Dec 24
Happy Christmas Eve all, and a busy Charlton news day it was too.
Ged Roddy had become a bit of cult figure amongst Addicks’ fans, not for anything that he’d particularly done, but for what he had supposed to have done. He gave one early interview when he came across as knowledgeable and excited about the role, but ever since whispers of his baneful operating style out-noised any responses from the man himself.
Please click for moreFrom someone who was asking for some leadership commentary on our transfer strategy through the silence leading up to the deadline, it would be amiss of me if I wasn’t to praise the article yesterday with included insight from Sandgaard, Roddy, Gallen and Adkins.
Please click for moreCharlton added a much-needed left back to their squad today, and it was a slightly peculiar pick. Steve Gallen has a good relationship with Dougie Freedman at Palace, and looks another tip-off from our South London rivals.
Pape Souare has hardly played during the past few years last playing in the French 2nd Division during the Covid hit 2019/20 season. Palace had signed him in January 2015, and he played 34 games for them in that first Premier League season.
Please click for moreNo Ronnie Schwartz tonight in the Pizza Trophy at The Valley against Crawley Town. Nigel Adkins has changed the whole team from Saturday, and includes Elliot Lee, Corey Blackett-Taylor and Nathan Harness and is captained by Jason Pearce.
Please click for moreI am quite a level-headed Addick. There’s thousands of posts below here ⬇️ that would suggest that. What would Curbs say? Don’t over celebrate the wins, nor over scrutinize the losses. Something like that, anyway.
Although it posted on Sunday morning, I did write my post match blog straight after the game against Gillingham. I was frustrated, disheartened and annoyed. Nothing like a good moan in the pub after a defeat with your mates, accept there was no pub, or mates to talk out the sorrow with until you realize there is always next week, and the next pint.
The number 9 shirt has finally been filled after Preston’s Jayden Stockley signed on loan for the rest of the season.
Stockley made an impression last year at The Valley, but this season has found starting hard at Preston with Tom Barkhuizen, Scott Sinclair and Sean Maguire ahead of him and recently they added Ched Evans as well.
The salary cap is an annoyance isn’t it. The first time since our promotion from League One under the spiffs have we got a few bob to spend and we can’t spend it.
January transfer window activity is notoriously hard, even before the current EFL restriction and in the wider context of what the pandemic has brought, but I do foresee Thomas pushing through a fair bit of January turnover.
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.
Chatham lad Conor Washington becomes Lee Bowyer and Steve Gallen’s second mid-season signing.
I wonder if the EFL are allowing signings on a case by case basis as long as we keep within our budget and show evidence of a plan to move to a secure ownership?
A lot of out of contract and loan players have moved on and I will be surprised to see us start the season with both Dillon Phillips and Alfie Doughty. Remembering the transfer window doesn’t actually close until October 16th.
What a weird time to be a Charlton fan as Ms Meire would say.
On our knees, no money, no owner, not allowed to sign anybody, then just before bedtime a ‘Done Deal’ alert.
MK Dons’ 25-year midfielder Alex Gilbey joins for 3-years for an undisclosed fee. Three years. Fee. Huh.
I was awake way before the alarm this morning feeling restless. I avoid looking at the phone because I know that is the day starting. But, first glance of the phone and I’m leaping out of bed.
Solicitor Chris Farnell was terminated by Charlton today as ESI v1 wrestle control of the club back from Chris Farnell and Paul Elliott aka ESI v2. Both Farnell and Andrei Mihail were removed as directors of ESI on Friday.
It’s hard to write this. Hard to take, and even harder to look into our future now.
Of course we shouldn’t have been here. Having to go to the league’s best team needing to win. We’d already blown it. When Birmingham’s scored last week I knew that. Congratulations to Luton and Barnsley. They properly stepped up when they had too, and commiserations to Wigan and their supporters. How about that bottom three f*ucked over by shysters eh?
EFL, you must be proud, and I hope Lyle Taylor and Chris Solly sleep well tonight.
The make-up of next season’s squad is as fluid as ever. Not knowing what division we’ll be in or who own’s the Addicks are just two major variables.
It does seem that the tireless work of Steve Gallen continues though as following the news a few weeks back that Albie Morgan and Josh Davison had signed new deals, Alfie Doughty has been offered an extension too.
Good news today as the club made a positive investment in the future by offering new contracts to Albie Morgan and Josh Davison.
Morgan and Davison, both 20, signed three and two years deals respectively. Davison has an option of a further year.
Last week Charlton players returned to group training for the first time for 11 weeks. Week one of a planned four-week mini pre-season was non-contact with the players in small groups of five working on three different pitches. Lee Bowyer had 25 players back, everyone was tested and all results came back negative.
The three players who didn’t return were loanees Matt Smith and David Davis, and Tomer Hemed, who by all accounts will return from his home in Israel.
Chicago Addick 