Varney on Curbs

Chatting with Curbs: a photo from a card Alan sent me when I was in hospital for the first time ever

Richard Cawley's interviews with Peter Varney about key figures at Charlton have been fascinating and the latest is about Curbs himself.   Print volumes are out of date but it would have been great to have all the interviews brought together in one place.

Here are a few key excerpts from the interview which is available on the South London Press Charlton Substack page.

'He had an unbelievable work ethic. He treated the club’s money as his money. I can think of ones who followed him that didn’t view it that way and had the mentality of ‘just get me another player’.  Why was he like that? Well, he is an east London boy. I think his upbringing was always about hard work.   The cornerstone of Curbs’ success was hard work and being good tactically, in terms of how he would set the side up.

Without demeaning anything Jimmy Seed did - you can take teams to promotion, through the leagues and cup success - but the game in those days was nothing like when Charlton were in the Premier League. 

We had fairly settled sides. The game was so fast. We had come up from a division, in those days, where a club didn’t have the same fitness levels as a team like Arsenal. But Curbs got Charlton’s team to compete.

For me it was always Alan that was our best-ever manager. That’s why when Thomas Sandgaard became the new owner of Charlton, I said I found it difficult to comprehend why he hadn’t been acknowledged in some way. Voice of The Valley editor Rick Everitt helped me get the message out there in February 2021, calling for Curbs to be recognised.

There probably were disagreements, but not over what you probably would think it would be about. It would be operational issues because I’d like to think, if you were talking to him, that I never expressed opinions on players or anything like that. 

You’ve got to remember that Charlton had 17 directors. What tended to happen, and it’s not a criticism of them, is that when a manager came to a meeting and, let’s say, you have lost a game, people would go: ‘Do we practise corners?’ This happened.

Alan wanted to see out the final year of his contract but he felt there were clauses in his terms that were prohibitive to being able to go and test himself in the Champions League. I won’t give you the figures, but it was a financial penalty, so if Liverpool wanted him as their manager they had to pay Charlton ‘x’ million. That was considered to be a block on testing himself at the very top level of the game.'

A memory of my own

The European Commission rang me up one day (obviously this was before Brexit) and said that they hadn't got anyone to head up a mission to an environmental conference in Kunming in south-west China and would I step in?

One thing I learnt from that visit is never underestimate the Chinese.   My minder in Beijing was a very smart young woman from the Department of Party History who accompanied me to all the sights.   I did manage to break away once and use a smattering of Mandarin to get a cab to an alley where I knew I could buy wall hangings with US dollars.

In Kunming the local television wanted to interview me about air pollution and my minder from the EU office in Beijing gave me the go ahead.  I was then confronted with statistics about air pollution in Greenwich.

The Chinese knew that I was interested in football and took me to look at training facilities used by the national team of which I was critical.  Probably coincidence, but I wss watching national television one evening and there was a feature on how Curbs and Keith Peacock worked together.   I might add that these days China National Radio calls me 'Whine' Grant.

The club was interested in the possibility of a tour in China and/or Japan, but Curbs wasn't keen.  I was asked to have a quiet word to brief him about the two countries.  I knew it was hopeless when he mentioned that the 'Emoress of China' had just had a baby.  He was a football genius (and he had his finances looked after very well), but currentt affairs was not his suit.

Latest Championship club to risk points deduction

Sheffield United could face a 12 points deduction from the EFL because of court cases: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2026/09/legal-worries-at-blades.html

Euell starts with an away point

Interim Preston North End first team coach Jason Euell secured a 2-2 draw at the Super Hoops on Saturday.   His side was 2-0 ahead at the break.   Despite some tough talk by him to the team at half time, 10-man QPR improved in the second half and scored a last minute equaliser.

Reflecting on his personal pride in the experience of managing PNE after the 2-2 draw at QPR, the 49-year old said: “I enjoyed it. It's something that I'm familiar with, yes, at different levels and at different stakes, but I've done enough games as an assistant, first and coach, to get to know what it's like and the touchline."

“I enjoyed every minute of it, every moment. Sometimes it's that stepping back, giving yourself a little bit of a breather and thinking space to go again, but it's just wanting to focus on the players and give them as much support as I can.”

He admitted it had been a tough week for people at the club with change coming so soon in a season, but says it has been business as usual for most, and it will be until a new manager comes in.

Charlton down to 9th. Jones: Rwy'n cymryd cyfrifoldeb llawn

Charlton fell outside the expanded play off places to ninth after Wolves beat West Brom 1-0 yesterday.  Fortunately, Norwich lost at home to Bolton.  The Addicks are three ways down the form table.

Nathan Jones branded the performance of his Charlton Athletic side as “inept” after a 3-1 loss at Cardiff City before he disappeared into the Welsh valleys.  Disappointing is an understatement,” he told Richard Cawley. “The positives were (Arthur) Okonkwo, (Miles) Leaburn and the three clear cut chances we had. Apart from that we were out-battled, out-passed and out-run for the majority of the game.”   (Some fans thought that Conor Coventry, who has been called up for Ireland, had a decent game.

“I just didn’t recognise some of the players out there. I take full responsibility, because I prepared the team. But stuff that we prepare and that we do on a regular basis, I didn’t see today.

“You can’t build a performance if you don’t work hard, if you don’t press, if you don’t get on second balls and you don’t do the basics well. When you do win the ball back, eventually, you just keep giving it away. Some of the times were unopposed and we didn’t show any quality. Those things mean you’re in for a tough afternoon.  Our intensity, work-rate and how we went about it was poor. And we’d had a good week of training.”

Charlton have missed Nathaniel Chalobah’s composure in the middle of the pitch. The summer signing, who has had a chequered injury record prior to signing a one-year contract in August, has missed the last five Championship matches.

Ouma, who is on a season-long loan from Sparta Prague, is struggling to show why he was coveted by the Addicks..

Campbell did not escape criticism despite once again showing a clinical touch when put through by Bindon.  The Jamaican international is joint third for goals in the Championship - on the same amount as West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen and former Addicks loanee Lyndon Dykes.

“He has to learn the game,” said Jones. “There are times he has to affect the game without the ball. He affects it constantly with the ball - he is a runner, he got in a few times and took his goal really well.  But you have to affect it out of possession as well, be in good positions and that is what he has to learn.”

AI avatar Desmond from Deal commented: Jones has condemned himself out of his own mouth.   Top half of the table before the international break is not acceptable.  Now is the time for the board to show courage.’

 

 

Defeat in the Welsh capital sees Charlton slip down the table

Cardiff City secured their first league win back in the Championship, as Jack Moylan scored twice on the way to a 3-1 victory over Charlton Athletic.   The Addicks fell to 8^th in the table pending this afternoon’s results.   Richard Cawley commented that Charlton were clearly second best.

However, they are still ahead of Millwall.  After going 2-0 ahead at the Toolbox, an improved performance by West Ham in the second half saw them score two goals.  ‘Last Ditch’ Dykes had an opportunity to make it 3-2 at the death but sent the ball way over the goal.   The whole occasion was degraded by commentary from Ian Dowie, proving that there is life after football death.

The commentators in the preamble to the televised WSL match at The Valley noted that Charlton were a club and team used to adversity on and off the pitch.  And so it proved with the Addicks going down 1-4 to the well-funded London City Lionesses.   At least they scored their first WSL goal and it was a stunner from distance.

The attendance was sparse at The Valley and many Addicks departed at dawn to make the trek to Cardiff.  Fortunately, the national border is free of controls for now.

In the Welsh capital, the Bluebirds took the lead after eight minutes, as Alex Robertson found Yousef Salech on the edge of the Charlton box, and the Cardiff striker's deft touch played through Moylan, who in turn found the bottom corner.

The hosts had their second midway through the first half, when Moylan turned provider for Salech, who shrugged off Tyler Bindon before beating Okonkwo from close range.

Charlton found a route back into the game before the half-hour mark, as Bindon's through ball played in Tyreece Campbell, and the Jamaica international slid the ball under Nathan Trott to halve the deficit.

Cardiff almost had their third two minutes later in an increasingly end-to-end first half, but Moylan was denied a clean sight of goal by an excellent last-ditch block from Charlton skipper Lloyd Jones.

The Bluebirds should have restored their two-goal cushion on 38 minutes as Moylan's header at the back post was clawed off the line by Okonkwo, only for Joel Colwill to get the rebound all wrong and miss the target from six yards out.

And the visitors once again had Okonkwo to thank for keeping the score 2-1 with half-time approaching, as the on-loan Wrexham goalkeeper scrambled across his line to stop what looked destined to be Salech's second of the game.

Having seen his side struggle as the first half wore on, Charlton boss Nathan Jones made two changes at the break as Amari'i Bell and Timothy Ouma replaced Milenic Ali and Bindon.

And it was the visitors who had the first big chance of the second half, as former Cardiff man Karlan Grant was played through on goal but could only find the side-netting.

The Bluebirds responded with a good chance of their own, Joel Bagan's cross finding Colwill at the back post, but Okonkwo was equal to the effort once again.

After seeing countless chances come and go, Cardiff eventually restored their two-goal lead on the hour mark, as summer-signing Moylan smashed an effort in off the post from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Bagan came close to adding a fourth for the Bluebirds, but his effort curled away from the far post and behind for a goal-kick.  Ollie Tanner was next to threaten, as he drove into the Charlton box and beat Bell but was denied by the outstretched leg of Okonkwo.

Charlton rarely threatened in the second half but should have pulled one back when substitute Charlie Kelman found himself one-on-one with Trott; however, he was denied what would have been a goal with his first touch by the Cardiff keeper.

Moylan almost added a spectacular fourth, but his curling effort from distance drifted just wide before he was replaced to a standing ovation by the home supporters, Calum Scanlon coming on in his place.

Victory for the Bluebirds ends what has been a tough return to the second flight, but they go into the international break having broken their winless streak at the eighth time of asking.

For Charlton, it is now five games without a win, having previously sat top of the Championship after three successive victories to start the campaign.

AI avatar Desmond from Deal says: ‘At least the three week international break will give the board the time to sack Jones and find a quality replacement.’

 

 

Another draw at Cardiff?

Nathan Jones goes to his native heath tomorrow for the match at Cardiff.   Charlton fans may want to read the result off the table, but it is too early in the season for that, indeed I always think it is a bad idea.   I suspect that it may confirm Charlton's status as draw specialists.

Perhaps not a bad time to be away from South-East London as 400 police are being deployed to the dockers' derby at the Toolbox.

The Bluebirds are yet to win a league game since returning to the second tier this season while Charlton's early form has deserted them with no victory from their past four outings

Each of the past three league matches between Cardiff City and Charlton Athletic have been drawn, with this the first since a 0-0 stalemate in June 2020.  Charlton have lost five of their past six away league games at Welsh clubs (D1), although their last win was at Cardiff in March 2015 (2-1).

Along with Burnley, Cardiff are one of two sides yet to win a game in the Championship this season (P7 W0 D4 L3). Only in 1964-65 (11), 1989-90 (8), and 2018-19 (8) have the Bluebirds ever failed to win their first 8+ games of a league campaign.

Charlton are winless in four league games (D3 L1), failing to score in their past three – the Addicks' longest scoreless streak since March 2023 (4 in a row).

Only Millwall (58.5%) have won a higher proportion of their aerial duels in the Championship so far this season than Charlton (54.8%), while only Lincoln (1,907) have attempted fewer passes than the Addicks (2,190).

Four Four Two predicted a 18th place finish for Cardiff at the beginning of the season, saying that their limitations may restrict progress.  The fan forecast mid-table.  He also named Nathan Jones as pantomime villain: 'He is a Cardiff fan and incredibly dramatic.'

Presumably he can reply to any insults in Cymraeg.

NYT looks at prospects for sale of Charlton franchise

Andrew Umbers, a partner at London-based Oakwell Sports Advisory, has talked to the New York Times about seeking investors in Charlton.

“The introduction of tighter financial rules and increased regulation has made English football more attractive to sophisticated, professional investors, not less attractive, as those investors value good governance and don’t like risk,” said Umbers, whose firm is running the process to sell Championship side Charlton Athletic.   [My understanding is that the search is for an additional investor, but a really good ownership offer would be considered].

He also believes the much-anticipated agreement on a new financial distribution deal between the Premier League and the EFL will make the latter’s clubs more desirable. And he was not the only expert to make this point.

However, another interviewee warned: “The Championship is the most expensive lottery ticket in world sport. A wage-bill built for a promotion push does not shrink when the promotion doesn’t arrive, and by year three you are running a Premier League cost base on Championship revenue.”

“It is very easy to make money in PowerPoint and Excel — the model always says yes. Then you own the club and find out how hard it is — your best striker has a hamstring strain, your manager has an agent, your supporters have an opinion, and none of those three things is in the spreadsheet. Everyone thought player-trading is easy and you can copy Moneyball.  I’ve lost count of people who got that part of their investment thesis wrong.”

Any prospective buyer of the Addicks would soon find out that the franchise only consisted of EFL membership and the players with the stadium and training ground leased.

Bowyer: 'The Den never fazed me.'

A wintry midweek night in Huddersfield, a thin scattering of Addicks in the away end. Suddenly Lee Bowyer, then at Leeds, appears in the row in front of me.   As he says in an interview with Richard Cawley, ‘I’m an ordinary sort of guy.’   (As I recall, we won).

The first of this fascinating two-part interview covers his career as a player, the second part will look at his time managing at Charlton.  As a taster, I am reproducing his remarks on playing at the rust bucket.

Bowyer was sent off at The Den – Kim Grant scored twice to secure maximum points - against Millwall. Bowyer produced an acrobatic finish in the return fixture, in March 1996, as Charlton once again prevailed 2-0. It is the last time Charlton have vanquished the Lions.

So did he feel intimidated playing at the Lions’ home ground?   [aka 'The Rust Bucket'] “I was fearless,” said Bowyer. “The Den never fazed me. My red card was down to my inexperience and being naive. I got sent off for two bookable offences and I never touched either player.

“I went to make a tackle, Alex Rae laid the ball off, jumped in the air and I got booked. If I had been further along in my career then I would never have made that mistake - I wouldn’t even have tried to make the second tackle (on Ricky Newman).

“It was a good goal at The Valley. Almost an overhead kick - with my left foot. I don’t even know how I did it, but it went in. The most important thing was that we beat them.

“It’s madness we haven’t done it again.   That still hurts me now, because I’ve been manager (at Charlton). Both times we lost against them by one goal. I remember the home game during Covid. We started the better side, had some half-chances before the match evened itself out. Late on their centre-half Jake Cooper smashed in after a ricochet. I was thinking: ‘Wow, you don’t deserve that’. That’s football though - it is the way it goes.”

On other matters, thanks to Charlton scourge Lord Young of Acton (‘Tobes’) reaching out and offering to host me at a home game at Loftus Road.   Thanks, but no thanks.  But I regard our little feud as being over.   He is an authentic football fan, even if he has the misfortune to support QPR.

 

Josh Edwards back on the pitch

Richard Cawley reports: 'Some excellent news on Sunday, with Josh Edwards making his playing return in Charlton U21s’ 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday.The Scottish full-back, who has not featured at first-team level for pretty much a year due to an ankle injury, got 45 minutes under his belt at Hillsborough.'

I have now had time to check what Lord Young of Acton had to said about QPR's draw at The Valley (we were also honoured by the presence of Giles Coren and his son): 'with the treatment room filling up we need to be beating teams like Charlton. Tougher opposition will be coming our way after the break and we’re unlikely to replicate dominant displays like this. After a flying start, the R’s are reverting to type and another mid-table finish now looks more likely than the play-offs.'

I shall be looking out for any more attacks on Charlton or Rick Everitt in the Spectator, but it looks as if Lord Gove has given up his campaign.

Euell takes charge in the Championship

Following the sacking of Paul Heckingbottom, Jason Euell has been appointed interim first team coach at Preston North End.  His first challenge before the international break is a trip to QPR.

Jason has most recently had a coaching role at Cambridge United, before then he was at Bristol City.

The Lillywhites are currently second bottom of the Championship after six defeats in seven games.  A club statement said that 'Football is a results business.'

Game better than the score

Millenic Alli was guilty of a glaring miss against his former club Portsmouth to the delight of their fans as the Addicks failed to take their chances at The Valley.    However, moaners have been relatively quiet as it was felt that the performance was better than the score.    Campbell put in a number of good crosses but there was no red shirt to connect.

In any event Charlton are still 6th in the table and most fans would have taken that at the start of the season.   It was certainly not a bore draw despite the scoreline replicating that against QPR.

Alli was on loan at Portsmouth last season before his £1.5m summer move from Luton Town and he squandered a great opportunity to break the deadlock when he blazed over from close range.

Charlton have not lost a Championship game at home since 22 April and dropped a place to sixth, but they will feel they could have taken all three points to maintain their fine start to the season.

Conor Shaughnessy, Abu Kamara and Adrian Segecic went closest for Portsmouth and the draw continues to inch John Mousinho's side away from the bottom end of the table.

Charlton created the better chances, while Portsmouth shaded possession without doing much with the ball, and Pompey goalkeeper Daniel Bielica saved Miles Leaburn's shot low down.  Leaburn, Tyreece Campbell and Oliver Skipp missed chances before Bielica saved Karlan Grant's fierce drive.

Then came Alli's moment to forget. In the 32nd minute, Campbell crossed to the Irish winger, who ballooned his shot over from just six yards out to the delight of the away fans, who booed him mercilessly because of his disappointing loan spell with them during the second half of last season.

Alli was also denied by Bielica, while Charlton goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo kept out a Shaughnessy header from Portsmouth's first effort on target just before half-time.

Spurred on by that effort, Kamara forced a save from Okonkwo just 18 seconds into the second half with a shot from the edge of the area.

Portsmouth might have snatched it late on through Segecic, who should have done better when his shot from close range was saved by Okonkwo to earn another clean sheet.

There was some criticism of Charlton making only one substitution.

Nathan Jones told BBC Radio London:

"I thought the performance was really good. In the first half especially, I thought we were really fluid. I thought we created some excellent chances, some really good situations.

"We looked a threat and we controlled the game. I thought our midfield two were excellent, our wide players carried a threat, and we probably had the only absolute clear chance of the game, and it was a clear-cut chance.

"In terms of that, we're probably just a little bit frustrated we haven't won it because I think if we'd have scored the first goal, then we're very difficult to beat here."

  

In their pomp?

Torquay: I shall be trundling up the M5 in a coach when we kick off.   After West Ham's thrashing of Wrexham at the London Stadium last night, our win there looks even more creditable.

I think we have played Portsmouth more than any other team.   I know that we lost both games last season and Pompey have lost only two of our last visits to The Valley.   But I still fancy our chances this afternoon, but not by a big margin.    We have\ the lowest expected goals score in the division.  Only three sides have lower shots.

We last lost three games in a row to Pompey in 1983.   Another home draw?

Portsmouth boss John Moushino thinks they have not created enough opportunities and have found it hard to break sides down.   They have looked vulnerable when they have lost the ball, he says.

17th in the table, they hope to build on their 1-0 home win over Cardiff last Saturday.

Sad memories of the abandoned fixture last season.

Not so bad

Torquay: I have already seen some online moaning about this evening's 0-0 draw with QPR.   I am not that disappointed as I had it down as 1-1 in the Badger League.   Not a surprise result for a London derby.

Charlton go 5th, although a win could have seen them top the table.  A Tyreece Campbell effort in the first half was ruled out as offside.

Richard Cawley reports that Nathan Jones was very unhappy about the offside call.

Miles Leaburn had to go off injured at half time.

It was clean sheet and Arthur Okonkwo made a great save with his left leg after Tyler Bindon lost the ball.

Not a great match, but it does not surprise me that the Super Hoops were unable to take advantage of the chances they created.

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.'

Straight in the skip?

Humorists have been posting pictures of skips to commemorate our last loan signing of the transfer window.

They have been paying too much attention to Leicester fans who have now replaced the Addickted as the biggest moaners in the EFL.

I think that defensive midfielder is one of the most crucial yet underrated positions in football.  If Skipp has faults, Nathan Jones is the man to eradicate them.

Career details here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Skipp

There is still uncertainty about the future of club captain Greg Docherty as the window has not closed in the US.

He has now left the club my mutual consent.  Thanks for all your efforts and good wishes for your future whether it is across the pond or north of the border.

Natasha Everitt commented: 'One of the first NJ signings to really bring that fire and passion back. Definition of playing for the badge which is something we missed for years. Shame it’s come to an end but his role won’t be forgotten.'

Nkeng could be signing No.10

Richard Cawley reports: 'Charlton Athletic are closing in on a deal for exciting AFC Wimbledon winger Junior Nkeng.

The former Tottenham youngster, who only turned 19 earlier this month, is set to become the Addicks’ 10th signing of the summer transfer window.

Nkeng has not featured heavily for the Dons in the current campaign due to speculation over his future.  Nottingham Forest and Lecce are believed to have weighed up moves for the teenager, who was thought to be available for less than seven figures.

One source told South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition: “He is basically Tyreece Campbell Mk II - pacey, direct and fearless.”

The Addicks have switched their focus when it comes to strengthening the flanks after they pulled out of a permanent transfer for Crystal Palace’s Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.'

Career details for the wing back/winger who was born in Barcelona: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_Nkeng

Charlton's profile improves

Charlton's profile continues to improve.   Not only is the New York Times suddenly taking the club seriously as a promising soccer franchise, but the BBC is now inviting a fan to write about the club's week: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cy4z8k8pdyvo

One word of caution.  Any American financier looking for a soccer franchise will soon realise that the club does not own the capital assets of the stadium and the training ground.  All they will get is membership of the EFL, along with an assorted group of players and rather grumpy fans.

As football finance guru Kieran Maguire has pointed out, not only does the club face these challenges along with big operating losses, it is also located in an unfashionable part of London (although suddenly my old haunt of Plumstead Common seems to be going up in the world).