Championship expectations

I see us in a mini league with Oxford, Derby, QPR, Pompey, Preston, Sheff Weds and Hull and our games between these teams will define our season. 

se9addick said:

letthegoodtimesroll said:

se9addick said:

AberystwythAddick said:

21st on goal difference is what I’d take, just survive and consolidate 

Agreed. The business we’ve done so far can  best be described as “solid but unspectacular”. I wasn’t expecting much more in the window by this point, but still feel this season is going to be a really tough slog and our current spot amongst the favourites to go down is about right. 

Is that feeling based upon every other team in the Championship this season is obviously much better and stronger than Charlton, not had to change their manager, don’t have any financial or other issues to contend with, haven’t lost any key players or loans so far and have all made much better signings in this transfer window so far ? 

No.

It’s more that we have just been promoted from a pub league to a very competitive one. I do think some of our fans understand how big the gap between L1 and the Championship has grown. 

The other two teams that came up with us, who you would normally expect to be in the struggle with you, are not as likely to be part of a relegation fight as usual. That means that we need three more established Championship teams to finish below us to avoid relegation. Not impossible but it’s a big, big ask and like I say I think it’s going to be really tough. 

Damn, didn’t think of that. If only somebody had told Nathan and we had some players with experience of playing in the Championship…

letthegoodtimesroll said:

se9addick said:

letthegoodtimesroll said:

se9addick said:

AberystwythAddick said:

21st on goal difference is what I’d take, just survive and consolidate 

Agreed. The business we’ve done so far can  best be described as “solid but unspectacular”. I wasn’t expecting much more in the window by this point, but still feel this season is going to be a really tough slog and our current spot amongst the favourites to go down is about right. 

Is that feeling based upon every other team in the Championship this season is obviously much better and stronger than Charlton, not had to change their manager, don’t have any financial or other issues to contend with, haven’t lost any key players or loans so far and have all made much better signings in this transfer window so far ? 

No.

It’s more that we have just been promoted from a pub league to a very competitive one. I do think some of our fans understand how big the gap between L1 and the Championship has grown. 

The other two teams that came up with us, who you would normally expect to be in the struggle with you, are not as likely to be part of a relegation fight as usual. That means that we need three more established Championship teams to finish below us to avoid relegation. Not impossible but it’s a big, big ask and like I say I think it’s going to be really tough. 

Damn, didn’t think of that. If only somebody had told Nathan and we had some players with experience of playing in the Championship…

I mean, you asked why I felt a certain way, I explained it and then you get sarky…

I think Millwall will be top eight but probably not quite making it to top six.

With the club under NJ stewardship for 18 months now, the momentum is well and truly moving forward. I don't expect a slow start like NJ's teams are known for, tbf we didn't start slowly last season for the 1st couple of months. But the slump we experienced, I can't see a repeat.

Our style and ways of playing are now cemented, certainly doing the basics, work rate and tenacity. These are the things that will gain us points that may be deemed hard to get in certain games. 

Some of our new signings know Nathan and what he demands and expects, so there is familiarity there too. I think/hope we have a season of relative steadiness. Mid table all the way would be a brilliant season. We will get battered a couple of times, no doubt with the ex prem clubs in the league, but i feel we will bloody some noses that would be unexpected too. 

Bring it on!! UTA!!!! 

benjest1989 said:

Still have some catching up to do when compared to the rest of the league 

Of course, but the target should have always been to spend approx 10 million, and we are on track for that.

We need to survive and stabilise to start building a really expensive squad. 

As Charlton fans we aren't used to the bare minimum to make ourselves competitive, we have become so accustomed to loans and terrible freebies that this is a genuinely exciting window.

Scoham said:

https://youtu.be/T14lOFlMGJQ?feature=shared https://x.com/dragonsportswal/status/1945147552971575602?s=46&t=A-w3Eq0EWWpjMxring904Q

Good piece, he hits the nail on the head regarding NJ. 

I know that Wembley wasn’t that long ago but it seems ages !! I can’t wait for 12.30 09/08/2025 !! Whatever happens this year I’m sure it will be exciting and I have a sneaky feeling we are going to surprise a few people 

letthegoodtimesroll said:

AndyG said:

I know that Wembley wasn’t that long ago but it seems ages !! I can’t wait for 12.30 09/08/2025 !! Whatever happens this year I’m sure it will be exciting and I have a sneaky feeling we are going to surprise a few people 

I think all 3 promoted clubs are going to cause some panic in boardrooms up and down the Championship this season. I don’t see any of us struggling and providing that cosy cushion in the bottom half for the others by occupying the relegation spots for them, quite the opposite in fact. The January transfer window will be interesting this season.

I agree mate with the caveat that Wrexham need to do quite a lot of business this Summer and it’s surprising to me that they haven’t so far. If they don’t I think they could struggle

letthegoodtimesroll said:

AndyG said:

I know that Wembley wasn’t that long ago but it seems ages !! I can’t wait for 12.30 09/08/2025 !! Whatever happens this year I’m sure it will be exciting and I have a sneaky feeling we are going to surprise a few people 

I think all 3 promoted clubs are going to cause some panic in boardrooms up and down the Championship this season. I don’t see any of us struggling and providing that cosy cushion in the bottom half for the others by occupying the relegation spots for them, quite the opposite in fact. The January transfer window will be interesting this season.

I would say it is far more likely that Birmingham get promoted instead of relegated, and Wrexham at home will not be an easy 3 points for anyone, with their style and the atmosphere, I can see them claiming some right scalps, I still believe their home performance vs us was the best of the season I saw. 

As for us, there is work to do still, but it can't be denied we are improving our squad, and we have a lot of qualities we are bringing up with us. I think similar to Wrexham, we just won't be an easy 3 points at home for anyone, you'll have to genuinely be a good side to beat us now. 

I am far more leaning towards staying up now than I was a month ago, a few more signings and I will be fairly confident we will manage to stay up.

AndyG said:

letthegoodtimesroll said:

AndyG said:

I know that Wembley wasn’t that long ago but it seems ages !! I can’t wait for 12.30 09/08/2025 !! Whatever happens this year I’m sure it will be exciting and I have a sneaky feeling we are going to surprise a few people 

I think all 3 promoted clubs are going to cause some panic in boardrooms up and down the Championship this season. I don’t see any of us struggling and providing that cosy cushion in the bottom half for the others by occupying the relegation spots for them, quite the opposite in fact. The January transfer window will be interesting this season.

I agree mate with the caveat that Wrexham need to do quite a lot of business this Summer and it’s surprising to me that they haven’t so far. If they don’t I think they could struggle

To keep their momentum going I envisage them pushing the Hollywood boat out and looking to shop for or loan in experienced PL players nearing the end of their top flight careers this time around but who probably still won’t be released until their clubs secure replacements first. 

Braziliance said:

letthegoodtimesroll said:

AndyG said:

I know that Wembley wasn’t that long ago but it seems ages !! I can’t wait for 12.30 09/08/2025 !! Whatever happens this year I’m sure it will be exciting and I have a sneaky feeling we are going to surprise a few people 

I think all 3 promoted clubs are going to cause some panic in boardrooms up and down the Championship this season. I don’t see any of us struggling and providing that cosy cushion in the bottom half for the others by occupying the relegation spots for them, quite the opposite in fact. The January transfer window will be interesting this season.

I would say it is far more likely that Birmingham get promoted instead of relegated, and Wrexham at home will not be an easy 3 points for anyone, with their style and the atmosphere, I can see them claiming some right scalps, I still believe their home performance vs us was the best of the season I saw. 

As for us, there is work to do still, but it can't be denied we are improving our squad, and we have a lot of qualities we are bringing up with us. I think similar to Wrexham, we just won't be an easy 3 points at home for anyone, you'll have to genuinely be a good side to beat us now. 

I am far more leaning towards staying up now than I was a month ago, a few more signings and I will be fairly confident we will manage to stay up.

Would have us ahead of Wrexham at the moment, though still a lot of time to go in the window. 

ElfsborgAddick said:

MillwallFan said:

DOUCHER said:

MillwallFan said:

Lincsaddick said:

I'm feeling optimistic .. our signings are not (so far) spectacular, no neon marquee names, just good solid pros with (mostly) Championship experience .. at the VERY least I expect us to be well clear of the relegation zone .. that might sound negative, but so what, who expects us to get promoted this season ?

You’ve made some half decent signings but so have nearly everyone else. This league is always evolving. It’s relentless at times and it’s a job just to keep up. 

i'm feeling optimistic coz i spoke to another couple of millwall fans yesterday who were worried - again, both don't rate coburn and couldn't believe u paid £3.5m + on him and said ivanovic was good but not great - you've never scored many goals i guess so looks like that won't be changing - its gonna be tough but i'm confident NJ can mould a functional, hard working team probably similar to you lot and thats got you to comfortable upper mid table - i think we need to sign another player who takes players on and creates and i think we need to push the boat out for the right player - if we do, i think we'll be fine   

We did a lot of business in January so only need a few tweeks this window. 

I know you don’t rate Coburn or now Ivanovich (or rather your ‘Millwall mates’ don’t) but if you had taken our league form from january, which is incidentally when Alex Neil took over, and both Coburn and Ivanovich became regulars in the team, then we would have finished 5th. Which bodes well for next season. But it’s a funny old game as the great man once said so we’ll see. 

It's not a funny old game when we play you

Funny that you lot call it our cup final. When you do finally beat us (it’s got to happen sooner or later) then you will all celebrate like you’ve won the cup 😉

MillwallFan said:

ElfsborgAddick said:

MillwallFan said:

DOUCHER said:

MillwallFan said:

Lincsaddick said:

I'm feeling optimistic .. our signings are not (so far) spectacular, no neon marquee names, just good solid pros with (mostly) Championship experience .. at the VERY least I expect us to be well clear of the relegation zone .. that might sound negative, but so what, who expects us to get promoted this season ?

You’ve made some half decent signings but so have nearly everyone else. This league is always evolving. It’s relentless at times and it’s a job just to keep up. 

i'm feeling optimistic coz i spoke to another couple of millwall fans yesterday who were worried - again, both don't rate coburn and couldn't believe u paid £3.5m + on him and said ivanovic was good but not great - you've never scored many goals i guess so looks like that won't be changing - its gonna be tough but i'm confident NJ can mould a functional, hard working team probably similar to you lot and thats got you to comfortable upper mid table - i think we need to sign another player who takes players on and creates and i think we need to push the boat out for the right player - if we do, i think we'll be fine   

We did a lot of business in January so only need a few tweeks this window. 

I know you don’t rate Coburn or now Ivanovich (or rather your ‘Millwall mates’ don’t) but if you had taken our league form from january, which is incidentally when Alex Neil took over, and both Coburn and Ivanovich became regulars in the team, then we would have finished 5th. Which bodes well for next season. But it’s a funny old game as the great man once said so we’ll see. 

It's not a funny old game when we play you

Funny that you lot call it our cup final. When you do finally beat us (it’s got to happen sooner or later) then you will all celebrate like you’ve won the cup 😉

Approaching 30 years since our last win against 'wall. Blimey!! I may have to investigate flying back for it just in case it happens. 

Wrexham's home record in recent years is incredible. Just 6 defeats in 4 seasons.