Claret & Blue

After the bitter midweek disappointment we now face one of those games that has no added spice except the need for three points. Having been to Turf Moor a couple of times in the distant past, I know they don't have the most welcoming of supporters. In fact I recall there was a bit of a rucus when they came to The Valley in a cup tie a few years ago. I don't imagine they'll have massive support on Saturday though.

But in an attempt to get my fill of Claret and Blue, and knowing the Horse and Groom will be shut, I think I'll get over to Bartrams to watch the cheating, lying Hammers on the early TV game. I need to sort out tickets for Cardiff and West Brom anyway.

Burnley have a new manager and come to us on the back of an away win at the league leaders. They won't show any fear, but it'll be interesting to see whether they come at us, or sit back and defend. I can see that this game may go any which way. If we get on top early on and get a quick goal, we could get a hatful. On the other hand we're not that prolific and it could easily be a 0-0 draw. Even a defeat. But please, not another 0-3 defeat. Let's keep the faith.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

A bad night out

What is the world coming to? Pubs shutting when they want to. Not for the first time this year, The Horse and Groom was closed on a match day. Below the the handwritten note saying 'under new management' was a printed sheet of paper saying the pub was closed , and will be again on Saturday. The place has only just re-opened for Christ sake. Helpfully the note suggested we go to the Royal Oak. The bar staff can't cope with the customers from one pub, let alone two. Ironically we had just been in the Oak.

It really was a bad day all round. We met in London for a pint or two and caught the train to Charlton. Now having a beer before you start the journey seems like a good idea. But three stops down the track and you're busting for the loo. By the time we arrived at Charlton things were becoming urgent. We also realised that we needed a cashpoint if we were to have more than one drink. There used to be a cashpoint by the station, but this was obviously too convenient so it has been removed. From there we had to try to establish priorities - piss or pounds!

In years gone by we have used the Conservative club as the Essex Branch base for ticket collections. But these days they want to charge two quid each just to get in. Don't think so!

With groin suitably clenched we went to the cashpoint by the club shop. Out of order. Bugger. Does the newly refurbished Royal Oak have a cash machine in it? Does it hell. A quick visit to the Oak did allow us to use the facilities though. This was when we moved onto the Horse and Groom where we discovered it couldn't be arsed to open. This did cause a problem as we were supposed to meet Matt, Toby and the Basildon boys. Unable to make phone contact with anyone we meandered around to Bartrams. This too has been done up in recent times. We clubbed together to get a quick pint in and stayed there.

A disruptive pre-match routine was matched by a disruptive game. Although Sheffield United had probably the smallest away support (though ours is usually smaller in midweek) their team soon got to grips with our formation and took the lead. Even injury time didn't provide the usual standard of entertainment. We looked good at the start of each half and went close early in the second. But in the end you have to hold your hands up and say, probably for the first time this season, we were beaten by a better team.

The 3-0 defeat hurt after so much recent success. People on message boards have recently been saying how we should prepare for the Premiership. This might be the reality check they need. Let's just focus on the next game against Burnley. Oh Blimey they just won away at Watford!

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Blades

With several connections with family and friends in Sheffield, it's a disappointment that this game's not on a Saturday. The game with Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the season meant that we had a houseful. For this game it'll be the usual routine. We'll be coming to the game from our various work places at various times. It looks like we've settled on the Horse and Groom as the pub of choice this season, though we need to sort out tickets for forthcoming games. We've not used the services of 'Fiddler' and the Essex Branch to get our tickets much this season, mainly because we're not sure who will be going until a late stage. But we need to sort it out soon.

As for the game against The Blades, it looks like a chance to extend our unbeaten run. But we thought that about Plymouth and QPR. This could easily be another banana skin. But if we really are going to push on, we need to win games like this. Playing 4-5-1 seems to have tightened us up at the back, particularly away from home. At home it needs to be more like 4-3-3. With Lloyd Sam and Jerome Thomas we have the players to make it work for us. Let's hope it works on Tuesday night.

Thank God for injury time

Saturday 24th November 2007 marked the end of the international break. And time for me to return from Canada. I'll remember that day for a long while. The plane left Montreal about midnight GMT, and British Airways got me into Heathrow bang on time at 7.00am. The Old Man was there to pick me up so we spent the next hour and a quarter in the car back to Essex. Time for a bite to eat - a confusing meal as I had been up and awake for 24 hours by this time and already had one breakfast. The Old Man came back at 11.30am to pick me up and we set off for Preston. I napped a little, but the motorways were good and we arrived in Preston about 4.00pm. Time for a quick beer or two in the Royal Garrison and back down the hill for my first ever visit to Deepdale.

Deepdale reminded me of when we beat Blackburn in the FA cup, with Darren Pitcher scoring in our famous win many years ago. Three sides of the stadium were in place and offered excellent views, but the stand on our left was missing. We can only speculate that it has been misplaced along with the six discs of data missing from HMRCs Preston offices. But with three quarters of the stadium in place it was quite impressive. Whether Pards and the substitutes thought so might be another matter.

With the adrenalin pumping there was never a problem staying awake for this one. The international break and Preston's new manager didn't stop us looking a classy side for much of the game. In truth I though Preston knocked it about well and caused us some problems in the second half. We need to sort it out when the ball comes into our goalmouth. Weaver never seems to command the area as he should do, and the Preston forwards were big and strong and got their heads to most crosses. But we rode it out and got the win. If we played only 45 minutes each half we'd probably only be mid table. But the Deepdale announcer said the "officials had agreed"a couple of minutes in the first half and four additional minutes in the second half. It sounded as though they had brought in the United Nations to secure that agreement, not just that the ref - previously introduced as "Misseda Friend" - had added the time on.

However he announced it, it was the signal to score a goal in each half and for us to go second in the table for a few hours.

And then the journey home. We had parked in a school playground for thee quid - the cheapest car park this season. Close to the ground, we were able to get away quickly up Sir Tom Finney Way, and follow the signs to teh M6 North. The announcer had told us during the game that the junction going South was closed, bringing a chorus of 'you're not going home' from the sympathetic Preston supporters. So we headed North. This didn't really delay us. I slept for most of the the four hour journey, eventually getting home at 11.15pm.

In a 24 hour period I had travelled for several thousand miles on a plane for seven hours and several hundred miles in a car for nine hours; 16 hours travelling in total with precious little sleep in over 40 hours. But with three precious points it was well worth it.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Chant of the day: That good old favourite - Simon Jordan is a wanker, is a wanker... from the 'imbeciles'

Qualification or 3 points?

The thing about watching England - even from afar, here in Canada - is that it's not that different to watching Charlton. Always flattering to deceive. 2-0 down early on, then pull it back to 2-2, just like at Colchester. But last night England were outclassed and blew their chances, conceding a late winner to Croatia.

It was a big disappointment, and it will hit home in the summer when we have to watch the Euro Championship without England taking part. But I've often played it over in my mind: would I rather have England succeed in a major tournament, or have Charlton get three point on Saturday - this week at Preston? Consistently I come up with the same answer. It's Charlton every time.

I understand the arguments how England's success is good for all levels of the game, with crowds at domestic games soaring and interest heightened. If England were to win a major tournament that would be brilliant, of course. But for me it's always Charlton's fortunes that come first. I've spoken to others that actually go to games and they all say the same. It's their own club that is more important than England. Maybe it's because we can get to see our own club live rather than on the telly. We feel we belong. It's more regular. Whatever. It's always Charlton that comes first.

And this week it's going to take considerably longer to get to the game. My flight leaves Canada at quarter to six local time, arriving at Heathrow at ten past seven on Saturday morning. Plans have now changed at this point. Originally Matt was meant to pick me up drop my bag at home and then off up to Preston. But Matt's car has broken down and he's not going any more. So a call to the Old Man and hopefully we can stick to the same schedule. He'll drive around from Essex and pick me up. I won't now be staying over in Blackpool, but the priority is to go to every game this season. This'll keep the run going. Any delays to the flight - and snow is forecast - and it'll have to be straight up to Preston though. Fingers crossed.

Preston is a new ground for me and the Old Man - the 104th ground for the Old Man! A bit like The Valley, it's a rebuild on the original site. It's always interesting to see whether the renovations have more character than the new builds. Not sure we'll have time to take in the museum, but looking forward to it anyway. Just need to get my head down somewhere en route.

Definitely looking forward to it more than the England game though.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Homeward bound

Having enjoyed a mini sabatical here in Canada, thoughts are now turning to the return home and the challenge of getting to Heathrow, home and Deepdale all in a day. Original plans were to meet Matt at Heathrow, drop stuff at home, a quick nap and drive up to Preston. An overnight stay in Blackpool would have broken the travelling up. But I've now learned that Matt's car has broken down and a plan B is required. This involves the Old Man getting out of his pit at some unearthly hour on Saturday morning to pick me up from the airport at around 7.30am, getting me home and going up to Preston with him. It will be there and back in a day so I'll be going around like a zombie on Sunday, depending on how much shut-eye I get in the car.

It's strange here in Canada with so little news about The Addicks and football in general. Thanks to the advice from a few Canadian based Addicks I'll be watching the England game in a local bar. This'll be the only real football I'll experience out here. But at least last weekend's results mean there's something to cheer rather than jeer at.

Up The Addicks! - and come on England

Robin

Charlton 3 Cardiff 0

Well, on Saturday night we were back up to second in the table. Three consecutive wins following three consecutive defeats. It truly is a funny old game. Totally unpredictable. Except that for each of the last three wins we have scored our first goal (the only goal in the away games) deep into injury time or 'added time' as the media would now have us know it. In truth the game was more even than the score suggested. But we clearly edged it and deserved the win. It doesn't matter when the goals are scored, they all count.

So we start another 'international break' and I set off for Canada on Sunday afternoon. This provides the opportunity for reflection, and I'm sure others will reflect that life in The Championship is far more entertaining than in the Premier League. It obviously helps that we're at the top end of the league. But there are other changes. We can dispense with that silly handshaking stuff with the opposition that we were obliged to do before every game in the Prem. I'm not sure how that ever enhanced the game - or 'product' as the media would describe it.



But clearly money is tight in this league. It's great running out to Red Red Robin every game. But we've got no balls. For those of us that remember Keith Peacock leading the team out, playing keepy uppy - as it's now known - and blasting into an empty net, we miss the pre-match ritual of playing with our balls. On Saturday only the mascots got to play with a ball. Cardiff had no balls at all. In past seasons the warm up consisted of at least half a dozen balls for each side. But this season we're lucky to get one ball for each team. And the players look lost, meandering aimlessly around their half of the pitch. Occasionally they will burst into a short sprint, but most of the time they wander around and greet their team mates like long lost friends. Surely they were in the dressing room together for the team talk only a few minutes before?

But they hug each other or 'high-five' each other as they walk around the pitch.

And then curiously, just as the ref and his linesmen - or 'referees assistants' as they are now properly titled - prepares for kick off, we go into an intimate little huddle. Christ knows what they talk about for the ten seconds they are there together. I'm always worried the opposition will kick off while we're still fannying about, take a long shot and score. Maybe while all the heads are together they are trying to work out what Pardew was on about in the dressing room. Or maybe they are just trying to find out who has the balls. Does anyone have any idea? Are they telling jokes? Whatever it is, it seems to have worked on Saturday.

But it is difficult to predict what will happen in this funny old game - or 'soccer' as the Yanks would have us know it. The bookies know how unpredictable it is. That's why they set silly odds for some bets. Sodje was 33-1 to score the first goal against Cardiff. I know 'cos I had a tenner on him.

Funny old game betting.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

International break ahead

Well if the previous week was bad, this past week has been good. Very good. Somehow the wins away from home always seem that much sweeter. And last minute winners against Southampton and Bristol City were sweeter still. This could be a good season to go to every game, home and away. Obviously we hope that we make it a perfect week with a win against Cardiff, but we've lost the last two home games, so take nothing for granted.

But this Saturday is the last game before the international break. So I'm taking an international break. We'll probably meet the Basildon boys in the Horse and Groom - it's becoming a regular haunt - before working out how many of us are going up to Preston in a couple of weeks. So we need to get tickets before the game, but afterwards I'm off home to pack for a trip to Canada. The loved one is back home studying in Canada so the international break provides just enough time to get to Toronto and back. Flights have been booked for Sunday - after Cardiff - and return on the Saturday morning of the Preston game. Sky kindly agreed to move the game back a few hours to allow me to drop my bag off at home and get up to Preston. If there are no delays it should work OK, but right now I'm not sure how I'm getting up to Preston. Something else to discuss on Saturday.

In the meantime let's just hope we can keep the run going with three points against Cardiff.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Bristol City 0 Charlton 1

Well, this is the first game I've been to on my own this season. It felt a bit odd going on my own, particularly to a ground I've not been to before. Nor was I sure how to get to the ground from the station. But I arrived in plenty of time and managed to walk alongside the river down to the ground, so arrived in plenty of time.

There were around 600 travelling addicks there, but not too many from Essex. For the first time this season we were playing a team above us in the league. I think most of us there would have settled for a draw. And that's what it looked like for 90 minutes. But then a peach of a pass from Reidee, and big Chris was on the end of it again - right in front of the Charlton fans again.

On the basis of the first half we were the better team, but after the break Bristol City stepped it up. We were expecting the draw until Big Chris did his stuff.

Then the challenge of finding my way back to the station in time for the last train. There were buses lined up behind the ground - one of which went back to the station. Despite what seemed like an agonising delay in getting away, we made it back to Temple Meads station. There were some slight problems with the trains, but it eventually came and we made it back to London after 12.30am. With the hotel in Paddington booked and just around the corner, It was a quick beer and bed. Dtraight to work in the morning.

Happy days!

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Bristol bound

With train tickets and hotel booked, it's off to Bristol tomorrow. With fresh enthusiasm from Saturday's win maybe we can be a little more optimistic. Not too optimistic though!

The convoluted arrangements have been made - see earlier post. Following this game I'll be sorting out details for the Preston game. I fly out to Canada on Sunday and get back to Heathrow at 7.00am on the day of the Preston game. Theoretically it's all possible, but right now I'm not sure how I'll be getting up for the game. Still, plenty of time to sort that out after Bristol. The main challenge right now is to find the route from the ground back to te station to catch the last train back to London.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

We've only got ten men

This is what away games are about. Today is the reason we travel the length and breadth of the country. They don't work out like this very often, but when they do they are memorable.

We set off at about 11.00. Toby and his Basildon boys were already on the road. Jane - the trusty sat-nav suggested two hour delays on the M3. Radio reports confirmed the motorway had indeed been closed. Fortunately we were able to take the A3, and head for the park and ride, just off junction 8 of the M27. I don't know how others got on, but it didn't really affect our journey.

Overall the Park and Ride was a good experience, but somehow I wasn't expecting it to cost a fiver. The woman taking the money on the gate said other people had complained about that. Maybe it's because it doesn't say anything on the ticket! But we paid and parked up and got one of several buses waiting. We were droppped off at the ground fifteen minutes later. Half past one. Plenty of time for a couple of beers. We followed signs to the city centre and came across the Plume of Feathers. They had a little portable telly showing the live game and free food so we stayed a while. There were a reasonable number of Addicks already there, but as the pub filled up the atmosphere seemed to change. A glance outside showed there were large groups outside the pub. It's no fun being ambushed in a pub, so we made our way outside. There was a considerable police presence outside using video cameras. Nothing happened while we were there, but there was definitely potential for it.

The threat of trouble seemed to carry into the ground, and there was a commotion at the top of our stand. Typically heavy handed, the stewards made a meal of it and it took four of them to get a young teenager out. There's no way of knowing the justification of their actions, but you can't help there's other ways to defuse the situation rather than inflame it.

After the game the coaches and buses were lined up waiting and as soon as the first Park and Ride bus was full, it left. No hanging around for the coaches. We were escorted away and back to the cars within fifteen minutes. Five minutes later we were back on the motorway - indoors before half past seven. My first experience of such a scheme, and one I'll certainly repeat.

But it was the bit in between that made it special.

We were bright enough and certainly equal to Southampton. But yet again a refereeing performance overshadowed the football. It was always on the cards that someone would be sent off and Semedo was the one to go. With over half the game still to play with only ten men, the prospects looked bleak. But our formation meant that we coped well and definitely gave as good as we got. And we were rewarded for our adventurous play with an injury time goal. If you are going to win 1-0, that's the way to do it. Players and supporters were ecstatic. But even when scoring a goal the ref found something to book Mootoo for. Idiot.

It's a good weekend. A very good weekend!

Up The Addicks!

Robin