Saturday 16 December 2017

Blackburn Rovers 2 v Charlton Athletic 0

Charlton's poor run continued at Ewood Park today where an own goal from Leon Best, minutes after coming on as sub for Billy Clarke, gave Blackburn a slender lead they held onto until Danny Graham headed the second in added time to rub salt into the wounds. 

Once again we were glaringly short of firepower and it cost us as we tried in vain to get back into the match in the second-half. Our inability to score in recent weeks must be a major worry for Karl Robinson. The goals and performances from Josh Magennis look to have dried up and Leon Best's debut own-goal was hugely ironic. Joe Dodoo must be on his way back to Rangers and far too much is still expected of permanent substitute Ahearne-Grant. Reeves and Marshall are looking like disappointing signings and even the mercurial Ricky Holmes has been finding life against two defenders much harder - he didn't play today.

Without any fresh takeover news, attention will turn again to Roland Duchatelet in January. I wonder if we will see any fans wheeling out limp excuses for our failure once more to improve the strength of the playing personnel during a January window, or whether the game is finally up for Duchatelet and he will again come in for some much deserved criticism from all quarters? After all he has always said he would be prepared to gamble come Christmas if we were well positioned....

It really is a sad state of affairs and I suspect it could get worse in the window. Konsa is favourite to go and I wonder if Ricky Holmes is also the subject of a big money move? Now that Roland is officially open to offers for the club, no need to pussy-foot around any of this, he can just cash in as much as he likes. On the flip side, rumours are that Roland will be 'buying' Guillaume Cros, a left-back from fellow network club, Carl Jeiss Jena. It would be a bit of a win-win for the absentee Belgian who would be on a bit of a roll. Presumably we could see a few more top quality network purchases before Roland finally washes his hands of Charlton Athletic?

I predicted a tough December given form and fixtures. The fixtures in January look easier but we may well have other challenges around the club by then. Karl Robinson is clearly unsettled by recent events and I do wonder if he might choose to be more forthright in coming weeks about what is de-railing his promotion hopes. Realisation of another season in League One without any real play-off push in 2018 will see the club take another step backwards. It's desperately sad to witness, although it feels less painful for me this season as I haven't been suffering it in person. 



3 comments:

  1. I think you are right, if no significant investment in the squad we'll hear a lot more dissent from the Scouse, followed shortly after by his departure from the club.

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  2. When we booked tickets for this we thought it would be a top of the table clash Dave. Recent form made us think we would get hammered, but I thought we were a better team. We are a better technical team than Rovers, and most teams we play, but we just can't seem to convert that in to goals. We are playing good football but that lack of cutting edge from Josh, Leon, or the midfield that should be getting forward is hurting us. But so are the bits of bad luck, like reffing decisions and OGs.

    I might sound mad, but I enjoyed my day. Around 100 of us outsung the home fans, we had a good laugh on the coach, and I thought Ewood and its staff were great. I clapped the players off as I thought they gave everything, And perversely I am looking forward to Wigan. And no i am not now working for Meire's PR department!

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  3. Anon - That's been the problem all season though, not strong enough striking options to get the quantity of goals needed for a promotion challenge. It was fairly obvious in August an we have been fortunate that the midfield have weighed in heavily in September and particularly October to put us in what I believe was a false position. Predictably we are now suffering injuries (Clarke yesterday) and struggling to score goals. It has been the same every season under Monsieur Duchatelet whose primary aim each season is to churn sufficient played to leave us all wondering whilst trying a profit. It's what got us relegated and it's why we won't win promotion all the time he is owner. That's the bottom-line and increasingly it is evident to more an more supporters who have given him 'one more window.' No that he has acknowledged he no longer has any interest, he will asset strip in an effort to avoid losing so much money on a sale. It's a sorry situation but one that has been evident for two years.

    Glad to her you enjoyed your trip nonetheless. That's often the way with small numbers and poor results. I remember it well across many years and thousands of miles.

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