Hard earned point

Not great weather. Not a great pitch. And in truth, not a great game. We were well worth the point. But we're a better quality team than we showed against Watford. We should be grateful I suppose, for an away point against a team above us in the league. But Watford were there for the taking.

There was a clash of styles, evident right at the start when Watford hadn't quite mastered 'the huddle' before kick off. And as the game progressed we seemed to struggle to string passes together. It all seemed a bit disjointed.

Perhaps we'll have a more settled line up when Andy Reid gets back from injury, and we offload some of the players that are not quite doing it for us.

Setting off from Essex we agreed to meet the Old Man at Euston. We got there just in time to be delayed by the fatality just outside the station. At the time it was frustrating to be held up, but I guess there are more important things to consider than whether we'll be late for the game. It was a bit disconcerting to see police running to the front end of the platform, followed by more police and the fire brigade with all sorts of equipment. It's a job I wouldn't want to do.

After about a forty minute delay we were on our way and we met up with Bully and his crowd in the Wetherspoons. They had driven and had no such problems getting there. Time for a few swift pints before braving the wether and the ten minute walk to the ground.

The Watford ground was the same as last season. Three sides of it are OK, but the dressing room side is a bit of a mish mash of structures. Not sure what their plans are, but it must surely involve demolishing the lot. In the 1970s I stood on that side of the ground for an evening match. And come to think of it I have watched Charlton from all four sides of the ground at Vicarage Road. I think I've only done that at Selhurst Park, Leyton Orient, Upton Park, and of course, The Valley.

The journey home was straightforward enough - via the Wetherspoons. And now we have a break until Tuesday week for our next game. Surely our game against Stoke could be brought forward to Saturday. I'll only get dragged out shopping.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

You are fit to referee

Mr J Singh was the referee for the game against Blackpool. Now I know we won 4-1, but even if we had lost 4-1 I think we would still be raving about a refereeing performance that really was ten out of ten. He allowed the game to flow, played advantage appropriately and defused the occasional troublesome situation. There was one point when two players clashed off the ball, he allowed play to continue, and when the ball went out of play called them together. He spoke to them together, clearly warned them and sent them on their way. It's the first time I've ever seen a crowd applaud the referee for taking such action. You can come back and referee any of our games in future Mr Singh. It's a pity you weren't at Hull earlier in the season. Or Southampton. Or...

The game itself was as good as we've seen at The Valley this season. Only the game at West Brom earlier in the season produced better quality football. Blackpool looked good going forward, but their defence was a mess. Let's hope this is the start of a good run as we've still to play the top six at The Valley.

Pre-match was a bit disjointed. Sickness took it's toll on our small but merry band, but we offloaded the spare season ticket. The Horse and Groom was not only closed, but boarded up! We managed to squeeze a quick pint in at the Royal Oak before the game and get the Scunny tickets.

It could be a good second half of the season. Bring on Watford.

Up The Addicks!

Robin.

Going away

17 games. £352 for tickets. 7 train journeys. Ten car journeys. Two nights in hotels. And several days holiday allowance taken from work. And that's just the away games! It's not been cheap or easy watching the team away from home, but at least we've had some good away wins this season. It does make it all worthwhile.

It's the home form that's a problem for us this year. If our home form had been as good as our away form we'd be romping to the title by now. Mind you, if our away form had been as bad as our home form we'd be in a relegation battle.

But Saturday provides us with another chance to get three points and maybe get something of a homerun going. No game is ever easy, and the opposition want to win as well. But really we need to win this game or the season could fizzle out.

I expect we'll give the Horse and Groom one last try to see if it's open. We need to get Scunthorpe tickets on Saturday. Can't risk them being sold out. It'll be the Old Man's 105th ground where he's seen Charlton play. Let's hope we're still near the top when we play them.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Another cup run

Well at least the football was better. It may be more to do with a half-hearted West Brom than a stunning display by us. But it was more enjoyable to watch. For the longer term there was a satisfying debut from Kelly Youga, and Count Basey looked good when he came on.

On third round day though, the drama was always going to elsewhere. And so was our regular crowd. You can't tell me that the cup hasn't lost its magic.

Somehow it was inevitable that the game would end in a draw and a replay. It will now be a real challenge for me to get to the replay. I've already used up my holiday and money on trips to Hull, Cardiff and Bristol. My 100% attendance record is inserious jeopardy. I'll just have to see how it goes at work this week.

Yesterday was the first home game travelled to by car. Whilst it's more comfortable by car the journey home took about 15 minutes longer. We picked Kim up on the way as Bully had man flu and stayed in bed. A pity we couldn't shift his ticket for him. Maybe he'll be up for the replay.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Up for the cup?

Sadly not me any more. As a youngster there was no doubt the FA cup was the most glamorous club competition in the world. Winning the league would make you the best team, but winning the cup with a day out at Wembley, and about ten hours of coverage on TV, made it the best spectacle. Even as a neutral you could get out of bed on cup final day, come downstairs at 8 o'clock and start to watch the build up. Meet the players wives, it's a cup final knock out, watch the players leave their hotels; every angle was covered.

Even the earlier rounds of the FA cup had their drama. Hereford beating Newcastle, Colchester beating Leeds, Charlton beating, er... er...nobody really. Oh hang on, we did beat Blackburn away when they were near the top of the Premiership and we were in the second flight. And for those us old enough to remember, we beat Palace at Selhurst Park in a third round replay with our goalkeeper Charlie Wright chaired off the pitch. We then got knocked out to the mighty Arsenal. My first ever away game outside London was a cup tie at Coventry around 1970 - we lost that as well.

But no matter how poor we were, you always looked forward to the third round with fresh hope that it could be our year. But not any more. Just as we know that only three or four clubs will ever win the Premiership, so we know that only a handful will win the cup. The chances of winning the cup are greater than winning the league, but mainly because the big boys don't take it seriously. Premiership teams will play their reserves because they want to save their stars for the big money league. Even in the Championship, teams will be playing under strength sides if they feel they have a chance of getting promoted. It's better to get in the big money league than have a better chance of a day out at Wembley.

Against West Brom we too will play a number of reserves. Pardew has already said he doesn't want a draw. Hopefuly we won't throw the game just to avoid a replay. And a replay will definitely throw my 100% attendance rate into jeopardy. Can I get more time off to attend a midweek game at the Hawthorns if we get a draw? Let's hope it's not something I have to consider. I've spent hundreds of pounds attending every Charlton game this season, and I must admit that coming just after Christmas, an extra away game will be a big struggle. Particularly for a game that nobody seems bothered about. The shine has definitely gone off the cup for me.

And for those coming from Essex, we need to be aware that the Jubilee line to North Greenwich is not running on Saturday. For me it'll mean going by car. With a reuced crowd parking shouldn't be so much of a problem though.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Shame about the football

Talk about mixed feelings. The VIP package at The Valley was a great experience. John Bumstead and John Humphrey were the hosts for the sponsors package that we enjoyed courtesy of MBNA. Concerns that we might be stuck on a table with some footballing novices were soon eradicated as we shared stories of past games realised that most of us were season ticket holders.

The tour of The Valley was really a visit to the dressing room and dugout. Going 'behind the scenes' is always is interesting and I never tire of hearing the history of the club, though I've lived through the intersting bits and think I know it all. What was news to me is that we are looking to have The Vally developed to around 40,000 capacity by the time of the Olympics. Apparently we want to host some of the matches. Personally I can't see that happening with West Ham and Spurs getting new stadia and the Emirates and Stamford Bridge available. It'll be great if it happens, but I just can't see it.

The meal and service was good and there were no queues at the toilets. But there are still minor irritations caused by Greenwich council. No alcohol is served at half time or after the game until 5.15pm. It's not the end of the world, but it is irritating. I know you can't get a beer in Legends after the game until 5.15 either and it would be really interesting to know the logic behind that decision. What was important was that after a four course meal before the game, we were offered prawn sandwiches at half time and after it as well. Roy Keane would have been disgusted!

All in all, it was a great experience. Though we discussed it and all agreed it's great as a one-off, but wouldn't want it to be the normal match day routine, even if we could afford it.

Probably the least said about the football the better. Our record without Reid shows just how much we rely on him to open up the opposition. Without him we look like relegation candidates. Oh well, there's always the cup.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Joining the prawn sarnie brigade

Would you believe it! The Old Man has won a prize draw with his credit card company - the one that has a promotional tie up with Charlton. The prize is a couple of VIP tickets for the game against Colchester. It seems MBNA, the credit card company, are sponsoring the game and a number of credit card holders have won VIP packages. At first the Old Man thought it was a wind up as they told him the good news over the phone. He didn't hear anything then for over a week, so checked it out with his mate Henry. But now he has had a confirmation call and recieved the details in writing.

Well, the good news is that the Old Man has negotiated an extra place so that both me and Matt can join him. We weren't sure what to expect until we saw the itinery. The bad news is that we can't wear jeans and trainers. But that inconvenience is offset by the fact there is a free bar!!! We have to arrive at midday for a champagne reception. That's followed by a 'tour of The Valley. I assume this will be confined to the west stand, but we'll have to wait and see. Then we have a 'four course silver service meal served in the Centre Circle Suite'. In my initial excitement I didn't read the last word and thought we'd be eating on the pitch. But no, we get to go on the pitch when four guests make a pitch presentation. The food is definitely served in the restaurant.

The itinery is amusing. It says that refreshments are served at half time and at 3.55pm 'return to your seats'. Yes, 3.55pm! Half time will be my big chance to lambast those that don't get back to their seats for the kick off. I don't really care whether we've finished our prawn sandwiches or not. We need to be there for the start of the second half. None of this strolling back ten minutes into the second half. Every game this season you see empty seats in the west stand at the start of the second half. Well, against Colchester there will be at least three people in their seats at kick off.

And what's the protocol about singing in the VIP area? Will we be allowed to stand up and abuse the away supporters? I guess we'll have to find out.

At the end of the game the VIPs can vote for the man of the match. Let's hope it's Big Chris because he's scored a hat trick against his old club. If we can still stand up, at 5.30pm we make the 'man of the match presentations'. And at 5.45pm we are 'welcome to transfer to the Milenium Suite where a pay bar is in operation'. I think the bar staff in the Centre Circle Suite could be busy at 5.40pm!

It promises to be a different and memorable day on Tuesday. I wonder how many other VIPs will be at the ticket office getting their Watford tickets having been to every game this season?

Up The Addicks!

Robin