Apr 4
I’m heading home to Florida today and was at the game yesterday. We really are crawling to the finish line, well not even crawling more frozen to the spot.
It was another frustrating display as we lost at home for the third time in four matches.
Please click for moreThe silly season is back.
Bristol City today sacked Gerhard Struber and replaced him with 78-year old Roy Hodgson. The ex-England manager has been retired since leaving Crystal Palace over two years ago, and will take charge of City for the remaining seven games of the season starting with us on Good Friday.
Please click for moreI really enjoyed that. Throughly deserving of a point, and perhaps could even have snatched all three as we again finished the stronger of the two sides.
Some superb individual performances all across the pitch, but it was a stoic team showing that gave the noisy travelling Addicks something to be really proud off.
Please click for moreIt’s a natural inclination of mine, but I’m always looking for an angle so I have been thinking about what the hire of new assistant head coach Curtis Fleming means.
Assistant head coach makes Fleming Michael Appleton’s number two inserting himself above Appleton’s old mate Richard O’Donnell in the club’s coaching hierarchy. O’Donnell is listed as coach and Stephen Henderson is first team goalkeeping coach.
Please click for moreThat might explain why Ashley Maynard-Brewer wasn’t in Spain, although I think he was spotted in Australia, The Highlands and Tesco in Dartford.
Another transfer move that swung under the radar today with AMB moving to Gillingham for the season, although the Addicks do have a recall option.
Please click for moreWho said Santa’s work was done? A much welcomed three points won at a crackling Valley with Macauley Bonne and Alfie Doughty leading the plaudits. We conceded two again, and defensively we still have many things to work on, but that fighting spirit was there in bundles to give us all a big Boxing Day grin.
Not sure what to think about that. Watching was quite intense, but looking back the game was split into intervals. One thing is for sure we did not deserve to lose.
I thought the first half hour we imposed ourselves on the game excellently with Sam Field as the midfield pivot the real catalyst for our high pressing driving game. We held the ball well and had some good forward moments in the 1st half without really threatening, but nor did they.
Losing first Field and then JFC, now in an even more alien position of left-back, was a killer. You could tell it shook us. The changes weren’t necessarily drastic although I don’t like Solly at left back and Pratley was clearly being saved for Saturday, but it hit our flow and I’m sure Bowyer was pleased to get them back to the changing room.
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.
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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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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Sarasota, Florida
