Oct 30
Couldn’t ask for much more than that.
Doncaster were poor, but Jacko’s team executed an astute game plan, pressed and harried, got forward in numbers creating loads of chances and ended with another important clean sheet.
Please click for moreThis time of the season it is not about style and substance, it is about winning. The summer will be the time for Nigel Adkins to develop methods, systems and hopefully a missing identity, but for now it’s about keeping the season alive.
The performance was a little stodgy, and there was the occasional bit of routine sloppiness but overall we were more cohesive, tighter at the back and worthy winners.
A sad day.
Lee Bowyer gave me one of the best days of my life. 90 +4. Wembley Stadium. Me, my son, my brother, my mates, 39,000 joyous fellow Addicks. Thank you Lee.
This time may well be right for everyone, and although I cringed whenever fellow fans were calling for his head, today’s resignation with a move to Birmingham City expected allows everyone to shake hands turn around, and walk away with a big smile on their faces.
A bleak end to an oppressive and very fatiguing week for Addicks’ fans. Typical of course that we’d lose today as a 1,000 spectators were allowed into The Valley to watch their team for the first time since March 7th.
Lee Bowyer saying walking out onto the pitch to those 1,000 supporters gave him goosebumps, gave me goosebumps, and in some positive news it sounded as all went off very well with today’s ‘test case.’
Looks as if 1,000 Addicks will be allowed into The Valley on Saturday.
Charlton are one of 10 teams that will are be given test case status to house fans this coming weekend, although Luton chose to opt out this afternoon.
The game at The Valley will also be attended by members of the local council and Sports Ground Safety Authority to monitor procedures, with the ambition to admit up to 8,000 fans for home games post October.
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.
For all the chaos and deceit and uncertainties, no one can ever take away from us the three play-off games from last season. A year ago tonight was that game at The Valley. We actually lost on the night, but we won memories and photos and videos and soulmates that will stay with us a lifetime.
It was a truly incredible night. Very Charlton of course, but unbelievable all the same.
With no football, and this time of year signaling the closing of season’s past I’ve enjoyed isolating over old Charlton memories – games at Stamford Bridge, Twerton Park, Portman Road and Brunton Park of course, but it was a year ago today that gave me one of my favourite away day memories.
The 1st leg play-off tie will always be overlooked because of the remarkable (there will never be a word that will describe the night properly) 2nd leg game, but that Sunday was a corker of a day out.
At some point this afternoon I had stopped shaking. I have to admit I hated every minute of the game. Watching in a pub with sympathetic work colleagues and random strangers concerned to why this bloke staring at a TV for what seemed hours was going through a somersault of emotions and odd facial expressions, and ended in a tearful heap on a bar stool.
Had a bloody headache this morning though. Jesus what a night, what an achievement and the end, the pitch invasion, the unadulterated joy. The pride. Roland and his evil ownership not even the slightest regard.
It had been a long and nervy day, I didn’t sleep well, but we had the start that we had all hoped for. Bielik heading in a 2 minute free-kick. Game over. Oh no, nowhere near.
Back at Gatwick now with a very croaky voice and a head full of songs and dreams.
These last few years most of us, and very certainly me, have lost and forgotten what it was to be a Charlton fan. The fellowship, the connection, the unerring pride and hope handed down through generations or founded by those new to being an Addick. It was gone, perhaps forever. Don’t get me wrong the old bastard can’t sell the club a day too soon, but Lee Bowyer, his coaching team, and the group of players he has brought together has somehow, in spite of the owner, given us something to cheer and believe in.
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.
A breathless game from first whistle to last yesterday as my brother and I joined 1,100 other Addicks in a noisy away end at the Keepmoat.
Both of us were drained after an emotional few days, and feelings were mixed on the train back to Kings Cross. It was frustrating not to win all three points after taking the lead, and from how well we played and for the periods of dominance throughout the game. Yet Phillips made two late outstanding saves to keep us in it, and then a linesman’s flag struck off what everyone in the ground believed was a last minute Donny winner.
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.
Cancel the open top bus, put the rosette back in the drawer we will not be going to Wembley this year, or with Lee Bowyer’s attitude any time soon. We were always cack in the cup, and now we can’t even be bothered.
I was very disappointed in the team Bowyer put out, especially the bench. Where’s the match-winner, game changer sat on there? I mean we are not playing on Tuesday, we have a week until our next game, so what’s with all the precautions? We’ve only just had an international break.
A welcome straightforward win at The Valley for the Addicks yesterday. Donny were quick out of the blocks, but we scored goals at the right time and were rarely troubled in the 2nd half as we played the game out sensibly in the last 20 minutes with no dramas.
Interesting that Bowyer reverted to the exact team and formation that beat Barnsley. From the radio and reading eye witness reports Bielik was good and defensively we were a better unit, although Dijksteel was a little wobbly on the right side early on.
Chicago Addick 