Charlton Update: 14/11/2012

At the start of the season, I predicted that Charlton would finish 9th. I fully believed that the squad who trounced all in their path last season would step up and prove themselves in a tougher division. However, it hasn't worked out the way that I thought it would, with a disappointing home record compounding the Addicks misery and consequently plunging Charlton into a fight for survival. But there have been both positives and negatives this year, and I will review what has gone right and what has gone wrong thus far.

Addicks skipper, Johnnie Jackson, nets against Cardiff in a 5-4
thriller
Firstly, Charlton's away form has been fairly impressive considering some of the results they have managed to achieve on the road. They have only been beaten twice on their 8 travels travels, a record which doesn't resemble a team fighting against relegation. They have beaten Ipswich, Bristol City and more impressively high flying Blackpool, whilst also claiming valuable points away at Birmingham, Wolves and Leeds. On paper, you would expect these big spending clubs to quash the Charlton threat, but this hasn't been the case. The Addicks have been able to stay fearless in their travels, using a defensive, counter attacking style of football that suits their squad down to the ground. This has allowed them to be successful on their travels, and the points they have earned away from home has helped them steer away from the relegation zone.

Secondly, you could argue that not being in the relegation zone is a positive for the club. Although I expected much more in our return back to the Championship, I now realise that I was being a little bit over optimistic by predicting a 9th place finish. Nevertheless, 16th in the league with a respectable 20 points from 16 games is not relegation form, and it could get a whole lot better. It only takes a winning streak to soar up the table, and by only being 7 points behind 6th placed Huddersfield, if the Addicks go on a run then they will be up with the thick of things at the top of the table. Last Tuesdays remarkable 5-4 win coming back from 2-0 down against table topping Cardiff is a mark of both their drive and determination to leap away from danger and up the table, and more results like that ensure they will be well clear of danger and instead challenging for promotion by the end of the season.

But now for the bad; the players who led the charge in last season’s title winning campaign have simply not lived up to their reputation. Kermorgant had perhaps been the only one who had proven his capabilities; but his early season was tarnished with injury and Charlton have consequently fallen down the table. Most disappointing for me has been Bradley Wright-Phillips, whose goals are needed if Charlton are going to be a promotion winning side. BWP seems out of his depth in this division, and he has been unable to replicate his scoring form this season in the Championship and has instead spent much of this season warming the bench. Others that haven't performed quite like I thought they would include Stephens, Jackson and Morrison, all of which held integral roles in Charlton’s title winning side.

Charlton boss Chris Powell will be happy with his side's solid
start to this seasons campaign

 Charlton held the best defensive record in League 1 last season, frustrating opposition attacks with their defensive quality at the back. The combination of Morrison and Cort was able to repel opposition attacks with ease, but they haven't had the same effect that they did last year. They looked out of sorts in the face of two of the leagues best attacks, with Middlesbrough and Cardiff both smashing 4 into the Charlton net. It could be argued that the 4 Cardiff goals were defensive mistakes, and these must be atoned to if Charlton are going to build on their current 16th position. In addition, The Addicks also lack a goal scorer to bolster their attacking options. Although Haynes, Hulse and Jackson have all chipped in with a couple of goals, Charlton still lack a striker with predatory instincts and an eye for goal; someone in the mould of Darren Bent when he was at Charlton. If defensive errors are atoned and Charlton find a goals corer in the January transfer window, then they could soon soar up the table.

Although I have picked out a few negatives about Charlton this season, we are actually in a very good position. Although we lie in the bottom half of the table, so far our return back to England's second tier has been a comfortable one. Chris Powell has led his men to 16th in the league with 20 points, 7 points above the relegation zone and 7 points away from the playoffs. Therefore it has been a very solid return for the south east club, where things are also looking up having come off back to back wins in the division for the first time in 5 years. If the issues above are addressed, and Charlton sort out their poor home form, then a solid top table finish is well on the cards.


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