Charlton need spark

Charlton visit the EV Charger Points stadium for an early evening Carabao Cup game against Cheltenham Town.   Our record against them is poor, as the CAS Trust preview notes.  I well remember the 1-2 defeat they inflicted on us at The Valley: https://www.castrust.org/2026/08/cup-run-starts-here/

One of the suburbs of Cheltenham is Charlton Kings.

Just how many GCHQ employees support them is unclear, just as Charlton at one seemed to attract a lot of junior MI5 operatives who all claimed they were called 'Brian'.   Probably the GCHQ types are more interested in egg chasing or golf.   One career decision I got right was not turning up for the GCHQ entrance exam.

Watching the Boro v Wrexham match last night, the Hollywood team relied on packing their defence and trying to counter attack.  Both teams made unforced errors which suggests they are not invincible.  Neither of them seemed that clinical when they had chances.

My wine recommendation for tonight is not cheap, but it is nowhere near the £40 Lord Young of Acton pays for 'plonk', probably about £12-£13.   Christian Patat Appassimento is a quality red from Italy and won't disappoint.  I have just ordered more bottles from Naked Wines.   (I was one of the 'angels' who provided start up capital for this venture).

Movement in and out

Isaac Olaofe’s loan move to Lincoln City contains an option to buy the Addicks striker who had a fair bit of League One loan interest. Richard Cawley believes Lincoln's offer was the only one accepted.

Lincoln City sporting director Jez George on Tanto Olaofe loan deal: "We have also secured an option to buy, which we can exercise next summer based on certain conditions, so that makes it even more interesting for us.”

Bristol Rovers manager Steve Evans on the loan move for Keenan Gough: "Keenan is a young player I’ve tried to sign before and I’m delighted to have him with us. I’ve been speaking to Nathan Jones and Charlton since the end of the season about Keenan, and he had a number of options, but we’re happy to have him here with us.”

 "He’s a player I see mainly as a number six in the middle of the park, and I think that’s where he’ll end up playing for the most of his career, but he’s also very comfortable playing at the back as well. We’ve signed a real good talent. He’s been involved in the Charlton first team and we’re looking forward to working with him."

The Addicks have signed Nathaniel Chalobah on a one-year contract.  The former Chelsea, Fulham, Watford, West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder, 33, had been on trial with the Addicks.   Chalobah is the Addicks’ sixth incoming deal in the summer transfer window.

'An inexplicable loathing of Queens Park Rangers'

I was intrigued to see how the Spectator would handle the passing of Millwall fan Rod Liddle today. The magazine's cover was in black and there were tributes from Boris Johnson and Kemi Badenoch among others.   There is no doubt that he was an exceptional journalist.  De mortuis nihil nisi bonum.

One contributor referred to Liddle's inexplicable loathing of Queens Park Rangers and that put him up in my estimation.   It seems to me to be entirely rational:

• I always think of them as a Third Division South team but their supporters have an exaggerated view of their potential.   When they had their first takeover one supporter said that the only question in five years would be whether Real Madrid or QPR was the bigger club.
• Their ground looks like a shoe box on its sides.
• They tried to recruit Alan Curbishley on the grounds that they were a bigger club
• They sold seats to Japanese tourists so they could laugh at fans in the away end

Liddle was the leading and most articulate exponent of Lord Gove's campaign against the 'Charltification' of football.  Lord Gove notes that only Millwall was spared criticism by Liddle.  Rather oddly, the noble lord  sees his attachment to Millwall as 'romantically Tory', the first time I have heard that phrase applied to anyone at the toolbox.

The mantle of Charlton scourge will presumably now pass to QPR super fan Lord Young of Acton who has been pursuing an unfulfilled feud with VOTV editor Rick Everitt whom he castigated in his column.  But then Lord Young reveals in today's issue that Liddle had vowed to punch him in the face, although this in part related to Young publicising Liddle's early departure from his honeymoon to pursue his affair with a 22-year old at the Speccie.

Young goes on to reveal that his wife Lady Caroline did get caught up in a street battle between the police and Millwall fans outside Loftus Road.   Liddle offered to take Caroline to a game at the toolbox in recompense.

Fortunately the Government has decided not to pursue an investigation into British links with Epstein as Young was mentioned several times in the files.   It should be emphasised that this was the result of a tenuous acquaintance with G Maxwell who inadvertently gave Epstein Young's contact details.

I doubt we have heard the last of this saga as Lord Gove is not one to let things rest.

Keep calm and carry on

A calming message from CAS Trust and a reassuring interview with Gavin Carter.  He warns fans against believing everything they read on social media, for example about the transfer budget: https://www.castrust.org/2026/08/keep-calm-and-carry-on/

Following recent complaints about the cost of the women's team despite their successful promotion to the WSL he points out that the men's and women's team are separate legal entities, although clearly the owners have to make a decision about the level of funding for both.

Although I can't get to the women's team launch event on 19th August, I am going to see if there is any form of sponsorship open to me.    Whether I am one of 416,000 or 3 million, it is time to step up to the plate.

Carter does refer to the substantial running losses at the club which have to be met.  These owners have given us more stability and hope than we have had for a decade or more.

Dykes joins Millwall

Usually reliable sources are reporting that Lyndon 'Last Ditch' Dykes is joining Millwall on a one year contract.  No doubt Millwall can pay more than we can.

Charlton's search for the back of the net

Here is a taster from Richard Cawley's in depth review of Charlton's pre-season gbames - which can tell you everything and nothing.  I would summarise it as a work in progress with some gaps to be filled, notably a robust midfielder..    

Cawley says: 'What does leap out from the 2026 matches is the lack of goals. Charlton scored 13 in 2025 and 12 in 2024 (although admittedly half of those were in a 6-1 demolition of Dartford). This time around they have netted just five times and blanked against their two League One opponents.

Charlton’s lack of firepower and end product dragged them into the relegation picture in the closing months of the 2025-26 season. They were the third lowest scorers in the Championship, placed 23rd for xG (expected goals) and 21st for shots on target.

It is an area that Nathan Jones has talked more than once about improving and the formation change, from 5-3-2 to 4-2-3-1 in pre-season, seems to have been made to try and ensure the Addicks ask more troubling questions of the opposition in the final third.

The arrivals of Karlan Grant and Millenic Alli suggests that the set-up change is not merely a trial, although it would not be a surprise to see a more defensive structure for some of the fixtures, West Ham United away being a prime example.

It feels hugely important that Charlton get their midfield set-up right too. This website has talked plenty previously about that area needing to add more creativity, composure, athleticism and possess the ability to maintain more control in matches.'

All bets are on

London Bet has signed up as the official betting partner and back of shorts sponsor of Charlton.  They were specifically looking for a London tie up and in particular one located in a less fashionable part of the capital: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/08/05/125709-londonbet-named-backofshorts-and-betting-partner-of-charlton-athletic