Jun 8
The EFL meet again tomorrow, whether that’s virtually or on a beach I don’t know. Curtailment of the season is expected to be voted for in League Two, whilst a vote could go either way in League One.
Clubs have put forward varying proposals including Barnsley in our division that suggests a general amendment to regulations that no club will be relegated from a division where that division fails to conclude its normal fixtures.
Phew, didn’t we need that!
Addicks at The Valley:
Bow: “I’ve just said to the players there, it should have been a bit more comfortable at times and a bit more pretty.”
Elsewhere:
Photo:
Barnsley haven’t lost at home for 17 months, so very happy grabbing a late point on Saturday. Lyle Taylor as cool as you like from the spot.
Barnsley are technically very good and had some strong moments and we appeared to struggle when they ran at us. We are overloaded with midfielders but feel we still need more Championship quality at the back, but were good going forward and our late revival coincided with Aneke coming on for a tiring Leko.
After three dark seasons in League One we are back in The Championship, and although I don’t think any of us are under any illusions how hard it’s going to be, it feels good doesn’t it? We’ve spent the majority of our history in the 2nd tier, this will be our 46th season and we hope and support Lee Bowyer to continue us on this journey.
The Championship is stuffed full of clubs who ‘used to be’ with large parachute payments, and those that ‘want to be,’ clubs with lofty ambitions and budgets. Then there are also many ‘that can be.’ Sheffield United the last to prove that with a good manager, stability, a team ethos, great supporters and importantly a plan then the Premier League is not just a dream.
Over a few posts I’m going to attempt to look at our opponents in this season’s EFL Championship, and will do so in alphabetical order.
Nerves rattled both Portsmouth and Sunderland last night when with an eye on second place both came unstuck meaning that without kicking a ball both Luton and Barnsley were promoted.
Peterborough were two-up at Fratton Park, but then we’re hauled level. However with their own promotion push on a knife edge Posh went back in front and are now a point behind Doncaster. On Sunday Peterborough are at home to Burton and Doncaster home to Coventry.
Who one of those plays in the play-offs is all up for grabs. Even the Addicks can snatch 3rd on Sunday but Portsmouth are in pole position facing Accrington at home, although Stanley did score five last week. Sunderland have a tricky one away at Southend, who need to win.
Bow put on a brave face when talking about our promotion rivals spending in the January transfer window, but if it didn’t only highlight the budgetary disparities between us and them, it also shone a massive spotlight on differing board ambitions.
None of the clubs at the top with us are loaded with money, yet Bow’s fellow managers and Steve Gallen equivalents were all allowed to haggle and barter in the window for the betterment of their squads and Sunderland, Portsmouth, Luton and Peterborough have all come out the other end with a deeper and, on paper at least, a stronger collection of players.
Doncaster, who have one of the lowest budgets in the league, were pretty inactive in January but importantly kept John Marquis despite interest from Sunderland, and a late bid from Swansea. In demand Alfie May also signed a contract extension.
Not been very festive these Christmas games have they. We are well and truly stuck on the naughty list.
You can’t give a team of Barnsley’s quality, especially with their home records, a 2-0 head start. Apparently well taken goals, but we sounded all over the place and we allowed them to stretch us, and push us back towards our own goal. It was a very sluggish start and the game was all but over after a quarter of an hour.
A very nice win today against one of the most consistent performers in this division. Charlton attacked with real pace and purpose and two goals from Karlan Grant gave us our first win in four and inflicted defeat on Barnsley for only the second time this season.
I was following along from Florida, and the result never seemed in doubt with the returning Bielik strengthening our back four and our midfield excelling doing both the pretty and ugly stuff with Josh Cullen at the centre of it all.
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.
Welcome to the pleasure dome Ms Meire. Monday should be an interesting day at the office.
I’ll be the first to have a go at the previous regime and their lack of investment, but the statement currently sat on the Official Site beggars belief. Blaming the ground staff and confirming that tickets will still be valid for the rearranged game is pitiful. Oh, and Barnsley fans, don’t call us, sort it out between yourselves.
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In what must be some sort of record three Championship managers were sacked within a 24-hour period starting with David Flitcroft and ending with Owen Coyle with Dave Jones in the middle. Just for good measure Fulham also put Martin Jol out of his misery.
Welcome to the silly season as chairmen everywhere with Christmas and the window looming write to Santa asking for new managers, but sadly they themselves haven’t been good throughout the year.
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Chicago Addick 