Crack open the bubbly lets celebrate

Do you remember when the premiership journey, that has just been so rudely interrupted, began - 9 years ago today, in old smelly, toilet less, twin towered Wembley on the 25th of May, the Addickted ventured, many to support and rejoice in our Play Off appearance and a few with belief in their hearts that the Black Cats would be overcome. But the heroes of the day, who included Illic, Mills, Brown, Rufus, Youds, Heaney, Bright, Robinson, the Jones brothers Keith and Steve not to mention Super, super Clive Mendonca, won through in a match that is classed by many as the best ever at the old stadium. Charlton's never say die attitude won through, thanks to a scuffed penalty by Michael Gray. And so began the Premiership adventure punctuated by a single season in the new Championship, (old Div 1, old Div 2).

Those 9 years have spawned some excitement and some success but overall mediocrity and disappointment resulting in this years relegation. Now we have an opportunity to clear out the old bring in the new and with it the old Charlton spirit and lead a charge through the Championship into the Prem and forward onto European glory. The process has already started with the capture of Luke "Not Reg's son" Varney and Chris Iwelomu and the release (allegedly) of Kish, Super Kevin Lisbie and the Elk and Hermann "The Relegator" signing for Pompey.

Its going to be an exciting next 18 months, but just close your eyes and think back to where you where nine years ago at 17.30 on 25th of May, when it all began .............

More departures

As predicted by Addickted Hermann has decided to exercise his free transfer clause and has departed for the South Coast. This will presumably mean that he has greater access to copious amounts of fish and fresh penguin and also the opportunity to hold the record for the most relegations from the Premiership, although I doubt that Harry will allow him to achieve this.

Personally, whilst I have every respect for Hermann who has been a great battling servant since he joined from Ipswich, I cannot be doing with players who have get out clauses after relegation, after all its not as if HH did not contribute to our downfall. Having said that good luck to him going to a club where former Charlton stalwart Dean Kiely described his treatment as being like a piece of meat.

Welcome to Championship coverage

After 8 years of blanket coverage it appears that the media have already condemned us to 2nd rate reporting. Having read all the blogs on the capture of "Not Reg's " son and Chris Iwelumo, I thought I'd go to the cultured press and failing that the Times to see what they had to say. Well it took me back to the 80's when living in Hull there was no internet and there was definitely no coverage. Not a sentence in my version of Murdochs rag absolutely zilch. Not only had the Times let me down, but throughout last season I was on Oranges Charlton alert and to get their pennies they would text any old rubbish, two days on and I have not heard a thing about our two signings - at least that saves me a few pennies.

We are going to have to get used to second rate coverage for the next twelve months, so bloggers you are going to have to keep at it.

Another Charlton Blog

So heres another Charlton blog, like we need another one. what's going to be different about this Charlton blog, well I'm less connected than some, know less than others and have no vastly different views from anyone else, so apart from that its unique.