Charlton Athletic 2 Derby County 1
Cracking way to start the season. The Addicks came from behind, which we didn’t do at all last season, to beat Derby at The Valley today.
Stuff to improve on, but equally a lot to like and I particularly liked the way we won today.
The big team news was no Kaminski in the squad. Jones’ comments post match tell you the way this is going to end.
Otherwise the opening day team was probably as expected. The bench did look a lot stronger and impactful than last season.
It is brave of the manager to move us to a back four and change the formation to one that will enable us to be more imposing in attack, yet I think it is going to take a bit of getting used to, as we will be more open and philosophically a lot less defensive first.
Derby‘s goal I feel was an example of that. You can’t blame Lloyd Jones for going for a 40/60 header high up the pitch, but last season he would have had someone behind him to sweep up, but as it was we were very open as Derby swarmed forward and Szmodics was never going to miss.
The 1st half was about spells. We started better but for the middle 15 minutes either side of the stupid hydration break we were second best, but we finished the half the stronger especially once TC and Grant swapped wings. Yet Derby created and took their goal and we didn’t.
2nd half it was the reds that dominated though. Derby were neat and tidy and Clark is a very good midfielder, and I was happy to see Szmodics go off, but we were more explosive I felt.
That happened once Leaburn and Alli replaced Godden and Carey. Godden struggled with the physicality of Sanderson, and Carey had really flattered to deceive.
Grant moved to 10, Alli went to the right and TC was becoming more and more of a threat on the left.
On 61 minutes TC was blatantly fouled and Grant’s free-kick was dangerous, but cleared, but his second cross was thumped home by Jones in front of the Covered End. What a great way to celebrate your new contract.
It was the interesting to see Jones trust Rankin-Costello who came on for Grant. Within minutes JRC had cleverly fed a ball from his own box to Leaburn, who ran from his own half muscled off a couple of defenders and made his way into the penalty box, where TC took over, did a shimmy and fired into the corner with his left foot. It was a great finish and JRC and Leaburn both deserve a credit for assists.
The Valley noise following that goal was deafening, and we had our tails up.
On 85 minutes Nathan Jones moved us to a back five with the introduction of Sichenje and Mesik. McNamara was tiring, but I felt he was excellent. Chalobah joined him.
I like that we can drop into the five. Jones has retained the players that are comfortable in that role, and I expect we will see this switch a lot this season. Equally despite being behind at the break we continued in a 4–2–3–1 and were able to take the game to Derby and the goals were a reward for that.
8 minutes were added, and there were a couple of edge of the seat moments, but the whistle sounded with the ball close to the Covered End and we had taken all 3 points.
🎙️ “Tonight, I will be exhausted, I will need a bottle of red! But you get the energy from the crowd, the crowd were excellent today. It was a great atmosphere, The Valley was superb and I think – that is my club. And I really love that feeling.” – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Tyreece Campbell
🏟️ 21,539 (3,057 Derby)
📸
⏭️ Across the river to East London for our first league meeting in almost 20 years with West Ham.
CA – a good assessment and for me we looked more balanced when Carey came off. He hit the straps running last season but his form dropped off in the back end of the season. He doesn’t look like the 10 we need and was interesting to see NJ play 3 players in that position.
I thought TC had his best game in the championship for us. I like he is going both ways on the defender and his left foot is much better, as the goal strike evidenced. I hope he continues his development and signs ✍🏻 a contract with us. I thought the Chalobah/ Coventry CM combination worked well. I don’t see Chalobah playing every game, but you see today he has played a higher level.
Grant offers that Championship experience and put in 2 good crosses for the first goal.
So, no more talk about the left side, right wing needs something, apter clearly not trusted to play that role. A no1 keeper too, being greedy but a creative 10 would be the icing on the cake for me.
A good win and a happy Valley.
A step in the right direction nothing more, and 2 London derbies to look forward too.
Cotswold Addick
There was a lot to like about this game but lots to worry about too, some same old same old stuff. No real threat up front for most of the game, poor Godden left to chase hopeless balls he could never win, no support, and yawning gap between him and midfield.
TC played out of position till he switched to the left, then a different player. Leaburn absolutely excellent ran them ragged when he came on, why is he not playing in a front two? Crying out for a Claus Jensen in midfield, and sorry another keeper.
But guts and perseverance too which we’ll need, we’ll play many teams better than Derby.
A great way to start the season, a lot to like and things to learn from. Jones is a Pearce/Shirtliff character, absolutely invaluable beyond their performance due to their inbuilt character to win. That said, Lloyd has to learn the percentages, he was 20/80 to win that header, and if he didn’t, it wasn’t crucial, but being out of position and leaving a gaping hole was. We need to learn that lesson if we are playing four, his willingness to succeed and win every ball can be an issue at times (Southampton exploited it last season with clever forward play). That said, I would take him every day of the week and twice on a Sunday for attitude alone.
I thought TC was excellent today, as was Leaburn when introduced. I am unashamedly biased to home grown talent, but how lovely was that second goal which was a combination of the two!!
I thought Billy was the stand out debutant. I think he will be a fans favourite, albeit his shorts were obviously borrowed from Glen Hoddle! Also nice to see Grant back and I think he adds pace, power, championship experience and gaol threat, all of which is in short supply and hard to buy.
I appreciate TC is frustrating at times, but part of that is because he is so capable. He is one of our own, often occupies two defenders, and we cannot purchase better. Let’s just agree to get behind him Johnny Williams style!!
A great start and lots to like. If we win next week I will be planting Charlton flags all over Upminster, Graeme Souness style!!!
COYA
It’s best to not read too much into one game. A good performance and result.
The previous two seasons, I’ve been at the first home league game and both times came away thinking we were far from a fluent team. Even though I think we won both of those games 1.0
Yesterday I came away thinking we looked a much better developed side. Here’s hoping !
I also thought Challobah was excellent along with Koumetio.
We came over from Ireland for the game and really enjoyed it. Feels like we are much stronger than last season. Really pleased for Nathan and all the lads C.O.Y.R
It was the bench that won it for us – NJ brought on attacking subs, JRC and Miles Leaburn were instrumental in the second winning goal. By contrast Derby didn’t react until it was too late.
A peach of a cross by Karlan Grant for the equaliser too…we’ve needed that kind of impact for awhile.
Elsewhere TK is on his way and is Greg Docherty also on his way out? He didn’t make the bench, last week Alan Mwamba was subbed on rather than him.
The new signings all looked good – Koumetio is still feeling his way into the pro game but we may have signed a bargain there, Chalobah looks what we’ve lacked in DM and Coventry played well alongside him and Grant is adding that bit of nous we’ve missed in the final third. McNamara is that kind of reliable right-back who’ll never make headlines but will also never let you down.
All in all a good team performance and a good tactical win for NJ too – he used the players well and they seem to know and have bought into what they are meant to be doing on the pitch.
What an encouraging performance and we showed that we will not be a push-over this season.
The new formation Jones stuck with paid off and we now have more options of strategy to use.
Derby fell away in the second half and we then dominated play and both goals were perfection.
TC is close to putting pen to paper and his performance was far more positive.Jonesy just jumped like a wild salmon to head home a great cross by Grant.
Great game,great atmosphere, great weather and great result
COYRs !!!!!!!!
Some big performances yesterday. Well done lads! Great start.
My son and I arrived back Manchester earlier, good to get a opening day win great to see the valley rocking decent attendance too, we dug deep and kept going and we where rewarded coyr
Solid performance overall, not too sussed over the uneveness of it at times due to it being the 1st of 46. Very curious to see what we can add in these last two weeks of the window. If it’s 2 or 3 of quality we might be able to surprise a few this season.
1st game of the season is never going to be great but I thought after going 1 down might be a uphill struggle but we kept our shape and the subs did make a difference
Maybe TC has matured as that was 2 fantastic goals in 2 games now
A very long tough season ahead but if jones doesn’t mess about with a formation that works we could finish in the top ten which would be great
Looks like we finally have a plan B with the subs at last
Tax payer stadium next 🤣
RIP Mike Bailey
🙏