Mar 11
Dean Holden celebrated his new contract with a bore draw against a team 5th from bottom. We have to hope that next the ownership situation gets sorted and Dean is allowed to rebuild because this team is derelict.
A time-honored defensive error gave Stanley a first half lead, but a worldly from Stephen Sessegnon drew us level for our first goal in almost 8 hours.
Please click for moreFirst games are always difficult to judge, but judge them we do. There were definitely passages of play, Fraser’s goal as an example, where evidence of an identity that Ben Garner is trying to instill were there to see.
There was also some initial concerns, some which had already been pinpointed when studying Swindon from last season. This team as it stands is going to concede goals, and I honestly can’t see us scoring enough to counter that each week.
Please click for moreBefore the fixtures came out my brother, son and a couple of mates vowed to all get together for the opening game of the season. Rain or shine, home or away.
Other than the coastal towns of Fleetwood and Morecambe, we couldn’t have been drawn further away, and then the bloody trains decided to go on strike.
Please click for moreThe Addicks’ first game of the season will be away at Accrington Stanley. The 5,450 capacity Wham Stadium will welcome Ben Garner’s new look team on Saturday 30th July.
Next up is Derby County at The Valley, possibly a good time to play them with or without Wayne Rooney. Sheffield Wednesday follows and August looks tough, but we have to play everyone twice whatever.
Please click for more7 league games without a win and just one goal in five games, that a fortuitous penalty given for handball yesterday.
In full disclosure I gave yesterday a miss, deciding instead to do something more worthwhile than put myself through another hour and half of oppression.
Please click for moreThere’s not much else to say is there?
My biggest concern as I get ready for bed, is that when I wake four hours after many of you is that Nigel Adkins will still be the Charlton Athletic manager. I feel sick at that thought.
Please click for moreAnd the final episode of my pre-season look at the league competition.
Using the bookies as my guide, Part I was the considered promotion favourites, Part II was play-off hopefuls, Part III those in mid-table with ambitions and this final Part V are the teams expected to have a relegation battle on their hands.
Please click for moreJust the two games left before the curtains can close on this ghastly season. It was an ugly game, which suited the majority of all that had gone before it.
We were terrible, undeserving of a last kick equaliser. A fuddled game plan in which the only plan appeared to play like them and just hoof up into the air at every oppportunity. More upsetting was the lack of determination and mettle to try to win the game, which we had to.
There is abolutely nothing to cling onto with this team. They, all of them, truly give you nothing to believe in.
Okay, I’ve counted to 1,000. Something that Lee Bowyer should’ve done last night, but I’m still not really in the mood to write something, but here goes.
There were actually positives. We were certainly more assertive going forward. Millar added some exuberence and with Maatsen may provide a sprightly left side offering. Smyth wants to take people on and is a happy nuisance and we had more shots on goal than we have had collectively for weeks. Ronnie Schwartz made his debut and despite not playing for a very long period wanted to be involved even though the game was up.
The Addicks back in the third tier for the fourth time in five seasons. From our first season back down there in 2016/17 AFC Wimbledon, Fleetwood, Gillingham, Oxford United, Peterborough, Rochdale and Shrewsbury are all still there. Both Gillingham and Peterborough are the longest serving with this season being their 8th consective.
The 24 teams are evenly spread north and south, but I will begin my quick glance at our League One rivals at the top of the country.
That game had it all. Well only after the 82nd minute.
We didn’t play well, and were unable to get any luck from Stanley’s big back four. The game descended into a niggle contest in the last half hour and with 10 minutes to go a mass brawl followed an Addicks corner. No one seemed to know who the guilty and innocent parties were, but one of the lino’s called it and the referee sent off Stanley keeper Maxted and Lyle Taylor, who from what I have seen and heard, spent the whole incident face down on the floor.
I woke up in a Las Vegas hotel with a hangover but fortunately no tiger strolling around the room just the dulcet tones of those chaps on Charlton Live.
A draw at Accrington. Whoppee. Or two mid table sides slogging it out in a scrappy match. Sounded as if Stanley thoroughly deserved their point as for the third time in three games we got pegged back after taking a lead.
With motivational levels at an all time low, I have managed to drag some fingers over my keypad to look at our fellow League One rivals and give them each a mini once over for the new season.
Let’s start at the beginning of the alphabet with Accrington Stanley, who will play at their highest ever level in 50 years after winning League Two last season following a magnificent run of 16 wins in 19 games between January and April culminating in an historic promotion.
Sarasota, Florida
