Darel Russell, an essentially defensive midfielder joins on loan until January 3rd. Very much a cover signing, my only concern about him is his disciplinary record. Only four games played this season, and already two yellow cards collected doesn't bode well, but it could be argued that he has had such little game time that he is being caught out due to lack of match fitness. The contra to that is that historically he doesn't have a very good record with referees either, having also managed to pick up two back to back red cards that effectively took him out for nearly a quarter of a season three years ago at Norwich.
What he does have though is experience at getting out of this division, and that combined with a tenacious fighting spirit are qualities that Charlton may well need to call on in the next month or so. Does this also mean that we will never see Alonso in the first team?
Contract End - Dec 2011
Davisson
Contract End - June 2012
Alonso
Benson
Doherty
Euell
Francis
Mambo
Pritchard
Wright-Phillips
Contract End - June 2013
Evina
Harriott
Hughes
Kermorgant
Osborne
Pope
Solly
Sullivan
Taylor
Wagstaff
Contract End - June 2014
Green
Hamer
Hayes
Hollands
Jackson
Morrison
Stephens
Smith
Wiggins
First Professional Contract
Cousins
Gough
Bover-Izquierdo
Popo
Warren
Loan
Cort (May 31st 2012)
Ephraim (January 3rd 2012)
Russell (January 3rd 2012
Showing posts with label Preston North End. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Preston North End. Show all posts
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Charlton 5 Preston 2
Various reports today see Powell warning against complacency, and judging by the slightly downbeat exit from the pitch yesterday, the team were I hope, acutely aware that they were about to incur some verbals from the manager, about letting in two goals in the last five minutes of a game that Charlton had completely dominated. In some senses it is a timely reminder that the prize still remains a long way off, as for most of this one sided encounter, Charlton threatened to embarass the former second division side.
For the first fifteen minutes it had all looked so different. I believed we were likely to be in for a war of attrition against a physically strong Preston side, and the expected 4-5-1 for the visitors duly presented itself at the kickoff. I really didn't see it as being anything other than a dour affair with Preston defending en masse against the marauding Charlton attack and midfield. For the first fifteen, Preston had the edge in terms of stroking the ball around, but even at that stage there was no threat in the final third. Perhaps no surprise, given that their preferred pair up top were both injured.
When the goal came, it was a clever dink of the ball inside by Wright-Phillips that saw Green haring away from the halfway line scattering all before him. The shot when it came was fierce, and the ball was also turning in the air when Arestidou palmed it away, but only as far as the onrushing Jackson, who swept it home without breaking stride. With that, the floodgates opened, and Preston didn't get a look in until five minutes before the end.
Next up was a first goal for the club by Morrison. This one would have pleased Powell possibly more than any other, as it was a first goal of the season from either of the two centre backs, and only the second of the season for the entire back four. Never mind that it was a stab home after a Wright-Phillips shot had been repelled, he was in the right place at the right time, and made no mistake.
Speaking of mistakes, if the Preston goalkeeper had culpability in the first two goals, then he certainly had it for the third, bringing down Kermorgant for a clear penalty. That he escaped without even a yellow card was a bit of a mystery to me, but given the gifts he was presenting us with, Charlton at least would have been happy enough to see him stay on the pitch, but surely a yellow card was merited? Jackson stepped up to the spot once more, and gave him no chance, lashing the ball in to make it three up, and only twenty six minutes played. We didn't have long to wait for number four either, as Wright-Phillips arrived at the back post completely unmarked to meet a corner that should never have reached him.
It couldn't continue like this in the second half, which was a much more subdued affair from a Charlton perspective, but it did give us the goal of the match. A delightful run down the left flank, and a dinked pass over the head of the Preston right back to himself that left the Preston man grasping at thin air, saw Wiggins put in a peach of a cross that Hollands met on the dive with his head, glancing it with some power into the top right hand corner of the net. And that was that, or at least it probably should have been, except that for the last five minutes of the game, Charlton seemed to switch off, allowing Preston the consolation of two goals that they were not entitled to, based on their performance in the match up until that point.
As mentioned earlier, it will give the team something to think about, as it took the edge off what had been up until that point, a superb afternoon of footballing entertainment. Powell said that he was disappointed by it, and so was I, but as he also went on to say, if you can't enjoy a 5-2 at home when top of the league, you probably never will. Hear hear to that, and just think, only twenty nine more games to go!
For the first fifteen minutes it had all looked so different. I believed we were likely to be in for a war of attrition against a physically strong Preston side, and the expected 4-5-1 for the visitors duly presented itself at the kickoff. I really didn't see it as being anything other than a dour affair with Preston defending en masse against the marauding Charlton attack and midfield. For the first fifteen, Preston had the edge in terms of stroking the ball around, but even at that stage there was no threat in the final third. Perhaps no surprise, given that their preferred pair up top were both injured.
When the goal came, it was a clever dink of the ball inside by Wright-Phillips that saw Green haring away from the halfway line scattering all before him. The shot when it came was fierce, and the ball was also turning in the air when Arestidou palmed it away, but only as far as the onrushing Jackson, who swept it home without breaking stride. With that, the floodgates opened, and Preston didn't get a look in until five minutes before the end.
Next up was a first goal for the club by Morrison. This one would have pleased Powell possibly more than any other, as it was a first goal of the season from either of the two centre backs, and only the second of the season for the entire back four. Never mind that it was a stab home after a Wright-Phillips shot had been repelled, he was in the right place at the right time, and made no mistake.
Speaking of mistakes, if the Preston goalkeeper had culpability in the first two goals, then he certainly had it for the third, bringing down Kermorgant for a clear penalty. That he escaped without even a yellow card was a bit of a mystery to me, but given the gifts he was presenting us with, Charlton at least would have been happy enough to see him stay on the pitch, but surely a yellow card was merited? Jackson stepped up to the spot once more, and gave him no chance, lashing the ball in to make it three up, and only twenty six minutes played. We didn't have long to wait for number four either, as Wright-Phillips arrived at the back post completely unmarked to meet a corner that should never have reached him.
It couldn't continue like this in the second half, which was a much more subdued affair from a Charlton perspective, but it did give us the goal of the match. A delightful run down the left flank, and a dinked pass over the head of the Preston right back to himself that left the Preston man grasping at thin air, saw Wiggins put in a peach of a cross that Hollands met on the dive with his head, glancing it with some power into the top right hand corner of the net. And that was that, or at least it probably should have been, except that for the last five minutes of the game, Charlton seemed to switch off, allowing Preston the consolation of two goals that they were not entitled to, based on their performance in the match up until that point.
As mentioned earlier, it will give the team something to think about, as it took the edge off what had been up until that point, a superb afternoon of footballing entertainment. Powell said that he was disappointed by it, and so was I, but as he also went on to say, if you can't enjoy a 5-2 at home when top of the league, you probably never will. Hear hear to that, and just think, only twenty nine more games to go!
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Charlton 2 Exeter 0
If the sign of a team headed for promotion is the ability to grind out a result when not playing well, then Charlton are in good shape for a return to the second division. This was not a good game, and Charlton did not play well, but still sit second in the table this morning, a single goal being the difference separating them from top spot. Was I the only one though that felt a little flat at the conclusion yesterday?
On Tuesday night I watched Charlton on Sky, in a spit and sawdust pub in Northampton, labouring to a draw against a well organised Sheffield Wednesday side. What was telling for me was the difference in how Powell and Megson reacted when things weren't going their way. Twenty minutes in and Megson knew his side were in trouble, unable to cope with Charlton's free flowing play, so what did he do? He changed it of course, and whilst Wednesday never looked like winning, neither did they look like they were going to be the losing side after their manager had altered the formation that had struggled in the early period of play.
Powell, however, never looked like he was able to change the side that had started so well. Euell for Hayes does not constitute tactical thinking, and so the game petered out as a contest, both sides seemingly content with the stalemate. Others have mentioned it, and I agree with the theory that Powell really doesn't seem to have a Plan B. This may in part be down to personnel, but I also believe he needs to exercise some tactical nous, and I am not convinced that he has that ability in his armoury yet.
Robinson at MK Dons is voted manager of the month for August, and he would be the first to admit that the award is as much for the wise old head, and shrewd tactician that is his number two. Powell does not have a Gorman to consult, and sorry but no, Peacock does not fall into that category. The problem that Charlton are now facing is that our newly rebuilt team is no longer an unknown to the other teams in the division. They now know who we are, and they know where we live, and unless Powell starts to mix it up a little, someone is going to find us out.
I doubt if it would have been yesterday, as Exeter lacked the cutting edge to cause Charlton too many problems. This lack of bite was compounded when Nardiello, incensed after a perfectly good goal had not been given, decided to abuse the East Stand lino to the extent that he got a straight red for his efforts. After that, it was only a question of when Charlton's patient but on occasions frustratingly ineffective probing would produce a result.
My man of the match yesterday eventually found a way through, after some clever interplay between himself and the underrated Hayes, saw Wright-Philips tuck away his fifth goal of the season. He should have been more careful about his goal "celebration" though, as he could easily have picked up a yellow for taunting the Exeter fans who had been giving him abuse all match. Stephens attoned for his miss on Tuesday night, by ensuring that his shot never left the deck to rack up the second with ten minutes to go, and that was that. Game over.
Hopefully the second string will get the chance against Preston in the Carling Darling Cup on Tuesday, and in one sense this otherwise meaningless competition is important. Players like Bover and Evina may well be the answer to Charlton's need for renewed and varied impact. The return of Green would also be welcome, if only to provide an alternative to Wagstaff, who I would also rate as an impact option. I believe the time to change things a little is upon us. I just wonder if Powell will take the opportunity.
On Tuesday night I watched Charlton on Sky, in a spit and sawdust pub in Northampton, labouring to a draw against a well organised Sheffield Wednesday side. What was telling for me was the difference in how Powell and Megson reacted when things weren't going their way. Twenty minutes in and Megson knew his side were in trouble, unable to cope with Charlton's free flowing play, so what did he do? He changed it of course, and whilst Wednesday never looked like winning, neither did they look like they were going to be the losing side after their manager had altered the formation that had struggled in the early period of play.
Powell, however, never looked like he was able to change the side that had started so well. Euell for Hayes does not constitute tactical thinking, and so the game petered out as a contest, both sides seemingly content with the stalemate. Others have mentioned it, and I agree with the theory that Powell really doesn't seem to have a Plan B. This may in part be down to personnel, but I also believe he needs to exercise some tactical nous, and I am not convinced that he has that ability in his armoury yet.
Robinson at MK Dons is voted manager of the month for August, and he would be the first to admit that the award is as much for the wise old head, and shrewd tactician that is his number two. Powell does not have a Gorman to consult, and sorry but no, Peacock does not fall into that category. The problem that Charlton are now facing is that our newly rebuilt team is no longer an unknown to the other teams in the division. They now know who we are, and they know where we live, and unless Powell starts to mix it up a little, someone is going to find us out.
I doubt if it would have been yesterday, as Exeter lacked the cutting edge to cause Charlton too many problems. This lack of bite was compounded when Nardiello, incensed after a perfectly good goal had not been given, decided to abuse the East Stand lino to the extent that he got a straight red for his efforts. After that, it was only a question of when Charlton's patient but on occasions frustratingly ineffective probing would produce a result.
My man of the match yesterday eventually found a way through, after some clever interplay between himself and the underrated Hayes, saw Wright-Philips tuck away his fifth goal of the season. He should have been more careful about his goal "celebration" though, as he could easily have picked up a yellow for taunting the Exeter fans who had been giving him abuse all match. Stephens attoned for his miss on Tuesday night, by ensuring that his shot never left the deck to rack up the second with ten minutes to go, and that was that. Game over.
Hopefully the second string will get the chance against Preston in the Carling Darling Cup on Tuesday, and in one sense this otherwise meaningless competition is important. Players like Bover and Evina may well be the answer to Charlton's need for renewed and varied impact. The return of Green would also be welcome, if only to provide an alternative to Wagstaff, who I would also rate as an impact option. I believe the time to change things a little is upon us. I just wonder if Powell will take the opportunity.
Monday, 23 March 2009
Embers
And so it was Preston on Saturday. The quality, with the notable exception of Zheng Zhi, was poor from both teams, and the result was entirely fair. Even the physically ludicrous contest of Matt "Captain Cleanshorts" Holland against Jon "The Beast" Parkin failed to produce anything close to anxiety for me, as I watched Charlton's season continue to die like embers in the fire.
As Mark Kinsella has been reported as saying, we may as well enjoy Zheng Zhi while we still have him. He is one of the last remaining reminders of our Premiership past, and his quality was certainly a cut above anybody else on the pitch last Saturday. A bright spark in a near dead fire. I can't even take consolation in another talent that could potentially ignite a fire for Charlton in the third division, Jonjo Shelvey. He too, will be gone come season end, albeit for, hopefully, a sensible transfer fee.
As Mark Kinsella has been reported as saying, we may as well enjoy Zheng Zhi while we still have him. He is one of the last remaining reminders of our Premiership past, and his quality was certainly a cut above anybody else on the pitch last Saturday. A bright spark in a near dead fire. I can't even take consolation in another talent that could potentially ignite a fire for Charlton in the third division, Jonjo Shelvey. He too, will be gone come season end, albeit for, hopefully, a sensible transfer fee.
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