Jul 11
I was fuming after that today. It was so frustrating. Yes blame the referee, blame Lyle Taylor, blame who you want, but we are a shower in front of goal.
Three goals in nine games. How hard can we make this for ourselves?
This team just continue to shock you don’t they. Reading were on the back off three good results but the Addicks put in a dominant display to deservedly take the points.
Chris Solly returned as we went four at the back with Sam Field replacing Darren Pratley. In the first 45, although we had the first chance when Leko saw a shot saved, Reading had the better chances and we had to rely on both the woodwork and then Dillon Phillips who saved one-on-one just before the break.
Halfway through our Championship opponents then. Part One is here and Part Two here. Part Three begins with the team geographically furthest away from SE7, Middlesbrough.
Middlesbrough’s Jonathan Woodgate is one of three new English managers in The Championship. All three, Scott Parker, Lee Bowyer and Woodgate had very good playing careers and each will hope to be able to transfer their knowledge onto their teams.
Another dagger in the heart yesterday. To battle back from 1-3 to 3-3 and then concede in injury time would sum up our season despite the fact we have rarely been on equal, let along better terms in injury time.
Jose Riga rued injuries for our frailties, yet our defence resembles a teabag and you can’t concede 3 goals in the 1st half and have any hope of winning matches. Riga was still able to put out a first team without relying on an academy graduate and Cristian Ceballos and Naby Sarr were nowhere near the bench.
It’s funny how Chris Solly’s absence is now lamented when not long ago the owner said he wasn’t good enough. A bit like Yann Kermorgant, also not worthy of a new contract, yet Roger Johnson was lauded on his return as some sort of savour and given an 18 month deal. Yes, funny like a hole in the head.
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….Well it’s enough to make your heart go wo-wo-woa.
Enough of this frivolity, but I was pleased to see that Karel Fraeye picked up on the significance of tomorrow’s date yesterday.
An away game against the only unbeaten team in all four leagues is a tough prospect, whatever our situation but the team at least go into the game without any expectation. A committed and unified performance should still be respected, although we could still find ourselves back in the bottom three by tomorrow evening.
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2 shots at goal compared to 23 by Reading tells it’s own sorry tale. More than 1,100 Addicks bravely got behind an impotent Charlton side with their only ambition to grab a point. I am starting to realise that I have never seen Bob Peeters and Guy Luzon in the same room. Although to be fair to old baldy he had 8 more points at this same point last season.
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The final part of my look at our Championship rivals. Part I is here and Part II is here.
In this section I will look at the teams the bookies have bundled together in the middle of the table, and those who the bookies have flagged as likely relegation fodder.
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A dreadful first half but a fantastic 2nd half if the commentary was anything to go by, Peter Finch ably assisted in the studio by an articulate Neil Etheridge.
After a disappointing defeat to Blackburn a week ago, that was quite a turnaround with 6 points gathered in the 6 days hence. A trademark Buyens penalty, a less than trademark open play goal from Yoni and then a third from that rip-roaring-goalscoring Welsh wizard. I am taking odds of Churchy appearing in the qualifying rounds of European competition with Standard Liege next season!
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I too was in the camp of not expecting anything from today’s game. Our record at Reading is terrible. Only two ever wins – one in 1981 and one in 1922. Yes, you read that correctly.
Reading had scored 3 goals in four of their last five home games and it was going to be a real test, especially for a Rhoys Wiggins less defence.
Yet Bob Peeters and the players had not read the script and spirit, desire and organization plus a young man called Igor Vetokele were to give the noisy travelling Addicks another enjoyable away day.
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Chicago Addick 