A 'very competitive league'

I will be taking a break from blogging for a couple of weeks.   Working for a political publishers in a general election year means that my day job is busier than usual with commissioning, editing, meetings and book launches in London.     I also want to find time to see the three generations of my family now settled in Spain.

One last word.   Fans often dismiss League One as a 'poxy' league, but as the authoritative Swiss Ramble has recently said it is a 'very competitive' league.'  Birmingham City, Wrexham and Stockport County are all going to pose problems.   Even Rotherham may be in yo yo form under charm merchant Steve Evans and Peterborough will want to overcome their disappointment.   Hopefully, Bolton will go up.

I'm certainly not banking on promotion.   And I'm not happy about the 12.30 and Friday night kick offs under the new Sky regime which make life difficult for supporters like me who have a return travel time of five hours.

It also looks as if we are going to lose Charlton Live which was the daft Dane's aqueducts moment.  I enjoyed the chats about the Curbishley era and Steve Brown's barbed comments.

Two American owned clubs relegated

Birmingham City and Huddersfield Town have been relegated to League One next season, both clubs with American owners.

Blues were sixth in thr Championship earlier in the season when they sacked John Eustace as he was apparently not trendy enough for the owners.

Living up to their reputation as the Millwall of the Midlands, Blues fans invaded the pitch and fought with stewards after today's match.

The American owners have bought a site for a new stadium at Bordesley alongside the railway line to New Street so they won't want to stay in League One.

Huddersfield are a team we have played in three different divisions in living memory and are likely to challenge for promotion.

Rotherham have put their faith in Steve Evans, the most charming manager in the EFL, to restore their flagging fortunes and burnish their reputation as a yo-yo club.

Wrexham with their £20m revenue also have American owners and have global appeal, ranking as the second most poopular team in the United States: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2024/05/can-wrexham-sustain-its-success.html

To those who say League One is a poxy league, it's going to be even more competitive next season.

Clearout under way

Tyreece Campbell has agreed a new deal with Charlton, reports Richard Cawley.   The winger had been due to be out of contract this summer - although age would have meant he was liable for compensation. Terell Thomas and Michael Hector both released along with Richard Chin, Jack Payne, Lewis Ward and Diallang Jaiyesimi (who he? Ed).

The retained list statement also seems to indicate no late U-turn on George Dobson's move to Fehervar. "The club would like to thank George Dobson, who has played 144 games for Charlton since joining in 2021. He's given his all for the club in every training session and every game and everyone at the club wishes him all the best in Hungary."

Lualua and Wickham have not been offered contrxcts, all loan players are returning to their clubs.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Chuks Aneke is leaving by mutual consent.

Nathan Jones discusses his philosophy and plans here: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-built-a-luton-legacy-now-summer-of-transfer-and-squad-construction-awaits-at-charlton-athletic/

Arrivals and depatures: how about a winter away trip to Mansfield?

We say goodbye to Derby County who have been a troublesome side for us ever since that FA Cup defeat.  Our sister site looks at their road from near extinction to promotion: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2024/04/drebys-humble-recovery.html

We welcome Mansfield Town and Nigel Clough, a manager I rate   It's been a long road to promotion back to the third tier, but the Nottinghamshire club are now looking to expand capacity.

Charlton's away fans are a hardy and dedicated lot, but how many will fancy a midweek away game in February in Mansfield?   I don't think they will be easy to beat.

Season ends with a whimper

Charlton couldn't even manage one of their customary draws against the Chairboys this afternoon, losing 1-0.   The Addicks finished 16th, just ahead of points deducted Reading on goal difference.

Charlton went 1-0 behind to Wycombe Wanderers in beechy Bucks,, conceding a first half penalty in front of 1,781 Addicks in the away end.

A fan commented: 'Just about sums our season up 1st half poor penalty to give away from a poor defence all season, midfield not creating enough chances and not enough shoots or goals throughout the team in general, need about five new starting players of quality for a promotion push next season.'   [Probably mote, given that the league looks more not less competitive].

Fiorini, LuaLua and Campbell came on for Anderson, Ness and May at half time, leaving May with 23 league goals.   Former Leamington ace Colby Bishop would need to score two in 45 minutes to catch upm but hw was subbed off for Pompey so May has the Golden Boot.  We now owe Cheltenham a five figure sum.

Dobbo was booked for a strong challenge.  Isted made a really impressive stop - gets down to block a free-kick then somehow keeps the rebound out from close-range too.

A big chance - Campbell's cross was palmed out by Ravizzoli and Dobson can't convert the rebound from inside the six-yard box on the stretch.

Aneke replaced Kanu on 58 minutes, probably a swan song for the injury prone big man.

Fiorni rattled the crossbar but, apart from a flurry of yellow cards, that was that.

Let's hope that Nathan is able to do the business over the summer.

Nathan Jones makes it clear how dissatisfied he was with today's performance and that big personnel changes are needed: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-as-charlton-finish-16th-in-league-one-final-day-defeat-at-wycombe-highlights-how-much-personnel-change-is-required/

New pitch for The Valley

A new state of the art pitch is to be installed at The Valley next season funded by a £750,000 grant from th Premier League and £650,000 by the owners: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-confirm-new-state-of-the-art-pitch-to-be-installed-at-the-valley-ahead-of-2024-25-season/

Now we just need the players to make good use of it.

All women's matches will in future be played at The Valley.  

Nathan Jones set to meet with Charlton's out of contract players next week to discuss their futures, reports Richard Cawley. The likes of Michael Hector and Terell Thomas both free agents at end of June.

Stockport could be a bigger challenge than Pompey

Congratulations to Portsmouth on their promotion to the Championship, that's one less worry for pitch announcer Brian Cole.

Inevitably former Leamington Colby Bishop scored for Pompey last night.   We could have had him for £50k but he was snapped up by Accrington and then by Portsmouth.

Portsmouth's departure is not altogether good news for us as we were a bit of a bogey team for them, unbeaten against them this year.

I think I am right in saying that we have played more games against Pompey than any other club.  More on their resurgence here:  https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2024/04/pompey-did-play-up.html

Stockport are the only club whose ground I have visited both for Charlton and for my non-league club Leamington.   Their fans were a lot of trouble when they came to Harbury Lane and one got on the pich and poured a pint of beer over our then goal keeper. the Barmy Binman.

Stockport see League One as a way station to their rightful place in the Championship so they will be in confident mood.   Confidence is important in football, but it is also possible to be over confident.