POST-MATCH THREAD: Charlton Athletic v Norwich City: Saturday 21st March 2026: KO 15:00

Rob

Saturday’s game really showed me that, in general, we’ll need better quality players to push up the league. There was a distinct difference in class between our players and the Norwich players. We work hard but in this league that’s not good enough if you want to push on. Rather than focusing on lower level journeymen, as we did in the last window, we need to aim to recruit higher level Championship players or experienced players with Premiership experience. Or the equivalent from abroad. It’ll cost money but that’s what’s needed. I know it seems obvious but we are quite a long way off being a top level Championship club. I hope Nathan Jones really understands that. The overall quality in our team is low. 

NabySarr

swords_alive said:

cafcsinger said:

Possibly a pen on Jones, but the one we got away at Blackburn when Jones dived evens it out. Can't have any complaints. 

Didn't see the one on Saturday but the one at Blackburn was nailed on. Similar to Oxford 

It was a nailed on dive at Blackburn 

swords_alive

NabySarr said:

swords_alive said:

cafcsinger said:

Possibly a pen on Jones, but the one we got away at Blackburn when Jones dived evens it out. Can't have any complaints. 

Didn't see the one on Saturday but the one at Blackburn was nailed on. Similar to Oxford 

It was a nailed on dive at Blackburn 

I thought it was well won whatever the intention. He gets forward with ambition which is more than the midfield and forwards do in many periods of many games.

cafcsinger

swords_alive said:

NabySarr said:

swords_alive said:

cafcsinger said:

Possibly a pen on Jones, but the one we got away at Blackburn when Jones dived evens it out. Can't have any complaints. 

Didn't see the one on Saturday but the one at Blackburn was nailed on. Similar to Oxford 

It was a nailed on dive at Blackburn 

I thought it was well won whatever the intention. He gets forward with ambition which is more than the midfield and forwards do in many periods of many games.

Dive, simple as. 

Radostanradical

Firstly let me say your welcome to those fans that bought me a drink and shook my hand, though I have my detractors here (typically the BAD, the SAD and the LONELY!!!) It makes it all worth while when i see all your little faces light up whilst I share my expert opinion. It was a great day especially for the young man (ive forgotten their name) who was telling me about his troubles and I let him sit in the front seat of the Aston Martin (engine off of course) to inspire him. 

All that said here is my take on the match, please bear in mind you get a different view from the executive boxes (BETTER!!). I concur with what lots of others have said previously we look a solid yet unremarkable team, we are safe based purely on hardwork and not much brilliance. My concern is we cant keep up this workrate season after season. Thats fine as long as we recognise this as Charlton 1.0, this season was about survival - now we have to ecolve in to a team that can play good (EFFECTIVE) football and that will involve some investment in to the midfield of our team who are fine but moee workman like rather that talented passing midfielders. Once we have creativity we will likely se a better Kelman aswell (GOALS). Defence largely fine but need to add adequate reinforcements to cover.

Lastly I have seen some criticism of ref which may or may not be warranted but honestly that sounds like loser talk tbh, there will always be someone to blame. The ref isnt the biggest reason we lost on saturday and we need to solve the biggest issues first.

DOUCHER

thickandthin63 said:

MuttleyCAFC said:

thickandthin63 said:

The referee today was either
1)Registered blind
2)too cowardly to award the penalty
3)Bent

There is no way that is not a penalty he was 5 yards away,perfect view,also referees assistant,what a joke,they dont assist,just give offsides and throw ins,even on throw ins any 50-50 calls they wait for the ref to give the decision.
I am not moaning about the result,Norwich where good,they found space,passed the ball quickly and accurately,we did not.There goal should have been prevented but was not closed down,we did miss opportunities to score,but overall the better team won.This is the standard we must achieve to remain in this league and compete.I dont really think we are that far away,we have the defenders,we have the battling midfielders,in Kelman we have a striker who could well come good,plus Kanu coming back.We need the cool calculating midfielders who can put their foot on the ball and play at their pace,e.g. Norwich nos.21 and 25 who never seem hurried.They would cost money,so I await with baited breath the summer transfer dealings.

I think it was more option 2. The ref deemed the tug on the arm to be not that hard. He completely forgot to question why their player was tugging his arm at all but he was that sort of ref. As Nathan Jones said, that was a foul anywhere else on the pitch. That explains it. I said to my brother he was going to ignore their time wasting at the end and he did. You can sort of get a feel for these idiots. 

I did have a line in recent seasons that we can't complain about the refs too much in League One because it is our fault we were in League One. We have gone up and the standard of refereeing is just as bad, if not worse. I think there is a crisis in refereeing generally, even at the higher levels. It is sad as it takes away from the game. I am a great believer in punishment for poor refs and I hope yesterday's gets that. He deserves it.

I dont know if there are any sort of assessors that watch games but surely referees should be asked to explain some decisions,they must be held accountable.in our last season in this league we had so many bad decisions which actually resulted in apologies from the efl,in effect referees cost us points and we were relegated by one point.

There are assessors at games - know a Spanish guy who is a ref assessor for champions league games - he was equally dismayed about the off side rule and phases of play etc as I was when we spoke about it - over complicated nonsense a lot of the new rules 

KingKinsella

mid_life_crisis said:

golfaddick said:

IAgree said:

I have had doubts about the whole wingback system and some aspects of Nathan Jones tactics, selections and style of play. I fully admit it’s not pretty at times, although there are flashes of more entertaining play.

However,

He got us promoted from the horror that is league one after a truly dreadful decade - I know this isn’t something which altogether excuses mistakes now, but this is really recent and a real achievement 

He has kept us up when the step from League One to the Championship is larger than ever. Frankly I would rather stay up and get the points than play pretty football and be back in league one! Although I don’t think it’s an either or situation- It’s still in essence a L1 team.

I think it’s fairly obvious that the owners are in it for the long haul and have spent money where and when it matters. They are clearly still learning however. I would far rather have sustainable development than the reckless spending and boom and bust of some of our competitors, especially after the last decade.

I have no problem whatsoever with discussion, debate about the manager, players tactics etc - it’s a football forum after all!

I do find reminiscence for football two or three decades ago very irritating however. I also find the borderline glee from some lifers when we don’t turn in a good performance baffling. Especially since some freely admit they no longer attend, often appearing to revel in a “ I told you so’ repetition of the obvious. We know we need a better team and recruitment, we know we need greater depth, we know we need some finishers and we know we need  more flexibility from the manager of occasions. Personally I think if we stay up, carefully build a championship squad and make sustainable investments, that at least some of those concerns will abate 

Don't know why you just didnt name me as it was quite obvious who you were referring to. 

But anyway........

Having seen the extended highlights on Sky my take on the game is that -

We were lucky only to have conceded 1 
It was not a pen.
No clear cut chances from any of our players.

And to address a couple of other points.

I think we've been lucky this season to be in a division where 1 team was relegated from the off by having such a big points deduction and then not being able to recruit effectively. Then we were thrown another bonus of having another team deducted points. Without those 2 events we would be in the bottom 4 & struggling to stay up.

Cant wait for this season to end and to see to recruitment planned during the summer. I know I won't get my wish of signing exciting goalscoring attack minded players but at least we should be able to out bid Lincoln to a few stodgy pass it sideways midfielders.

What a time to be alive.

Our budget might have something to do with it.
Just a thought.

Buying the right players is also a thought. Some injury prone.2 purchases now on loan. Kelman- decent finisher in the box- but we don't play the ball to him he has to chase it all over the pitch. Not his strength. Managers choice.imo Golfie is on the right track, except Lincoln will beat us twice and finish in the top half.