Mindset man helps Docherty throw off his chains

Charlton captain Greg Docherty is using a 'mindset' coach to free himself on the field of play: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-captain-greg-docherty-ive-been-seeing-a-mindset-coach-to-help-free-myself-on-the-field/

I must admit that this is a new one to me, and possibly a bit 'New Age' for someone of advanced years, but it brings to mind Rousseau's remark 'man is born free, but he is everywhere in chains.'   If removing those metaphorical chains helps Docherty to score goals, well and good.

It occurred to me that perhaps 20 of the most miserable supporters could be allocated a free mindset coach to see if it cheered them up.

Moaners show their ingenuity after 5-0 win

Last night I dreamt that Charlton beat Northampton 3-0, but as it turned out that was just the half time score and it ended 5-0.   Louis Mendez picks out the highlights here: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/the-lowdown-on-northampton-town-0-charlton-athletic-5/

What you also have to admire is the ingenuity of Charlton moaners.   First, they pointed out that Northampton were awful.   Undoubtedly the case, but you have to beat the team in front of you.

Second, they complained that Nathan Jones did not acknowledge the away support sufficiently after the game.  If this was the case, it might be understandable given all the criticism he has to put up with from fan 'experts'.   Needless to say, Jones was pleased with the win: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-very-proud-as-charlton-rip-northampton-town-apart-after-being-vilified-over-the-last-few-weeks/

Third, it was pointed out that it will count for nothing if we can't beat Cambridge United.  Well, the three points still stand and it may have given the team a much needed confidence boost.

Greg Docherty scored twice as Charlton thrashed struggling Northampton 5-0 at Sickfields.

Northampton's woeful defending was ruthlessly punished and the game was effectively done and dusted before half-time with Docherty, Tyreece Campbell and Miles Leaburn all scoring in the first 36 minutes.

Charlton led after just nine minutes when the home side failed to clear a cross and the ball dropped to Docherty, who drilled low and hard into the far corner.

Leaburn almost headed in a quick second but Charlton were dominant and they did not have to wait long to add to their lead with Campbell latching onto Leaburn's pass and finishing beyond Nik Tzanev.

Northampton were all at sea defensively and their afternoon went from bad to worse nine minutes before the break when Macaulay Gillesphey's long ball found Leaburn all alone in the penalty area and he calmly stroked home.

The Cobblers never threatened a comeback and Charlton piled on the misery with Docherty lashing his second from Luke Berry's cutback, before Danny Hylton came off the bench to score a fifth in stoppage time.

Over the festive period, to provide some non-festive reading, I am reproducing my series on what went wrong at Charlton on my Chatlton Retro site.  The first instalment takes the story as far as Dowie and Pardew: https://retrocharlton.blogspot.com/2024/12/what-went-wrong-part-1.html

Do well shod Addicks head for another dreary draw?

Charlton face the Shoe Army at Sickfields tomorrow, the Cobblers currently being led by caretaker boss Ian Sampson.  Australian Jon Brady resigned at the beginning of December.

Northampton are 19th in the table but only one place behind Charlton in the form table.  At home Northampton have won four, drawn two and lost three.   Like the Addicks, they don't score many goals at home (eleven versus ten).

Having beaten Nene Valley rivals Peterborough 3-0, the Cobblers went down 3-0 at Rotherham last Saturday.  Sampson said, 'We did not win enough first or second balls.'

Will London designer trainers overcome the more conventional shoes of Northants?   It could well be another dreary draw or perhaps a 1-0 win for either side.

Nathan Jones tries to talk a good game, but the Chicago Addick has mocked the clichés he produces at press conferences.  He may need another page from his Great Big Book of Excuses tomorrow.  There could be a Yuletide disappearance to gladden some Charlton hearts, but somehow I doubt it.  A decision one way or another needs to be taken before the transfer window.

CAS Trust says that we head to Northampton with 'hope in our hearts'.   Perhaps or lead in our shoes?  https://www.castrust.org/2024/12/almost-full-circle-in-the-calendar-year-as-we-head-for-northampton/

Green Army's warning for Charlton

Some supporters argue that Charlton's rightful place in the Championship and I can understand their logic.  Plymouth Argyle are a well-run club but they are finding it a struggle (I know that Wayne Rooney is a clown, but the playing budget is limited): https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2024/12/argyle-do-well-off-pitch.html

Well done Ademola

Former Addick Ademola Lookman has been named African Footballer of the Year.  His unfashionable club Atalanta are currently leading Serie A.  He has scored eleven goals for them this season, including one against Real Madrid, their only defeat so far in the Champions League.   He scored three goals for them in the Europa League final in May.

Atalanta is a mid-budget provincial club. Among the teams competing at the summit of Serie A, they are unique for having returned a profit every year of the past nine.

The striking aspect is that, mostly, they have kept climbing. A would-be superstar now leaves Atalanta thinking twice before he declares he’s upgrading to play more regularly in the Champions League. Atalanta have qualified for the competition more often in the past five years than United, or, for that matter, Tottenham Hotspur, home of Cristian Romero and Dejan Kulusevski, both formerly of Bergamo.

Bore draw at The Valley

Mansfield ended a run of five straight losses in League One by drawing at Charlton.

The Stags stopped the rot to stay one point above their opponents in the table as the Addicks remained without a win at the Valley since October 5.   Charlton dropped to 14th.

Stags goalkeeper Christy Pym denied Karoy Anderson in the sixth minute after the Charlton midfielder had been played through by Tyreece Campbell.

Mansfield striker Lucas Akins ballooned a close-range chance over in the 27th minute from Frazer Blake-Tracy's delivery from the left.

Conor Coventry's cross on the stroke of half-time was headed straight at Pym by Charlton centre-back Lloyd Jones.

Charlton went close twice around the hour mark – both times through substitute Miles Leaburn.

First he shot past the right post with Campbell once again providing the pass and the pair quickly combined again as the striker's header grazed the upright.

Mansfield's Elliott Hewitt failed to find the target when Aaron Lewis' 63rd-minute cross found him in space 10 yards out, meeting the ball with the outside of his right boot as it looped harmlessly over.

Mansfield not worried about run of poor form

Charlton fans are already wallowing in their Slough of Despond as they anticipate another defeat at home to Mansfield tomorrow.

Mansfield made a superb start to their first League One campaign in 22 years and were fourth in the table at the end of October after losing just two of their opening 11 matches.

However, the Stags have since endured a six-game winless run, losing each of their last five league games, with 1-0 defeats to Wrexham, Bristol Rovers and Wycombe followed by a 3-1 loss at Bolton Wanderers and last weekend's 2-1 home defeat to Huddersfield Town.

The Stags are 10th in the league but bottom of the form table.    Charlton are 16th in the form table and 12th in the actual table.  Mansfield have won four and lost four away from home.  The Addicks have won three, drawn three and lost two at home.

After their defeat at Huddersfield, Nigel Clough emphasised the difficulty of Mansfield playing against ex-Premier League clubs (quite a novel excuse).  He felt that Mansfield deserved a point and said 'The lads have to keep going and keep believing.'

I think that Clough is one of the best coaches in the lower leagues and will no doubt have prepared his time for Charlton's shortcomings such as vulnerability at corners and a belief that the pitch is narrower than is actually the case.

I am poor at making forecasts, but a draw is possible.

CAS Trust note that we have never lost a competitive game against Mansfield, but then encounters have been rare and this one could turn out to be a Stag party: https://www.castrust.org/2024/12/stag-party-or-charlton-cheer-in-saturdays-pre-festive-fixture/