He who goes around comes around

We know where it is about to end. Football is cyclic, success for the majority, if it comes, comes and goes. We have had it in the 50's , the 80's and crossing over the 90's into the 00's. Our current cycle as it falls into the depths of the third tier began 12 years ago, in my opinion.

Lee Bowyers sale to Leeds was the catalyst for the triumvirate of Curbishley, Varney and Murray to take Charlton from a middling second tier club to an established mid tier Premiership club with real aspirations of Europe. For all his negatives, I will always be grateful to the skill,if not the personality of Lee Bowyer. He went to Leeds on a record fee for a 19 year old, a reported £3,250,000, which as with all Charlton fees we then discounted down to £2,850,000.

It was the 1st time we managed to get a sizable fee for a Charlton player and the money was used to create two legends, Alan Curbishley and Clive Mendonca, amongst others Curs brought in Sir Clive, Eddie Youds, Danny Mills and Steve Jones. We went on to the play off final and the rest is history, till today we stand on the brink of relegation to the third tier.

The result against Birmingham on Saturday, could result in confirmation on Monday of relegation. And who is in town on Saturday,who could put the knife in?

Firstly there is Kevin Philips, I don't think Philips has ever failed to score against us,when I have been watching anyway. The return of Hammeur Bouazza, hot and cold, some spectacular goals, but also rubish whn not on form.

But closing the circle, the man (boy) who was sold to create the club is Lee Bowyer, on loan to Birmingham from West Ham, could he be the one at the tail end of his career, as opposed to the beginning, to score or create the goals that foster Birminghams Premiership ambitions, whilst condemning us to the third tier? What goes around, comes around and Bowyer could be the living example of this.

Start again

So Saints tomorrow, it maybe that we have 7 games to go, but every game we play now is the run in to the next season. We cannot end the season as we have gone throughout the season. Look at Derby last year, they had a season like we have had, but in the Prem., they started and for most of this season been dire and flirted with relegation, unfortunately they got Clough in and now look way off the drop. We need to end the season with a flourish, win all our home games, pick up at least one away win. Next season we need to be at least a play off team, we need to win more games than we lose, we need to start generating a positive momentum now.

Sure there will be changes in the summer, some who want Parkie to stay, others who threaten to ignore the club if he stays, players will go ZZ, Ambrose, Weaver, maybe Shelvey, Semedo, Racon, Grey and Fortune. Quite a roll call another summer of disruption, curiosity for us the fans and if we thought we had got misfits when we joined the Championships, we won't know anyone that is coming in.

But while the club start to plan for next season, 25 redundancies, friendly sales of assetts to directors, preparing for a new Dowie legal battle,which will cost money even if we win, so must we, the fans.

With Luton preparing for an appearance in the Johnstone paint trophy final this weekend, we can look forward to next seasons final on 28th March 2010. The Football League tell us that the season starts on the 8th August with the Carling Cup starting wc 10th August . The Play Off Finalis on the 30th May. If you want to know when the draw for the first round of the Johnstone Paint Trophy, so you can follow our dualdrive to Wembley, just click here and scroll down.

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.