Not since Leaburn has a striker caused so much debate in the club as Chris Dickson, ex hamlet and £35,000 striker. He did himself no harm yesterday with his cameo performance resulting in his 1st goal of the season and his 2nd of his Charlton career.
Parkinson now comes under pressure to play Dickson in the big one on Tuesday. Charlton life message board strongly pushes for Dickson to gain his first league start for Charlton, with both logical and emotional debate. The interesting thing is not those that have been clamouring for his inclusion for two season now, but the rest of us, who recognise a player with limited ability, with the exception of one golden nugget of skill - he knows wher the back of the onion bag is.
Why this change of position from the non believers, well in all honesty he is the last hope. He may not be the player to hold up the ball, play crafty passes etc,. but if he gets the chance then more of us would back him to score than anyother player on our books and what we need now is someone who can score, someone who can inspire - If anyone can Chris can.
Yesterdays second half performance sounded like a real battling Charlton and if I was Parkinson I would be sorely tempted to maintain the side with maybe two exceptruion, Randolph for Elliot and Kelly Youga, who the Sheffield commentators highlighted as Sheffields best player in the second half - what happened to the player that returned from Scunthorpe, who some of us were afraid would be poached by a Prem club.
I have come to the conclusion that we will not get out of the relegation plight that we are in, so Tuesdays game becomes important for the fans beyond the gaining of points but for self esteem and prestige. I don't knw any palace fans, but I hear that they are enjoying our plight (as we have theirs), fans have been receiving directions to third tier grounds and comments such as "shala la ... whose laughing now." Parky and the boys need to give us something to smile about on Tuesday, somethong to take with us to harlepool and Scunthorpe next season.
Sunday, 25 January 2009
Sunday, 18 January 2009
Curbs and Murray ruined my life
As most of my Charlton friends know I started life being a Chelsea fan and at around 13 years of age became a Charlton supporter, the distinction here between supporter and fan is someone who follows a team, goes to matches and is there through thick and thin while a fan is someone who follows from a distance and watches on Match of The Day.
I converted from a team of Osgood and Bonetti to a team of Wright and Crawford. Top tier to 2nde tier, most people go the other way - what is the opposite of a glory hunter - whatever it is thats me.
I began watching Charlton the season after the were pipped by the Selhurst crew for promotion and in a season - one of many - when we avoided relegation by the skin of our teeth.
Any fans who supported Charlton around this time will remember a team that was exciting to watch in matches that were exciting to watch, the team may not have been very good - even with Alan Campbell - but the games were fun and there was always the peanut man and we would see lots of goals, I saw us beat Swansea Town 6-1, lose to either Bristol or Blackburn Rovers 2-4, but I did not really care because we had no expectations of grandeur top flight, there was the brief encounter with Simonsen when what looked like naked ambition turned out to be just a brief interlude in the pursuit of mediocrity.
Then in the 80's Uncle Len with a ragga muffin band of players got us into the top tier, we loved it but we never really thought we should be there, each and every season we expected it to be our last and eventually it was,but we had enjoyed our stay at the top and really never expected to be there again. Sorry when I say we, I mean me, it was nice while it lasted.
Then came Curbishley, Gritt and Alwen, to be succeeded by Curbishley and Murray and what did they do, they gave us hope they got us into the Prem, they bought half decent players and over a decade they gave us results and positions that we could be proud of and we came to expect.
So now when we get beaten, which is an all too frequent occurence it hurts, when as yesterday I see an inept performance by a forward like Grey (who's idea of attacking the ball is to stand still and hope it bounces off his head to one of his mates) instead of thinking of Dickie Plumb or Barry Endean, I think of Darren Bent and Andy Hunt (Ok Clive Mendonca too), when I see inept loan players as we have had too many of lately, I don't think of Mike Small, I think of Jorge Costa - when we put in an inept performance like we did yesterday, when our Championship life depends on it, I don't think "well thats Charlton- thats what we are like, thats what life for a Charlton supporter is all about." I think "I've been short changed, my team don't care, I am gutted."
After the Owls fans chanted "We've got our Wednesday back", our fans chanted "We want our Charlton back." Well maybe we've got our Charlton back, but thanks to Murray and Curbishley there is no turning back, they have given us expectations and its like opening Pandoras box and it hurts.
I converted from a team of Osgood and Bonetti to a team of Wright and Crawford. Top tier to 2nde tier, most people go the other way - what is the opposite of a glory hunter - whatever it is thats me.
I began watching Charlton the season after the were pipped by the Selhurst crew for promotion and in a season - one of many - when we avoided relegation by the skin of our teeth.
Any fans who supported Charlton around this time will remember a team that was exciting to watch in matches that were exciting to watch, the team may not have been very good - even with Alan Campbell - but the games were fun and there was always the peanut man and we would see lots of goals, I saw us beat Swansea Town 6-1, lose to either Bristol or Blackburn Rovers 2-4, but I did not really care because we had no expectations of grandeur top flight, there was the brief encounter with Simonsen when what looked like naked ambition turned out to be just a brief interlude in the pursuit of mediocrity.
Then in the 80's Uncle Len with a ragga muffin band of players got us into the top tier, we loved it but we never really thought we should be there, each and every season we expected it to be our last and eventually it was,but we had enjoyed our stay at the top and really never expected to be there again. Sorry when I say we, I mean me, it was nice while it lasted.
Then came Curbishley, Gritt and Alwen, to be succeeded by Curbishley and Murray and what did they do, they gave us hope they got us into the Prem, they bought half decent players and over a decade they gave us results and positions that we could be proud of and we came to expect.
So now when we get beaten, which is an all too frequent occurence it hurts, when as yesterday I see an inept performance by a forward like Grey (who's idea of attacking the ball is to stand still and hope it bounces off his head to one of his mates) instead of thinking of Dickie Plumb or Barry Endean, I think of Darren Bent and Andy Hunt (Ok Clive Mendonca too), when I see inept loan players as we have had too many of lately, I don't think of Mike Small, I think of Jorge Costa - when we put in an inept performance like we did yesterday, when our Championship life depends on it, I don't think "well thats Charlton- thats what we are like, thats what life for a Charlton supporter is all about." I think "I've been short changed, my team don't care, I am gutted."
After the Owls fans chanted "We've got our Wednesday back", our fans chanted "We want our Charlton back." Well maybe we've got our Charlton back, but thanks to Murray and Curbishley there is no turning back, they have given us expectations and its like opening Pandoras box and it hurts.
Sunday, 11 January 2009
Forest win 2-0
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.
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.
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
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