Just like last week, another decent result is undermined by the sides around us largely matching or bettering it. Fair play to Parky and the lads - all we can reasonably expect at this stage of the season is to put in the performances and avoid defeat, which we have been doing of late. With 12 games left to play, the Addicks desperately need to close the ten point chasm on Nottingham Forest who produced a stunning 1-0 win at Reading yesterday. We have a chance this week but will need to produce back-to-back wins for the first time since December 2007. Even then, we might only draw level with Norwich who are one place above us now and who lost calamitously at home to Coventry yesterday and now find themselves in hot water. Southampton managed back-to-back wins of their own yesterday and have thrown themselves a lifeline. Plymouth, Barnsley and Watford all won their games to distance themselves and it's Blackpool who are slipping at this vital stage of the season. Plymouth's eye-watering win at Wolves just about summed our luck up.
Watford's home win against Palace and Doncaster's latest win against Derby on Friday night, means that both will come to the Valley in relaxed mood which could work for us. Doncaster, however, might have the bigger point to prove, having been robbed by us earlier in the season for our only away win of the season so far.
Whilst we have been poor for most of the season, it's our form away from home which shows just how bad we've been. Mustering only 8 points from a possibly 54 would put any side in the relegation zone, and the fact that we only seem capable of forcing draws now even when we are matching opponents tells you all you need to know.
Relegation is what we deserve this season and it might be a necessary evil if we are to regroup properly as a club and get ourselves on a level footing so we can move forward once again. There is, of course, always the risk that we are unable to compete even in League One and the unthinkable happens, but you have to believe that remnants from the current squad would be good enough to make our side competitive and that youth and a little bit of money might make the difference. Who knows, perhaps we would be seen as a real bargain at League One valuation and might just attract new board members or owners with the funds needed to refloat the club.
"Relegation...might be a necessary evil if we are to regroup properly as a club and get ourselves on a level footing so we can move forward once again".
ReplyDeleteI hope this is true, however it is what we all said when relegated from the Premiership just 2 years ago.
Sadly our Board have shown they do not learn from previous mistakes so I would expect all our decent players to be sold with 20 new ones coming in, massive upheaval and several years of mediocrity in League1 await.
"Watford's home win against Palace and Doncasters latest win against Derby on Friday night, means that both will come to the Valley in relaxed mood which could work for us."
ReplyDeleteBut then it's Reading and Wolves, and I'd be surprised if they continue their recent poor results...I'd like to be proved wrong.
If, or maybe should that be when we are relegated, we will continue with PP if recent performances are to go by, at least the team are playing as a team...and there's spirit there again. Now keeping our players, maybe this lot have something to prove there, and don't have get out clauses as premier league players sometimes have. The board has just got to hold it's collective nerve with the money game.