Randolph joins West Ham

Former Addicks keeper Darren Randolph has joined West Ham after turning down a new contract with Birmingham City: Darren Randolph

Although the Republic of Ireland international only made 20 appearances for the Addicks, I always thought he had lots of potential.

'It would be nice to have a win'

That was one comment I heard as I left The Valley tonight and I know what they mean. It was Charlton's third home draw in a row as they saw Birmingham City pull level with them to record a 1-1. On a day on which there were a lot of draws in the Championship, the Addicks remain in 6th place. We hold the same position in the form table.

The Addicks started brightly. Vetokele had his own run on goal, outfoxing defenders and was unfortunate not to get the ball in the net. Then on eleven minutes Bulot provided a pinpoint cross and a bullet header from Vetokele saw Charlton go a 1-0 ahead.

However, Charlton were unable to capitalise on their lead. It looked as if the visitors had equalised, but the goal was disallowed for offside, possibly harshly. In any event, it was a matter for concern how easily the Blues had been able to slice through our defence.

After the break Vetokele supplied Lawrie Wilson at the back post only for him to blaze over. At the other end, Addicks goalkeeper Stephen Henderson kept out Paul Robinson's header from a free-kick, but was unable to stop Davis's low drive for 1-1. This was the result of a corner routine which seemed to catch the Addicks unaware. Whether it was a good application of a training ground routine or simple opportunism, it is difficult to say.

Cousins had to be stretchered off late in the game and I hope that his injury is not too serious. Apparently he has tweeted that he is fine and the stretcher was just a precaution. Six minutes were added on, but Charlton were unable to impose themselves on the game.

I think that the Bloke Behind Me had a point when he said that Charlton had failed to apply sufficient consistent pressure on the Blues, although some credit must go to them for breaking up our attacks. The Blues did look quite vulnerable defensively.

Incidentally a nice touch from Darren Randolph to climb up on the Covered End to talk to some supporters after half time.

Match analysis

Henderson put in a good performance, although a surprising number of the Blues shots were wayward which perhaps helps to explain their league position. I don't blame him for the goal. Towards the end of the second half he saw a ball coming, changed his position and came out and claimed it. This is what a good keeper should do. Bikey is a little eccentric at times, but 'the beast' did his job well. Morrison was a concern for some before the match, but he was solid and tried to get the ball forward. Solly got the highest score this morning from the Football League Paper this morning, but I thought it was short of a Man of the Match performance. Perhaps this is because I am in the East Stand, but I thought that he got forward more in the second half. Wiggins didn't get forward as much as I would have hoped and he found some of the opposition players a bit of a handful.

Buyens was a disappointment, indeed he has faded after a good start to the season. As the link man between the back four and the rest of the team, he wasn't doing the job, although he did start to make more short passes that were completed in the second half. For a big man he is hassled off the ball too easily and lost possession dangerously at least three times. Jackson did put in some good tackles, but he was not really contributing enough and was substituted, which he wasn't too pleased about. Cousins had to play on the left and in the centre and had a good work rate. Whilst I am fan of Wilson I thought that he had a poor game and that seems to be the general opinion. His crosses were poor.

Bulot got in trouble with Vitokele for playing the wrong ball at times, but on the whole I think that he is a threat. His cross for the goal was first rate. Vitokele scored an excellent goal. For much of the game he lacked the quality of service he needed. The Bloke Beside Me criticised him for not being involved enough all over the pitch, but I did see him make one good defensive intervention. But for me it is his goals that matter.

Moussa was lively, but didn't really change the course of the game. Tucudean contributed very little. Our greatest need is another striker. Drinking During the Game thought Roland might have been at the game, so perhaps he will have realised that. Fox had a cameo, but did contribute. Good to see Thomas on the bench.

I thought that the referee had a decent game, but that is not Lee Clarke's view who has called for a system for reviewing referee's decisions.

Yann Kermorgant got sent off for Bournemouth yesterday for a high boot so we won't face him in our next game after the international break.

Randolph fitted for kilt

Darren Randolph is to leave Charlton for Motherwell: Kilt . It will be on a free as his contract has expired and the salary savings will not be great.

Towards the end of last season I was developing the unorthodox thought that Randolph might be a better keeper than Elliot. He certainly acquitted himself well when he came in for the injured Charlton supporter. However, Elliot is a decent enough keeper for League 1 and will develop as he gains more experience.

This means that we will need to hire a reserve keeper. There was talk of someone from Woking who would only cost £800 a week. Chris Kiely was let go by Gillingham and then by Leamington so might not be up to the task.

Burnley in for Randolph?

Burnley are expressing an interest in acquiring Darren Randolph, according to local press reports: Randolph

It would be a return to East Lancashire where he spent three months on loan at Accrington Stanley just down the road. The Clarets may have watched him then.

Our latest story at Football Economy has some Charlton content - it's about manager turnover.

The 12th man

It's not been the best of mornings: at last civil servants have come officially out of purdah (or at least I didn't get informed until this morning). That's meant I am going to York at short notice (at least from Coventry rather than being sent to it). You would think that organising things online would be quick, but it's not.

As always, Pedro on Charlton Athletic Online has done a first rate match preview. He is right that Racon may have to be sacrificed to give us more of an attacking edge with Reid. I know that Racon has admirers who think he is the best thing in midfield since Mark Kinsella, but I am not convinced.

Sodje apparently made some great blocks on Friday despite being injured, but if his knee problems are serious we have to bring in Llera, even if he lacks pace. The only other question mark in my mind is Randolph. Don't get me wrong, I think he has been a revelation since he has come in, but how is he with penalties? Because it might come to that.

The general mood among the Addickted seems to be that we will lose (or rather fail to overcome the deficit), but I am genuinely uncertain. I do not believe that Swindon are invincible. Their keeper seems to have a bit of a Dracula problem and their defence can be wobbly. Unfortunately, although we won at least 12 corners on Friday, we weren't able to make productive use of any of them. It's been a failing for much of the season: when the opposition gets corners, I get worried.

The rocking Robins clearly have an attacking threat through the former brickie Austin who played at a lower level than Leamington and Paynter, if he gets fit. The second goal on Friday was conceded through poor defending by the Addicks.

So the gloomy scenario works like this: we lose tonight; club declared insolvent tomorrow; club disappears. All complete nonsense, of course, but there are people who seem to get a perverse pleasure from believing that sort of thing. My best guess is that we win the 90 minutes 2-1, it will be 3-2 after extra time. Penalties, like the play off themselves, will be a lottery.

This is where the crowd comes in. Debate rages about whether the crowd really is a 12th man. Players have to say they are in interviews: they can hardly say 'the fans are a bunch of mugs who fund our generous salaries.'

What is clear is that a negative crowd reaction does not help the players or particular individuals. Leamington's goal machine Mark Bellingham has now revealed in yesterday's Non-League Paper that he left the Brakes because of remarks made about him on a fans' message board during the controversy over the sacking of popular manager Jason Cadden. I should think he hears worse when he is on duty with the boys in blue, but he felt the fans should have been big enough to retract their comments when they were shown to be wrong.

Harbury Lane and the Sheepside and Burger Side stands are hardly The Valley or the East and West Stands. My appeal to all the Addickted tonight would be to create a wall of positive noise to support the team. It may not make any difference. We may be doomed. But it is what we can do as Charlton fans to try and make a difference. Come on you reds!

Big build up in Leeds

There's a big build up in Leeds for tomorrow's match at The Valley. If you go here you can read the forecasts of Leeds fans, meet referee Lee Probert, and learn about danger man Nicky Bailey and his feared accomplice Deon Burton.

One piece of good news ahead of the match is that Sam Sodje has recovered from his knee injury and is available to face his former club. I have no particular recommendations on selections, except to say that I think that there is a case for starting Kyel Reid for his attacking threat. Given that we need Semedo, Racon may have to retreat to the bench.

I would also keep Darren Randolph in goal, notwithstanding that Elliot once seemed to be an inevitable first choice.

Although winning tomorrow would help Millwall, I would rather face a somewhat faltering Leeds in the play offs. I think that they would lose it if they have to go through the play offs again.

Having said that, I am not particularly optimistic about the match. Our defence has become more solid and we have a midfield that is capable of sparkling. The problem is up front, notwithstanding the worthy efforts of Burton and Forster. One is never clear where the goals are going to come from and there is always the chance of conceding.

The consensus among the Leeds 'jury' is 1-2 to them and they may well be right. I think it will be 1-1 until the 96th minute when Leeds will score the winner.

Penalties do count

Some of the Addicketd claim that penalties don't count, but they did this afternoon when Nicky Forster scored from the spot in the 64th minute to give Charlton a 1-0 victory over MK Dons.

It was a lacklustre first half when Dons did not look like starting the late run to the play offs hoped for in the programme, but used their physical presence and a 'homer' referee to edge Charlton out of the game. The Addicks came under pressure in the opening phase of the second half and again after they had gone ahead, but they withstood it and themselves were on top in the final phase.

I was pleased that I had printed out instructions on how to get to the ground as there were none of the usual brown football signs and one roundabout in Milton Keynes looks much like another - and there are a lot of them. Inside the stadium is half completed and echoing and any atmosphere was created by the Addickted. The Cowshed only rarely came to life and even the half time display of flags to celebrate the stadium's status as a prospective World Cup venue created little excitement.

The first half started with a series of midfield exchanges often in the air and it did not improve much after that. Charlton seemed to be relying on hit and hope. The highlights of the half were two outstanding reaction saves by Darren Randolph. Towards the end of the half the Addicks did apply some pressure.

Half time: Dons 0, Addicks 0

Charlton were under the cosh in the opening phase and couldn't get out of their half. However, the replacement of the disappointing Wagstaff by Sam on 57 minutes seemed to liven up Charlton.

Forster advanced not very threateningly, but for some reason Sean O'Hanlon chose to bring him down. The referee had a clear view and waved away the vociferous protests of the home side. Forster struck the penalty cleanly.

The Dons were energised by the supposed injustice, but could not break the Addicks down, although Randolph had to make another great save. One of the home side had to be stretchered off. Five minutes of time were added on, which ended up being nearer seven, but the Addicks retained their shape to take the points.

Walking back to the car, someone wound down their car window and shouted 'You ought to be ashamed of yourselves.' I didn't think the penalty was that contentious, but then I turned to see a group of BNP actvists behind me.

Ivy the Terrible has awarded the Silver Bone to Darren Randolph for three saves that kept Charlton in the game. The referee gave him a yellow card for time wasting towards the end of the game which had little justification.Sam Sodje provided good defensive cover, although he required treatment after a knock in the first half. Captain Christian Dailly was solid and consistent.Richardson did not shine, but was competent. I though that Borrowdale was a bit up and down, but made some good interventions. Semedo received a number of chants from the crowd and did his job well. Racon showed some really nice touches and was one the best players on the pitch given the absence of Nicky Bailey. Reid looked sharp and was in many ways our greatest attacking threat. Wagstaff made little contribution apart from one run on goal which came to nothing. Mooney ran around but to little effect.
Forster did his job well, but does lack pace. Sam looked up for it when he came on and his runs unsettled the Dons defence.Shelvey looked lively when he came on and caused the home side some problems, winning Charlton a corner. Akpo Sodje made little impact.

Juneau the Soccer Cat has given the Hiss of the Match to the lack of directions to the stadium.

Crowd rating The Addickted were in good voice. There was even a chant of 'Parky, give us a wave' and he responded.

Smart money favours draw

A lot of the smart money on tomorrow's match between Huddersfield Town and Charlton favours a draw. I suppose I retain a no doubt forlorn hope that with the addition of Nicky Forster to the squad, Charlton might just sneak a win.

One challenge for Parky will be who to put in goal. The Iberian Valley blog has already suggested that Randolph looks likely to be passed over again, although in my view he has never done that much wrong in his career at Charlton. But perhaps this is an occasion for experience.

The Batley and Birstall News previews tomorrow's 'tough test' for Town against 'high flying' Charlton: Batley

Injuries plague Addicks

Phil Parkinson could have a selection headache for Saturday's clash at Huddersfield Town after Charlton head physiotherapist Steve Allen revealed that several Addicks players sustained injuries in the weekend's 2-2 draw with Gillingham.

Rob Elliot (groin) and Deon Burton (knee) both limped out of the action, while Lloyd Sam, Akpo Sodje and Jose Semedo also suffered knocks.

Elliot was replaced at half-time by Darren Randolph. He suffered a tear to his left groin which got progressively worse during the half, and he will be out for around a month. Randolph is a competent replacement in my view, but we will almost certainly need a back up keeper in case he gets injured.

Deon Burton has sprained his medial ligament in his knee, probably aggravating it by playing on. He had a scan on Sunday. It's a first degree sprain and he'll be out for around two weeks. This means we will have to rely on the much criticised David Mooney and the somewhat lumbering Akpo Sodje up front.

Sodje has had an injection in his right buttock, but we don't want to go there.

Not an easy task

After Saturday's morale boosting win against Yeovil, those who read their results off the table might think it is an easy task against Brighton tonight, particularly given that we beat them away. But then we beat Orient away who were in a similar position in the table when we met them. Brighton showed at Leeds that they are no pushovers.

The Addicks have suffered two injury blows. Elliot is unlikely to be available. Randolph is competent, but I doubt whether he would have made the three saves that Elliot made on Saturday. He also lacks competitive match experience. The absence of a reserve side is a particular drawback for the back up keeper.

Frazer Richardson is also out and Chris Solly will slot in there, showing the wisdom of bringing in Johnnie Jackson to cover the left back slot.

Nicky Bailey had a poor game on Saturday. Having looked at the goal he failed to score, I think that the young Yeovil keeper simply made a good save with his feet, just as Elliot did earlier in the game. What really worried me was when Bailey created a dangerous situation in front of his own goal. He is no doubt one of those players that Parky refers to as trying too hard and he just needs to calm down a bit and think. I would not drop him, however.

Deon Burton has had some stick for failure to score from open play (although no doubt he would have got even more if he had failed to score the two penalties against Millwall). However, he contributes other things by holding up the ball and laying it off. Just possibly the partnership with Mooney is starting to work and they have a better idea how to position themselves. Both of them just need to remember that there is an offside rule.

I am going for a 3-2 win for the Addicks tonight (Llera, Bailey, Burton). Phillipa Nicholson will bring you full coverage of the game.

Izale McLeod has sustained a knee injury in training at Peterborough and will be out for two months following an operation. Chris Dickson's move to Gillingham may become permanent at the end of the season.

Ikeme joins Super Hoops

Former Addicks loan keeper Carl Ikeme has joined QPR on loan from Wolves. It is his third loan spell of the season, having earlier been at Sheffield United.

The latest in a long line of QPR managers (including Dowie) Paul Hart told Sky Sports News that he would provide competition for QPR's regular No.1 Radek Cerny after Rhys Taylor returned to Chelsea following a loan spell at Loftus Road. Hart is reported to be happy to have landed a keeper of Ikeme's quality and expects his new signing to challenge Cerny for a first-team spot.

Ikeme was not rated very highly by Addicks fans, this was partly because of his role in the defeat at Carlisle, but also because the Addickted tend to have an inbuilt preference for products of the Charlton Academy. However, it is evident that, for whatever reason, Parky does not rate Randolph.

Charlton bring in international goalkeeper

Charlton are bringing in the keeper for the Bermuda international side on a two week trial: Bermuda

He could potentially be there to back up to Rob Elliot if Darren Randolph goes elsewhere.

Suprisingly, no comment is yet available from our man on the beach [you mean on the spot - ed] the Chicago Addick living in Bermuda.

Meanwhile, a well-known Addickted American sports commentator has remarked, 'I wouldn't get too excited about a keeper from Quinnipiac, a middling university in central Connecticut that has attempted to make big strides in its athletic programs. I've seen Quinnipiac play, although not this season, and don't recall any standouts.'

Randolph the Red goes away dear

Pravda reports:

'CHARLTON keeper Darren Randolph will be allowed to leave The Valley in January if he fails to earn a regular first-team place in the next two months. The 22-year-old academy graduate has spent this season on the bench as back-up to number one Rob Elliot, but when Elliot sustained a leg injury last week which could rule him out for over a month, Addicks boss Phil Parkinson swooped to sign Wolves reserve Carl Ikeme on a short-term loan.

And Parkinson has revealed he has talked to Randolph about his future and told him he can leave SE7 in the next transfer window if the Republic of Ireland U21 international does not earn a place in the side.

"I've spoken to Darren and explained the situation to him," said the Charlton manager. "He's frustrated because he wants to be playing first-team football. We've said to Darren that if he's not pushing Rob out of the team by January then we'll look to let him go, possibly on a permanent basis."'

It should be emphasised that is not a strategy to push Randolph out, but to offer him the option to develop his stalled career elsewhere.

Headline courtesy of Rich Pemberton.

A poor sporting weekend

Leamington lose 3-5 at home to a team lower down the table; Charlton go down 3-1 at Carlisle; and then yesterday Coventry Blaze lost 1-2 at home to the Cardiff Devils. It wasn't so much the fact that they lost, but the way in which they lost. It was a lacklustre performance against a Welsh side who were well organised, but lacked flair, leading to a poor quality game.

The moaners are out in force after Charlton's defeat at Carlisle. Some people who went whose judgement I trust thought that we were poor, so there are real grounds for concern. However, as usual at Charlton, the doom and gloom is overdone. Moaners are pointing out that we are 18th in the form table, but these are the same people who were forecasting relegation at the beginning of the season.

Parky has come under criticism for using loan players, some seeing this as a return of the bad old days of Pardew. But Parky brought in loan players because of injuries which were bound to unsettle the side.

Some fans seem particularly upset that he didn't use Randolph. There is always a vein of sentiment at Charlton in favour of players who have come up through the ranks. I haven't seen Randolph enough to form a view of him, but I have seen the three goals and I doubt whether Elliot could have saved them. Indeed, the two from long distance would have tested Deano in his prime.

There is, of course, a real question about why Kavanagh was allowed so much space to let loose his thunderbolts and Racon is a new target for grumbling with the accusation of show boating.

Our biggest problem remains our strike force. Burton is a decent enough player at this level, but he is playing with an injury. He needs to have his operation sooner rather than later, but who do you replace him with? McLeod has nuisance value, but has difficulty in finding the back of the net. I am not sure how far McKenzie is from returning from injury, although he looks like a player who is injury prone.

Of course, some fans say that the solution is 'simples': bring back Chris Dickson from Bristol Rovers. I have never really been convinced by Dickson. I thought it was a big ask to made the jump from his level of the non-league. As for arguments that he has been 'banging them in' at Bristol Rovers, the Pirates seem to have faded recently.

Perhaps the one good thing that will come out of this is a more realistic assessment of our prospects. Leeds have booked one automatic promotion place from the division and there are plenty of good contenders for the others, not least Norwich. MK Dons we shall see about when we play them in a fortnight, although I actually think that this is a match we shall win.

At the beginning of the season, I thought we would be somewhere between mid-table and the fringes of the play offs. 2nd in the actual table (which is still the one that counts) is acceptable for the beginning of November. I think that a play off place is a realistic aspiration.

We do need a proven striker and there is the hope that we could get a young fringe player from a higher level at Christmas. Of course, that would mean a loan, but there is nothing wrong with a loan if it meets a need.

In the meantime, I would make more use of Mooney while we have him, loan player or not.

Elliot blow

The news that Rob Elliot is out for six weeks with a torn adductor muscle sustained in the match at Gillingham is a real blow. Although not faultless, Elliot has generally been a reliable custodian.

Carl Ikeme has been brought in from Wolves on an emergency loan, but it is not clear from the official web site whether he will be preferred to Darren Randolph. Randolph will, in any event, get his chance in front of the cameras against Northwich Victoria as Ikeme cannot play in this FA Cup match.

The club has acted swiftly, but this does not alter the fact that this is not good news.

Three for the paint drying trophy

We have to play six regular team members against Barnet tomorrow, giving us scope to give some players who do not normally get a chance. Here are three nominations:

1. Darren Randolph. Being reserve goalkeeper is a lonely role and it is difficult to remain sharp in the absence of competitive matches (I don't really count reserve friendlies). I have no wish to drop Elliot, even though he has a few aspects of his game he needs to work on, but Randolph needs to be in a position where he could take over if he had to.

2. Tamer Tuna. Tuna has great pace and this would be an opportunity to show whether he could use it.

3. Luke Holden (possibly from the bench). I don't know how he has been shaping up in training, but this would be an ideal opportunity to see what he can offer.

Bring on the bull

For once there is a rare consensus among bloggers which is also shared by Sparrows Lane: we should not put out a full strength team against Hereford United in the Carling Cup tonight.

And indeed we won't. The E-mail bulletin reports, 'Phil Parkinson admits the Addicks will be down to the bare bones for tomorrow's Carling Cup tie at Hereford United. The Addicks boss confirmed today that he will be without his trio of summer signings for the trip to Edgar Street - and also ruled out midfielders Lloyd Sam and Jonjo Shelvey.

Central defenders Miguel Llera and Christian Dailly, who both scored in the opening day 3-2 win against Wycombe Wanderers, are sidelined with head and rib complaints, while a hip injury rules out right-back Richardson. Sam (knee) and Shelvey (heel) will also be absent for the match against the Bulls, and the shell shocked supremo said: 'We are down to the bare bones for Tuesday.'

What is important is that as many of these players as possible are available for a tough match at Hartlepool on Saturday. No doubt if Hereford win the county will be en fete for days claiming another Premiership scalp. There isn't much else in the way of excitement in Hereford, apart from the cattle market and a very old map. The fact is that Charlton are now a third division side that has to concentrate on getting out of the division. The Carling Cup is not a major priority.

Darren Randolph left Hereford under something of a cloud as far as the locals were concerned and I would play him in goal just to wind the yokels up, although that could be counter productive if it comes to a penalty shoot out which it well might.

Parky will also have 'wideman' Wade Small available to him. Some people think that the Croydon-born 25-year old is rubbish. I can't remember him from his visit with Blackpool last season. But we do need more options on the wing and maybe e can do a bargain basement job for us.

Hereford are likely to be without midfielder James Tolley who is a suspected swine 'flu case. Hereford blogs are expecting a 'hard match'. but are anticipating victory as a confidence builder.

Quite a few Midlands Addicks are going to the match but I am not as I won't be back from London until mid-evening. I am searching around for a match reporter, no luck yet.

I am forecasting 2-2 after extra time, Charlton to win 5-4 on penalties.

Injury crisis hits Chairboys

A delighted Christian Dailly hears the good news

Wycombe Wanderers, Charlton's first opponents in their League 1 campaign, have been hit by an injury crisis: Chairboys

As expected, Christian Dailly has joined Charlton and Darren Randolph has signed terms as back up goalkeeper. At Harbury Lane, Deano's son Chris Keily is expected to sign a contract very soon.

After tomorrow's needle match against Chasetown, Leamington continue their pre-season preparations when they try to regain the Bard of Avon Challenge Trophy from Stratford Town at the Anne Hathaway Stadium on Tuesday evening. Last year the Bardsmen won the fixture 2-0.