Could Dennis Do It Again ?? (Please !)

Well, first a big thank you to Mr Mike Riley. As Mr Andy Gray said on Sky, why worry whether it was a penalty or not as it was ‘Chelsea’s day’ and we wouldn’t want to spoil it for them would we. The hell we wouldn’t. After our recent run I doubt any Charlton fan was looking forward to this game with anything other than trepidation. In the end we got a thoroughly committed display that, although lacking in too much attacking intention, showed that the players do actually care after all. Furthermore, if Jon Fortune had taken one of the two chances that came his way or if Carlo Cuducini hadn’t superbly saved Matt Holland’s strike then we may have taken all three points. As it was a point was the very least we deserved and we would have gained it but for Old Mother Riley’s late, late penalty award.

Congratulations to Luke Young for his CASC Player of the Year Award. Fully deserved in my opinion as Luke has been very consistant in his performances this season and has also dramatically improved on the much maligned player we initially signed from Spurs nearly three years ago.

Quite understandably only 16,115 supporters have renewed their season tickets before the 5th May deadline. In response to this, and various letters and emails, Peter Varney has made a renewed offer of £ 25 discount if you now renew before 31st May. I hope that as many fans as possible take up this offer as season ticket sales are going to play a big part in how much Alan Curbishley is given to spend in the summer. The plunge down the table has probably robbed him of around £ 2.5 million so every penny counts. Now is the time to back Curbs and the Board if we want to see some much needed team restructuring.

And so to Palace. We can be instrumental in sending the stripey so-and-so’s back to their rented dump of a ground looking forward only to spending next season at least in the Fizzy Pop League, with our good friends from The Toolbox. It’s quite conceivable that they could win at The Valley and still be relegated but I’d rather not leave it to chance (or Norwich’s first away win of the season). No. Let’s make totally sure of their relegation by giving them a good hiding (1-0 will do!). It’s the least they deserve. Regardless of results elsewhere we know that a Charlton win will be enough to send them down so that is what is required, nothing less. The crowd will be up for it but will the players? Graham Stuart thinks so and if Alan Curbishley heeded my open letter to him then both he and the players should be also. Dennis in The Last Minute would more than suffice.

My prediction : Charlton Athletic 2 Crippled Alice 1.

Finally, please visit my Transfer Rumour site for all the latest Addicks related rumours.