Charlton are named by Sky Sports News as one of a number of clubs trying to secure the permanent signing of Jonathan Obika, although the other clubs named are in League 1: Obika
For me he didn't really do enough in terms of scoring goals to want to make him a permanent signing.
A 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest this evening moved Charlton three points clear of the three teams on 32 points, Millwall propping up the table after their 2-3 defeat at home to Birmingham. Charlton's winning goal came ten minutes from the end when Jordan Cousins slotted home after Jonathan Obika's effort had come off the post.
Charlton, with Jose Riga in charge for only the fifth time, attacked only sporadically, but they did give Forest a scare when Astrit Ajdarevic broke down the left and squared the ball towards Marvin Sordell, who had to stretch to deliver a shot, but still managed to hit the foot of Karl Darlow’s left-hand post.
In the first half Astrit Ajdarevic had a couple of efforts early on for Charlton, but both shots were unable to find the target before Reza Ghoochanneijhad saw an attempt of his own blocked by the Forest defence.
Apparently there was some aggravation between Astrit and Lawrie Wilson at the end of the match and they had to be pulled apart, no idea what that was about.
Full report from Sky here: Victory
My Number 1 objective for me today is to get to The Valley for tonight's match after getting no further than Marylebone last Wednesday and having to turn back. I will be leaving earlier than usual and I am fired up for a win.
Let's just focus on the football and leave to one side the discussions that have been going on. Is Roland the devil incarnate, a mad professor, a mild eccentric, a man with interesting ideas, a true visionary? Time will tell.
The return of Jonathan Obika has given morale a boost. He didn't find the net that much, but his pace carved a path through opposition defences. However, like all the forwards, he has suffered from a lack of good service. We really need a good winger. There have been rumours that one is about to arrive and I live in hope.
Russian-owned Bournemouth are 12th in the table, but 6th in the form table and may fancy a late run to at least approach the play offs. They have a good record away from home with five wins, five draws and seven defeats. They seem a bit defensively suspect as they have scored 44 goals but conceded 52. We have conceded fewer goals, 41, but we have only scored 24, the worst record in the league and probably in all leagues. Whether we have the firepower to unlock the Cherries is the big question for tonight.
Former Addick Simon Francis (remember him?) grumbles about his treatment at The Valley and stirs the pot by arguing that his 'contacts' suggest that the club is in a shambles and the game comes at a good time for the Cherries: Cherry ripe
I fear another draw, but I am trying to be optimistic and I am going for Belgium 2, Russia 1.
Odds are: Charlton 7/4, Draw 23/10, Bournemouth 6/4. Referee James Linington will be making use of the most expensive ferry per mile in the world to come from his home in Newport, Isle of Wight via Cowes and Southampton to reach The Valley. Cherries fans on the island are no doubt reassured by his presence, although far more people support Pompey or the Saints. There are also quite a few Addicks fans who have retired there.
Striker Jonathan Obika has been recalled by Spurs from Brighton and Hove Albion and will spend the rest of the season on loan with Charlton. He will be available for tomorrow's clash with Bournemouth and José Riga may not be over cautious about using him.
Obika's 93-day stint with Albion was not due to end until April 11 but his opportunities have been limited and both Will Hoskins and Craig Mackail-Smith are now easing back towards first team contention.
It's difficult to square Obika's return with a narrative that sees Charlton as little more than a receptacle for Standard Liège rejects.
Up-and-coming striker Jonathan Obika gets to pick his dream team in the Football League Paper this week and one of choices for striker is Yann Kermorgant (unfortunately, the other is 'Judas' Defoe).
Obika says, 'I enjoyed playing with Yann at Charlton. He liked being the target man and the lay-offs were always crisp and perfect. He's very good in the air and so we linked up well. I definitely picked up a lot of very good attributes from him'.
I think Rick Everitt summed up the way that many Charlton fans feel about Kermorgant when he wrote in The Voice of the Valley 'Kermorgant was not the best striker ever to play for Charlton ... but he came to us when we were in a dark place and sparkled like a diamond lit by a torch.'
In the same issue, Steve Dixon makes it clear that Yann wanted to stay at Charlton. According to the one time Valley Party candidate, Katrien asked to see Kermit on his last day at Sparrows Lane and said that she had not realised how popular he was with fans. She rang Roland to try to retrieve the situation, but it was too late.
Chris Powell never played for Charlton against Millwall when he was with the club, but he recognises the importance of the match to fans in this interview in the Evening Standard: Millwall
The report also notes that Sir Chris continues to be interested in Jonathan Obika. However, the latest news about him is that Brighton and Hove Albion are stepping up their pursuit: Obika
There is also an interesting article on the game in The Grauniad which also looks at wider issues facing the two clubs: Pivotal game?
Now that loans are available, there is speculation that Jonathan Obika will leave Spurs for the rest of the season or at least until Christmas. We are being mentioned, but I think that largely reflects the fact that journos knew he was here before and that Chris Powell rated him. Middlesbrough have been mentioned as a possibility, but I think that Brighton and Hove Albion is the most likely destination.
I'm not sure there would be the kind of regular first team opportunity he would want, now that we have strengthened our forward line and Church and Kermorgant look effective, albeit that Sordell has been a bit of a disappointment.
Millwall have declared their intention to be active in securing loans, as well they might. Their manager has declared that if you can play at the Toolbox, you can play anywhere, and you can see his point. He also argues that the club is a 'springboard for young talent.'
Meanwhile, the latest BBC price of football survey shows that Crystal Palace have the most expensive pies in the four divisions at £4. Admittedly, non-league Kidderminster charge the same, but their pies are famous for taste and content and have not been brought round the corner from Sainsbury's.
Chris Powell is still targeting a return by Jon Obika to The Valley. Powell recognises that he cannot go into a Championship season with only one striker, but whether Obika will return remains doubtful. All the indications have been that Obika wants to build a future for himself at Spurs, but that does not look like a realistic option.
Powell is hoping to bring in five or six players in what will be a smaller squad, not that is necessarily a bad thing as there were arguably too many peripheral players last year. There will also be opportunities for younger players to step up the first team squad: Powell
Spurs blog 'Cartilage Free Captain' comments: 'Obviously, this is going to come down to what kind of fee Charlton are willing to offer. Daniel Levy isn't going to shake down anyone over Jon Obika, but he did well enough last year that he can command some sort of fee from a Championship or League One club.'
The Valley as seen from the Jimmy Seed stand today
Rather than the 'dreaded last ten', Charlton are offering a late season surge, but too late to get them into a play off slot. They have won fourteen points from the last eighteen available. This afternoon they beat Wolves 2-1 at The Valley, all the goals coming in the second half after a rather lacklustre start to the game.
Karl Henry's long-range shot for the visitors hit the woodwork before Dorian Dervite poked in Charlton's opener after a goal-line scramble. The Addicks once again had difficulty in holding on to a lead and Wolves equalised when Kevin Doyle headed in a Jack Robinson cross. But Charlton snatched a winner when Danny Green's deflected strike fell to Jonathan Obika, who hit the winner.
The Addicks had the first chance of the match when a drilled Ricardo Fuller shot was parried away by Dorus De Vries. However, Wolves were proving determined if somewhat desperate opponents and went close through Henry, whose effort from distance hit the crossbar before keeper Ben Hamer managed to prevent the ball crossing the line. Charlton eventually took the lead when Green's corner was not cleared and Dervite got the decisive touch to score.
Doyle did not take long to level and set up an exciting finale, which saw the Addicks win in dramatic style with Obika's late goal. Chris Powell said of Obika after the game, 'It’s the value of a player who makes an impact, he’s been tremendous since he walked through the door. He’s a good player, a good finisher, and he’s been really chomping at the bit to start. He always gets chances, that’s a good sign for any striker. I’m really pleased for him, he’s a good character and fully deserved the hero status today.'
An Addick who was there commented, 'I thought that Wolves were shockingly bad, and that was easily the worse team I've seen them send to The Valley over the years. From the first minute they didn't just go long, but poor quality, looping, scuffed really high balls and most lacked any real conviction. Their midfield just wanted to play it on in one direction even if bouncing. It was horrible stuff that didn't make the game much of a spectacle. But they were strong physically and particularly in the air.'
Elsewhere a 1-0 win at Bideford saw Leamington become Southern Premier League champions. They will play in the Conference North next season.
After failing to score in added time all season, Charlton scored the winner at The Valley this afternoon in a 2-1 victory over Leeds United that puts them in 12th place in the table.
Johnnie Jackson had put the Addicks ahead with a captain's goal in the opening minutes of the second half. However, going behind revitalised Leeds and a second goal failed to come for Charlton. The Bloke Behind Me was proclaiming with gloomy satisfaction 'We'll cock it up again' and Leeds did equalise late on in the second half.
It was left to much criticised loan signing Jonathan Obika, who had come on as substitute, to score a great winning goal which clearly meant a lot to him as he accepted the plaudits of the Valley faithful after the game. Chris Powell's critics will no doubt say that he 'got lucky', but it's luck I am happy to take with relegation a more distant prospect.
Predictably the coverage in the Football League Paper this morning takes a 'What's wrong with Leeds line?' In a sense that is a reasonable enough as they are only of a very few genuinely 'massive' teams in the Championship (I leave to one side the claims of another Yorkshire team). It did seem to me that the Leeds defence was surprisingly poor, and a Leeds fan I knows agrees with me, although they did have their best defender suspended. Even so, they were static at times. They also wasted some chances in front of goal, Paul Green being a particular offender, but then so did we.
I was in an optimistic mood before the match after a good journey down. I was late leaving home and I thought I might miss my usual train at Coventry. But the train was late and, unusually, there was no queue at the fast ticket machines. Normally there are lots of usually young people, many of whom surprisingly seem to have great difficulty using the machines: I have had to rescue more than one of them. Anyway, as I walked on to the platform the train was coming in.
Despite the new trend for friends to feel they are entitled to stand side by side on escalators, I had a fast journey to North Greenwich. Indeed, the train was finishing there and I reflected that had the proposed Jubilee Line spur gone ahead this would have been one of the match day trains through to The Valley.
As it was, a lot of rather baffled Leeds fans got on the bus. There was great excitement when the cable cars were spotted: ironic, given that a well-known Charlton fan and blogger rans a campaign against 'the dangleway' on Twitter, regarding it as a Boris folly. I was quite surprised to hear the Leeds fans discussing whether Sir Chris was racist in its team selection by preferring black players.
I entered the ground via Ransom Walk and I thought that I could see elves in the distance. Not only were there elves, but the Chief Elf, Rick Everitt, was selling copies of Voice of the Valley run off that morning on the Roneo in his back bedroom. I had the signal honour of buying my copy from the Rickster itself. There are some good articles inside, although I will be taking issue with some of them in subsequent posts, not least my old adversary Richard Hunt.
If one was going to summarise the football in this match, one would say that both sides were fully committed and there were flashes of real skill, but it wasn't like watching Barcelona. Indeed, at times, the football was decidedly scrappy and both sides had difficulty in retaining possession
Paul Green (not even worth a mention in the programme) burst through with an early long run and it took all Morrison's skill to deal with it. Solly put in a cross to Harriott, but he was not able to make use of it. As the Blackheath Addick has commented, there are still some shortcomings in Harriot's perfomance in the final third. Hughes gave away an unnecessary free kick after fouling Green and one of my general criticisms of Charlton's performance is that we do give away too many avoidable free kicks. A free kick from near the corner flag is always potentially dangerous, but Hamer caught the ball well.
Wiggins put in a first rate defensive header as danger threatened. Kenny saved from Kermorgant. In play following a Solly free kick, a ball from Dervitte was blocked and then Morrison blasted over. Wiggins conceded a free kick for a foul on McCormack. Harriott put in a good cross across the six yard box, but no one was there to connect. A Charlton corner eventually ended in a goal kick. Pritchard put in a cross which was very poor. Kenny saved at the near post off Kermorgant. Dervitte provided good defensive cover, but then spoilt it by keeping the ball in play when he should have gone for safety first.
An Addicks corner was saved. Fuller laid the ball off well for Kermorgant, but the Breton was unable to take advantage. Paul Green missed badly for Leeds. Harriott won Charlton what turned out to be an unproductive corner. The on form Wiggins was once again called on to provide a good defensive header. Harriott weaved his way through the Leeds defence, but then put the ball just wide: shooting practice needed. The versatile Kermorgant was called on to make a good defensive intervention. Pritchard put in a good ball, but no one was able to take advantage of an open goal. Solly was putting in some good work. Pritchard was fouled and Michael Tonge received a yellow card. Charlton launched a good attack, but it ended in a correct offside decision. There had been virtually no stoppages and a notional one minute was added on.
I noticed that the Leeds fans had a number of banners proclaiming that they were from Surrey, Sussex and Essex (but I didn't see one from Kent). I gave some information to a Leeds fan on the train back and he spoke with a middle class accent, but lived in New Cross, which he admitted was not a good area. All credit to the Leeds fans for applauding our Academy players at half time. A text came through to say that Leamington were 2-0 ahead at Totton which was the final score. Nine points clear, the title and the Blue Square North beckons.
HT: Addicks 0, Leeds 0
The Addicks took advantage of a static Leeds defence after the break. A shot from Dervitte on 47 minutes was blocked but it fell well for Jacko and the skipper made no mistake in blasting it in the back of the net. Leeds then started to liven up, but Pritchard and Fuller were working togethr well and Pritchard put in a cross across the front of goal which no one could take advantage of, although an own goal was momentarily a possibility. Hughes put in a great defensive header and there is no doubt that he is rated by the Leeds fans.
Kermorgant was fouled by Norris who received a yellow card. Jackson then entered into the referee's book and following the free kick it was panic stations in the Addicks defence. A ball from Morison went off the back of the post and into the side netting. Aidan White was taken off and replaced by Luke Varney, a decision that we rightly feared. The Bloke Beside Me is a great Varney fan because he scored two goals against Palace, whereas I remember the sitters he missed. Somehow players who make a late start from non-league football never quite make the grade. 19-21 years old is an important time in their development which is why Harriott, with the right support, should blossom and may eventually be sold on to a Premiership club.
Fuller was taken off and replaced by Kerkar as the attendance was announced as 18,900. On the first day of the year which carried a hint of spring and with two evenly matched teams, there probably was quite a lot of genuine walk up traffic.
Bradley Pritchard played a ball which would have been poor in the Conference. Charlton were being forced back and nine players were trying desperately to defend in front of the baying away support. Perhaps inevitably, it was a deflected volley from Varney that got the equaliser on 81 minutes.
Could Charlton hang on for the point? Charlton launched a good attack in 83 minutes. Solly had a chance to score but was just wide. Harriott was taken off in place of Obika who had been asking Chris Powell what he had to do to play. He immediately made an impact. Tonge was taken off to very lukewarm applause from the Leeds fans and Michael Brown came on and immediately got booked for fouling Kermorgant. The free kick led to a Charlton corner which was punched out by Kenny.
Lee Potter went down and made the most of it, but this simply extended the time added on, allowing Obika to score in the 95th minute with a great header making use of a cross from Wiggins.
<;p>Interesting report from a Leeds fan here with plenty of praise for Andy Hughes: Leeds viewMatch analysis
There was no standout nomination for the Silver Bone as it was very much a team game in which we were passing better than we normally do. However, Ivy the Terrible has given to award to Johnnie Jackson as his goal played a crucial role in the outcome of the match. Hamer was on good form and, although he wasn't tested too much, he made some good saves. Morrison did his job solidly and was prominent at set pieces, but could not find the back of the net. Dervitte was less evident, but what he did do was competent enough. Judging from the votes I saw, Chris Solly is heading to be Player of the Year again and he showed why he was such a favourite today. Wiggins made a few errors, but used his pace well and got into some good positions. Pritchard did make some good contributions to attacking moves, but he also seemed lightweight at times and too easily hustled off the ball. Harriott is still a work in progress, but he can harry and out manoeuvre the opposition. Hughes was not that prominent, but he sticks to his task and made some good interventions. Kermorgant was fouled quite a lot and had some near misses. The FLP reckons that 'he showed the most power, skill and creativity of any player on the pitch.' Fuller was getting in offside positions too often, although like Kermorgant he was fouled a lot. He does rather expect the ball to be served up on a plate to him. Kerkar didn't add a lot when he came on but Obika showed that he can at least be a super substitute.
Reg is still looking for the referee's cat to have a word
The referee came from Warwickshire and Reg has asked if he can go round and sort his cat out. In any event Reg gave the Hiss of the Match to referee Atwell. He was one of those referees that sees some things and not others, leading to inconsistent decisions.
As yet unconfirmed reports are stating that we are bringing young Spurs striker in on loan as a replacement for Bradley Wright-Phillips. It would be his ninth loan away from White Hart Lane.
He has scored against us for Yeovil where he has been on loan more than once and also had a loan spell with Crystal Palace. It was meant to be for a season, but he was let go after disappointing performances: Obika
Charlton have also been linked with the Manchester United midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe, but Sir Alex Ferguson wants a quick decision which we are apparently not capable of giving: Tunnicliffe
