Championship expectations

Can we just start the year in minus six and not bother with the Milwall games?. 

cafc_4life said:

Take 17th all day long out of that lot 

Looking at the badges it’s easy reaction to think this is going to be tough, especially as the last 3 games weren’t pretty. However, I can also see the last 3 games a a reason why we could have a good season against that lot. We had one job to do in those 3 games and that was to win promotion. Playing open, attractive football was not on the menu. Stopping the opponents from scoring and scoring at least one goal more than them was. Nathan and the Charlton players knew that and that’s what they achieved. That’s why we succeeded in the playoffs and the other 3 teams didn’t. That’s why ability to adapt and dig in will win us points when the opposition we face is too tough to play football against.

It’s also easy to think all those teams are going have an edge over us because they either survived the Championship in the season just ended, have come down from the PL or finished in the L1 automatic spots on the back of a shed load of money. However, there’s that word again, those Championship teams won’t all be as strong as they were before, or sufficiently strong to survive because there were 3 worse teams than them. Managers and squad players will change this summer and during the course of next season, some teams obviously will improve but we don’t need to beat everyone in the division. The incoming PL sides might have also another ‘Luton’ in their midst with any luck. 

We had to go up.  Another season in league one would have been tough - we’d have lost key players and had to rebuild again.  I do also wonder whether Nathan would really have wanted to do that all again. Yes , it will be tough but if Pompey and Oxford can survive , we can .  

KiwiValley said:

Can we just start the year in minus six and not bother with the Milwall games?. 

🤐Kiwi.
Other than the last season we played them with Zero points, most of the other seasons we had a draw with a loss either at home or away; still a shocking record as many times the teams were equal in status with Millwall below as in the table in some games.

The Cafc fans are defeated before we even play Millwall which needs to stop and no reason not to believe that the new mentality of the team can't see the dismal record change.

I can die* happy WHEN we finally beat Millwall if the Charlton fans sing "can we play you every week" 😀

Hopefully our welcomed Refugee on CL @MillwallFan
will enjoy the irony ?

*If I last that long 😂

PWR

Major surgery needed on this squad if we want to compete next season. 

Woodwork said:

I think the thing with the Championship is that it is so competitive, you only have to make one misstep & you’re punished. Look at Plymouth & their Rooney experiment. Or Luton not really being in the right mindset. Both better squads than we currently have. 

Conversely, you look at the importance of a good manager at that level. Oxford United & Derby County were on paper weaker than Plymouth and Luton, but by getting in proper wily Championship managers in Rowett & Eustace, stayed up. 

Think your second paragraph is actually the important one. Of course you need good players but the league is so competitive that a really good manager makes a big big difference. You need to make a strong start too as once you’re left behind it’s incredibly difficult to get back 

MillwallFan said:

North Lower Neil said:

Derby, Oxford and Portsmouth all staying up bodes pretty well, seems there's not that same jump as Championship to PL.

There's a lot of decent established teams there but Hull, Preston, Oxford, Derby, Wednesday are there to be beaten with some decent investment and decent signings.

Having watched all of your three play off games, I would say all those three teams who came up last season are better than Charlton to be totally honest. (Oxford just marginally). 

You definitely do need some investment. The teams you mentioned in the second paragraph, whilst not the best the championship has to offer, they all managed to stay up last season and will also be looking to strengthen over the summer themselves. 

It’s a huge summer for you lot. Your owners really need to step up now. 

I wouldn't look at play off games as a measure of how good a side is. They're filled with nerves and each is a cup final. We weren't anywhere near our best yesterday, nor against Wycombe. We got the results, that's all that mattered. 

But you're right of course, we need to improve the squad. The spine of the side is OK - Mannion, Jones, Coventry, Godden - as are our full backs, and I think Anderson will thrive in the Championship, but we definitely need two quality centre mids to come in, and even if Small stays we need attacking options and strikers. Godden will do OK, Leaburn if he stays fit, but no guarantee Kanu or Mbick can step up, and Aneke, Ahadme, and Hylton must surely have played their last games for us. 

I predict the first game will be either home or away against Southampton.
I would sacrifice our (very frequent anyway) win at Fratton Park for any kind of win against Millwall.
We will get very substantial away followings at the Valley because people like to come to us as it is so easy, and they haven’t been for a while.
Next season is likely to be about good and bad runs rather than the kind of consistency we have had this season.
There is a good chance it will be a breakout season for one of Karoy Anderson, Zach Mitchell and even maybe Kahiem Dixon.

Fortune 82nd Minute said:

Southbank said:

Our defence is decent enough for Champ. We need a fetch and carry midfielder to replace Doc. A 10 as we don't have a Champ level one. A striker , a defender and a better goalie. We will get to midtable with those 5.

A better goalie? Come on be fair, Mannion has had a super game today. His handling of some dangerous crosses in the last few minutes was superb.

He's more than good enough for us next season.

The people I took along who haven’t seen Mannion this season were impressed by his command of his area. 

Am I right in saying, Chalton only had one shot on target against them after the 23rd minute of the semi final first leg? If I am remembering that right, that is absolutely phenomenal…exceptional. 

AddicksAddict said:

KiwiValley said:

Can we just start the year in minus six and not bother with the Milwall games?. 

-4; the Spanners I know expect a win and a draw. 

25/26 season is when we lay this hoodoo to rest - Millwall start on -6.

Stay up, anything else is a bonus.

Jones needs to be supported to mould the team as he chooses. I'm sure the owner(s) are delighted with his achievement and if they don't back him now (which I'm sure they will) there is no ambition or business acumen. 

My Wednesday season-ticket holder mate wishes us well, and says he thinks Wednesday will struggle next season. Clearly having a big crowd behind the team isn't enough to achieve success. Quality costs and is essential at Championship level. Anything less is likely to result in a return to League One. 

No negative thoughts right now. These boys have all done themselves proud and have earned a right to be in the conversation for next seasons squad. 

kinveachyaddick said:

I for one think the Welshman will relish the two derby games and am expecting six points from them next season! 

Me too! 😀

I think the club as a whole is in a much stronger position than in 2019.

We'll be fine