Dec 17
A comparatively sparkling first 35 minutes today. We got the ball forward quicker, got more crosses in, had pops at goal, and took the lead. Then came half time.
Rovers were not at the races, but they improved latterly in the half. The Charlton TV crew echoed all of our thoughts at half-time, and that was we need to keep a clean sheet.
Please click for moreBen Garner strikes me as a reasonably smart bloke, he always carried an honest opinion post games, which was refreshing, but in recent weeks and even months the narrative had become a lot more barbed.
In front of the owner on Saturday he pretty much wrote his suicide note by playing a team and formation that issued a ‘what else am I meant to do’ plea.
Please click for moreMar 16
Whatever happens in the future, near or far, I will forever love Johnnie Jackson ❤️.
If Johnnie only gets the one game, then he should know that he did the club and fans proud tonight. He is obviously acutely unaware of what his future entails, but it certainly sounds as if Thomas Sandgaard plans on making a quick decision.
Much better. It wasn’t just the result, although did we need it, it was more than that. It was more like the Lee Bowyer’s Charlton we know.
We played an uncomplicated 4-4-2 which allowed us to move up and down the pitch quickly using attractive link play and both wings. A solid back four earned us a long overdue clean sheet and gave us a concrete base to build on. Then up front we created copious chances, and eventually won the game with a fluky goal.
In the Bristol Rovers’ camp.
“Tuesday’s game against Bristol Rovers at The Valley has been suspended due to an outbreak of Covid-19 at Bristol Rovers, with players and first-team staff required to self-isolate in line with EFL and Government guidance.” (more)
Just 7 hours before kick off, the EFL have suspended both of Rovers’ next two games against us and Oxford United on Saturday due to a Covid outbreak in their squad.
Part III and my final look at our fellow League One teams teams this season. I started in the north in Part I and moved towards the middle of the country in Part II and lastly we have the southern teams for this conclusion.
Karl Robinson had a sticky start to LAC (life after Charlton) but this is his third full season at Oxford United and a sense of optimism fills the town. Robinson’s side fell at the final hurdle a couple of months back but have kept the majority of that squad together.
Awful conditions today in Bristol produced a pretty awful game but we grab a point and now get a two-week break to recharge the batteries and nurse back some injured players.
Lee Bowyer changed it up a bit, but it looked a bit too safe for me with three at the back, which surprisingly didn’t include Naby Sarr and Pratley in front of them.
My brother, my son and I took our places in the Upper Covered End yesterday for collectively our first visit to The Valley this season. Shocking statistic really.
For half hour the Covered End choir were in good voice as we totally dominated, moving the ball well and getting into good offensive positions. Bielik often the conduit as he was fed the ball forward with Steer insisting on passing the ball out from goal and around his back four to start every move.
Then rather indiscriminately Steer kicked the ball out seeing an opportunity to set Jamie Ward free. Ward, without a goal this season, controlled superbly to face the keeper and with the ball just off the turf lifted it over the Rovers ‘keeper and one bounce and it was in the net. Lovely to see from our vantage point.
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.
An away point is still an away point..
I’m in Sarasota at the moment and was unable to pay yesterday’s game a lot of attention, but it said a lot about what Lee Bowyer has brought that the result was considered disappointing.
From looking around at the post match comments it sounded like the performance lacked the intensity and attacking quality of the previous games, yet the pitch was poor and Bristol Rovers are not.
Part I, Lancastrians and Yorkshire types here, Part II for Greater Mancunians here, and Part III for Middle Englanders here.
Right then, my final part and the good old South of England. I’ll start my way from the eastern most club to the one furthest west.
One of a few seaside clubs in the division, Southend United chased a play-off berth all the way to the final game of last season, a nod to what a bit of experience and stability in these trigger happy days of football management can do. Only Keith Hill pips Phil Brown in the League One longevity stakes.
Can we play you every week?
A late Christmas present from our cheeky chappy Scouse Santa which made our festive period pretty decent despite not surprisingly losing our game in hand to Millwall.
It sounded a performance to create a bit of noise at The Valley and unite Addicks, which a run of results will surely do. We did go a goal down but importantly we pulled it back before the break thanks to Josh Magennis’ first of a first ever career hat trick. Magennis has been a flickering candle in a dark first half of the season and two headers and a Yann type 3rd gave him the match ball and much deserving praise.
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Karl Robinson has confirmed that Tony Watt will return for a 4th time in just two years. A move back to Scotland to be nearer family and play back in the SPL for Hearts has ended after signing for the season in July. Just 12 starts and a solitary goal (a last minute Hearts winner at the end of August) later the Scot is heading back to SE7 and his waterfront apartment.
Watt, who could easily gain hero status, has fallen over time and time again, and the 23-year old is now well and truly in the last chance hotel and Robinson knows it.
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Kevin Nugent played a very much in the background assistant manager role under Russell Slade. I don’t think I ever saw him interviewed or step out from behind his bosses shadow. He let his influence play out on the training field. Undoubtedly he was upset and shocked, as much as you can be working for Charlton these days, when his boss was sacked last week. However he has carried out the role of caretaker manager in a distinguished and venerable way.
If Meire is true to form she will pack Nugent off this week, you know, every decision better than the last. But if he is to go he should leave with his head held high and Addicks will remember him fondly.
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Well here we are again, back in the 3rd Division of English football. Some old friends remain like Sheffield United, who face their 6th consecutive season after being relegated in 2010/11 and for the 6th time start the season as the bookies’ favourite. Oldham Athletic also remain and with a tenure of 10 years are the division’s longest serving member. Millwall are back there as well, as are Gillingham, but strangely only 9 teams remain from our promotion season. They are Sheffield United, Oldham, Chesterfield, Colchester, MK Dons, Notts County, Rochdale, Walsall and Saturday’s opponents Bury.
We will welcome back to The Valley Phil Parkinson, now manager of Bolton and perhaps will look longingly at Chris Wilder and Keith Hill who were both interviewed for the Charlton manager’s job in the summer before it was given to Russell Slade. Amongst ex-players we will be reacquainted with are Jerome Thomas (Port Vale), Franck Moussa (Walsall), Paul Konchesky, Scott Wagstaff (both Gillingham), Marvin Sordell, Kyel Reid (both Coventry) and Eggert Jonsson (Fleetwood). Excited yet?
So, old friends, old foes, new teams, new grounds and I will cast my captivated eyes over them one by one. Not in any real detail like Kyle, but just enough to get your juices flowing with anticipation. No?
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Chicago Addick 