Charlton Nearly Reserves 1 Leyton Orient 1...The Capital One Cup

There are many ways to look at Tuesday nights League Cup match, whether your from SE7 or just North of the river in E10.

The doom and gloom merchants from Charlton will be very much commenting on how hard the squad we have is going to find the step up to the Championship blah blah blah blah. Those overconfident and optimistic amongst the O's will be waxing lyrical about how they came South and beat Goliath and are going to 'do a Charlton' and take tier three by storm this term.

Then there are the realists. An Orient side with nothing to lose came and narrowly beat Charlton's reserves in a game that had a real pre season friendly feel to it in it's general tempo.

Of the starting eleven I'd say only Hamer, Cort and Hollands are definite for Saturdays trip to Birmingham. The rest are very much fringe players who could maybe individually do a job covering for any short term injuries or suspensions.

Comments that have run through my mind having given myself a couple of days to think about the game are as follows:-

Hamer - Still the best keeping option, he seemed to have been instructed to try and distribute the ball via quick throws out to the full backs to release quick counter attacks. (Something that was a really strong part of Elliots game). But often looked nervy and his throws lacked the pace of a good pass. Not sure if this was down to a lack of confidence in the full backs (understandable in Wilson's case, but i'll get to that in a bit).

Taylor - I still think he is decent cover for either Cort or Morrison, but it is the latter two that should be our first choice central defensive pairing. Cort seldom lets the ball or player past him.

Evina - When he decided to run at players and cut in looked pretty sharp, and a real alternative to the way Wiggins attacks the ball. Not quite as solid defensively as Rhoys but I think this could be the season where we see him used a bit more often for tactical purposes.

Wilson - Did a lot of purposeful gesticulating and pointing to tell other where they should pass the ball. As a performance I found his passing unimaginative, I didn't have great confidence in his tackling ability and thats that really. Nothing to convince me that he shouldn't still be in League One with Stevenage really. Sorry, perhaps he'll settle in and prove me wrong.

Smith - I don't want to be too negative, but the words Eeeeh and Awwwe spring to mind. He looked pretty much out of his depth really. Didn't think he held the ball up well, had very little control when running with it and, for a big guy, did not win much in the air.

Waggy - The 'Roy of the Rovers/Local boy does good' in me really wants Scott Wagstaff The Striker to work. But it doesn't really doe it? He still has plenty in his locker as an attacking midfielder and I'm sure will have another decent season and chip in with enough goals to help the team as a whole consolidate this year.

Cook - There's been a fair bit of raving about him having a great game. My opinion is that he didn't have a bad one. And towards the end did indeed, when he decided to really start having a go create a lot of problems for the Orient defence. He in my mind will be good cover and great to have on the bench, as it would seem he can play up top or on the wing. One to watch I think.

Kerkar - He's going to be one of those marmite type of players. At times he looked pretty good, I wouldn't go as far as the real deal, but certainly given time could prove to be a competent addition to the overall playing squad and could play his way into a regular slot.

Sir Chris - It's always going to be hard to be critical of Powell. But his shenanigans that lead to him being sent to the stands and dare I say slightly overly petulant performance that could well lead to the touchline ban being longer than it should have been were a bit naive and disappointing. I understand as much as anyone his frustration at third division refereeing standards, we've all spent the last three seasons experiencing them. But at the end of the day, it was a none game, we were pretty much fielding a second eleven, and the important game is on Saturday at St Andrews. Where he's needed, like the following matches, in the dug out doing his job. Other than that, can't fault his passion, or new found will and understanding that we will need to try out and have formations other than 4-4-2 to punch our weight in this division.

The season starts here...kind of

Excited as I am about tonight's inaugural match for Charlton in the 2012-2013 season it all seems a bit odd and surreal really.

Glasgow Rangers (Newco) drawing their opening game away in the Scottish third division, the season starting on Saturday in England with the Conference kicking off alongside League Cup First Round ties throughout the country. Confusing managers, should they treat the competition with even less respect than usual and treat it as a pre season friendly with their team selection as opposed to the usual resting players and giving squad players a run out (as we did last season against Reading and Preston). All the more confusing for a creature of comfort and a traditionalist like myself.

Quite what Sir Chris will do I don't know. I suppose it will go one way or the other, or maybe even another? Stick with a similar line up to that which finished last season and go 4-4-2, which as a general rule worked more than well enough against third tier opposition, use it as a dress rehearsal for Saturdays trip to Brum - perhaps with the diamond 4-3-3 type of line up that has been looked at pre season, or a n other.

I've got a feeling if we do go 4-4-2 we'll see Wagstaff or Green (if fit) on the right. (Based on an assumption that's why Pritchard was used in this position on Saturday to keep them out of harms way). However I would not be surprised to see three up top, with Kermo, Cook up top and maybe Waggy in support, with BWP on the bench to keep him fresh for Saturday.

One of the few things I enjoyed whilst visiting the third division was the games against Orient. I like Orient, a good community club with a core and loyal following. Out of the six times we played them we won four times and lost twice. (Including the hideous match on new years eve, which ruined my evening). When we've scored against them we've gone on to win. I'm going for an early goal for the Addicks and a relatively easy ride through to the second round.

There's been much comment about the lack of transfer activity this summer. I think there are one or more pertinent points to bare in mind.

Last close season was monumental by anyone's standards in the turnover of playing staff. So we can't really make any comparison with that. It was an anomaly.

We have actually signed three new players. One, Kerkar, who I'm sure will turn out to be a real asset and an important signing.

Last season we had the money from Shelveys departure and Jenskinson's sale to Arsenal, along with the funding that the new board brought with them to steady the ship and get the playing staff up to speed.

The historic campaign we had last season has raised every bodies expectation levels to unrealistic heights of doing a Norwich/Southampton and double bouncing back to the 'promised land' of the premiership.

I think the focus should be on consolidation (lets be fair that's something we would have settled for last season, rather than the nagging fear of another relegation into the bottom tier of league football). I believe the current playing staff have enough in their collective lockers to win some and lose some and stay up without causing us too much worry and without flirting with relegation. Our recent best period was built on these sort of sensible foundations, rather than throwing money we didn't have at relying on promotion.

Something also to bare in mind is the fact that one of our best players and already a legend at the Valley, was not signed until the season was well under way, and then it took several games for him to force his way into the starting eleven. So we could still see key personell joining the team.

It all start in earnest tonight at 7.45, and I can't wait.

Charlton win behind doors friendly

Charlton 3 Southend 2

This one passed me by. I just glanced at the official website and saw the report that a pretty much full strength Charlton side have come from two down to beat United 3-2.

I can only guess it was not pre publicised to avoid any Addicks trying to get a sneak peak from any opportune vantage points outside the ground.

It was obviously important for some of the first teamer's to get a run out at the Valley prior to the big kick off next Tuesday against Orient in the Capital One cup.

The side was made up of squad and first team players, BWP netting twice with Kerkar, all be it in a friendly, scoring his first goal in SE7. (Maybe he'll turn out to be another Gaelic gem).

For the full report and line up see the official site http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20120808-southend-friendly-report-299898.aspx

Going, Going, Gone - Kavanagh leaves - period

The club have announced on the official website that after his resignation as a board member Kavanagh has now permanently left the clubs employment. Little more info than that.

Read into it what you will.

A different Cook signs...

So our first signing of the season is made, just in time for the Welling United game.

22 year old Jordon Cook has signed a two year contract following his release from Premier League Sunderland.

Apps†	(Gls)†
2009–2012	Sunderland	3	(0)
2009–2010	→ Darlington (loan)	5	(0)
2011	→ Walsall (loan)	8	(1)
2012	→ Carlisle United (loan)	14	(4)
2012-	Charlton Athletic	0	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:25, 14 May 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

As you'll see a career total appearances of 30 over four years with a return of 5 goals should hardly see BWP quaking in his boots but with the exception of Alonso all signings made by Sir Chris and his scouting team to date have all been at the very least adequate, usually pretty astute (see Kermogant).

I would imagine this is the first of two or three that will drip through over the next week and a half prior to our trip to Portugal.

I think we all need to get used to the fact that most of the rebuilding of the side took place last summer with the unprecedented, and probably never to be seen again twenty something new faces coming through the gates of The Valley.

In my mind we do still need, at the very least, another midfielder and someone to compete with Bradley Wright Phillips or be able to cover his position in the event that his knees start playing up again.

disgusted of Dartford...

Me and the missus have decided to treat my Son to the new Charlton home kit for the first time. He's six, been to a couple of games last season and thanks to the football club he's been attending at school, match attax card game and Euro 2012 is really beginning to get it (and thanks to my hard work explaining why its better to support your local team over his mates who are mainly Chelsea and Arsenal) he is now starting to show early signs of becoming an addicktoholic.

Up until now he's been attending football club amidst his Chelsea and Arsenal replica kit clad mates in an old England kit that belonged to one of his older Sisters, we have promised and promised as a reward for good behaviour we'll get him the new Charlton kit. And on the whole he has been a good boy. So good in fact that we promised he could have his name and a number on the back.

So we went to the new Nikeeeee stocked club website to price up and order it. A stiff drink was required! He's too big for the twenty two quid kiddies kit so we had to go junior. One shirt with his name and the number eight, Nikeeee shorts and a pair of socks. SEVENTY FIVE CHUFFING QUID!!!!! Saying that we could save six quid to go without the NPower champions gold star badge. Well that'll be alright then, that brings it below the magic 69 then! as they say VFM.

Cheers

Perhaps i'm being a bit naive, seeing as we are third division champions and all that? Did the Macron kit really cost as much?


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And there we were all looking forward to some good old fashioned second tier mediocrity...

...So the doom lovers are back out in force. And to a certain extent, who can blame them. (I do however find it odd that some people seem to get such enjoyment from potential bad news and possible calamities).

Rumours are flying around and gathering at pace that all is not great in SE7.

My initial thoughts were (until the conspiracy theorists started) that it was simply a case that the resurgence of the Addicks was ahead of schedule hence Varney leaving his post.  The rumours are that Sir Chris and Tony 'The Hat' Jiminez have fallen out, Zabeel investments made a new bid to buy the club last month, 'we've not got no more money', Zabeel are to make another bid immanently. It's all a bit dizzying!

Two things are for sure. We'll all find out pretty soon what the hells going on (very probably nothing to worry about) good or bad and that once again, it's never plain sailing (with the exception of last season) being a Charlton supporter.