Thoughts on a beautiful day

There are going to be a number of reports on the match so I'll try and restrict myself to the lessons we have learnt from todays visit from Reading. Whilst I had been to the Yeovil game I had missed the Swansea game due to the desire to sun myself in Turkey.

One of the things that always fascinates me is the manipulation of statistics, how could todays crowd be called at 20,020 even if you take into account the st holders who were not present. Charlton obviously employ great statisticians, there can be no other answer.

Bouazza showed today that he is a worthy successor to Thomas,in fact if I were Harry I would have made my first port of call to Fulham and borrowed this guy rather than taking on board the attitude challenged Thomas.

We also learnt that blind people do not make good referees., Mr Mason#s only excuse for the number of mistakes he made has to be that he left his guide dog at home.

We seem to have the sembelance of a back bone developing. Weaver, Hudson, Baily and Grey have given us steel and composure that we lacked last season.

Not only did we learn that we have steel and composure this team seems to have character. Last season we lost a 2-0 lead against Watford at home and were lucky to get a point out of it, whereas yesterday we lost a lead,unfairly, all seemed to be against us,yet we never let our heads drop and came out worthy winners.

We at last have a midfielder who is worthy to follow the talents of Kinsella and Parker, his presence enabled the rest of the team to do their job, Holland was given a new lease of life - managing to put in some bone crunching tackles, Bouazza being released with time on his hands to be effective and what a revelation he was. Pards says thet Bouazza still has a problem which is intriguing. Whatever that problem is, it can't be anywhere near as big as the problem Harry rednap has at Pompey in the form of Jermaine Thomas.

Thats two games 6 points five goals at the valley,and a way of playing that bodes well for the rest of the season, now the team have to go to the North West and show consistency and pick up at least a point next week. We should have both Primus and Youga available to add stell to the defence.

Chris Powell - Watch

Charlton hero legend superior being genuinley nice guy is still looking for a new club. having trialled earlier this month at Bournemouth, where Wagstaff is currently learning his trade, he has now landed at leiceswter for a trial. Hopefully he'll get sorted soon but I would rather he did not end up with Mandric.

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.