Perfect
Charlton Athletic 2 Plymouth Argyle 0
A perfect start then to Chris Powell’s reign as Charlton manager. I think at this stage of the re-birth it wasn’t about the performance yesterday but more the result and the players showing some positive signs of better things ahead.
Chris now has another week to work with the players and the coaching staff to further put his personal stamp on things, such as set-places, which by all accounts continue to be awful. I liked Dave’s comment commending Simon Francis for his accuracy. As a former full-back I’m expecting Powell can improve the distribution from out wide.
From the commentary it did sound like both Francis and Fry did a fair amount of overlapping (I’d be interested to hear if that was correct). This would be something influenced by Powell I would presume.
Powell kept an unchanged eleven, and had the same seven on the bench that Peacock did at Hillsborough but he did push Wagstaff up front with Anyinsah, and the youngster may not have been in the right place to score the opener if he’d been out wide. Waggy has great fitness and pace, and I think it a subtle switch to partner him up front with the equally speedy but stronger Anyinsah. This could be a dangerous combination away from home.
I also got the impression from the radio that our build up was more patient (as were the crowd) and that we tried to pass the ball instead of launching it. So it wasn’t sparkling but Plymouth were no pushovers and it was a win, and our first in the league since November 20th! And our first clean sheet from before that.
Hopefully Powell can add some new faces this week, I think we need them but Nathan Eccleston looks like someone who Powell can work with. A loan player who works hard and can score a goal. Whatever next?
Addicks at the re-birth: Drinking During the Game; Addicks Diary; Deepest Darkest; Charlton Casual; Mike’s Meanderings; Blackheath Addicted; Sticklebank.
CA fact: Despite some predicting 20,000, yesterday was the largest ‘home’ attendance at The Valley this season.
Chicago Addick 
The League Paper selected Francis as man of the match.
Wagstaff did, indeed, play upfront with Anyinsah, and he didn’t look at all out of place there.
Francis crossing is, normally, good but it was the free kicks that were so poorly delivered. From a dead ball you would have thought he could have got it into the box without putting it within easy reach of the ‘Keeper at least once.
The game was dire. It was the best example of the reason we don’t want to stay in this division, but at no point did I think we looked like conceding a goal, and we had a few chances on top of the two goals.
I am happy with rubbish games if the results are favourable, and after 18 months, we can hardly claim to be in the wrong division.
The approach play was good, and at times we put together some very impressive moves, just failed to make that last pass. Even if this doesn’t change – they are third division footballers, after all – it looks encouraging for the future, especially if we can bring in some real quality – like Eccleston.
From the cheesiness of playing ‘welcome home’ to the final leap out of the tunnel it was the most I have enjoyed being at the Valley for a long time. Sir Chris will be in no doubt of what he is up against and the fact he needs a decent right back. Look what happened the minute Waggy put the defence under pressure – most of the defences in this league are not that great. We need more of that, and also to thank Jonjo for persuading Ecclestone to come to us – once he gets a feel for this league I think we are in for a treat.