Although the Lillywhites started impressively, their opponents took the lead through Jason Euell on 28 minutes and never looked back. Second half goals from three up-and-coming Addicks starlets, Tosan Popo, Callum Harriott and Ade Azeez, wrapped up a productive exercise for the club. With manager Chris Powell watching from the stands, the friendly may have been the final chance for free agents Euell and Alexis Honore to stake a claim for a contract. But while Euell's goal and performance may have boosted his chances of full-time employment under former team-mate Powell, Honore struggled to make an impact before being replaced at half-time. Ruben Bover and Bradley Pritchard once again impressed after featuring as subs at The Valley, while another intriguing story emerging from Hayes Lane was the performance of Simon Francis. The right-back gave a performance nothing like some of the hesitant and confidence-bereft appearances which earned him the scold of large pockets of the Charlton fanbase. He may well have convinced Powell to keep him around as an extra option. Finally, the game allowed young keepers Conor Gough and Nick Pope, almost certain to spend the season behind Rob Elliot and John Sullivan in the pecking order, 45 minutes each of field time. Both looked assured between the sticks, with Gough making several impressive saves.
I saw this report in the newsshopper todayand thought i'd share the report with you guy's. It seems that Francis had a most impressive game.
Yes, KP - I think the penny's finally dropped that if he doesn't play to his full potential every game, he's out on his you-know-what. We could be in the middle of a remarkable transformation here.
Agreed Tewkes, maybe this will be the turning point and realisation has kicked in. I hope that he gives Chrissie food for thought and if he is kept it would give us a bit more cash to find this 20 goal a season striker
Thanks for posting the report KP. A quick question for you boys... Why has Harriott featured so little for us this pre season? He really looked the part at the end of the last campaign and with Evina injured for the most part and JJ our only other recognised LM, I'm really surprised we haven't seen a bit more of him.
Franco, think Harriott is very much a 3rd choice on the left wing... hope to see a bit more of him this year but think it's too early to be thinking of him as part of the first-team squad on a regular basis, and we really need to get the new signings playing together as much as possible. Also Jackson had very little football in the 2nd half of the season so need him to be sharp. Would be good to give him a full 90 minutes in the paint-pot-cup as his performances last year were mostly brief ones as a sub.
The paint pot may well be worth being in this season as gives squad players game time...like Arsenal do in the league cup we`re the Arsenal of the lower leagues
I do want to give the Paint Pot a go this year, cos it's the only one we've got a chance of winning, but if giving the youngsters a bit of a run out helps them gain first team football to help the promotion push, I'll be fine if we get knocked out. There is one priority this year, get out of this poxy league.
