Lyle Taylor was brought in by Lee Bowyer because he knew that Josh Magennis was set to leave: Replacement
Even so, the squad lacks depth, as is apparent from the start of season injury crisis and Bowyer would like to bring in another attacker.
One sceptical fan has asked why, if Magennis was leaving, he featured so heavily in our pre-season.
Patrick Bauer is staying at Charlton. Both Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers were interested in him, but could not meet Roland's asking price: Bauer
He has been offered a new contract at The Valley and is mulling it over.
Charlton have a long injury list with the start of their League One campaign less than a week away. Lyle Taylor is a serious doubt for Sunderland and Fosu and Vetokele are at least six weeks away. Clarke and Reeves are even longer. Dijksteel is still taking the tablets: Injuries
Goodness knows what side shell shocked supremo Lee Bowyer is going to put out next week.
Charlton will finish fourth in League One this season according to Four Four Two in their season preview. They will then go on to win the play offs and be promoted alongside Portsmouth and Sunderland.
The magazine says, 'The Addicks have some serious quality about them for a third tier squad and should mount a better challenge this season. The biggest threat to their progress is continued uncertainty off the pitch. Charlton did lack a consistent goal threat last season, so Lee Bowyer's decision to snap up Lyle Taylor from AFC Wimbledon represents good early business.'
Fan Lee Jarvis thinks that the season will be less successful than last, although still hopes for a top six finish.
Jake Forster-Caskey is named as key player: 'The game flows through the 24-year old, who is the Addicks' playmaker, set piece taker and leading contributor of assists.'
On the Premier League, the magazine notes, 'unless three clubs are somehow all managed by Alan Pardew at the same time, it's unlikely we'll see a trio of teams as hapless as last season's relegated batch.'
Richard Cawley of the SLP has reported that Charlton have agreed a fee with Bolton Wanderers for Josh Magennis.
As the Chicago Addick has pointed out, Magennis may not score a lot of goals, but he does bring others into play.
Lee Bowyer will be given the job of Charlton manager on a permanent basis if takeover talks are not completed by the start of the season next Saturday: Lee Bowyer
There is no sign of any progress on the takeover.
After impressing pre-season, Dillon Phillips may take the No.1 spot for Charlton. The Addicks are still in the market for a loan keeper, but the wages they were able to pay Ben Amos last season have been substantially reduced as Roland seeks economies: Keeper choice
Richard Cawley also reports that after Peterborough made a £3m transfer sale, a new bid is expected for Josh Magennis.
Kevin Cash was believed to be the man providing the funds for the owners of Charlton before Roland, but now he has been declared insolvent. He has put his Grade II listed mansion on the market for $28m to raise funds.
Birmingham-born Cash made his first millions selling frozen food. His fortunes have dwindled since he was found liable for fraudulent misrepresentation in a High Court action in February in relation to Charlton Athletic and he is said to owe more than £40 million to creditors, with HM Revenue & Customs claiming that he owes £13 million in tax.
His fourth wife is reported to have said, 'We have nothing left.'
Chris Solly is due a testimonial this year after a decade at Charlton. news that will please his No.1 fan Jonathan Acworth: Testimonial
Richard Cawley will be publishing a much longer interview with Solly in the SLP next week, this is just a taster.
Naby Sarr needs to get more aggressive if he wants more game time at Charlton Lee Bowyer has told Richard Cawley of the SLP: Needs to be more nasty
Bowyer said, 'He has it all there, we have just got to try and get it out. When we do keep-ball in training his feet are unreal for the size of him. He has all the potential and attributes.'
Bowyer reckons that Darren Pratley's 45 minute shift against Brighton showed what the player is all about: Pratley will be a hit with Charlton fans
Bowyer said that nothing is imminent on transfers.
The free WiFi has now been switched off at The Valley. Brighton fans started a chant of 'We Want Roland Out' which was applauded by Addicks fans.
With the start of the season looming, Charlton are continuing their search for a keeper. Shell shocked supremo Lee Bowyer has revealed that the Addicks were interested in George Long but he has signed up as the No.2 at Hull City: Loan keeper targets
Tariqe Fosu could be back for the Sunderland game, but Lee Bowyer is surprised by the speed with which he has recovered from an apparent hamstring injury which does not tally with his personal experience. He is going to meet the physio and the player this afternoon to try to get to the bottom of things: Quick recovery puzzle
Jason Pearce enjoys playing with Patrick Bauer, thinks they have a good defensive partnership and hopes he will stay: Centre backs
So say all of us.
Kirkwall: (dreich as they say here): Lee Bowyer has said that he expects further bids for Josh Magennis and is surprised there have not been more: Magennis
Possibly this is because his strike rate last season was not that impressive.
As the Parishes Cup gets under way in Orkney, we are the only Charltin blog to reveal that Athletico Stromness are favourites to retain the trophy.
In a long interview with Richard Cawley if the SLP Tariqe Fosu discusses last season and reckons he has to prove himself all over again: Fosu interview
Unfortunately Fosu limped off with a recurrence of his hamstring injury in the 2-0 win over Crawley Town: Hamstring problem
However, the knock that Lyle Taylpr picked up at East Grinstead Town does not appear to be too serious.
Lee Bowyer reckons that Ben Reeves is going to face a major challenge getting to match fitness after missing the pre-season programme: Reeves
Former Brighton midfielder Rohan Ince is training with Charlton with a view to signing for the club: On trial
A Chelsea academy product, he was on loan with Bury last season: Career details
Charlton are not going to sign former West Ham defender Elliott Ward, reports Richard Cawley. They have other centre back options they are pursuing.
Charlton have rejected an offer from Peterborough United for Josh Magennis. The offer did not meet their valuation: Magennis
Bolton Wanderers may revive their interest in the Northern Ireland international depending on the outcome of another bid they are making.
SLP match report here: Taylor and Forster-Caskey score
A Charlton fan who went wrote, 'The new midfielder was not involved.[Not match fit]. Charlton won 2-1 with Hamlet scoring a scorcher to equalise. Taylor took his goal well and looks sharp, Karlen "I've lost my Ahearne" Grant looked dangerous and was probably the stand out performance. He set up the 2nd goal for JF-C with an intelligent run.'
'The midfield was anonymous. Forster-Caskey was the fulcrum for the first 60 minutes and Aribo for the last 30.'
Anfernee Dijksteel has been added to the Charlton casualty list. He has pneumonia and apparently has had it all summer which raises the question why no one spotted it: Pneumonia
Darren Pratley is not available for Sunderland. He has ground to make up in terms of match fitness: Darren Pratley
Lyle Taylor has been busy talking to the press and here he says he wants Lee Bowyer to be made permanent manager at Charlton: Lyle Taylor speaks, Part 2
He also says that he will not be fazed by boo boys at Sunderland on the first day of the season, although I think they will have other things on their minds. He gives a rather opaque explanation of why he came to Charlton rather than heading oop North. I would have thought being in London had something to do with it.
Lyle Taylor scored three goals against Charlton last season and Dijksteel confessed that he hated playing against him. He also discusses his initiation song and competition for places: Lyle Taylor interview
Charlton have signed experienced midfielder Darren Pratley after he left Bolton as a free agent: Signing
Pratley started his career at Fulham: Career details
Louis Mendez tweeted, 'Another decent signing for a freebie'
He will not be fit for the Sunderland game: Ruled out
Igor Vetokele will be out until at least mid-September with a foot injury he picked up in the Welling game: Injury blow
Pre-season games may be necessary preparation, but they also come with a cost. Mind you, I can remember when they consisted of a game on the Saturday before the start of the season featuring Probables versus Possibles or Reds versus Whites.
Former Addick Ahmed Kashi has signed a two year deal with French club Troyes: Kashi
Troyes is in north-eastern France and its noted for its 400-year old Gothic cathedral. ESTAC Troyes play in Ligue 2.
CARD has called for a boycott at The Valley if Roland is still in charge when the new season kicks off: Boycott call.
I'm not personally convinced that this is a good idea. Fans are fed up with Roland, but he does want to go.
It's difficult to get reliable information on the takeover. Sources close to the Australians are claiming that it is a formality just awaiting EFL approval.
Meanwhile, Richard Cawley of the SLP has tweeted: 'Injuries have been an issue all through the Duchatelet era and 2018-19 is looking like it won't buck that trend. {As well as Vetokele] Clarke, Dijksteel and Reeves also out at the moment.'
Charlton have increased match ticket prices for the coming season and here VOTV editor Rick Everitt takes a look at the changes in detail: Price increases
Everitt notes, 'No attempt was made to explain or justify the various increases when the new rates were announced, with staff seemingly hoping that fans would fail to notice them.' Students seem to have taken a particular hit.
The £1.50 charge for printing out a ticket out at home has attracted particular criticism from fans on social media and it is difficult to see its rationale.
The first Voice of the Valley of the new season will be out on August 11th. As usual, it is possible to order online to enjoy a copy in the comfort and privacy of your own home, but mailed copies will not come with a free sachet of vinegar.
The Charlton squad needs strengthening with the opening game just three weeks away Jake Forster-Caskey tells Louis Mendez of the SLP: Hopes squad will be strengthened
Of course, he is hardly going to say that the squad needs weakening, but he does have some interesting points to make. He clearly hopes for great things from Lyle Taylor, but one swallow doesn't make a summer.
He also praises trialist Simon Dawkins and regrets the departure of Ahmed Kashi, 'a very good player.'
Career details of Dawkins, a 30-year old Jamaican international who started out at Spurs: Simon Dawkins
Just 1,020 turned up to see Charlton playing at Welling yesterday and, according to Richard Cawley, that included a number of freebies. Charlton retained the Crown Berger Cup with a 2-1 win, but apparently the cup has been lost in a cupboard somewhere, so they were playing for the Eric Brackstone trophy.
Welling took a surprise lead on six minutes when Adam Coombes found a lot of space down the right wing before firing a measured shot inside the far post. Within a minute the Addicks were level. Nicky Ajose had a shot beaten out by Wilks as far as Karlan Ahearne-Grant. His shot was pushed away by Wilks but it fell kindly for Ajose to finish from a tight angle.
Charlton had the better of the second part of the half with Wilks saving from Josh Magennis and Patrick Bauer heading over from a Simon Dawkins corner.
Bowyer put on a different eleven for the second half and they very nearly made an immediate impact when George Lapslie went down in the area but calls for a penalty were waved away. A good move involving Albie Morgan and Igor Vetokele ended up with Fosu firing over for Charlton, while Forster-Caskey was unable to score following good work by Morgan, his effort being saved comfortably.
Hopeless defending from the home side presented Charlton with a chance to go ahead but Lyle Taylor shot wide when he should have done better. He then had a powerful shot saved by Wilks before Vetokele was unable to hit the target with a header. Then 14 minutes from time Forster-Caskey's free kick looped up off the wall and found Taylor, who was just onside and bundled the ball home from close range.
Lee Bowyer has indicated that Igor Vetokele may stay for the season with finances not being an issue despite his relatively high wages: SE7 stay
Vetokele played the second half at Park View Road this afternoon and Bowyer was favourably impressed by what he saw, as well he might be.
Charlton will know by Monday whether they have made their second summer signing. The sellers have asked for another 48 hours to come to a decision: Transfer news
The Addicks retained the Crown Berger Cup (now the Eric Brackstone Trophy) with a 2-1 win over Welling United at Park View Road. However, Welling boss Steve King has claimed the second goal should not have been allowed to stand.
The Chicago Addick discusses the possible signings which he suggest are bottom of the barrel: Bottom of the barrel
The CAS Trust met earlier this week with Lieven de Turck [sic] who has the lead role in the takeover negotiations. He said that the Australian consortium had not submitted all the required documentation to the EFL. The complexity of the consortium also seemed to be an issue: More paperwork needed
It is difficult to make any sense of what is going, but what does seem to be the case is that no takeover will have taken place before the season starts. In the meantime, Lee Bowyer is constrained in preparing for the new season.
Darren Pratley and Josh Cullen are potential signings to boost Charlton's midfield, in Pratley's case on loan: Transfer mix
One fan reacted on Twitter, 'Cullen would be good, but Pratley is ****.'
Last season's Charlton goalkeeper Ben Amos is to join Millwall on a season long loan: Millwall
The move has been anticipated for some time, but Charlton still need to find an experienced keeper for the start of the season.
I went to see my doctor this afternoon and, as usual, his first question was about football. Would I be more upset if Charlton lost a key match than England? I thought it was like comparing apples and pears because at least England have given something to be proud of and celebrate. However, he said he would be more upset by a Manchester City setback.
After discussing the performances of England and Croatia, we eventually got round to my chronic Rolanditis for which he confirmed there is no known cure, but I should carry on taking the tablets for Belgian Fever to ameliorate the effects. If I felt too distressed, I should do a Neymar roll.
I then went to collect the tablets from my pharmacist who is a keen Sunderland fan and was at the Greatest Game. He reminded me of the first fixture of the season, something he thought would not have been possible two years ago. But he noted that relations between fans of the two clubs had always been friendly.
I then had to dash to the television studio to appear on France 24's evening bulletin and with my eye off the ball nearly said 'President Chump'.
Yann Kermorgant has left Reading by mutual consent with one year left on his contract. He never fully recovered from hip surgery: Kermorgant
It is thought that he is heading back to France (or Brittany) where he will be working in property management.
It is clear from this interview with Richard Cawley that Lee Bowyer has little idea about what is going on at The Valley, for example in crucial contract negotiations with Tariqe Fosu and Joe Aribo: I know nothing
It does look very likely that Patrick Bauer will leave as he wants to play at a higher level. There is also fresh interest in Magennis. Igor Vetokele is very likely to be loaned out because of his high wages.
Football may be coming home: if only Roland was going home for good
Roland Duchatelet is in talks with a club about a 'big loan signing'. It is not clear why Roland is doing it rather than Lee Bowyer, but it could involve a foreign club where Roland speaks the language. It is not, however, for a midfielder which Bowyer has identified as a key need: Big loan addition
Lee Bowyer is expecting fresh interest in Patrick Bauer and Josh Magennis this summer: Fresh interest in striker
Bowyer sees a physical centre midfielder as a priority, but admits there aren't many out there.
The shell shocked supremo said about negotiating deals, Bowyer said: 'It is very stressful. I’ve never been on the phone so much in my life. In the last five or six weeks I have been on the phone more than the last five or six years.'
'I went and met Lyle and I went and met Ogogo. Unfortunately that didn’t come off – he chose to go to Coventry. You are trying to persuade these players why we are the right club for them.'
That isn't easy with the future funding and ownership of the club so uncertain.
Lyle Taylor reveals that he turned down a bigger offer from Sunderland to come to Charlton and also talks about being discarded by Millwall: Jackett was wrong
