The Times They Are A Changing

Two seasons ago Reading without any need for points came to the Valley and took a point away from Charlton and so ended the brief fight against relegation. The Charlton team that day was :-

Carson. Young. Diawarra. Herreidarsson, El Kakouri. Ambrose. Zheng. Song. Thomas. D Bent. M. Bent. Subs Randolph. Thatcher. Lisbie. Holland. Rommedahl.

Saturday only four of those names remain attached to the Valley it is likely that only one will be involved tomorrow, The ever dependable Holland who we had thought we had pensioned off two or so seasons ago, but our now more modest circumstances require appearances for those at either end of the age spectrum.

Randolph seems to be facing a career crisis, having his season long loan at Hereford already blighted by errors and being dropped.

Zheng has flown in from the Olympics and is being fatted up at sparrow Lane to be served as dish of the day to the new gourmets of the Premiership - West Brom.

And finally, Ambrose has just completed his seasons first 60 minutes in a 1-3 defeat against Palaces reserves, one hope his recovery has been delayed sufficiently for him to be kept away from Charltons e-bay shop.

In addition, Fortune remains and has forced himself into first choice at centre half, mainly due to the fact we only have two centre halvers and he is one of them and Sam is a relatively permanent fixture in the 1st teambut more due to the lack of finances than a case of a proven first teamer.

We have come so far and so many have fallen by the way side as we seek the sanctity of financial security. Tomorrow will be one of thew biggest tests of the season with a probable team of

Weaver, Semedo, Hudson, Fortune, Basey, Bouazza, Bailey, Holland, Sam, Varney, Grey. Sub Elliot, Moutakill, Shelvey, Dickson and one other.

Reading relegated last season have not suffered the tribulations that come with the relegation of an established Premier League team, so from that cold April night Hahnemann, Ingimarrson, Hunt, Lita, Bikey, Harper, Long, Gunarrsson and Doyle all remain, added to that the extra experience of their relegation season last year this is a formidable side, my fovourites for promotion and hence, I expect a dissapointing day for the Addicks, but looking on the bright side, at least its an early kick off and we have plenty of time to drown our sorrows.

A crowd of 26,000 plus were there in April 2006, we'll be lucky if we hit 21,000 this time round.