The struggling, anaemic Addicks visit newly promoted Oxford on Saturday, with social media confidently predicting a sell out in the Away End. Given that the travelling support will be under cover and the journey is not too bad by League One standards, a decent atmosphere should be guaranteed. The start to our season has been frankly pathetic. Apart from a decent first half at home to Shrewsbury, we have struggled to dominate any side and have predictably laboured to create goal scoring chances. The collective groan on Charlton social media on Tuesday evening when it was announced that Ricky Holmes was out injured said it all. Stop Holmes and Charlton won't score. Russell Slade needs to stop deluding himself that he is still managing Leyton Orient. Setting up your side to be hard to beat is one thing, albeit not too difficult to achieve at this level surely? BUT you cannot draw your way out of this division, and it is very, very hard to see us go on the sort of 12 game winning and unbeaten run that would lead to promotion. At the moment we are bang on target for around 55-65 points and a comfortable mid table finish. NOT GOOD ENOUGH, RUSS OLD CHAP. You can fairly argue that Slade's "top 6 budget" turned out to be not worth a w*nk, but the resources he has been given have been largely frittered away. Why did he sign Jason Pearce ? We have 6 centre halves at the Club (Pearce, Teixera, Konsa, Bauer, Lennon and Johnson) competing for two slots - yet no creative ball carrying midfielder. Laughable. We are very lightweight up front as well, where Ajose has struggled to put it mildly, and Novak is now injured again as he frequently has been in his career. Anything less than a win at Oxford and I can see Slade getting the hurry up, both from the boardroom, and our fans. Suggested team: Rudd Solly Fox Teixera Bauer Jackson Ulvestad Botaka Holmes Magennis Lookman 90 mins of attacking football please Slade, and no more of this sideways, defensive sh1t.
I'm looking forward to seeing Charlton for the first time this season. Boycotting the Belgians is harder than I thought it would be. I've had enough of the M25 so will be travelling by train, then a 4-mile walk. By most accounts we played quite well on Tuesday, but in reality all we had to show for it was a Jacko free-kick which hit the outside of the post near the end. CAFCPlayer still doesn't have Slade's post-match and there is only a very brief interview on the OS. But he seems to be glossing over the fact that we can't stick the ball in the net, which is the difference between a good season and a mediocre one.
I have two tickets for the game but have since received a better offer so torn about whether to go or not. Think I'll decide on television day itself, but Roland's recent comments don't endear me to watching his patchwork team. As for the game, if Slade doesn't win then it makes the next two home games, ones we should be looking to win comfortably, must win and serious questions whether he remains if we don't. Why pull punches with him for after what will be 13 games we languish in mid table mediocrity. 1-1
First away of the season- and I will be fully expecting a win, and at least to be trying to rather than blocking the midfield. 2-1 to Charlton.
Oxford is very good for public transport - loads of busses run from the centre to the outskirts as Chippy says. If I drive up there I usually park outside Oxford due to costs and jump a bus.
Buses are for Capitalist 'fat cat' lackeys and walking (or biking) is the only green form of transport an honourable Socialist like FHB would consider
I'm getting a taxi from Oxford rail station to the ground. If I see any puffing Rab C.Nesbitt lookalikes en route, I will pull over and offer a lift.
I'm glad someone had put this up, I've not had time, I've been so wrapped up with whiskey and work! God know how many documents I've written.
Telling you too. We're going to get another draw, but great press conference saying "what amazing spirit we showed."
Whatever the result today, the away fans will be under cover so I hope we get 90 mins of "Just Sell The Club" like we had at Walsall. This week's revelations from the Top Secret Meeting That Can't Be Discussed just reinforce the urgency of stepping the protests up quickly.