I wrote the headline and then couldn’t decide whether I meant Darren Randolph or Alan Pardew.

I think that has finally put paid to our playoff chances and I’m sure there are a few people in the Charlton background rubbing their hands with thanks that we’ll have to all go and buy our season tickets for next year after all.

Personally, I thought Matt Holland and Lee Cook were our best two with Semedo having the proverbial ‘mare.  Time for a rest Jose methinks.

Needless to say, we gifted Southampton their goal with a moment of comedy from Randolph - if he’d tipped it over instead of trying to catch it while facing his own net I don’t think anyone in the ground would have complained.  Alas, he didn’t !!

No fault from McCarthy in my book - he was supposed to be on the post and that’s where he stayed.

Elsewhere, no problems really with the back four - Zheng was a little off the pace - but he has been for a while.  Up front - Lita gave everything without getting a sniff and Iwelumo is rapidly becoming the ‘big fella’ we hoof it to.  Did he not score a few at the beginning of the season when we passed it to his feet ???

As for JT - well, I think my previous comments were brought to a head with his last second chance - get the thing on target - make the keeper make a save - okay, whack it way wide and get back to thinking about your future somewhere else.  Not that my overall view of him would have changed much but get the shot on target - would Varney have scored ? Quite probably - we needed a win, so bring on a winger who won’t put a cross in !!

Ah well, we’ll probably win at QPR now !!

Cheggers

So according to the Bexley Times, JT has decided it would be a good time to let everyone know that if we don’t go back up he may have to re-assess his plans for his future.

Almost reason enough not to go back up then !!

No, I jest, but to come out with comments like “that I would try and help us get back up” is a little worrying - after all, he’s not set the left wing alight much this year in my humble opinion.  Admittedly, the guy has quality, skill and pace but seems to lack the drive to get that final ball in - despite claims (from himself) that “I’m very ambitious”.

He also seems to fall over a lot in the last third !!

Anyway, we’ll have to see what happens - he’ll probably do a Lisbie, go somewhere else and be brilliant all the time (not that Lisbie has been but you can’t knock the fella’s goalscoring this season).

Ah well, with any luck he’ll prove me wrong on Staurday and one of those cheeky step-over, straight legged dancy things will come off and he’ll set up the winner !!

 Cheggers

 

Obviously I was talking rubbish - another win away, results going our way with Colchester beating Ipswich and both goals coming from the boy Lita !!

Top stuff all round really, I might have been wrong - but I said I’d love a win and we got one and a good performance if you can go by BBC text commentary.  I have to say I did think it was all over when Weaver got sent on his way as I sat in the car park of a garden centre early on in the game but back in time to ‘watch’ the goals go in.

Herman’s going to Wembley !!  Admittedly he’s just been there but he’ll be there again (to score the winner this time). Very chuffed indeed to see them go through if for no other reason than to shut up smug Lawro & smugger Motty who spent the whole match saying how well West Brom were doing and how very poor Portsmouth were - no one remembers cup semi losers lads !!

Anyway - off to read the post-match comments on the CAFC website.

Cheggers

Sorry but it’s true … I’d love us to get a win today - but at the same time I’m not all that sure I want one.  A win would give us a bit of hope that we might still make the play-offs and I have to be honest, I don’t really want to go up now.

Opening myself up to criticism there - not a proper supporter etc but to be perfectly honest we aren’t going to be a great force up there anyway and I think a second season in the Champo won’t do us any harm.  Okay, we won’t be getting our free season ticket and maybe we’ll lose a few of the ‘fair weather’ supporters and might even slip under 20,000 attendance.

So, at the moment I’d rather be there or thereabouts in the Champo than bottom of the Prem and always looking up - which this team is (at the moment) all they’re capable of.

On another matter (sounded posh and businesslike) what’s with the ongoing loaning saga - there was me looking fervently at the transfer window and then you can end up loaning people to the end of the season anyway.  Pointless really - unless you’re a Prem team with players to spare or a Champo team with desperation a forethought !!

Anyway, Pompey (don’t like em) against WBA (like them less) in the FA Cup semi in a bit - here’s hoping for a Portsmouth win - if only to see the mighty Herman in a cup-final - Hellboy to score the winner ? a forward roll celebration in a cup semi ?

Well, I’m off to delete more spam comments, this blog is bombarded with them - would be nice to get a real one once in a while !!

Out with the in-law later but back in time for the teletext !!

Cheggers

 

It seems that our manager has gone too long without a purchase and had joined the massing throng looking at Leicester striker DJ Campbell.

Now I could be wrong but wasn’t he the guy who scored twice in a FA Cup game for Yeading and then got snapped up by Birmingham three days later.  Admittedly, he knows where the goal is but so do Gray, Varney, McLeod and Iwelumo so we aren’t short of strikers - do we just keep buying/loaning them hoping to get one on form ?

We’ll see, but I can’t imagine the board and going to go on bringing in players willy-nilly - the chances fo promotion are slim to say the least - let’s stick with what we’ve got for now and play the season out - no point in changing things again.

As for Wolves, well, up and down go the emotions once again, but that’s what being a Charlton fan has always been about.  We had to go for the win, and got done for forgetting to defend - I still think we need a bit of creativity - and with what we’ve got I reckon that’s either Ambrose or Gray in the proverbial hole behind a front two.

 As to who the front two are … my choice, Lita & Varney, both pacey and both capable of getting up for headers when there’s a chance afoot - if that isn’t a contradiction in terms.

 Anyway, Plymouth away … hmmm, knowing us, another away win !!

Oh and Lisbie is second top scorer in the division, I always said we should keep him !!

Cheggers

Which pretty much sums up our season - Matty Holland surely top favourite for Player of the Year.  Yet again, when there’s a loose ball flying around the midfield, who is generally there to mop up ?  Matt Holland.

After the draw at home to West Brom, where I for one felt we actually played quite well and defended stoutly (for a change) against a top side, I think proves we just aren’t quite good enough to go up.  That isn’t to say we won’t go up - 10th Anniversary - Play-off Final - hmmm, who knows ?

We’re still lacking that killer instinct in front of goal - although we aren’t really giving the strikers a lot of chances which really puts the pressure on when they do get one.

Oh, if Sodj had stuck that shot away ?  Alas it wasn’t to be and we got done by that so-and-so Kevin Phillips.  At least Bednar didn’t score - that was the positive suggestion from everyone near me when he came on - “Oh not Bednar, he ALWAYS scores against us” - well, not Friday he didn’t.

That Gera is a pain in the behind though - great movement and terrific strike, although his arms do appear to be slightly too long !!

Good performances from McCarthy again and Halford played a helluva lot better after he’d scored - bit of confidence does wonders.  Gray looked a little better than of late but the boy Zheng is right off the pace.

Why did Pards take off Lita ? We look very ordinary without any pace up front at all and the chances of a deep cross finding Big Chris’ head aren’t great.

Ah well, we’re not Colchester Utd (where I live) so things aren’t all bad - another season in the Champo won’t hurt.

Cheggers

I think so …

When I started this blog I was pooh-poohed by some who said I was wrong to include the (s) at the end of the subtitle; The Championship Year(s).  Well, after yesterday at Portman Road I feel somewhat vindicated.

Admittedly, very few teams have gone to Ipswich and come away with anything this season but I’m sure a few went home feeling like they’d given it a go but it just wasn’t their day.  I’m not sure that we can say the same.

As usual, Matty Holland was our best player and I think Thatcher, McCarthy and Weaver all looked bothered but the rest didn’t perform yet again.  How much longer can we go on with the choppin’ and a changin’ of the front one (two) ?  Let’s pick two (important that point), stick with them for the run-in and see if they can play themselves into form. (One of those being Varney - the only striker with pace, I discount Lita on principle as he’s off in a bit anyway - let’s get him fit and then let him go, just when we need our strikers hitting the net - doesn’t seem the best idea for a side ‘gunning’ for promotion)

Once again, I’m not impressed with Andy Gray at all and Zheng Zhi has gone right off form at the moment, play Semedo and Holland for now  -  and I shan’t mention Halford (well not much) - Greggy - don’t take throws from the other side, you can’t keep up with the winger when you’re standing next to him let alone when you have to come 60 yards back to your proper position.  I know his confidence was low (still is I’m sure) but we’re not a charity !

Next piece of advice, why have your two strikers vigorously warming up from just before we conceded the second and then not bring them on until there are only eight minutes to go …. Pards, surely you hadn’t given up on the game had you ?

Anyhoo, not a lot more to say, home to WBA on Friday, a chance to redeem ourselves there ?  Hmm, won’t be making any predictions for that one.

One last thing, I couldn’t believe the amount of arguing and bitching between our own supporters as we sat/stood in the Cobbold Stand for petty things such as for the level of individual support .  Crikey, I thought we all supported the same team - seems like we want to criticise each other - come on - that’s what the players are for !!

Cheggers

Blimey, I have been away a long time !!

So much to catch up on - but I think there are many other Charlton Bloggers out there who have said almost everything that can be said about our generally poor show over the last few months.

I think Curbs has left something at the Valley that is keeping the ‘end of season’ slump going - (after all it seems to be happening just across the way for the Hammers too) - perhaps there’s an old sock at the back of the Manager’s drawer - have a look Pards - something’s not right !!

What’s happened ?  Well, a plethora of strikers that can’t seem to find the back of the net at home and a constantly changing formation that pangs of desperation.  I could be accused of moaning, after all, we’re still there or thereabouts (we’ll see after tomorrow against Ipswich) and I do live in Colchester who are just about to say bye-bye to the Championship but alas I was one of those many hopeful who thought we might just do a ’straight back up’

That has pretty much gone out the window and if we don’t start showing a bit of pride and effort we are in danger of finishing in the mid-table obscurity area.  The boy Pards has made a few signings (more than a few actually) but not a lot is going right for the poor chap.

Grag Halford - long throw - but other than that he’s been awful and provided you’ve got yourself a ‘big fella’ at the back even the long throw comes to nothing.  (What did Yassin do wrong - bring back Mouts !!)

Kelly Youga has gone right off the boil and the purchase of Andy Gray looks to have been the biggest waste of money since I bought that chocolate fire-guard for my mother-in-law.

Good to see Matt Holland back with the armband - one of the very few who is justified to stay on the pitch at the end and give us a round of applause for our support without the danger of getting an earful in return.  Not enough putting the same amount of effort in unfortunately.

Anyway, no point in coming back after all these months and just whinging - let’s be positive, off to Portman Road and we’re coming away with the points.  And if we don’t ? Well, I’ll be home in less than half an hour.

Finally, I’m leaving Keith Jones up for a bit - another player who never let us down and always gave 100% - come on you red & white men, show some heart !!

Cheggers

Firstly apologies for the length of time since my last post - but instead of excuses, on we go …

So no game again as we all sit back and wait for other international sides to bow down and give England a pass into the European Championships, but fortunately we’re back in action this Saturday with a trip to Preston.

A nice chat with my window-cleaner who previous visitors to the site may remember is a staunch Colchester Utd fan, gave me the chance to ask him for his opinion of our erstwhile striker Mr Kevin Lisbie.

No great surprises there though as he responded with “well, he can be a bit lazy can’t he, especially in the last quarter”.  Turns out though that young Kevin is playing quite well, but seems to fade away in the second half and not bother to chase down defenders. 

Hmm, sounds familiar. 

Layer Road are also starting to realise that the ‘make a substitution, leave Kevin on but put him out wide on the right’ plan doesn’t work as being that close to the sideline makes him think he might be injured so he’d better not do any running !!

The U’s aren’t missing the canny skills of Sir Tedrick of Sheringham now he’s out either - another shocker ?

But most importantly, the U’s are at home this weekend to Crystal Palace so I’ll be hoping for a home town win there, preferably with a Lisbie winner in the last minute - set up by the 88th minute substitute Sheringham !!

Actually, that isn’t most important is it, us getting three points at Preston is much more important - although with it being a live on tv match let’s not wait until the 90th minute to win it - much too stressful.

Finally, there I was watching the quality evening tv that is “I’m a Celebrity” when I find out that Gemma Atkinson is pining for former boyfriend Marcus Bent and that she’s concerned that she might fail in her relationships through lack of effort !!

Don’t be harsh on yourself Gemma love, I saw Marcus play all last season without a hint of effort involved !!

Cheggers

Not too difficult an answer this one … mainly cos I’ve put his picture over there on the right, but it was a close call.

I had the three to choose from, big Andy Jones, slightly less big but still biggish Steve Jones and little Keith Jones - and it was Keith who won it !!

I have to be honest, I wasn’t sure when we picked him up from Southend for £150,000 in 1994 but he turned out to be one of the hardest working players I’ve seen in a Charlton shirt (please note that bit, certain current players !!)

He never seemed to do anything too extraordinary but was always in and around the action, picking up the loose ball, finding a player in the right colour shirt (that’s generally red for some of the current players again !!)

Anyway, only six league goals, but the winner against Liverpool in Feb. 1999 will always be something to remember him by, that and his pass to Super at Wembley.

Alas, he bit the proverbial dust when we went back up after winning the Div.1 (as was) title - moving to Reading on a free.

Keithy Jones - 65 miles hero of the week.

Cheggers