Charlton Athletic 0 v Athletico Bilbao 1

I left the computer alone last night on purpose because I didn't trust myself to write a balanced piece on the game yesterday or my increasing pessimism about the season ahead. I'm glad I did because I am feeling better qualified this morning.

First-things-first - we were beaten relatively easily by a very capable looking Bilbao side who were unfortunate not to score a couple more, and who didn't get out of second gear in the process. This was a friendly although those present could be forgiven for thinking it was a league game because it looked like we had picked up just where we left off last season.

Rob Elliot was assured in goal and made two saves that I don't believe Nicky Weaver could have. I am convinced Elliot is the best keeping option we have although it will take a prolonged injury to Weaver to give him his chance. It's really disappointing to hear Randolph immediately mentioned in the absence of Weaver or talk about the need to sign another keeper when Elliot looks perfectly capable and has only ever played well when given an opportunity.

The back four was a predictable enough Youga, Fortune, Hudson and Semedo. They did ok as a unit although they were lucky to keep it to a goal as I have said. I don't think Pardew is convinced about Moutaoukil at right-back but he did at least get on as a sub. Hudson played a captain's game but Fortune looks like a reluctant partner whose nose may be out of joint. In midfield we started with Thomas, Racon, Shelvey and Wagstaff and struggled to cope with a much more fluent Bilbao midfield who knew instinctively what they were instructed to do on gaining possession or attacking. Racon had a busy enough game and looks like he could become a serious Championship contender but he is simply too naive to play week-in week-out now. Shelvey is a similar sort of attacking midfield player and both looked like they were trying to play the holding role that obviously doesn't come naturally to either of them. We all know how much of a gap this is in our current squad and the alarm bell will ring continually in my ears until it is addressed. Wagstaff struggled to make any impression and Thomas played his usual sort of game but did at least look like he believed he was capable of playing in Bilbao's company. Gray and Varney got the striking berths but, just like the second half of last year, got insufficient service to test the Bilbao defence.

Pardew shuffled the pack in the second half to no effect. Wagstaff was replaced with Lloyd Sam who still looks too frightened to try anything. Basey and Moutaouakil came on for Semedo and Gray as we strangely tried to play one-up front for a spell when we we were having no joy with two. Perhaps Pards thought an extra man in midfield might win us some more ball with which to feed Varney. Either way it failed. Josh Wright and Stuart Fleetwood got to test their legs but all to no avail. The strangest sight of the afternoon was Amady Faye coming on at centre-half for the hobbling Hudson. I suppose if he's on your books and you are paying him a small fortune on a weekly basis he's there to be used but it would need a serious about turn in his playing abilities and attitude to make my side and there was no sign of either. Maybe the departure of Bougherra has forced Pardew's hand and Faye is the next best option we have at centre-half?

All-in-all it was an insipid performance by a side who do not look confident or particularly together. Worryingly, there still doesn't appear to be any game plan. The wide men aren't getting width. They aren't beating their man. They aren't getting to the line and they aren't getting crosses in. Instead we seem to be looking to play the ball across and through the middle but this is easy to defend against with the calibre of players we have. Gray and Varney are, consequently, feeding on scraps. Varney shouldn't have to go foraging out wide for possession. He should be doing the damage with his first or second touch. Gray should be feeding him balls or getting on the end of crosses. Instead he is playing with his back to goal and his lay-offs are typically back to another midfielder.

Derek Chappell spoke of having a squad of players who were settled and with whom the club were also settled. Unfortunately, I didn't see this yesterday. The young players will be keen to take their chance but their confidence will be crushed quickly if we are getting beaten and I can see us losing more than we win this season.

Yesterday was only a friendly. However, we played like we finished last season and we should remind ourselves that it was relegation form. Much has been made of how we stuck around the play-off places until March but if you look at the results since Reid departed, we are struggling in this division. My heart is telling me we aren't materially weaker despite all the outgoings and may benefit from a smaller squad. The head, however, knows that the squad we finished with wasn't good enough and we still haven't addressed the biggest problem, the loss of Andy Reid.

I expect two new faces to arrive before the transfer window closes on 31st August but get the impression it might need an alarming start to force the Board to spend anything close to what's needed to get the quality we are lacking. The January window should be used to increase your ability to push on, not to strengthen to avoid the drop. Unless we are decisive in the coming weeks I fear we might pay the price with a poor first half to the season. If this happens, it's the Board who will feel the heat and they aren't helping matters at the moment - the lack of communication has been something of a surprise following Richard Murray's ice-breaker with the Bloggers that did at least set some expectations for the Summer's activity. Derek Chappell's comments on Friday were hollow and smacked of justification rather than explanation. Steve Waggott has been mute so far as Chief Exec and needs to start taking a hand. The programme notes are always interesting but we shouldn't have to wait until the first game of the season to better understand what's been going on.