Monday 7 October 2024

Jones rebukes fans

Nathan Jones has spoken out about abuse from Charlton fans during the recent poor run, saying he will go elsewhere if he is not wanted: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cly3z0rjq4xo

It's never a good idea to have a go at the fan base even when many of them are perennial moaners, the Spurs of League One.

However, if Charlton fans get a reputation as complainers it could affect future recruitment.   Sometimes the expectations among fans do seem excessive.

Saturday 5 October 2024

League leaders beaten

Birmingham’s seven-game winning streak in League One was ended as Charlton striker Matty Godden scored the only goal at The Valley.

It was nothing less than the Addicks deserved as they subdued the Blues’ attacking talents with Alfie May, facing his former club, replaced as one of three half-time changes by manager Chris Davies.

Charlton’s pressing caused Birmingham problems and the hosts, on a three-match losing streak, had chances to be ahead before the break.

Allan Campbell fired narrowly over from the edge of the box after 34 minutes, while striker Daniel Kanu could only steer across the face of goal from a tight angle after intercepting a Willum Willumsson backpass.

Ryan Allsop gifted Kanu a huge chance when he passed to him inside the penalty area but the striker’s poor first touch allowed the Blues keeper to regain the ball.

Charlton broke the deadlock in the 54th minute when summer signing Godden netted his fourth goal of the season in all competitions.

The former Coventry striker smartly hooked home from close range after Josh Edwards’ long throw dropped to him, while Birmingham failed to register an effort on target.

Pessimists and negativists had a difficult afternoon as they tried to construct a critical narrative.

Jones doesn't like the abuse he has received from his own fans and has asked them to trust the process, but he needs to realise that many Charlton fans were born to moan: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-on-being-absolutely-abused-by-charlton-athletic-fans-and-the-need-to-trust-his-process/

Friday 4 October 2024

May: I won't celebrate if I score

Alfie May says that he will not celebrate if he scores for Birmingham against Charlton on Saturday.   He says that Charlton is a fantastic club but the story of his departure is yet to come out: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/birmingham-city-alfie-may-charlton-30052657

Table topping Birmingham have won all of their three away games.

Nathan Jones says he chose the wrong side against Bristol Rovers, but given that he has known many of the players at other clubs and are his persoal picks this is somewhat surprising.

CAF Trust reckon we need a straw to clutch: https://www.castrust.org/2024/10/birmingham-low-expectations-recommended/

Thursday 3 October 2024

'Timid' Addicks scrutinised

Passive, timid and uncertain are among the words the SLP's Richard Cawley uses to describe the performance by Charlton at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday.  He insists that it is not time to push the panic button, but a muh better performance will be required for the visit of Birmingham City on Saturday: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/talking-points-from-charltons-3-2-loss-at-bristol-rovers-addicks-looked-timid-and-lacking-confidence/

Tuesday 1 October 2024

Down the Football League we go

Another poor performance saw Charlton lose 3-2 at Bristol Rovers and drop to 13th in League One.

Gas skipper Scott Sinclair, 35, rolled back the years to put the hosts in charge on the half-hour with a classy left-footed curler from the edge of the box that gave Will Mannion no chance.

Midfielder Jamie Lindsay doubled the lead in the 57th minute with his first goal in Rovers colours as his stylish right-footed 20-yard effort flew past Mannion and into the top right-hand corner after being teed up by Promise Omochere.

Centre-back Wilson strengthened the hosts’ grip 10 minutes later when he nodded in from close range after striker Omochere flicked on Clinton Mola’s cross.

Nathan Jones’ Addicks struggled to get going against a hard-working Rovers side but pulled a goal back when Alex Mitchell headed in Matt Godden’s goal-bound effort after 79 minutes.

Godden volleyed in to further reduce the arrears four minutes into stoppage time and set up an angst-ridden finale, but Rovers held firm to end a four-match losing streak and ease the pressure on boss Matt Taylor.

Charlton's owners are unlikely to take another spin on the managerial merry go round with no queue of quality managers wanting the poisoned chalice.


Rovers on losing streak

You would have to go back to the final five games of Bristol Rovers' relegation season of 2020/21 for the last time the Gas lost five league games in a row, a frightening omen for them ahead of Rovers' home game against Charlton this evening.

It's tough to call any footballing situation a 'crisis' with any real substance only eight games into a campaign but four consecutive defeats in League One has extinguished any of the optimism or positivity shared amongst Gasheads this time last month on the back of a bright start to the campaign.

After picking up seven points from their opening four league games in August, Rovers endured a brutal September with losses against Barnsley, Wigan Athletic, Peterborough and Wycombe Wanderers.  It was the Wycombe loss on Saturday in particular that hurt and angered supporters as Matt Taylor's side led for the majority of the contest.

Manager Matt Taylor says that fourth from bottom Rovers have a 'soft underbelly' but that could also apply to a faltering Charlton who have difficulty finding the back of the net even if the defence is tighter.

I'll stick to my original Badger League prediction of a 2-2 draw.

Saturday 28 September 2024

Charlton fall out of top six

1,363 Charlton fans in a sold out away end saw Charlton lose 1-0 to Stevenage to fall to 8th in the League One table after a back to back defeat.   Despite 57 per cent possession it was an inept performance by the Addicks.

It was not as if Stevenage were that good.  The home side failed to enter the Charlton box until the 32nd minute.  Boro did finish the half stronger, forcing a couple of corners.

Charlton were finding joy down their left with Edwards and Tyreece Campbell getting space.

Bringing Aneke on after 57 minutes changed very little.

Roberts lashed low beyond Mannion halfway through the second half on 67 minutes.

Young forced Mannion to tip a narrow blaster over the top while Kemp was only denied a first Boro goal by a brave block by Karoy Anderson.

Louis Mendez laments the Addicks lack of cutting edge: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/the-lowdown-on-stevenage-1-charlton-athletic-0-addicks-lack-of-cutting-edge-punished-on-the-road/

Nathan Jones admits that Charlton have to improve in the final third: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-after-1-0-defeat-at-stevenage-charlton-athletic-must-improve-in-the-final-third/

He also admits that set piece delivery has to get better: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-admits-charltons-set-piece-delivery-has-to-get-better/

Gassan Adahme's mask has now arrived so he will be in contention for Tuesday's game at the Gas: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-athletic-forward-gassan-ahadme-back-in-contention-for-tuesdays-trip-to-bristol-rovers/