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| Saturday, 8-Jan-2005 00:00 |
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Charlton survive the 3rd Round for once
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It's obviously nice to see your team win any match, and this afternoon was no exception, but the added ingredient today was the excellent support that Rochdale brought with them. As the guys we met in the pub made clear, it was their 'Big Day Out', and come what may they were going to have a good time.
At the end of the game, which Charlton had eased through without too many problems, the away fans were justly congratulated for their excellent support, and it was also nice to see the Charlton players giving away their Centenary shirts to their opponents - those will be collectors' items soon, lads!
Rochdale were beaten but far from humiliated. I for one will now be rooting for them for the rest of the season.
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| Saturday, 1-Jan-2005 00:00 |
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It could have been worse
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Arsenal 1-3, 1st January
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Richard and Sae fresh from Peru
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Charlton's recent good run came to an end against Arsenal, in spite of a spirited first half that closed with a stunning goal from a free kick, taken by the Addick's top scorer, centre-back Tahal El Karkouri. Arsenal looked tired and in the first half the home team was easily their match, but after the break Charlton were punished twice for defensive lapses. A shame really, as at half-time a point was looking an increasingly realistic prospect.
Richard Pool joined me in the Upper West for the first time in a year. He was wearing the colours of the 3rd best team in Peru (where he currently lives and works) which caused some amusement all afternoon - see photo 
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| Tuesday, 28-Dec-2004 00:00 |
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Still on track for another good season
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Everton 2-0, 20th December
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A group of Everton regulars at the RoD. Nice to see you again!
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Paul and Martin, both former colleagues from Sainsbury's
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Charlton 2 Everton 0. Most of the home fans would probably have settled before the match for a share of the points, given Everton's excellent record this season. Just when it seemed that it would end at 0-0 substitute Paul Konchesky crossed and Talal El Karkouri headed home. Everton could still have pressed for an equaliser, but when Ferguson lived up to his reputation and was sent off for elbowing Hreidarsson in the face their cause was effectively lost. And a minute later, when Hreidarsson stabbed home a corner that found its way to the far post, it was all over.
So, we leave 2004 in very much the same position that we entered it, i.e. in the top ten of the Premiership with a points total that already puts us in sight of safety. The target for the season now has to be to exceed the 53 points achieved in 2003/04.
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| Monday, 20-Dec-2004 00:00 |
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Suddenly it's clicking
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Fulham 2-1, 20th December
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RoD regulars Kap, Sue and Joe
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Kevin watching over the Keys family group.
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Charlton 2 Fulham 1
Not so very long ago (October, in fact) Charlton were labouring and Curbs and the team were taking unaccustomed stick from supporters who weren't convinced that they were getting value for money, especially when we lost AT HOME to Palace. The knee-jerk sacking of Brian Cole didn't help either, especially amongst those who had appreciated his style over several seasons. All of a sudden, things look very rosy, with five wins in the last seven games, and with the two losses in that run coming against Chelsea and ManU.
Whether or not a reluctant Charlton management changed tactics due to supporter unrest will probably never be known, but the end result has been an exciting return to the values that fans relate to, i.e. hard work and attacking play. Thomas wowed the crowd with his confident skills, Kishishev had another solid performance and made few mistakes, El Karkouri continued to show exactly why Curbs was right to buy him and scored a neat headed goal to underline it, and the crowd at last began to chant Danny Murphy's name.
Apart from goal difference, this now matches our best performance (2003/04) after 18 matches in our Premiership history. We now need four points from the next two games - away to Southampton and home to Everton to maintain this fine record.
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| Saturday, 27-Nov-2004 00:00 |
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'Today we played the Champions'
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This is what Chris Coleman of Fulham said recently after their defeat at Craven Cottage at the hands of Chelsea, and today the Abramovich-financed juggernaut pushed Charlton aside with similar ease.
We were certainly poor today, but there aren't many clubs who could live with Chelsea at the moment, and those who can are notable for the team spirit that we used to have in the past. The team at least didn't get booed off, so at least we won't now have to endure the weekly ticking off that we've been getting in the programme from Varney and Curbs and that has been causing a certain amount of supporter unrest.
There's so little fire and fight in the team at the moment that it's painful to watch. Di Canio and Parker have gone and are sadly missed for their inspirational examples. And I don't think I've heard John Robinson's name mentioned as often and as fondly as I have in the past month or so - now, there was a player who always gave his all.
I certainly wouldn't call for Curbs' head, but I think that he should at least have to explain to a board meeting how he proposes to restore the fighting spirit that used to typify Charlton. And if I was a member of that board I'd be raising an eyebrow if he asked to spend even more money in January, rather than making the existing squad perform to their known potential.
We won't go down, because there are worse teams scrabbling around below us, but it doesn't bode well for next season, unless there's some fresh thinking from Charlton's management.
Those of us who meet in the Rose of Denmark on matchdays have grown accustomed to the feeling that the match is increasingly an unsatisfying interruption to an otherwise fine day out. Let's hope that Curbs straightens things out before our league position starts giving us even more cause for concern.
The most notable aspect of today's game was the annual visit to the Rose of Denmark by a large contingent of Roda supporters from Holland. In May a group of us travelled to see their final match of last season, at home to Vitesse Arnhem. We were treated to amazing hospitality, both on the night before the game when we all packed out a small bar in the centre of Heerlen and at the match itself, when the Charlton group were admitted to the ground free of charge.
By comparison, Charlton were far less generous in return, and the visitors from Roda fell foul of the club's variable pricing policy, having to pay £40 each for their tickets (including a group discount). An annual season ticket for Roda costs £80!
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| Sunday, 14-Nov-2004 00:00 |
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Getting into their stride, at last
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Norwich 4-0, 14th November
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Brian Cole and Mike Robinson
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Charlton 4, Norwich 0. At last some sign of the revival of Charlton's fighting spirit of last season and a feeling that the squad is starting to 'gel'. This is the sort of game that they might have stumbled over earlier in the season, but once JJ's second goal went in they and the home crowd settled down.
The weather was so sunny that today's 'Members of the Opposition' photo was taken in the pub garden. Unfortunately, the sunshine bleached out the photo somewhat.
Norwich brought a fine crowd with them, filling the Jimmy Seed stand and providing vocal support throughout. As so often happens, they taunted the home supporters with, 'You're supposed to be at home'. But, for the first time in a while, the Addickted gave the team a warm send-off at the end of the game.
The past two games have seen us score seven goals for only two against, rise to the top half of the Premiership and improve our goal difference to -4. This was much needed, given that our next two games are away to ManU and home to Chelsea. Perhaps today's performance will have instilled greater belief in the squad that they can get points from both those games.
At the Rose of Denmark before the game Brian Cole presented Mike Robinson with the trophy he won in a recent competition in one of Brian's CMP Radio broadcasts (see www.cmpradio.co.uk). Although I'd far rather see Brian on the pitch, clipboard in hand, announcing the teams, it was good to see him in the pub!
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| Sunday, 31-Oct-2004 00:00 |
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Charlton Live
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Brian Cole
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Charlton Live is an Internet-based discussion show about Charlton Athletic, presented by a number of supporters and independent of the club. Tonight's show is likely to be an interesting one, as Brian Cole, who was sacked by website announcement as the club's pitch announcer on Thursday morning, is one of the main presenters.
The show is accessible online at http://charltonlive.addicks.org/ and goes out from 8.30pm
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| Saturday, 30-Oct-2004 00:00 |
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Another bad day at the office
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Middlesbrough 1-2 30th October 2004
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This might have been the first Saturday fixture at The Valley since August, but people really weren't looking forward to this game. The atmosphere was bad following the Cup defeat against Palace on Wednesday and the club making such a big deal about pitch announcer Brian Cole's sacking on the website AND in the match programme. Not nice. If only as much creativity and energy could have been directed at explaining to supporters how the club proposed to dig itself out of its worsening slump.
The Boro supporters were excellent visitors at the Rose of Denmark on a warm, sunny autumn's afternoon. It's a pleasure to chat aimiably over a pint about the game ahead and to get some insight into the visiting team and its supporters.
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| Monday, 25-Oct-2004 00:00 |
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Newcastle photo
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Newcastle 1-1, 17th October
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As promised, here is the better of the photos that I took at the Charlton vs. Newcastle game on Sunday 17th. The Hamilton (Ontario) branch of the Charlton Athletic Supporters Club was represented by Susan, who also made it back to the RoD to watch the televised away game at Liverpool on Saturday 23rd.
As usual, the Newcastle supporters were excellent company, looking forward to the match in thoroughly good spirits - they're always welcome!
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| Thursday, 14-Oct-2004 00:00 |
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There will be a short delay ....
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An apology
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Whilst I'll be at the Charlton vs. Newcastle game on Sunday and will take the usual Members of the Opposition photo I won't be back at my PC until Monday 25th, as mentioned previously. So, if you're the Newcastle supporters who were in the photo and have come here to see it please bear with me  )
Why not look at the photos from the last two seasons while you wait? ;o)
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