Solly Good Show !

For he's a Solly good fellow

and so say all of us ! I have to admit that Solly was not one of my favourite players prior to kick off yesterday. Always seemed a bit lightweight and not really done well. Of course and to be fair to him he was always playing out of position. My view has changed after yesterday. He put in a solid performance, managed a couple of great runs going forward and if he can maintain that level will do very well, let's hope he can.

Parky has done well in the players he's brough in and I drove down to the Valley with more optimism and excitement than I'd have anticipated a couple of weeks ago. I do like Parky on the whole and feel he is honest and is trying his best for the club and the fans. His appearance on Tuesday at the clean up demonstrates that and his willingness for an impromptu q & a session too. My only concern with him is tactically every now and then I think he does things that seem to make little sense. That aside I think he's realistically about the best man for the job.

Shades of last season in yesterday's game. Bournemouth are a team we should have put away quite comfortably especially given the gilt-edged chances Reid created. It should have all been over in the first half. Perhaps I'm being a bit too critical but we did do that a lot last season and we can't afford not to put these teams away.

The ridiculous sending off of Semedo didn't help of course. That decision capped a totally inept display from the ref. His East Stand friend, allegedly running the line, didn't help either. Thank goodness the other lino knew what he was doing.

The ref didn't give himself a chance to replay the incident in his mind. The way he went over frantically still blowing his whistle for no reason told you that his mind was already made up and that he was going to show a red card. Wrong decision totally and why didn't he just take those few seconds to think about it. I'm sure we'll appeal but we all know what happens when clubs like our appeal..........sweet FA ! In fact, history shows it usually makes matters worse !

Overall I was pleased with how the lads played given all the new faces. Akpo did ok and won most aerial battles and Abbot worked hard in a deep role. I'm not overly convinced about these two as a strike partnership.........we'll see but I think a different type of striker, a natural goalscorer or someone who's a bit quicker would compliment either.

Wagstaff again proved that he's best as a sub and I don't think Martin will have too much trouble in securing the right wing berth. Martin seems to have some flair about him and that will be good to see in the next few months.

McCormack seemed okay, good passing and got an excellent tackle in during the first 5 minutes to announce his arrival. I'm worried about his temperament though and he's needs to keep a lid on that.

Reid showed how silly Parky was towards the end of last season in playing Bailey ahead of him and out of position. I wonder how much that cost us. The play-off semi-final 1st leg still sticks in my mind as a prime example. All history now of course. Reid was great and it's good to see him being so positive and willing to take on defenders. Mind you I think I'd have liked to have a run against Bradbury !

Not sure about Francis.........he was easily beaten a couple of times, let's hope that's down to a lack of games of late. If Solly keeps playing as he did then he'll have to go some to force his way in to the team.

Next it's on to Shrewsbury in the Carling Cup. Not sure what I want from this game. A win would be good for confidence but it also means another game when we don't have a large squad. In addition, we still have to play in the paint pot trophy with litte option to rest players. Friday's game against the O's is more important so I'll settle for a league win that would put us top for a few hours against a win on Tuesday.

Old Jokes Re-visited No. 235

" I say, I say, I say ! My wife's just been to Bournemouth "

" In Dorset ? "

" Yes, she highly recommends it ! "

You couldn't wish for more than playing Bournemouth in August or so you'd have thought...........playing them away would have been preferable. Just like our recent away trip to Blackpool, in the February I think it was, the fixture computer has done us no favours ! I'd have liked a weekend down that way in the summer.

I suppose I can't complain too much having just returned from the West Country having experienced the delights of Instow and Appledore. They are beautiful places and well worth a visit if you're down that way.

I'm never keen on playing newly promoted sides early in the season as they're usually well up for it. In addition, they'll be keen to put one over a side still viewed as one of the big boys in Division 3.

This season will be more of a struggle than last, no doubt about that. I not about to rush out and put a few quid on us winning the first 6 games. After all we no longer have McLeod to bang in the goals for us ! We have have hung onto Semedo and Racon to date although I appreciate they may still go but it's more than I expected. At least the prima donnas have gone and we're down to players who really want to be here and perhaps as a result we'll get more honest and commited team.

I guess we all have a rough idea of the side likely to take to the field of play as there really aren't too many options. At the time of writing we have no back up keeper as it appears that Marshall doesn't want to be a deputy, boom boom !

We still need another striker of course. I think we need a right winger too as Wagstaff for me is best as a sub not playing the full 90 minutes.

I'm aiming on going to Shrewsbury and Orient such is my renewed enthusiasm for the season and whilst I'm able to. Overall though I doubt I'll be taking in as many away games as I did last season although there are a couple that I'll definitely be at for various reasons.

I'll be praying that the boys get off to a winning start. I'm pretty sure I'll be nursing a hangover as I'm at the second test at Edgbaston on Friday and a pint or two will no doubt be sunk.


Come On You Reds !

Westward Ho !

A truly wonderful pint of beer especially when served in North Devon !

A very busy end to the school year meant me posting very little recently ( I can sense the collective sigh of relief ! ) save for a couple re the shambles that is the England football team. I was not greatly surprised as you may know by England's pathetic world cup showing nor at the various rumours following it. What a mess and the great disciplinarian that we are led to believe Capello is has spectactularly failed to address any issues before, during or after. In addition, the news that Paul Scholes was approached to play by a second in command no less just 2 days before the tournament started speaks volumes !

Never mind, time to focus on what really matters, and as you know nothing else does ! I managed to take in the friendly at Bedford the other night. Sadly, I failed to rendevous with Ketts as I got lured to the bar by the offer of a hen of the Speckled and alcoholic variety.

A couple of good and promising performances I thought and others not so. I really hope that Fortune is made an offer......he's more than good enough and is a true Charlton man after all.

Our need for strikers is blindingly obvious and please God don't let it be David Mooney ! I'm not sure who is available and that could be good enough but there must be someone out there. Words cannot express how delighted I was to see the departure of McLeod........what a mistake and a very costly one too !

My cricketing duties usually mean me missing the first couple of games but fortunately I have a free Saturday on 7th August so will be there to witness our start to the 2010-11 season.

Before that though I'm off on Friday for a cricket tour of North Devon. It's a truly wonderful part of the world where the people are so laid back and friendly. Superb scenery and pubs to match, I can't recommend it too highly. As you'd expect beer plays a large part in proceedings especially the aforementioned Doom Bar from nearby Cornwall.

Whilst the lads are toiling away at Vicarage Road on Saturday I'll be doing my best to lay bat on ball before retiring to the wonderful Bell Inn in Chittlehampton for a pint or several of quality ale. A week later and in less serene surroundings and I'll be fretting over another season of The Addicks.

Come On You Reds !

Well Done England !

The nation celebrates as plucky England today hammered those giants of world football, Slovenia, 1 - 0. Mastered minded by the tactical genius of Fabio Capello our brave boys turned on the style to get through to the knock out stages of world football's greatest competitions.

Some doubted that England would qualify but the players responded with a creditable second place finish in the group of death. Only a freak result for those other footballing goliaths, America, prevented England doing the unthinkable and winning the group.

It looks like it'll be Germany in the knock out stages and already those erudite callers to 6-0-6 are proudly predicting that the boys will put them in their place........." bring it on " is the cry without the slightest hint of  alcohol or something slighty stronger although a hint of irony sadly seems pretty distant !

The lads can stuff the Kaiser's comments down his throat as apparently " the boys are cooking on gas ". Like our good friends calling that thoroughbred Englishman, Alan Green, I'm fed up with the negativity that surrounds the team, some are even daring to suggest that the finest squad ever to leave these shores won't now go on and win the whole thing !

All the meticulous preparation in selecting unfit players, out of form players, players who are clearly not good enough, players who don't care about anything other than themselves and their wage packet, dissing the fans for not praising the team after a poor performance, allowing and being unaware of your former upstanding skipper to speak out of turn etc. etc. is now starting to bear fruit.

Only a highly paid Italian with little abiltiy to communicate in the mother tongue could have delivered the dream that is England's success today. How fit and proper it was to see him celebrate the win as though England had won the cup there and then.........a full dress rehearsal eh !

England can now beat anyone of that there's no doubt, just ask those 6-0-6 callers. Let's sit back and with great pride, watch them go all the way !

Brazil 1970 - It can't get any better !

These boys could play a bit !

Despite being 6 years old at the time I can't recall anything of England's only world cup success in '66. My ealiest recollections of world cup finals is Mexico 1970. Perhaps that clouds my judgement in believing that no side will ever better that Brazilian team. Adding to the nostalgia is my first experiences of colour t.v..........it was quite a thing back then kids...........forget your HD and 3D, this was technology of the highest order !

Not that we had a colour t.v ourselves, dad was still renting a black and white one from Radio Rentals. I don't think we could afford colour until about 1974 and England weren't in the finals that year ! For 1970 we went round to my dad's friend's house to watch as he was one of the lucky ones with colour !

 If you were around to witness the lads from South America in 1970 you'll know that they were sublime. Casually stoking the ball around before finally delivering the killer blow ! Fantastic stuff.

Now it's all started again in South Africa. I missed the opening game but got to see the France game. It looked as though it was being officiated by a bunch of postal worked judging from the shirts they were wearing and the ref was happy to deilver a number of cards eh ?

England have made the finals again this time and as ever it's a delight to see English flags flying from cars all across the country........a touch of class. There's a feeling that we must all get behind the boys. Perhaps this is because we don't celebrate being English in any other way or almost at any other time. Even when our lads won the rugby world cup or the Ashes, the celebrations were pretty mute compared to that which will almost invevitably greet a football world cup win.

For me, I'll be watching England games out of mild curiosity. This is because I personally can't stand the majority of low-lifes that are representing our country. I think I'd feel a bit sick if these guys won and had even more praise and rewards heaped upon them. Role models ? Er, I think not !

We've just lost one captain who " missed " a drugs test and he took over from a really decent bloke from a decent family, a real loss that, JT. Now we've got a skipper we all saw in bar brawl recently...........nice !

Wayne is caught swearing at a referee and in a friendly for God's sake ! This is fine for our former skip ( Rio ) because " he says much worse to Prem refs "..........so that's ok then. Perhaps this is all part of the discipline Capello has brought to the team. Wayne needs to be fired up apparently to play well so that means we must all accept whatever misdemeanours accompany his behaviour then !

Capello is seen as a great manager although recent performances would suggest otherwise. In addition, he lost his rag with photographers earlier in the week........perhaps spending time with those players is affecting him too !

Never mind taking the team on a safari, something I've no doubt most of them have already done or can do at any time if they want. It'd might have better to take these pampered stars to some townships, get them to meet people and give away some signed shirts, have a kick about or whatever. That perhaps would open their eyes to a world beyond their own. Little chance I fear.

What then of England from a purely footballing point of view ?


No Darren Bent again of course. I can't see him ever getting to a world cup..........he can do no more.

Heskey is going again ! George Best didn't play in one world cup and Emile has now done two.........I need say no more ! Apparently he plays well with Wayne, holds it up etc even if he doesn't score.........blimey sounds like Leaburn played about 15 years too early !

Alec Ferguson must be kicking himself. If he'd bought Heskey last summer Man Utd would have won the league....what does he know eh ?

England has several players with recent dodgy injury records. Time will tell if picking King was right but it doesn't look sensible to me when he can't train and is now expected to play so many game in a short space of time.

God knows what they'll do if Rooney gets injured or more likely, suspended. Can't see who's going to bang in the goals because as I said, it won't be Emile that's for sure !

England will of course thrash the US of A. That's the general concensus in the majority of our press and for fans of our national team. There's always this misbelief that England are much better than they are and in this case that, America are rubbish. Well, they're not and a draw won't surprise me.

I'm looking forward to games involving the likes of Brazil, Spain, Argentina etc. We'll see some good football then.

My hope is that Brazil win the cup and if they play as we know they can then they will. That would, some 40 years later, have me reminiscing some more about the boys of 1970 !

Time To Be Positive !

Work and the cricket season has impacted on me to the extent that I've not posted anything for two weeks. Well there's been bu**er all to comment on aside from a coalition, 1st leg play off, Palarse staying up and tonight's upcoming game !

My view is that we need to be positive both on and off the pitch. Off the pitch that means getting right behind the team for the full monty, however long that may be !

On the pitch that means no Mooney and playing Reid from the start. I've lost count of how many times I've been frustrated with the omission of Reid from the starting line up. How many times did we need a decent cross from the left on Friday but Bailey was unable to supply it not least because their defenders knew they just had to force him onto his left foot. Hopefully that hasn't already cost us the overall fixture.

Obviously an early goal will be great tonight but if we don't concede then it could go down to the wire.

It's going to be nail biting as it always is wth the Addicks. Let's hope we overcome the Robins and can look forward to another Wembley appearance !

Come On You Reds !

Scot wins poll despite gaffe !

Well done Christian !

Good to see our Christian win the most important vote of the month, year etc. He even managed to overcome a little pre-election gaffe when it appeared he'd upset the Addicks tea leady Gillian Wilkins. Gillian is, of course, infamous for providing the players with large mugs of the nation's favourite beverage. Chrisitain was widley mis-quoted and later able to confirm that he had called her " a bigger tea lady ". Thank goodness that was cleared up !

I was pleased to see Semedo recognised with a close second. He has been such a massive player for us in recent months.

Well, who'd have thought ? We go into the last game of the season still with a chance of finishing second ! Ok we all know it's unlikely but if we didn't have hope as Charlton fans there there'd be no point in anything now would there !

A shame that the Owls didn't overcome Palarse yesterday. Varney through one on one with the keeper.......we all knew what the outcome there would be. Similarly when Jeffers only need get a tuft of hair onto a cross to score.............we all knew what the outcome there would be.

Ambrose almost inevitably scored the all important second for that lot. Let's hope we end up playing them in the league next season, hopefully with the away game at a yet to be determined venue !