Benson came in last week and it looked like the final piece of the jig saw was in place after a pretty reasonable début against his previous employers. After 90 minutes today the league début seemed to be going ok, not spectacular, but with a poor refereeing decision in the 91st minute a steady start to the season has been turned on its head and the message boards are ringing with recriminations against the team, the new player & manager.
Benson is Parkies biggest signing for Charlton and there is a danger that after two goalless games the fans will turn on him. I was listening to Dario Gradi on the radio this morning, he was saying how expectations in our society had changed to be less tolerant and needing instant success and how this had crept into football.
And so it is with Charlton, a steady start with two victories, a draw and a defeat has been extended to two defeats and fans are predicting relegation, Parkies sacking ............ total disaster. God help us if we go a goal down next week ..... in Turkey they sacrifice a goat on the pitch don't they? Parkie kamikaze on the pitch maybe?
We need to get a grip and accept some lows and hope for some highs, especially at this stage of the season. The doom mongers maybe right, they maybe wrong but lets at least let the season to get started before we bay for blood ......................................................... please
Saturday, 4 September 2010
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Curbs for Villa, or the curse of Charlton management
Apparently Randy Lerner (Man with a pornstars name) is in talks with Curbs regarding the role at Villa. Hopefully I will have to eat my words, which were that Curbs would not get another job with an established Premier club, I in fact had suggested he go to Southampton and work his way back.
That said I fear there is a curse on ex Charlton managers at the moment. No one who has managed Charlton - other than the current incumbent - is in a management role. Of course the two leg-ends who stand out are Curbs, jobles since his departure from West Ham and Lennie Lawrence who has returned to his roots and is advising Carshalton Athletic. Dowie is the serial emergency manager who has been brought in to promote QPR and save first newcastle and then Hull, of course faikled at all three and got sacked at Coventry, Les Reed has correctly gone back to his roots and become coaching director at Southampton, where ex fans favourite, with an emphasis on ex, Alan pardew got sacfked after just over a year and a 4-0 away win. Added to this motley crew there is another leg-end stevie Gritt, unceremoniiously released at the end of his contract by Charlton, Alan Mullery whose ugly mug pops up on Sky Sport to tell other managers how to do it - those that can, do - those that can't pontificate!!!
Sooner or later, Curbs, pardew and Dowie will be back in managemnt roels, if they want to be but for how long will each last I wonder.
That said I fear there is a curse on ex Charlton managers at the moment. No one who has managed Charlton - other than the current incumbent - is in a management role. Of course the two leg-ends who stand out are Curbs, jobles since his departure from West Ham and Lennie Lawrence who has returned to his roots and is advising Carshalton Athletic. Dowie is the serial emergency manager who has been brought in to promote QPR and save first newcastle and then Hull, of course faikled at all three and got sacked at Coventry, Les Reed has correctly gone back to his roots and become coaching director at Southampton, where ex fans favourite, with an emphasis on ex, Alan pardew got sacfked after just over a year and a 4-0 away win. Added to this motley crew there is another leg-end stevie Gritt, unceremoniiously released at the end of his contract by Charlton, Alan Mullery whose ugly mug pops up on Sky Sport to tell other managers how to do it - those that can, do - those that can't pontificate!!!
Sooner or later, Curbs, pardew and Dowie will be back in managemnt roels, if they want to be but for how long will each last I wonder.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
babies at the valley. Charlton 1-0
A good perspective on last nights game by Casual Chat. Looks like Brentford, Aldershot or Southend in the next game.
Whilst we decry games like these as meaningless they are steps up from freindlies and because of the 6 player rule allows us to see regular first team players, well six of them, as well as prospects.
Because these games are well priced it also allows non regulars through economic reasons to attend and for Mums and Dads to bring their kids for an early experience of the Valley. One dad was looking forward to the experience of bringing his family along only to leave at half time because of the yoof. this is taken from Charlton Life
"Tennis60 said: ''Not a great night, went with my 2 boys (aged 7 and 9), their mother and my mother. We were seated right at the far end of the west lower near to the away fans and amongst a load of teenagers who wanted to stand up and eff and blind constantly. Unlike a normal matchday there was nowhere else to sit so we left before half time. A total waste of £40.''
I saw you and your family group and noticed you leave. I was right behind you with my two (adult) sons and we felt very sorry for you. I presume the teenage idiots who upset you were the same ones who couldn't even queue for a drink at half time without getting in a fight. You were lucky you weren't still around for that!"
Whilst we decry games like these as meaningless they are steps up from freindlies and because of the 6 player rule allows us to see regular first team players, well six of them, as well as prospects.
Because these games are well priced it also allows non regulars through economic reasons to attend and for Mums and Dads to bring their kids for an early experience of the Valley. One dad was looking forward to the experience of bringing his family along only to leave at half time because of the yoof. this is taken from Charlton Life
"Tennis60 said: ''Not a great night, went with my 2 boys (aged 7 and 9), their mother and my mother. We were seated right at the far end of the west lower near to the away fans and amongst a load of teenagers who wanted to stand up and eff and blind constantly. Unlike a normal matchday there was nowhere else to sit so we left before half time. A total waste of £40.''
I saw you and your family group and noticed you leave. I was right behind you with my two (adult) sons and we felt very sorry for you. I presume the teenage idiots who upset you were the same ones who couldn't even queue for a drink at half time without getting in a fight. You were lucky you weren't still around for that!"
It seems that the Club are content to allow this behaviour on league match days and tin pot trophy days, which is disappointing and in long term commercial terms a negative. Recently Richard Murray said that the club would publish a request in the program for these fans to desist from singing the "Incest" song. It would be too difficult to take proactive action. I'm sorry but a note in the program does not wash, ok I can understand not pulling people out of the crowd ... the innocent could get caught in the melee, but strategically placed senior stewards and cctv will identify who the culprits are and enable action to be taken (especially on League match days when ticket purchasers maybe identifiable).
Whilst the club will deny that they are encouraging, what in my opinion is anti social behaviour, it is plain to see that they do, albeit "encouragement by apathy", they cannot say they disagree with it and then ignore it, by doing so they encourage it. Don't blame the yoof, blame the club.
Whilst the club will deny that they are encouraging, what in my opinion is anti social behaviour, it is plain to see that they do, albeit "encouragement by apathy", they cannot say they disagree with it and then ignore it, by doing so they encourage it. Don't blame the yoof, blame the club.
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