Bring on the Super Hoops

I am taking a week's break in Devon so will be posting more sparsely than usual.  Hence, I am looking at Wednesday's fixture against QPR.

I have looked at the goals that Stoke scored us against us and I think they were unstoppable. The penalty really punctured our confidence which looks more fragile than it should be.

My mother always maintained that referees in general and northern referees in particular had it in for Charlton.  At the time I was embarrassed when she issued an invitation to the referee to return quickly from the northern outpost (usually some minor mill town) from which he had come, but maybe she had a point.

Yesterday's refereeing display was of the worst I have seen involving Charlton and there have been a few. Steve Sutherland OBE, who normally refrains from criticising officials, said it was a disgrace.

That doesn't excuse a poor Charlton performance, but let's look forward to Wednesday.  Today's Football League Paper has a double page feature on 'Surprise package QPR's flying start' which looks a bit silly given their 0-1 home defeat by Boro.  From what I saw of the game the Super Hoops failed to be clinical in front of goal despite sustained pressure in the second half.

In my view the real surprise package are Swansea City.  I would like to put this down to my granddaughter's arrival in Abertawe. but she has no interest in football.   I see that Cyril the Swan was on the pitch yesterday.

A lot of interest with QPR focuses on their barking fans.   I messaged Lord Young of Acton ('Tobes') to see whether he intended to renew his feud with Rick Everitt at The Valley, but reply has come there none.

One of the amusing aspects of the Spectator (or Sextator has former employee Kemi Badenoch has called it) is the willingness of the columnists to slag each other off.  Hence in a recent column Rachel Johnson (for it is she, Bozza's sister) said that Lord Young was an unusual case of reverse charisma.  His bald pate only had to enter a room for several people to hate him instantly.

QPR is also the favourite club of minor celebrities.  Step forward, Giles Coren.  He writes restaurant reviews for The Times (never south of the river) and pens 'amusing' columns about his life in Kentish Town.  He has occasionally hosted 'back to the future' television campaigns, always looking hopelessly smug.

It is always difficult to have a relative who is more famous.   A friend of mine was a novelist (she eventually won the Booker Prize, on which I got 7-1 odds, and became a dame commander).  I had to spend a lot of time at my first wedding reception shooing away people who wanted to talk to her.   Her husband had a successful career in his own right and was understandably irritated by press profiles naming him as 'Mr "Susan Smith"'.

Coren's sister is the 'Queen of the Quizzes', Victoria Coren Mitchell.   She hosts her own quiz, the lateral thinking Only Connect, as well as appearances on Wilty and Have I Got News For You.   She is also an international poker player.  Husband David Mitchell claims to know nothing about football.  The same could be applied to supporters of QPR.

Charlton hammered at Stoke

There was widespread criticism of team selection as Charlton's poor away record at Stoke continued with a 4-0 defeat, not helped by some really shocking refereeing.

Charlton remain 3rd pending later results with four teams on seven points and their goal difference eroded.

They fell back to 6th, one point ahead of Millwall who won 4-0 at home with two goals scored by 'Last Ditch' Dykes.

Charlton started brightly against Stoke on a sunny afternoon in the Potteries, but after 13 minutes the home side were awarded a soft penalty from which they scored.  The penalty was awarded after a Stoke corner which saw two players go to the ground.

Referee Bobby Madley (41) is from Wakefield.  He was dismissed by the professional referees organisation after a video in which he had mocked a disabled person was publicised.  After refereeing in the lower leagues in Norway and for a six a side World Cup in Crete, he was reinstated, but is not allowed near the top flight.

By half time the Addicks were 4-0 behind.  Conor Coventry was brought on after the break.

By this time it was effectively game over,  Stoke were happy to sit on their lead and make some experimental substitutions.

Dan McNamara was sent off for a second yellow.  Apparently he suggested that the referee should award a yellow card after a crunching tackle on Miles Leaburn.

At least the Addickted kept singing.  VFR was heard loud and clear.   The Stoke support were advised that they were ****.  '4-0 up and you still don't sing.'

A high challenge on Skipp was given as a foul not  a yellow as the referee showed his contempt for southern softies.

AI avatar Desmond from Deal commented: 'It looks as if Charlton are going to get the hammering I predicted.  Jones' luck has finally run out.  The only question now is whether the board will let him go before it is too late.'

Welcome Otto Tiitinen

The Finnish lakeland (I only had a black and white camera in 1966)

He has joined the Academy, initially on a year's loan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Tiitinen

There is an option within the move to make it permanent.  He will join the Under 21 set up.

Many of us remember Finnish international Jonatan Johansson.   I went to see Charlton play at Oulu in Northern Finland  when he was with us (2-2 draw).

He had 106 caps for Finland and is currently an academy coach at Rangers.

I first went to Finland at the age of 19 and I have returned many times.  I even managed to learn a little Finnish!

Stoke get boost to morale

Stoke City had a busy transfer window deadline day that included bringing in Palace midfielder Justin Deveney on a four year deal and supremo Mark Robins thinks that the signings will bring fresh energy to the team.

Robbins claims that morale was high and the feeling in the squad positive even before their 1-0 midweek victory over Norwich started their season,. Now they are looking forward taking all three points off Charlton tomorrow at the 12.30 kick off.

Stoke have lost only one of their last fourteen home game against the Addicks.   They have won seven of the last eight, including three in a row.

There is concern about whether the new signings from diverse sources have had tine to integrate, but the assumption is that they will be able to build on the result against Norwich, following the 4-1 defeat at Wolves last Saturday.

Stoke used a 3-4-3 system against the Canaries and although they looked exposed at times, they were able to find the decisive goal through a deflection.  Having had barely any time to work on the change in system, Stoke were aggressive in their press when Norwich tried to play out from the back and resolute when they dropped into a low block.

While the team became stretched at times and lone striker George Hirst found himself isolated a little too often, there were times when they were able to get bodies forward in numbers, push the wing-backs high and cause the visitors problems.

Ethan Galbraith looked like a brilliant signing. He's so effective in possession in tight areas, helps the team build from deep and scored his second goal of the young season with a fine driven shot from the edge of the box.

Luke Graham put in his best performance of the season as he gets used to the rigours of the Championship after making the move from the Scottish Premiership, while American full-back Luca Bombino put in a debut full of quality and personality just a day or two after arriving in England.

AI avatar Desmond from Deal commented: 'West Brom was just the hors d'oeuvres.   One West Brom fan said that we looked like relegation material.  Jones' hastily assembled squad of "potentials" will be found out tomorrow.'

Season over for Sichenje

Nathan Jones has indicated that Charlton Athletic will look to secure Micah Mbick on a new contract.  The 19-year-old striker was the subject of a £5million bid from Southampton in the last few days of the summer transfer window.

The Saints had also indicated there would be another £2m in add-ons inserted into the move.

Jones also confirmed to South London Spor that Collins Sichenje is not set to feature again in the current campaign.   The Kenyan centre-back suffered a knee injury against Tottenham last week.

“That is pretty much the season,” said Jones. “He has had his operation today. That’s a tough one for us and for him. He’s had a tough time but he will come back stronger. Our thoughts are with him. Now it is about his recovery and how he comes back from this.”

Away point secured

The run of draws at The Hawthorns between West Brom and Charlton at The Hawthorns continued tonight.

Unbeaten Charlton had to come from behind to earn a point at The Hawthorns as they battled their way to a draw with resurgent West Bromwich Albion.

After a poor first half, Albion looked like they might be on their way to a second successive home Championship win on 59 minutes when Baggies left-back Callum Styles powered home a sumptuous 20-yard left-foot volley.

But the Addicks equalised 10 minutes later when Miles Leaburn nodded back for Tyreece Campbell to drill home a leveller from eight yards.

Although their winning start to the season has come to an end, Nathan Jones' Charlton remain third, having lost their leadership of the early season table the night before, with Albion in seventh.

AI avatar Desmond from Deal commented: 'As I forecast the wheels are coming off and Jones has been found out.'

West Brom hope to bag three points

The last three fixtures between West Bromwich Albion and Charlton Athletic at The Hawthorns have all ended level (1-1 February 2026, 2-2 October 2019 and 2-2 in January 2008).   Seven of the last ten meetings in all competitions have ended level. Albion have won two of the other three, with Charlton claiming one victory. 

Charlton are unbeaten in their last three games against the Albion. The Baggies' last win against the Addicks was a 1-0 triumph at The Valley in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup in January 2020. 

Albion's last home win against Charlton came in December 2007 - a 4-2 success in the second tier. Zoltan Gera bagged a brace, with Roman Bednar and Kevin Phillips also on target. The Addicks haven't won at The Hawthorns since September 2005 when Danny Murphy's double helped them to a 2-1 Premier League victory.

The Baggies are unbeaten in eight home matches - the first of which was a 1-1 draw with Charlton in February. They've won three of those, drawing the other five.  There have been at least three goals scored in all of Albion's last six games, with 24 notched in total. Both teams have found the net in all six of those matches.

Albion will be hoping to secure back-to-back home victories for the first time since a run of two between November and December of 2025 when they beat Swansea City and Sheffield United. 

Midfielder Isaac Price and striker JJ Morgan have both scored four goals each already this season. Together, they've notched two thirds of Albion's strikes so far in 2026/27.

The Baggies lost 3-1 at Boro on Saturday and boss James Morrison thought that they had played well but had made silly errors. He said that it was the timing of goals that was most frustrating at the moment.

My wife, who comes from Oldbury, reminds me that back in the day the Baggies were known as the Throstles.  Their transfer window is assessed here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cgjq5yeqlq1o

AI avatar Desmond from Deal says: 'Jones can't ride his luck any longer and tonight sees the start of the slide down the table.'