I am looking at the wall and the writing is on it. I have never felt so despondent about a season as this, if relegation from the Prem was disastrous then a further drop down inti tier three is going to be catastrophic. Effectively we are 8 points from safety, we get punished for every mistake we make, every keeper that comes to the Valley plays out of their skin and we don't get the lucky breaks. They say that over a season your luck evens out, so we are going to be so lucky for the next few games it will seem uncanny.
Today, a mistake by Hudson / Murty resulted in Forests first shot on target finding the back of the net, minutes later, Mr dependable Holland, my Man Of The Match last week, headed back which Earnshaw picked up and slotted past Elliot and that was it, we huffed and we puffed, but we could not blow the Forest down. We had three shots well saved during the match and dominated possession.
Next week, I make my first away game of the season at Wednesday, after 18 games without a win, I know we must get one sooner or later and I want to be there when it happens, I just don't know when that will be.
Ps The minutes applause was really good.
Sunday, 11 January 2009
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Can't tackle, can't head and too short
My thoughts when I realised that Matty Holland was playing alongside John Fortune, but to be fair to Holland I thought he was player of the match today, just edging out Jonjo Shelvey, who had an excellent first half, but faded in the second and was rightly substituted. For the third home game in a row Charlton failed to convert superior play into a win, so we are off the East Anglia tuesday week.
Parkinsons rather strange decision to play 4-5-1 at home, in a knock out competition and Holland at the back almost appeared to have paid off, until the two class players in Norwich's ranks came on, in the form of, former Addick target, Hoolahan and Lupoli, who scored the equaliser. Lupoli is an ex Arsenal youth and is on loan from Fiorentina to Norwich and showed the class we lack.
Overall it was a dissapointment again for a dominant Addick team and we should, have led 3-0 at half time, but a lack of a finisher meant we were again left ruing the day.
Deon Burton made his debut as a true addick. One of the things that has bedevilled the addicks for most of the 30 years that I have followed them* we have lacked a finisher in front of goal, Mendonca and Hunt were two glorious exceptions to the rule. I cannot understand playing 4-5-1 with a proven non goal scorer and I cannot understand turning a loan into a permanent deal for a player who has proved that he has nothing better to offer than the current incumbents.
Shelvey seemed to have been given a free role and was all over the middle of the park and pushing forward, he has laid down a challenge to parkinson,to start him against Forest and in my opinion that should be at the expense of Bailey.
Despite Hollands exceptional performance, I can't see him in the match next week, although his experience and calmness will be missed, but his lack of legs (and height) would make him a liability in such a match.
Moo2 had a good game and linked well in the 2nd half, Sam being fairly anonymous in the 1st. Bouazza too played well, although another bizarre decision from Parkinson was to replace Burton with Youga and put Bouzy up front. At this stage of the game a 4-4-2 formation was what was being called for, we had to show attacking intent and although we were pushing forward 4-5-1 was not the answer at this stage.
The crowd called for Dickson and eventually were rewarded at the expense of the days hero Jonjo Shelvey. Shelvey opened his scoring account and became the youngest ever Charlton scorer to add to his youngest ever debutant and what a goal it was. Sitting in the lower west, I watched as a ball was passed down to Bouzy, which I thought was poor and going out, but Bouzy collected it, chased it to the line and pulled it back to Jonjo who racing in volleyed it into the back of the net - celebrations abounded around the Valley.
The crowd was 12,700 with about 3,000 canaries out for tweet in london for the day, once again despite a good performance the fans booed the team at the end. I understand when we play cack, after Sheffield utd I did not boo but understand those that did, but when we do our best but its not good enough because we simply are cack, I don't agree. cack that is confident is bad enough, but cack that lacks confidence is ... well cack!!
*As a Chelsea supporter aged 14 I began going to the Valley in season 68/69, with Nigel and Roger Lane, that season they were in tier two and were fighting against relegation to tier three. They secured safety on the last day of the season - I think -under newly appointed Theo Foley, who replaced cult hero Eddie Fimani, within a couple of seasons I was a Charlton fan and since then have followed their trails and tribulations.
Parkinsons rather strange decision to play 4-5-1 at home, in a knock out competition and Holland at the back almost appeared to have paid off, until the two class players in Norwich's ranks came on, in the form of, former Addick target, Hoolahan and Lupoli, who scored the equaliser. Lupoli is an ex Arsenal youth and is on loan from Fiorentina to Norwich and showed the class we lack.
Overall it was a dissapointment again for a dominant Addick team and we should, have led 3-0 at half time, but a lack of a finisher meant we were again left ruing the day.
Deon Burton made his debut as a true addick. One of the things that has bedevilled the addicks for most of the 30 years that I have followed them* we have lacked a finisher in front of goal, Mendonca and Hunt were two glorious exceptions to the rule. I cannot understand playing 4-5-1 with a proven non goal scorer and I cannot understand turning a loan into a permanent deal for a player who has proved that he has nothing better to offer than the current incumbents.
Shelvey seemed to have been given a free role and was all over the middle of the park and pushing forward, he has laid down a challenge to parkinson,to start him against Forest and in my opinion that should be at the expense of Bailey.
Despite Hollands exceptional performance, I can't see him in the match next week, although his experience and calmness will be missed, but his lack of legs (and height) would make him a liability in such a match.
Moo2 had a good game and linked well in the 2nd half, Sam being fairly anonymous in the 1st. Bouazza too played well, although another bizarre decision from Parkinson was to replace Burton with Youga and put Bouzy up front. At this stage of the game a 4-4-2 formation was what was being called for, we had to show attacking intent and although we were pushing forward 4-5-1 was not the answer at this stage.
The crowd called for Dickson and eventually were rewarded at the expense of the days hero Jonjo Shelvey. Shelvey opened his scoring account and became the youngest ever Charlton scorer to add to his youngest ever debutant and what a goal it was. Sitting in the lower west, I watched as a ball was passed down to Bouzy, which I thought was poor and going out, but Bouzy collected it, chased it to the line and pulled it back to Jonjo who racing in volleyed it into the back of the net - celebrations abounded around the Valley.
The crowd was 12,700 with about 3,000 canaries out for tweet in london for the day, once again despite a good performance the fans booed the team at the end. I understand when we play cack, after Sheffield utd I did not boo but understand those that did, but when we do our best but its not good enough because we simply are cack, I don't agree. cack that is confident is bad enough, but cack that lacks confidence is ... well cack!!
*As a Chelsea supporter aged 14 I began going to the Valley in season 68/69, with Nigel and Roger Lane, that season they were in tier two and were fighting against relegation to tier three. They secured safety on the last day of the season - I think -under newly appointed Theo Foley, who replaced cult hero Eddie Fimani, within a couple of seasons I was a Charlton fan and since then have followed their trails and tribulations.
Monday, 29 December 2008
Black Adder Seeks Solace
Although We're in the stickiest situation since Sticky the Stick Insect got stuck on a sticky bun, the board have a plan that it as cunning as a fox what used to be Professor of Cunning at Oxford University, but has moved on, and is now working for the UN at the High Commission of International Cunning Planning.Well you gotta laugh and for a few more follow the link
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Glorious
Ok the last posting was up beat, today's defeat was not so glorious, did not hail the first step to safety. I don't know where we go from here, unfortunately Parkie has to go, performances - that I have seen- have improved but results have not, and its a results game. I am hoping that Sheffield United have heralded the departure of two Charlton managers in a single season, its not something I am pleased about but it is now necessary.
The Problem is who is next and do they have time?
A plea to the board, speak to us, tell us what you are thinking and be cruelly decisive.
The Problem is who is next and do they have time?
A plea to the board, speak to us, tell us what you are thinking and be cruelly decisive.
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
Yes We Can
I am a Charlton optimist, a believer and you have to be to be a Charlton fan, if we were facing relegation I have always thought we would get out of it, if we were mid table in the second tier I have always thought we were in with a shout for the play offs, mid table of the Premier and we were in with a shout for champions league, on a run of defeats – the next point was just around the corner.
So the last two and a half season have been just another round in the life of a traditional Charlton supporter. If you include Curbs we are on our 5th manager – almost our 6th– we have gone two and a half seasons of relegation form and half a season of scrappy promotion form. We’ve seen countless quality players leave to be replaced with outstanding potentials only for them to leave or off loaded at half the cost, as poor and useless. We have lost investors who were to take us to the heights of top 10 premier league football – now we are being blamed for Paul Inces sacking at Blackburn, the clubs morale is rock bottom from the board room, through the management, the players and the fans. Rumours are that he board are split and who could blame them if there were splits, adversity can create unity but it can also creates blame cultures, splits and divisions.
But I am a Charlton fan, I am a believer, if the last 36 months have been awful (understatement) then the next 12 will be glorious, the sell out crowd for our last home match of the season as we secure 2nd tier survival, will be the foundation of our glorious push for promotion in the 2009 – 2010 season.
Escape relegation - in the words of Barack Obama, President elect and the harbinger of good times ahead - Yes We Can! Yes we can!
Call me an optimist, call me a fool or just call me an Addick – Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year
So the last two and a half season have been just another round in the life of a traditional Charlton supporter. If you include Curbs we are on our 5th manager – almost our 6th– we have gone two and a half seasons of relegation form and half a season of scrappy promotion form. We’ve seen countless quality players leave to be replaced with outstanding potentials only for them to leave or off loaded at half the cost, as poor and useless. We have lost investors who were to take us to the heights of top 10 premier league football – now we are being blamed for Paul Inces sacking at Blackburn, the clubs morale is rock bottom from the board room, through the management, the players and the fans. Rumours are that he board are split and who could blame them if there were splits, adversity can create unity but it can also creates blame cultures, splits and divisions.
But I am a Charlton fan, I am a believer, if the last 36 months have been awful (understatement) then the next 12 will be glorious, the sell out crowd for our last home match of the season as we secure 2nd tier survival, will be the foundation of our glorious push for promotion in the 2009 – 2010 season.
Escape relegation - in the words of Barack Obama, President elect and the harbinger of good times ahead - Yes We Can! Yes we can!
Call me an optimist, call me a fool or just call me an Addick – Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year
Saturday, 20 December 2008
Saturday Morning Doodles
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A fair amount seems to have happened this week. I watched the
It was a cruel 94th minute goal and where did they get four minutes from. Some fans have criticised Basey, but what was he supposed to do?
The thing that came out of the TV coverage of the match was the lack of rapport Varney has with the Charlton fans and even their players, there was no sign of banter amongst the players, even when he bowled Fortune over on the touchline. When interviewed after the game, I would have expected him to have made some condescending statement about how he hoped we would get out of it and, however insincere, how he appreciated the fans. I was a fan of Varney for about three months after he joined, a young up and coming forward with a strong record in the third tier, although a poor record in the second level and anyone who can command £2.5 million has to have something going for him. Plus, of course the words of Pardew were still credible “I know what it takes to get out of this division and the types of players that we need.” Oh how hollow that sounds today after Pardew mhas destroyed the clubs foundations. But back to Varney, after a few months the OS announced his 25th birthday .. but hold on a 25 year old with a relatively average scoring record (152 appearances, 52 goals, 1 in 3, 1 in 6 for Charlton) with one good season at third tier level!! At this point I lost faith, he was no longer up and coming but was at the beginning of his peak.
Dickson has asked for a transfer and a number of fans are up in arms that he has not been given a chance at 1st team level. There is a special Facebook group. From what I have seen of Dickson he is not up to it at this level, but then I have only seen him play for about half an hour over two years.Whilst he maybe a goal scorer and there is little doubt of that. In 135 1st team appearances from non league to international he has scored 73 goals, but it is a big jump from non league to Championship and it was in non league that he scored the 66 of them. To me the opportunity for us to have some one to fire in goals to take us to safety lies more in Wagststaff, Gray, Burton, Todorov and, even McLeod.
This season, regardless of who we have in the defence they are rubbish, even when we had Dranie,
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Sack The Board
Wow, what a shambles, or so I hear, fortunately I am in the land of the two heads, so can’t get back to mid week games, my last game was Southampton and I left seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, it was a bloody Inter City 125!!! We're doomed, I fear.
I am sure there is not a Charlton fans who is not wringing their hands thinking where has it all gone wrong. I know fans in from Peru, Canada, Bermuda we’re all just flabergasted, in fact our flabers have never been so gasted. Wgere did it go wrong, whose fault is it? Where did it all begin?
I suppose the rot set in when on the balmy May Friday, Richard Murray asked Curbs to sign an extension to his contract and he said no, “16 years and I’ve had enough, at the end of next year I am off!”, “No!” Says Minty and shows him the front door. Was Minty wrong? Well by popular opinion on the seats of the Valley, Curbs was tired, even Deano said it, so maybe Minty was right.
After a vigorous selection process, the board offered the job to successful Preston Manager Billy Davies, who yet may tread the hollowed halls of the Valley, but in a moment of decisiveness after he accepted he turned it down. Then maybe we made a mistake, we turned to “Rocket scientist” Iain Dowie. Slagged off by the Tango man we failed to see the warnings, maybe through the conflict that had surrounded the Charlton and Palace chairman since we sent them down. But was it such a bad decision at the time, was Dowies record that bad? Reasonable with Oldham, promoted Palace after joining them in the bottom of the Championship and 10 minutes from relegation safety, before Johnny Fortune put them down, then a play off place – OK he was Palace, but you know, I’d take that – sadly the CV contravened the trades description act and what its said on the tin was not what we got. Tome this really is the beginning of the end, Curbs would never have squandered the millions he had. Whilst accused of leaving a depleted squad, curbs would have bought in new recruits in his last year that were value for money and would have had a short term resale appreciation, not halved in 5 months a la traore. He squandered the crown jewels, emptied the piggy bank and left us with nothing, not withstanding that he failed to comply with the Clubs management structure, poor results and in discipline - he had to go.
Now if the appointment of Les Reed was a mistake then it was understandable. There was no other contender out there – Pardew was pulling up trees at West Ham, Davies had dropped to the Championship and Peter Taylor was fortunately at Palace, it did not work the board played it badly and it culminated in the horror night of Wycombe. 20,000 fans chanted for Alan Pardew, beaten Cup finalist Manager, Championship play off winning manager, Division one promotion manager, how could we go wrong, the board were right to appoint him, they had no choice but to give him this ridiculous contract that rewarded him for decimating our club, he was our saviour, our messiah, and he destroyed our team.
I blame Dowie and I blame Pardew and we have sacked them both, soon we are probably going to sack Parkinson who seems to be a thoroughly decent guy, who will be a decent manager, but almost certainly not for us.
I look at the board and I look at the decisions they made and really I cannot fault the big ones with the exception of Les Reed, but even then I don’t have an alternative and nor did I then, although a different decision and appointment of a boring established manager would have prevented the destruction by Pardew. If I feel depressed, I don’t know how Minty et al must be feeling, they welcomed in their friends only to find they were a bunch of scheisters, who took away the family jewels during the night. They are a great board and a great set of Char
lton Fans and I hope forour sake and for their sake our fortunes turn soon, they are too good as people for all their work to have been so cruelly destroyed by the people they trusted. There will always be a place for Curbs at the Valley, name a stand after him, but don’t ever let Pards or Dowie back through those doors and the only thing to name after them is the toilets!!!
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