Not season defining
I’m glad that you guys, at least the ones that commented, had similar feelings to me after yesterday’s game.
I went on Charlton Life post match and there appeared a lot more pessimism, maybe that stemmed from disappointment or a sudden realization that we are sliding down the table, but I try to look for indicators and study body language, and it was a different team to the one that subsided on Tuesday night.
A lot of that had to do with the re-introduction of Amari’i Bell, calmness personified, and it reminded me at least of the team these players can be.
The first half an hour had me recall games like Bristol City when we really went at them. The second half Jones said was more like us (I liked the first 30 minutes), but by that he will mean our shape and organization, and the fact players threw themselves into every challenge and goal-bound shot.
Possibly pride is pushing it as an adjective, but there was a lot more to like and relate to over the past two, and I’d add Wrexham in there too, so three performances.
Positives included Harvey Knibbs playing behind the pair of Oloafe and TC, who played as good as any front two all season. I’d like to see that given another chance.
This division is brutal, and we’ve had a real reality check, more so fans probably, but then again if the past three results were spread over the last 18, then we might be looking at the Charlton world differently.
Conor Coventry said yesterday that those games will not define our season just like Stevenage, Rotherham and Peterborough didn’t end up defining last season.
I’m with Conor. COYR.
This was always going to be a challenging time Wrexham, Southampton, Stoke and Coventry even with a full strength squad so lets not panic better times are ahead and we will climb up the table its a very tight division, i am not yet at the stage when i can see hope disappearing over the hill with its arse on fire!……… keep the faith.
COYR
CA Couldn’t agree more. Also just wanted to say sorry to hear about the passing of Billy Bonds. Saw him when he made his debut for Charlton even then you could see he was going to be a great player.
RIP Billy
Yep Billy was a great player and he had time to chat with me many times ….rest in peace Billy and I hope Charlton will pay tribute to him next Saturday.
And despite a glorious West Ham career where he reached legend status, Billy was a South London boy and grew up a Charlton fan like his parents.
He always lived south of the river famously first in the bath after a game and in his car to head back through the Blackwell Tunnel to get home after a game.
My mates would still see him walking around Chislehurst Village where he lived. Very sad.
Sleep well, Billy.
Completely agree with C A , only been a supporter for 79years, what do I know?
Following Charlton is a pilgrimage and we know the road is rocky and challenging every season to date….football is totally unpredictable and that’s the joy of watching it.
Conor is 100% correct in his thoughts and Pompey on Saturday should give us hope as they always struggle at The Valley.
I’m looking forward to the game and feel sure we can win with fans getting behind the team….get the drum ready !!!!!
And it’s 33 years since we returned to The Valley….god I feel ancient 😃
That does seem remarkable!
As a supporter since 1953, I can take the ups and downs. We were never going to beat Stoke or Coventry away, but it doesn’t take much for Charlton fans to start getting pessimistic and negative.
Hello Wyn, I was worried about you. Nothing on Addicks third division diary since August!
Daggs. Wyn has been posting.
https://addickschampionshipdiary.blogspot.com/?m=1
Ah! I’ve kept his ‘Addicks third division diary’ in my favourites and check it daily.
I didn’t know he had moved to this new site. Thanks for the tip-off.
Let’s be honest here CA, we are doing ok for now.
The Championship is at a different level than it was the last time we were in it, although arguably it is more open this season for promotion than previous seasons. The game is in a different place as well with big money being spent in the lower leagues even down as far as 7th levels. Players are on bigger wages throughout the leagues, and TV money ( love or hate it) supports that aspect and owner’s expectations are higher as they dream and managers are replaced more frequently. You worry it will all burst and clubs will collapse. This has been seen with Bury and Morecombe were on the brink. Of course we know what that feels like.
We are up against in the majority superior teams with bigger squads and players budgets. So competing with them week in week out is a tough and hugh task, and just getting 3pts is a big achievement, when many people including some of our fans where predicting a full season of bottom 3 and relegation. They have re-emerged recently on all social media platforms. If we were in Norwich or Portsmouth positions, I would understand the criticism. I don’t get why they’re so negative when we have suffered for so many years with poor owners and managers.
We simply can’t go out and spend multi-millions on players with big wages like Birmingham and Wrexham The Coventry striker on Saturday cost 7 million and he is their 3rd or 4th back up..! Yes we have taken a punt of some players, but that is the market we are in.
If we survive, that changes, more revenue is available and better players will want to come to us. This board has backed NJ, and it’s no secret that we will be active in the Jan transfer market. I don’t see us splashing multi-millions on players though. I hope for 3pts on Saturday against a side who are struggling like us to get points. Those games against Norwich, Oxford and Pompey over the festive break will be key. I with you CA on the season, further games will define our season. COYR.. !!
The problem with the squad is that the summer signings with the exception of Carey and Bell are frankly not good enough for the Championship. Apter and Knibbs may have more to offer but Kelman is not a leader of the line, he would be better as the second striker. His only goal came when Leaburn was on the pitch which made him the focus of the central defenders allowing Kelman more space. We need a genuine CF as cover for Leaburn in January.
A concern I have is the numbers of yellow cards players like Jones,Ramsey and Coventry have received which will inevitably lead to suspensions during the next two months.
The games against Portsmouth and Oxford are games we cannot afford to lose.
An interesting stat mentioned on SKY during the Oxford game last Thursday was that both Oxford and Charlton had scored over 50% of there goals from set plays which is usually an indication that performance in open play is substandard.
But the corner and the long throw are the new 30 yard curler.
I think half of Arsenal’s goals have been from set pieces. Usual Sky drivel I’m afraid.
Totally agree with you rierti, not sure on Knibbs though, he looks well of the pace everytime he plays and is so slow to getting back. Though besides Apter, who would be very useful to take the ball forward when we are struggling as he can take players on, as he was doing when playing, but obviously NJ prefers Bree since getting him in on loan, who definately, whilst he is mostly good at dead ball situations, is very poor at defending, why do you think he was third choice at Southampton! You only have to just look at the last two games he played, let alone previous matches, any winger who is fast just breezes past him especially the Stoke game, when he didn’t even get anywhere near the two crosses that came over for the goals! Though I think Olafe, could also be useful, if he has a good front striker with him, as he has a lot of energy and can also take on players with some speed.
Unfortunately NJ still has this affinity that he has to get in Luton players &/or players that he knows and have played for him before! You only have to look at the top earners at the club, Kaminiski, (not a Premiership Goalie by any means on the highest wages of £20,000 a week and no better than Mannion), Berry £15,000 (now past his best), Burke £12,500 (Injury Prone will be lucky is he plays more than 10- 15 games), Godden £12,000 (Only top earner worth his wages), Bree £10,000 (NJ wants to sign him, but is no better than our average players). Our top five players are all the biggest earners by far and only Godden has shown his worth! Then you have Costello £10,000, ( From what I have seen looks poor) and Docherty £10,000 (another of NJ’s ex’s, who struggled last season and has started to really struggle again against better oppostion)
Apart from Godden, it is mostly the players who are on far less money and not one of NJ’s old network, who have really performed and managed to give us a good start to the season.
As rierti has said most of the current signings, plus also on the biggest wages, are not good enough for the Championship!
As I have implied before, like Daggs, I don’t wear rose tinted glasses, and just to survive this season will be good enough for me, but we are now stuck with quite a few of these large under performing earners for quite a few seasons, which I doubt we will be able to unload, even if wanted.
So I just hope the owners will give NJ some money to spend come transfer time January and he will use it more wisely on quality, not old favourite’s, to keep us up. Whilst also playing certain players in their best positions and making more use of the subs by bringing them on earlier, not when its too late!