Let's play football

There has been plenty of experimentation at The Valley this season, but this afternoon let's stop playing like we are a park team and actually try to play football. The team are capable of it as they have shown in some matches.

Here are some simple rules:
1. Keep the ball on the ground as much as possible (especially in today's blustery conditions where the wind could play as big a part as at Blackpool - indeed I cannot remember a period when wind has been such a factor in matches, but then that's climate change).
2. Only hoof the ball out of defence or into the stands when it is unavoidable as an emergency measure (there are times when it is the right thing to do to avoid danger, but it shouldn't happen that often).
3. Try not to give away unnecessary corners, but defend them properly when they do occur as this is when we seem to be vulnerable. Don't crowd the box with players who get in each other's way but leave an outlet up the pitch so we don't see the ball coming back in again straight away.
4. When we do win a corner try and make it a decent one (don't get Ambrose to take them all the time). No short corners which rarely work. Don't overhit the ball so it becomes a throw in to the other team. Equally, don't put it so close to the keeper that he can easily catch it. A nice curving ball into the box which the keeper has to come for and perhaps misses.
5. Try and keep possession, but above all don't pass the ball to an opposition player. Charlton players are in RED. Don't panic on the ball, think before you hoof it.
6. When we get a break, try and power up the pitch before the opposition defence can regroup.
7. Try and anticipate the game and get yourself into position rather than standing around ball watching.
8. Don't give away unnecessary fouls, marginal decisions will go against you.

I'm sure there are other things, but if we could achieve those, it would be a great improvement.

I think that our biggest problem this season has been the 'Tinkerman' strategy followed by Pards. Of course, one has to change formations for different matches and that involves some changes in players. Injuries also have an effect and the early loss of Todorov was a blow. Nevertheless, by now we should have settled on a core to the team.

One of the problems is that the team are simply not used to playing with each other and hence cannot gell. It would be interesting if a statto could work out how many pairs of players have played with each other (excluding Weaver). For example, how many times have both Moutaoukil and Varney started? Varney, of course, is injured for today and Bougherra is still out (another loss).

And another thing. Why has Racon only played the whole of one game (the away victory against Bristol City) plus a cameo at Palace? I didn't see him on either occasion, but I am now told that he looked all right. Now he has been packed off to Brighton to develop him, although he is 24 years old. I know that managers see the players on the training ground all week and hence know things that we don't, but why couldn't he have been given more chances at Charlton?

I could accept not making the play offs if we could see that we were building a platform for next season, blending some exciting younger players (and we do have them) with experience. But on the form table we are now a relegation side. Of course, we could win today, and I hope (but doubt) that we will. Even if we did, I would not think that it was sorted.

Enjoy the game.

PS: Keri has just featured the game on Radio Scilly (see links) and announced that I am a Baggie! This is not a good omen.

Keri has also announced that the weekly match between Woolpack Wanderers and league leaders Garrison Gunners which had been re-scheduled for Saturday is now going to be played at the Garrison Field stadium on Sunday after all. And we thought we had fixture problems!