Charlton look to continue great start...

If you'd have told me we'd be sitting pretty in 5th place and on 12 points after only six games, having seen off 3 of the pre seasons most fancied teams for promotion I would have probabaly sighed 'I wish' before a ball had been kicked.

More importantly I think the good start we have made is no fluke and we are there on merit!

Wolves, who are begining to growl about back to back promotions, visit the Valley tonight. Both sets of players will be tired, particularly the Addicks, after Saturdays tough fought but deserved victory against Watford. I expect where needed we may see a bit of squad rotation. Wilson will start I hope. He deserves to. Ben Haim could even be rested with Morrison making his first start of the season. Both deputee's will fill in fine if picked I'm sure.

We are a bit thin up front and in the midfield however. In my opinion if we look to pick up another three points tonight then Vetokele HAS to start. Buyens fitness levels look good enough that he should start as well. As for the rest of the midfield it will be fascinating to see who lines up wide and partnering Buyens in the centre.

My head says a hard earned for draw is on the cards tonight, however with this group of players mindset any things possible, so I'm going with my heart and betting on a Charlton win. 2-1.

Charlton win scintillating encounter...

Well the goalfest I'd predicted didn't appear, but it was an exciting and exhausting 96 minutes down in Se7 this afternoon.

Watford filled the away end and were very vocal. Their songs however are pretty boring and to say they lack rhythm, melody and imagination would be an understatement. Unlike the excellent North Stand who on ten minutes to accompany the round of applause the crowd gave (including the Watford en mass) as a mark of respect to the late David Whyte with the old David Whyte Whyte Whyte chant.

The game itself could not got off to a better start, with Vetokele being cynically taken out - Buyons converted the spot kick and it was very much game on. A real blood and guts affair.

The passing game Charlton play has certainly moved up a step since Sir Chris's tenure. I think this is due more to improved playing staff than completely the new coaching team. Although they have to take some plaudits for the way we seem to be able to see games out now.

Watford helped us, their finishing reminded me of our own lack in that department last season.

Solly seemed a bit out of sorts during the first half but improved after the break. I thought Bikey once again had a great game, coming close to scoring with a scissor kick.

Lawrie Wilson had yet another good game, once he got on as sub. 

If Charlton players had made some better choices when breaking through and the hapless Watford forwards could hit a barn door then it could well have been a big scoring game.

The ref, penalty decision aside, had a dreadful game, both sets of supporters were united in their condemnation of his inept performance.

All in all, another enjoyable afternoon down at The Valley.

Man of the match for me was Bikey. Although Vetokele and Buyons gave him a real run for his money. 

Tuesday night. Bring it on.

Expect goals!

I hate the international break. And back to back away games. It seems to have been such a long time since I've enjoyed that Friday night feeling of anticipation prior to a Saturday home game.

So Watford arrive with their new manager on the back of a great start to the season.

I read on the club website that Big Bob is anticipating the potential need to change his game plan if Watford turn up with different tactics and shape to that which had served the previous manager to date this term.

I'm expecting the same sort of line up that we've seen so far, perhaps with Gudmundsson missing out due to a knock picked up whilst on international duty. We could see a debut for network player Bulot in his place.

It's a difficult one to predict. I've seen some great games against Watford over the years. One of the most memorable was back in the Selhurst days, Charlton turning a 1-3 deficit round to win 4-3.

In a flash of crazy premonition I'm going for Charlton to win in a 5-4 roller coaster. I might even have a punt on it.

Just as a foot note, with Piggott going out on loan, I wonder if this means a deals now in the pipeline to bring in another striker on loan with some experience and pedigree to bolster our attacking options?

One things for sure, a win tomorrow and the same on Tuesday night and I'll really start to believe.

Lucky Seven...

I will happily take the seven points we've accrued in the opening 3 games of the season. At best (I thought optimistically) I'd hoped for four!

An exciting, albeit exhausting, night at The Valley saw Charltons flowing passing completely boss the opening twenty minutes or so, before Derby woke up, realised that the Addicks were an entirely different proposition to the side they faced last time out, and up their own passing game to really put us under the cosh.

I was sitting willing half time to come so we could settle down a touch and maybe try and play out for the draw. Then with Tuscaden being brought down amongst a cluster of Derby players in the box a penalty was given, which Buyons aptly dispatched.

We were a tad lucky to be going into the break 2-1 up, but they do say you make your own luck - and we certainly did that with a tieless first half performance.

Lawrie Wilsons introduction, once again proved to be the turning point in the game. Another assured display saw Wilsons little nod on to Vetokele converted and we were again two goals to the good.

With Derby surging forward looking to get back into the game it could have so easily have gone 4-1 with Vetokele breaking on a couple of occasions only to be brought down by his own velocity.

Finally when Pope let a speculative effort through his legs (this aside I felt he did well) we were treated to the customary nail biting final few minutes of the game.

A good all round performance, they don't come much better than Derby, apparently, and we saw them off.

Jackson was more like his old self and put in a real captains performance.

Vetokele, as with our other new signings, looks the real deal.

The back four are solid. And we've plenty of back up in that department. You've got to feel for poor old Morrison, signing a two year contract and struggling to get ahead of Bikey and Ben-Haim.

Final word, Peeters seems not only enthusiastic, but looks like he knows a thing or two about tactics.

Relentless start to the season continues...

The relentless August start to the season continues as we see Charlton begin a fortnight of two games a week.

Derby visit The Valley as another one of the favourites to gain promotion this season, a good side who have managed only 3 shots on target in each of their opening Championship fixtures.

The key this evening will be for the Charlton team as a unit to defend and frustrate The Rams as well as they did Wigan for large parts of Saturdays game.

I don't expect too many changes to the starting line up tonight, we may see Solly rested ahead of Saturdays away game, which is not a major problem as Lawrie Wilson can comfortably slot in there. We could possibly see Fox come in for Wiggins, who did not have a great game at the weekend.

Jackson was pretty off the pace against Wigan. Not sure if he's just finding it hard keeping up now, or I have read elsewhere that he wasn't too well. Either way it could be a night to rest him on the bench and play Cousins and Buyons in the middle together.

If we can keep Derby from scoring I can see what is becoming a cautiously buoyant Valley cheer the lads on to nicking a hard fought one nil.

Three points from tonight's game before we go into two tricky away fixtures before the international break would do very nicely.

I'll enjoy tonight whatever, it'll be the best part of a month before we get to see the lads run out against Watford. 

Quality Addicks see off promotion 'favourites'

An entertaining game a The Valley this afternoon. Nearly spoilt by Wigan scoring with their only shot on target.

Cousins scored a spectacular long range effort to give the Addicks the lead.  Wigwams equaliser was typically comical and weak as per many we conceded last season. 

Jackson had a pretty anonymous game, and Wilson coming on with Cousins moving to a more central role proved to be the tactical change that won the game.

Moussa was credited with the 93rd minute winner, to be honest I saw the ball loop into the net, but couldn't vouch for whose boot it came off.

On the whole the performance was poles apart from some of the awful stuff we were subjected to last season. I may even have to change my initial opinions on Ben-Haim, who alongside Bikey did pretty well.

I know we're only two games in, but I see a bright season ahead.

Special mention goes to Peeters for squaring up to Rosser the Tosser at the end of the game after the latter goose stepped past mouthing off. Also to the new Chicken Balti Pie on offer. Spicy, fresh and a rather

 good pastry.

Bring on Derby come Tuesday night!

Pre match v Wigan

Thought I'd up the ante on the whole social media/blogging thing for the first game of the season.

Having a swift pint of orangeeboom before I set off on the train to Charlton.

Bob Peeters, more due to the current thinness of numbers than anything else, has selection dilemmas of the good sort in pretty much every area of the pitch braids up top and in goal. Does he rest Solly for Tuesday night and give the excellent Wilson a run out? Who partners Bikey, Morrison, Gomez  or Ben-Haim? (My preference would be Morrison).

In the midfield there are various choices, moussa, guddwhatshisname, Harriott or Wilson out wide? Cousins, Moussa, Jackson or Buyons in the centre?

The squad numbers may be slighter in number this season, but the quality in depth is infinateley higher than we've seen for some time.

Pre match I'm going for a 2-1 win to Charlton, Wigan do have a goal in them but I've no doubts we'll see Vetokele add to his tally and with a side full of potential goal scorers and The Valley behind them can't see this side slipping up today.