The Championship | Chicago Addick

Feb 28

Charlton Athletic 3 Huddersfield Town 0

“It was beyond what any supporters would do to the opposition manager. But I am not surprised with how they were. It was very touching and emotional for me but I am quite embarrassed as well. They have moved on and we have moved on, but it was a great moment for me in my long career and it’s something that I won’t forget.”

If football was played out to a script then today’s game would be it. Academy award winning even.

Chris Powell received a fantastic welcome before kick off and then again at 3 minutes past 3. After that the packed Valley lapped up a superb performance cheering the team to the rafters and at £1.66 a goal I hope some of those thousands that took advantage of ‘football for a fiver’ return to see Luzon’s team again.
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Feb 24

2 Comments

Derby County 2 Charlton Athletic 0

I managed to listen to the first 20 minutes and we were being taken to the cleaners. It obviously got better, or less worse, depending on your opinion, but Derby had already hung up their 3 points by then. There were a couple of Charlton chances, but Derby didn’t have to move out of neutral in the 2nd half. After the tremendous first game in August these two teams have gone in opposite directions.

The good thing was that in the very congested middle to bottom places, the results went well for us. We slipped two more places from Friday night, but we remain 8 points clear of Millwall in the 3rd from bottom place.
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Feb 21

5 Comments

Friday night’s are alright

Katrien is right, Friday night football is a fantastic idea. How nice it was to wake this morning without a care in the world and 3 points in the back pocket of our pyjamas.

The Addicks sat 12th overnight after winning at Wigan, today Reading and Leeds both moved back above us after they both had very good wins on the road. Reading at Ipswich and Leeds at Middlesbrough to remind us how hard games are to call in The Championship.
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Feb 20

5 Comments

Wigan Athletic 0 Charlton Athletic 3

Blimey. No really, blimey.

No two ways about it, that was a terrific result tonight in what was undoubtedly a six pointer up at the DW, and whatever the 533 Addicks envisioned on their journey’s up, I am sure it wasn’t what they then witnessed. My total respect to them.

I’m thrilled actually, well of course I’m thrilled, but supporting Charlton recently has been thoroughly depressing and I lay in bed last night thinking about this post I wrote, and I thought enough is enough. No more negativity. It is really wearing me down. Support the team, and the manager.
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Feb 14

3 Comments

Charlton Athletic 3 Brentford 0

A first win since November 8th, and a long awaited burst of pride. Charlton fans deserve their smiles on their faces tonight.

Not for the first time in recent years Addicks’ fans backed the shirt and not the regime today and they got their rewards with not only the biggest win of the season, but also a performance from the players befitting of wearing the famous shirt.

Credit to Luzon, he had them fired up, organized and put round pegs in round holes. I said before the game that he picked the best team possible, even with the inclusion of Bulot, who by all accounts had a very good game on the left side of midfield.
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Feb 11

14 Comments

Charlton Athletic 2 Norwich City 3

It’s frankly depressing putting these words down on ‘paper.’

I have only the post match views of online Addicks to gauge what happened at The Valley last night. The atmosphere around the fanbase is a mix of anger and sheer hopelessness at the quite staggering negative momentum that we are in, although extraordinary there are still people out there that think it’s all going to be alright.

With what wisdom they make this judgement I do not have a clue.
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Feb 7

2 Comments

Middlesbrough 3 Charlton Athletic 1

Another day, another defeat. Our 14th game without a win. Middlesbrough proved as anticipated too good, but less anticipated was that for a period anyway, we weren’t quite a bad as many thought.

In fact in the latter stages of the 1st half around when JBG stole an excellent equaliser we sounded as if we played with good purpose and intent, driven forward by skipper Johnnie Jackson, on for the unfortunately injured Milos Veljkovic.

At the break, like many I was pleasantly surprised. By the time I’d put my half time cup of tea in the washing up bowl, normal service had been resumed.
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Feb 6

3 Comments

Ultimate respect

My ultimate respect to the 200 or so Addicks that are travelling to Middlesbrough tomorrow. I hope they at least leave the ground at 5 o’clock knowing that the team put as much effort in as they did. Hopefully Johnnie Jackson is back in the line up to show some much needed leadership.

One player who won’t play is Roger Johnson, who like nearly all of our recent signings is a long way of match fitness. The Birmingham Mail said this about his arrival, but I hope Luzon can help him rediscover his form and desire, and it may well give Bikey and Ben Haim a kick up the backside, or may not.
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Jan 31

6 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Rotherham United 1

The apathy, you can feel it running pretty deep amongst Addicks at the moment. The 2nd lowest Valley league crowd this season (despite a healthy Rotherham following) had to endure a much needed 3 points snatched away from them in injury time as Guy Luzon substituted a forward and put another defender on to entice pressure.

Sat in my car with my phone in my hand, the probability of that happening was about as obvious as night following day.

I am willing to give Roland Duchâtelet until Monday night then I might have a right old paddy.
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Jan 27

3 Comments

Where’s the spine?

Rotherham hit four goals tonight, one for every week that we have failed to find the net in the league. If Saturday wasn’t a big game before, it is now.

Guy Luzon would have had another week to get his ideas and positivity across to the players, although yet he has no additional players to work with.

Milos Veljkovic impressed at Wolves with a confident performance but the young Serb just adds to the ranks of holding midfielders. For so long we have lacked that midfield creativity and the club have only until Monday to address that.
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Jan 24

7 Comments

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 Charlton Athletic 0

Most unexpected.

I was more interested in the performance, attitude and reaction today than the result, and from what I have read those attributes were all there, so credit to Guy Luzon and the players.

This is a windy road, and I expect plenty more divots in it as we navigate in the darkness around Duchâtelet’s network gimmick.
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Jan 17

10 Comments

Watford 5 Charlton Athletic 0

What a shambles.

Very few times in my years as a Charlton Athletic fan can I ever predict a result or a performance, because we have always been so unpredictable, save the days of games against Manchester United, or the FA Cup.

However today’s defeat was a dead cert, but despite this 2,024 Addicks spent hard earned money to travel and watch the team they love, and gave the players total backing for the entire game. And this was their reward.
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Jan 13

3 Comments

Will it be anyone else other than Luzon?

I was quite expecting no further comment from the club yesterday, until late in the day Katrien Meire did follow up with comments on cafc.co.uk.

Meire said that the decision was only taken after the game on Saturday, which seems both unlikely and a little too impetuous. I don’t believe her, nor does Bob, especially knowing of recent informed reports from the Israeli media about Guy Luzon, and the fact that Karel Faraeye was at the Cardiff game, but after her comments in the programme on Saturday, I expect Roland Duchâtelet allowed her, a lawyer, to choose her own words.

It doesn’t matter now, what does is who is appointed next as the 4th manager/head coach in 10 months.
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Jan 12

4 Comments

Charlton Athletic 0 Brighton & Hove Albion 1

I wrote this on the plane yesterday afternoon flying back from Gatwick after watching the Brighton game on Saturday, which was to be Bob Peeters’ last.

I thought I’d still post my report, particularly as some of it could serve as Bob Peeters’ epilogue….

“You know how we used to say anyone can beat anyone in this league? We’re proving that wrong.” – Brian Haines, Charlton Blogger

Terrible wasn’t it?

How have we fallen so far since those heady September days, that Derby game on that August evening. What an earth has happened?
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Dec 30

4 Comments

Ipswich Town 3 Charlton Athletic 0

Zonal Marking. What is it, and what an earth does it mean, and why does every ex-professional centre-half over the age of 40 decree it’s futility?

And lastly if we can’t defend corners, then why do we give so many away?

We actually, unusually, had the most possession tonight, but from the radio we never sounded like scoring, and when Ipswich wanted to move up a gear, there wasn’t much we could do about it.
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Dec 27

11 Comments

Halfway house

I don’t quite understand why almost every team in The Championship plays tomorrow afternoon, yet we don’t play until Tuesday night. Possibly it’s the trains, but I did note that Boxing Day’s schedule of games took us to the middle point of the season, 23 games.

Charlton sit in 12th, which represents the lowest place we have occupied all season. The night we beat Derby at home we went 4th, which was our highest point.

Between you and me I still look at the bottom of the table before I peak at the top, but at the halfway point of the season, although there has been frustrations, I can’t help but think that Bob Peeters has done a more than fair job with the squad that was mostly put together for him.
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Dec 26

2 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Cardiff City 1

After a 1st half where the Addicks showed all the Boxing Day spirit of an empty stocking, the 2nd they shimmered like a star on top of the tree.

Sadly once again we very slow out of the blocks and 0-1 down before we’d even broken sweat. Bob had changed it, and left out youngsters Pope and Fox, hopefully with some good man-management skills, but it was hard to argue against the change.

Gomez played left back, Johnnie Jackson returned from injury to take his place in central midfield and it was George’s turn to start up top as Igor began on the bench. No place for the perennial bench warmers Wilson or Bulot.
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Dec 20

2 Comments

Blackburn Rovers 2 Charlton Athletic 0

“You can talk about it as much as you want, but we need to do it with the players we have at the moment. We need to patch them up and go to the next game.”

And we are talking about it Bob, and I think the majority of us understand how difficult it is to operate within such austere parameters, but it’s now starting to reflect badly on you.

We understand and accept, and perversely enjoy that you are new to the English game, and still learning your art, but the honeymoon period looks to have come to an end, and what we’d like to see now is strong leadership, managing down and encouraging and breathing confidence into players, but importantly managing upwards, explaining and demanding what you need to take your team forward.
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Dec 14

2 Comments

If there were no draws

Pretend you are in America and draws, or ties as they call them, just don’t exist. There has to be an outcome to every game, a winner and a loser otherwise no paying spectator goes home happy.

Charlton have ‘tied’ 12 games this season, but what if that wasn’t acceptable, and a panel of judges presided over a points decision. How many should we have won, for whatever reason, and how many did we really deserve to lose? I’ve taken a look.
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Dec 13

4 Comments

Charlton Athletic 2 Blackpool 2

Our ability to finish teams off this season has been abysmal and although punctuated by some good results and the occasional bout of very good football, Bob Peeters’ team has now only won two games since September, which is frankly not good enough.

Early in the season Peeters set the team up quite expansively to a point where many of commented on how much more dangerous we were going forward, but he has become increasingly more and more scared of his own shadow.

Whether that is due to teams finding us out, Vetokele not being fully fit, a general shortage of players, or a combination of each I don’t know, but watching us has become very frustrating and results are being underscored by poor defending, slow starts and an anxiousness to go for it, especially when we are on top.

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Dec 7

Nottingham Forest 1 Charlton Athletic 1

A draw! Our 11th of the season. Most Addicks would have taken that, although if you had us down for a draw on the Pools, you wouldn’t have been surprised!

I was out most of the day, so had to rely on quick glances, but after losing so heartbreakingly last week, it was great to hear us start today with such poise, and a goal, from Callum Harriott, and very well worked it sounded too.
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Nov 30

Charlton Athletic 0 Ipswich Town 1

And you thought it was the orange shirts? My last two games – Bournemouth and Ipswich Town!

It was a horrible way to lose a game we should never have, especially as our own sloppiness was integral to Noel Hunt’s 95th minute winning goal. Ben Haim had been outstanding until he decided he was Claus Jensen in the last minute. As I have written many times since Peeters’ arrival, over playing the football is on occasion going to come a cropper. That’s not Ben Haim’s first offence.

It was tough on the Israeli, who Peeters was furious with, but I have really been impressed with TBH and it is admirable that his immediate thought was to avoid safety first and attempt to find some space and a pass that might have given us an opportunity to score a 95th minute winner. Why not, it is what you pay your money for.
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Nov 22

3 Comments

Charlton Athletic 0 Millwall 0

A draw always seems like a victory when we play Millwall, although there was that one dreadful night in 1989, so I will take a point which sounded about the right outcome.

You can feel quite detached before games living overseas but not on days like today when I had already received texts from friends and family even before I got up as Addicks travelled to The Valley hoping this, this might just be the day.
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Nov 17

5 Comments

Millwall

Like a lot of Addicks of a certain age this fixture haunts me now as it did when I was a kid.

My brother and I grew up with a Millwall supporting family living next door. The two sons and us were very close well into our early 30’s, and at school in Catford there were many Millwall fans, no one supported Palace, because they were, well nothing. I had a load of mates that were Millwall, still have a couple and I used to occasionally go and watch them midweek in the 80’s when Charlton weren’t playing.

Our record against our local rivals is pathetic and I would argue, and one day I will do the research, probably the worst of any local derby rivals in English football. 11 wins in 68 league matches beginning in 1921. Incidentally 2 of those 11 wins came in the first two games in December 1921 and January 1922!
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Nov 13

Uwe makes it 12

He never quite recovered from his tete e tete with Big Bad Bob, who he accused of over celebrating our winner in his space.

I took it upon myself to subsequently follow Uwe Rosler’s after match comments, and the German turned into a right old sour puss, this after a scintillating spell at Wigan after he joined them last December from Brentford. His record this season is about as far away as last as you can get. One win in 12 games, and despite signing 4 players on deadline day including one Andy Delort, Wigan dropped into the bottom 3 after losing their last game to local rivals Bolton and today Uwe Rosler was sacked.
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Nov 8

Reading 0 Charlton Athletic 1

I too was in the camp of not expecting anything from today’s game. Our record at Reading is terrible. Only two ever wins – one in 1981 and one in 1922. Yes, you read that correctly.

Reading had scored 3 goals in four of their last five home games and it was going to be a real test, especially for a Rhoys Wiggins less defence.

Yet Bob Peeters and the players had not read the script and spirit, desire and organization plus a young man called Igor Vetokele were to give the noisy travelling Addicks another enjoyable away day.
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Nov 4

3 Comments

Leeds United 2 Charlton Athletic 2

A great edge of the seat performance tonight. Not from Charlton but by Peter Finch and Terry Smith on CAFC Player, who delivered another wonderfully biased and passionate commentary.

It was a very good point in the circumstances, and I do wonder if we’d have continued with 11 players after JBG’s penalty, if we might have gone onto win it. Certainly Elland Road was in meltdown and Bob appeared to want to go for it.

As it was we finished with Wilson at left back, Cousins at right back, Gudmundsson right side midfield, Igor left side, Jackson and Coquelin in the middle and with debutant and not match fit Oguchi Onyewu up front on his own.
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Nov 2

Charlton Athletic 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1

At half-time yesterday I started to believe that the players were on the same page as Roland Duchâtelet, i.e. they were content with 22 points.

However the 2nd half from the commentary anyway sounded much improved and we played some more incisive football and once Igor was introduced packed a much bigger punch up top.

If Bob can keep Igor and JBG 100% fit then I think we can compete in the top half of the table, and within reach of the play-off’s, without them and until Bob is able to sign some additional recruits we will continue to resemble a patchwork quilt.
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Oct 24

4 Comments

Fulham 3 Charlton Athletic 0

A little bit of perspective needed.

Fulham have a huge parachute payment, a bigger budget, a bigger squad and better players. We have punched above our weight so far this season, Fulham have had a really poor start and Felix Magath must be the worst man-manager that ever lived.

We lost tonight’s game in the first 12 minutes and after that Fulham could pretty much dominate the pattern of the game. It was a dismal 1st half that no doubt set off all kind of alarm bells amongst Charlton fans, although the many thousands that were in Craven Cottage were absolutely superb.
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Oct 24

2 Comments

Good flow

“We get good results, there is a good flow around Charlton. People are starting to respect us again and for me that’s the most important thing.”

On Monday night over steak and chips, and no doubt a cold Flemish beer Bob and Roly met to discuss the Addicks season so far and if like me you watched the live You Tube show 1905 yesterday then you would have heard that they are pretty pleased with each other.

Roly as we know is a hands off owner, but came across as reasonably tuned into the happenings at The Valley and in The Championship. We know that Katrien Meire is his eyes and ears and although not the greatest communicator unless there is steak and chips involved, the 1905 interview if hardly ground-breaking was helpful for us Addicks that try to understand his ambitions and persona.

He talked for long lengths about young players and how difficult The Championship is knowing that it can change quickly. Strangely after sacking Guy Luzon on Monday he told us that results are not important. I beg to differ, but I can accept that we are in a long game, which I think to most of us is a more sensible and more satisfying approach.
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Oct 21

Charlton Athletic 2 Bolton Wanderers 1

As the final whistle to games from Porto to Port Vale to Portsmouth all blew way before us, the Addicks clung onto 3 valuable points tonight bouncing back from Saturday’s first defeat of the season.

Tonight’s game had a red flag written all over it following the inept performance at Bournemouth and Neil Lennon bringing his new manager bounce to The Valley, the home of “perennial strugglers” as Lennon described us. Incentive enough for Bob and his depleted squad.
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Oct 19

AFC Bournemouth 1 Charlton Athletic 0

I left Bermuda on Thursday night due to there being a hurricane blowing a little too powerful for comfort, but even if I was avoiding a hurricane I was still hoping for a little more than a puff of air from my Addicks in Dorset yesterday.

There should be no sugarcoating this performance – it was poor, rubbish in fact.

The Addicks were obviously going to lose their unbeaten record at some time, but to lose it without so much of a whimper was very disappointing. From the off to the last minute our ball retention was poor, we lacked invention, never looked like scoring and were bereft of any pace, sinew or coherence.
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Oct 8

Made in Charlton

Fantastic to see Joe Gomez agree to an extended contract and great credit to the club for pursuing this and getting it across the line.

Joe is an exciting talent and has stepped into the 1st team like an old hand when required this season, and committing to the club means Addicks will get to enjoy Joe for a lot longer and we won’t have the painful suffering of seeing a academy graduate leave for nothing like we did in the summer.
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Oct 5

Charlton Athletic 1 Birmingham City 1

Probably the only time this season I have been disappointed in a result yesterday. In all of the other 10 games, at the end of the match it was hard not be happy with the outcome. Yesterday after a start that packed a real punch and an early goal, it was a real shame not not go on and win the game. Whether this was a lack of quality, ambition, fitness or just by design I don’t know.

However not unlike every other team we have drawn against so far this season, the Blues deserved their point by all accounts.
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Oct 3

Call for Morrison

With Tal Ben Haim missing tomorrow’s game at home to Birmingham one would have think Peeters will turn to Michael Morrison to play in his first league game of the campaign.

Morrison is not as cultured in his style as Bikey and Ben Haim, but he is no clogger either and he deserves his opportunity, and I hope he grabs it. Morrison might be a bit game rusty, but he is known as a hard trainer and would have been privvy to the same drills and methods as everyone else and I see no problem with him playing.
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Sep 30

5 Comments

Norwich City 0 Charlton Athletic 1

Scenes!

A monster result tonight against the league leaders’ expensively assembled squad and the division’s top scorers.

It may have been a smash and grab victory, but they don’t come without defensive mettle, strength of character, organisation and a game plan. Oh, and winner, and Johnnie Jackson is a born winner. Those less appreciative of what Jacko gives to the fabric of our club can go back into their cubby-holes for a little bit longer.
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Sep 29

Garcia steps down

Sad to see that Oscar Garcia has stepped down as Watford boss following his recent health concerns. Garcia had only been in charge for 27 days and only oversaw one game, the 0-1 defeat to The Addicks at The Valley.

Watford say that Garcia’s health “is of no further cause of concern” but he needs time to recuperate. I hope that he gets back to full fitness soon and can return to the game.

Watford have appointed Northern Ireland’s assistant manager Billy McKinlay as their new head coach, the Hornets third of the season, yet they remain in 4th place. McKinlay was on the caoching staff at Fulham up until the end of last year and joined with Garcia’s involvement last week.
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Sep 28

Charlton Athletic 0 Middlesbrough 0

The game of two halves continued at The Valley on Saturday as Charlton came close to grabbing all 3 points after a strong finish against a good Middlesbrough team that have been in very good form.

I was happy that Big Bob went for it in the closing 20 minutes. I think The Valley fans deserved to see that as a draw wouldn’t have been a poor point, but if 3 points were available then I wanted to see us go for it, and they did.
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Sep 25

1 Comment

It’s a squad game

Bob stuck to his script today re-iterating that no new players will join on loan. If true, and there maybe some gamesmanship here, then I think we are taking a chance. Roland does insist that his sides don’t carry cumbersome squads and will supplement needs from within the network.

However The Championship is an unflinching marathon of tough and high tempo games. One would hazard a guess that the Belgium, Hungarian Leagues and the Spanish 2nd Division aren’t so rigourous.

I make it that we have a first-team squad of 20 players, excluding those out on loan. Middlesbrough who visit The Valley Saturday have 27 and Norwich, who we go to on Tuesday, have 37 players at their disposal.
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Sep 17

2 Comments

Charlton Athletic 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1

“I said before the two games that if we can get four out of six against Watford and Wolves then we would have done very well and in the end they’ve done that.”

And Bob is spot on. 6 points from those two games is a very good return and quite rightly Addicks can be happy with their lot at the moment.

It was a game of two half’s yesterday, although there is a common consent that we got away with it in the end and Kenny Jackett will be the more disappointed of the two managers. Wolves are still wallowing in their excellent League One winning season, and that was plain to see although my brother at the game was a less impressed with them than others.
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Sep 15

1 Comment

Possession’s 9/10th’s of the law

38% – 62% Watford
36% – 64% Brighton
63% – 37% Huddersfield
37% – 63% Derby
45% – 55% Wigan
39% – 61% Brentford

Our possession stats for the League games played so far.

Probably not a surprise that we only kept our first clean sheet of the season Saturday. Lies, damned lies and statistics and all that, but we have clearly been under the cosh for long periods of games in the six we have played so far.
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Sep 13

1 Comment

Charlton Athletic 1 Watford 0

Oh Lordy! Another big win against a team I think will be top six challengers this season.

I’ve always been a bit scurrilous when it comes to Watford, they are a hard act to like, but our paths have become a bit more aligned recently and we have had some good games with them since we got promoted back to The Championship.

Mind you the Hornets still retain their irksome tumbling, carping attitude and it was great to see the Addicks nick another great result off them today. It was also very satisfying to hear of Big Bob’s team give a defensive masterclass with I understand Solly, Wiggins, TBH and Bikey magnificent, and Henderson collecting most of the MoM platitudes.
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Sep 6

2 Comments

Riga’s Blackpool journey to end?

Days after Chris Powell got himself back in the game, José Riga looks set to leave Blackpool by the end of this weekend as his peppery relationship with chairman Karl Oyston looks to have irretrievably broken down.

Riga has overseen just 6 games, all lost, but despite this is popular with fans. Matters came to a head with Oyston after he refused to sanction any of Riga’s proposed transfer deadline signings.
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Aug 30

5 Comments

Brighton & Hove Albion 2 Charlton Athletic 2

I wrote yesterday that in Igor we had a player that could bag a half chance on the road, well he did it twice today on the south-coast. The first out of nothing, early in the game to set the pattern for the remainder of the match. The second when, looking like he was out on his feet, he showed great natural instinct to fire home.

Unfortunately both of Igor’s goals were cancelled out, the last one in the final minute of injury time to leave Addicks ruefully foregoing three points, but in the cold light of day accepting a more pragmatic one.

On the face of it, it was a great point against another good side, one that I started to have doubts about, but that have made some strong signings under the spectre of FFP.

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Aug 23

Huddersfield Town 1 Charlton Athletic 1

An injury time equaliser from Igor! Igor! Igor! kept the Addicks’ unbeaten run going this afternoon up at Huddersfield.

After the euphoria of being at The Valley on Tuesday I was left to follow the game on Twitter at Miami Airport where we were waiting for our connecting flight to Mexico City and I had all but accepted defeat until a very late and very welcome GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL tweet came through from the OS.
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Aug 20

9 Comments

Charlton Athletic 3 Derby County 2

My first sight of the new revolution in SE7 last night and quite frankly I was astounded.

The first 10 minutes I sat in a kind of self contained bewilderment as Peeters’ side imposed their passing game on most people’s favourites for promotion. Derby hardly got a sniff of the ball until they kicked off again after George Țucudean scored a beautifully crafted goal in the 11th minute.

I cheered with others, but I was equally a little bit speechless if I’m honest. I don’t think in 40 years I have seen a Charlton team play such a deliberate passing game. Good passers, yes, but all eleven players in a predetermined way look instinctively for the pass first, I don’t think I have.
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Aug 16

Charlton Athletic 2 Wigan Athletic 1

“I started running and celebrating. I didn’t know where to go. He [Rosler] said, ‘Don’t come and celebrate in my corner’, but I’m not going to mention the other words he said to me.”

Now, I adored Chris’ deep felt love of the club, I appreciated José’s calm demeanour and occasional fist pump, but come on what is not to like about a man so wrapped up in the moment that he forgot he was actually working and not sat amongst the fans.

Peeters will be interesting to watch this season and I personally hope he doesn’t temper his sideline enthusiasm. This is what he has brought, and it is infectious. Big Bob, keep up the good work.
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Aug 10

Sack race ‘won’ by Mark Robins

No time to waste in Huddersfield.

“Following yesterday’s first day defeat, Mark met with the board of directors. At the conclusion of the meeting, Mark and the directors all agreed it would be in the interests of all parties to part company.”

After a first game shellacking by Bournemouth Mark Robins has been unceremoniously dumped by chairman Dean Hoyle. One would have to think that this has simmered through the summer because it is hard to believe that an owner would be so neurotic to a club’s survival after just 90 minutes.
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Aug 9

Brentford 1 Charlton Athletic 1

I would happily have taken a point beforehand, and the opening half-hour was as I envisaged it with the Bees full of confidence and vigour and us, with 7 new signings, trying to find our feet.

Therefore I was pleased that we took a hold of the game late in the 1st half and then from what I heard and obtained from those there, we played very well in the 2nd half, but of course in true Charlton style were left hanging on at the death.

I was after substance today and I think we got that from Peeters side, who obviously sent them out with a plan after half-time. We had the added bonus of an impressive display from Igor Vetokele as well as Johan Berg Gudmundsson. An extra bonus was Solly slotting into his right back spot and being the majorities man of the match. In front of Roy Hodgson too!
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Aug 8

This is it

“I’ve never worked abroad so it will be interesting to see if the way we want to play fits into the Championship. Fans, players, everyone will be a little bit nervous because it is the first game of the season. Some of our signings have come from abroad and they do not know what to expect. It will be an eye-opener for some players but, hopefully, they will be ready for it.” – Bob Peeters (more)

That heady cocktail of apprehension and excitement. Being a football fan on the eve of another new season.
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Aug 7

The Championship preview – part III

The 3rd and final part of my look at our Championship competition for this upcoming season. Part I is here and Part II is here.

Auld enemies Millwall like us will be looking to avoid the stress levels of last season. Ian Holloway has now had a whole summer to implement his plans and quirky style and although it looked as if he would fail in his firefighting last season a late run of form saw Millwall clear of relegation.

Fans are very much behind the ex-Palace boss after the vexing spell under Steve Lomas but, not unreasonably, I think it is fair to say after the budget Lomas was given a year ago, Holloway has shopped in a cheaper aisle.
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Aug 4

When Saturday comes

Almost there then, on Saturday afternoon 1,600 Addicks will be at Griffin Park, presumably a fair few after a pint in one, if not all of the pubs on the corners of the ground. A new era begins with a strange mix of optimism and foreboding being felt amongst Addicks in every corner of the world.

Addicks are still very torn on the direction of the football club, and there was fair amount of complaints about the family fun day on Sunday, which sadly true to form sounded like an PR cock up.

There are, however, many developments to be pleased about and not a lot we can do, or the owner wants us involved in, in some of the affairs we are not.
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Aug 4

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The Championship preview – part II

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

This time a year ago I tipped Derby County for promotion and they came very close, and the reason I picked them was Steve McLaren.

McLaren is still a very good club manager and he put together an exciting young team that scored plenty of goals utilizing a 4-2-3-1 formation. Craig Bryson and Chris Martin combined for 41 goals between them, Bryson from midfield and the Rams have done well to hold onto the Scot.

21-year old George Thorne was McLaren’s top summer transfer target and he signed in July only to suffer a cruciate knee ligament injury four days later and is expected to be out for 9 months, which is a huge blow. Leon Best was signed on a season-long loan from Blackburn and defender Cyrus Christie joined from Coventry.

Rams’ fans expectations are being held in check from what I can see but one would have to think that if they can get a good start then they will be up there challenging. Promotion 5/2, Relegation 40/1.
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Jul 30

The Championship preview – part I

A look at the other teams in our division through the lens of an opposing fan, me. Who have they signed, who have they sold or released, what’s the manager like, key players, their fan’s expectations, and what we should expect.

Alphabetical order then, starting with the first of many B’s, AFC Bournemouth. The Cherries eased themselves into The Championship last season and like the Addicks the season before, a late run of good results almost grabbed them a Play-Off place.

Their Russian owner also spent big, including a big French striker, that some of us haven’t really got over, but it came at a cost. Bournemouth posted losses of a whopping £15m, and this before the signings of players like Tokelo Rantie, Lee Camp, Adam Smith and Yann Kermorgant.
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Jul 20

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Reza Ghoochannejhad gone?

Unsubstantiated rumours are building on whether Roland Duchâtelet has sold World Cup star Reza Ghoochannejhad. The club said that Reza was to meet up with the squad in Spain after an extended break following Iran’s World Cup exit. However he wasn’t in Spain and now all Addick eyes will be on Sparrows Lane tomorrow to see if he starts pre-season with Charlton or in fact has been moved on.

Reza signed a two and a half year contract in January, but struggled with the pace and physicality of The Championship despite some obvious skill and talent. He started just 10 games, 7 in which he was substituted and scored just once, albeit it was this cracking and decisive goal at Elland Road in April.
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Jun 23

7 Comments

Liking the cut of his jib

I quite liked what Bob Peeters had to say today. Sat in between his boss and Richard Murray, Peeters came across as eager, methodical, personable, witty and up for it.

Duchâtelet looked disinterested and was happy for Peeters to answer all the questions, except for the one about the difference between a head coach and a manager, which startled Roland into action. Meanwhile Murray happily jumped in to explain the benefit of one-year contract agreements, still aggrieved obviously, like we all are, at the £1m the club paid to say goodbye to Alan Pardew.
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Jun 3

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Pimp up my shirt

Next season the club will be dressed like a Formula One driver with the names of the University of Greenwich, Andrews Air Conditioning, Andrews Heat for Hire and Mitsubishi Electric all on the shirt. Those tight body hugging shirts that are all the rage will have to give way to XXL’s to fit all the words on. Good for me then!

The University of Greenwich is a very worthwhile partner, and the arrangement will go beyond just having the former Woolwich Poly’s name on the front of the shirt. Also, it is understood that there is quite a financial incentive from the well-heeled University and it is just not a community initiative from the club’s owner.
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May 4

3 Comments

No tears spilt for Fulham

“All aboard the CAFC party boat to Fulham” – Johnnie Jackson

My disappointment at seeing Birmingham avoid relegation soon evaporated after hearing of Fulham’s demise at Stoke City. They were truly awful yesterday and after 13 Premiership season’s they will join Cardiff in The Championship next season.

I have long had an irrational dislike of Fulham, who were transformed from a community, family club with a rich history into the egotistical face of Mohammed Al Fayed, who over time squeezed every ounce of individuality out of the club and it’s famous ground. Michael Jackson statues and neutral areas just two examples.
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May 3

Blackpool 0 Charlton Athletic 3

“I said to them you might not be the best players but you must be the best squad in terms of team spirit, of collaboration and in commitment.”

I had an unusual feeling listening to the game this morning, well two actually. Firstly I was relaxed, no anxiety, no irrational obsessions, just me, the commentary, a cup of coffee and warm buttered toast.

The second strange realization was that in the 2nd half it sounded as if we could score at will. Another quarter of an hour and Callum would’ve had 6. What’s with that?
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May 2

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Who’s for the drop then?

There must be 626 Donny fans sat at home tonight still shaking their heads because that was how many were sat in the Jimmy Seed Stand on the afternoon of Saturday, 24th August looking on in disbelief as their own players took to sweeping water of The Valley turf with brooms, whilst Paddy Powell leant on his fork.

With Donny leading 3-1 at half-time, a half that lasted almost an hour and twenty minutes, referee Lee Collins finally abandoned the game. Paul Dickov called the whole affair “shambolic” and he was right.

I remember a couple of mates saying that with the way the game swayed before the break, we would have come back to win. This was August remember, before most of us had come to realize how rubbish we were to become.
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Apr 29

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Charlton Athletic 3 Watford 1

“Most of the players are the DNA of Charlton. I’m very happy and very proud and I’m happy to give back to the people. It’s important because we are more than a team we are a squad. And we are more than a squad, we are a club.”

I have an overwhelming feeling of relief over joy. It has been a wretched season but at the very least we grabbed the opportunity to decide our own destiny and put in a performance in front of our own allowing players and fans together to let out a collective deep breath.

There were rightly celebrations too, you can’t afford to pass them up as an Addick, and for the third season in a row the final home game ended with smiles, speeches and hugs all round.

Watford certainly had less impetus than Blackburn, albeit with an injury hit team, and with Riga lining us up in a 4-5-1 formation we took the game to the nothing-to-play-for Hornets and got the all important first goal when Callum Harriott lashed in.
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Apr 27

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Charlton Athletic 1 Blackburn Rovers 3

A look at Blackburn’s team sheet told us everything we needed to know about the chasm in quality between us and many teams in this division. Yeovil and Barnsley have finally succumbed, the grim reaper is looking for one more candidate and we move onto another home game to finally, hopefully, put this wretched season to bed.

Blackburn Rovers have under-achieved this season as have many others with rich resources. Leicester and Burnley have run away with the league winning 56 games between them, whilst others have bumbled around trying to get into the play-off’s or spent the season frantically peering over their shoulders.
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