Wow. Still on cloud nine after that. Fantastic to win in the ninety minutes. I had a feeling we were going to Nick a late winner to bookend the season after it started with a last minute defeat at their place, and even the horrible own goal never took away my belief we could get back in and win it, though the minutes after we went behind were torrid. Big shout out to everyone connected with the playing side of the club, and especially the players who did the business yesterday. Magnificent performance from Williams, who seemed to terrify them - the fouls they gave away against him were a huge factor in the tail end of the game swinging our way. Parker again gave absolutely everything, and he can hold his head high. As can Phillips, who recovered from the howler at the start to make a magnificent save minutes later and prevent the score doubling. I was in the pub with a couple of decent Mackems, though they had to put up with me leaping about the place on the 94th minute, which coupled with the goal would test the patience of a saint. I wish I'd been at Wembley, but it was enough to watch us win on the box, and know we are back in the Championship next season. The ball has gone right back into RD's court now, regarding whether we make a decent fist of next season, but for this morning, all praise to BowJack and the lads. It felt as if something was trying to happen in the last few months, and thanks to a lot of hard work and graft, the dream came true. Allez allez allez - love it!
Phillips was thinking about what he was going to do with the ball, and Naby put a bit more on it than he should and the nerves of the occasion did the rest. It was great Phillips had a chance to make a great save afterwards. You only have to look at Sunderland's results this season to see that they are actually likely to sit back a bit when they take a lead.
I think we didn't get near the football we know we are capable of in any of the play off games. Different qualities were required, like courage and resilience. You can see that this mis-match of loan players, youth players and free transfers are a team. They play for each other and they need the chance to continue that next season.
Well, what a day. Was nervous and excited in equal measures when I left Lincoln yesterday. The sight of so many Charlton fans made me well up. Atmosphere was immense although it was difficult joining in the chanting due to the sheer size of the place. I thought we played well considering the occasion and Sunderland created virtually nothing. And so to the goal; well I have never experienced anything quite like that in 45 years of supporting this club. To a man, the team stood up to the pressure and delivered. Special mention to Pratley though who was excellent. Caught the train back with a lot of unhappy but well behaved Mackems. Had a beer when I got home and wallowed in the glow of victory... COYA!!
Many congrats mate! What a day. Mentioned to my boy before the game that I fancied maybe Pearce/Nabby or Bauer to pop one in from a dead ball situation. Should have had the courage of my convictions. Hope you're going to put the dosh to a season ticket - once the crazy Belgian disappears over the horizon of course!
Day to relax before a few beers later to be followed by a celebratory curry in the Amber Fort in Elmer's End. Thought the pitch caused us problems yesterday. Looked lovely but it didn't suit our quick passing style - possibly needed watering? Ball seemed to travel at slower pace or was it just me? Anyway, who cares COYR's!!!!!!
I hadn't been nervous or over excited in the build up.
I hadn't been nervous or overexcited during the game.
That was until Bauer scored.
How could the ref re-start the game? Please please don't let them equalise now, come on Ref, times up, blow that feckin whistle. Longest six seconds I can remember.
Felt great to be part of this great gathering of the Charlton clan. So many young people and kids seeing their club at Wembley for the first time, the future is yours.
Not a great game or performance but Bowyer stopped Sunderland and then played a masterstroke by putting Pearce at the back and pushing Beilik into midfield. Sarr is fine when we dominate and he isn't pressurised on the deck but his booking showed how his weaknesses can be exposed. He was partly at fault too for the overshot back pass on target but Philips has to own that OG and to be far to him he did. "Luckiest man alive" as he said.
Our first goal exemplified our season, neat triangles around the box, a low, hard cross into the box and score. How many goals have come from that? This season or even just in the play-offs?
That it was a full back showed that we needed defenders to score to overcome Sunderland's strong defence and that was wonderfully, beautifully proved again at the death.
Scrappiest of scrappy goals. I lost sight of the ball then suddenly it reappeared, bouncing of a defenders knee and bulging the side netting.
Glad there were replays and TV highlights as missed all the players celebrations due to my own.
Shouts out to the aggressive Pratley, when you get booed off by the opposition you know you've done your job ,and to Williams, perfect sub who kept the ball, won free kicks and gave the rest of the team, who looked absolutely knackered last 15 minutes, an out ball and some respite.
A lot will change over the summer, hope upon hope that that doesn't include the manager but does include the owner but that is for other threads.
Right now we did it, we did it. See you all in the Championship.
Swipe me - what a moment. If you could bottle it and sell it... It's why we go through all the pain. No Liverpool "fan" from Bexley, or Manchester United "fan" from Basingstoke will ever feel that.
What a brilliant team Bow and Jacko have put together.
We took our little lad to his 1st game yesterday, not a bad one to go to I suppose. Have had to explain to him it's not always that good. I imagine his 1st trip to the valley will be a bit less exciting!
I was 12 in 98 and so fully conscious of the significance and how mental it all was . To me this feels better and I wasn’t even there . Watching it surrounded by mackems in Rhodes, I feared a battering when the OG went in. To turn it around without playing particularly well showed great courage
Anybody else surprised about Sunderland's complete no-show? Without taking anything away from our boys who showed some amazing courage after the early mistake and deserve all the credit for fighting right up to the final whistle.
In the first half I felt both sides needed to do better but we rectified that in the second half. Sunderland made no attempt to up their game and take the game to us a bit more. Not complaining, just an observation.
I am and I'm not
Most of us watched the Semi-Final between Sunderland v Portsmouth and think a lot of us were shocked at the lack of creativity between both teams
Both sides looked lethargic and slow in both legs and whilst Sunderland kept a clean sheet @ Fratton Park it was more down to Portsmouth not taking their chances, certainly dont remember Sunderland creating anything in either game other than brief bit of magic from Chris Maguire (Dont know if he had much involvement yesterday but was delighted when he was subbed) when he scored the only goal
Sunderland without Maja's pace and the creativity of a fit McGeady are a very ordinary side. We didn't show that much quality yesterday, but the football for our first goal (which was rightly praised in the Quest commentary) was at a higher level to anything they produced yesterday.
It's a credit to Bowyer that we coped with the loss of Grant far better than they did with the loss of Maja, when they were the team who splashed out on a big name replacement (flop)
Great game, Charlton flame well and truly reignited. Now looking at a season tickets in the covered end, I think my time boycotting games is over... just want to do it in the way that gives roland as little money as possible.
Watched the game from high up but as I could only drink Coffee and water for medical reasons, I feel my sober views are relevant. Nabby Sarr's two worse games have been the last two when he played in a 3 at the back. After the bizarre own goal in which Naby should've played a different angle back to Dillon. (Taught that as a kid, and then taught that as a coach) Phillips recovered from the cock up but Sarr didn't and was rightly hooked at H/T
The consenus was Purrington and Dijksteel can't play as wing backs ! They could yesterday and both played a big part in our first goal which was a thing of beauty.
Bielik is a great talent but when he plays in a 3 at the back we lose his great surging runs forward from midfield.
Bauer and Pearce were rocks when the old partnership came back together.
If Cullen hadn't dislocated his shoulder, i believe we would've got the extra 4 points to catch Barnsley as the lad is on the ball so much and pulls the strings.
Joe Aribo played a big part in the first goal but for some reason decided to pass than take on defenders on the edge of the box on so many occasions, it seemed a waste of his magic feet.
Pratley best three performances were his last 3 when at last I could see what he brings to the side. A work horse but meant as a compliment.
Parker tries so very hard but despite his limitation his passing was good second half. Lyle Taylor wasn't at his very best but the pass across goal for the equaliser was sublime and that's why Lyle plays as much as a winger as he does as a number 9. Jonny Williams may have only been on the field for 23 minutes but it was a superb cameo and they could only stop him with fouls and if Jonny wasn't created by Swarovski he would play more minutes.
Bowyer and JJ played a blinder yesterday. The Wembley pitch should've been Taylor made for Naby's 50 yard passes (that's why he started in front of Pearce) but after the cock up Naby lost confidence. To get through the Play-offs when you only have 1 striker who also spend 50% as a very good winger was an act of genius from Lee Bowyer. Perhaps we were lucky that Sunderland were mediocre and weren't as good as Doncaster were at the valley.
The memories will live for ever, long after the bruises have gone!
Not read the whole thread - and I am sure someone must have mentioned it, but big-up Lyle for his post match interview. Firmly nailed his colours to the mast!
Still feel emotional this morning. To think I have witnessed two of the greatest Charlton matches in its history is an absolute privilege. Forget about his past misdemeanours, Lee Bowyer should be inducted into the Charlton Hall of fame now. Absolute Legend
They have even inducted Jimmy Seed yet, give ‘em a chance!
When you are a Charlton fan, you have to take the regular kicks to the head for those moments. They don't come very often, but when they do, they mean so much more to us. I can only thank Bowyer, and his team and the team. Everyone of them. Pratley got some stick earlier in the season, but showed himself to be a bloody hero. Parker had an excellent game. You could go through them one by one - a proper team and we are all proud of you all.
Morning all! from this Mackem owned B&B in Eltham.
Like so many other overseas Lifers, yesterday cost me a shedload of money, but you cannot buy a day like yesterday, from picking up the scent on CL threads to bumping into people I know on trains packed solid with Charlton fans, to the night closing in at Borough Market and still, delirious Charlton fans everywhere.
So of course we all turned up yesterday but I would like to shout to those who stumped up and down the country last autumn, singing the praises of the team Bow had put together, and slowly persuading the rest of us to believe. There are probably about 300-400 of you. You know who you are. I know just a few of you. I hope you all got tickets for yesterday, and had the day of your lives. Nobody deserved it more than you.
Comments
No more pointless check a trade trophy crap.
I was in the pub with a couple of decent Mackems, though they had to put up with me leaping about the place on the 94th minute, which coupled with the goal would test the patience of a saint. I wish I'd been at Wembley, but it was enough to watch us win on the box, and know we are back in the Championship next season. The ball has gone right back into RD's court now, regarding whether we make a decent fist of next season, but for this morning, all praise to BowJack and the lads. It felt as if something was trying to happen in the last few months, and thanks to a lot of hard work and graft, the dream came true.
Allez allez allez - love it!
I think we didn't get near the football we know we are capable of in any of the play off games. Different qualities were required, like courage and resilience. You can see that this mis-match of loan players, youth players and free transfers are a team. They play for each other and they need the chance to continue that next season.
Still think that was the reason for Charlton winning yesterday as they knew that stark reality too
I hadn't been nervous or overexcited during the game.
That was until Bauer scored.
How could the ref re-start the game? Please please don't let them equalise now, come on Ref, times up, blow that feckin whistle. Longest six seconds I can remember.
Felt great to be part of this great gathering of the Charlton clan. So many young people and kids seeing their club at Wembley for the first time, the future is yours.
Not a great game or performance but Bowyer stopped Sunderland and then played a masterstroke by putting Pearce at the back and pushing Beilik into midfield. Sarr is fine when we dominate and he isn't pressurised on the deck but his booking showed how his weaknesses can be exposed. He was partly at fault too for the overshot back pass on target but Philips has to own that OG and to be far to him he did. "Luckiest man alive" as he said.
Our first goal exemplified our season, neat triangles around the box, a low, hard cross into the box and score. How many goals have come from that? This season or even just in the play-offs?
That it was a full back showed that we needed defenders to score to overcome Sunderland's strong defence and that was wonderfully, beautifully proved again at the death.
Scrappiest of scrappy goals. I lost sight of the ball then suddenly it reappeared, bouncing of a defenders knee and bulging the side netting.
Glad there were replays and TV highlights as missed all the players celebrations due to my own.
Shouts out to the aggressive Pratley, when you get booed off by the opposition you know you've done your job ,and to Williams, perfect sub who kept the ball, won free kicks and gave the rest of the team, who looked absolutely knackered last 15 minutes, an out ball and some respite.
A lot will change over the summer, hope upon hope that that doesn't include the manager but does include the owner but that is for other threads.
Right now we did it, we did it. See you all in the Championship.
What a brilliant team Bow and Jacko have put together.
Thank god we were saved from extra time and penalties as i don't think i could've taken it.
No more Checkatrade nonsense, into the 3rd round of the FA Cup and we get to renew acquaintances with our old friends from the Den.
It's a credit to Bowyer that we coped with the loss of Grant far better than they did with the loss of Maja, when they were the team who splashed out on a big name replacement (flop)
Nabby Sarr's two worse games have been the last two when he played in a 3 at the back. After the bizarre own goal in which Naby should've played a different angle back to Dillon. (Taught that as a kid, and then taught that as a coach)
Phillips recovered from the cock up but Sarr didn't and was rightly hooked at H/T
The consenus was Purrington and Dijksteel can't play as wing backs ! They could yesterday and both played a big part in our first goal which was a thing of beauty.
Bielik is a great talent but when he plays in a 3 at the back we lose his great surging runs forward from midfield.
Bauer and Pearce were rocks when the old partnership came back together.
If Cullen hadn't dislocated his shoulder, i believe we would've got the extra 4 points to catch Barnsley as the lad is on the ball so much and pulls the strings.
Joe Aribo played a big part in the first goal but for some reason decided to pass than take on defenders on the edge of the box on so many occasions, it seemed a waste of his magic feet.
Pratley best three performances were his last 3 when at last I could see what he brings to the side. A work horse but meant as a compliment.
Parker tries so very hard but despite his limitation his passing was good second half.
Lyle Taylor wasn't at his very best but the pass across goal for the equaliser was sublime and that's why Lyle plays as much as a winger as he does as a number 9.
Jonny Williams may have only been on the field for 23 minutes but it was a superb cameo and they could only stop him with fouls and if Jonny wasn't created by Swarovski he would play more minutes.
Bowyer and JJ played a blinder yesterday.
The Wembley pitch should've been Taylor made for Naby's 50 yard passes (that's why he started in front of Pearce) but after the cock up Naby lost confidence.
To get through the Play-offs when you only have 1 striker who also spend 50% as a very good winger was an act of genius from Lee Bowyer.
Perhaps we were lucky that Sunderland were mediocre and weren't as good as Doncaster were at the valley.
The memories will live for ever, long after the bruises have gone!
Like so many other overseas Lifers, yesterday cost me a shedload of money, but you cannot buy a day like yesterday, from picking up the scent on CL threads to bumping into people I know on trains packed solid with Charlton fans, to the night closing in at Borough Market and still, delirious Charlton fans everywhere.
So of course we all turned up yesterday but I would like to shout to those who stumped up and down the country last autumn, singing the praises of the team Bow had put together, and slowly persuading the rest of us to believe. There are probably about 300-400 of you. You know who you are. I know just a few of you. I hope you all got tickets for yesterday, and had the day of your lives. Nobody deserved it more than you.
Curbishley X2
Powell
Bowyer
All former players who managed promotion campaigns. Indeed Lennie in 1986 is the only outsider in this period to achieve promotion with us.