not capable of doing anything with back to goal. I'm going to get stuck into a bottle of whisky tonight.

Must mention Lua Lua, who showed guts, confidence, trickery and was the best player on the pitch in his 25 minutes. Can we sign the rest of the Colchester team?

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2000

Credit where credit is due though, Charlton are not the crap team that they used to be.

There certainly are problems, in all areas, How do we solve them?

Stick with Shearer, Speed, Solano, Cort, Dyer and the rest of the flat footed clueless players? Or make a few changes?

Robson surely has his work cut out in October , to get us back on course.

Personally I'd give some of the youngsters a start on Tueaday night, you never know they could come up trumps and it would give some of the lethargic looking players a rest.

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2000

I was starting to worry that my site had been hacked into as it wouldn't receive my password. I suppose it's taken my mind off the crap performance today. A report of which is now at MAGS V ADDICKS

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2000

I'm beginning to cool down a little now (10pm) but still can't be @rsed to write very much - I feel totally and utterly deflated.
Those b@st@rds parading in the guise of NUFC are earning serious money, and it's high time they got their @rses into gear. The simple truth is we were out-thought and out-fought today - by Charlton Athletic for Christ's sake!
I suggested after the Orient game, the major problem was "Solano..Dyer..Speed..Gallacher". Well today the major problem was "Solano..Dyer..Speed..Cordone" - note the similarities? To compound this, we played with NO holding m/f player, and therefore with no protection for the defence - until of course Rob Lee came on. We effectively played with 4 defenders and 6 attackers with no one linking play, or providing any creativity. Yet again, the tackling was powder-puff, movement off the ball was minimal, and our forward play entirely predictable
I hate to say it but I felt BR got the whole thing wrong today - his team selection and tactics were wrong, he was out-thought by Alan Curbishley - and his substitutions came too late. We were utterly pathetic in the 1st half and nothing was going to change that without personnel and tactical changes. We were crying out for Rob Lee from the first five minutes, and why he didn't start I just can't imagine - better ask BR.
As on Wednesday, I'd have yanked Solano and probably Dyer and Charvet at HT. Quite frankly, playing at Kingston Park for a couple of months might do Solano and Dyer the world of good - they certainly deserve it. The reality, of course, is that we don't have the squad to be able to drop underperformers to 'the stiffs'.
The match against Man City has now become critical (I couldn't give a sh*t about the Orient game, other for team moral and confidence) and unless we go out ready, willing and totally prepared to win the midfield battle, we might as well not bother to turn up. Rob Lee MUST come back in alongside Speed. If Dyer stays in the team it must be on the right, and we then need someone who can provide balance, and crosses, from the left - I'd play either Domi or even Lua Lua there if Glass still isn't fit. A possible alternative would be Dyer on the left and Gavilan on the right - it's time he did something to earn his corn.
Final thought - if BR feels Laurent Charvet is a better FB than Didier Domi then he should sell Domi - otherwise fergin play him!

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2000

thanks for the reports guys, confirming my worst fears, Geez it don`t get much to have us flying high as supporters, its the landings that hurt,

-- Anonymous, September 23, 2000

I'd have yanked Solano and probably Dyer and Charvet at HT

I'm extremely pleased that you spelt that third word correctly, otherwise it could have given the sentance a whole new perspective!

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

Couldn't agree more about Rob Lee, but Gary Speed would be in the same catergory as Dyer and Solano in my books.

You also failed to mention the front men.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

OK bonny lad, Gary Speed didn't play very well. We all know he isn't Zinedine Zidane, but he NEVER fails to give his all - unlike some of the others yesterday, in particular his three 'creative' m/f colleagues, all three of who should be embarrassed to pick up their wages this week. Controversial stance perhaps, but I would excuse GS from the brunt of my criticism.

Controvery 2: I didn't think the front two were all that bad - 'silk purse out of sows ear' job, IMHO.
CC is rusty and needs games - and incidentally, he isn't fully fit and probably shouldn't have been playing yesterday. He's young, has potential, and we should get off his back - he needs our support.
Everyone on here knows I'm biased, but IMO Alan Shearer was as good as anyone yesterday and nowhere near as bad as some. If he was sulking and missing good opportunities, I'd be the first to suggest resting him, but I just happen to think that belies the reality of an increasingly worrying situation, and just happen to believe we'd be weaker without him.

BTW, I have to say that I don't think AS is good team captain, and thought that showed again yesterday when some team/tactical adjustments were needed in the first half. He's too introverted and concerned about his own game to be an effective team captain - which should still be Rob Lee IMO.

Stands back and waits for the blast

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

Clarky - I ain't gonna blast you about your comment regarding Shearer as captain. OK - keep his as club captain, but not on the pitch. I've said this for a long time (even agreeing with LR about this over a couploe of pints a few years back).

Contrast Shearer's "leadership" with that shown on MotD last night by Martin Keown. Now, I have no idea whether Keown was wearing the armband, but he certainly gave his colleagues a tongue-lashing at one point. Do we ever see that at NUFC? Do we hell as like. We need somebody who can stand up to his under-performing colleagiues and pull them round. Shearer doesn't do that and he should.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

Got to stand up for Charvet here. The only player in the first half not hiding. Every single move without fail Charvet ended up getting involved. He either started the moves himself or ended up receiving/retrieving it from Bill and Ben (Nobby and 'Kevin') who were wearing themselves out trying to backheel the ball to each other without risking any forward momentum. As a result, the ball always ended up back with Charvet after some pointless fucking about to no purpose from that pair of dilletante arseholes. Even more infuriating was that Lua Lua came on and put their "amazing ball control" skills in serious perspective - either he had a large lump of Evostick on the toe of each boot or this kiddie is the last word in ball control since Beardo hung up his boots.

As well as being the only player not hiding, Charvet was receiving "passes" at a variety of heights and speeds not seen since the North East since the Wearmouth Airshow, yet he uncomplainingly brought each of these meteors under control and looked in vain for someone to pass to. Before half time Speed came across to help him out through sheer embarrassment on behalf of Noddy and Porno, and got barracked by the Toon crowd (as famous for their knowledge of the game as for their unceasing vocal encouragement - hah! Two myths with one stone) for his inabilty to cross with his right foot.

The other player to appear alogside Charvet was Cordone, also abused by the knowledgable crowd, since standing waving his arms about in acres of space on the left wing failed to attract a pass from any of our gifted playmakers unless they personally dribbled it all the way over their, cunningly letting Charlton know the knew axis of attack without the need to travel forwards. To cap off a completely unrewarding and thankless afternoon, Charvet was whinged at for hitting the side netting when he appeared in the goal mouth and ran onto a pass. Nobody asked the serious questions at this point: why is Charvet the only player up in support, where are Solano and Dyer hiding this time, if we have 3 strikers and 3 attacking midfielders where did a fullback find the space to move into this position?

Charvet wasn't the problem, if the others had worked half as hard as he did then we'd have won 4-0. Every bloody throwin he had to wait 40 seconds for anyone to even pretend to show for him. Every pass sent his way was overhit. The few times that pair of wankers ahead of him managed to evade their markers they just noodled about and either lost the ball or ended up passing it back to him. And let's not forget that when Laurel and Hardon lost the ball it was left to Charvet to chase them back with Hughes cutting across to help. Shamefully exposed all afternoon he was. It's bad enough that his pathetic "teammates" left him without any support, we certainly shouldn't add to the insult by blaming him for it. The worst thing is that with Goma out the poor bugger is going to played out of position at centre half again, and everyone will blame him for that too. It's a hospital pass folks, and he's one of the only blokes in the squad with broad enough shoulders to try and make it work.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

Softie, Apologies to you and Laurent if I gave the impression that I thought Charvet was cr@p. I thought he had a decent game, but his was a substition I had been looking for for a while before YBR made it. Not because he was playing badly (he wasn;t, as you rightly pointed out with a number of examples). However, I thought we needed a change in play, and Domi was likely to bring something to the left which had been missing. Following the reported MotM accolades of Griffinm last Wednesday, it seemed perfectly reasonable for him to revert to his more natural position (he's a better crosser IMHO than Charvet) and bring Domi to explore wide left.

No, I think Charvet was a victim of circumstances. As you said, and as I suggested on another thread, I'd play him in ythe middle on Tuesday and probably also on Saturday. If the midfield could sort themselves out, then we could do a ManUre and play without a defence ;-))

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

Well Softie, I guess we're in agreement on the performance of "Laurel & Hardon", or was it "Noddy & Porno" [;-{0] and also on the fact that Laurent Charvet didn't hide.

Talking about players hiding, I actually found it amazing how many times 'Noddy' managed to find a marker when a colleague was under pressure and looking for him to pass to.

Solano is certainly not as bad a player as he looked yesterday, but he looked desperately short of confidence and painfully lacking pace. It may well be that all the dopey travelling he's having to do is finally catching up with him, and I really feel he should be rested for a while, and play in a couple of reserve games to rebuild his confidence.

Regarding Dyer, I don't know what the answer is with him, but worryingly he seems to me to have an attitude problem - something I noticed recently at the Riverside.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

First rate piece of iconoclastic reporting Softie. Whatever one thinks of Laurent Charvet for what we paid for him he's been a very useful utility squad player. Not sure he should be holding a first team place on a regular basis though. There does seem a definite consensus emerging that our midfield is too lightweight which is troubling, as is the lack of goals.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

The two go together Stevo.

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

I take it we weren't very good on Saturday then.

I'm with the beefing up the midfield theory - Bassedas was bought with this in mind - Bobby Lee would be cover - his injury bollocks that plan. YKD may be the man in the middle in future but at the minute he's learning his job. Solano is so often exposed that now Bartinho is injured we're seeing how much covering he did for Nobby.

Get Griffin in on the Right with young Diego in front. Bobby and Speed in the middle and a left winger on the left - sorry for being radical there. Domi wants to play full-back - nows his chance.

Aaron and Charvet@ Centre half (if we had tree loads of C/Halfs last season where are they now) - Al & Carl up front.

A question - can somebody give me a pen picture of LuLus performance on Saturday ?

-- Anonymous, September 24, 2000

Josh, Lua Lua came on to a terrific standing ovation and was clearly corned up to the eyeballs and carrying a large piece of ginger without using his hands.

Very langorous, loping run, very reminiscent of Tino, and shared the aforementioned's ability to cover ground extremely quickly without the recquisite number of steps in between. Shirt untucked, shoulders low, he repeatedly took the ball into challenges and somehow reappeared on the other side complete with ball, and I swear some of the defenders tried to pass the thing afterwards through being so thoroughly bamboozled.

Obviously his dander was up, as he'd never played in front of 50+k before, let alone been cheered to the skies by them, but he appeared to want to do everything quickly - in stark contrast to Noddy and Porno - and made himself available whenever appropriate. His positioning was excellent, as he prompted Charlton into bringing Andy Hunt off in favour of another blocker (silly arse missed out on a round of applause from the crowd by wasting time!) since he seemed to be finding space with ease instead of looking for a marker.

His passing was clinical and his close control a delight. Not much chance for long passing, although one ball over the top towards the corner stayed in play, which was one of the first all afternoon. He had the advantage of Rob Lee patrolling between midfield and defence behind him, but wasn't afraid to get his foot in himself. He was also looking for one-twos and seems to enjoy sucking in defenders on the edge of the box before sliding the ball through them for a teammate (very Beardsleyesque).

Would have loved to see him take on the last man himself or have a shot in anger, but he was attacking 10 defenders and had to content himself with providing Cort and Shearer with quality balls in the box. He also went short for corners and dribbled the pass into the box with a lot more success than the crosses we had watched Rufus clear until that point.

An extremely promising debut, and quite the most exciting one since Tino's rubber-man impression against the Smoggies. Probably pull his hamstring in training this afternoon though, so I wouldn't bother getting excited if I were you ;-)

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2000

I thought Charvet was very poor on Saturday. Don't know about Charvet 'ending up' involved in most attacks, but most of them certainly ended when he was involved. Useless defender as well.

Hughes was good, and Griffin. Speed was OK, but left isolated. Lee made a lot of difference when he came on. Dyer and Solano were both poor, but were outstanding compared to Cordone. shearer and cort had nothing games. lua lua was the man of the game when he on - he knew no fear and just ran forward. ball seemed glued to his feet and he was prepared to have a couple of shots (even if they were crap ones). good lad - he may mean that cordone disappaearss from the ist XI for a while. crowd were very restless - at least until the last 20 minutes.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2000

For most of the first half Cordone was in acres of space on the left but nobody would pass to him.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2000

"However, when a team fails to organise properly after gaining corners and set pieces, when nobody shows themselves for a throw in, and when the ball is given to Charvet time and again in the expectation that he can provide the creative spark, then it's arse- kicking time."

Looks like Biffa saw the same game as me Beardo. Was he meant to pass the ball to himself as well as take all the throw ins and all the tackles down the right hand side? It's supposed to be a team game, but if only one of you wants to play it all falls apart. The scoreline makes it quite obvious that nobody had a good game, but Charvet can be excluded a general bollocking on the grounds that he put some honest effort in while the golden boys hid.

-- Anonymous, September 25, 2000

Charvet certainly went for it, which is laudable...but IMHO I just didn't think he was up to it. I was well impressed with Hughes. I know nobody had a very good game, but he looks very confident and commanding., Big man for the future.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2000

Thanks Softie - looks as though LuLu may be fun.

As for Charvet - he is in my opinion one of the honest players - Dabs & Bartinho are the same. They may never be world beaters but you need 2 or 3 in your team to get by. Solano can be invisible for most of a game at times as can a few others - that's why they look brilliant - you only see when they do something good - when they're AWOL the others look bad.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2000