Millar going cuckoo?

Looks as if Liam Millar may be making a permanent move to Basel, he is keen on joining the leading Swiss club.  Nigel Adkins had hoped he might return to Charlton, but it never looked likely: https://insidefutbol.com/2021/06/27/basel-locked-in-talks-with-liverpool-to-land-charlton-athletic-target-liam-millar/515340/

Views among fans differed, although I liked him.   Switzerland is a relatively unusual destination for players from UK clubs.   As Orson Welles said, one thousand years of Swiss civilisation produced the cuckoo clock.  And a very good standard of living.

Liverpool have reportedly turned down an offer of £1m.

Will ye no come back again?

Nigel Adkins would be interested in loaning Liam Millar and Ian Maatsen again next season, although he expects them to join Championship clubs: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-certainly-interested-in-loan-returns-for-liverpool-and-chelsea-loanees/

I would be more interested in Millar, I think that Maatsen still needs quite a lot of development work.

Millar could return

Liam Millar has not ruled out a loan return to Charlton next season: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/liverpool-winger-open-to-charlton-athletic-loan-return-next-season/

Millar 'still learning'

Liam Millar is still learning his trade according to manager Nigel Adkins.   Millar and other players are getting into the final third, but there is a lot more to do: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/hes-still-learning-charlton-boss-nigel-adkins-on-liverpool-loanee-liam-millar/

Bowyer explains Millar decision

Lee Bowyer has explained that he did not start Liam Millar last night because of the threat of injury: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-boss-bowyer-starting-key-man-would-have-been-an-injury-risk-against-pompey/ 

With hindsight it might have been better to play him for the first 60 minutes than the last 45, but these decisions are never easy.  In any case, his presence might not have overcome the lack of defensive cohesion.

Maple Leaf win for Charlton

A dogged performance by Charlton saw them take three points with a 1-0 win at Stadium MK tonight on a bobbly pitch.  The winning goal was scored in the first half by Canadian starlet Liam Millar. 

Charlton remain in 6th place, Doncaster having beaten AFC Wimbledon at home.  Portsmouth lost to Lincoln and Peterborough drew.

MK Dons tried hard in the second half to confirm their status as home draw specialists, but although Charlton sometimes struggled for possession and made some sloppy clearances, they managed to withstand the pressure from the Franchisees.

Curbs selected Darren Pratley as his Man of the Match alongside Millar, saying that he had done a job for the team.  He said that it was a big win.

On three minutes Pratley won the ball well but a Stockley shot was saved.   Charlton applied some pressure and Pratley could have shot rather than passing the ball.

On 18 minutes Washington put in a good ball and Millar scored with a decisive strike.

Curbs said Charlton started well, but MK Dons started to get into the game more.  Jerome hit the post from a home corner conceded by Purrington.  Amos saved from a header after another home corner.

HT: 0-1

On 48 minutes MK Dons had a free kick in a promising position, but it came off the wall.  Conor Washington went down and had to be replaced by Schwartz.  I think we missed Washington.

Charlton had a free kick in front of the D, but Forster-Caskey's shot was just over the bar.  Millar threatened to score again, but his second touch was not as good as his first one and the keeper saved.

On 66 minutes MK Dons threatened, but Amos saved well.   Stockley, who had not been prominent, and Shinnie were replaced by Aneke and Morgan.  Apart from one attack when he was fouled, Aneke had difficulty in getting into the game.  Morgan had some nice touches.

The home side a number of corners and free kicks, but Charlton defended effectively with important contributions by Matthews and Millar.  Four minutes were added on, but the Addicks managed it well.

Desmond for Deal complained: 'Just when we think Bowyer might be shown the door, he gets one of his sneaky 1-0 away wins.'

Reporting from his living room Louis Medez tweeted: 'MK had 70% of the ball during the game but think we dealt with most of their threats, Amos only one proper save I can think of. Kept Fraser quieter considering how he ripped us apart at The Valley.'

Smiling supremo Lee Bowyer praised his side for getting back to basics: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-boss-lee-bowyer-delighted-to-see-his-side-get-back-to-basics-during-1-0-win-at-milton-keynes/

Millar 'brilliant and very sharp' says Liverpool fan

A Liverpool blog looks at Liam Millar's achievements at Charlton: https://www.rousingthekop.com/2021/01/26/brilliant-very-sharp-liam-millar-continues-to-impress-at-charlton/

In my opinion he is one of our best players, particularly when he links up with Maatsen (tonight it will be the more pedestrian Purrington).   It's a shame that our strength on the left seems to be offset by weakness on the right, particularly defensively. 

Charlton's act of piracy

A Bristol Rovers fan e-mailed me today to complain about calling his team the Gas and said they should be called the Pirates.  No doubt he will think that it was an act of piracy when Charlton took all three points at the Memorial Ground this afternoon.

A Forster-Caskey strike from the corner flag put Charlton ahead in the second half. (Steve Brown and the BBC gave it to Millar who may have got a flick on it). Albie Morgan was sent off for a second yellow, but the Addicks held on for the last ten minutes and indeed posed a threat.

A clean sheet reflected more solidity at the back with Oshilaja having a good game and he was praised by Lee Bowyer after the game.  However, Charlton did have a number of opportunities to get a bigger lead.

Man of the match: Jake Forster-Caskey.  Lee Bowyer said, 'He's driving us in the middle of the park.'

Lee Bowyer told Scott Minto: 'It was very good today, very professional, we looked solid, everyone put a good shift in.  If you want to be picky, we should have scored more.'

Bowyer said of Morgan, 'He's 21, he's learning the game, he's trying to compete and fighting, but today he was a little over the top.'

Bowyer said, 'We should enjoy this moment and move on', emphasising the tough test against Peterborough on Tuesday which would be a very different game.

Charlton are in 6th place, but on the same number of points as Peterborough and Doncaster Rovers above them.

Match report

The game had a rather untidy start, but Rovers were showing some urgency and clearly looking for an early goal.  However, the back four looked solid and the midfield moved back quickly to protect them.

On 10 minutes Aneke didn't make the connection with the ball he wanted and scuffed it wide.  Oshilaja provided good cover against Hanlon.   A Rovers free kick was well defended.  A great Forster-Caskey ball won Charlton a corner.

On 21 minutes a great Maatsen ball gave Aneke an opportunity but his effort was just wide.  Following a Charlton corner, Forster-Caskey put the ball wide.  On 27 minutes Hanlon shot wide in what was really the first chance for the hone side.

Amos caught a Rovers corner.   He then spilt the ball, but referee Peter Wright, in charge of Charlton for the first time, ruled that he was fouled.  Good work by Aneke saw Forster-Caskey put the ball over the bar.

Amos stretched out a leg to save a shot from McCormick.

Steve Brown thought that Charlton were open and stretched towards the end of the half.  He also thought that Conor Washington did not do enough with the ball.

Charlton had had plenty of possession, but their final ball let them down.

HT: 0-0

It was end to end start, but the Addicks won three corners.   However, they were taken short and I think that this rarely works.  When Forster-Caskey whacked it in on 63 minutes we got the goal.

Rovers fought back strongly and Charlton struggled to clear their lines.  The Addicks made a triple substitution, in part with the Peterborough game in mind.  Aneke, Washington and Williams went off.  Bogle, Smyth and Schwartz came on.

Schutlz and Bogle advanced on goal, but the Dane managed to trip up.  Morgan got a second yellow for an unnecessary challenge off the ball.

Bogle was creative in the closing phase of the match.  Gilbey, who had come on a substitute, won an important free kick for Charlton.

Six minutes added on created a nervous atmosphere, but Charlton retained control.

Rovers manager Paul Tisdale feels that he was let down by his defence: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/its-a-soft-soft-goal-bristol-rovers-boss-paul-tisdale-unhappy-at-charltons-winner/

Leading Bowyer critic Desmond from Deal said: 'Just when we think Bowyer's days are numbered, he sneaks a lucky win.'

Crazy Valley

I have seen 4-4 draws at The Valley before, ones against Norwich and Millwall come to mind.   Once again sloppy defending meant that Charlton could only secure a point.

2-4 down at half time, the second half was much better with the team boosted by Schwartz coming on.  When Charlton equalised there were hopes of a 5-4, but Rochdale managed to slow the game down and then threatened to score themselves.   The Addicks looked vulnerable after Pearce was sent off by referee Kettle for a second yellow which gives us even more central defence problems against the Gas on Saturday.

We should have been prepared for Rochdale to be a threat as away from home they have won four and lost five, scoring 16 and conceding 15.  They are a young, aggressive side and their more talented players were given acres of space.  Once again the midfield seemed to evaporate as they surged forward.   I would excuse Forster-Caskey from criticism as he had an effective game, scoring a deflected goal.

Aneke lasted the distance, scored two goals and was a constant worry to Rochdale.   He could have got his hat trick after some great approach work by Millar.  Schwartz showed he is a striker with his goal.  Millar showed real skill and attracted man marking from the visitors.

We had 11 corners to Rochdale's 4, but we rarely pose a threat from them.  I also think we don't have the skill to take short corners.

Bowyer has held his hands up for playing Smyth at right wing back.

Curbs said that if we were going to have a blip it was better to have it now.

Can we please sort out the video feed?  It was a nightmare before the start and in the opening minutes, reinforcing the impression that this was a National League match.

Defensive woes continue

Two goals by former Leamington ace Colby Bishop saw Charlton defeated 0-2 by Accrington Stanley at The Valley with the snow falling this evening.   Both goals were avoidable and the result of poor defending but Bishop showed composure in scoring them.

At the other end there was just not enough creativity and pressure by Charlton to create sufficent scoring opportunities.   The Addicks have not kept a clean sheet for seven games.

Before the game I wrote about Bishop: 'Colby Bishop has scored 42 goals for Accrington since joining them from the Brakes in 2019 for an undisclosed fee.   He was a formidable force with an eye for goal when he was at Leamington and Accrington scouts have been at Harbury Lane for the last few home games eyeing another likely recruit, given how their investment in Bishop paid off.'

Charlton looked as if they might pose an early threat, but Accrington were soon on top.  The visitors were given too much room in central midfield.

The Addicks did win a succession of corners, but they were unproductive.   Baxter in the Accrington goal had to parry a shot from the lively Millar.   Baxter saved well from Forster-Caskey.

The first goal was Route One with a long goal kick not being dealt with by Pearce who got his header to Amos wrong.  It was then an easy finish for Bishop as excited Leamington fans tweeted 'He loves scoring in front of the Sky cameras.'

A Gilbey shot was blocked and a Forster-Caskey effort was over the bar.   It could be argued that the two sides were level in the first half.  As Richard Cawley noted, Charlton had one or two very good chances, but they had been easily cut open.

HT: 0-1

Aneke was brought on for Washington after the break, but this time the super sub had relatively little impact.  Morgan, who had picked up a yellow card, put in a good shot amid a crowd of players after great work by Maatsen, but the ball was deflected and a free kick followed.   Maatsen then had to deal with a threatening attack by Accrington at the expense of a corner.

Millar and Morgan were taken off for Maddison and Williams as Bowyer rang the changes.  But all hope of a Charlton revival largely ended when Bishop made it 2-0 with an easy finish after poor defending by Oshilaja who had also been at fault early in the first half.

Charlton were not able to win the ball enough and were not creating enough chances, although a good ball from Maddison won the Addicks a corner.   In desperation Bowyer took off Smyth and called Schwartz away from his bench warming duties.

A ball from Oshilaja caused defensive confusion, but Amos coped well.  An over eager Maatsen got a yellow card.

A further blow saw Maddison on the floor after he got his foot stuck in the turf.  He hobbled away and Purrington came on.   Asked if he was seriously injured, Bowyer replied: '"I don't know. I don't care. You've got a player who is jumping out of tackles and then he says he got a knock before that. If you do that again then you're done.'

In time added on a Forster-Caskey shot was palmed away and a Charlton corner was cleared off the line.

Charlton are now down to 7th, having been overtaken by Accrington Stanley.

Report from Louis Mendez: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-0-accrington-stanley-2-addicks-run-of-poor-results-continues/

Welcome Liam Millar

The deal was done yesterday, but was announced today.  His father was on Charlton's books as a youngster.  Thomas Sandgaard thought it was important to get moving at the start of the transfer window: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-complete-loan-deal-for-highly-rated-liverpool-attacker-liam-millar/

We will have to see if his promise is fulfilled, but he is a possible summer signing.

Liverpool player interests Bowyer

Hopefully, Lee Bowyer had an enjoyable birthday yesterday with his family with the attention directed at Frank Lampard.   At least Thomas Sandgaard has not spent as much money as Roman Abramovich.   Mind you, he usually ends up spending a lot of money sacking managers.

Lee Bowyer has confirmed that he has an interest in Liverpool winger Liam Millar who is seen as a stand in/replacement for Alfie Doughty: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-boss-lee-bowyer-confirms-interest-in-liverpool-winger/

I can't remember when we last had a Canadian player at Charlton.   Don't confuse him with the Irish professional footballer of the same name.

He has had a loan spell at Kilmarnock: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liam_Millar

Update: Richard Cawley has confirmed he will be signing today.

Meanwhile, other clubs are interested in Boreham Wood ace Sorba Thomas: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-boss-bowyer-were-not-only-club-who-admire-boreham-wood-ace/

As someone involved in non-league football.  At Leamington we have something of a production line for EFL clubs from the Championship to League Two, not least Friday's opponents Accrington Stanley.  At a recent game there were  almost as many scouts as 'stewards', and there was a sudden revving up of engines in the car park when the hot player of the moment came off.