Valencia 3 Charlton 1

A less than full-strength Valencia side that only contained 4 first-team regulars were far too good for Charlton last night. A completely reserve defence without Canizares, Miguel, Ayala, Marchena and del Horno and without the prolific David Villa in attack they never had any trouble from a Charlton team that only had one real attack in the first half. Perhaps they didn't know they were playing the reserves.

The game started very late, around 22.45 after various entertainments for the crowd of 35000 with the temperature in the mid-twenties being a major factor. First half goals from Morientes and captain for the night Baraja gave Valencia a comfortable 2-0 half-time lead and although Sorondo got away from his marker and pulled one back from a corner early in the second half we never looked likely to get a second. Six minutes from the end Silva had the chance of a free header and wrapped up the win.

Monica played a 4-4-2 with Marcus Bent appearing alongside Jimmy-Floyd up front and a midfield of Holland and Hughes with Rommedahl and Ambrose on the flanks. Myhre and Anderson each played half a game. Young, Ashton, Rommedahl, and a defender that the commentator laughingly referred to as Hermann were the only players to last the full 90 minutes. Kish and Sam came on for the second half and Charlton saw more of the ball as the heat began to tell. Obviously, Monica is at least getting the boys fit.

Charlton played this game with a more settled line-up with 19 players getting on the pitch but unfortunately the lack of chances created against a team of Spanish reserves will not serve to put the fans painful sensitivities at rest. And with Monica's starting eleven beginning to take shape it can only add to the consternation of the faithful that it still contains many of the old favorites.

Valencia: Butelle, Curro, Moretti, Albiol, Cerra, Pallardo, Baraja, Vicente, Angulo, Regueiro y Morientes. Subs: Mora, Silva, Gavilán, Edu, Jorge López, Aaron Ñiguez, Nacho Insa y Córcoles.

Charlton: Myhre (Andersen 46), Young, Hreidarsson, El Karkouri, (Sorondo 34) (Fortune 66), Ashton, Rommedahl, Hughes (Euell 73), Holland (Walton 80), Ambrose (Kishishev 46), Hasselbaink (Walker 80), M Bent (Sam 46).

Goles: Morientes (16), Baraja (29), Sorondo (47), Silva (84).

Valencia Preview

Saturday sees the Addicks fly to Spain for a serious test against highly-rated Valencia. League winners twice in the last 5 years, in 2002 and 2004 they finished last season in 3rd place behind Barcelona and Real Madrid. In recent years they have twice made it to the Champions League final in 2000 and 2001 losing both times to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively and in 2004 won the UEFA Cup. Clearly then one of the top teams in Europe.

Like ourselves they've had two pre-season games, both in a tournament at Emerlo in Holland. They beat the Dutch Second Division side Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 and then beat the Turks from Fenerbahce by the same score. That's typical Valencia - score 2 goals and close the game down. Always hard to beat, they have one of the best defensive records in Spain last year with solid centre-backs Ayala and Marchena and a dependable goalkeeper in Cañizares. The whole team always work hard but they don't score many goals.

They've surprisingly disposed of goalscorer but ugly geezer Mista and replaced him with Morientes, who as Mrs Nelson tells me is much better-looking and, of course, del Horno returns to Spain after his unhappy year at Chelski. They also welcome back skilful left winger Vicente from a season long injury that kept him out of the World Cup. So Morientes and David Villa as strikers. Villa's very good and will give our boys a real testing but personally if I was a Valencia fan I'd be envious of an attacking line-up of Hasselbaink and Bent. Hasselbaink had a very good year in Spain in 1999/2000 with Atletico Madrid scoring 24 league and he's well remembered. Shame Darren won't be joining him!

So a Valencia team that won't give Charlton as many chances as Hibs did on Tuesday and they'll be more than content to play keep-ball for long periods of the game. Ten-Thirty kickoff but it'll still be up in the 20's with lots of humidity as well. 25000 tickets sold ( well, probably given away more like ) but it shows the importance of a meaningless kickabout to a Spaniard.

So who is going to be in the Charlton line-up? Darren B still seems to have problems holding a knife so we'll still not see what form of cutting edge he makes with Jimmy-Floyd. Monica has certainly shown that he wants to see what the youngsters can do and he's already making some excuses for them after the Hibs game and showing how he wants to give them some experience while at the same time saying he doesn't expect the earth. Looks like good management to me. Bringing back James Walker after he had been supposedly released shows he's not afraid to follow his own instincts or maybe listen to advice from people he trusts.

The twenty-two players that were used against Millwall and Hibs would be quite a plane full but with the heat in Spain maybe a good idea. But we'll need to be at our best to handle this lot and its possible that because of that we'll get a better idea of Monica's first 11. However, with Monica proving full of surprises and seemingly determined to give as many players a game as possible, maybe we'll even see Lisbie make a showing?

Monica's interviews have emphasized the number of positives coming out of last Tuesdays game despite the defeat, and with end-of-week barbis creating the right atmosphere we seem to be getting half-way there. Unfortunately he's joined a team, not only of a couple of dozen players, but of several thousand pessimists and right now I just wish we would splash out a bit and get that creative midfield player that everyone wants. I'm getting to the stage that I don't care who it is. We do seem to have created lots of chances against Hibs and we did score 4 at Millwall I hear someone say but I remember Hughes, Kish and Holland from last season and I'm still having nightmares about it.

Likely Prediction : Valencia 2 Charlton 1

Mistaken Identity - It was Jimmy Floyd

Always check your sources. Seems I was wrong to trust someone that was there to know who scored Charlton goals at Hibernian. Probably the truth being that the Scottish reporter was still in the bar while Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink scored after 3 minutes. People are clearly not used to seeing us score after 3 minutes, especially in an away game. When was the last time that happened?

The Hibs report gave the first Charlton goal to Thomas but of course it was Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink that was on the mark again. I knew I should have trusted Inspector Sands or even the bbc who have a short report here.

A goal after 3 minutes, perhaps our usual apprehensive approach has come to an end?

Hibernian 3 Charlton 2

So our first 3 goal defeat of the season but instead of one where we only wake up at the end of the game here we went 2 goals up through Thomas and James Walker (once again) before finally going down late in the game to a Hibs winner in the 75th minute.

Contrary to anything I believed, Monica choose to take not 22 but 24 players to Easter Road with 2 distinct teams being fielded in each half and lots of substitutions as well. As well as the 22 players on display at Millwall there were second half outings for 18 year old forward Michael Carvill and the 17 year old Finnish defender Jani Tanska as well as the 18 year old Icelandic midfielder Rúrik Gíslason that we signed from Anderlecht last August. Monica is certainly giving the youngsters a try out.

Myhre returned to the action for the first half at the expense of Anderson while Randolph was between the sticks for the second half. I wonder if that means anything.

Of the rumoured Salif Diao there was no sign and of course both Bent's were left on the sidelines. And once again Lislie was missing.

As far as the play was concerned it appears that Hibs were fortunate to win with their 3rd goal coming in the 75 minute. We had the best of the first half and scored in the 3rd minute when Rommedahl crossed for Thomas to control the ball on his chest before slotting the ball home. Rommedahl then missed a chance created by Hasselbaink and Ambrose, the keeper being quick off his line to save. Midway through the half the second goal came. Similar to the first, Rommedahl crossed again this time for Walker to score. Rommedahl then missed a one-on-one chance with the keeper after outpacing the defence but pushed the ball too far and the defence cleared.

Before half-time Hibs pulled one back with a 30th yard strike from Scott Brown.

The second half saw Charlton create further good chances with Gislason and Euell missing sitters before Hibs equalised on 62 minutes. There was time for an unmarked Sam to miss a sitter before Hibs finally when ahead.

So it seems our worries about not being able to create chances seem unfounded as we appeared to miss several easy opportunities. Overall its hard to tell what Monica's ideal first team will be but the first half 11 look more the part and now its off to Spain for a juicy encounter with Spains' third best team.

First Half: Myhre, Young, El Karkouri, Hreidarsson, Ashton, Rommedahl, Hughes, Kishishev, Ambrose, Thomas, Hasselbaink . Subs: Fortune, Walker, Walton, Sorondo, Ewell, Holland.

Second Half: Randolph, Walton, Sorondo, Fortune, Youga, Ewell, Holland, Sam, John, Gislason, Walker. Subs: Tanska, Carvill.

A full report can be found here hibernian.

Hibernian Preview

Tuesday night sees a trip across the border to play against Hibs in Edinburgh. This will be a much tougher proposition than the game against Millwall and will be for Hibs their last pre-season friendly before they take on Aberdeen in the Scottish League this Saturday. They will obviously field a full-strength side ( no place for kids) in preparation for the league game and after having played 4 Intertoto games are clearly fit and ready.

After hammering Dinaburg of Latvia 8-0 on aggregate in their first Intertoto round they eventually lost to Bruce Riochs' Odense of Denmark at the weekend on the away goals rule, so they'll clearly be wanting to put the disappointment of going out of Europe behind them.

With a game in Spain against Valencia at the weekend it's seems unlikely that a repetition of the Millwall game where 22 players were on display will be tried again. The toughest test of the two games may well be the Hibs game particularly as Valencia are calling Saturday a "Partido de presentación" ( a Presentation Game, eg showing off Del Horno and other new signings to the fans ) rather than a "Amistoso" (friendly). They will probably do as we did against Millwall and give as many players as possible a run-out in front of their fans for the first time this season.

As I can't see 22 Charlton players catching a flight to Spain for one game and Monica's wanting to give people a game it may well be that the stronger Charlton team will be against the Scots with the Spanish game one for the second string and youngsters to enjoy. Whatever happens it's clear that neither Bent will be on the pitch come Tuesday but will we see more of young Franck Dja Djedje ?

More news on the surprise inclusion of European U19 Championship winner Dja Djedje for the Millwall game comes with Dowie giving us some behind-the-scenes thinking: "I thought he did well. He's had a week's training with us and he's coped with it very well. He's showed great hunger and desire - that's the one thing I've been pleased about. He showed one or two little tricks and he was a bit unlucky with his chip in the first few minutes of the second half. He would have liked to have got a goal but we'll keep monitoring him. It's work in progress, we'll take a little time and reflect on it. We won't act in hast. It's just one of those things that we thought he was worth looking at especially when Marcus and Darren were going to miss the game.”

News of Marcus Bent is that he was injured for the Millwall game, while the manager is nursing Darren himself.

Of Darren, who sliced into his finger whilst attempting to make a sandwich, Dowie said: "We don't think it's going to be long, but we'll see how it heals. I would think by the end of the week he'll be starting contact training but we're going to take precautions with it. He's been training with me - non-contact training is fine - and his level of fitness is excellent.”

Before the actual contact training can start, its rumoured that Ainsley Harriet has been asked to provide a few one-to-one sessions, with slicing and chipping techniques the first items on the list.

Millwall 1 Charlton 4

An excellent start by Monica's finest, combining experience with lots of youngsters. Two completely different teams were put out separated by half-time and included old favorities such as Holland, Hughes and Euell, along with a 20 year-old Ivory Coast triallist striker,Franck Dja Djedje, borrowed for the afternoon (!) from Paris St Germain.

People returned who we thought had left ( El Karkouri and youngster James Walker ) and a couple or three were conspicuous by their absence ( Mhyre, Lisbie, Marcus B ).

Anyway a very good start to the season and we've still got Darren with his dicky finger itching to play a part.

Teams were:
Charlton (first-half): Andersen; Young, Youga, Sorondo, Fortune; Ambrose, Hughes, Holland, Lloyd Sam, Alistair John, Hasselbaink.

Charlton (second-half): Randolph, Simon Walton, Nathan Ashton, Hreidarsson, El Karkouri; Kishishev, Thomas, Euell, Rommedahl; Franck Dja Djedje, James Walker.

Goals: Hasselbaink 11, (the impressive) Marvin Elliott (Millwall) 42, Ambrose 45, El Karkouri 56, Walker 60

New Era Begins at the Den

Our boys have been back in training for a couple of weeks now and from the things that are being said they're pretty impressed with the new management. Luke Young, after at last signing his contract, comes out with what a captain is supposed to say, "I can't speak highly enough of how myself and everybody else have been impressed with the first couple of weeks of training.
It's been bright and forward-thinking and it feels as though everything is moving in the right direction."

Darren B. added "Training has been hard but good. The gaffer's come in and brought some new ideas and it's really exciting. I've loved every minute of it. All the lads are buzzing even though training has been really hard. It is as if everyone has had a massive weight lifted off their shoulders because we've got a new manager and everyone is starting out afresh."

So the players at least seem to be in the right frame of mind which, after the usual turgid end to the season can only encourage the fans. But we're not Charlton fans for nothing and there'll still be that nagging doubt that what we have is not good enough. Our Murray has tried to reassure us after Darren signed a new improved contract with "We'd like to get, ideally, another five players of which at least three will be fairly senior players,” said the Addicks chairman.
"We're working very hard on it. I know the season is still two or three weeks away but Iain would like to get them in as soon as possible so he can get them training with the other players. So we're working on it, I can't give you any promises, but the aim is still to get five.”

So that's the plan. Although he's no youngster at 34, the signing of Jimmy-F clearly demonstrates that the management think we belong in the top half of the table and gives us a true strike-force worthy of the name. But the main worry has to be the midfield. There's paper talk of Djimi Traore and Emerson Boyce, both defenders and Matt Oakley, a midfielder but surely not going to set the place on fire. We need that "Big Signing" that can create and influence the play - could it be Sidwell ? Its all gone very quiet for several weeks but that is after all how we operate.

Perhaps we'll see a completely new style of play. In all of Curbs years we never had an attacking duo of the likes of Darren Bent and Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink. Curbs liked to have good centre-backs but always seemed to want to fashion a team that played as he played with intelligent, creative midfielders that could make things happen. Over the years he had Jenson, Di Canio, Murphy, Smerton, Parker - all players that could create something but unfortunately this somehow meant that the team seemed to be built around them. The problem, of course, was that, for various reasons, they all walked out on him and he had to revert to Plan B, a play safe 4-5-1.

Darren B also tells us ""With him ( Dowie ) having been a striker as well it helps me out massively. "
And with the Chairman wanting more entertaining football perhaps having a former striker in charge will bring pleasant changes.

I don't think we won't get any idea on Monica's final team selection or formation from tomorrow's game. "It's far too early to give my cards away,” the Addicks boss told the club website. "In my mind I'm slowly forming my starting XI but all the players have come back in fantastic shape and there are about 20 players who could force their way into it.

The New Era starts here!

Get Them Trousers Off !!

One more example, if one is needed, of the world going completely mad. "Dutch fans were told ( or ordered in some papers) to remove their trousers on entering the stadium at Stuttgart on Friday for their match against the Ivory Coast."

I first saw the report in a Spanish paper over the weekend and doubted my own attempts at translation but now the English press guardian have got hold of the story.

Unfortunately no pictures can be traced but it appears that about 100 ( or 1000 depending on who you read ) Dutch fans, determined to enjoy themselves even if it means wearing all-orange outfits, dressed up in their festive gear and set-off to watch the game. Unfortunately in their excitement they had forgotten to order their trousers from Heineken, that well-known garment manufacturer and instead had made the mistake of ordering their trousers from their local brewery, Bavaria.

Strange name for a Dutch company you might say but nevertheless as soon as they were spotted by the local Sponsor-Watchdogs the burly Stadium Bouncers were called and fans were forced to remove their trousers, deposit them in a waste-bin and watch the game in their hopefully stylish underpants. Presumably Kevin Kline is not a world cup sponsor!

Its not reported how large the label featuring the name "BAVARIA" was on the aforementioned trousers, m'lord, but it was obviously large enough to be spotted by the Watching Public relaxing at home in front of their TV's who would presumably all rush out to their local off-license in a desperate search for some Bavaria beer.

The next time I'm in some god-forsaken bar and I ask for a beer and get the response "blah-blah or Heineken" I shall swiftly check the label on my trousers and the size of the bloke by the door before insisting on a cool bottle of blah-blah.

New Face Officially Unveiled

Ah! Sorry about that, must have dropped off. All the speculation in the press has been winding me up and had finally put me to sleep, all from people trying to fill their pages with whatever, when really if the truth be known, they couldn't care less who's in charge of what they see as a low-life club like ourselves.

Anyway at long last, we now can at last celebrate, if that is the right term, a New Manager. 'Unveiled' as the bbc would have it and not a great surprise. He will head a three-man team of Les Reed and former assistant academy manager Mark Robson.

In true Charlton spirit the selection process in the dirty world of football has been handled impeccably with 20 or so applicants somehow interviewed on the quiet with only 2 or 3 being identified. All business appears to have been above board and we would expect nothing less from our leaders. We are not one of your 'Big Clubs' who trample heedlessly over the plebs, we do things properly. Allardyce called us 'too nice' a few years back, well Curbs anyway, but we don't care what he thinks.

Well nice or not, they now can't accuse us of being pretty, not with Iain Dowie in charge. From now on we don't care what he looks like, the only concern is - can he do the business?

A few facts about the boy, as at only 41 he's still a youngster in my book. After a bit of a wandering playing career with Luton, Fulham, West Ham, Palace, Southampton and 59 Caps for Northern Ireland he finally finished his days at QPR. He then became assistant manager of Oldham and following the dismissal of manager Mick Wadsworth, Dowie became manager in May 2002 and the following season the club were in the Second Division play offs, although Dowie was not there to see it.

Financial trouble had hit Oldham in October 2003 and Dowie lost much of his first team, and after battling along for a few months with a severely depleted squad he moved in December 2003 to become manager of Palace, inheriting a useless team with low morale and in nineteenth place in the First Division. Obviously a man not afraid of a challange.

Under his leadership, however, the second south-east London club went on an impressive run that included 17 wins after when he took over enabling the club to finish in sixth place, just scraping into the play-off places. This feat was attributed to complete change in the atmosphere and training regime at the club, including a tougher disciplinary regime, introduced by Dowie. After beating Sunderland in the semi-final, on penalties, ( sounds familar) the club beat Dowie's former club West Ham by a single goal in the final for a place in the Premiership.

But, as we well know, the club lasted only one season there and in May 2005 got themselves relegated on the final day of the season at the Valley. How sad was that?

Dowie, however, impressed as a manager. He remained at Palace for season 2005-06 in the Championship despite rumours that he was approached by other Premiership clubs to take over. The only actual report of a club approaching Palace to speak to Dowie was when Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric approached Mr. Jordon to speak to Dowie, in November 2005. Jordan refused, politely I'm sure.

In 2004, when discussing Crystal Palace's start to the Premiership season, he coined the word "bouncebackability" in discussing their ability to bounce back from the adversity during their Division one season and their habit of conceding early goals. This word gained cult popularity within the footballing world and in 2005 it was included in the Collins Dictionary.

So, a man that has had an exciting time during his short managerial career, with a play-off promotion, a play-off semi-final defeat, a Premiership relegation as well as a financial crisis to deal with in his 4 years in charge. He certainly seems to make things happen. As well as inventing new words for the squad to learn, seems like we'll have a new 'tougher disciplinary regime' in store unless he's changed his methods of course.

We can only wait and see how he will work with our new set-up with Director of Football, Andrew Mills seemingly involved in the signing of new players and give him our full support no matter where he's come from. Judging from our form at the end of last season and the number of players left or reporting to be leaving he's certainly got a lot of work on.

Man U 4 Charlton 0

A not unfamilar scoreline especially when visting the north-west. One only had to look at our record this year ( and last ) to predict the outcome, three predictable first-half goals and when everyone in the home side has turned off a bit the addition of a single second half one. With our best player Darren Bent withdrawn to save him from injury ( in the hope of a World Cup slot) there was never only chance of a consolation goal.

As far as the headlines go, there's much talk about the dramatic exit from the ground by van Nistelrooy that tended to overshadow the preceedings but that is also a reminder that other clubs, apart from Charlton, have their problems with delinquent players.

The report in the independent is sympathetic, there's more stats from the guardian, while the pathetic display is graphically illustrated in the times with Kish getting 2 meagre points out of 10 and Perry, Sorondo, Sankofa and Bartlett amassing a fabulous 3 each. The remaining midfield of Holland, Hughes, Euell and Powell somehow got 4 but I cannot remember such a dismal scoring from a team. Its a timely reminder of exactly where we are and how bad we are.

How many have played their last game? Probably all of them with the exception of Anderson ( not to mention Rommedahl, Lisbie, and Bothroyd ) and we can only hope that Luke Young and Darren Bent will stay. A whole new team then, if not squad, and its a scale of how much work will need to be done by the new man. We only have about 15 weeks or so before the new season starts and with a possible month lost while we select our next manager that only leaves 11 ( ELEVEN ) weeks in which to conjure a miracle and get prepared.

The timing of the World Cup will disrupt things but with the money that we will have available perhaps that shouldn't concern us too much. I suspect it willn't be top-drawer internationals that we'll be after. And whilst the Board will be keen to find someone to fit the special, not to say unique, requirements of Charlton and someone that fully understands the financial constraints that we have maintained in our years in the Premiership, it will be essential to find a man that already has a definite idea of the team and players that he wants for there is precious little time left available to him.

As far as the team is concerned, we badly need to install some heart in the centre of the team that has gone missing since Parker left and we need someone with the creative skills that can create the chances.

But at last the season is over and that's no bad thing for most of us. We finished in 13th Place, 2 lower than last season. Unlucky number but damn better than 18th. The total of 47 points was a point better than last year and we won 1 more game. But even with Darren Bent knocking them in up front we still managed to score 1 less goal than last year.

So its Goodbye 2005-06, Curbs and probably most of his team. We'll look forward to a new season they same way as we always do - with initial hope and optimism.........

729 All Out

The end of a season, the end of an era.

The last game of the season has come at last. Not too soon for many of us, least of all perhaps the manager. And a nice easy game to finish off with, away at Old Trafford. Predictions of 3-1 from cynicathletic, 4-0 from Pedro45 and 3-0 from Lawrenson, home wins of course, have been expressed but I don't care really. As long as its less than 10, which would be just a little embarrassing.

Just treat it for what it is - a game that we can enjoy with no worries, as fans anyway, although perhaps the players wouldn't be enjoying it quite so much. Not knowing if you've got a job next year can't be too enjoyable.

Still as fans it'll be something else. I remember a similar game in 1989, May 13th to be exact. The last game in our third successful season in the old First Division it was the only game in those three seasons that didn't mean anything. The only game that we didn't have to win to survive. It was away to Notts Forest and we lost 4-0 and in the away end nobody cared a fig. I've never seen so many happy fans at a losing match. Because it didn't matter. We were safe from relegation and the teams below us couldn't catch us. The following season we enjoyed our last season in the top flight for a few years but on that day nobody cared.

Tomorrow's game, somehow, has the same feel to it. I just hope that next season is not a repeat of the following season after that Notts Forest game. Call me Mr. Pessimistic, but I think for whoever takes over it'll be a very hard season. I can see now the vultures in the press already marking us down as relegation favourites.

So at 729 games, although not all in sole control, Curbs is saying goodbye. Perhaps Sir Ferg will send out his reserves to give our departing legend a right good sendoff. No, perhaps not.

Goodbye Curbs

Although frankievalley can always be relied upon for some interesting dialogue it seems that judging from the lack of posts from all over our select band there's obviously still a stunned feeling from everyone. I think we all knew from the way things were going that it would happen but that has not lessened the shock and trepidation of what, or rather who, will follow.

As all quiet has already pointed out we've had, even putting to one side Steve Gritts 4 years as joint manager during 1991-1995, thanks to Lennie Lawrence and Alan Curbishley only 2 men in charge in the last 23 years. For many of the Charlton fans that's the full term of their allegiance and in footballing terms its a lifetime. With all the financial and ground-sharing problems that we had to endure during those years this continuity has been something that has helped the club enormously.

So how are we going to remember Alan Curbishley? He was a part of the momentous move back to the valley in 1992, building a team with very little money and with average crowds in his first year at Upton Park of 6,700. When he took us into the Premiership for the first time in 1998 the gates had still only reached 13,000 average. We survived a relegation and returned after winning the Championship Title in 2000 (our first championship since we won the division 3 south in 1929 ) and since then have he given us 6 good solid years in the Premiership.

During that time he's built some good teams with skilful players like Jensen, Di Canio, Parker, Murphy and Smertin but seen them all depart for other clubs. Losing such riches, players that resembled the way he played back in the 80's, has obviously affected him and falling back on what he has left he had no option but to adopt survival tactics. The crowds grew unhappy with this state of affairs and he was left with the only answer possible. We should remember him not only for good management in 7 years of top-flight football but for the loyalty he has shown in the last 15 years.

So we're lost more that a manager, we're drawn a line at the end of an era. How strange in today's world of football that a manager leaving should be so emotional. I can't remember, or imagine, any other manager in English football being given the same ovation as Curbs received. The directors have significant ties to the club or else they wouldn't put their hard-earned cash into the club for little appreciation. We, the fans, have complete emotional links - you can change your job, your wife, your car but you cannot change your football club, or so it goes.

But the manager? Where exactly does he fit it to all this? Well, he's the leader I guess, the conductor, the boss and the longer he's there the more important he becomes. Make no mistake, Curbs was Charlton. In him we had something different to what has gone before. He's the one thats been responsible for our years in the premiership. The Directors provide the money but its the manager that builds the team and its Curbishley's teams that have given us our recent success. He was special and we can thank him for helping to change little Charlton into Premiership Charlton.

I'm not even thinking of who will replace him, there's no natural replacement ( as there has been for England) and I'll leave it up to the Directors to make the choice. For the time being I'll reflect on what Curbs has achieved for Charlton, thank him very much for what he has done for the club and I wish him all the best for whatever the future holds for him.

End of Season Blues

Well, completely shitty week then. You can kick the cat, take it out on the wife or indulge in some retail therapy, whatever takes your fancy, but at the end of it you´ll still be left with that shitty feeling that won´t go away. Seems we always end the season with the wish that it ends as soon as possible so that we can forget about it all during the summer months.

If you have the stomach to read about yet another defeat, you can read the official report at cafc, or you can try the observer or the telegraph.

I suppose we have to find some highlights in order to get through the day. We scored our first goal at Fulham since our win in 1986, had 11 or 12 corners (depending on who you read ) to their 2 and more shots on target than the home side so doesn´t sound like our normal away performance. Once again it seems that Perry was the star of the show and perhaps we deserved more but its all rather predictable. Even Lawrenson got the result right.

And today, instead of the comfort of being able to do something else for a few days and trying to forget about it, we´ve got the joys of all those Easter games and have the excitement of another game today.

Time for the Blue Revolution to hit town. I´m sure they´re more than grateful to the FA for being pulled out of the hat and being granted an-end-of-season party at good old generous Charlton. And while we´d rather not be there at all, the in-form Blues just can´t wait to get started, (in fact they´re probably on the pitch already ) and will be looking forward to giving us a good hiding and departing with three more valuable points to help keep them up. Well, looks like an away banker if ever I saw one.

I said a few days ago that our last season´s tally of 46 points and 42 goals scored against 58 conceded should be a benchmark to better this time around but now I´m not so sure that it can even be equalled. Can anyone see where those 2 more points are coming from. No, me neither.

We´re scored 38 and conceded 44 already. Against an improving Portsmouth, tough as old bricks Bolton, europe-chasing Blackburn and likely runners-up ManU enjoying a last day of the season we´ll be lucky to score 4 goals and with our current defending who knows how many we´ll let in.

So I think I´ll pack my bags, chuck it all in the car, declare the season over and do all my pessimistic forecasting now.

Charlton 1 Portsmouth 2
Bolton 2 Charlton 0
Charlton 1 Blackburn 3
ManU 2 Charlton 0

Position: 15th
Points 44
Goals For: 40
Goals Conceded: 53

See you next season.

Fulham v Charlton Preview

OK, the dreams´ over. Time to return to the real world, where make-believe only belongs in the Dream Factories at Anfield, Old Trafford, Highbury and Stamford Bridge and precious few other places. Over here its time to get back to business and convince ourselves that we´re professional enough to put such disappointments behind us, ( the players that is). This game that we put so much effort into is all about survival, get a grip, we´re never going to win anything unless we can prove to the world that we´re good enough. And at the moment we´re not.

To raise the spirits we can look back and see another reasonable season in the Premier, our 1000th game at the top-level and a place in the Sixth Round of the FA Cup. We´re currently the only team to leave Stamford Bridge unbeaten in the League and to prove the point we also went there and beat them in the Carling Cup so even the most pessimistic fan can argue that the season has not been a bad one.

Another plus point would be to really put an end to the old adage that the papers so much enjoy, that of Charlton turning out the lights and failing to turn up after the clocks go back (or was it forward?). Its not enough to finish the season when 40 points is reached or is even in sight.

As for the game against Fulham, the stats are not encouraging as we have apparently yet to record a Premiership victory or even score a Premiership goal down by the river. In fact the last time we won at Craven Cottage was the 3-0 success during our run to promotion on 22 April 1986. And it's nearly 56 years since the Addicks last managed a top flight victory at the Cottage, a 3-1 win on 23 August 1950.

Well, so much for the theory, history and the confidence-building, Craven Cottage will see the reality. Are we going to be satisfied with finishing the season with ours heads down? We´ll see on Saturday.

I don´t care who plays - just get the most determined out on that pitch. Perhaps its worth remembering that after such a disappointment, its odd-on that social gadabout Murphy would not be one of them.

The BBC armchair critic (lawrenson) goes for the obvious and sadly predictable 2-0 home victory as we are ´drained and crest-fallen´ after Wednesday. Rubbish, the obvious choice should be another boring 0-0 but its high time for a surprise and what better time to do it. 2-1 to the Addicks.

International News

- For those interested in boring old spanish affairs, we can bring news of another expected defeat last Sunday for the boys of Valladolid, sadly witnessed by your local correspondent.

Whilst looking the part of promotion contenders the sad truth is that Valladolid were made to look static by the busier little players of the distintly mis-titled team from Hercules Alicante.

A favorite, and ultimately decisive, tactic displayed by the home side and practised thoroughly throughout the game was that of running into players, falling over and writhing in agony on the ground. These tactics, during the early minutes, showed how the game was going to be played and from the first minute proved an adequate testing ground of the referee´s response to play-acting and after several well-practised attempts it soon brought the first goal. The away defence obviously realising the danger of approaching within 2 metres of any attacker in the penalty area, due to the frequent ability of the ref to penalize offenders, and selected instead to watch in wonder as the left-winger twisted past no-fewer than 4 defenders before gifting a lay-off to the striker who promptly buried the chance in the far corner.

All semblance of the usual laws of gravity were subseqently dispatched out of the proverbial window and even Isaac Newton would have been astonished at how easily it was for grown men to fall over. Fortunately the ambulance with its stock of blood of all types and its eager medics was not required as all players seemed to recover their ability to stand unaided after the desired free-kick and sufficient levels of crowd abuse had been directed towards the opposing player and/or the referee.

Without the same level of vocal support on which to call ( only two coach-loads of visiting fans having bothered to turn-up - it was after all probably a good 7 hours by coach and this was no Sixth Round Replay ), the players from Valladolid seemed to realise that falling over was not a useful option and took out their frustration by helping the home players to fall over in ever-more dramatic circumstances. The referee entered into the farce with gusto and proved only too eager to appease the howls of the home crowd with a generous helping of yellow cards. As a reduction in numbers tends to spoil such spectacles, the yellow cards were evenly distributed among the players.

The overall result of one and an half hours of high drama and farce more suitable to a West End theatre of the Twenties, was inevitably a 2-0 home victory, Valladolid even spawning the opportunity of a penalty to even the score at 1-1 and subsequently never looked back in claiming a famous defeat.

Cup Exit for the Addicks

All good things come to an end. And at this stage in the competition the disappointment is obviously harder to take in and just when we were allowing ourselves to dream a bit. A Sixth Round replay with the tantilising possibility of a Cup Final beckoning just 2 games away is the furthest we have progressed since our Victory in 1947, 59 years ago. A long time to have to wait for such disappointment.

We can seek to find excuses - that we should have scored when we had the early opportunities, the penalty so obvious to the studio panel that the referee failed to spot and the bad defending that finally let us down.

The higher you climb the further you fall. The fans and management want sucess, the players wanted the medals so everyone in the club will be facing the day with a heavy heart. But life carries on and the Most Important Thing for Charlton is that we, or rather the players, can raise themselves and approach the next game on Saturday against Fulham with a determination to prove that we are not just going to fell sorry for ourselves.

I was maybe the first to get home after the game last night, I had to watch from a bar just up the road. I got home in three minutes and sunk down depressed on the settee. Turning on the TV what should be on but the last few minutes of the Spanish Cup Final and there starring back at me, or rather into space, were the miserable fans of the more fancied Zaragoza losing 3-1 to little Espanol with just 5 minutes to go.

It was like looking into a mirror and just to twist the knife another turn their misery got even worst as a minute later a fourth goal went in. Zaragoza, who had knocked out Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid to reach the final and just expected to turn up to win were beaten 4-1 and had to watch as the second, and inferior, team from Barcelona lifted the Cup.

The scenes made me feel a bit better for a few minutes and today is another day. Its all part of supporting your local team and the success when it comes will......

Well, whatever. I´m off to the bar to raise my spirits a bit and hope that Curbs is better able to shrug off his disappointment than me.

Middlesbro´ v Charlton Athletic - FA Cup 6th Round Replay - Preview

A big headline for a big game. Some of our jealous non-Charlton readers would say, ´so what´ its only the FA Cup, they being more in love with Champions League football than the old national favourite. But its still our Number 1 Priority and we can only hope that the players show as much desire as they did in the goalless draw at the Valley.

Make no mistake this is important to everyone at the club and to further stress the difference between ourselves and the ´Big Teams´, we sensibly rest our key players before our Cup matches, not during them.

A point gained on Saturday and a another clean sheet earned against Everton has kept the players confidence high while Newcastle have done us the favour ( albeit by knocking us down one place in the table) of upsetting the happy ambience up at the Riverside. They too rested players so Curbs should have an inkling how they will line-up.

As for the Charlton line-up, barring no last minute injuries Darren Bent should return up front with the rested Powell ready to resume at left-back. Spector will continue at right-back with Hreidarsson and Perry back as the central pair despite Sorondo´s good showing against Everton . Hughes seems a question mark with a minor knock but Kish will be there working his socks off. Holland may be wondering where the captains band is going to be but appears to be after a new contract during the summer. Thomas will be our wide option with Rommedahl probably held in reserve on the bench. There remains what to do about a replacement for Marcus Bent. Some would say that´s not difficult, but if Middlesbro´ come out with a 5 man midfield that it will surely be up to Curbs to keep it tight ( and goalless) with maybe Euell or Ambrose in a congested midfield if Hughes is unfit.

But what can we expect from the home side, Middlesbro´. While we play to our strengths defending well and trying to find our goal-scoring machine with a cross or a through ball, they will play 5 men across the park and try to bore us in a slip-up.

So which way will it go, in the battle of the Riverside versus the Valley?. Currently I can find only one person ready to hazard a guess at tonights result with the usually reliable cynicathletic going for a 2-1 win. But unfortunately the last time we scored 2 goals away from home against Premier opposition was a long time ago, being way back in October. And history, I´m afraid, also seems to be against us with no victories recorded against Middlesbro in the FA Cup in 4 attempts. With their cup achievements in europe giving them the edge we must first ensure that we don´t concede and we in turn will draw on our experience at holding teams at Anfield, Stamford Bridge and St. James Park. The longer it goes goalless the more the game will turn our way. 0-0 at half-time is surely the first objective for Curbs.

I think 1 goal may be enough to snick it, but who is going to score it. It´ll be a close call and I wouldn´t rule out the possibility of a penalty shoot-up to decide the outcome. That´ll suit the papers, no doubt already having written up their ´most boring FA cup-tie´ of all time headline.

So another 0-0 and Hughes to once again get Charlton through on penalties? Stranger things have happened.

Charlton 0 Everton 0

So yet another sterile 0-0, but good to see Curbs taking note of various Blog advice and awarding games to Euell, Sorondo, Bothroyd and a place on the bench for Sankofa, giving some players a bit of rest in preparation for our Cup Final on Wednesday at the Riverside.

From the more informed blogs cynicathletic( as opposed to the useless papers ) the star turn would appear to be Kish due to his endless running and ´distribution´, something he´s not normally famous for. Lets hope he continues with more of the same at the Riverside.

Reports from the papers are not too complimentary of the fare offered with the Observer describing it was lifeless and witless while the bbc and the independent at least stuck to the facts.

We´re definitely become the 0-0 champions and it may be a bit boring but it´s infinitely better than being on the receiving end of the 7 (seven) 4-goal pastings that we received last season at the hands of Bolton, Man C, Arsenal, and Pompey and further similiar humiliations at home to Chelsea, WBA and Man. U.

This year a rather disastrous 5 conceded to Man. City and the 4 to Blackburn have been the only hiccups and we´re still 16 goals better in the ´Against´ column ( albeit with 5 left to play ) and back last year we finished up with a minus 16 goal difference. Strangely, despite having Darren knocking them from everywhere we´re still 5 away from last season´s total goals scored of 42.

And a final thought to Newcastle. After a poor season of ungreatness lets get behind them in their derby against Middlesbro and try to ensure that they bring them down to earth after their enjoyable game against Basil somebody. We need our old mate Snotty to bruise a few shins up there and I´m sure after the reception we gave him a few days back he´ll be thinking of nothing else...

Charlton v Everton Preview

David Moyes brings his team to the Valley today and while his 10th position in the table is just 1 point above us, I´m sure that far from being disappointed with the season, he´s much relieved to be where he is. Last season saw them finish fourth but for whatever the reason, this season has been a return to recent years with the early months spent in the bottom 3 while elsewhere they were ´enjoying´ their European games. A tidy reminder that a season in Europe for a group of players unaccustomed to it can often result in a dismal League campaign. It happens all over Europe and should remind us that far from being the Holy Grail that we all look towards, European football can often be nothing more than a poisoned chalice.

Anyway, back to todays business. Since our loss at Everton in December we have experienced a decent spell with only 3 defeats in the 16 games in all competions since then. Despite the 22 goals scored, its been our defence that has been the reason for such a good run with only 16 goals conceded ( and 9 of them in the 3 defeats ) so if we are to continue to enjoy the reminder of the season we can only hope that our defenders can see out the remainder of the games uninjured.

We´ve had one warning with the problem with Young so perhaps its time to do what the big boys do and plan their teams with the big games in mind. Can´t see it happening with the cautious mood of our management but I think the time is right to make wholesale changes, if only to keep the visiting Middlesbro spy in a quandary.

The only players that I can see are necessary for the game today are Myhre (he´ll have something to prove against his old team), Holland (as captain) and Marcus Bent ( ditto Myhre plus he can´t play on Wednesday). As for the rest play the reserves. Get Euell, Sorondo, Ambrose, Fortune and Spencer ( and I was going to say El Tarkouri) on the pitch as starters, plus a couple of the youngsters to see what they can prove. Put either Sankofa and Youga in the defence ( at least on the bench ) and how about having Sam or Varney in, they´ll love the experience. As the boss says we have 4 games in 10 days and we need to spread the load a little.

And make no mistake, despite the promise of money for Premier placings, its Wednesday´s game that we all want to win.

As for today´s result a draw seems the favourite with the reliable cynicathletic going for a 1-1 as does Pedro45, while the odd one out sems to be Lawro who foresees a 1-2 ( maybe he´s thinking of Wedneday as well). With our usual end-of-season drifting in mind, I´ve recently said we can expect 3 draws and 3 defeats from our last 6 games. So I cannot see beyond a point gained today and if we do play the team I expect we will put out, another 0-0 looks a likely outcome.

Just noticed that frankievalley goes for a late Charlton winner 1-0

International News -

Valladolid 3 Xerez 1 ( No, the away team is not the Rank Xerox works side but the outfit from Jerez, where the sherry your mum drinks cames from - they just like their ´x´s over here)

So, for anyone pining to know the results in Spain we can bring you news of another startling home victory by the boys from Valladolid. Three goals up at half-time with a depleted side due to injury and accumulating yellows we can only marvel at the team selection by manager Merino that conjured up another 3 points. Pity is all a little too late as they are still 10 pts behind the magical 3rd place, the last of the promotion places. It all spells out another dismal season in the Second Division and dreams of promotion which were so high at Christmas.

Its rumoured that the ´crowd´, numbering a massive 7800, went home reasonably happy after the usual battle to get a thousand cars out of the one-entrance car park and sadly remembering those happy days a few years ago spent among the elite of Spanish football.

Several have been known to put the blame at the feet of the Chairman Senor Saurez who while contemplating their safe First Division Mid-table position in early 2003 dreamed of ´Greater Things´ and hired a new manager in the summer. Relegation, of course, duly followed.

Take note you dreamers.