Recent fixtures between Millwall and Charlton have seen some high scorelines and this afternoon's friendly at The New Den saw seven goals scored with the home side ending 4-3 victors.
Charlton went ahead in the first half through Bradley Wright-Phillips but then Millwall equalised from a free kick. Bradley Wright-Phillips put Charlton ahead again, but Millwall scored two more to go in 3-2 ahead at the break. The Addicks had been losing possession to a worrying extent and were prone to rushing too much.
After the break they tried to play more of a passing game. Racon signalled a new found interest in aquatic sports by displaying his diving skills. Jackson scored for the Addicks to make it 3-3, but a free kick just outside the box enabled Millwall to win the testimonial fixture.
Not a bad result, but doubts about Wiggins surfaced again.
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Friday, 29 July 2011
Addicks to beat drop
Charlton will escape the drop to League 2 this season, according to the season preview in Four Four Two. However, they will finish 18th, just above the drop zone. (At least that's what they said in the print version: now a web version has changed their forecast to 4th!)
Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday are forecast to occupy the automatic promotion places. Preston, Leyton Orient, Scunthorpe and Carlisle will contest the play offs. I'm not sure I buy into the idea of Orient as the surprise package, for all of Russell Slade's qualities. And I see Carlisle as destined for mid-table mediocrity while I would put Sheffield United higher than 7th.
The magazine comments, 'you have to spread the net far to find a Football League ground where the general vibe is as negative as it's been at The Valley in recent years.' However, 'South-east Londoners Chris Powell [?] and Bradley Wright-Phillips have the passion to taken Charlton back up.'
However, Powell is warned, 'he might have to abandon any ideals of slick football in faviur of a style that is more agricultural. Much to prove.'
Trevor Wood in the fan file fears 'dull football and more mid-table mediocrity.' Nevertheless, he reckons we can finish in the top six if we find a decent back four. He names Peter Varney as unsung hero at the club.
Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday are forecast to occupy the automatic promotion places. Preston, Leyton Orient, Scunthorpe and Carlisle will contest the play offs. I'm not sure I buy into the idea of Orient as the surprise package, for all of Russell Slade's qualities. And I see Carlisle as destined for mid-table mediocrity while I would put Sheffield United higher than 7th.
The magazine comments, 'you have to spread the net far to find a Football League ground where the general vibe is as negative as it's been at The Valley in recent years.' However, 'South-east Londoners Chris Powell [?] and Bradley Wright-Phillips have the passion to taken Charlton back up.'
However, Powell is warned, 'he might have to abandon any ideals of slick football in faviur of a style that is more agricultural. Much to prove.'
Trevor Wood in the fan file fears 'dull football and more mid-table mediocrity.' Nevertheless, he reckons we can finish in the top six if we find a decent back four. He names Peter Varney as unsung hero at the club.
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Sky Blues override Brakes
Just as with Birmingham City on Saturday, Coventry City proved too much for Leamington to cope with at the New Windmill Ground last night, although a 1-2 defeat was no disgrace. However, the Sky Blues had more pace, were quicker to the ball and passed it around very neatly. However, it was a good test for the Brakes players, watched by a crowd of 724.
Sky Blues were 2-0 up after 30 minutes and for a while it looked like a rout might be possible. But then Tom Berwick, who had already tested former Northampton stopper Chris Dunn in the City goal, scored from the penalty spot before the break and that was the way it ended.
A distraction during the first half was the arrival of two fire engines including an escape pump but it turned out that they had come to give out leaflets about smoke alarms.
Sky Blues continued to press in the second half and Breeden had to make at least one good save but Brakes also had their moments and there was a lot of promise in the team.
Sky Blues were 2-0 up after 30 minutes and for a while it looked like a rout might be possible. But then Tom Berwick, who had already tested former Northampton stopper Chris Dunn in the City goal, scored from the penalty spot before the break and that was the way it ended.
A distraction during the first half was the arrival of two fire engines including an escape pump but it turned out that they had come to give out leaflets about smoke alarms.
Sky Blues continued to press in the second half and Breeden had to make at least one good save but Brakes also had their moments and there was a lot of promise in the team.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Grzegorz Rasiak
The 'tall target man' is apparently training with us at the moment: Rasiak
This Spurs blogger wasn't too impressed: 'the greater the chance of making a panic buy as the deadline looms and although it was not on Harry’s watch, the name of Grzegorz Rasiak ominously springs to mind.'
A more positive perspective is given by a Derby fan: 'Was brilliant going back about 4 or 5 seasons. For a tall bloke though he's rubbish in the air. He's great on the ground though.
Left us for Spurs so that he could play in the Premier league but never
really broke through. All in all - we were very sad to see him go. He'd be a great player for you.'
I could do without more players whose names I have difficulty spelling!
This Spurs blogger wasn't too impressed: 'the greater the chance of making a panic buy as the deadline looms and although it was not on Harry’s watch, the name of Grzegorz Rasiak ominously springs to mind.'
A more positive perspective is given by a Derby fan: 'Was brilliant going back about 4 or 5 seasons. For a tall bloke though he's rubbish in the air. He's great on the ground though.
Left us for Spurs so that he could play in the Premier league but never
really broke through. All in all - we were very sad to see him go. He'd be a great player for you.'
I could do without more players whose names I have difficulty spelling!
View from the New Den
A Millwall source takes a look at the Charlton side under Chris Powell: Millwall
Erith Addick Paul May has agreed to brave the New Den on Saturday to provide a match report.
The Addicks beat Den Bosch last night 1-0 through a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal to lift the People's Cup. Danny Green, Johnny Jackson and Paul Hayes all hit the woodwork.
Some comments from an Addick who was there:
Overall, as has been said a very solid performance and showing much promise without setting the world alight. If Jackson had put the chance away later in the second half the 2-0 scoreline would have been a fairer reflection (he hit the bar).
For me the centre back performances stood out. Both look tidy players and both worked well together as a defensive unit. Frequently you could see an understanding between them, they operated as a pair rather than 2 new together players.
Wiggins - first time I've seen him and I didn't think it was that bad, as you said he was up against a good right midfield and on the whole he frustrated him. I suspect that most of his game last night was about stopping the forward rather than looking to push on.
There was a definite attempt to play a passing game with very few long balls out from the keeper. One note on Elliot I thought he parried a number of balls that he could have tried to hold?
BWP - I thought he had a good game, seemed very mobile and covered a lot of ground dropping back to link with midfield. Took his chance like an accomplished and confident striker.
Benson came on and did ok - anyone else think he has lost weight? - not that he was particularly heavy last year.
Hollands, Stephens, Green and Jackson. while being happy overall I was less impressed with the midfield as I was with the back 4. They did pass well but with a couple of exceptions they didn't quite get forward as much as I suspect they will need to. We will need the midfield to contribute heavily to the goal scoring, if they don't break forward I suspect teams will soon learn to mark BWP out of the game and nullify our scoring.
That said great to see Jackson back and Green covered a lot of ground. The 2 in the middle will come good but are still finding their feet in a very new look team.
Hayes - not sure yet, thought he was a bit quiet, but is only one game and there were so many new faces I found it a job to keep an eye on all so might be doing him an injustice.
Well done to Powell, he looks to be building a solid and entertaining team which will compete well in this league next season. Seems to me he has gone for a similar set of players, all with hunger but all having already established themselves at previous clubs and confident of their abilities. They should be a bunch that develop the understandings and gel quickly.
Erith Addick Paul May has agreed to brave the New Den on Saturday to provide a match report.
The Addicks beat Den Bosch last night 1-0 through a Bradley Wright-Phillips goal to lift the People's Cup. Danny Green, Johnny Jackson and Paul Hayes all hit the woodwork.
Some comments from an Addick who was there:
Overall, as has been said a very solid performance and showing much promise without setting the world alight. If Jackson had put the chance away later in the second half the 2-0 scoreline would have been a fairer reflection (he hit the bar).
For me the centre back performances stood out. Both look tidy players and both worked well together as a defensive unit. Frequently you could see an understanding between them, they operated as a pair rather than 2 new together players.
Wiggins - first time I've seen him and I didn't think it was that bad, as you said he was up against a good right midfield and on the whole he frustrated him. I suspect that most of his game last night was about stopping the forward rather than looking to push on.
There was a definite attempt to play a passing game with very few long balls out from the keeper. One note on Elliot I thought he parried a number of balls that he could have tried to hold?
BWP - I thought he had a good game, seemed very mobile and covered a lot of ground dropping back to link with midfield. Took his chance like an accomplished and confident striker.
Benson came on and did ok - anyone else think he has lost weight? - not that he was particularly heavy last year.
Hollands, Stephens, Green and Jackson. while being happy overall I was less impressed with the midfield as I was with the back 4. They did pass well but with a couple of exceptions they didn't quite get forward as much as I suspect they will need to. We will need the midfield to contribute heavily to the goal scoring, if they don't break forward I suspect teams will soon learn to mark BWP out of the game and nullify our scoring.
That said great to see Jackson back and Green covered a lot of ground. The 2 in the middle will come good but are still finding their feet in a very new look team.
Hayes - not sure yet, thought he was a bit quiet, but is only one game and there were so many new faces I found it a job to keep an eye on all so might be doing him an injustice.
Well done to Powell, he looks to be building a solid and entertaining team which will compete well in this league next season. Seems to me he has gone for a similar set of players, all with hunger but all having already established themselves at previous clubs and confident of their abilities. They should be a bunch that develop the understandings and gel quickly.
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Schlupp in on loan?
Pravda is reporting that Charlton are interested in bringing 18-year old Leicester City striker Jeffery Schlupp in on loan: Schlupp
He performed well at Brentford when on loan there last season.
You can see a spectacular miss by him here: Schlupp up
He performed well at Brentford when on loan there last season.
You can see a spectacular miss by him here: Schlupp up
A question of experience
When we appointed Chris Powell as manager the New York Addick (who seems to have gone into purdah for the summer) argued that we should have appointed an 'experienced' manager.
So what is the evidence for the benefits of experience? I have been looking at the book on Football Management by my colleague Sue Bridgewater who runs courses for the PFA and the LMA. She argues that experience should be considered as a factor in football success, but the evidence on its importance appears to be a little mixed.
There is certainly a significant difference between the number of years experience and the win percentage of managers. Those with no previous experience have a ratio of 33 per cent wins, but this goes up to 45 per cent for those with ten years or more experience.
Sue notes, 'Experienced managers have learned lessons through time, perhaps through making and learning from mistakes. They are also the survivors, those who through natural ability and learning over time have a proven ability to do the job.'
However, experience matters much more in the Premier League is far more important than for managers in lower leagues. Not surprisingly Premiership managers have more experience:
Premier League 9.6 years
Championship 6.5 years
League 1 4.8 years
League 2 3.6 years
Sue suggests, 'Managing star players in the full glare of the media spotlight is not easy and it may be for this reasons that managers who have been there and seen it are better able to manage at this level. There is something distinctive about managing these strong egos and management experience does help with this.'
So what is the evidence for the benefits of experience? I have been looking at the book on Football Management by my colleague Sue Bridgewater who runs courses for the PFA and the LMA. She argues that experience should be considered as a factor in football success, but the evidence on its importance appears to be a little mixed.
There is certainly a significant difference between the number of years experience and the win percentage of managers. Those with no previous experience have a ratio of 33 per cent wins, but this goes up to 45 per cent for those with ten years or more experience.
Sue notes, 'Experienced managers have learned lessons through time, perhaps through making and learning from mistakes. They are also the survivors, those who through natural ability and learning over time have a proven ability to do the job.'
However, experience matters much more in the Premier League is far more important than for managers in lower leagues. Not surprisingly Premiership managers have more experience:
Premier League 9.6 years
Championship 6.5 years
League 1 4.8 years
League 2 3.6 years
Sue suggests, 'Managing star players in the full glare of the media spotlight is not easy and it may be for this reasons that managers who have been there and seen it are better able to manage at this level. There is something distinctive about managing these strong egos and management experience does help with this.'
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