Swindon were absolutely awful, unbelievably casual - an insult to the fans who travelled - so few shits given between them. Despite rarely exceeding walking pace, we looked generally good - especially Holmes - but I think most Sunday league teams would have looked decent against that. Could have scored 5 or 6 in the first half alone if we'd been a bit sharper. Glad Jackson got his standing ovation, but think he could have been given ten minutes more to look for his goal!
Not much to say about the match - could (and should) have been 6-3. Shame the season had to end in a way as we were starting to pay some (half) decent football at times. Not sure about some posts on here about Holmes leaving......where to exactly ?? He signed a 3 or 4 year deal last season & so we would have to get a decent bid in to let hem go (£500k +) but then again with KM in charge I suppose anything is possible.......but in any case I cant see a Championship club coming in for him & no point him going to another League 1 club so I'm 100% sure he'll be here next season. As for the rest o the regulars:
Deffo like to sign Da Silva but I'm sure a Championship side will be in for him - don't think he is quite Premier league standard & definitely not going to ever play for Chelski.
Rudd will sign for a championship side & not that bothered as although he is a good keeper too many shots bounce off his chest & back into play - Phillips should be our No 1 next season but I assume KR is looking elsewhere.
Byrne can go back to Wigan. An okay player - better going back than defending & gahs too many lapses in concentration to be a regular.
Aribo should be in the starting 11 & Konsa should be centre half & not in midfield.
JFK & Crofts are ok but still think we could sign better.
Pearce & Bauer should be out first choice centre halves but can see Bauer leaving in the summer along with Tex.
Big Mac is a good hold up man but we need to sign a couple of decent strikers to play alongside him. I doubt we'll ever see Vetokele again & TWWW needs fresh pastures.....the Outer Hebrides is nice I hear. Ajose needs another season as I don't think he was given a decent chance but I wouldnt be sad to see Novak leave.
Great day! Enjoyed the pre match protests. Good to bump into the usual bunch of lifers...
We were good without having to go all out for it.
More than anything I wanted a Jacko special in front of the covered end and a knee slide to top it off. It wasn't to be. Don't know how I would have contained myself if that had happened. I ended up 2 rows in front when he had that chance when he couldn't quite get it out from his feet and the keeper saved. He got a deserved ovation and it was good to see.
Solly getting taken off so he could get an ovation and what Karl has said in the last few weeks suggests that Sols will be leaving too.
Got on the pitch without any difficulties after the game despite the overzealous stewarding! Got a hug and handshake from Jacko! A few Roland Out songs on the pitch. Good fun all round!
So I've just got home and thought I'd share my views from the start of the day till the end...
Arrived at half 10 to join in with the protesting, overall the numbers were big, but the direction and leadership of it weren't very apparent. I only found out after going inside that there was a protest at the West Stand Car Park entrance, the majority were behind the West Stand but it didn't feel like it had much momentum. That being said, the folk at the entrance definitely caused chaos in seeing the resulting cars all parking along Floyd Road
Pre kick off was antagonising, the screen showing warning signs about throwing things on the pitch then PA announcements asking all customers (yes they called us fans customers, again) to not throw things on the pitch just provoked everyone in the ground.
The disruption before kick off wasn't as impacting as previously but it set the scene for the day. The Valley felt like a battlezone littered with balloons and leaflets, can't say I admire whoever threw a kebab from the North stand though. Considering I didn't get a chance to eat it looked so tempting ha. The game itself I don't really remember much if I'm honest, Holmes was just absolute class, how we're going to keep him in the summer is anyone's guess but the guy's touch and movement is insane. There was one moment where he kept the ball in play that almost got a standing ovation from the crowd, it was THAT good. I want to say I'm gutted JJ didn't get to score, he certainly came close and the standing ovation was the least he deserved today. I'm glad there was a decent crowd today because the atmosphere certainly showed the appreciation.
End of the match, well, we have another star steward who grabbed the limelight for being overly agressive. I filmed it all on Periscope, but this one steward was lashing out with her arms at anyone who was running past, so much so a dad who ran on with his kid which isn't the smartest thing to do admittedly, had her chasing him down and grabbing/hitting the guy. She quickly got pulled back by other stewards and what looked like the mother of all bollockings from whoever was in charge before being dispatched. I don't know if anything happened in the directors box but it seemed like there was a fair amount of protesters there along with banners, can someone add to this?
Apologies for the long read, in truth it wasn't really a day to remember anytime soon. But one thing's for sure, it's without doubt the majority in favour of getting Roland out, it's been a while since I've heard the Valley sing that loud!
Great analysis, thanks for summarising the day for those that couldn't make it. I live in Manchester so really aprreciate posts like this
Had to laugh at the police walkie talkie message overheard behind the West Stand. "There's a woman with a pushchair with an effigy of the owner hidden inside who has been spotted in the car park ... make sure she is apprehended before she gets inside ..."
Yes it's the 'No pushing effigies in a pushchair' law of 1783.
Took my 11 yr old son today. He loved it almost as much as the Middlesbrough match. The atmosphere is sooooo much better when there's a protest going on. Without one this would have been a damp squib of a match I expect.
Was umpiring in eldest sons cricket match till 11.35 at South Loughton then began the mad dash to SE7 . Arrived , out of breath after a jog from Asdas, just to hear a faint cheer as I entered the turnstile to the Family Stand , damn Swindon had scored , erm no that's Charlton singing ! Father in law was there with younger 3 sons . Game ends and it's time to get on pitch . Took 7 year old with me climbing in to East stand and slid through the less zealous stewards looked back and was pleased to see 11 year old had made it by himself , slippery little git fair play . Quick selfie with them two and a bit of singing then back to their grandad and my other two who were still in family stand . Youngest , 5 year old , who is mad for it , was desperate to go on so I had to climb over into East stand because they wouldn't let us on from Family Quadrant and back on to pitch , he wanted to touch penalty spot so another selfie , some white paint on his fingers and video of me and him singing "get out of our club" on my phone for keep sakes . Good day had by all but it really hurts when the little one asks when can I be a mascot like his older brother was Fuck off roland your pissing with my morals and family's life aaaaaaah
I always enjoy watching Charlton win. I know that the game was virtually meaningless in terms of league position, and the football was of variable quality. A Charlton victory will always brighten my week.
I found the game entertaining. Charlton's attack exposed the Swindon defence throughout. Swindon played through the Charlton midfield far too easily. Crofts passing and protection of the back 4 was variable. Swindon had many good openings to score but it was one of those days where they had left the shooting boots back in Swindon. I think they could have played for the rest of the day and not scored.
Holmes was a level above in terms of energy and quality. A deserved player of the year. Dasilva showed real promise and quality. Magennis looked more like his old self and good to see him score. It would have been perfect if Johnnie Jackson had scored. It was a heart warming send off.
It was good to see the Covered End upper and lower fuller. The balloons looked good, but not sure of the season ticket leaflet thing worked. The crowd were pretty laid back mid second half after Johnnie Jackson went off. Some well supported Roland Out chants. The notices on the big screen and the stewards ringing the pitch turned the atmosphere.
Apart from the the lower Covered End corner the stewards were generally not interested in stopping anyone getting onto the pitch. Why would you on a minimum sub/minimum wage ? Once a few people were on the pitch, there was a collective steward shrugging of the shoulders. The police stayed on the half way line to prevent a Millwall like attack on the supporters. They seemed pretty laid back about it, knowing that this is Charlton and not Millwall.
So end of the season. Lots of contradictory signs about the future. Really hoping that a positive sale goes through. After listening to Robinson's post match interview on Charlton Live, and the recent departure of Robinson coaching team, it is still in the balance whether Robinson will be manager. This may be due to a sale, a better offer from a more stable club or news of not getting the funds he has requested to build the squad.
Lets hope that Charlton's next season is better than this last one. The club is in my blood. Charlton will always be my team. I hope that things change and improve so all of us Charlton supporters can be happy to purchase a season ticket again.
I am your standard stay at home. I was before the Belgians turned up due to health and financial constraints. This lot have compounded this state of mind and mood. Half the time i forget we are even playing, people who have known me for years would be astounded.
BUT i state here and now. When this bidet full of continental crap move on i am going to buy a s/t. I just hope my three year old grandaughter is not thirty by then because she will be getting a s/t and coming along with grandad.
Get the fuck out of OUR club RD and take that dozy Daisy dipshit with you...
I think it's fair to say I fully embraced the whole spirit of protest yesterday. The game was like a friendly and as others have said Swindon were a disgrace to their fans. Considering their situation I thought they brought decent support too.
We are so fucked if this lot don't sell, I spoke to Richard Murray before the game and thought I was very polite and restrained. He spoke (a load of bollocks) to be fair to him and he seemed to think protesting won't make Rolarse go. Gonna have to agree to disagree there Rich. He also pointed out that without Roland financially backing us we would be in the shit up up to our eyes, which I don't believe to be he case given he is loaning us all this financial support as well as making abominable decisions.
He did agree they need to go though crucially. Probably said to pacify me but he agreed the soul had been taken from the club too.
I think Peter Varney was in the house also yesterday
It seemed churlish to announce Jackson as runner-up Player of the Year to the crowd before the game. Perhaps better left unsaid. As team captain, he should expect nothing less than to lead from the front; the award of runner-up was damning with faint praise.
Interesting that despite the popular vote, Jackson is a lowly third-from-bottom in the fans' Statbank performance ratings for the season, ahead only of Page and Hanlan, and level with Novak.
Given the broader context of the protests and the fact that this was a dead rubber, the game itself was very much a low-key sideshow.
A good atmosphere pre-match, helped by the sunny weather and the larger than usual crowd. I particularly enjoyed the game attempt to get the papier-mâché model of Roland into the ground. His buggy made it into the West Stand via the main entrance but the model itself was temporarily confiscated by the turnstiles and, alas, chants of "we want our Roland back" were to no avail. I thought the black and white balloons worked well, adding to the festive feel, and the vast majority of those in the ground joined in the "Roland out" chants.
As others have said, Swindon were an exceptionally poor and dispirited side. Defensively, they were the worst team I can remember seeing at the Valley and, whilst they managed to work a few good positions, it looked like they were emulating Gillingham when it came to hitting the target. Da Silva and Holmes wreaked havoc down the left side in the first half and Magennis had a better game than of late, running the channels well and bullying Swindon's inept central defenders. We played some good stuff at times but were afforded an astonishing amount of room and time by a side who seemed to completely lack any defensive organisation or shape.
Very pleased that Aaron Barnes got on - a great moment for the young man - but a bit disappointed that Dijksteel didn't get some game time, whether yesterday or at Chesterfield, in a pressure-free environment.
A tremendous shame that Jacko wasn't quite able to bury what would have been a trademark goal from him and the game drifted away a little after he went off, although Karlan Ahearne-Grant looked lively against a tiring and demoralised defence.
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable day, further enhanced by an excellent roast dinner in the 'White Swan', washed down by some of their tasty in-house bitter at £3 a pint.
Comments
Deffo like to sign Da Silva but I'm sure a Championship side will be in for him - don't think he is quite Premier league standard & definitely not going to ever play for Chelski.
Rudd will sign for a championship side & not that bothered as although he is a good keeper too many shots bounce off his chest & back into play - Phillips should be our No 1 next season but I assume KR is looking elsewhere.
Byrne can go back to Wigan. An okay player - better going back than defending & gahs too many lapses in concentration to be a regular.
Aribo should be in the starting 11 & Konsa should be centre half & not in midfield.
JFK & Crofts are ok but still think we could sign better.
Pearce & Bauer should be out first choice centre halves but can see Bauer leaving in the summer along with Tex.
Big Mac is a good hold up man but we need to sign a couple of decent strikers to play alongside him. I doubt we'll ever see Vetokele again & TWWW needs fresh pastures.....the Outer Hebrides is nice I hear. Ajose needs another season as I don't think he was given a decent chance but I wouldnt be sad to see Novak leave.
We were good without having to go all out for it.
More than anything I wanted a Jacko special in front of the covered end and a knee slide to top it off. It wasn't to be. Don't know how I would have contained myself if that had happened. I ended up 2 rows in front when he had that chance when he couldn't quite get it out from his feet and the keeper saved. He got a deserved ovation and it was good to see.
Solly getting taken off so he could get an ovation and what Karl has said in the last few weeks suggests that Sols will be leaving too.
Got on the pitch without any difficulties after the game despite the overzealous stewarding! Got a hug and handshake from Jacko! A few Roland Out songs on the pitch. Good fun all round!
Really hope it's not Ricky Holmes' last match.
Got protest memorabilia from every protest since the 2% protest back 5 managers ago.
Everything except a pig a beach ball a taxi and a stress ball. They were all thrown onto the pitch!
Or... do you call your old chap Roland, and it's a reminder to pull out?
She doesn't really get it though!
Arrived , out of breath after a jog from Asdas, just to hear a faint cheer as I entered the turnstile to the Family Stand , damn Swindon had scored , erm no that's Charlton singing !
Father in law was there with younger 3 sons .
Game ends and it's time to get on pitch .
Took 7 year old with me climbing in to East stand and slid through the less zealous stewards looked back and was pleased to see 11 year old had made it by himself , slippery little git fair play .
Quick selfie with them two and a bit of singing then back to their grandad and my other two who were still in family stand .
Youngest , 5 year old , who is mad for it , was desperate to go on so I had to climb over into East stand because they wouldn't let us on from Family Quadrant and back on to pitch , he wanted to touch penalty spot so another selfie , some white paint on his fingers and video of me and him singing "get out of our club" on my phone for keep sakes .
Good day had by all but it really hurts when the little one asks when can I be a mascot like his older brother was
Fuck off roland your pissing with my morals and family's life aaaaaaah
Swindon were beyond woeful. Could have easily been 7 or 8. Atmosphere was brilliant even in the deepest parts of the west stand.
Enjoyable match. I doubt there will be more than 4 of those players, starting on the first game of the new season.
I found the game entertaining. Charlton's attack exposed the Swindon defence throughout. Swindon played through the Charlton midfield far too easily. Crofts passing and protection of the back 4 was variable. Swindon had many good openings to score but it was one of those days where they had left the shooting boots back in Swindon. I think they could have played for the rest of the day and not scored.
Holmes was a level above in terms of energy and quality. A deserved player of the year. Dasilva showed real promise and quality. Magennis looked more like his old self and good to see him score. It would have been perfect if Johnnie Jackson had scored. It was a heart warming send off.
It was good to see the Covered End upper and lower fuller. The balloons looked good, but not sure of the season ticket leaflet thing worked. The crowd were pretty laid back mid second half after Johnnie Jackson went off. Some well supported Roland Out chants. The notices on the big screen and the stewards ringing the pitch turned the atmosphere.
Apart from the the lower Covered End corner the stewards were generally not interested in stopping anyone getting onto the pitch. Why would you on a minimum sub/minimum wage ? Once a few people were on the pitch, there was a collective steward shrugging of the shoulders. The police stayed on the half way line to prevent a Millwall like attack on the supporters. They seemed pretty laid back about it, knowing that this is Charlton and not Millwall.
So end of the season. Lots of contradictory signs about the future. Really hoping that a positive sale goes through. After listening to Robinson's post match interview on Charlton Live, and the recent departure of Robinson coaching team, it is still in the balance whether Robinson will be manager. This may be due to a sale, a better offer from a more stable club or news of not getting the funds he has requested to build the squad.
Lets hope that Charlton's next season is better than this last one. The club is in my blood. Charlton will always be my team. I hope that things change and improve so all of us Charlton supporters can be happy to purchase a season ticket again.
BUT i state here and now. When this bidet full of continental crap move on i am going to buy a s/t. I just hope my three year old grandaughter is not thirty by then because she will be getting a s/t and coming along with grandad.
Get the fuck out of OUR club RD and take that dozy Daisy dipshit with you...
We are so fucked if this lot don't sell, I spoke to Richard Murray before the game and thought I was very polite and restrained. He spoke (a load of bollocks) to be fair to him and he seemed to think protesting won't make Rolarse go. Gonna have to agree to disagree there Rich. He also pointed out that without Roland financially backing us we would be in the shit up up to our eyes, which I don't believe to be he case given he is loaning us all this financial support as well as making abominable decisions.
He did agree they need to go though crucially. Probably said to pacify me but he agreed the soul had been taken from the club too.
I think Peter Varney was in the house also yesterday
Interesting that despite the popular vote, Jackson is a lowly third-from-bottom in the fans' Statbank performance ratings for the season, ahead only of Page and Hanlan, and level with Novak.
A good atmosphere pre-match, helped by the sunny weather and the larger than usual crowd. I particularly enjoyed the game attempt to get the papier-mâché model of Roland into the ground. His buggy made it into the West Stand via the main entrance but the model itself was temporarily confiscated by the turnstiles and, alas, chants of "we want our Roland back" were to no avail. I thought the black and white balloons worked well, adding to the festive feel, and the vast majority of those in the ground joined in the "Roland out" chants.
As others have said, Swindon were an exceptionally poor and dispirited side. Defensively, they were the worst team I can remember seeing at the Valley and, whilst they managed to work a few good positions, it looked like they were emulating Gillingham when it came to hitting the target. Da Silva and Holmes wreaked havoc down the left side in the first half and Magennis had a better game than of late, running the channels well and bullying Swindon's inept central defenders. We played some good stuff at times but were afforded an astonishing amount of room and time by a side who seemed to completely lack any defensive organisation or shape.
Very pleased that Aaron Barnes got on - a great moment for the young man - but a bit disappointed that Dijksteel didn't get some game time, whether yesterday or at Chesterfield, in a pressure-free environment.
A tremendous shame that Jacko wasn't quite able to bury what would have been a trademark goal from him and the game drifted away a little after he went off, although Karlan Ahearne-Grant looked lively against a tiring and demoralised defence.
All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable day, further enhanced by an excellent roast dinner in the 'White Swan', washed down by some of their tasty in-house bitter at £3 a pint.