...a truly exhilarating, exciting, frustrating, roller coaster of a game at The Valley this afternoon.
As usual I'll leave an actual commentary to those that have much better control of their emotions to report the facts in an in depth and articulate way.
For me, we pretty much bossed the game throughout, in the searing heat not one Charlton player gave up. Some have better quality than others, but when it comes to shear spirit and will to win not one Charlton player failed today.
I'm not sure what it was, but the atmosphere at the ground today was as good as it's ever been. Blood sweat and tears provided in spades on the pitch, dug out and stands alike.
Again kashi stood out for me, Diara put in a real captains performance, Luzons touch line antics were as entertaining as ever - culminating when he got 'sent off' for racing Upton the corner spot to celebrate Gudmunnsons Mataike assisted winner right at the death.
Charlton did look to be cruising to the three points until the otherwise excellent Pope dropped a clanger, and the ball for City to level. That got their otherwise quiet support riled up, and an exhausted Charlton started to look a bit against the ropes. Poor Ahearne Grant, who played a blinder, got castigated by Luzon when he was hobbling about the pitch both exhausted and carrying a knock having been clattered by one of the otherwise anomonyous Hull players.
Once Hull got a sniff of a possible late mugging they came at Charlton. An offside decision cut short the Jimmy Seed stand and Steve Bruce's celebrations when a header ended up in the back of the net.
At this point I'd resigned myself to another point, and pondered whether we might beat last seasons games drawn record.
I couldn't believe it when 8 minutes of time added on was announced. My heart went out for poor Ahearne Grant and the rest of the team.
I was even more surprised and elated when three sides of the ground erupted as Gudmunnsons poked the ball home from Makiek's cheeky nodded pass.
It was one of those fraught Charlton games that will live long in the memory of all those who experienced it. Another great win, and spirited performance. Neither I or the bookies anticipated that we'd be in the position we are after the opening four games.
Quality stuff.
Saturday, 22 August 2015
Wednesday, 12 August 2015
...New look Addicks show early promise...
... I know it's only two games in. I know we were only playing Dagenham & Redbridge.
However, Charlton do have a history of struggling quite often when pitched against lower league opposition in cup ties, and last night we saw the unusual sight of a higher positioned team simply having too much quality without having to try too hard to overcome such a banana skin.
All four goals stood out as well worked. Watt once again showed his quality. Ahearne Grant may well be the next of the Charlton 'yoof' to make a name for himself. Bergdich scored a fine goal and to cap it all off the enigma that is Rezza scored with a quality chip.
For those who couldn't get to the game or, like me are to tight to subscribe to CAFCPlayer here's a link to Sky's highlights.
http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/9946444/charlton-4-1-dagenham
The games come thick and fast with the next two in the space of a week being away in the East Midlands to Derby and Forest. I'll be happy with two points from those two toughies, anything more than that and i'll begin to quietly believe we may be about to embark on one of those special seasons.
So far so good...
However, Charlton do have a history of struggling quite often when pitched against lower league opposition in cup ties, and last night we saw the unusual sight of a higher positioned team simply having too much quality without having to try too hard to overcome such a banana skin.
All four goals stood out as well worked. Watt once again showed his quality. Ahearne Grant may well be the next of the Charlton 'yoof' to make a name for himself. Bergdich scored a fine goal and to cap it all off the enigma that is Rezza scored with a quality chip.
For those who couldn't get to the game or, like me are to tight to subscribe to CAFCPlayer here's a link to Sky's highlights.
http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/9946444/charlton-4-1-dagenham
The games come thick and fast with the next two in the space of a week being away in the East Midlands to Derby and Forest. I'll be happy with two points from those two toughies, anything more than that and i'll begin to quietly believe we may be about to embark on one of those special seasons.
So far so good...
Monday, 10 August 2015
Missing season ticket mystery solved???...
Not sure if I, along.with my Mum,.daughter and sons.are.the only.ones.who.recieved a.postcard from the Royal Mail asking for £1.54 to release mail that had been sent without the correct postage?
I wonder how many other Addicks.recieved similar correspondence today?
I wonder how many other Addicks.recieved similar correspondence today?
Saturday, 8 August 2015
Watt a Fox...
...Apologies for the dreadful headline.
What a great day. Two of my kids attended not their first game, but their first as season ticket holders.
The ground has had something of a spruce up, and the new screen in the corner of the ground looked great (although with all the new players I'd have preferred the old player list as a reference point for all of the new faces on display).
What impressed me this afternoon was the way a bunch of players who have not been together stuck to the game plan so well. Totally frustrating the QPR team to a man throughout, a patient performance and on the face of what I saw, and the stats when you look at them, not a fluke but a well deserved three points.
It was a surprise to see Ahearne Grant start ahead of Watt, but once the Scotsman did come one, despite his goal and excellent performance you could see he's not match fit yet (too many beers and donuts on the beach over the summer I'd surmise). Once he is fully fit he will prove to be a crucial member of the team and for a lot of this divisions defences unplayable.
I honestly would find it hard to criticise anyone that turned out in a Charlton shirt today. To a man all pulled together. Kashi was quality sitting in front of the defence. Assured, hard working, smartly playing the simple ball and insightful passes and tackling back when needed. A CAFC favourite in the making.
Special mention to the North Stand. Luzon crouched in his technical area and they actually sang his name 'Luzon give us wave...', I don't think he was ignoring them but just engrossed in the game. Once they realised he was oblivious to their overtures a chorus of 'he shits where he wants, he shits where he wants, Guy Luzon, he shits where he wants...' QUALITY.
Good win, great performance, and brilliant atmosphere.
Can't wait to relive it at 9 tonight on the sensibly scheduled new Channel Five Football League Show.
How good is it to be back?
What a great day. Two of my kids attended not their first game, but their first as season ticket holders.
The ground has had something of a spruce up, and the new screen in the corner of the ground looked great (although with all the new players I'd have preferred the old player list as a reference point for all of the new faces on display).
What impressed me this afternoon was the way a bunch of players who have not been together stuck to the game plan so well. Totally frustrating the QPR team to a man throughout, a patient performance and on the face of what I saw, and the stats when you look at them, not a fluke but a well deserved three points.
It was a surprise to see Ahearne Grant start ahead of Watt, but once the Scotsman did come one, despite his goal and excellent performance you could see he's not match fit yet (too many beers and donuts on the beach over the summer I'd surmise). Once he is fully fit he will prove to be a crucial member of the team and for a lot of this divisions defences unplayable.
I honestly would find it hard to criticise anyone that turned out in a Charlton shirt today. To a man all pulled together. Kashi was quality sitting in front of the defence. Assured, hard working, smartly playing the simple ball and insightful passes and tackling back when needed. A CAFC favourite in the making.
Special mention to the North Stand. Luzon crouched in his technical area and they actually sang his name 'Luzon give us wave...', I don't think he was ignoring them but just engrossed in the game. Once they realised he was oblivious to their overtures a chorus of 'he shits where he wants, he shits where he wants, Guy Luzon, he shits where he wants...' QUALITY.
Good win, great performance, and brilliant atmosphere.
Can't wait to relive it at 9 tonight on the sensibly scheduled new Channel Five Football League Show.
How good is it to be back?
It's here...and thanks very much sky bet!
i'm not deluded enough to think for a minute that we are going to enjoy a season watching Charlton romp to another league title.
However, I did stumble across the most generous bet on offer I've seen for a long time this week.
They (SkyBet) were offering 18-1 on Charlton being in the top six come September 1st. Yes that's right, the first of September, not after the long hall of a full campaign, but after just three and a bit weeks of the season. In a division where it's been proven time and time again anyone can beat anyone on their day.
Even more generously 50-1 was offered on the same time frame if we are top. (I felt that may be a bit like setting fire to a ten pound note and watching it go 'puff' though.)
I couldn't sleep this morning, so unlike a normal working day when I do battle with the snooze button and roll into work just in time, I'm up early clock watching, waiting and excited as the new season dawns.
To be honest it's even more difficult than normal to predict exactly how we are going to fair this afternoon and come to think of it over the course of the next 40 odd weeks.
A plethora of new unpronounceable names and faces to remember - who it would seem on the face of it are a step up from the new recruits we've seen over recent years. Luzon now having the opportunity to make his mark with a full pre season of preparing the team to play 'his way', which according to him is hard, high and fast! Should be interesting.
A win today and I'll already be planning what to spend my 180 quid on.
However, I did stumble across the most generous bet on offer I've seen for a long time this week.
They (SkyBet) were offering 18-1 on Charlton being in the top six come September 1st. Yes that's right, the first of September, not after the long hall of a full campaign, but after just three and a bit weeks of the season. In a division where it's been proven time and time again anyone can beat anyone on their day.
Even more generously 50-1 was offered on the same time frame if we are top. (I felt that may be a bit like setting fire to a ten pound note and watching it go 'puff' though.)
I couldn't sleep this morning, so unlike a normal working day when I do battle with the snooze button and roll into work just in time, I'm up early clock watching, waiting and excited as the new season dawns.
To be honest it's even more difficult than normal to predict exactly how we are going to fair this afternoon and come to think of it over the course of the next 40 odd weeks.
A plethora of new unpronounceable names and faces to remember - who it would seem on the face of it are a step up from the new recruits we've seen over recent years. Luzon now having the opportunity to make his mark with a full pre season of preparing the team to play 'his way', which according to him is hard, high and fast! Should be interesting.
A win today and I'll already be planning what to spend my 180 quid on.
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