The next three games delivered 5 points last season and whilst we can't be confident of Notts County after last Saturday, Carlisle and Tranmere should deliver a full house of points, putting us back on par with last season.
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Exeter Defeat leaves Addicks neck and neck with last season
It seems every time we get ahead of last years performance and with winnable games ahead, we fall into old habits and any potential space between this year and last is gone. After CP's great start we ahve dropped six points against teams we beat last season.
The next three games delivered 5 points last season and whilst we can't be confident of Notts County after last Saturday, Carlisle and Tranmere should deliver a full house of points, putting us back on par with last season.
The next three games delivered 5 points last season and whilst we can't be confident of Notts County after last Saturday, Carlisle and Tranmere should deliver a full house of points, putting us back on par with last season.
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Its back!
Many years ago, in the second tier I watched three games in a row, as memory serves Grimsby, Port Vale and Southend, they were awful, we lost each of them and I came away thinking why do we, the fans, still come. The next game we won gloriously and I thought to myself "thats why". In the promotion season we went 11 wins in a row and came up against bottom place Swindon, only to lose 1-0. This is the unpredictability of Charlton and the unpredictability of supporting the club. More often than not when we have hyped up a game and the club have encouraged the team fans to get behind the team, the team have failed to deliver and the fans have gone home despondent - Nottingham Forest, Middlesborough etc,.
"We have our Charlton back" was sung only a few weeks ago and yesterdays performance and result underlines that. Our time in the Premiership was an interlude in the history of the club letting fans down, we are back where we have always been, albeit one tier below our natural place in the footballing hierarchy - "hope over expectation rules".
The result yesterday hides an adequate performance. Without looking at the stats Exeter had probably 4 shots and scored three goals, we hit the bar twice and the post and had a number of penalty area scrambles, but we lost and that defines the attitude and approach and we were not good enough.
The message boards today are much more negative about the current management, losing at Hartlepool on a cold Tuesday night,can be accepted, but losing at home in front of almost 25,000 is difficult to forgive. Performances have not significantly improved since parkinsons days, despite the recruitment of Ecclestone and Bradley Wright Philips and a clearly more supportive crowd. Parkinson left us in fifth place, we're now seventh.
So doom and gloom -- not really, lets be realistic, we have a lot of points to play for. The automatics look like they are slipping away but play offs are a realistic target. It is clear to most of us that our central midfield is not good enough and we have the opportunity to bring in a loan to cover, also central defence, Doherty did himself few favours yesterday and it will be interesting to see if Powell brings in a loanee before Notts County or wait till the loanee could play in a play off final.
The big issue is something not surprising and that is CP's inexperience and he needs to have support particularly from Peacock to get the team back on course after a superb beginning. CP needs to learn on the job and quickly, often more is learnt through defeat than victory and the first four games masked the issues we all knew were there.
Friday sees us away to Notts County and Paul Inces team never easy to put the train back on the rails, with Lee Hughes to torment us as he did at the Valley, despite our victory, a pitch that has a passing memory of what grass looks like and a manger who has win in his DNA. CP's test will continue and it will be in the full glare of Sky, lets hope he passes.
"We have our Charlton back" was sung only a few weeks ago and yesterdays performance and result underlines that. Our time in the Premiership was an interlude in the history of the club letting fans down, we are back where we have always been, albeit one tier below our natural place in the footballing hierarchy - "hope over expectation rules".
The result yesterday hides an adequate performance. Without looking at the stats Exeter had probably 4 shots and scored three goals, we hit the bar twice and the post and had a number of penalty area scrambles, but we lost and that defines the attitude and approach and we were not good enough.
The message boards today are much more negative about the current management, losing at Hartlepool on a cold Tuesday night,can be accepted, but losing at home in front of almost 25,000 is difficult to forgive. Performances have not significantly improved since parkinsons days, despite the recruitment of Ecclestone and Bradley Wright Philips and a clearly more supportive crowd. Parkinson left us in fifth place, we're now seventh.
So doom and gloom -- not really, lets be realistic, we have a lot of points to play for. The automatics look like they are slipping away but play offs are a realistic target. It is clear to most of us that our central midfield is not good enough and we have the opportunity to bring in a loan to cover, also central defence, Doherty did himself few favours yesterday and it will be interesting to see if Powell brings in a loanee before Notts County or wait till the loanee could play in a play off final.
The big issue is something not surprising and that is CP's inexperience and he needs to have support particularly from Peacock to get the team back on course after a superb beginning. CP needs to learn on the job and quickly, often more is learnt through defeat than victory and the first four games masked the issues we all knew were there.
Friday sees us away to Notts County and Paul Inces team never easy to put the train back on the rails, with Lee Hughes to torment us as he did at the Valley, despite our victory, a pitch that has a passing memory of what grass looks like and a manger who has win in his DNA. CP's test will continue and it will be in the full glare of Sky, lets hope he passes.
Saturday, 19 February 2011
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
He does not walk on water
I went to Keston ponds and saw Chris Powell drive up and park his car, he walked to the edge of the first pond and after looking out thoughtfully for a few minutes he walked forward into the pond after a few steps the water was up to his ankles and he turned back leaving the pond shaking his head, murmuring "its not true, the fans were wrong - I can't walk on water"!
So we lost, Chris is human, New York Addick is proved to be not so far off the mark with his post Peterborough assessment. Most of the addickted have been reasonable in their assessment some have gone over the top.
For some CP has gone from being a tactical genius on Saturday to being inept on Tuesday.
The team have gone from being automatic guaranteed to unlikely play off contenders.
Everything is so instant and for a few the reactions can be so knee jerk. The critical thing is we learnt somethings at Hartlepool. And if we learn then we can develop and build towards promotion.
Changing manger would never be a magical panacea for our ills. we have a squad that has been under invested in for years. The players we have are not playing in the third level by accident, its because they may lack talent or consistency or commitment or fitness and with the exception of Bradley Wright Philips, their value reflects this.
So we will have good days and we will have bad days. Not a lot different from the last manager, not surprisingly after all they are the same players.
What CP does have is wholesale backing of the board, after our 13 points out of 15, if we go on a run of 2 losses and 3 draws I still expect to see CP at the helm. He has the crowd with him and it will take a lot at this point of the honeymoon for him to lose them. This has a halo effect as the crowd is now more patient, on the whole, with the players and he has Nathan Ecclestone and Bradley Wright Phillips and the potential of the loan period.
CP has options now which we have not had for a long while and if we do bring in a quality Central Midfielder and Centre hald these will grow and we have plenty of points to play for.
To me central midfield is the key, we have been over run by many lesser teams in this division this season and if that were to continue for the rest of the season then that will be our down fall. McCormack isn't quite there, whilst it appears by his absence that Racon has become a great player to some. Sorry but Racon is failing to do what he needs to do and that is run games, take them by the scruff of the neck. I thought he could do it, I hope he could do it, but now I just don't believe it and we need some one stronger and more creative, who can feed off the holding and delivery of Semedo and make things happen up front.
13 points out of eighteen is goodf form and now the management need to take the lessons of winning and losing and apply them to Saturday because if we go back to our old ways and perform badly then #footballforafiver will become #footballatthevalleyatnoprice.
Saturday, 12 February 2011
Valley woes cheered by Powell
Chris Powell has brought a smile to the faces of Charlton fans. Its not just the wins, although they help as illustrated by the humorless crowd reaction to the players at half time. I thought that booing your own side during the game had gone with Parkie but obviously that is not the case, old habits die hard.
Chris has brought a breath of fresh air to the Charlton family and his approach brings smiles that we have not had under previous managers, Lennie, Curbs, Dowie, Reed, Pardew or Parkie.
I am sure Chris would have you grinning from ear to ear at a funeral, his smile is infectious and he infects you with a feel good virus. He appears to be unique amongst managers, someone who realises that, after playing he has his best job in the world, at the best place he could imagine.
On Wednesday, I went to the Q&A at the Valley and Chrissy arrived late as he entered the room the assembled hordes started the "tunnel" hum and he reacted with the jump and punch to the applause of his audience. He knows his fans and he has them on his side.
I did not learn much at the Q&A Chrissy was less forthcoming than Parkie, but then Parkie was experienced and never had his boss on his shoulder. I was fortunate however to meet Cheltenham Addick and Fanny Fanackapan as well as an assortment of other Addick friends.
However, I digress, today Chrissy did a number of things today that will endear him to old ladies (my mother in law) or Charlton fans. So here is a list of Chrissy's good deeds today:-
1. he demands that the players all celebrate the goals together. The funniest thing was the third goal when everybody was celebrating except Christian Dailly who finally dragged his weary (injured) body to the melee, with a look that said something like "Why they hell do they have to celebrate by the opposition corner flag!"
2. Not only do the players celebrate together but so do the bench. For those not at The Valley and those that did not notice, the players melee was mirrored by the backroom staff in a huddle with Chrissy at its centre. After the second goal, I am told, they even lifted Chrissy up.
1+2 are about building and maintaining team spirit, celebrating together and working together.
3. After the players had come out and were warming up for kick off, Chrissy posed with a child for his mum to take a photo of them together, possibly it was at his suggestion. He took his time, no rushing.
4. Soon after the photo session he sat on his haunches and talked to a child in a wheel chair. (My mother in law would love that).
5. After the third goal, I think,he just sat on the edge of one of the advertising hoardings, just staring on to the pitch, he looked so relaxed.
6. He did the same thing at the end of the game only this time he looked like he was trying to take it all in, scared maybe that he would wake up and still be Svens side kick.
7. We have 12 points out of 12, we can't ask more than that!
8. He is the most dapper manager in the league.
As I said Chris Powel has brought something new and unique to the club, but as the booing showed today we are a fickle bunch and whilst we are in a honeymoon period we the fans have to accept that there will be bad days as well as good.
In the meantime as Brucey, almost, says ..."Keeeeep smiling!"
Chris has brought a breath of fresh air to the Charlton family and his approach brings smiles that we have not had under previous managers, Lennie, Curbs, Dowie, Reed, Pardew or Parkie.
I am sure Chris would have you grinning from ear to ear at a funeral, his smile is infectious and he infects you with a feel good virus. He appears to be unique amongst managers, someone who realises that, after playing he has his best job in the world, at the best place he could imagine.
On Wednesday, I went to the Q&A at the Valley and Chrissy arrived late as he entered the room the assembled hordes started the "tunnel" hum and he reacted with the jump and punch to the applause of his audience. He knows his fans and he has them on his side.
I did not learn much at the Q&A Chrissy was less forthcoming than Parkie, but then Parkie was experienced and never had his boss on his shoulder. I was fortunate however to meet Cheltenham Addick and Fanny Fanackapan as well as an assortment of other Addick friends.
However, I digress, today Chrissy did a number of things today that will endear him to old ladies (my mother in law) or Charlton fans. So here is a list of Chrissy's good deeds today:-
1. he demands that the players all celebrate the goals together. The funniest thing was the third goal when everybody was celebrating except Christian Dailly who finally dragged his weary (injured) body to the melee, with a look that said something like "Why they hell do they have to celebrate by the opposition corner flag!"
2. Not only do the players celebrate together but so do the bench. For those not at The Valley and those that did not notice, the players melee was mirrored by the backroom staff in a huddle with Chrissy at its centre. After the second goal, I am told, they even lifted Chrissy up.
1+2 are about building and maintaining team spirit, celebrating together and working together.
3. After the players had come out and were warming up for kick off, Chrissy posed with a child for his mum to take a photo of them together, possibly it was at his suggestion. He took his time, no rushing.
4. Soon after the photo session he sat on his haunches and talked to a child in a wheel chair. (My mother in law would love that).
5. After the third goal, I think,he just sat on the edge of one of the advertising hoardings, just staring on to the pitch, he looked so relaxed.
6. He did the same thing at the end of the game only this time he looked like he was trying to take it all in, scared maybe that he would wake up and still be Svens side kick.
7. We have 12 points out of 12, we can't ask more than that!
8. He is the most dapper manager in the league.
As I said Chris Powel has brought something new and unique to the club, but as the booing showed today we are a fickle bunch and whilst we are in a honeymoon period we the fans have to accept that there will be bad days as well as good.
In the meantime as Brucey, almost, says ..."Keeeeep smiling!"
Monday, 7 February 2011
Following in the footsteps of Dickson
Dulwich Hamlet who sold Chris Dickson to Charlton in the last season of the Premiership, have done it again only this time the team in premiership decline is West ham and it ism they who have invested in Dulwich youth.
Paul McCallum joined West Ham on transfer day and made his debut for the under 18's against Arsenal, not a flying start but West Ham did beat the Arse Yoof 3-0.
Lets hope his career with West Ham is more fruitful than Chris Dicksons with Charlton and he does not end up in some Cypriot outpost. Although I'm hoping that West Ham follow the rest of Charltons model and decline to through the leagues.
Paul McCallum joined West Ham on transfer day and made his debut for the under 18's against Arsenal, not a flying start but West Ham did beat the Arse Yoof 3-0.
Lets hope his career with West Ham is more fruitful than Chris Dicksons with Charlton and he does not end up in some Cypriot outpost. Although I'm hoping that West Ham follow the rest of Charltons model and decline to through the leagues.
Sunday, 6 February 2011
26 gone 20 to go
This time last season having played 26 games we were level with Norwich on 54 points in third and with the run of games to come an automatic place seemed a reasonable aspiration.
Out of the next 36 points we only picked up 14 and dropped to 5th and this included the ignominy of a 4-0 defeat at The New Rusty Den and games against teams who were at the bottom of the table. We only scored 14 goals in this time and it was this period that destroyed our promotion campaign.
Today on 26 games we have 44 points, Brighton at the top of the table have 53 points, whilst last season on 25 games Leeds had 57 points.
In the end Norwich went on a run and and at a canter won the league with 95 points and that is the challenge for Chrissy Powell.
It has been a great start for the legend three out of three and three clean sheets and a move back to the position we were at when Parkie left.
Bradley Wright Phillips could be our modern day Jim Melrose who fired Lennies team to promotion to the top flight in the 80's. Two games two goals a start we could not have dreamed of.
This division is there for the taking, probably the best four teams are Southampton, Huddersfield, Brighton and Charlton.
With loan window opening Tuesday there are still holes that we need to plug, non more so than the lack of creativity in midfield. Whilst there maybe arguments for Semedo and Racon the figures show that in terms of assists Elliot is on par with Racon and Semedo is below him.
Wednesday is the Q&A with Slater and Powell and it will be interesting to see if Slater says more than pr speak and outlines a plan for this season and next given the two potential scenarios. Slater is a a smooth operator and hopefully those skills will support Chrissy to achieve promotion this season. And yes for me Parky went because the new management did not believe he could take us up, so Chrissy needs to take us up to justify Slaters decision.
Out of the next 36 points we only picked up 14 and dropped to 5th and this included the ignominy of a 4-0 defeat at The New Rusty Den and games against teams who were at the bottom of the table. We only scored 14 goals in this time and it was this period that destroyed our promotion campaign.
Today on 26 games we have 44 points, Brighton at the top of the table have 53 points, whilst last season on 25 games Leeds had 57 points.
In the end Norwich went on a run and and at a canter won the league with 95 points and that is the challenge for Chrissy Powell.
It has been a great start for the legend three out of three and three clean sheets and a move back to the position we were at when Parkie left.
Bradley Wright Phillips could be our modern day Jim Melrose who fired Lennies team to promotion to the top flight in the 80's. Two games two goals a start we could not have dreamed of.
This division is there for the taking, probably the best four teams are Southampton, Huddersfield, Brighton and Charlton.
With loan window opening Tuesday there are still holes that we need to plug, non more so than the lack of creativity in midfield. Whilst there maybe arguments for Semedo and Racon the figures show that in terms of assists Elliot is on par with Racon and Semedo is below him.
Wednesday is the Q&A with Slater and Powell and it will be interesting to see if Slater says more than pr speak and outlines a plan for this season and next given the two potential scenarios. Slater is a a smooth operator and hopefully those skills will support Chrissy to achieve promotion this season. And yes for me Parky went because the new management did not believe he could take us up, so Chrissy needs to take us up to justify Slaters decision.
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