The Championship | Chicago Addick

Feb 6

Charlton Athletic 0 Bristol City 1

Well that was a kick in the balls. In a complete contrast to last week, today’s performance lacked just about everything and leaves us bottom of the table, and leaves us to think the worst.

The January transfer window was so important to our chances of survival yet once again the owner has failed to address so many of the squad’s weaknesses. If I include Vaz Te, only one player from the seven signed in the transfer window started today. Vaz Te and Williams have been packed off, Johnson and Poyet not good enough to start and Sanogo and Fanni not even fit enough be on the bench. With Igor injured again it is hard to understand why Sanogo didn’t at least warrant a subs spot.
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Jan 30

Rotherham United 1 Charlton Athletic 4

I need to read that again. Rotherham United 1 Charlton Athletic 4. How about that?

I took a self-imposed break from all things Charlton this week, but what a nice feeling it is tonight to wallow in a win, not just any win but a very good one.

Three strikers got the goals and JBG, playing today like like he did last season, made three of them. Maybe there is a striker in Simon Makienok. Maybe a fit again Igor can return to how we like to remember him. Maybe Ademola Lookman will play 100 games for Charlton and score 40 goals. Maybe this team can drag themselves out of a certain relegation by the scruff of their neck. Maybe Jose Riga is the magic man.
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Jan 24

3 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Blackburn Rovers 1

A lot better, but it could hardly have been worse. Just the one goal conceded this week predictably by Jordan Rhodes. But a more combative and hard working performance for sure for Jose Riga to build on and the next two games are huge.
More players are needed though, goals are a problem, in fact with JBG completely out of form, creativity leading to goal opportunities are at a premium.

The squad is so devoid of quality that I really hope that Riga is further allowed to strengthen the squad with some quality and not just padding. It was very noticeable that neither Ricardo Vaz Te, Diego Poyet, Roger Johnson or Rhys Williams were in the starting line up yesterday. Williams and Vaz Te not even in the squad. I would not be surprised if Williams is sent back to Middlesbrough early as I’d imagine Duchatelet would want to see some outward movement.
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Jan 16

13 Comments

Hull City 6 (SIX) Charlton Athletic 0

There can’t be a Charlton fan on the planet that expected that. Who an earth loses 5-0 on a Tuesday and then 6-0 the following Saturday? After all that head hanging and soul searching after Huddersfield? Only at Charlton.

I really thought we would at the very minimum fight like our lives depended on it today, but no, another new low. Our biggest defeat in 32 years and we are still waiting on the apology and offers of ticket refunds.

Riga has only been back 5 minutes and I will exonerate him from blame, but although I have been a huge proponent of supporting the team and not the regime, what an earth was that? Where is the professional pride, the self-respect, the ‘oh I need to work my balls off today for the new manager’?
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Jan 12

4 Comments

Huddersfield Town 5 Charlton Athletic 0

This is not like watching a slow death, it is like witnessing a murder.

This madness has to stop. Now.

And as for the gutless coward Fraeye, who refused to speak to press and ran onto the team bus leaving Stephen Henderson to apologise to fans. What sort of person does that? Fraeye, Meire, Duchatelet all refusing to talk to us. It is some kind of sick joke.
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Jan 8

5 Comments

Cup fever. Or will it end in the flu?

When you think about it, it is astonishing that we are only one point from safety. We have won 2 games in 22 matches! That stretch of games over two different managers, Fraeye’s record worse than Luzon’s even though that is hard to believe because it had to be a better decision.

In all seriousness it is incredible that in 25 games we have seen us win just 4 times, yet we are still within a very good fighting chance of staying up, even though the bookies have given up on us. Corals have us at 1/5 to go down.

A long time ago, in fact probably on the eve of the opening weekend, I looked at the teams in The Championship and tried to find 3 other candidates for relegation. Who will be worse than us? And that scheme still very much applies.
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Jan 2

4 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Nottingham Forest 1

A more spirited performance from Charlton today backed well by Charlton fans throughout – more on those brilliant Addicks later, who continue to protest outside the west stand as I type this.

The returning Callum Harriott made a shock start and was involved in almost every good move Charlton made. Playing in a midfield three he set up Makienok’s equaliser and almost grabbed a winner at the death. Charlton had the better chances, although Forest sounded more comfortable in possession.

At half-time though most Addicks thought the script had already been written when with Forest upping the pressure they scored in the 44th minute, the 4th time in 5 matches that Fraeye’s team have conceded right on half time.
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Dec 28

2 Comments

Charlton Athletic 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2

I wrestled with my conscience today but decided that I wanted to spend the day with my family and Roland Duchalelet could stick my £17 and my son’s quid up his a**e.

Rather disconcertingly we spent the afternoon close by at the O2 travelling by Clipper on the Thames and beforehand giving the Emirates Air Line a twirl. As we climbed into the air my other half caught me staring a little bit too long at The Valley down below in the short distance. It was a strange feeling being that close but not going to the game.
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Dec 26

Bristol City 1 Charlton Athletic 1

Meh. A last gasp undeserved equaliser just glosses over another poor performance where we were fortunate that City missed a hatful of chances and also missed a penalty.

I’m pleased for Harry Lennon and I heard the skipper made another rallying cry at the end asking for turning points. We’ll see what happens on Monday night.
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Dec 20

Burnley 4 Charlton Athletic 0

Another embarrassing capitulation yesterday for Fraeye’s Charlton, this time at Turf Moor. According to the Interim Head Coach we were the best team for 44 minutes, I haven’t checked how long they play in the Belgium Sunday League, but playing well for 44 minutes is not good enough. On the bright side it was longer than the 26 minutes we played well last week at home to Bolton. Baby steps and all that.

In those 44 minutes we didn’t score but looked lively on the counter until a disastrous Reza free-kick gave the Clarets the opening goal. The half-time pep talk must have been inspirational because 10 minutes later we were 3-0 down. I saw the goals and the defending was pitiful.
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Dec 15

16 Comments

Charlton Athletic 2 Bolton Wanderers 2

Depressing, utterly depressing. Two points from two importantly winnable games is simply not good enough. Bolton are a train wreck, 6 points adrift, have players that have not been paid for a month, yet still for long periods dominated us on our own turf tonight and found the will and desire to come back from 0-2 down.

2-0 up in 26 minutes we should have managed the game to conclusion, whatever that took. Yet for the second time in three games we throw it away. Duchatelet and Meire have to face up to the fact that Fraeye is not up to the level of this division and nor are half of the rag tag squad. It is neither 100% fit nor prepared nor disciplined.
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Dec 12

Charlton Athletic 0 Leeds United 0

From the radio I couldn’t work out if the game was dull, or exciting, if 0-0 was the right result or 6-6?

Certainly we started pretty well and had a couple of good chances, but then for parts Leeds edged it and definitely had the best chance to break the deadlock when Adeyemi hit the post when it was easier to score (photo).
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Dec 5

1 Comment

Brighton & Hove Albion 3 Charlton Athletic 2

As night follows day, Charlton fans everywhere knew what was the likely outcome at half-time. Although after 5 minutes I think most of us were in shock. As someone said on Twitter: “Where are Charlton? What have you done with them?”

Normal service was resumed by 5 o’clock though when with 10 men following Patrick Bauer’s automatic red, we collapsed to defeat. After Addicks divided as ever, were comforting themselves with a masterclass counter attacking display in the first half, whilst others were pointing to the fragility of the team, especially the defence and questioning Fraeye’s tactics, although to be fair to the next Sir Alex, he wasn’t helped by a blatent red card and two more injuries. Three maybe as Cousins limped over the line.

I personally expected a complete drubbing and after what I watched last week today has to have been better. The next two games both at home simply must result in 6 points or Roly needs to give us his next network no-mark.
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Nov 29

6 Comments

Charlton Athletic 0 Ipswich Town 3

A third 0-3 home defeat in four games and any thoughts of a renaissance after two wins were squashed by an apathetic performance in front of a worryingly sparse and disinterested crowd.

This club is only going one way at the moment and it is runaway train with Ms Meire at the steering wheel and M Duchatelet in the control box. Whether the 2% Protest made any impact on the two of them I very much doubt it, but the fact that ‘Stand up for the 2%‘ posters were held aloft by at least half of the home fans, sitting amongst a sea of empty red seats was a very respectful but poignant image, one that got the message out to a broader audience and showed up Meire’s arrogance for what it is.

Congratulations to all of those that helped and supported it. It was a good start and I will write more on that in the coming days now that I am back in Bermuda and once I can shake off the hangover of another pitiful display.
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Nov 21

3 Comments

Birmingham City 0 Charlton Athletic 1

An excellent result and not just a clinging on rear guard action. The Addicks created chances too, with youngsters Ademola Lookman and Tareiq Holmes-Dennis outstanding, especially Holmes Dennis playing out of position at right back who danced down the wing to provide a teasing cross for super skipper Johnnie Jackson to head powerfully home.

Lookman started up front with Simon Makienok with Reza on the bench along with the returning Harry Lennon and new loanee Ricardo Vaz Te. There was no place for Moussa.

We were under the gun for a lot of the 1st period, especially before half-time but the Blues never caused many heart-fluttering moments, at least listening to the radio. That was until the final seconds when Holmes-Dennis rounded off a terrific performance preventing Grounds from a sure equaliser.
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Nov 13

A new signing

Charlton have announced the signing of striker Ricardo Vaz Tê. The 29-year old was a free agent but has a good goalscoring record in England playing for some time at Bolton, Barnsley and West Ham.

Signed by Big Sam, for who Vaz Tê played also for at Bolton where he began his career in England, he played 3 years at Upton Park in both The Championship and the Premier League.

Vaz Tê hits all the right buttons with good Championship experience and a knack for getting a goal, which is badly needed especially with it now confirmed that Igor will be out at least until the end of January.
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Nov 3

5 Comments

MK Dons 1 Charlton Athletic 0

Improvement? Quicker out of the blocks? Didn’t lose 3-0? More possession? 3 shots on target? Ademola Lookman? Or according to the Interim Head Coach “We had the game in our command.”

Positives?

Let us not get into the rarefied air of Karel Fraeye’s tactical mind. Let us look at the facts.

Tonight’s game was against a team that will be a relegation rival, that’s if we can stay in touch. MK Dons had lost 7 of their last 9 games, and 5 of their last 6 at home. They hadn’t scored in 5 hours of football up until Dean Bowditch scored his first goal since the opening day of the season. And Churchy missed an absolute sitter the give the result a more realistic scoreline.
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Oct 31

4 Comments

Middlesbrough 3 Charlton Athletic 0

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahaha.. what? Oh this is not one big joke?

“I’ve been training first division teams, youth teams, U16’s, U15’s and second teams. I’ve been training first teams for 11 years. But it’s not up to me, I don’t have to defend myself, because I need to focus on the job I have now.” – One. Big. Bad. Joke.

“Today we were able to compete with them for 60 minutes, but after the goal we had some difficulties.” Hanging on for dim death with a possession rate of less than 20% up until they scored with just hapless, hopeless hoofs forward to an isolated Makienok is not competing in a football match. Look at the heat map from the game.

“We can only play 11 players. If we have 11 or 30 in the squad, it will still only be 11 on the pitch.” – Thanks ~~Roly~~ Karel. In answer to the size of the squad, but hey as long as they were smiling, then that is the most important thing, right?
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Oct 24

Charlton Athletic 0 Brentford 3

A second 0-3 home defeat in a week as Lee Carsley like Simon Grayson on Tuesday comfortably picked a team short in confidence and backbone apart. It was to be Guy Luzon’s 33rd and last league game in charge of the Addicks

Understandably Luzon gambled and threw back in 90% fit Mackienok plus Jacko, Gudmundsson and Henderson and although Diarra was missing through suspension it was the strongest team we had available with Reza and Moussa on the bench. Only Kashi and Igor were sidelined and the fact that we were well beaten says about everything we need to know.
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Oct 20

13 Comments

Charlton Athletic 0 Preston North End 3

That was disgraceful and it all began with the team selection. Dropping Jackson for Ba is unforgivable. Playing three left backs. Relying on Ahearne-Grant again. Way to ruin the boys career. If a senior player is fit to be on the bench, he is fit to play!

I have backed Luzon because he has been given nothing to work with and I would stick my neck out and proffer he has had very little say in player acquisitions, but have no doubt tonight’s embarrassment lies with Luzon and Luzon only. The players too. Where is the desire? The professionalism? they too are hugely culpable.

Between this merry lot, the mercenary players, the dead-man-walking head coach, the naive CEO and a mute of a mad professor owner, they are killing the very essence of what this club is about.
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Oct 17

3 Comments

Reading 1 Charlton Athletic 0

2 shots at goal compared to 23 by Reading tells it’s own sorry tale. More than 1,100 Addicks bravely got behind an impotent Charlton side with their only ambition to grab a point. I am starting to realise that I have never seen Bob Peeters and Guy Luzon in the same room. Although to be fair to old baldy he had 8 more points at this same point last season.
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Oct 11

2 Comments

Good Evans

In a week when Jurgen Klopp joined the Premier League circus, a better act than Brendan Rodgers I agree, slightly less column inches were given to Rotherham, who appointed ex-Addick Neil Redfearn as the Millers replacement for Steve Evans.

As a player Redfearn specialized in relegation, but did pretty well in routine trying circumstances at Elland Road. He had already proved himself at academy level and as first team coach before being handed the first team chalice under Massimo Cellino. It went sour for the lifelong Leeds fan and he now finds himself up the road at Rotherham.
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Oct 4

3 Comments

Charlton Athletic 2 Fulham 2

Had to take a deep breath after that. A fantastic Johnnie Jackson inspired comeback must not deflect mostly how useless we were up until the 81st minute. Does it paper over the cracks or will Guy Luzon and his players use this as a catalyst to turn the corner.
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Sep 26

1 Comment

Cardiff City 2 Charlton Athletic 1

Another defeat, and Guy Luzon’s very questionable approach to resting our best players for Wednesday’s game against Crystal Palace producing an embarrassing response. Lacking commitment, concentration and attitude, and that was just the head coaches view of things.

The bench had more teenagers on it than an after school park bench underscoring again the owner’s inability or lack of desire to allow Luzon to prepare better for a cut and thrust season in this division.

From what I understand, and my sympathy and admiration goes to those Addicks who made it to South Wales today, the performance lacked any of the competences that we have got to know Luzon for. The first 15 and last 15 minutes had no redeeming features whatsoever and the bit in the middle wasn’t much better.
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Sep 19

2 Comments

Blackburn Rovers 3 Charlton Athletic 0

The biggest defeat of a season that is rapidly turning from hopeful to worrying. A straightforward win for Blackburn today, who like Huddersfield before them won their first game of the season against the Addicks. If it wasn’t for Nick Pope the score may well have resembled a rugby score.

Jordan Rhodes scored twice, his 9th and 10th goals against Charlton, the first coming at a killer time seconds before the break.

Up until then the 1st half sounded reasonably decent from our perspective although we had to thank young Nick Pope for allowing us to even be in the game after two superb saves early on, both from that thorn in our side, Rhodes. Funny how we used to joke that Michael Morrison used to carry the Scotsman around in his pocket. No, I’m not laughing either.
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Sep 15

1 Comment

Charlton Athletic 1 Huddersfield Town 2

Tonight’s result and performance makes last season’s 3-0 win all the more remarkable.

The worrying thing about tonight is that, Diarra rested aside, it was probably our best team with the players available, alongside a very impressive bench. Cousins however, should never play left side of midfield again. Never.

The question, and I am sounding like a broken record, but the question is how does Luzon change it? Who does he have, where are the options?
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Sep 12

Charlton Athletic 1 Rotherham United 1

Quite pleased really because I had a real bad feeling about today. At the end we could blame poor finishing, a dreadful refereeing decision or thank Nick Pope for keeping us in it with a couple of tremendous saves.

I wrote this week that today would be a proper examination of our credentials this season. We are probably none the wiser. We played okay it seems from the radio commentary but equally as my brother put it, it was “typical us.”
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Sep 2

1 Comment

Tumbleweed

Tumbleweed must have been Chris Parkes’ screensaver yesterday as transfer deadline day passed without so much as a juicy rumour. As one fan put on Twitter ‘yesterday was for football fans the transfer deadline day but for Charlton fans it was Tuesday.’

Yesterday’s transfer deadline was pretty chaotic and to be honest we were probably better off out of it, but I am seriously hoping that Luzon is able to add to his squad in the loan window because I keep having this recurring dream that we have been here before.

There is no doubt that our squad is better than a year ago, but so is everyone else’s and yesterday many other Championship clubs further strengthened their squads and our competitors between them have have signed 113 players since the Addicks last rolled out a signing in Nabby Sarr. Make that 116 after Nottingham Forest re-write the rules to sign three more this week!
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Aug 29

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Charlton Athletic 1

Disappointing but not unexpected today. Wolves will certainly be promotion candidates and staying unbeaten for the whole month of August was just beyond us.

Nonetheless 8 points on the board, 2 wins against teams that now sit 2nd and 4th in the table and 2 excellent away draws. Add to that 8 goals in two rounds of the League Cup taking us to a belter of a 3rd Round game and the start of our season is not to be sniffed at, and the total opposite of what many of us were thinking when the fixtures first came out.
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Aug 22

1 Comment

Charlton Athletic 2 Hull City 1

Thanks again to my ever reliable Mum for the text that sprung to life when I nicked a bit of free wireless at Belize airport this morning (7 hours behind the UK). What a fantastic result.

Players are falling like flies, but it must have taken a massive team effort to dominate the game and grab all 3 points in the way they did this afternoon. I’ve said for donkey’s years that our games are always the last to finish in the country and I think today’s ended at 102 minutes. Blimey, The Valley must have been rocking at 5pm and my son was there with my brother and I can’t wait to get a full run down tomorrow.
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Aug 19

4 Comments

Nottingham Forest 0 Charlton Athletic 0

Belize internet is not being kind to me here, and it was my ever thoughtful Mum’s text last night that told me of yesterday’s result. 5 points from those first three games I would have happily taken when the fixtures came out, but what the reports I have belatedly read tell me is that we are maybe only a fit and Championship-ready Igor or another striker away from a play-off push.

15-18 goal strikers cost more money than Roly is prepared to pay, and fair enough when you see what Bristol City have offered for Andre Gray.
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Aug 15

Derby County 1 Charlton Athletic 1

Excellent point at one of the promotion favourites today. Don’t know much about the game as we were having a late breakfast in Miami but I was constantly drawn to what seemed an exciting game on Twitter and it looked as if we deserved our point with a wholehearted defensive performance punctuated by some good play on the break.

Cristian Ceballos started on the left of midfield, to some surprise, and was responsible for possibly the worst corner in Charlton’s history, which has to be seen to be believed. I have hopes for the young Spaniard though, but him out left did allow Cousins to move inside alongside Kashi.
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Aug 9

4 Comments

Charlton Athletic 2 Queens Park Rangers 0

What a wonderful day out to end a very enjoyable week. Back in Bermuda tonight with my head full of memories and Charlton songs!

QPR may not end up being a good yardstick to judge our opening performance as my mate Dave said in his post-match thoughts, although you can only beat what is in front of you, but although we conceded a lot of possession and corners to the west Londoners in the first half, it was a little surprising to see their capitulation after we went 2-0 up. The rather cocky QPR fans who somewhat startlingly sauntered past the Royal Oak singing their anti-Chelsea songs may need to lower their pretensions.

I think most of us shuddered a little when those first 6 fixtures came out, but early season is as good as time as any to play the relegated teams, and Austin-less it is hard to see anything other than a season of mediocrity or worse for Ramsey’s team.
But as Luzon repeats it wasn’t about our opposition, for Addicks it was finding out about those players in red shirts, their aptitudes and their attitudes.
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Aug 7

5 Comments

One more sleep

Here it is then, another Charlton Athletic season of blood, sweat and tears. Remember a baby is made and born quicker than a football season and it is important not to get too high with the highs, and too low with the lows. What rubbish eh? Whoever spouts this kind of stuff is clearly not a football fan!

The Championship season, tucked away behind a cloud on Sky Sports, unless you are Leeds United, has another look of throwing up all kinds of possibilities this season. Upon doing a little research to write my previews of each team (click here on part’s I, II and III) it only highlighted the myriad of differing ambitions that clubs have and how they plan to attack them.

It is almost impossible to strive for midtable security in The Championship, and I think Charlton need to be wary of that ideal. The Charlton approach should be to keep away from any danger and attempt to improve on last season but if horror upon horrors there is the slightest chance of a play-off opportunity, then Roland Duchatelet and the club needs to embrace it.
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Aug 6

The Championship 15/16 preview – part III

The final part of my look at our Championship rivals. Part I is here and Part II is here.

In this section I will look at the teams the bookies have bundled together in the middle of the table, and those who the bookies have flagged as likely relegation fodder.
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Aug 4

The Championship 15/16 preview – part II

Part II of my look at our Championship rivals. Part I is here.

Using the bookie’s predictions, the following are the 8 teams they think will be knocking on the door of the play-off’s.
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Aug 3

The Championship 15/16 preview – part I

Part I of my annual pre-season peak at our Championship rivals. Their signings, their manager, their hopes, their handicaps.

The Championship is one of the most competitive and unforgiving leagues in Europe, and picking winners and losers is almost impossible but the bookies have had a crack and I will use their sticking a tail on a donkey theory as my guide.

I will start at the top, and will begin with the 6 teams that the bookmakers think will have the best chance of promotion.
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Jul 28

3 Comments

Naby Sarr joins French invasion

January Guy Luzon loan target Naby Sarr has signed a 5-year deal today and I would think will accompany Patrick Bauer in a very unexperienced looking central defence when the season kicks off in 11 days. Sarr is widely expected to cost £1.4m.

Sarr is another French speaker in the dressing room, six if you include Loic Nego. Born in Marseille, the 21 year-old came through the PSG youth system but moved at 15 to join the famed Lyon academy. After 5 impressive appearances for Lyon, Sporting Lisbon swooped into sign Sarr for €1m, with another €1m to be paid further down the line depending on appearances. Then there was a silly €45m buy-out clause, which obviously never materialized. If it did then Roly has clearly had an lobotomy!
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Jun 17

1 Comment

Tough start

QPR (h), Derby (a), Forest (a), Hull (h), Wolves (a). 2015/16 Full fixture list here.

That is a tough looking start on paper, although there is a lot to be said for playing the relegated sides early as they adjust to the culture shock of The Championship.

I will be home for the opening game and it is our first Valley start to the season since we returned to The Championship. There is a chance that Sky might pick our game for that weekend although Leeds, Preston and Hull may get the nod. The opening game instantly reminds of our victory over then Harry Redknapp’s side the season before last. That ‘Johnnie Jackson QPR’ game was one of the best moments seen at The Valley in the last couple of seasons.
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May 22

2 Comments

Play-Off Symmetry

There’s a certain symmetry to the 3rd and 4th placed teams, 4th and 5th in League Two, reaching the play-off final, if you like the ‘two best teams’ after those already promoted. You can also add the Conference into that unusual statistic this season as well.

I have worked out that this year is only the third time in 29 seasons that the best two placed teams in the three tiers have made it to the play-off final. The last time was 2000, and in 1998 it also happened. I remember it well.

Everyone has there own theories on the play-offs, although few complain that they are a bad thing, as there is no doubt it adds some great excitement and also prolongs the season’s dreams. This season is only the 8th time that 3rd and 4th in The Championship have made it to the Final. It also happened last year when 4th placed QPR scraped past Derby.
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May 7

4 Comments

Who do we want?

The 1st leg of the League One play-offs were tonight and it got me thinking about who I’d like to see in next season’s Championship.

Sheffield United are the last remaining of the ‘big clubs’ stranded in League One after the departure of Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton, Brighton, Southampton and Norwich in recent years. This is the 4th season in League One for the Blades and after tonight’s result they may well be staring at another.

I’d love to see United come up because it would make our division even more competitive, yet I am torn because my head tells me that Chesterfield would represent an easier target for us to finish above. I know, naturally pessimistic!
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May 6

8 Comments

The season in one post

9 months ago 1,600 Addicks welcomed Bob Peeters’ new look team with 7 new signings at Griffin Park, and most left with a positive feeling. It was a gritty Charlton performance that Charlton fans could relate to. Yet the biggest reservations pre-season were over the unknown head coach and the lack of obvious goals in the side. Roland Duchatelet had added some much needed quality, but on the face of it, Peeters’ squad was thin and lacking in Championship experience.

Nonetheless by the time pre-season promotion favourites Derby came to The Valley we were three games unbeaten and Peeters had warmed the Addicks’ fans with his over enthusiastic tête-à-tête with then Wigan boss Uwe Rosler the game before.

The Derby game was a little surreal if we are honest. Peeters’ passing game, still a work in progress, was some of the best I had seen for a long time, but the Valley crowd came across as unsure to what they were witnessing. However it was a great 3 points won at a spruced up Valley and with two away draws following we sat happily in 6th place at the end of the opening month. Please click for more

May 4

5 Comments

Charlton Athletic 0 AFC Bournemouth 3

The great thing about being a Charlton Athletic fan is that expectations are always low. A 3,440 mile overnight flight with little sleep, quick shower, a hire car and a race from Gatwick to pick up my son and then my mate before getting to The Valley, all to watch us be two down by half past twelve!

It was always going to be a strange day. Another team and their fans celebrating on your own ground is hard to find enjoyable, even if it was a team as deserving as they are, but I at least hoped we might give it a go.
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May 1

1 Comment

Back home for the curtain call

I’m flying back to Gatwick overnight and all being well I’ll grab a quick pint in the Oak before we take our seats for the early kick off against promoted Bournemouth before the curtain draws on the season.

After the midweek games somewhat ruined Sky TV’s excitement their cameras will be at Blackburn v Ipswich and Derby v Reading as the Tractor Boys and Rams attempt to hold on to their top 6 places. Personally more excitement might have been found at Brentford and Wolves as they have to win and score goals to force themselves into play-off contention.
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Apr 28

5 Comments

Millwall relegated

The trapdoor finally opened for Millwall tonight as Rotherham beat Reading 2-1 to end the Lions 5-year stay in The Championship. Wigan, FA Cup winners two seasons ago are also relegated to League One.

Relegation for Millwall didn’t happen suddenly, the Lions have been treading water for a long while. This despite John Berylson backing Steve Lomas and Ian Holloway with the two biggest wagerolls in the club’s history. What Millwall fans want to hear now is that the American is going to stick with it.
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Apr 27

1 Comment

Congratulations Cherries

Great tweet sent out tonight by Charlton after Bournemouth won 3-0 at home to Bolton to all but guarantee their promotion to the Premier League before they visit The Valley on Saturday.

CAFC press officer Iain Liddle leaves the club after Saturday, and he’ll be feeling pretty pleased with himself after that gem of a tweet tonight. Iain and his team, past and present, have done a terrific job, in often very trying circumstances, in building Charlton’s social media presence to the standing it has today.
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Apr 25

Birmingham City 1 Charlton Athletic 0

A late yet deserved goal from City was enough to beat Charlton at St Andrews this afternoon in what sounded a bit of a snooze-fest. Guy Luzon called it the worst performance since he took over, which is a shame because the 1,000+ Addicks deserved better.

The away end also included Johnnie Jackson and Ben Hamer, which for those that had to opportunity to meet them at least made up for such a dismal display, that and Michael Morrison spending time at the end of the game to finally say goodbye to Addicks, most of whom won’t ever understand how the club managed to lose him, and apparently for no fee.
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Apr 22

The end of the season is nigh

The end is looking nigh for Millwall after defeat at Blackburn last night. The deadly duo of Gestede and Rhodes banging another nail in the Lions’ coffin, only emphasizing how disappointing Rovers have been this season and I will be amazed if Gary Bowyer can keep his strike pair for another year in The Championship.

Millwall host play-off chasing Derby on Saturday and have to win. Rotherham have Norwich visiting and then their game in hand is at home to Reading next Tuesday. Next week is when the Millers should find out about their ineligible player. It is hard to see the Football League making such a crucial decision by docking Rotherham points, especially when they fined Blackpool £30,000, half of which was suspended, for a similar incident earlier this season.
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Apr 19

Joe Gomez

Our 18-year old defensive prodigy lost out to Leeds United’s Lewis Cook in the Football League Championship Apprentice of the Year award tonight. Midfielder Cook missed the game yesterday due to injury but has played twice the games than Gomez has this season. Cook is also a year older. The other nomination for the award was Millwall’s Fred Onyedinma.

Catford-born Gomez, who was playing for Charlton’s U18’s when he was just 13 has been a revelation since breaking in the first team under Bob Peeters early in the season. The best way to describe Gomez is that he plays as if this is his tenth season and not his first and has that ability to simply glide across the pitch. Joe compares very favourably in my mind to Richard Rufus and Paul Elliott and I just hope Charlton fans get to enjoy this great kid for another season or two. Please click for more

Apr 18

Charlton Athletic 2 Leeds United 1

First win in 5 or unbeaten in 4. Depends how you look at our closing of this very strange season. I’m just glad that those at The Valley were sent home happy after a 5th goal in Charlton colours for Tony Watt, Watt, Watt and another penalty from Yoni Buyens.

It sounded another game of two halves as Guy Luzon tinkered with his squad resting Jordan Cousins, Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Roger Johnson. Luzon’s team selection was also a chance for Alou Diarra to shine in central midfield and for Chris Eagles to play for a new contract out wide. Diarra lasted 11 minutes, Eagles 45. The Frenchman leaving the fray with a knee injury. Please click for more

Apr 14

Bolton Wanderers 1 Charlton Athletic 1

First of all absolute respect to those 234 Addicks at Bolton tonight. Possibly the most unattractive away game for many a season. I have been monitoring this for a while, and the Football League need to look a bit more carefully at the lay out of the fixtures next season. We have travelled this season to Wolves, Leeds and Blackpool midweek despite a profligacy of southern games.

Another 1-1 draw then, who said a top 12 finish would be easy eh? The game appeared to follow a similar pattern to the game at Hillsborough on Saturday and Bolton dominated the 2nd half, and after Luzon substituted both Igor and Watt, it eradicated the ‘out ball’ and encouraged more pressure with Bolton equalising 11 minutes from time.
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Apr 11

Sheffield Wednesday 1 Charlton Athletic 1

Anything to do with Sheffield Wednesday is of course always massive. Before the game the Addicks were the only Championship team whose season’s fate was already decided. It was mathematically impossible for the Addicks to go either up or down, whereas Wednesday were in desperate need of more points to stave off relegation!

No, I didn’t buy it either but cheap ticketing meant over 23,000 came through the Hillsborough turnstiles including a healthy Charlton contingent to witness a decent-ish game on a poor pitch between two sides with one eye on their summer holidays.
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Apr 8

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Charlton Athletic 1 Fulham 1

Looks as if the international break has signalled the end of our season. Rather pedestrian last night at The Valley by all accounts and now we’re left with a run of four games against fellow teams without anything to play for before Bournemouth’s party bus comes to SE7 on the final day of the season.

Fulham put up a little bit of a fight, and so they should, and it has been one of this season’s mysteries that they have struggled so badly with the playing squad they have including a World Cup quarter finalist, past and probable future England players (Cauley Woodrow) and a £11m striker. Mis-management only bettered by that at Wigan.

As an aside I read that Wigan have received £32m in parachute payments since they dropped into the Championship and are due another £16m over the next two years. Incredible, but hope for all of us that worry Palace will be light years ahead of us by the summer.
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Apr 3

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Millwall 2 Charlton Athletic 1

For the entirety of the today’s game I was fortunate enough to be out on a boat off Amelia Island in Florida the captain navigating his craft through the islands of the inland waterway moving frequently across the Georgia and Florida stateline.

For almost the entirety of the game I had absolutely no signal on my phone. Disconcerting and liberating in equal measures.

My Livescore app found an ounce of satellite just as Diarra had given us a lead. The signal disappeared as quick as it had came until the game was in injury time. Typically my football club had capitulated for the umpteenth time to that lot. I banged out a text to my brother: “Every f—— time.” The reply was less polite.
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Mar 31

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Thoughts on Friday and looking to the summer

“We can’t be letting five/ten players go, we need consistency and I’ll certainly be keeping an eye on the ins and outs over the summer, that’s for sure.”

I have been impressed with what I have seen and heard from Stephen Henderson since he arrived in SE7 last summer. He has been very impressive in goal and speaks well, and clearly is enjoying his time at the club, despite his absence through injury.

If it wasn’t for the shoulder injury the Irishman would have by now played for the Addicks more than any other club in his career, which has spanned 8 years and 10 different teams, 11 if you include Aston Villa where he started in their youth team.

So it is no surprise that Henderson is so bullish, finally finding a club that has immersed him and where he has found some affinity. Interesting then that he was quoted as saying the above at the top of this post.
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Mar 21

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Charlton Athletic 3 Reading 2

A dreadful first half but a fantastic 2nd half if the commentary was anything to go by, Peter Finch ably assisted in the studio by an articulate Neil Etheridge.

After a disappointing defeat to Blackburn a week ago, that was quite a turnaround with 6 points gathered in the 6 days hence. A trademark Buyens penalty, a less than trademark open play goal from Yoni and then a third from that rip-roaring-goalscoring Welsh wizard. I am taking odds of Churchy appearing in the qualifying rounds of European competition with Standard Liege next season!
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Mar 18

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Blackpool 0 Charlton Athletic 3

The games that we always seem to flop.

I didn’t think we’d beat Blackburn, but I didn’t think we would beat Blackpool either. Last night was really last chance for saloon for Blackpool and they started brightly, and then I had to go and meet some people and was only able to check in on the score at half and full time. I raised my glass to myself each time.
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Mar 17

Pitch imperfect

Have you seen Blackpool’s pitch? How dare they, you’d never see that at The Vall…. Oh.

Of course whilst the Spivs didn’t have a pot to pee in, the cuddly and charming Karl Oyston’s Blackpool have just posted a pre-tax profit of £9.45m for the financial year ending May 2014, this includes £11m paid to club’s owner and Karl’s father Owen, and another £23.7m moved to other Oyston companies used apparently for items such as ground improvements and maintenance. The pitch obviously not qualifying as ground maintenance.

As others have said, for every Roland Duchâtelet there is a Karl Oyston. I also don’t expect that Roly’s old man was sentenced to 6 years in prison for rape.
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Mar 14

Charlton Athletic 1 Blackburn Rovers 3

A poor defensive display today with almost a pre-season friendly atmosphere told to me by those that were there. Disappointing after recent weeks but this team had to lose again at some point especially if the defensive errors re-appear on the scene.

I’d rather not Gomez play every game but Ben Haim did not improve the defensive solidarity shown in recent weeks and it sounded as is Roger Johnson had a ‘mare.
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Mar 10

6 Comments

Holloway sacked

Sadly our friends from Bermondsey finally pulled the plug this morning on Ian ‘Ollie’ Holloway after six defeats in seven games has left them 8 points adrift of safety.

Only on Saturday Millwall owner John Berylson said “The decision I have made, in the best interests of Millwall and not for any other reason, is that we must stick with and support our manager more than ever at this time. I don’t believe that a change of manager would lead to different results.” Three days later Holloway who sounded and looked a spent force has gone, and will be replaced by first team coach Neil Harris.
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Mar 8

2 Comments

Cardiff City 1 Charlton Athletic 2

Recently Guy Luzon said that he likes to win beautifully, but yesterday was quite beastly by all accounts, yet another 3 points was added to our growing total. That’s now 5 wins from 6 games since the Norwich debacle that most definitely wasn’t beautiful.

It wasn’t much of a game by the sounds of it, kind of an end of season match in the first week of March, but once Cardiff got their noses in front, I didn’t hold out much hope for what was to follow.
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Mar 3

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Charlton Athletic 2 Nottingham Forest 1

A very impressive result tonight against a team that had won five of their last six and with a very makeshift team, and all of our first choice defenders out.

Wilson, Gomez, Diarra and Fox began at the back, but Luzon sensibly changed it at half-time replacing Wilson who was struggling against Antonio’s pace and trickery. Gomez coped much better at right back and also got forward much more and Bikey, dropped and suddenly in the past fortnight third choice centre-half, also did a good job of steadying the ship.

Frederic Bulot has come back from the African Nations a different player. He scored a Gudmundsson-esque free-kick in the 7th minute after we started well, and then completely against the run of play, the man on loan from Standard Liege fired in from close range to put us ahead again after danger man Antonio had equalized.
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