3-1 at halftime (BWP, Kermorgant free-kick, Jackson header), Jon Nurse for Barnet. More or less our "first team" but with Wilson and Evina at full-back and Salim Kerkar forward (who is doing well).
Twitter says we are playing a 4-3-1-2 formation with JJ behind the strikers. Very interesting. They also say JJ and Wilson are playing well.
It's Pritchard, Stephens and Kerkar as the three which means Wilson and Evina (especially) can attack a lot. I don't expect many of them will play more than 60 minutes so it will be all-change in the second half. Jonathan Fortune now at Barnet, also Olli Lee, Rob's son. I can see some of our players going there on loan this season with Mark Robson in charge because he will try and get Barnet playing attractive football and he is a friend of Chris Powell. Also Danny Uchechi is there (on trial?). He has had a funny and disappointing career. I keep thinking he has settled at a club then next thing I see he has left and popped up somewhere else. OK, five changes after the hour mark. Solly, Wiggins, Taylor, Cook and Haynes. 4-1. Another free-kick from Kermit bungled by the 'keeper. And now Smith, Wagstaff and Green join in. Only Hamer, Morrison and Kerkar left from the starters. And in the final minutes youth keeper Dylan Phillips comes on.
Good, steady progress. There seems to be a no-nonsense, businesslike feel about pre-season this year. Good to see Jon Fortune settled. You're right about Danny Uchechi, eddie - there were once great things predicted about him, but then he just dropped off the radar. Rob Lee's son was playing? God, I'm getting old...
I spent almost ten minutes with Chris Powell tonight, and tomorrow I shall post an absolutely beautiful picture of the great man with my children. It is too late to go uploading now, so some time on Friday. CP said that he is very happy with how the squad is shaping up and that he hopes for three new signings before the Orient match. He said that all the rumours are nothing to worry about and that all will become apparent in the next few days. I felt greatly reassured by his easy manner and cool confidence. We also had quick chats (and autographs) with JJ, Wiggins, Solly, BWP and Waggy. I must say that Waggy is a diamond and was great with the kids. He asked them about school and the holidays etc. The first half was a really good performance with plenty of attacking menace coming down the flanks. Kermit's first free-kick was a pearler and we were lucky enough to be sitting right behind the goal when it went in. JJ's headed goal was a real brave effort as he had three Barnet defenders hanging off of him - and he actually ended up under all of them. He gave a lovely thumbs-up and fist-pump to the kids who were cheering him madly. The second-half was quite bland and a few of the lads were puffing: Kermit needs some conditioning work most of all. Smith looks like a promising young lad with great strength and good first touch. He will be a real handful for defenders: he is enormous. Barnet tried hard and attempted to play nice football, but they were clearly outclassed where it really matters. They came down to earth with a bump after their 10-2 win at St Albans on Saturday. Nice to see Jon Fortune get applauded off late in the second-half. He will be a key player for the Bees this year. A crowd of 850 tonight - about half being Charlton fans. It was a night that the kids won't forget for a very long time. COYR!
That's great, Ponders, I will sleep easier tonight. You are bringing up your children the right way, brainwashing them into little Addicks. I look forward to seeing your picture of them in their Anglo-Saxon costume. However I am a little disappointed at the narrow focus of your conversation with Dr Powell. I would have thought you would have taken the opportunity to ask the renowned academic and denizen of Rochester Cathedral his views on Abbo of Fleury and especially Abbo's prophecy that, if Charlton ever make it into Europe, the End of the World will be nigh.
I was impressed with his touch in the video clips from Welling and Spain. I can see him getting some game time this season, especially if N'Guessan is out of our price-range at 50,000 pounds and we don't sign another big lump. The most interesting thing to me was that Kerkar played the whole game and seemed very effective in the first half. What did you think of him?
Ha! Dr Powell was a little nonplussed regarding Abbo of Fleury. Instead, he droned on about the importance of the Donation of Constantine and its unfair textual criticisms. I scoffed at this, telling him to look to a higher authority than Dante's Divine Comedy. As you are aware, the vulgate holds no sway with a scholar such as I. I shall post the picture soon. However, the kids were allowed to wear modern clothing, as opposed to their usual Jutish attire. It is good for them to re-enter the present day from time to time. Actually, I was quite impressed with Kerkar. He looks ungainly, but has a decent touch, can pick a pass and has bags of energy. He could be a good addition to the squad and has done his chances of a deal no harm with last night's performance.
The paragraph about what CP said should be put on a sticky at the top of this forum and on CL. In a single stroke it should put paid to all the doom mongering. Well played Ponders. PS. I see the kids took their good looks from their mother!
My son, Oskar, was unhappy being referred to as a 'lovely girl'. Ha Ha! Thank you for the great comments, guys. There really was a great vibe amongst the boys last night.
It's amazing how fast any negative "news" travels- but something so direct as a quote from CP which is positive won't be shared. A direct quote from the manager. Incredible.
Ponders - great photo, albeit that your youngest has that look of 'why am i wearing this silly hat?, and who is THAT bloke?'
Too true, Stu. It was Heidi-Rose's first away match and she was a little nervous about being so close to the action. CP was really lovely with the kids and made them feel like the greatest Charlton fans in the world. A top guy, indeed.
I am deeply embarrassed, although I hope you didn't really tell him? I picked up my new specs today so it shouldn't happen again. Though as they were made in the Dominican Republic I suppose anything is possible. If you did tell him, please give Oskar my apologies and say I am just a sad old man half-blinded by the sun.
No, no, eddie, I didn't really tell him. Don't feel embarrassed. It is an honour to have a true Charlton legend take an interest in my posts. You are a good man, eddie. A real gent.
