Nigel Adkins has remained sphinx like on the reasons for the departure of Ronnie Schwartz: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-boss-reacts-to-ronnie-schwartzs-departure/
It's an unfortunate episode which no doubt he wants to put behind him as he focuses on an important fixture at Lincoln.
Happy 50th birthday to the 'Tank', Jorge Costa, a great player. He never did like Millwall. I remember bidding a fond farewell to him at Old Trafford in an end of the season 0-0.
Charlton and Ronnie Schwartz have mutually agreed to cancel his contract. Most fans will greet this news with a sigh of relief. It simply didn't work for him or us and I hope he is able to reboot his career.
Richard Cawley reviews his time at Charlton here: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/striker-ronnie-schwartz-released-early-from-his-charlton-athletic-contract/
Jersey: Ronnie Schwartz and Ryan Inniss are out for two months with injury reports Richard Cawley. The loss of Schwartz is no big deal given that he has never really arrived, but Inniss is more of a setback. Thank goodness we signed Lavalle.
Full story here: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/injury-setback-for-charlton-as-ryan-inniss-and-ronnie-schwartz-both-sidelined-for-months/
Speaking after tonight's 6-1 victory over Crawley in the Papa Johns Trophy, Johnnie Jackson discussed the situation of Ronnie Schwartz who did not appear, saying that he was behind with his training: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/johnnie-jackson-answers-question-on-ronnie-schwartzs-continued-absence-from-charlton-side-after-striker-not-involved-during-efl-trophy-clash/
Josh Davison scored two goals. Report here: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/mason-burstow-debut-goal-tops-off-charltons-papa-johns-trophy-thrashing-of-crawley-town/
The game time of Ryan Inniss is being managed says Nigel Adkins: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/nigel-adkins-explains-reasons-for-withdrawals-of-conor-washington-and-ryan-inniss-during-milton-keynes-defeat/
Meanwhile, Ronnie Schwartz managed 45 minutes in a behind close doors under 23 game with Dulwich Hamlet.
Ryan Inniss will play 60 minutes at Fulham on Saturday as part of his carefully managed return after he put in a good session at training yesterday says Nigel Adkins: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/nigel-adkins-explains-absence-of-charlton-defender-ryan-inniss-during-pre-season-draw-at-palace/
Ben Watson has been making progress and Ronnie Schwartz has been 'running around a bit'.
The future of trialist Madger Gomes is uncertain after he played at Palace last night, although Adkins made some supportive comments. Fans' reactions were mixed from 'useful squad player' to 'wouldn't be disappointed if he didn't come: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/nigel-adkins-has-say-on-trialist-madger-gomes-with-former-doncaster-mans-charlton-future-still-up-in-the-air/
Ben Purrington will miss the first game of the season with a hamstring injury. Chris Gunter played at left back last night.
Ronnie Schwartz will be returning late to training at Charlton because of a personal issue that has detained him in Denmark. The nature of the issue is unspecified, but he did find separation from his family difficult: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-boss-nigel-adkins-explains-late-return-to-training-for-ronnie-schwartz/
There is speculation that he may move on, possibly a return to Denmark.
Nigel Adkins also discusses tomorrow's friendly against Celtic. Charlton will field a different team in each half and it will provide an opportunity for younger players.
If you are hoping to attend the rearranged Crown Berger cup match at Welling United, please note that their site temporarily crashed under the weight of demand but is now up and running again.
Benjy Nurick takes a look at who Charlton should keep over the summer (not many according to some fans): https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/whos-staying-whos-going-and-what-business-do-charlton-need-to-do-in-the-transfer-window-answering-the-crucial-questions-after-charlton-failed-to-make-the-league-one-play-offs/
Few would disagree with his assessment that the Ronnie Schwartz experiment has failed. He will, however, not be easy to offload because of his age and his contract (and, although Nurick doesn't say this, because he isn't very good).
The Oxford keeper saved a Ronnie Schwartz penalty to deny Charlton all three points at the Kassim Stadium this afternoon. It was difficult to argue, however, that 0-0 was an unfair result. Both mid-table sides showed a lack of quality.
Personally I would have had Shinnie or Stockley take the penalty.
It wasn't quite a question of watching paint dry, but of watching cars drive at Oxford's empty end. I have an interest in Oxford Pet Whisperers and it would have been a good game for them to sponsor with their 'no barking' policy.
Lee Bowyer said it was mixed emotions, 'the game's crazy.' He continued, 'They battled, they looked solid defensively, there wasn't much in the game at all.' He added, 'Connor is the penalty taker, he came off, I know that Ronnie has taken a lot of penalties, he's very good in practice. He normally goes a bit higher than he did there. I would trust him to take another one.'
Bowyer said that if he had one criticism it was that Charlton got into some good areas but the next pass or the second pass was sloppy, ''we should have done better in the final third.'
Curbs said that the need was to get the balance right between the defensive mentality and that aggressiveness.
Charlton remain 9th, four points behind Portsmouth in 6th place.
Match report
The side was unchanged from Wigan and Lee Bowyer said that it was the easiest decision he had made all season.
Millar received an early yellow card for stopping a promising attack. With the keeper way out of his goal, Washington needed a better touch to control the ball.
On 16 minutes Matthews had to be replaced by Gunter because of a muscle injury.
On 22 minutes Forster-Caskey (making his 100th appearance for Charlton) was fed by Millar, but it was an acute angle and his effort went over.
Oxford were finding some space on their right while Steve Brown said our crosses and finishes had to be better.
Just after the half hour a Forster-Caskey header was just over after good work by Gunter.
From the 40 minute mark there was a spell of sustained Oxford pressure and Steve Brown noted that our marking was not good. Aneke got a yellow card for making contact with Atkinson.
The half time stats showed one shot on target for Oxford and none for Charlton. Curbs noted on half time, 'We've got our defensive heads on, but it may take away from our attacking side.'
Aneke was sensibly replaced by Stockley after the break. On 61 minutes Ford hit the inside of the post for Oxford. Charlton then had a break, but Millar's effort was wide.
On 77 minutes Bowyer made a triple substitution. Washington (not making a real difference), Smith (tiring) and Watson (yellow card) went off. Shinnie, Schwartz and DJ came on.
Oxford had another late flurry. Then in the three minutes added on, we won the penalty after Gorrin tripped Stockley - before the game 'Gobby' had been urging his players to press for a penalty. But it was to no avail.
We got another clean sheet and we go again Tuesday.
Oxford Mail report here: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/19141654.oxford-united-0-charlton-athletic-0/
Ronnie Schwartz is finding the transition from the more technical football played in Denmark compared with the robustness of League One. Lockdown is not helping with his family in Denmark where his wife is pregnant: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-striker-in-transition-period-with-lockdown-not-aiding-settling-in-process/
One family I know play a 'how many touches?' game when Schwartz comes on. The winning figure is always less than ten and often close to zero. Admittedly, he is often a late substitute. But I am beginning to wonder if this is going to work for the club or for Schwartz.
Chuks Aneke was checked over yesterday after coming off at Wigan and is fine.
It is difficult to know what to anticipate in this afternoon's match against Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium. Pessimists and the 'Bowyer out' crowd see Charlton on a downward spiral from which we will not recover until a new manager (usually unnamed) is brought in.
Those of us whose glass is half full saw glimmers of hope in the goals scored on Tuesday night. A partnership between Chuks Aneke and Ronnie Schwartz could boost our goals tally.
The problem is our injury and suspension beset defence which is even weaker than usual after Trevor 'Steaming' Kettle sent off Jason Pearce, not that the skipper has impressed in recent games.
No surprise, then, that the CAST preview doesn't know what to think: https://www.castrust.org/2021/01/bristol-rovers-three-wins-in-four-but/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bristol-rovers-three-wins-in-four-but
However, the Gas have their own injury and suspension worries: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/expected-bristol-rovers-team-play-4893595
In the form table Rovers are 9th and Charlton are 16th. In the real table the Addicks are 7th and the Gas 18th, reflecting the poor start that Rovers made to the season.
I know three Bristol Rovers fans well: one in Hong Kong, one in Sidmouth in Devon and one in Birmingham. The one in Birmingham offered me a lift to the game when we put five past them, just as well I didn't accept as he says he would have left me there!
A Bristol Rovers supporter has complained: 'I do not like the [term] Gas. The Pirates were always the name. The Eastville ground - hardly a stadium - was next to a gas works and the plant where waste food was boiled up for pig food. Terrible smell but long ago before the first move to Twerton Park [Bath].'
There are three changes in the team: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/bristol-rovers-v-charlton-athletic-team-news-three-addicks-changes-but-chuks-aneke-keeps-place-to-make-first-consecutive-starts-for-the-club/
New signing Ronnie Schwartz thinks that Charlton are too big a club for League One: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/minister-of-shooting-gives-first-finishing-sermon-ronnie-schwartz-determined-to-fire-charlton-back-to-where-they-belong/?fbclid=IwAR1HgZT0YCMr2lhIWdNuDGna-xdzJL4ebWs28URI9C_A6XKblniw-BoIGe0
Like, I think, all fans, I would like to be out of this league and back in the competitive and more exciting Championship. However, no club has a right to be in any division on the basis of how big a club they are, in any case a difficult thing to measure. Just ask Sunderland.
It's not an easy league to get out of. My prediction for our position halfway through the season for the West Sussex Badger League was 8th. In fact we are 7th. For the end of the season I have chosen 5th which I think is possible.
I always thought promotion was at best 40-60, not because of the manager. Rather the club suffered from its 'owners' over the summer and then got caught out by the salary cap.
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.
It's a cold day today, but new striker Ronnie Schwartz is likely to warm the bench at The Valley tonight. Lee Bowyer is known for his Curbs like caution in relation to new players.
Schwartz is ready to take on League One defences after a frustrating period in his career: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-new-boy-ronnie-schwartz-looks-to-take-out-playing-frustrations-on-league-one-defences/
However, he has not played a competitive match since July so he is likely to be on the bench and may be allowed on in the 79th minute if we are losing.
That's the translation of the nickname of new Charlton striker Ronnie Schwartz who apparently has ice in his veins: https://medium.com/@benjynurick/he-has-ice-in-his-veins-5ab5de1b0c70
I don't know whether he will start or appear from the bench tonight against Accrington Stanley.
Danish striker Ronnie Schwartz has signed a two-and-a-half year deal at Charlton, subject to Home Office approval.
Schwartz trained with the club today: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-complete-permanent-deal-for-fc-midtjylland-striker-ronnie-schwartz/
According to Richard Cawley, Ronnie Schwartz is coming to Charlton in January: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-set-to-push-through-permanent-deal-for-danish-striker-in-january-window/?fbclid=IwAR2LYuMYWx2kSFMhr8zuJds2ISUMaHncrtz-xMW87yY9MZWlOPIlMEDP1a0
My view is that if we are going for the automatic promotion places we need another striker. The play offs are just too much of a lottery.
Some fans, however, think that the real need is for defenders. We can't have both because of the salary cap..
Richard Cawley has tweeted: 'Think you'll find that is FC Midtjylland striker Ronnie Schwartz sat to the left of Charlton owner Thomas Sandgaard at Saturday's game against AFC Wimbledon. Deal didn't happen on deadline day but looks a strong possibility for next month.'
