Pope's 'last chance' at Charlton

Nick Pope discusses how his time at Charlton kicked off his football career in an interview in The Times today.   When he started at Charlton, he had to follow the chief scout's car to Sparrows Lane as he did not know where it was.  

'I knew this was the last chance. I’d been accepted to go to university in September.'

He says they were “scabby” gloves that he pulled on to his hands that first time at Charlton’s training ground on Sparrows Lane.

“As a goalkeeper you do think of the first shot, ‘I have to get this.’ ” he says. “You don’t want to look like an idiot. You don’t want to look like you’re out of place.

“I remember wearing old, scabby gloves and catching loads of balls. All of a sudden, you’re chucked in and you’re with professional goalkeepers and a goalie coach and you’re doing actual drills.”

Charlton were impressed. He was at home when he got the call, and the offer of a two-year deal. “I was buzzing, yeah,” he says. “It felt like my last chance.”

Pope says every step is not a forward one. He joined Charlton on £125 a week. There were six loan spells at non-League clubs, starting at Harrow Borough. Aldershot was an hour and a half away, and the first time he met his new team-mates was walking up the aisle of the team bus for an away game.

There had been a debut for Charlton that year, coming on as substitute on the final day of the 2012-13 season. “Running on that day was awesome,” he says. He played 40 times for Charlton and when the club were relegated from the Championship in 2016, Burnley bid £1 million for Johan Berg Gudmundsson, and Pope went, in his words, “as an add-on”.

Roland, I thank yew

The transitional period when posts were being made both here and on Addick's Third Division Diary has come to an end and all future posts will be made on the League One site in recognition of our diminished status. Thank you, Roland and Katrien, for screwing up the club.

The signs that they are learning are still limited, notwithstanding the appointment of an English manager and a few new signings, offset by quality exits. Nick Pope is having his medical at Burnley today. I think he would have been good enough for League One, instead he will have to sit on a cold bench at Turf Moor.

I have renewed my season ticket, because I know that if I didn't have a season ticket, I would stop going. Five hours travelling is quite a bit, even though I can read, sleep and use my tablet. All those around me have renewed. Whether I would renew after another season, I don't know.

However, I do think that the club needs to kept going so that there is something left for a new owner to build on. I don't buy into conspiracy theories that Roland wants to run down the club to redevelop The Valley. It would be a very expensive, perhaps impossible, site to develop.

The considerable reputational damage inflicted on Roland by the CARD campaign has not shifted this obdurate eccentric. Sometimes it feels like we are the victims of a failed social experiment.

What can we expect of the season ahead? Those who like wallowing in gloom and doom, and there are always plenty of those at Charlton (or any club), think that we will be relegated to League Two, and then to the Conference. In that case, given its infrastucture, the club would no longer be viable and would have to be closed in its present form.

Some optimists think the play offs might be possible. My hunch is that we will turn out to be a solid, mid-table League One club, punching below what should be our weight.

Older readers will know that the 'I thank yew' (pronounced ay-thang-yew) in the headline refers to the comedian Arthur Askey.

Farewell, then, Nick Pope

Burnley have improved their offer for Nick Pope to around £1m and a deal is close to being finalised: Nick Pope

It has been good to see Pope to develop from a non-league player to one capable of performing at Championship level and I am sorry to see him go. The Chicago Addick is more critical: Not up to it

Stephen Henderson may also be on his way out, with Nottingham Forest interested: Henderson

The Addicks will need to find a new first choice keeper. Who was that guy the Belgians brought over? Ah, yes, Thuram-Ullen, the maestro of punching the ball.

Relegation was last straw for Cousins

Jordan Cousins admitted that relegation was the last straw in his decision to leave the club and join the Super Hoops: Cousins

The fee of £1.5m has been seen as on the low side by some fans, although apparently £900,000 was refused for Nick Pope.

Pope deal done?.

It's being reported that Nick Pope may be going to Burnley for £850k. Cannot confirm at present.

Newly promoted Metz are reported to be considering a bid for Johann Berg Gudmundsson: Iceland ace

I was giving a presentation at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London today and was introduced as 'a Charlton Athletic supporter and the only relegated member of the panel.' It's like the mark of Cain.

Slade to cull 'bloated' squad

New Charlton manager Russell Slade is determined to cull a 'bloated' squad: Streamlined squad

Having a large squad last year did us no favours. We want quality not quantity, battlers not half hearted commitment. I confidently predict that there will be no rending of shirts if Naby Sarr or Cristian Cabellos depart. The challenge will be to find someone to take them.

Burnley have made an offer for Nick Pope, but Charlton want to hold on to him. I hope they do.

As far as I can work out, customer reaction to Slade has been broadly favourable. Fans have been asking for some time for an English manager with relevant experience for some time and now they have one.

He is solid rather than spectacular, but we have to recognise the pool we are fishing in. Mourinho would have responded with one of his famous Portuguese phrases if approached.

The counter argument is that the regime won't let him manage and he will be out by Christmas. We'll have to wait and see, but for now he has my backing. I am not excited, but I am reassured (although not about the continued presence of the chief executive).

Addicks pray for Pope

Burnley, Celtic and Wolves are all interested in Charlton keeper Nick Pope, so even prayer may not keep him at The Valley: Nick Pope

Stephen Henderson is furious about being dropped at the end of the season which kept him out of the Irish Euros squad.

Birmingham, QPR and Notts Forest are among the clubs interested in signing Tony Watt who does not want to return to his native heath: Watt

Pope on his way?

Charlton goalkeeper Nick Pope is attracting interest from the likes of Leeds, Crystal Palace, Celtic and Burnley, sources have told TEAMtalk.com.

Pope’s performances have not gone unnoticed higher up the football pyramid with the likes of Palace, newly-promoted Burnley, promotion hopefuls Hull, Nottingham Forest and Scottish champions Celtic all keeping tabs on the keeper. Leeds could also be in the market for him if they decide to allow often-criticised No 1 Marco Silvestri to move on.

The six clubs are all in the market for goalkeeping reinforcements this summer and Pope is thought to figure highly on their wanted lists. Charlton are reluctant to lose Pope, but are bracing themselves for offers for the keeper in the wake of their relegation to League One.

He would be a real loss in my view.

Nick Pope wants to stay

Nick Pope has made it clear he wants to stay at Charlton: Charlton player

Whether Stephen Henderson stays remains to be seen, but I would be confident in Nick Pope as lead keeper in League One.

Charlton win bonkers owners derby

Belgium beat Italy at Elland Road today with the Addicks winning the bonkers owners derby. Lookman probably added to his selling price.

Pope had to make a good save with his feet early in the game at Elland Road as he faced a one on one from Leeds. It looked like a 4-4-1-1 formation with Harriott and Lookman out wide and Gudmundsson behind Vetokele.

Charlton won a free kick 25 yards out after Lookman was fouled. Lookman’s free kick was over the wall but just wide. Leeds fans started to sing ‘Your owner is a ****, so is ours.’ The 363 Charlton fans subsequently started a chant of ‘We want Roland out.’

Diarra got a yellow card for a foul on Wood. Pope had to tip the resulting free kick over the bar. He claimed the corner well.

A strike from Gudmundsson hit the foot of the post from 25 yards.

Around the half hour mark Leeds started to apply a bit more pressure, but Bridcutt shot high and wide from distance.

Pope claimed Coyle’s low cross after Leeds advanced down the Charlton left.

Leeds won a corner after Pope tipped the ball out following a good block by Jackson.

After a great move down the left involving Lookman and Fox, Gudmundsson took the opportunity from Fox’s cross and scored with a low strike.

Charlton won a corner taken by Lookman but it went out for a Charlton throw.

Pope flew out of his area to deny Wood with a diving header. Vetokele put in a shot, but it was blocked in the area.

Teixeira won a corner in time added on.

HT: 0-1

Gudmundsson nearly played in Vetokele, but he was too slow to react and the keeper gathered.

A great strike from Lookman into the bottom corner put Charlton 2-0 ahead on 49 minutes, the whole move starting with a Fanni nutmeg of Dallas who was subsequently taken off.

The referee pulled play back for a Charlton free kick despite Vetokele racing through on goal. What about advantage?

A header from Wood hit the bar. Bamba fired the rebound into the side netting.

Charlton won a corner, Bamba fell over after a collision and the referee gave a free kick to Leeds.

From a Leeds corner Cooper headed well over. Fanni put in good defensive work as Charlton looked as if they might be under pressure.

Leeds won a corner, but the ball was headed over by Botaka.

Charlton made a good break away, but Harriott’s shot was just wide. Kashi was booked for a late challenge.

Bamba got a free header from a free kick to make it 1-2 on 71 minutes. Pope was furious with his defence. Suk Young came on for Gudmundsson.

Pope saved an angled shot from Antenucci who had come on a sub. Pope claimed the corner at the second attempt.

Pope saved well with his feet in a one on one with Wood after a free kick. Vetokele made way for Makienok on 82 minutes.

Fox dealt with a cross well with a header. Harriott blocked a cross at the expense of a Leeds corner. Makienok headed the ball away.

Leeds threatened with a series of attacks, but Charlton held firm. Kashi, who had had a good game on his return, went down injured. Ba replaced Lookman on 88 minutes.

Six minutes were added on. Kashi put the ball behind for a Leeds corner. Diarra headed clear at the near post.

Charlton broke away well, Ba played in Harriott but his shot was blocked for a Charlton corner. Kashi gave away a foul.

Three balls into the box were headed away by Makienok. Pope had to save as Cook tried his luck, leading to a corner.

'That about sums up our season'

That was the comment from Steve from Petts Wood after Charlton had a second half goal against Derby County by Jorge Teixeira disallowed for a foul on Carson and Derby went up the other end and scored, inevitably from a corner. That goal settled the match which ended 0-1. According to the programme, we have played 21 times on April 16th and never won, an odd statistic. It was also my father's birthday.

When I got to Coventry Station it was swarming with police and I realised why when Millwall fans got off the train for a fixture at the Ricoh. One Spanner spotted me and said, 'You are going down and we are going up.' Well, we are certainly going down, whether they are going up remains to be seen. They lost 2-1 at Coventry.

When I got to The Valley three camels with accompanied by customers dressed in Arab costume celebrated Katrien's holiday in Dubai. This particular stunt has attracted some criticism from fans.

We played some decent football against Derby, linking up well. However, we lacked a punch up front with Vetokele very subdued. Pope made a brilliant double save in the first half which earned him a standing ovation.

The Rams got a bit frustrated after the break with the score at 0-0 and starting fouling and eventually the referee gave out a couple of yellow cards. Igor Vetokele hit a post.

Jordan Cousins fired wide for the hosts as the Addicks pushed for an equaliser. Makienok had a late chance to connect with his head to a pinpoint long distance pass from Motta, but was unable to do so.

As the Covered End choir sang, 'We're going to Shrews-bury.' And Fleetwood. And Port Fail.

Voice of the Valley reported that Paul Elliott is fronting a new bid for the club. Roland is not totally resistant to selling, but wants £38m, twice what he paid for the club and that doesn't take into account the £7m owed in loans to former directors which they could ask to be repaid if there was a change of control. By way of comparison, Wolves have been on the market all season at £25m without finding a buyer.

I was also told today that Lennie Lawrence may be recruited as general manager of the club which could encompass a director of football role. If José Riga decides not to stay, Roland is prepared to hire an English coach. More about the Lennie Lawrence story here: Lennie Lawrence

Player ratings

Pope couldn't have saved the goal and otherwise was well in command. Interesting that Henderson wasn't even on the bench. (Riga has now said that he had a calf injury). In any event Pope should be able to cope with League One. Teixeira had the pain of seeing his goal disallowed and was generally solid. Fanni made at least one important tackle. He also made a remarkable solo run down the right, ending with a cross met by Vetokele, Carson scrambling the ball away for a corner.

Solly was energetic and competent, but perhaps not at his very best. He was substituted, possibly because he had a knock. Fox managed to pick up a yellow card.

Diarra still shows the quality of a former French captain and was a menace up front. Gudmundsson made some good moves, but sometimes looks uninterested and deflated, understandably enough. Cousins was well ahead in player of the year voting. The Bloke Beside Me who collected votes said that 'it was not an entirely positive experience.' Harriott was a live wire as always, even if his judgment isn't perfect.

Lookman showed some touches of sublime skill. Vetokele looked less than fully fit.

Motta showed some skill and energy when he came on. Makienok drew ironic cheers from the Covered End as he connected with the ball, but he did have some impact. Bergdich had a cameo in time added on, replacing Lookman.

All square at Portman Road

Despite a good performance, Charlton could only secure a point with a 0-0 draw against Ipswich this evening.

Solly, Lookman and Sanogo were brought in for Charlton at Portman Road with Motta, Suk-Young and Vetokele going to the bench. 552 Addicks were present in a crowd of 17,787.

Charlton made a positive start and a free kick was awarded for a foul on Lookman. A shot from Gudmundsson took a slight deflection and went straight at the keeper.

On six minutes Sears put in a shot for Ipswich which went narrowly wide with Fox out of position.

There was a mix up between Berra and the keeper, but Berra got the ball back before Sanogo was able to pounce.

Gudmundsson required treatment after a clash of heads from which he came off worst. Motta came on to replace him.

On 21 minutes a shot from Harriott was saved and the Sanogo follow up was blocked. A shot from Pringle drew a great save from Pope. The Charlton defending was poor. The corner was cleared.

Charlton were hit on the break, the defending was poor, but Pope was able to save from Sears. The home crowd were very quiet, apart from the occasional despairing cry of ‘Blue Army’.

Harriott put a ball through for Cousins, he passed to Sanogo when he should have shot and Lookman fired wide.

Sears shot high over the bar, Tex intercepted well. A shot from Pitman went well wide.

Charlton won the first corner of the evening on 45 minutes after an odd attempted tackle midway through the Tractors half. Tex’s header from Lookman’s corner was tipped over by the corner. In the ensuing play after the second corner Lookman put the ball wide.

In time added om, Pope claimed a corner well under pressure. It had been a decent performance from Charlton, but with relegation rivals going ahead, more was needed.

HT: Tractors 0, Addicks 0

Former Addick Luke Varney was brought on in the second half in place of Pringle. Teixeira was booked in the opening minute for pulling back Sears. Chambers slipped taking the free kick and it hit the wall.

A Harriott strike was deflected behind for a corner, Sanogo got his head on the ball, but it went wide. Charlton were slow defensively to deal with a cross, giving Douglas a free header, but he put the ball over.

Lookman won a corner after Chambers got a foot to his cross. The move ended in a goal kick after Teixera headed over.

A shot from Sears was blocked by Teixera for a throw in. Douglas shot well over. The home crowd was waking up as Ipswich came into the game more. Pope saved comfortably from Pitman.

Harriott fired over from a tight angle on 60 minutes. Pope cleared with a great punch. Charlton got down the left well, but Fox put in a poor cross. McGoldrick came on for Feeney.

Cousins put in a shot from distance, but it was punched away by the keeper. Pope had sent Lookman on his way who teed up Cousins. Lookman reached the byline, but Smith dealt with the cross. A great ball was provided by Solly, but Harriott put it in the side netting.

Texeira conceded an Ipswich corner. The move ended in a goal kick. On 74 minutes Harriott was replaced by Vetokele.

A Lookman shot from the edge of the box was blocked. The latest foul by Knudsen got nothing more than a talking to from the referee.

Good play by Lookman led to a shot saved well by the keeper who then had to deny Sanogo Ipswich took off Pitman and brought on Bishop.

Cousins was booked for delaying an Ipswich free kick. Motta was withdrawn in favour of Makienok. Many fans would like to have seen Jackson came on.

Fox won Charlton a corner when his cross was blocked. Varney nearly scored an own goal from Lookman’s corner. The second corner was punched away.

On 90 minutes Diarra went down injured off the off the pitch and did not return. A McGoldrick cross was claimed by Pope. Fox won Charlton another corner in added time. The corner was cleared. A cross by Fox won Charlton another corner. It was a good corner by Lookman, but everyone missed it.

MK Dons lost, but Fulham were ahead at Preston and Rotherham were drawing with Bristol City.

Charlton win at home

Charlton confounded their own fans' expectations by beating high flying Middlesbrough 2-0 at The Valley this afternoon. It was a composed and determined performance by the Addicks. I heard a surprised Boro supporter saying on the train afterwards, 'They really wanted to win.'

The start of the game was interrupted as the pitch was bombarded with black and white beach balls as fans chanted their desire to see Roland out. Charlton, however, kept their concentration well and Nick Pope's save to prevent an own goal by Rod Fanni was the closest Boro came before the break.

The visitors looked brighter after the interval, but £9m striker Rhodes was too slow after being found in a good position by Albert Adomah on the edge of the box and was crowded out by the Charlton defence.

The Addicks took the lead when Johann Berg Gudmundsson's corner was met by Teixeira on the six-yard line with a bullet header, giving Dimi Konstantopoulos no chance. A couple of fans invaded the pitch, one sensibly made his way back to the Covered End, but the other needed half a dozen stewards to restrain him.

A considerable number of fans left on the 74th minute and missed the second goal. Adomah and Gaston Ramirez tested Pope as Boro pressed forward, but they were caught out at the back as the ball rebounded off Dael Fry and the impressive Harriott swept home his eighth goal of the season before limping off with a knock.

Referee Darren Dreadman was much keener to award free kicks to Boro and handed out his customary large number of yellow cards.

Motta didn't know why fans were protesting: Motta

There has been discussion about whether Meire looks smug or frightened in the televised picture of her. I would say queasy.

Player ratings

Pope kept a clean sheet, making some excellent saves and never look flustered once. As well as scoring the opening goal, Teixeira was solid in defence. Fox had one of the best games I have ever seen him play. Apart from the near own goal, Fanni had a good game. Motta was the player I have reservations about, I am not sure how strong he is defensively.

Suk-Young had a decent game. We saw how much we missed Diarra who had an excellent game and was close to being man of the match. Cousins was chosen as man of the match by the pundits and was energetic and tigerish. Gudmundsson had the best game he has had for some time and got warm applause when he was taken off.

Lookman was energetic and skilled, but didn't make a huge impact. Harriott run himself into the ground pressing the opposition.

Bergdich didn't make a great impression when he came on. Reza raced around as usual, but to no great effect. Lennon had a cameo.

Feeling hard done by

Given our recent record against Rotherham at home, something of a bogey team for us, I should have expected a 1-1 draw, but I am left feeling hard done by. They are a poor side and we were clearly a class above them in football terms. But we were insufficiently clinical in finding the back of the net.

Their tactics were clearly to defend in depth and hit us on the counter attack. We played possession football and made some nice moves, but there was a lack of urgency as we probed the Rotherham defence. The inevitable happened and Rotherham went ahead just before half time after a soft free kick led to a corner disputed by the Covered End, justifiably so given that Lee Frecklington put the ball out. We didn't defend the corner well and we were 0-1 behind.

Patrick Bauer squared the score for us, with Big Mak providing the assist, and we continued to play well, but the goal eluded us. Indeed, it needed two superb saves by Nick Pope to keep us in the game. Even in five minutes added on, Rotherham could have scored as easily as us.

Possession was 64-36 in our favour and we had nine shots on target to their four. By my estimation most of them came from midfielders.

A bit ironic that the reproduction programme showed a wealth of extra trains after the match whereas what we got was a half hourly service and no special.

Player ratings

Pope delivered two superb saves, but he could have been more alert for the corner. He seemed to be immobile as the tap in came in. Everyone I have heard from thinks Diarra was man of the match. A stalwart in defence, he also got the ball forward well, and showed some moments of sublime skill. Bauer seized the opportunity to score and I wouldn't fault his defensive work. Solly was involved, but seemed a little off the pace at times. He was perhaps unsettled by the yellow card for dissent. Fox has come in for some criticism, his distribution sometimes let him down.

Kashi tried a speculative shot from distance, but this wasn't Peterborough. He looks comfortable with the ball. Cousins had two shots on goal early on. Gudmundsson had a number of near misses, one from a set piece. More involved in the second half. Ba has had better games.

The problem with the forwards was that they didn't link up very well. Vetokele was poor and rarely involved, I doubt whether he is fully fit. Watt made some good runs which unsettled the Rotherham defence and showed real skill, but sometimes he needs not to do it all himself.

Matienok made a difference when he came on, controlling the ball well for the assist for the goal. Bergdich wasn't on for long, but didn't make much of an impact.

Club is over wage budget

Charlton chief executive Katrien Meire has confirmed what she had already told a fan on the train to Wolves: this summer's deal have pushed the club over its wage budget, which helps to explain the lack of last minute activity in the transfer window or of loan deals since.

One of the factors is that Charlton is still playing part of the wages of players who have been loaned out, e.g., Callum Harriott. Read more here: Budget bust

However, new deals are being negotiated for Morgan Fox and Nick Pope.

Farewell, then, Christophe Lepoint

The official site has reported that Christophe Lepoint has been sold to the Belgian side SV Zulte Waregem for an undisclosed fee. It is unlikely to be large.

Lepoint was not up to Championship standard and the news of his departure has been received calmly with no reports of fans rending their shirts or vowing to return their season tickets when they arrive.

Of course, the question that arises is why he was signed in the first place. On Twitter, Voice of the Valley editor Rick Everitt has described it 'as a laughable signing from start to finish.'

Some would see it as evidence as systemic failings on the part of the current regime. However, even the Murray/Curbishley regime made some poor signings, although admittedly things have been more hit and miss under Roland.

Elsewhere, it is being rumoured that Nick Pope may move permanently to Bury.

Premiership clubs track Pope

Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are showing an interest in Charlton keeper Nick Pope. He has confirmed his reputation as a clean sheet specialist this season with Bury: Pope

It's a big leap from League Two to the Premiership, but presumably he would be brought in as a development player (something that can go on longer for a keeper).

Charlton's price tag is around £750,000.

Keeper brought in on loan

Oldham goalkeeper and Philippines international Neil Etheridge has been brought in on loan until 30 December with Stephen Henderson out with a shoulder injury. He had a short loan spell with Charlton before.

Nick Pope is, however, expected to face the Tractor hordes on Saturday: Nick Pope

Pope comes from a family of Ipswich fans: Ipswich Town

Pope enjoyed Millwall game

Man of the match Nick Pope enjoyed his game against Millwall, despite one word being used to describe him by the visiting supporters: Nick Pope

Pope is one to watch says Billers preview + short report

Nick Pope is said to be the one to watch as Jason Euell takes his development side to New Lodge tonight for a pre-season friendly: Billericay. Judging from their comments on Facebook, some Blues fans are desperate to beat Charlton, albeit a Charlton XI.

This fixture is one that attracted me as during my secondary school years I lived in Billericay and even went to a Billericay Town dinner dance with my journo's hat on. But it wouldn't be possible to get back to the Midlands tonight.

Result

In the biggest battle since the Battle of Norsey Woods in the Peasants' Revolt, Charlton won 3-2. Apparently it was a good game, but our centre backs made errors which led to their two goals, one was a one on one and the other was giving away a penalty.

Silva scored our opening goal and their Osborne scored an amazing goal. A trialist from Spain (there is some uncertainty about this and his identity and whether he is from the Spanish network club) scored our third with a chip over the keeper. Jack Munns had a great game in central midfield apparently. According to an Addick who was there, he kept picking up the ball and running at their defence and his passing range was excellent. He made the third goal with an attack on the break.

Here is the Billericay Town report: Match report