Drinking During the Game

Aberdeen 1 v Dunfermline Athletic 0

2012-01-30T07:47:00.001Z

Hardly a classic at Pittodrie on Saturday. A single goal separated 6th placed Aberdeen and bottom-of-the-table Dunfermline. Scott Vernon, ex of Colchester got behind the last defender to head on a first-half opener which promised more but the Pars stuck to their task and avoided conceding another. From a Dons perspective it was worryingly close and after tiring 17 year-old Fraser Fyvie was replaced early in the second-half, a second goal looked increasingly unlikely.

We were in a box in the Dick Donald stand (picture) which was a good laugh, although I would rather have been sitting with my mates in the seats below us. Still, free beer and food always has that extra appeal, so I mustn't grumble. I was able to follow the odd Paul Merson update from St James Park on Sky and showed my true allegiance 55 minutes in when Danny Green's cross flew in for the ~~lead~~ winner.

With the two homes to come this week, we have to be aiming to extend the gap at the top into double figures. Unbeaten in the league in 2012 without a goal conceded. We just need to score a few more this week and for BWP to net again to kick-start his season. The countdown to promotion starts here....

League One Weekend Preview, Game 27

2012-01-27T08:14:00.000Z

F A Cup fourth round weekend, so not a full League One fixture list. Notably for us, that means both of the Sheffield clubs get the opportunity for injuries and suspensions as well as another game at least. Hopefully, they can both earn draws, thereby earning midweek replays. For us mere mortals, we plough ahead with our league campaign.

Chesterfield v AFC Bournemouth
This game takes place tomorrow evening to give the Spireites another 24 hours to recover ahead of Monday's second leg of the Northern Monkey Paint Drying Trophy Final-that's-not-a-Final (easy to be dismissive when you have the big prize in your sights). I expect the Cherries to take full advantage as Cheserfield rest a few and others avoid injury or suspension.
Prediction; 0-2

Brentford v Wycombe Wanderers
This could be a defining point in Wycombe's season. After last week's rare victory, ey ave a sniff of scrambling out of the drop zone. Problem s, they have a glass chin and the Bees still have ambitions of the play-offs.
Prediction; 3-1

Exeter City v Charlton Athletic
Great opportunity for us to go ten points clear of the Steel City, if not everyone. Imagine that with two home games to come? We have a decent reord when I am in Scotland but can I also smell a rat? Complacency loometh large after the slog of the last two results and this fixture appears like a Stevenage or an Orient. We will lose again this season but I am going to take us for another clinical performance but I wouldn't be surprised if we are setback.
Prediction; 0-1

Hartlepool United v Carlisle United
Neale Cooper is steadying the ship in the north-east. A rare home win and a couple of away points set them up nicely here.
Prediction; 2-0

Leyton Orient v Colchester United
An East End-Essex derby and it might be hard to separate these two based on current form.
Prediction; 1-1

Rochdale v Bury
Interestingly, our next two opponents, both Valley visitors, face each other here in a local derby. I will take a nil-nil before gets battering by a relaxed and rampant Charlton Athletic.
Prediction; 1-1

Tranmere Rovers v Huddersfield Town
Town have a big chance here to leap-frog the Sheffield's. After their defiant fight-back against the Bees, I wouldn't bet agin them.
Prediction; 0-2

Yeovil Town v Preston North End
Preston would expect to get something here but I suspect they might find this a real battle. Town can scrap and they might be good enough for a point.
Prediction; 1-1

The Granite City

2012-01-26T07:39:00.003Z

I am squeezing 50 hours work into four days this week in order to take Friday off for a rare weekend break with Mrs Peeps. Courtesy of a generous Mother-in-Law we are escaping the kids and spending some quality time with my mates in Aberdeen.

We are flying up tomorrow for the 50th birthday of the Dons number one fan. Party night at The Northern Golf Club that fringes Pittodrie on Friday and then Saturday afternoon watching the Dandies entertain Dunfermline. I am disappointed to report that I have been told to ensure I bring a shirt and tie which means hospitality. Impolite to grumble, so I will comply and try to enjoy it as much as if I were in jeans in the Dick Donald Stand with the cognoscenti.

A mate who lives in Norway is also over for the match and Saturday night doubles as head-wetting for his newborn girl. The always exciting Union Street beckons later on. I need an early night this evening in preparation.

I will be reliant upon my mobile phone for updates from Exeter as we seek out another three notches on our belt.

Season Ticket Bargain

2012-01-24T20:41:00.002Z

I learn this evening from my mate, Kings Hill Addick, that the new advanced purchase deal on next year's season tickets are out. Not sure why I haven't had an email from the club or why the news is tucked away under the "tickets" tab on the OS but it's out anyway...

http://www.cafc.co.uk/page/TicketNews/0,,10267~2586427,00.html

I wasn't incentivised sufficiently last year to renew early and on the basis that I was going to have to pay more, I hung it out. This year the deal is markedly more attractive. If you can cough up before Easter, the deal is renewals at last year's early-bird prices. The club is not counting it's promotion chickens but if you invest early the chance are we will be watching Championship football for less than anyone else. "Nothing can go wrong now!"

Charlton Athletic 1 v Sheffield United 0

2012-01-21T17:46:00.000Z

A titanic struggle at the Valley this afternoon was decided after twenty minutes when Danny Hollands won us a free-kick 25 yards out. With perfect symmetry, Johnnie Jackson stepped up to lash it into the top left-hand corner in front of the disbelieving Blades fans. The three points gives us the 7 point lead we imagined in our dreams this week and with a game in hand to come and four relatively lowly sides in the queue, there is every prospect we can build a lead which will bring promotion ever nearer.

Credit to Danny Wilson's side for taking the game to us in the first-half and for forcing much of the play, even if they didn't get to test Hamer properly. He was called to stretch and punch, and on occasions flap, but the defenders in front of them did superbly well to prevent a clear goal-scoring chance. For once, it was Matt Taylor who made the lion-share of the headed clearances and sliding tackles at the back and was my man-of-the-match, although Solly, Morrison and Wiggins hardly put a foot wrong.

Whilst the Blades were forcing the pace, we countered threateningly enough to ensure they kept looking over their shoulder when they went forward and it was enough to see us move more into the game before the break, especially after we had demonstrated just how lucky Johnnie Jackson can be with his left-foot!

After the break, Danny Green had two quick-fire chances but drove both shots at Simonsen in the United goal. Yann Kermorgant was excellent again challenging for everything and looking to flick on for Wright-Phillips. It was another frustrating afternoon for Bradley and he didn't get anything on target or even break the tight Sheffield back-line. It happens.

Bradley Pritchard and Danny Hollands had their hands full in the middle and it was only after the hour and with United beginning to feel the pace that they began to take a grip and we looked like we might over-run them and get the second goal. It was from here on that the Sheffield side began to get more physical and the game become increasingly fractious.

This referee is no stranger to his cards and we were on three bookings already by the time Darel Russell came on to relieve BWP. Hamer had been booked for time-wasting (becoming habitual), Pritchard for a clumsy tackle and Rhoys Wiggins for bringing his man down when he looked suspiciously close to the last man. Russell, however, was to get a straight red within minutes of entering the fray. He was cut down twice by different players with his first two touches and both offenders were booked. I'm not sure if there was a touch of revenge in his mind minutes later but he flew in two footed and the red card was flashed almost before Russell hit the ground. It sparked a huge melee in the centre of the field and there were infringements here and there as it threatened to boil over. The linesman on the East Stand side raced onto the pitch to speak to the referee and it was clear something was being reported. After Russell had made the touchline, James Beattie was called forward and his five minute cameo was ended with the flourish of another straight red and Yann Kermorgant was also shown a yellow.

It was all rather unpleasant but it served it's purpose in drawing the game towards it's conclusion and bar a couple of late corners, United were beaten. With Wednesday being held at home and MK Dons only managing a draw at Notts County, it's looking like another cracking day for Addicks fans. Huddersfield kick-off shortly against Brentford - could it get any better today?

League One Weekend Preview, Game 26

2012-01-20T10:10:00.000Z

One more sleep and it will be here! The biggest game of the season so far and possibly a defining one. The gate should approach the largest of the season, so far, with c 22,000 expected and it could creep into new territory at 23,000 (reminder that I have another three to get today). Surely that will be surpassed once or twice more as we close in on the prize. What price a 27,000 gate if win promotion at the Valley?

I have already said that I see no reason why this shouldn't be a relatively straightforward home win and I am sticking with that. The Blades may be on a good run but it is short of our mark this season and they will come here knowing we took the points at Bramall lane a couple of months ago. Game on.

AFC Bournemouth v Tranmere Rovers
Can't see anything other than a home win here. The Cherries have recovered whilst Tranmere have collapsed.
Prediction; 2-0

Bury v Yeovil Town
It's fixtures like this that have got Bury up to 11th.
Prediction; 2-0

Carlisle v Walsall
Carlisle are one place outside the Play-Offs and Walsall one above the drop zone. I expect an easy home win here.
Prediction; 3-0

Charlton Athletic v Sheffield United
Come on your Reds! A repeat of the Huddersfield home match. A controlled and confident performance from which we will squeeze a couple of goals and kill off the Blades.
Prediction; 2-0

Colchester United v Chesterfield
The Spireites may be bottom of the table and losing ground on any sniff of safety but they are still in with a chance of an unlikely JPT Wembley appearance having beaten Carlisle 2-1 in the first leg. Unfortunately for them, it's back to reality and that should be a resounding defeat at Colchester.
Prediction; 3-0

Notts County v MK Dons
Could be a cracker here. County are no pushovers and home advantage could see MK Dons (soon to be MK United?) drop precious promotion points.
Prediction; 2-1

Oldham Athletic v Exeter City
Looks like another home win to me. Exeter have rallied in recent weeks but they still aren't great away from home and Oldham should edge this.
Prediction; 1-0

Preston North End v Leyton Orient
Has the Westley factor kicked in yet at Preston? They battled back to beat Wycombe 3-2 last time out but the O's should provide a sterner test. My money's on a share of the spoils.
Prediction; 1-1

Scunthorpe United v Stevenage
With three successive away wins against lower table opposition, Stevenage will have bags of confidence here. they managed to hit five on two of those occasions, so this could be over and done with early on. No sign of a Westley-hangover either so far...
Prediction; 0-3

Sheffield Wednesday v Hartlepool United
Come on tinpot Hartlepool. Enjoy your day out in the Metropolis and heap misery on the deluded northern-half of Sheffield. I know you can do it - your away form is good enough 6-4-3.
Prediction; 1-2

Wycombe Wanderers v Rochdale
Wycombe have two homes in which to salvage something from their season and possibly avoid relegation. It looks unlikely, especially now that Liam Trotta has returned to Fulham to be loaned out at a Championship side for the rest of the season. I'll take them here for the points but still think they are doomed.
Prediction; 2-1

Huddersfield Town v Brentford
Late kick-off and one we can hopefully enjoy as we de-brief on our own game. Town haven't been firing on all cylinders since we halted their unbeaten run and they might find they are playing with a bit of added pressure. This could be another tricky fixture for them.
Prediction; 1-1

Building nicely for Saturday

2012-01-19T07:23:00.001Z

This week is flying past in a blur due to me working every waking hour (note to self re NY's Resolutions). The good news is that Saturday will be here in a flash and I believe it could be the next defining moment in our season since the Huddersfield victory.

Another home win to complete a Sheffiled double-header and trio of victories over Yorkie challengers would effectively put us ten points clear at the top with our game in hand converted. I might be counting chickens but our record this year would support that outcome above all others. The Blades are the form side in this division right now with eight wins from nine and an ongoing F A Cup campaign.

However, our record is almost unreal when you look at it. Only two league defeats all season and both 1-0's to deflected goals, one game of which we had to play with ten men. We shouldn't forget that we brushed United aside at their place only a few months back and they won't be massively confident of getting a win at the Valley. My guess is that they will play for a point. Bradley Wright-Phillips is overdue a goal and so too is Yann Kermorgant. I am going for yet another win to extend our lead with easier matches and a couple more homes to come to balance the number of aways played. By the end of January we can start playing "predict which game will see us promoted."

Airman the Oracle tells us we have the season's highest home gate (discounted Chesterfield match) in our sights so let's hope it's 23,000+. I am confident we will beat that several times this season and a sellout for promotion must be on the cards. What a fantastic signal for next season.

Sheffield Wednesday 0 v Charlton Athletic 1

2012-01-14T17:11:00.005Z

Our boys stormed the Hillsborough Citadel this afternoon and return home with three vital promotion points becoming the first visiting side to win oop there this season (Massive result). It really was "over the top" stuff as we fought fire with fire and matched everything Wednesday could throw at us. That included the roaring home support (26,700 gate) appealing for every decision and the Wednesday players who crowded the referee in the second-half.

It was nerve-jangling stuff listening to the commentary but at least we had that. Many of the later Charlton train travellers didn't even get that as their journeys were halted by a signal failure at Leicester.

It was a bright opening for Charlton with Green and Kermorgant looking lively. Wright-Phillips was foiled by Weaver and Hamer saved from Jones before Charlton were awarded a free-kick on 28 minutes. Up stepped Johnnie Jackson and he got the ball up and over the wall and beat Weaver all ends up. Madine was lucky to remain on the pitch moments later when he was shown a yellow card for an elbow and Mike Jones was also booked shortly after as Wednesday became frustrated. Kermorgant was also booked to balance things up for kicking a ball away before the break. Gary Madine beat Hamer before the whistle but then linesman had already flagged as our back four stepped up.

After the break the volume was raised and you could sense the pressure but there was no panic in our ranks. Wiggins fed Hollands who put Wright-Phillips through but Weaver made a superb save to keep his side in the match. Before the 70th minute mark Wednesday began to make changes in a sign of desperation and Miguel Llera was thrown in against his old side.

Hamer and the back four were holding the line and we continued to look to attack when we could. Pritchard sounded tireless and he was pulled back as last man but the referee only awarded another yellow. Leon Clarke came on and was followed ten minutes later by Russell for Green as we freshened the legs and packed the centre. Wednesday went 4-3-3 but seemed to drop possession in the process. Clinton Morrison also came on for the four minutes of added time at the end when a huge roar signalled a Wednesday equaliser but Rhoys Wiggins was on the line and saved us to the obvious fury of the home fans around the gantry. Charlton almost iced the cake at the death but our overlap was wasted by Daryl Russell.

Powell and Megson were exchanging pleasantries on the touchline throughout the second-half but it was Chris Powell who laughed last and loudest as we claimed the victory and our fans boomed out "we're top of the league!"

Huddersfield and Sheffield United both won with second-half goals but that won't matter as long as we continue to beat them all when they come up against us. We are now the only side in the division unbeaten at home and we defend that proud record against Wednesday's neighbours next Saturday. An opportunity to go seven points clear of United with a game in hand. If we beat Bury on Tuesday 31st January (our game in hand) we could be ten points clear of Huddersfield!

I should add that Millwall remain four places above us after going down to nine men and conceding six at home to Birmingham. All rather uglier than usual at the Toolbox I gather as the Spanners lost it (again).

United We Stand, Divided We Fall

2012-01-13T19:30:00.002Z

I am saddened this week to see the devolved Government of my home country setting a date for a vote on National Independence. The Scottish Nationalists may have bottled it and pushed the date out for the planned referendum until 2014, but the game is afoot.

What was slightly more disappointing was to see English Dave scoring an own goal by attempting to put constitutional and bureaucratic barriers in the way and generally alienating some of the Scots he needs to keep onside if the vote is to be defeated when it eventually comes. Alex Salmond has won the first round decisively here and it will be all over well before 2014 unless the UK government gets it's act together.

The policy should be to quietly ignore Mr Salmond and support the view that the Scottish people are entitled to their vote, whilst continuing to lay the emphasis on the benefits of the Union and not stooping to the levels of who would be better off and who subsidises whom. They should also move quickly to end the embarrassing "West Lothian Question" by preventing Scottish, Irish and Welsh MP's from voting on matters that solely affect England.

The Scottish Nationalists have been doing a good job north of the border and have proven that Nationalists can rule. The majority of the voting population, however, are not yet in favour of an independent Scotland but they need to be encouraged and kept ready to defeat the insular and short-sighted Nationalists when the time comes.

We are an island race and for all our regional differences, we have lived and died together under one government for 300 years. That's more than long enough in my book to be as relevant and righteous as any claims to historical differences. If the behaviour of my countrymen forces me to one day relinquish my UK passport, I will take an English one as a matter of principle. Long live the Union!

League One Weekend Preview, Game 25

2012-01-12T14:40:00.000Z

Crunch game at Hillsborough looming. A mark of the potential importance of this game (and the one that follows at the Valley against Sheffield United) is that my fellow Blogger Kings Hill Addick is making a rare coach trip to be there and New York Addick has dissected the odds and consequences of winning or losing both of these fixtures.

Personally, there is a long way to go and I can't see us winning or losing both of these games. There is still a long way to go, and whilst it's great to have a lead, it's not something we can expect to have and the only thing that matters come the end of the season is that we finish a point clear of the rest.

We have the team capable of winning at Hillsborough and, in spite of their impressive home form, we have taken more points away from home. Form would suggest Wednesday will unbeaten at home and that the scoreline will finish 2-1. However, they took a slightly fortuitous point at the Valley earlier in the season when we didn't play particularly well and they should find us an altogether different proposition on Saturday.

Their blunt and myopic fans who frequent the internet boards have given us some great laughs so far with their arrogant and naive assertions and they come across very differently from their city cousins. There are two words they tend to over-use and I would love to see these rammed down their throats; "fooking" and "massive," invariably one after the other. They deserve to be elevated to the Pantheon of the Self-Deceivers along with Newcastle and Manchester City.

In simple terms, I believe we will get at least a point.

AFC Bournemouth v Notts County
The Cherries resurgence has actually lifted them about County in the last weeks and they now sit, almost unbelievably in ninth. They should be confident of another three points against a side beaten eight times on their travels.
Prediction: 2-0

Brentford v Walsall
Surely a home banker if there ever is such a thing with Brentford.
Prediction; 2-0

Bury v Sheffield United
I'd like to think Lancashire pride might take something from the Yorkies here but it's pretty much been a whitewash for the White Roses in Lancs v Yorks confrontations in our division this season.
Prediction; 0-2

Colchester United v Scunthorpe United
From the relegated sides last year, Scunthorpe have fared worst and are flirting with the drop zone. It could be a tough second-half to the season for the Iron and this looks like another blank.
Prediction; 2-1

Exeter City v Hartlepool United
The Grecians fight down the wrong end continues but they have rallied at home recently just have Pools have continued a decent away set. Hartlepool also managed to break their losing home sequence last time out so I can see them scrapping for a point here.
Prediction; 1-1

Huddersfield Town v Oldham Athletic
Huddersfield are not having it all their own way in terms of challenging the swaggering Addicks but the six goals they rattled in at Wycombe signalled a re-focused intent. Jordan Rhodes to sign-off before he's dropped ahead of a move up the leagues.
Prediction; 3-0

Leyton Orient v Chesterfield
Chesterfield are losing touch at the bottom and this doesn't look like their fourth win of the season.
Prediction; 3-0

MK Dons v Carlisle United
Fifth play sixth here but MK Dons look by far the bigger threat, so we would all like to see a draw or an away. I suspect home form will determine this though.
Prediction; 2-0

Preston North End v Wycombe Wanderers
I am told by a man in the know, that all is not well behind the scenes in deepest Wycombe. There was an incident on the team coach on their last outing and Gary Waddock has lost the dressing room. Expect another loss.
Prediction; 3-0

Rochdale v Stevenage
After another bright start, Dale are second-bottom and struggling. Not the right time to play a confident Stevenage side who beat Reading at the Madjeski in the Cup.
Prediction; 0-2

Sheffield Wednesday v Charlton Athletic
Cheered on by 1300 Addicks, I can see us taking a point here to stifle Wednesday. I can't see them making the automatic promotion places (even if we fail to do so) and their away form has demonstrated how vulnerable they can be. If we get the breaks we could mirror our victory over rivals United on our last visit to the Steel City.
Prediction; 1-1

Yeovil Town v Tranmere Rovers
Have to plump for the draw here. Yeovil are poor at the Huish this year and Tranmere are no great shakes away.
Prediction; 1-1

Quick, Panic, React

2012-01-09T07:48:00.001Z

I have been awaiting the news we received yesterday on Neil Warnock for a couple of months. It's come slightly earlier than I anticipated but his outburst about officials last week gave the first sign of desperation as his side has slid towards the mire. The QPR board are acting swiftly and are obviously keen that a new manager gets to spend what they have in the transfer window and that they throw a double-six in the process and can avoid the fated drop.

Mark Hughes is a hot favourite for the position having found a niche in West London. Presumably he will finish his managerial career at Brentford. At 1-2 with the bookies I assume there is knowledge of behind the scenes negotiations and that Sparky is close to a deal. However, if they find themselves short of an agreement, I am sure Mr Alan Curbishley will have a polished CV waiting for this one and that his 16-1 odds would shorten. Assuming he doesn't get the job here, you have to wonder if he will ever get back into management. The longer his spell out, then the greater the likelihood that he might one day consider the job back in SE7, although we all hope and pray that Chris Powell has a long time ahead of him as things stand.

Back to the not-so-super Hoops and a change of manager might just to the trick but if they don't get a bounce in results then I suspect they will find themselves well and truly in the whirlpool and heading for the plug-hole. I'm no great fan of Neil Warnock but after gaining them promotion, he has, once again, been treated shabbily in my opinion. Neil looks like a decent Championship manager who struggles to make the transition, although the clubs who take him are those desperate for promotion but never likely to trouble the elite. I look forward to playing the mighty R's next season as their side collapses and they fight another rearguard action.

Fulham 4 v Charlton Athletic 0

2012-01-08T10:04:00.002Z

It was a "no lose" game for us which we didn't deserve to lose by four goals. Fulham's Premier League class was evident but we gave them a game and our players did us proud, which was what we all wanted first and foremost.

It was obvious from arriving at Charlton station that this was going to be a big day out. There were a couple of dozen Charlton fans on the platform and plenty more on the train when it arrived. I stood at the foot of the escalators in the main hall at Waterloo for half-an-hour waiting on mates and watched a procession of Charlton fans heading for the Putney train. Most were in large family groups and were sporting colours and carrying flags. It looked more like we were heading for the final than the third round.

Putney High Street was awash with Addicks, most choosing to congregate down by the river-front pubs. My intention of a sensible drink in the Bricklayers Arms which is tucked away from the main road was slightly spoilt by a hundred or so others with the same idea. After a couple of pints we decided to vacate our space and head for the bigger pubs by the river. Mistake. The Dukes Head was even busier and the staff inept. There seemed to be plenty of them but they had run out of glasses. We left thirsty and tried a wine-bar effort down the road but whilst that was less busy, there were only two staff on. Unfortunately, we ended up in the one pub I was intent on avoiding. The Aussie Wahoo bar at the foot of the bridge. At least we got a couple of cold pints before joining the throng over the bridge and through the park to Craven Cottage. You got the sense then of the size of our following and Valley Floyd Road was booming out from the stand as we neared the ground.

The stand itself is an unusual temporary affair that looks permanent. Not sure what Fulham were thinking when they put this up. Perhaps they were planning ahead for when they finally leave the Premier League and the interest from visiting supporters falls away once again. Nonetheless, it gave us a pretty good view and the facilities were adequate - the consensus amongst my party was that "Villis" pies were the best we had ever had at football (and that's some pies), although at £3.90 they were also the most expensive.

To the game then, and Chris Powell fielded the strong side I expected. Sullivan was, of course, in goal and Matt Taylor was back alongside Morrison. Martin Jol did the honourable thing and also picked a first-team, so there was never going to be any question of "what if?" It was a decent first half with us going behind in the sixth minute after Danny Murphy poked a ball between our central defenders which Dempsey latched onto and beat Sullivan from close range. Sullivan was angry at being beaten after already having pulled off a one-handed save from a swerving and dipping shot.

I was right behind the goal, nine rows from the front so judging events at the other end of the pitch was difficult but we certainly had plenty of the ball and Stockdale was worked by Kermorgant and Wright-Phillips. Wright-Phillips was unlucky to see his effort stopped by a superb reaction save and Stockdale was at full stretch to keep Kermorgant out. Fulham's passing and movement was excellent and their game was anchored by the impressive Hangeland and Sonderous. One nil at half-time and you could sense the hope for the second-half in our end with our boys kicking towards the red horde.

The first twenty minutes of the second-half provided the best football we were to play and we really took the game to Fulham without getting the reward we deserved. Wright-Phillips managed our best chanced but again he was foiled at close range. The locals can't fail to have been impressed with us during that spell and a couple of them told me as much in the pub after the match.

Unfortunately for us, Fulham countered on the hour and Dempsey arrived in the box to meet a left-wing centre and fire beyond Sullivan for the killer second goal. After that it was a case of concentrating on our game and playing it out without conceding again. Fortune wasn't with us because Fulham were awarded what look to me like a dodgy pen when Sullivan was judged to have brought down an onrushing white shirt. A Fulham fan who was behind the goal said he thought their man had lost control of the ball well before diving over the sliding Sullivan. It mattered not because that was third they didn't deserve and we decided to beat the rush. I heard the deflected fourth as were sped through the park (perhaps the table we publish in the programme should denote "deflected" goals against). My only regret was that we couldn't manage the goal that we deserved. It would have been some reward for all the kids that were there.

For what it's worth, Chris Solly was my man-of-the-match. As Blackheath Addick has already written, he was "outstanding." I thought our defence played admirably although it was interesting to see Rhoys Wiggins have his wings clipped across the half-way line. Danny Hollands was also finding the pace a bit tough in the middle and far too often his first reaction was to look for the safety of Sullivan. Pritchard was much bolder although Danny Green's contribution was limited to a rasper i the second half which Stockdale had to fist over the bar. Johnnie Jackson could probably have given a little more but I shouldn't be too harsh given the quality of the opposition.

Cup Special!

2012-01-05T17:23:00.000Z

It's nearly here. I am approaching 50 but on Friday evening when my head hits the pillow I will briefly run through the plans for Saturday before I slip off into a dream about another memorable Charlton day out, just like I used to as a teenager.

With 7000 travelling Addicks preparing for their big day out, south-west London should be awash with red and white on Saturday. There will be several hundred very relaxed fans arriving by boat to join the several thousand others who have already packed themselves into the pubs around the ground and who are kicking back. There are several pubs between Putney Bridge tube and the ground (The Eight Bells?) but these are often packed, unwelcoming to visiting fans and more likely have Doormen to send us packing.

The better bet is to cross the river to Putney High Street where there is a much bigger selection. The big chain pubs (Slug & Lettuce, Wetherspoons, Walkabout etc) dominate the High Street itself but the side streets have some hidden gems. Remember, this is Fullers and Youngs country and it's only polite to indulge and support local industry. Give yourself 20 minutes to get into the ground itself and you should be fine.

Our team should cherish the occasion and I am sure we will make plenty of noise and remind the Cottagers why we always have and always be a bigger club than them, irrespective of league status (no need beyond that to mock the locals). I hope Chris Powell picks a first choice team to do our club and our support justice. My own view is that we have a squad that has done brilliantly well so far in less than six months to become a cohesive unit and this is the sort of game they need as a test of progress. It's a great opportunity then for them to play together and give us a glimpse of maybe how good they could yet become if their progress as a team continues in 2012 as it did last year.

Arguments aside about league priorities, personally I want to see a strong performance and a result which would, in some small way, begin to atone for the two vital points they cheated us out of at the Valley in 2006 which was a defining moment in our season that lead to relegation. A win would be spectacular but perhaps a rousing draw and a replay at the Valley would be the ideal outcome. We could expect to make £500,000 from that (after costs and paying the FA and Fulham their share) and going out at that stage might avoid a potentially damaging Cup run. Having said that, who am I kidding? We don't do Cup runs, so let's enjoy it and see how far we get. Come on you Reeeddddddds!

Charlton Athletic 2 v Brentford 0

2012-01-02T22:43:00.000Z

The Reds returned to winning ways today in front of what I thought was a disappointingly small crowd of c 17,500. Granted times are tough and we were beaten at Orient on Saturday, but I expected more. The 15 minute delay to kick-off due to an "electrical" problem in the North Stand may have sent a few hundred packing at the last knockings but it was never going to be the gate we deserved.

I am pleased to say that I was able to watch the match with fellow blogger, Chicago Addick, for the first time. Pity we didn't have better viewing fare but we both settled for the three points as, I am sure, everyone else did. It was a poor game in which neither side showed much ambition, although Brentford looked more energetic for the most part without any forward threat to reward their ambition. I thought Marcus Bean had a very good game and was surprised to see him subbed second half. Jonathan Douglas looked every inch the passer I have previously admired although he looked frustrated with the options available to him now he's not in his old Swindon side.

That we took a first half lead after half-an-hour was something of a surprise and the nature of the goal was fitting. It was a bit of a comedy goal with a bouncing ball evading one mis-timed jump after another only for Michael Morrison to seize his chance and nod a bobbling ball over the flapping Lee.

We looked much sharper after the break although there was still no pattern to our play. We looked dangerous when we got forward but it was all too random and unconvincing. Brentford continued to try to get forward but there was no penetration and it was no surprise when Uwe Rosler made his first substitutions. They made little difference although I thought we should have responded with ours quicker than we did. Leon Clarke and Scott Wagstaff came on (BWP and Jackson) but neither made any impression. Leon 's first few touches resulted in a free-kick on the edge of our box, a goal-kick and a couple of throw-ins. I will give him the benefit of the doubt, but in keeping with the rest of the match it was a poor showing.

That we scored a second was itself a surprise but it was late on and I think the Bees had thrown in the towel. A long Hamer punt arrived at Green's feet in far too much room and he had plenty of time to adjust his feet, step inside a half-hearted challenge and roll the ball home. Two-nil and goodbye Brentford. It's these games and these results that will get us promoted.

Our lead has increased to five points as the Blades were blunted at Carlisle and following our Cup challenge at Fulham, we have two league fixtures against both Sheffield sides which should answer any remaining questions about our promotion credentials. Personally, I don't need any reassurance.

Fulham, here we come!

League One Weekend Preview, Game 24

2012-01-01T15:22:00.000Z

Brentford arrive in the Valley tomorrow for the first game of 2012. It's barely six weeks since we beat them by the only goal at their place. The scorer that day was Bradley Wright-Phillips and, almost unforgivably in some fans eyes, it was his last goal for us. This is absolutely laughable and I will take a punt on BWP to open the scoring tomorrow so the fickle hypocrites can reveal themselves.

With something to prove following the defeat yesterday and with options on the bench (Leon Clarke is likely to get a debut late on), I think we will get at the Bees and I am expecting a comfortable if battling home win as we look to maintain our four point advantage. Here's who the others are up against....

Rochdale v Preston North End
Disappointing home showing for PNE against Wednesday and clearly they need a permanent managerial appointment. That for that reason, I think they will be out here.
Prediction; 2-0

AFC Bournemouth v Wycombe Wanderers
Bournemouth are beginning to find last season's form and they should be strong favourites here against a Wycombe side who are their for the taking.
Prediction; 2-0

Bury v Walsall
What a cracking Christmas fixture list for Walsall, Rochdale at home and then Bury away. Another 0-0 draw would be apt.
Prediction; 0-0

Carlisle United v Sheffield United
The Blades are enjoying a good run but I expect t them to get tested more strongly here than in recent weeks. Carlisle to help us re-establish a seven point gap.
Prediction; 2-1

Charlton Athletic v Brentford
Brentford have enjoyed recent visits to the Valley more than they should have. We need to get at them and Danny Green should make a welcome return. Charlton to score first and build.
Prediction; 3-1

Chesterfield v Oldham Athletic
The Latics made a fine recovery to beat Notts County yesterday and they will see this as a golden opportunity for an away win. Chesterfield look down to me.
Prediction; 0-1

Exeter City v Yeovil Town
This should be a slog and a draw is probably the right result although I will tip Exeter to nick it for Devon. I saw an amusing Exeter City sticker in the toilets at Brisbane Road yesterday advocating a boycott of Ginsters products on account of their sponsorship of Argyle!
Prediction; 1-0

Hartlepool United v Scunthorpe United
East Coast clash and anything is possible with Pools' horrendous home record. New Year cheer by the North Sea?
Prediction; 2-1

MK Dons v Colchester United
You live in hope but after dropping conceding a three goal lead and dropping two points at Griffin Park yesterday, I expect MK Dons to kill this off pretty quickly.
Prediction; 3-0

Notts County v Huddersfield Town
Whilst our rivals salivate over a possible Charlton blip, Huddersfield have gone five games without a win since we crushed them at the Valley. This looks like another test of their resolve.
Prediction; 2-2

Sheffield Wednesday v Tranmere Rovers
Tranmere have imploded in recent weeks but they steadied the ship on Friday with a routine 2-0 home win over Bury. They will look to build here and try to become the first away side to win at Hillsborough this season. I hope they do it, so we can become the second team to do it when we visit in a few weeks time. Can't see it.
Prediction; 2-0

Stevenage v Leyton Orient
Thought we made Orient look better than they are yesterday, something we also did at Stevenage. Stevenage to continue their pursuit of the top five.
Prediction; 2-0

Leyton Orient 1 v Charlton Athletic 0

2011-12-31T21:54:00.001Z

A New Years Eve message of hope for the rest? No not really, more a case of the Sky curse again and having to play the majority of the game with ten men. Shame really, but these things happen and you have to move on, which I am sure we will, on Monday.

Hamer's sending off was controversial, he looked out of the box to me but I was down at the far end of the Charlton side and I think the bigger question was did it hit his arm? Makes little difference because he saw red and we had to reshuffle. I was pleased with the 4-3-2 as opposed to a 4-4-1 but it didn't really work. We were short on pace with Russell, Hollands and Jackson and it looked much better in the second period when Pritchard came on and we changed formation.

The O's went on to boss the first half and they played like we were two men down, not one. The goal, when it came looked like it took a deflection as it bobbled up and came off the underside of the bar. Chances were always on an ex-Addick scoring but I hadn't figured on Matt Spring. You have to wonder whether or not they might still have edged it with eleven men?

We looked better after the break but didn't do nearly enough until the last fifteen minutes (including added time) to deserve a point. Disappointing all-around but sometimes you have to take it on the chin.

I was saddened to see Charlton fans at each others throats late on over the singing of "the Kevin Lisbie song." It was the first time I had heard it and it was only being sung by a dozen or so behind where I was sitting but one Charlton fan took vehement objection to it and several overs leapt to his defence when things boiled up. The Stewards were required but it was all so unnecessary and, frankly, embarrassing. I try to live and let live and remember my own youth (stupidity) but it's sad to see, especially when this and the Addams family song upset so many of our own fans. Perhaps we do need to stamp it out?

I understand there was also another incident amongst our own fans further along the stand in the first half, although don't know what sparked that - I hope we've sorted it out before there are 7000 of us at Fulham next week.

Anyway, off to enjoy a glass with Mrs Peeps before the bells.

Happy New Year!

2012 - A Charlton Odyssey

2011-12-31T13:11:00.001Z

I'd like to wish all visitors to this site a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Whatever economic gloom 2012 might bring, it's looking like we might all have something better to look forward to on Saturdays.

Charlton forever!

League One Weekend Preview, Game 23

2011-12-29T13:14:00.000Z

The weekend is upon us and we reach the halfway stage of the season. Our game at Leyton Orient will be televised on Sky but that shouldn't stop over 2000+ Addicks fans crossing the water to see us push for our tenth away victory of the season. We had sold 1599 tickets for the game up until the office closed pre-Christmas but there will be pent-up demand when we start selling again tomorrow morning. Personally, I can't see why we haven't sold the lot but that will open another debate I don't want here.

A third successive win at the O's would put us on 54 points to start 2012 and a delicious looking home fixture on Monday. We could be within touching distance of the 60 point mark when we then go on to face the Sheffield clubs in successive weeks. I am getting ahead of myself, of course, because before that we have a bit of giant-killing business in front of 7000 buoyant Addicks in south-west London.

Anyhow, we must play the O's first and my head says we should expect a very close encounter and 1-1 draw is probably the smart bet. However, our away form has been scintillating and we play Leyton Orient on the back of a morale-sapping 3-0 reverse by MK Dons. The first goal could prove decisive if we get it and we might just be able to settle down and play some football in front of the Sky audience that will presumably include tens of thousands of bitter Sheffield Wednesday fans.

Having seen our lead cut to seven points by Sheffield United in the week, their match at home to Hartlepool will now have more resonance with Charlton fans but the ridiculously arrogant Sheffield Wednesday fans look like they might have more humble pie on the menu at Preston.

Huddersfield Town v Carlisle United
'Udders get the opportunity to claim second spot on Friday if they can collect all three points here. Might not be a slam dunk, but I expect them to win.
Prediction; 2-1

Tranmere Rovers v Bury
The other Friday match and Tranmere will be aiming to break their four match losing sequence. If they can't see Bury off here, they might well be staring at another elevation scrap that looked highly unlikely after ten games.
Prediction; 2-1

Colchester United v Exeter City
After their 6-1 home pasting by Stevenage, the odds on Exeter at 3-1 look like fantastic value. John Ward must be walking the tightrope and if his players don't perform again he could well fall off.
Prediction; 0-1

Preston North End v Sheffield Wednesday
This could be awkward fixture for Wednesday as they cross the Pennines. Shorn of the Orange Ego, Preston may just undergo a mini-revival under caretakers, David Unsworth and Graham Alexander. The main doubt in my mind is the presence of the Grim Reaper aka Peter Ridsdale lurking in the background.
Prediction; 2-2

Scunthorpe United v Chesterfield
Basement scrap and I'll take the Iron to nick it.
Prediction; 2-0

Sheffield United v Hartlepool United
Neale Cooper's return to the managerial hot-seat at Hartlepool could be delicious timing for us Addicks fans. Pools won at Oldham on Monday and will be up for this one. They have been far better away from home this season and I'll go for an upset here. That might only be a draw but it would be an upset nonetheless.
Prediction; 1-1

Walsall v Rochdale
I'd rather sit cross-legged staring into the flame of a candle for an hour than suffer this one. It's a lower Fourth Division fixture this one isn't it?
Prediction; 2-0

Yeovil Town v AFC Bournemouth
The Cherries are a decent bet at 8/5 here and I gave it serious consideration as part of a treble but instead opted for Cardiff at Forest....
Prediction; 1-2

Brentford v MK Dons
The Bees get a chance here to re-establish their promotion bid and cut the eight point deficit between these sides. MK are the form side in the division but they might find Brentford too strong here to beat at home on New Years Eve.
Prediction; 1-1

Oldham Athletic v Notts County
Neither of these sides is currently firing on all cylinders and County have lost their last two. They might find this a struggle as the Latics seek to repair the damage of a home defeat by Hartlepool last time out.
Prediction; 2-1

Wycombe Wanderers v Stevenage
Stevenage are the Bookies favourites here and might look more attractive after their goal-fest at Colchester. However, it's a derby of sorts and Wycombe have a teenage scoring sensation on their hands in Fulham loanee Marcello Trotta. He could be the difference.
Prediction; 2-0

Leyton Orient v Charlton Athletic
As I have said, a 1-1 is probably the head-bet but I am going to be ruled by my heart again this week and go for a celebratory end to 2012. We have the ability to win comfortably here.
Predicton; 1-3

The P Word

2011-12-28T17:30:00.003Z

Forgive the quality of this but it's the best I can do with Blogger at the moment (unless anyone knows how to insert a file other than a photo?).

Anyway, I can't stop looking at the League One table and studying the stats. This season feels extra-special and I don't just mean in relation to the days since the Premiership.

I have had a look at how we are measuring up against the four previous promotion seasons in the last 30 years and I think you will see that this is indeed looking like it may be extra-special. We are on target to smash our recent-history points total. Even allowing for a Sheffield Wednesday fans' predicted Charlton "blip" we should expect to surpass the 77 points that Lennie's boys managed in 85-86 and beat the 84 points from the comparable Division Three promotion campaign in 80-81. That would leave us looking to overhaul the 88 points and 91 point totals achieved in the Curbs promotion seasons of 97-98 and 99-00 respectively.

Ours games lost column is looking pretty impressive. The best we managed in those previous seasons was 9 lost in 99-00. With just the one against us so far, we stand every chance of finishing well inside that. If we can, the points total of 91 should be reached comfortably ahead of the final game of the season.

We have already matched or bettered the number of away wins achieved in the 85-86 and 97-98 seasons and are only three behind the 12-best we managed in 99-00. By contrast, we need to pick up at home to get close to previous achievements but we have two home games in hand and 13 yet to play in all at the Valley. Those half-season tickets are looking like great value.

At the risk of tempting Danny Baker's "nothing can go wrong now" curse, chronic injury and/or irresistible transfer bids look like the only things that could de-rail us now. Hopefully, someone will have made the new owners aware of calamitous previous January sales e.g. Robert Lee and Scott Parker. Wright-Phillips' recent goal drought may have turned admiring eyes away and I am hoping Rhoys Wiggins' is still off the radar of the big boys. I suspect we are very unlikely to get silly big money offers for any of the others at the moment and that any interest from Championship or even lower Premier League clubs would be resisted.

There is talk of strengthening in January too, with another striker being rumoured (Jeff Schlupp) and whilst it's great to be able to bring in fresh faces, we shouldn't forget the loan debacle of Pardew's first year back in the Championship where I think his ambition in bringing in four loanees ran away with him and upset the squad.

So, if we can bring in one or two and hold onto what we have got, we should have enough to see it through until May when we can celebrate and prepare for a crack at the Championship. Oh to dream.

Yeovil Town 2 v Charlton Athletic 3

2011-12-26T17:15:00.003Z

A nail-biting afternoon for Addicks fans as we twice came from behind to win in dramatic late fashion with a cracking goal from Danny Green. Our players should take enormous credit for fighting back and for taking the game to our hosts in the final twenty minutes as we went for the winner. We extended our unbeaten run to eleven games and we are all set for Leyton Orient who were trounced three-nil at home by MK Dons today. It promises to be a fantastic end to 2011 as we look to increase our eight point lead at the top-of-the-table. Chris Powell, take-a-bow.

I switched to the Yeovil commentary before half-time and was able to follow the game far better listening to the local commentators. If BBC London commentators were a footballing side in our division they would be in the relegation zone. Fan pressure got Emma shifted for awhile and although we haven't had to suffer her so much of late, the Beeb have obviously decided to punish us with whoever else we get.

Obike opened the scoring after eight minutes with an overhead kick although it sounded like Hamer might have been at fault in the build-up. The Yeovil lead didn't last too long because Danny Hollands headed home at the far post from a Green corner.

We didn't seem to do enough first-half and could have few complaints when Huntingdon met a 50th minute corner to head home from close range to make it two-one. After that, however, we pulled our socks up and set about them. A free-kick was whistled home by Yann Kermorgant and the quality of it stunned the Somerset commentators. They were completely taken aback but full of praise. After that we moved into Yeovil's half and created a string of chances. Rene Gilmartin made two cracking saves from Morrison and Green , and Bradley Wright-Phillips skewed wide twice when put in on goal. It got desperate towards the finish and the ball was cleared off the line twice before Danny Green drove a shot home across the goal. Yeovil stormed back before the whistle but Hamer made a fine save and we stopped one on the line. It sounded like a fantastic game and one that the near 1000 Addicks in the crowd of just under 5000 will talk about for a long time to come.

The bonus was that the mighty Sheffield Wednesday conceded two late goals to lose 2-1 at Walsall, thereby extending our lead at the top and our breathing space. Huddersfield and MK Dons both won but it makes no difference as our side marches on. I am really looking forward to starting New Years Eve in East London and starting 2013 with more confidence and self-belief in my football team since the last century. Again, all those involved need a massive pat on the back. The best thing about all of this is that this squad looks so much better than the rest of the division that we might just take a run at the Championship next season if we can see it through and keep the best of the squad together.

Goodwill to all men?

2011-12-22T08:17:00.001Z

Tis the morning after the Office Party. We still call it that but as most of us work from home, it should more accurately be called the Boss' Office Party as he's the only one with an office in Ivory Towers.

With a dozen or so direct reports making journeys from afar (Leicester, Brighton, Worthing, Romford etc) he selflessly chose a pub and restaurant close to London Bridge so that he was on his train line for Bexleyheath. No complaints here of course, although by the end he, predictably, insisted on a cab. The evening was pleasant enough but one of those where I got to know the colleague sitting opposite more than I have done in the last 18 months I have known him and it was also his last day before retirement. Indian restaurants hardly evoke the Christmas Spirit but the menu was unusual and the "Indian Shepherds Pie" was excellent.

So, thoughts this morning turn finally towards Christmas and, er, the things I have to get. I'm still working and have stuff to do but most everyone else has finished so I am not expecting to be hampered too much. It's a Christmas weekend of course, so we can "forget" about football until Monday and as that is an awkward and unpopular trip south-west, for the vast majority of us it will be a week yet until we see the action from Brisbane Road or the Barry Hearns Matchbox Stadium or whatever they call it now. I will be making the trip over the water but am short of takers at the moment to accompany me. I hope we fill our allocation for the viewing audience. Sky TV eh?

Whatever you are doing, season's greetings and best wishes (Promotion) for New Year. Special thanks to those of you who take the time to respond to my Bloggings. Talking to yourself for prolonged periods is unhealthy.

News from the far north

2011-12-19T22:29:00.002Z

I received an Elgin City programme from Davie Milne in beautiful Morayshire this morning. Elgin are enjoying a better-than-usual season in the Scottish Third Division. Bouyed by decent home form (five wins from six), they are holding their own in third place.

They survive on gates usually counted in the hundreds and, as you can see from the programme, they have to print to cover two matches at a time.

Davie also points out that fellow Addick, Mike Whelan, also an Elgin City regular, now edits the programme. Mike relocated north a number of years ago is obviously well settled. Perhaps the Charlton influence accounts for the change in Elgin's form?

Charlton Athletic 1 v Oldham Athletic 1

2011-12-18T11:15:00.001Z

Over a year ago I posted on a frustrating 1-1 draw with "Hold-em" and commented that it was the second successive season they had come to the Valley with the express intention of returning to Lancashire with a point. After a 0-0 towards the end of the season at their place, they have snatched another point from us. We can have few complaints. We didn't do enough and were too satisfied with having broken the deadlock.

The side was the same again; Hamer, Wiggins, Taylor, Morrison, Solly, Ephraim, Russell, Hollands, Green, Wright-Phillips and Kermorgant. Oldham enjoyed a decent first-half in spite of not having an effort on goal but we didn't create a whole lot more. Danny Green had a better game than not late and might have capped it with the opener when he burst clear of the back-line, closed in on goal but dragged his shot wide of the far post from 20 yards. Bradley Wright-Phillips also had a chance before the break but it was not his day and his first touch let him down throughout the match.

Paul Dickov's half-time talk was about how well they had done and that they just had to hang on for forty-five minutes for a point. Cisak began the time-wasting with every goal-kick and should have been booked after 50 minutes when he took a full minute to take one but the referred was struggling to keep up with the match so it was no surprise that he went unpunished. Every throw-in was delayed as one player left the ball for another and I feared a nil-nil. The breakthrough came on the hour. A delightful ball from Matt Taylor floated into the box and two red shirts were waiting on it. Darel Russell was first to it and he dinked it on beyond Cisak with a deft header. That should have been the starter but we simply didn't do enough after that to secure the game. Green had enjoyed a better than recent afternoon and his through ball on the break set BWP for number two but having out-paced the racing keeper, Bradley's touch let him down again and it went begging.

Oldham stuck to the plan and with the clock running down, began to probe down our right and throw men forward. We had a warning when they broke and played around Chris Solly and within a couple of minutes, they repeated the feat and found Morais in the box with our defence back-peddling and he picked his spot with a fine finish. It was more than the pathetic visiting support deserved and they reacted as if they had won the cup.

Yann Kermorgant deserves a mention for another whole-hearted performance which outshone Bradley Wright-Phillips. The midfield played well enough but didn't create and the back four were largely untroubled. Rhoys Wiggins is a joy to watch and I am amazed he is still playing League One football.

Disappointing that we couldn't really put them under pressure in the final minutes and the four minutes of added time were largely played out in our half. A 19,500 crowd left in frustration but it's a sign of the times that we have maintained our unbeaten record and consider this such a disappointment. Wednesday and Hudders shared the points and with MK Dons losing at home as I suggested they might to a Phil Brown-less Preston, it wasn't such a bad day. We need four points from the two away fixtures over Christmas to keep the ship on course and allow us to enjoy our day out in Fulham.

League One Weekend Preview, Game 21

2011-12-16T20:11:00.000Z

Saturday's nearly here and having packed my work PC away and switched my phone off, it's time to concentrate on tomorrow. My mate Vic is back from Mexico City tomorrow and will be hot-foot to the Valley to feed his Addick Addiction. After dropping some special chilli sauces off at mine he will join us for a few pre-match pints as we eagerly anticipate another powerful home showing and three more promotion points that will move us onto the Bullseye. Assuming we don't trip up, there are some potential pitfalls awaiting the pretenders who covet our crown.

AFC Bournemouth v Sheffield United
Pitfall number one; AFC Bournemouth are re-finding last season's form having finally got their act together and who better to see off than fifth-placed Sheffield United? I'm going to go with the Cherries to win only their third home game of the season.
Prediction; 2-1

Bury v Brentford
Can the Bees maintain their impressive away form at Bury? I reckon they can avoid defeat but more than three points may be hard to take pre-Christmas.
Prediction; 1-1

Carlisle United v Wycombe Wanderers
Carlisle are up to seventh and should see of feisty Wycombe who have goals in Ibe and Beavon but who have a defence like a sieve.
Prediction; 3-1

Charlton Athletic v Oldham Athletic
I was Über confident of three points last week and had to settle for a point. I am equally confident we will beat Oldham tomorrow. Home advantage and a desire to set-up for Christmas should be sufficient to see us home comfortably here in front of a 20,000 gate.
Prediction; 3-0

Chesterfield v Walsall
Basement battle and the Spireites will be hoping to get a rare home win. Walsall will also see it as a chance for an equally rare away win. They looked capable last week at that end of the table and who better than rock-bottom Chesterfield?
Prediction; 0-2

Exeter City v Scunthorpe United
Can't see beyond the home team here. Long schlep down from Scunthorpe and this won't be one for the faint-hearted.
Prediction; 1-0

Hartlepool United v Colchester United
Hartlepool are going through a huge depression right now and one might be concerned for Jeff Stelling's well-being if it weren't for the fact the citizens of Hartlepool have seen it all before and most of it's normal. They have lost six successive home matches. it has to stop somewhere but I think a draw would be a step in the right direction.
Prediction; 1-1

Notts County v Leyton Orient
County are hard to beast at home and the O's are easy to beat away. Simple really.
Prediction; 3-1

Rochdale v Yeovil Town
Not one to threaten any attendance records here. Yeovil are resilient away should run close to a draw.
Prediction; 1-0

Sheffield Wednesday v Huddersfield Town
Pitfall number two and three! A no-lose situation for us. It's a Yorkie derby and I would love to see a blood n thunder affair. Several injuries, a wad of bookings and a red card or two would be perfect. I guess two points shared would be better than either side winning? A win could give Wednesday significant momentum.
Prediction; 2-2

Stevenage v Tranmere Rovers
Rovers are gradually finding their level and have sunk to 15th following their surprisingly good start to the season. They might find this hard going too.
Prediction; 2-0

MK Dons v Preston North End
This should be a straightforward home win. I see it's a late kick-off and one we can watch on Sky. However, Preston have something about them and freed from the burden of Phil Brown, they might just be itching to show what they are capable of again. Not sure where they are with injuries and it's a long-shot but one that's worth an outside bet.
Prediction; 1-2

Biggest away following since Old Trafford?

2011-12-15T07:37:00.000Z

News that Fulham F A Cup ticket sales went through the 4000 mark yesterday with the first home game since they went on sale to come, suggests we might just sell our entire 7000 allocation. I am getting mine this morning if I get a chance en route to the City.

It has set me thinking about large Charlton followings away from home during the years. Invariably they have come in cup competitions and I immediately think of the Man U F A Cup 6th Round game in '94 when we took 10,500 up to the Theatre of Dreams. We lost 2-1 of course, a match I watched from my then home in Singapore. I believe we took c 6000 to Ashton Gate in the previous round.

Wembley aside in the Play Off Final, I remember the near 7000 we took to Palace the year they gave us the entire Arthur Waite in the Premier League and the circa 6000 at Ayresome Park in the latter rounds of the League Cup. London derbies saw some healthy Premier League followings but allocations were invariably limited to three or four thousand.

Could this be our largest away following in the capital? Did we take more to Arsenal in '69? There were plenty at the Battle of the Bridge in '88 but well shy of 7000.

More Walsall

2011-12-11T08:31:00.009Z

Yesterday's report was flashed off on the train from the Bescot to Birmingham New Street, so I thought I would elaborate...

The country's second city really doesn't do itself justice. It's hard to find any redeeming factors (Balti?) about it. New Street is an undersized station for a city the size of Birmingham and it is a bit of a mess. I had a twenty minute wait for the Walsall train so thought I would venture out for a pint. I only got to the main road and confirmed what I already knew - it was a mistake. Half-baked shopping centres and beggars with Brummie accents. Back to the Shakespeare in the station then before the push and pull train to Walsall. The view out of the window is depressing although I guess the run into Euston station is hardly picturesque. Aston Villa slides past via two stations, Aston and Witton, and you know you have arrived by the Bescot when the railway line runs alongside the M6 by the RAC building. The "stadium" is on the other side of the motorway which is crossed via what looks like an poorly planned after-thought of an alleyway and car park.

The ground is someway from Walsall itself so there's not much else there. However, the Saddlers Club does at least provide a large working-mens type club with a members only bar and a larger one for visiting supporters which tells you as much as you need to know about Walsall Football Club. They survive on visiting fans as much as anything else. We had c 1100 fans there yesterday but the home areas looked like they held little more than two thousand. Surprised therefore to hear the gate announced at four and half thousand.

The view from the visiting end (and both sides) is marred by 19 posts but we got to see the action. We looked a class apart for most of the first-half and dominated proceedings despite finding the central back pairing hard to split. Danny Hollands and Darel Rusell anchored the midfield and we pushed on very effectively down the left although not so successfully on the right. Walsall broke pretty well but Morrison was everywhere and always appeared to have a couple of yards to play back or out as the situation demanded. Solly and Wiggins were as sure-footed as they have been and it looked only a matter of time before we broke the deadlock.

Kermorgant saw more of the ball than Wright-Phillips but was being well marshalled by Smith (the sponsor's man-of-the-match). With the break approaching, Walsall forced a corner and the inswinging ball fell into a melee of players. I think it was Taylor who tried to lash it clear only to see it spin back off a Charlton player and fall perfectly for John Macken to net from close range. We responded well and took the game straight back down to the other end and levelled before the break. Hogan Ephraim broke down the left flank and went on beyond the last man, He looked up and spotted Yann Kermorgant coming in at the far post albeit with Walsall defenders in attendance but Hogan's ball was raking and perfect as it cleared the keeper and fell onto the head of Kermorgant who out-jumped his markers and thumped home the header. Bradley Wright-Phillips had missed our best chance up until then we he burst onto a through ball but snatched at his shot early and drove it wide of the left-hand post.

After the break we came out strongly and, kicking towards the away-end, looked like we would win the game and celebrate in style. We were looking to play BWP in but Smith and Lancashire were very tight and were letting nothing past. Green was struggling to beat his man on the right and also looked like he was tiring. That enabled walsall to get a passage of the game where their neat short passing game played into into our half for fifteen minutes and they forced a number of corners but we rarely looked like conceding again. Hamer was forced into a good save when they did break through and Russell headed off the line when the parry from Hamer was fired goal-ward.

In the final five minutes we tried to suck the ball in. Wagstaff was on for Green and was running at the defence but was unable to create anything decisive. One of his runs from our half had forced a crude challenge from Sadler who was already on a yellow and got his marching orders. In the last minute we created a couple of corners, one of which looked like it struck a walsall arm as it was played in. There were strong appeals from the players in white (it's not easy to watch a game where the opposition play in Charlton's home colours) but the referred was adamant and I suspect he got it right. Ephraim always hit the woodwork but we had left it too late.

A point then on a the day when Huddersfield tripped up at home to Bournemouth and Wednesday and MK Dons both won away to close our lead. The current unbeaten run remains intact and I can see us getting to New Year unbeaten.

It was good to see some old faces yesterday. Al (the Copper), Peterborough Ray, George (Ray's Son), Nick (Southampton Addick) and his son as well as my old classmate Peter Roberts. I expect to see a lot more of them in 2012 as we push for promotion.

COME ON YOU REDS!

Walsall 1 v Charlton Athletic 1

2011-12-10T17:43:00.001Z

Good point at the end of the day but there will be some disappointment that we didn't take all three. We had the better of the first half with the lion share of possession and territory but they got the lead courtesy of a deflected clearance from a corner which fell for them, so going in level at the break was probably only fair.

In the second-half, Danny Hollands had a chance to put us in front but he headed at the on-rushing keeper when left or right would have done it. Walsall finished the game strongly although we had a good shout for a penalty at the death for a handball but the ball was travelling at speed and the ref may well have called it right.

Darel Russell had his best game yet and looked like the player he invariably has been against us. Hogan Ephraim had another good showing and he made our goal by picking out the hanging Kermorgant at the back post. Ephraim and Wiggins' inter-passing and movement was telepathic at times and it bodes well for the coming games. BWP had a quiet game but Smith and Lancashire were outstanding in central defence for the home team.

Danny Green had another ineffective away game and was the obvious first substitution, not that Scott Wagstaff had little more joy when he appeared.

As I say, a good point on a heavy pitch. I expect us to exercise some of our frustrations on Oldham next week.

League One Weekend Preview, Game 20

2011-12-08T19:08:00.000Z

Walsall Football Club are now firmly in our sights as we seek to extend our winning sequence to nine successive matches. The Saddlers are currently 21st in the table and their home record is an unimpressive, 2-3-5. I can't see them holding us for long and we may well be looking at the Oldham game at the Valley next week before we finish on Saturday.

In many ways, the chasing pack will probably be aiming not to lose more ground on us this week. Here's who's got whom...

Brentford v Hartlepool United
Brentford remain on the fringes off the Play-Offs but. like visitors Hartlepool, it's due to their away form rather than their home showing. Hartlepool's disastrous run of six home defeats cost Mick Wadsworth his job in the week and back-roomer Micky Barron gets to drive the bus this week. That should be a green light for the Bees to record only their fourth home win of the campaign.
Prediction; 1-0

Colchester United v Bury
Bury have won as many games away from home as anyone else, save of course, the rip-roaring goal-scoring Addicks. So, I will take them for a draw at least here against an inconsistent and slowly worsening Colchester side.
Prediction; 1-1

Huddersfield Town v AFC Bournemouth
Looks like a home banker on paper but hold on a sec. Bournemouth have crept up to 16th and they have a 4-3-3 away record. No pressure here against Lee Clark's side who have to avoid a second successive league defeat following their defeat at the Valley. I'm going for a late Huddersfield rally to earn a point.
Prediction; 2-2

Leyton Orient v Exeter City
The O's haven't been much cop at Brisbane Road this season but the Grecians have been poor on the road. Pre-Christmas cheer in Leytonstone.
Prediction; 2-0

Oldham Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday
Four thousand Wednesdayites will descend on Oldham on Saturday as they attempt to maintain second-place. Their recent home form has been good and they may be good enough for a point.
Prediction; 1-1

Preston North End v Stevenage
PNE's 1-0 win at Hartlepool two weeks ago was their first success in ten matches. Phil Brown's boys are feeling the pressure and along come a Stevenage side who will grind it out and whose players are enjoying themselves. Could be another sticky day for the Perm-a-tan Brown.
Prediction; 1-1

Scunthorpe United v Carlisle United
The Iron go into this one on the back of three straight league defeats but Carlisle haven't particularly impressed me on their two recent Valley visits and I suspect Alan Knill's charges will win out here.
Prediction; 2-1

Sheffield United v Rochdale
Potential banana-skin here but the Blades should be well motivated with their neighbours up to second. Long struggle ahead for Dale.
Prediction; 3-0

Tranmere Rovers v MK Dons
MK Dons arrive on The Wirral in fine form having won their last four and scoring 15 goals in the process. The goals are coming from across the park, so they will all be keen to get on the sheet here.
Prediction; 1-3

Walsall v Charlton Athletic
I previewed this match earlier in the week and I am as confident as I can remember being about us winning away from home. I predict another well controlled 90 minutes and two well timed goals.
Prediction; 0-2

Wycombe Wanderers v Chesterfield
Come on Wycombe, this is your big chance! You may not have won in six league matches but Spireite fans haven't managed one in ten. They are rock bottom and their minds may be focused on a JPT Northern Final against the mighty Oldham. Fill your boots.
Prediction; 3-0

Yeovil Town v Notts County
Their 1-0 win at Hartlepool which cost Mick wads worth his job was only Yeovil's third win of the season. County aren't exactly firing on all cylinders but if Lee Hughes plays they probably have the match-winner.
Prediction; 0-1

Chris and the Curse

2011-12-06T17:45:00.002Z

Chris Powell will be named League One Manager of the Month for November. There is no way the powers that be can avoid handing him the award. Having been unfortunate to miss out three times already this season, Chris has overseen eight straight victories which has increased our lead at the top of the table, brought Huddersfield's unbeaten run to an end and battled our way through to the Third Round proper of the F.A.Cup.

The big question is, can our record breaking season include a defiant two fingers at the curse that accompanies the MOTM award? Walsall can be hard to beat at home and they are generally hard to shake-off-the-shoe but I am confident we can become the sixth team to beat them at the Bescot this season. They don't score many and we don't concede many so this should be a reasonable opportunity for another clean sheet, in which case a couple more Addick goals will do the job.

Another win would leave us the tantalising opportunity of making it ten-in-a-row in front of a bumper pre-Christmas Valley crowd swelled by the discounted offer on admission prices. After that only Yeovil and Leyton Orient stand between us and New Year. The O's game on New Years Eve could really see us cement a phenomenal first half to a season (max of 58 points!) which promises so much for 2012.

The funeral for Mark Pitts will take place at Eltham Crematorium (Falconwood) on Friday 30th December at 12.30.

It's Fulham away

2011-12-04T14:56:00.001Z

The reward for making the third round of the F.A.Cup is a tie at Premier League Fulham. We can have few complaints at this. If you have to draw an away, then a London derby is great, especially against a top-flight club. It will be a good test for our current side and we can hope to go closer than the 3-0 at White Hart Lane last year. The draw may well be a good omen as we drew Fulham away during the 80-81 promotion season from Division 3 (League One) and beat them 2-1.

I have just booked my ticket to Walsall on Saturday. The opportunity to see a ninth consecutive Charlton victory is too good resist. Charlton Forever!

Charlton Athletic 2 v Carlisle United 0

2011-12-03T17:40:00.001Z

As predicted, we strolled to our eighth successive win although it was a pretty drab affair until the last half hour. Chris Powell made a few more changes than I would have and I was a tad disappointed that those given their chance didn't really take it until later in the game.

John Sullivan was the most predictable change and Leon Cort came in for Matt Taylor in central defence. Solly, Morrison and Wiggins kept their places, so we were relatively stable at the back. The midfield saw Evina start on the left, Green on the right with Hollands and Pritchard in the middle. The attack was a weak-looking Hayes and Wagstaff.

There really wasn't much to report from the first half. Carlisle laboured away but couldn't make much impression against a Charlton side who refused to get out of second gear. The one notable exception was Michael Morrison who was a step ahead of everyone else, as usual, and who snuffed out what little threat Carlisle managed to present. Danny Hollands came closest to a goal but Collin saved at closed range.

The second-half picked up from we left off in the first and it was really only a case of who would score first. Carlisle kept trying to get forward and Sullivan had a couple of routine saves to make but they never really looked capable of scoring. Just after the hour we won a corner attacking the Covered End and when the ball traced it's way towards the back post, Morrsion met it ten yards out with a downward header than Collin could only parry and as the ball squirmed away from him, Morrsion was first to reach it as he continued his run and he lashed home from close range, very John Terry-like. After that we breathed easy and began to exert some control. Green rasped a shot into the side netting from twenty yards. Yann Kermorgant was a pleasant and unsuspected substitution and Bradley Wright-Phillips also came on. BWP should have scored the second when he burst through but his shot was blocked by Collin.

There was time for Jason Euell to get another cap and it was he who recorded the second. I will need to see it again but it looked like his first touch on the ball in was as poor as usual but it caught Collin flat-footed and trickled in at the foot of the post.

Morrison was man-of-the-match and I must mention Pritchard who came into the game strongly after we scored. His ability to kill a dropping ball is impressive and he switches play very quickly.

A disappointing gate of 7,400-odd and not much of an atmosphere but we have made it safely through to the third round which is a success at League One level. The draw is tomorrow afternoon following the Bristol Rovers v AFC Totton game and should be drawn c 2.40pm on ITV. I would love to draw the Geordies at home. That sort of draw would give us close to a full house and we could give them a good game.

Win number eight?

2011-12-02T21:16:00.000Z

Looking ahead to tomorrow's second round F A Cup tie with Carlisle, we appear to have lost sight of just how impressive our current run is. Seven straight wins and I am confident tomorrow will be the eighth as long as we don't field a seriously weakened side. It would be fantastic to be returning to the Valley on 17th December against Oldham going for ten-in-a-row having won at Walsall.

After another frantic working week, I have caught up today with the big South London derby story from last weekend. No, not the 15,000 crowd but the emergence of the Palace Utras! They have managed a You Tube post of themselves huddled together in a (presumably remote) pub before the Millwall game. They are all dressed in black and are leaping around Italian-mentalist style singing "South London is ours!" The singing is deliberately loud and it succeeded in attracting the police escort that saw them safely shepherded to their own ground. Hilarious.

The Laughable Newsshopper online also carries the email banter between these two heavyweights in terms of which of them is South London's biggest club and most passionate fans. The Millwall fans are on the wind-up of course, because they know their place in the scheme of things but the delussional Palace fans can't see it. After all, South London is theirs. So sure of themselves, I believe they are voting on changing their name, emblem or colours again as they look to break out of their Small Man Syndrome.

Just seen their Ultras bouncing up and down banging their drum on the Friday night game. Cringeworthy.

Mark Pitts RIP

2011-12-01T23:23:00.002Z

Very sad to learn last night of the death of my-generation Addick, Mark Pitts who was the proverbial "larger-than-life" character. He was an old-school football hooligan (in the same way I was) and there are those who won't want to acknowledge his demise in relation to Charlton Athletic Football Club.

I have to speak of him as I found and I have nothing but the utmost respect for a man who had massive personal integrity and was prepared to stand up for himself and those he saw as his comrades. Mark was the "Leader" for my generation and was always ready to put himself on the line for other Charlton supporters and our reputation. He was no angel and I don't attempt to sanctify him here. However, make no mistake, he was a real football fan like the rest of us and loved Charlton Athletic.

I can tell plenty of stories about Mark but I will tell one that sums him up for me. We were at Derby County in a night match 25-ish years ago. We had a small turnout and by the time the coach fans made it back to the edge of the car park, we were 70 strong on two coaches. Very few "lads" among us but plenty of Derby Herbert's looking to attack us and no police. Mark was upfront and was first past the flashpoint and could have moved on (I think everyone else present would have). He didn't. He knew there were more vulnerable Charlton fans behind and he waited and encouraged some of us to do the same so we could all pass. We were well outnumbered and he was the focal point. We took the brief brunt of it but we all got away when I believe a more innocent Charlton fan(s) would have become a victim otherwise.

Mark was always there, never had any excuses and provided a much welcome diversion on many occasions for many of us. Sad day.

Kermorgant OK

2011-11-30T08:15:00.000Z

That was the main news yesterday in the wake of ending Huddersfield Town's 43 year (sic) unbeaten reord. Chris Powell explained on the OS that Yann had suffered no more than a twisted ankle and shouldn't be out for too long. Paul Hayes is an able deputy against the likes of Carlisle and Walsall, so I expect Yann to be soaring through the air against Oldham if he doesn't make the Walsall game.

The London Sub-Standard must have been desperately short of Sports news yesterday because we made the back page for the first time in a number of years. Shame then that the article attached that referenced the game was written by a hack who clearly didn't even watch the game on Sky and instead chose to comment based upon the fact that we were two up at half-time and on Ephraim's comments that we had played better in recent games. He managed to describe Huddersfield first-half performance as "abject" and something to the effect that we weren't at our best. Pathetic really but I guess London fans outside the PL shouldn't be surprised.

Good luck to our neighbours Palace as they head of to a thoroughly deserved League Cup game at Old Trafford this evening. They haven't managed a goal in five games but their focus will be on conceding less than the nine they famously let in on a similar visit to Anfield. Good old Perry Suckling. Envious? You bet.

Charlton Athletic 2 v Huddersfield Town 0

2011-11-28T23:50:00.002Z

What a night at the Valley this evening! The single best result, to my mind, since we were relegated from the Premiership. We weren't the best footballing side on the night but we went head-to-head with the best team League One can challenge us with and we beat them with a powerful display. I am not going to replay what you all saw but will comment on the game overall.

The back four were outstanding and deserved their clean sheet. Ben Hamer was a point behind in my mind but he did make one crucial save from Jon Parkin to prevent the Terriers from scoring. I believe Matt Tayler got the MOTM award, probably for keeping Jordan Rhodes completely silent throughout, but Morrison was as good and Wiggins and Solly were better. Not since Mark Reid, have I enjoyed watching a left back more and Rhoys Wiggins is better than Reidy across the half-way line (Chris Powell was up there but I credit him with Wiggins' signing). What a runner when he's on the burst! For me, the best display came, once again, from Chris Solly. He was unstoppable in the first-half and his recovery in the second to make up two yards to stop a Town break was absolutely superb and worthy of the standing ovation it drew in the East Stand. To think, there were those who didn't think him good enough?

Hogan Ephraim capped a solid debut with a goal and he looked genuinely moved to receive his ovation when he was substituted. Darel Russell enjoyed a less impressive debut but he looked off the pace to me and I know he is a better player than we saw this evening. Having said that, I think Chris Powell was brave to sub him at half-time (unless he was injured) and Hughes was just the man we needed at 2-0. That we didn't concede in the second period confirmed that decision. Ephraim was effective without any special wing-play and I thought Green had a decent game although he is lightweight and something of a luxury against a fast and competitive side like Huddersfield.

Upfront, BWP ran his socks off and made the second goal but he was eclipsed by Yann Kermorgant who was colossal in the air tonight and his opening header made me recant my immature comments when he joined us that we looked like we had signed another journeyman striker. I want to wake tomorrow to find that he has nothing more bruising and will be ready to face Walsall in eleven days time. Paul Hayes is an able deputy but we need Kermorgant in the same way we need Jackson to keep our side firing on all cylinders.

Nothing much more to say but we are threatening to run away with this league and arrive in the Championship with a momentum that could carry us in the steps of Norwich and maybe Southampton, clubs who we are as similar to as anyone else in the English Leagues.

The lull before the storm

2011-11-27T17:17:00.003Z

I had a very good day yesterday which culminated in winning four hundred smackers on the football, a night out in Rochester and a sleepover at my sister-in-laws at Halling. The Thai was canned in favour of a new Lebanese restaurant. Disappointing overall but we had plenty of alcohol and our wives walked home half-a-mile after midnight in stocking feet carrying their stilts.

Stunned like everyone else today at the death of Gary Speed. I tuned in to Radio 5 and it was obvious someone had died but I couldn't tell for several minutes who it was. The conversation was switching from the Welsh national side to Gary's league clubs but I couldn't imagine for a moment it was him. "Car crash" was my first reaction to his name, but suicide? There will be a story to emerge in the days to come but The Black Dog is no respecter of fame or fortune. The memory of his thumping header for Leeds from a corner, which I think won the game, will always be with me when I think of Gary Speed. I expect we will get a minute's silence tomorrow before the game to show our respect for a true professional and patriot.

Tomorrow evening's encounter with Huddersfield Town is getting far more media coverage than we are accustomed to, even if most of it features the "invincible" Huddersfield Town. We might have a long history of disappointing our fans on the big night and an horrendous live TV record, but I believe we will win tomorrow and put on a show in the process. The media hype may serve us well at Town's expense.

I have an old, retired, work mate coming up for the game tomorrow night. He's a Gooner but has struggled to get tickets in recent years. He lives in Tonbridge and I have booked him onto the Valley Express. He was unaware of this service but has shown a lot of interest - "what, it runs to every home game...for seven quid?" Hopefully he will get a clear run up, a few pre-match pints and a quick journey home. If its as good a spectacle as our last few home games, he may well be back.

Lastly, I see that the weakest of the three South London derbies was a goaless affair in SE25 yesterday. Fifteen thousand made the effort. We may be live on TV tomorrow evening and a division lower than Smallwall and Palarse, but we will still attract a bigger attendance tomorrow night with less than a thousand visiting Terriers. Number one in South London, even in League One.

League One Weekend Preview, Game 19

2011-11-25T20:20:00.000Z

After another long and tiring working week, I am looking forward to a restful and largely uneventful weekend. I have a mate returning to Charlton this evening from his home in Northampton this evening for a few pints and tomorrow night it's a Thai meal for my wife's birthday with her twin sister down in Kent. Other than that, it's let's hope some of our promotion rivals falter ahead of the division's biggest fixture so far this when season when unbeatable Huddersfield Town put their unbeaten league record on the line in SE7. So, let's have a look for a few upsets...

Chesterfield v Sheffield United
The Spireites are rock bottom after a promising start to the campaign and are plainly struggling to make the adjustment to League One. The Blades will blow into town in numbers and with James Beattie back on board their bus, should be full of confidence.
Prediction; 0-2

AFC Bournemouth v Oldham Athletic
The Cherries are fighting back after a horrible start and their away form has hauled them out of the relegation places. their problem has been at Dean Court where they have managed only two victories. They get another chance here but Oldham might present a tough nut to crack after decent recent wins.
Prediction; 1-1

Bury v Preston North End
Preston fans will not be relishing this Hot-Pot derby. They are also wondering how they can release a player of Darel Russell's quality at a time when they have an injury list that is nearly as long as their recent losing streak. They are actually a point worse off than Bury as things stand and this could be a large application of salt to open wounds.
Prediction; 1-0

Carlisle United v Colchester United
Long trek for an inconsistent Colchester side who aren't enjoying away matches this season. I'll take the Cumbrians to shade it here.
Prediction; 2-1

Exeter City v Tranmere Rovers
The Grecians have steadied the ship and have limped out of the drop zone. Their home form is recovering and they could do us a mini-favour here against 9th placed Tranmere.
Prediction; 2-1

Hartlepool United v Yeovil Town
If Hartlepool can't win at home this time, they may as well give up. Yeovil are the only side in division yet to register an away win.
Prediction; 2-0

MK Dons v Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe look like they are intent on following Chesterfield back to whence they came. MK Dons are unbeaten at home and I suspect they will make short work of their M1 neighbours.
Prediction; 3-0

Notts County v Scunthorpe United
A decent home record and a poor away one? Home win, although I can see Scunny keeping this tight.
Prediction; 1-0

Rochdale v Brentford
Brentford were unfortunate not to get something off us last week and they will go looking here knowing that they have only lost once on the road. Uwe Rosler appears to be making his mark with Brentford and I think they will hang around the fringes all season. A fifth away victory would do very nicely Herr Kapitan.
Prediction; 0-2

Sheffield Wednesday v Leyton Orient
Should be a routine home win here but the O's have nothing to lose and they have been harder to beat away from Brisbane Road this year than at home. That unbeaten Wednesday home record won't last too much longer and the O's might go close here.
Prediction; 2-2

Stevenage v Walsall
Stevenage will get a nosebleed if their climb much higher. Walsall linger where they usually do and will do well to get anything here.
Prediction; 1-0

The Big Match, Monday
Charlton Athletic v Huddersfield Town
Both sides have strengthened in the week with loan signings and our defence faces a possible encounter with the Beast. If he plays, it will be interesting to see Michael Morrison go chest to chest with Jon Parkin. He's a player who has bullied us in the past but at 30 and with all that timber he usually carries, I am confident we can contain him this time. Jordan Rhodes is an altogether different prospect but I am expecting Bradley Wright-Phillips to steal the limelight. I called up to buy hospitality today but "everything has gone." A sign of the times on a Monday night with the Sky cameras in town. A dew is probably the smart money but this season looks like it will finally be the one we have been waiting for a win here on home turf will put us firmly in the Guvnors seat and should finally win Chris Powell a deserved Manager-of-the-Month title.
Prediction; 3-2

Powell swoops for Darel Russell

2011-11-24T21:10:00.002Z

Chris Powell moved into the loan market again today to sign versatile right-sided midfielder, Darel Russell until January. This is a smart move with Johnnie Jackson being sidelined for a couple of months.

Russell is another of those one-time Charlton targets who we have gone back for. He is a very solid and experienced pro who I believe we can rely upon to come into the side and make an immediate impact. He always impressed me when playing against us for Norwich and he's an East End boy, so will hopefully feel quickly at home - certainly more so than his present club, Preston North End.

From a squad perspective, it's also perfect timing with the crunch Huddersfield Town fixture for days away. He's a player I could imagine scoring or setting up a goal on his debut as a late substitute.

Bush

2011-11-22T23:13:00.000Z

Out last night as part of my better half's big birthday. Visited Scala at Kings Cross for the first time ever and was hugely impressed. Don't know how I missed this in my younger "gigging" years but always assumed it was a huge and impersonal cinema venue.

The seats have long gone and it's a perfect rock venue for c 500 devotees. Bush are a tad heavy for me but they were excellent and I have acquired sufficient Brownie Points for Walsall.

Brentford 0 v Charlton Athletic 1

2011-11-19T17:35:00.002Z

First win at Griffin Park in 31 years. I was there last time (also a 1-0 win) but missed today and am kicking myself (makes mental note for Walsall). Sixth win in succession and the next game promises to be a classic when we attempt to break Huddersfield Town's record unbeaten league sequence which they extended today at home to Notts County. An historic match against Huddersfield? Who'd-a-thought-it?

Those who were there today, or who listened in to the commentary will know that this was a hard-won victory. We rode our luck in the first-half as the Bees hit the woodwork and when Donaldson missed a clear chance. However, we held on and following a lengthy stoppage for a serious sounding injury to Logan, Charlton pounced to win the match. Danny Green broke down the flank and fired a low cross which Bradley Wright-Phillips met and steered home.

Like many of you, I suspect, I had long-since tuned into the Brentford commentary in order to understand what was going on (Awful Emma) and you could hear the knowing heartbreak in their voices when BWP struck. The Bees fought on and Ben Hamer was called into action several times before the finish as we played out 10 minutes of injury time for Logan, but we held our nerve and took the points. There was a delicious irony in the commentators describing Hamer's time-wasting tactics which once "served us so well."

Huddersfield will now face us in as important a fixture as the one on 4th April 1981 when they temporarily halted our promotion push at the Valley with a 2-1 win. We took ultimate revenge that season by going up and pipping them to the third place spot. We lost the next three games after that before steadying the ship and securing the five points (two for a win) we needed from the last three games. Know your place Huddersfield!

Elsewhere in League One, the top five all won, so it's as-you-were but we have an enormous opportunity a week on Monday. It will mean beating the live TV hoodoo but you have to believe this side can see that off. If we come through that one, I am confident we could go unbeaten into 2012 and that we can collect most of the points in the process. 2012 - Year of the Addick?

League One Weekend Preview, Game 18

2011-11-18T08:31:00.001Z

Five wins on the spin. Nineteen goals scored with only three consolation goals in reply. A side full of confidence makes the short trip to Griffin Park tomorrow where we face an indifferent Brentford side who have been a thorn in our side in recent seasons.

They beat a weakened Charlton side rather easily in the JPT at the Valley and like the Preston game, this is an opportunity to set the record straight. We will be roared on by a packed away end (1800) and likely a few more in the home areas, although Brentford's decision to sell home tickets only to database members means they are selling themselves short of several hundred more and maybe another thousand or more had they made arrangements to accommodate those who would like to see the game.

Personally, my wife has a big birthday coming up in the week and I was committed to a birthday event which I realised, too late, is actually next Saturday night. I am therefore ticketless and contemplating turning up on the day and hoping to get in. Bit of a dilemma as I don't want to miss the match commentary....

Anyway, confidence amongst our fans is sky-high again as we look increasingly like we have discovered the knack of giving opponents a beasting and are defending very well and attacking with precision and effect. The Bees home record is 3-2-4 and that suggests we can win again, especially if we can score the first goal, something we have done in all of the last five games. With Huddersfield to come at the Valley a week on Monday, there is a good chance that we could increase our lead above ten points before Christmas. I don't want to get carried away but I know we need the biggest cushion we can because we know there will be a Charlton-wobble before the end.

Brentford v Charlton Athletic
I am going for the revenge-theme and a spirited two-nil Charlton win. Bradley Wright-Phillips had a beaming smile on his face as he was cup-tied at Halifax in the dying minutes and I can see him carrying that into this one.
Prediction; 0-2

Colchester United v MK Dons
Could be a decent encounter this. MK Dons continue to go well although this is the sort of game that brings the best out of the U's.
Prediction; 3-2

Huddersfield Town v Notts County
A no-lose game for us. There is the school of thought that says it could be good for us if Town beat everyone around us the top as it effectively increases the margin from the automatics to the play-off places. Personally, I think they will run us all the way to the end and a draw would be my preferred outcome although they will be focused on winning again am aiming to close the gap on us at the Valley with the aid of our TV Jinx.
Prediction; 2-1

Leyton Orient v Stevenage
The O's are getting their act together, slowly but surely. Stevenage are feeling increasingly at home in this division and are enjoying themselves at the moment. A draw is the most likely result but I'll take a late O's winner.
Prediction; 2-1

Oldham Athletic v Chesterfield
Neither of these sides has done much this season and more was expected of Oldham after last season's bright start.
Prediction; 1-0

Preston North End v Rochdale
Injuries have hampered PNE's progress and Phil Brown will be feeling the heat in the hot-seat. Rochdale could make this another uncomfortable afternoon.
Prediction; 1-1

Scunthorpe United v Hartlepool United
East Coast derby and a tasty affair in prospect here. Hartlepool have lost momentum in recent weeks and they might find this hard work.
Prediction; 2-0

Sheffield United v Carlisle United
The Blades are falling further behind in the automatic promotion race and they need to put a run together. Carlisle shouldn't hold them up for long.
Prediction; 2-0

Tranmere Rovers v Sheffield Wednesday
Another draw would be a nice ending for us although Wednesday haven't been able to get anywhere near their home form on the road. I'd have to take Tranmere here for a winner.
Prediction; 1-0

Walsall v Bury
Not one to fire the imagination.
Prediction; 0-0

Yeovil Town v Exeter City
West Country derby and it has draw written all over it.
Prediction; 1-1

Marketing - (not CAFC related)

2011-11-14T07:44:00.002Z

Regular readers will know I have a healthy dislike of many forms of marketing, particularly the arrogant ones that assume we are as transparent as the Marketeers who have devised them. Credit where credit's due however.

http://www.theinspiration.com/2011/09/carlsberg-stunt-in-cinema/

This appeals to me on so many levels...

FC Halifax 0 v Charlton Athletic 4

2011-11-13T15:20:00.001Z

An assured performance from Chris Powell's charges saw us safely through to the second round of the F A Cup where we have the home tie I wanted.

I was really pleased to see us start with seven first team players and I thought Powell got it bang on with his team selection and substitutions. Sullivan (doesn't he look increasingly like Sasa Illic?) came in for Hamer and reserve keepers need every opportunity they can get for first team experience. Cedric Evina got another deserved start to give Rhoys Wiggins a rest and he joined Solly, Morrison and Taylor in the back-line. Other than that the midfield was as-you-were, so it was Hayes and Euell who came in upfront for Wright-Phillips and Kermorgant.

It was good to see Bradley Pritchard back as a sub and the seemingly forgotten Michael Smith making the journey. Good too that Powell included BWP just in case we needed more firepower.

Chris Solly played another blinder at right-back and was probably my man-of-the-match. Not sure though about our fans song about him that rhymed "Solly" with "quality!" Taylor got his first Charlton goal and the ITV MOTM award and, for once, he did more work than Morrison. Evina was comfortable enough at right-back but we didn't see much of him across the half-way line.

I thought Halifax had too much space in midfield but the performance and the result speak for themselves. Hollands had the wrong studs in during the first-half and the wet, lush turf had him slipping and sliding all over the shop. Johnnie Jackson had another good game and crowned it with the finish of the match. Nice to see him refuse to celebrate after scoring his goal which killed off a spirited Halifax side. Hollands also nicked a typical scrappy third which you get when your opponents are down-and-out and Bradley Pritchard rubbed salt into the wound with the fourth.

Paul Hayes will be a tad disappointed on not doing a bit more on his return north although it was his inch perfect deep cross which teed Matt Taylor up for his looping header for the opener. Jason Euell showed once more that he doesn't have the pace or the touch to command a regular place and he must surely be playing his last ever games in a Charlton shirt. Nature knows no sentiment.

All-in-all, another very good day for Charlton Athletic and I can't see Carlisle United halting our progress to the third round. If I am going to be picky, and I am, someone has to have a word with Whingeing Wagstaff. His constant moaning reflects poorly on his colleagues who are all admirably honest pros. He is the Boy Who Cried Wolf and it is so unnecessary. He may have been caught late on but his histrionics in pulling his legs up into the foetal position and thudding to the deck is something he has shown us numerous times in the past. He always gets up unscathed but it often gets his opponent a card more than they deserved. Today it earned a non-league opponent, playing probably the biggest game of his career, a straight red when I think a yellow was the correct decision.

Russian Roulette

2011-11-12T19:36:00.000Z

It has to be done, but tomorrow's First Round F A Cup tie at Halifax is one most Addicks fans will watch from behind the settee or through their fingers. Our cup record is so dismal, it's amazing that we have actually won the F A Cup and made it to another proper final, although I often think we must have caught the rest of the country napping after the war.

I am back from a day down in Brighton where I fell on my sword and gave up the chance of a seafood extravaganza at Riddle and Finn in The Lanes for a "Mediterranean Vegetarian/Vegan" meal at Terre a Terre. This was in honour of my Niece who we were visiting to see how she has settled in at Sussex Uni. All well apart from collecting three driving points en route. Eighty-eight miles an hour, I ask you.

Anyway, I have just caught up with today's scores as well as Kenny Miller's stunning goal in Cyprus for us Jocks. Biggest scalp and warning for tomorrow, is that a below par Huddersfield were skelped 4-1 at Swindon. Wycombe also fell down and embarrassed themselves at non-league Fleetwood.

I know we have other fish to fry (not just 'Addock) and that Chris Powell will change the side around tomorrow, but I have a feeling we might see a stronger than expected line-up. The F A Cup offers us the prospect of two or three additional gates and a third round clash with top opposition could see us fill the Valley once again. That would mean real cash into the club and I suspect that would be particularly welcome in a year when Jiminez and Slater will want to show some decent numbers to match the success on the field to help persuade the big money men to hold their nerve and, hopefully, gamble a little more. Maybe wishful thinking on my part but a home tie after this should see us into the third round draw and the chance of some big money.

We should see Halifax off tomorrow and I am backing our boys to do the job even if laying off a bit of money on the Shay Men could recoup my anticipated speeding fine.

Loan winger arrives

2011-11-09T19:34:00.001Z

After my post yesterday, in which I said Johnnie Jackson had no competition on the left and that neither Green or Wagstaff had nailed it on the left, we have today brought in a winger who can play on either side.

He is ex-Hammers and now QPR squad winger, Hogan Ephraim and he joins us until January. Wikipedia describes him as a midfield utility player, so presumably he will give us cover and more substitution options. He's a 23 year old North London boy, just in case you was wondering.

A settled side

2011-11-08T19:39:00.000Z

Our current fine form has coincided with a relatively settled side that has been largely picking itself - doesn't it always?

When we started the season we wondered whether Reading's former third choice goalkeeper would get the nod over Millwall's old reserve stopper. Hamer has won the day and established himself although he has yet to win me over completely. He has benefitted from a very capable and settled back four.

Rhoys Wiggins has anchored the left-back position for himself and his ability to overlap and deliver pinpoint crosses on the run has made him our best buy of the Summer in my mind. He is my Player of the Year although it will be very difficult to deny Mr Wright-Phillips if he continues to plunder goals at his current rate. Rhoys looks very capable of playing at the highest level and I guess we shouldn't be too surprised that Chris Powell has unearthed a gem in his old position.

In the middle, Morrison and Taylor have established a formidable understanding and look in no threat from Doherty, Cort or Mambo. Morrison has far more touches than Taylor and appears to make most of the last ditch tackles and stops but Taylor is extremely effective if you watch him. Both of them started the first half-a-dozen matches with what I am sure was a deliberate one-touch policy to put every ball that came their way into touch. It had the effect of slowing attacks and it minimised the numbers of goals we conceded. Since then they have been given license to play as they have got to know each other and they are now moving instinctively when one of them has the ball to make space for the other and they have developed an understanding with Hamer for back-passes.

At right back, Chris Solly has made it his own and I, for one, am pleased about that. I don't buy the lack of height argument and Solly has been one of our most consistent performers. We are finally loaning Simon Francis out to Bournemouth which leaves us no other recognised right-back although Michael Morrison did a decent job at Stevenage, even if he would have been better employed in central defence. A professional right-back cover for Solly must be a high priority.

In central midfield it looked like Dale Stephens and Danny Hollands had cracked it but I felt teams were learning to neutralise them shortly before Stephens' injury and we have looked surprisingly more effective with Andy Hughes in the middle. Hughes is a natural defender and he plays like one in the centre. His usual stance is with both arms down and out as he shuffles left and right to mark space and prevent the through-ball. He is also a "talker" and a very vocal one at that. He was shouting at everyone on Saturday and they all appeared to be listening which was all the more impressive. He could be a more obvious choice as captain if he can hold his place. Dales Stephens is currently undergoing an ankle operation but will surely challenge again when fit although it would be hard to justify dropping Hughes at the moment. He has certainly given Hollands a tad more confidence to express himself as we saw on Saturday.

From the other central midfield options, Bradley Pritchard has looked like being capable of offering something different and Bover Izquierdo has potential. Only Alonso has looked poor although fitness may have had something to do with that horror showing against Brentford in the JPT. I was told that he has since left the club?

On the left flank Johnnie Jackson has no serious challenger and his best competition comes from Wiggins who appears to have as many assists to his name as Jackson. On the other side, we don't appear settled yet as Wagstaff and Green battle it out. Green has a better cross but lacks Wagstaff's impact and has been guilty of wasting matches since making first-choice. We have to see more threat from both of them.

Upfront, Bradley Wright-Phillips has been a revelation and his goals are propping up the current revival that promises to turn into our first promotion season of the 21st Century. He has genuine first five yard pace and he has a goalscorer's instinct. The dream is of goal-scoring paring in the mould of Hales and Flanagan. Paul Hayes made an honest job of trying to do that but has come up short of the mark so far. To be fair to him, he is a seasoned pro and has never struck the high notes so he's hardly under-performing at the Valley. He may yet have an important back-up role to play this season in getting us promoted.

What you hope when you sign a journeyman is that you get that bit more out of him than anyone has managed before. That's precisely the case with Yann Kermorgant who looks like he's playing the best football since coming to the English league in 2009. More importantly, Kermorgant looks highly efficient in the air and has developed a goalscoring partnership that is bringing the best out of Wright-Phillips.

Paul Benson has become a forgotten man since the arrival of Hayes and Kermorgant and he can have few complaints. Another Honest Joe but not in the class of Wright-Phillips or Kermorgant and possibly even Hayes. I have to mention Jason Euell, whose signing is looking increasingly indulgent with every substitute appearance he makes. He adds very little and certainly minimal goal threat. I'm sure he's a good character to have around the club and his experience invaluable but he is clearly well passed his best. In the nicest possible way, I hope we don't see him start another game in a Charlton shirt and that his substitute appearances are all when we are winning games and not chasing them.

There is already talk of us strengthening in the January transfer window and it's always good if you can do it. However, I would rather we avoid any long-term injuries and any significant disruption to what is looking like a settled squad by limiting any January transfer activity. Right-back cover looks a priority (if not addressed before then) - beyond that we would need to spend in order to improve on what we have got.

Charlton Athletic 5 v Preston North End 2

2011-11-05T17:40:00.005Z

A crowd of over 17,000 Charlton fans at the Valley today in a gate of 17,486. They saw their team cruise to victory against a weakened Preston side whose reserve goalkeeper had an absolute shocker. Fifteen goals in the last four matches and four wins on-the-trot are the facts we need to concern ourselves with as we stride on at the top of League One five points clear of Huddersfield in second spot. The only damp squib was the finale to the match when we allowed Preston to unsettle us with two goals and tempers were on the verge of fraying in the Addicks defence.

It all started so well with four goals in the opening 38 minutes. The buzz around the stadium after the fourth was startling and a brief reminder of some of the more special moments at the Valley. Everyone was speculating how many we would end up with - at least six looked almost inevitable at that point.

Johnnie Jackson helped himself to the opener after a piercing move involving Wright-Phillips and Danny Green which sent Green darting clear. His rasping shot was parried by Aristidou in the North End goal and the advancing Jackson slammed home the loose ball. Minutes later we forced a corner and the in-swinging ball was pushed onto the bar by the struggling keeper only to drop back into the melee where Michael Morrison was waiting to pounce from close range. On 26 minutes, Aristidou up-ended Yann Kermorgant as he chased a through ball and Jackson smacked home the third. The fourth was embarrassingly easy as a back post ball found BWP unmarked and all he had to do was head beyond the stranded Aristidou.

Phil Brown brought on a second striker at the break which opened Preston up a bit more and the fifth, when it came on 70 minutes was one of the best headed goals I have ever seen. The impressive Rhoys Wiggins galloped down the left flank and ran onto his own ball as he burst beyond the last man. As he looked-up to cross, Danny Hollands was on a diagonal catch-up run into the box and Wiggins' cross was an absolute peach. He got the perfect line and enough pace for Hollands to have to leap to meet it at full stretch and, my-oh-my, did Danny-Boy do it justice. Somehow, he managed to put pace onto the ball and it rocketed into the far top corner. Five-nil and still twenty minutes for the sixth or seventh.

Chris Powell made a double substitution at this point, deciding to rest Bradley Wright-Phillips and the tiring Danny Green. Paul Hayes was brought on to, hopefully, rub some salt into his old clubs wounds and Scott Wagstaff was fresh legs. It didn't really work and Preston were still labouring to salvage something before having to face Phil Brown again. They forced a goal from a corner that looked poorly defended and their heads were up. The second was a classy spin-and-finish from the substitute Daley and the Valley was silenced and flat. The mood brightened at the whistle and the crowd went home happy, although you wonder why we find it so hard to top the cake.

Having said that, we must see the big picture and it's all rosy right now.

League One Weekend Preview, Game 17

2011-11-04T12:46:00.001Z

As the rain lashes down in SE7 again today, tomorrow's home match against Preston is threatening to be a washout. We have the opportunity to make it four league wins in-a-row which would the best sequence of the season so far and would, in my mind, represent a full recovery from Stevenage and the fermentation of possibly another unbeaten run that might take us to Christmas.

AFC Bournemouth v Scunthorpe United

Who would have bet on Bournemouth winning at Preston last week? They are up to 18th and will be aiming to improve the worst home record in the division. They have the away draw specialists in town, so it may be very tight.

Prediction; 1-1

Charlton Athletic v Preston North End

This should, I repeat should, be a straightforward home win. Preston have strung together sequences of wins and defeats this season and are very much on a losing streak right now.They may come expecting to repeat their League Cup win but we all know there will be two different sides out there tomorrow. We appear to be learning how to play the ball around to control the pace and direction of games, whilst attacking with purpose and a cutting edge when we go forward. If this is actually the case, tomorrow is a great chance to prove it and we might expect another good day. The only cloud on the horizon might be the return of Hume and Mellor.
Prediction; 3-1

Chesterfield v Yeovil Town

Basement dogfight here and Yeovil are the only side left to win an away match in the division. Chesterfield to clamber out of the bottom four.
Prediction; 2-0

Exeter City v Carlisle United
A couple of weeks ago this would have looked like an easy away. Exeter were losing everything in sight. They have rallied since then and will look for their fourth home victory of the season. It's another long trip for the Cumbrians and it could even longer home.
Prediction 2-0

Huddersfield Town v Walsall
Can't see it, can you? Not even the unsettling of Lee Clark by the massive job on offer at the might Leicester City should distract Town sufficiently to prevent them putting several goals passed Walsall. Jordan Rhodes may be about to cash in on five years of primary education in Scotland by becoming a full-blown Jock and he will probably push BWP all the way to the League One Top Scorer title.
Prediction; 3-0

Leyton Orient v Hartlepool United
The O's recovery from no-hopers continued last week with a rare away win at Rochdale. They will fancy this one against a demoralised Hartlepool but the Monkey-hangers have an impressive away record and I'll take them to get a draw at least,
Prediction; 2-2

MK Dons v Rochdale
Unbeaten at home, I can't see Rochdale breaking the mould in this one.
Prediction; 2-0

Notts County v Wycombe Wanderers
My home banker of the day. County haven't lost at home since we lowered their colours in their opening home game and Wycombe have a very soft centre.
Prediction; 2-0

Oldham Athletic v Bury
Lancashire derby and Bury have been marginally better away from Gigg Lane. A classic derby 1-1?
Prediction; 1-1

Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford
Seven straight home wins is impressive but the Bees are another League One side who have been having more fun away from home and they boast a 4-2-1 on their travels as well as having won at the Valley in the Noddy Cup. I am going to be very bold here and suggest that Brentford will win here.
Prediction; 1-2

Stevenage v Sheffield United
United have been stuttering a bit and find themselves eight points adrift of us in fourth place. They were beaten at Wycombe this season and this could be a potential banana skin. Stevenage good enough for a point?
Prediction; 1-1

Tranmere Rovers v Colchester United
Tranmere are keeping pace with the pack and have a solid home record. Colchester look a shadow of their former selves and whilst they have undoubted talent in their side, they are very inconsistent. This looks like an uphill battle.
Prediction; 2-0

Since I started posting this early today, the rain has moved away and SE7 is bathed in sunlight. Fingers-crossed for tomorrow. Up the Addicks!

I've finally done it

2011-11-03T19:50:00.000Z

It's been weighing on my mind for the last year. Not the biggest decision of my life, granted, but an important one nonetheless. Do I replace my ageing PC or make the move to the Dark Side and get a Mac?

My old Sony Vaio Mediacentre was coming up for six years old and the hard drive was full. Shuttling files back and forward on an external drive is no way to live. So, I've bought an Apple Mac and I am now filled with the self-righteous smugness of a convert. Yes Sirree! I can smile knowingly at PC users from now on when I hear their tales of woe, safe in the knowledge that I have moved onwards and upwards in the world. Yes, it's very like being in the Masons. I would imagine.

It's taken me several long evenings but I now have all my data transferred and have a decent grasp of the basics. It's also given me the impetus to digitise my music CD's collection and get shot of 500 CD's and my old faithful B & O.

I-Cloud had a big part to do with it and it has been fantastic to be able to link my main home computer with other devices and no longer having to synch in order to update and share information. No doubt there will be some drawbacks but none so far and I have been very impressed that things have worked as expected. Doing anything new on a PC was invariably fraught with difficulties and when things did go wrong, it was often hard to find out why. There, smug enough?

Halifax Cup Draw?

2011-10-31T22:46:00.003Z

Forgive me, but I was underwhelmed by our First Round F A Cup draw. I can hear some of you now thinking "what did he expect in the First Round, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon?" John Cleese would not be impressed. No, I had hoped for a home draw and for someone who might make a game of it but who didn't necessarily see it as the be-all-and-end-all.

Those fellow Addicks chasing their original 92 will be delighted that we have pulled out an old plum but I am afraid I ticked the Shay off on a freezing cold November day 19 years ago when I suffered a league encounter with Chesterfield. I swore I'd never go back but I guessed at the time that we would never play them again in the league (so far so good) and that our chances of meeting in the Cup were almost non-existent as they made the Third Round less frequently than we made the Fourth.

Anyhow fate has thrown us together and some of you will, no doubt, be making the horrendous train or road journey to experience the decrepid Shay ground. If that wasn't enough to put you off, you will be watching the weakest side Chris Powell can put out so it's unlikely to be a romp. I am already thinking Northwich-bloody-Victoria. Possibly our most humiliating result of all time if you forget the league spankings over the years and the inevitable humblings whenever we play the Spanners.

It also looks nailed on that the three TV companies with rights will also be squabbling over the chance of airing the highest league side in the draw humbled by non-league opposition. I yearn for the days when our first F A Cup match of the season occured in January.

Bradley Wright-Phillips - he's better than them all?

2011-10-30T07:47:00.000Z

Bradley Wright-Phillips has netted 12 times in 15 games this season. A remarkable return, even in League One. That gives him a Red tally of 20 in 35 games or a goal every 1.75. He's 26 years old and I would argue that his best is yet to come. We'd all love to see him deliver those goals in an Addicks shirt but much will depend on the money men and just how long a game they are playing.

That scoring ratio makes BWP arguably Charlton's most prolific striker of all time (from those who played more than single figure games and netted like my old pal, Barry Little). Those of us a tad longer in the tooth may scoff at this and want only to consider comparisons over a longer stretch and I have sympathy. So, let's look at two of our recent scoring "legends"....

(Super) Clive Mendonca's Charlton record read 40 goals from 84 matches or a ratio of 2.1 and Andy Hunt (He Plays Upfront) managed 35 in 86 or one every 2.4 appearances. BWP's fledgling record shows up pretty well against these two and if he plays the season out, as I expect him to, and we manage to hang onto him for next season, his record in terms of appearances will be directly comparable to Hunt and Mendonca in less than 12 months time and he's on course to smash their records.

I can hear the cries of what about Halesy and Flash? Well, Mike Flanagan notched 120 goals in 378 showings or a goal every 3.1 matches. Hales was better at 168 from 360 and 2.1. If we look further back, Eddie Firmani scored 89 in 177 outings at 1.9 and Stuart Leary 163 in 403 at 2.4.

I am not for a moment attempting to suggest that Bradley Wright-Phillips is our best ever striker and I believe he could only stand comparison with these other names as, when and if he hangs around for another few seasons at least and manages to continue scoring in the Championship (and beyond!). This is improbable in today's game as the value of goal-scorers is so much higher than ever before and the cost of maintaining average clubs so equally high, that money talks and every player and every club has it's price.

The other consideration in all this is that those players with longer Charlton careers will naturally have slowed their scoring rates towards the end of their careers as they have aged, although I have to tell you that Wright-Phillips early burst betters all but Leary's. Hales hit 29 in his first 76 games and Flanagan 25 in 67. The great Stuart Leary notched 40 from his first 67 Charlton appearances, a target that Bradley Wright-Phillips could beat.

There, blue touch paper lit.

Hartlepool United 0 v Charlton Athletic 4

2011-10-29T17:45:00.001+01:00

A clinical Charlton performance dismantled a lack-lustre Hartlepool side up on the East Coast this afternoon. In scoring four we now have the best goal difference in the division as well as the top scorer. Bradley Wright-Phillips notched a first -half brace for the second time in two games and is threatening to tear up the clubs scoring records. I make that 20 goals in 35 league starts, and it's 12 in 15 this season. The defeat at Stevenage is a fading memory and looks increasingly like an aberration.

it was a hard match to follow via the commentary because there seemed too little to comment on in between the Charlton goals which all seemed to be scored nonchalantly. Both of Wright-Phillips finishes were knocked in from left sided crosses, the first from Jackson and the second from the blossoming Wiggins.

Our defence weren't really tested and when Johnnie Jackson fired in a free-kick ten minutes into the second-half that was it. I see the BBC are crediting Danny Hollands with getting a touch to it but the commentators saw it as a Jackson goal and I expect him to claim it. Wagstaff came on with twenty to go and struck the fourth with twelve minutes left which was the signal for the Hartlepool faithful to call it a day and head for the exits.

Next up are Preston North End at the Valley and we owe them for knocking us out of the League Cup. They were beaten at home by Bournemouth of all sides this afternoon and may well be undergoing a crisis of confidence right now - perfect timing.

League One Weekend Preview, Game 16

2011-10-28T08:19:00.000+01:00

The battle to remain at the top of League One continues tomorrow afternoon. Huddersfield Town are at bottom of the league Yeovil Town and will expect to maintain their unbeaten record and inflict a sixth home defeat on the Grecians. With a two-goal superior goal difference, an Addicks defeat at tenth-placed Hartlepool would see us drop to second place.

The other chasers all face relatively easier games than ours, so we will need to be at our best not to lose ground.

However, we have won two on the spin following the shambles at Stevenage and Hartlepool have been choking at home and have lost the last three at the Victoria Ground. Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe and Tranmere have all grabbed the points there and we must be confident we can do the same.

Brentford v Chesterfield
The Bees home record is threatening to scupper their season. Four wins away from Griffin Park but four defeats at home tells the story. Chesterfield have only managed four points on the road and this should really be too much for them.
Prediction; 2-1

Bury v Stevenage
The Shakers were denied a home win over Notts County in the week by a late leveller and that was on the back of three points at Bournemouth. They look to be settling into this division and will expect to see off fellow promotees Stevenage.
Prediction; 2-0

Carlisle United v Oldham Athletic
Finely balanced game here but if one side is going to nick it, I would have to go with home advantage.
Prediction; 2-1

Colchester United v Notts County
Potential stumble for County here. Colchester are more than capable and I'll go with them to upset the odds.
Prediction; 3-1

Hartlepool United v Charlton Athletic
This was Chris Powell's first defeat as Addicks boss last season, so he will have painful memories from that night game last and will take added satisfaction if we can continue our fine away form and win here. Like Wycombe in the week, the start may be all important and Wright-Phillips and Kermorgant are likely to be the key figures.

BWP will surely score his first hat-trick of his career this season although my guess is it will come in a home game. Given his work rate and speed, it's maybe not surprising that he tends to tire in games and is a candidate in most for an early bath if we look home and dry which probably isn't helping his hat-trick chnaces. I'll settle for another brace and an early bath here. Please, no complacency Charlton!
Prediction; 0-2

Preston North End v AFC Bournemouth
North End couldn't quite manage to see off fellow Lamcastrians Oldham in the week but they should go one better here against a struggling Bournemouth, who at least look a bit livelier away from Dean Court.
Prediction; 3-0

Rochdale v Leyton Orient
David Mooney netted twice in the week to collect a decent point at Yeovil for the O's and with Super Kevin Lisbie in tandem, they will be hoping for more here. Dale stuttered at home to Chesterfield and dropped two points, so I reckon the Orient recovery can be sustained here.
Prediction; 1-2

Scunthorpe United v Tranmere Rovers
Scunthorpe came within four minutes of halting Huddersfeild Town's 40-odd unbeaten match run on Tuesday. Tranmere meanwhile, were conquerors of Hartlepool and will fancy a repeat on the East Coast. Could be a tight draw.
Prediction; 1-1

Sheffield United v Exeter City
The Grecians have bounded off the bottom of the table in recent weeks and journeyman hitman Daniel Nardiello scored two at Walsall in the week for City's first away win. They should find the Blades too strong but we can live in hope.
Prediction; 2-0

Walsall v MK Dons
Not too far for MK Dons this one and they will need to survive the response from the Saddlers to their home defeat by Tranmere. Another possible bonus result for Addicks fans but I fear MK will win here.
Prediction; 0-2

Wycombe Wanderers v Sheffield Wednesday
Wednesday should follow the form and collect the points but they aren't the same force away from Hillsborough. When their home form dips, as surely it will, they look likely to lose ground in the chase unless they can start getting better results away. Wycombe's only home win of the season came over Sheffield United and this could be a memorable double for them. Everyone say "aye!"
Prediction; 2-1

Yeovil v Huddersfield Town
Who is going to derail the Town Express? Not Yeovil. With Walsall and Notts County to come after this at The Galpharm, their next big challenge comes live on the Sky Television network at the Valley. That damned TV curse.
Prediction; 0-3

Wycombe Wanderers 1 v Charlton Athletic 2

2011-10-25T21:43:00.001+01:00

Charlton did the damage in the first-half with two Bradley Wright-Phillips goals which gave them enough of a lead to secure an impressive sixth away win of the season. Wright-Phillips' haul also moves him onto ten league goals, just one short of the division's top scorers, Jordan Rhodes and Gary Madine (who was sent off this evening at Carlisle).

The second-half was a quieter affair and Wycombe saw more of the ball. Beavon pulled one back for the Chairboys after 63 minutes and they had plenty of possession in the last half-hour as they tried in vain to force an equaliser. Scott Wagstaff came on for BWP with ten minutes left as Charlton looked to stretch the game and relieve some of Wycombe's pressure. The last few minutes were the usual nail-biting Addicks stuff but we held on.

There were questions being asked of Chris Powell after the limp defeat at Stevenage but he has answered them clearly and decisively with six goals and six points in two games. We can't expect to win every game we play but it looks like we are capable of competing in them all if we can keep free of any serious injuries and field our best eleven.

With Scunthorpe forcing a late draw with Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday going down at Carlisle, it was a good evening's work and gives us a three point gap to defend at Hartlepool on Saturday.

League One Midweek Preview, Game 15

2011-10-24T21:56:00.000+01:00

Everyone in action tomorrow night as the top four all go away and fifth play sixth and seventh play eighth. It's another opportunity for us to put pressure on our promotion challengers and maybe create that cushion we need going to Hartlepool on Saturday.

Brentford v Stevenage
Brentford will have been happier with their point at Notts County on Saturday than Stevenage who were held at home by lowly Yeovil. Stevenage don't travel too well and Brentford should expect to improve their home record here.
Prediction; 2-0

Bury v Notts County
After a South Coast victory at Bournemouth, Bury could upset battling County here and do us a favour in the process.
Prediction: 1-0

Carlisle United v Sheffield Wednesday
The same could be said for Carlisle but I wasn't impressed with them on Saturday. They looked alright on the ball but their defending was poor and they had no third gear when they needed it. Wednesday should be good enough for at least a point.
Prediction; 2-2

Colchester United v AFC Bournemouth
Surely a third home win for Colchester? Bournemouth stumbled at home to Bury on Saturday and look easy meat at the moment.
Prediction; 3-0

Hartlepool United v Tranmere Rovers
Hartlepool are up to seventh with only two home wins. Like a good number of clubs in League One, they would love to match their away form at home. I'll take them to squeak it.
Prediction; 2-1

Preston North End v Oldham Athletic
Preston have slid to ninth after four successive defeats. The Latics picked up three points at home on Saturday against Wycombe and they might feel they have done enough this week.
Prediction; 2-0

Rochdale v Chesterfield
Young Nate duly scored on his league debut for Dale on Saturday, but Exeter battled back to score three of their own. This is the sort of fixture that could keep Rochdale out of the fourth division for another season. Eccleston at the double.
Prediction; 2-1

Scunthorpe United v Huddersfield Town
Scunthorpe have only managed two wins so far and this looks like an uphill battle against a very confident Huddersfield side who have, predictably, turned early season draws into victories and remain our most likely challenger at this stage for the title.
Prediction; 0-2

Sheffield United v MK Dons
Both of these sides drew on Saturday and another draw would be the perfect Charlton result although my money's on the Blades to win here.
Prediction; 2-0

Walsall v Exeter City
Exeter will be praying they can follow up on Saturday's home win with another here but Walsall will see this as a six pointer and should be good enough.
Prediction; 2-0

Wycombe Wanderers v Charlton Athletic
The thousand Addicks making the trip will do so in great expectation again after Saturday's controlled performance against Carlisle. Wycombe shouldn't prevent too much of an obstacle if we can field the same side and go for it. I will be tuned in on the edge of my seat.
Prediction; 0-1

Yeovil Town v Leyton Orient
Unexpected point for Yeovil at Stevenage and they might be good odds to see off a Leyton Orient side who couldn't win any of their first ten.
Prediction; 2-0

Come on you Reds!

Charlton Athletic 4 v Carlisle United 0

2011-10-23T10:09:00.006+01:00

Well, we all went looking for a response and few can argue that we didn't get one.

Carlisle United had threatened to come and attack us on the back of their fourth away league victory at Yeovil last week. It was hard to see what the Carlisle game-plan was because they were so poor and were beaten with barely a quarter of the game played. It was a huge let-down for the 400 Cumbrian die-hards who made the journey, especially those from the border-town who were on the 6am coach. Four of them made the climb up to the Village pre-match as they had a White Swan connection. They were from a coach that goes to every game - £400 for the season. It was great to hear them talking of their long journeys and I was more than happy to point out that I am hoping to be at Brunton Park in April for our hat-trick of promotions on their ground.

The subject of goalkeeper Jimmy Glass' last gasp league preserving goal inevitably came up and "Ginge" shared his own personal dedication to the moment. He also had the back-page headlines from the News of the World tattooed around his neck. I suppose it was an historic and almost unbelievable event for Carlisle fans.

Back to the match and Chris Powell drafted Chris Solly back in at right-back but stuck with Green and Kermorgant. We also looked to have made an enforced change in the middle with utilty man Andy Hughes partnering Danny Hollands in the engine room. I was a little apprehensive about this but they looked like they had played together for years. Danny Green played like he had been told it was his last start and with Jackson firing on the left, we had width and were at Carlile from the off. Green and BWP had chances before our opening goal which had some fine wing play and an excellent cross from Jackson which hit the unmarked Kermorgant plum centre and he has the simple task of deciding which side of the keeper to direct his header. One-nil and there was no response from the visitors. Within ten minutes it was two-nil. A woeful short back pass let Bradley Wright-Phillips nip in and steer the ball into the far corner from a tight angle.

Still no response from Carlisle and the third was inevitable. Rhoys Wiggins looked like a "man on a mission" yesterday and you could be forgiven from his attacking performance for assuming he bore some grudge against Carlisle or that he was a former player. He raced down the flank cut into the box, skipped a challenge and pinger the ball back to a host of players. The first effort was blccked, as was the second but the third was rifled home by Yann Kermorgant.

After the break it was really only a case of how many and the answer was four. Danny Hollands, showing considerably more urgency than last week, strode through the middle and then accelerated at goal before hitting a hopeful shot which squirmed out of Collin's hands and rolled over the line. After that we pretty much played the game out although Ben Hamer did have a penalty to save before the scoreline was set.

All-in-all, a home performance that you might expect to see fairly frequently from a table-topping team and one that I have crying out for in recent weeks. If we can carry the urgency and focus to Wycombe in the week then we might well have a points cushion again to take to the tough looking fixture at Hartlepool on Saturday.

League One Weekend Preview, Game 14

2011-10-21T08:12:00.000+01:00

First, apologies for my lack of posts of late. I have been incredibly busy at work but the real reason has been a lack of anything much to comment on re Charlton Athletic.

I will not be working at all this weekend as we have friends down from Aberdeen and a fairly well planned couple of days. The girls are all booked in to see the matinee performance of the Wizard of Oz tomorrow whilst myself and Aberdeen's number one fan will be in the East Stand to watch the Table Toppers. Expectations from the north-east of Scotland are high and whilst I began tempering them in Alicante last week, my guest will still be expecting to see a footballing massacre.

Any regular readers will be aware of my scepticism of our ability to stay at the top of our league based upon the football we have been playing. Following last week's horror showing at Stevenage, tomorrow's game will be an indicator of the side's capability to "respond" and of Chris Powell's powers of motivation. I have a concern that we are missing that player on the pitch with standout leadership qualities and Chris Powell failed to be able to get a response last season when things went wrong.

Johnnie Jackson doesn't look like top Captain material and he might be happier unburdened to concentrate on his attacking play. I might be inclined to give Danny Hollands or Michael Morrison a go. Chris Powell needs to have ensured his charges are pumped for tomorrow and team selection could be crucial. The evident mistake of dropping Chris Solly should have been acknowledged behind close doors and I expect to see him start. If Danny Green did well enough to play his way into a starting berth, he hasn't done anywhere near enough to hold onto it and Wagstaff should again be given the nod. I would give Yann Kermorgant another start but would be prepared to bring Paul Hayes on after 60 minutes if it isn't working.

Our bench has also looked thin for the first time and I would be inclined to add a youngster or two to shake things up. Interesting to see Nathan Eccleston join Rochdale on loan. I wouldn't have wanted him for a month but if we could have landed him for longer, he might have given us six or seven extra goals.

This coming week could be very rewarding for us. Whilst we play Carlisle at home and Wycombe away on Tuesday, our challengers all appear to face tougher match-ups.

AFC Bournemouth v Bury
Bournemouth continue to struggle but won a point at MK Dons last week in a battling 2-2 draw. That might have given them enough momentum going into this fixture to nick it.
Prediction; 2-1

Charlton Athletic v Carlisle United
Not only is Aberdeen's numbero uno casting his eagle eye over the latest Charlton side but Alan Whicker (aka Chicago Addick living part-time in Bermuda) is also burning some air miles to join us. For their sakes, as much as anything else, I am praying for a win but I can see our opponents scoring first and frustrating us.
Prediction; 2-2

Chesterfield v Hartlepool United
Both of these sides lost 3-1 at home last time out and will want a response like ourselves.
Prediction; 1-1

Exeter City v Rochdale
City sit on the bottom and last week's demoralising 4-0 home defeat to Huddersfield will weigh heavily. Looks a perfect opportunity for Nathan Eccleston to mark his arrival at Dale.
Prediction: 0-2

Huddersfield Town v Preston North End
Amazingly, Preston's September bubble appears to have been well and truly burst as they have lost three matches in succession. This looks like a fourth.
Prediction; 2-0

Leyton Orient v Sheffield United
After their impressive 4-2 win at Preston in the week, the Blades could find this a struggle as the O's go for their fourth win in-a-row.
Prediction; 2-2

MK Dons v Scunthorpe United
MK Dons may have slipped up at home to Bournemouth last weekend but they remain unbeaten in their new town. They should see off the Iron in this one.
Prediction; 2-0

Notts County v Brentford
The Bees go looking for away win number five but Notts have won all five since the Addicks claimed the points early in the season.
Prediction; 2-1

Oldham Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers
Both of these sides a tad unpredictable. Wycombe could turn another upset before slumping to a home defeat in the week?
Prediction; 0-1

Sheffield Wednesday v Colchester United
Sheffield Wednesday's 100% home record won't go on for too much longer and Colchester could just be the party-poopers. Good enough for another draw?
Prediction; 2-2

Stevenage v Yeovil Town
Has to be a home win after last week's results. Yeovil looked doomed.
Prediction; 2-0

Tranmere Rovers v Walsall
Tranmere should win comfortably here although Walsall will probably spite me again.
Prediction; 2-0

Stevenage 1 v Charlton Athletic 0

2011-10-15T20:34:00.000+01:00

Hard to find any positives from today's archetypal fall from grace. Some will no doubt remind me that we are still top of the league and I am fully aware of that, but it is a false position based on the football we have been playing in recent weeks and it caught us out today. Reflect, if you will, on Huddersfield's 4-0 win at Exeter this afternoon.

Our starting line-up was adjusted today to accommodate Morrison at right-back as Solly moved to the bench. I assumed that Solly was injured or ill but learnt after the match that he was a sub. That will take some explaining, although Morrison didn't do much wrong. That meant Leon Cort came into the middle with Taylor. Green got the nod on the right wing and Kermorgant held onto the twin striking role with Wright-Phillips. I suppose Chris Powell will tell us we needed more height today in defence but that will sound a trifle hollow after the performances Solly has been putting in this season irrespective of his lack of inches.

Stevenage came at us for most of the first half. A familiar enough scenario in recent weeks and it surely reflects a managerial game plan to keep things tight and establish ourselves in matches before pushing on in the second-half. It didn't work again this week because Stevenage scored after ten minutes. A ridiculous deflection (from a Stacy Long shot - had to be him) left Hamer sprawling to his left as the ball flew in to his right. The massed ranks of optimists behind the goal had a perfect view. Stevenage didn't really come close again but they had all the meaningful possession and took the game to us up to the break.

In the second period we looked more interested although the pace hadn't risen noticeably. BWP was stretching his legs but we looked like we were playing one up front. I can't remember Yann Kermorgant touching the ball. The other player to have broken into the side in the last couple of weeks also went missing today. Danny Green had an absolute stinker and what threat we had came from Johnnie Jackson or long balls.

Dale Stephens and Danny Hollands were out-fought and out-thought in the middle. Both are decent footballers but neither can step in and we have developed a habit of trying just to compete in the centre of the pitch when we need to be dictating play. It was tough to see Charlton reject, Stacy Long, calling the shots against us in a League One fixture.

Bradley Wright-Phillips did come close to the leveller after half-time when he broke onto a long ball and bore down on goal but his clipped shot, which beat the keeper, also went agonisingly wide. Other than that, it took a superb save from Day to keep out a Leon Cort header from a corner that was expertly knocked down and was going in until the diving Day extended a hand at full stretch and turned it around the post. That, I am afraid, was the sum total of 90 minutes football against a side we all expected to beat. Not good enough for 1500+ travelling supporters.

I will also be critical of the use of substitutions today. Green failed to beat his man or get one decent cross in that I can remember and should have gone off immediately after a booking borne of frustration in his own performance around the hour mark but Powell kept him out there for another ten to fifteen minutes before bringing on Wagstaff. The second change on 80 was Evina for Stephens which necessitated a reshuffle with Jackson going into the middle, Evina to left-back and Rhoys Wiggins moving up. By the time they all settled in, we were playing added time.

Perhaps we have the right sort of opponents next week in Carlisle at the Valley but we need to shake things up and re-focus our players or we are going to slide out of the top spots and the vicious circle will again be on us.

League One Weekend Preview, Game 13

2011-10-14T07:58:00.000+01:00

Back to league action this weekend after the flurry of Euro qualifiers and I will be up at Stevenage for what I believe will be my 100th League ground. With a capacity of 7100 and a history that doesn't out-date my own record of watching live games, I am not expecting too much. The re-named Lamex Stadium (Lamex a food group) was once too small and inadequate to enable the then, Stevenage Borough, from taking their place in League Two.

The 1500 plus travelling Addicks will be expecting us to lord it in Hertfordshire and put these whippersnappers in their place. That's what we must do if we are to maintain pole position in the division this week. One of my work colleagues lives in the town and will be making a rare trip to his local side (he's a Spurs fan) in honour of the occasion. I really do hope we prove worthy.

Brentford v Scunthorpe United
The Bees get another chance to improve their disappointing home record against a Scunny side who have proven hard to beat on their travels. If Brentford go for it like they did at the Valley last week, they should be home and dry.
Prediction; 2-0

Chesterfield v Notts County
County will make the relatively short trip to the Spireites expecting the three points to maintain their bright start to the season. They should be good enough for at least a point.
Prediction; 1-1

Exeter City v Huddersfield Town
Away banker I'm afraid. Bottom-placed Exeter will need everything to go for them to derail unbeaten Huddersfield. Can't see it.
Prediction; 0-3

Hartlepool United v Wycombe Wanderers
Grant Basey is currently guesting for Wycombe but he will be toiling hard to avoid defeat in the north-east this weekend. Slowly but surely, Hartlepool are getting to grips with League One and this should be a straightforward home win for them.
Prediction; 2-0

Leyton Orient v Bury
The O's finally appear to have woken from their stupor with a couple of smart victories and this fixture looks tailor-made to aid the recovery. O's out of the drop zone.
Prediction; 2-1

MK Dons v AFC Bournemouth
MK are unbeaten at home and I can't see Bournemouth lowering their colours. We can live in hope but I can see the league's most unpopular club hanging around the play-offs until the end of the season.
Prediction; 2-0

Rochdale v Colchester United
Colchester are slowly finding their feet after an indifferent start and they might throw a minor surprise here. I'll take them to score some goals in beating Dale.
Prediction; 1-3

Stevenage v Charlton Athletic
It's got to be a rollicking away victory hasn't it? Our travelling support, fuelled by a couple of hours in the pub should be in loud voice and this should feel like a home game. Well perhaps not a Valley home game but you know what I mean. I'm going to be bold and suggest we will win well here in front of our drooling fans.
Prediction; 1-3

Tranmere Rovers v Oldham Athletic
Home advantage should settle this one but Oldham are capable of throwing a double-six. Tranmere looked solid enough last week until they decided to try and defend their lead. If they go for it, Enoch Showumi has the threat to score the winning goal.
Prediction; 1-0

Walsall v Preston North End
Big week for North End. If they can collect the points here they play their game in hand at Sheffield United on Wednesday and will hopeful of kick-starting their charge after stuttering in the last couple of weeks.
Prediction; 1-2

Yeovil Town v Carlisle United
Long trip for Carlisle but they will face a struggling Yeovil whose squad is so thin that they may need to play their goal-keeping coach tomorrow. They really look like they are biding their time in League One before the inevitable.
Prediction; 0-2

Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday
Tough week for Sheffield United and they will want to start well in their bitter city derby which has been moved to Sunday. If they don't, Preston could wreck their week when they visit on Wednesday. This should be a typically feisty encounter and anything is really possible. United need the points to close the gap on Wednesday but draw is probably the most likely outcome.
Prediction; 2-2

Spain 3 v Scotland 1

2011-10-13T07:48:00.003+01:00

It was the denouement to Scotland's Euro 2012 campaign. They came from far and wide to be in Alicante on Tuesday evening to see their country play the World Champions in their back yard. An official allocation of 1200 tickets couldn't prevent more than 15,000 from turning up for a party and around 5,000 made it into the home ground of Hercules FC to see the spectacle.

The difference in class between the opponents was evident from kick-off as Spain strung 20-odd passes together before Scotland got a touch. The first goal was scored within five minutes and we were quickly left to admire how the game can be played when players with the ultimate ability are able to ping the ball across the grass with such speed and accuracy whilst out-manouevering their opponents. That it finished 3-1 was a relief as there was the potential for an embarrassing scoreline which would have been hard on an honest Scotland side who did their best.

We trudged back to the city to join the others and carried on the party but it had peaked and the journeys homeward began that night with buses leaving the city for other holiday towns and airports. I came home yesterday via Murcia with the fantastic memories of hundreds of hopeful Scots playing on the beach and around the marina on Tuesday. Alicante was a very pleasant surprise. Much more like Barcelona than Benidorm. No all-day English breakfasts and a clean and upmarket town with public artworks and historic buildings.

It will likely be a year at least before another competitive (sic) Scotland match but it will come around and it will be a World Cup qualifier, maybe against Belgium or Wales. By then we will be ready again and will gather once more to celebrate with those who are most like us. As one of the Saltires hung from palm trees down by the harbour read, "there is a light that never goes out."

Charlton Athletic 1 v Tranmere Rovers 1

2011-10-08T18:30:00.001+01:00

Well we may be top of the league, three points clear etc but I am increasingly unconvinced about our promotion credentials. We scraped the draw we deserved but only because Tranmere lost their ambition in the second-half and increasingly played for the point. It was another indifferent home performance.

In the first forty-five we didn't muster an effort on target and whilst they didn't create a whole lot either, they were in front and looked far more likely to score a second than we did a first. Perhaps it's just what we have to deal with as table-toppers, especially when clubs come to London and our relatively impressive stadium (and crowds - 15,038 today). If that's the case then we have to learn to deal with it and make it a positive and not a negative. All the big clubs can intimidate you at their grounds and put you under immense pressure even if you are playing well. The atmosphere at the Valley doesn't help and we really need a couple of goals or some controversial decision making before the ground really wakes up. Telling us "to make some noise for the boys" over the tannoy sounds increasingly like a desperate and vain plea.

I felt the back four played well enough today and had to contend with the handful that is Enoch Showumi. Rhoys Wiggins was my man-of-the-match not only for his defensive play but for the urgency he showed in trying to prompt the game in the second-half and one or two of his over-lapping runs when he stormed past Johnnie Jackson.

It's the midfield where we need a shot in the arm. Stephens and Hollands are tidy enough and impose themselves much more when we are in front but neither finds it easy to press the game and get forward when we are level or trailing. Danny Green played his way into selection this week and then fell flat on his face with an insipid showing. Pretty much the same can be said of Yann Kermorgant although he improved second-half and laid a couple of fine balls on for Bradley Wright-Phillips.

Our goal, when it came, was a long delayed penalty as the referee dealt with a furious Tranmere protest and plenty of petulant pushing and shoving. My first instinct at the penalty was that one of our players was pulled down by another. I could understand Rovers' frustration in the circumstances. Johnnie Jackson wouldn't be put off and smashed home the equaliser. After that we had a couple of good chances to nick it but Lady Luck wasn't looking and we had to settle for the point.

I would love to see Enoch Showumi in a red shirt feeding BWP and Ian Goodison was excellent at the back for the visitors.

Off to Alicante on Monday for the last throw of the Scottish dice and I will be back in plenty of time for my first ever visit to Stevenage. The good news is we have played like promotion contenders away from SE7 so far.

League One Weekend Preview, Game 12

2011-10-08T07:50:00.002+01:00

Another hectic week at work but I am up early for the rugby. Game number 12 at the Valley this afternoon and we face a stingy Tranmere side who have made an encouraging start but whom I can't help feel will still be drawn to the bottom of the table magnet-like as the season progresses. Time to beat them then. There is a League One game on Sunday and another on Monday this weekend...

AFC Bournemouth v Rochdale
Four home defeats already for the Cherries and they will be desperate to steady the ship. Rochdale themselves have lost four away and this should be a big chance for Bournemouth.
Prediction; 1-0

Bury v Exeter City
Basement battle in Lancashire and my money would be on Bury to edge it.
Prediction;2-1

Carlisle v Brentford
Hard to judge how good Brentford were in the week. Certainly better than our half-side and they looked well motivated and packed a punch. If they can carry 70% of that onto Brunton Park this afternoon, they can expect to get something.
Prediction; 1-2

Charlton Athletic v Tranmere Rovers
Chance for us to stretch our lead at home in front of a handful of visiting fans. Most will accept a victory at any price and whilst I would obviously take that, I am desperate to see us play like a promotion winning side. I'd like hefty possession, controlled defensive performance and confidence up front. Sounds like a lot to ask for but not if you have serious hopes of promotion or even winning the title.
Prediction; 2-1

Colchester United v Yeovil Town
Looks like a home banker. Yeovil struggle away from home and Colchester go for it when they get their tails up.
Prediction; 3-0

Huddersfield Town v Stevenage
Still unbeaten and moving through the gears, the Terriers should do a job on Stevenage at the Galpharm. They will challenge us yet and this looks routine.
Prediction; 2-0

Scunthorpe United v Leyton Orient
They may be bottom but the O's found their feet against Preston last week and Scunthorpe are hardly firing on all cylinders. If the away side can get a lead here, I'll take them to sew it up.
Prediction; 2-0

Sheffield Wednesday v Chesterfield
A relatively short trip for Spireites today. They will look to put a blemish on the Owls 100% home record and it's the sort of fixture that turns one in. Trouble is, they have lost four away so far and I suspect they will crack under Wednesday pressure.
Prediction; 2-0

Wycombe Wanderers v Walsall
The Chairboys have been having a go this season but they appear to have a soft centre. Walsall are no great shakes themselves, so this is an opportunity for a second home win to follow their defeat of Sheffield United.
Prediction; 3-2

Sunday, 9 October 2011
Notts County v Hartlepool United
Decent match in prospect here. Hartlepool have been hard to better so far and are unbeaten away. Notts, however, would have a 100% home record if we hadn't lowered their colours. Lee Hughes and Co should be confident of inflicting a first away reverse on Pools.
Prediction; 2-1

Monday, 10 October 2011
Oldham Athletic v MK Dons
A test for MK Dons and they will be playing catch-up here. Oldham will give them a tough game and it might be hard to split them.
Prediction; 1-1

Wales have smothered the Irish as I have been writing this and I can hear the strains of Delilah. My mate Mitch was at the game today as he continues his 20-odd day holiday. He's half-Welsh and I am guessing he's lost his phone or mine would have been beeping for the last couple of hours. Mulligan, where are you? You lost your phone too?

Cup of tea before I settle down to the England v France game. Should be a cracker. C'mon England!

Charlton Atheltic 0 v Brentford 3

2011-10-05T21:34:00.001+01:00

Moving on. Another inept TV showing this evening. The good news was that the game was the insignificant Johnson's Paint Trophy and I was able to pop home at half-time to watch the second-half on the box. It didn't look any better.

You could say it wasn't our first team side and that we are concentrating on the league and a host of other things, but the fact is we were second-best across the park. The competition rules dictate that you must field six players from your previous league game and presumably Brentford did similarly, so we can hardly claim any inferiority complex.

The Bees were quicker, more direct and more determined and scored with their first attack. They came close to a second before a woefully late and pathetic Alonso tackle gifted them the second inside 25 minutes from the spot. We had nothing in reply during the first-half and instead had to suffer horror showings from Andy Hughes at right-back and Alonso in midfield.

Brentford made it three on the hour and justified my decision to dash home at the break. They are proving to be a thorn in our side (fourth time they ave beaten us in little over a year) and will look forward to our league meetings this season.

Having missed the first home game of the season against Bournemouth, we really have under-performed since and the reserve team victory over Reading in the Leage Cup was the best showing I have seen at the Valley. Maybe it will come good on Saturday when we can get a performance as well as a result to justify our table-topping billing?

"Ticket Office" Closing - a cautionary tale

2011-10-04T18:58:00.001+01:00

I thought I would share my bitter experience of trying to buy Stevenage tickets this afternoon with you all, lest you fall into the same trap as me. I planned my day to leave work early today in order to secure my Stevenage tickets before the masses snap them up on general sale on Thursday (I won't get there tomorrow).

I made the train from Cannon Street and arrived on time at Charlton at 4.50pm. Nice stroll around to the Club Shop which now doubles as our non-matchday Ticket Office only to find the door "locked." There were four people visible inside, one of whom beckoned to me to "push." I did push and was slightly embarrassed that my huge frame still couldn't open the door. At that point, the person nearest the door turned and unlocked it - "what do you want?" "Tickets!" I replied with the excitement and expectation of Charlie Bucket. "Sorry, we're closed" came the terse response and the door was shut in my face.

Stunned, I took a few automatic steps away and then checked my trusty Swiss timepiece which said 4.57pm. I turned back checking the time on my phone and Blackberry - 4.57pm and 4.58pm. I knocked on the door again and explained that it wasn't yet five o'clock. "It is on our computer" said the slightly embarrassed-now looking club rep and the door was again shut in my face.

Then the penny dropped. I've seen this before. You know, Government offices and Jobsworth operations. When you shut at 5pm, that means you clock off at 5pm. So you lock the door before closing to avoid a rush of people getting in who might delay your 5pm departure. I am assuming the bloke who encouraged me to push was a latecomer who was the last "customer" to be let in before the Jobsworth shut the door.

It's soooo frustrating. Bouyed by the feel-good factor, I have been feeling much more positive about the club I love and thinking about booking a box or hospitality for a crowd of friends in the run-up to Christmas. Then you are reminded just how much your money means to the club. Why, oh why, do we allow the people who represent the club to get away with nonsense like this? Hospitality? Forget it.

Sheffield United 0 v Charlton Athletic 2

2011-10-01T17:03:00.001+01:00

Oh Me of little faith! A stonking away victory for the unbeaten Addicks at promotion rivals. The 1000+ travelling fans will be joined by many more at future away games as the march gathers pace. All this on a day when Leyton Orient battled back to de-rail Preston's recent charge.

Chris Powell fielded an unchanged side yet again and retained Hayes and Wagstaff when plenty were calling for Kermorgant and Green. It was a so-so first half by the sounds of it with United having most of the possession and yet both sides missed sitters. Morrison failed to test the keeper from three yards out when teed-up by knock-down from Hayes and the Blades should have been one-up but one of theirs mis-kicked with the goal gaping.

The game continued to stutter after the break and the CAFC Player Commentators were calling for Wagstaff to come off after a second successive poor showing and having got himself booked through frustration. Instead, Yann Kermorgant entered the fray again for Paul Hayes and within a minute he changed the game with another scoring header. The goal sparked a mini Charlton surge and Bradders might have scored a minute later. The fact that he didn't was of little consequence because a further minute on he did just that to put the Addicks in the box seat.

There was time for Ben Hamer to pull off a super save to avoid the Charlton Wobbles and we even had a couple of half-chances towards the finish where we might have rubbed salt into the wounds. United hit the post at the death but we weren't going to be denied.

With the four matches involving eight of the top nine sides all ending in decisive victories, the League One table will make comfortable reading in tomorrow's papers as the Addicks now have a 5 (five) point cushion and the best goal difference in the division. As our fans were bellowing at the end, "WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE, SAID WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!"

League One Weekend Preview, Game 11

2011-09-29T08:42:00.000+01:00

It's a big weekend at the top of League One (which I guess means it should be an equally big weekend at the other end?). Eight of the top nine sides are pitted against each other with only fast appearing Preston playing a side from further down and they have the easy paper task of visiting rock bottom Orient.

I have been swithering about the trip to Sheffield on Saturday. My work has been manic this week and I have hardly seen my family, so am under far more pressure than normal not to disappear on Saturday. I may have to rely on CAFC Player.

Brentford v Huddersfield Town
Two decent League One games in the capital city this weekend. Unbeaten Huddersfield go to Griffin Park where the Bees need a big win to get buzzing again. Brentford have only managed one home point in their last three and need to re-establish themselves. They might find Town resilient enough for a point.

Prediction; 1-1

Chesterfield v Colchester United
Colchester are struggling to get going this year and Chesterfield might give them a tough test here. Can't see the Train Addicks bumping into too many Colchester fans this weekend.
Prediction; 2-0

Exeter City v Oldham Athletic

Like Colchester, both of these teams are under-performing against last year and the Grecians may be missing Matt Taylor at the back. Oldhan have managed three wins away from the grim North and they might feel on holiday in deepest Devon.

Prediction; 1-2

Hartlepool United v Sheffield Wednesday

Possibly Hartlepool's largest crowd of the season will come to see Pools defend their unbeaten home record. Megson will settle for a draw if he can get one.

Prediction; 1-1

Leyton Orient v Preston North End

The second decent looking League One match in town this weekend, which I would be tempted to go to if we weren't playing at the same time. We'd all like to see the O's take something here but they are in a mess. Phil Brown has probably nicked the League One Manager-of-the-Month from Chris Powell and their win over our reserves in the League Cup could be the result that sways the panel. Perhaps the curse that accompanies it may help us?

Prediction; 0-2

MK Dons v Notts County

Fifth v sixth here and very hard to call although MK are probably the better all-round team.

Prediction; 2-1

Rochdale v Wycombe Wanderers

Trap-door derby and Dale will see this as a game they need to be winning if they are to progress in this division. Wanderers are unpredictable but may suffer a hangover from blowing a 3-2 lead at home to Preston in the week.

Prediction; 2-0

Sheffield United v Charlton Athletic

Our unbeaten run could well run for another six games if we can avoid defeat here. Hartlepool at the end of October is the next big test. Like us, United's early-season dominance is being tested and the loss at Wycombe Wanderers last week may provoke a reaction. Our run won't last for ever and I fear we will suffer a reversal here.

Prediction; 2-0

Stevenage v Scunthorpe United

Scunthorpe are not adapting very well to dropping down a division and need to steady the ship or risk a second successive relegation battle. Stevenage, in contrast, are having a go following promotion and this could be a wake-up call for Alan Knill.

Prediction; 3-0

Tranmere Rovers v AFC Bournemouth

Looks like a home banker. Bournemouth have at least managed two wins away but they are struggling after all the changes during the back-end of last season.

Prediction; 3-1

Walsall v Carlisle United

Carlisle have been picking up and with three away wins under their belt, they will travel with confidence, something Walsall are short of. They could nick this.

Prediction; 1-2

YeovilTown v Bury

A proper lower league fixture and a reason why we need to be out of this division. Bury haven't managed to score away from home yet!

Prediction; 1-0

Report from Milton Keynes

2011-09-28T09:33:00.004+01:00

I was out with work last night but the guy (my mate!)who sits next to me in the East was there. Here you go! (Thanks Pete).

A soulless, desolate place is Milton Keynes! Or so I’m led to believe, last night was only my third visit to this “new” town. I’d last been there on a training course and prior to that to see Bowie back in the early eighties. I’ve never actually seen the town centre or its environ so can’t comment on concrete cows and concrete jungles. If it is so bad, then luckily the Stadium MK is not in MK at all but on the outskirts of Bletchley, so not a cow or jungle to be seen. So my first visit to Stadium MK. Set amid business and industrial estates, parking was easy, there were fast food outlets nearby if that was your wont, and access to the ground and gates uncomplicated. The oval shape of this stadium lends far more character than those rectangular outcroppings of say The Reebok, Weston Homes Community stadium (or whatever Colchesters ground is called) and The New Den, and on entering you can see that a great view can be had from anywhere in the ground. Must mention what a pleasure to be served an ice cold bottle of lager in a queue free bar!

It’s a shame that MK Dons crowds are that low, that it’s felt there is no need to finish the interior of this stadium by putting the rest of the seats in, it’s unlikely that there will be a need to rectify that in the near future, but if it were ever finished and the place was ever packed, I can imagine quite an atmosphere.

So to the game. Listen! If you were no good at football as a kid, and never played much as an adult, you became a referee, or played rugby, or became interested in stats, formation, strategies and tactics. Dave did at least two of those things (he’s never been a ref as far as I know) so his ability to comment on games is far greater than my own, I can’t watch a game and remember every detail like he does. We sit together at home games and his opinion often differs from my own, in part because I’ve played since I was a kid and still do, that combined with my short sightedness even with glasses on, makes our viewpoints not necessarily opposite, just different. I think that if I had to concentrate so much on the game in order to be able to write this blog, my enjoyment would diminish. I’m lazy, I go along to be entertained and to watch my team win, hopefully.

The first five minutes of this encounter saw five shots at goal, three for MK all on target, two to the Addicks, all off. It looked like this was going to be an entertaining encounter, and the boys in red were showing a fair bit of class early doors. Hamer had to make a couple of good saves and BWP and Hayes both got into good positions without creating too much. On twenty minutes, a tangle of legs just inside the box, had me thinking penalty, and there weren’t too many dissenting voices around me as the ref blew the whistle and duly pointed to the spot. Shaun Williams stepped up and dispatched the pen with aplomb and the franchisees were 1-0 up. The reds got a bit scrappy after this, with players in red shirts challenging for the same ball, communication going missing and the general passing games employed so successfully in the season thus far, going to pieces. Hamer had to make a tremendous save in the latter part of the half, and we went into the break the one goal down.

Second half kicking towards the away fans, we looked lively again and some good combination play saw a few chances for the reds, but Hamer once again had to save smartly to keep us in the game. Jackson and Morrison both had decent heading chances but failed to place the ball on target. Chrissy made a change on around seventy minutes, bringing on Green for the once more ineffective Wagstaff. Green looked lost when he first came on and I wondered whether a mistake had been made. A second substitution five minutes later saw Kermorgant come on for Hayes. Kermits first touch was a free header that went just wide of the post. A few minutes later and Green got into the game with a superb cross, that was headed goalward by his fellow sub, hit the left hand post and went in off of the keepers backside., 1-1. The remaining 15 minutes of the game saw efforts at both ends, with Jackson spurning a glorious chance with a free header going over the bar. Hamer, once more had to make a couple of very decent stops, he’s looking a pretty good keeper to me.

Chrissy made his final substitution with 8 or so minutes to go, when he brought on Hughes for BWP, and was obviously settling for the draw. No-one appeared to tell his team that as we continued to attack and left ourselves open at the back. It was quite a relief when the ref blew up after 4 minutes of added time. All in all not the greatest performance by the boys in red this season, and against better oppo than this we might have been punished, but on the balance of play a fair result I suppose. A crowd of over eight thousand was announced, but for that to be true there must have been for thousand travelling Addicks, somehow I doubt that. Why can’t clubs change “attendance” to “tickets sold” or something? So that I can stop getting annoyed when the number is announced, it’s the same both home and away.

So a reasonable evenings entertainment, slow journey home due to the M1 and M25 roadworks, in by eleven thirty for a cup of tea and a chat with the Mrs, then off to the land of nod.
Thanks Dave, for letting me guest on the blog, hope to do the same again some time. Bye all.

Curbs' next job

2011-09-25T18:18:00.002+01:00

This afternoon I have seen the future. I watched the QPR v Villa game on Sky. I was struck by two things; QPR don't look equipped to survive in the Premier League and they are a side full of players Alan Curbishley would love to work with.

When you consider the position Curbs has found himself in, Rangers are pretty much a top bet for him as and when Neil Warnock gets the chop. Big Al has waited forlornly for long enough for a "big club" and even he must realise now that it's not going to happen for him. He seems limited geographically to the south-east and ideally to the London. Assuming Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs are out-of-reach, and having already managed Charlton and West Ham, QPR are currently the only realistic option. When you see Luke Young and Jay Bothroyd on their team sheet, we have an immediate connection. Heider Helguson and Tommy Smith were both previous Curbs targets and Anton Ferdinand played under him at Upton Park. In Joey Barton, they have a classic Curbs signing of a bad boy who may have matured enough not to embarrass you and who still has enough talent to prove a point.

Villa were limited today in their ambition without Darren Bent and even then they should have hung on for all three points. Poorer sides will win at Loftus Road this season and the better ones will sap local morale. If Rangers find themselves in the Doo-Doo come January, I wouldn't be at all surprised if the new owner looks for someone with the experience of keeping underdogs in the top flight.

As you may be able to tell, I am looking for a diversion from Scotland's fatally narrow defeat to the Argies this morning. Not good enough Scotland and failure to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time will mean another down-rating in world sport. Pull your socks up Andy Murray, a nation yearns for some sporting success on the world stage.

Charlton Athletic 3 v Chesterfield 1

2011-09-24T20:07:00.001+01:00

It's turning out to be a very good day. I have a bottle of Wolf Blass' President's red in front of me and I am reflecting on a home win that has put us three points clear at the top of League One with a game a hand. Our victory was also one leg of the Holy Trinity, with Millwall and Palace both being beaten (it doesn't happen often so make the most of it).

I missed the first 30 minutes of the game as I sped back from Brighton having settled my Niece in at Sussex University. I got my first glimpse of Brighton's new Falmer Stadium as I left the Uni and very good it looks too as it hugs the A27. It's nothing, of course, compared to the Valley with 22,151 fans in it watching an increasingly confident side play winning football.

I was informed we were one-up as I ran through the turnstiles with my Step-father and within a couple of minutes of having taken our seats it was 2-0. Having forced a handball close to the edge of their box, we scored from what looked like a training ground routine. The free-kick was driven back across the box and was cleverly dummied on the near post (by Hayes I think) and left for Johnnie Jackson who was running in behind unmarked and was able to beat Fleming from ten yards.

We were clearly on top at that stage and might have score a third before the break. My attention was only diverted by some strange goings on in the Jimmy Seed. For some reason, our fans seated there were forced to leave the section they had clearly bought tickets for and it didn't look like they were too happy about it. No doubt there will be a story on this....

After the break we failed to seize the initiative and Chesterfield saw a lot more of the ball without really threatening us. They had a very loud penalty appeal turned down after Rhoys Wiggins blocked a cross on the edge of the box with what looked like his falling body but I guess it could well have hit his arms. One of the Chesterfield management team was sent to the stands for protesting - I am inclined to say it was manager John Sheridan but he looked too fat and too grey? Leon Clarke was proving a bit of a handful and he eventually won the Spireites a penalty when he was too quick for Morrison in the box. He was furious not to be allowed to take the kick and we didn't see anything of him after the penalty. Chesterfield brought on a very impressive sub in Dean Morgan who didn't put a foot wrong and was unlucky not to have equalised with an effort that Ben Hamer got a paw to.

After the deficit had been reduced, we all had that horrible feeling in our stomachs but it didn't last long because Chesterfield were quickly pegged back as we realised attack was the best form of defence. The clock was running down and we were again taking the game to the opposition just like we had in the first half. Matt Taylor was booked for diving in the box when the home fans in this ground thought he had won a penalty. It's the second time we have suffered this in recent weeks but Taylor's appeal looked heartfelt and he carried it on after the final whistle. The game was capped with a cracking third Charlton goal. Yann Kermorgant, who had come on for an exhausted Paul Hayes, won a through ball and held off his man to play it on for the over-lapping Scott Wagstaff. Scott broke through the line and his only target was Bradley Wright-Phillips who was steaming in at the other side of the box. His cross was an absolute peach and had the pace and accuracy to make Fleming's job on Chesterfield line almost impossible. BWP gobbled it up and thumped home the header.

Rhoys Wiggins was my man-of-the-match, closely followed by Johnnie Jackson who for once managed a home performance akin to those he seems to save for aways. I forced myself to watch Matt Taylor for spells today because I have rarely noticed him this season. I am pleased to report it's not because he is anonymous but because he is so quietly effective. Chris Solly was very solid again today and I laugh in the faces of those who continue to knock him.

Stephens and Hollands were better today and Waggy made the third even if it wasn't one of his better games. BWP's pace over the first few yards is impressive and his movement was again excellent today. Paul Hayes would be twice the player with Bradley's pace but he is a clever player and works hard.

For a change, the mood leaving the Valley after a "big" game was overwhelmingly positive and were cheered by news that Sheffield United had been beaten at Wycombe Wanderers. With our early season challengers already stuttering, we have a rare opportunity to build our lead at the top of the table. MK Dons on Tuesday promises to be a belter.

The club deserve some genuine praise for today. The marketing team did a fantastic job in filling the ground and the half-time video of the season to-date was a great way to show non-season ticket holders what they have been missing and what this season currently promises. I only hope the decision to force our fans from the Jimmy Seed doesn't back-fire on us.

I scarcely dare mention it, but if Scotland can crash through the Argie barrier in the Rugby World Cup early tomorrow morning, my weekend will be complete. FREEE-DOM!

League One Weekend Preview, Game 9

2011-09-23T19:25:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow's bumper Valley gate will once again come expecting to see the opposition put to the sword and us maintain our pole position at the top of League One. History would suggest a one-nil wager on Chesterfield is where the value-bet lies. Whilst I am acutely aware of our propensity to fluff our lines on occasions like this, I have to believe we will get the result tomorrow to set us up for two testing away games at the homes of early promotion contenders.

I am planning on being at the game tomorrow but there is a chance I might miss it. My Niece, whom I consider my first-born, is beginning university at Sussex tomorrow and I am taking her and her stuff down to Brighton first thing. My job is to ensure she gets settled into her Halls of Residence, or Cholera City as I believe it is affectionately known. There are then several repeat presentations from the Chancellor (whoever he is) which begin at 2pm. If she wants me there, I will be glad to accompany her but I am hoping she might dispense with my services and send me back to the Smoke in time to see the game. There is a chance I might have to listen to radio snippets as I hurtle homewards. In which case, I should be able to follow progress around the other League One venues. If you see a large, breathless man storming into Block D of the East mid-way through a half tomorrow, spare a thought.

AFC Bournemouth v Hartlepool United
You have to feel sorry for Bournemouth. It's all gone so wrong in such a short space of time. Hartlepool are unbeaten in four away and I suspect they will maintain that record tomorrow.
Prediction; 0-2

Bury v MK Dons
I'd love to think Bury could take something here but they have already been beaten three times at home and MK will be bouyant.
Prediction; 0-2

Carlisle United v Stevenage
Surely Carlisle can't lose another home game? They lost three so far but managed three wins on the road. The Borderers to steady the ship at Brunton Park.
Prediction; 2-1

Charlton Athletic v Chesterfield
If BWP plays, I have him down for a double and that should be good enough. Chesterfield are undefeated in four but we should present a tougher test than Orient, Bournemouth, Carlisle and Bury. I really hope we play some football whilst we are at it.
Prediction; 2-0

Colchester United v Walsall
The U's to sneak a second home win of the season in front of a tiny crowd..
Prediction; 2-1

Huddersfield Town v Leyton Orient
The O's are in danger of being relegated before Christmas. Russell Slade must be drinking as much red wine as me at the moment and not because he is enjoying life.This should be the O's tenth league game without a win and it's very difficult to defend a two point return from 30. There's a boil behind the scenes and it has to be lanced.
Prediction; 5-0

Notts County v Rochdale
Our early season win at Notts County is looking like one of the results of the season. Can't see Rochdale coming close.
Prediction; 3-0

Oldham Athletic v Brentford
The Bees have been at it on the road but they meet a recovering Oldham and it may be hard to split them tomorrow.
Prediction; 1-1

Preston North End v Tranmere Rovers
Preston have recovered from their opening day shock home defeat by Colchester and are stringing the results together. Tranmere also started brightly but I suspect these two will finish at least ten places apart. Home win for me.
Prediction; 2-0

Scunthorpe United v Yeovil Town
Like Orient, Scunthorpe have yet to win a league game this term. If you can't beat Yeovil on your home patch, you have to wonder where the points will come from.
Prediction; 1-0

Sheffield Wednesday v Exeter City
Can't see it I'm afraid. Five straight home victories for Megson's boys.
Prediction; 3-0

Wycombe Wanderers v Sheffield United
Should be an away banker but I believe Wycombe are a better side than their league position (and results) have so far shown. They might be good enough to deserve a point here.
Prediction; 2-2

SE London attendances down

2011-09-22T07:25:00.002+01:00

With a bumper Football-for-a-Fiver gate expected in SE7 on Saturday, it's interesting to note that gates south of the river are down at all three professional clubs. It is only four games played but with Charlton top, Palace doing much better than they finished last season and Millwall holding their own, we might have expected an improvement.

Charlton - Average 10-11 - 15582, Average 11-12 - 14980 (Down 602 or 4%)
Palace - Average 10-11 - 15351, Average 11-12 - 13867 (Down 1484 or 10%)
Millwall - Average 10-11 - 12438 Average 11-12 - 12090 (Down 348 or 3%)

Sure, these gates don't yet include some of the promotional gates that all three clubs experimented with last season and Charlton have had a Sky game which reduces the gate.

So, we can expect to increase our average on last season after Saturday's bumper gate and we should be confident of, once again, remaining the biggest draw in South London.

The current run

2011-09-19T08:24:00.000+01:00

Saturday's "fightback" at Rochdale may prove to be significant this season. As Addicks fans, we are used to our side conceding two and three (and occasionally four) goal leads. All sides do it, of course (eh Arsenal?), but it seems that we specialise in it and "it's just Charlton." I don't know if we can prove this statistically but I am confident that our record in fighting back from two or three down to take something from games is far inferior to our record for blowing it.

Without reaching for the record books, I think back over 30 plus years of watching us and can immediately recall Grimsby (Nigel Batch), Norwich (4-4) and Coventry (in the Cup) where we fought back to take points. We may also have done it against Man U from 3-1 down when Johnnie Robinson levelled? There must be a few more but they are overwhelmed by the times we have lost comfortable leads. Perhaps it's some kind of long-term karma for having recovered from 5-1 down to win 7-6 in that famous game from the 50's?

Whatever the history, our response in grabbing a winner means we are now undefeated in seven league games and should extend that to eight against Chesterfield in front of 20,000-plus fans (surely we won't blow a second successive home game on a Football for a Fiver promotion?). Whilst we aren't yet playing commanding League One football, we do have some resilience in the side and that could take us a long way. It will be tough to keep it going through nine and ten with aways at MK Dons and Sheffield United but that's the task if we want to match or better our 2009-10 start when we avoided defeat until the tenth match when Colchester drubbed us in that unforgettable night game in Essex.

I won't be able to make the MK Dons game due to a longstanding work conflict which will put me in Cambridge that night, but I am sowing the seeds for a day out in the Steel City.

Ought to mention the signing of Yann Kermorgant whilst I was away last week. I know very little about Yann but his record is far from impressive and at 29, it's hard to see why we have signed him. He has scored most of his goals in his native France but has never been prolific. One goal in twenty appearances for Leicester in two years speaks for itself and has me wondering why we have opted for older strikers with less-than-convincing scoring records. Paul Benson, Paul Hayes and Jason Euell already fit this bill and don't look capable of getting more than ten this year and would struggle badly in the Championship. At least in Michael Smith, we did acquire a young gun but his chances of breaking into the side don't look to have improved with the signing of Kermorgant. Prove me wrong Yann.

Rochdale 2 v Charlton Athletic 3

2011-09-17T17:10:00.001+01:00

A fourth successive away win in the league today moves us onto 20 points at the top of the table with Sheffield United who beat Colchester 3-0.

We were under the cosh early on and it took a fine save from Ben Hamer to prevent Rochdale from taking the lead. Johnnie Jackson then took strode into the game and it put a cross onto the head of the unmarked Danny Hollands two yards out and he opened the scoring after twenty minutes. We had the better of the first-half from then on and capped it with a Rhoys Wiggins drive that flew in off the post. Surely we could settle in the second-half and close the game out? Who knows, maybe add to our goal difference?

Instead we let Rochdale back into it and two goals inside the opening twenty minutes levelled the scores and all Charlton fans feared the worst. The two commentators on CAFC Player (Radio Kent) had seemed overly positive and were still saying they expected the Addicks to go on and win the match. Ten minutes from the finish, man-of-the-match Johnnie Jackson played down the wing and another cross was headed home by father-to-be Danny Hollands. We survived a last minute scare when sub Jason Euell headed a Dale effort off the line from under the bar.

We have a good chance in the next two matches to establish a lead at the top and put some distance between us and the play-off places. Chesterfield should be easy meat for a confident Addicks side if we can play better at home and we then face MK Dons away in midweek which is effectively our game in hand. If we can remain unbeaten in those two, the match at Bramall Lane that follows on 1st October should be a belter, although Chris Powell may well have just been cursed with the Manager-of-the-Month award. Time to start looking for trains to Sheffield methinks.

No sleep 'til Rochdale

2011-09-17T11:52:00.001+01:00

Back overnight from Mumbai after an exhausting week of meetings, cars, planes, hotels and more meetings. We didn't get to sit down and eat any evening before 10pm and were up and starting meetings or on the road at 7 each morning. Our itinerary took us into the Boardrooms of eight of our key suppliers and we went from Bangalore to Chennai, Pune and Mumbai.

So, home from Terminal 5 this morning just in time to see a thrilling Rugby World Cup encounter between Ireland and the the fabled Aussies. The Irish pack took the Gold on upfront and battered them for 80 minutes. The front five were unstoppable and played as a true pack which gave the Irish the platform for five kicked penalties which was enough to secure the win 15-6.

The Millwall v West Ham game is on shortly and I will try and listen to that to help stay awake for the big one at 3pm. I couldn't catch the game in the week but it sounded like the best team won. I can't say I am particularly bothered at being out of the League Cup even if it was an opportunity for the B team to get some first team time under their belts. Simon Francis came in for some particularly strong abuse by the sounds of it after putting in a stinker. Real shame when it was his man-of-the-match performance that had seen off Reading in the previous round.

I fear Rochdale may get at us today and would probably take a point now.Chris Powell needs to go for the win but I suspect we will try and keep it tight until half-time and then look to take our chances in the second-half. That might play to Dale's strengths and we could find ourselves chasing the game. It's good to be home.

Charlton Athletic 2 v Exeter City 0

2011-09-10T18:07:00.001+01:00

Three points and big disappointment this evening. A third duff home league showing in a row. We are back to joint top but we should be playing much better than this at the Valley if we want to get some genuine momentum. I am inclined to suggest that we are waiting for the wheels to fall off. It's nowhere near the sort of football you need to get the crowds back even if you are top-of-the-table.

It was the same side sent out again but barring the commitment and alertness of Bradley Wright-Phillips, we looked well below par against a poor Exeter side who played much of the match with only ten men. BWP could have opened the scoring in the third minute again after getting onto a high ball but he lifted it fractionally high and it cleared the bar. After that we let Exeter come at us for a large part of the first half and I think they scored a perfectly good goal. It looked to have crossed the line but the officials thought otherwise. In contrast, our goal, when it came, was largely undeserved. BWP latched onto a through pass to knock the ball past the advancing keeper. Having suffered personal abuse from the scant visiting support, he let them know he had scored and a couple of visitors had to be ejected.

We didn't improve after the break and whilst City never looked like scoring, they had far more ball than they should have. Johnnie Jackson had a second successive quiet game and Waggy looked subdued after his efforts in the week. Paul Hayes' touch today was woeful and he messed up three promising attacks with clumsy footwork.

Stephens and Hollands had better games in the middle but neither imposed themselves the way they should have that was really about it. The back four hard, with Solly my man of the match (if not BWP). Wiggins was guilty of some poor balls he never looked in any real trouble.

Tactically, Powell was better than in the week and he brought on Pritchard, Euell and Hughes, although by then Dale Stephens had stroked home after a good move down the right.

I suppose I shouldn't complain and perhaps I am expecting too much but if we can't settle down and boss a game against a poor side at home, I am concerned that perhaps we are flattering to deceive and that our bubble will, once again, be well and truly burst.

A bright point for me today was Bradley Wright-Phillips. He really is too good for League One and probably for us at the moment. His fifth goal in seven games and he always wants to know. I was particularly impressed with his attitude when he was subbed towards the end. His first thoughts were to wave goodbye to the Devonians who had been mocking him and his family all through the game. A real fighter. I wish we had a few more of those in this side.

League One Weekend Preview, Game 7

2011-09-09T04:24:00.002+01:00

Three o'clock in the morning and I can't sleep. I am off to India on Sunday for a ridiculous working week that will only involve work, travel and sleep. I have a hundred and one things to prepare before I go and they are keeping me awake. Perhaps the diversion of blogging will take my mind off it and enable me to get back to sleep?

So, Exeter at the Valley on Saturday? I am immediately encouraged that New York Addick won't be there and also by news that our visitors are low on morale, carrying injuries and 20th in the table. When you add to that an unbeaten Charlton start, an overdue convincing home win and something to prove from the last two Valley outings, this looks a home banker or a banana skin. I am going home banker. Here's who else is doing what...

Preston North End v Yeovil Town
This match is played this evening although I can't see any listing on Sky Sports. Maybe there is a gurning competition in Preston tomorrow? Anyhow, Phil Brown looks to be settling his North End steers after a rude re-awakening to League One football and I expect them to gobble Yeovil up here.
Prediction; 3-0

AFC Bournemouth v Chesterfield
Both of these teams find themselves in the relegation places and they have only a solitary Bournemouth home win between them. That tends to suggest a home win but I'll take them to share a point.
Prediction; 1-1

Bury v Rochdale
Not exactly the Milan derby but no doubt it's a big day out if you sport a flat cap and own a whippet (enough of the stereo-typing already). These two are both struggling too and avoiding a return to League Two looks to be their priority. Both would probably settle for a point.
Prediction; 1-1

Carlisle United v Hartlepool United
An East v West Coast affair here and Pools are currently travelling well. Add that to Carlisle nervy home form and I'll take another draw.
Prediction; 1-1

Charlton Athletic v Exeter City
Resounding home win. Two first-half goals to set us up for a big win to see us clamber above United or the Dons. We owe this lot for ruining our largest gate of last season...
Prediction; 3-0

Colchester United v Leyton Orient

Something is horribly wrong with the O's at the moment and Barry Hearn will be concerned after last year's strong finish. Colchester aren't exactly firing on all cylinders themselves but this looks like an easy three points.
Prediction; 3-0

Huddersfield Town v Tranmere United
Having only won two from their opening six, Town have crept up to 7th courtesy of being unbeaten. Lee Clark will have taken heart from that and he will be content to play the long game. Tranmere have started better than I would have expected but surely it won't last?
Prediction; 2-0

Notts County v Walsall
Notts County managed to fit in a game at Juventus in the week as they were invited to open Juve's new 41,000 seater (Juve adopted County's black and white stripes when they formed in honour of the world's oldest football club). It could be a morale booster - apparently no County player was on the pitch for longer than 60 minutes (11 subs?) - but it could backfire here in a game they would ordinarily expect to win.
Prediction; 2-2

Oldham Athletic v Stevenage

Stevenage are finding their feet in league Two whilst Oldham continue to splutter. I'll be bold and go for the away win.
Prediction; 1-2

Scunthorpe United v Sheffield United
Come on the Iron - time to dent some Blades and get your first win of the season!
Prediction; 2-1

Sheffield Wednesday v MK Dons
I wasn't impressed with Wednesday the other night but they are big and strong and will fancy this at Hillsborough. I don't believe MK Dons will go the distance this year.
Prediction; 2-0

Wycombe Wanderers v Brentford
A local encounter of sorts here and my pre-season surprise package Brentford have made a good start. The Chairboys have yet to win at home and I can see them waiting a bit longer.
Prediction; 0-2

I will miss the Preston game in the week as I will be sleeping in Bangalore and I don't get home until Saturday, so have the perfect excuse for not schlepping up to Rochdale. Hopefully Saturday will be a pleasant footballing experience to send me off in good spirit. Back to bed now...

Greenwich Comedy Festival

2011-09-08T08:37:00.001+01:00

Mrs Peeps surprised me recently with tickets for the Greenwich Comedy Festival (5-11th September) to see my favourite current comic, Micky Flannagan. I wasn't entirely convinced - the tickets were inexpensive, the event was in a tent and I hadn't heard of the two support acts. This was Greenwich, not Hammersmith and I was expecting two poor warm up acts and possibly a Micky Flannagan cashing in on his new found fame by re-telling the "chicken children" and doing his "cockney walk."

I couldn't have been more wrong on all accounts. We managed a quick main in the Old Brewery Restaurant on the site beforehand - somewhere I have been meaning to visit since it opened - decent enough. The tent was absolutely enormous, holding 1800 people and it was filled to the rafters. The set-up at the Old Naval College is pretty impressive too with plenty of toilets, beer tents, Pimms bus etc (although it couldn't cope with Beer and Jazz Festival a couple of Summer's back).

The MC for the evening was Dan Atkinson and he was a solid enough warm-up man who told the single funniest joke of the evening (not repeatable on tinternet). We then got Brighton comic Seann Walsh who started slowly and improved strongly, relying on personal observational humour and acted improvisations for most of his laughs. He was a decent enough turn.

Tom Stade was someone I recognised even if his name was unfamiliar. He is a Canadian who relies on precise observations of living in the UK as well as sending himself, Canadians and Americans up. He was brilliant and had the tent rocking. I would have paid my £18 to hear him on his own and feared he had upstaged the main act.

Micky-boy wasn't to be outdone though and fully justified his top line billing with a string of hilarious tales that come from his working-class Bethnall Green upbringing that strike a perfect cord with those of us of a certain age. He lives in East Dulwich now and began his routine with some riot gags and then went on to tell us about the reaction he had when he first told his East End mates that he was moving. At first he said it was to Libya and he received platitudes about the weather and the benefits of life under a Dictator. When he then said it was only joking and was moving south of the river, it was all "oh sorry to hear that Micky, I didn't know things had got so bad." It was funny at the time.

There's still time (and seats I believe) to get down to the festival - plenty of main stream acts yet to come...http://www.greenwichcomedyfestival.co.uk/