Dodgy Barnet

Could it be former CAFC player Jonathon's dad ?

Little excitement or interest in this one for me and maybe most Addicks. I believe that Barnet are only bringing around three dozen supporters. Imagine if Barnet win and they all run onto the ptich ? It'll be first time we'll have seen " 38 Bees " on the field of play since Erica Roe all those years ago !

The ludicrous rules of this competition mean that we must field 6 of our regulars ( information garnered from other blogs........I had no idea tbh ). Something of a dilemma then for Parky. Personally I'd make 3 substitutions inside the first 10 minutes with players feinging injury. More opportunity to then use the game to blood some youngsters / non-regulars while protecting the main players.

I'd certainly rest Dailly, Shelvey, Burton, Richardson and Sam ( who may be injured anyway ). I assume that Semedo is still injured or won't be risked.

I suppose at least it offers the likes of Solly, Tuna, Basey etc. an opportunity to get a run out.

I appreciate the carrot of a Wembley appearance but feel our efforts should be focused on the main prize which will spell disaster if we don't get it this season.

This trophy offers the opportunity for a plethora of weak gags ( Matt finish - if Spring scores, best gloss over the result if we lose, it was like watching........etc.etc ) and little else.

Leading with Leeds

Sat down to watch the Football League Show this morning and I was pleasantly surprised to see our game first on ! Can't remember if that's ever happened before with any football show bar the Big Match with Brian Moore and consider that it was coverage of London teams.

Having seen the highlights and read various reports it seems that we did well and indeed might have sneaked a win. After Tuesday's poor effort, the display and point gained are well received.

Good to see Sodje return with a decent performance and I believe he threw his shirt into the crowd....... after the final whistle......... I hope McLeod noted that !

It was a real shame that Shelvey didn't convert Richardson's cross following a terrific run.

Spring seemed to have a good game yesterday, hopefully he's got fitter and upto match speed.

Pleasing to read that Bailey moved in to central midfield although I can't see why Basey or Youga don't take up the left side berth if that happens.

The next couple of weeks will be interesting. Parky has to bring Llera back next Saturday given that Sodje will be away. I wonder if he'll use Tuesday's game to try a different central partnership. I'd be inclined to do so as there's nothing to lose other than a meaningless game.

I believe that on Tuesday we have to play 7 or 8 of the starting eleven ( or is it squad ? ) from yesterday under the silly rules of this competition. That's a tough one for Parky. I guess the elder statesmen and Shelvey will sit it out.

Personally I hope we get out of the thing asap. Whilst the ultimate prize of a Wembley appearance would be nice, we don't need extra games.

Leeds United

Numbered sock ties, Revie, Bremner, Giles and Gary Sprake ! Those were the days. The 70's were a good time for Leeds as they enjoyed much success. They won many football matches but few friends. It was generally accepted that they were a somewhat " physical " team.

Since then we've all been able to laugh at Peter Ridsdale..............all goldfish and ludricrous player salary negotiations.

The Leeds of today has survived Ridsdale....just. They have an excellent manager whose record against us is very good. They seem destined to go up this season. Their style of football from what I've seen from two televised games seems quite attractive.

A tough test then tomorrow for our boys, especially following the awful perfomrance against the U's. What on earth was going on for that first goal ?

I've had my concerns about Llera for some time. He makes some good headers ( Tuesday aside ! ) and strong tackles but worrying lacks any pace and gives away silly free kicks, most notably around the edge of the box. Time for Mr Sodje to take his place me thinks.

Also time for Baily to move into the centre of midfiled assuming Jose's not playing. Basey or Youga then need to be employed in either of the left side roles.......they're interchangable for me.

Shelvey has clearly needed a rest for a couple of weeks now and why he wasn't rested against the U's is a mystery to me.

We seem stuck with a system and unable to adapt. What was a week ago a quite important game is now a crucial one. A defeat will further damage morale and confidence leaving aside the implications of a potential drop into third place.

We need at the minimum a good performance and hopefully at least a point to go with it. I'm trying to remain optimistic but am struggling to any reason to be.

Come on you reds !

Tonight Matthew I'm Going To Be Michael McIntyre !

Tomorrow night sees us playing away against the U's and a certain lookey-likey ! Let's hope it's the Addicks laughing at the end of the evening.
Sadly I can't go tomorrow. I shall be listening to the radio and checking on t'internet for latest updates.
A real test tomorrow. Let's hope we give it a good go. Ideally Semedo will return to the midfield. It must be tempting to play Sodje as we know Llera's suspension is looming. Having managed to go one game without a booking it can't last much longer can it ! That Sodje will be missing in a couple of weeks time all adds to the dilemma.
Hopefully a decent and hard working performance will see us bring home the bacon. As ever it's odds on that Lisbie will score.
Assuming Semedo is fit then you can expect the eleven that have started all league games this season bar Saturday's.
In some ways this is a bigger game than Saturday's. A win tomorrow slightly eases the pressure ahead of the weekend, especially if other results go our way.

Melodic Laze

Regular readers will know of my dislike for the Addams Family song. A view shared by many I know. Therefore, I was not best pleased when I noticed Uncle Fester look alike Rob Edwards ( aged 103 ) at the heart of the Grecians defence beleiving this would give rise to it !

Happily though my fears came to nowt. Renditions of the infamous song were like Fleetwood attempts on goal.........feeble. One early in the first half and one in the second. They never got off the ground. Perhaps the warnings before both halves had the desired effect. Let's hope so.

Warm up gave rise to concern for there was no Semedo. This meant a change to the line up just when we'd got to being able to recite the starting eleven a la the firemen from Trumpton.........Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grubb ( honourable mention to Captain Flack ) !

I felt that this would mean Bailey moving to the centre and Basey in at left back ( with Youga moving forward ) or left midfield. Strangley Spring came into the middle and Bailey retained the left side. Spring was to slowly impose himself on the game and ultimately did quite well.

The Addicks started well and displayed the good passing and movement of recent weeks. Sadly no end product though and there were a couple of scares from the Devon boys. It was finally the skipper who broke the deadlock in what was a vastly improved performance. I'd backed him to score the game before. If that's how it works then I predict a Bailey hat-trick against Colchester !

The second half saw more nice football from the home side but again nothing to show. Racon blazed a volley over the bar. If only he elected to place it.......the goal was largely at his mercy.

Parkinson for once made, for him, an early substitution with Mcleod on for Burton after 70 minutes and later Wagstaff on for Racon before a late Sodje appearance replacing Shelvey. Mcleod duly scored 3 minutes remaining. At the time I thought it was a straight forward effort but to be fair he did put it away quite well. Shame he didn't keep his shirt........always a daft booking that one.

Still time though for a late Exeter goal from Beti Bassett or some such after an Elliott fumble. A scuffle with Rob Elliot saw Troy Archibald-Henville become only the second booking of the day. Clearly the ref had been saving the ink for this one. " There's only one Troy Archibald-Henville " ah just rolls off the tongue eh !

Just time for a trademark Sodje header to make the day complete.

How to view this one then. Well I'm sure we'll play better and lose, we're still top two, so let's just enjoy the melodic laze courtesy of Izale McLeod !

You Think You're Disappointed - Exeter Preview

Fleetwood is apparently disappointed he's not able to play this Saturday. Not as much as me ! Never been remotely impressed by him. When we beat Ebbsfleet 6 - 0 in last year's pre-season he was one of the few not to score and had a totally forgettable game. Had he played on Saturday I assume we could have expected more of the same. 

Despite Exeter having one of the biggest names in football this is a game we should win. Unlike last week I shall be very upset if we don't.

I'm not expecting Parky to make any changes but that's not to say he shouldn't do so. Bailey had a poor game last week, probably down to the pressure of me predicting that he'd score ! His passing was woeful and his kicking out at Holt nearly resulted in an enforced lay off. I realise he's playing out of position but even so I expect better from him.

Whilst we all acknowledge Shelvey's ability and potential he has appeared to be struggling fitness wise in the last couple of weeks. He was shot to pieces early in the second half at Norwich.

May be time to give Basey or Holden a go and play a second striker. However, as I said I can't see Parky making one change let alone two.

Parky's unwillingness to make subs in the last couple of games has been a concern. Against Saints I felt that we needed fresh legs with about 20 minutes to go and at Norwich I'd have got Sodje on to shore up a defence that had been fire fighting throughout the second half.

 Not sure if he'll be in the Exeter squad but it'd be good to see a cameo from Marcus Stewart. A once quality striker who I guess still has something to offer.

I understand that the club may publish a request in the programme for no singing of the Addams Family song. If so, let's hope this is heeded. Three points and some more cerebal songs would make it a good day.

Idiots

What was by and large a thoroughly good away day on Saturday was spoilt by a few idiots purporting to be Charlton fans and members of the human race. Never mind the late goal from Norwich I was more disappointed, ashamed and embarrassed by and for the protagonists.

The Drinking During The Game blog has mentioned it and I agree what's been written. A small number decided it'd be really good to give it large to Norwich fans in a mainly family stand. They weren't watching the game and looked even more silly when the goal went in.

The Addams Family song is as old as the hills. It's never been funny or clever. Obviously someone thinks it is humourous and if it's funny once then it's funny a thousand times. Not it's not my friends !

That some fans routinely sing it at every game is humiliating. Given that it's more than a few singing it then we've a real problem that needs addressing because I think it's even more shameful at home. Is this really the best we can do ?

It was sung very aggressively on Saturday along with an hilarious re-wording of a Wurzels tune. I bet the good folk of Norwich haven't heard that before............well done lads !

Sadly it wasn't just a few adolescents incapable of finding their backside with both hands. There were some who should at their age know better.

I don't want to be associated with people like that and it makes me wonder about going to away games. I'm aware that a similar situation occured at Southampton away last season. Charlton doesn't need or want them and it needs to do something to root them out. I can't think it's that difficult to do in this day and age.