Get in, Lloydy
What a pleasant start to the day.
Lloyd Jones has signed a contract extension that will take him to 2028, so technically another year, but a significant piece of business for the club to retain his services.
Please click for moreAug 14
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Ready or not
105 days will have passed since the final game of last season and Saturday’s opening day of the new one.
We had the World Cup in the middle, but it’s been a long wait, and although the EFL tried, last week’s Carabao Cup game still didn’t feel like the beginning of the season.
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The future of Thomas Kaminski
Some interesting and open comments from Nathan Jones today regarding Thomas Kaminski’s future at the club.
There has been stories mostly unsubstantiated, that the Belgian was unhappy and a couple of interested summer glances from European clubs had turned his head.
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Solar eclipse
I’ve only ever made short stops in Madrid, and this was another one. The end of the road for our Spanish expedition.
Sadly due to bad planning on our part, but having to be back for the start of the new school year, we had to take our leave before the solar eclipse, which was in totality up in the Basque country. The Madrileños were getting very excited for it, although it was ‘only’ partial from the city.
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Pueblo blanco
The quintessential white village or pueblo blanco of Mijas Pueblo is surprisingly quite high, sat at an altitude of 436 metres (1,476 feet). It is majestically shoe-horned into a steep verdant cliffside overlooking the rest of the Costa del Sol.
Although most of Spain is at a higher altitude, this beautiful little town with its moorish architecture deserves to lord it over many of its bigger rivals.
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Tottenham away, ole ole
See, that song was not sung in vain.
The Addicks have been drawn away at Tottenham Hotspur in the 2nd Round of the Carabao Cup. The game will take place during the week of Monday, August 24th, and I would imagine we’d get a good allocation.
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Timothy Ouma signs on loan
Kenyan Timothy Ouma has joined Charlton from Slavia Prague. The 22-year old midfielder will join compatriot Collins Sichenje in SE7.The loan deal has an option to buy.
Ouma is probably unknown to everyone other than the most ardent of European league watchers.
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Who else leaves?
Whilst a new midfielder announcement looks likely soon, and right winger rumours abound, we have to remember that Nathan Jones has to further trim his squad.
We have not seen the ruthelessness we were promised, at least not yet and I think if there are two more incomings, we need to move four on. If the club cash in a high profile player then they would need to be replaced.
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Rich and famous
Don’t judge me, but we went searching for the rich and famous this afternoon. A Mick Jagger burger on the menu at our hotel isn’t enough. Jagger almost lived in the Mijas hotel we are staying at in the 1980’s.
From Mijas we taxied to Puerto Banús, which I hadn’t been to for 40 odd years. It was old money then, and now it was very much new money.
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Cheltenham Town 1 Charlton Athletic 3
I suppose it depended on the result whether this was to be considered our first competitive game or last friendly but what the day was really about was putting on a performance that showed some optimism for the new league season, and this certainly did.
I didn’t watch as I was sat by a pool, but I followed closely and the 1st half performance was excellent noting the opposition and their own very disjointed pre-season.
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NO8DO
Seville, the sun-drenched capital of Andalusia. The birthplace of flamenco, home to the largest gothic cathedral in the world and the breathtaking Royal Alcázar palace, which took just the 1,000 years to build.
Tapas dishes can take a matter of minutes to appear in front of you and the need for elasticated trousers is real.
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Nathaniel Chalobah signs a 1 year deal
The 31-year old who has been training with the Addicks has agreed to a one-year deal, making the defensive midfielder the 6th summer signing.
Chalobah has played in the Premier League and Serie A and has an England cap. He has played over 200 Championship league games but in recent years his campaigns have been interrupted by injuries, mostly muscular ones.
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Tanto and Gough off
Sounds like both will leave on loan in the next couple of days.
Oloafe is expected to join Lincoln and Gough will join Steve Evans’ Bristol Rovers.
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Foodie heaven
Still full.
We ate ourselves through San Sebastián, deeply routed in Basque culture in this gastronomic capital of well, the world.
This rugged part of northern Spain, a stone’s throw from France, but they are generally ignored other than the array of pastries sat in bakery windows.
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Gavin Carter statement
Late today Gavin Carter put out a statement following yesterday’s Guardian article. Plus, he has also spoke to Rich Cawley. Well worth the subscription if you have yet to do so, by the way!
If I jumped to conclusions, then that is what they also call 15 years of hurt. Suspicious minds to quote Elvis.
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Charlton back up for sale. Again.
Well there you have it. Here we go a bloody again.
The whispers have been getting louder and one of the reasons I wrote this was that someone had told me something about GFP touting a sales deck to potential investors around and Matt Hughes at The Guardian has exposed the story as fact.
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Is there something up?
I didn’t see the game today or even followed it. I was watching my daughter swim up in Sheffield followed by a very nice dinner.
It was on paper at least, and I suspect on Charlton TV, pretty woeful the result today in our last pre-season game at home to League One Reading.
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Sheffield on a Wednesday
I’m sat on a train going to Sheffield at the moment. That was no mean feat. St Pancras resembled a greenhouse packed with sweaty and confused travellers due to long delays. This on the back of being delayed over two hours on my flight last night from Tampa into Gatwick.
Still, mustn’t grumble as I look out of the window at this fine and pleasant land. Just passing Loughborough at the moment.
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Nathaniel Chalobah
The latest trialist to be at Sparrows Lane. Chalobah played 65 minutes in the friendly at Colchester United tonight and impressed in a defensive central midfield role.
His name in the starting line up would have thrown Addicks’ fans into a frenzy hoping to see a multi-million pound midfielder unveiled, but instead we got a free agent.
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Away and third kit revealed
By new signing Millenic Alli!
The new lad went rogue on his own social media by posting loads of photos of himself wearing the new Reebok 2nd and 3rd kit. One would assume the club were hoping to use these next week.
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Millenic Alli signs
A name that was mentioned in the past couple of days. Whether he is a poor man’s Abu Kamara (also linked) remains to be seen.
£1.5m the fee for the Luton winger, who had mostly an impressive spell on loan at Portsmouth last season. He was partly responsible for their change in fortunes and did rip us apart in the game against us at The Valley.
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Where is everyone?
I’m always secretly pleased that we lose a pre-season game. It dispels thoughts that we are great and don’t need more personnel. At least, it should.
I notice the club stance has gone from ‘we remain unbeaten’ to ‘a nice little run-out for the lads’ after today’s defeat to Jacko’s AFC Wimbledon where by all accounts we were poor.
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Kaheim Dixon sold
Not on the official Charlton channels yet, but Serbian SuperLiga side FC Novi Pazar have announced that they have signed Kaheim Dixon on a 3-year contract. Dixon himself has announced it on social media.
Dixon has been at Charlton since August 2024 signed through a relationship that Charlie Methven began in Jamaica, perhaps it was more of a vanity project. That Mount Pleasant partnership continues but you have to question if it will bear any fruit other than some goodwill.
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Kayne Ramsay
Three in, and three out permanently, with another couple out on loan. Still a bloated squad that has to see further exits.
The budget if not tight has to be managed responsibly with Squad Cost Rules (SCR) coming into effect. Those that bleat about us not spending millions need to remember that our revenues are easily in the lower quartile of the league.
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Alex Mitchell sold to Plymouth
Alex Mitchell has joined Plymouth Argyle, for whom he was their POTY last season. The fee is thought to be in the region of £250,000.
Wycombe bid £200,000 and the last few days the Addicks and Pilgrims have been haggling over the fee whilst Mitchell was down in the west country waiting for the confirmation.
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Millwall’s Danny McNamara signs
Right back Danny McNamara has signed a two year contract after being released by Millwall in the summer.
McNamara played 166 times for our neighbours but after playing 16 times last season moved on after 11 years in SE16.
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Karoy Anderson signs for Blackpool
Looked as if Karoy Anderson posted his farewell on social media a little bit premature yesterday. He took it down a bit later, but today it was officially confirmed that he has moved to Blackpool for an undisclosed fee.
Karoy is one of our own, and always played like a fan whenever he wore the red shirt.
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They think it’s all over
Yesterday’s World Cup final was as long as any Super Bowl. Thankfully in the first ever football Super Bowl football eventually won.
Argentina became more and more contemptible as the tournament went on, and how their players acted at the final whistle was deplorable right up until them turning their backs on the Spanish team, who had given them the guard of honour, when they went up to collect the cup from the camera shy President(s).
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The fire in your heart is out
England’s players can finally get on the plane home after last night’s crazy game in Miami.
The only justification for last night’s game is to further line FIFA’s pockets and the fact that we’ve always had it other than in 1950 as the competition structure was different. Otherwise it is a complete waste of time.
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Karlan Grant signs 2-year contract
Well that was quick. I suspect Nathan Jones knew the deal was done yesterday as he is rarely that transparent about transfer targets.
Today, the club announced the signing of Karlan Grant on a 2-year contract, after he left West Brom last month.
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Karlan Grant
Reece Burke headed in the only goal at Gillingham this afternoon in the latest pre-season run out. 2,747 were at Priestfield with almost 1,000 Addicks who were at least spared the scaffolding behind the goal.
Charlton again started in a 4-2-3-1 formation indicating that will be the way Jones will try to evolve the side. Ramsey started at right back noticeably, with Lloyd Jones and Billy Koumetio the central two, and Ivan Mesík left back. The whole starting XI was replaced mostly on the hour.
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The hurting
For someone that was born just a couple of weeks after the 1966 World Cup Final the hurt has ached for a long time. Tonight is a struggle to be honest.
The best team did win, but the question nags and it will for the rest of the summer, is did we allow them to win or did they beat us?
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I said maybe
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.
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Maribor friendly
I 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.
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The little genius in the flesh
I 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.
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Zach Mitchell joins St. Johnstone on loan
A 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.
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All the roads that lead you there are winding
What 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.
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250 years old 🇺🇸
It 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.
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Cabo Verde so close to greatest ever shock
Americans 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.
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And the new kit is
Red.
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.
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You’re gonna be the one that saves me
What 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.
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Big Billy Koumetio in the building
Signing 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.
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Gillesphey signs for Bradford City
Bradford 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.
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Ahadme leaves on loan
Gassan 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.
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First summer signing – Ivan Mesík
The 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.
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Billy Koumetio
Players 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.
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Wonderwall
As 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.
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Karoy Anderson to Blackpool
A 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.
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Cheltenham away in Carabao Cup
Basically 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.
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Derby at home to start, West Ham follows
Derby 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.
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Tumbleweed
Seven 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.
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Curb our enthusiasm
Ronaldo 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.
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Phew what a scorcher
Climate 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.
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Godden signs new contract
Matty 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.
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Bradford interest in Macauley Gillesphey
Rumours 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.
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Travelogue – Qatar قَطَر
Our 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.
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Siegermentalität
That 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.
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Slovenia again
The 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.
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James Bree
James 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.
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Peter ‘Scoop’ Burrowes RIP
Peter 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.
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World Cup Fever
Feeling 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.
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Travelogue – Vilamoura, Portugal
One 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.
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