"Charlton’s fabled old ground is more playgroup than fortress these days. And don’t get me started on the Crossbar Challenge when you’re two down at half-time!"
"A word to the owner. You don’t buy a dog and bark yourself. Johnnie Jackson is the right man for the job. Give him the right tools and he’ll do that job."
What's especially noticeable reading through Kevin's report is his mention of young Zach Mitchell - something others have done following yesterday's match.
The 17 year old is an U 23 player I have been impressed by for some time.
He has all the qualities to become a 1st team player with us, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Billy, at Millwall.
Good article, as we've come to expect, but I wonder what did the Coalville fans do to get KN's ire up to the point where he mentioned them not once, but twice: "unfortunately, a few charmless renegades along for the ride" and "no further exposure to those twerps who had attached themselves to the Town loyalists"?
I can't say I noticed them doing anything wrong, though I'd be the first to admit my ears aren't to sharp so they could have sang something I didn't hear. So, what did they do or say? The other question I have is that, whatever it was, how does KN know that it was people who came along for the ride and not Town loyalists?
Kevin makes the point well that Garner should be congratulated for playing strong side, easing our potential discomfort and ultimately giving us an enjoyable F A Cup game to watch for once. With Bowyer's approach we could have had a much more unpleasant day and another stain on the reputation of the club. I agree with him too about the 'Leicester City' contingent with them. All that bitterness directed at us for not having a bigger turn out to see them and not feeling the need to sing about beating them. They should have spent more time supporting their side and celebrating their achievement.
Good article, as we've come to expect, but I wonder what did the Coalville fans do to get KN's ire up to the point where he mentioned them not once, but twice: "unfortunately, a few charmless renegades along for the ride" and "no further exposure to those twerps who had attached themselves to the Town loyalists"?
I can't say I noticed them doing anything wrong, though I'd be the first to admit my ears aren't to sharp so they could have sang something I didn't hear. So, what did they do or say? The other question I have is that, whatever it was, how does KN know that it was people who came along for the ride and not Town loyalists?
I know Kevin's been watching football and Charlton in particular for many more years than Garner's been involved but it is stark how much more clearly Kevin sees and understands the basics of the game than our current first team coach/manager/whateverhessupposedtobedoing.
Let's hope Garner experiences some sort of Damascus road enlightenment. Much as I enjoy Kevin's creativity in recounting the self harm played out by Charlton's motley rabble, I'd much prefer he had simpler happier stories to tell.
Kevin Nolan: premier league writing on 3rd division action. With no intended disrespect to Darryl, Mr Nolan's output is worthy of a far wider readership.
Kevin Nolan: premier league writing on 3rd division action. With no intended disrespect to Darryl, Mr Nolan's output is worthy of a far wider readership.
Ha - none taken, you're right. In fact, I took him on after the play-off final because I thought I could give him a bigger platform than the one he was on (with no disrespect, etc) and broadly speaking, he does home matches for the Champion but still does aways for Greenwich.co.uk, and that arrangement's worked out well. As someone that grew up reading his stuff, it's a pleasure to publish his reports.
Trouble is, there's really no other platform for traditional match reports any more - there is no local newspaper left in the area any more, although the SLP has moved into this role for football coverage because they're savvy enough to see it's a niche that'll deliver for them (if you look at the page views on the SLP website their football coverage gets 4-5 times the page views the news gets). Louis and Rich Cawley do a brilliant job there and Kev has occasionally filled in on match report duty.
That said - as with local news - you get the coverage you're prepared to pay for. Kev's reports are on the Champion because readers, many of whom aren't there for the football, pay into it (and if you'd like to join them: https://www.presspatron.com/charltonchampion.html).
And as I've said a few times before, the SLP's position is precarious because the market is broken - it survives on local authority advertising from TfL, Lambeth and Lewisham because it has a monopoly in those areas and can charge huge sums, and gets much of its news from a free wire paid for by the BBC (which then justifies it getting those ads). When the SLP goes pop, fans are going to have to ask themselves whether they are willing to crowdfund a fat five-figure sum each year to cover match reports, press conferences and day to day news about the club. Because nobody else is going to stump up for it.
Kevin Nolan: premier league writing on 3rd division action. With no intended disrespect to Darryl, Mr Nolan's output is worthy of a far wider readership.
Ha - none taken, you're right. In fact, I took him on after the play-off final because I thought I could give him a bigger platform than the one he was on (with no disrespect, etc) and broadly speaking, he does home matches for the Champion but still does aways for Greenwich.co.uk, and that arrangement's worked out well. As someone that grew up reading his stuff, it's a pleasure to publish his reports.
Trouble is, there's really no other platform for traditional match reports any more - there is no local newspaper left in the area any more, although the SLP has moved into this role for football coverage because they're savvy enough to see it's a niche that'll deliver for them (if you look at the page views on the SLP website their football coverage gets 4-5 times the page views the news gets). Louis and Rich Cawley do a brilliant job there and Kev has occasionally filled in on match report duty.
That said - as with local news - you get the coverage you're prepared to pay for. Kev's reports are on the Champion because readers, many of whom aren't there for the football, pay into it (and if you'd like to join them: https://www.presspatron.com/charltonchampion.html).
And as I've said a few times before, the SLP's position is precarious because the market is broken - it survives on local authority advertising from TfL, Lambeth and Lewisham because it has a monopoly in those areas and can charge huge sums, and gets much of its news from a free wire paid for by the BBC (which then justifies it getting those ads). When the SLP goes pop, fans are going to have to ask themselves whether they are willing to crowdfund a fat five-figure sum each year to cover match reports, press conferences and day to day news about the club. Because nobody else is going to stump up for it.
Exactly this. But many will (wrongly) think they can rely on the official site plus the club’s social media, Facebook and Charlton Life etc. Independent journalism matters.
"The smart money was on another draw, most likely of the scoreless variety, and that's where it was heading until Ben Garner's men reached down into their repertoire of ineptitude."
"The Addicks’ steady decline is no longer merely embarrassing. It has become a deeply worrying process, which needs to be urgently addressed before the threat of relegation becomes not so much a threat as a grim, stark reality."
Comments
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The 17 year old is an U 23 player I have been impressed by for some time.
He has all the qualities to become a 1st team player with us, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Billy, at Millwall.
Let's hope he's not on TS's radar yet....
I can't say I noticed them doing anything wrong, though I'd be the first to admit my ears aren't to sharp so they could have sang something I didn't hear. So, what did they do or say? The other question I have is that, whatever it was, how does KN know that it was people who came along for the ride and not Town loyalists?
And a little bonus: https://853.london/2022/11/27/mercury-man-meet-the-bard-of-floyd-road-charlton-match-reporter-kevin-nolan/
Let's hope Garner experiences some sort of Damascus road enlightenment. Much as I enjoy Kevin's creativity in recounting the self harm played out by Charlton's motley rabble, I'd much prefer he had simpler happier stories to tell.
Kevin Nolan: premier league writing on 3rd division action. With no intended disrespect to Darryl, Mr Nolan's output is worthy of a far wider readership.
Trouble is, there's really no other platform for traditional match reports any more - there is no local newspaper left in the area any more, although the SLP has moved into this role for football coverage because they're savvy enough to see it's a niche that'll deliver for them (if you look at the page views on the SLP website their football coverage gets 4-5 times the page views the news gets). Louis and Rich Cawley do a brilliant job there and Kev has occasionally filled in on match report duty.
That said - as with local news - you get the coverage you're prepared to pay for. Kev's reports are on the Champion because readers, many of whom aren't there for the football, pay into it (and if you'd like to join them: https://www.presspatron.com/charltonchampion.html).
And as I've said a few times before, the SLP's position is precarious because the market is broken - it survives on local authority advertising from TfL, Lambeth and Lewisham because it has a monopoly in those areas and can charge huge sums, and gets much of its news from a free wire paid for by the BBC (which then justifies it getting those ads). When the SLP goes pop, fans are going to have to ask themselves whether they are willing to crowdfund a fat five-figure sum each year to cover match reports, press conferences and day to day news about the club. Because nobody else is going to stump up for it.
https://charltonchampion.co.uk/2022/12/03/kevin-nolans-valley-view-charlton-athletic-0-1-cheltenham-town/