Football Season Review

Charlton will spend a third season in League 1 after their campaign ended in a highly disappointing mid-table finish. For the second season in succession the Addicks were among the early pace-setters. However, the wins stopped coming and Phil Parkinson was dismissed in January, with a view to giving the new boss a chance in the transfer market. The decision was somewhat surprising with the club just a few points off the top six, and the Addicks’ fans will be wondering if things may have been different had Parkinson been allowed to see the season out. After failing to land their preferred target in Eddie Howe, former player and England international Chris Powell was appointed as manager. He appeared to have the luck that Parkinson had lacked with four slightly fortunate wins at the beginning of his reign. That coincided with the arrival of Bradley Wright-Phillips from Plymouth, and the striker finished the season equal third highest scorer with 21 goals, eight of which came for Charlton. He could do nothing to prevent the slump which saw them take just three points from their next 11 games, however, and it was that run which saw them descend into the mid-table obscurity from which they were unable to recover, despite a late-season rally. Whether Powell is the man to take the club forward remains to be seen, and he hasn’t so far shown any of the tactical nous required to succeed at this level. Management is a steep learning curve and he will surely be much better prepared come his first full campaign. Last summer there was a huge upheaval at the club with much of the squad leaving, and there are likely to be a lot of moves in and out again this summer. Powell will be keen to put his stamp on the team and he will be well aware that they were a long way behind the top four sides in terms of quality this season.

Player of the Season: Jose Semedo