Pay up Pompey

A warm Addicks’ welcome to Richard Wood, signed yesterday on a one-year deal.

I have seen some question the validity of Wood’s signing over Matt Taylor, who CP released. I liked Taylor, but Woods is three years younger and has played the bulk of his football at Championship level, well over 200 games compared to just 12 that Taylor played in the 2nd tier.

Taylor was a good club man, and a leader but Wood has also been club captain at both Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry. I’m happy to have him as part of the squad.

Our striker shortage is well documented but Adamo Coulibaly garnered some decent reviews on Wednesday at AFC Wimbledon, and he will get another chance to impress on Saturday.

Tomorrow we are at Portsmouth for the next stage of pre-season. Charlton have played Portsmouth more than any other football club, and Fratton Park is probably in the top 5 of away grounds I have visited more than any other to watch us play. In fact I flew in from the Chicago to see our last game there in 2007. I had a bit of a moan about the travelling support too!

Portsmouth initiative to allow supporters to pay what they want is one worth applauding. The minimum is £1, and personally I would add another couple of quid to that just to give John Sullivan a warm round of applause that his time with us deserved, and Yassin Moutaouakil, a player who divided opinion, is at Pompey too.

Portsmouth’s plight is a warning siren to us all, and I hope they get a decent turnout tomorrow and travelling Addicks enjoy their day.