No one ever said this would be easy
Talking Point 🗣️
I am sure I am not alone, but I feel low and worried about those Addicks this morning, but I am here to attempt to put a positive spin on proceedings.
The overblown foreboding and anti-Jones sentiments in some of my comments and many hundreds on Charlton Life possibly need to press the brake a little.
If in August you had told me that at the end of 2025 we’d be 5th from bottom, 5 points clear of the relegation places I would’ve bitten your arm off. If you’d told me we’d be 5th from bottom, 5 points clear of the relegation places a year ago, I would have looked at you and said: “what in League 1?”
Let us not lose sight of where we came from, and who we are.
Our incredible start to life in this division not only gave us a nice pot of points but raised expectations beyond realistic.
Teams were going to find us out, and combined with the loss of key players and a run of very tough fixtures, we have ended up where we are. Other than one or two surprises, league positions tend to find a state of balance over a period of time.
The problem Jones has now to which he needs to find a solution is to rebuild confidence in his players, and the fans, and prove to us that he really is capable at this level.
That begins in defence. We look like we can concede a poor goal in every game now. That has to stop. Jones has to get back to one of his core convictions and rebuild a defensive resilience. The experience of Bell and Burke back helps, but we need Ramsey too.
Pep Guardiola says that scoring goals is the hardest thing, ain’t that the truth. For me it is all about quality, the step up is finding out a lot of our players and moments win games. This has to be addressed in January.
Finally on Jones, he has to be less dogmatic. The best leaders understand their weaknesses and this is a pivotal time for him. I still believe in him, and would rather him in our trenches than some unknown quantity.
The January transfer window is notoriously hard to re-engineer your team, and squad. This window is about augmenting it, filling gaps, improving key positions. This maybe enough, but we have to sign quality, and the owners, who have been excellent thus far, need to allow Jones, Chapple and Rodwell the opportunity to do that.
Unfortunately, if the window had been in November and not now, I’d think our player universe would’ve have been far wider.
Still, we have the chance now to improve the squad, keep up the evolution that Jones created, when we all thought the only way was down.
Lastly, let’s all stick together. No one ever said this would be easy.
I couldn’t agree more, well said.
Well said CA, people forget when Jones took over we were three points off the league one relegation zone, now we’re five points off the championship relegation zone. I was absolutely gutted with the result last night but at the end of the day we need to get behind the team, they looked void of confidence last night, I suppose getting battered for the past couple of weeks does that, but nevertheless Jones needs to find a way to bring back that spark aswell as strengthening in January. It’s been a great year to be a Charlton fan regardless, let’s keep fighting COYA.
Well said indeed, and where we have come from has been absolutely amazing, and I have stated this many times before.
Without Jones and indeed May’s goals the season before last we were hurtling towards the lowest tier and yes LOL it was the worst year in the club’s history.
He has turned this juggernaut of CAFC around.
And no one last year would have even thought of the play-offs, let alone promotion, and it would be unfair on the whole team to single anyone out, but in IMHO and the whole squad were so impressive and everyone in the squad,
However, IMHO without the significant goal contributions of Godden, Gillespie and Berry CAFC would simply be not in the Championship this year.
Yes, the amazing defense, as stated above, and everyone involved in it, is an outstanding achievement, considering all the odds.
However, an excellent point about Jones in that he is very dogmatic and extremely stubborn, and do not get me wrong I am not calling for his head at this time and deserves some more time.
Yes, the same issues still remain the same and let’s not forget “I am very pleased with the squad and we have signed some real quality.
Yes, on paper, there were, and also it must be pointed out that quite a few were injury-prone too and these are Jones’s players and yes his squad.
We signed the so-called cream of Division One and yes we had a magnificent start to life and naturally some expectations were raised.
However, we have a squad which is basically a League One squad, and agreed no one would have thought we would spend 10 million on transfers.
Well us old school supporters have seen just about the lot in 7 and 8 DECADES of supporting this club.
The question is are there 2 worse teams than us, and at the moment, there is a little buffer, but other teams are picking up results, and some playing decent football
Do not expect a big window, and we will be lucky to get even 2 in and quality costs and we still just a few points behind the huge spenders.
Our form is the worst 9 games and a total of 27 points to play for, and we of course got only 4 says it all, but TBF they gained recently and we all thought perhaps we have turned the corner,
Then the last 2 diabolical results and get it the confidence is so low, but many are questioning the work ethic of several players.
We can still get out of this but basically our squad whether we like it or not are basically a League One squad.
COYR at least so some passion and that is the very least we supporters demand but unfortunately and for many reasons are simply up to the standard required.
CA I agree with your comments unfortunately quite a few saw us climb above our station and even thought we could get into the playoffs! I like Daggs and others could see this wasn’t the case and whilst rising high, could see this happening as we have a lot of players who are just not good enough for the Championship, together with NJ’s single minded game plan and constantly playing his favourite players, no matter how bad they perform.
So per my previous post unless he drops his ego and as you have implied, also listens to others in his camp, on how to improve the situation, which will not be easy for him as he doesn’t welcome any sort of criticism from any quarters, we will be lucky to stay in this division.
Also as you & many others have mentioned, if money is made available in January, NJ & Co should only bring in some quality players who are as good as our best players or better still and not just other average players, such as signing Bree, who he is desperate to get in and on high wages, who will not help the cause.
Plus please, also get rid of that absolutely useless first team ( ex Luton) Coach Hylton, who he brought in to coach the strikers, but obviously hasn’t got a clue how to do it!
This is going to be a hard slog but changes by NJ will have to be made, if we are to survive for another season in this division and as I have always implied, fourth from bottom will be fine.
100% agreed, Mike we can see it but they can’t????
I agree CA like others have said look where we where when NJ came in and the tremendous run of results from January this year leading to a wembley final, we’ve just got to stay behind them and hopefully come may 5th from bottom would be marvellous coyr
Totally agree with your comments CA….be careful what we wish for….look we are in Championship facing experienced teams with many established Premiershio squads.
We have a league 1 squad and we need to realise its a tough place to survive
We don’t need negative comments instead get behind Jones and the squad and get to The Valley and vocally encourage them.
I’m positive and as said before it’s a roller coaster ride and hopefully injured players return and maybe some new blood in January.
COYRs
We have always got behind them and supporters have a right to praise them when they deserve it and also criticism when due.
Many of us would love to “earn” their vast salaries!!
You are just an idiot.. footballers careers are short lived, they earn what they can. Keep those stupid comments to yourself mate.
Don’t be surprised if we beat Coventry….we are unpredictable and never say never…!!!!
Cliff, as the term states “football is a very strange game indeed”
I am agree with CA , Cliffb50 and Worseley. No one ever said this would be easy and we were in dreamland with our start. The doom and gloomers are back, judging in hindsight is always easy. Yes, some of these players are up there but we had to improve the squad and work within the limits of our budget. I see no-one suggesting players who we should have bought in, or suggesting who we should buy now in the notoriously difficult January window. Perhaps they would like to provide some insight into their suggestions?
I was disappointed with last night’s result and was annoyed as well to be honest, Portsmouth were a poor side.. and we deserved more. We need to convert these chances we are creating and score more goals.. that is clear to see.
I see we are linked with a Hull City defender. NJ says no strikers are needed, I am not so sure, perhaps he playing his cards close to his chest. Left side needs strengthening and from what is being said, there appears to be things in the pipeline now.. we have heard that before but I await these developments.
After seeing Oxford and Portsmouth, I feel they will both be down there, if we finish above them we will be okay.
I see remain positive and would taken our current league position at the start, when many doom and gloomers were predicting bottom 3 all season.
I respect that we have different opinions but sometimes having constructive criticism/ opinions are more helpful than non-constructive ones.
Best wishes for 2026.. keep the faith COYR!
Do not dare have a pop at the supporters ok
Oh right.. yeah .. jeez 🙄
Lets not argue that we were in a false, but welcome league position after ten games.When we were promoted last term through the play offs, we were not expected to stay in this division by many people,in fact pre season we were in just about everyones (journalists) bottom three to go straight back down. Some incoming transfers to bolster what was a League One squad, supposedly strengthened things somewhat to give us a better chance of avoiding the drop.
Some of those have worked, and some have been found wanting. Some of our own younger players that have come through the Academy are finding it tough to make the transition to the Championship,and just don’t look good enough. NJ’s formations have been found out and negated, but he still persists with them. Where has our ‘high press’ gone ??? Likewise with team selection. I can’t believe Carey, Apter and Knibbs were left on the bench until the 85th minute last night. We need a proven forward that has played at this level and scores goals. Is that impossible in the January window ?
Exactly CA, my thoughts and sentiment entirely as I have commented many times.
There’s one reason and one reason only we’re actually in the Championship right now and not L2, let alone L1…and he’s. Welsh. NJ has grabbed us by the scruff of our league 1 neck and literally dragged us up, rebuilt or more to the point, is rebuilding us, step by step.
If we’re going to fall apart, disunite and turn on the best thing this club has had since Curbs then frankly we deserve to be back were we’re spent the last 5 years.
Again, delusional to think you go from were we’ve been over the past decade to strutting our stuff in the Championship in one season….really?? Thankfully we’re not Birmingham or worse still Wrexham, we’ll always do it the hard way.
I was inconsolable last night and have been avoiding the insta posts all day…but I remain confident we’ll get to where we need to be come May…and 21st albeit with a bit of a margin will do very nicely indeed.
So CA, to get the January transfer debate going, I asked AI for their assessment as not seeing much being mentioned in the comments. Remember folks this is AI reporting but makes interesting reading. Mike close your eyes at number 5 ! 😊
Charlton January Shortlist – Likelihood Ranking
1️⃣ Lukas Engel (Middlesbrough)
Likelihood: 9/10
• Exact positional need (LWB)
• Loan-friendly profile
• Championship fringe → League One starter
➡️ Most realistic and sensible signing
⸻
2️⃣ Josh Tymon (Stoke City)
Likelihood: 8.5/10
• Experienced, physical, Jones-style player
• Stoke open to loans
• Immediate upgrade
➡️ If Engel doesn’t happen, this is next
⸻
3️⃣ Akin Famewo (Sheffield Wednesday)
Likelihood: 7.5/10
• Former Charlton player
• Versatile (LCB/LB)
• Familiarity reduces risk
➡️ Strong “come home” candidate
⸻
4️⃣ Elliot Watt (Salford City)
Likelihood: 7/10
• League One proven
• Affordable permanent deal
• Improves set-pieces + control
➡️ Very doable if Charlton want ownership, not loan
⸻
5️⃣ Sonny Bradley (Luton Town)
Likelihood: 6.5/10
• Nathan Jones connection
• Short-term leadership option
• Depends on Luton injuries
➡️ Classic January stabiliser
⸻
6️⃣ Callum Camps (Stockport County)
Likelihood: 6/10
• Reliable, tactically strong
• Stockport won’t sell cheap mid-season
➡️ Possible, but not easy
⸻
7️⃣ Stephen Mfuni (Lausanne-Sport)
Likelihood: 5/10
• Good profile, but overseas loan adds complexity
• Depends on squad numbers abroad
➡️ More “agent-driven” than club-driven
⸻
8️⃣ Joe Aribo (Southampton)
Likelihood: 4.5/10
• Wages the big issue
• Only viable if Saints subsidise heavily
➡️ Romantic, but tricky
⸻
9️⃣ Championship Wing-Back (Unnamed Loan)
Likelihood: 4/10
• Happens late if injuries worsen
• Panic-cover scenario
➡️ Deadline-day type
⸻
🔟 Any Striker Signing
Likelihood: 3/10
• Jones trusts current options
• Only happens if goals completely dry up
➡️ Unlikely unless forced
That’s great. No. 10 is my favourite!
No 11..?
A certain Mr D Hales is available on a free in January 😃
He would’ve buried that Leaburn chance at Birmingham! Even at his age now 🤣
The one from Luton sounds promising and has Jones had experience of working with him before and no 10 wonderful a goal-scoring one at that!!
Largely agree, but I do feel our forwards are letting us down big time as well. All those against Jones must need their head testing, not so long ago I was worried about div 2. Some things do worry me. Why do we seem to have more injuries than most other teams?? . Please tell me we will won’t start conceding goals past the 90th minute again.
Been a charlton supporter since late 50’s, been here before and probably will be again,but will always support the club till the end.
I don’t think any of us on here are calling for the sacking of NJ, but that doesn’t mean we all have to agree about his management methods. Yes, he got us promoted last season, and started well this term. But, we are now up against tougher, more experienced players, coaches and managers. NJ’s way of playing has now been sussed out by other teams and most of them now have the quality to nulify what we do. NJ has to evolve and change things that are not working, sometimes as quickly as in the first forty-five minutes of a game. Substitutes also must be handled well, and used in enough time to make an impact. Go back to our ‘high press’ which has seemed to have disappeared over time. I also think he should make more use of the players bought in the summer. Apter and Knibbs especially have had a raw deal since signing, having very little playing time to show what they can do. So, on we go into the second half of the season, and a transfer window looming. The owners hopefully will bring in some new blood,although the January window is notorious for loans only,as most players contracts go from June to June. We badly need another ‘Godden’ but they are few and far between. So, with with fingers crossed, after the Coventry game, we will pick up enough points to be in twenty-first place or higher, come May.
Greg 100% correct and the trouble is people do not like the truth do they?
Greg spot on we have been rumbled i for one don’t want jones sacked he just need to tweak the team here and there try a different formation now and again like bowyer Powell and curbs used to just to spice things up a bit our strikers are letting us down big style just wished godden was fit and firing on all cylinders and another thing you can’t leave MG out of defence if he is fit that’s just silly we need some points and fast lets all hope for some COYR
I cannot understand this attitude of look where NJ has got us, which seems to give a free pass to the bloke.
The way he performs will take us straight back where we came from.
Sacked off the best goalscorer in league one (May) Brought in Godden who had a good season but is clearly crocked and I don’t expect to see him again.
Sticks to the same rigid formation even when the players meant for it are injured.
Plays his favourites constantly no matter how many times they fail to perform.
Plays square pegs in round holes.
Has no clue how to use the subs. (game changers 🙂 )
His constant refrains of “that wasn’t us” ” we weren’t front footed enough” drives me crazy.
He’s done his best but his best isn’t good enough, we need to move on.
Agree Daggs, as per my post above and unless he drops his ego and makes wholesale changes alround, his current best is just not good enough.
Lets all be honest here, as my friend and quite a few others have said, this is the worst Charlton team that have ever been promoted to the Championship and we were lucky to win the playoffs and also the final, with NJ’s brand of everybody behind the ball to stop the oppostion scoring and hope we can nick a goal!
Can NJ do any better? Not actually sure he can, as per last season he’s just a one trick pony!
Agree Daggs and Mike We are sick and tired of the same excuses every week!!
Very fair point daggs and I agree may left for some reason unknown to us they tell the fans something completely different to the facts Godden that was always going to happen wasn’t it and I don’t think we ll see him again I have so much respect for both players, but didn’t NJ sign a new 5 year contract in June so I feel we are stuck with him as surely it will cost us too much to offload. Charlton athletic has always let decent players/ managers slip through their fingers managers Curbs Parkinson Powell bowyer players may wright phillips kermorgant parker the list is endless…
Indeed NJ has a very long contract, which might keep him in the job (unfortunately, in my opinion)
Spot on CA.
Craig, I have been stating this for some time about Godden, and if by some miracle he returns, will he be the same player as he was last season, and including May the other season our top scorers, and they did much more than just score, and the reasons we are in the Championship, and also why did not get relegated to the bottom tier.
There were other reasons for last year’s success, but very ironic that we have no prolific striker to put it very mildly, but it a combination of a lack of quality in midfield and out wide.
We sign a winger who was player of the month in August and really has not had a look in since.
It does seem to me that if one has a falling out with Jones he always remembers and even this season at times, he was having a pop at us supporters.
Don’t get me wrong, I do not want him out yet, but he simply has to change his tactics.
He openly admits about keeping a clean sheet and hope we can get a goal in the counterattack and then says we go one the front foot and want to win every match.
Which is it Jones?
Survival was always the aim for this season, surely? I admit, the good start to the season did raise my hopes, but those expectations have definitely settled back into something more realistic!
We have to give NJ time. What he did last season was quite incredible, given how we were actually talking about relegation around Christmas time last year. Haven’t we had enough of our managerial merry-go-round years, where we were actually going backwards as a club?
Spot on, Jon.
Some see all angles for sure but many of us have had 7 and even 8 decades of support and thought we have nearly seen it all.