Apologies in advance if this offering is incoherent but a few glasses have been taken so syntax etc may not be up to acceptable Charlton Life standards.
The day started well when @Len\'s_little_girl confirmed her attendance. I enjoy it so much more when she can come to matches with me. However on arrival I was greeted by the tap on the shoulder of a large steward demanding to see identity having inspected my old ticket. I duly tried and initially failed to find the relevant photograph on my phone which, ironically, convinced them I was genuine as no youngster masquerading as an old git would be so technologically incompetent. However by then the bit was between my teeth and I was determined to find the photo of my passport on the phone which I did and we all had a good laugh at my expense.
Anyway having sailed over that hurdle like David Hemery in the 1968 Olympics to the match:
Bristol City started as if they thought we were there for the taking but Darren Pratley decided to let their big number 9 know he was there early on and that he would be involved in a match. Pratley then continued in that vein for the rest of the match and was an inspiration to all. 99 times out of 100 Macauley Bonne with two goals, a hand (or rather a head) in the third and a generally industrious performance would be Man of the Match but for me Pratley shaded it today. He was everywhere and geed them up after the concerning loss of Gallagher.
Could this be the last we see of Conor in a Charlton shirt either because of injury or redeployment to Burnley? If so thanks for everything you've been a wonderful player for us.
Anyway I'm getting ahead of myself. Bristol City started well and we seemed to be on the back foot until Albie Morgan, who up to that point had been pretty anonymous, played a wonderful ball into the path of Bonne who then cooly lobbed the onrushing keeper to give us the lead. We then looked better and pushed forward some more and at half time all looked fine and dandy.
Unfortunately at least half of our team were still drinking their half time cup of tea metaphorically speaking when Bristol City equalised. That goal rejuvenated Bristol City and, to make matters worse, Gallagher went off too. The midfield appeared non existent and one felt it was only a matter of time before Bristol City scored again which they duly did.
With Gallagher out of the picture it looked very hard to see a way back into this match for Charlton. These lads never lay down and die though like far too many Charlton teams of the past and they kept trying to press forwards and eventually the ball fell for Bonne and, like the clinical goalscorer he is, he cooly shot across the goalkeeper into the far corner of our net for the equaliser.
At that point, Gallagherless, many of us would have taken the point but Pratley was still putting himself about and geeing up the others and a cross came over, Bonne got soething on it, their keeper saved and fumbled and there was Alfie Doughty to scramble it over the line for a very well deserved first first team goal!
3-2 to Charlton the referee (was it Stroud he reminded me of him) must have had an away win for Bristol City on his coupon because he gave us f*** all all match and I'll never know where he got 5 minutes from 3 at a pinch 4 yes but 5?
Our boys were not going to be denied today though and my God they deserved that victory. I'm so proud of them. WE are fighting so hard and if it proves not to be enough come May we will go all guns blazing.
Deserved the 3 points although at 2-1 down the players seemed to be out for the count. No idea why LB puts Ledley on the bench if he's not going to use him......bringing on Solly with 5 to go seems madness.
Anyway......we held on (just) & now hoping we can get something from the next 2 games. Midfield still seems so lightweight & definitely need someone in there who can run with the ball & scare defenders. Having no Williams, Leko, Aneke or even Oztumer is seriously affecting us offensive wise.
FWIW. I dont think Taylor is going anywhere but if he does it can only be about the money as surely with the new owners (and I have no doubt it will all go through within the next 10 days) we should be able to offer him a big enough incentive to stay.
Still think we will stay up this season.....especially if we can get a few bodies back & a couple of new players in the transfer window.
Is Taylor waving goodbye in the pitch walk around at the end? Could be wrong
Thought the same. He seemed to walk along waving to the East Dtand before turning to do the same to the Coveted End and West Stands. Last home game?
So ESI have paid 50-60 million and they are going to let a 20 goal Championship striker leave ! ( Lyle has missed 14 games so won't now)
Be mad not to sell him if he’s not going to sign a new deal though. Big loss but better to get a couple of million now than lose him for free in the summer.
He hasn't been offered a deal from ESI. He hasn't been offered a contract that is consummate with a good championship striker. If Lyle can be offered this type of contract by the new owners to be, then he would stay. I thought that was cleared up that Lyle turned now a new contract months ago which all confident striker should do if it's well short of what he can get elsewhere.
I don't agree I would rather he walked away at the end of the season on a free than let him leave in January for 5 million or so. Sick of seeing good players leave Cafc. We need some ambition.
@LenGlover, I don't understand your version of our 3rd goal ? Bonne made a fantastic run and made a great cross which Doughty put in the net on his second attempt. Without Bonne today we lose, how can he not be MOM.
@LenGlover, I don't understand your version of our 3rd goal ? Bonne made a fantastic run and made a great cross which Doughty put in the net on his second attempt. Without Bonne today we lose, how can he nor be MOM.
Having read it again I don't understand my version of the third goal! Mistaken identity I can only guess. As I said a few drinks have been taken.
Bonne is right up there for man of the match for sure but I felt Pratley drove them on all match particularly after Gallagher went off which is why for me he shaded it.
Is Taylor waving goodbye in the pitch walk around at the end? Could be wrong
Thought the same. He seemed to walk along waving to the East Dtand before turning to do the same to the Coveted End and West Stands. Last home game?
So ESI have paid 50-60 million and they are going to let a 20 goal Championship striker leave ! ( Lyle has missed 14 games so won't now)
Be mad not to sell him if he’s not going to sign a new deal though. Big loss but better to get a couple of million now than lose him for free in the summer.
Evening Roland. Championship survival is worth more than a couple of short term millions this January.
Agreed but we will have to replace him in the summer anyway so why not sell him now, get a fee and put that towards the striker. I would rather replace him with a 4mil striker now than 2mil in the summer.
Because every new signing is a gamble. We know Taylor fits our style, fits in at the club, and can do the business in a Charlton shirt. That adds to his value to us above and beyond what the transfer market will deem to be his value.
Woke up at 10am (in Florida) to watch the game on Valley Pass after a brilliant (and messy) evening last night. What a great game although I struggled to enjoy it - had no nails by the end of it!
After the game I went to play Golf with a spring in my step. The fact it was sunny, 25 degrees and I had the best round I’ve ever had just topped it off!
In terms of Stroud, I thought it was perfectly fair but he could have disallowed our second if he wanted to. They probably were a booking short of what they should have had and whilst I accept the added time, he should have blown as soon as the corner broke down. But overall, we have had a lot worse this season than he was yesterday.
There was an injury once again on added time which led to the added on injury time . The time wasted for the 4 goal celebrations substitutions and bits and bobs prolly 5 is right . Dont know if anyone can watch again with the clock up but last time when Hull equalised the added on added on was fair . its how they come to the additional time in the first place that no one quite knows ...
Bowyer mentions how he told Bonne to be more aggressive and horrible and that’s how he got the 2nd which could easily have been chalked off for a foul I’m sure Bristol city fans would be calling he ref a homer
3 or 4 players could have been MOM based on any other of their performances, Sarr, Matthews, Bonne obviously for two great goals and quality, quality assist (he owed us that performance though) even Taylor ran tirelessly all game.
But for me Pratley edged just for keeping this team together, CB for an hour, then hold midfield together as we have nobody else, add into he mix his age and his less than adequate performances last season at times and I'm just fckin amazed by this geezer this season.
I enjoyed that game yday and was amazing to walk up the hill feeling them boys gave their all for the fans.
Clearly these socks I got yesterday are the reason we won today. Better get them in the wash for Monday...
What do you mean, get them in the wash? You didn't wash them before yesterday's game, so obviously you can't wash them before the next game. Or the one after that, and the one after that...
My older brother asked me if I still intended to attend the match despite it clashing with the annual Boxing day family gathering.
I have found over the years that it is best to stand up to him directly and answered, 'Of course I'm going to the match I always go to the match'. He then applied additional pressure by inquiring if I'd get there in time for the now traditional family quiz. 'I dunno, but I won't be missed I'm hardly the brain of Britain'.
Anyway as I sat forlornly in the gridlock heading west after the game I started to feel a bit anxious. The satnav predicted our arrival time would set us a full two hours late for our destination. However, I turned to my son and said, 'I'm really glad we won that game, it's worth it init?
The good news is I was in time to join a four person quiz team, less good news is we finished a disappointing 4th out of 5. Even more disappointing is that my brother still has the ability to make me feel guilty (I'm only 65).
Yesterday was a victory for team spirit - there seemed no way to win once we went 2-1 down and were under the cosh but somehow we did. The fact that we only had a single midfielder on at the end says it all about our injury problems.
A very valuable 3 points given our fixtures in January.
What a win, but we dont make things easy for ourselves do we? Thought Bonne scored two exceptional goals, and played his heart out and then to lay on the winner for young Alfie took his performance to MoM for me. Taylor being back does make a massive difference to team spirit and he tracks back to help cover when we are defending. Midfield is desperately missing the likes of Cullen and Williams, and to lose Connor to injury as well I feared the worst, but we battled back and sent the Addicks fans home happy. Now lets get the takeover done and see where we can end up come May.
Is Taylor waving goodbye in the pitch walk around at the end? Could be wrong
Thought the same. He seemed to walk along waving to the East Dtand before turning to do the same to the Coveted End and West Stands. Last home game?
So ESI have paid 50-60 million and they are going to let a 20 goal Championship striker leave ! ( Lyle has missed 14 games so won't now)
Be mad not to sell him if he’s not going to sign a new deal though. Big loss but better to get a couple of million now than lose him for free in the summer.
Evening Roland. Championship survival is worth more than a couple of short term millions this January.
Agreed but we will have to replace him in the summer anyway so why not sell him now, get a fee and put that towards the striker. I would rather replace him with a 4mil striker now than 2mil in the summer.
You can't replace him for 2 m in jan, he ain't leaving now ffs, children stop panicking.
Bonne motm, pratley gamemanagementmongous, doughty crucial now williams and leko not about, lockyer a lionheart, matthews quality, sarr - nice footwork but still lacks the key ingredients for a centre half - balls, but all of the above said and done, we would not have won that game without taylor - an absolute master of the centre forward trade - first priority, get him signed up, no question whatsoever. Williams back soon, aneke an option, a couple of fresh loans and by mid jan we could be 'back in the game' and by start of feb, flying again.
Comments
Apologies in advance if this offering is incoherent but a few glasses have been taken so syntax etc may not be up to acceptable Charlton Life standards.
The day started well when @Len\'s_little_girl confirmed her attendance. I enjoy it so much more when she can come to matches with me. However on arrival I was greeted by the tap on the shoulder of a large steward demanding to see identity having inspected my old ticket. I duly tried and initially failed to find the relevant photograph on my phone which, ironically, convinced them I was genuine as no youngster masquerading as an old git would be so technologically incompetent. However by then the bit was between my teeth and I was determined to find the photo of my passport on the phone which I did and we all had a good laugh at my expense.
Anyway having sailed over that hurdle like David Hemery in the 1968 Olympics to the match:
Bristol City started as if they thought we were there for the taking but Darren Pratley decided to let their big number 9 know he was there early on and that he would be involved in a match. Pratley then continued in that vein for the rest of the match and was an inspiration to all. 99 times out of 100 Macauley Bonne with two goals, a hand (or rather a head) in the third and a generally industrious performance would be Man of the Match but for me Pratley shaded it today. He was everywhere and geed them up after the concerning loss of Gallagher.
Could this be the last we see of Conor in a Charlton shirt either because of injury or redeployment to Burnley? If so thanks for everything you've been a wonderful player for us.
Anyway I'm getting ahead of myself. Bristol City started well and we seemed to be on the back foot until Albie Morgan, who up to that point had been pretty anonymous, played a wonderful ball into the path of Bonne who then cooly lobbed the onrushing keeper to give us the lead. We then looked better and pushed forward some more and at half time all looked fine and dandy.
Unfortunately at least half of our team were still drinking their half time cup of tea metaphorically speaking when Bristol City equalised. That goal rejuvenated Bristol City and, to make matters worse, Gallagher went off too. The midfield appeared non existent and one felt it was only a matter of time before Bristol City scored again which they duly did.
With Gallagher out of the picture it looked very hard to see a way back into this match for Charlton. These lads never lay down and die though like far too many Charlton teams of the past and they kept trying to press forwards and eventually the ball fell for Bonne and, like the clinical goalscorer he is, he cooly shot across the goalkeeper into the far corner of our net for the equaliser.
At that point, Gallagherless, many of us would have taken the point but Pratley was still putting himself about and geeing up the others and a cross came over, Bonne got soething on it, their keeper saved and fumbled and there was Alfie Doughty to scramble it over the line for a very well deserved first first team goal!
3-2 to Charlton the referee (was it Stroud he reminded me of him) must have had an away win for Bristol City on his coupon because he gave us f*** all all match and I'll never know where he got 5 minutes from 3 at a pinch 4 yes but 5?
Our boys were not going to be denied today though and my God they deserved that victory. I'm so proud of them. WE are fighting so hard and if it proves not to be enough come May we will go all guns blazing.
COYR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Deserved the 3 points although at 2-1 down the players seemed to be out for the count. No idea why LB puts Ledley on the bench if he's not going to use him......bringing on Solly with 5 to go seems madness.
Anyway......we held on (just) & now hoping we can get something from the next 2 games. Midfield still seems so lightweight & definitely need someone in there who can run with the ball & scare defenders. Having no Williams, Leko, Aneke or even Oztumer is seriously affecting us offensive wise.
FWIW. I dont think Taylor is going anywhere but if he does it can only be about the money as surely with the new owners (and I have no doubt it will all go through within the next 10 days) we should be able to offer him a big enough incentive to stay.
Still think we will stay up this season.....especially if we can get a few bodies back & a couple of new players in the transfer window.
He hasn't been offered a contract that is consummate with a good championship striker. If Lyle can be offered this type of contract by the new owners to be, then he would stay.
I thought that was cleared up that Lyle turned now a new contract months ago which all confident striker should do if it's well short of what he can get elsewhere.
I don't agree I would rather he walked away at the end of the season on a free than let him leave in January for 5 million or so.
Sick of seeing good players leave Cafc.
We need some ambition.
Without Bonne today we lose, how can he not be MOM.
Bonne is right up there for man of the match for sure but I felt Pratley drove them on all match particularly after Gallagher went off which is why for me he shaded it.
After the game I went to play Golf with a spring in my step. The fact it was sunny, 25 degrees and I had the best round I’ve ever had just topped it off!
Now at a lovely Boxing Day meal with family.
If Carlsberg did festive periods...!
Hopefully the bad luck is behind us and we can string a run together now!
The time wasted for the 4 goal celebrations substitutions and bits and bobs prolly 5 is right .
Dont know if anyone can watch again with the clock up but last time when Hull equalised the added on added on was fair .
its how they come to the additional time in the first place that no one quite knows ...
I’m sure Bristol city fans would be calling he ref a homer
3 or 4 players could have been MOM based on any other of their performances, Sarr, Matthews, Bonne obviously for two great goals and quality, quality assist (he owed us that performance though) even Taylor ran tirelessly all game.
But for me Pratley edged just for keeping this team together, CB for an hour, then hold midfield together as we have nobody else, add into he mix his age and his less than adequate performances last season at times and I'm just fckin amazed by this geezer this season.
I enjoyed that game yday and was amazing to walk up the hill feeling them boys gave their all for the fans.
Another 3pts closer to safety
I have found over the years that it is best to stand up to him directly and answered, 'Of course I'm going to the match I always go to the match'. He then applied additional pressure by inquiring if I'd get there in time for the now traditional family quiz. 'I dunno, but I won't be missed I'm hardly the brain of Britain'.
Anyway as I sat forlornly in the gridlock heading west after the game I started to feel a bit anxious. The satnav predicted our arrival time would set us a full two hours late for our destination. However, I turned to my son and said, 'I'm really glad we won that game, it's worth it init?
The good news is I was in time to join a four person quiz team, less good news is we finished a disappointing 4th out of 5. Even more disappointing is that my brother still has the ability to make me feel guilty (I'm only 65).
As I said earlier it was definitely worth it.
A very valuable 3 points given our fixtures in January.
Taylor being back does make a massive difference to team spirit and he tracks back to help cover when we are defending. Midfield is desperately missing the likes of Cullen and Williams, and to lose Connor to injury as well I feared the worst, but we battled back and sent the Addicks fans home happy. Now lets get the takeover done and see where we can end up come May.
https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/highlights-charlton-athletic-3-2-bristol-city/