Lloyd Jones
Lloyd Jones’ name will appear on the POTY trophy for the second successive season.
Jones follows such Addick luminaries as Mark Kinsella, John Humphrey, Mark Aizlewood, Nicky Johns, Richard Rufus and Keith Peacock in winning the fan voted for award two year’s running. John Humphrey won it three times in a row between 1988 – 1990.
The award presentation of course took place on the pitch after the Hull City game. Sonny Carey was 2nd and Tyreece Campbell 3rd. Jones had my vote, but I would have found room for Amari Bell in my top three.
Jones has been a colossus this season, I would say he was the most comfortable of all the players that made the step up from League One. His stats belie our league position.
Only Preston’s Liam Lindsay is ahead of Jones in defensive contributions and he is 3rd in the league for both defensive clearances and blocks. Jones has started all but one match (he was on the bench at Middlesbrough, but did come on) and perhaps if pushed I can just about count on one hand where he came off second best over 90 minutes against his opponent. His consistency over the last two seasons has been incredible.
His manager often describes his namesake as invaluable for “how we play and what we need, Lloyd is priceless to us. Lloyd is irreplaceable.”
Jones is a Jones player, and is essential to our identity as a team. He will not be playing the ball out of defence, and picking out a 40-yard pass however, but he will throw himself into every challenge and every shot.
The half-Welshman had a really good pedigree coming through the ranks, but like a lot of pros, needed to find a home and he has really matured as a leader. Both he and Greg Docherty can take a lot of credit for representing what we as Addicks’ fans demand on the pitch.
After Wembley I remember Lloyd saying he was most looking forward to a good rest. Lloydy – you deserve another one my son.
Well done Lloydy. A genuine icon amongst a plethora of popinjays. I hope you stay… and stay for a long time. We need you.
I said earlier in the season the LJ is probably one of our best ever purchases. He fully deserves the honour for putting his body on the line every match. He is an inspiration. Nobody else comes close.
As you say, some players, despite their obvious talent, just need to find a home. Johnnie Jackson’s career seemed to take a similar trajectory with us, as it has for LJ. You just hope that it means as much to the player, as it does to us, when it really clicks, such as right now with Lloyd. Because we have also seen it go the other way, when a player just doesn’t fit a club, and then their career goes on the slide…
So hope he gets a Wales call up he totally deserves it. My personal favourite cb since Rufus.
The man is a collosus in Charlton’s defence. Resilient, sturdy, committed, and always always gives 100% on the pitch. Lloyd always walks the walk unlike many other’s who only talk the talk. He leads by example. Lloyd is Mr dependable. A worthy recipient of POTY.