Jul 11
Thomas Tuchel was right. We did not play well and were second best for long periods of the game, but we, or shall I say Jude, found a way.
Jude Bellingham is force of nature, a driving force of nature and it is onto the World Cup semi’s for just the fourth ever time.
Please click for moreI had the NK Maribor game on in the background while I worked this afternoon. Nothing so dull or unfulfilling as a pre-season friendly, especially 5 weeks before the first league game, and I don’t mean that in a negative way.
The 16x Slovenian league champions are weeks ahead of us in pre-season and the game ended 1-1 with Miles Leaburn getting our goal with a neat finish from a very nice TC cross.
Please click for moreI was so fortunate on so many levels to be at the Argentina v Egypt game yesterday.
If the England game on Sunday was the best so far, then yesterday ran it close. It was heartbreaking for the Egyptians, but to see Lionel Messi in the flesh and watch in awe as all around me their supporters made a cacophony of noise made for a truly memorable day.
Please click for moreA big season for Zach Mitchell, who has joined Scottish Premiership side St. Johnstone on a season-long loan.
Mitchell was there at the second half of the 2024/25 season, but last year had a very unproductive time at Hibernian before being recalled by Nathan Jones in January.
Please click for moreWhat an incredible match. It had everything.
We are about 6 metres above sea-level here in Sarasota, but at the end of last night’s game I felt every inch of the Mexico City’s sapping altitude. Then of course I couldn’t sleep as I was so wired, and I had an early wake up for a flight.
Please click for moreIt can be a little awkward being a Brit in America on July 4th. This year there is the added extra spoonful of discomfort as it is the semiquincentennial of the Declaration of Independence, or as the White House is branding it, “Freedom 250.’
Yet other than a wrestling event, and a National state fair that looks as if it is being less well attended than your regular village parade, there isn’t much else different than other July 4th’s I’ve witnessed over the years.
Please click for moreAmericans have fallen in love with the World Cup, and in a plot-twist the visiting football fans are falling in love with Americana. There’s a lesson or two there somewhere.
I’m here to talk about the football though, you can call it soccer if you want, but the 2026 version is proving to be one of the most entertaining.
Please click for moreRed.
And importantly ‘Charlton red’ which is all I really look out for these days. It is simple, unfussy and um, red. More white trim than the black from last season, but the little Reebok bird poop on the shoulder is unnecessary and RSK continues on the front of shirt.
Please click for moreWhat would we do without Harry Kane.
For 75 minutes we were going home. Those brilliant fans would’ve borne witness to one of the all time shocks and an embarrassed FA would’ve had no choice but to pack Thomas Tuchel back to the Hinterland.
Please click for moreSigning number two. As anticipated 6ft 5 centre-back Billy Koumetio has signed for the Addicks from Dundee for an undisclosed fee, thought to be in the region of £500,000.
The 23-year old was born in Lyon, France but moved to England when he was 15 and came up through Liverpool’s academy. He signed for Dundee 2 years ago.
Please click for moreBradford unveiled the signing of Macauley Gillesphey this morning.
He signed an initial 2-year deal for an undisclosed fee. The very best of luck to him. Bradford have signed a good man.
Please click for moreGassan Ahadme has joined Sky Bet League One side Cambridge United on a season-long loan.
That signals a real opportunity for Ahadme, who impressed on loan at Cambridge when he was Ipswich, which has to be the main reason he appeared on our radar and why we subsequently spent a a £1 million on him, which I was always skeptical.
Please click for moreThe club do keep these names quiet, don’t they.
25-year old Slovakian left sided defender has signed from Dutch club Heracles Almelo on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Mesík has obviously been on the radar for a while, and his signing shows that the club are looking beyond these shores as they build a squad for the future.
Please click for morePlayers contracts expire tomorrow, so it is anticipated we will see movement in and out this week.
The only two Charlton players whose contracts actually expire tomorrow are Lyndon Dykes and Luke Berry. The latter has already been released and I don’t think we will see the former again in a Charlton shirt.
Please click for moreAs English fans and players serenaded each other on the pitch after. It became pretty obvious that Jude Bellingham is England’s Wonderwall. Incredibly Thomas Tuchel had to convince himself that Bellingham was even worth a squad place. I’m not sure what we’d be watching without he and Harry Kane.
I’m warming to Tuchel like a cold beer in an ice bar. Not bringing along Trent Alexander-Arnold is looking an increasingly stubborn and stupid move.
Please click for moreA few rumours out there, I wouldn’t say lots, started by people that can’t help themselves about the club’s finances, the owners and Nathan Jones’ mood.
I would not believe any of it until someone like Rich Cawley speaks. It is really difficult to get any information out of the club, especially since Charlie Methven left.
Please click for moreBasically a final pre-season game to allow Nathan Jones to prepare his team and squad for the main course the following week at home to Derby County.
The Addicks were drawn away at Cheltenham Town in the 1st Round of the Carabao Cup this afternoon.
Please click for moreDerby County at home will be our Championship opening game on Saturday, 15th August. We then a week later head to West Ham at the London Stadium.
Millwall away is pre-Christmas on December 19th and then Southampton visit The Valley on Boxing Day. Let us hope they don’t give us the gift they gave us last season.
Please click for moreSeven and half weeks after the last ball was kicked the Addicks returned to Sparrows Lane today to begin pre-season training.
All the chaps were there, suntanned and in a frivolous mood. Bit like the first day back at school, but better paid.
Please click for moreRonaldo arrived, but England were stuck at the lights. Disappointing today against a stubborn and solid Ghana.
I’ve seen a lot of the games, and have been really enjoying the tournament 13 days in. We’ve seen a record goal count, and all of the stars have come out to play. The England game today was probably the worst I’ve seen.
Please click for moreClimate change ain’t a real thing is it….
Take care of yourselves back at home. I’m seeing that temperatures are going to rise to 40c, and a rare red weather alert has been issued for parts of the country. That’s crazy.
Please click for moreMatty Godden has signed a one year extension.
The popular striker missed almost the entirety of last season with initially a lengthy knee injury which had added complications, and then when he finally returned fully fit he broke a fibula in the Ipswich home game, which ended his campaign.
Please click for moreRumours surfacing on t’internet that Bradford City have made an approach for Macauley Gillesphey.
Macca has a year left on his contract (plus a club 12 month option) and it would surprise few if he was to leave SE7 this summer.
Please click for moreOur visit to Qatar was last summer, and it has taken me to now to put this Travelogue together of our family trip. I joke that we were in Qatar at about the only time it wasn’t being bombed in the last 12 months. Hopefully the Qataris can now look forward to a more peaceful existence.
We chose Qatar for a family holiday for a couple of reasons. There was a direct flight from Miami, it was half the distance of our first pick, which was Vietnam, and we only had limited time plus importantly we wanted to expose our daughter to a culture far away from what she currently occupies.
Please click for moreThat was quite exciting wasn’t it. Croatia as per gave us a run for our money and it was a very good game.
1st half England were convincing going forward and unconvincing at the back. 2nd half made me realize how many good players we have at our disposal. The trick will be if the German can find a way to take us from plucky losers to an ingrained belief that victory is achievable.
Siegermentalität the Germans call it.
Please click for moreThe Addicks will once again go to Slovenia for a pre-season training camp, but will this year have a game that fans can attend.
Charlton will play NK Maribor at Stadion Ljudski Vrt, 16 times Slovenia champions, on Friday, July 10th, 6pm local time.
Please click for moreJames Bree has signed a 3-year deal, with *Spoiler Alert*….
Bree was signed by Nathan Jones for Southampton when he was in charge at St. Mary’s. Bree played for 5 (five) other managers after Jones left in February 2023, but Will Still clearly didn’t fancy him, and we had him on loan of course.
Please click for morePeter Burrowes was synonymous with Charlton Athletic, and he sadly passed yesterday aged 87 following a short battle with cancer.
‘Scoop’ as he was known in the press room had been a fixture of my entire Charlton supporting life, and just like the loss of Colin Cameron The Valley won’t be the same again with him not in it.
Please click for moreFeeling it? No, me neither.
The largest and longest ever World Cup Finals begins tomorrow in Mexico City and despite the fact it is on my doorstep I have felt strangely insouciant to it.
Of course when I say doorstop, this World Cup Finals transverses across an entire continent but you’d hardly know it was happening around my way.
Please click for moreOne of my old mates was regaling the group of us that went to Portugal on a lads weekend of stories from when we were at nursery school together. We were 4 at the time, I just about remember what I ate for breakfast. I took his word for it.
The rest of our Vilamoura group friendship began at secondary school, although mostly if I’m honest after it as people went their own ways, but this group stuck together, the adhesive being a boys holiday in Bournemouth when we were just 18.
Please click for moreThe club has announced that Ed Warwick has left the club “to pursue other opportunities.”
A short and sweet announcement for a man who had a significant role behind the scenes. He joined as part of the Senior Management Team three years ago alongside Jim Rodwell, Charlie Methven and Simon Lenagan.
Please click for moreThe first couple of Charlton transfer rumours surfaced today. I am sure there is a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes and remember this is still early.
The transfer window doesn’t offically open until June 15th, and players contracts in the EFL all run around ‘til June 30th.
Please click for moreFlying to London tonight, a quick visit to the parents, and then on Wednesday ten of us will meet in the morning at Gatwick departures lounge over a Guinness no doubt and embark on a long overdue boy’s trip.
Almost 40 years ago the same group minus two or three went on our first foreign lads holiday to Magaluf. We rekindled that group to re-visit Majorca in 2011, and now as we close in on the next big birthday milestone, a couple have already passed it, we are together once again a little greyer, balder and less energetic.
Please click for moreA weekend away in Miami awaits with the family. We often drive across alligator alley and enjoy the aura Miami oozes from the more pedestrian pace of where we live on the Gulf Coast. We are booked into our favourite hotel and restaurant and have plans in case it rains, which is in the forecast.
We usually do this trip post school/ busy work period about a month later but hotel prices during the World Cup are extortionate, even although there are suspicions that large blocks of rooms that have been booked out will come back onto the market due to a very slow take up of tickets.
Please click for moreWith Bolton beating Stockport yesterday, next season’s line up is finalized.
It looks pretty formidable in that graphic – a proper Premier League 2. Only 4 of the 24 clubs have never played in the Premier League, and there are 8 previous top tier champions.
Please click for moreAlmost 20 years after Richard Murray disbanded Charlton’s women’s team following relegation they are back in the big time after winning their play-off final today against Leicester at The Valley.
One of the few things Thomas Sandgaard will be remembered for is that he brought the women’s team back under the auspices of the club in 2021, although proving that he often lacked judgement he did try to change their ‘name’ to ladies from women.
Please click for more“The goal is to try and win the World Cup and not be shy about it”
Only a German could say that, not an Englishman. Let’s hope Thomas Tuchel is right after the squad was picked today.
There are always major tournament squad picks that are up for debate among your mates down the pub, but Tuchel’s 26 looks to have a few more than others.
Please click for moreThis change to the financial rules in The Championship seems to have gone a little overlooked this week, but to be fair there has been a lot going on.
Beginning with the 2026-27 season and therefore this transfer window, Championship clubs have voted to replace the old Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) with a new financial framework based on Squad Cost Rules (SCR).
Please click for moreCrazy eh?
Southampton expelled from the play-off final today and deducted 4 points from the start of next season’s Championship. Yet they’ve lodged an appeal and on Wednesday will argue the punishment is disproportionate. The EFL said it would be “working to try and resolve any appeal on Wednesday, 20 May”.
Please click for moreFantastic win by Charlton’s U18’s last night to become Professional Development League National Champions for the third time.
The PDL is for Category Two Academies and has 20 clubs split in two regional divisions. The young Addicks won the South Division for the fifth time in six years and booked their place in the final with an impressive 4-1 semi-final victory over Hull City in SE7 last Saturday.
Please click for moreA year ago tonight the roof came off the Covered End. By common agreement The Valley was one of the loudest, if not the loudest it had ever been, and on 81 minutes the wonderful old place exploded.
Godden again, ole ole.
Please click for more🐅 🐅 🐅 🐅 🐅
I think I’d rather forego next season’s 6 points than have Millwall join Palace in the Premier League.
Please click for moreInterested to see Patrick Casey being offered a new pro deal.
The club released their academy squad update today with Toby Bower, Ollie Hobden, Paris Lock, Lennon MacLorg and Tommy Reid being the most high profile leavers.
Please click for moreI enjoyed having the stress levels reduced over the weekend with no Charlton game. Less so if you are a West Ham fan. Looks like we’ve come to the point where VAR will decide the Premier League title and relegation.
Play-off semi’s conclude this week, the Championships ones were tight. Bolton, with no Rob Apter in their squad, and Stockport (Tanto came on as a sub) have the advantages.
Please click for moreJust a few words on Luke Berry. The club is in a much better place than it was when he joined.
Berry and Nathan Jones were reunited after he was released by Luton in the summer of 2024 following the Hatter’s relegation from the Premier League.
Please click for moreIt’s hard to take the scalpel to the squad when there isn’t much lying on the operating table.
The only long-term contracted players that expired this summer are Luke Berry and Terry Taylor, both will be released. As expected TC will have his additonal year triggered. The club also have an option on Godden, but with him and Lyndon Dykes the club “remains in discussion.”
Please click for moreLast weekend we were at the Ft. Lauderdale International Swimming Hall of Fame, and their impressive aquatic complex, which is midpoint of a $220 million redevelopment that is planned to be finished in 2028.
We saw it before but I had to look up why this impressive competitive arena was chosen over anywhere else in the country. According to ChatGPT in the early 1960s, Fort Lauderdale had already established itself as a premier training destination, notably hosting the College Swim Forum and international teams, making it a natural fit for the Hall of Fame.
Please click for moreGood to see Addicks’ Conor Coventry be selected for the upcoming Republic of Ireland friendly.
Heimir Hallgrimsson added seven players included for the first time for this month’s friendly against Grenada.
Please click for moreNathan Jones has stated numerous times, and yesterday more forcefully that this summer will see a big turnaround in playing staff following the consolidation of our Championship status, the first time the club have done that since 2013, and the first time ever following promotion through the play-off’s.
Jones said yesterday: “We need an influx of quality, athleticism, better decision-makers and pace. Everything. We need better.”
Please click for moreAnd relax. That’s it then, all over.
Defeat on the final day of the season losing to Swansea 3-1 in South Wales.
Please click for moreSo here we are then. We made it, game 46. Swansea City away.
You could’ve had a baby in the time since the opening day against Watford, which is actually still quite fresh in my memory. Not having a baby, I’ve never actually had a baby, but the Watford game. What a great day that was even though I spent 14 hours of it on an airplane.
Please click for moreLloyd Jones’ name will appear on the POTY trophy for the second successive season.
Jones follows such Addick luminaries as Mark Kinsella, John Humphrey, Mark Aizlewood, Nicky Johns, Richard Rufus and Keith Peacock in winning the fan voted for award two year’s running. John Humphrey won it three times in a row between 1988 – 1990.
Please click for moreI was lucky enough to be invited to the Zurich Classic this past week(end). This is the only PGA Tour’s regular-season team event, when 80 pairs of pro golfers compete at the TPC of Louisiana.
TPC Louisiana is a stunningly beautiful golf course in Avondale, 15 miles from New Orleans, built over wetlands, still home to hundreds of alligators, and carved from a forest of cypress and oak trees.
Please click for moreI had this photo sent to me of Lennie Lawrence’s dinner at The Valley on Sunday. Had me feeling all sentimental.
Lennie is an Addicks legend, a miracle worker who bought, and coached some of my favourite ever (and best) Charlton players of the last half a century. And at 78 years old is still working in the game.
Please click for moreHow nice was it to follow yesterday’s results after the conclusion of our game. Stress levels: zero.
Oxford shoved Wednesday aside and Derby, Hull and Wrexham will contest the final place-off place next week. Meanwhile it does look like Millwall will need to beat Oxford, whatever happens in the Southampton v Ipswich game on Tuesday.
Please click for moreI’ll say it again. Phew.
Fantastic to win today to secure our Championship status after our first year up. Two wonderful goals allowed us all to let out massive sense of relief.
Please click for moreNathan Jones has recorded a message to supporters on the official channels. We’ve had a few of these over the years, but this one seems as significant as the many others that have come before them.
There are so many thoughts swirling around my head that I’d like to get down in writing, but I don’t feel this is the time for that. That needs a clear head and it is nothing but that at present.
Please click for moreI felt I needed to sleep on last night’s game.
That wasn’t particuarly successful as I couldn’t get our situation out of my head, plus my alarm went off at 4.30am as I had an early flight to catch. The anxiety is real.
Please click for moreSad news reaches me that the Addicks’ fan magazine My Only Desire are calling it a day after five years.
It’s bloody tough, time consuming and expensive to produce a regular fanzine but the guys at MOD have done an excellent job of keeping it relevant and engaging.
Please click for moreWe are such a hard watch. There was absolutely nothing praiseworthy about that, and we were second best all over the pitch.
It is like every game is on a loop and we’ve been playing the same match for weeks. We are simply incapable of taking care of ourselves.
Please click for moreHow we all feeling?
I’m making my way home after being away for 15 of the last 17 days and in that time saw the Addicks in the flesh twice, watched the Watford game on the box, and will be back in front of the small screen on Saturday.
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Sarasota, Florida
