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| Centre mid? Deffo not right wing? - Great, yeah, no problems. Bang! |
INTO THE VALLEY!
I'm running late, but rather than creating a massive panic as it would on a normal match day, it just means less time to write shite at the beginning of the blog. 'Enter Sandman' is belting out at the Valley and the sun is shining. I've been for a walk and seen flowers and everything. It's all good. With the sun and the springlike weather, the big ground seems achingly empty. Whilst being at home on a sub zero day in December doesn't seem so painful, this is really one of those matches that could have been a real day out.
I'm running late, but rather than creating a massive panic as it would on a normal match day, it just means less time to write shite at the beginning of the blog. 'Enter Sandman' is belting out at the Valley and the sun is shining. I've been for a walk and seen flowers and everything. It's all good. With the sun and the springlike weather, the big ground seems achingly empty. Whilst being at home on a sub zero day in December doesn't seem so painful, this is really one of those matches that could have been a real day out.
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| pre match photos. |
I've already written about what I would do and whilst Critch isn't doing it (maybe he didn't see the tweet?), I don't mind the line up. Dougall and Stewart are both great at what they do but I'm not sure if they don't both do the same job. Matty V might add a bit more as an attacking threat as long as he's not on the right wing. Husband out is a blow but we've got an actual left sided centre back on the pitch instead. At least we get a sight of Nathan Shaw who I really rate, though he'll probably just sit on arse all afternoon, it's nice to know he's alive and well.
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At kick off, it's evident Virtue is in the middle. It's a big test today of Ellis Simms I think - can he influence the course of play or will he just float about playing a slightly different game to the one we need him to?. He has a good early touch, coming short and flicking to not lonely but probably still missing Gary Jerry but the sniper can't prevent himself getting muscled out of play and it goes for a goal kick.
Charlton look there to be got at early on. A long, poorly cleared ball from the back gives us a chance to cross. Ward scoops it in, Simms can't win it, then gets a second bite, stabbing it back towards Sullay but it's a bit heavy and the opportunity dissolves. A few minutes later, we go down the left, Yates, working inside, finding Simms who looks for Sullay again, playing it a fraction behind him, Kaikai tries take it, but it just evades his efforts.
Then Sullay does get it under control in the middle, he spins, ride a tackle as if impersonating Jerry last week and plays a beauty of a ball, Simms is running shoulder to shoulder with Oshilaja, he start to get ahead, he looks through and then in comes a clumsy challenge. It looks a nailed on penalty, so much so, that I shout at my laptop... and it's given!
Yates, stands. relaxed as you like, hand on hips but all casual, like an elegant vase in a stylish 18th century drawing room, as opposed to a pompous teapot stance. He winds up, releases and pelts the ball to the left of the keeper who goes the right way but has no chance of keeping it out. Jerry is a fucking sniper.
The Charlton commentary team waffle about unsettled central defence pairings. Imagine having that problem eh?
Good running on the left from the Addicks creates a bit of pressure and we scramble it behind. The corner causes a bit of chaos. There's a flick on, a punch away, an air kick, a header back in, then the ball is nodded home, but it's always offside.
Simms does well again on the end of a long ball. His initial control is horrible, the ball coming off his thigh like a bouncy ball on a tiled floor, but he works really hard, getting around his man and claiming his own miscontrol, backing into his man, shielding till Stewart takes over.
Garbutt curls a free kick from dead centre a yard and half over the top. Charlton's commentators complain about the sun. It's really not fair. Sullay kills it, beats 3 then falls over. Garbutt has a outrageously cheeky little flick and concedes a foul as we lose possession. Thorniley thunders a header forward that works as well as a long ball, but Jerry can't turn his man on the edge of the box.
We have a couple of crosses from set pieces that are dealt with fairly well. Thorniley cuts out a couple of Charlton forays. Simms does really well again, getting in front of his man, controlling it and turning, and getting cut down as he races away.
Why is it that keepers look like they're going to make a mistake when they wear a cap? I have no idea, but I've decided the Charlton keeper is shit, even though he's doing nothing wrong, simply as he has headgear on. As I'm musing on this, Ward and Gabriel use a Thorniley ball well, creating a crossing chance, which leads to about three mishit shots and Simms going down again in the box.
Simms takes it in about halfway inside the Charlton half and turns towards goal, he accelerates, meets a man, spins and lays off to Virtue, the moment the ball is at his feet, you know he's going to shoot, he's 35 yards out, he takes a stride, then another, then another to set himself and strikes, it, low, swerving, one bounce into the left hand corner of the net. What a fucking goal! It's Sunderland away quality! That's what he does... Matty fucking Virtue! Yes!
Then we have some electric one touch passing, Yates, Virtue, Gabriel, Stewart and Ward all exchanging things on the right. This is some of the nicest stuff we've played all year. It's fast and instinctive and whilst it only yields a wasted free kick, it's very nice to see because that's the kind of play that you can't defend against. It's the speed of the movement and decisiveness which sets it apart from the somewhat ponderous passing we seemed to indulge in at our lower ebbs this year.
We end the half with Charlton finally showing a bit of urgency. They put us under pressure, we get out, Jerry takes the piss for a bit, but they win it back when he goes a bit far. The superb Gabriel makes a great challenge and Maxwell leaps high to take a dangerous swirling ball. Charlton have one more moment, when the portly ref (really, he needs a size bigger shirt) penalises Kaikai but whilst they swing in a good ball and get a head on it, they're offside and Maxwell tips it over anyway...
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I was impressed with Charlton first time round but I'm really not today. They look as if they play for dead ball situations and have shown very little outside of that. It looks a different side than the one that showed up at Bloomfield. We've been excellent and used both sides of the pitch well. I've already expressed how much more Simms has shown but I've also noted that Jerry is fizzing with effervescent life, Gabriel getting forward more and as I hoped, Virtue and Stewart offering more of a balance between protecting the defence and threatening the opposition.
At kick off, it's evident Virtue is in the middle. It's a big test today of Ellis Simms I think - can he influence the course of play or will he just float about playing a slightly different game to the one we need him to?. He has a good early touch, coming short and flicking to not lonely but probably still missing Gary Jerry but the sniper can't prevent himself getting muscled out of play and it goes for a goal kick.
Charlton look there to be got at early on. A long, poorly cleared ball from the back gives us a chance to cross. Ward scoops it in, Simms can't win it, then gets a second bite, stabbing it back towards Sullay but it's a bit heavy and the opportunity dissolves. A few minutes later, we go down the left, Yates, working inside, finding Simms who looks for Sullay again, playing it a fraction behind him, Kaikai tries take it, but it just evades his efforts.
Then Sullay does get it under control in the middle, he spins, ride a tackle as if impersonating Jerry last week and plays a beauty of a ball, Simms is running shoulder to shoulder with Oshilaja, he start to get ahead, he looks through and then in comes a clumsy challenge. It looks a nailed on penalty, so much so, that I shout at my laptop... and it's given!
Yates, stands. relaxed as you like, hand on hips but all casual, like an elegant vase in a stylish 18th century drawing room, as opposed to a pompous teapot stance. He winds up, releases and pelts the ball to the left of the keeper who goes the right way but has no chance of keeping it out. Jerry is a fucking sniper.
The Charlton commentary team waffle about unsettled central defence pairings. Imagine having that problem eh?
Good running on the left from the Addicks creates a bit of pressure and we scramble it behind. The corner causes a bit of chaos. There's a flick on, a punch away, an air kick, a header back in, then the ball is nodded home, but it's always offside.
Simms does well again on the end of a long ball. His initial control is horrible, the ball coming off his thigh like a bouncy ball on a tiled floor, but he works really hard, getting around his man and claiming his own miscontrol, backing into his man, shielding till Stewart takes over.
Garbutt curls a free kick from dead centre a yard and half over the top. Charlton's commentators complain about the sun. It's really not fair. Sullay kills it, beats 3 then falls over. Garbutt has a outrageously cheeky little flick and concedes a foul as we lose possession. Thorniley thunders a header forward that works as well as a long ball, but Jerry can't turn his man on the edge of the box.
We have a couple of crosses from set pieces that are dealt with fairly well. Thorniley cuts out a couple of Charlton forays. Simms does really well again, getting in front of his man, controlling it and turning, and getting cut down as he races away.
Why is it that keepers look like they're going to make a mistake when they wear a cap? I have no idea, but I've decided the Charlton keeper is shit, even though he's doing nothing wrong, simply as he has headgear on. As I'm musing on this, Ward and Gabriel use a Thorniley ball well, creating a crossing chance, which leads to about three mishit shots and Simms going down again in the box.
Simms takes it in about halfway inside the Charlton half and turns towards goal, he accelerates, meets a man, spins and lays off to Virtue, the moment the ball is at his feet, you know he's going to shoot, he's 35 yards out, he takes a stride, then another, then another to set himself and strikes, it, low, swerving, one bounce into the left hand corner of the net. What a fucking goal! It's Sunderland away quality! That's what he does... Matty fucking Virtue! Yes!
Then we have some electric one touch passing, Yates, Virtue, Gabriel, Stewart and Ward all exchanging things on the right. This is some of the nicest stuff we've played all year. It's fast and instinctive and whilst it only yields a wasted free kick, it's very nice to see because that's the kind of play that you can't defend against. It's the speed of the movement and decisiveness which sets it apart from the somewhat ponderous passing we seemed to indulge in at our lower ebbs this year.
We end the half with Charlton finally showing a bit of urgency. They put us under pressure, we get out, Jerry takes the piss for a bit, but they win it back when he goes a bit far. The superb Gabriel makes a great challenge and Maxwell leaps high to take a dangerous swirling ball. Charlton have one more moment, when the portly ref (really, he needs a size bigger shirt) penalises Kaikai but whilst they swing in a good ball and get a head on it, they're offside and Maxwell tips it over anyway...
---
I was impressed with Charlton first time round but I'm really not today. They look as if they play for dead ball situations and have shown very little outside of that. It looks a different side than the one that showed up at Bloomfield. We've been excellent and used both sides of the pitch well. I've already expressed how much more Simms has shown but I've also noted that Jerry is fizzing with effervescent life, Gabriel getting forward more and as I hoped, Virtue and Stewart offering more of a balance between protecting the defence and threatening the opposition.
I think both centre backs have been excellent and if credit goes to Husband for his centre back performance, Thorniley deserves it for once again stepping into the breach, this time later than a JFH inspired match postponement.
Here's the usual caveat about not getting complacent and trying to predict what they'll do. I wouldn't change a thing, but I'd keep my beady eyes on what Lee 'v neck knitwear' Bowyer does, because surely, like Darren Moore at Donny, he's not going to just say 'same again lads' and is going to kick there arses from one side of the dressing room to the other...
It's the life of a Pool fan to think 'this can't last...'
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4 Addicks changes at half time. I've imagined Bowyer flinging his club coat down, bristling with rage in his curiously old fashioned, yet oddly fashionable knitwear/tie/slacks combo shouting "you, off, you shit fucking wanker - you on, fucking play better than that shit cunt or I'll fucking twat you" whilst everyone looks at the floor. In the Pool dressing room, it's been all relaxation tapes, positive words and Critch nodding encouragingly whilst Mike jumps excitedly from foot to foot like he needs a wee, so excited is he by what he's seen. Colin is in the corner, staring slightly less threateningly than normal but still exuding a menace as if to say 'don't fuck this up'.
Gabriel goes in on Pratley, there's some sort of afters as Gabriel goes down with Pratley on top of him. It looks as if Pratley has lashed out as they've fallen. It's a bit of an odd one as Virtue runs across and shoves Pratley twice with no censure at all whilst the combustible Addick gets a second yellow, but hey ho Charlton now are down to ten men so I'm not moaning about refereeing standards cos that would be missing the point of being a football fan.
Then ANOTHER PEN. What is this match? I'm not used to this being so easy... Garbutt slides a neat ball forward. Jerry controls it, back to goal, turns beautifully and Watson responds by just kicking his leg. It's not a nasty challenge, just frustrated. Yates, ambles around with the ball under his arm as Charlton protest, before placing it down and side footing it below the now hatless Amos, who, to be fair, has guessed right twice and been just beaten twice.
We're dominant. Charlton are just fed up, kicking us in petulant frustration. Garbutt gets forward and hits the side netting. Sullay comes off, he's been relatively quiet and Demi comes on, which makes sense as if Charlton can be arsed to attack, Demi can run very quickly at them when we win it back. The ref books Jerry for reasons no one can fathom, maybe just cos he's embarrassed.
Mike Garrity is standing next to Critch clutching the black notebook as they prepare to make a sub. You might think it's where they make notes about the game but really it's where Mike writes down the shopping lists that Neil and Colin give him. "2 cases of that cheap french lager and some crisps, take Ethan to help you carry it" I'm sure I see Critch say.
Super Jerry is the man to make way for Embleton.
I've liked the look of him when I've seen him, he seems quite natural. His first touch is nice bit of control, a run into space and a dangerous ball across the face of goal. Pool look to pass it about and stretch Charlton's ten men but we can't keep it up. Charlton look bereft of any real threat though. I can't think of any of their players who've impressed me and where last time out, I wrote that they looked to have a plan, this time out, I can't work out what it is they're trying to do at all. They manage a header from a set piece and that's it.
The game is dead and I find myself wishing we'd got Holmes or Apter on the bench cos it's the perfect stage for one of them to get a few minutes and run round like a lunatic. It's a bit weird that our bench is full of coaching staff but Bowyer is stood on his own looking glum as fuck, as if his subordinates are too scared to talk to him in this sort of mood.
Embleton stuns a cracking pass forward, Ward goes down. Free kick. Embleton takes a great dead ball, finding Thorniley at the far post, he nods it down, Demi goes for an overhead kick and the Addicks stab it over the bar. From the corner, we roll it short and Embleton runs, beats a man and whips another ball in. He's not bad this lad.
Celebrate! For it's Nathan Shaw time! As Shaw is waiting to come on, Simms works it to Demi who wriggles a bit of space and toe pokes a good effort the keeper fumbles wide. From the corner, it's Demi again, his flick header going over the bar.
On comes Ethan 'who else had sort of forgotten about him?' Robson as well. Then fucking hell! They're down to nine. Aneke jumps with Ballard who crumples. It was a wild arm without question. Bowyer trudges back and forth like a man who doesn't really want to go home watching his dog run round a field as the sun goes down, wishing with all his heart, he had the life of the dog instead of his own. He looks beaten. A thousand yard stare, his head barely turning to follow play.
Shaw and Embleton exchange passes, the loan man then slides a lovely through ball that Virtue is a fag paper away from being able to lift over the keeper. We just knock it for a few minutes before it's Virtue with a slide rule pass putting Shaw in on the left. He's done the simple things well when I've seen him before and he does just that now, attacking the byline and putting in a great low ball that somehow isn't turned home...
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What a great performance. It was balanced, calm, clinical and probably the most convincing win of the season. We made Charlton look awful and by the standards of the division, whilst they may feel they're shite compared to where they want to be and will probably be fuming after that (I would be!), they're far from the worst side we've played so we've got to credit ourselves to some degree for making them look so poor. I doubt their owner will be playing air guitar on twitter tonight.
At kick off, I suggested Simms getting involved and influencing the game was test he needed to pass and he exceeded my expectations by a long way, setting up the first two goals and showing that despite my reservations, he can play a hold up role after all. I think he deserves a lot of praise.
I've already said who played well at half time and nothing really changed that view. Basically, the lot of them. Embleton, Mitchell and even Shaw who only had a few minutes all showed nice attacking moments.
Well played to the impish gnomelike fella with the twinkly eyes, grey hair and big coat, he got it spot on today and whilst tinkering has done my head in a bit at times, what he's definitely shown is that we have a squad and that depth is going to serve us well in comparison to teams with a first XI and some back up players instead. We just looked so much more up for it than Charlton and to know exactly what we were trying to do, even with the changes we made.
In conclusion. We're Tangerine Wizards.
UTMP
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