My first live Charlton match of the season. Those of you who read these pages on a passing basis will be aware that I have been boycotting for the last three seasons. It certainly felt right and the only thing left to me in August 2017 when we were still lumbered with Katrien Meire and His Lordship was refusing to budge. Since then we have had the blessed relief of La Meire buggering off and Duchatelet has finally confirmed that his multi-club experiment has been a disaster and that he has no interest in football and wants out at the Valley.
To some extent, then, the protests of the club's supporters have succeeded although final victory will only be celebrated once Duchatelet exits stage left. In the circumstances, I have increasingly missed watching the Addicks since Lee Bowyer has instilled fighting spirit and managed the impossible promotion. The shenanigans of the close season notwithstanding, Lee Bowyer has done it again in terms of re-grouping and stepping up once more, so my boycott has been under intense pressure.
Yesterday I was tempted by the offer of a spare ticket from a mate which turned into a seat in an East Stand box this week and he even managed to fit my fellow boycotting season-ticket holder in, so everyone was happy. I was very keen to see the side in action and playing Bookies favourites Leeds was a bonus.
So, with low expectations initially we survived a couple of early scares and settled into the match. Leeds' Jamie Shackleton had said in the week that their game-plan was to take an early lead and kill us off. I did think at the time that this might come back to haunt him and sure enough, after half an hour in which Leeds had failed to score, the Addicks forced a corner in front of the visiting supporters who had the best view of the game's only goal. The ball was swung into the box and Tom Lockyer got a touch to force the ball goal-ward. Kiko Casilla, in the multi-coloured mess of a shirt, managed to parry it but only on to the back of Macauley Bonne from where it crossed the line. The goal sparked joyous celebrations and succeeded in silencing the hitherto noisy Whites, which helped ease the pressure on the home side. No sign either of any trouble from the 'hundreds' of Leeds fans purported to have bought tickets in home areas.
It was Charlton's first chance and we didn't get another throughout the ninety minutes. The absence of Lyle Taylor is painfully obvious but tactically yesterday we haven't sought to try to replace him. Bonne and Leko were instead playing fifty yards apart and withdrawn to just ahead of Cullen and Gallagher on the sides of the diamond. It meant that we had extra bodies and feet to help win the midfield battle but no target man or out ball. As a result we looked to play our way through the Leeds defence. Williams and Gallagher in particular tried that as hard as they could with Josh Cullen in support but it's expecting a lot from deep in open play against a well-organised and capable defence like Leeds'.
At the back we were under pressure for long periods of the game but not much in the way of danger. Leeds were quick and neat and moved well to create space but most of this was around the Charlton box and they were often left to pot from distance, most of which sailed over the bar. Given all the PR about Leeds I was surprised that no-one in their side stood out. Kalvin Phillips saw a lot of the ball on Charlton's left flank and did whip a number of decent crosses in but Sarr and Lockyer were waiting in the first-half and when they put us under scrutiny in the last ten minutes, it was the stalwart Chris Solly who popped up twice between lurking Leeds players to head on and out of play.
Leeds made two early second-half changes, one introducing Arsenal starlet, Eddie Nketiah, a once hopeful Charlton loan but he failed to show and little changed for the visitors. Chuks Anneke came on for Williams who had taken a knock but whom Bowyer may well have decided to rest ahead of the Swansea game in midweek. Like everyone else, I was surprised at his size and he at least looks like he could lead the line although he was again played in a wide role. Field and Pearce came on in the final ten minutes as we sought fresh legs to keep chasing Leeds players as they tried to force the equaliser. A collective sigh of relief when the ref finally blew his whistle after five minutes of added time and time to celebrate a memorable victory even if it wasn't the free-flowing attacking football of my dreams.
Finally, I heard mutterings from several sources last night that "he will be gone in three weeks" and twice that an American consortium was in talks to end the Duchatelet nightmare. Given history, we have to be sceptical but it will happen one day and soon would be tremendous.
To some extent, then, the protests of the club's supporters have succeeded although final victory will only be celebrated once Duchatelet exits stage left. In the circumstances, I have increasingly missed watching the Addicks since Lee Bowyer has instilled fighting spirit and managed the impossible promotion. The shenanigans of the close season notwithstanding, Lee Bowyer has done it again in terms of re-grouping and stepping up once more, so my boycott has been under intense pressure.
Yesterday I was tempted by the offer of a spare ticket from a mate which turned into a seat in an East Stand box this week and he even managed to fit my fellow boycotting season-ticket holder in, so everyone was happy. I was very keen to see the side in action and playing Bookies favourites Leeds was a bonus.
So, with low expectations initially we survived a couple of early scares and settled into the match. Leeds' Jamie Shackleton had said in the week that their game-plan was to take an early lead and kill us off. I did think at the time that this might come back to haunt him and sure enough, after half an hour in which Leeds had failed to score, the Addicks forced a corner in front of the visiting supporters who had the best view of the game's only goal. The ball was swung into the box and Tom Lockyer got a touch to force the ball goal-ward. Kiko Casilla, in the multi-coloured mess of a shirt, managed to parry it but only on to the back of Macauley Bonne from where it crossed the line. The goal sparked joyous celebrations and succeeded in silencing the hitherto noisy Whites, which helped ease the pressure on the home side. No sign either of any trouble from the 'hundreds' of Leeds fans purported to have bought tickets in home areas.
It was Charlton's first chance and we didn't get another throughout the ninety minutes. The absence of Lyle Taylor is painfully obvious but tactically yesterday we haven't sought to try to replace him. Bonne and Leko were instead playing fifty yards apart and withdrawn to just ahead of Cullen and Gallagher on the sides of the diamond. It meant that we had extra bodies and feet to help win the midfield battle but no target man or out ball. As a result we looked to play our way through the Leeds defence. Williams and Gallagher in particular tried that as hard as they could with Josh Cullen in support but it's expecting a lot from deep in open play against a well-organised and capable defence like Leeds'.
At the back we were under pressure for long periods of the game but not much in the way of danger. Leeds were quick and neat and moved well to create space but most of this was around the Charlton box and they were often left to pot from distance, most of which sailed over the bar. Given all the PR about Leeds I was surprised that no-one in their side stood out. Kalvin Phillips saw a lot of the ball on Charlton's left flank and did whip a number of decent crosses in but Sarr and Lockyer were waiting in the first-half and when they put us under scrutiny in the last ten minutes, it was the stalwart Chris Solly who popped up twice between lurking Leeds players to head on and out of play.
Leeds made two early second-half changes, one introducing Arsenal starlet, Eddie Nketiah, a once hopeful Charlton loan but he failed to show and little changed for the visitors. Chuks Anneke came on for Williams who had taken a knock but whom Bowyer may well have decided to rest ahead of the Swansea game in midweek. Like everyone else, I was surprised at his size and he at least looks like he could lead the line although he was again played in a wide role. Field and Pearce came on in the final ten minutes as we sought fresh legs to keep chasing Leeds players as they tried to force the equaliser. A collective sigh of relief when the ref finally blew his whistle after five minutes of added time and time to celebrate a memorable victory even if it wasn't the free-flowing attacking football of my dreams.
Finally, I heard mutterings from several sources last night that "he will be gone in three weeks" and twice that an American consortium was in talks to end the Duchatelet nightmare. Given history, we have to be sceptical but it will happen one day and soon would be tremendous.
So glad to hear that you have returned to the Valley. My worry now is that Lee Bowyer has become a very capable manager and will be targeted by teams with much bigger financial resources than Charlton. So hurry up exit Duchalet and hopefully new owners will have the resources to hold on to Lee and take us back to the Premier.
ReplyDeleteHi Dave
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you've got to see a game even though I can't bring myself to return until this contemptuous owner has gone. After commencing attendance in the late fifties as a kid I hadn't missed many games but not been now since the end of the season when Chris Powell and Jose Riga left. I've been to home games at Welling this season again and note from your report that the only game I've missed - against Wealdstone - was the only one you've been able to attend - typical!
The latest rumours about buyers are just that I fear as I think it has become increasingly clear that this eccentric individual is impossible to deal with in any accepted business sense. Maybe catch up at PVR one of these days. Tony