Southampton are the latest club reported to be interested in securing Joe Aribo's signature. They can join a queue made up of Celtic, Rangers, Arsenal and Manchester City (the last two as an occasional bench warmer). He may yet end up in the Bundesliga which might be his best bet in career development terms: Joe Aribo
Lee Bowyer would like to keep him, but we may see his silky skills for the last time at Wembley.
The rumour mill has linked Joe Aribo with a move to Manchester City, but just as a squad player undertaking occasional bench warming duties. The question has also been posed, is he now good enough for Arsenal? Aribo transfer
I think he would be better off going to the Bundesliga and getting regular first team game time. Even if we go up, I doubt whether the out of contract player will stay at Charlton.
Lyle Taylor scored his 10th goal in 11 games. How much we owe him.
Charlton took a 2-1 lead back to The Valley after the first leg of their play off final against Doncaster Rovers this afternoon in front of a crowd of 11,140, including 3,688 Addicks. Doncaster started well and were looking for an early goal, but then two goals in two minutes from Taylor and Aribo put Charlton ahead before the break.
Charlton had to defend more in the second half as they tried to hold on to their lead, although Taylor nearly made it 3-0.
However, the Addicks were tiring in the last ten minutes and Donny got a goal back on 87 minutes.
Bauer, Sarr, Aribo and Taylor were excellent throughout, as was Morgan until he was substituted.
As Richard Cawley has pointed out, The Valley has been a stronghold for Charlton since October so we can be optimistic without being over confident.
Donny started on the front foot and were determined not to give Charlton an inch in midfield. Parker but the ball in the net with a cool finish, but was judged to have fouled a defender. Charlton showed good composure and were good on the break. However, overall, it was rather scrappy in the early exchanges.
Donny threatened with the evergreen Coppinger who put a shot across the front of goal. The tireless Taylor had to track back to defend. However, Charlton withstood the onslaught from the home side.
On 17 minutes Purrington put in a cross, but Aribo's shot was blocked. Parker headed wide Charlton's best chance up to that point in the game, making use of a great ball in from The Cat.
A long range shot from Coppinger saw Phillips save at full stretch. The corner was dealt with. Bauer was booked for a foul on Maquis. It seemed a bit soft, but it was really the result of his attention to the centre forward throughout the game to that point. It was just one foul too many.
Donny had a chance to go ahead when they hit the bar from an Andrew free kick. The keeper saved well from Taylor. On 31 minutes Charlton had their first corner of the game. A brilliant ball from the excellent Morgan found Cullen at the far post clearly onside and Taylor was able to put the ball in the net.
On 34 minutes Charlton tore the Doncaster defence to shreds. Aribo picked his spot well and Marosi could only manage a weak touch as the ball went into the net to make it 0-2.
The Addickted broke into a chant of 'Marquis, what's the score?' Lee Bowyer was a smiling supremo on the touchline. Marosi managed to tip over an effort from Morgan. The Addickted serenaded Maquis what a chorus of 'You're just a s*** Andy Carroll.
Half time: Donny 0, Addicks 2
Coppinger was taken off at half time for Rowe. Cullen had to clear off the line from a Donny corner with Maquis threatening. The start of the second half was quieter than the first half.
A Donny free kick on the edge of the box hit the wall and deflected for a corner which was headed wide. However, Charlton were under a bit of pressure.
On 61 minutes a superb and disappointed Morgan was taken off, but Pratley was needed for his physical presence and to provide a stronger defensive shield. On 65 minutes Parker, who had worked hard, was replaced by Pearce. Blogger Hungry Ted commente, 'Got to say it, Parker’s endless running off the ball pulled their defence all over the place. May not get the credit he deserves without the goals to his name, but played a huge part today.' Apparently, he came off because he had cramp.
Bielik moved into the defensive midfield position. However, it was still three at the back for Charlton.
On 74 minutes Aribo set up Cullen but his header was tipped round the post. On 86 minutes Aribo put in a good cross and the goal was gaping, but it was just over Taylor's head.
On 87 minutes Donny scored through Blair, a scrambled goal that took advantage of a deflected cross. There were fears that Charlton would concede a second late goal, but Bauer cleared a Donny corner. Two minutes into time added on Leeds loan player Wilks volleyed over. Charlton won a late corner to ease the pressure.
There was a tunnel jump by Lyle Taylor to celebrate the success of the boys in yellow and blue.
Serene supremo Lee Bowyer said that he was happy to back to The Valley with a lead, adding that the Doncaster goal was rather fortuitous: Satisfied
Before the match we were calculating all sorts of permutations about the play offs, thinking that the most likely outcome was 4th or 5th. In the end a dominant performance saw a 4-0 win over Rochdale to produce a 3rd place finish and a semi-final against Doncaster. Hopefully, Charlton have come into form at the right time and enter the play offs with momentum. However, sagacious supremo Lee Bowyer has warned that good results against Donny in the season will count for nothing in the play offs: Cautious Bowyer
Lee Bowyer hopes to have Igor Vetokele back from injury for the play offs, just as well given another less impressive performance by Parker: Vetokele
At the end of the game the players came on to the pitch to accept the plaudits of the crowd, the star being Lyle Taylor's nephew who scored at both ends of the pitch. Lee Bowyer made an inspiring talk thanking the fans.
Joe Aribo, Calvin Andrew's own goal, Lyle Taylor and Krystian Bielik did the damage and results elsewhere meant the Addicks climbed from fifth.
Aribo and Taylor each squandered two early opportunities apiece for the hosts before the breakthrough arrived in the 19th minute. Taylor burst through on goal and was denied by Dale keeper Josh Lillis, only for the loose ball to be teed up by Josh Parker for Aribo to fire home a curling shot. It was a good strike from the increasingly impressive player.
Dillon Phillips had to be alert to tip over Callum Camps' 25-yard effort, but it was the Addicks who doubled their advantage after 32 minutes. Taylor whipped in a cross from the right which the visiting defence failed to deal with and the unfortunate Andrew ended up putting the ball into his own net. At first the goal was attributed to Purrington, but he did not celebrate it so I could not deploy 'The Cat uses his claws' headline.
Taylor put the outcome beyond doubt five minutes before the break by latching on to Albie Morgan's excellent pass (he had a good game throughout) and slotting past Lillis. The roles were reversed in the second half when Taylor turned provider only for Morgan to fire into the side-netting. Moments later Parker fired wide from six yards with the goal at his mercy after Lillis had parried out Taylor's drive.
But Charlton's second-half dominance was rewarded 15 minutes from time as the impressive Bielik drilled in the fourth after exchanging passes with Morgan. Taylor was withdrawn a few minutes before the end, allowing the referee to shake his hand and pat him on the back.
The report from Louis Mendez is here: Final day stroll
Charlton won at Gillingham this afternoon for the first time in nearly forty years, defeating the Gills 2-0 in front of 2,306 Addicks enjoying the amenities of the temporary stand. It was the sixth clean sheet in eight games for the Addicks. Victory was achieved without Lyle Taylor and Patrick Bauer who were left out after picking up minor knocks.
On 19 minutes a last minute challenge from one time Addick Fuller denied Williams. Two minutes later Phillips tipped the ball over after an angled shot from Campbell.
Shortly afterwards Aribo made it 1-0 to the Addicks. A Purrington cross hit a defender. Phillips had to fist away a corner.
Sarr hit the crossbar with a ball from a corner. Then on 41 minutes Cullen scored his first Addicks goal. A Williams shot was spilt by Holy and Cullen scored from six yards.
On 55 minutes Vetokele was denied when he was one on one with the keeper and another shot deflected for a corner. Two minutes later a close range effort from Purrington was save by Holy.
On 78 minutes Williams was replaced by Parker to some boos from the home crowd. He managed to give the ball away twice in his first five minutes on the pitch.
Morgan replaced Lapslie on 86 minutes. Cullen headed over from an Aribo cross when he should have made it 3-0.
Elsewhere Luton lost at Burton, allowing Barnsley to draw level with them on points after a home win over Blackpool. Portsmouth and Sunderland drew and Doncaster managed an away draw at Oxford.
The report from Louis Mendez can be found here: Another clean sheet
Charlton demolished Scunthorpe United 4-0 at The Valley this afternoon. The Addicks remain 5th in the table, two points behind Sunderland who drew at Peterborough but have a game in hand.
The Addicks opened the scoring on 24 minutes when Dijksteel netted his first Charlton goal by meeting Taylor's delightful pass before drilling a low angled drive past Jak Alnwick. Scunthorpe's Adam Hammill should have done a lot better when placing a 38th-minute shot well wide and only an excellent Dillon Phillips save prevented George Thomas from equalising.
Former Addick Lee Novak fired into the side-netting early in the second period, a miss he and the Iron were left to rue when Charlton doubled their advantage as Ben Reeves whipped in a corner and Aribo climbed highest to head home on 57 minutes. Aribo turned provider six minutes later by finding Vetokele, who coolly slotted a low shot beyond Alnwick.
Things went from bad to worse for Scunthorpe in the 66th minute as Taylor scored with a spectacular free-kick which flew into the top corner.
The report from Louis Mendez is here: Addicks smash sorry Scunny
Reports from more than source are stating that Arsenal want to sign Joe Aribo on a free transfer in the summer: Joe Aribo
Benfica and Eintracht Frankfurt are also said to be interested.
Bowyer has insisted that Aribo want to stay and that his agent is stoking up the press stories. However, a lot seems to depend on Charlton gaining promotion: Bowyer's reaction
Portsmouth may have HMS Victory in the Royal Dockyard, but Charlton secured a convincing 2-1 win over Pompey at The Valley yesterday evening - and in front of the television cameras. Charlton are now eight points ahead of Doncaster.
We played some really fluent football at times, although we did sometimes unnecessarily give away possession. Bielik having to go off injured at half time was a blow. As the game entered its closing phase, the midfield seem to be losing energy and it was all a bit harum scarum in the closing minutes. I don't think that Vetokele contributed all that much and he got out muscled at times.
The excellent Joe Aribo fired the Addicks ahead four minutes before the break, only to see that effort cancelled out by Ronan Curtis on the stroke of half-time. But Taylor was ideally placed to sweep home what turned out to be the winner after 51 minutes as the fifth-placed Addicks closed the gap on fourth-placed Pompey to just two points.
Charlton spurned a host of chances before finally getting on the scoresheet as Josh Cullen was initially denied what looked a certain 20th-minute opener when Vetokele was unfortunately placed to block his goal-bound effort. An unmarked Aribo then headed off target from a corner, Taylor blazed over from long range and Cullen made a poor connection with Vetokele's pass as the Addicks pressed but without reward.
After Craig MacGillivray was forced into a save by another Taylor attempt from outside the box, there was nothing the Pompey keeper could do to prevent the hosts from going in front four minutes before the break. After Cullen picked out Aribo inside the box, the midfielder then took two touches before drilling an angled low shot from eight yards into the bottom corner of the net.
But parity was restored on the stroke of half-time when Curtis rose at the back post to meet a Lee Brown corner and power home an unstoppable header past Dillon Phillips.
Early in the second half Curtis again had the ball in the back of the net, only to be correctly adjudged for offside before Charlton restored their lead in the 51st minute. The officials had a decent game, with the referee giving Pompey some deserved yellow cards.
Substitute Ben Reeves teed up Taylor and the Addicks striker made no mistake with the simplest of close-range finishes. Phillips then produced a decent stop to keep out a dipping volley from Curtis, while Tariqe Fosu (who had come on in place of Williams who had hamstring trouble) came close for Charlton with a dangerous shot that sailed inches over.
The Addicks were almost pegged back again on 83 minutes when Jamal Lowe played the ball across the face of goal but Curtis was just unable to apply a finishing touch. Pompey substitute Brett Pitman then saw a curling effort fly inches over, while Lowe's stoppage-time time strike was blocked as Charlton bravely held on.
This was a day to forget Roland's depredations and enjoy the spectacle on the pitch. I accompanied the drum up the road as the relatively new Charlton song was sung. It all kicked off by the station with the police pushing the crowd back.
George Lapslie has signed a contract until 2021, but Lee Bowyer is desperate to secure the signature of Joe Aribo who impressed on Saturday: Aribo an urgent priority
Lee Bowyer is targeting a free agent striker. He is good quality and was out of Charlton's price range, but his recent release has made him available: Bowyer has striker in his sights
One possibility is Joe Mason recently released by Wolves, but Plymouth are chasing him and he was born there: Career details
Bowyer is uncertain whether Vetokele will be able to start on Saturday: Chances of a start
Joe Aribo has had a setback.
Joe Aribo is a saleable asset and his knee injury probably kept him from going in the January transfer window according to Lee Bowyer: Injury ended risk of exit
Here are some of the free agents that Charlton could consider signing: Desperate times
Dillon Phillips is expected to sign a new deal soon and Joe Aribo and George Lapslie are also expected to sign contract extensions: Contract extensions
However, it has been confirmed that there is no future for Nicky Ajose at The Valley.
Jamie Ward heads back to Nottingham Forest on January 1st and whether he returns depends on how big a percentage of his salary Nottingham Forest want as there are limits to what Charlton can afford: Ward's future uncertain
Charlton urgently need reinforcements in the January transfer window with Joe Aribo likely to be out for some time, but it is far from certain whether Roland will loosen the purse strings: Urgent need for signings
'It's Blackpool all over again,' commented VOTV editor Rick Everitt as I left the Ricoh Arena after this afternoon's 2-1 defeat by Coventry City, the same score they secured against us at The Valley. What he meant that was that we had once again conceded a late goal. But the fact of the matter was that our performance throughout was not good enough. Coventry worked hard, but were just that: workmanlike.
Charlton remain fourth but are only one point ahead of Saturday's opponents Barnsley who beat Peterborough who are now two points behind the Addicks.
Dujon Sterling had to make a brilliant goal-saving tackle in the 23rd minute when Nicky Ajose was played through.
We used a get out of gaol card in the first half when the Sky Blues could have been awarded a penalty, after a Patrock Bauer foul for which he was booked, indeed we thought it was just inside, but the referee bottled it, perhaps because he had ignored a Coventry foul just beforehand.
Steer was able to tip the ball over from the free kick. Charlton went close six minutes before the break but Lee Burge saved well from Lyle Taylor's shot. Coventry went ahead just before the break, when Hiwula headed past Steer.
Darren Pratley equalised for us on 58 minutes, taking advantage of a flick on from Bauer in a crowded box. We then had ten minutes or so when we looked threatening. Burge gathered Karlan Grant's low cross after the lively Mark Marshall found a way into the box.
However, after this spell of pressure we seemed to settle for the draw. The fact that both centre backs were carrying yellow cards may explain their failure to get a challenge in for the winning Coventry goal on 88 minutes when Bayliss fired past Steer.
Wiser heads around raised the question of whether Lee Bowyer had selected the right system and tactics, but what was revealed once more was the thinness of the squad. Aribo was not available due to a knee injury which looks like it will be longer than two weeks. The lack of a left back was once again apparent, but we were vulnerable on both flanks and generally lacked width.
Karlan Grant was seen undergoing an fitness test before kick off. He had another one at half time and then came on to replace Ajose. The game benefitted from his positional sense, but he was clearly not fully fit. The subsequent substitute who made a difference was Mark Marshall with his energy and ability to get forward. It was his free kick which set up the Charlton goal.
Lyle Taylor could have picked up a red for a challenge towards the end of the game, but after the referee consulted the linesman he got a yellow, his eighth of the season.
In the five minutes of time added on a clash of heads led to a long delay with George Lapslie led off the field with a bandaged head. His second concussion will surely mean he is not available for a couple of games. The Coventry player had to be stretchered off and hopefully he is ok.
Report from Louis Mendez here: Boxing Day defeat
Shell shocked supremo Lee Bowyer admits that the busy Christmas schedule is taking its toll on his injury ravaged squad: Taking its toll
With six months left on his contract at Charlton, Joe Aribo is free to sign pre-contract agreements in January. With Benfica and Frankfurt among the clubs interested, it looks as if the Bundesliga will be his new home: Bundesliga move
As the article points out, the talented youngster has been a victim of Roland's penny pinching.
December has been a bleak month for Charlton in recent years and it started with a 2-1 late defeat at Blackpool which saw Charlton fall out of the play off places to 7th.
Blackpool enjoyed the better chances in the first half when Charlton were lacklustre and led after 16 minutes, with Armand Gnanduillet turning home Liam Feeney's cross from close range. They then came close to extending their lead on 32 minutes, as former Addick Joe Dodoo forced Jed Steer into a sprawling save following a counter attack.
Despite struggling to make inroads in the first half, Charlton made an impact after the break, with Joe Aribo tapping home at the far post ten minutes after the restart. The Addicks went from strength to strength in the second period, with Karlan Grant flashing an effort just wide of Mark Howard's post on 78 minutes. The home side scored the winner on 87 minutes.
Sand blasted supremo Lee Bowyer thought that a refereeing decision affected the course of the game with Curtis Tilt not sent off for a second bookable offence: Referee changed course of game
The report from Louis Mendez is here: Late defeat
Lee Bowyer has been nominated for League One manager of the month for November, his second nomination this season.
During the month he shepherded Charlton into the playoff positions with four wins from four games. The Addicks scored nine goals and conceded just two in the process.
Joe Aribo has been nominated for PFA Fans Player of the Month.
Charlton need to stay focused says Saturday's man of the match Joe Aribo: Aribo interview
Aribo said, 'We were good in spells in the game but at times showed we have to dig in and get the result. that’s what we did, we grinded and stayed as a unit. Sometimes you have to win ugly. Sometimes it can feel like that when you’re leading. It feels so easy and like you can take more risks. That doesn’t help us. It gives the opposition a chance to get back into the game as we’re making mistakes.
I felt that on Saturday it wasn't so much risk taking as rather tepid play after the first goal was scored. The crowd was also rather flat.
Southampton may renew the interest they showed in Aribo over the summer when they hoped to secure his signature for less than £1m as part of Roland's fire sale.
George Lapslie and Reeco Hackett-Fairchild (a cameo appearance on Saturday) are ready to sign new contracts: Contract extensions
Charlton regained 6th place on goal difference in League One with a 3-1 victory over Bristol Rovers at The Valley this afternoon. The win was achieved without talisman Lyle Taylor. However, Patrick Bauer started his first game after his return frominjury.
Jamie Ward, Joe Aribo and Karlan Grant were all on target as Charlton collected a third straight League One victory. Ward's impressive early opener was cancelled out by Joe Martin's stunning 30th-minute equaliser, a fierce shot from distance. After the Ward goal, the game went a bit flat and Charlton failed to threaten. Bilik was prone to give away possession.
But Aribo's header just before the interval, after a scramble following a corner put the Addicks back in front. Grant wrapped it up in stoppage time when he was put clear on goal to complete the simplest of finishes.
The Addicks broke the deadlock in the 10th minute. Jed Steer's long clearance was latched on to by Ward, who burst through on goal before coolly lofting the ball over advancing Rovers keeper Jack Bonham.
Rovers should have been back on terms but Tom Nichols was just unable to apply a vital touch to Stefan Payne's dangerous low cross. The Gas have been criticised by their manager for not being clinical in their finishing and they wasted a number of chances throughout the game.
Martin drilled an unstoppable left-footed effort from 20 yards beyond the reach of Steer on the half-hour mark. With their tails now up, Liam Sercombe tried a long-range volley that flew just off target and then Steer produced an excellent reaction save from Ollie Clarke.
Nicky Ajose was denied at the other end by Bonham moments later and saw a free-kick deflected inches wide of the post just before the break. Rovers' hopes of going in level were cruelly dashed on the stroke of half-time as some sloppy defending was punished by Aribo's close-range header to restore the Addicks' advantage.
Patrick Bauer headed wide after the restart and Ajose was just behind Ward's inviting pull back on the hour as Charlton looked to move further clear. When former Leamington ace Alex Rodman was brought on a substitute, the Gas upped their game. Charlton were put under quite a bit of pressure and at times seemed to be defending too deep. Steer had to be alert to deal with Sercombe's volley at the other end and the Rovers midfielder blazed an effort well off target four minutes from time.
The Gas hoped they could score from a corner and keeper Bonham decided to come up to add his shooting skills. Grant waited up field and capitalised on Bonham's decision to go up for a corner when he was set clear to fire into an empty net.
Rovers looked like relegation fodder, but they still need to be beaten. Solly had a good game. The lively and skilled Aribo got the man of the match award and was star man for the Football League Paper.
Lee Bowyer reckons that Charlton made it more difficult that it needed to be for themselves and that they missed Lyle Taylor: We deserved to win
Match report from Louis Mendez here: Third straight win
That is the headline on a feature on Joe Aribo in the Football League Paper today. He also selected as 'man of the match' against Doncaster.
Sam Parker (former Swindon striker and BBC London pundit) writes, 'Charlton's front two have rightly received a lot of plaudits in the opening months of the season … But it wasn't the deadly strike duo that I was talking about when I made my way home [after the Barnsley game]. Midfielder Joe Aribo continues to excite me every time I see him play.'
'I'd be astonished if he's not being monitored by football clubs higher up the ladder.' [Well, if they weren't before now, this article will draw Aribo to their attention. He could well be number one item in the shop window for Roland's January fire sale. He has eight months left on his contract.]
Aribo came to Charlton in 2016 from Staines Town through a connection with Jason Euell. Parker continues, 'Aribo is an elegant midfielder with great balance and an ability to take people on. He's got a lovely left foot and is very reliable in possession, often manoeuvring himself out of very congested areas.' [I saw examples of this skill yesterday]. His greatest asset is his ability to travel with the ball and drive the team up the pitch. Against the Tykes, he played on the left of a midfield diamond and was impressive throughout.'
'He fits into the current system perfectly, giving them balance slightly to the left [which we need] and has the capacity to contribute both going forward and defensively. With his flair and quick feet he could be a threat further up the pitch as a number ten.' [Worth considering with Taylor unavailable].'
Johnnie Jackson recently told Parker that Aribo 'can go right to the top.' This probably means he is another talent whose progress we will watch from afar.
