Lowest ever crowd

A bit like the classic Huddersfield 7-6 game many more people said they were at the Bradford City Full Members Cup game at Selhurst than were actually clicked through the gates.

For the longest time, 31 years to be precise, those official 817 people represented the lowest ever attendance to watch a professional first team Addicks home match in our history. Most of us thought that now back at The Valley we would never see a crowd that low again, but no one accounted for the idiots at EFL introducing the pointless Checkatrade Trophy, nor did we account for the curtain of comatosity that one Roland Duchatelet has brought.

Advertisements

Euell to Wimbledon?

The chairmen of AFC Wimbledon, Shrewsbury Town and Swindon Town have all been busy today.

Dons’ chairman Erik Samuelson removed Neil Ardley from his role at Wimbledon after a hugely successful six years, the Shrews’ very own Roland (Wycherley) moved on John Askey after just five months in the role after he was given the difficult job of rebuilding the side that Paul Hurst built. Hurst was just sacked himself by Ipswich and one would thought he’d be favourite to head back to Shropshire.

Askey’s old team Macclesfield, who are marooned to the bottom of League Two, may offer a route back into management for Askey. Macclesfield have broken the mould of recent promoted National League teams, who have mostly flourished at the higher level, showing what a magnificent job Askey did at the Moss Rose.

Mansfield Town 1 Charlton Athletic 1

I’m a bit old fashioned and would like us to take the FA Cup seriously and progress a bit, at least until the 3rd Round. In saying that I fully get why Bowyer made so many changes today, many of which were enforced on him.

There were 9 changes from the game at Walsall, and only 5 sat on the bench. Checkatrade hero Toby Stevenson and Taylor Maloney both began in a midfield five. Dillon Phillips got a chance in goal, but the biggest opportunity of all was for Nicky Ajose. Albie Morgan was on the bench that also saw the return of Billy Clarke after 11 months out.

3 months

Is how long it is expected both Josh Cullen and Igor Vetokele will be out after both dislocated shoulders in the win at Walsall. Tuesday’s victory came with a heavy price. Cullen, on loan from West Ham, has been outstanding at the fulcrum of the midfield.

Walsall 0 Charlton Athletic 2

Nice one. Another straightforward result. This time on the road at Walsall. A clean sheet always gives you a chance and once more the defence, changed from Saturday, was strong and robust, fielding any flurries of Walsall activity.

We started well and grabbed an early goal from the spot. It’s very noticeable that we are winning more penalties than we have for many a year. 5 minutes in. The penalty was won by Fosu and Taylor dispatched. That’s 8 penalties this season. Lyle has scored four, but has missed two. Fosu and young Stevenson have put one away each.

Charlton Athletic 2 Doncaster Rovers 0

A welcome straightforward win at The Valley for the Addicks yesterday. Donny were quick out of the blocks, but we scored goals at the right time and were rarely troubled in the 2nd half as we played the game out sensibly in the last 20 minutes with no dramas.

Interesting that Bowyer reverted to the exact team and formation that beat Barnsley. From the radio and reading eye witness reports Bielik was good and defensively we were a better unit, although Dijksteel was a little wobbly on the right side early on.

Hello Roland

We are not going away.