Taxi for the Addicks

Portchy "Where to Guv",

Parkie "Div three mate and make it quick!"

Kandol flames hope

But all too briefly. I knew after Doncaster we were down, but the faint flame of hope remained and yesterday the results went our way, so a win would have generated expectation. So I have to thank the players for extiguishing all hope and expectation, I don't have to hurt for the rest of the season and just prepare myself for the season ahead.

So what does that season threaten,well new teams to play - Orient, if they can save themselves etc,. and another summer of upheaval, is this the 4th season in a row that the team has required wholesale surgery in the close season.

Parkinson has indicated the kids are likely to get a run in the side,so we are preparing for the season ahead, lets see the loanees go back, with maybe the exceptions of Ward - because Mambo is not ready and Holland is not right, and Kandol - if there is a hope in hell that we may buy him for next season.

The big question is who will be at the helm. If I was looking at CV's, I would look at a young manager with a bit of experience and potential for the future - a bit like Parkinson. If he only did not have the failure of the last few months it could be him. Now I fear that the last few months have irreparably tarnished him and his ability to manage any club through a promotion season. do what do we look for, assuming we have the money? Promotion of Kinsella, alongside Powell? An experienced manager with knowledge of the lower leagues - Ade Boothroyd? Anotther Parkie? I don't know, but we need to make the right descison this time, don't think we as a club can afford another bad decision.

As we go back to the third division, one thing is clear I follow Charlton because they are my football team and I want to see them do well, I don't care what division they are in, I just want to see them play well.

For the rest of the season, I will continue to go to games, not to enjoy them, but to endure them and the rest of the season.

Fixtures To Come 2

Blackpool	Forest	Plymouth
Burnley - H	Preston - H	Watford - H
Norwich - H	Swansea - H	Reading - H
Sheff U - A	Watford - A	Swansea - A
Barnsley - A	Burnley - A	Norwich - A
Southampton - H	Wolves - H	Burnley - H
Plymouth - H	Barnsley - A	Blackpool - A
Preston - A	Bristol - H	Coventry - H
Reading - H	Sheff U - A	Birminham - A
Charlton - A	Coventry - H	Doncaster - H
Forest - H	Blackpool - H	QPR - A
Swansea - A	Coventry - A	Barnsley - H

Fixtures To Come 1

	Charlton	Southampton	Norwich
1	Doncaster - H	Ipswich - A	QPR - A
2	Watford - H	Birmingham - A	Blackpool - A
3	Reading - A	Derby - H	Cardiff - H
4	Wolves - A	QPR - H	Plymouth - H
5	Preston - H	Blackpool - A	Birmingham - A
6	Southampton - A	Charlton - H	Wed - A
7	Birminham - H	Watford - A	Swansea - H
8	Coventry - A	Wolves - A	Watford - H
9	Blackpool - H	Palace - H	Ipswich - A
10	Cardif - H	Wed - A	Reading - H
11	Derby - A	Burnley - H	Charlton - A
12	Norwich - H	Forest - A

Well done Jonjo

Shame about the theory driving test!!! Happy Birthsday.

Swans Take on Robins

Charlton go to Swansea in what, if we win, will be a must win game. Of course a draw will do, but a loss will take the wind out of our sails and Parkie will need to start the potential momentum again, which I cannot see happening.

It feels very much like the games after the West Ham win in the Prem., a brief flurry then a splutter and finally the Blackburn game when Thatchers sending off and a 4-1 defeat extinguished all hope. We have to build momentum, if we are to have a barnstorming finish to the season.

On the negative side, despite the win and draw against Plymouth and Barnsley, in both games there were times when the opposition could have taken us and it was down to their own poor form that we were in a position to get the 4 points total. However, that in itself has to be the beginnings of the foundations for a run. Swansea is not one of the lesser lights of the Championship. Since our victory on the opening day of the season, they have pulled their socks up and ours have rolled down. They have been hailed as the best footballing side outside the Prem., so we do have our hands full tomorrow.

On the positive, we also played very well in both those games and once we became confident looked like a good balanced side. Swansea had a hard mid week game against Fulham both physically and emotionally, hopefully this will tell. We need to keep it tight early doors. Being an open footballing side means we may have the opportunity to exploit gaps that they create, especially if they tire as the game goes on.

I am not over optimistic, but if nothing else in this league has been proven then its unpredictability has. Top Clubs Birmingham, Reading and Wolves are spluttering, Doncaster have just put together a winning run to counter the relegation threat, Cloughie Junior is turning his dad’s team into the team that Paul Jewell was never going to create. So Why can’t Charlton do it on Saturday and why can’t we win our next 3 games (apart form the historical fact that we have not had three on the trot since???). I’d live with 7 points out of 9, even 6 out of 9 anything less and I think the hope may die.

Imagine in 9 days time, Sunday morning Charlton have picked up 9 points out of 9 - Yes we can, will be resounding around South London, Kent and far flung countries of the world - Yes we can.

PS Happy Birthday Jonjo - the boy done good!!!

Curbs to be snubbed?

The departure of Harry Rednapp seems to have enabled the Portsmouth board to ride rough shod through the club. The appointment of Adams did not seem sensible at the time, maybe it was the Premier League equivalent of appointing Parkinson at Charlton. After the board then sold off some of the family silver, which must have demoralised the players, they then decided it was Adams's lack of ability that caused the decline in the teams performance and he was summarily dismissed to obscurity, will he ever get a amangement game again?

The Pompey job looks tailor made for Curbs and if I was them I would make a beeline up the M11 to take Curbs to their place. He has the ability to push under performing players, is a strong tactician, has been in relegation fights before, but what are they trying to do? Bring in orallist, Sven Goran Ericksson. Ericksson must be looking to ignore their overtures, even if he gets the sack from Mexico. What could he do with a club with no money, ageing defenders and battling nagainst relegation. Pompey need a manager with bottom half table experience and the ability to get a team to grind out results, that man is Curbs.... come on Storie - you know it makes sense.