desperado

Yes - big game today. It really shouldn’t, but for a certain sector of our fans there’s a tipping point which could go to either extreme today. A good win, and all will be merry putting recent poor results, transfer deadline nonsense and conflicting player selections behind us. A defeat however will have all kinds “end of promotion aspiration” hysterics going into overdrive - we’ll be hearing endless moans about the players who played, those who didn’t and should have. Big mouth Evatt in the media. “That” player we should have signed on Wednesday… BWFC 3 Charlton 0 Charles Hatrick COYFYM 😊

Must admit that surprises me. Have a you a link? I wouldn’t mind seeing what Sheehan’s and Thomason’s was

Why on earth would anyone be against it? 🤷‍♂️

Well done Mrs @MickyD 👏

4 male Brits in the last 32 in the US open is a fine effort and a first I believe. Nice blend too. The experience of Murray, Evans also at the older end and never quite reached his potential. Then the younger Norrie who’s our top seed together the young talent of Draper. Good to see 👏

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/john-isgrove-bolton-injury-updates-24893464.amp Apparently he got injured in the warm-up on Saturday.

Some fair points in response. The performance last night is an interesting one, because for me if you can’t use and retain the ball as well as others (Thomason and Sheehan) and you’re a bit wasteful trying to break a poorer opposition down, I think it’s going to be harder against league one opposition on Saturday. Anyway all opinions - some thought he had a MOTM performance. Let’s hope when he gets his next chance, he scores a goal/creates a chance and helps us to victory.

I made this point the other day. We rarely get to find out the whys/whynots (and nor should we) about the reasons a manager makes the decisions he does about players. Theres personalities/personal reasons/agents/training/systems/data and stats/skills and qualities the manager is looking for from players, the list could go on and on really. All we can do is guess, hypothesise and give our own opinions - a debate Johnny I know we’ve had in the past, which leads us to guess and debate with our own views, knowing we won’t really get to a point where we understand the full picture. But I understand the point you are making, we get to see the key element, the 90 mins and from there we make our judgements. From the little you have seen you rate Sadlier, he’s scored he can cross and he gets involved - I don’t disagree. IMO the reason Evatt hasn’t given him more time from the bench is that the other players have been appropriate for the games/situations we’ve needed. I can see his qualities but I can also see his weaknesses, he’s lightweight and his ball retention doesn’t look as good as his competitors IMO. In reality we are only talking 2 games. We won 2 games so he wasn’t needed there. The 2 draws didn’t call for his qualities. Ipswich away and Port Vale away were backs to the wall efforts and didn’t require his lightweight approach. At Plymouth we were opening them up and creating chances without him right up to their 2nd goal. So it only really leaves the Sheff Wed game. Evatt has publicly said he still rates him. He gave him his chance last night - there’s split opinion on whether he did enough to force himself into the reckoning. So I don’t think it’s too baffling to understand a perspective as to why he hasn’t been to involved so far. And I repeat, I’ll be the first on here to celebrate and admit I’m wrong if he plays a major role in a victory on Saturday.

But if we agree Dapo’s best role in the current set-up is further up - in competition with Kachunga/Baka/Bod…. Then Sadlier has to get in above Dempsey/Morley/Lee/Sheehan and possibly even Williams if you are rearranging the midfield to accommodate Sadlier. So who drops out? What’s your side for Charlton? I don’t want this to come across Sadlier bashing - I actually see it as a positive that we have so many good options in attacking midfield. I get what Sadlier brings and I repeat I wouldn’t be upset if he starts Saturday, I just think there are better options. And his opportunity came against an under strength League 2 team, so I’d treat the performance with a little caution.

Trafford Jones. Santos. Johnstone. Bradley. Iredale Williams Dempsey. Morley Charles Dapo

While not at his best. The glimpses of his former self; dropping deep, turning and taking on defenders, intricate skills in limited space, spraying the ball out accurately and cutting in and shooting, are there (yes I know not consistently) He’s a quality player who we know can turn/change games with his skill and pace. We’ve not yet seen what I believe is Evatts favoured partnership up front since Ipswich- Dapo/Charles. I think we will on Saturday And for me, that’s enough to want to see him start ahead of Sadlier Saturday. To be honest the argument is more about Sadliers inclusion at the expense of 2 number 8’s (Dempsey/Morley) or Lee as another 10. And that’s even before we consider Sheehan’s inclusion - who was actually far better with his passing/retention of the ball than Sadlier was! Whichever way, we correctly see Sadlier on the bench Saturday.

I just don’t see him being ahead of Lee, Dapo, Morley and Dempsey - not at the moment. I’d be more than happy to be proved wrong. I wouldn’t be coming on here saying Evatts got it all wrong if Sadlier starts Saturday. But I think he’s made it pretty clear with a 90 min run out yesterday, Sadlier (correctly in my opinion) won’t be starting Saturday.

You couldn’t be making it any harder for yourself 😂 Good comparison, it’s a very very slight notch up on a reserve game! The first 11 permutations and subs I always find intriguing, especially as Evatt has publicly stated he wants us to do well. I’ll probably still continue to go to these games, I definitely fancy the Trashmere away one! And who knows, if we get to Wembley (as long as it’s not against an u21 side) it will be a great day out. Give us a shout if you want to meet up on any of these “atmospheric fan fests” 😂👍

Cant disagree with that. it’s a shame for him, because with him having beefed out a little bit and another’s years experience, he’s probably better than he was last year. And his left foot gives us a nice variation. But you’re right, I’m not yet picking him ahead of the others. The best compliment I could pay him is that if he went off on loan I wouldn’t want it to be to another L1 club as I feel he could have a significant impact and make one of our competitors better!

That really is a fine (and quite ridiculous!) effort for a mid week EFL trophy game pal! I was down on the Middlebrook at 6.30 and nearly binned it off! Glad I didn’t in the end, it was a good night with some good goals (sorry! 😩) Are you going for “every game” this year. Fine effort 👏

Thomason was my MOTM. The thing about Thomason is he rarely gives the ball away and his left foot passing is fantastic. Him and Sheehan complemented each other really well. They both look like they could offer something different to the first 11 - although Sheehan probably needs a few more weeks yet. Whereas Sadlier’s ball retention for me wasn't on the same scale. However I’m aware that Sadlier was working more in the final third and trying create something out of nothing at times against a defensive block. And all of the above obviously has to take into account the level of opposition, which is why I won’t be clambering for their inclusion at the expense of others come Saturday.

Good nights football - enjoyed it. While Sadlier scored a great goal and never stopped showing for the ball, I thought at times he was quite wasteful, still a bit to do to get ahead of the others in that attacking midfield role for me. For those who were on the pitch for 90 mins Aimson, Johnstone and Thomason played well. If there was ever a doubt, Charles is our most natural goalscorer. His movement and finishes made a massive difference when he came on. Great to Sheehan (who looks to be closer to the first 11 than Sadlier) and Toal (didn’t really put a foot wrong - albeit against weak opposition) getting a run out. I wonder why Isgrove wasn’t involved?

Think I’m going to go to this. No plans this eve, so why not. Should be good to see some squad lads, lads coming back from injury combined with some 1st 11 players picked for sharpness. Tricky team to predict: Dixon, Isgrove, Toal, Aimson, Iredale, John, Sheehan, Thomasson, Sadlier, Charles, Dapo If Toal, Isgrove, John and Sheehan aren’t fit to start we may well see them on the bench probably replaced with MJ, Bradley, Santos and Johnstone. I think Evatts current preferred duo up top is Charles with either Dapo/Kachunga - hoping he goes with Dapo to get these two firing ready for Saturday.

Really disappointed with yesterdays result. The performance less so, but still not good enough as Evatt said in both boxes. As some have alluded to the reaction reaches both extremes after wins/defeats, the reality is somewhere in the Middle. Santos isn’t currently the best centre half outside the prem, nor has he turned into someone who needs dropping/getting rid of. He’s made 2 costly mistakes in 9/10 games. Short memories if people don’t think he can recover and come back to have a good season. Without writing a thesis there’s similar disparity with views/opinions on Lee, Evatt, Kachunga, Sadlier, Transfers. If at the beginning of the season you thought we we were going to finish mid-table then you should be pleased with the current form If you had us in the play-offs, after a difficult start to the season and with less fancied teams ahead, then the next month should have us there/thereabouts. If, like me, you thought the depth and quality of the current squad, together with a good end to last season/good pre-season, had us challenging for the top 2, then yes we’ll be disappointed and concerned. But if you were that positive to have us challenging for automatics, then surely you can be positive/realistic enough to see that things could change; players form will improve, injured players will give us a boost, Evatt will soon find our best 11/formation to suit, possible transfer additions will add quality and concerns in both boxes will be addressed on the training pitch. So what I’m trying to say is cheer up, it’ll be reet 😄

Some honest reasoning there from Evatt. Conversely to my previous comments, he’s said quite a bit more than I thought he would! I’d be surprised if it was today, more likely Tuesday that he gets a shot in the “Number 10 role”

My view on these types of debate (on this occasion Sadlier) is that at the end of the day Evatt and the coaching staff will make the best decisions regarding our players. There’s so many unknown/behind the scenes aspects - agents, attitude, personalities, personal reasons, training routines/schedules etc etc that it always irks me a little when folk (more on Twatter than on here) categorically make statements about a player or Evatts decisions. And then almost demand they require an explanation. Very rarely, and quite rightly so, do managers provide all the reasons as to why a player is left out of the side/isn’t fancied/wants rid, or from a players perspective why he wants to leave and how he feels. Thats not to stifle debate and discussion - this place would be boring without that! I just think there’s a big difference between expressing an opinion on a player from the little we see, to making sweeping/definitive judgments or becoming upset that you “don’t understand Evatts thinking”. On this particular debate, IMO Sadlier is a skilful, hardworking player who has a finish and a good cross in him. He’s not rapid and as others have commented he really doesn’t fit into a specific position - he seems to fall just a little short in the various positions compared to other players we have. I think Evatt will only want to get rid if either Sadlier doesn’t want to be here, or if he can bring in better before next week.

He’s good. Yes we saw you and @DazBob at HB Tuesday. He still occasionally posts on here, still comes on pretty regularly

Enjoy We’re upper stand B. Looking forward to it

Didn’t do it last year. So made the effort this time for new ground. Train and match tickets purchased.

Test match nicely set up for tomorrow. Anyone else going?