Message Boards (Pt 2)

I mentioned earlier this month that one of the more popular message boards had been revamped, with negative response. Rivals is a Sky owned organsiation and it does seem that they have shot themselves in the foot. Its not just Charlton contributors that have revolted, but across the board other fans have expressed dissatisfaction. Its strange, Sky have a justifiable reputation of good solid marketing, so to cheese off their customer base to the extent that they walk away is incredible. As a marketer, albeit unemployed at the moment, I am trying to fathom what they are doing. The site can only be successful if there is a reason for customers to go there and for the Rivals sites the uniqueness is the easy to use, fan driven message boards. Sky do not seem to realise that the loyalty is to the board not the host. So to turn the fans away from the message boards does seem to be gross negligence on behalf of Sky.

Sky's loss is the gain for others, I have been frequenting Netaddicks, Charlton Life , BBC 606 and also the Rivals site. The nice thing about the BBC site and the Rivals site is that you can go onto other Clubs sites and find out about our loan players, for instance I was asking about Kelly Youga earlier this week on BBC 606 (Scunthorpe), with more parochially hosted sites this is not always possible. The good thing about Charlton Life is that it is parochially Charlton and is totally Charlton orientated.

Paul May, also known as ReamsOfVerse put a lot of work into the old Coveredendchoir, hosted on Rivals, which was ditched by them in the change. The result being that not only has Paul upped sticks but he has taken his ball with him and set up Covered End Choir on fansonline, with promises of more to come the site is looking good and beginning to get old and new users back on board.

its nice to see Sky shoot themselves in the foot for a change and their mistake has benefited their competitors. Its good that there are a variety of venues to have Charlton chat, its like Saturdays The Rose of Denmark, The Oak, The Bugle etc,. each of us makes our choice where we meet our friends and the same is happening on line - just stay out of the seedy Rivals place!

Youga coming home?

Looking through the official site news, it appears that Youga is only at Scunthorpe till January.

Last Left back Standing

Could be Chris Powell. Gibbs starts his rehabilitation on Monday, Thatcher is still nowhere to be seen and Grant Bassey is having a hernia operation on Monday. Kelly Youga, on loan to Scunthorpe is on a four match ban having been sent off in his last two appearances. The left back position is seemingly cursed this season. Chris Powell after a poor game yesterday - his mistake led to the goal, thereby losing me the pre match score forecast in the Rose of Denmark, and left the pitch after a clash of heads barely able to walk in a zig zag let alone a straight line. If he has concussion he is out of next weeks game against 2nd place West Brom.

Saturdays important top of the table tussle will see enforced changes of Mills, Sam and Fortune all banned, plus potentially the absence of Chrissy Powell, as we attempt to overtake the baggies and continue our away run.

Mills and fortune presumably will be replaced by Moutakill and Bhougherra, Bhoughera can look forward to 3 matches in which to take over the reigns from Fortune and cement his place in the side for next year. Sams replacement is trickier if Thomas remains injured, possibly Varney, Christianson is unlikely despite his exploits for Danish U21's as he has not had a sniff of first team liniment oil this season, or we could see Ambrose replace Sam and Semedo cement the midfield with Holland, ZZ and Reid.

Powells absence will be the most testing of Pardews resources. Semedo played there earlier in the season for half a match so could possibly deputise, or there are Sankofa or McCarthy neither of whom are on the first team roll call these days but could have the opportunity for reconsideration. Mind you Mcarthy does not even get a look in with the reserves these days so don't put any money on him.

My Team for next week:

Weaver; Moo2, Bougherra, Sodje, Semedo
Reid, ZZ, Holland, Thomas
Ambrose,
Iwelumo
Subs: Randolph, Sankofa, McCarthy, Varney, McCleod,