Hard to believe that today marks the anniversary of Chris's passing.
Chris aka Ketts was a prolific blogger of course and produced articles on an almost daily basis. I'm sure he'd have plenty to say on the current happenings on the pitch!
He had a tremendous knowledge and history of the club. His writing was quite insightful and he seemed to know an awful but never revealed his sources!
Now we're back at games I really miss him and those half-time chats.
I'll raise a glass to him later!
I didn’t go to The Valley on Saturday due to another commitment. About 1pm I was deeply missing not having a pre-match beer and chatting with friends in anticipation of the game.
Fast forward to 5pm and that feeling had pretty much evaporated! I clearly didn’t miss much other than another insipid display from the Addicks.
I have said before that it’s not so much the losing but the manner of the defeats that matters most.
What I’ve witnessed from my seat, which I believe is the most expensive in League One, certainly hasn’t matched the price tag!
I can’t say I’ve really enjoyed any game I’ve seen this season. I don’t think we played that well when we beat Crewe.
That solitary league win came about as the result of a formation change that saw Stockley partnered up front. Bizarrely the manager chose to revert to the set-up that saw us fail to garner the full 3 points in any previous game!
I fail to understand what Adkins can’t see that the rest of us can. Prior to the game he said that most supporters wouldn’t pick the team he would. Too right! From what unravelled perhaps he should consult with us fans on that!
Further, perhaps he ought to ask us about the formation too because he seemingly can’t get that right either!
After everything the our club has been through in recent years and the world more importantly in respect of Covid this is a crying shame.
Sandgaard appears to be doing the vast majority if things right in respect of rebuilding our club. He’s taken a sensible long term approach that ought to pay dividends.
His Achilles heel is probably not having a trusted CEO in place. It really isn’t something he can partly fulfil himself from so far away. The club needs a hands-on day to day employee undertaking that role.
In addition, I wonder about the influence of Ged Roddy. I assume that in respect of replacing Lee Bowyer, Thomas would have lent heavily on Roddy for advice. Adkins was very much a left field appointment that I don’t think was anyone else’s list of potential candidates.
I am also mystified as to why we hear so little from Johnnie Jackson these days. In previous seasons we had many interviews with him. At present we only hear from him when he’s managed the team to another victory!
As one or two others have observed he doesn’t seem up on his feet in the technical area as he used to. One wonders how much Adkins is using him or listening to him or other members of the coaching staff.
It worries me!
Dave from Drinking During The Game (https://drinkingduringthegame.blogspot.com/) made really good point about the recent recruitment process.
He
observed from the recent Steve Gallen interview that Adkins doesn’t appear to
be too closely involved in the actual players that are brought to the club.
Previously, managers like Bowyer would be very much hands-on and often a major reason for a player coming to Charlton. That doesn’t sound good to me. As a player you’d want to feel very much wanted by your manager surely?
That’s a question perhaps for the Gallen/Roddy meeting next week.
At least Sandgaard was at The Valley on Saturday to witness that poor performance. I suspect he will be starting to have concerns himself. However, if Roddy had indeed recommended Adkins to him then Ged is unlikely to encourage Thomas to get rid very quickly if even results don’t improve.
The owner would do well to seek counsel from a number of different sources.
Should it come to Adkins going then I’d give the job to Jacko. Not out of any sense of sentimentality or being one of our own etc. Simply because he fits the bill perfectly for me.
All that aside he still has a 100% record as a manager!
The next couple of weeks are going to be both challenging and interesting. The gaffer doesn’t have too much more margin for error.
The Addicks return to league action at The Valley today. Bolstered by the latest recruits and a squad that has mostly had a rest we ought to see a well organised and hungry team.
Sadly, I‘ll not be there due to a clash with another event that was postponed due to Covid. I’m gutted as I would love to be there and see the new players.
Last season’s League Two Champions, Cheltenham, have not had an indifferent start to the season in winning one, drawing 3 and losing 2 games.
Manager Michael Duff has fond memories of The Valley as he was part of the Burnley team that celebrated promotion from the Championship on the final day of the season in 2016. Let’s be honest it’s not a very select band of players that can say that given it seems to have happened on numerous occasions in recent years!
Following the deadline day trio that arrived we have since added a goalkeeper in Henderson and a left back in Papa Souare. The latter seems a bit of a gamble but that will pay off handsomely if the lad comes good.
The squad has an altogether better look and feel about it and the competition for places alone ought to see an upturn in performance and results.
Adkins now has to deliver in terms of how he sets up the team and how he manages games. I feel he’s been a bit lacklustre upto now. It took him a long time to acknowledge that Stockley was left isolated and address the matter.
I feel Kirk doesn’t stay out wide enough and drifts inside. On those occasions when he does get the ball in wide positions he seems to lack players in support and running off him.
I hope all this is addressed. Winning is nice but I’d want to see us play some decent football.
At least a month later than one would have liked we know have a squad capable of challenging in the top six. Now is the time kick on and move up the table.
Overall I feel much more confident and like Crewe, tomorrow is a game we really ought to win and comfortably too.
If he does set foot on the pitch then the biggest cheer is likely to be for Jonathan Leko. It’s so good that he’s back. I’m really looking forward to seeing him in a Charlton shirt again. It’s wonderful that he seems equally happy to be back in SE7.
All expectation is for a win backed up by a good performance today!
COYR!
The three last minute recruits on deadline day have to a degree rescued what was looking like a lacklustre and disorganised transfer window.
The quality of those signings suggests that it was again Gallen who worked miracles in securing their services, not least in terms of Leko. I feel that Gallen’s relationship with Bowyer had a lot to do with that. I suspect that had it been Roddy who’d approached Bowyer he would have got nowhere.
In some ways our poor start has done us a favour. Had we started the season on fire it may have been harder to convince Thomas that more recruits were needed. It was something of a wake-up call.
I’d love to know what our first choice targets were and how the whole transfer process worked. It still remains a bit of a mystery as to who was doing what. I can’t believe that Gallen’s part in it was only to agree final terms and sort the paperwork!
As yet we’ve failed to secure a left back and back up keeper. All well and good to say we can sign free agents. Of course we can but we’ve desperately needed a left back and still do. One decent cross doesn’t mean that Gunter is the answer, he clearly isn’t!
The same with a back-up keeper. I see some people are arguing that it’s not important and the emergency loan window comes into play.
Really? The keeper’s position isn’t that important? Hmm, I recall it was when MacGillivray started poorly and he was seen to be at fault for a couple of defeats. Perhaps that had he no one threatening his position didn’t help.
In all other areas fans demand back up so why should a keeper be any different? All that aside any back up should be familiar with his defence and know how the team plays when called upon.
It looks a bit reckless to me.
I didn’t agree with the rush to postpone the Gillingham game. In reality, we were only missing Washington from that game. Now we have a stronger squad and following last week’s win it would have a good time to play them.
Hey ho! At least there’s extra time to work with squad and new additions. I hope we see the fruits of this the next time the team steps onto the pitch.
Hopefully we can start climbing the table and our poor start hasn’t destroyed our chance of at least a top six finish.
We shall see………
a win at last!
Adkins changed to having two up front and Stockley wasn’t left as isolated as in previous games.
The midfield looked more comfortable and the defence more
secure. All round a much better performance.
Whilst we can acknowledge that the manager got it right, I’m
slightly worried that it took him so long to effect this change.
There were good performances across the whole team and we even
saw the much maligned Gunter deliver a delightful left foot cross for the first
goal.
An equally superb assist from Washington set up Stockley for a
well taken second.
We should have added more in the second half but a combination
of good saves and slightly wayward shooting saw our goal tally remain as it
was.
We now have a break from league action with the postponement of
the Gillingham.
In the meantime, we have a small window to get the players we
need to have any chance of challenging at the top end of the table. Hopefully,
Harry Arter will be one of those.
Clearly, as a minimum we need a striker, left back and
goalkeeper. I’d be amazed if got even that given we appear to have left it so
late.
I don’t understand our lack of concern in respect of recruiting
a keeper. I get the emergency signing situation but why wait until we’re in
such a desperate state.
Should Macgillivray get injured early on in a game it could cost
us 3 points that we can ill afford to lose.
That aside, surely you’d want to embed any player and have them
upto and familiar with the defence etc.
Let’s see how things pan out.
Amazing that so early in the season we have a pretty much must win game. The hopes of “clean sheet victories” or even getting one of those 25 clean sheet games are but a distant memory.
Visitors Crewe are one of three teams below us in League One. However, we’ve scored twice as many goals, two to their one!
The Railwaymen played Leeds on Tuesday in the League Cup losing 3-0 which isn’t a bad result considering that Leeds are a top flight team.
Whilst we have taken the one point from Wednesday, Oxford, MK and Wigan, the Alex have got a draw again Cheltenham and lost to Portsmouth, Oxford and Accrington.
Charlton simply can’t afford to lose this though. There’s enough pressure on Adkins and to a degree also Thomas too following previous comments regarding what The Addicks were going to do this season.
It’s too early to say it won’t still be a successful season but with only 4 days left of the transfer window we look desperate.
The failure to recruit a left back and a striker early doors is poor. Aneke was always going to prove difficult but almost impossible at this late stage.
Acquiring a loan striker from a Prem or Championship club would be good but I can’t imagine we’ll be fortunate enough to get a proven goalscorer who would totally fit the bill.
League One is a different kettle of fish to playing Under 23 or even Championship football. We’ve got to pray that we unearth a gem between now and Tuesday!
Elliot Lee is a really good signing for us and just the type of player we need. He immediately strengthens our team and I’m sure he’ll do well for us.
The performance is as important as the result. I think most of can, to a degree, accept losing games. However, it's been the manner of those defeats that is the real issue.
We've created so little chances, look weak in midfield and appalling defensive lapses have cost us dear. Weak squad or not the manager must accept and face up to his responsibility for that.
I do hope we move away from banging long balls up to Stockley. It’s not working especially when there’s no one near him. I fail to understand why Adkins doesn’t see it!
The manager surely has been drilling the team to pass better and look to get the ball out to the wingers more. They, in turn, must look to be more attacking and to get early balls into the box.
Hopefully, Charlie Kirk, will be up for the challenge against his old club.
Things need to turn around and that must start tomorrow. I dread to think of how another defeat will be greeted and have no wish to see it!
Come On You Reds!
Saturday’s result and performance heaped more pressure on to Nigel Adkins and his team.
MacGillivray had his best game for the Addicks to date and helped to ensure that the defence was breached until the final minutes of the game. He didn’t deserve that but one can’t really argue that Wigan didn’t merit their win.
The performance mirrored that of our previous league outings as the midfield offered little and long balls were once again banged up to Stockley who continued to cut an isolated figure.
We all know that the squad is lacking on both numbers and quality but that doesn’t excuse Adkins refusal to change the formation and approach.
Bowyer was similar hampered in recent seasons but even with a weak squad he managed to get better displays and results from his teams.
Why not go to a 3-5-2 at home? That would in part at least negate the impact that not having a left back is having. Whatever, something needs to change.
At present things only look carrying on. Next Saturday and again at home we face a Crewe side that has experienced the same poor start to the season as us.
They have a midweek fixture against Leeds in the Carabao Cup to deal with. This being the second round of a cup competition, we have no such worries!
Given all of the above, failure to win against The Railwaymen would no doubt result in even more expressions of dissatisfaction from the Valley faithful.
On the field matters aside, there remain a number of issues that require explanation or at least clarification.
Fans deserve to know why the summer transfer window to date has largely been so disappointing. Questions marks loom large over Ged Roody.
What is the extent of his involvement in the process? We have failed to acquire a left back, is this related (pun very much intended!) to the fact that Roddy junior plays in that position?
Can it be coincidence that where previous summer transfer windows have by and large been pretty good we now have had a bit of a shocker? One can’t help but wonder if Gallen is being hampered.
Sandgaard is quickly finding out how tough it is to own and run a football league club. In assuming the position of CEO, he has added to that difficulty.
Thomas would benefit from seeking the counsel of one or two folk who have had the experience of our club and are closely connected with it. Some of his decisions and comments, whilst well intentioned, no doubt, have been a bit misplaced.
Likewise we have Adkins offering the rose tinted view of games. Fans aren’t silly and we know when we see poor displays. He could do worse than get Jacko to come out and explain the approach and what's happening. Jacko remains about the most trusted and valuable link to the fans.
All that aside, the priority must be getting in those much needed new additions. Time is running out. Like others, I’m shocked that so little seems to be happening.
This lack of activity and clear communication is really not helping matters. The next few until the close of the window are crucial to our whole season. Action in all the areas I’ve highlighted is vital.
Let’s hope and pray that it is done and we can look forward to a brighter campaign!
