Phil Parkinson Looks Ahead To Tomorrow

Last updated : 22 October 2010 By Thetashkentterror
Phil Parkinson
Addicks boss Phil Parkinson spoke to the official Charlton website ahead of his side's League One game against Carlisle at Brunton Park tomorrow, under-pressure Parkinson looking for a big response from his players after they lost 4-0 at home to Brighton last Saturday :


" It's been a tough week. As a team we need to show more responsibility out on the pitch and I said that to the lads on Tuesday when we had a meeting and went through the story of the season so far. We've had a lot of new players and we've had players who have been injured, but we need more consistency from individuals.

" Any excuses of 'I've just come to the club' or 'I've just come back from injury' have gone now for me. Everyone is up to speed, everyone has been here long enough and everyone knows how we want to play. The excuses are finished, and there are people who weren't in the team on Saturday who will have every right to knock on my door if they don't play this weekend.

" Looking back at the Brighton game, they came and played a diamond formation and when you do that, you have a lot of possession because you have that extra man in the middle of the pitch. They outpassed us but we outcrossed them. We got 34 crosses in the box, but didn't score. We had more attempts on goal, but all that counts for nothing if you give the opposition goals like we did. "



" The first two goals were totally avoidable, and then they scored from a free-kick, which I didn't think was a foul. The fourth was unacceptable - that was a team which was feeling sorry for itself. It was important we came off the pitch with an element of pride and that was taken away with the last goal. We made some bad mistakes and gifted them goals. Once you do that, the confidence of one team rises rapidly and the confidence of the other team can drop.

" When you play against a different system, you need a more defensive mindset out on the pitch, it's always a gamble when you go into a game with attack-minded players. On another day, we might have scored early and everyone would have thought it a great decision. We probably had too many attacking players. But the goals we conceded were actually nothing to do with that. We certainly need to be more solid as a unit and good teams are built on clean sheets.

" The fans booed and you can't blame them. We were the masters of our own downfall with the goals we gave away. Brighton did pass the ball well, but two goals were from set-plays and one came when we gave the ball away on the edge of our own box. We can't concede sloppy goals like that and expect to get anything from the game.

" As I said straight after the game, I totally understood the fans' reaction because 4-0 is an embarrassment. From my own point of view, I think the majority of the fans understand that I've had to rebuild this squad twice in the last couple of years while halving the budget. This year alone, I've bought in £3.5m in transfer fees. It's not always as simple as people think it is. "





" We knew the Brighton game was pivotal. If we'd beaten them, we'd have been in sixth place and thought of it as a good start to the season. To lose dropped us down the table, albeit we're only three points off (the play-offs). It's important to remember it's our fourth home defeat in 34 games which is a good record. The manner of the defeat creates a lot of unrest but the home record has been good.

" We mustn't get too down on it. Millwall, who got promoted last year, at this stage of the season (last term) were one point below where we are. I totally understand the reaction, but as the dust settles, people can look at the overall picture. We'll do OK this season I'm sure, but we'll need the support of the fans.

" We've had a sit down and looked at the way Carlisle play and we'll try and pick a team which will get us a result. We need character at Carlisle, there's no question about that. It's a long journey and it's a tough place to go. They're doing well, they're three points ahead of us and we'll need to stand up and be counted. I'm looking for a solid performance but not just for 30 minutes, for 94 minutes or whatever it takes. We'll need everyone doing their jobs for the team.

" To win football matches, you have to make sure you're more solid as a team. We talk about consistency, but you have to continue to do the right things whatever the scoreline to make sure you come off the pitch with some respectability. Now we've got to regroup as a team and make sure we go and put in a solid performance next time out. "