Same challenge, different feeling
Two more sleeps, and how are you feeling? Optimistic? Nervous? Restless?
We have to be excited don’t we. After some desperate years we all deserve that feeling. The club has laid a terrific foundation for all Addicks to have something to believe in, and that for me has always been the core principle of being a Charlton fan, and that hasn’t always been easy.
Back in England’s second tier where many of us have said is our rightful place, but only for the second time in ten seasons do we line up there.
Nathan Jones, the management team and the owners have shown both ambition and forethought this summer. The last time we were here the club was a shambles, the vision was a smog that only Lee Bowyer could see through, until he couldn’t.
This time the feeling’s are totally different, yet the same challenge awaits, probably harder as undoubtedly the second tier has become stronger, although this is such a crazy division that dreams can always come true.
46 games is a journey that will be probably bring days, weeks or months of despair. There will be unsettling moments but what is required from us is a steely belief and togetherness.
Derby, Oxford and Portsmouth all struggled in the early parts of last season. QPR and Coventry also had really poor starts. Things can change quickly for good and bad, but there is a finsh line a long way in the distance not immediately in front of us.
Jones is a builder and, as we witnessed for ourselves, he is someone who creates form and belief over a season. Fitness, confidence and results grow stronger by the game. A good start is important but not the be all and end all. I think we were top three after the first few games of the 2019/20 season.
This is not meant to dampen spirits or be defeatist but let us have our eyes wide open, our voices loud and support resilient.
It’s been about ten weeks since that day at Wembley, a memory that won’t fade and we take that spirit onto Saturday when 23,000+ will be at The Valley for the season opener against Watford. It will be quite the day.
Unfortunately I will on an airplane and hoping that Qatar Airways complimentary WiFi will allow me to be there at least in spirit.
COYR.
I think it’s always a bit of a gamble signing players who’ve impressed in the lower leagues and expecting them to replicate that form at a higher level. That said, I still think it’s the best approach—you can find some real gems at a good price, and overall, you tend to get better value than going for established Championship players. The top-tier ones are prohibitively expensive, and the average ones are… well, average.
I’m not sure every signing we’ve made will be a success, but if most of them come good, I think we’ll be fine. I also have a feeling a few of our homegrown talents will really shine this season—TC, Leaburn (if he can stay fit), Mbick, Fullah, Kanu, and Anderson. They’re all coming into their peak years.
I’m very optimistic, and as you said, it’s a far cry from when Bowyer got us promoted.
Very true about strikers. I remember Izale McLeod, even Andy Jones but strikers are different these days. I think intelligent and quick strikers are able to make the move up. It’s always a gamble though.
You could have best players in the world and still not succeed, its commitment, strength, and that ability to gel as a team that gets results and Jones knows how to do that.
Me too CA. Relying on singapore airlines wifi. Sick sick, sick that won’t be there. Got to let it go or it may be divorce. Feeling so much worse since the tragic death of Jorge. The only loan player to make my top 20. X
Did I ever see that top 20?
Safe flight LP.
I’m an optimist , at the end of season 1962/63 in the strange old days of ” goal average ” Charlton then in the second tier (the old Division 2)
On the final day of season 1962/63 Charlton had to go to Walsall and not only win to stay up but to also score more than one goal such were the vagueness of ” goal average”. Walsall just needed a draw or not lose more than 1 nill better still win.As history tells us Charlton won 2 – 1 and stayed up by 2 hundredths of a goal.
At the start of season 1963/ 64 Charlton lost the first game 6-1 to Southampton , Charlton lost the third game 5-0 to Newcastle,
here we go again ,but no we then went on the most incredible unbeaten run , picking up Eddie Firmani along the way , we finished an incredible 4th , we did tail off a bit towards the end but this division has always been crazy , next season back to normal. It’s why you have to be optimistic.