Thank God Man City knocked out wide-eyed Nottingham Forest. Now I have to support the Sports-Washers against the Scum. Blue Moon...
On this day in 1984, we lost 4-2 at home to Shrewsbury in front of 3,800 spectators. Mark Aizlewood and Mike Flanaghan scored our goals.
Finished comfortably with them never being in danger of the sixth spot. A shame Leeds won the title in injury time, but Burnley will suffer that as THE prize is the conkers going into their bank account next season.
Watford sack gaffer https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c983w3d6w7jo The actual news is that he lasted 14 months! Rather than 14 games... Hornets now looking for their 10th manager since 2020. Just like us NJ is our 10th gaffer (including caretakers) since Bowyer got fired.
It does include Johnnie Jackson twice. Technically three times (twice caretaker, then permanent) Will list shortly...
After Lee Bowyer... Johnnie Jackson (caretaker) Nigel Adkins Johnnie Jackson (catetaker again, then permanent) Ben Garner Anthony Hayes (caretaker) Dean Holden Jason Pearce (caretaker) Michael Appleton Curtis Fleming (caretaker) Nathan Jones NJ being the first manager in charge for a whole season. I'm not certain about these next stats, but I believe them to be true; Every Charlton Athletic permanent manager - from Walter Rayner (1921) to Alan Curbishley (2006) - was gaffer for at least one full season with only one exception: Ken Craggs. That's 13 out of 14 managers over an 85 year period. Since Alan Curbishley left the job (19 seasons ago) Charlton Athletic have only had five permanent managers who have lasted at least one full season; Alan Pardew (1 season) Phil Parkinson (1 season) Chris Powell (2 seasons) Lee Bowyer (2 seasons, the first as caretaker until September) Nathan Jones (1 season to date) Only 7 seasons out of the last 19 have CAFC gone a whole season under one gaffer. The Club has also changed ownership five (or arguably six) times. That is the measure of our instability over the past two decades. Also on a personal note; Nathan Jones is the first of those managers listed directly above who I feel no support for. (not that I was ever a great fan of Pardew, but I did have hopes for a while). I believe Jones will be gone next season whether or not Charlton gain promotion in the next few weeks. And I won't miss him. Maybe that lack of empathy on my part is because he's the first of those managers whose teams I have never seen first hand as a spectator at the Valley, due to ongoing illness that has kept me away since November 2022. Perhaps if I had been there this season he might have won me over.
What about Kevin Nugent? I'm sure he was in charge for Bristol Rovers away a few years back. **Edit, he was 2016
New investment for Salford City https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cx2jgpw8xg6o Gobbo has revived their fortunes after they finished 20th in L2 a year ago. Looks like he's found his level, but Becks is dreaming of a Wrexham style adventure...
The Europa League - what a joke. Described on SSN as "a major European Trophy" this evening. Will be won either by the team in 15th place in the PL (16 league defeats this season) or the team in 16th place in the PL (19 league defeats this season) Only going to show that the Europa League is not a major European Trophy. It's a tin pot. And the biggest joke of all? The winner gets a Champion's League place for 2025-26 Champion's League. For a team likely finishing 15th or 16th in the Prem. While Nottingham Forest - who have won only three fewer PL games this season than Spurs and Man Utd PUT TOGETHER will likely not get a Champion's League place. All that does, is de-value the Champion's League competition as well.
