Jones: 'a point on the road in the Championship is a good point'

James Bree's sublime first-half strike gave Charlton the lead on 37 minutes at the end of a flowing move by the Addicks.

The Rams had appeals for a penalty waved away inside the opening minute but Thomas Kaminski in the Charlton goal was largely untested until late in the game.  The Addicks keeper pulled off a strong save to deny Bobby Clark before defender Clarke rose highest to head in moments later following the corner.

Greg Docherty and Lars-Jorgen Salvesen had late chances as both sides pushed for the winner but the game ended with the points shared.

The result leaves Charlton eighth in the table, with Derby a point clear of the relegation zone in 20th.

Macaulay Gillesphey will perhaps count himself lucky not to have given away a spot kick in the opening minute of the match as he had a handful of Carlton Morris' shirt when the Rams striker tumbled in the box.

An uneventful first half sprung into life late on with a moment of quality from the Addicks attackers, all started by a long ball forward from goalkeeper Kaminski.

Charlie Kelman found space from Dion Sanderson and took the ball down with a deft touch, before playing in Tyreece Campbell.   The Jamaica international pulled it back for Sonny Carey and from there it was one-touch football, as he laid it off to Docherty, who passed out to Bree in space on the right and he smashed the ball first-time beyond Jacob Widell Zetterstrom into the top-left corner.

The hosts were much improved after the break but didn't test Kaminski until the 77th minute of the game when Clark opted to shoot with passing options either side and the Charlton goalkeeper pulled off a fine save.

Charlton cleared away the corner but Lewis Travis recycled the ball back in and Clarke beat everyone to head into the bottom corner with 11 minutes remaining for an equaliser.

Both sides pushed for a winner in a frantic end to the match, with Harvey Knibbs slicing wide before Docherty's added-time effort deflected just wide for the visitors.   Salvesen forced a big save from Kaminski right at the end but John Eustace's side couldn't find the second goal that would have given them a first home win in the league since April.

Charlton Athletic supremo Nathan Jones told BBC Radio London:

"Relatively pleased. Any point on the road in the Championship is a good point.  Once we've taken the lead we would have liked to have gone on and probably had a bit more control of the game but full credit to Derby, Derby gave it everything.  They were playing with a front four, [they] left four up at times and had runners.

Both sides had chances. They had a chance before they scored and then we had three late on that maybe could have nicked it.  So there's mixed emotions but I'm happy that we haven't got beaten and it's another point on the board."

 

Can Charlton stage a Ram raid?

Charlton's record against Derby County is not that good.  We have played them 55 times, including a FA Cup final defeat.   They have won 29 encounters, we have won half that number (14) and 12 games have been drawn.  I am still smarting from a 2-4 defeat at The Valley in the Curbs era when we had gone ahead.

Derby lost their last league meeting with Charlton 2-1 in February 2024, but haven’t lost back-to-back league games versus the Addicks since January 1984.  After their 2-1 win in February 2024, Charlton could win back-to-back away league visits to Derby for the first time since December 1962 (4 in a row).

Derby have alternated between drawing (3) and losing (3) their last six home league games; they had won three in a row on home soil prior to this.  Charlton have won four of their last seven away league games (D1 L2), beating Sheffield United 1-0 in their last.

The Rams are currently just outside the relegation places in the Championship table and slightly higher in the form table.

These midweek away games are always especially tricky, but a resilient side with a strong defence should secure an away point at least.   Please bear in mind that I am currently bottom of the Badger Prediction League!

In praise of Lloyd Jones

One of the hallmarks of Charlton's current success is that it is coming from all round the park with (almost) all players putting in a shift.   In that sense it reminds me of the teams that Curbs put out.

Richard Cawley has reported Lloyd Jones' defensive stats in the first seven matches and where that ranks out of all Championship players: 

• Third for aerial duels (47) 
• Joint third for interceptions (12) 
• Fifth for clearances (58) 
• First for total fouls conceded (19) That last one is all about the aggression that Nathan Jones wants his players to show says Cawley.   (Blackburn's manager was losing his rag in the Football League Paper yesterday saying that Jones had used the hand of God in defence and instead of awarding a penalty the admittedly hapless referee had merely winked at the Rovers captain).

Cheese award

James Brie is named in the Football League Paper's team of the day this morning.

Already becoming a fan favourite, Bree is on a loan until January, but would have preferred to spend the whole season with the Addicks.

James Bree signed for Charlton Athletic on deadline day - with his loan running until the January transfer window.

The 27-year-old spoke to South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition about his future, with his contract at parent club Southampton expiring at the end of June.

Why was there a delay in you going out on loan? Nathan Jones said last week that he had been forced to bide his time to get you.  Bree: “I had a solid pre-season with Southampton and then got injured in the last pre-season game. It was a soleus injury in my calf. I was out for four weeks. Being injured, I wasn’t sure what the situation was. There was nothing about leaving the club - it hadn’t been spoken about at that point.

“We had a big squad at Southampton and the last week of the window it was something they put towards me, if that was something I wanted to do. I wanted to come out and play football. Once the opportunity came up to work with the gaffer again, at Charlton, I snatched at it.

“I was still dealing with the injury when I first came here but I was pretty much fit to be on the grass, to be fair.”

Was playing football this season even more key with your Saints deal not having a huge amount of time to run?

Bree: “Yeah. With a year left on my contract it was a bit of a weird one, being sent on loan. It’s not something you see happen much.  It is a win-win for everyone - especially for me. I didn’t want to waste a year if I wasn’t going to play. I definitely wanted to come to Charlton and play.

“Initially I thought it was going to be a season-long loan and it ended up being six months. I’m not sure what the technicalities behind that all were. I’d rather it be a full season - whether that be a loan or whatever it turns into. We’ll just see how it goes until January and go from there.

“I wanted to come and play. I’m enjoying working with the gaffer.”

Please support Richard Cawley's journalism on Substack.

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Capital performance

Charlton moved to the edge of the play offs in 7^th place with a 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at The Valley this afternoon.

It took a while for the game to warm up, with Balazs Toth the first goalkeeper to be called into action with 28 minutes on the clock, dropping to hold onto home skipper Greg Docherty, who let fly from the edge of the box.

The cultured right foot of Bree, which gave Blackburn problems all afternoon, finally made an opening.  He swung in a deep free kick that was met at the back post by substitute Gillesphey.   The Wembley hero nodded back across goal and into the corner to give his side the lead just seven minutes after replacing the injured Josh Edwards

The penultimate chance of the half saw Pickering go for goal from a free kick, with the defender’s strike from 22 yards sailing comfortably over the top of the upright and into the home supporters behind Kaminski’s goal, before Toth produced a good stop to beat away Lloyd Jones’ header with the final touch of a scrappy first half in SE7.

The Addicks went in ahead and they almost doubled their tally just four minutes into the second period, but Docherty’s left-footed attempt from inside the box was parried away by Toth. before the danger was hacked clear.

Filling in at right-back after Ryan Alebiosu was forced off at half time, Gardner-Hickman was beginning to be targeted and after winning a battle against the hapless substitute, Tyreece Campbell bent inches past Toth’s left-hand post just before the hour mark with a curling right-footed effort after darting in from the left flank.

Reece Burke missed a glorious opportunity to bag a second for Charlton with just over 20 minutes left, with the defender firing over with the net gaping after Toth had initially saved Docherty’s stinging effort from 18 yards out.

Charlton grew stronger as the second half progressed and when substitute Isaac Olaofe held the ball up and laid it off, Carey was given far too much time and space to weigh up an attempt and he then sent his thunderous shot flying between the desperate dive of Toth and his near post to smash into the back of the net to make it 2-0.

Bree was waiting at the back post to score his first league goal for the club since joining on loan from Southampton in the summer to make it 3-0. Olaofe, who scored the late winner in South Yorkshire last week, created the third in the fourth minute of added time, setting off on a run down the left and freeing Greg Docherty, whose pull-back to the edge of the box found Bree, who calmly stroked a side foot shot through a crowd of players.

 

 

Jones admits: 'We are disappointed with points gained'

Supremo Nathan Jones responded in his press conference yesterday to fans like Desmond from Deal who have demanded more from the team in the final third.

The Welshman said: ‘We have to build from a solid foundation, like we did then. Once again we are building a solid foundation but come January, February, March and April, I have no doubt if I’m doing my job then we will be a better side than we are now - more fluent and much more potent in the final third. But that’s an evolution process.

We have come up a level and you have to remember we need to adjust to certain stuff. We are coming up against sides with huge budgets - regular Championship sides that have spent money on quality. That is what we have to get to. But, I’ve got to be honest with you, we’re sitting where we are and we are disappointed, realistically so, with our points gained. We feel we should have more.

We’ve got a squad now where we have got two in pretty much every position. If I play Amari’i Bell or Macaulay Gillesphey, is anyone going to raise their eyebrows? If I play Rob Apter or James Bree? If I play Kayne Ramsay or Reece Burke? If I play Charlie Kelman, Miles, Tanto (Isaac Olaofe) or (Matty) Godden in that position?

There are some tough decisions, sometimes, to make. Some people are a little bit unlucky. Macaulay Gillesphey, for example, can feel very unlucky and hard done by, because of what he did last season. But he will play lots of games for us.  Burkey had to be patient.’

Kayne Ramsay is back from suspension and Jones has also confirmed that Luke Berry is in full training.

The comments above reproduced from Richard Cawley's Substack platform where there is a lot more to read.

Blackburn Rovers arrive fresh from their washout against Ipswich Town which the EFL in its wisdom has ruled has to be played in full.

Nathan Jones believes Blackburn Rovers will pose a tough threat when they visit The Valley this weekend.  Valerien Ismael's side would be on the back of successive wins, and three in four games, had their Ipswich Town result stood. As it is, Rovers still carry good momentum as they search for a third away triumph in a row.

“There won't be a Championship team that comes here where it's a small game or insignificant, they're all massive," the supremo said.

"Blackburn have had a decent start with an experienced manager, narrowly missing out on the play-offs last year following a good second half to the season.   They've started quite well this time out and it’s another tough game, and one where we have to concentrate on us. We want to be the best version of ourselves at home.

"We love playing back at The Valley. The crowd is fantastic and so is the atmosphere. Matchdays are real occasions now and something we always look forward to."

Spirits are said to be high in the Blackburn camp as they prepare for their trip to the capital.

CAS Trust reckons the mood is more upbeat at Charlton than at Blacburn: https://www.castrust.org/2025/09/game-set-match-or-second-serve/

Varney talks about how Cubs came to leave

 

And this is what we got instead

Richard Cawley is continuing his fascinating interviews with former chief executive Peter Varney.

Varney recalls: 'In terms of Curbs leaving, I had no inkling that was on the cards, at all. I did know that Alan was concerned about having a clause in his contract that was about compensation - and he saw signing that new deal as preventing him from going for any top jobs.

The first I knew about it was sitting in my office a day before the Blackburn game at the end of April 2006. Richard Murray called and asked me to go down to the boardroom. I went down there and Richard said: ‘Alan’s leaving us’.

We had a very close relationship and in some way I felt myself getting emotional. I’d worked with Alan the whole time and we spoke every day. Suddenly just to be told he was leaving was a shock. And it was a done deal: ‘We’ve agreed everything and Alan’s going’.

I said: ‘He can’t just go, after what he’s achieved. The fans have to get the opportunity to thank him. He can’t just go and that is it. That’s not appropriate’. That was my only input to it, really, which led to the announcement being made the following day.

It became clear there had been conversations going on about a new contract but Alan not wanting the clause, which I totally understand. It was so he had options. It wasn’t necessarily a case that he wanted to leave, it wasn’t that at all. But it led to the departure.  It then became a case of ‘where do we go from here?’

It was agreed there would be a series of informal interviews which Richard and I would conduct. Then it would go back, principally, to Bob Whitehand and Derek Chappell, as the main shareholders,

It became clear, and I sort of get it, what a tough act it is to follow - Alan Curbishley. You could be forgiven for thinking ‘is there any upside?’ or that sort of thing. But then again it is a Premier League job. Shortly after that Billy joined Derby County.'

The ultimate answer was, of course, Iain Dowie.  Subscribe to  Richard Cawley’s Substack page to find out how he came to make his move north.

I wasn't able to say goodbye to Curbs myself.   But a few years later (after he had left West Ham) he was sitting next to a colleague at a dinner in London and asked how I was and to be remembered to me.

Tanto's frustration at lack of minutes

Nathan Jones admitted that Isaac Olaofe has been “frustrated” at his lack of Championship game time.  Asked what else Olaofe needed to show to Jones to get greater game time, the Welshman told South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition: “Exactly what he has done today. Goals, energy, running ability - game-changing. That is it. He will get opportunities.

“You have to understand that we can only play 11 players and we’ve got competition in every position now. So there are arguments for everyone.  Joe Rankin-Costello came here to play. So did Harvey Knibbs, Tanto Oloafe and Rob Apter. We’ve got competition from behind that and people who have done well for me - Karoy Anderson. Ibby Fullah is pushing at the door and he is training off the charts.

“The competition and levels had to go up at this club and they have - significantly. If people want to stay in the team, or get in the team, then they have to be consistent every day.

“That will do him the world of good and I’m really proud of him, because he’s had to be patient. He’s come on late and been frustrated. He was one of the main men at Stockport and he thought ‘I’m coming here to play’. No, you’re coming here to be a Championship player and help Charlton Athletic be the best we can be.”

“If he wants more minutes then keep doing that. It is hard to leave you out.”

Support Richard Cawley on Substack.

Big cheese

James Bree is named as star man by the Football League Paper this morning.    'We don't like cheddar, we like brie.'

Other scores:

• Thomas Kaminski 8, safe handling when called for without being over exerted.
• James Bree 8, an assured display, helping to keep the hosts at bay
• Josh Edwards 8, good performance at the back, including an important block to keep out Campbell
• Lloyd Jones 8, good work-rate and efficient defending to help the side keep a clean sheet
• Amar'i Bell 8, defended well throughout, restricting the opportunities for United's forwards
• Conor Coventry 7 solid, no-frills performance in midfield, helping to stifle the Blades
• Sonny Carey 7 a competent performance from the midfielder, without having a great performance
• Reece Burke 8, an assured display in defence, helping to keep the home side at bay
• Greg Docherty 7 good from the skipper, leading his side to victory after going close with a header
• Tyreece Campbell 6, struggled to make a great impact before being replaced after 79 minutes
• Charlie Kelman 6 posed little threat after an early effort which went wide, before being replaced
• Leaburn 8 (61); Oloafe (79); Knibbs, 8 (79)

Party poopers

It was Chris Wilder's third debut at Bramall Lane by popular request, but the day confounded pundits with Charlton winning 1-0 in a victory that took them up to 11th.    Charlton fans chanted: 'You're getting sacked in the morning.'

Before the game moaners wallowed in their pessimism forecasting a 3-0 home win, while the more optimistic went for a brill 0-0 in the rain.  Not a good result for those who have been saying that relegation is inevitable.

Charlton were solid in defence and dangerous on the break.  Olaofe scored a late winner on 90 minutes, making use of a pass from Brie.  It was his first goal for the club.

Richard Cawley described it as a statement performance and result.

Despite the difficult environment, it was almost the perfect start for the Addicks when captain Greg Docherty played Charlie Kelman in behind the Blades’ defence on the halfway line in the second minute.  Kelman charged towards the goal, but the chasing Blades defenders caught up with the American youth international, forcing an early attempt on goal which drifted well wide.

The Addicks almost suffered a catastrophic self-inflicted setback when shot-stopper Thomas Kaminski took a heavy touch from a simple pass by Bree.  With Kaminski seemingly beaten, the Sheffield United attack looked to pounce, but the Belgian recovered excellently to clear the danger at full stretch.

On the half-hour mark, Tyreece Campbell darted into the box and struck an excellent ball goalward, but Ben Godfrey was on hand to block the effort before it was eventually cleared away.

The Addicks enjoyed an exceptional end to the half, but lacked the finishing touch as an opener eluded them - with Michael Cooper on hand to make an exceptional stop from a header in the six-yard box.

The introduction of Harvey Knibbs late on injected a late spark to the Addicks.  The switch almost offered an immediate reward when he combined with Miles Leaburn to win possession back near the edge of the hosts’ box, but Leaburn’s effort was well saved.

Charlton were in full flow now in their search for a winner, however, and Sheffield United looked increasingly unable to contain the Addicks.  Eventually, Charlton put the Blades to the sword as substitute Olaofe netted a 90th-minute winner, elating the 1,154 travelling Addicks.

A simple ball across the box from Bree had the beating of Femi Seriki, landing in the path of Olaofe, who made no mistake finding the back of the net from point-blank range.

The Addicks saw out the remainder of the match with ease, a once energised and positive Bramall Lane by then one of anger and disappointment, compounded by the victory for the Massives at Portsmouth.

Divine intervention at Bramall Lane?

In their last away match the Addicks faced a Super Hoops side seeking to get back on track after a 7-1 pasting at Coventry City.  Not only did they succeed, but it is rumoured that QPR fan Lord Toby Young chased Rick Everitt to the nearest tube station shouting 'Take that, you town hall tyrant.'

Now we face Sheffield United, a team that was trounced 5-0 by the Tractors.  Chris Wilder is back in the dugout as retread manager.

A concerned Nathan Jones said at yesterday's press conference: 'We can’t second-guess anything. Does it give them a lift? Absolutely. The crowd were obviously disillusioned and they had a tough result last week. There was always going to be a bounce, it was similar to the QPR one.

Chris has gone in there, he is synonymous with the football club and has got the best out of it in recent years, so of course it is going to be difficult. It was always going to be a difficult game - Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in the Championship.

“Does this make it more difficult? We don’t know. We will only find out at five o’clock on Saturday. We only try to affect the things we can affect at Sparrows Lane. If we are the best versions of ourselves - turn up and are at it like I know we can be - that is all I can ask for.

Then everything else is God’s will.'

The Almighty probably has too busy a diary to intervene in a Championship match, so we will have to rely on a solid defence and a possible goal from an unlikely player.   I am not optimistic.

The CAS Trust preview is here: https://www.castrust.org/2025/09/a-wilder-weekend-expected-in-sheffield/

CAS Trust raises issues with the Met

CAS Trust have written to the relevant police authorities about events after last Saturday's match against Millwall: https://www.castrust.org/2025/09/police-management-of-millwall-match/

There are surely lessons to be learned about the overall policing plan and particular incidents on the day.

I appreciate that the Met Police have a lot on their plate, but hopefully they seek to do better.

Last Saturday was, of course, a particularly difficult day in terms of policing requirements.   A friend who is a sheep farmer on the Feldon here in Warwickshire, and therefore not always up to date with events in the metropolis, went to the theatre on Saturday afternoon to see the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and was amazed at the mayhem she encountered on emerging with her family.

Mayhem after the Millwall match

I read a number of disturbing reports on social media about what happened after the Millwall game on Saturday, both in terms of the arrangements made by the club and the conduct of the police.

I have no means of verifying individual reports, but I was particularly concerned to read of one supporter who had taken his young son to a match for the first time.   When they eventually reached the station there were already a considerable number of Millwall fans there and his son was hit on the head by an object thrown by someone, leaving him with a bump on the head.   Understandably, the youngster doesn't want to go again.

Of course, such incidents are not new.  My late wife received a head injury after a game against Palace and had to go to A and E.

I am pleased that CAS Trust have produced an aggregated list of the concerns raised by fans and it will be interesting to see what response they get: https://www.castrust.org/2025/09/management-of-last-saturdays-match/

The club have now responded to CAS Trust and have said they will conduct a matchday survey: https://www.castrust.org/2025/09/club-responds-about-management-of-millwall-game/

My impression is that the police were following the plan they implemented for the last home game against Millwall which I attended and caused serious problems then.

If you want a bit of light relief, I recommend the Paddy Power advert showing Curbs making his pitch to manage Manchester United: https://x.com/paddypower

Ramsay says sorry

Kayne Ramsay took to Instagram on Saturday night to apologise for his sending off.  “Devastated about my decision-making today,” he posted. “I cost the team three points. I’m sorry to all the fans and my team-mates, especially with the magnitude of the game. Learning curve, for sure. I’ll be back.”

The right-sided centre-back could have no grievances over his two cautions -both on Aidomo Emakhu, Millwall’s only dangerous attacker with Josh Coburn and Mihailo Ivanovic both subdued.

Ramsay’s first booking on 56 minutes was for cynically halting the Irishman and then he mistimed a sliding challenge in the 74th minute. Referee Robert Madley showed no hesitation in one again reaching for his yellow card before brandishing a red.

By the time Nathan Jones reached the written media press conference he had toned down his criticism of Ramsay, which appeared to be stronger in his interview with broadcaster Sky Sports.

“It was going to take something - like a set-play or a moment of madness to concede and we got a moment of madness,” said the Welshman. “When you are on a booking and you lunge in then you know you are risking something. You have to be cleverer than that. Top defenders stay on their feet and make people work for something - when they go to ground it is a last resort or they know they can win it.”

It is so hard though in the moment. Players make decisions in split seconds and Ramsay, who had already made one clean challenge seconds earlier on Emakhu, clearly felt he could do so again.

But the risk-reward ratio was out of kilter says Richard Cawley.   Why?  You need to subscribe to his first rate Substack account.  This extract is posted as a taster.

It was ever thus

Sonny Carey gave the Addicks the lead against Millwall with his first goal for the club as he smashed into the corner in the first half.  But Kayne Ramsay was sent off for a second yellow card with less than 20 minutes remaining and the visitors made Charlton pay as they so often have done.

Ra'ees Bangura-Williams came off the bench to Millwall's rescue, having a goal disallowed for handball before netting the equaliser with two minutes left of normal time.

What the first meeting between these two sides since July 2020 lacked in goalmouth action in the early stages, it made up for in passion and intensity with the pace unrelenting.   Both sides looked dangerous in wide areas without producing any real efforts of note until Charlton winger Rob Apter tried to bend one from distance, with the ball looping up off a defender and almost dropping over Steven Benda, just clipping the bar.

The hosts' goal came from the corner that followed. Benda made a strong connection to punch away Conor Coventry's in swinger but the ball went straight to Carey, whose first touch created space to fire the ball through a sea of players into the bottom corner.

The turning point came after 74 minutes when Ramsay lunged in late on Aidomo Emakhu, having already been booked, giving referee Bobby Madley no option but to pull out the red card.

Millwall made the extra player count and thought they'd equalised when Bangura-Williams, impressive after coming off the bench, took the ball down in the box and smashed it into the top corner with Thomas Kaminski well beaten.

But referee Madley was well placed to see the ball strike his hand first touch before the accomplished finish.

The 21-year-old was not to be denied again though as he finished off a Millwall move. Joe Bryan's expert pass found Luke Cundle in the middle and the midfielder's shot was parried back into the box by Kaminski, with Bangura-Williams quickest to react as he buried it into the bottom-right corner.

Neither side was able to find a winner in five added minutes.

Sanguine supremo Nathan Jones said: "I'm proud of the performance because it took a red card for us to draw the game. We were comfortable and I didn't see us conceding today.   Once we got the goal I just wanted to get the next one, which we couldn't do. It was going to take something – like a set-play or a moment of madness to concede and we got a moment of madness.

"When you are on a booking and you lunge in then you know you are risking something. You have to be cleverer than that. Top defenders stay on their feet and make people work for something – when they go to ground, it is a last resort or they know they can win it.   It is a learning curve for him. He's a young boy and he has so much ability, he has been outstanding for us. That was categorically the turning point.

"We should have had six points from our last two home games but we took one. We're comfortable at the level."

 

More teams to take part in Championship play offs

The English Football League (EFL) is considering a plan to add an eliminator round to the Championship play-offs, a move that would extend the number of teams in the play-offs to six.

The proposal, which has received wide initial support from Championship clubs, is for a similar format to the one used by the National League, with the team that finishes fifth playing the eighth-place team and sixth meeting seventh in singles ties at the better-placed team’s home ground.

But unlike the National League’s play-offs, which are all one-off matches, the winners of these eliminators would then proceed to two-legged ties against the teams that finished third and fourth, with the winners meeting at Wembley for a place in the Premier League.

Preston North End chief executive Peter Ridsdale presented the idea to fellow Championship club executives at a meeting last week and it was very well received as it would reduce the number of dead-rubber matches at the end of the season, add two more high-profile games to the calendar and give more clubs a shot at promotion.

Desmond from Deal comments: 'If this story was concerned with a change in relegation arrangements, it might be relevant to Charlton.  As it stands, it gives extra motivation to Millwall.'

Drying out

I haven't been posting this week as we took a few days break on the 'English Riviera'.   It's over fifty years since I lived in Devon and I had forgotten how persistent and penetrating the rain can be.  However, we did enjoy two excellent meals from recently caught fish and the hotel could not be more unlike Fawlty Towers.

Now I have to face up to tomorrow's fixture which Í always find it difficult to be optimistic about.  Richard Cawley has taken a few days to benefit from the rain in Cornwall so I do not know what Nathan Jones said at his press conference.

The CAS Trust preview for the match points out that statistics can be misleading: https://www.castrust.org/2025/09/lies-damned-lies-and-statistics-of-the-awkward-derby/

Greenwich Police have rather belatedly announced the arrangements for dispersal after tomorrow's game. I remember the last time we played Millwall at home it took me a considerable time to get away from the ground, Millwall fans have been allowed to disperse first.

CAS Trust have commented on what seem to be similar arrangements: 'It’s disappointing to see this announced at short notice and without explaining why the away fans aren’t being held back.'

Mind you, I can think of a few reasons.

I have just donated a considerable collection of memorabilia to the Charlton museum.  Understandably they did not want the programmes from the Curbs era onwards (including away programmes).   Some are in Charlton folders, others in boxes so they would have to be collected from Leamington (I am about two miles from the M40 junction).

I will also try the local Freecycle, but ultimately they will have to be recycled.

Are Reggae boys Charlton in disguise?

The Chicago Addick won't like the 0-4 defeat of Bermuda by Jamaica but it was pleasing to see three Charlton players featuring.  Tyreece Campbell has become something of a scapegoat player at Charlton recently, not without some justification, but hopefully his international experience will help his development.  He started the game in his full international debut and was substituted after 87 minutes.

Karoy Anderson and Kaheim Dixon featured as second half substitutes.

The Royal Gazette [sic] reports: 'From a country renowned for its sprinting, Jamaica’s wide men in particular would not have looked out of place in a track and field final as Bermuda struggled to handle the pace possessed by their opponents in transition.'

'Despite Bermuda having the lion’s share of possession with 54 per cent of the ball, Jamaica were purposeful in attack and could have scored more goals.'

Kilt ready for Mitchell

It is hoped that Zach Mitchell will be joining Hibernian on a year's loan.   His kilt has been ready for him, but there was (another!) problem over the paperwork and the deal awaits Fifa approval as a cross-border transaction: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/hibs-look-seal-zach-mitchell

My Easter Road correspondent writes: 'That is an area that Hibs need to strengthen - the squad is well-filled with midfielders and attackers but thin on central defenders in the event of any of the regular starters being injured. So he ought to be a good addition to the squad if the deal goes through.'

Richard Cawley has now confirmed that the deal has been completed.

What happened to former players

The 'where are they now?' feature was one I particularly enjoyed in the erstwhile Voice of the Valley and I am pleased that it has now been resurrected online: https://www.votvonline.com/home/the-2025-26-blogs/4-9-where-are-they-now/

Many have sunk to obscurity, but others have gone on to greater things.  I annoy my wife every time I say 'former Charlton player'.

Charlton second biggest net spenders in Championship

According to the authoritative Swiss Ramble, Charlton had the second largest transfer spend of any club in in the Championship in the recent transfer window.

The Zurich-based football finance fiend states: 'The club with the highest net spend this summer was Hollywood’s own Wrexham with £24m, which was more than twice as much as Charlton Athletic £10m and Derby County £8m.'

He notes: 'the highest player sales in the Championship are nearly always made by the clubs relegated from the Premier League, as seen again this summer: Southampton £111m (Mateus Fernandes and Tyler Dibling), Ipswich Town £76m (Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson) and Leicester City £47m (Mads Hermansen).  Four other clubs sold more than £20m, namely Norwich City £32m, Middlesbrough £25m, Sheffield United £21m and WBA £20m. Every other club made less than £10m from player sales.'

Compared with the barmy Belgian, the current owners have been prepared to spend some money to stay in the Championship.

However, armchair critic Desmond from Deal commented: 'It's all gone on mates of Jones and/or League One journeymen.  Mark my words, we'll be relegated by Christmas.'

Fofana uncertainity

It is not clear what is happening about a loan deal for Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker David Fofana.  It does look as if he has rejected the kilt at Celtic, but it is by no means certain that he is coming to Charlton despite reports that claim that he is: https://www.inkl.com/news/chelsea-striker-turns-down-celtic-in-favour-of-efl-loan

Preston North End were also in the picture, although Chelsea could keep a closer check on him in London.

A Chelsea site states: 'Signed by Chelsea in 2023, David Datro Fofana has had numerous spells away from Stamford Bridge on loan. The 22-year-old striker has been part of the bomb squad at Cobham this summer, which has been made up of unwanted players not involved in the first-team plans.'

Sky Sports is saying that the paperwork wasn't completed on time.   It's a shame because we could do with more fire power up front.

Saints alive: Charlton swoop for Bree

Charlton are working on a deal for Southampton's right back James Bree. Worked with Nathan Jones at Luton Town and the Saints, reports Richard Cawley.  If there are no last-ditch hurdles then Bree is set to be the 10th signing of the summer transfer window.

The 27-year-old has made more than 200 Championship appearances + 22 at Premier League level. Bree made 17 Premier League starts last season for Saints (13 of those starts) as well as being a regular on the bench (unused 15 times).

Report from Southampton sources: https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/25431357.southampton-defender-nearing-deadline-day-reunion-jones/

Armchair critics of Nathan Jones will no doubt complain about the signing of another player associated with him, but he is the gaffer, not them.

Update: now signed on loan until January.