Hiring strategy

Fans are already coming up with lists of players they would like to retain or be found a lower league club.  Even if we can't agree on the names, there is broad agreement that some of the players are not up to Championship standard.

One fan writing on social media put forward the argument in nuanced terms that perhaps some of the players have potential that is yet to be fully developed.  The trouble is that leads us back to the old 'Jones is a waste of space' argument and I can't see the owners letting him go.

One big known unknown is how much money the owners are prepared to 'invest' in players.   An unknown unknown is whether they can succeed in finding an additional investor.  It would seem that with events in the Middle East, and some investments turning out to be more troublesome than anticipated (Chelsea) US private equity investors are holding back.

Thinking about strategy, I would take a look at Leicester City who are going to have a fire sale.  Oxford United may be rubbish, but they have one or two decent players who might want to stay in the Championship with a club that has a proper stadium.

Then there are fringe Premier League players who get scarcely a look in at a top club.  I was struck by how many players Southampton have who were originally with Manchester City.  These players are likely to be hungry to make a name for themselves.

Then there are players who have outperformed in League One.   For example, Kyrell Lisbie who has done well at Peterborough.

Finally, we must be prepared to take a risk on a few relatively unknown foreign players.

Charlton score two to survive

Charlton secured Championship survival thanks to stunning strikes from Charlie Kelman and Jayden Fevrier as they beat Hull City at The Valley.

Kelman curled a sumptuous effort into the top corner to give the Addicks the lead before John Egan headed Hull level in the seventh minute of first-half added time.

The Tigers were much improved after the break, spurred on by the introduction of Mohamed Belloumi off the bench, but the hosts retook the lead when Fevrier darted past two challenges to fire beyond Ivor Pandur into the bottom corner.

After scoring 27 goals in a ruthless loan spell at Leyton Orient last season, Kelman has not always found life easy since moving to The Valley.  Seven goals in 35 appearances going into this game represented a moderate return, but today he showed Addicks fans what he is made of.

Picking up Conor Coady's pass wide on the left, the 24-year-old cut inside Semi Ajayi and Lewie Coyle to bend a sumptuous strike into the top corner.  A goal-of-the-season contender for sure.

Nathan Jones will have been disappointed they went in level, having been so dominant at times in the opening 45 minutes.  And despite a much better performance from Hull in the second half, Fevrier's 68th-minute goal was the one settle the game. And it was equally as impressive.

Had the 23-year-old finished off his effort right at the end then Charlton's goal of the season reel this season could well have had three entries from the same game.

It has been a long, hard season for the Addicks but they can finally plan for a second Championship campaign, with total certainty.

Hull boss looks forward to three points

Hull City boss Serget Jakorovic is looking forward to ending Hull's winless run of six matches with three points off 'struggling' Charlton tomorrow.

The Croatian charm merchant was sent off at the King Power on Tuesday for 'sarcastic clapping', but it looks as if he will be in the Valley dugout tomorrow.

Hull City, only outside the final play-off spot on goal difference, can leapfrog rivals Wrexham into sixth place, with the Red Dragons set to play title winners Coventry City on Sunday.

• Charlton are unbeaten in their last six home league meetings with Hull City (D3 L3) since a 1-2 reverse in November 1985.

• Hull have won three of their last four away league games against London clubs (L1), as many as their previous 16 in the capital beforehand (W3 D7 L6).

• Charlton have won their final home league game in seven of the last nine seasons (D2) since a 0-3 defeat to Burnley in 2015-16.

• Hull haven't won their final away league game in any of the last 18 seasons (D6 L12) since a 1-0 victory at Cardiff in 2006-07.

• Hull have earned 35 away points in the Championship this season; a win here will make this the most points they have ever earned on the road in a second tier campaign (38, assuming 3 pts/win all-time), a record they set in 2023-24 (37).

Try calming down

Charlton fans are busy slagging off each other on social media on the usual topics: views of Jones and whether we will be relegated.   It might be a good idea in these circumstances just to calm down get behind the team.

Of course we constantly told it's all about opinions whereas the world I live is one where evidence counts for more.

I have tried to keep clear of the Peter Mandelson affair.  After all, unlike top Super Hoops fan and Charlton critic Lord Young of Acton, I was not named in the Epstein files.*

Unfortunately, trying to keep my head down has not worked and I have been contacted by the integrity and ethics branch of the Cabinet Office.   They certainly won't want opinions from me next week.

We do have a lot more evidence these days about football finances and how they affect performance, but the fact that Charlton has one of the lowest playing budgets in the Championship rarely features in the discussion.

BTW, I'm not saying I like Michael Gove but he was an effective minister in the sense that he managed to get two departments to change policy direction and that is not easy.   So why as editor of the Spectator is he encouraging his columnists to have a go at Charlton?

If he is thinking of adding subscribers, I am told that getting any magazines into a prison is not easy so not much luck with Spanners.  And if he is thinking of the Nigels, they are too busy pretending to be ultras to be seen reading a magazine.

*It should be pointed out that the noble Lord has explained that he was inadvertently included in Epstein's contacts book because of a tenuous acquaintance with G Maxwell.   He has denied visiting 'Paedo Island' (his terminology), travelling on the so-called Lolita Express aircraft or visiting Epstein in one of his homes or at a correctional facility.

Early goal does not save Charlton from defeat

A cheeky first minute goal by captain Greg Docherty put Charlton ahead at The Valley this evening, but Ipswich equalised in the first half and then scored the winner from the penalty spot in the second half.

Charlton remain six points ahead of Oxford and I remain sceprical that they will discover their inner Bayern Munich.

I was surprised that some fans wanted to see the Tractors win to disadvantage Millwall.   If they do go up, we will no longer have to throw six points away.   They will find the top flight challenging and it will be interesting to see the so-called Nigel 'ultras' confront the Spanners.

The Tractors could not have got off to a worse start when Johnson, in at left-back for the injured Leif Davis, was punished to the maximum for his underhit pass inside.

Campbell drove into the box and his angled effort forced Christian Walton to parry into the path of the onrushing Docherty, who put away his first goal for more than a year via a slight deflection off Dara O'Shea.

An energetic Charlton, buoyed by their quickfire opener, made life difficult for Ipswich in the early stages and it took the visitors 15 minutes to have their first shot of the game as Philogene bobbled a volley harmlessly wide at the back post.

But from then on, Ipswich took control and were rewarded when Philogene led a quick break before laying the ball to Azor Matusiwa, who teed up Furlong on the edge of the box to place with precision into the far corner.

Kieran McKenna's side carried on where they left off after the restart by dominating possession and penning Charlton back into their own half.  And, 13 minutes into the second period, Ipswich completed the turnaround.

Furlong was again the architect, drifting in behind Macaulay Gillesphey, (many Addicks were surprised to see him selected) who made a clumsy challenge to bring down the Ipswich right-back in the area and give away a penalty.  Philogene's spot-kick was straight down the middle and not convincing but somehow squirmed under Charlton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski to send the travelling fans behind the goal into raptures.

Shortly after, Philogene produced a bending effort that was beaten away by Kaminski to prevent Ipswich extending their advantage further.

Charlton's home support were enthused when the board went up for eight minutes of stoppage time but it was the visitors who came closest late on as Kaminski produced an astonishing double save to deny Marcelino Nunez from close range.

Richard Cawley commented: 'A performance that was full of spirit and a big improvement on what we witnessed at Hillsborough. Injuries to Bell, Campbell and Godden make it a double whammy alongside the loss.'

Foxes go down

Leicester City have been relegated to League One after drawing 2-2 at home with Hull.  Fans chanted 'sack the board,'

Oxford lost 0-1 at home to Wrexham but remain six points behind the Addicks.  Charlton need one point from the three remaining games to be mathematically safe.

Charlton fell back to 20th after West Brom won 3-0 at home.   However, Portsmouth lost 5-1 at Coventry and have an inferior goal difference to the Addicks.  If we draw tomorrow night we overtake them.

Football finance guru Kieran Maguire and others have questioned the case for a points deduction at West Brom.

Tractors unlikely to concede double

Charlton host promotion-chasing Ipswich Town in a vital encounter at both ends of the Championship table on Wednesday night.  The Addicks are six points above 22nd-placed Oxford United before the midweek round of fixtures and a win would put them on the brink of safety.

However, the more pessimistic Addicks see an away win more likely with Richard Cawley noting Charlton's poor possession statistics. I think that a draw is possible.

If the U's lose to Wrexham on Tuesday evening, Charlton would need just a point to guarantee safety, while if Oxford draw, victory would see Nathan Jones' side survive.

The Tractor Boys currently occupy the second automatic promotion spot but could be leapfrogged by Millwall or Southampton - or both - by the time they kick-off at The Valley.

Kieran McKenna's side also have a game in hand on the chasing pack and even a draw at Charlton would keep their fate in their own hands.

• Following their 3-0 win in October, Charlton are looking to complete the league double over Ipswich for the first time since 2001-02 in the Premier League.
• Ipswich have failed to score in five of their previous eight league games against Charlton, but have netted 14 goals in the three games they have found the net (4-0, 4-4, 6-0).
• Charlton have lost five of their past six home league games (W1) including each of the previous three; they last lost four in a row in February 2024.
• Ipswich, who lost their most recent away league game 2-0 at Portsmouth, are looking to avoid suffering successive away defeats in the Championship for the first time since April 2019 (run of three).
• Ipswich have only won one of their five league games against newly promoted sides this season (D2 L2), failing to win either of their away matches so far (1-1 v Birmingham, 3-5 v Wrexham).