Don't know about you but this morning I'm finding it very hard to be a pessimist. Another fighting performance against good European opposition saw our boys peg back a 2 goal deficit and after goals from Brian Hughes and Jimmy-Floyd ended with a 2-2 draw. After years trying its beginning to look like we can handle ourselves in European after all.
After giving a goal away after 9 minutes and having the deficit doubled in the 14th minute when a bad pass-back by Farinos was intercepted by the the Utrecht forward Fortune who rounded Myrhe and scored easily we made changes at half-time and finished the game more strongly than our Dutch opponents.
Although a little upset at again giving early goals away Monica continues to impress with his interpretation of the game but is at the same time still conscious of everyones role in the team: "We have been waiting on a few new bodies and Djimi and Amady made us a lot more manly, a lot more strong and lot more powerful. That's not a criticism of anyone in the team though."
And he's still on form in making-up key phases to emphasize a point : "Darren Ambrose has played a part and we've given people who haven't played games time."
Other plus points were the first games in Charlton colours for Djimi Traore and Amady Faye both coming on at the start of the second half. At predicted Bolanos took no part after his trip back home this week. Farinos was again in the starting line-up before being replaced at half-time and after 4 games with us it seems that the Boss likes what he sees. Can it be that Charlton will soon have their first-ever Spaniard on their books?
It may surprise a few people to realize that once again Brian Hughes played the entire game, scored a goal and has even earned a nickname from Monica of the rather obvious "Hughesy" while other players have to be content with a Darren or a Jimmy. In fact he's been one of the players that has started all 4 of the "important" friendlies. It appears that we will have to start looking for and appreciating his attributes to the team.
Charlton: Myhre, Young, Ashton (Traore 46), El Karkouri (Sorondo 76), Hreidarsson; Hughes, Farinos (Faye 46), Holland (Kishishev 89), Ambrose (Rommedahl 75); Hasselbaink (Lisbie 89), D Bent (M Bent 75).
Subs (not used): Andersen, Walton, Euell, Sam.
Goals: Hughes 37, Hasselbaink 81
Utrecht: Vorm; Tiendalli, van Steensek, Broerse, Somers (van Buuren83); Kopteff Douglas 75), van Dijk, Kruys, Caluwe, van der Gun (Rossini 89); Fortune (Nelisse 65).
Subs (not used): de Jong, Grandel, Braafheid.
Goals: van der Gun 9, Fortune 14
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