Thoughts after nine league games

Played 9

won 3, drawn 3, lost 3

Scored 8

position - 12th.

I think we are about where we should be. Only QPR in the second half when we lost shape, and Preston have given us a chasing.

The obvious flaw in our set up is we don’t create much, or look like scoring many. A few have under performed or not stepped up to the next level, which is to be expected in any promoted side.

If we finish 17th - 20th this season it will be a job very well done.

 

I would have settled for that at the start of the season. But we need to beat Sheff Wed.

 

This game will be more difficult than people think, at home Wednesday are atrocious but away from home they have put in better performances.

I'll go for a narrow home win.

 

We're beating struggling teams, getting a point or losing out against top 8 contenders.

A recipe for a finish around 15th or 16th place, maybe 57 to 60 points.
Good consolidation for a first season back up.
Then we have to look to summer 2026, and hope the owners invest a little more.

 

I really think we have enough to finish in a safe position.

 

I am very happy with our position. The football is not exactly fantastic to watch but not getting a hiding is key to our confidence. Jonesy like Curbs got players performing at their best and aside from TC all last seasons players have improved

 

We will never play attractive football under NJ. Luton didn’t. It’s not his USP. He’s all about organisation, aggression & working the margins on dead balls & subs.

He’s also an aggravating little f***ker who by all accounts has fallen out with just about everyone (look at the body count , it’s only matched by ITTV banning).

Charlton fans will tolerate all of the above so long as NJ has us in the Championship, which is where a club like ours should be.

Personally I’d much rather pay £35 to see us draw 0-0 with Sheff Wed in front of 20,000, than pay £31.50 last season to watch us play Crawley in front of 6,000.

 

It’s good to have the good the bad and the ugly back u work it out for yourselves whose who

 

Should of put short and ugly - would of been easier to work out

 

I've never liked Jones.
To his credit he has found a way to get Charlton promoted. And it looks like possibly a way to keep us in the 2nd tier.

Do I think he can get us anywhere near a promotion push (not this season, but at any time during the next three or four)?
No.

Wouldn't mind him proving me wrong, but for the next year or two I'll be content with consolidation.
Mid-table finishes and a gradual strengthening / deepening of the squad.

 

I doubt many like him , but that’s not the point. He’s fallen out with May, Mitchell and now Apter, and a member of the first team who plays every week said that working with him is full on. It’s his way or the highway. It spoke volumes that when the first team coach left recently, Jones instantly replaced him with NJ Yes Man Danny Hylton, who has no coaching experience.

 

I'm enjoying the season. The Valley was like a morgue when NJ took over. Appleton standing there silent, hands in pockets and head down. We were heading for L2, crowds of 9,000 max.
The crunch will come when suspensions and injuries kick in and we find out how strong the bench is. Neither striker has scored yet, and although Campbell's end product has been clumsy he's the only player who runs at defenders, at least while Apter is out of favour. What I hope is that NJ is building from the back, and that if we stay up, we'll improve things up front next summer.

 

Campbell is one of the players who hasn’t made the graduation to the higher level.

His stats for a No.7 are terrible.

this season -

0 goals
1 assist
16 shots, only 1 on target.

As the youngsters say these days ..”facts”

 

I never expected promotion last season so I’m still living in a bonus round. Jones is like that publican that bans you for the smalllest thing like being drunk in his pub or not wearing trousers. Strict and no fun but on the flip side he is passionate and getting it right.

 

You don't have any mirrors in your house do you

 

It's a welsh thing. A good job he does not have a message board.

 

I know for a fact Nathan Jones spoke to Cardiff City about become their manager this Summer.

Never get hung up on one individual whether that be player or manager, it’s only the long term supporters who are loyal to a football club.

 

I do - but too high for you to use

 

You're on form today Smudger, you must be knocking one out that @Part Time Crombie Model is back.

 

Very happy for the reunion - cracked open a Staropramen ITTV loss is our gain