Jan 31
This has not been the firecracker of a day we hoped, but the Addicks have announced a second loan on transfer day with the acquisition of 20-year old Matt Smith from Man City.
On first view, it looks as if Man City have cancelled his season-loan to QPR to give him to Bowyer and Jacko to bring him on like they did Conor Gallagher, but Rangers long since planned to cancel his loan after Smith failed to make an impact at Loftus Road.
Very disappointed with that. It’s still bugging me now. At least my hangover has gone. 70 minutes against 10-men, we’d waste time in the same situation, and we couldn’t find the second goal. Lots of huffing, puffing and effort but ultimately not good enough again. No pressure Lyle..
So that’s just 2 points from 9 and a different mood is enveloping us now to that of a few weeks ago as Luton look unstoppable and Barnsley are putting a very nice run together.
Another straightforward home win. We could get used to this.
Gills showing up without talisman Tom Eaves was a real plus, and although we were often sloppy in our passing, the Kent side never threatened after we took a 6th minute lead. They did however start the brighter and came close to taking the lead themselves hitting the outside of a post.
Let’s not deny it, but Lewis Page has more reason than most of the other young starlets that Lee Bowyer is attempting to secure to a contract extension beyond the end of this season, to sign one.
The injury plagued 22-year old has only played 55 league games, the majority of those coming this year, and just as he was starting to establish himself under Bowyer’s tutelage, once again the unfortunate left back is on the sidelines. Page know he needs a run of games and to be settled and hence it’s no surprise to me that he is the first player out of those offered to commit.
Nice one. Another straightforward result. This time on the road at Walsall. A clean sheet always gives you a chance and once more the defence, changed from Saturday, was strong and robust, fielding any flurries of Walsall activity.
We started well and grabbed an early goal from the spot. It’s very noticeable that we are winning more penalties than we have for many a year. 5 minutes in. The penalty was won by Fosu and Taylor dispatched. That’s 8 penalties this season. Lyle has scored four, but has missed two. Fosu and young Stevenson have put one away each.
Didn’t deserve to win that did we?
Very disappointing after Saturday. I was sorry that Bowyer made changes in the name of resting players, albeit understanding why he did. Fosu came back and is misfiring. Maybe the diamond doesn’t suit his offensive style. By all accounts Pratley again did well at the back.
I listened on the radio and it sounded like we lacked bite, and 2nd half when a promotion-forward side should have upped the gas, we just didn’t and fell into Oxford’s trap, who scored a great goal to grab a probably deserved point.
Apparently there was a game tonight, and apparently Tarique Fosu didn’t play. So far so good. And we drew, well lost. On penalties. And, as it turns out, in the most ridiculous rule of all off football time, Fosu was banned from playing, but it didn’t count towards his three-match ban. Yep, EFL you really are..
Another less than straight forward day for us Addicks.
I woke to an article from Rich Cawley saying that Duchalelet was preparing the sale of Patrick Bauer to Blackburn for as little as £400,000. A deal attractive to the Belgian as the cash would all be upfront.
Rich followed this by suggesting that Duchatelet is also planning to cash in Tariqe Fosu and Joe Aribo, and that he will not sanction a pre-season tour. This because he refuses to pay for anything other than the operating costs, which he will fund with a fire-sale.
How we feeling Addicks?
Yes, me too, and I haven’t got the stress of trying to buy tickets. Got to wonder why the club decided to use Ticketmaster for the home leg, but I long gave up trying to fathom what happens behind the scenes at The Valley and I feel for those working in the ticket office.
Tickets for tomorrow’s home game appeared to be selling well with vast areas of the Covered End sold out. Shrewsbury tickets went on sale today to season ticket holders. My brother and a couple of mates (all lapsed season ticket holders) wait with baited breath.
Lil Jay Dasilva became the second ever loan player to win Charlton’s Player of the Year last night. The left back on a season’s loan from Chelsea has been outstanding and has to be one of the brightest full back prospects in the country. The 20-year old has made 42 appearances thus far this season despite a couple of injuries and in total has made over 50 appearances in a Addicks’ shirt with his loan spell at the end of last season.
A week of expectation and unusual optimism from Addicks after last Saturday’s memorable win at Fratton Park, played in front of an away atmosphere unrivalled for many a decade.
I will repeat what most Addicks’ have been asking themselves all week. How many times has the team shown up for a game that really mattered in front of a big following of Addicks? I’ve been going for over 4 decades and there ain’t many.
We are quick to knock our support, in terms of numbers especially, but when it comes down to it we can turn up, and we can also turn up the noise. Fratton Park is a great traditional stadium and Saturday in that covered away end looked and sounded simply magical.
Lee, what have you done with our Charlton..
I was at Sixfields last season, it was one very depressing afternoon. It was last March, but it isn’t what difference a year makes, it’s what difference one man makes. The Lee Bowyer show blew through Sixfields this afternoon like a tornado. It was a performance of total domination and attacking devastation. Those there and from the radio said that 8-0 wouldn’t have been unrealistic.
For the first time in Duchatelet’s reign we didn’t pull our pants down and have a player boot sale in Valley car park on deadline day. Despite the vultures circling, credit where credit’s due, the club resisted offers for Josh Magennis, Tariqe Fosu, and hot interest in Ezri Konsa and go forward for the rest of the season which looks a very competitive squad, depending on injuries of course.
When was the last time we put a game to bed..
I was following the game today via various wifi connections at airports and what a relief it was to put a game to bed in the last few minutes. Stephy Mavididi, who obviously is a talent, confidently tucking away after being set up by Tariqe Fosu, who appeared to quickly remind us of what we have missed these last few months.
From what I heard and have read it sounded a good game, with two attacking sides attempting to win the game. Credit to Walsall who included Mark Kinsella’s son Liam at right back.
Karl Robinson has talked about Mark Marshall and Ben Reeves like the coming of the new messiah’s. Reeves missed the whole of pre-season and was signed horribly unfit and with December around the corner he has only played about 120 minutes of league football. Marshall was more unfortunate getting injured in pre-season, and only started his first league game at home to MK Dons on Saturday.
What day is it..
I’ve been travelling out on the west coast and have lost all sense of days and time. There was 90 minutes I tried to follow the other day and managed to listen to a bit of the game from the start. Leading up to Fosu’s goal we should already have been led.
Why is it that our game is always the last to finish..
Well today the ref got run over by Josh Magennis, but for all the other times, it is one of lives little mysteries.
By ways of modern technology I was able to follow the game today 30,000 feet up in the air as I flew to Los Angeles. At times we flowed, at times we huffed, but there was always raw effort and a spirit that pleased The Valley crowd.
Header, left foot, right foot..
I spent most of my day at the swimming pool watching my daughter race and she did herself very proud. Meanwhile 4,000 odd miles away in a town with a little less than half the population of Bermuda, a football team were doing themselves very proud as well.
After a four game hiccup involving two disappointing defeats and two disconcerting draws, the Addicks went to a free-scoring Fleetwood today possibly expecting the worst and with the added handicap of having no Chris Solly, although Ben Reeves and Mark Marshall did take their place on the bench.
Andy Nelson would’ve been proud..
One for the oldies that. A swashbuckling performance but leaving gaps at the back to keep it interesting up at Oldham yesterday. According to one observer we played like a troupe of red arrows for the first half hour but after that it was a little bit of a circus troupe as we let Oldham back in. Nonetheless for those Addicks who made the trip I’m sure it was a very enjoyable day out in Lancashire and they were witness to another fine 3 points for Robinson’s side.
We dominated early and unusually got our just rewards. Not once but twice as Ricky Holmes opened the scoring with a 30-yard scorcher. It might be worth the Valley Pass season fee alone that. Then the impressive Fosu scored his first Addicks goal and performed an apple for the teacher like knee slide. 21 minutes gone and all good.
An unexpected name was added to Karl Robinson’s squad this afternoon. Tariqe Fosu, or Tariqe Kumahl Malachi Akwesi Fosu-Henry, to give him his full name, was signed from Reading after compensation was agreed between the Royals and Charlton. Fosu has signed a 2-year deal and looks to me as if he will be a peripheral squad player, at least initially.
Another that likes to play behind the striker, the 21-year old spent last season on loan at Colchester, and gives Robinson another option in his preferred three player behind a lone striker.
Sarasota, Florida
