Friday, 30 September 2022

'We can still do it'

Jack Payne evokes the spirit of the win over Plymouth ahead of the visit of Gobby's Oxford United to The Valley tomorrow: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/were-still-the-same-team-that-beat-plymouth-5-1-jack-payne-confident-charlton-athletic-will-click-back-into-top-gear/

Gobby is under pressure from the new Indonesian owners to get Oxford out of League One and has been restrained in the bull**** this week.

CAS Trust think that a result is vital, but don't predict an outcome: https://www.castrust.org/2022/09/robinson-returns-as-we-need-a-return-to-winning-ways/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=robinson-returns-as-we-need-a-return-to-winning-ways

Oxford are 19th in the league but above Charlton in the form table.   Away from home they have won one and lost two.

A bumper last issue of Voice of the Valley will be on sale around the ground tomorrow.

Thursday, 29 September 2022

Wollacott not good enough says gospel singer

Joe Wollacott was benched for Ghana's friendly against Nicaragua on Tuesday, but is expected to feature in their World Cup squad: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-goalkeeper-benched-for-ghanas-friendly-win-over-nicaragua/

However, a gospel singer has said that Wollacott is not good enough, particularly in commanding his area and communicating with his defence: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Jojo-Wollacott-not-good-enough-Sonnie-Badu-calls-for-new-goalkeeper-1630490

Richard Cawley of the SLP comments: 'We really should have more of this. Cliff Richard on why Harry Maguire merits a starting place. Phil Collins on why 4-4-2 is the best approach for England. Stormzy outlining better pressing tactics.'

Payne could be target for Oxford fans

Jack Payne is likely to be a target for Oxford fans on Saturday given his time at the Magic Roundabout, but that will only fire him up: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-midfielder-will-relish-any-stick-he-gets-from-oxford-fans/

Presumably they don't like Garner much either.

Oxford are now majority Indonesian owned, but their start to the season has been judged 'ponderous': https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/22822442.oxford-united-co-owner-chairman-assess-start-season/

Sunday, 25 September 2022

The blame game

In his interview with Charlton TV on Saturday Scott Fraser said that most games are decided in both boxes.  In a sense this is a statement of the obvious, but it was certainly proved against Barnsley: woeful defending and a failure to take chances.   Hence, once again dominance in spells of the game was not turned into a result.   Similar points are made by Louis Mendez: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/four-takeaways-from-charltons-3-1-defeat-at-barnsley-woeful-defending-coupled-with-poor-finishing-is-a-recipe-for-disaster/

For me this is down to the players at least as much as the manager or the owner.  The squad is not good enough to secure promotion, but the players are capable of delivering more individually and collectively.

Ben Garner thinks there is enough quality in the squad, but it was only shown on Saturday between the two boxes - which matters but is not what really counts.  I once saw a non-league team which seemed to consist entirely of midfield players with an inevitable result.   It's an old Charlton story - excellent in training, poor on the day: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/there-is-enough-quality-in-this-squad-but-we-need-to-show-it-on-match-days-charlton-boss-ben-garner/

Saturday, 24 September 2022

Defeat oop North

Charlton are down to 16th and three points above the relegation zone after a 3-1 defeat at Barnsley.

Barnsley opened the scoring on nine minutes with a rocket shot from distance by Benson which went into the top tight-hand corner of MacGillivray's goal leaving him with no chance.

Rak-Sakyi threatened, but was dispossessed and Morgan sent the ball high into the stands.

Morgan put in a long cross field ball but Blackett-Taylor shot over.

Rak-Sakyi was about to pull the trigger, but the defender was able to put the ball out for a corner.  Nothing wrong with Morgan's corner, but the move ended with Clare shooting over.

In the two minutes added on a Barnsley corner had to be cleared from under the crossbar by O'Connell, the follow up corner was unproductive.

Charlton had had some chances, but were not clinical in front of goal with shots blazing over the bar.  The tempo of the game was rather slow.

Scott Minto thought that it wasn't a bad first half in terms of performance.   Steve Brown was critical of the lack of closing down for the shot allowing a midfielder to pick it up.  We had picked ourselves up and played some good stuff, but we were too deep.  Peter Shirtliff had had situations as good as the Barnsley goal, but the final piece wasn't there.   Steve Brown said we hadn't had a shot on target (despite seven attempts).

HT: 1-0

Barnsley made it 2-0 on 53 minutes with a back flick in front of goal.   Charlton failed to deal with a ball on the left side of their penalty area with O'Connell caught in possession.

Leaburn replaced Blackett-Taylor on 58 minutes.   Kirk came on in place of Fraser.

Barnsley came close to scoring after Dobson gave the ball away in a rare error.   Charlton were looking shell shocked.   The game was slow and scrappy which suited Barnsley.

Charlton made a triple change including Rak-Sakyi who had picked up a knock. McGrandles replaced Dobson. Payne and Sessegnon came on.   O'Connell was just over the bar from a corner, another chance missed.

Williams fed an unmarked Cole who made it 3-0 for the home side.   On 84 minutes Charlton got a consolation through Payne who finished well after good work by McGrandles.

Charlton tried to apply pressure in the seven minutes added on but to no avail.

The pundits

Peter Shirtliff said that Charlton had played some nice football, but should have come in at least 1-1 at half time.  They gave two goals to Barnsley in the second half, although the home side had hardly dominated the game.

Scott Minto said it was a really poor second half.   Steve Brown thought that Rak-Sakyi and Blackett-Taylor were dangerous.  You couldn't defend your penalty area like we did.   Peter Shirtliff thought that the score flattered Barnsley.  

Ben Garner: the difference between training and playing

Ben Garner said it wasn't good enough at both ends of the pitch, we didn't play with enough intensity. The first half overall was a very good performance.   In the second half it was moments, two very poor goals, you can't give goals away like that.   I'm not blaming anyone other than myself.   We've given them the game second half.  It has to improve and it's on my shoulders.  [Asked about the five substitutions] he said that Jes had rolled his ankle.  The players were trying possibly too hard.  The way we controlled the first half here away at Barnsley was fantastic, there were so many positives.  [Three shots on target for them, one for us].  We have to try and get back to where the club should be.  [Can the players handle the pressure?]  I don't know, there's a big gap between what I see in training and what I see in games.

Richard Cawley commented: 'Lot of talk internally at club about it not being a quick fix for Charlton, but this is their third season back in League One. And at the moment it's not really looking very promising - at all - for a Championship return.'

Friday, 23 September 2022

Ben Garner's frustration

Ben Garner talks about his frustration at not being able to spend money on transfer fees during his managerial career and the lack of available money when he came to Charlton: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-boss-ben-garner-our-hands-were-tied-to-a-degree-a-lot-of-the-playing-budget-was-already-spent/

He isn't finding it an easy ride at Charlton.

Pompey boss hits out at Sandgaard

Portsmouth supremo Danny Cowley has hit back at claims by Thomas Sandgaard that Pompey are trying to aggressively buy their way into the Championship: https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/portsmouth-boss-hits-back-at-charlton-athletic-owners-claims-hes-spending-big-to-deliver-promotion-3853526