Johansson blow for Addicks

[JRedknapp11]

Charlton Athletic striker Jonatan Johansson has been sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury......


http://footballmsn.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=242730&lid=3&cpid=8&title=Johansson+blow+for+Addicks&channel=Premiership

[kevruth]

Well, losing JJ could be a blessing. It finally forces Curbs to play Rommedahl on the right wing which is his real position.Hopefully, Dennis will take advantage of this situation and show Alan that he was a good buy.

[hartley]

Too bad for JJ. He was playing well.

Big chance for Rommedahl. And it seems the whole squad is rooting for him to do well. They all came to him after scoring that marvelous goal. It looked more than just a winning goal celebration -- more personal -- more like they all want to see him succeed in showing Curbs and the EPL that he belongs.

[doug001001]

Big chance for Rommedahl. And it seems the whole squad is rooting for him to do well. They all came to him after scoring that marvelous goal. It looked more than just a winning goal celebration -- more personal -- more like they all want to see him succeed in showing Curbs and the EPL that he belongs.

when you see players like kolkka for palace playing so well, it makes you wonder why rommedahl hasn't been getting involved more when he's on the pitch. he's faster and has more skills.

[hartley]

you're right doug,

besides, with the 4-3-3 we are playing now, rommedahl is a perfect fit out there on the right. just like robben has been doing at chelsea. how much defense does the golden boy play for the blues? not that much in their 4-3-3 -- which is not a slam. jose is using robben in his right position and to his strengths. curbs could learn from doing that.

versatility is a wonderful thing, but not all players are versatile. those need play in their best positions to help the club.

but then, i guess that's why powell is now at west ham. he can only play left back where hh and konchesky are also playing.

[doug001001]

you're right doug,

besides, with the 4-3-3 we are playing now, rommedahl is a perfect fit out there on the right. just like robben has been doing at chelsea. how much defense does the golden boy play for the blues? not that much in their 4-3-3 -- which is not a slam. jose is using robben in his right position and to his strengths. curbs could learn from doing that.

versatility is a wonderful thing, but not all players are versatile. those need play in their best positions to help the club.

but then, i guess that's why powell is now at west ham. he can only play left back where hh and konchesky are also playing.

could rommedahl's success at psv be attributed to robben running opposite him on the left? if defenses were focusing on robben, that would've left more room on the right for dennis. what I noticed the two games I saw in person, he had trouble finding spaces if the defense was in normal shape. i haven't seen a danish game or any of his psv games, but I wonder if the adjustment to not having robben drawing defenses is bigger than the actual switch to the epl. now he'll have to work more for his openings and chances, which he didn't have to do as much before. clearly when he gets in open space he is dangerous, and the 4-3-3 leads well to sending deep balls down the wing for him to chase down.

[RobtheAggie]

could rommedahl's success at psv be attributed to robben running opposite him on the left? if defenses were focusing on robben, that would've left more room on the right for dennis. what I noticed the two games I saw in person, he had trouble finding spaces if the defense was in normal shape. i haven't seen a danish game or any of his psv games, but I wonder if the adjustment to not having robben drawing defenses is bigger than the actual switch to the epl. now he'll have to work more for his openings and chances, which he didn't have to do as much before. clearly when he gets in open space he is dangerous, and the 4-3-3 leads well to sending deep balls down the wing for him to chase down.

I think it is a little of everything. It can not hurt to have Robben playing of the other side of the field. In addition, while the Dutch leage is strong at the top, there are some poor teams near the bottom.

[kevruth]

could rommedahl's success at psv be attributed to robben running opposite him on the left? if defenses were focusing on robben, that would've left more room on the right for dennis. what I noticed the two games I saw in person, he had trouble finding spaces if the defense was in normal shape. i haven't seen a danish game or any of his psv games, but I wonder if the adjustment to not having robben drawing defenses is bigger than the actual switch to the epl. now he'll have to work more for his openings and chances, which he didn't have to do as much before. clearly when he gets in open space he is dangerous, and the 4-3-3 leads well to sending deep balls down the wing for him to chase down.
The real problem lies with Alan trying to play Romm on the left. I don't think the guy is left-footed. You can't make good crosses or moves with the wrong foot. Romm looked great in the first half on the right against Newcastle, but Alan switched him to the left for the second half and he looked very uncomfortable. Even in the Chelsea match he put in a great cross to Hermann from the right side of the box, but once he got over on the left he seemed like he wasn't sure where the sideline was.

The other problem is that at PSV attackers attacked and defenders defended. That doesn't work at Charlton as everyone is expected play defense. When you do that you can't counterattack. With no attackers forward and in space you can't break which is what Dennis is all about. Unless the central midfield plays some better defense and can get their passes on target to Romm and Thomas we will never threaten opponents' back lines.

Right now I'm blaming Curbs, and possibly those little birds in both his ears (Peacock and Day) from playing the wrong combos and not turning the front three loose. We've got good pace in Romm and Thomas and could also get some from Euell or Jeffers as the lone striker. Bartlett is keeping us from going forward.

Boy, am I worked up.....