Jun 28
Ben Amos has signed for Wigan Athletic, who are showing to be one of next season’s biggest L1 spenders.
Amos played 92 games for the Addicks covering two full seasons in 17/18 and 20/21 and although in apparent new contract discussions with Charlton, he has followed Chuks Aneke out of the door and moved elsewhere.
Please click for moreA proper result that.
Huge defensive effort, lots of second ball wins, and we were quick to get forward to create chances. All without that sense of inevitability at the end, although that last ten plus six add-ons did seem like a lifetime.
We were slow out of the gate though and had to thank Amos for keeping us on level terms in the early exchanges. One save from Wyke in particular prevented a sure goal. Pratley at fault, but this was not a trademark error-prone display.
The medical team at Sparrows Lane have long been scrutinized by Addicks’ fans and it was known privately that Lee Bowyer has been unhappy with our history of injuries and wanted to see changes.
There was zero budget previously to change or upgrade the medical team, but last week as part of Ged Roddy’s drains up review of all things off the pitch the head of medical services, Alastair Thrush lost his job.
That was a howler of a game that matched the weather, and the pitch, which was frankly Cobblers.
It was not pretty, but it was a handsome three points, and another bruising defensive display with Ryan Inniss monstrous at the back leading to a further clean sheet.
The first half was desperate and the initial pick of a midfield of Levitt, Williams and Forster-Caskey was far too lightweight. Darren Pratley changed the whole mentality when he was introduced for the 2nd half. His influence was all around him as Williams and Forster-Caskey were much busier and effective. Behind DP Inniss and Famewo dominated.
Ben Amos who played 50 games for us during the 2017/18 season has signed on a permanent deal. He has a one-year deal with an option for a further year.
Amos has been at Bolton since 2015 but played 15 games on loan at Millwall last season. Still only 29, Amos has played 126 games over the past four seasons and will provide good competition and motivation to Dillon Phillips.
“The last two months have been some of the most enjoyable of my career in football and I’d like to thank everyone associated with Charlton Athletic for that.” (more)
Some may dissect Bowyer’s words for what lies underneath, but for me he never sat in front of the press or us and sounded contrived or pre-meditated, he just came across as calm and considerate and increasingly like a man who was enjoying what he was doing. I’ve made my vote, and would love him to carry on under new owners for no other reason that he will add continuity, knows the club and vitally has earned much goodwill amongst the fan base for doing something that no one has accomplished since Chris Powell was kicked out by Duchatelet, and that is bringing pride and togetherness back across the team and supporters.
It’s good to know some things don’t change..
I’m too old in the tooth and been supporting to club too long to even be surprised by that performance. It was utter toilet from the first whistle to the last. It was almost as if those first three Bowyer games were figments of our imaginations.
It is the hope that kills you, but at least the players haven’t led us too far down the garden path and have extinguished that hope in the middle of April.
The goalkeeper spot has been a summer priority and it was a surprise that so few names had been mentioned in dispatches. Dillon Phillips has appeared not have grasped the opportunity during pre-season and an experienced ‘keeper became a necessity. Ben Amos was linked with us a few days ago, and signed on a season long loan this morning from Bolton.
I personally would have liked to have seen a permanent signing but there are a whole raft of young or out of favour keepers around and a loan was always more likely. The last negotiations came down to how much we would have to contribute to Amos’ hefty salary that he negotiated for himself when he joined Wanderers from Man U on a free in 2015.
Chicago Addick 