Bye Bye 2009

Rumour has it that Alexei is not a huge fan of the Nicky Bailey song !

I think most Addicks fans will be glad to see the back of 2009 as far as our club's fortunes are concerned. Hopefully we have turned the corner and can look forward to 2010 with a modicum of optimism.

Without looking into the detail of 3 draws from our last 3 games you'd say it wasn't good enough. However, given the circumstances ( the Spanners game aside ) it does a least show a lot of pride, passion and commitment from our team.

Hopefully we can add to our squad in the transfer window without losing anyone who is crucial to our promotion hopes. Any others are free to leave now.........................

" I'll get me coat ! " Don't forget to leave your shir........oh you have !

Thanks to Ketts for keeping this whole thing together. Thanks also to everyone who blogs or contributes via comments etc in any way. I hope everyone maintains the enthusiasm to keep going as it's great to read a variety of views on all things to do with our club.                                                                                  

I wish everyone a happy and successful 2010 !

Come on you Reds !

Christmas Trees and Christmas Bees

Bees At Christmas ? It Just Ain't Right !

Having failed to beat the Lions and the Robins, Charlton couldn't beat the Bees yesterday. We're due to play the Saddlers on Saturday and unless I'm very much mistaken there's no creature called a Saddler and hopes of a win instantly rise as a result !

Griffin Park is a compact ground that has changed little in the 28 years since my last visit. A few pre-match beers in the cramped New Inn was good preparation for being quashed onto the terracing. Much like the aforementioned insect's abode of choice there aren't too many ways in and out. Simply knocking down a wall would allow quicker access and departure for away fans........perhaps they're hoping visiting Millwall fans will do it F.O.C. !

Surpirsingly the Bees failed to use the wings much..........small wonder the game never really took off eh ? Fortunately there was no sting in the tail. Bee jokes......can't beat them and it's no use droning about it.

Like a semi-denuded Christmas Tree, we were without many of our stars and some that remained were out of position. As a result and allied to fatigue from Saturday, prior to the game I was happy to take a point as I thought we were in for a tough game. In the end it was okay but three points would have been better.

I was surprised at Brentford's lack of ambition or urgency and towards the end the keeper seemed happy to time waste.

For me, this was a dull game that was only enlivened by the banter with the Family Guy ( you're not fit to be a dad - he didn't know how to Bee-have ) and the singing of a few CAFC classic songs from down the years.

Goodness knows if we'll get to play against Walsall on Saturday bearing in mind the weather forecast and their failure to play yesterday. It looked like some militant union had decided to take impromptu industrial action with a host of braziers all over over the pitch ! If it's a last minute cancellation like yesterday remember to take some chestnuts with you so the day's not entirely wasted !

Brentford Pylons

Note Two Of The Infamous Brentford Pylons Above

My trip to Griffin Park tomorrow has added excitement as Wikipedia has just informed me that tomorrow I'll be seeing the renowned " Brentford Pylons ". This is the only ground in the country, I'm told, that has a pylon in every corner !

My last trip to Brentford F C was in 1981, I think we won but am not too sure. I only remember Lawrie Madden being abused by one of our own fans and him stopping with the ball at his feet to see who it was ! Luckily he didn't find out and there wasn't a forerunner of Cantona at Palarse !

This was always going to be a tough game as the Brentford team of now bears little resemblence to that which visited the Valley early in the season. They have just renewed the loans of Szczesny and Balkestein.........I don't believe they're local lads whatever Wikipedia says ! Szczesny is a quality keeper who'll be hard to beat even for someone of Izale's ability ! However, I note he was injured yesterday for the " friendly " at Gillingham. We could do with him still being so tomorrow.

The Bees also have Bostock in their ranks and he's done well for them and will present a threat although I see he was on the bench yesterday but would expect him to get on if he doesn't start.

Charlie McDonald collected a red card and so won't be playing. I see that charm merchant Mark Stimson refused to shake Andy Scott's hand after the game......the season of good will to all men eh ?

Who knows what to expect after our recent games. Let's just keep all digits crossed and pray to God that we get something from the game.

Come on you Reds !

Christmas Sales !

Over 18% Off At The Valley !

The Addicks got caught up in the post Christmas sales yesterday and decided to reduce everything, the team included, by over 18% ! Very generous but as a plan to win football matches........not great !

They are a couple of my favourite players but Sodje and Burton were, at best, daft yesterday. The ref was right with their sending offs but he got little else correct. Only one yellow card for Swindon was a long way from consistent. He must reside in Swindon not for reasons of bias but linked to the new Disney partnership.

However, what a performance from the remaining nine men.........heroes every one of them ! At least we got a Valley atmosphere not witnessed since our early Prem days in my opinion. The place was rocking and I think it genuinely lifted the players. You expect unusal scorelines and matches at Christmas but no one could have foreseen this !

Praise be to Parky I think he did well. No FA coaching course prepares you for that scenario ! I was surprised that the Swindon fans weren't booing their team at the end. Eleven really should beat nine in a league game.

Sadly, we're now missing Sodje S for 4 games and Burton for tomorrow. I believe that Dailly won't be ready and with Mooney, Youga and Richardson unlikely too, Parky's not got an easy day today !

I'm not going to predict the side for Griffin Park, a) because I'm rubbish at it and b) because you never know with Parky ! I think I could have had 10 goes at yesterday's starting eleven and still not got it right.

Let's hope we can get a win tomorrow and hope allied to luck will need to be there in abundance.

Deon Merrily On High

In Praise Of Deon

Deon merrily on high,

In SE7 the fans are singing,
Deon’s regularly on Sky,
The oppo’s keeper’s hands he’s stinging.

Hernia, playing on regardless !

Sometimes partnering Akpo,
Games are often won’en,
And up the league we go,
As his name is often sung’en.

Hernia, playing on regardless !

He wears number 10 not 9,
That’s one less on your fingers,
May he wonderfully time,
His runs to score from wingers.

Hernia, playing on regardless !

Sorry folks ! No so much the Bard as should be barred from attempting poetry !

Here's hoping for 3 points on Boxing Day, again we'll need to get them as Norwich remain hot on our heels. It won't be easy against Swindon who are a side in form. Hopefully the lads, like Santa, will deliver !

Merry Christmas everyone !

Come On You Reds !

Roller Coaster Afternoon

What goes down must go up ? Let's hope so !

A thrilling afternoon at the Valley saw fans go through the full gamut of emotions. Despair at going 2 nil down, delight at drawing level, ecstasy at going ahead twice and back to despair when the Spanners equalised.

You can frustration at the ref to that. What was going on when he gave them a corner that led to the second goal ? In a ground with 3 thousand Spanners fans inside he was the biggest idiot..........quite an achievement. At least he got the penalties right but the sending off should have been the other way round....... no covering defender for the first but two for the second ! He loved his whistle too didn't he ?

The lads did well to recover form the shock of the first two goals. I thought we played the better football, however, to be fair a draw was prorbably the right result.

Burton and Bailey were well up for the game. Bailey's goal was a superb piece of finishing. Sadly I don't think it's working with Wagstaff. He needs to be more decisive and stronger in the tackle. Mooney too would be a better player for making stronger tackles as he doesn't seem to like the physical stuff at all.

I'm not sure why Holden has never been given a chance. We need someone to play on the left and the natural answer to that problem doesn't get played. Give him a go say I !

McKenzie showed good speed of feet and thought when he came and started to create chances for us. I thought Akpo linked up well and had one good effort well saved by their keeper.

After going 2 behind I guess we'd have all happily taken a point. It looked like the Spanners had won the league at the end judging from the celebrations...........perhaps it was just a reminder that they don't care about us !

Next week the roller coaster theme continues as we host Swindon, the town recently twinned Disney World, just a shame that Mickey got there a week early to referee !

Grant Fosters Fond Memories

Kim in his Charlton Days

Kim Demonstrates Another Use For One Of His Snow Shoes

Kim Grant gained cult status in December 1995 when he scored the both goals against the Spanners at the Den. That he chose the 5th December to do it did him no harm at all. These days of course Kim runs his highly successful tennis academy. Fair enough, the word prolific cannot really be applied to Kim and a career in tennis coaching is fine by me. Those two goals were scored in snow with Curbs worried that the game might be called off after we went 2 - 0. Good omens for tomorrow perhaps should the game go ahead.    

The Charlton connections with white powder didn't end there as one or two of the players at that time were known to have a fondness for the devil's dandruff.

I'm not really looking forward to this game for numerous reasons. This is one we must win........no pressure boys but we don't want to lose to this lot. Hopefully the lads will all be up for it. We need to keep our fine recent run going.

Having got tickets for Brentford and Walsall away I'm looking forward to a fun-filled festive football fortnight !

Come On You Reds !

                                 

                                                       

Who Ate All The Pies ?

Yes, we managed to finish off not just the pies but also the burgers by the time I visited the food hut at half time at Edgeley Park yesterday. I had to console myself with a bovril, very much in keeping with a typical northern football town.

I travelled by train safe in the knowledge that the game was, at last, going ahead. The pitch didn't look too bad but was clearly quite boggy in places. It may well have been the reason that Scott blazed over in the second half when it looked harder to miss.

The rain thankfully held off for the whole game. As others have observed we didn't play well spurning several golden opportunites with Mooney being the main culprit. We were lucky to go in ahead at half time.

Truth be told we weren't very good, how much that is down to the pitch is unknown but it was the same for both teams and we really sholud have put them away comfortably. Thankfully the planes flying past on a regular basis provided a welcome distraction.

Taking other results into account it was a good weekend and as long as we win we can't complain too much as much as we'd like to see it done in style. Certainly we'll take a win next Saturday in whatever fashion it comes !

We really need to win against the Spanners for all manner of reasons and if we play as we know we can then we should do so. 

Slumbog Milliner

Edegely Park 3pm Today ( or possibly any day come to that ).

No need to worry about the raining stopping Saturday's game, no indeed, more likely it's the freezing weather that'll result in it being off ! The on / off nature of this fixture has seen lower ticket sales ( no pun intended ) than I expected. Hopefully if prospects improve we'll get a few more along.

If this game does get played, I bloody well trust we'll win ! What a waste of time otherwise. Sale RUFC and Stockport County F C between them can't work out that you might need to cover a ptich or that decent drainage might help. I know there's been an unusual amount of rain but Stockport's not exactly on the Equator is it ! Like the lovely lady above, I've had it upto here with this pitch nonsense.

As it stands they'll play us at EP on Saturday and then away at Macclesfield for the cup on Tuesday. Imagine having to play home games on someone else's ground eh !

The game could resemble the one at Chelski a few years ago not with the same result I hope. After playing two seaside teams in the previous games it appears this one has brought the beach to us ! Best forget about playing football, start with Akpo and just bang the ball upto him.

Hopefully we'll get the 3 points and return home to think about the lovely Spanners the week after.

Come On You Reds !

Conditions Worsen At Edgeley Park

Been a supporter for 45 years..........man and buoy.

Apparently there's a pitch inspection at 11am tomorrow ahead of Stockport's postponed FA Cup game with Torquay. We need it to go ahead to aid Charlton's hopes of a win on Saturday. That's if, of course, even our game gets played.

What of the Edgeley Park pitch then ? Has it been raining lately ? You bet your a**e it's been raining ! Enough to keep Eric Olthwaite more than happy......" it were always raining............'cept on days when it were fine and there weren't many of them, not if you include drizzle as rain ! "

London Wasps wouldn't play on it a couple of weeks ago, the following day, the Torquay game ( this cup one ) then got postponed and last week's league game was similarly called off. Now they're thinking of covering the pitch...............trop tard as Eric's dad might say.

Who or what's to blame for this state of affairs ? I fear it's me. Yes, I've brought it all on myself. For the first time in my life I bought advance train tickets.......what a mistake ! Just buying tickets for the game was a risk in itself but advance train tickets......well I ask you !

Apres moi le deluge !

Pancake Day

We hoped for a Southend battering but this was what we got !

Not a great day yesterday with the game, atmosphere etc being as flat as the proverbial pancake. Not that there was any sign of a pancake and I'm guessing that's due to the risible rotund ref having scoffed the lot....a chunky chappie wasn't he ?

In addition, at the end of the 90 minutes a well spoken fan voiced her view that the game was " crepe ".....at least that's what I think she said.

Never mind all that though eh, the 3 points are gratefully trousered and they are much needed with Norwich maintaining their excellent run.

I thought Burton was excellent whilst Elliot kept us in the game with one outstanding save, good to have him back. As others have observed, Semedo was a big miss in midfield. Bailey was trying too hard it seemed although understandable given the stick he was getting from the away fans.

Given the anniversary I was disappointed that more was not made of it. There won't be too many Saturdays when we're at home on 5th December. There was little in the programme and I was expecting more at half time which was when Colin Walsh should have been on the pitch.

I was lucky enough to be there 17 years ago. What a day and I don't mind admitting that a tear or two was shed by myself, not just for our return but other reasons too that the event helped to bring to the fore. I still have my ticket and programme from the day.

I also made it onto the ITN news with a shot of me entering the ground, obviously they needed someone photogenic..................and in their absence they chose me !

At least we did see some video of the day. Let no one forget where we were and how far we've come since then. Our centenary dvd should be compulsive viewing for all generations of Addicks.

Next up is Stockport and another should win game. First though we have to hope that the pitch is fit to play on. The Hatters are due to play Torquay on Tuesday and again we must hope that goes ahead to help our cause. With rugby also played on Edgeley Park one thing's for sure the playing surface won't be as flat as ..... !

Peer To Peer Connection

Lord Brighton

Lord Southend

The fixture list is throwing up some odd connections eh ? I wonder if Stockport has a pier ? To be honest I haven't had a chance to have a look !

Parky was able to puff on a cigar after we dispensed with B&H on Tuesday. Not a great game or plain sailing by all accounts but without the aid of binoculars it seems it's hard to tell. Who cares ? The 3 points are what matters most. I understand the ref's ineptitude shown through the gloom !

I had to content myself with Radio London's t'internet coverage. Very nerve-wracking. To take my mind off it slightly I chose to get on with domestic chores so whilst Brighton were pressing in the second half so was I.........all ironing now done !

Sadly Semedo is suspended following Tuesday's battling performance and he epitomised it the most from what I can gather. No matter, Sarfend have a midfield suspension of their own, Jean Francois Christophe. JFC ( the dyslexic's take away of choice ) has commited one fowl too many it seems !

Good to see the return of Elliot who helped steer us to our first clean sheet since Oldham on October 10th. Sadly we're not likely to see Richardson or Youga on Saturday. I've not been sure what to make of Omozusi to be honest but he seems to have done well on Tuesday and visibly improved during the Rovers game. Looks like Basey will keep the left back spot.

Wagstaff also looks set to keep his place so I guess that Spring will come in to add some steel to the midfield in Jose's absence although I wouldn't object to seeing Racon there.

This is another game we really ought to win but as always we know better than to make assumptions don't we ! Can't really afford to drop any points with Norwich hot on our heels.

Can I hope for another 6 goal thriller or is that being really shellfish ?

Come On You Reds !