Big Bob Peeters is one of four nominees for Sky Bet Championship manager of the month. He is praised for bringing in 'organisation and defensive stability' with the win over Norwich a highlight. The smart money is probably on Ipswich's Mick McCarthy: Bob Peeters
In some ways it would be good if he didn't win it as it is usually followed by a run of bad results!
If he is successful, he will be the first Addicks boss to receive a monthly award since Chris Powell in February 2012.
Some doubts have been raised about the entitlement of Igor Vetokele to play for Angola and he had to be kept out of the last match against Burkina Faso. A ruling from Fifa is awaited: Igor
In other news Joe Gomez has signed a long-term contract with the club: Gomez
Defender Elan Assiana has been signed by Charlton after his release by Manchester City. He will play with the Under 18 squad. The London-born player was with Fulham before he joined City. See his promo video here: Elan Assiana
Defender Ayo Obileye will join the Under 21 squad. He has played a few games for Jason Euell's side and was formerly with Sheffield Wednesday: New signings
At 40 years old Scott McGleish is still playing football for Wealdstone in the Conference South, close to his original club at Edgware. Aged 20, he left there to take a year's contract at Charlton. Being let go by the Addicks was the lowest point in his career, he has told today's Football League Paper.
He went on to play for a series of lower division Football League teams, most recently for Leyton Orient. He scored the winning goal for them against us on 25 January 2010. He could be said to have found his level.
McGleish said of his release by Charlton, 'I'd given up everything to go pro and I felt I deserved another year's contract. I'd finished the season as the reserves top goal scorer. When I came out of that meeting with Steve Grit and Alan Curbishley, I felt that everything had gone. Luckily Keith Peacock pulled me to one side and said, "Don't worry, I've had lots of phone calls from clubs, you will be ok."'
As far as the first team was concerned, I recall him as a player who came on as a late substitute.
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.
After their defeat of Millwall earlier in the week, Birmingham City manager Lee Clark has urged his players to return to South London tomorrow without any fear: Be Brave . The win at Millwall was their first in nine games in all competitions.
This is not because he underestimates Charlton. Rather than the usual 'easy three points' line from the opposition, exemplified by the Norwich paper which Bob Peeters used as a motivational tool, Clark said after the win at Norwich that a tough match had got tougher.
Charlton will be without Tal Ben Haim because of Yom Kippur which is a major religious festival. Michael Morrison is likely to step into his place. Some Addicks have expressed concern about his match sharpness or whether he can play out from the back as the present style requires. However, he has been a solid and reliable defender for us and I have confidence in him.
Gudmundsson is still out and Joe Gomez has picked up an injury.
Our record against the Blues at home has not been good. Last year we lost 0-2 at home, a result that followed a 1-1 draw in the preceding year. Odds are Charlton, evens; draw, 11/5; Blues, 11/5.
It is rocket science
Copies of this month's Four Four Two have been placed in the horror comics section after it was found to contain a photograph of Ian Dowie. He is interviewed, appropriately enough, in the 'Ask a Silly Question' feature.
Turns out that when Dowie was a rocket scientist he worked on air-launched anti-radiation missile (ALARM). That should have rung alarm bells at The Valley. Even if he could fix a broken missile guidance system, he couldn't help his players find the back of the net.
Dowie thinks that the future is in teleportation. So that's how he got from Selhurst to The Valley.
Meanwhile Alan Pardew fans can read about his popularity at Newcastle here: Sack Pardew
Following the 1-3 defeat of Wolves by Chris Powell's Huddersfield at Molineux last night, Charlton have moved back into the play off places at 6th.
Even the Sub-Standard gave us a decent write up last night. Bob Peeters revealed that a Norwich newspaper’s prediction that Charlton would get turned over last night provided the motivation for his side to stun the Championship leaders. They had forecast a 3-0 win for the home side. The Addicks coach altered his planned team talk after seeing the article.
