AN ADDICK FOR LIFE

When You Know Your History .....

2006-12-04T23:07:00.000Z

5th December 1992, an historic day in the history of Charlton Athletic Football Club, the fans of whom consider it the greatest football Club in the World, and rightly so.

Exactly fourteen years on and possibly the most important game of the intervening years. Yes, we've had downs in between but mostly we've had ups. However, we are on the brink of a 'down' that could have catastrophic consequences for the football club. Do the players realise this ? Yes, of course they do. Do they care ? No they don't, with a few notable exceptions. Do we care ? Of course we bloody well do. Can we help ? Unfortunately we can't. The players have got us into this position and only they can get us out. Only they won't. Not enough of them have got the stomach for it. Not enough of them care. Unfortunately some of those that do care simply are not good enough. All in all we are in real trouble. I hate being pessimistic and I always try to put a positive spin on things. I could easily say that two wins on the spin and suddenly we are at least back in touch with those above us and in with a fighting chance. I could say that four of the next six games are at The Valley, win three of them and a couple of points on the road and hey presto come January we'll be 16th and pulling away. Problem is six weeks ago we looked at the fixture list and were saying that with games against the likes of Wigan, Reading, Sheffield Utd and Watford all upcoming we'd soon be out of the mire. We contrived to lose three of those games whilst picking up a solitary point against the team directly above us. So it's pessimism all the way for me.

There are a lot of contributory factors to our current plight. The loss of a long-serving successful, albeit boring, manager. The premature sacking of his replacement. The injuries to key players, especially new signings, a tough opening fixture list, more injuries, suspensions, poor decisions etc etc but in reality there is only one underlying factor. The players. Either not good enough or not committed enough. Or both.

I look back with fondness to our last Premier League relegation season. 1998-1999. Up from the play-off's, that epic Wembley encounter with Sunderland, Rufus's goal, Mendonca's hat-trick, real lemonade, jumpers for goalposts, you get the idea. Eight straight defeats (?) and then a last minute Pringle goal giving us a home draw with Newcastle that felt like winning the Cup all over again. Heroes all over the pitch. Robbo whinging, Brownie, Kins, The Ruf, Super Clive, Stevie Jones, Danny Mills. You get the drift. Players you could count on, players you were proud to support. If only the current squad showed half the passion those players possessed. And Villa away. Behind gawd knows how many times, all subs used, keeper sent off, Brownie in goal, last minute winner. Fecking brilliant. Ultimately not enough. But that didn't matter. We showed guts, we showed determination, we showed we cared. The players showed they cared. Enough said.

And so back to the present. The performance at Bramall Lane was in many respects worse than the result. We were not only outplayed but were outclassed and outfought. Being realistic we are going down. I obviously hope we don't and I'll be at the Lane on Saturday shouting myself hoarse and hopefully celebrating at the end of the game six points won in six glorious days. But in reality that isn't going to happen.

Tuesday 5th December 2006. We cannot lose. We have never lost on this date since the return to The Valley and we can't let it happen now. This is OUR day. It is written that this day now belongs to the fans of Charlton Athletic. We demand a win, this day more than any other. I will walk into The Valley tomorrow night and still stare in wonder at what a fantastic place The Valley is. I will look back, beyond those fourteen years, to the times when I stood on the dilapidated terracing, to the times when I peed up against a wall in the pitch black and the pouring rain, and I will look back at that glorious Sunday morning when my brothers and I and hundreds of others descended on The Valley with spades, shovels and forks to clear the pitch and terracing of weeds, bushes and trees, fans united together in a way that you could never imagine. That's why we're different, that's why we support Charlton Athletic. And then I'll look forward again to 5th December 1992 and Walsh's goal and remember exactly how euphoric I felt that day. And then I'll pray that the current team, for once this season at least, won't let me down and forever ruin the date of 5th December.

'Gutless' ? Maybe, maybe not .....

2006-11-13T23:39:00.000Z

Well, Iain Dowie has gone. I for one am surprised and very disappointed. If twelve games in he isn't the right man for the job then frankly he wasn't the right man for it in the summer. If he wasn't the right man then why was he appointed. Is sacking him now the right decision or is it gutless? Shouldn't we all be getting behind him and the team to get us out of the sticky stuff we find ourselves in. Or is sacking him now a show of strength. It would be easy to blunder on until it's too late and it's a brave man to admit he's got it seriously wrong but it appears that Richard Murray is that brave man.

But hang on, has he been sacked. Theories abound that it is really to do with being away from his family, that he really did leave Palace to go back 'oop north' but the pull of the Prem and Dickie's persuasiveness caused him to do otherwise, and that it has now backfired on all concerned. Other theories suggest it's to do with the ongoing court issues with Jordan whilst a bung theory has also arisen.

More will be revealed tomorrow but one thing's for sure. For that Oompah Lumpah Jordan to call the Charlton board 'gutless' is definately the pot calling the kettle black. With something like six managers in five seasons and another about to bite the dust he's hardly Mr Loyalty is he.

The future ? Well, AC has ruled out a return and rightly so. Names like Hoddle, Graham, Souness, Robson etc do little to inspire me. McLeish is a possibility as is Cardiff's Dave Jones. Personally, I have my own little list. We need someone ambitious whilst at the same time having Premiership experience, someone young and go-ahead not someone who has been and won't be again. Can I suggest a name or two, actually three. All number two's at their current clubs but unlikely to succeed the current incumbants for a while to come. All ambitious, all with Premier League experience in abundance behind them as both players and coaches. Step forward Mark Bowen, Steve Clarke and my own personal favourite, Sammy Lee, who I championed in the summer before Iain Dowie was appointed. I wait with bated breath.

Fan Loyalty Rewarded ?

2006-10-24T13:20:00.000+01:00

Whilst the support shown to Chris Powell on Saturday was laudable it was also quite laughable. Laughable to the extent that many fans showed more support to Chris, an opposition player, than they did for their own team. 'Fans' who sat on their hands, mouths firmly closed, for 90 minutes whilst the team they allegedly 'support' was trying to win a game and get a vital three points suddenly came to life when Chrissy made a late substitute appearance. And at the final whistle they could hardly contain their excitement as Chris got a rapturous round of applause as he performed his ledgendary tunnel celebration. Sad. Just a pity they can't put as much energy into supporting the team on the pitch. Fans, they don't know the meaning of the word.

At least they'll be pleased to read in the programme that the Club has decided to take the full allocation on offer for the forthcoming trip to Reading. The Club expect demand to outstrip even the 2,000 tickets on offer. They also took great delight in reiterating the current away ticket allocation policy. Yes, the blanket wearing, flask waving ValleyGolders get first dibs again whilst those who may not be in ValleyGold but are making the much longer and considerably more expensive trip to Wigan the previous week are left to wait patiently in line. Why ?? I've always been against a policy which basically rewards those who can afford to pay a tenner a month into VG over those who prefer to spend their money actually supporting the team. We'll be able to spot those at the MadStad who are there just for a jolly-up and a new ground a mile off (any true Charlton fan has been there already, a pre-season trip a few years ago). And will they support the team, will they end up hoarse urging their team onto victory?. Will they heck as like. It'll be moans about fans standing, fans swearing, people shouting too loudly in their earholes and their blanket getting dirty as other fans have the temerity to celebrate a Charlton goal. Whatever next?

Perhaps we should book Chris Powell as a warm up act. That'll keep 'em happy.

Operation Wigan (or get off your backsides)

2006-10-11T00:31:00.000+01:00

Well, despite all good intentions it seems that Operation Cottage, instigated by the Charlton Life team, reported on here previously, has hit the buffers. A great idea and a very good attempt but it just doesn’t have the required exposure, at least not yet.

It has been suggested that Charlton have sold around 1,000 tickets for the game. Rumours of 2,500 plus Addicks making the short journey to West London seem unfounded. Some fans are still saying they will turn up on the night and pay on the gate, and undoubtedly they will be able to do so, but come mid-afternoon on Monday 16th, it’s raining and a mate calls to say how do you fancy a curry at the Omar Khayyam followed by a few pints down The Red Barn watching the game on Sky it is far easier to say okay when you have not already coughed up twenty-five quid for a ticket than when you have. If you are going to go then get off the fence, ring the Club and get your ticket. Otherwise shut-up.

Perhaps it’s already time for Charlton Athletic themselves to consider their annual ‘freebie’ trip. In fact it could be said that now is the time more than ever before. The previous ‘freebies’ to Port Vale, Forest, Bolton, Boro’ etc have all been launched to propel us towards glory, whether it be promotional glory or FA Cup glory. The same theme remains though; good times, happy times, times when we shouldn’t have needed such encouragement to support the team. Now the boot is on the other foot, nearly. Perhaps not yet bad times but, make no mistake, another couple of bad results and the bad times are just around the corner. The team, injuries permitting, is good enough for a top-ten finish, but once you become entrenched in the bottom three then it becomes psychological and whoops, before you know it, down you go. So it’s time for the Club to launch Destination Wigan.

Why Wigan you ask ? Well, for a few reasons :

1) we’d be able to get a large allocation of tickets.
2) the tickets will be of a reasonable price.
3) Newcastle is too soon, Sheffield Utd could be too late whilst Reading, a week after Wigan, is a new ground for most, a reasonable travelling distance, shouldn’t be too expensive and so should be well supported anyway. Another reason to get a large following up to Wigan the previous week.
4) it’s a winnable game.
5) it’s a great idea.
6) it can’t get any worse than last year at the JJB !!

So, it’s time to back Destination Wigan.

Let’s hope that someone at the Club (preferably someone important) either reads this, is alerted to this or are so clever that they have already had the same great idea. Failing that perhaps our Fans Representative will take up the baton and run with it. He can even claim all the credit if he wishes. Over to you Ben Hayes, let’s see what you are made of.

Up The Addicks !!

Support Operation Cottage

2006-10-05T12:37:00.000+01:00

No, not an attempt to get George Michael out of his Range Rover and into a Public Convenience, but an attempt to get Charlton fans out of their armchairs and away from the telly and their take-away pizzas to Craven Cottage on Monday 16th October at 8pm.

Why you may ask ? Because we are in the proverbial doodoo. The players need our support. Iain Dowie needs our support. Charlton Athletic need our support. We are bottom of the league if you didn't notice. Admittedly, a tough fixture list and a lengthy injury list have not helped and nor have some dodgy refereeing decisions. However, bottom we are. We the fans have to help ensure we don't stay there. No matter how good a team we may have, when everybody is fit, it becomes psychological when you become entrenched in the bottom three. Everybody said Birmingham City were too good to go down last season but they still contrived to do so.

The excellant new fan site Charlton Life started this crusade and the baton has been taken up by all and sundry including netaddicks, Chicago Addick and All Quiet In The East Stand. Read their thoughts by clicking on the links to the articles. We too at An Addick for Life are lending our weight to the campaign.

So, if you are a true Charlton Athletic fan then get yourself to the Cottage, make yourself heard and do your bit to get us out of the plight in which we now find ourselves.

Up The Addicks !!

Bit's and Pieces

2006-09-06T13:59:00.000+01:00

It seems not even his own fans like him. This is what one Palarse fan says of the Oompah Lumpah :

‘Let's face it; Jordan is hardly the most appealing ambassador for a business. He's loud, arrogant, generally unattractive, coarse, and in his management style grubby in the broadest sense. Yes, yes, he saved the club and with the core minority that counts to a degree that some will overlook every other reality; perhaps, however, there are lot of other people out there who support Palace but want something more. They're not prepared to be ripped-off or support a cheap, make-a-buck scheme run by someone for whom they have no respect.’

Respect to you though mate !! All in all a very interesting thread on their message board.

Darren Bent and, to a lesser extent, Luke Young. Will they ever actually play for England again? What does Benty have to do? Top English scorer last season and leading the way this, Zamora excluded, and yet overlooked in preference to first Defoe, who hardly plays let alone scores for Spurs these days and then to a bald-headed numpty who happens to play for a supposedly bigger club in Everton. Is it because he plays for Charlton? Yes. Is it because the press don’t champion his cause as opposed to others? Yes. Is it because McLaren is a Sven clone? Yes. Let’s hope Benty doesn’t think we, Charlton Athletic, are hampering his chances and leave.

Souleymane Diawara. ‘He comes from Senegal, he f@*king hates Millwall’ unlike Traore who comes from MALI. Please remember this all those who sang this ditty at Upton Park with Djimi’s name in the song. Doh !

On the subject of ‘The Soul Man’. £3.7m. He better be good. Let’s hope he’s the Rufus replacement that we have been crying out for the last few season’s. Also, what happened to the old Minty Murray line that we only signed players who spoke English? The Soul Man can only speak French, and Senegalese I suppose. Guarantee’s a place in the team for Traore and Faye then.

Welcome also to Omar Pouso. Let’s hope he’s the creative box to box midfielder we have been so sadly lacking since Judas’s departure.

Having spent £12m it’s rumoured another £50k was blown on fitting a revolving door at Sparrows Lane. Ten in, and around the same number out, has made for a busy summer at the training ground but it’s great to see the Board backing Iain Dowie to the hilt and now it’s up to us, the fans, to do the same. Many failed to renew season ticket’s on the basis that thing’s had gone stale and we were getting the same boring fare year in year out from mainly the same under performing players. Ok, we might not know if the football will be any more exciting but it can hardly be less so and at least it will be more interesting finding out. Let’s hope the spending spree demonstrates enough ambition that some doubting Thomas’s stop doubting and renew. The Board and ID deserve that at the very least.

Chelsea, £48. No that’s not the price of a U-11’s season ticket at The Bridge. That’s the cost of a seat for 90 minutes in the away section. And you don’t even get to take the seat away with you. No wonder we’ve only sold 400-odd tickets. Villa is £25 entrance, £12 on the coach, leaving £11 for food and liquid refreshment. Know where I’m going. If you’re going to Chelsea then good on you but you must be either mad or filthy rich, or both. It’s time prices for away fans were capped at say £35 or, better still, made a uniform price. Away fans are necessary to make football the great game that it is and create an exciting atmosphere but if Clubs like Chelsea are allowed to get away with charging extortionate amounts like this then away fans are priced out of going and that game, and football in general, will be the ultimate loser. We didn’t need William Gallas to tell us that Chelsea lacked class. We’ve known that for years anyway.

Bye, bye Euellie. Would love to say it’s been a pleasure but for most of the time it hasn’t. Why Curbs didn’t take the £2.5m on offer from Palace eighteen months ago I’ll never know. Not as if he’s really played since. I can only imagine that seeing as Iain Dowie has got rid now when at Palace he must have hated Jordan that much that he tried to waste millions of his money on Jason. Lisbie is available though Simon !!

Roll on Pompey at The Valley, the only team we can beat when we are behind. They are now a massive Club you know. Harry’s done wonders in the transfer market this summer. Turned them into European contenders he has. Signed David Thompson on a free transfer and they have taken the world’s worst right-back, Glen Johnson, on loan from Chelsea. Let’s not also forget some Kranky Croatian, a Calamitous Keeper and a Kanu who is mostly a Kan’tu. Oh, and they were the only Club silly enough to pay over-the-hill Soloman Campbell around £60k per week. And to top it off Man City’s Andy Cole, sorry Andrew, threatened to quit football if he couldn’t join Pompey. Uhmm. Quit football or join Pompey? Think I would have quit.

Different Piper, Same Old Tune

2006-08-24T13:26:00.000+01:00

No pride, no passion, no belief, no creativity, no inventiveness. No midfield, no defence. Nothing has changed has it except the personnel. Okay I know its early doors and we shouldn’t get too carried away but the future looks far from rosy. With Bolton and Chelsea next up we could be staring four straight defeats in the face. Horrendous defending, a non-existent midfield and no chances created. Bent and the lazy JFH are feeding off scraps. I’ve forgotten exactly how long it is since Parker left but we have done very little to replace him. Faye looks okay and will probably benefit form a midfield partner other than Matt Holland who, although committed and hardworking, is no longer Premiership material. At least he once was, which is more than you can say for Bryan Hughes, or ‘The Shadow’, as we affectionately call him. He is a serious waste of space and how he is able to make a living out of professional football I’ll never know. He brings nothing to the side. He just doesn’t get involved. Send him back to Wrexham, they love him there. Obviously easily pleased.

As for centre-halves, we need a new one and quick. HH and Fortune look the best bet for Bolton but Fortune hardly inspires and is prone to lapses, errors of judgement and falling over. El-Kharkouri is a disaster waiting to happen but unfortunately the disasters seem to be becoming more frequent. If we can sign a decent centre-half to play alongside HH then things should improve. Young and Traore are more than capable full-backs. Elsewhere, Carson seems to be settling in okay and performed well against Utd especially when you consider what he had to contend with playing just in front of him. Ambrose has had a steady start to the season and if we can get Reid fit soon and Balanos a work permit then things should improve on the flanks. Rommedahl showed in a ten minute cameo exactly what he is capable of and deserves a start on Saturday. We need to get our wide players into the game to provide chances for the front two as they are not going to get any service from the central midfield area at the moment.

With transfer deadline just a week away the squad still needs, ideally, three additions. A centre-half, a central midfielder and another striker. To do this we will probably need to off-load some players and the leading contenders would appear to be Andersen, Euell, Bent (M) (lazy, good-for-nothing waster) and Lisbie followed by hopefully Hughes. With further investment by the Board and funds from these sales we may be able to get at least two of these positions sorted out. All three would be a bonus.

Whether even this will be enough will remain to be seen but at least we will have given ourselves a fighting chance and there is no doubt about it, a fight it will be.

So Many Questions, Too Few Answers

2006-08-15T10:12:00.000+01:00

over the Green & Carson situation. So here are the answers. West Ham have been interested in Green for a number of weeks but were dithering over an official bid. However, at the beginning of last week negotiations began between themselves and Norwich. Norwich, realising they were soon to lose their first choice keeper contacted Charlton over the availability of Stefan Andersen, either on a permanent basis or on loan. Charlton, having already lined up Scott Carson for the problematic goalkeeping position, saw this as an opportunity to possibly sign a goalkeeper, Robert Green, who could be a long-term solution to the problem as opposed to Carson’s short-term solution. Having recently signed a new five-year deal at Liverpool it seems there is no chance of it becoming a permanent deal whereas Green could be the ideal solution. So talks began between Charlton and Norwich over both Green and Andersen. Andersen’s wage demands of around £12k per week were a problem as was Green’s fitness. Norwich, in their infinite wisdom and quite underhandedly, decided to release the news that negotiations had been entered into over Robert Green’s possible transfer. West Ham, desperate for a keeper to challenge Carroll, dramatically stepped in and agreed a fee of around £2m. Despite rumours of Green failing a Charlton medical, it is my understanding that things never got that far and that no medical was taken. The bottom line is that Charlton, with Carson already lined-up, suddenly saw Green as a long-term solution to a problem position and would have pursued it if the right deal could be struck. Ultimately it couldn’t be, and so Iain Dowie was more than happy to conclude the Scott Carson deal immediately. West Ham have got their man too, albeit at a higher fee than they originally envisaged paying due to Charlton’s untimely intervention. So all’s well that ends well. Or is it ? Andersen seems unlikely to move to Norwich on any basis unless he drops his wage demands but an exit to another club is surely on the cards. I hope that he goes on loan, get’s a full season under his belt, and returns in the summer so that next season he is the long-term solution to the goalkeeping position.

YoungGate Update

2006-07-05T12:18:00.000+01:00

Tyrone Mears is about to sign for West Ham but not before KUMB bring us the news that Luke Young failed TWO medicals at Upton Park.

That puts this comment by Iain Dowie on the official CAFC website regarding Luke Young in a whole new light - "He wants to come back and show how fit a lad he is. His games record certainly shows that and he is very determined to get going again.”

Personally I think this poster on NetAddicks has it spot on. And let's not forget that he hasn't extended his contract just pledged his future to us.

YoungGate

2006-07-05T00:25:00.000+01:00

Uhmm. Not sure what to make of this whole Young & Mears transfer saga, if indeed there is one. Only, of course there is one.

Luke Young was West Ham’s number one transfer target this summer and they have spent the last two months pursuing him during which time Luke put in a transfer request, moaned about broken promises and refused a new lucrative contract. Today, however, all that changed when he pledged his ‘future’ to Charlton Athletic. Although how much of his future exactly has he pledged ? Well, I reckon the remaining year of his current contract only. Nowhere in this story from the official CAFC website are there quotes from the man himself and nowhere does it suggest that he has extended his current contract beyond the remaining year. Just pledged his future. That could be a week, a year or three years.

But what has brought about this dramatic change of events ? After all, we all expected Youngy to depart for around 4m and Mears to join as replacement following weeks of wrangling with PNE over the fee. Did West Ham give up their chase ? Did Luke, as has been suggested in some circles, fail a medical at Upton Park ? This seems the most likely scenario although to fail a medical a fee must have been agreed with Charlton for his services and nowhere has it been reported that this was the case. However, Preston’s acceptance over the weekend of an offer from ourselves for right-back Tyrone Mears seems to suggest a deal for Young had been done. If Young wasn't on his way out would we still have been after Mears ? I think not.

Now add into the mix that following talks with Charlton on Monday, Tyrone Mears remained in London for talks today with West Ham. Would West Ham really have switched their attentions that quickly to Mears ? Would they have given up so quickly on Young ? Unlikely, I suggest. I would have proffered the argument that West Ham began a pursuit of Mears to force our hand so that we’d agree to sell Young and then buy Mears ourselves as planned. However, PNE’s website says that Mears is to sign for West Ham soon and so that little scenario can be put to bed. Something dramatic obviously happened to trigger this unlikely turn of events. Young to West Ham, Myers to Charlton has suddenly become Myers to West Ham. A can of worms if ever I saw one.

Unfortunately, either because a fee couldn’t be agreed or because he did fail a medical, we are left in a far from satisfactory situation. Unless Luke does sign a contract extension in the next few days, and let’s hope he does, we have a player who was clearly unhappy, for whatever reason, and the handing in of a transfer request confirms this, seeing out the final year of his contract which at the end of he will walk away on a Bosman. And we have waved goodbye to a fee in excess of £3m and probably closer to £4m. Was this sensible ? If that is what happened of course. We may never know but this has been a long drawn out saga that may not be over just yet. Is there a twist in the tale ?

Optimistically, maybe, just maybe, Iain Dowie ran through the list of signings that are going to start arriving at The Valley anyday now and Luke realised he had no option but to stay and play alongside such great players. Nah, maybe not.

Can't Say I'm Happy

2006-05-27T23:58:00.000+01:00

but if Iain Dowie is to be announced as our new manager on Tuesday then I'm gonna make damn sure I get right behind him. He's got one hellavu job to do anyway without the fans on his back from the very start.

Personally, I don't think he is the right man for the job and it has nothing to do with his Palace connections. I just don't think he's good enough. I'm still holding out hope that it'll be Sammy Lee paraded in front of the world's press on Tuesday but being realistic it is going to be Dowie. However much I don't agree with his appointment I do feel that having interviewed over twenty candidates we have to trust Richard Murray and Peter Varney on this. Both are Charlton Athletic through and through and the decision they have made is, in their opinion, the right one for the Club and so I support them in that respect.

Fans who are suggesting that they will not renew their season tickets because 'it is Dowie and he's Palace' are really not worth bothering with. If you don't renew/buy tickets because you don't like the manager then half the grounds in the country would be half-full every week. You support a Club, not even the team, and you do so because you love the Club. To be so fickle as to base your support, or lack of it, on whom the manager may be that week is nonsensical.

As to whom will make up the triumvate announced on Tuesday opinion is divided. Dowie seems a stick-on as manager. Les Reed seems a stick-on too, as either assistant or coach (and I'm VERY happy about that). The third appointment is more contentious. Some say it's already been made in the shape of Andrew Mills, General Manager - Football, brought in earlier this month to deal with transfers and other football related matters. I'm not so sure. We need to replace not just Curbs but Day and Peacock too, so I feel that another appointment on the coaching side is forthcoming (plus Mills appointment was made known a few weeks ago). If another coach is appointed most seem to believe it will be either Mark Robson or Chrissy Powell. Either way, I'd be happy but Robson is the more qualified and I feel he should get the nod.

Whatever happens we have a very important season ahead and we all need to get behind those in charge and give them our FULL support. So, let's hear it for

Iain Dowie's Red and White Army !!
Iain Dowie's Red and White Army !!

Give It to Little Sam !!

2006-05-22T23:42:00.000+01:00

There I was writing a long, probably too long, appraisal of the candidates to succeed AC when the lap-top decided to crash so losing my unsaved masterpiece. I know, I know, I'm an idiot. However, it has saved you from reading such unadulterated tosh and so this time I'm gonna cut right to the chase.

Give the job to Little Sam, or Sammy Lee to his friends. He is, in my opinion, the best man for the job. He has worked in the Premier League for a number of seasons, firstly at Liverpool under Houllier and for the last couple of seasons under Big Sam at Bolton. Unlike many of the other candidates he has a working knowledge of the Premier League and not knowledge gathered just from watching Match of the Day and dreaming 'if only'. Having also played at the highest level, including European competitions, and having played for England he knows what it's all about. He is a highly respected coach hence the reason he is part of the current England coaching set-up and has the ambition to become a manager in his own right. Bolton have thrived the last couple of seasons under his coaching and Big Sam has spoken very highly of his qualities and his abilities. If asked, I'm sure Sammy would be able to tell you exactly where the strengths and weaknesses are in the current Charlton squad. I'm not sure many of the other candidates would be able to do the same.

Sometime very soon Sammy Lee is going to become a successful Premier League manager. That success should come at Charlton Athletic.

Respect Where It's Due

2006-03-28T00:03:00.000+01:00

He came, he saw, but he never conquered. Scott Parker’s first visit to The Valley since his acrimonious move to West London over two years ago was greeted with a mixture of boos, cheers, jeers and clapping. Neither overly derided nor feted I felt the reaction he received was spot on. Naturally he scored but Lee Bowyer’s comical own goal within a minute made Parker’s strike quite ironic. To his credit Parker went up slightly in my estimation, surprisingly, by not rubbing our noses in it when he did score and by his reaction at the end of the game when he clapped the Covered End and gave a thumbs-up as if acknowledging that we had made our point and he recognised the reason why we had done so. For me, that’s it now. A line has to be drawn under that episode in our history. We’ve made our point and succinctly so. I’m not saying I’m going to applaud next time he visits SE7 but I’m not going to jeer or ’abuse’ him either. No, that will be reserved for a certain Mr Murphy who is now obviously happy warming the bench at Big Tart Lane. Presumably he’s happy as he gets more time to enjoy Sudoku. What a (boring) couple they make.

They may not be the most talented or gifted midfielders in the country (ok, they’re not) but at least they want to play for us. Whilst the Murphy’s and Smertin’s of this world have departed for pastures new, and taken a dig at us on the way out the door, those that remained behind have taken up the baton and are running with it. Holland, Hughes and Kish are not among my favourite players but they at least want to play for us. Whatever their failings as players you cannot fault their attitude, commitment and effort. I’d rather have any one of them in the side than a sulking, over-paid, over-rated prima-donna like Murphy. They deserve our respect for that at least. I’m not saying I want to see them in the team next season, midfield is the area that most needs strengthening, but at the moment they’re alright for me. You can’t ask anymore than a player giving 100%, giving his all for the cause.

Finally, it’s obvious that major team rebuilding needs to take place over the summer months. Whoever is in charge. Let’s just hope that the FA doesn’t prevaricate too long and balls it all up for us. Whilst the uncertainty remains it will surely affect our ability to attract players to the Club for next season. Curbs was in France the week before last personally running the rule over Marouane Chamakh, a Moroccan international striker who plays for Bordeaux. With seven goals in just eleven starts this season he may well be the answer to a partner for Benty (D, of course, the jury’s still out on M in my opinion). But what player would agree to sign if they don’t know who the manager will be the next week. Would the Board sanction a move if they don’t know who the manager will be? I mean, would you sanction a near 2m deal if next week a new manager might not want that same player. Of course you wouldn’t. This needs sorting as soon as possible for the good of Charlton Athletic.

Quarter Final Confusion

2006-02-21T15:34:00.000Z

The FA Cup Quarter Finals are scheduled to take place on the nights of Monday 20th March, Tuesday 21st March, Wednesday 22nd March and Thursday 23rd March. Straightforward so far. Of the quarter finalists remaining no fewer than five have live Sky games already scheduled the previous weekend; Birmingham and Villa on the Saturday and Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea on the Sunday. That means the last three would not want to play their tie until the Wednesday at the earliest. Fine, so Liverpool v Birmingham and Chelsea v Newcastle can be played on the Wednesday and Thursday. However, with both Boro and Bolton possibly having UEFA cup games on the previous Thursday they will not want to play their weekend Premier League fixture until the Sunday. To then ask one of them to play an FA Cup quarterfinal the next day is obviously absurd. Both these teams would, quite rightly, want to play on the Wednesday or Thursday night. So, no candidates so far for either the Monday or Tuesday night fixture. Also, those teams that play on the Thursday are going to want to move the following Saturday’s fixture to the Sunday so causing further disruption to the Sky schedules.

Curbs seems to have the logical answer when he suggests that the Quarter Finals be played on the Saturday and Sunday of 18th and 19th March and then the scheduled league games played during the midweek, either Tuesday or Wednesday. This seems fine but with Sky having already scheduled four games for that weekend, all involving one team or another from the quarterfinals, would they be prepared to accept just two QF live games that weekend and just two live games during the week instead of the four now scheduled. Factor into that teams may lose revenue for not being on live as now scheduled and it’s a right royal mess. I wouldn’t want to be the one at the FA to have to sort it out. Whatever is decided one team or another is going to be unhappy with the arrangements and I can’t help but think that it’s going to be us.

And the reason for this mess ? So that Sven Gormless Eriksson can have extra time with the England squad to prepare for what will ultimately be an inglorious World Cup campaign.

No Sympathy for Kish

2006-02-20T01:15:00.000Z

My attention has been drawn to the following item and to be frank I am a bit nonplussed by it. I will be giving my take on it at the end but first the ‘article’ in question :

From Richard Hunt on Kishishev from Glynne Jones’s mailing list :

‘Some of you know that Radostin Kishishev arrived at Charlton thanks in large part to the work of my Bulgarian Toronto based friend, Vasco Danailov, a process which started when Vasco and I met him at Euro 96 in Newcastle. Vasco has stayed in contact with Kish ever since.Yesterday Vasco called me, having just had a conversation with a somewhat distraught Kish. He had called Vasco desperate for someone to advise him why the Charlton fans don’t like him. Vasco sees a lot of games on TV but promised he would ask me for a more informed view.Not for the first time this season I found myself asking whether Charlton is still the club so dear to my heart or indeed the one Kish joined, but that wasn’t much use to him. So I told him that based on this list, I could state that 70-80% of fans actually do appreciate Kish, and the debate has raged about why a minority get on his back. I told him my opinion was that he is the midfielder who always makes himself available for the ball, and never hides; and that most of the work he does is of necessity relatively unglamorous. Its not the kind of work which elicits spontaneous applause - unlike the kind of passes or space making cameos we got from Murphy or Jensen. However because of his position, any mistake he makes is often in a critical zone, and this elicits howls of disapproval. So that is what he hears. No cheers, just boos. I repeated that most of the people on the List know he sweats blood for the team each week, and hate the fact that he is booed by a minority. But I felt appalled by what I had heard.I realise that most of the idiots who boo and jeer him that don’t go near this List. Those who criticise Kish on the List are entitled to wish that he perhaps might make less mistakes, or that we could afford one that does what he does better ( despite the frequent reminders that we could not afford to re-sign Parker).However here is stark evidence that footballers are human too, and what we have in the treatment of Kish is in my opinion a form of bullying. He is a thoroughly decent guy, family man, looks after himself, and does not rearrange McDonalds or fight team-mates. And he has worn the shirt with pride for six years. He urgently needs a lift. I urge anybody who feels like I do to let Kish know. You could just drop a line to Vasco directly atdanailov_vv@yahoo.comand Vasco would call Kish and read out any messages he gets. Nothing long. But the more there are, the more he will believe in it.

Me I am going to vote for Kish for player of the year.’

Richard Hunt

So, I am meant to feel sorry for a highly paid professional footballer am I ?. Well, sorry to disappoint, but I’m not. This doesn’t mean that I think Kish, or any other player for that matter, should be booed when their name is read out or just because they have been selected but if a fan is unhappy with a players performance then he or she is entitled to make their opinions known in whichever way they deem fit. Personally, I don’t believe that the majority of fans can all be wrong about Kish. He is committed and gives 100% but frankly he isn’t good enough and makes more mistakes than most other players. He is a frustrating player who does a couple of good things in a game but then produces a couple of wayward passes and misjudged challenges which undo his previous good work. In fact I think Kish should feel pleased that he plays for Charlton because frankly I don’t think he would have been tolerated this long at many other Premiership clubs. Kish is an average player being paid fantastic wages (by most fans standards) for occasionally passing a ball to a team-mate. If he were ever to score a goal then I’m sure he’d spend his bonus wisely. Instead of worrying what the fans feel about him perhaps he should do something about making a better impression on those who pay his wages, the fans. Perhaps Richard Hunt would like to suggest to Kish that he stays behind after training for an hour everyday to practice his shooting. Yeah, thought not. Richard won’t do it because he’ll know the response he’d get from Kish. Grow up Kish and get on with your job. As for voting him Player of The Year. That is taking the sympathy vote too far. Anyway Richard, wouldn’t you be worried about hurting the feelings of the likes of Darren Bent or Hermann Hreidersson ? Other players have feelings too you know. I really don’t know how you can be so inconsiderate or insensitive to other players. Shame on you !!

By the way, anyone want to join the Bryan Hughes Appreciation Society ?

The Murphy Aftermath

2006-02-02T13:41:00.000Z

Much has been said and written about the 'Murphy Matter' in the papers and on various messageboards and there is no doubt that the current situation at Charlton Athletic is causing great concern for the majority of fans.

I am very concerned about a lot of things and I could sit here for the next twenty minutes and try to sum up how I feel but instead I am just going to leave you with a link to a message posted on the netaddicks fans site which sums up the current state of affairs more eloquently than I could at this present time. The best post on netaddicks for many a long while it represents, I feel, the opinion of the majority of true Charlton Athletic fans at this present time, step forward AFKABartram.

The Truth Is Out There !

2006-01-29T23:47:00.000Z

And it will come out in the end just as Deano's real transfer fee has. Originally reported by both us and Portsmouth as 'undisclosed' it has now been disclosed by Charlton as being 150k with the potential of up to a futher 350k if Pompey remain a Premiership club at the end of the season. No hope there then. I know he was 35 and out of favour but 150k !

Furthermore, just when will the truth out with regard to Danny Murphy. The rumours about Danny are flying around everywhere and avoiding them is proving more difficult than evading the bat poo in Melbourne's Botanical Gardens. Firstly, he's in the West Stand on Saturday merrily signing autograph's without a care in the world, no sorry he was there on Saturday but dashed off before the game started, but hang on he's had a bust up with Curbs/Rommerdahl/Hreidersson(take your pick) and asked for a transfer, no forget all that he has 'terrible' family problems that he is currently dealing with. No no all wrong I'm afraid as according to the Premier League fitness room physio website he has a hamstring injury. Personally I'm getting a bit bored by it all and will be glad when Tuesday has come and gone and either Danny will have departed with it or we will be left with a creative midfielder, albeit one with some personal problem or another, allegedly. However, if he does have a personal problem to deal with or is injured surely the Club can issue a statement to that effect to put to bed all these wild stories and rumours. It really isn't doing anyone any good.

The only rumours of transfers are JLloyd Samuel, it's always a mistake to go back don't they say, and a defensive midfielder Blaise Matuidi, 19, from French club Troyes who is available for 3.5m. Can't see Curbs splashing that sort of dough on an relative unknown especially when money is tight. At least we know he is willing to offload JJ, Jeffers, Euell and Lisbie. I'd add Bartlett to that list who was absolutely woeful on Saturday, the day after he announced he was hoping for another contract extension. If I had my way, no way Jose.

The next few days look to be quite hectic on the transfer front and let's hope it doesn't distract anyone from the very important business of three points from West Brom and revenge for last season's debacle against them.

From Deano to Lisbinho !

2006-01-27T00:05:00.000Z

Blimey. So much has happened since my last blog update it’s hard to know where to begin.

So I’ll begin with a fond farewell to Deano. Nicky Johns excepted he is probably the best goalkeeper I’ve seen play for Charlton. In his six or so years at The Valley it is no coincidence that we have seen the rise of Charlton to the established Premier League side we are today. Okay things have gone a little pear-shaped this season but let’s remember the good times and that toothy grin. When he returns with Pompey later this season he is assured of a tremendous welcome. Good luck Deano (and I think you’re going to need it). What else has happened ? Oh yes. The feverish election campaigning has died down as voting gets underway and I expect a close finish between Ben Hayes and the ’young’ pretender being championed by Derek Hales, Vince The Pole. Ben Hayes to win on a recount. On the pitch Curbs has gone back to basics and results have followed. It may not be pretty but it’s been effective. Journeymen like Holland and Hughes have come in, applied themselves properly, and hey presto, a couple of home wins, through in the cup and a more than creditable draw at Chelski. As Curbs said, now we’ve steadier the ship more expansive football may once again follow.

Talk of Chelski leads us neatly onto Marcus Bent. His signing was met with comments of “2.5m you’re ’aving a larf” and “’ave you seen ’is goalscoring record?”. Well, his goalscoring record for us is 1 in 1 (and after all that’s all that matters) and compared to £1.75m for Akinbiyi then Marcus was an absolute steal. So, Deano out and ’Big’ Benty in. Anyone else on the move? Euell to Birmingham was on, off and now seemingly on again. Johansson is in talks with Serie A (probably B) side Treviso, Jeffers is linked with Millwall most days and someone else every other day. Considering another appearance will trigger a further payment to Arsenal and the fact he’s out of contract in the summer I expect him to depart one way or another before midnight 31st January. Lisbie, and we’ll return to him later, is linked to Narwich in a cash plus player deal for £2m rated keeper Robert Green. So that’s £ 1,999,999.00 plus Lisbie (lights blue touch paper and retires). Why we need another top-class keeper remains a mystery to me. We’ve just lost one who was unhappy so signing Greeno would just make Tommy or Steph desperately unhappy. We’ve always got Randolph as emergency cover. Expect Green to sign tomorrow then, ok ? Elsewhere, we are continually linked with Zat Knight who although 6ft 5inches isn’t particularly mobile and not much better than what we’ve got. However, with El Kak likely to return early from the African Cup of Nations perhaps we had better sign another centre - half if only to keep him away from the action. Seriously, with JJ, Jeffers, Euell and Lisbie all set to go in the next few days, so freeing up valuable wages, I think we can expect at least two incomings and possibly three before the window slams shut. Strewth, just realised I have not even mentioned Murphy whom it is now rumoured has been missing due to an undisclosed personal, family reason. Uhmm. And what of Bowyer I wonder.

So finally this from the BBC Messageboard, message 25,Lisbinho. Said we’d return to him later. Either this guy is the most deluded person on the planet or this is a brilliant wind-up. Enjoy.

Vote Kennedy !

2006-01-05T23:44:00.000Z

Whoops, wrong election.

However, in the election for the Fans Representative on the Board of Charlton Athletic Football Club four candidates have emerged; Sue Townsend, Ben Hayes, Brian Cole and Vince Nieszwiec.

Sue Townsend, present emcumbant, shouldn't in my opinion be standing for re-election, as it's only fair to give someone else a go. Also, two years in and amid accusations of being unable to communicate with the fans who elected her she still has no dedicated website. Says it all really.

In my opinion, Ben Hayes is the best man for the job. Vince comes in a very close second.

Vote Ben Hayes !!! (and definately not for that lush Kennedy).

Same Old Story

2006-01-02T20:01:00.000Z

Three defensive lapses, few chances created, plenty of huff and puff, another away defeat. Sound familiar ?

The New Year's Eve victory over West Ham has proved to be a false dawn. Renewed optimism, although limited, has already evaporated. A decent performance and a comfortable 2-0 victory has to be taken into context as to against whom it was achieved. West Ham, recently promoted, are in the middle of their own run of five straight defeats and were hardly 'buzzing' themselves. A midfield consisting of Rommerdahl, Hughes, Holland and Kishishev are a match for no-one in the Premier League and yet we got away with it. Why ? Because West Ham were poor. We played well but against most other sides we would have struggled. A much needed win but once again it was just a case of papering over the cracks, just as the Sunderland win had done. Two days later and Everton proved that point.

The facts are we have won just three home games this season, against the three promoted sides incidentally, and just five in the whole of 2005. We have taken just six points from those sides currently occupying the twelve places above us and that includes the three from West Ham. We have suffered four straight away defeats with Chelsea next up. Everton, who are having an awful season apparently, are just two points behind us. We are currently just six points off the bottom four and play two of them at The Valley, hardly a fortress, before the end of the month. And all this with the best squad ever assembled by Alan Curbishley and, salary wise, by far the most expensive. Yet the squad still needs major surgery.

Several players should leave with them being replaced by three or four major signings. Take your pick from Keily, Johansson, Lisbie, Bartlett, Holland, Euell, Hughes and Jeffers. Maybe even throw Murphy's name into the mix if he isn't 'up' for it. The squad numbers may then be down but the quality needs to be drastically improved. The Board need to back Curbs but if they do then Curbs is definately in the last chance saloon. Further failure and his number is well and truely up. Things can't continue as they are.

Whether we like it or not we are very nervously looking over our shoulders when we should be challenging for Europe. It's time for the talking to stop. If Curbs can't sort it out then someone else will have to.

Enough is Enough

2005-12-22T00:35:00.000Z

Battle rages throughout South-east London and Kent. In sitting rooms, pubs, clubs, trains, offices, on internet message boards, especially netaddicks, there is little talk other than that of the future of Alan Curbishley. Nothing else matters. Christmas ?? There won't be much cheer in the households of many Charlton fans this festive season.

The capitulation at the JJB on Saturday against Wigan Athletic really had to be seen to be believed. If you thought Blackburn Rovers or Manchester City was bad then this was ten times worse. You may have heard second hand accounts of events last Saturday but only those there can appreciate how excruciatingly poor this really was. In truth, we were lucky to get 'nil' whilst Wigan should conceivably have scored six. Curbs can blame the pitch and three defensive howlers all he likes but this defeat, as those before it, goes far deeper than just poor defending. The previous weeks victory over Sunderland just papered over the cracks and those at The Valley that day know that against a better team we would have lost and, through negative substitutions and tactics, nearly contrived to anyway.

Curbs has said that the players are telling him that they don't want to be out there playing. Playing for him, as manager. They are not literally telling him that but that is what their performances are saying. This is very worrying and not something that can be sorted overnight, if at all. Once players stop performing for a manager then you are on a slippery slope - to nowhere. Every single player in the squad has been brought into the club by Curbs. They are all his players. If they don't perform then it is his fault. No one else's. The buck stops with him. We can blame the players or the coaches all we like but at the end of the day they are his coaches and his players and it's his responsibility.

Unfortunately, Curbs isn't God. Yes, he has done a fantastic job for this football Club and without him I sincerely believe we wouldn't be where we are now. Back at The Valley in a fantastic stadium with near sell-out's crowds playing the sort of standard of football I couldn't have dreamed about even ten years ago. Curbs is probably the greatest manager this football Club has ever had. However, that doesn't mean that we should accept what is happening now. It doesn't mean that Curbs should be immune from criticism. It doesn't mean that Curbs is immune from the sack either. In the last couple of season's we don't seem to have progressed on the pitch. In fact, we are currently going backwards. Watching Charlton isn't much fun at the moment. This summer around 2,000 fans failed to renew their season tickets. With just four home wins this calendar year, 2005, then that number will rise drastically next summer. Income will drop considerably as will investment in the team. The Valley expansion plans will go on hold, indefinitely. Unless. Unless something is done about it now.

Either those players who are under performing go, or Curbs does. I don't really mind which. All I know is that enough is enough and I can't accept another performance like that at Wigan. And neither should any of you.

Jeepers Keepers

2005-12-15T14:42:00.000Z

There is a custody battle ongoing at The Valley. Or rather, a custodian battle. It seems that there may be up to four contenders for the goalkeeping jersey. Here, I analyse the various options.

Dean Keily or 'Deano' - current holder of the jersey but for how long. Spent the initial few months of the season injured and then the next six weeks moaning about not being in the team now he was fit. With Stephan Andersen playing well it was up to Deano to keep his head down, work hard in training and bide his time. However, he proceeded to throw his toys out of the pram, have a bust up with Curbs and is alledgedly on the move in January. When Curbs decided to 'rest' Andersen Deano duly arrived between the sticks and conceded eight goals in two games wilst producing distinctly below average performances. A much improved performance against Sunderland contributed to the team getting back on track. The jury is out though and we may not see much more of Deano at The Valley.

Stephan 'Gillian' Andersen - undoubtably the 'numero uno' keeper in the long-term at The Valley. Some impressive performances were tainted when followed by a couple of minor errors at a time when his defence decided to go collectively and individually 'awol'. At just 23 Stephan is quite young for a keeper, a breed who generally don't produce their best, and are said to be at a peak, when approaching 30. I just hope that Stephan stays around long enough for us to see and appreciate it. Unfortunate to be dumped for the sulking Deano he has however not done himself any favours with Curbs by refusing to play for the reserves and insisting that he has nothing to prove to anyone. Not a wise move, just look at Jason Euell. However, I believe that in a year or two Stephan will prove himself to be the best Charlton keeper since Sammy.

Thomas Myhre - a Norwegian international who is pushing hard for a first team place but looks set to be frustrated on that score. Is always likely to be the one stuck on the bench as understudy. Reliable and steady he won't let us down if ever called upon. If Norway had qualified for the World Cup I don't think he'd have hung around but the signing of an 18 month contract extension to June 2007 can be interpreted in many ways not least that it could signal the departure of Deano.

And last, but by no means least :

Antti Niemi - currently the custodian at Southampton it is widely rumoured that he is set for a £1.5 million January switch to The Valley. In my opinion Antti has it all and is up there as one of the top three keepers in the Premier League, behind only Cech and Given. If he signs it can only mean that Deano will be departing (Everton or Wigan Ath) and that Myhre and Andersen will battle it out for a place on the bench. Niemi will the undoubted number one.

It remains to be seen what happens on this front but whatever transpires we will have three more than capable keepers on the books and will probably be the strongest in the Premier League in that department.

Attack Attack Attack

2005-12-06T13:27:00.000Z

I've always believed that attack is the best form of defence and seeing as we have not got the latter at the moment then attack is the only option.

It's plainly obvious that whomever we stick in defence they are unable to perform either individually or collectively. Constant changes are not working and we need to get a settled back four if we are going to achieve any sort of consistency. Dropping Stephan Andersen was, in my opinion, wrong because he is without doubt our number one goalkeeper not only in the long term but for now also. After all, it isn't as if dropping him has made a difference is it. Deano has come in and conceded eight goals in two home games and has hardly looked convincing in the process, being at fault for a number of those goals conceded. It's obvious that HH should be playing at left-back and an effective partnership found from the remaining centre-halves one of whom, I believe, should be Chris Perry. Who should partner him is up for debate but El Karkouri doesn't do it for me, Spector looks out of his depth, Fortune has his limitations and Sorondo is the great unknown. Sorondo has looked woeful for the reserves but I believe that is through a lack of motivation as opposed to lack of ability. Some players are unable to produce it in the reserves but when brought into the first team perform admirably. Paul Konchesky was a prime example of this. What is without question is that Curbs has to sort this out now once and for all or we are in deep trouble. If he doesn't, the transfer window may be too late an opportunity to do so.

It's probably stretching the point to call this Saturday's encounter with Sunderland at The Valley as being a six pointer but it isn't far off it. A defeat, however unimaginable, is certainly a real possibility if we defend as we have recently. Deano, in his infinite wisdom, believes we need to get back to being 'nasty' and 'horrible' and 'hard to beat'. Hard to beat yes, but I can't remember us ever being nasty and horrible, at least not in the last fifteen years or so. That's probably part of the problem, we have always been too 'nice' but you can't get back to something you've never been. Unless of course he means being defensive, dull and boring. Now, we have been that in recent years but now isn't the time to revert to those tactics. We can't defend at the moment so the best option is to attack, attack, attack and relieve the pressure on the defence. The worst thing to do is to defend, be cautious in attack and hope to keep a clean sheet and hey, if we're lucky, nick a goal. Problem is we may nick a goal but run the risk of conceding anyway but will inevitably end up conceding but not scoring ourselves. We are playing Sunderland, arguably the worst team the Premiership has ever seen, and there is no reason why we shouldn't approach the game with an attacking mentality. Anything else will be foolhardy.

It's high time for a return to 4-4-2 and Jay Bothroyd's cameo against Man City suggests that he may be the man for the job and Thomas deserves a starting place also to provide some width, sadly missing against the Massives. I'd go for the following :Andersen; Young, Perry, Sorondo, Hreidersson; Ambrose, Murphy, Smertin, Thomas;Bent; Bothroyd.

Attack, attack, attack and three points will be ours. Up The Addicks !!

Under Pressure !

2005-11-27T21:58:00.000Z

In my last post I suggested the forthcoming five games would shape the destiny of the whole season. Well, things got off to a pretty bad start at Villa Park on Saturday. A woeful performance in which we offered very little against an equally poor Villa side. They at least created chances although the quality of their play was as bad as ours. However, four consecutive defeats have now put considerable pressure on the next two Premier League games at home to Manchester City and Sunderland where no less than four points minimum will suffice. Firstly though Blackburn Rover’s trip to The Valley on Wednesday in the Carling Cup should be viewed with much trepidation. The recent trouncing at Ewood Park together with Rovers decent display at Highbury at the weekend means we enter this game with confidence at a low ebb and the pressure well and truly on.

And the pressure is now on Alan Curbishley more than most. Now is the time for AC to bring home the bacon. On Saturday his selection policy was criticised by most of the travelling fans, and rightly so, because by leaving out our most creative players in Murphy and Rommerdahl, the latter of whom didn’t even make the bench, we had lost the game before we had even started. Murphy has scored four goals this season and created numerous others and even when he has been below par, as he certainly has recently, he is still likely to pop up with a couple of exquisite passes to create opportunities for others as he did at Portsmouth for Ambrose and Rommerdahl. His replacement on Saturday, Holland, is unlikely to do this on a regular basis and neither is Kishishev or Smertin. Ambrose is the only other midfielder likely to be able to produce that extra bit of quality required.

The defence is currently at sixes and sevens and Curbs really needs to go back to basics here. Hermann must start at left-back; Powell is past it and Spector isn’t up to it at the moment, whilst Perry must return at centre-half. Karkouri is the other obvious centre-half although I’m not convinced that he is up to the job. Other than another striker in January I really think we need a quality centre-half. Sorondo was absolutely awful for the reserves last week whilst Fortune also has his limitations. I’d stick with Andersen in goal although I wouldn’t be all that surprised if Myrhe replaced him between the posts. Forget Keily as an option as it seems his days are numbered at The Valley and he is likely to be off in January to pastures new.

Finally, spare a thought for Darren Bent. Starved of service in recent weeks he must be really frustrated at the moment but to his immense credit he is still working his socks off and was unlucky with his only half-chance on Saturday. To compound this frustration I wonder how he felt when paired with the enigmatic Lisbie for the second-half on Saturday. He certainly didn’t deserve that and neither did we.

Problems On and Off The Pitch

2005-11-22T13:20:00.000Z

Before we address matters on the pitch a brief word on events off it. Without wanting to comment on events that are subject to legal proceedings it once again seems as though the behavior of a minority of so-called Manchester United fans has crossed the boundary of what is considered acceptable. The whole story, as reported on the CAFC website, leads Charlton to believe that there is no other conclusion than a ban on United fans the next time they visit The Valley. They have been asked politely, on numerous occasions, to comply with ground regulations and have refused to do so whilst at the same time causing considerable trouble and injury to others. Assaults on staff, both physical and verbal, are not acceptable and neither is racist abuse. However, I'd like to next time round see a dramatic reduction in Utd's allocation, to around 1,500, and a dramatic increase in the amount of Police and stewards in attendance but only if Utd agree to pay for the extra cost of such an operation. If that game passes without incident then the following year the allocation can be slightly increased and so on and so on. Drastic measures are called for but if the Board ultimately advocate that a total ban is what is required then I support Charlton completely in this course of action.

Back to more mundane, but equally concerning, matters and this time on the pitch. It is now plainly obvious that we cannot persist with 4-5-1 at The Valley but it is equally obvious, and painfully so, that we do not possess another striker capable of playing alongside Bent, even if one were fit. However, that doesn't mean we don't have another player capable of performing that role. Step forward Darren Ambrose. Having played up-front in his Ipswich Town days Ambrose could be the answer to the problem; at least until the transfer window opens. Composed on the ball and tricky with it, he possesses an eye for goal that all our other so-called strikers do not. Alongside Bent, or perhaps just behind him, Ambrose would provide Bent with both support and chances to convert as well as chipping in with a few of his own. Another alternative would be a switch to 4-3-3. Thomas and Ambrose to support and provide for Bent which will ensure that the midfield trio, so important to our game, can remain intact. Away from home however I would persist with 4-5-1. Five wins and a solitary defeat from six away games is a fantastic return and there is no reason why this successful system cannot continue to bear considerable fruit away from The Valley.

The next five games will shape the ultimate destiny of our season. Away games at Aston Villa and Wigan Athletic squeezed either side of home games against Man City and Sunderland all provide more than adequate opportunities to get some points on the board. Eight points or more will see us enter the Xmas/New Year period in the top eight at least and looking forward to every chance of European qualification. Six points or less will see us looking nervously over our shoulders at the closing pack and a season of mid table mediocrity. In between is a chance of progress in the Carling Cup and a place in the last eight that victory over Blackburn Rovers would provide. After that who knows what may happen. The next month will be very interesting indeed.