I got to my Bruvs comms seat early as I didn't want to be a nuisance. I'd already been to see Fanny in the Fans Bar and left a disgusting pint of what pretended to be IPA behind me. It was a magnificent view and looking around I saw familiar faces from Selhurst & Upton Park. Greg assured me that there had to be a Smith sitting in that seat and that made me very emotional (coincidentally my Bruv watched the game in a bar in Tenerife with Dohertys parents......small world or what?). The atmosphere was amazing. There was a fella beside me controlling all the stuff going on around the pitch, he earned his money I can tell you. I loved being able to watch Jones on the sidelines. From the chest pumping Aneke sub to the absolute arse being ripped out of the fan who threw the ball back in play too quickly, brilliant and a marked contrast to my last game which was also Micky Apples last. I was just so grateful to be there and witness that goal and those celebrations. Great thanks to @Curb_It and @Tavern for letting me accompany them to the Oak after and my minders for the train journey back to Woolwich Arsenal which was bouncing! Went to breakfast this morning and there were two sets of Dad/Daughters who had been to the game. Chatting to them I got emotional. Miss you Dad. COYR ❤️
Why didn't you join in the Comms, would have made an interesting change of view...🤷♂️
I can't be trusted not to use my potty mouth for starters 🫣😫😂😂
On the atmosphere. I've supported Charlton for 35 years or so. Last night felt different.
That could be because of the many years of utter dross we've suffered in the recent past, but the air crackled with something I haven't felt personally before.
I think there's a togetherness about the manager, players and fans that hasn't been around for a while, and that might be what feels different. It feels to me like the old Charlton with something extra that reflects the end of the fractious period of mis management and fan protests maybe?
Watched the extended highlights back on sky when I got in last night and there were multiple comments from the commentary team about how good the atmosphere was, how loud it was when we scored etc. It's always hard to tell from the Covered End upper, as it was deafening, but that definitely came across to the neutrals and the telly.
Godden's comments about the atmosphere in his post match interview as well, really proved how much of a difference we can make as a fanbase.
To try and be dispassionate about the atmosphere, up until the goal it was decent but nothing unusual.
On NJ at full-time, his reaction is purely human. He is a person who lives for this. He is 100% all in at Charlton. I firmly believe, that right now, there isn't a single fan that feels the joy of the win last night, more that NJ.
A lot is said about whether people like him. The sky commentator said to him post match, they are all singing your name, to which he promptly retorted, that they were wanting him sacked in November. He quickly explains that a season isnt won or lost in January, it is at the end if the season that it all matters. He went in to speak of his faith in God and how at full time, he dropped to his knees and was thanking God.
I say let him be eccentric and odd. I would rather him with his overblown passion, than 'Mr I keep my hands in my pockets' looking like he's at a funeral on the touchline.
As for other fans being sniffy about the scenes at full-time, well any fan who has been through it with their club, will get the emotions and why the celebrations were so OTT. This club might not have won anything yet this season, but it has gone a long way to winning back the hearts of many a fan that had got disillusioned by the decline and lack of care from owners and managers for too many years.
I can understand his frustration at some of the reaction back in November, but I hope he understands that it was more out of despair on our part that it looked like nothing had changed again and we were back to square one with regards to how the season was panning out.
I think that since he was his appointed, 98% of our fanbase (myself included), recognised this was a proper appointment, of far greater calibre than Appleton, Holden, Garner and not as past it as Adkins turned out to be.
I think that the combination of the last few years plus the hope we had in him and poor run meant that he started to see some unrest, and hopefully hasn't collectively bucketed us all in the 'we wanted him out camp'
I distinctly remember a post I wrote calling out that he was the big difference this season compared to the dross we had in the hot seat before, and yes, it could've gone very wrong, and even come Jan I was still expecting the run to come to a crashing halt, but hats off to him, he's really shown his class, experience and skill.
I also think his edginess is a bit about proving a point after Soton and Stoke. I think he took a lot of stick for even taking/been given the Soton job as they were in the Prem at the time and it was unexpected, and he has since carried a chip on his shoulder (rightly/wrongly - I don't care).
He's very much our man now, and he's very much a man the squad look up to, and whatever happens Sunday week, we need to keep him, and I think for the good of his career, he should stay with us.
I do have a feeling after how bang average we were last night, that it could be just the wake up call we need and it will be our time again next Sunday. Why not
Jones is the opposite of Curbs, his "never get too high, never get too low" attitude is I think healthier, for the manager's mental health as much as anything.
We were atrocious against Crawley, so it's hardly surprising SOME Charlton fans wanted him out. He needs to move on from that, rather than still thinking about the moaners back then. It's perhaps not surprising his time at Soton went badly, if he took every criticism so personally.
MANNION: punched one cross had a very quiet evening GILLESPHEY: one or two dodgy moments, decent in the air and one excellent intervention on Kone to put him off target JONES: won almost every high ball, in the right place at the right time for the goal RAMSAY: couple of dodgy passes, two game saving blocks, second was almost miraculous, without him it would have been very different EDWARDS: decent COVENTRY: struggled to make much impact DOCHERTY: very ropey first half, awful passing, but dogged and energetic until the end SMALL: caused Wycombe some problems, good to see how cheesed he was to be subbed GILBERT: really good start, understandably faded, dead balls were consistently poor CAMPBELL: efficiently shackled GODDEN: match winner without whom our season would have ended in February Referee: bog standard 3rd division bungler
Aneke: the right call at the right time Anderson: key to smothering Wycombe after we went ahead
Watched it on the TV in the States. But flying in Tuesday for Wemberly. Naturally it was a hard watch as we were all stressed out. But, once that goal went in…Delirium. And the Valley was rocking. I’ve never heard it louder.
Jones (the defender) was immense. Jones (the manager) was insane (but our insane), and Godden?! Well, what can I say!
Yup, makes you emotional when see players writing that.
There was a big group on the opposite side of road from club shop after game and every one of them had a Charlton/Anderson scarf, so presume it must have been family & friends group. Nice to see he's got support following him.
Got in at 2am last night. Up for work at 7am. Feel like someone's shat in my brain this morning. But it was all worth it. Not got much more to add that hasn't already been said other than it was of course a painfully scrappy game but bloody hell did it feel good at the end.
Just happy to get past Wycombe who had clearly taken the 4-0 to heart and did everything they could to cancel us out and we almost fell victim to it at times. And then it was Godden again at the end. Cue scenes.
Whatever happens at Wembley, after so many years of utter garbage, it’s just nice to feel some positivity and energy supporting this club again. Everything about last night had that, regardless of the quality (or lack of) of the football in front of us at times.
Any idea what happened with Small? Seemed the best player on the pitch at the time of coming off. Any news of a possible injury
Nah I think it was just trying to keep him healthy, he’s just come back from an injury and although it seemed baffling to some of us (myself included) and to him as well, it’s probably turned out to be the right decision
Have to say I've had my doubts over more recent years. My eldest drifted away when I was making the occasional pilgrimage during the Duchatelet years. I worked a fair few weekends then and wasting them on Charlton during that horrible period became less appealing.
I've dragged my youngest along for a good few years but he was feeling it 2 years ago.
I used to see pictures of the trust soccer schools with kids dressed in any other kit but Charlton's. It was heartbreaking. I really thought we'd go to the wall.
I missed the last playoff semi v Doncaster because we were away. We went to Wembley, but I've been desperate for my boys to see the Valley in all it's spectacular glory in what feels like decades. I know the play-off semi is such a special one. I'll certainly never forget Ipswich at home and the goosebumps walking up to Floyd rd.
And last night it happened.
Despite all the shit owners trying to line their own pockets at our expense. Despite Authorities making us homeless hoping we'd go away, Nothing will stand in the way of this great club. It somehow feels stronger than ever.
Got home at 11.50pm and found Sky showings 30 min highlight package so stayed up to watch that.
Then found they were showing a repeat of the whole game this lunchtime so wfh I managed to use my lunch break to watch the 2nd half.
As I said last night, I usually sit in the AC Stand with a pretty decent view. Last night I was towards the back of the Lower North, Block B, so didn't have a great view. Add in the fact multiple eye surgeries over the past 8 years means trying to pick out players 150 yards away under lights isn't easy.
So......I will take back my comments last night re our midfield, although still not impressed with Gilbert's dead ball delivery !
1 final game. 1 final push. Let's be having youuuuu.
And PS.
Godden was onside for the first one after Chuk's flick on but offside for the 2nd that he got booked for. The ref blew his whistle less than a second before Godden lobbed the keeper so how he thought Godden was time wasting is beyond me.
Oh I heavily doubt that too, just would have been a lot of fun…guess all the other lads there live local then, would have been nice if Aribo and Cullen could have appeared
Comments
Once the goal went in, it went off the scale.
We were atrocious against Crawley, so it's hardly surprising SOME Charlton fans wanted him out. He needs to move on from that, rather than still thinking about the moaners back then. It's perhaps not surprising his time at Soton went badly, if he took every criticism so personally.
Naturally it was a hard watch as we were all stressed out. But, once that goal went in…Delirium. And the Valley was rocking. I’ve never heard it louder.
There was a big group on the opposite side of road from club shop after game and every one of them had a Charlton/Anderson scarf, so presume it must have been family & friends group. Nice to see he's got support following him.
Just happy to get past Wycombe who had clearly taken the 4-0 to heart and did everything they could to cancel us out and we almost fell victim to it at times. And then it was Godden again at the end. Cue scenes.
Then found they were showing a repeat of the whole game this lunchtime so wfh I managed to use my lunch break to watch the 2nd half.
As I said last night, I usually sit in the AC Stand with a pretty decent view. Last night I was towards the back of the Lower North, Block B, so didn't have a great view. Add in the fact multiple eye surgeries over the past 8 years means trying to pick out players 150 yards away under lights isn't easy.
So......I will take back my comments last night re our midfield, although still not impressed with Gilbert's dead ball delivery !
1 final game. 1 final push. Let's be having youuuuu.
And PS.
Godden was onside for the first one after Chuk's flick on but offside for the 2nd that he got booked for. The ref blew his whistle less than a second before Godden lobbed the keeper so how he thought Godden was time wasting is beyond me.
Also, bringing on Chuks gave us a bit more control upfront. Meant Godden could play in a more poacher's role.
Although not very active, the threat of TC (and TS) kept their defence quite deep. Clare won't be looking forward to the match-up.
I think Mannion had both of Ramsay's blocks covered.
Defence was superb to a man.
Chuks seemed more mobile than recently; could we squeeze him into the starting lineup somehow?