Imps likely to prevail

CAS Trust's comments on tomorrow's fixture at Lincoln have an ecclesiastical theme, but I doubt whether the Almighty will intervene on Charlton's behalf tomorrow: https://www.castrust.org/2024/12/brunch-time-battle-praying-for-victory-in-the-cathedral-city/

I am second from bottom in the Badger Prediction League, but I marked this down as a 2-1 defeat at the beginning of the season.   It might be 3-1 given recent performances, although Charlton can sometimes spring a surprise.

Lincoln are currently 9th in League One with hopes of making the play off places.   They are, however, 18th in the form table, one place below Charlton.   In the FA Cup last Saturday they beat Crawley 4-3 away, something we could not manage at home.

This is our ninth meeting in League One and student journalists remind us that Charlton have won just twice in those encounters: https://thelinc.co.uk/2024/12/preview-lincoln-city-vs-charlton-athletic-league-one/

So let's turn to the aftermath of a likely defeat.   There will be renewed calls for Jones to go, ignoring anyone else who might have some responsibility:

• The players - we are told they have to be motivated, but they are well-paid professionals.  Once my dentist has collected £90 for entering the practice, he is well motivated to find ways to increase the bill.
• The 'decision makers' at the club.  They have fancy titles and are presumably rewarded, but the value they add is less clear.
• The medical staff and physios
• The rest of the coaching staff, albeit weakened in August.

There will also be forecasts that we will be playing in League Two next season.  All that it requires to stay up is for four teams to be worse than us and this Charlton team is good enough to finish 17th.

Some think the club would disappear, but the 24 clubs currently in League 2 manage to stay afloat as do the former EFL teams that play in the two top tiers of the non-league system.  I don't think the attendance would fall as many predict as we would win more matches.

'It's being so cheerful that keeps me going'

Few readers will remember this catchphrase from the popular Second World War comedy show 'ITMA'. However, if one was looking for the worst moaning supporters in football it would surely be Tottenham Hotspur.   After their 1--0 defeat at Bournemouth last night some of them gave 'direct feedback' to their manager.   I did enjoy beating them at White Hart Lane through a Chris Powell goal (and he was a Spurs fan).

One person I was talking to on Facebook said that all football supporters moan.   This is undoubtedly true, but some moan more than others.   Complaints at my non-league club are relatively few and far between. The manager has been in place for 15 years and has an eye for neglected talent in the non-league system which he then develops and sells on to EFL clubs for a modest fee to them but valuable to a non-league club.   Two home matches over the festive season have been chosen to be shown on domestic and international television, bringing in a useful fee.

Of course, in one sense it doesn't matter so much although it was a huge effort to get the club reborn after 13 years out of existence when the ground was built over.   Physically and socially fans are close to the players (I think Charlton fans were closer to the side put together by Curbs).   The lino can be asked whether his mum knows he is there or if he has finished his homework.  

The club relies heavily on volunteers: for example, I write for each programme and coordinate a fund raising club that gives access to a half time 'lounge' (all right, it is a portakabin but the tea and biscuits are very welcome at half time).

Above all, fans have a realistic understanding of what is possible with the current 'stadium' and funds (the local Council has promised to build an EFL standard stadium, but this is increasingly looking like a mirage).

At least we own our current ground and the training 'pitch' which is more than can be said at Charlton and remains an albatross round our neck.

More about the Lincoln game and a  likely defeat later.

A cause for celebration

We have been preoccupied in recent days with the exhaustive and exhausting debate about whether Nathan Jones should go - it is pleasing to see the Chicago Addick argue convincingly that there are some other guilty but very low profile men who must take some responsibility for the present mess.

Today is Back To The Valley day when we celebrate our return to our spiritual home.  The years that followed were heartening ones as we rebuilt the stadium and the team.  Remember Target 10,000? All leading up to the Greatest Day.

Coincidentally, I met my late wife on 5th December, obviously decades before.   She came from Thornton Heath, although her first job was in Woolwich.   Her father was Palace, but she soon became Addickted.

It's over a century now since my father starting supporting Charlton, encouraged by cousin Ted.   As an apprentice, he didn't have much money, but earned pennies for admission by looking after horses while deliveries were made.

And there the line dies out.   Our youngest did come to the Greatest Game, but is not a football fan.

My great-granddaughter lives in Spain and is thriving although puzzled by the fact that people around her speak three languages: English, Spanish and Valencian (Catalan).

Calp could call themselves sons of the rock like Dumbarton - incidentally local dialect omits the final e

Her local team would be Calp, but they had an unfortunate incident a few years back when the police staged a raid during a game and removed several illegal immigrants from the pitch.

Her mum (my granddaughter) has said she wants to go and see Real Madrid (the travel time wouldn't be much greater than that from Warwickshire to The Valley).

Getting a ticket is another issue.   I have had dinner there.  I also had an audience with the current king (then crown prince) at his palace outside Madrid.   My photo with him impresses local Galician tradesmen, but it won't get a ticket to the Bernebau.

I have come over all Acworth!

Jonathan Acworth hasn't been heard of for some time, but he was always recommending non-league players when we were in the Premier League.

However, the gap between League 1 and the non-league is not that great.  The top two tiers of the non-league system contains many talented players who were let go by top division academies.

Charlton could have had Colby Bishop for a song when he went to Accrington.  Now he is a leading player at Portsmouth.

Having grown up with Sam Bartram, I always believed in building from the back.   In my view neither of our current keepers meets the standards required.

I wasn't able to go to my non-league cup game last night as I was listening to the dross from The Valley. However,, our excellent keeper Callum 'The Hawk' Hawkins (signed from Burton Albion) was substituted just before the penalty shoot out.  The Academy keeper then won the shoot out.   Bring on Rochdale on Saturday.

Jas Singh at Tamworth is another non-league keeper I rate, but he has a good day job in insurance.

Rather than spending money on compensating Nathan Jones, I would splash out on a quality keeper.

Lacklustre Charlton fail to take off

It looked as if substitute Kanu might have saved Charlton total embarrassment against Gatwick Airport at The Valley this evening with a well-taken equaliser in the second half, but a goal keeping error by Maynard-Brewer let Crawley back into the game.

The Addicks had a half chance from a corner, but Campbell couldn’t get his foot on the ball.

Six minutes were added on to no avail, although Jones had come on.    It was all a bit scrappy.  Rob Elliot was booked.  A late corner was the last opportunity. 

It was a cold evening in SE7, a small crowd and a flat game that lacked quality with the visitors going ahead in the first half through Swan.  They had three former Addicks in their starting line-up, as well as the visiting manager.

Charlton were booed off at half time with some boos directed at manager Nathan Jones as he went down the tunnel.

Steve Brown said that the right team won, it was another lacklustre performance by Charlton.   Nathan Jones was booed by the Covered End as he applauded them.

Charlton remain 12th in a tight table, but just four points above a relegation position.

The Addicks had eleven shots, but just three on target, as against six for Crawley.   They won three corners to zero, but were unable to make use of them.   Crawley had the edge in possession.

A long-term fan from SE7 now living in South-West London commented: 'The question with NJ is does he have a plan to improve things that the owners have bought into. Do they trust him with their money? I cant see any plan. Its tinker, tinker, no idea of the best team and tactics. Not a fan of constantly changing manager but this can’t continue.'

In his post match remarks, Nathan Jones was in Welsh windbag mode, lots to say, but no real explanation to offer: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/it-was-an-edgy-night-nathan-jones-on-charlton-athletic-fans-dishing-out-the-boos-after-loss-to-crawley-town/

He might like to consider taking the walk outside the tent, but I don't think he will.   He is stubborn and would be due substantial compensation if removed.

As always, my question is, who is the quality manager who would want to take over?

Is Crawley full of Nigels?

My brother-in-law lives in Crawley and says he has no interest in football.   In fact I think he is Palace like his father which is entirely consistent with having no interest in football.

This led me to the thought that there may be quite a lot of Nigels (and Nigellas) in Crawley who have left the delights of Croydon behind after obtaining employment at Gatwick Airport.   If they are behind the check in desk, they can levy extra charges on anyone with a Brighton post code.  They might then have Crawley as a second team after Palace.

Crawley are finding life in League One a bit of struggle    They are currently 20th in the table, but are 9th in the form table while we are 17th,

Crawley's manager is one time Addick Rob Elliiot, back from the north-east and he was critical of his side's performance last Saturday in the FA Cup when they lost 3-4 at home: https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/24766112.rob-elliot-laments-poor-goals-crawley-town-exit-fa-cup/

It should be noted that seven of the players who won the play off final have left.

Pessimists say that the victory at Walsall was irrelevant, but it might have given the team some much needed confidence.   Three points tonight might move us into the top half of the table, but I am nervous about the outcome.

Cup tie lacks glamour but has its upside

Away to Preston North End is hardly a glamorous tie, but we might be able to win on penalties.   Preston are third from bottom in the Championship form table and have drawn five of their home games (won two, lost three).

I have been there with Charlton and it's a neat ground with good sightlines.  As for getting there by train being easy, it should be in principle but in practice the railways are an advert for broken Britain, only the Bundesbahn is worse.  Rick Everitt found himself in the company of a fox at St. Pancras after the Huddersfield game.  No way is it a case of letting the train take the strain.

Tottenham Hotspur have a tough task at Tamworth.  Jas Singh is an outstanding goalkeeper, but remains part-time as he has a lucrative day job.   It's a very tight ground and I watched their first round game on television.

I dreaded getting Dagenham & Redbridge.   When we were in the Premier League we drew 1-1 with them at home, Salako rescuing us with a goal.  We then had to go their grotty ground and just managed to win 1-0.  Curbs told me later that they had given us a 'torrid time'.

As the Dags are something of a second team for some West Ham supporters, the visit to Millwall should be interesting.

The key point is that if we lose to Preston there won't be headlines about our 'humiliation', although it will provide material for the moaners on social media.

BTW, Preston have been up for sale for over a year but no bidders have emerged.