That was he year that was

Another roller coaster year with Charlton!    I didn't anticipate us getting promoted yet again through the play offs, but Nathan Jones deserves credit for persistence and conviction after armchair managers demanded his dismissal following the home defeat to Crawley.

Personally I prefer Alan Curbishley's cool style of management, but then I knew Curbs well as one of his kit sponsors.  Each Christmas I would send him a case of champagne so he could celebrate after victories.

But I know some fans prefer the more passionate style of Nathan Jones.  Of course, now the armchair critics are after him again.

Many years ago Murray Mints said that the Championship had in effect became a Premier League Division 2.  That is even more the case today.  We are up against clubs receiving substantial parachute payments and others funded by people with deep pockets. Our owners have done the best they can to fund us within their means.

Fans are now turning their focus to the January transfer window, but don't expect too many quality players to want to join in a relegation battle.   It's always difficult to get value in this window.  We can't pay over the odds and all too often we end up with injury prone players.

I do not accept that we are now effectively relegated.  I think it's about 50-50,  I think that at the start of the season some teams saw us as relegation fodder so that they just had to turn up to claim three points.  Now they have worked out how to play against us, plus injuries have devastated a thin squad.

One big disappointment for me was my summer expedition to Deal, although we enjoyed the pier and some great fish meals.

I was hoping to track down Desmond from Deal, the leading spokesman of the Kent coast moaners.  The first disappointment was when we changed trains at Ramsgate and instead of being greeted by Rick Everitt in full municipal regalia there was an empty platform.

I thought I might be on the right track when Graham at the King's Head said that some older Charlton fans did come in from time to time to moan about the club and Nathan Jones in particular.  To cut a long story short, it turns out that Desmond is an avatar created by AI.

The pessimism and negativity of so many Charlton fans depresses me more than shortcomings on the pitch.  Try and keep the faith, let us at least have a Fortress Valley.

Best wishes to all Addicks for 2026 from C(h)arlton House in the Royal Spa: we have the only Travellodge visited by Queen Victoria!