AN ADDICK FOR LIFE

When You Know Your History .....

2006-12-04T23:07:00.000Z

5th December 1992, an historic day in the history of Charlton Athletic Football Club, the fans of whom consider it the greatest football Club in the World, and rightly so.

Exactly fourteen years on and possibly the most important game of the intervening years. Yes, we've had downs in between but mostly we've had ups. However, we are on the brink of a 'down' that could have catastrophic consequences for the football club. Do the players realise this ? Yes, of course they do. Do they care ? No they don't, with a few notable exceptions. Do we care ? Of course we bloody well do. Can we help ? Unfortunately we can't. The players have got us into this position and only they can get us out. Only they won't. Not enough of them have got the stomach for it. Not enough of them care. Unfortunately some of those that do care simply are not good enough. All in all we are in real trouble. I hate being pessimistic and I always try to put a positive spin on things. I could easily say that two wins on the spin and suddenly we are at least back in touch with those above us and in with a fighting chance. I could say that four of the next six games are at The Valley, win three of them and a couple of points on the road and hey presto come January we'll be 16th and pulling away. Problem is six weeks ago we looked at the fixture list and were saying that with games against the likes of Wigan, Reading, Sheffield Utd and Watford all upcoming we'd soon be out of the mire. We contrived to lose three of those games whilst picking up a solitary point against the team directly above us. So it's pessimism all the way for me.

There are a lot of contributory factors to our current plight. The loss of a long-serving successful, albeit boring, manager. The premature sacking of his replacement. The injuries to key players, especially new signings, a tough opening fixture list, more injuries, suspensions, poor decisions etc etc but in reality there is only one underlying factor. The players. Either not good enough or not committed enough. Or both.

I look back with fondness to our last Premier League relegation season. 1998-1999. Up from the play-off's, that epic Wembley encounter with Sunderland, Rufus's goal, Mendonca's hat-trick, real lemonade, jumpers for goalposts, you get the idea. Eight straight defeats (?) and then a last minute Pringle goal giving us a home draw with Newcastle that felt like winning the Cup all over again. Heroes all over the pitch. Robbo whinging, Brownie, Kins, The Ruf, Super Clive, Stevie Jones, Danny Mills. You get the drift. Players you could count on, players you were proud to support. If only the current squad showed half the passion those players possessed. And Villa away. Behind gawd knows how many times, all subs used, keeper sent off, Brownie in goal, last minute winner. Fecking brilliant. Ultimately not enough. But that didn't matter. We showed guts, we showed determination, we showed we cared. The players showed they cared. Enough said.

And so back to the present. The performance at Bramall Lane was in many respects worse than the result. We were not only outplayed but were outclassed and outfought. Being realistic we are going down. I obviously hope we don't and I'll be at the Lane on Saturday shouting myself hoarse and hopefully celebrating at the end of the game six points won in six glorious days. But in reality that isn't going to happen.

Tuesday 5th December 2006. We cannot lose. We have never lost on this date since the return to The Valley and we can't let it happen now. This is OUR day. It is written that this day now belongs to the fans of Charlton Athletic. We demand a win, this day more than any other. I will walk into The Valley tomorrow night and still stare in wonder at what a fantastic place The Valley is. I will look back, beyond those fourteen years, to the times when I stood on the dilapidated terracing, to the times when I peed up against a wall in the pitch black and the pouring rain, and I will look back at that glorious Sunday morning when my brothers and I and hundreds of others descended on The Valley with spades, shovels and forks to clear the pitch and terracing of weeds, bushes and trees, fans united together in a way that you could never imagine. That's why we're different, that's why we support Charlton Athletic. And then I'll look forward again to 5th December 1992 and Walsh's goal and remember exactly how euphoric I felt that day. And then I'll pray that the current team, for once this season at least, won't let me down and forever ruin the date of 5th December.

'Gutless' ? Maybe, maybe not .....

2006-11-13T23:39:00.000Z

Well, Iain Dowie has gone. I for one am surprised and very disappointed. If twelve games in he isn't the right man for the job then frankly he wasn't the right man for it in the summer. If he wasn't the right man then why was he appointed. Is sacking him now the right decision or is it gutless? Shouldn't we all be getting behind him and the team to get us out of the sticky stuff we find ourselves in. Or is sacking him now a show of strength. It would be easy to blunder on until it's too late and it's a brave man to admit he's got it seriously wrong but it appears that Richard Murray is that brave man.

But hang on, has he been sacked. Theories abound that it is really to do with being away from his family, that he really did leave Palace to go back 'oop north' but the pull of the Prem and Dickie's persuasiveness caused him to do otherwise, and that it has now backfired on all concerned. Other theories suggest it's to do with the ongoing court issues with Jordan whilst a bung theory has also arisen.

More will be revealed tomorrow but one thing's for sure. For that Oompah Lumpah Jordan to call the Charlton board 'gutless' is definately the pot calling the kettle black. With something like six managers in five seasons and another about to bite the dust he's hardly Mr Loyalty is he.

The future ? Well, AC has ruled out a return and rightly so. Names like Hoddle, Graham, Souness, Robson etc do little to inspire me. McLeish is a possibility as is Cardiff's Dave Jones. Personally, I have my own little list. We need someone ambitious whilst at the same time having Premiership experience, someone young and go-ahead not someone who has been and won't be again. Can I suggest a name or two, actually three. All number two's at their current clubs but unlikely to succeed the current incumbants for a while to come. All ambitious, all with Premier League experience in abundance behind them as both players and coaches. Step forward Mark Bowen, Steve Clarke and my own personal favourite, Sammy Lee, who I championed in the summer before Iain Dowie was appointed. I wait with bated breath.

Fan Loyalty Rewarded ?

2006-10-24T13:20:00.000+01:00

Whilst the support shown to Chris Powell on Saturday was laudable it was also quite laughable. Laughable to the extent that many fans showed more support to Chris, an opposition player, than they did for their own team. 'Fans' who sat on their hands, mouths firmly closed, for 90 minutes whilst the team they allegedly 'support' was trying to win a game and get a vital three points suddenly came to life when Chrissy made a late substitute appearance. And at the final whistle they could hardly contain their excitement as Chris got a rapturous round of applause as he performed his ledgendary tunnel celebration. Sad. Just a pity they can't put as much energy into supporting the team on the pitch. Fans, they don't know the meaning of the word.

At least they'll be pleased to read in the programme that the Club has decided to take the full allocation on offer for the forthcoming trip to Reading. The Club expect demand to outstrip even the 2,000 tickets on offer. They also took great delight in reiterating the current away ticket allocation policy. Yes, the blanket wearing, flask waving ValleyGolders get first dibs again whilst those who may not be in ValleyGold but are making the much longer and considerably more expensive trip to Wigan the previous week are left to wait patiently in line. Why ?? I've always been against a policy which basically rewards those who can afford to pay a tenner a month into VG over those who prefer to spend their money actually supporting the team. We'll be able to spot those at the MadStad who are there just for a jolly-up and a new ground a mile off (any true Charlton fan has been there already, a pre-season trip a few years ago). And will they support the team, will they end up hoarse urging their team onto victory?. Will they heck as like. It'll be moans about fans standing, fans swearing, people shouting too loudly in their earholes and their blanket getting dirty as other fans have the temerity to celebrate a Charlton goal. Whatever next?

Perhaps we should book Chris Powell as a warm up act. That'll keep 'em happy.

Operation Wigan (or get off your backsides)

2006-10-11T00:31:00.000+01:00

Well, despite all good intentions it seems that Operation Cottage, instigated by the Charlton Life team, reported on here previously, has hit the buffers. A great idea and a very good attempt but it just doesn’t have the required exposure, at least not yet.

It has been suggested that Charlton have sold around 1,000 tickets for the game. Rumours of 2,500 plus Addicks making the short journey to West London seem unfounded. Some fans are still saying they will turn up on the night and pay on the gate, and undoubtedly they will be able to do so, but come mid-afternoon on Monday 16th, it’s raining and a mate calls to say how do you fancy a curry at the Omar Khayyam followed by a few pints down The Red Barn watching the game on Sky it is far easier to say okay when you have not already coughed up twenty-five quid for a ticket than when you have. If you are going to go then get off the fence, ring the Club and get your ticket. Otherwise shut-up.

Perhaps it’s already time for Charlton Athletic themselves to consider their annual ‘freebie’ trip. In fact it could be said that now is the time more than ever before. The previous ‘freebies’ to Port Vale, Forest, Bolton, Boro’ etc have all been launched to propel us towards glory, whether it be promotional glory or FA Cup glory. The same theme remains though; good times, happy times, times when we shouldn’t have needed such encouragement to support the team. Now the boot is on the other foot, nearly. Perhaps not yet bad times but, make no mistake, another couple of bad results and the bad times are just around the corner. The team, injuries permitting, is good enough for a top-ten finish, but once you become entrenched in the bottom three then it becomes psychological and whoops, before you know it, down you go. So it’s time for the Club to launch Destination Wigan.

Why Wigan you ask ? Well, for a few reasons :

1) we’d be able to get a large allocation of tickets.
2) the tickets will be of a reasonable price.
3) Newcastle is too soon, Sheffield Utd could be too late whilst Reading, a week after Wigan, is a new ground for most, a reasonable travelling distance, shouldn’t be too expensive and so should be well supported anyway. Another reason to get a large following up to Wigan the previous week.
4) it’s a winnable game.
5) it’s a great idea.
6) it can’t get any worse than last year at the JJB !!

So, it’s time to back Destination Wigan.

Let’s hope that someone at the Club (preferably someone important) either reads this, is alerted to this or are so clever that they have already had the same great idea. Failing that perhaps our Fans Representative will take up the baton and run with it. He can even claim all the credit if he wishes. Over to you Ben Hayes, let’s see what you are made of.

Up The Addicks !!

Support Operation Cottage

2006-10-05T12:37:00.000+01:00

No, not an attempt to get George Michael out of his Range Rover and into a Public Convenience, but an attempt to get Charlton fans out of their armchairs and away from the telly and their take-away pizzas to Craven Cottage on Monday 16th October at 8pm.

Why you may ask ? Because we are in the proverbial doodoo. The players need our support. Iain Dowie needs our support. Charlton Athletic need our support. We are bottom of the league if you didn't notice. Admittedly, a tough fixture list and a lengthy injury list have not helped and nor have some dodgy refereeing decisions. However, bottom we are. We the fans have to help ensure we don't stay there. No matter how good a team we may have, when everybody is fit, it becomes psychological when you become entrenched in the bottom three. Everybody said Birmingham City were too good to go down last season but they still contrived to do so.

The excellant new fan site Charlton Life started this crusade and the baton has been taken up by all and sundry including netaddicks, Chicago Addick and All Quiet In The East Stand. Read their thoughts by clicking on the links to the articles. We too at An Addick for Life are lending our weight to the campaign.

So, if you are a true Charlton Athletic fan then get yourself to the Cottage, make yourself heard and do your bit to get us out of the plight in which we now find ourselves.

Up The Addicks !!

Bit's and Pieces

2006-09-06T13:59:00.000+01:00

It seems not even his own fans like him. This is what one Palarse fan says of the Oompah Lumpah :

‘Let's face it; Jordan is hardly the most appealing ambassador for a business. He's loud, arrogant, generally unattractive, coarse, and in his management style grubby in the broadest sense. Yes, yes, he saved the club and with the core minority that counts to a degree that some will overlook every other reality; perhaps, however, there are lot of other people out there who support Palace but want something more. They're not prepared to be ripped-off or support a cheap, make-a-buck scheme run by someone for whom they have no respect.’

Respect to you though mate !! All in all a very interesting thread on their message board.

Darren Bent and, to a lesser extent, Luke Young. Will they ever actually play for England again? What does Benty have to do? Top English scorer last season and leading the way this, Zamora excluded, and yet overlooked in preference to first Defoe, who hardly plays let alone scores for Spurs these days and then to a bald-headed numpty who happens to play for a supposedly bigger club in Everton. Is it because he plays for Charlton? Yes. Is it because the press don’t champion his cause as opposed to others? Yes. Is it because McLaren is a Sven clone? Yes. Let’s hope Benty doesn’t think we, Charlton Athletic, are hampering his chances and leave.

Souleymane Diawara. ‘He comes from Senegal, he f@*king hates Millwall’ unlike Traore who comes from MALI. Please remember this all those who sang this ditty at Upton Park with Djimi’s name in the song. Doh !

On the subject of ‘The Soul Man’. £3.7m. He better be good. Let’s hope he’s the Rufus replacement that we have been crying out for the last few season’s. Also, what happened to the old Minty Murray line that we only signed players who spoke English? The Soul Man can only speak French, and Senegalese I suppose. Guarantee’s a place in the team for Traore and Faye then.

Welcome also to Omar Pouso. Let’s hope he’s the creative box to box midfielder we have been so sadly lacking since Judas’s departure.

Having spent £12m it’s rumoured another £50k was blown on fitting a revolving door at Sparrows Lane. Ten in, and around the same number out, has made for a busy summer at the training ground but it’s great to see the Board backing Iain Dowie to the hilt and now it’s up to us, the fans, to do the same. Many failed to renew season ticket’s on the basis that thing’s had gone stale and we were getting the same boring fare year in year out from mainly the same under performing players. Ok, we might not know if the football will be any more exciting but it can hardly be less so and at least it will be more interesting finding out. Let’s hope the spending spree demonstrates enough ambition that some doubting Thomas’s stop doubting and renew. The Board and ID deserve that at the very least.

Chelsea, £48. No that’s not the price of a U-11’s season ticket at The Bridge. That’s the cost of a seat for 90 minutes in the away section. And you don’t even get to take the seat away with you. No wonder we’ve only sold 400-odd tickets. Villa is £25 entrance, £12 on the coach, leaving £11 for food and liquid refreshment. Know where I’m going. If you’re going to Chelsea then good on you but you must be either mad or filthy rich, or both. It’s time prices for away fans were capped at say £35 or, better still, made a uniform price. Away fans are necessary to make football the great game that it is and create an exciting atmosphere but if Clubs like Chelsea are allowed to get away with charging extortionate amounts like this then away fans are priced out of going and that game, and football in general, will be the ultimate loser. We didn’t need William Gallas to tell us that Chelsea lacked class. We’ve known that for years anyway.

Bye, bye Euellie. Would love to say it’s been a pleasure but for most of the time it hasn’t. Why Curbs didn’t take the £2.5m on offer from Palace eighteen months ago I’ll never know. Not as if he’s really played since. I can only imagine that seeing as Iain Dowie has got rid now when at Palace he must have hated Jordan that much that he tried to waste millions of his money on Jason. Lisbie is available though Simon !!

Roll on Pompey at The Valley, the only team we can beat when we are behind. They are now a massive Club you know. Harry’s done wonders in the transfer market this summer. Turned them into European contenders he has. Signed David Thompson on a free transfer and they have taken the world’s worst right-back, Glen Johnson, on loan from Chelsea. Let’s not also forget some Kranky Croatian, a Calamitous Keeper and a Kanu who is mostly a Kan’tu. Oh, and they were the only Club silly enough to pay over-the-hill Soloman Campbell around £60k per week. And to top it off Man City’s Andy Cole, sorry Andrew, threatened to quit football if he couldn’t join Pompey. Uhmm. Quit football or join Pompey? Think I would have quit.

Different Piper, Same Old Tune

2006-08-24T13:26:00.000+01:00

No pride, no passion, no belief, no creativity, no inventiveness. No midfield, no defence. Nothing has changed has it except the personnel. Okay I know its early doors and we shouldn’t get too carried away but the future looks far from rosy. With Bolton and Chelsea next up we could be staring four straight defeats in the face. Horrendous defending, a non-existent midfield and no chances created. Bent and the lazy JFH are feeding off scraps. I’ve forgotten exactly how long it is since Parker left but we have done very little to replace him. Faye looks okay and will probably benefit form a midfield partner other than Matt Holland who, although committed and hardworking, is no longer Premiership material. At least he once was, which is more than you can say for Bryan Hughes, or ‘The Shadow’, as we affectionately call him. He is a serious waste of space and how he is able to make a living out of professional football I’ll never know. He brings nothing to the side. He just doesn’t get involved. Send him back to Wrexham, they love him there. Obviously easily pleased.

As for centre-halves, we need a new one and quick. HH and Fortune look the best bet for Bolton but Fortune hardly inspires and is prone to lapses, errors of judgement and falling over. El-Kharkouri is a disaster waiting to happen but unfortunately the disasters seem to be becoming more frequent. If we can sign a decent centre-half to play alongside HH then things should improve. Young and Traore are more than capable full-backs. Elsewhere, Carson seems to be settling in okay and performed well against Utd especially when you consider what he had to contend with playing just in front of him. Ambrose has had a steady start to the season and if we can get Reid fit soon and Balanos a work permit then things should improve on the flanks. Rommedahl showed in a ten minute cameo exactly what he is capable of and deserves a start on Saturday. We need to get our wide players into the game to provide chances for the front two as they are not going to get any service from the central midfield area at the moment.

With transfer deadline just a week away the squad still needs, ideally, three additions. A centre-half, a central midfielder and another striker. To do this we will probably need to off-load some players and the leading contenders would appear to be Andersen, Euell, Bent (M) (lazy, good-for-nothing waster) and Lisbie followed by hopefully Hughes. With further investment by the Board and funds from these sales we may be able to get at least two of these positions sorted out. All three would be a bonus.

Whether even this will be enough will remain to be seen but at least we will have given ourselves a fighting chance and there is no doubt about it, a fight it will be.

So Many Questions, Too Few Answers

2006-08-15T10:12:00.000+01:00

over the Green & Carson situation. So here are the answers. West Ham have been interested in Green for a number of weeks but were dithering over an official bid. However, at the beginning of last week negotiations began between themselves and Norwich. Norwich, realising they were soon to lose their first choice keeper contacted Charlton over the availability of Stefan Andersen, either on a permanent basis or on loan. Charlton, having already lined up Scott Carson for the problematic goalkeeping position, saw this as an opportunity to possibly sign a goalkeeper, Robert Green, who could be a long-term solution to the problem as opposed to Carson’s short-term solution. Having recently signed a new five-year deal at Liverpool it seems there is no chance of it becoming a permanent deal whereas Green could be the ideal solution. So talks began between Charlton and Norwich over both Green and Andersen. Andersen’s wage demands of around £12k per week were a problem as was Green’s fitness. Norwich, in their infinite wisdom and quite underhandedly, decided to release the news that negotiations had been entered into over Robert Green’s possible transfer. West Ham, desperate for a keeper to challenge Carroll, dramatically stepped in and agreed a fee of around £2m. Despite rumours of Green failing a Charlton medical, it is my understanding that things never got that far and that no medical was taken. The bottom line is that Charlton, with Carson already lined-up, suddenly saw Green as a long-term solution to a problem position and would have pursued it if the right deal could be struck. Ultimately it couldn’t be, and so Iain Dowie was more than happy to conclude the Scott Carson deal immediately. West Ham have got their man too, albeit at a higher fee than they originally envisaged paying due to Charlton’s untimely intervention. So all’s well that ends well. Or is it ? Andersen seems unlikely to move to Norwich on any basis unless he drops his wage demands but an exit to another club is surely on the cards. I hope that he goes on loan, get’s a full season under his belt, and returns in the summer so that next season he is the long-term solution to the goalkeeping position.

YoungGate Update

2006-07-05T12:18:00.000+01:00

Tyrone Mears is about to sign for West Ham but not before KUMB bring us the news that Luke Young failed TWO medicals at Upton Park.

That puts this comment by Iain Dowie on the official CAFC website regarding Luke Young in a whole new light - "He wants to come back and show how fit a lad he is. His games record certainly shows that and he is very determined to get going again.”

Personally I think this poster on NetAddicks has it spot on. And let's not forget that he hasn't extended his contract just pledged his future to us.

YoungGate

2006-07-05T00:25:00.000+01:00

Uhmm. Not sure what to make of this whole Young & Mears transfer saga, if indeed there is one. Only, of course there is one.

Luke Young was West Ham’s number one transfer target this summer and they have spent the last two months pursuing him during which time Luke put in a transfer request, moaned about broken promises and refused a new lucrative contract. Today, however, all that changed when he pledged his ‘future’ to Charlton Athletic. Although how much of his future exactly has he pledged ? Well, I reckon the remaining year of his current contract only. Nowhere in this story from the official CAFC website are there quotes from the man himself and nowhere does it suggest that he has extended his current contract beyond the remaining year. Just pledged his future. That could be a week, a year or three years.

But what has brought about this dramatic change of events ? After all, we all expected Youngy to depart for around 4m and Mears to join as replacement following weeks of wrangling with PNE over the fee. Did West Ham give up their chase ? Did Luke, as has been suggested in some circles, fail a medical at Upton Park ? This seems the most likely scenario although to fail a medical a fee must have been agreed with Charlton for his services and nowhere has it been reported that this was the case. However, Preston’s acceptance over the weekend of an offer from ourselves for right-back Tyrone Mears seems to suggest a deal for Young had been done. If Young wasn't on his way out would we still have been after Mears ? I think not.

Now add into the mix that following talks with Charlton on Monday, Tyrone Mears remained in London for talks today with West Ham. Would West Ham really have switched their attentions that quickly to Mears ? Would they have given up so quickly on Young ? Unlikely, I suggest. I would have proffered the argument that West Ham began a pursuit of Mears to force our hand so that we’d agree to sell Young and then buy Mears ourselves as planned. However, PNE’s website says that Mears is to sign for West Ham soon and so that little scenario can be put to bed. Something dramatic obviously happened to trigger this unlikely turn of events. Young to West Ham, Myers to Charlton has suddenly become Myers to West Ham. A can of worms if ever I saw one.

Unfortunately, either because a fee couldn’t be agreed or because he did fail a medical, we are left in a far from satisfactory situation. Unless Luke does sign a contract extension in the next few days, and let’s hope he does, we have a player who was clearly unhappy, for whatever reason, and the handing in of a transfer request confirms this, seeing out the final year of his contract which at the end of he will walk away on a Bosman. And we have waved goodbye to a fee in excess of £3m and probably closer to £4m. Was this sensible ? If that is what happened of course. We may never know but this has been a long drawn out saga that may not be over just yet. Is there a twist in the tale ?

Optimistically, maybe, just maybe, Iain Dowie ran through the list of signings that are going to start arriving at The Valley anyday now and Luke realised he had no option but to stay and play alongside such great players. Nah, maybe not.

Can't Say I'm Happy

2006-05-27T23:58:00.000+01:00

but if Iain Dowie is to be announced as our new manager on Tuesday then I'm gonna make damn sure I get right behind him. He's got one hellavu job to do anyway without the fans on his back from the very start.

Personally, I don't think he is the right man for the job and it has nothing to do with his Palace connections. I just don't think he's good enough. I'm still holding out hope that it'll be Sammy Lee paraded in front of the world's press on Tuesday but being realistic it is going to be Dowie. However much I don't agree with his appointment I do feel that having interviewed over twenty candidates we have to trust Richard Murray and Peter Varney on this. Both are Charlton Athletic through and through and the decision they have made is, in their opinion, the right one for the Club and so I support them in that respect.

Fans who are suggesting that they will not renew their season tickets because 'it is Dowie and he's Palace' are really not worth bothering with. If you don't renew/buy tickets because you don't like the manager then half the grounds in the country would be half-full every week. You support a Club, not even the team, and you do so because you love the Club. To be so fickle as to base your support, or lack of it, on whom the manager may be that week is nonsensical.

As to whom will make up the triumvate announced on Tuesday opinion is divided. Dowie seems a stick-on as manager. Les Reed seems a stick-on too, as either assistant or coach (and I'm VERY happy about that). The third appointment is more contentious. Some say it's already been made in the shape of Andrew Mills, General Manager - Football, brought in earlier this month to deal with transfers and other football related matters. I'm not so sure. We need to replace not just Curbs but Day and Peacock too, so I feel that another appointment on the coaching side is forthcoming (plus Mills appointment was made known a few weeks ago). If another coach is appointed most seem to believe it will be either Mark Robson or Chrissy Powell. Either way, I'd be happy but Robson is the more qualified and I feel he should get the nod.

Whatever happens we have a very important season ahead and we all need to get behind those in charge and give them our FULL support. So, let's hear it for

Iain Dowie's Red and White Army !!
Iain Dowie's Red and White Army !!

Give It to Little Sam !!

2006-05-22T23:42:00.000+01:00

There I was writing a long, probably too long, appraisal of the candidates to succeed AC when the lap-top decided to crash so losing my unsaved masterpiece. I know, I know, I'm an idiot. However, it has saved you from reading such unadulterated tosh and so this time I'm gonna cut right to the chase.

Give the job to Little Sam, or Sammy Lee to his friends. He is, in my opinion, the best man for the job. He has worked in the Premier League for a number of seasons, firstly at Liverpool under Houllier and for the last couple of seasons under Big Sam at Bolton. Unlike many of the other candidates he has a working knowledge of the Premier League and not knowledge gathered just from watching Match of the Day and dreaming 'if only'. Having also played at the highest level, including European competitions, and having played for England he knows what it's all about. He is a highly respected coach hence the reason he is part of the current England coaching set-up and has the ambition to become a manager in his own right. Bolton have thrived the last couple of seasons under his coaching and Big Sam has spoken very highly of his qualities and his abilities. If asked, I'm sure Sammy would be able to tell you exactly where the strengths and weaknesses are in the current Charlton squad. I'm not sure many of the other candidates would be able to do the same.

Sometime very soon Sammy Lee is going to become a successful Premier League manager. That success should come at Charlton Athletic.

Respect Where It's Due

2006-03-28T00:03:00.000+01:00

He came, he saw, but he never conquered. Scott Parker’s first visit to The Valley since his acrimonious move to West London over two years ago was greeted with a mixture of boos, cheers, jeers and clapping. Neither overly derided nor feted I felt the reaction he received was spot on. Naturally he scored but Lee Bowyer’s comical own goal within a minute made Parker’s strike quite ironic. To his credit Parker went up slightly in my estimation, surprisingly, by not rubbing our noses in it when he did score and by his reaction at the end of the game when he clapped the Covered End and gave a thumbs-up as if acknowledging that we had made our point and he recognised the reason why we had done so. For me, that’s it now. A line has to be drawn under that episode in our history. We’ve made our point and succinctly so. I’m not saying I’m going to applaud next time he visits SE7 but I’m not going to jeer or ’abuse’ him either. No, that will be reserved for a certain Mr Murphy who is now obviously happy warming the bench at Big Tart Lane. Presumably he’s happy as he gets more time to enjoy Sudoku. What a (boring) couple they make.

They may not be the most talented or gifted midfielders in the country (ok, they’re not) but at least they want to play for us. Whilst the Murphy’s and Smertin’s of this world have departed for pastures new, and taken a dig at us on the way out the door, those that remained behind have taken up the baton and are running with it. Holland, Hughes and Kish are not among my favourite players but they at least want to play for us. Whatever their failings as players you cannot fault their attitude, commitment and effort. I’d rather have any one of them in the side than a sulking, over-paid, over-rated prima-donna like Murphy. They deserve our respect for that at least. I’m not saying I want to see them in the team next season, midfield is the area that most needs strengthening, but at the moment they’re alright for me. You can’t ask anymore than a player giving 100%, giving his all for the cause.

Finally, it’s obvious that major team rebuilding needs to take place over the summer months. Whoever is in charge. Let’s just hope that the FA doesn’t prevaricate too long and balls it all up for us. Whilst the uncertainty remains it will surely affect our ability to attract players to the Club for next season. Curbs was in France the week before last personally running the rule over Marouane Chamakh, a Moroccan international striker who plays for Bordeaux. With seven goals in just eleven starts this season he may well be the answer to a partner for Benty (D, of course, the jury’s still out on M in my opinion). But what player would agree to sign if they don’t know who the manager will be the next week. Would the Board sanction a move if they don’t know who the manager will be? I mean, would you sanction a near 2m deal if next week a new manager might not want that same player. Of course you wouldn’t. This needs sorting as soon as possible for the good of Charlton Athletic.

Quarter Final Confusion

2006-02-21T15:34:00.000Z

The FA Cup Quarter Finals are scheduled to take place on the nights of Monday 20th March, Tuesday 21st March, Wednesday 22nd March and Thursday 23rd March. Straightforward so far. Of the quarter finalists remaining no fewer than five have live Sky games already scheduled the previous weekend; Birmingham and Villa on the Saturday and Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea on the Sunday. That means the last three would not want to play their tie until the Wednesday at the earliest. Fine, so Liverpool v Birmingham and Chelsea v Newcastle can be played on the Wednesday and Thursday. However, with both Boro and Bolton possibly having UEFA cup games on the previous Thursday they will not want to play their weekend Premier League fixture until the Sunday. To then ask one of them to play an FA Cup quarterfinal the next day is obviously absurd. Both these teams would, quite rightly, want to play on the Wednesday or Thursday night. So, no candidates so far for either the Monday or Tuesday night fixture. Also, those teams that play on the Thursday are going to want to move the following Saturday’s fixture to the Sunday so causing further disruption to the Sky schedules.

Curbs seems to have the logical answer when he suggests that the Quarter Finals be played on the Saturday and Sunday of 18th and 19th March and then the scheduled league games played during the midweek, either Tuesday or Wednesday. This seems fine but with Sky having already scheduled four games for that weekend, all involving one team or another from the quarterfinals, would they be prepared to accept just two QF live games that weekend and just two live games during the week instead of the four now scheduled. Factor into that teams may lose revenue for not being on live as now scheduled and it’s a right royal mess. I wouldn’t want to be the one at the FA to have to sort it out. Whatever is decided one team or another is going to be unhappy with the arrangements and I can’t help but think that it’s going to be us.

And the reason for this mess ? So that Sven Gormless Eriksson can have extra time with the England squad to prepare for what will ultimately be an inglorious World Cup campaign.

No Sympathy for Kish

2006-02-20T01:15:00.000Z

My attention has been drawn to the following item and to be frank I am a bit nonplussed by it. I will be giving my take on it at the end but first the ‘article’ in question :

From Richard Hunt on Kishishev from Glynne Jones’s mailing list :

‘Some of you know that Radostin Kishishev arrived at Charlton thanks in large part to the work of my Bulgarian Toronto based friend, Vasco Danailov, a process which started when Vasco and I met him at Euro 96 in Newcastle. Vasco has stayed in contact with Kish ever since.Yesterday Vasco called me, having just had a conversation with a somewhat distraught Kish. He had called Vasco desperate for someone to advise him why the Charlton fans don’t like him. Vasco sees a lot of games on TV but promised he would ask me for a more informed view.Not for the first time this season I found myself asking whether Charlton is still the club so dear to my heart or indeed the one Kish joined, but that wasn’t much use to him. So I told him that based on this list, I could state that 70-80% of fans actually do appreciate Kish, and the debate has raged about why a minority get on his back. I told him my opinion was that he is the midfielder who always makes himself available for the ball, and never hides; and that most of the work he does is of necessity relatively unglamorous. Its not the kind of work which elicits spontaneous applause - unlike the kind of passes or space making cameos we got from Murphy or Jensen. However because of his position, any mistake he makes is often in a critical zone, and this elicits howls of disapproval. So that is what he hears. No cheers, just boos. I repeated that most of the people on the List know he sweats blood for the team each week, and hate the fact that he is booed by a minority. But I felt appalled by what I had heard.I realise that most of the idiots who boo and jeer him that don’t go near this List. Those who criticise Kish on the List are entitled to wish that he perhaps might make less mistakes, or that we could afford one that does what he does better ( despite the frequent reminders that we could not afford to re-sign Parker).However here is stark evidence that footballers are human too, and what we have in the treatment of Kish is in my opinion a form of bullying. He is a thoroughly decent guy, family man, looks after himself, and does not rearrange McDonalds or fight team-mates. And he has worn the shirt with pride for six years. He urgently needs a lift. I urge anybody who feels like I do to let Kish know. You could just drop a line to Vasco directly atdanailov_vv@yahoo.comand Vasco would call Kish and read out any messages he gets. Nothing long. But the more there are, the more he will believe in it.

Me I am going to vote for Kish for player of the year.’

Richard Hunt

So, I am meant to feel sorry for a highly paid professional footballer am I ?. Well, sorry to disappoint, but I’m not. This doesn’t mean that I think Kish, or any other player for that matter, should be booed when their name is read out or just because they have been selected but if a fan is unhappy with a players performance then he or she is entitled to make their opinions known in whichever way they deem fit. Personally, I don’t believe that the majority of fans can all be wrong about Kish. He is committed and gives 100% but frankly he isn’t good enough and makes more mistakes than most other players. He is a frustrating player who does a couple of good things in a game but then produces a couple of wayward passes and misjudged challenges which undo his previous good work. In fact I think Kish should feel pleased that he plays for Charlton because frankly I don’t think he would have been tolerated this long at many other Premiership clubs. Kish is an average player being paid fantastic wages (by most fans standards) for occasionally passing a ball to a team-mate. If he were ever to score a goal then I’m sure he’d spend his bonus wisely. Instead of worrying what the fans feel about him perhaps he should do something about making a better impression on those who pay his wages, the fans. Perhaps Richard Hunt would like to suggest to Kish that he stays behind after training for an hour everyday to practice his shooting. Yeah, thought not. Richard won’t do it because he’ll know the response he’d get from Kish. Grow up Kish and get on with your job. As for voting him Player of The Year. That is taking the sympathy vote too far. Anyway Richard, wouldn’t you be worried about hurting the feelings of the likes of Darren Bent or Hermann Hreidersson ? Other players have feelings too you know. I really don’t know how you can be so inconsiderate or insensitive to other players. Shame on you !!

By the way, anyone want to join the Bryan Hughes Appreciation Society ?

The Murphy Aftermath

2006-02-02T13:41:00.000Z

Much has been said and written about the 'Murphy Matter' in the papers and on various messageboards and there is no doubt that the current situation at Charlton Athletic is causing great concern for the majority of fans.

I am very concerned about a lot of things and I could sit here for the next twenty minutes and try to sum up how I feel but instead I am just going to leave you with a link to a message posted on the netaddicks fans site which sums up the current state of affairs more eloquently than I could at this present time. The best post on netaddicks for many a long while it represents, I feel, the opinion of the majority of true Charlton Athletic fans at this present time, step forward AFKABartram.

The Truth Is Out There !

2006-01-29T23:47:00.000Z

And it will come out in the end just as Deano's real transfer fee has. Originally reported by both us and Portsmouth as 'undisclosed' it has now been disclosed by Charlton as being 150k with the potential of up to a futher 350k if Pompey remain a Premiership club at the end of the season. No hope there then. I know he was 35 and out of favour but 150k !

Furthermore, just when will the truth out with regard to Danny Murphy. The rumours about Danny are flying around everywhere and avoiding them is proving more difficult than evading the bat poo in Melbourne's Botanical Gardens. Firstly, he's in the West Stand on Saturday merrily signing autograph's without a care in the world, no sorry he was there on Saturday but dashed off before the game started, but hang on he's had a bust up with Curbs/Rommerdahl/Hreidersson(take your pick) and asked for a transfer, no forget all that he has 'terrible' family problems that he is currently dealing with. No no all wrong I'm afraid as according to the Premier League fitness room physio website he has a hamstring injury. Personally I'm getting a bit bored by it all and will be glad when Tuesday has come and gone and either Danny will have departed with it or we will be left with a creative midfielder, albeit one with some personal problem or another, allegedly. However, if he does have a personal problem to deal with or is injured surely the Club can issue a statement to that effect to put to bed all these wild stories and rumours. It really isn't doing anyone any good.

The only rumours of transfers are JLloyd Samuel, it's always a mistake to go back don't they say, and a defensive midfielder Blaise Matuidi, 19, from French club Troyes who is available for 3.5m. Can't see Curbs splashing that sort of dough on an relative unknown especially when money is tight. At least we know he is willing to offload JJ, Jeffers, Euell and Lisbie. I'd add Bartlett to that list who was absolutely woeful on Saturday, the day after he announced he was hoping for another contract extension. If I had my way, no way Jose.

The next few days look to be quite hectic on the transfer front and let's hope it doesn't distract anyone from the very important business of three points from West Brom and revenge for last season's debacle against them.

From Deano to Lisbinho !

2006-01-27T00:05:00.000Z

Blimey. So much has happened since my last blog update it’s hard to know where to begin.

So I’ll begin with a fond farewell to Deano. Nicky Johns excepted he is probably the best goalkeeper I’ve seen play for Charlton. In his six or so years at The Valley it is no coincidence that we have seen the rise of Charlton to the established Premier League side we are today. Okay things have gone a little pear-shaped this season but let’s remember the good times and that toothy grin. When he returns with Pompey later this season he is assured of a tremendous welcome. Good luck Deano (and I think you’re going to need it). What else has happened ? Oh yes. The feverish election campaigning has died down as voting gets underway and I expect a close finish between Ben Hayes and the ’young’ pretender being championed by Derek Hales, Vince The Pole. Ben Hayes to win on a recount. On the pitch Curbs has gone back to basics and results have followed. It may not be pretty but it’s been effective. Journeymen like Holland and Hughes have come in, applied themselves properly, and hey presto, a couple of home wins, through in the cup and a more than creditable draw at Chelski. As Curbs said, now we’ve steadier the ship more expansive football may once again follow.

Talk of Chelski leads us neatly onto Marcus Bent. His signing was met with comments of “2.5m you’re ’aving a larf” and “’ave you seen ’is goalscoring record?”. Well, his goalscoring record for us is 1 in 1 (and after all that’s all that matters) and compared to £1.75m for Akinbiyi then Marcus was an absolute steal. So, Deano out and ’Big’ Benty in. Anyone else on the move? Euell to Birmingham was on, off and now seemingly on again. Johansson is in talks with Serie A (probably B) side Treviso, Jeffers is linked with Millwall most days and someone else every other day. Considering another appearance will trigger a further payment to Arsenal and the fact he’s out of contract in the summer I expect him to depart one way or another before midnight 31st January. Lisbie, and we’ll return to him later, is linked to Narwich in a cash plus player deal for £2m rated keeper Robert Green. So that’s £ 1,999,999.00 plus Lisbie (lights blue touch paper and retires). Why we need another top-class keeper remains a mystery to me. We’ve just lost one who was unhappy so signing Greeno would just make Tommy or Steph desperately unhappy. We’ve always got Randolph as emergency cover. Expect Green to sign tomorrow then, ok ? Elsewhere, we are continually linked with Zat Knight who although 6ft 5inches isn’t particularly mobile and not much better than what we’ve got. However, with El Kak likely to return early from the African Cup of Nations perhaps we had better sign another centre - half if only to keep him away from the action. Seriously, with JJ, Jeffers, Euell and Lisbie all set to go in the next few days, so freeing up valuable wages, I think we can expect at least two incomings and possibly three before the window slams shut. Strewth, just realised I have not even mentioned Murphy whom it is now rumoured has been missing due to an undisclosed personal, family reason. Uhmm. And what of Bowyer I wonder.

So finally this from the BBC Messageboard, message 25,Lisbinho. Said we’d return to him later. Either this guy is the most deluded person on the planet or this is a brilliant wind-up. Enjoy.

Vote Kennedy !

2006-01-05T23:44:00.000Z

Whoops, wrong election.

However, in the election for the Fans Representative on the Board of Charlton Athletic Football Club four candidates have emerged; Sue Townsend, Ben Hayes, Brian Cole and Vince Nieszwiec.

Sue Townsend, present emcumbant, shouldn't in my opinion be standing for re-election, as it's only fair to give someone else a go. Also, two years in and amid accusations of being unable to communicate with the fans who elected her she still has no dedicated website. Says it all really.

In my opinion, Ben Hayes is the best man for the job. Vince comes in a very close second.

Vote Ben Hayes !!! (and definately not for that lush Kennedy).

Same Old Story

2006-01-02T20:01:00.000Z

Three defensive lapses, few chances created, plenty of huff and puff, another away defeat. Sound familiar ?

The New Year's Eve victory over West Ham has proved to be a false dawn. Renewed optimism, although limited, has already evaporated. A decent performance and a comfortable 2-0 victory has to be taken into context as to against whom it was achieved. West Ham, recently promoted, are in the middle of their own run of five straight defeats and were hardly 'buzzing' themselves. A midfield consisting of Rommerdahl, Hughes, Holland and Kishishev are a match for no-one in the Premier League and yet we got away with it. Why ? Because West Ham were poor. We played well but against most other sides we would have struggled. A much needed win but once again it was just a case of papering over the cracks, just as the Sunderland win had done. Two days later and Everton proved that point.

The facts are we have won just three home games this season, against the three promoted sides incidentally, and just five in the whole of 2005. We have taken just six points from those sides currently occupying the twelve places above us and that includes the three from West Ham. We have suffered four straight away defeats with Chelsea next up. Everton, who are having an awful season apparently, are just two points behind us. We are currently just six points off the bottom four and play two of them at The Valley, hardly a fortress, before the end of the month. And all this with the best squad ever assembled by Alan Curbishley and, salary wise, by far the most expensive. Yet the squad still needs major surgery.

Several players should leave with them being replaced by three or four major signings. Take your pick from Keily, Johansson, Lisbie, Bartlett, Holland, Euell, Hughes and Jeffers. Maybe even throw Murphy's name into the mix if he isn't 'up' for it. The squad numbers may then be down but the quality needs to be drastically improved. The Board need to back Curbs but if they do then Curbs is definately in the last chance saloon. Further failure and his number is well and truely up. Things can't continue as they are.

Whether we like it or not we are very nervously looking over our shoulders when we should be challenging for Europe. It's time for the talking to stop. If Curbs can't sort it out then someone else will have to.

Enough is Enough

2005-12-22T00:35:00.000Z

Battle rages throughout South-east London and Kent. In sitting rooms, pubs, clubs, trains, offices, on internet message boards, especially netaddicks, there is little talk other than that of the future of Alan Curbishley. Nothing else matters. Christmas ?? There won't be much cheer in the households of many Charlton fans this festive season.

The capitulation at the JJB on Saturday against Wigan Athletic really had to be seen to be believed. If you thought Blackburn Rovers or Manchester City was bad then this was ten times worse. You may have heard second hand accounts of events last Saturday but only those there can appreciate how excruciatingly poor this really was. In truth, we were lucky to get 'nil' whilst Wigan should conceivably have scored six. Curbs can blame the pitch and three defensive howlers all he likes but this defeat, as those before it, goes far deeper than just poor defending. The previous weeks victory over Sunderland just papered over the cracks and those at The Valley that day know that against a better team we would have lost and, through negative substitutions and tactics, nearly contrived to anyway.

Curbs has said that the players are telling him that they don't want to be out there playing. Playing for him, as manager. They are not literally telling him that but that is what their performances are saying. This is very worrying and not something that can be sorted overnight, if at all. Once players stop performing for a manager then you are on a slippery slope - to nowhere. Every single player in the squad has been brought into the club by Curbs. They are all his players. If they don't perform then it is his fault. No one else's. The buck stops with him. We can blame the players or the coaches all we like but at the end of the day they are his coaches and his players and it's his responsibility.

Unfortunately, Curbs isn't God. Yes, he has done a fantastic job for this football Club and without him I sincerely believe we wouldn't be where we are now. Back at The Valley in a fantastic stadium with near sell-out's crowds playing the sort of standard of football I couldn't have dreamed about even ten years ago. Curbs is probably the greatest manager this football Club has ever had. However, that doesn't mean that we should accept what is happening now. It doesn't mean that Curbs should be immune from criticism. It doesn't mean that Curbs is immune from the sack either. In the last couple of season's we don't seem to have progressed on the pitch. In fact, we are currently going backwards. Watching Charlton isn't much fun at the moment. This summer around 2,000 fans failed to renew their season tickets. With just four home wins this calendar year, 2005, then that number will rise drastically next summer. Income will drop considerably as will investment in the team. The Valley expansion plans will go on hold, indefinitely. Unless. Unless something is done about it now.

Either those players who are under performing go, or Curbs does. I don't really mind which. All I know is that enough is enough and I can't accept another performance like that at Wigan. And neither should any of you.

Jeepers Keepers

2005-12-15T14:42:00.000Z

There is a custody battle ongoing at The Valley. Or rather, a custodian battle. It seems that there may be up to four contenders for the goalkeeping jersey. Here, I analyse the various options.

Dean Keily or 'Deano' - current holder of the jersey but for how long. Spent the initial few months of the season injured and then the next six weeks moaning about not being in the team now he was fit. With Stephan Andersen playing well it was up to Deano to keep his head down, work hard in training and bide his time. However, he proceeded to throw his toys out of the pram, have a bust up with Curbs and is alledgedly on the move in January. When Curbs decided to 'rest' Andersen Deano duly arrived between the sticks and conceded eight goals in two games wilst producing distinctly below average performances. A much improved performance against Sunderland contributed to the team getting back on track. The jury is out though and we may not see much more of Deano at The Valley.

Stephan 'Gillian' Andersen - undoubtably the 'numero uno' keeper in the long-term at The Valley. Some impressive performances were tainted when followed by a couple of minor errors at a time when his defence decided to go collectively and individually 'awol'. At just 23 Stephan is quite young for a keeper, a breed who generally don't produce their best, and are said to be at a peak, when approaching 30. I just hope that Stephan stays around long enough for us to see and appreciate it. Unfortunate to be dumped for the sulking Deano he has however not done himself any favours with Curbs by refusing to play for the reserves and insisting that he has nothing to prove to anyone. Not a wise move, just look at Jason Euell. However, I believe that in a year or two Stephan will prove himself to be the best Charlton keeper since Sammy.

Thomas Myhre - a Norwegian international who is pushing hard for a first team place but looks set to be frustrated on that score. Is always likely to be the one stuck on the bench as understudy. Reliable and steady he won't let us down if ever called upon. If Norway had qualified for the World Cup I don't think he'd have hung around but the signing of an 18 month contract extension to June 2007 can be interpreted in many ways not least that it could signal the departure of Deano.

And last, but by no means least :

Antti Niemi - currently the custodian at Southampton it is widely rumoured that he is set for a £1.5 million January switch to The Valley. In my opinion Antti has it all and is up there as one of the top three keepers in the Premier League, behind only Cech and Given. If he signs it can only mean that Deano will be departing (Everton or Wigan Ath) and that Myhre and Andersen will battle it out for a place on the bench. Niemi will the undoubted number one.

It remains to be seen what happens on this front but whatever transpires we will have three more than capable keepers on the books and will probably be the strongest in the Premier League in that department.

Attack Attack Attack

2005-12-06T13:27:00.000Z

I've always believed that attack is the best form of defence and seeing as we have not got the latter at the moment then attack is the only option.

It's plainly obvious that whomever we stick in defence they are unable to perform either individually or collectively. Constant changes are not working and we need to get a settled back four if we are going to achieve any sort of consistency. Dropping Stephan Andersen was, in my opinion, wrong because he is without doubt our number one goalkeeper not only in the long term but for now also. After all, it isn't as if dropping him has made a difference is it. Deano has come in and conceded eight goals in two home games and has hardly looked convincing in the process, being at fault for a number of those goals conceded. It's obvious that HH should be playing at left-back and an effective partnership found from the remaining centre-halves one of whom, I believe, should be Chris Perry. Who should partner him is up for debate but El Karkouri doesn't do it for me, Spector looks out of his depth, Fortune has his limitations and Sorondo is the great unknown. Sorondo has looked woeful for the reserves but I believe that is through a lack of motivation as opposed to lack of ability. Some players are unable to produce it in the reserves but when brought into the first team perform admirably. Paul Konchesky was a prime example of this. What is without question is that Curbs has to sort this out now once and for all or we are in deep trouble. If he doesn't, the transfer window may be too late an opportunity to do so.

It's probably stretching the point to call this Saturday's encounter with Sunderland at The Valley as being a six pointer but it isn't far off it. A defeat, however unimaginable, is certainly a real possibility if we defend as we have recently. Deano, in his infinite wisdom, believes we need to get back to being 'nasty' and 'horrible' and 'hard to beat'. Hard to beat yes, but I can't remember us ever being nasty and horrible, at least not in the last fifteen years or so. That's probably part of the problem, we have always been too 'nice' but you can't get back to something you've never been. Unless of course he means being defensive, dull and boring. Now, we have been that in recent years but now isn't the time to revert to those tactics. We can't defend at the moment so the best option is to attack, attack, attack and relieve the pressure on the defence. The worst thing to do is to defend, be cautious in attack and hope to keep a clean sheet and hey, if we're lucky, nick a goal. Problem is we may nick a goal but run the risk of conceding anyway but will inevitably end up conceding but not scoring ourselves. We are playing Sunderland, arguably the worst team the Premiership has ever seen, and there is no reason why we shouldn't approach the game with an attacking mentality. Anything else will be foolhardy.

It's high time for a return to 4-4-2 and Jay Bothroyd's cameo against Man City suggests that he may be the man for the job and Thomas deserves a starting place also to provide some width, sadly missing against the Massives. I'd go for the following :Andersen; Young, Perry, Sorondo, Hreidersson; Ambrose, Murphy, Smertin, Thomas;Bent; Bothroyd.

Attack, attack, attack and three points will be ours. Up The Addicks !!

Under Pressure !

2005-11-27T21:58:00.000Z

In my last post I suggested the forthcoming five games would shape the destiny of the whole season. Well, things got off to a pretty bad start at Villa Park on Saturday. A woeful performance in which we offered very little against an equally poor Villa side. They at least created chances although the quality of their play was as bad as ours. However, four consecutive defeats have now put considerable pressure on the next two Premier League games at home to Manchester City and Sunderland where no less than four points minimum will suffice. Firstly though Blackburn Rover’s trip to The Valley on Wednesday in the Carling Cup should be viewed with much trepidation. The recent trouncing at Ewood Park together with Rovers decent display at Highbury at the weekend means we enter this game with confidence at a low ebb and the pressure well and truly on.

And the pressure is now on Alan Curbishley more than most. Now is the time for AC to bring home the bacon. On Saturday his selection policy was criticised by most of the travelling fans, and rightly so, because by leaving out our most creative players in Murphy and Rommerdahl, the latter of whom didn’t even make the bench, we had lost the game before we had even started. Murphy has scored four goals this season and created numerous others and even when he has been below par, as he certainly has recently, he is still likely to pop up with a couple of exquisite passes to create opportunities for others as he did at Portsmouth for Ambrose and Rommerdahl. His replacement on Saturday, Holland, is unlikely to do this on a regular basis and neither is Kishishev or Smertin. Ambrose is the only other midfielder likely to be able to produce that extra bit of quality required.

The defence is currently at sixes and sevens and Curbs really needs to go back to basics here. Hermann must start at left-back; Powell is past it and Spector isn’t up to it at the moment, whilst Perry must return at centre-half. Karkouri is the other obvious centre-half although I’m not convinced that he is up to the job. Other than another striker in January I really think we need a quality centre-half. Sorondo was absolutely awful for the reserves last week whilst Fortune also has his limitations. I’d stick with Andersen in goal although I wouldn’t be all that surprised if Myrhe replaced him between the posts. Forget Keily as an option as it seems his days are numbered at The Valley and he is likely to be off in January to pastures new.

Finally, spare a thought for Darren Bent. Starved of service in recent weeks he must be really frustrated at the moment but to his immense credit he is still working his socks off and was unlucky with his only half-chance on Saturday. To compound this frustration I wonder how he felt when paired with the enigmatic Lisbie for the second-half on Saturday. He certainly didn’t deserve that and neither did we.

Problems On and Off The Pitch

2005-11-22T13:20:00.000Z

Before we address matters on the pitch a brief word on events off it. Without wanting to comment on events that are subject to legal proceedings it once again seems as though the behavior of a minority of so-called Manchester United fans has crossed the boundary of what is considered acceptable. The whole story, as reported on the CAFC website, leads Charlton to believe that there is no other conclusion than a ban on United fans the next time they visit The Valley. They have been asked politely, on numerous occasions, to comply with ground regulations and have refused to do so whilst at the same time causing considerable trouble and injury to others. Assaults on staff, both physical and verbal, are not acceptable and neither is racist abuse. However, I'd like to next time round see a dramatic reduction in Utd's allocation, to around 1,500, and a dramatic increase in the amount of Police and stewards in attendance but only if Utd agree to pay for the extra cost of such an operation. If that game passes without incident then the following year the allocation can be slightly increased and so on and so on. Drastic measures are called for but if the Board ultimately advocate that a total ban is what is required then I support Charlton completely in this course of action.

Back to more mundane, but equally concerning, matters and this time on the pitch. It is now plainly obvious that we cannot persist with 4-5-1 at The Valley but it is equally obvious, and painfully so, that we do not possess another striker capable of playing alongside Bent, even if one were fit. However, that doesn't mean we don't have another player capable of performing that role. Step forward Darren Ambrose. Having played up-front in his Ipswich Town days Ambrose could be the answer to the problem; at least until the transfer window opens. Composed on the ball and tricky with it, he possesses an eye for goal that all our other so-called strikers do not. Alongside Bent, or perhaps just behind him, Ambrose would provide Bent with both support and chances to convert as well as chipping in with a few of his own. Another alternative would be a switch to 4-3-3. Thomas and Ambrose to support and provide for Bent which will ensure that the midfield trio, so important to our game, can remain intact. Away from home however I would persist with 4-5-1. Five wins and a solitary defeat from six away games is a fantastic return and there is no reason why this successful system cannot continue to bear considerable fruit away from The Valley.

The next five games will shape the ultimate destiny of our season. Away games at Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic squeezed either side of home games against Man City and Sunderland all provide more than adequate opportunities to get some points on the board. Eight points or more will see us enter the Xmas/New Year period in the top eight at least and looking forward to every chance of European qualification. Six points or less will see us looking nervously over our shoulders at the closing pack and a season of mid table mediocrity. In between is a chance of progress in the Carling Cup and a place in the last eight that victory over Blackburn Rovers would provide. After that who knows what may happen. The next month will be very interesting indeed.

Change The Record

2005-11-18T06:15:00.000Z

Played 12, Drawn 2, Lost 10. Hardly makes good reading does it ? Our record in the Premier League against ManYoo is frankly appalling. Half decent performances have been few and far between and mainly they have been disappointing to say the least and none more so than last season’s capitulation at The Valley. This needs to change, and now. Another defeat at The Valley will see our good start to the season merely become an okay one and the prospect of another season of mid-table obscurity.

It remains to be seen where AC will tinker with the team but some tinkering is both necessary and unavoidable. With the unavailability of Jon Spector a change at left-back is certain but whether that will see the return of Chrissy Powell or the switching of Hermann across the back line remains to be seen. The latter would not only mean that we would lose probably our best centre half from the heart of the defence but it would mean the recall of Karkouri whom I am far from convinced about. The former at least would mean that the centre half pairing would not be disrupted and Powell can be relied upon to put in a dependable performance. In the long term, as previously stated, I remain unconvinced by Karkouri whilst no-one has seen enough of Sorondo to be able to judge whether or not he could make one of the positions his own. Fortune is dependable but far from being capable of being able to perform the role on a regular basis. Perhaps the linking of Aston Villa left back JLloyd Samuel with a move to The Valley in January would suggest that Curbs sees Hermann as a centre half long term.

Elsewhere the side practically picks itself except from the goalkeeping position perhaps. In my opinion Stephan Andersen has done nothing wrong and to replace him just because Deano is unhappy with his lot would be unwise although many seem to think otherwise. The midfield will pick itself especially with Jerome Thomas injured and Smertin fit again. Hughes will drop out from the team that started at Ewood Park two weeks ago and the 4-5-1 formation will be persevered with for at least another week. With Thomas injured Lloyd Sam may get the nod for a place on the bench especially after his omission from the reserves this week. Expect Holland, Bothroyd, Karkouri and a keeper to make up the bench warmers.

Talking of the reserves I’m a tad confused. I thought that players such as Bartlett, Sorondo and Euell were on their way back from injury and others such as Bothroyd, JJ and Lisbie were lacking match fitness but none of them appeared for the reserves this week. Either they were given time off during the international break which, for the reasons stated above, seems strange, or our injury situation is really a crises. If so, our squad now looks pretty thin on the ground.

Roll on Saturday; a good fry-up down the café and three points off the Mancs. Up The Addicks !!

Smerts Staying Put

2005-11-04T13:09:00.000Z

A very entertaining evening was had at last night's City Addicks meeting. Theo Foley and Steve Gritt were very forthcoming on certain issues and a good, and boozy, night was had by all. The one lady in attendance, Brenda I believe her name was, seemed to spend the whole evening flirting with Theo or was that just my imagination.

Charlton Athletic director David White was also in attendance and revealed that, despite fan's worries to the contrary, Alexei Smertin was on a season long loan at The Valley and cannot be recalled by Chelsea during the January transfer window even if they wanted to do so. The possibility of a permanent transfer remains although Alexei has opted to wait until the end of the season when he will review all of the options available to him.

It seems that there is money available to spend in the January transfer window but suggestions on certain message boards that the figure of £20m was mentioned are way off the mark and can be put down as drunken ramblings. Curbs knows where he wants to spend the money and one can only hope that it will be on another decent striker and perhaps another defensive midfielder.

Oh, and Benty is fit for Blackburn tomorrow after suffering from nothing worse than a heavy cold.

Stating The Obvious

2005-11-02T23:52:00.000Z

I know, but there are two things we desperately need at Charlton Athletic at the moment. Three actually if you include a home win. The first two though are 1) another decent striker and 2) a Plan B.

At the moment we have Plan A and very little else although Plan A has worked extremely well away from home this season. In fact it has a 100 % success rate. Darren Bent up front in a 4-5-1 formation, two wide players, a midfield trio of Smertin, Kishishev and Murphy, a dependable back four and Stephan Andersen. Sorted. Except it doesn't work at home, even when Benty is playing, and when he isn't it goes decidedly pear-shaped. The man most fans considered able to be a Benty replacement in times of injury (or sickness), Jay Bothroyd, seems very unlikely to be up to the task and asking JJ, Bartlett or Lisbie to help out would be a very big ask. Even when Bent plays the formation isn't suited to the fact that at The Valley we need to take the game to the opposition and ask the questions. Away from home we can soak up the pressure, let our midfield take control and then impose our game on the opposition. This won't work at The Valley, hence the need for a Plan B. Plan B will rely on a fit Benty and another decent striker to play alongside him but one who can also perform the lone striker role if Benty is unavailable for whatever reason. There are players out there who could do this job for us and it is vital that Curbs signs one in early January otherwise our season could once again disintigrate before our very eyes.

Now, as to a Plan B ...... well, that's up to Curbs but I expect to see one in place ahead of the Manchester Utd game.

Thanks For Nothing Sven

2005-10-23T21:05:00.000+01:00

Before we get on to Sven a few quick points. It is often said that fans know nothing about football. Well, on this occasion we obviously did. Many, me included, were suggesting that Spector should replace Chris Powell at Fratton Park and a few, myself included, championed a start for Darren Ambrose ahead of Jerome Thomas. In the end it took a knock to Thomas in training to give Ambrose a start but he took his opportunity with both hands in a Man of The Match performance. Two good chances well saved in the first half, an energetic performance throughout and an excellently taken goal. No disrespect to Jerome but Darren showed more in this one game than Thomas has in the last three or four. Now I’m sure that Curbs doesn’t read this blog or other fans sites so we can only conclude that fans really do know something about football. Personally, I’m pleased that Alan preferred Spector to El Karkouri who I really am not convinced about. Praise to Curbs for the half-time rollocking the team must have received as second half we were a different team and two pieces of Murphy magic and two fantastic finishes were all that were needed to see off a determined Pompey team. Praise too for under pressure Stefan Andersen who, without much to do, produced a brilliant save from Vokic and cannot be faulted at all for their goal.

And so to Sven. I don’t think that Darren Bent’s call up to the recent England squads has done him or us any favours. Curbs may feel that by him not playing at all and perhaps not training as frequently as he otherwise would, have led to Darren perhaps not being as fit as he could have been but I feel that something much more precious has been damaged, his confidence. I’m not saying that Darren has been missing chances he would have previously taken or that he isn’t working hard up front but it looks as though a certain sparkle has gone from his game and personally I can understand why. Sitting on the England bench, top scorer in the Premiership and not being given a chance to show what you can do must be demoralising. Consider how much more demoralising it must be when a ’striker’ is chosen over you who is still yet to score this season for his club side. I really can’t see how the whole experience wouldn’t have had anything other than a negative effect on Darren. Before there was a spring in his step and he was on-top of his game but now he seems to have lost that little bit extra that he had. All I can say is Dazza, forget Sven. He wouldn’t know an in-form striker if he saw one and let’s face it he saw the Spurs game and still couldn’t see what was in front of his very eyes. Us Charlton fans know what we’ve got and we are very happy with what we’ve seen so keep it up Darren, we are right behind you.

So, to Stamford Bridge and the mighty Chelsea. I just hope we go there and give it a go. I’d rather come away on the back of a 4-3 defeat happy that we’ve given it a real go than lose 1-0 to a dodgy goal in a tight game without having made their keeper make a save. We have nothing to lose so let’s show them what we are made of.

Boo's Understandable

2005-10-18T23:53:00.000+01:00

Fifth in the Premier League and yet booed off at The Valley. A bit extreme you may think but if you analyse thing’s I don’t believe it’s that outrageous. As one of those lucky enough to have seen every game so far this season I feel ecstatic about the start we have made. I’d have taken 16 points from 24 if offered that at the start of the season. However, like the guy’s behind me at The Valley, if you have only witnessed the home games then you may feel entitled to be a tad unhappy. After all you pay your 500-odd quid to see the team perform at The Valley and whilst happy that we are performing so well away from home given the choice you’d rather we picked up the majority of our points at The Valley. A win over Wigan, eventual capitulation against Chelsea, dejection at throwing away a two goal advantage over Spurs and a stuttering performance against Fulham have left you feeling slightly cheated. The problem is this follows on from an appalling second half of the season last term at The Valley that has now seen us win just two of the last ten Premier League games at The Valley, drawing three and losing five of the others; nine points out of a possible thirty. Admittedly, the football we are witnessing this season is far more exciting than that of last but football is ultimately a results game and at the moment the ’home’ fans are not seeing the right results.

Equally concerning is our inability to come back from deficits. Spurs were two down at The Valley and yet rallied to win. When was the last time we came back from behind to win a Premier League game. Well, away from home it was the season before last when, a goal down with a quarter of an hour to play at Fratton Park, Paolo di Canio entered the fray and inspired his colleagues to an unlikely 2-1 win over Pompey. The last time this feat occurred at The Valley was erm, ah, erm ….. no, sorry I can’t remember. At least 24 games ago and at a guess nearer 30, perhaps 35. Anyone with the answer please let me know.

Before you all get too bored and check out All Quiet instead a few final points. Firstly, Jon Spector must replace Chrissy Powell at Portsmouth this Saturday either as a direct replacement at left-back or at centre-half allowing Hermann to revert to the full back spot. Chris has performed admirably but eight straight games has, in my opinion, been two too many and now is the time for a change. I prefer Spector to El Karkouri for two reasons. He was our best defender in pre-season and would have started the season but for an untimely injury. Secondly, El Karkouri is for me too reckless and prone to conceding unnecessary free kicks. His challenge after just coming on against Fulham showed that he is more a liability than an asset. I hope we continue with 4-5-1 and believe that if we had stuck with it against Fulham after equalizing then we would have gone on to win the game. The changes made lost us our width and meant Rommerdahl was as ineffective on the left as he was brilliant on the right. Ambrose could possibly replace Thomas but he’ll probably have to settle for a place on the bench.

If only we had an alternative to Kish, we’d be bloody brilliant then ……

And finally, a few words for Mr Simon Jordan; Seagulls, Seagulls, Seagulls, Seagulls. As a certain Chairman would say ‘ETCYT’ - you’re gonna be a long while in it !!

A Plea To Curbs

2005-10-02T20:20:00.000+01:00

Please, please get rid of Shaun Bartlett. He came on at St Andrews and was awful, he started against Hartlepool and was so poor he was replaced at half-time and against Spurs on Saturday he was absolutely dire when replacing the injured Darren Bent. Dazza's double against the Spudz took his tally to seven in seven in the Premiership, one more than Bartlett scored in the whole of last season. But it is not just in the goalscoring department the Shaun is letting us down. Against Spurs he was lazy and disinterested. If he doesn't want to be here then get rid - and soon. Even in the short time he was on the pitch he managed to miss two gilt-edged chances, one of which he took with the 'wrong' foot, completely missed the target and then tried to claim a corner to hid his embarrassment.

The problem is we have three 'strikers' in Bartlett, JJ and Lisbie whom together are not fit to tie even one of Bent's laces and they probably wouldn't even manage that. Lisbie is so poor that Norwich are pleading that we take him back and none of these three would manage ten goals a season in the Championship, perhaps not even between them. For what good they are they might as well leave. Bothroyd is as yet unproven and so we are left with diddly-squat if Dazza is injured or we want to play 4-4-2. In January another decent striker is an absolute must above all else. We should 'gamble' on another player from the Championship as Bent has proved that the step-up can be made.

We have still made a great start to the season and it shouldn't be forgotton that only three other teams have had a better start in Premier League history; Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea. We have much to look forward to this season.

Text, Drugs and Flying Bottles

2005-09-26T23:31:00.000+01:00

I don’t like to pick holes but sitting in the crowd at The Hawthorns at the weekend it was difficult not to be disappointed with Danny Murphy’s goal celebrations. The first was a brief wave of an arm before being patted on the back by a couple of team-mates whilst the second was to kick the ball into the net for a second time, just to make sure, before briefly running in front of the Addickted with an arm aloft. Now we know why. Danny had to text the missus each time (scroll to end) to let her know he’d scored whilst no doubt reminding her at the same time not to forget the Rice Krispies and the Jammy Dodgers he’d asked for. Waitrose, I ask you (and which one please?). Can’t beat Morrisons you know. Time to text her would have been whilst waiting after the game to give a sample for drug testing, as he apparently had to do. Seriously, we really need to sort out some decent celebratory routines.

Then there’s the flying water bottle mystery. Sky’s ‘Goals on Sunday’ showed Curbs kicking a water bottle after the Thomas/Bent ‘second’ goal cock-up although the great man himself insists that this was a neat bit of trickery by Sky as he actually kicked it earlier in the game after Radi dwelt on the ball too long and needlessly gave away possession. Either way, the only water bottle I saw fly was from the boot of Dennis ‘The Increasingly Impressive’ Menace when once again becoming the sacrificial lamb that is the first substitution.

Talking of Radi/Raddo/Rady. Actually, do we have to ? Unfortunately yes we do. He seems able to perform to a certain standard for about sixty minutes before his whole game goes to pieces before your very eyes. Passes start going astray, concentration lapses and suddenly he wants ten minutes on the ball to think about what to do next. It’s as if he is whisked off to a land far away. Waitrose perhaps ? Anyone know where Mrs Kishishev shops these days ? Or is it just that he can’t text as fast as our Danny can.

Finally, whatever else transpires in January we need to make ‘Smerts’ signing permanent then, if not before. Realistically he has no real future at Chelsea but can have a fantastic future at The Valley. Tying up a permanent deal would be the best bit of business we could do.

Who's Gonna Wear Smerts Shirt ?

2005-09-15T16:42:00.000+01:00

Not literally, of course, but exactly who will stand in for 'Deadly' in his enforced absence against Chelsea this Saturday.

The likely candidates are Bryan Hughes, Darren Ambrose, Matt Holland or, quite possibly, El Karkouri. However, there remains a question mark against each and every one of them. Firstly, Ambrose was injured for the England U-21 side last week and his fitness is uncertain. Secondly, both El Karkouri and Holland came through unscathed for the reserves this week but would both have been risked for 90 minutes if they were to feature this weekend ? Additionally, Holland is probably a few weeks off full fitness having not played yet this season and having been injured for the Republic of Ireland's match v France last week. Finally, although Bryan Hughes has performed well in a few cameo roles this season, and is a good performer from off the bench, it is unlikely that he'll be asked to start and especially against Chelsea. If fit I expect Ambrose to make his home debut alongside Kish and Murphy with El Karkouri stepping into the breech otherwise.

Elsewhere, it is hard to see where Curbs would want to change things. He may be concerned about Chris Powell up against either Robben or Wright-Phillips and the younger Jon Spector may be an option. Jerome Thomas's place could be under threat from Ambrose, if he isn't employed in central midfield, and likewise Rommedahl with whom Curbs was apparently unhappy with his (non) defensive display last week at St Andrews.

What is certain is that with a 100% record from four games played this is a game to which we can look forward with a fair degree of optimism. Chelsea also boast a 100% record and so something has to give this weekend. Whilst we are not expected to win Chelsea are and so there is no reason why we cannot go into this game with the pressure off. I expect a decent game, a few goals and both sides remaining unbeaten at 4.50pm. However, I wouldn't complain if we won !!

Finally, this Saturday will see the first visit this season to the café on the industrial estate - so see you there Rob and Di !

Play It Again Al

2005-09-09T13:31:00.000+01:00

The trip to St Andrew's tomorrow sees Alan Curbishley spoilt for choice with regard to players available for selection, but facing no real selection dilemmas with regard the starting eleven. There is no need to change a winning formula and chances to make changes will soon come about in there own good time through injuries, suspensions or, as with Smertin next week, unavailability.

The return to fitness of El Karkouri, the availability of Sorondo after suspension and the addition of new man on the block, Jay Bothroyd, to the squad means that whom to pick as the four outfield substitutes will pose the biggest headache for AC. Myhre is a given as the substitute keeper whilst for me Spector also deserves a place both for his performances in pre-season and his versatility, covering both centre-half and left-back positions. I also expect El Karkouri to replace Fortune on the bench as he was our best centre-half last season but he cannot expect to walk back into the first team when fit if others are performing well. With Spector and El Karkouri on the bench then Sorondo will miss out completely. Bryan Hughes deserves to keep his place on the bench for a couple of reasons. He can cover across most of the midfield area and in cameo performances at both Sunderland and Boro' he provided excellent passes from which Bent duly scored on each occasion. The last place on the bench is a straight battle between Bartlett and Bothroyd and I expect Bartlett to get the nod. Not because I particularly think he is better than Bothroyd, whom I've not really seen enough of to form a decent opinion, but because he knows our game better and would probably slot in easier as a replacement for Bent.

It could be possible that another striker could replace a centre-half on the bench and although some may counternance Spector or El Karkouri starting at centre-half with Hreidersson reverting to left-back in place of Powell I really cannot see what this would achieve. Chris Powell has performed excellently so far and, as I'm sure he'd admit, at his age he is not going to be able to keep it up week-in and week-out but the time to rest him hasn't arrived yet.

I expect a very tight game at St Andrews with Charlton just nicking it by the odd goal in three.

Finally, one player definitely not featuring at St Andrews is Kevin Lisbie who has joined Norwich City on an initial one-month loan deal that could be extended by a further three months after that.

Deadline Day Dismay

2005-09-01T00:23:00.000+01:00

So Franny Jeffers has departed to Glasgow giants, and Champions League qualifiers, Rangers on a four-month loan deal. I really hope that it works out well for him there. It certainly hasn’t gone to plan at Charlton for Franny but that is probably more to do with his (alleged) off field activities than his on field abilities. Enough said on that front, I’m sure we have all heard the stories. Either way, he wasn’t exactly suited to Curbs preferred 4-5-1 system.

Anyway, we are now definitely a striker light and I can’t see anything happening at this late stage to rectify that situation. Having not even looked at the Wigan Athletic programme I thought I’d take this opportunity, using the handbook, to assess the Charlton Athletic goal scoring records of Darren Bent’s understudies. It doesn’t make good reading.

League Only

Johansson - 89 starts (plus 55 subs) and 27 goals - a goal every 3.30 starts (5.33 incl subs)
Bartlett - 89 starts (plus 18 subs) and 23 goals - a goal every 3.87 starts (4.65 incl subs)
Lisbie - 61 starts (plus 80 subs) and 16 goals - a goal every 3.81 starts (8.81 incl subs)

Those for Lisbie, in my opinion, are especially poor. These have come over a nine season period in which the games he actually started read 4,1,0,0,5,10,24,5 and, last season, 12. His highest tally in a season was 5 when he started just 10 games but the next season he started 24 but scored only 4. JJ’s goals per games he has started is pretty good at just over three but both Bartlett and Lisbie are approaching four and when you take into account sub appearances then the record of all three is very poor but especially Lisbie whose is close to a goal every nine games. Considering strikers are normally brought on to change a game by scoring a goal then the record of each of our ’strikers’ is extremely poor. Its okay to offer as an excuse other attributes that each of the above has but at the end of the day strikers are judged on the goals they score and nothing else. As a comparison the much maligned Carl Leaburn had, sub appearances included, a strike rate of a goal every 6.08 games, far better than that of Lisbie and not significantly worse than those of Johansson and, to a lesser extent, Bartlett.

At the other end of the scale Clive Mendonca’s record reads a goal every 2.1 games and Derek Hales a goal every 2.16 games. These are the strikes rate we expect of a striker and frankly our current bunch, Dazza excepted, do not cut the mustard.

All of which is very much a cause for concern. Should Bent be missing for whatever reason then we have a real problem. Not only can the striker with the best record when starting, Johansson, not play the lone front man role but the two who can, Bartlett and Lisbie, have records that even Showaddywaddy would be ashamed of (if you are too young ask your parents).
I suppose that we will have to just trust that Curbs knows what he is doing but letting Franny out on loan could backfire on us big-time.

Late breaking news even as I finish writing this is that Charlton have signed striker Jay Bothroyd. Aged just 23 he started his career at Arsenal before moving on to Coventry City and then Perugia. The second half of last season was spent on loan at Blackburn Rovers. His goal scoring record is hardly impressive but at six foot three he is ideally suited to the one up front system and seeing as he has been rumoured to have been on trial at Sparrows Lane for the past week or two we can only assume that Alan Curbishley has seen something in him that he likes. It remains to be seen as to whether this is a loan deal or a permanent transfer.

Worthy Of Praise ?

2005-08-30T00:36:00.000+01:00

What ? Us, lil' old Charlton deserving of praise. No, didn't think so. Despite an emphatic 3-0 demolition of England wannabe Steve MacLaren's Middlesbrough the press in general still couldn't really find it within themselves to give us the credit we deserved. Any praise was followed or preceded by 'Boro were awful' or 'Boro forgot to turn up'. Utter rubbish. I know what I saw and that was a decent Boro side being totally outclassed. Our midfield totally and utterly dominated the whole game and didn't allow Boro to get going at all. If Boro were poor it was because we were so absolutely damned bloody brilliant. And for me, my opinion is the only one that counts.

I know it's probably irrational but I'm already starting to worry whether or not Chelsea will recall Alexei(y) 'Class Act' Smertin in January. Can we not nip my angst in the bud and buy him right now ? Surely 3m would do the trick ? He is the missing link as it were. Without him we were a rudderless boat drifting around in the PL no man's land. With him and we are are a slick passing team destined for a top eight finish at worst. I even find myself praising the previously much maligned Kishishev who is now an integral part of the team and looks every inch an international player. More importantly Alexei's arrival has allowed Danny Murphy the opportunity to express himself and become the player we always knew was there. Last season he was like a little boy lost in a sweet shop, able to see the goods on sale but unable to reach them, but now he has grown in stature and is carrying all before him. On this form Sven will not be able to ignore him for much longer.

Darren Bent. Four goals in just three games puts him just two behind our top PL goalscorer for the whole of last season; Shaun Bartlett on six (just in case your Math is bad). Now I accept he will endure a lean spell or two but I'm pretty confident he'll have exceeded six before the end of the season. A very shrewd signing by Curbs especially when compared to the 7m Boro paid for Yakubu. What I like is that he squandered a couple of (difficult) chances but instead of hiding away he still both wanted the ball and was prepared to try again. Too many of our strikers seem to get embarrassed when they have missed a chance and are reluctant to shoot again. Bartlett especially take note.

Without wishing to sound churlish my only slight concern arising from Sunday's victory was the wayward crossing from both Rommedahl (note correct spelling Di !) and Thomas. Both found themselves in excellant positions after good work but let themselves down with poor crosses, most of which were over hit. If they had been delivered better we would have found ourselves ahead much earlier than we were and may have won by even more. Yes, very churlish I know.

I'll finish on a positive note. Bryan Hughes has played about four minutes of football in total at Sunderland and Boro' and has provided Darren Bent with two assists. Can't ask for much more than that can you.

Window Of Opportunity

2005-08-23T22:22:00.000+01:00

With eight days until the transfer window slams shut it remains to be seen as to whether or not Alan C will be able to conduct any further dealings. As stated he is looking for another two additions to the squad with his targets allegedly being Marcus Bent and Lee Bowyer. Both would be very useful acquisitions indeed but both seem a very long way off and they are seemingly dependant on their current clubs, Everton and Newcastle Utd respectively, being able to make improvements to their own squads before releasing the players. In my opinion, both moves are highly unlikely to happen.

If this were the case would it be a bad thing. Well, in my opinion the signing of another midfielder is not exactly a necessity, although if Bowyer signed it would allow Smertin to replace Kish in the 'holding role' and give us a midfield two of Bowyer and Murphy; very tasty indeed. With Holland, Kish, Ambrose, Euell and Hughes as back up we'd look very strong indeed in this department. Without Bowyer we are still well served but perhaps lacking the 'bite' he would provide. If the Bent deal collapses though I think we could be in trouble. It seems as though the squad is best suited to the fluid system that, whichever form it takes, consists of a lone front man. With either Smertin or Kish protecting the back four we then operate with a midfield of two behind two wingers and the lone forward or a midfield of four behind the lone forward. The system is so fluid that it changes constantly throughout a game except in one crucial respect. Only one forward. The only forward we have who is able to play this role whilst still being able to score goals is Darren Bent. Whilst Lisbie and Bartlett can both try to do so they will always lack that vital ingredient; goals. Lisbie has pace, Bartlett is good in the air but neither are goal scorers.

Not that I necessarily think Marcus Bent is the answer, goal scoring isn't exactly his forte either, but he does at least combine the aerial ability of Bartlett with the pace of Lisbie and so, at a reasonable fee, would provide a more attractive option than either of the aforementioned. To rely on Darren Bent remaining fit could be a dangerous game to play.

Therefore, before the window shuts next Wednesday another striker is a necessity and if that means spending the Bowyer money as well and putting all our eggs in one basket as it were then that is what I feel we need to do. If so, a top eight finish is certainly an achievable aim in my opinion. An opportunity we can't afford to miss.

A Striker Light and Kish Concerns

2005-08-22T01:10:00.000+01:00

I'm struggling to think of a more convincing 1-0 victory. If Wigan had returned to the North-West on the end of a three or four nil spanking they couldn't have complained. And in Darren Bent it looks as if we may have at last acquired a striker who actually scores goals and, more importantly, wants to score goals. His first thought is getting a strike in on goal and if that strike is unsuccessful is perfectly happy to try again instead of hiding away in a corner.

However, I remain slightly worried on two fronts. Firstly, worried that if Darren Bent gets injured we are back to relying on either Bartlett or Lisbie to play the lone frontman role without an iota of the potency that Bent possesses. Secondly, worried, unlike others it seems, that Kishishev seems a first choice in midfield. I'm not convinced. I'd rather see Smertin playing the defensive anchorman role, a role to which he is especially suited, with Ambrose or, who knows, Bowyer, in a more attacking role. Smertin was getting forward considerably on Saturday but this is alien to his normal game as his goalscoring record confirms. However, if Curbs were able to sign one player before the end of the transfer deadline I would rather another striker were brought into the Club. Both Bartlett and Lisbie have their attributes but scoring goals regularly isn't one of them and with Jeffers conspicuous only by his absence we are worringly short of options up front.

On the plus side the formation of one up front seems to have evolved into a 4-1-4-1 or a 4-1-2-3 formation such is the fluency of the system. This system is both bringing out the best in Danny Murphy, who was awesome on Saturday, whilst also proving that Smertin is the piece of the jigsaw that we were so desperately missing last season. With Rommerdahl and Thomas working the flanks effectively, although Rommerdahl should offer so much more, and a decent striker up front we are finally seeing the sort of performances that this system should be delivering. The back four are looking solid, Chris Powell belieing his 37 years, and that is encouraging with Sorondo, El Karkouri and Spector nearing availibility.

Finally, I'm amused to see that in under two weeks I have gone from being a moron (a foolish or stupid person,IQ 50-70) to being an imbecile (a person of very low intelligence,IQ 25 to 50). Quite an achievement. Perhaps, if I try really hard, next week I'll be Chairman of a nondescript football club that has to rent it's ground. Then again, could anyone really be that much of an ignoramus.

Bent Double

2005-08-15T01:25:00.000+01:00

And that is how I celebrated Darren's first strike. Bent double over the seat in front of me staring at the Stadium of Light concrete a foot away after a shove in the back from an over enthusiastic supporter behind me. Not that I minded of course. I'm sure that many a time my flailing arms have caught an unsuspecting fan across the back of the head or that on occasions I have ended up hugging complete strangers. C'mon, we've all done it. And ain't it great, especially when you can experience it three times on one single afternoon. Magic !!

Our last visit to the Stadium of Light in February 2003 also ended in a 3-1 Charlton victory but there the similarity ends. On that occasion it was a scrappy affair won courtesy of three own goals. This time victory was achieved with a display of classy, fluent football capped by three excellant strikes. The fact that we went in at half-time with the scores level belies the quality of our first half performance in particular. With Smertin, Ambrose, Murphy and Bent all outstanding we should have had more, much more, to show for our first half dominance. Ambrose's deflected shot on the turn, Smertin's rasping drive against the bar, Bent's tame effort from Murphy's superb through ball and, especially, Murphy's wasteful header from Rommerdahl's deep cross were all chances spurned. However, the one chance converted was expertly done so by Darren Bent. A chipped ball over the top from Ambrose caught the Sunderland rearguard flat-footed and Bent onside. Racing onto the ball and towards the oncoming keeper he kept his cool, waited for support and when that wasn't forthcoming further kept his composure before slamming the ball past the now retreating goalkeeper.

However, Sunderland undeservedly dragged themselves back into the game before half-time. Clever wing play from Welsh, a summer signing from Liverpool, aided by Smertin committing himself to making an unneccessary challenge, led to a cross into the six yard box from which Andersen pulled off a fantastic save from Stead. Unfortunately the ball ran loose to Gray who rammed the ball into the net. Parity at half-time was scarcely believable.

Ten minutes into the second half and things seemingly became extremely tricky. Far from it. Darren Ambrose, who was enjoying a particularly fine debut, was deservedly red carded for an over the ball lunge at Wright. Although mistimed rather than malicious he nevertheless deserved to go. Thomas soon replaced the ineffective Rommerdahl, 4-5-1 became 4-4-1 and our numerical disadvantage hardly showed. A foul on Bent about twenty five yards out gave Danny Murphy the perfect opportunity to show his class. Everyone knew what was coming but there was absolutedly nothing anyone could have done about it. Rooted to the spot Kelvin Davis could only look on in amazement as the ball curled around the wall and into the top corner. If Murphy has scored a finer goal then I havn't seen it. What followed was a masterclass in defending where necessary, holding onto the ball when necessary and foraging forward when possible. The aforementioned Wright was booked for crudely hacking down Thomas after being completely bamboozled by some neat footwork and then lucky to stay on the pitch after repeating the offence. Suffice to say he was promptly substituted by his manager before the red mist descended completely.

Much huff and puff by Sunderland was finally extinquished by Bent whom, on racing onto a lofted clearance by Hughes, opted not to partake in the time old Charlton practice of taking the ball down to the corner flag to waste time instead deciding that another goal should cement his call-up to the England squad. An excellant strike across the despairing dive of Davis into the bottom corner ensured that this would indeed be the case.

So, it seems 4-5-1 can be an attacking formation. All you need is a decent striker who is prepared to do what he is actually paid to do and score goals. However, it would be unfair to suggest Benty won this game on is own. Totally unfair in fact. Andersen and the back four looked solid as did the midfield who held their shape and passed the ball with accuracy and fluency. Bent was a willing worker up top and took his goals superbly. The England call up was an unexpected bonus but as a seasoned performer at U-21 level he possibly deserves his chance. All in all an excellant performance marred only by the three game ban that Ambrose will have to now serve.

Shame that the other 10,000 didn't turn up to see it !!

Moronic Ramblings

2005-08-10T00:46:00.000+01:00

Well, quite a lot to get through on this update so I'll keep it all as brief as possible.

Firstly, commiserations to the lovely Simon Jordan, the Chairman of Crystal Palace, a Club that don't even own their ground. Now how moronic is that. Even more moronic must be the Palace players. Two games, two defeats and bottom of the Fizzy Pop League. And there was Simon saying they were going to walk it and be Champions before the end of August. What a complete wan, sorry, moron.

Despite saying that Euelly had nearly gone it is now almost certain that he'll be here until January at least upon the news that he has had minor surgery on his dislocated shoulder and will be out for at least two, possibly three, months. We wish him a speedy recover so that we can sell the sulky one as soon as the next window opens.

Welcome to two new signings, numbers eight and nine of this transfer window. Thomas Myhre, Norwegian international, has joined on a years contract to provide competition and cover for Stephan Andersen initially and then. And then what I wonder. Become regular reserve team keeper ? We shall see. Goncalo Brandao, Portuguese U-19 international central defender, has joined on a season long loan with a view to an already agreed 500k move if he impresses. Let's hope he does.

Looking forward to Saturday and the first match of the season it seems that although we have a bigger squad actual team selection may be easy for AC. Just select the eleven that are still fit. Yes it really is that bad. Definately out are Sorondo (banned) and El-Karkouri, Euell & Lisbie (injured). Doubtful are Holland, Spector, Kishishev, Bartlett, Fortune and Smertin (all injured to varying degrees). It remains to be seen as to who will be fit but I believe Curbs will go for a 4-5-1 formation, something along the lines of :

Andersen; Young, Perry, HH, Powell; Rommerdahl, Smertin, Murphy, Hughes, Ambrose; Bent.

If fit I'd put Spector in at centre half moving Hermann to left back and replace Hughes with Holland.

Anyway, that's my take on things but after all what do I know, I'm only a moron.

Euell GOING,going ....

2005-07-31T23:04:00.000+01:00

and very nearly gone. On Friday the SLP reported that Birmingham were in advanced talks with The Addicks over the transfer of the want-away striker/midfielder/sulker. The official site then confirmed these talks together with the news that Jason had requested 90 minutes action at the weekend and had elected to play for the reserves at Sutton Utd. It transpires however that Jason failed to appear for this game fuelling speculation that a deal had been done. Hopefully he'll be gone in the next few days and we will be a couple of million better off. His Charlton career started slowely, gained momentum in the next two season's and then fizzled out like a damp firework on a wet November night. I hope he'll be happy in the Midlands but he'll still be unable to trap a bag of wet cement and within a couple of months he'll be whinging to Brucie that he's lost his place to either Dunn/Izzet or Heskey/Pandiani, depending as to whether he's a striker or midfielder or neither.

Talking of missing players, Gonzalo Sorondo was also supposed to play at Sutton Utd but didn't. Being suspended for the first three games of the season it makes sense for him to get a full ninety minutes for the reserves but not to play in either game seems strange. Let's hope he isn't injured.

Finally, Graham Stuart today announced his retirement from football. I'm sure I'm speaking for all Charlton fans when I say thankyou for your contribution to Charlton and the memories you have given us and also good luck for the future whether that be in football or speedway.

The Magnificent Seven

2005-07-13T13:25:00.000+01:00

Please say a big hello to : Darren Bent, Kelly Youga, Darren Ambrose, Chrissy Powell, Jonathan Spector, Gonzalo Sorondo and Alexei Smertin. HELLO !

As two of these signings are free transfers and three, when Smerts eventually arrives, are loan deals, initially at least, it means that transfer fees paid stand at less than 4m with 2m of that re-couped from the sale of Konchesky to West Ham. With Euell almost certain to depart for around 2m it means that Curbs has managed to increase the squad size by five at no actual cost other than wages. With Curbs having around £7m to spend on transfers speculation is mounting that he is going to spend big on a particular transfer target, quite possibly a striker.

So far Curbs has managed to address most of the concerns from last season. He has plugged the central defence area with the signings of both Sorondo and Spector, the latter of whom also provides cover for both full back positions. He has significantly strengthened central midfield with the arrival of Smertin as 'enforcer' whilst Ambrose can play anywhere across the middle although he is primarily right-sided. Darren Bent should provide a much needed cutting edge up-front and will hopefully solve our goalscoring problems.

Elsewhere, the return of Chris Powell is welcome for his tunnel celebrations, his enthusiasm and the news that he is to be involved on the coaching side of things. Kelly Youga is obviously one for the future and it will be interesting to follow his progress in the reserves.

All in all, a productive summer on the transfer front which hasn't quite finished yet. The signings have given the squad and, in most cases, the team a more balanced look and has more than addressed those areas which needed addressing. If we can add a top class forward and perhaps another midfielder as cover for Smertin then we can indeed be very pleased with the restructuring that has taken place.

After a slow start, unfulfilled promises of early signings and a couple of setbacks (Stead and Gardner) praise must go to Curbs and Richard Murray for all the hard work that must have gone into bringing all these players in. Now, where's that striker ?

Harry Potter And The Valley Expansion

2005-07-01T15:00:00.000+01:00

No, not the title of JK Rowling's new book but a good yarn nonetheless about Greenwich Council's approval of the clubs planning application. Except in this case Harry Potter is vanquished by his nasty, evil opponent which has apparently been riding roughshod over all and sundry. The following is an account of the proceedings by Mr Rick Everitt as posted on the netaddicks messageboard by the esteemed Mr Henry Irving :

Greenwich Council's planning board has granted permission for the club to extend the east stand, despite accusations from residents and councillors that the club is a "lousy neighbour".

Two councillors - David Grant (Lab, Greenwich West) and Harry Potter(Lib Dem, Middle Park and Sutcliffe) voted against the application -while Dermot Poston (Con, Eltham North) and John Wakefield (Lab,Glyndon) abstained, shortly after 11pm at Woolwich Town Hall.

Charlton residents, staff and supporters had to wait for two hour and 20minutes while the planning board considered an application to convert the former Well Hall Coronet cinema into a supermarket and community centre, before discussions on the Valley plan finally commenced at 9.20pm.

Councillors expressed concerns about the reliability of the club's green travel plan and expressed scepticism about club's claims of its effectsto date. They challenged the club's description of Holborn College as providing community use and criticised the height of the proposed living wall to screen Charlton Lane residents from the bulk of the new stand.

Despite an extensive consultation process, only 38 objections had been received to the scheme, which would increase capacity at The Valley to 30,900. Around 20 residents were present to protest in person and they accused the club of consistently breaking its promises over previous developments, as well as "breathtaking impertinence" in proposing the living wall. One resident said that his amenities were being "sacrificed on the altar of commercial ambition".

Residents complained about breaches of the construction codes agreed over the north stand, including early morning lorry deliveries and work outside permitted hours. A representative of the Charlton Society complained that a minority of fans urinated in the streets and Cllr Grant claimed that Charlton became "a giant public loo" after matches.Recent subsidence problems in Harvey Gardens were also linked by residents to the north stand development. It was suggested that season tickets should include local public transport journeys to discourage car use.

One residents said Charlton fans should be made to park at theMillennium Dome, a proposal specifically opposed by the council because they do not want additional traffic on the Greenwich Peninsula.

But arguments about loss of sunlight to gardens behind the east stand were undermined by detailed drawings showing that there would be only minimal additional effect because the morning shadow was caused by the Charlton Lane houses themselves and after a marginal late afternoon effect the sun disappeared behind the existing west stand already.

For the club, consultant Richard Arnold explained that delivery timings for heavy loads were controlled by the Metropolitan Police who would only permit movement through the Blackwall Tunnel in the early hours of the morning. The living wall had been introduced because residents had told the club they supported it and had been successfully introduced at The Oval and at Wimbledon, but it could be withdrawn if they now opposed it. He explained the introduction of Valley Express and the contribution it made to reducing car travel to the ground.

Assistant to the chief executive Steve Sutherland denied that the club was a bad neighbour and stressed its need to expand its capacity in order to compete, while South of England trust chief executive Steve Waggott outlined the community work being done by the club and the plans to enhance it using the space created in the new east stand.

Cllr Potter said that while recognising the positive aspects of the club's activities he would not support the application as "residents have suffered enough". He accused the club of "concrete brutalism" and said that even the addition of a few hundred extra cars around the ground, should the green travel plan fail, would be "insufferable".

Cllr Grant said that although he recognised the club's contribution to the community, his experience as a former Charlton councillor made him sceptical about trusting the club's promises. He thought the officers' report recommending approval was "hopelessly optimistic" and contained "absurd" opinions about parking and traffic.

Councillors supported residents in demanding that the club finance public toilets in Charlton Village, pay for an extended controlled parking zone, finance the development of a "home zone" in Floyd Road and Harvey Gardens to improve the amenities of residents and pay for an enforcement team to ensure the builders did not breach agreements during construction, as well as seeking stringent enforcement of the green travel plan. These matters will be controlled through a binding Section106 agreement, which the committee will itself have to approve, in effect making the permission conditional on a further decision.

Well, only 38 objections received and only 20 residents actually there to hear the debate. Hardly a revolt is it. So permission given and a £1m grant already received from the European Regional Development Fund. Let's get to work drumming up the support necessary to fill it.

So all that's left to say is a big welcome to Kelly Youga, a free transfer signing from Lyon.

Sunderland In Stead

2005-06-14T00:37:00.000+01:00

Jon Stead has opted for the Stadium of Light as opposed to The Valley and, in my opinion, a season of struggle and eventual relegation instead of a cosy spot somewhere between seventh and twelvth and a fourth round FA Cup knockout. I believe that he has also opted for guaranteed first team football over fighting for a place in the team. Can't blame him for that and at the end of the day I don't think any of us are particularly disappointed that this move didn't materialise except for Messrs Curbishley and Murray who obviously know which other targets we are chasing and where Stead would have fitted into the general scheme of things. Maybe he was a big piece in the jigsaw but I'd doubt it. Another striker is on the agenda though so I suppose our attention will now be turned to our old friend Mr Kezman although if we are looking for someone in the target-man mould there is always Dean Ashton to consider, a done deal according to Dave Collis's Mum's Mate who happens to know a Daily Express journo.

I expect our next signing to be from Gonzalo Sorondo, Darren Ambrose, Lee Bowyer or Mateja Kezman with my money on Ambrose next in although I wouldn't rule out any of the others following soon after.

Bent Signs On

2005-06-02T13:38:00.000+01:00

A big welcome to Charlton Athletic to striker Darren Bent, signed from Ipswich Town on Wednesday for an initial £2.5m, in what must have been one of the worst kept transfer 'secrets' in history. As most fans know we tried to sign him both last summer and in the January window, as confirmed here, but eventually Curbs has got his man. Good luck Darren and hopefully you can score the goals we so desperately need.

Richard Murray has told us to expect at least four more arrivals at The Valley this summer and one a week for the next few weeks. Don't know if this was a wise move as if we have not signed anyone by next Friday everyone will be very disappointed. I expect the next signing to be either Jagielka, Stead, Bowyer or Sidwell and if we ended up signing those four plus Bent I'd be really happy.

Don't forget to check out the Rumour Mill Site for all Addicks related rumours.

An Apology (Of Sorts)

2005-05-31T12:54:00.000+01:00

Seems as if my previous post generated much criticism especially from the anonymous amongst you. Very brave. Interestingly, the most concise comment came from Rob, a thirteen year old. Good luck with your blog mate. The thoughtful comment of 'tosser' was most enlightening.

However, I agree that on reflection the article was perhaps a bit over the top and for that I apologise to Lee Harrison. I don't agree though that, despite running a business, this would restrict you sufficiently from not visiting The Valley in over 13 years. I agree that it might prevent you from visiting on a regular basis but no-one works 24/7 and especially in recent years we have had sufficient Sunday games that would have made such a visit possible if you work Saturday's. Also, I would have thought that by putting yourself forward for this article, or a 'friend' putting you forward for it, you have to accept that some people are going to disagree with it's content and perhaps comment on it.

So, I hope Lee will accept my apologies if the article caused him any offence. For those whose first visit it was to this blog I urge you to read previous posts to see what the content is usually and to those that have visited before I hope that you continue to do so.

Updates during the summer may be few and far between but The Rumour Mill Site will be up-dated on an almost daily basis.

Fan Of The Year

2005-05-25T10:44:00.000+01:00

Time for the inaugural CAFC Fan of The Year Award. Luckily this season the winner virtually picks himself. It is very rare indeed for such a candidate to emerge from absolutely nowhere to scoop such a prestigious award but that is what has happened this season.

On Sunday May 15th, against Crystal Palace, who incidentally were relegated if you hadn’t heard, this fan attended his first Charlton home game since that fateful day we left The Valley for our nomadic wanderings around London, 21st September 1985. In the intervening 20 years this exiled Addick was unable to attend another home game due to work commitments, although he was able to drag himself to Wembley for the 1998 Play-Off Final, a game attended by die-hard supporters only, so no glory boy here.

So, where was this Addick exiled you ask. Perth, Australia ? Boston, USA ? Perhaps, Kingston, Jamaica ? No, somewhere far more exotic; Malvern, Worcestershire. This man clearly deserves this accolade and a major article on the official CAFC website. Far more deserving of praise than the season ticket holder two rows behind me who travels to every home game from Bath. Far more deserving than those who do likewise from places such as Bournemouth, Taunton, Northampton etc etc. Far more deserving than those who regularly attend from Scandinavia, France and even Chicago, USA. I’m speechless on two counts. Firstly, that this story is given any space on the official CAFC website and secondly that this bloke seems proud of the fact he hasn’t visited The Valley in the 13 years since our return. Malvern. Many of us travel further for pre-season friendlies and will do so again this summer no doubt. I suppose we shouldn’t discount traffic problems encountered in The Cotswolds, which I assume are England’s equivalent to the Bermuda Triangle, or our lack of Sunday fixtures in the last 13 years as legitimate reasons for not visiting sooner. The hell we shouldn’t. A travel agent ? I’d get a new career mate.

So, step forward Mr Lee Harrison, CAFC Fan of The Year.

No, on second thoughts, most definitely NOT.

Could Dennis Do It Again ?? (Please !)

2005-05-10T13:27:00.000+01:00

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.

Open Letter To Alan C

2005-04-25T14:14:00.000+01:00

Dear Mr Curbishley,

This season has been one largely of disappointment and dull, boring football. Admittedly, we have retained our Premier League status but in so doing have failed to provide much entertainment. Our traditional end-of-season slump has further disillusioned fans to the extent that we can’t really wait for the season to end. Although most of us would have accepted a top-ten finish at the start of the season, once we reached 40-odd points with twelve games to go I don’t believe it was asking too much to expect an exciting end to the season and perhaps European qualification. It could be argued that by reaching seventh with a dozen games to go we had in fact been punching above our weight, but once in that position we should have taken advantage of it. You would have thought that having reached ‘safety’ the pressure would have been off and we could have gone for it. Apparently not. At present the team seem to be lacking desire, pride, spirit and, above all, motivation. With games against Manchester Utd and champions Chelsea to come, the best we can hope for is a top twelve finish. It remains to be seen to what extent the squad will be able to be strengthened during the Summer as with each passing week we are throwing away another £500,000 due to our plummet down the table, which will also have a negative affect on season ticket renewals.

However, all is not yet lost. Both yourself and YOUR players still have a big opportunity to redeem this season for the fans. Crystal Palace, our arch enemy, visit The Valley on Sunday, May 15th. They are likely to need at least a point, if not all three, to escape relegation. They must not be allowed to leave The Valley with anything. Only a Charlton Athletic win will do. They must be relegated. Both the players and yourself will never be forgiven if at The Valley, OUR HOME, they get the result needed to keep them in the Premier League. If they get a result that allows them to stay up then there will be no need for our traditional lap of honour. There will be no-one there to see it.

Please Alan make your players aware of exactly how important this game is for Charlton Athletic fans, and why, and ensure that this season ends on a relative high. It will be a long, long summer if our lasting memory of this season is capitulation against Palace and their retention of a Premier League place.

Three Points at Norwich ? (or Norfolk Enchance?)

2005-04-22T13:16:00.000+01:00

I wasn’t going to mention the Villa game but will anyway. A hard-earned point is about all you can say about this desperately grim encounter, plus the fact we didn’t concede I suppose. El Karkouri definitely makes the back four more solid although Kish was out of his depth at right-back. With Fuller on the bench I’d have played him at right-back and let Kish fill the midfield void that was Bryan Hughes. I was prepared to give Hughes the benefit of the doubt initially but now it’s definitely a case of Who’s he? JJ was, surprisingly, our best player and should retain his place at Norwich.

So now for what is, in effect, the last away game of the season. Chelsea at £40 and on Sky will be a no-go for many especially as they’ll be parading some trophy or other around at the final whistle. At least we’ve won the real Championship more recently than they have. Anyway, I digress. Norwich is always a decent day out and tomorrow should be no exception. The sun should be shining and 2,300 plus Charlton fans will hopefully see a decent performance at a ground that, in recent years at least, has provided very rich pickings indeed.

As for the team, I’d doubt there would be much change to that which started at Villa Park with the one likely change being Young for the injured HH at left-back. Personally, I’d bring Fuller in at right-back and replace Hughes with Kish in midfield. The advantage of this is two-fold. Hughes is so anonymous that we need Kish in the centre of the park alongside Murphy and Holland plus Kish was like a fish (oh no, I’ve just had a horrible vision flash before me) out of water at Villa Park at full-back and there is no harm in taking a look at Barry Fuller.

Finally, the Daily Express reported today that Mateja Kezman could be on his way back to PSV. However, a source close to the West London club has informed me not to be surprised if instead he makes the short journey across London in the close season to join the club he really should have signed for last summer. We’ll say no more for now but you heard it here first!! Like the Mounties Curbs always gets his man in the end.

Anyway, Up The Addicks !! For anyone travelling tomorrow – see you up there in a sea of Red & White.

A Trip Too Far

2005-04-19T23:08:00.000+01:00

A day off Wednesday and a trip to Villa Park to look forward to. That’s to say about a month ago I was looking forward to it. Now I approach it with a fair amount of trepidation. I keep saying to myself that if we can take six, or even four, points from the next two games then we are right back in the mix for seventh spot but there is nothing to remotely justify this misguided optimism. To be honest I’ll be happy with a spirited team performance full of pride, passion, spirit and endeavour but I won’t hold my breath.

I expect to see Talal back in the starting line-up at the expense of Fortune and Luke Young to take his place at full back. The rest of the defence picks itself although as our season is over I’d ‘blood’ Stephan Andersen in at least a couple of games between now and the end of the season to give him a taste of the Premiership so he’ll know what to expect when called on. To be fair I’m not entirely happy with Deano’s recent performances and in my opinion, although an excellent shot-stopper, he rarely comes for crosses and fails to sufficiently command his area. This permeates through to the defence and leads to uncertainty in some situations. In midfield I’d stick with Rommerdahl, who was excellent against Bolton and showed exactly what he is capable off given a decent chance, and Thomas in the wide positions with a central midfield trio of Murphy, Holland and Kish. Matt Holland is taking stick in some quarters but I believe that much of what he does goes unnoticed because it is unspectacular. However, he works his socks off and whilst he has not been at his best recently you can never accuse him of not trying. Up-front it has to be Franny Jeffers. I am firmly of the opinion that given a decent run in the team Franny will prove that he can score goals in the Premiership. However, we cannot expect him to thrive if we don’t create chances for him so with both Thomas and Rommerdahl in the team there should be no reason why they cannot provide the ammunition for our Fox in The Box.

Let’s hope (pray if you are that way inclined) for an improved performance and three much needed points. I’ll put my optimistic hat on and go for Villa 1 Charlton Athletic 2 (one a penalty - oh, now I am being ridiculous).

Up The Addicks !!!

Can Pride be Restored ?

2005-04-15T13:18:00.000+01:00

Despite only three weeks ago saying he had a fully fit squad with players battling for places in the team for the run-in Curbs is now bemoaning an injury 'crises'. Three injuries a crises ? You can hardly call an injury to Mark Fish a crises, more a blessing. The injury to Shaun Bartlett has come at a bad time in that he is the only striker able to play the loan target man in the 4-5-1 formation and he is currently in a reasonable run both form and goal wise. The injury to Kish is, in my opinion, not one to be overly concerned about. He has hardly set the Premier League alight this season and in Konch we have a player who can play that role equally as well, if not better, and is available for the Bolton game as his suspension doesn't kick in until Villa on Wednesday, a game that, coincidentally, will see the return of the much missed Talal El-Karkouri. El-Karkouri's untimely, but justified, sending off against WBA not just ruined our chances of three points from that game but has also derailed our entire season and seriously threatened our dream of European qualification. This has also in my opinion scuppered any chance Talal had of winning the CASC Player of The Year Award, an award that should go to Luke Young who has had an outstanding season and to boot has won over his many detractors.
Don't forget to vote either this Saturday or against Manchester Utd.

So, a must win game if we have any chance of securing seventh spot. I expect to see another run out for 4-4-2 with Jeffers and Lisbie up-front. Elsewhere in the team it's hard to predict any change to the defensive personnel and likewise the midfield is likely to be that at Pompey after Kish's early departure.

What is sorely needed is an injection of pride and passion. Let's hope that Curbs can fully motivate them this week and with the crowd behind them there is no reason why we cannot return to winning ways. Up The Addicks !!!

Curbs Under Pressure

2005-04-12T23:46:00.000+01:00

Just to get things straight from the start. I am not one of the Curbs out brigade. At least, not yet. Equally, I am not one of those that will blindly defend Curbs to the hilt because of what he has done for our Club.

Alan Curbishley is, in my opinion, Charlton Athletic Football Club’s greatest ever manager. His achievements cannot be underestimated but, at the same time, this cannot be allowed to obscure justifiable criticism that is currently being aimed in his direction. Those who blindly defend him are sadly deluded. If some fans are currently criticising Curbs it doesn’t mean that they don’t recognise his achievements but they are not allowing them to cloud their judgement of recent events. I, and other fans whose opinions I respect, are quite rightly questioning as to whether Curbs has taken us as far as he is capable of going. It is no disgrace if this is the case. It happens at all clubs in the end.

This season has been, frankly, dull. Debates have raged over formations but I realise Curbs has been forced to play 4-5-1 because he has recognised that he doesn’t have the personnel currently at his disposal to play his favoured 4-4-2 system. However, that does not have to mean that we play football that is as dull as dishwater. The 4-5-1 system should be fluid enough to become 4-3-3 during games and we have the players to suite this but Curbs hasn’t seen fit to stick with Rommerdahl sufficiently to make this work. By using square pegs to fit round holes we have become a negative team using what should be positive tactics. Add to this the fact that the team lacks motivation, desire, passion and, perhaps surprisingly of all, team spirit and you are left with a very disappointing end to a generally disappointing season. Ninth at present, seventh a couple of weeks ago but, in general, a lack of excitement and entertainment. Alan has also alienated a number of senior players, especially Jeffers, Euell and Rommerdahl. Add to this the dubious return of Fish to the West Brom line-up and the then indefensible (literally) selection of him again against Man City and you have another question mark over Curbs judgement.

For the fourth season out of five we seem to have amassed the required forty points and then hit a brick wall. Perhaps Curbs has too. One win in nine games is simply unacceptable. Perhaps he is unable to take us beyond the point where survival is assured and a position achieved from which we can push on to the next stage, European football. It is no point in arguing that we are punching above our weight as, in my opinion, so are Bolton and Everton, but if they are capable of forcing themselves into European qualification then why can’t we. It is only right that we should question Alan’s ability to take us further. We should not be prepared to sit on our laurels and be satisfied with where we are in relation to where we have come from. To do so could easily lead to complacency and an acceptance of survival as being the benchmark to which we aspire.

Current criticism of Curbs is in my opinion justified. With season ticket renewals due very shortly our end of season slump will have a detrimental effect on the volume of renewals. Rightly or wrongly fans are dissatisfied with what they have generally witnessed this season. With the cost of a season ticket rising significantly for next season fans are not greatly looking forward to more of the same. If Alan wants to improve the quality of the squad for next season then recent performances have hardly helped towards securing the mass season ticket renewal that would generate the funds required for squad investment.

In all walks of life there comes a time when you have maximised your potential, when you have reached so far but can reach no further. Time will tell as to whether Alan Curbishley has reached this point. In the meantime there is no harm in debating as to whether this is the case.

No Defence for Fish

2005-04-07T01:43:00.000+01:00

Well, just when I thought it couldn’t get much worse it nearly did. After the West Brom debacle I thought that, on reflection, it was just one of those games and we couldn’t be that poor again. How wrong can you be. Against West Brom there were some extenuating circumstances but against Man City there can be no excuses. When Curbs says we made them look like Brazil he is right but he is the one who both selects the team and then sends it out onto the pitch and so he too should be prepared to shoulder much of the blame. For starters, what was Fish doing in the team. He was awful against West Brom, preferred then over Chris Perry who was outstanding three days earlier against Spurs, and now paired with Perry for the first time this season. After ten minutes anyone could see that he was well off the pace and needed replacing straight away. Curbs was lucky that half-time arrived with us only 2-1 behind because Fish was exposed time and again and only the wayward finishing of Macken, combined with the heroics of Deano, gave us a glimmer of hope. The fact he made two half-time substitutions shows exactly how poor we were.

Although he was awful it is only fair to point out that Fish wasn’t the only culprit but it was evident his ineptness affected the whole of the back four leading to bad first half performances from both HH and Perry. The introduction of Fortune at the break lead to a solid rearguard performance in the second half. Jeffers replaced the ineffectual JJ and had a good half in a 4-4-2 formation. The second half performance was an improvement but a last ditch Perry goal gave us an undeserved draw and in my opinion saved the blushes of the manager more than that of the players.

Each of the last few seasons we have fallen away at the last hurdle and each season we hear the same old excuses. Well, enough is enough. It is high time that Curbs found a way of motivating his players although why the chance of Uefa Cup competition isn’t enough motivation in itself is beyond me. We deserve more than this end of season capitulation and it doesn’t help when it comes at the same time as a sizeable season ticket rise for next season and a drive by the Club for fans to renew early. The team are hardly encouraging that are they ? I watch for news of renewal numbers with interest.

Let’s hope that the 1,700 yellow shirted fans going to Pompey are rewarded with a performance of which we can be proud and a result with which we are happy.

Finally, thanks to All Quiet In The East Stand for bringing to our attention the XXX Rated Charlton Lass (link removed in the interest of decency I'm afraid), strictly for over eighteen’s only. If anyone recognises her then ask her to stop, please !

A Summer of Discontent ??

2005-03-26T01:10:00.000Z

Could we be in for a hectic time on the transfer front this summer. First we hear that Deano may be a target for Man Utd and before this can be digested The Sun is suggesting that both Franny Jeffers and Dennis Rommerdahl are to be offloaded by a disappointed Curbs. Add to this the fact that both Mark Fish and JJ are out of contract and Jason Euell is upset with his lot at The Valley and you are left with the distinct feeling that Mr Murray and Mr Varney may not get time for a summer holiday. All I hope is that we sign at least one decent striker !!

The Way Forward ?

2005-03-22T23:10:00.000Z

It seems that Alan Curbishley is convinced that 4-5-1 is THE way forward. I have no argument with this except one. And that is, IF we are to play this as our preferred system then during the next transfer window we need to sign at least one striker, and preferably two, who are able to play the role of the lone forward to better effect than Shaun Bartlett does. Now, I’m not knocking Shaun’s work-rate, which is unquestionable, but his ability to do that which is necessary. To my mind that is acting as a target man with a physical presence who can hold off defenders, hold the ball up, bring other supporting players into the game and, when chances come their way, take those chances with greater consistency than Shaun is able to. If Shaun had scored with the headed chance he had in the second half against West Brom there is no doubt that we would have then been able to hold out for at least a share of the spoils if not all three points. AC is right in that we do have available the players required to make 4-5-1 work successfully; Rommerdahl, Thomas and Murphy for example, except I believe for the position that is the most vital to it’s success. Let’s hope that is rectified during the summer.

Seeing Red

2005-03-21T01:15:00.000Z

Hard to know exactly where to start. So I’ll start with a question to AC. Why, oh why, was Feeesh preferred to Chris Perry. Fish has never before played alongside El-Karkouri and Perry was excellent against Spurs in midweek in a defence that kept a clean sheet. Why change it ? If the idea was Fish’s slightly extra height then it didn’t work as what you gained in height you lost in both pace and positional awareness. It seemed a strange decision from the start and so it proved.

The team came out very sluggishly and after a couple of near misses and a couple of Deano saves it was hardly a surprise when Albion took the lead although poor defending from the Addicks played no small part especially from Fish who decided to chase the same ball as El-Karkouri leaving Horsfield unmarked to head home. When our equaliser came it was certainly against the run of play but it put us back in the game and a real chance of going on to win. However, the sending off of El-Karkouri (very harsh, not two-footed) changed the game completely. For the rest of the first half and the first twenty-five of the second we actually looked the better team, albeit with ten men, and the team most likely to score. In fact we should have done but Bartlett decided to head straight at the keeper from point blank range and our best chance was gone. Albion suddenly decided to throw on Earnshaw and the rest, as they say, is history. A close range header (unmarked), a chip over Deano (from a seemingly offside position) and a converted penalty (dodgy to say the least) later and it was game over. But it’s never that simple is it.

I left the ground, like many others, cursing referee Mark Halsey, who had a mare, and bemoaning our bad luck. Five hours later after watching SkyTV’s excellent Football First I had a different perspective on the game. In truth, we were second best from the off and we still may have lost even with eleven men. El-Karkouri, in my opinion, deserved to go. It was a two-footed lunge over the top of the ball and dangerous to say the least. What made it worse was the fact it was totally unnecessary. (More annoying though is referee inconsistency. In the Birmingham v Villa game on Sunday Lee Hendrie made a similar lunge at Melchiot and got away without even a booking. At least Baros in the Merseyside derby got his marching orders.) Anyway, back to The Valley. Calamitous defending cost us the next three goals. Fish lost Earnshaw in the six yard box leaving him both time and space to steer the cross home, a through ball caught the defence knapping and, with Konch playing Earnshaw onside and Fish standing statuesque appealing for a flag that was never going to come, the diminutive striker burst through and neatly chipped over the advancing Keily for the third. The fourth came after Bryan ’The Shadow’ Hughes felled Chaplow in the box and Earnshaw completed his twenty minute hat-trick from the spot.

Don’t get me wrong. Although the score line was harsh, Albion deserved to win. It's true that for a long period we looked the better side, without creating too much, but in many respects we more than contributed to our own eventual downfall. A bad start, bad defending, and a needless sending off. Add to this the strange recall of Fish and some questionable substitutions and you must also conclude that Curbs should shoulder much of the blame. It was however unfortunate that we had to play sixty minutes with ten men in extremely hot conditions. So shall we put this down as a one off ? Let’s hope so. A win next time out against the Massives and everything in the garden will look rosy again. If we had to lose then better to do so against a relegation haunted team like Albion than to Spurs. Now that would have been disastrous.

Magic Moments !

2005-03-17T01:38:00.000Z

From where I was sitting Danny Murphy looked quite pleased with his late stunning free-kick. After being mercilessly barracked by the Spurs faithful every time he touched the ball, it was only right and proper that he should sweetly strike home the free-kick, off a post, from 20 yards in front of his ‘adoring’ fans. Quality. And this is exactly the word to describe Charlton’s performance.

From the 4th minute, when Jerome Thomas smashed a quite breathtaking drive from 30 yards past the despairing dive of England keeper Robinson, to the final 4th minute of injury time this was a Charlton performance of which to be rightly proud. Those fans who previously berated the 4-5-1 system are suddenly nowhere to be seen. Instead we exited The Valley to the chant of ’Alan C’s Red & White Army’ and deservedly so. The last time we left it was with boo’s ringing in our ears after the Leicester performance. This time the team delivered. To single out certain players for special praise is probably a tad unfair but special mention must be made of firstly Chris Perry who was at his imperious best, Danny Murphy who worked his socks off and provided real quality with his play, Jerome Thomas who for 45 minutes gave Spurs no end of problems but especially to Paul Konchesky who performed superbly in the centre of midfield in preference to Kish.

I was surprised at the treatment meted out by Spurs, especially on Thomas, and at how niggley and nasty they were. Michael Brown has never seemed like that sort of player to me but tonight he resembled Robbie Savage but without the hair.

For some reason it is always especially sweet to beat Spurs. I don’t know if it is because there are more Spurs fans at work than any other team, whether it is because Judas plays for them or, more likely, because their fans seem to be living in some sort of time-warp in which they are the biggest club in the world. Get real. The hierarchy of English football has changed and Spurs are now amongst the also-rans.

So, now for West Brom. Make no mistake, this will be as tough as any game this season has been but three points will take us another step closer to the European qualification we crave and in my opinion deserve.

Finally, three words for referee Mr Chris Foy. Stop, please, now.

Stand Up For PV

2005-03-15T17:03:00.000Z

Well, you have to hand it to the man. If there is a fight to be had with the Premier League then Peter Varney’s your man. Not content with the answer received from them over the rescheduling of the final fixture of the season he has gone on the offensive and attacked not just them but UEFA also. Quite how UEFA can accept a challenge from the Scots to the TV schedule on a day when, as yet, there are no fixtures in Scotland and indeed the actual fixtures are not even known is beyond me. Bizarre to say the least.

Not a shrinking violet our Peter. Unperturbed he is launching an almost one-man battle against this unwanted change and is hoping for the support of other Premier League clubs. All I can Peter is ‘don’t hold your breath’. The others either don’t care or don’t want to get involved. Apathy rules the day. We await the PL meeting later this week with interest.

PV has shown in the past however that he is not prepared to ‘put up and shut up’. Whether it is this issue, SkyTV games, amounts of foreigners in teams or Chelsea with regard the pitch, Carlton Cole or Spotty Parker then he has shown that he is more than willing to fight OUR corner (By the way, Carlton Cole. Thank God we got the money eh !).

So I say, good on you Peter. If only all Premier League Chief Executives were the same. The football ‘fan’ would be better off if they were.

Much Consternation !

2005-03-09T12:17:00.000Z

Over that last few days the 4-5-1 v 4-4-2 debate has raged on netaddicks. About 90% of fans are right behind Curbs and supportive of the 4-5-1 citing that with the current personnel and the lack of a holding midfielder this is the formation best suited to us at the moment. Of course, eighth in the table and just three points off fifth makes it appear that everything in the garden is rosy. On the other hand the other 10% say that we lack ambition and at Fulham especially should have been more adventurous in the closing stages when three points were there for the taking. Some though, GolfAddick especially, don't exactly help their cause !!

However, sanity is restored in a post by the voice of reason SailorBrowneye.

For me, I'm generally happy with 4-5-1 at the moment and it can be sucessfully argued that far from being a negative formation it has enabled us to created numerous chances in the last three away games when better finishing would have brought us more than the three points we gained. We certainly deserved more. However, when opportunities arise as at Fulham to push on and gain extra points then Curbs must be more adventurous and change formation rather than just personnel.

One things for certain though. Football in the PL is getting boring generally. More teams are playing it safe as relegation from the league would be catastrophic for most and so at the start of the season the ambition for seventeen teams is aiming for forty points and safety. Everton, who are widely considered to be having a good season, resort to 4-5-1, even at home, and Bolton and Boro' play this system on a regular basis. Many others below us such as Fulham and Portsmouth also regularly employ it as well and at times as many as ten teams will be playing this system. Even Man Utd, and Chelsea last night v Barcelona, are not exempt from it's use. However, to use it constantly when safety has been achieved is, in my opinion, unnecessary. Let's not forget football is supposed to be entertainment but much of what we are seeing at the moment is turgid and dull and if the situation continues then fans of all clubs, not just Charlton, will begin deserting in their droves. The cash-cow that is Sky is being milked dry and unless the product improves it is hard to see where football is heading except downwards for all but the 'big three'.
On a brighter note, European qualification is certainly achievable. The in-fighting between fans has to stop and the need is for us all to get behind Curbs and the players are cheer them on to European glory. Put aside your differences for the next 10 games and use all your energy to this end. European qualification is the next step for the Club and there is no reason we can't achieve that this season. So, all together 'Alan C's Red and White Army' !!

Finally, there is no truth in the rumour that Deano has been tapped-up by Man Utd.

4-5-1 You're 'Aving a Larf !!

2005-03-08T13:31:00.000Z

Well, another attempt at 4-5-1 at Foolham has proved a major disappointment. Twenty minutes to go and three points there for the taking and what does our Supreme Master do. Replace the ineffectual Thomas with JJ, a like for like substitution. C'mon, take a gamble and play two up especially when that gamble was likely to gain extra points. Football is meant to be entertaining but watching Charlton is far from that at the moment. Let's hope that with three consecutive home games fast approaching we will see a switch to 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 and a more adventurous style of play. I won't be surprised though to see 4-5-1 against Spudz.

The ressies beat Derby last night 5-2, including two headed goals from balls crossed in from the touchline. Are you watching Curbs ?? You were ? Of course, saw you there with Peaks and Merv. Won't allow that to happen again will you !! Lisbie was available but missing again due to an ankle injury. No surprise there then.

Finally, nice to see a good turn out at Craven Cottage with plenty of noise being made. Shame Alan C couldn't/wouldn't recognise it at the end.

Glovers Off

2005-01-26T23:03:00.000Z

It's been four months and one day since my last blog. And hasn't it been eventful. A change in formation has brought a change in fortune and it isn't all down to luck but a enormous amount of hard work. If only Bartlett could start scoring on a regular basis then I'd be over the moon. The emergence of Murphy and El Karkouri has in my opinion been the catalyst but so far HH and Young have been our players of the season. Europe is a real possibility and a couple of signings to strengthen the squad before the window closes would reinforce the confidence we are all feeling at the moment.

Saturday sees Yeovil, and possibly a few Jills up for a scrap, at The Valley. Progression to Round 5 is certainly not a forgone conclusion although if we apply ourselves correctly there is every chance we'll be in the hat come Monday 1.30pm (unless the date/time of the draw is changed again).

Further updates soon, I promise. See you in the cafe !!

There is a God !!

2004-09-24T22:22:00.000+01:00

And his name is Dennis Irwin. As Dennis pulled Crippled Alice's name from the hat/bag/whatever, a whoop of delight was my reaction. After Luton/Bournemouth/Exeter etc a game against the Stripey Nigels at least gives us a game to look forward to and a chance for early bragging rights. Not that I expect it to be easy but only because of our poor record in the cups and not due to anything Palarse may throw at us.

I have a major dislike of Palarse and nothing would give me greater satisfaction than seriously turning them over. Admittedly, if they hadn't let us 'ground share' at Sellout, I prefer 'fleece us', then we may have either gone out of business or at the very least we would have not seen the formation of The Valley Party, the Sunday gardening at The Valley, Target 10,000, The Valley Investment Plan etc, etc and so not have given us the rich history we have today and a great sense of togetherness. But forget that. We have absolutley nothing to be thankful to them for. Bring it on. I can't wait.

Let's hope that we can produce a Sky TV performance at The Valley on Monday against Blackburn Rovers to match those of recent seasons. The only consolation is that it can't get any worse than the Southampton debacle. Hopefully a return to the midfield of Matty Holland will allow Danny Murphy to express himself more and bring a much needed more balanced look to the midfield. Up front it's Jeffers and Lisbie for me, Romm on the right and Konch on the left of midfield and a back four of Young, Fortune, Perry and HH. I beleive this team will win more than they lose and propel us to a top-eight finish.

Up The Addicks !!

Grim (sby) Ooop North !

2004-09-20T23:13:00.000+01:00

Well, it has been so far this season. Grim, up North, that is. Even a point against 10 man Birmingham did little to alleviate the away day blues. Now comes the news that our leader, AC, has had lowely Grimsby watched four times in recent weeks. Why ?? Surely we can beat the Mariners without having to know that there centre half is Chapple-esque or that there top-scorer has the ability of Carl Leaburn. C'mon !! Just go up there, put out your best team (no El-Kak, Hughes, Kish or Fish please) and give them a damn good footballing lesson. A defeat you say. Ok, as long as we are not totally humiliated right, at least let us score one.

Chris Perry. Welcome back from the Bermuda Triangle that is the Sparrows Lane Training Ground. You have been sorely missed mate. Let's hope you are back to stay.

El Karkouri in midfield. Now what is THAT all about. Nice try, but it didn't work so move on and don't do it again. While you are at it take Hughes (B) with you. Matt Holland, hurry back for Gawd's sake, we don't arf miss ya.

Points wise a good start to the season but performance wise things can only get better. Wasn't there a song along those lines ? Oh yes, and Tony and his mob hijacked it and look where that's landed us. On second thoughts ........

What a Shambles !!

2004-08-30T14:01:00.000+01:00

After Bolton I thought it couldn't get any worse. How wrong can you be. This was an inept, shambolic excuse of a performance. Only Jeffers and Lisbie can come out of it without any criticism as they both worked hard but didn't get any sort of service and were left to feed off scraps. Fish and Fortune played as if they had only met that morning and Keily looked as if he'd never seen either of them before. The midfield was disjointed and that's hardly surprising is it. With all of them playing out of their natural positions there is a good chance that thing's will go wrong. Murphy started on the right but prefers the centre, Rommerdahl started on the left but prefers the right, Kishishev started in the centre but is better on the right and Euell started in the centre but is not a midfielder. There are so many things wrong it's hard to know where to start but the obviuos one's are : 1) no-one up front to hold up the ball resulting in it coming back immediately so putting pressure on midfield and defence 2) no-one in midfield able to tackle and give the easy pass to Murphy to allow him to play the creative pass 3) a centre half with pace.
We need to go back to basics away from home until confidence is restored. Yeah, we missed Matty Holland, more than many are prepared to admit, and Chris Perry is still strangely missing. On a brighter note I have it on good authority that Joey Barton is joining in a £2.5m deal and is likely to be joined by Javier Saviola from Barcelona on loan for the season, a fantastic coup, and a possible third if a deal can be done in time with the window due to close midnight Tuesday. Watch this space.

Away Day Blues - not !!

2004-08-28T10:23:00.000+01:00

Welcome to my first blog posting. Tomorrow sees us visit Mancunia and my first visit to Eastlands, or should I say The City of Manchester Stadium, and by all accounts it’s meant to be impressive. Following back to back wins over Pompey and Villa the confidence of players and supporters alike is sky-high, and there is nothing to suggest that we cannot return to The Valley with all three points courtesy of our friends The Massives. Indeed, if we utilise the pace of Romm, Lisbie and Jeffers to the full we should be able to run rings round Distin and Dunne who are pedestrian in comparison. As City play a very open game of football I’m expecting quite an exciting game but an away victory, unlike Mr Mark Lawrensen who is predicting a 2-1 win for City. It is very unlikely, I’d expect, that there will be any changes from the starting line-up for the Villa win and nor should there be although I remain puzzled as to the whereabouts of Chris Perry, our most consistent centre half last season. Did he holiday in Bermuda this summer ?? Anyway, my review of the match will appear over the weekend.

With five days till the window shuts it seems we are definitely in the market for a striker and possibly a defender. The Club have just officially confirmed that they have had a £ 3 million bid for Ipswich Town’s highly promising forward Darren Bent rejected by the Suffolk club. As we don’t normally comment on speculation it seems strange that we should on this occasion and also further say that we are now turning our attention elsewhere. Earnshaw ? or perhaps forcing Mr Sheepshanks to realise that this is our one and only offer, take it or leave it as we ain’t increasing it. My guess is he’ll take it but with the payment of the fee being restructured.

Anyway, Up The Addicks !! For anyone travelling tomorrow – see you up there.