Charlton Escape With A Point After 2nd Half Annihilation

Steve - his lies are bigger than his belly

It’s hard to take anything Steve Evans says seriously. Now manager of the “ Champions of Europe “ ( yes, really ! ) I'm sure I recall him saying he’d never take the job. This of course is aside from a chequered past best summed up by his time at Boston United.

Therefore, when Mr Evans says :-

“Charlton have lost games here this season – Ipswich came and won 3-0. I watched the full re-run of that but they never got the hiding they got in the second half today.

“It was an absolute annihilation, but they held on and got the same return as what we did.”

you know you can ignore it as total piffle from a pretentious piffler ( thanks Lady C ) !

I spoke to a couple of Leeds fans before the game and asked them for their views on the corpulent one. They said he was appointed because he was cheap………nuff said !

On my part and forgive me for not possessing as keen an eye for detail as Steve, I thought a draw the right result. Both sides had good chances to score but didn’t either as a result of good goalkeeping or poor finishing.

Skip and Vaz Te should probably have come off earlier as they tired although one understands why Karel would keep them on in the hope they could make something happen.

Whether that point from Saturday is a good one depends upon the result against Bolton tomorrow night. A win for us then and 4 points from the two games dictates that it is.

The Trotters find themselves in a right pickle at the moment with a points deduction looming if they go into administration. It is a right mess and no mistake. However, when one looks at the likes of Southampton then administration isn't always such a bad thing. 

Clubs like Bolton don't go under and I'm sure that someone will emerge from somewhere to buy them out and move them onto better things albeit that it may take some while.

A midweek game isn't exactly what we need but then Bolton are suffering to a similar extent in terms of injuries etc. We really do need to win this one and if our young and recently crocked players can sustain the full ninety then we ought to.

I can't envisage many Trotters making the trip to The Valley and so a rather empty stadium is in prospect. Hopefully those of us making the effort will be rewarded with a rare home win !

Come On You Reds !

Leads, Leads, Leeds !

He looks more like a rugby league manager.

Onto Saturday and we’re all hoping for better luck…….it can hardly get any worse !

Who’ll be fit and available is almost anyone’s guess. The timing could hardly be any worse as we enter an intense period of games. Whatever the outcome of these it’s clear that we need to recruit both in terms of numbers and quality.

Leeds have a managerial appointment policy similar to our own. Currently they are led by Steve Evans………he’s no oil painting. If he were it’d be something akin to And When Did You last See Your Father although in his case it’s a slightly different male member. I’d not be surprised if the “ pie tax “ wasn’t Steve’s idea…..” pass thy tokens to me ! “.

Steve has been managing Rotherham United who, to be fair, he did well to keep in the Championship. All the sweeter that it was at the expense of a club not too far away.

The lads preparation this week has involved a visit to the Queen Elizabeth hospital. At first one assumed this was to bring some pre-Christmas cheer to the rest of the squad and others who are sick. However, it also served a purpose in getting to know their fellow patients and to book a bed for themselves for Yuletide !

Leeds are about as inconsistent as you can get but that is of little wonder given the endless stream of bizarre owners and chairman. Risdale’s recruitment of Seth Johnson has long since passed into legend !

Had our own fortunes in the last couple of games been better then not only would we be better placed but we could be reasonably optimistic of getting something from the next two games.

As it is this will prove tough and the what sort of fare we’ll see served up from both teams in the following Tuesday night game doesn’t bear thinking about !

One has to hope that the players confidence isn’t too badly affected by losing on Saturday. To lose when you’re playing well as we did for most of the game is tough. Perhaps we can take some comfort from Huddersfield who dominated their game against Middlesbrough and lost but then beat Brum away last week.

Hopefully we can hold on to any lead we may get this week.

Come On You Reds !

A Lot Of Luck.......

and all of it bad.........oh bu**er !

For Charlton it seems that when your luck’s out, it’s really out !

Having selected what appears to have been the almost perfect starting eleven against Brighton the fates conspired against us to give us a good hard kick up the backside.

How Fox started ahead of Holmes-Dennis is anyone’s guess. Sadly, having been given a lifeline he failed to take it. His passing was woeful and he got beaten time and again on the left. Added to that his crossing remains really poor.

I didn’t think this was a game for young Lookman……how wrong I was ! His goal on 2 minutes was one of real quality and show exactly why a few big clubs are looking at him so early in his career. He really does have some talent and was the stand out player for many people. In a tireless performance he covered nearly every blade of grass on the pitch…..no wonder he was so gutted at the end.

That we had scored so early was barely believable and that we added a second a few minutes later was truly astonishing. Reza netting again to double the lead. Had we scored that with a minute to go then one could have relaxed but it was always going to be a tough ask without adding that killer third goal. Thus it proved to be !

The early loss of Lennon was a disruption and set the tone for the rest of the match. With so few options it had to be Sarr as his replacement ( why didn’t we snap up Lloyd Doyley ? ) he failed to convince again.

Had Vaz Te been fit enough to last the full ninety minutes would also have helped but his departure was another factor in our defeat.

We had two glorious opportunities to get that crucial third but neither were taken. I think most of us felt the writing was on the wall after that. Even then it has to be said that the sending off of Bauer was pivotal and injuries to JBG and more importantly to Henderson were big blows. I’m sure Hendo would have stopped their third had he been anywhere near fit. Clearly he was in pain and could barely move but he couldn’t come off and we had no subs and were already down to ten men.

I’m sure I read somewhere that the emergency loan window will be scrapped form next season. That has to be the right thing. Brighton hardly need James Wilson ! Fair play to them and they are not alone in getting players in but it really should only be used for goalkeepers.

I’ve seen a number of people moaning about losing from 2-0 up but in reality we played so well in that first half and suffered cruel luck as the game wore on and really paid the price for not getting that third as I said. It’s being really harsh on all concerned to complain too much.

Onto next week and the injuries and suspensions already make one fear for the worse against an indifferent Leeds side. One assumes that Lennon will recover from his clash of heads but Bauer is suspended. Cousins didn’t look good and JBG similarly didn’t seem great as he hobbled away.  Add to that the knock that Henderson got and it really does suggest a weakened side.

None of the above was on any Addicks’ Christmas list ! Life never gets any easier for the club’s physios as they appear to have a workload almost on a par with that at Arsenal.

Having dropped back into the bottom points are desperately needed and Karel and Co will be hoping they come soon.

I Do Like To Be..............

the seaside.............or do I ?

An away trip to Brighton on Saturday isn’t exactly what the doctor ordered. They remain unbeaten in the league this season under the excellent stewardship of Chris Houghton ( how we could use a manager like him eh ? ).

Their unbeaten run extends further back than this season I believe. Looking for a positive though and that run must sometime. I’m sure we all remember when put a stop the one Huddersfield did under Lee Clarke.

Further to that remember our wonderful run on the way to winning the Championship that came to an abrupt halt at home to lowly Swindon ! Pre-match and we surely only needed to turn up. Sadly a rare error from Deano plus the sight and sound of Willie Carson on the pitch made it a day to forget.

Is playing on 5^th December an omen ? Probably not but there aren’t enough straws to clutch at present !

Brighton already had a strong squad but that was further strengthened last week by the “ emergency loan “ signing James Wilson from Manchester United. He is a good prospect and not someone we need to be facing right now. Like a team unbeaten all season were desperate for another player !

For our part I’d like to see Holmes-Dennis start in the back four with Bauer, Lennon and Solly. Reza really ought to come in for the great Dane. Hopefully, Skip will be fit to play.

For me, Vaz Te has to start if fit. Whilst I appreciate Lookman’s precocious talent games like this need experience and nous and his time will come.

Karel has said we’re going there to play for a win but in reality I suspect that he will aim to get something on the break if his previous away efforts are anything to go by.

One hopes that confidence wasn’t too badly affected by last week’s result. We didn’t play as badly as the scoreline suggests and Ipswich certainly weren’t that good !

Anything from this game will be a result. Let’s hope the lads are up for it.

I shall be there tomorrow as this is a rare away day for me. Here’s hoping for some pre-Christmas cheer !

Come On You Reds !

Something To Lift The Gloom

At this time of year with long dark nights and on Saturdays seemingly long dark days anything that can lighten the mood and general gloom has to be a good thing.

Step forward then Steve Bridge’s wonderfully evocative book Charlton Athletic in Pictures – 1975 to 2015. This is not only guaranteed to lift your mood but also to bring back some splendid memories for any Addick.

The book is a collection of 123 photos over 128 pages.

Amongst the superb collection of photos are some of long forgotten players and also kits that are best forgotten. There’s the iconic one of Killer drinking a pint although it’s never been clear if that was pre or post match !

Even better news is that all the photos from the book are available to buy from Steve although be warned you’ll be spoilt for choice !

In recent years there have been some terrific books about Charlton, this is the latest addition to that collection.

Christmas is now less than 4 weeks away……another reason as to why there’s no better time to go and buy this great publication!

All details relating to the book and purchase of photos are available from the following website :-

http://www.youralbumonline.co.uk/sbridge.htm 

If you have any queries you can email Steve at :- bridge.s@talk21.com

Enjoy !

Take Me To Your Leader

The omens weren’t good on Saturday when I discovered that York café was closed and I was denied my favourite S.E.7 brekkie ! Things didn’t improve from there.

Following the two rather unexpected victories hopes were high that the lads would get something from the game. Sadly, they failed to garner even a point and the previous mood of disillusionment returned.

Karel named an unchanged side, something of a rarity this season with all the injuries and chopping and changing. Holmes-Dennis certainly deserved to keep his place but why he didn’t start in his preferred position is a mystery that deepened further Fox returned another sub-standard performance.

Why Solly didn’t start is another enigma. It made little sense. After a really good effort against Wednesday it was further puzzling to understand why Reza didn’t feature in the starting eleven.

Given the physical nature of McCarthy’s side the selection of Big Mak didn’t make a lot of sense. One assumes that Karel had done his homework. The Dane got little change out their back four all afternoon.

Reza’s constant hassling allied to young Lookman’s skill would seem to have been the better option. Vaz Te proved he ought to be starting soon and I understand why he didn't on Saturday given that he’s short of match fitness.

When Skip suffered his hamstring tweak he disappeared along with our chances of getting anything from the game. The subsequent substitution and passing on of the captain’s armband highlighted a couple of issues.

Firstly, we have no leader in Johnnie’s absence. Goalkeeper’s are rarely made captains and for good reason. Their ability to motivate and generally gee up the team is made somewhat difficult when you’re mostly many yards away from the team. Clearly there’s no one else in the team deemed worthy and I couldn’t see any leaders out there.

Secondly, that Holmes-Dennis had to move to left midfield ( ultimately he played in three different positions ) put to bed Karel’s claim that the squad is big and good enough. We all know it isn’t.

Despite the 3-0 scoreline I don’t think the performance was quite as bad as many believe. I thought we started quite brightly and in the end were denied a few times by some splendid saves from Gerken. It wasn’t as though we didn’t create anything and it was streets ahead of the woeful display at MK Dons.

We weren’t helped by the indifferent display from the referee. He got taken in by the antics of some of the Ipswich players. Some cynical and rather depressing behaviour but to be expected to some degree.

One would like to think that our owner would take a look at the manager in the opposition dug out and take note of what can be achieved by having a manager who is experienced at this level. He consistently achieves a top 10 finish on a budget not totally dissimilar to our own. 

Town also lost a very promising youngster in the summer but don’t seem to have suffered to the same extent as us !

One assumes that a few players most notably Fox, Sarr and Big Mak will be fearing for their places. If not, they ought to be. Vaz Te, if fully fit, deserves a start as does Lennon who can surely only improve the back four.

Next Saturday won’t see things get any easier for us……Good Old Sussex By The Sea is about the last place we want to be going at present ! 

Live At The Valley !

Another Saturday is spoiled by the kick off moving from the traditional 3pm…arghh ! I don’t like it but will just leave that there whilst my blood pressure is still manageable.

Live on telly and we all know what that usually means. Let’s hope that on this occasion we might defy the odds and at least avoid a defeat.

Ipswich always have teams that compete in the top half and under Myopic Mick they can usually expect to be challenging for a play-off spot. They are a fairly stable club who’ve had only 10 managers in the last 46 years. We of course, are going for 46 managers in 10 years !

They’ve been inconsistent this season which explains their position just outside the play-off places. In the last 8 league games they’ve won 2, drawn 4 and lost 2. They have only once scored more than twice in a league game and that came in a 5-2 demolition of Rotherham. On the flip side they don’t concede many but hey, we’d take a 1-0 any day of the week !

In a complete reversal of fortunes we have, of course, won our last two games. If we do complete a hat-trick of wins on Saturday then it’ll be surprise given the presence of the Sky cameras.   

One obviously points to Skip as the main catalyst for our upturn but looking past him and the change in formation they are a couple of others who deserve some recognition.

Diarra has clearly impressed since moving up into midfield. That has been aided by the vast improvement in Narby Sarr. One must also acknowledge the emergence of Lookman and Holmes-Dennis. These two have shown great promise and their performances belie their tender age.

JBG is obviously enjoying somewhat of a freer role that allows him a greater impact.

The return of Henderson with all his experience and organisational nous makes such a difference and instils a greater confidence in the back four. Good to see him have an early word with young Tareiq last week following an early blip from the young man.

Tareiq’s excellent performances and the rather poor ones of Fox ought to mean that Tareiq retains his place in the side. I don’t think Fox can complain albeit that he had a better game against Birmingham.

All of the above has helped to secure those last two results. However, it must be said that a large of any success from the new system and change in personnel will only last as long as injury or suspension allows or possibly we’re required to produce a Plan B……..that will be the real test.

Sadly, I can’t agree with Karel when he says we have a good enough squad. I think the rest of us are clear that it could use some more quality and depth. I find it hard to believe that he really meant that. The absence of just one or more of those players who are integral to our current system will really put us at a disadvantage.

As ever more transparency is needed especially surrounding the departure of Watt. I understand that the club may not want to say if he’s been a disruptive figure as has been alleged in some quarters. To suggest that he moved purely to get fit is an insult to our intelligence.

Any player, especially one of your better ones recovers from “ injury “, gets fit and then fights to regain his place in the side. It really is that simple anything else particularly given our league position suggests something else and that benefits no one.

We need to get behind Skip and the lads. It’s to be hoped that the planned protests don’t have a negative impact on them. They shouldn’t because they’re not designed to do so.

Let’s hope our earlier than usual journeys to The Valley can be rewarded with 3 points. A good display too would be a bonus !

Come On You Reds !