Johnnie Jackson is looking forward to pitting his tactical wits against his old pal Ryan Lowe in Saturday's game with table topping Plymouth Argyle: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-caretaker-boss-johnnie-jackson-relishing-tactical-battle-against-plymouth-pal-ryan-lowe/
The CAS Trust match preview is here: https://www.castrust.org/2021/11/another-unbeaten-run-to-bite-the-dust/
Chris Dunlavy gives his verdict in this week's Football League Paper on the sacking of Nigel Adkins.
'This summer the Addicks released 16 players, all of them on July 1. Yet it was the end of September by the time the squad was fully rebuilt.'
'Nine of Charlton's 15 signings arrived after the season had begun. Three - Sam Lavelle, Harry Arter and Jonathan Leko - turned up on deadline day, whilst Papa Souare and Stephen Henderson, both free agents, made their entrance in September.'
'That's nine players - four of whom were in Adkins' final squad for Tuesday's 3-2 defeat to Accrington - who didn't receive any preparation for the season at all.'
'Covid-19. Two years of empty stadiums have emptied cash reserves across the EFL, and Charlton are not the only club to take transfers to the wire in the pursuit of value.' But 'Plymouth Argyle, a club with a significantly lower budget and a geographical disadvantage, had completed eight of their ten signings by the middle of July.'
'It does suggest that Charlton's technical director, Ged Roddy, and head of recruitment Steve Gallen, are as culpable for the club's current predicament as the man who paid the price.' Most fans would attach more blame to Roddy than Gallen, although I think that the decision-making structure was overloaded in a way that hampered decisiveness.
I do think that Dunlavey hasn't told the whole story. For me some of Adkins's formations were both too complex and too rigid while his team selection was also open to criticism, even if it was compromised by a lack of fitness. Players work better with a formation that is clear but fluid which is what Johnnie Jackson provided on Saturday.
Plymouth Argyle have made the long trip up from Devon to play Charlton at The Valley this afternoon. According to a recent edition of The Football League Show Plymouth is in Cornwall which was news to a lot of us.
Argyle are, however, the best supported club on the Isles of Scilly, in part because of the training they provide for isolated local youngsters who are not enthused by the two team football league. Before I was sacked as mainland football correspondent of Radio Scilly, I was told to focus on the Pilgrims so I should know something about them.
I will try and share some of this knowledge later, but I am running behind as I am on media duty for the festive period. Normally this is very quiet but France24 asked me to go on air late on Christmas Eve and then woke me at 5.30 the next day.
Plymouth do much better at home than on the road. They have only lost two games at home and won six. Away from home they have scored just seven goals, won no matches and lost six. Should be favourites today then.
The CAS Trust preview reminds us that we last played Argyle on Boxing Day sixty years ago when the scoreline was 6-4: https://www.castrust.org/2020/12/plymouth-6-4-would-be-a-nice-treat/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=plymouth-6-4-would-be-a-nice-treat
My Christmas Charlton quiz will be open until New Year's Day. The email address has been corrected and should now work: https://addicksdiary3.blogspot.com/2020/12/christmas-quiz.html
Saturday's opponents Plymouth Argyle have a generous owner who has put in another £3.5m to keep the club afloat: https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-weathering-storm-footballs-4823094
Whatever storms hit Plymouth, or the club's many fans on the Isles of Scilly, they should be able to keep afloat financially.
The Green Army have also been loyal in terms of buying season tickets.
Before I was sacked as football correspondent of Radio Scilly, I was told to give priority to covering Plymouth Argyle along with Truro City so I got to know quite a lot about them.
The changing rooms at the Garrison Field
With the islands Covid-19 free the traditional veterans versus youngsters match should be able to go ahead at the Garrison Stadium on Boxing Day. The two club football league is also playing and had a rare draw recently. Unfortunately, Vodafone are no longer streaming games.
Plymouth Argyle manager Ryan Lowe wishes that the Pilgrims had an easier draw than against Charlton in the FA Cup tomorrow: https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/ryan-lowe-argyle-charlton-cup-4675210
As it likely to happen with Charlton, Lowe may make changes to his in form team tomorrow.
As the CAS Trust preview notes, current form could be irrelevant as much may depend on team selection by the two managers : https://www.castrust.org/2020/11/plymouth-the-start-of-a-cup-run/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=plymouth-the-start-of-a-cup-run
Two friends will be setting off from Paddington at 7.30 tomorrow for the trek to Plymouth and here Louis Mendez tells the locals about the Addicks: What Plymouth can expect from Charlton
Apparently 800 Addicks are making the journey.
Plymouth have been unbeaten at home this year and have shown good form in February and March: CAS Trust preview
Odds (Paddy Power): Home, 2-1; Draw, 12/5; Charlton, 5/4.
Referee is Charles Breakspear who is capable of losing it big time.
The Garrison Field stadium on St. Marys, Isles of Scilly.
I am the mainland football correspondent of Radio Scilly and every Saturday morning I present my review of the past week and look at what is coming up. How many people are listening (most probably online) is a moot point, although I was once stopped in the street in Hugh Town by an indignant local Hibernian supporter in 'see you Jimmy' mode who complained about my lack of coverage of the Scottish game.
When I was appointed to the football role by the then station manager he told me that I need not bother with coverage of the island league which has just two teams and has attracted some publicity as the world's smallest football league. Once the main tourist season is over, the Woolpack Wanderers will play the Garrison Gunners in the Charity Shield, followed by the league and various cup matches. The off islands can no longer raise football teams, although they do manage cricket teams.
I have been treading on eggshells in preparing this week's broadcast because Charlton are playing the most favoured team on the islands, Plymouth Argyle. In part this is because the Pilgrims send across staff to train the islands' football starved youngsters (they have to leave to live on the mainland once they are 16). If one wanted to go to an Argyle match, one would have to hope the planes were running on Saturday morning (the ferry, known locally as 'the vomit comet', does not run in winter). It would then be a two hour or so train journey from Penzance to Plymouth. Return would not be possible until Monday as no planes run on a Sunday.
When I was young we used to go to Cornwall in the winter to pay our respects to my mother's forbears. We would usually head back on a Saturday and as the train meandered through Cornwall, we would pick up Argyle supporters, peaking at Liskeard. My father would become increasingly animated, hoping to start a conversation with one of them about their team.
One of my island friends who manages a utility service also keeps a house in Truro. He then gets the sleeper up to London on Friday night. However, you arrive in Paddington before the underground starts running and although I usually manage to get a reasonable night's sleep, it is not the same as sleeping in your own bed.
Anyway, this week I have already travelled down from Warwickshire to London twice already and I will be setting off especially early on Saturday. My women friends (referred to by one of my children with total inaccuracy as my 'harem') have always viewed my involvement in Charlton with a mixture of amusement and contempt, one describing it as 'hopelessly retro'. What they all agree on is that it is a very down market club. One won't let me take her eight year old grandson who lives in Dulwich on those grounds.
One of my friends who was involved in football through her work had to attend Premier League matches and schmooze with movers and shakers in the game. She was very successful at this, but it gave her a distaste for football. I was telling her this week about the time I went for a pre-match meal at Charlton and was addressed as 'Wayne' throughout. She commented, 'That speaks volumes about Charlton.'
What I have arranged to do this Saturday is to meet some fellow supporters in my birthplace Greenwich for brunch. This has been approved as a respectable up market venue, although I have kept quiet about exactly where we are meeting.
Krystian Bielik and Darren Pratley are among the players who will not be available for Saturday's game against Plymouth Argyle: Injury update
Plymouth's current league position is out of line with expectations before the season began and the quality of their squad.
The Pilgrims are currently bottom of the table, having failed to win a match and drawn three. They lost 0-1 at home to Blackpool last Saturday. Blackpool were reduced to nine men by the end of the game, but Argyle boss Derek Adams said his side had not been clinical enough in front of goal.
Last season the club was seventh and Four Four Two predicted a 10th place finish, while the chosen fan saw them finishing 6th. FFT took the view that manager Adams had overseen 'a phenomenal two years at the club.' At some point their luck will change, but hopefully not on Saturday.
The CAS Trust preview is here: Can Bowyer win four on the spin?
As Plymouth Argyle are the 'local' team and undertake training on the islands, my weekly football broadcast on the Radio Scilly tomorrow morning starts with the Charlton v. Plymouth Argyle match. This is what I will have to say from the Porthmellon studio.
After a poor start to the season, Plymouth Argyle have made a significant recovery and have every chance of qualifying for the play offs. They have won seven of their last eight games. They are sixth in the table and second in the form table.
Derek Adams thinks his side are a match for anyone in League One. He said: ‘I reckon my squad is capable of doing anything. The players have the bit between their teeth and have put themselves in a very good position. I don’t see many better teams in this league than ourselves. When I arrived at this club, the team couldn’t come from behind so we had to change the mentality. We have certainly got great character and spirit now and we have got good momentum at the right moment.’
Today [Saturday] Plymouth Argyle face my team Charlton Athletic at The Valley. The Addicks have been going through some difficult times recently and have fallen out of the play off places. They are sixth from bottom in the form table. A long takeover saga involving an Australian consortium is yet to be resolved. Belgian owner Roland Duchatelet has been highly unpopular with Charlton fans and has been the target of demonstrations, including some in his home town in Belgium.
Charlton manager Karl Robinson left earlier in the week to join Oxford United. Former player Lee Bowyer has been put in temporary charge, assisted by skipper Johnnie Jackson.
Argyle reckon there is no better time to play Charlton, but Bowyer and Jackson could motivate the team to rise above their recent lacklustre performances.
Plymouth have won six, drawn seven and lost five away from home. Charlton have won eight, drawn six and lost five. I am forecasting a draw which will suit neither team.
Understandably enough, Plymouth Argyle think that this is the ideal time to take on rudderless Charlton: Perfect time
VOTV editor Rick Everitt has written for TalkSport on the crisis at the club: No one in charge
There have been rumours overnight that Karl Robinson has already left the building and Lee Bowyer is in charge, but I have no reliable independent confirmation of these reports.
Some speculation on possible replacements, the only one that would interest me is Uwe Rossler: Replacements
Last but not least, today we should remember PC Keith Palmer, he's one of our own.
Plymouth Argyle are forecast by Four Four Two to finish 9th in League One this year, having 'found their natural level', while the fan quoted thinks they will sneak into the play off places.
Fiery Glaswegian manager Derek Adams is known as 'An excellent wind-up merchant ... who leave behind a long string of grudges in the bottom division.' It will be interesting to see how he gets on with voluble Scouser Karl Robinson.
Key player is Graham Carey. He was the subject of intense transfer speculation, but signed a new contract just one day before his existing one was due to expire. In 96 outings, he has scored 26 goals and provided 29 assists.
New recruits include Ryan Edwards, a solid centre back brought in from Morecambe, while Jamie Ness from Scunthorpe is expected to add midfield bite. Ruben Lamerias from Coventry is rated as a gifted playmaker. Gregg Wylde has been brought in from Millwall to add width.
Not surprisingly, Argyle feel that they didn't learn very much from Charlton's midweek outing at rivals Exeter: Grecian blank
Addicks fans are waiting to see who the referee will be (John Brooks from Leicestershire) and whether he has signed up to the referees' conspiracy identified by Karl Robinson. It is thought that this might have got underway at a pre-season gathering of referees when it was suggested that they should try and award a red card to Charlton at each match. Any referee failing to do so would buy a round of drinks at the next get together.
Robinson may well be a 'highly respected' manager as the Plymouth paper calls him, but he should take some lessons from Katrien Meire and the PR consultants on keeping his mouth shut.
I find this a difficult match to call but I am going for a 1-1 draw and no red cards. Our last league game there (2010/11) ended 2-2. Odds: Plymouth 8/5, Draw 11/5, Bristol Rovers 9/5
(Rather late) CAS Trust preview here: Argyle
I'd like to express my appreciation for all that Plymouth Argyle do to help with football training for youngsters on the Isles of Scilly, help that is much needed. Remember that my weekly football slot is on Radio Scilly on Saturday mornings, usually between 9.45 and 10.00: Radio Scilly
