A Leyton Orient expert reckons that Sunday's ties could go to penalties and the O's have the sort of goalkeeper who would relish them: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/leyton-orient-expert-on-charltons-league-one-play-off-final-opponents-resolve-and-teamwork-key-to-os-success/
He rates Sean Clare more highly than Charlton fans did and says that Darren Pratley has been a leader at the club.
I think that Dean Holden got his cull of players and decisions on retained players just about right. Michael Hector and Terrell Thomas deserved a place, although Aaron Henry will need to continue his development on loan: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-offer-trio-new-deals-but-defender-and-midfielder-to-leave/
Albie Morgan always tried his hardest, but lacks the consistent quality needed in a team hopefully aiming for promotion. He should find his level in League Two, perhaps reunited with George Lapslie at Gillingham.
Sean Clare may count himself a little unlucky, but never made a position his own. Again, thanks for everything. Ryan Inniss will have time to curate his red card collection.
There are six players returning from loans and we may not want to hold on to any of them, apart possibly from Deji Elerewe, but he may have a future at Bromley. There must be a question mark over Joe Wollacott's future. Maynard-Brewer has his critics, but perhaps needs a more experienced keeper to challenge him.
Good riddance to Macaulay Bonne who was not the danger at Championship or League One level that the Zimbabwe press thinks, but perhaps it was a slow news day in Harare: https://www.newzimbabwe.com/zim-born-striker-linked-with-charlton-athletic-summer-exit/
Ben Garner answered a series of questions at a CAS Trust meeting: https://www.castrust.org/2022/09/ben-garner-and-his-team-answer-questions/
He commented: 'The psychological side is vital. The players really need to believe in it. If there are setbacks their confidence can falter. Against Fleetwood we resorted to direct football too early. The players need to be mentally strong even if the supporters are getting impatient. If we don't stick at it how are we going to get better at it?'
He made a number of observations about individual players including Jayden Stockley, Sean Clare and Chuks Aneke.
He emphasised that 'The club is just getting aligned again after all the turmoil and difficulties.'
Ben Garner wants to hold on to Sean Clare who is the subject of interest from Sumderland and Norwich and says there have been no bids yet for DJ: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/boss-outlines-stance-on-defender-linked-with-sunderland-and-norwich-and-confirms-no-bids-yet-for-efl-cup-matchwinner/
Sean Clare has been one of our best players this season and his departure would be a blow. Opinions are divided about DJ, although he is arguably a useful squad player.
It should be noted that Sunderland manager Alex Neil is in talks with Stoke City about their managerial vacancy.
Sean Clare looks set to play at right back but will fit in where he is required: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sean-clare-ready-to-play-wherever-boss-ben-garner-sees-fit-in-charlton-athletic-side/
Charlton need to collect all three points from Ipswich on Saturday to be sure of a top half of the table finish. Elliot Lee, who has disappointed on loan, is likely be to be available and Corey Blackett-Taylor has recovered from illness. Scott Fraser will not be available to face his former club: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-boss-on-selection-news-for-ipswich-and-discusses-clare-surgery/
Ben Purrington is 'unlikely to be involved' which may signal that we have seen the last of 'The Cat'. Curbs has often praised him and I think he has been a useful player, but perhaps that is something we can no longer have if we are to push for promotion in what is likely to be a very competitive league.
Jacko also discusses Sean Clare's surgery which is an attempt to reduce the risk of skin cancer and I wish him a successful procedure and a speedy recovery. I think he has adapted well to his changed position, even if he has made a few mistakes.
It is now sixty years since Ipswich won the then first division title with Alf Ramsey. Of course, this was before the arrival of football in 1992, but it was still a considerable achievement: https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/60-years-since-itfc-won-first-division-8921472
Johnnie Jackson wants to add taller players to Charlton's squad in the summer transfer window: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-set-to-target-adding-more-physical-presence-in-summer-transfer-window/
He thinks that Charlton are missing the aerial ability of Jayden Stockley and Chuks Aneke. Doubtless so, but the article does point out that all Oxford's goals on Saturday were scored from low strikes.
Meanwhile, perhaps some of the team could be put on stilts? Many fans would accept short players who put in a shift.
Jacko thinks that Sean Clare was a 'little unlucky' to be sent off on Saturday, but accepts that the red card can't be appealed: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-boss-gives-his-verdict-on-sean-clares-red-card-against-oxford-united/
The rain eased off as the game started but conditions remained blustery. Charlton started brightly getting in behind the Oxford defence twice. Charlton won an early corner after three minutes, but it was unproductive.
Charlton won another corner after good work by Leko, but it was cleared.
After good build up work, DJ put the ball into the side netting. Leko got booked for delaying the goal kick.
Inniss had to put a ball away for Oxford's first corner. A second corner followed, the ball moving in the air as it came across. The move ended in a Charlton goal kick.
Charlton switched off and Oxford's top scorer Taylor found the top right-hand corner of the goal curling it above MacGillivray to put the visitors 1-0 ahead on 21 minutes.
DJ put in a poor challenge and was booked. Purrington then followed into the book in a sign of frustration. The Oxford shot from the free kick went over the bar.
A Brannagan shot came off the post after a long ball in behind and MacGillivray reacted well to make the save.
After a counter attack Taylor got the second, putting the ball through MacGillivray's legs. Steve Brown commented, 'We don't deal with setbacks well. It takes us ten minutes to recover our confidence.'
The Oxford captain was booked after he dragged back Leko.
Inniss went down and needed some treatment. He came back on.
As the half edged towards an end, Oxford won a corner. Lee cleared away.
Curbs said that we started well. 'Without our main players up top, it is difficult.' Mervyn Day said that Leko is never going to be a centre forward you can play into or play off. 'When you start that well, you need something off it.'
HT: 0-2
Mason Burstow replaced DJ. Charlton switched to a diamond, but Oxford won an early corner. Following play led to a second corner. The referee spotted a foul.
After a great through ball from Dobson Lee found Burstow, but his effort crept wide after a deflection.
Williams drew a free kick from Matthews who was having a poor game.
Sykes received a yellow card for an agricultural tackle. Morgan's free kick was headed away.
January transfer signing Baldock struck with a free header to make it 3-0 for Oxford. The move started when MacGillivray came out of his goal and headed into the wind.
Steve Brown said it all went down to the character of the team. It didn't respond well to going behind.
Sean Clare received a red card for bundling into Taylor. Jacko feels unable to comment on it yet: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-boss-explains-why-he-cant-comment-on-sean-clares-red-card/ Curbs thought it was a soft sending off. Inniss got a yellow card. An effort by Burstow went over the bar. Leko came off and Famewo came on.
An effort by Burstow was put behind by the keeper. In the end Oxford were able to clear the corner from Morgan.
The referee rebuked the ball boy for putting the ball on the pitch when Brannagan was down. Morgan got a yellow card for a foul.
Famewo received a yellow card after a collision.
Brannagan put the ball into the top right-hand corner to make it 4-0 for Oxford. Steve Brown commented that 'People are scoring simple goals against us.' Campbell came on for his senior debut.
MacGillivray had to save with his face from Williams. Sykes cut through the Charlton defence. His shot was parried and then saved by MacGillivray in time added on. A shot from Morgan was straight at the keeper.
Steve Brown said that it was the sort of performance that was going to draw extreme criticism from some quarters.
Curbs said it got worse and worse and worse for all sorts of reasons. Once Clare got sent off, that was it. Mervyn Day said if you haven't got the focal point up front it's always difficult. Oxford won the game in midfield.
Charlton are now 16th, but still nine points above the relegation positions.
Shell shocked supremo Johnnie Jackson said: 'I thought we started really brightly, we was moving it well. After we conceded we stopped doing the things that had got us a little bit of joy. We never recovered from the first goal. I was disappointed with the goals, especially the second one. Taylor's movement caused a lot of issues. Once you concede the third goal and the red card it made it impossible. It hurts, we're all hurting, a knock to your pride, you have to pick yourself up. These are the moments when you find out about people.'
Four takeaways from the game by Louis Mendez can be found here: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/four-takeaways-from-charltons-4-0-home-humiliation-against-oxford-a-chastening-afternoon/
Sean Clare says that Charlton silenced the boisterous crowd at Fratton Park. He also talks about his new role which he is enjoying and learning all the time: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charltons-sean-clare-says-the-addicks-silenced-the-crowd-at-happy-hunting-ground-fratton-park/
Clare was not given a proper chance by Adkins, but is now showing his worth.
Sean Clare reckons that Charlton have every chance of getting back in the promotion race. He also says that he is enjoying playing as a centre back, something he has never professionally, although he started that way as a kid: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sean-clare-plymouth-triumph-lays-down-a-marker-in-charltons-season/
Clare is the latest player to endorse Johnnie Jackson as manager, saying that he knows what he wants from every single player: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sean-clare-adds-voice-to-list-of-players-praising-mr-charlton-johnnie-jackson/
In his four takeaways from the Plymouth game, Louis Mendez praises Sean Clare for the way he has slotted in and also singles out Ben Purrington. The Cat has got three goals in four, but not so long ago some Charlton fans were writing him off as usless (certainly Atkins didn'r rate him): https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/four-takeaways-from-charltons-2-0-win-over-table-topping-plymouth-dont-look-a-gift-horse-in-the-mouth/
Sean Clare discusses what he can bring to Charlton on his return to the club. He thinks that the second half was better on Saturday with the ball played through him more which enabled him to get into the box. The final pass could have been better from him and other players: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/challenging-for-promotion-is-the-bare-minimum-for-charlton-athletic-sean-clare/
Clare thinks that the performance against the Massives was a step in the right direction: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-midfielder-sean-clare-performance-against-sheffield-wednesday-a-step-in-the-right-direction/
Richard Cawley provides four takeaways from the 1-1 draw at the classily named Select Car Leasing stadium and it wasn't a Nissan Micra. Charles Clayden gets praised for his contribution while Sean Clare had a first outing with the Addicks: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/four-takeaways-from-charlton-athletics-1-1-friendly-draw-at-reading/
Nigel Adkins has made it clear that he wants to play Sean Clare in midfield after he was played out of position by Gobby at Oxford: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-boss-nigel-adkins-outlines-playing-plan-for-new-signing-sean-clare/
However, he admits that the player's versatility is a plus. He also emphasises that Clare was a definite target and part of his plan to build an athletic squad.
At least Central TV will not be able to deploy their usual pathetic comment on the Addicks: 'Charlton were anything but athletic'.
As yet unconfirmed reports are stating that Charlton have succeeded in beating off competition to sign Sean Clare from Oxford United: https://www.teamtalk.com/news/exclusive-charlton-win-race-sean-clare-signing
His stay at Oxford was disrupted by Gobby playing him out of the position in which he had been successful in Scotland.
Career details for the 24-year old midfielder: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Clare
Moaners who complain about a lack of signings are now complaining because Adkins has landed one of his targets.
A two year deal has been agreed for an undisclosed fee: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sean-clare-signs-two-year-deal-with-charlton-athletic-joins-for-undisclosed-fee-from-oxford-united/
