Let's be having you

Poor Norwich supporters. Not only are they saddled with being Canaries, they have Delia Smith running the club. Yet the rejuvenated club have long since sold out their allocation against us on Boxing Day. We're close to selling out which is an achievement when you consider there is no public transport.

Christmas Day celebrations will need to be kept in check as Matt is doing the driving on Boxing Day. He has to get back from his girl's place in Tilbury so we can set off mid morning for Norwich. It's usually a good day out in Norfolk, but somehow it doesn't have the same feel travelling for three hours each way at Christmas.

It'll be a case of fielding the walking wounded for this game, and with Norwich on a bit of a roll, it'll be a tough game. Let's hope our fans are not too hung over and can provide some real support. We'll need it for this one.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

For if you know your history...

...You'll know that 50 years ago Charlton won what the News of the World described as 'the most amazing game in history'.

The late Albert Doyle was Robin's grandad - a man responsible for two more generations of Addicks - and the one game he spoke about more than any other was the famous 7-6 game against Huddersfield.

It was typically Charlton to parade the four surviving members of that team before the Hull game. It must have been great for them to walk the Valley turf once more and remember that game. Life is about memories like that. I hope they enjoyed their day.

In some way - but a very different way - Robin will remember the game against Hull. Mediocre in the extreme with their keeper almost redundant. We clawed our way back only for the departing Danny Mills to do what he does best and get sent off. At the time there was a possibility that we could win the game. But as soon as he went off that changed. He was unbelievably stupid to keep arguing with the ref. We know the refs in this league are sub standard, but there's no need to keep arguing. Danny's had a good half season with us, but unlike the Huddersfield game, our memory of Danny will now be tarnished.

But the day started well. We met up with Toby for a pre-match meal in Legends. The food was good though clearly it was the busiest day of the year in Legends and the club have had to drag in staff from wherever they can to serve the tables. They must have struggled to get any English staff, and you do wonder whether we would be served in any restaurants these days if we didn't have a healthy influx of immigrants. The staff worked hard, and when they get a sense of organisation the service will be good.

But it wasn't a bad day out. Just a shame we didn't get three points.

Up The Addicks!

Happy birthday Toby!

Young Toby from Basildon has reached the ripe old age of 16 today. A lifelong supporter and season ticket holder for the past few years, Toby lives in 'character building' Basildon. Going to school North of the Thames surrounded by West Ham fans always tests your stamina - as other Essex based supporters will know. But although having to go to school with them really is character building, he's stuck with Charlton throughout and hasn't wavered.

So well done Toby and welcome to the tax paying world.

To celebrate his birthday a small group of us will be making an occasion of it with a pre-match meal in Legends. Members of the Essex Branch of the supporters club have had meals there before, so know what to expect. As it's just before Christmas there should be some Christmas fare, but really it's about celebrating Toby's birthday.

So it's an early start on Saturday. Tickets to collect for Norwich and Leicester before the game anyway so we'll need to be there by noon. You tend to get kicked out of Legends 20 minutes before kick off, so we may be there to see the surviving members of the team that beat Huddersfield 7-6 50 years ago. It's a shame that many of those there on the day will have passed on by now, but I'm sure there will be plenty of reminiscing anyway.

As for the game, we won't be at full strength with three regular midfielders out injured. Maybe this will be the true test of how good we are. You'd hope we'd get three points, but when you look at our home record it's anyone's game.

Let's hope it's memorable for Toby. Another 7-6 should do it.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

West Brom 4 Charlton 2

It was all going so well for a while. Me, Matt & Sarah got the 8 o'clock train from Euston, arriving at The Hawthorns in good time to get tickets and sort out a boozer. We decided to try a different pub this year, and it seemed only right that we had a few beers in the Royal Oak before the game. A rough pub, without the luxury of carpet. For some reason the locals preferred to watch some cooking programme that Soccer AM. But the pub was OK and the service good. And unlike the Horse & Groom, it was open.

So we were in good spirits as we approached the game. And the team duly obliged us by taking the lead. It was all going to plan.

But this was West Brom. Now officially a 'bogey' ground for me. West Brom equalised and then took the lead. And though we equalised and made a good game of it, in truth we were beaten by a better side. For the first time this season we came up a team that were better than us. It didn't help that Weaver and the back four didn't gel again. At least three of the goals were scored from within the six yard box, and there has to be questions about our defence. Even our midfield struggled to get the grip they usually get.



This is a long season, and we're not out of the picture yet. We will need to string some results together to push into the top two. On the way home we learned that Watford had lost so we're still only three points off a promotion spot.

On the way home we loitered around the New Street area, reminded that most of our support was out shopping or had watched the game on TV. It was probably a good game to watch, but the three points would have been better. We had the chance to go top and blew it.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Watching or supporting

As we approach our most important game of the season so far, it seems that most Addicks will settle for watching the game on TV. Those of us who want to support the team, will be at The Hawthorns trying to add the vocal support that you just can't give when you're a hundred miles away watching the game on a screen. Apparently we've sold only 600 of our 3,000 allocation. No doubt those of us at the game will have to endure the jibes about poor support from The Baggies' fans.

But poor away support tended to be the norm back in 1975 when I first visited West Brom. I liked the ground then because the away end was covered - a rarity in those days - and there was ample room. There were only a few hundred Addicks there that day to see Geoff Hurst score for West Brom, before we equalised to make it 1-1.

Since then I've seen a puddle divert the ball into our goal and knock us out of the FA cup and lose several times more. The ground is now very different, but the outcome tends to be the same.

This year I'll be getting my tickets at West Brom on the day, though it looks like there's only a couple of us going up by train from Essex. Not sure if Tony's got enough to take his bus up there, and the Old Man is driving from Corby where he's staying with relatives. We might head for the Moat House just off the A41 for a quick pre-match drink. Apparently it lets away supporters in and is not too far from the ground. But as it's a 12.45 kick off there won't be too much time beforehand. There was a bit of trouble after the game the last time we played here, but if we can avoid that, those that are interested might even be able to get home in time for some late night Christmas shopping. Joy!!!

Up The Addicks!

Robin

That was half good

It was difficult to know whether we were really good in the first half or whether Ipswich were really bad. Given their away form, I think it was the latter. But Ambrose was a revelation in his new position and we were worthy of the 3-0 half time lead.

During half time it was easy to get carried away and sure enough some people did. People were heard to speculate that we could get six. But not me. I feared Ipswich would not be as bad in the second half, and that we needed a quick fourth goal to be really sure of the three points.

And so it proved. Their manager gave his team a rocket up their arse and in the first ten minutes Ipswich could conceivably have been on level terms. On the pitch the fireworks started to happen, and off the pitch it sounded like we were under fire also. Apparently there was a firework display locally and the noise it created made it sound like we were in a war zone.

Ipswich certainly upped their game and it was a bit of a battle. Somehow we survived the second half and held on for a much needed home win. The weather conditions only added to the spectacle. Yet at the end of the game there was no euphoria. The ref had a good game, and kept his cards in his pocket for most of the game. But at the final whistle Fortune was red carded and will miss next week's game with West Brom, along with Mills and Sam.

Before the game we ended up in Bartrams because the Horse and Groom was inexplicably closed yet again. Under new management? Think they need a new manager. McLaren's free.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Tractor Boys

Following the away win at Cardiff in midweek we go into this game with fresh optimism. Back up to third in the league and one point behind West Brom, there's a great chance to grab three points at home and set up a clash with the Baggies next week. Typically we think that because we're at home we should get a win.

But this week the formbook throws up a a bit of a quandry. We've lost four out of the last five at home, yet Ipswich have lost most of their games away from home. On the basis that both teams can't lose something must give. I wonder whet the betting is on a 0-0 draw?

Because we'll be out and about in the pre Christmas rush early on, we're likely to be over at The Valley quite early. Not sure how I'm getting to West Brom next week yet, but need to get tickets anyway. I'll consult the fund situation, and maybe get the Norwich tickets as well.

The pre-match pint or four is likely to be back in the Horse and Groom, if they can be arsed to open this time. Apparently we're likely to have our biggest crowd of the season, so getting served might be a problem, but we'll have to see.

A win could set us up for a serious challenge for the leadership over Christmas. Another home defeat could be a serious setback. We'll have to see.

Up The Addicks!


Robin