Watt a Fox...

...Apologies for the dreadful headline.

What a great day. Two of my kids attended not their first game, but their first as season ticket holders.

The ground has had something of a spruce up, and the new screen in the corner of the ground looked great (although with all the new players I'd have preferred the old player list as a reference point for all of the new faces on display).

What impressed me this afternoon was the way a bunch of players who have not been together stuck to the game plan so well. Totally frustrating the QPR team to a man throughout, a patient performance and on the face of what I saw, and the stats when you look at them, not a fluke but a well deserved three points.

It was a surprise to see Ahearne Grant start ahead of Watt, but once the Scotsman did come one, despite his goal and excellent performance you could see he's not match fit yet (too many beers and donuts on the beach over the summer I'd surmise). Once he is fully fit he will prove to be a crucial member of the team and for a lot of this divisions defences unplayable.

I honestly would find it hard to criticise anyone that turned out in a Charlton shirt today. To a man all pulled together. Kashi was quality sitting in front of the defence. Assured, hard working, smartly playing the simple ball and insightful passes and tackling back when needed. A CAFC favourite in the making.

Special mention to the North Stand. Luzon crouched in his technical area and they actually sang his name 'Luzon give us wave...', I don't think he was ignoring them but just engrossed in the game. Once they realised he was oblivious to their overtures a chorus of 'he shits where he wants, he shits where he wants, Guy Luzon, he shits where he wants...' QUALITY.

Good win, great performance, and brilliant atmosphere.

Can't wait to relive it at 9 tonight on the sensibly scheduled new Channel Five Football League Show.

How good is it to be back?

It's here...and thanks very much sky bet!

i'm not deluded enough to think for a minute that we are going to enjoy a season watching Charlton romp to another league title.

However, I did stumble across the most generous bet on offer I've seen for a long time this week.

They (SkyBet) were offering 18-1 on Charlton being in the top six come September 1st. Yes that's right, the first of September, not after the long hall of a full campaign, but after just three and a bit weeks of the season. In a division where it's been proven time and time again anyone can beat anyone on their day.

Even more generously 50-1 was offered on the same time frame if we are top. (I felt that may be a bit like setting fire to a ten pound note and watching it go 'puff' though.)

I couldn't sleep this morning, so unlike a normal working day when I do battle with the snooze button and roll into work just in time, I'm up early clock watching, waiting and excited as the new season dawns.

To be honest it's even more difficult than normal to predict exactly how we are going to fair this afternoon and come to think of it over the course of the next 40 odd weeks.

A plethora of new unpronounceable names and faces to remember - who it would seem on the face of  it are a step up from the new recruits we've seen over recent years. Luzon now having the opportunity to make his mark with a full pre season of preparing the team to play 'his way', which according to him is hard, high and fast! Should be interesting.

A win today and I'll already be planning what to spend my 180 quid on.

Polish Pete departs...

...With Pazryk leaving on a season long loan I'm wondering if this means we are about to announce the final couple of parts of the rebuilding jigsaw.

I have a sneaky suspicion we will see another striker added to the squad in the next 24 hours.  Perhaps even a wide man also. This in my opinion would leave us with a squad that's got a bit of depth. Whether any of these new faces are any good or not, your guess is as good as mine.

Things shaping up nicely ahead of West Ham visit...

With JBG signing a new contract and Cousins apparently about to put pen to paper on a four year extension. Six what would seem more than just squad players signing and the distinct possibility of one or two more coming into The Valley prior to the end of the pre season warm up things are looking potentially Rosie in SE7. Some might even whisper that now Liege are no longer part of the network RD is beginning to show some careful ambition for little club.

It will be extremely interesting to see how we line up tomorrow, I think we will begin to get an idea of what the preferred starting eleven will be.

I am now officially excited, had enough of no football on a Saturday and raring to go come August 8th.

Can't wait!

The business end of pre season...

Following on from last nights comfortable 2-0 win at Dagenham Guy Luzon has stated that the home friendly against West Ham will see the ante upped as far as preperation for the new Championship season is concerned. He also suggested we will se at least three, perhaps even five more new faces coming in who will be of first team quality.

This coupled with the four new faces that have already arrived at Sparrows Lane and JBG signing a new four year deal says to me that those harbingers of doom amongst us will be pleasantly surprised with what unfolds in the season ahead.

We have a very difficult opening month to the season. If we can hold our own, picking up some points and not be near the bottom half come September then I'll be more than happy. Who knows? If the new players gel and we come out of the traps quick and fast then we could well be dreaming of a Wembley return (or better) come next May.

New away kit...what were they thinking?...

It took me ages to work out how to work snapchat so I could take a peak at the new away and third kits, let alone take a screen shot (sorry) which I think goes against the idea of snapchat.

If we were playing away to Millwall this season I think we'd be hearing a chorus of 'are you Palace in disguise). I'm not impressed, if you've seen it yourselves you'll get my point. If you haven't then you soon will when it's put on the official site.

The Purple third kit, complete with its luminous cycling safety strips down the side ain't much better.

Squad looking rather light...

With the traditional pre season friendly against Welling United just a few days away now the number of real potential first teamers in the squad is looking pretty light. In fact having taken a look at the squad list on the official site and removing yoof and those that have been released or sold I can really only see 16 names remaining who could be considered ready and worthy of being in the matchday 16!

This isn't a negative piece, as I'm sure we'll see a few more decent bodies joining the cause over the next few days, but just showing the facts as I can see them. Perhaps I've missed some experienced heads - if I have let me know, for no other reason than to put my mind at rest.

Goalkeepers:

Henderson, Dmitrov

Defenders:

Bikey, Wiggins, Solly, Fox, Bauer

Midfielders:

Jackson, Gudmunnson(hopefully), Moussa, Diarra, Cousins, Ba

Strikers:

Vetokele, Watt, Makienok

Of course there are the development players who were out on loan last season, but I'm not all that sure a few games at Plymouth or Canvey Island would have readied them for The Championship.

I'll be watching over the next few days with interest to see if, when and who comes in to re-inforce the squad.