Formulae

I wrote the other day that it’s nigh on impossible to guess how we will line up in games. Bow said yesterday that it was the first time the team had played to that formation. It looked like (from watching on Valley Pass) that we were 5-4-1 with Solly and JFC advanced wing backs and a flat midfield. That put a lot of trust in Bonne, but he did not disappoint, despite the fact a year ago he was playing in a FA Cup qualifying tie at Maidstone.

Whilst Jacko and Marsh are drilling the players on set-pieces, Bowyer must spend hours in a room studying opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. Derby and Phillipe Cocu are no slouches but yesterday we picked them off at a corner and targeted the £10m Krystian Bielik. Teams appear to be obsessed in playing out from the back pedestrian like believing they are playing for Man City.

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Charlton Athletic 3 Derby County 0

To a man they were outstanding today shoving aside last year’s play-off finalists showing once again that the Addicks can live side by side with anyone in this league.

It’s an absolute joy to watch this side. The work rate and the unconditional desire sends goose bumps down the back of the neck. They were all magnificent, but Darren Pratley was sumptuous at the back playing in between Lockyer and Sarr as Bow moved to a formation we’d never tried before and only worked on since Thursday.

Good times

A lot of smiling Addicks getting a well earned rest during the international break. The Championship is a great league, one of Europe’s most competitive and it feels good to be back and thus far we have not looked out of place at all.

We have played 4 of the top 7 and lost just once. In only one game did we not do ourselves justice, and that was at Wigan. Yet a week later we bounced back in the best possible way, memorably beating Leeds. I’m still glowing from the Fulham game. We didn’t win, but it was a great advert for the league and we played our part and that away corner was, as someone we know would say, bouncing.

Fulham 2 Charlton Athletic 2

It’s great this division isn’t it? So proud of the boys today who fully deserved their point in front of the cameras in which Scott Minto, Lyle Taylor and Chris Powell also proudly watched on.

Fulham probably have the best roster of players in the league, and in a space of a week we have met three of the biggest promotion contenders, and we have ended it with our heads held high.

The mysterious case of Lewis Page

Ben Purrington maybe the 7/10 no headlines player, but he will be missed greatly at Fulham on Saturday when Lee Bowyer will turn to either Deji Oshilaja or probably Naby Sarr in a back three as we take on the threat of the joint leading goal scorers.

Bowyer described the absence of Lewis Page as “mind boggling.” The 23-year old has not played for over a year after beginning last season so well showing tenacity and a real threat going forward, and quickly becoming popular with Addicks.

Harris leaves Millwall

Very surprising news coming from Bermondsey tonight as Neil Harris has tendered his resignation. A Millwall legend, Harris was one of the longest serving managers in the country and has delivered much success on a limited budget amongst much more affluent or at least more speculative clubs in this division.

I had their game at Luton on the box last night and they played pretty well, and were unfortunate not to take 3 points in my mind, yet I understand there were shouts of ‘Harris out’ amongst the away end.

Charlton Athletic 1 Swansea City 2

This is a tough bloody week for the Addicks, and I’ll think we’ll welcome the international break much more than we did last time when it broke our stride.

No need for silly over-reaction’s to last night’s defeat. Swansea have lost just once this season, and are unbeaten on the road and have a steely defensive with pace up front that will give them every chance of promotion come May.

Yet, we matched them in many ways yesterday, the only difference that the Swans were better in possession, neater and more protective of the ball, as we turned it over too many times. Our young, and still new team will get better at that for sure.