League Two Football
Every time a lower division club gets a result against a Premiership team (which we hope will not happen on Saturday), journos resort to their standard clichés about the gap between the Premiership and the lower divisions closing, if it ever existed at all. Never mind if the lower division club had to play in the Premiership every week. That would be a different story, but a less interesting one.
I watch League Two football from time to time and my view is that there is a big difference from the Premiership. Indeed, I also watch football at a low level in the non-league pyramid and the gap between that standard is smaller than the divide between League Two and the Premiership.
What is the nature of the difference? It doesn't have so much to do with the quality of finishing or even approach work, although chances are missed at a lower level would be finished off in the Premiership where there are fewer of them. Goalkeepers are not that much worse (this is a real difference in the lower levels of non-league football). Nor is the standard of midfield play all that different, although one often finds all the players within a few yards of the centre circle engaging in head tennis.
The biggest difference is in the quality of the defence. One has far more space to play even at a lower level because players are closed down less often and with less skill (there is more resort to the desperate foul). The other big difference is the amount of hoofing of the ball. This is often done as an agricultural clearance out of the goalmouth which often endangers passing aircraft as it spins into the atmosphere. Indeed, National Air Traffic Control would be a good replacement if LDV Vans ever pull out of the lower division trophy they sponsor.
There is a more general resort to the long ball, not just as an untargeted defensive clearance. This is where I think higher division teams often get into trouble. Hit and hope balls often come in from unexpected angles into unanticipated places. Very often they are so random that they can easily be dealt with, but occasionally they create a goal scoring opportunity.
I have not seen Yeovil play and, given their league position, they may be more of a passing side. However, the best formula to deal with them is well crafted attacks to break down their defence, but making sure we keep an eye on things at the back. No doubt Charlton have made a study of their particular weaknesses and strengths and will be well prepared.
An in form Charlton should win. There is the risk of a draw, but I think that if we went to Huish Park Charlton fans would seen an Addicks win from the appropriately named Bartlett stand. Quality would win through, but it would be a distraction we could do without.
It will be an odd experience having two blocks of away fans in the East Stand. Indeed I can't remember it happening before. The nearest parallel I can remember is a small group of Tranmere fans being placed in the West Stand so that we could have the Jimmy Seed towards the end of our first promotion season. Given the number of enthusiastic Glovers to be expected, it is more important than usual that the Addicked turn up and get behind their team.
I watch League Two football from time to time and my view is that there is a big difference from the Premiership. Indeed, I also watch football at a low level in the non-league pyramid and the gap between that standard is smaller than the divide between League Two and the Premiership.
What is the nature of the difference? It doesn't have so much to do with the quality of finishing or even approach work, although chances are missed at a lower level would be finished off in the Premiership where there are fewer of them. Goalkeepers are not that much worse (this is a real difference in the lower levels of non-league football). Nor is the standard of midfield play all that different, although one often finds all the players within a few yards of the centre circle engaging in head tennis.
The biggest difference is in the quality of the defence. One has far more space to play even at a lower level because players are closed down less often and with less skill (there is more resort to the desperate foul). The other big difference is the amount of hoofing of the ball. This is often done as an agricultural clearance out of the goalmouth which often endangers passing aircraft as it spins into the atmosphere. Indeed, National Air Traffic Control would be a good replacement if LDV Vans ever pull out of the lower division trophy they sponsor.
There is a more general resort to the long ball, not just as an untargeted defensive clearance. This is where I think higher division teams often get into trouble. Hit and hope balls often come in from unexpected angles into unanticipated places. Very often they are so random that they can easily be dealt with, but occasionally they create a goal scoring opportunity.
I have not seen Yeovil play and, given their league position, they may be more of a passing side. However, the best formula to deal with them is well crafted attacks to break down their defence, but making sure we keep an eye on things at the back. No doubt Charlton have made a study of their particular weaknesses and strengths and will be well prepared.
An in form Charlton should win. There is the risk of a draw, but I think that if we went to Huish Park Charlton fans would seen an Addicks win from the appropriately named Bartlett stand. Quality would win through, but it would be a distraction we could do without.
It will be an odd experience having two blocks of away fans in the East Stand. Indeed I can't remember it happening before. The nearest parallel I can remember is a small group of Tranmere fans being placed in the West Stand so that we could have the Jimmy Seed towards the end of our first promotion season. Given the number of enthusiastic Glovers to be expected, it is more important than usual that the Addicked turn up and get behind their team.
posted by Wyn Grant at 12:08 PM
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