nick_d

The team gave it everything they could today but ultimately we all know this season whereabouts we’ve not been good enough.
We should have secured a play off position ahead of today but we didn’t, and everything that could have gone against us today did. Just as a couple of years ago when we needed everything to go for us to stay up and it did. That’s football for you.
No argument with the penalty, though thought it could be a yellow, not red. But the quality up top, when we really needed it, wasn’t there and that’s been the story of the season.
We started the season from a massive disadvantage so well done, good effort, and we’ll give it another go next season. 

Well what can I say ... firstly I am a donut and thought the game kicked off at 3pm so missed it! Have read through all the comments and was interested to see the penalty, geez it is never a penalty, the guy went down like he was shot, Cashin was covering and the guy didnt have the ball at his feet.... what a con job! Anyway this isn't the point, we didn't miss the play offs today; we didn't make it due to our inability to be streetwise to the shthouse tactics by other teams (soft penos, time wasting etc), not converting numerous chances and by not getting a 2nd striker in January (not through want of trying).
Anyway guys & gals it has been an up & down ride this season, overall I have had more enjoyment than not & I am looking forward to next year, hope you will all join me again here.

All the best. COYR 🙂

Sums it up Kevin. Our failure this season was due to the games against MK Dons Fleetwood, Shrewsbury, Lincoln and so on. And I really would have expected us to get at least a win or two from the top 14 away from home. 
Warne’s one thing on his Cv is he’s got 3 promotions out of League one. It was a very big ask to get into autos this year especially ally given the form of the top 3. But to not even get into the playoffs is a failure from Warne of epic proportions

Just watched PW’s pre-match Pompey. Highly verbally intelligent as always and a lovely tribute to the fans and Pride Park at the end which moistened the eyes. It’s not over yet I know …but regardless of whether we get play-offs or not, what are the 3 stand-outs which will stick in the memory for you for League One 2022/23; they don’t have to be positive, just stand-out and season-defining. Mine:
1. David McGoldrick - sublime. I used to watch Charlie George like a hawk and still marvel at the memories. Didzy is up there with Charlie for me. Wonderful feet and vision and contribution which will stick in my memory bank. 
 
2. Standard of Refereeing: All I’ll say is that it has on the whole been like one long episode of the League of Gentlemen & Inside Number 9 rolled into one. Port Vale at home!?! What did we do to deserve these refs? They are caricatures of themselves. 
 
3. Max Bird away at Cheltenham - 2nd goal - “he must have a foot like a trac-shun-En-gin!” …What a goal. 
 
If the season ends on Sunday 7th so be it. I’ve really enjoyed it and we have next season. 🐏

I’ve been banging the same drum about Dobbin all season. He could definitely be better with his finishing and final ball, I suspect that composure and decision making will come in time and he’ll have a decent career in football.  
He currently offers an option in the squad that differs slightly to our other attacking players and that’s a good thing for me. He has raw pace to burn, can dribble at pace also, and it gives the opposing defenders a different threat to consider than say a Barkhuizen or Sibley or Collins. 
Not saying any one player is better than any other, just that Dobbin’s pace is an asset to this squad, he has contributed to games already this season and can continue to do so until the season ends. 

Frustrating today and another opportunity missed. We’re running out of games but we’re very much in it and weve gained on Peterborough today. We’ll know this time next week if we’re still in with a shout or the season is over. This week is pivotal. 
I’ve been vocal on the penalty but it was an awful decision the ref was in no way in a position to give, it’s another fundamental decision that’s cost us dear. No way will these bad calls even out this season now. We didn’t deserve to win today but would’ve held out if not for the decision, and winning today would’ve balanced the travesty that was the MK Dons game. By the way, Bolton held on for a 1-0 despite being absolutely battered by Oxford today and the Bolton keeper was also extremely lucky not to be sent off!! They are the fine margins and we’ve been the wrong side for a while now. You have games like today and it’s about getting over the line. 
But we were crap today make no mistake. He picked the same team as Monday, right call as it was an excellent performance against MK without the right result. But it didn’t work today with that midfield 3. No control at all whereas against MK they did control it and we played through midfield a lot. Then it’s the usual we only have like for like subs and limited options, we brought Bird and White on which was a good call to try and get some control, but were still penned in and often forced long and it turned to just trying to defend it out which after the subs, we looked like we were going to do before the ref took centre stage.
Interesting Warne said post match he thought as the first half progressed the midfield looked leggy and we were struggling to get control, with the match coming soon on Tuesday I’d expect changes. Smith Hourihane and Knight isn’t working for me, Smith in particular is not having a great time of it and knight as others have said seems to be regressing. Conor I just don’t think can get about like we need him to. I’d much prefer a midfield with Bird White and Knight. Think with his limited options he needs to freshen up the wide areas also. Maybe start Dobbin or Sibs on Tuesday.
Lots of chat on Warne’s tactics and his game changes and also the poor second half performance. On the latter - simply the result of having the smallest squad in the league with a mix of inexperience and over 30s, all subs are like for like and it’s difficult to change tactically. People need to remember where we were 9 months ago.
On the tactics, Warneball, there are those who have a fixed narrative about Warne they try to push the minute results aren’t going the right way. Personally, as someone who has been to the vast majority of home games this season, watched a fair few away games on Rams TV and even made it to a few away games this season, i don’t see it. Yes we’re more direct than under Liam (but then most teams are), but on our good run and when we’ve played well (at home in particular), we’ve mixed it up well and played through midfield, Bird being particularly good in the middle of the season. Whenever I’ve seen us play long we’ve been forced into it by the opposition rather than it being a deliberate tactic. I concede though I haven’t seen every away game and I think there is potentially a distinct difference in how we play away to how we play at home, away bring more likely to be under the cosh we’re pressed and forced into going long more often kicking it into the corners and the channels and trying to get up the pitch. I can therefore understand the discontent from those who have followed us everywhere this season.
But I think ultimately we’re struggling because our small squad is running out of steam with key players getting injured or losing form. We don’t have the depth to cope or options to change it up when things are going against us. Bird was flying when he got injured, he’s not been the same since coming back. Mendez and Barkhuizen have been excellent at times this season but both have lost form, Cash and Foz have been brilliant but also lost form. The one thing Warne could’ve done better recently Is trust the youth more (White Rooney Sibley) but can understand why he feels compelled to go with experience.
We’re still in this and I still think we can get to the playoffs, but to do it we have to win both home games - that’s a given, but we will also need to win at either Exeter on Tuesday or at Hillsborough on the last day, both of which feel unlikely right now.

Warne Is Clowse man so get behind him, he’s going to be here next year no matter what so actually just back the team, this isn’t his squad nor the formation he wants, I believe with his players and his squad we win this league next year, just back them like we did last year and let’s see, after starting with 5 players it’s mad we are actually fighting with 4 games to go ffs, Warne is the man let’s move forward 

Just my thoughts to go on record.
I like Warne.
He is a manager that has come into an incredibly difficult situation, that does not clear him from any criticism, I’m sure he will hold his hands up to many mistakes which are thrown his way.
Just feel given that incredibly difficult situation he’s going to need time, a lot of it, given what he can do in the transfer window with the restrictions.
This isn’t Frank Lampard walking into Chelsea under a transfer embargo surrounded by a quality squad, he’s walked into a League 1 club with a squad assembled by a Supermarket Sweep of grab what we can just to compete that have already started the season without having the summer to prepare the team.
And we have competed. Maybe not as well as we could have in every game, but we have competed.
We’re currently 6th in the table, top 6 being where 46.74% of you predicted us to finish in our pre season competition.
Will we finish there? I’m not sure, but even if offered top 10 in the summer, I’m sure many of you gladly took it and went down the pub.
Saying that, it is highly frustrating to go from being in touching distance of top 2, to scrapping for that final play off place, that is on Warne’s head and he has to own that. If we do finish outside the top 6, we’ll have to brush ourselves down and go again, not reach for the pitchforks.

The one big plus if we get to the play offs is that we should get a decent ref

The one big plus if we get to the play offs is that we should get a decent ref

The one big plus if we get to the play offs is that we should get a decent ref

The one big plus if we get to the play offs is that we should get a decent ref

I’m female and I’ve got a sense of humour about these things. We’re not allowed to have a bit of banter? 
I’m personally not a fan of shoe horning women into roles just because it’s expected not to discriminate. But she did well and deserved to be there. Can’t say the same for one or two linos I’ve seen, but I’ll leave that. 
I’m really not keen on women commentators either, or interviewers. The good ones are very few and too many aren’t there on merit. (I get that this is subjective and just my opinion). 
Don’t give anyone a job just to tick boxes, and I’m sticking to that. 

I definitely saw today in a different way to you.
We created plenty of chances in open play so if we use your what if scenario against another team and on another day we could have scored 5 or 6.
We had more corners than them due to our attacking pressure and forcing them to defend.
We restricted them to only 2 shots on target and kept a clean sheet so regardless of their quality or lack thereof we did our job defensively and they rarely threatened our goal.
You can only beat what’s in front of you which we did today, someone highlighted pre match that Charlton have a decent away record. Could we have scored more? Yes sure. Could we have had more possession of the football? Yes. However, winning 2-0, creating more chances and without being tested by the opposition is fairly convincing in my book. 

Interesting game. Until the second went in there was always the outside chance they might nick one against the run of play. Charlton have some good, strong quick and tricky players (17 was a handful) they aren’t afraid of hard knife edge challenges. Some were desperate and ragged. A physical side but they did try and play football. Just don’t think they are a bonded unit like us. 
 
We earned that win - could have had more, some lovely breaks and passing only to stumble with the final touch / bobble / pass / shot 
Thought the team played well and for each other. Love White, calm and controlled with some classy passes. Kept things ticking brilliantly. Got clobbered by their aggressive tackling - NML, Barks, Dobs all got hammered heavily too. Maybe legal but at times pretty ugly. Cash deserved his MOTM for a great performance against a bruiser (that was an old fashioned CF/CB personal war) and his goal. Even when he gets “done” his tenacity in recovery is exceptional. McG was a real line leader, Knight is our turbo overboost, never gave them a minute. 
 
Barks looked really peed off when subbed, first time I’ve seen a bad reaction in this squad .. what was that about I wonder? Still, the South Stand gave him a great salute so hope he’s back on side so to speak. 

Best we've had all season.

It's very easy to say players were not worth the money after the event when you actually have hindsight to play with.
Bielik could have been a sensational signing, we could have got promoted under Cocu, and no one would have been complaining.
For every Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins, there is a Bielik agreed - and I don't disagree that we haven't had the best strategy on purchasing either - but its very easy to criticise down the line.
 

Did those used to be called 'saves'?

Ian Dowie said a similar thing at all the clubs he played for and tbf it looks like he stuck to his word.
 

Cashin has to start for me. I love Curtis but Cash has been immense and we’re better with him in the team.

Come on Diego!
If you're going all princessy on us because we lost against West Ham, then OK - you're barred from starting the thread for the next FA Cup round we're in.
Get Posting?

Come on Diego!
If you're going all princessy on us because we lost against West Ham, then OK - you're barred from starting the thread for the next FA Cup round we're in.
Get Posting?

Come on Diego!
If you're going all princessy on us because we lost against West Ham, then OK - you're barred from starting the thread for the next FA Cup round we're in.
Get Posting?

Nobody was available that was good enough its as simple as that. A lot of people thought a period of consolidation and avoiding another relegation was the aim this season. Now look at us, going to be disappointed if we miss out on automatic and have to settle for the play offs! 

It’ll need to be to accommodate all their new signings ?