A new era, a new start and a renewed hope amongst fans.
Charlton’s 20th permanent manager is a living legend of that there is no doubt. His character, professionalism and dedication is something that is extremely difficult to locate in the modern football world and even if Chris Powell says he feels lucky to be our manager, I get the impression we should be the one’s who feel lucky to have such a human being in charge of our club.
The flip side of the euphoria engulfing the message boards, Twitter and households around South East London (and beyond) is that none of us know how good a manager he is. I doubt we’ll find out in his first game against Plymouth on Saturday and I doubt we’ll really know until at least 10 games into his fledging “Number One” career. The right words are being spoken by our new Chairman Mr. Slater saying we have a plan in place and Chris will be given time (enhanced by his length of contract) and the financial shackles that made promotion essential five months ago have been broken, making a return to the Championship this season just “nice”.
That’s all well and good, but at the very centre of a football supporter’s make-up is the desire to win, to beat teams on Saturday, to get more points than anyone else and to be successful. This desire across the country seems even more prevalent nowadays with the slightest setback being met with negativity on a much higher scale than in the past. Chris Powell will be given more time by supporters than say Gary Johnson or Eddie Howe would have but he still will need to win games and show signs of improvement because in the end all of us want to see Charlton winning games.
Hopefully this will start on Saturday. The atmosphere, feeling of goodwill and excitement that will engulf The Valley against Plymouth would seemingly set-up a no-lose situation but we can’t take this game for granted. With a good 3-1 victory over play-off rivals MK Dons in midweek they cannot be taken lightly, and, with Chris Powell in attendance in Milton Keynes on Tuesday night I’m sure he won’t allow it.
I can’t see any changes to the team that started at Sheffield Wednesday last week with Paul Benson serving the final game of his three match ban and in the whole the team performed well. Nathan Ecclestone may make an appearance at the expense of Alan McCormack if Powelly goes for two up top but it’s unlikely.
If Chris Powell’s managerial career with Charlton is anything like his playing career then we should be in for some good years (although hopefully with more goals!).
We can’t lose this, it just wouldn’t be right. 2-0.
Come on you reds!
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Comments
Would like to see two up top at home , with a re-energised Valley roaring the team on. I'd give the boy Eccleston a chance (if he's recovered from the hardest day's training in his life yesterday!)
Key thing is for Powell, as a defender himself, to sort things out at the back, though.
I'm sure there will be a wobble at some point, as there is in every game, and Plymouth will get one back. But the crowd, playing the role of a proper '12th man' for the first time in ages, is going to be worth an extra goal, so Charlton 3-1.
CP certainly seems to be pushing them in training as Eccleston and, I belive, Fry have mentioned on their twiter sites, and that can only be good for the players.
Add all this extra hard training to a 12th man in the form of supporters and a winning start is on the cards. Plymouth will not be pushovers, but I think SCP will have the addicks playing with a passion and pride that has sadly been lacking over the past few months (years?). It will be a good game, but I expect a home win.
Sadly cant get there, but will be providing updates on here for others unable to attend or listen.
A typically CP hard graft performance: 2-1 win.
Oh, and a great UNIFIED atmosphere at The Valley for the first time in ages!! I'm a gonna be there early for this one!
Unless some new signings come in expect to see the same side as v Spurs and Weds but playing 4-3-3. Maybe with Jackson in the middle so Reid and Waggy can play wide.
Siep to have a blinder in defence.
I just hope we don't lose in Chris' first game.
Should be a routine win really, we are better than Plymouth but when we do ever do things the easy way.
Hopefully a better crowd than of late and everyone gets behind the team and not just Chris Powell.
The crowd will be up for it, will the team!......
Feel we could do with a good footballing day, and a win of course!.
The team need to deliver and as a team have some sense of occassion and pride!
3-0 valley party.
Chrissy powells red and white army
Come on that's abit unrealistic.... 12-1 ;-)
... still can't sort our leaky defence
Boooooooooo
Any sort of performance from our over trained twitterers will see a comfortable home win
The feel good factor should make for a rare decent atmosphere at the Valley and for once it will feel like we have passionate fans rather than the 90 minute sponsored silence most fans partake in each home game
Maybe if we're 2-0 down at ht we can boooooo them off and in doing so will give them the lift to come out and perform better
Which means it is down to us.
Lots of noise leading to 1-0 us, then crowd run out of steam and get edgy, realising we are still in the third division with third rate players.
1-1, then the Valley crowd respond.
2-1 Addicks.
oh, FACT
edited to add this
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12215248
in the hope Chris will read it and incorporate the ideas into his team talk.
I’d be gutted if Chris started his managerial career with a timid 4-5-1 at home and expect changes from the starting line-up used since Parky left. Mac to step down, and a new strikeforce of Akpo and Anyinsah – incredible to think we are in the second half of the season and this pairing has yet to start. The full backs reportedly were poor last time out, and despite Fry’s relatively solid season so far, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Jackson, Jenkinson or both step up. Given our current squad my back four would be Jenks, Dailly, Fry, Jackson but possibly CP will make as few changes as possible.
I just hope the players respond to SCP and really want to impress him with committed performances.
There should be a decent crowd and a lot of goodwill so they had better not squander it with another poor home game. I know SCP can't change things overnight but I hope to see the boys really wanting it Saturday.
In SCP and his likely lads,I have faith.
Airman, how many have we (and for that matter Plymouth) flogged for this?
More than likely !!
The Pilgrims' 3-1 victory at MK Dons was marred by injuries to defender Onismor Bhasera (knee) and forward Joe Mason (ankle).
Zimbabwean Bhasera had given Argyle the lead and put through his own net before being stretchered off at stadiummk, and he could be replaced by Jim Paterson.
Mason, who had been enjoying an impressive run of appearances, may not return to first-team action this month, which could give Rory Patterson an extended spell in the starting XI.
Enforced changes aside, Reid looks set to stick with the same players who secured Argyle's fourth away win of the campaign.