Watford’s squad has been strengthened in several areas but the bigger changes have come in attack.
Danish 22 year old Centre forward Luca Kjerrumgaard and Portuguese 20 year old striker Vivaldo Semedo have both arrived from Udinese while 19 year old wingers Othmane Maamma and Nestroy Irankunda have been recruited from Montpellier and Bayern Munich
Given the youthful nature of those signings, there are risks attached. It may take them a few months to make an impact
I’m a bit worried we haven’t strengthened in the right places over the summer. We’re in the Championship now yet we’ve got the same Match Previewers and it’s a gamble as to whether they can step up. When’s the last time any of them were previewing at the Championship level?
I think it’s very disappointing to see someone undermining a person who is given their all in that position for the past few years.
I am pretty clueless at the best of times, but with wholesale changes to both squads, and a new manager at Watford, anything could happen on Saturday. I am just utterly stoked that I am going to be there for the first game of the season back in the Championship! 😁👍🏻🍾
Think we will start fast, look for a goal early on with the atmosphere high but then settle into a cagey rhythm, not committing too much and then having another crack at it late on - that’s been the formula and don’t see it changing
I am going to say Ahadme ahead of Leaburn, probably for this one only. Leaburn is not match fit.
Ahadme isn't match fit either. He's only played 45 mins this pre-season.
Gas was terrible last season in League 1 - it’s amazing what 2 goals against non league can do to people’s memories! If we need Gas this season, something will have gone very wrong!
Yes he was, but he only played in the first half of the season when the (mostly long ball) style didn't suit him and Nathan was just establishing his "style" and identifying his best 11. Second half of the season he didn't get a look in - for whatever reason we don't know - rumours of long term injury/illness. None of us are convinced he is the solution or can step up in the Championship - but I wouldn't write him off yet - and, as others have said, we might have no alternative but to play him.
Much the same could be said about Nathan Jones. Loads of people on this forum wanted him sacked back In November. Had he been given the boot then the general consensus on here would be that he was poor manager and a failure.
Yep like some others here, it will be an early start around 7 from Norwich on Saturday with 10 year old grandson. He is so excited to be in the championship as he has only been going for four years. He is already arguing with his Norwich supporting mates about us beating them this season!!Can't wait till Saturday. UTA
I am going to say Ahadme ahead of Leaburn, probably for this one only. Leaburn is not match fit.
Ahadme isn't match fit either. He's only played 45 mins this pre-season.
Gas was terrible last season in League 1 - it’s amazing what 2 goals against non league can do to people’s memories! If we need Gas this season, something will have gone very wrong!
Yes he was, but he only played in the first half of the season when the (mostly long ball) style didn't suit him and Nathan was just establishing his "style" and identifying his best 11. Second half of the season he didn't get a look in - for whatever reason we don't know - rumours of long term injury/illness. None of us are convinced he is the solution or can step up in the Championship - but I wouldn't write him off yet - and, as others have said, we might have no alternative but to play him.
Much the same could be said about Nathan Jones. Loads of people on this forum wanted him sacked back In November. Had he been given the boot then the general consensus on here would be that he was poor manager and a failure.
You can’t make someone with no pace or ball control into a footballer . Jones turned us around last season - fair play to him- a lot of us have eaten humble pie . Ahadme gets an easy ride from a lot of the fan base - he’s played well 3 times for us - 2 in the FA cup (an 3 minute cameo against Southend for 3 minutes) and 1 in a friendly against a non league team . Get rid .
I’m a bit worried we haven’t strengthened in the right places over the summer. We’re in the Championship now yet we’ve got the same Match Previewers and it’s a gamble as to whether they can step up. When’s the last time any of them were previewing at the Championship level?
I think it’s very disappointing to see someone undermining a person who is given their all in that position for the past few years.
When we were promoted, Alan Forumley took us aside and said: "My one piece of advice is... you can't be too loyal. P'raps, we were too loyal to them that got us up."
Watford’s squad has been strengthened in several areas but the bigger changes have come in attack.
Danish 22 year old Centre forward Luca Kjerrumgaard and Portuguese 20 year old striker Vivaldo Semedo have both arrived from Udinese while 19 year old wingers Othmane Maamma and Nestroy Irankunda have been recruited from Montpellier and Bayern Munich
Given the youthful nature of those signings, there are risks attached. It may take them a few months to make an impact
Not The Top 20 put them 12th or 13th but made the point they didn’t know, with all those exciting young players they wouldn’t be surprised if they finished 1st or 24th.
Charlton Athletic will remember Pierre Bolangi, Ethan Ade-Oduwale and Jorge Costa with a minute's applause ahead of Saturday’s game against Watford at The Valley.
Saturday marks the 25th anniversary since the tragic passing of Pierre Bolangi, a Charlton academy player who died at the age of 17 in 2000. The club have been working with Pierre’s family to celebrate him and help create a legacy through the work the family are doing through 3P3 The Legacy, a community interest company. More information on how to support 3P3 will be published later in the week.
Ethan Ade-Oduwale, a cherished member of the club’s U10s, passed away at the end of July. A fundraising page has been set up for Charlton fans to support Ethan’s family at this devastating time. Please click here to visit the page.
Club Chairman Gavin Carter said: "Our club is built on community, memory and respect. Saturday will be a moment to pause and honour three individuals who are forever part of our story. Ethan, Pierre and Jorge each wore the badge with pride - in the academy, on the pitch and in our memories. Their loss is deeply felt, and our thoughts are with their families, loved ones and teammates. We will always remember them as part of the Charlton family, and their legacy will live on in the spirit of our club."
We hadn’t planned on going to the Watford game this Saturday, we’ve got a family BBQ in the afternoon and that was meant to be the day’s focus.
But plans change for the right reasons.
My brother-in-law, who does fostering up in Scotland, has been looking after a football-mad lad for the last 18 months. He’ll have him for many more years too, making sure he’s got a secure and loving family environment to grow up in. We’ve been sending up Charlton shirts and bits of merch when we’ve had them, just to give the boy a bit of connection to the club, and we've always said that when they next come down, we’d take him to a game.
Well, out of the blue, they told us they’re flying down on Saturday, 06:30 flight from Edinburgh and will be staying with us. We thought about maybe going to the Stevenage game on Tuesday instead… but then thought, you know what – f* it**.
The atmosphere, the buzz, the crowd, that’s what will make it special for him. So, we’re ditching the BBQ until later in the day and four of us (BIL, child, wife and me) heading to The Valley. Football, and seeing that lad light up with it, is what matters more this time. 🤫, I prefer this. The boy doesn’t know yet and can’t be told until he get down otherwise he will drive everyone mad getting excited and talking about it.
Looking forward to seeing you all there. Let’s make it a day he’ll never forget.
We hadn’t planned on going to the Watford game this Saturday, we’ve got a family BBQ in the afternoon and that was meant to be the day’s focus.
But plans change for the right reasons.
My brother-in-law, who does fostering up in Scotland, has been looking after a football-mad lad for the last 18 months. He’ll have him for many more years too, making sure he’s got a secure and loving family environment to grow up in. We’ve been sending up Charlton shirts and bits of merch when we’ve had them, just to give the boy a bit of connection to the club, and we've always said that when they next come down, we’d take him to a game.
Well, out of the blue, they told us they’re flying down on Saturday, 06:30 flight from Edinburgh and will be staying with us. We thought about maybe going to the Stevenage game on Tuesday instead… but then thought, you know what – f* it**.
The atmosphere, the buzz, the crowd, that’s what will make it special for him. So, we’re ditching the BBQ until later in the day and four of us (BIL, child, wife and me) heading to The Valley. Football, and seeing that lad light up with it, is what matters more this time. 🤫, I prefer this. The boy doesn’t know yet and can’t be told until he get down otherwise he will drive everyone mad getting excited and talking about it.
Looking forward to seeing you all there. Let’s make it a day he’ll never forget.
That’s amazing - thanks so much for sharing such a lovely story. Really hope the lads put on a show for this wee chap and he falls in love with the Addicks (the more Scottish fans we have the better I say!!).
I am going to say Ahadme ahead of Leaburn, probably for this one only. Leaburn is not match fit.
Ahadme isn't match fit either. He's only played 45 mins this pre-season.
Gas was terrible last season in League 1 - it’s amazing what 2 goals against non league can do to people’s memories! If we need Gas this season, something will have gone very wrong!
Yes he was, but he only played in the first half of the season when the (mostly long ball) style didn't suit him and Nathan was just establishing his "style" and identifying his best 11. Second half of the season he didn't get a look in - for whatever reason we don't know - rumours of long term injury/illness. None of us are convinced he is the solution or can step up in the Championship - but I wouldn't write him off yet - and, as others have said, we might have no alternative but to play him.
Much the same could be said about Nathan Jones. Loads of people on this forum wanted him sacked back In November. Had he been given the boot then the general consensus on here would be that he was poor manager and a failure.
He was failing. He changed, he became successful. You could argue he changed because, he saw the light himself, he was persuaded by his team, fan criticism, or something else. Whatever the reason for the change, he set set the team up differently in December and turned it around. Prior to that, he was failing to get the best from his players. Some on here were slagging off our players, rather than the style of play. Please don't point the finger at fans who understood that NJ was failing. They weren't wrong.
We hadn’t planned on going to the Watford game this Saturday, we’ve got a family BBQ in the afternoon and that was meant to be the day’s focus.
But plans change for the right reasons.
My brother-in-law, who does fostering up in Scotland, has been looking after a football-mad lad for the last 18 months. He’ll have him for many more years too, making sure he’s got a secure and loving family environment to grow up in. We’ve been sending up Charlton shirts and bits of merch when we’ve had them, just to give the boy a bit of connection to the club, and we've always said that when they next come down, we’d take him to a game.
Well, out of the blue, they told us they’re flying down on Saturday, 06:30 flight from Edinburgh and will be staying with us. We thought about maybe going to the Stevenage game on Tuesday instead… but then thought, you know what – f* it**.
The atmosphere, the buzz, the crowd, that’s what will make it special for him. So, we’re ditching the BBQ until later in the day and four of us (BIL, child, wife and me) heading to The Valley. Football, and seeing that lad light up with it, is what matters more this time. 🤫, I prefer this. The boy doesn’t know yet and can’t be told until he get down otherwise he will drive everyone mad getting excited and talking about it.
Looking forward to seeing you all there. Let’s make it a day he’ll never forget.
That’s amazing - thanks so much for sharing such a lovely story. Really hope the lads put on a show for this wee chap and he falls in love with the Addicks (the more Scottish fans we have the better I say!!).
We hadn’t planned on going to the Watford game this Saturday, we’ve got a family BBQ in the afternoon and that was meant to be the day’s focus.
But plans change for the right reasons.
My brother-in-law, who does fostering up in Scotland, has been looking after a football-mad lad for the last 18 months. He’ll have him for many more years too, making sure he’s got a secure and loving family environment to grow up in. We’ve been sending up Charlton shirts and bits of merch when we’ve had them, just to give the boy a bit of connection to the club, and we've always said that when they next come down, we’d take him to a game.
Well, out of the blue, they told us they’re flying down on Saturday, 06:30 flight from Edinburgh and will be staying with us. We thought about maybe going to the Stevenage game on Tuesday instead… but then thought, you know what – f* it**.
The atmosphere, the buzz, the crowd, that’s what will make it special for him. So, we’re ditching the BBQ until later in the day and four of us (BIL, child, wife and me) heading to The Valley. Football, and seeing that lad light up with it, is what matters more this time. 🤫, I prefer this. The boy doesn’t know yet and can’t be told until he get down otherwise he will drive everyone mad getting excited and talking about it.
Looking forward to seeing you all there. Let’s make it a day he’ll never forget.
That’s amazing - thanks so much for sharing such a lovely story. Really hope the lads put on a show for this wee chap and he falls in love with the Addicks (the more Scottish fans we have the better I say!!).
Where have you got you're seats?
Hi Kap - We have them in North West Quadrant, Block D. He is quite an excitable child, we wanted him to experience the noise of the Covered End without being in the center of it all although choice of seats for four people, at that end, at this late stage was somewhat limited.
Every game will be tough and can only see us getting a 3-0 type result if an utter basket case emerges during the season - Wednesday being the likely candidate.
A narrow 2-1 win and I really don’t know nor care who will score but do reckon one of the goals will be a penalty. Tanto, TC and Apter need to use their quick feet in that 18 yrd box…
We hadn’t planned on going to the Watford game this Saturday, we’ve got a family BBQ in the afternoon and that was meant to be the day’s focus.
But plans change for the right reasons.
My brother-in-law, who does fostering up in Scotland, has been looking after a football-mad lad for the last 18 months. He’ll have him for many more years too, making sure he’s got a secure and loving family environment to grow up in. We’ve been sending up Charlton shirts and bits of merch when we’ve had them, just to give the boy a bit of connection to the club, and we've always said that when they next come down, we’d take him to a game.
Well, out of the blue, they told us they’re flying down on Saturday, 06:30 flight from Edinburgh and will be staying with us. We thought about maybe going to the Stevenage game on Tuesday instead… but then thought, you know what – f* it**.
The atmosphere, the buzz, the crowd, that’s what will make it special for him. So, we’re ditching the BBQ until later in the day and four of us (BIL, child, wife and me) heading to The Valley. Football, and seeing that lad light up with it, is what matters more this time. 🤫, I prefer this. The boy doesn’t know yet and can’t be told until he get down otherwise he will drive everyone mad getting excited and talking about it.
Looking forward to seeing you all there. Let’s make it a day he’ll never forget.
Oh mate you’re EVIL ! Giving someone the Charlton bug when there are all those clubs between Scotland and the Valley that won’t sap every emotion from him in years to come lol
Can’t remember where it was (maybe NTT20) but apparently this years ref directive that will be forgotten after a few games is to be harsher on shirt pulling etc from set pieces so Im expecting Watford to have about 10 penalties and for us to have a set piece goal chalked off
Comments
First games of the season are always tough as both teams will be getting used to a new system/players.
One goal in it.
Danish 22 year old Centre forward Luca Kjerrumgaard and Portuguese 20 year old striker Vivaldo Semedo have both arrived from Udinese while 19 year old wingers Othmane Maamma and Nestroy Irankunda have been recruited from Montpellier and Bayern Munich
Given the youthful nature of those signings, there are risks attached. It may take them a few months to make an impact
Charlton Athletic will remember Pierre Bolangi, Ethan Ade-Oduwale and Jorge Costa with a minute's applause ahead of Saturday’s game against Watford at The Valley.
Saturday marks the 25th anniversary since the tragic passing of Pierre Bolangi, a Charlton academy player who died at the age of 17 in 2000. The club have been working with Pierre’s family to celebrate him and help create a legacy through the work the family are doing through 3P3 The Legacy, a community interest company. More information on how to support 3P3 will be published later in the week.
Ethan Ade-Oduwale, a cherished member of the club’s U10s, passed away at the end of July. A fundraising page has been set up for Charlton fans to support Ethan’s family at this devastating time. Please click here to visit the page.
Former Charlton fan favourite Jorge Costa passed away on Tuesday at the age of 53. Read Alan Curbishley’s tribute to Costa by clicking here.
Club Chairman Gavin Carter said: "Our club is built on community, memory and respect. Saturday will be a moment to pause and honour three individuals who are forever part of our story. Ethan, Pierre and Jorge each wore the badge with pride - in the academy, on the pitch and in our memories. Their loss is deeply felt, and our thoughts are with their families, loved ones and teammates. We will always remember them as part of the Charlton family, and their legacy will live on in the spirit of our club."
We hadn’t planned on going to the Watford game this Saturday, we’ve got a family BBQ in the afternoon and that was meant to be the day’s focus.
But plans change for the right reasons.
My brother-in-law, who does fostering up in Scotland, has been looking after a football-mad lad for the last 18 months. He’ll have him for many more years too, making sure he’s got a secure and loving family environment to grow up in. We’ve been sending up Charlton shirts and bits of merch when we’ve had them, just to give the boy a bit of connection to the club, and we've always said that when they next come down, we’d take him to a game.
Well, out of the blue, they told us they’re flying down on Saturday, 06:30 flight from Edinburgh and will be staying with us. We thought about maybe going to the Stevenage game on Tuesday instead… but then thought, you know what – f* it**.
The atmosphere, the buzz, the crowd, that’s what will make it special for him. So, we’re ditching the BBQ until later in the day and four of us (BIL, child, wife and me) heading to The Valley. Football, and seeing that lad light up with it, is what matters more this time. 🤫, I prefer this. The boy doesn’t know yet and can’t be told until he get down otherwise he will drive everyone mad getting excited and talking about it.
Looking forward to seeing you all there. Let’s make it a day he’ll never forget.
You could argue he changed because, he saw the light himself, he was persuaded by his team, fan criticism, or something else. Whatever the reason for the change, he set set the team up differently in December and turned it around. Prior to that, he was failing to get the best from his players.
Some on here were slagging off our players, rather than the style of play.
Please don't point the finger at fans who understood that NJ was failing. They weren't wrong.