Charlton Athletic 3 Port Vale 2
A proper end of season feel to the game, but at least we won meaning the after match walk around the pitch was a little less futile than it could have been.
Three goals from the three young forwards Tyreece Campbell, Jes Rak-Sakyi and Miles Leaburn. An average age of 19.3. It should give optimism, but that is hard to find.
The highlight of the game apart from the enchanting Upbeats, were the three goals.
Campbell finished a poor headed clearance with real expertise. I really hope he can build on what we have seen of him during the second half of the season. TC does look as if he has that special wing play of spontaneity of movement.
Rak-Sakyi is a special player isn’t he. He created his goal out of nothing and the most telling thing you can say about the lad is that most of us were not shocked to see him 1) win a lost cause, 2) hold his more physical man off, 3) amble into the box and make space to 4) score with a lovely confident finish.
The third goal came from a lovely move involving all three of the youngsters. Campbell got into the box laid the ball to JRS, who calmly picked out Leaburn who lifted it into the roof of the net for what ended up being the match-winning third.
There’s not a cat in hells chance we see Rak-Sakyi again in a Charlton shirt, but with my most utopian hat on we might well see Tyreece and Miles.
Port Vale were pretty rubbish, but still managed to score twice. Our back four were uncertain pretty much all game.
Finally congratulations to Plymouth and Ipswich, who have set the mark, and full deserve their reward. I also don’t think anyone has ever finished 3rd in this division with as many points as Sheffield Wednesday.
Dean Holden: “We came out second half a bit slow and a bit sloppy but scored a really good second goal from Jes Rak-Sakyi – I’ve so much enjoyed working with him. He cuts inside, the space opens and it’s a really good finish in the end. He’s such a wonderful player, a great goal and obviously then we shot ourselves in the foot again with that set piece.”
Stats (CAFC first): Possession – 47% / 53%; Passes – 365 / 415; Accurate passes – 270 / 308; Shots (on target) – 10 (4) / 12 (4)
Photo credit: Kyle Andrews
Chicago Addick 
CA, you are far more optimistic than me. I see a real possibility that we have no club by next season. There is no takeover happening. Sandgaard simply want too much money, but at the same time will not put more money in. And now even Varney has ruled himself out. With massive annual losses, and precious little in the way of assets, there is zero attraction in buying the club. And of course RD in the background whose ultimate aim is surely to force us out of the Valley and then sell to developers.
Sandgaard now has 2 months of zero income. His only way of recouping the £600k monthly expenses is to sell whatever assets we have – ie Leaburn etc.
I really do fear for our club.
The rumoured takeover announcement last week didn’t happen. Will it come this week? Who knows.
For bits of the game we looked good, but then there were bits of the game where we looked ordinary. At least the young players give me the confidence that there’s something tangible to build on, in addition to the three up front we have Lucas Ness and Ashley Maynard-Brewer, and a couple of others coming through like Aaron Henry, Richard Chin, Daniel Kanu plus Zach Mitchell. We need some experience in there though and a goal scorer, then we have to work out how to replace Jesurun Rak-Sakyi’s goals and assists from the right-wing. We also need to draft in a defensive coach to work on the organisation of set-balls into the box, we’ve conceded too many goals from corners and free-kicks, I don’t know why but too many second balls don’t get cleared. Yesterday’s was typical, a corner right into the mixer, AMB didn’t get a good contact on it and a Port Vale striker then swept home a scrappy goal. How often has that happened this season?
Just Cheltenham Town to go and then either a month or two of uncertainty or a new owner and a fresh start. Being Charlton nothing is ever simple so uncertainty is the more likely outcome.
SP you have not mentioned Elewere who has recently been on loan at Bromley and has been according to reports playing extremely well. At the start of the season he was out of form and condition having been side lined for most of the 21-22 season.
He made a great start to 21-22 but injury kept him out for 6 months.
Two other young players are worthy of mention for next season (probably from Jan24). They are Asiimwe and Kedwell. Asiimwe is a rangy right back who can get forward and supply good crosses and plays well in combination with Campbell, when Campbell plays on the right side. Hopefully he will get games in the ‘silly’ cups early in the season. Kedwell is an all action holding player in midfield who reminds me of Steve Gritt.
Obviously too many young players cannot get into the team at once, but paper talk claiming that we want to make Kane a permanent signing dismays me.
Harry?
Fair comment about Deji Elerewe, I had hoped he would have pressed on at Charlton by now but as you say injury and selectorial whim kept him out of the picture. We also have DJ, Sam Lavalle, Charlie Kirk and Conor McGrandles to return from their loan spells. I liked the look of Tyreece Campbell when he played wide right a few games ago. We could do worse than try him there for a few games perhaps job sharing with DJ?
I look forward to reading the various post match blogs, Chicago Addick(obviously), Albury Addick and Kevin Nolan. But Kevin’s comment that Thomas carelessly handled the ball to concede the penalty takes a bit of swallowing. An appointment at Specsavers should be arranged for the old boy. Or is it me who needs the eye test?
Would recommend reading Dave at Drinking During the Game. He’s similar to CA and regularly hits the nail on the head. Makes life as a Charlton supporter easier and more amusing
Agree. Plus Dave is a little bit closer to the action!
Link here: https://drinkingduringthegame.blogspot.com/