The exorcism of the ghost of Christmas past...

During the first four months of 2012 Charlton well and truly shut the harpengers of doom up and put the 'traditional' new year capitulation that the afore mentioned negative Normans seem to enjoy banging on about.

One of my more negative Charlton supporting acquaintances has been going on since the Bournemeouth home game (yes for that long) about how King Chris will be found out eventually and we'll be lucky to make the play off's.

I bumped into him back in November, and when asked about what he thought about the rest of the season he replied (more of a grunt really)' going down with the Christmas decorations'.

How wrong can one be?

Up to the end of the first half of the season on 31st December, when the ref scuppered any chance of a decent game against Orient, Charlton had a win rate of 65% and were proudly top of the league.

Now having played two games less, we have a win rate of 60%, but still have two more games to play. Which if we win will take us up to 69% ratio of wins to games played. And we've retained that top spot all year.

A truly monumental season, littered with new records, memorable goals, numerous hero's, wonder goals, the list of positives just goes on and on.

Today we hit the road for one last time this season, t'north to Preston, where I really think buoyed by the fact that a win will see Charlton enrolled into the 'one hundred club' (and let's be honest, even the most optimistic Addicks couldn't have foreseen that) we will meet the game full on and well up for the win. Preston 1 Charlton 3.

I'm so looking forward to next Saturday.


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It's been a long time...

Since i've posted and more importantly since we've had such a fun and enjoyable season.

Work commitments mean I've been both too busy and knackered to post following, for once, Charlton sticking to the 'Walt Disney fairy tale ' script and doing what was needed when it was needed.

Two more games to go, and the target of a ton of points to hit. (what an achievement!)

Without wanting to tempt providence, I think there's more fun to come. This group of players, the board of directors and course King Chrissy Powell (yes his stature has now risen from mere lordly to regal) do not strike me as being the types to think this season and a return to the Championship is 'job done'.

I'll be at The Valley for the Hartlepool game, for what will be the absolute Polaris of last seasons identical curtain call where we all collectively breathed a sigh of relief that the season was over. It's going to be a much more special occasion that I look forward to enjoying with a special person.

Can't wait.


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Yeeeeeeeeeeeeees!

I remember the feeling of unbelief when we were promoted back in 86 to the top flight of football. Today, at 41, not the tender 15 I was back then, the feeling is still the same. Only difference being that tomorrow morning I will be feeling a tad 'tired' compared to the way I felt 25 odd years ago! (I'll be necking mainly rose wine in honour of the mighty reds this evening).

It's been a long old season, and I'll be honest, at times I've been waiting for the wheels to come off. But they didn't. Sit Chris is a legend. Murray did completely the right thing and Slater and Jiminez are owed our thanks for enabling Powell to put together a winning team.

Be interesting to see how the football league show report our fortune tonight, the usual cursory 20 seconds or will they make a feature out of the first (along with Swindon) promotion of the season. Well done Paulo by the way.

A win on Saturday against Wycombe and it's another trophy in the underused cabinet in the boardroom.

Happy happy happy. Goodbye shite referee's as the norm, ta ta Rochdale and Carlisle (maybe), farewell 20 second fls coverage and the first round of the fa cup.




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Looks like Wycombe at home then...

I've not posted for the last couple of games as my nerves have been completed shredded by the ongoing promotion push.

Who'dve believed we could be going into the final four games on an amazing 91 points and still not yet be certain of promotion!

I think this shows both the strength of this division this season and what can be achieved (as per both Sheffield clubs) when local rivalry and honour drives you. One of those two clubs sets of supporters will finish the season gutted. I think keeping up with each other will leave the eventual loser out of puff for the play offs.

We travel to Carlisle needing to show the dogged determination from the last two games. I've not seen a Charlton team run the clock down as effectively as on Bank Holiday Monday for many a year.

Carlisle will present us with an altogether trickier proposition. On a decent run of form and pushing for a play off place, I'll be happy with an away point setting us up nicely for a Valley promotion match day against Wycombe. In the event that we do get all three points up north, I can't see either Sheffield club letting up in their pursuit of the second promotion spot, leaving us to look forward to partying down in Se7 a week on Saturday. (I hope).


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Brains triumph over brawn (and a crap ref) at a happy valley

Another game notched off and another week which see's us retain our cushion in the promotion places.

On the day, in the first half in-particular, it could be argued that Charlton provided some of the best passages of play, passing and invention that I've seen all season. Shame about the ref though. He was woeful. I mused to myself at one point whether it was in the powers of the fourth official and referee assessor to actually sub him. So bad was his performance. In fact he may well have got the refereeing equivalent of a half term bollocking because in the second half the thugs that Orient were got no fewer than five bookings and got away with a little less.

Poor old Yan the Man must be black and blue tonight, he seemed to be singled out for plenty of extremely cynical bad sportsmanship and heavy treatment.

Waggy opened the scoring early on, and if it were not for the blind bloke in the black letting the O's get away with ABH on numerous occasions we may well have added one or two more before half time.

The second half was a different matter. The usual nerves we've seen creep in over recent games reappeared. However at no point was I really all the concerned about the East Londoners getting back into the game. Their kit may have resembled that of the old Wimbledon crazy gang, but they had none of the guile and only the brawn.

Again in the nervy second half Charlton worked hard to carve out an opportunity to put the game to bed, and we're finally rewarded with the goal when N'Gusseon connected strongly to meet Cooks cross and secure all three points.

The only real negative on a Charlton front would be Stephens performance. Again he looked a shadow of the player we saw early season. At times he looked confused and indecisive about what to do and where to pass the ball. I was upraised Pritchard did not come on for him towards the end, as it did look like if anyone was going to make the error to let Orient into the game it would be him.

Cook linked up with Whiggins really well. Fully match fit, which he wasn't, he could be a good acquisition in the summer. Court again offered experience and safety in defence. (I can't see Taylor usurping him, except to give him a rest in next weekends double header)

With the player of the year vote coming up it's becoming harder than usual to call.

Wagstaff remains one of my favourite players. When he's on his game he's both dangerous going forward and fearless when looking to win back the ball. Both full backs, in my opinion, are quality! Both fly forward impressively and look dangerous. Solly being home grown, very young and a future England international in the making has a great case. Kermogant has been immense. And let's not forget that BWP has scored over twenty of our goals.

Six games to go, nearly over that line. Three more wins and we'll get there.




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Curse of 'the old boys' ...

If I use my usual strange un scientific logic to guide me to my prediction (which based on recent history will almost certainly be wrong) for the Orient game we will need to score at least four goals to win. This based on the theory of ex players always scoring against us. And with Spring, Lisbie and Mooney in the side i'm thinking the o's are worth at least one. To be fair I'd gladly take 4-3 to the Addicks. Having said that I'd just as gladly take one nil with the winner coming in the first minute.

We've all been going on about the run in for probably too long too early now. But with seven games to go and the Easter fixtures coming up we are well and truly onto the final straight. Will we sprint to the finish (bank holiday Monday at home) or limp over the line at the last knockings? I think the bottom line is as long as it's in first or second and the booby prize that is third and brings the horror of the play offs is staved off who cares.

On the whole it's been a long and enjoyable season, with the odd hiccup and some great, performances. I want be sorry to see the back of it though.

My honest expectation is maximum points for those of us in the top four and us keeping that all important cushion we've built up and edging closer to nailing it.


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Kent Senior Cup semi final

Charlton reserves travel to Dartford tonight for the semi final of the Kent Senior cup. A place alongside Hythe is the prize for the winners!

I think it was a good thing for Charlton, Millwall and Gillingham to enter sides into the competition this season. With a complete lack of competitive matches available for League One level reserve teams it does offer up some valuable experience of playing against teams who actually want to roll their sleeves up and give you a game.

As I understand it Damien Matthew has taken control of the teams for these games, and has on more than one occasion had first teamer's at his disposal. Stephens began his come trail from injury in one of these matches.

Being that Dartford's tidy and compact stadium is virtually at the bottom of my garden, I shall be popping along tonight for a few beers and to see first hand some of our development players and those on the periphery of the first team. It will also be a welcome break from sitting at The Valley chewing my seat willing us to not throw it all away.

You never know we could take one step closer to completing a first treble trophy season for the Addicks. The People's Cup, The Kent Senior Cup and The League One Championship.
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