Charlton Athletic Online

A week of sorrow and disappointment can be salvaged for Charlton fans, if the Addicks can continue their winning streak at get a result at Deepdale against Preston this weekend.

Sure, England failing to qualify for the European Championships next summer hurts, but nearly every football supporter in the land is actually more bothered about their own clubs fortunes, than that of the media circus that follows the international eleven when they play. Maybe if the media didn't build up the hopes of every household that this might, just might, be the year that Alf/Sven/Turnip/El-Tel/Second-choice Steve's team (delete as applicable) do the business because they are paid lots so must be good. The red tops love to knock them down, but actually it is their own promotion of expectation that provides them with the fodder which the seek to exploit. A vicious circle that they are very apt at maintaining...

None of this should matter to Alan Pardew; it is very unlikely that he will be mentioned (more than just in passing) in despatches as a possible next England manager, so thankfully he can concentrate on getting Charlton promoted this season!

Team-wise, I doubt we'll see much change from the 4-5-1 starting formation that has been apparent over the last three victories, unless there are any injuries that we haven't been made aware of.

In goal, Nicky Weaver will play, but with Darren Randolph carrying a knock, the reserve position may go to Robert Elliott.

Danny Mills will play at right back, and with Chris Powell still not yet playing after injury, Grant Basey will start at left back. Centrally in defence, it is highly unlikely that either Sam Sodje and Jonathan Fortune will be left out, especially after three clean sheets on the trot.

In midfield, Matt Holland is almost back to full fitness, and he may squeeze onto the bench (where he is a pretty good option), but Semedo, Reid, and Zhi are starting shoe-ins. Out wide, Jerome Thomas is at last starting to show some form, and Lloyd Sam is an excellent, skillful, workhorse who doesn't mind being taken off if Pards thinks it will benefit the team.

Big Chris Iwelumo will be bandaged up and start (or maybe have the cotton wool bandages removed and start?) on his own through the middle.

On the bench, Bougherra, Racon, Moutaouakil, Ambrose, Varney and McLeod will all be hoping to join Holland and Elliott or Randolph.

This is who I think Pards will pick -

Nicky Weaver
Danny Mills
Jonathan Fortune
Sam Sodje
Grant Basey
JeromeThomas
Jose Semedo
Zheng Zhi
Andy Reid
Lloyd Sam
Chris Iwelumo

Subs – Elliott, Bougherra, Holland, Ambrose, Varney.

Preston have a new manager - Alan Irvine - after sacking Paul Simpson last week. Hopefully, this boost will have come a little too late to influence their team too much, and we can all wish Irvine well after this game. The ex-Addick of the week in the Preston ranks is one time Lee Bowyer-clone, Kevin Nicholls. As a youngster, Kev scored on his home debut within a minute of kick off. Sadly, appearances were restricted after that, and Charlton soon accepted a very good offer from Wigan for the tough midfielder. He has subsequently played with honour for Luton, and had a short spell at Leeds where he didn't settle. Please no goals from an ex-Addick this week!

Pedro45 is looking forward to the game, as he will be there (and also trying to get his voucher for the negotiated ticket discount - well done Ben!); this is number 83 in league teams that I have seen Charlton play away at, and with luck, I'll be up to 85 after February (if I negotiate the Scunthorpe and Blackpool trips succesfully). I'll also get a chance to see the Blackpool illuminations for the first time, as I'm staying there for the weekend, and will hopefully survive the big dipper thing too. It may be 53 years since Charlton won at Deepdale, but I'm confident that the TV camera jinx can be broken, and three points will be won through a 2-1 scoreline.

Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue? Have you ever had that feeling of Deja Vue?

Up to fourth once more...now for a home win and the big push toward Xmas...

This is a tremendous boost to the team and the clubs fans; all the hopes that had been diminished by three successive defeats in a week have now been put to bed, and nothing could be better than coming back with three wins on the trot, if we can!

This should have set up an uncomfortable last 90 seconds but the referee played well over six minutes more than planned; Charlton hung on (just), and even had time to send on Izale McLeod for Semedo. The referee played over 14 minutes additional time in total (including five in the first half), so the players may feel that they have undertaken extra time as the reserve did last week!

This result leaves Charlton in second place in the table, at least until West Brom play tomorrow night.

Charlton Athletic 2 Leicester City 0

Up to second place in the league, following another two-nil home victory, the Charlton promotion-chasing machine rolls ever onwards. This victory was nowhere near as sweet as that of Tuesday’s game against Norwich, with some of the football quite often dour and cluttered, but Charlton were still way too strong for Leicester.

The goals came from Chris Iwelumo, after 18 minutes, and a first Charlton goal for Luke Varney (left), just five minutes later. The Foxes’s only noteworthy attack came early on when Clemence’s shot was tipped onto the outside of the post by Nicky Weaver.

Alan Pardew, unsurprisingly, named the same starting team, plus the same bench, as he had in midweek. Sadly, the first twenty five minutes of glorious open football that we witnessed then was not to be repeated, as Leicester retained the ball, and stifled anything that Charlton tried to create. Ironically, whereas against Norwich Charlton had failed to score during the early period, they found themselves two goals up thanks to some generous defending in this match.

First, a long Danny Mills throw in from the right was not dealt with as Zheng Zhi challenged. The ball actually bounced over ZiZi and the defenders head and fell to Iwelumo, who gleefully thumped the ball into the net unchallenged from just six yards.

Five minutes later and a long diagonal ball in from the right wing had Iwelumo’s knock-down falling to the unmarked Varney, and he knocked home his initial Charlton first team goal into the net of the team of his birthplace.

After that, Charlton went into a lower gear, possibly wary of how the defence has gifted opposition goals earlier in the season, and mistakes were kept to a minimum.

At half time, Radostin Kishishev came on for Leicester, and he got a warm reception from The Valley faithful in recognition of his seven years as an Addicks player. He actually had a couple of shots, one of which warmed the hands of Weaver, and therefore showed more attacking intent than he did during a large proportion of his Charlton career.

Kishishev’s introduction, plus that of another defender in N’Gotty, meant a change of tactics for the away team as they engaged damage limitation mode, and less option for Charlton to play expansive football. Little of note happened in the second half therefore, as the midfield became clogged, and the two Charlton forwards were marshalled by three central defenders.

The only other really notable things from the game were bookings for Izale McLeod (on as a sub for Varney) plus, in the first half, one too for Chris Powell. It has to be said that Chrissy fully deserved his yellow card, as his foul was an absolutely shocking and atrocious piece of shirt-tugging that could have caused some serious damage to the cotton material! Luckily, both the shirt and player involved were able to finish the match.

My man of the match award went to Jose Semedo (left, congratulating Iwelumo on his goal) who really did look a classy player all day long. His work rate is exceptional, his passing generally accurate, he tackles well, and challenges at every opportunity. If I have to make one criticism of him (which is harsh, I know…), it is that he might want to think about shooting from 25 yards every now and then when he has a chance, rather than passing. If he started to hit the back of the net occasionally, we would have a very, very valuable player on our books!

Others who had very good games were Danny Mills (with no nasty stuff this match thankfully!), Chris Powell (apart from that booking!), and the central defensive partnership of Fortune and Bougherra.

Those who didn’t shine were Lloyd Sam, who was marked tightly and had little chance to impress, and Andy Reid who looked like he had had a few Guinness’s too many watching the Irish rugby team the night before.

Up to second place and into the automatic promotion places, the team must guard against complacency and continue to gel and push on; they can definitely get better! Thankfully, the next match is a midweek league cup tie against Luton, and the great squad that Pardew has built will be used to the maximum. This should ensure that those currently in the starting eleven for league games cannot sit back as there is always another player pushing for their place.

The future is a rosy Charlton red, and most definitely bright!

A point apiece, from a very eventful afternoon at Layer Road, was just about a fair result, and moves Charlton up to fifth place in the Championship.

Standing in the middle of Terrace 4, a Home Fan only area, surrounded by North Essex youth (plus some of the older guard too) was certainly entertaining, and on a positive note, in no way threatening, to this Addicks fan. Unable to get more than one away end ticket, my friend who lives locally (a Chelsea fan) bought two tickets from Colchester, and we stood amongst the locals to watch the game. I've been in amongst the home fans on several occasions before (notably at Millwall and West Ham), where you soon learn that you smile and clap in all the right places (only), just in case anyone is watching the crowd rather than the game, so this held few terrors for me. The local songs were fun to hear, as was the perception of Charlton as a team from the locals who really have no idea about Premiership football - a totally different world away it seems.

It was the first time I had stood, willingly, at a game for many years, and I was quite astonished at how different the game looks from this angle when compared to the positive luxury of a Valley West Stand Lower seat. Not only did those taller than me get their big heads in the way of the action on numerous occasions, but pylons holding up the stand made seeing the whole of one goal (at the away end) quite difficult! I suppose this is balanced by fans who stand at inopportune moments at Valley games, but at least you have the option then of rising to your own feet yourself if need be.

The game soon settled, with the home team falling into a long ball game, and Charlton trying to pass and move, and play their way forward, a complete contrast in styles. Early chances went to Ambrose, a free kick that was comfortably over the bar, and a Thomas charge from the half-way line that ended with a poor, weak, shot. Semedo and Zheng Zhi were controlling midfield, and the defence looked sound. As Charlton passed and passed, they finally broke through after Ambrose and Todorov combined well, and a cross to Iwelumo should have put them one up. Sadly, big Chris marked his return to Layer Road with a good shot that hit a defender planted on the goal-line, and the ball deflected to safety. It should have been a goal, and Chris took some stick from the home crowd after that miss.

It was some surprise then that the home team took the lead after half an hour. The ball broke for Sheringham forty yards out, and his delightful chip through to ex-Spurs youngster Yeates was thumped past Weaver and into the far corner of the net.

Just over five minutes later, the up-till-then anonymous Kevin Lisbie rose to head home a corner. This goal from the ex-Charlton forward had been widely predicted by the blogging community, and previous sesasons videos of Chelsea away (the last minute Jorge Costa debut game goal) will remind overseas Addicks of what it was like. Two nil down and not for the first time this season, a fightback was required.

With Charlton obviously rattled, the home fans knew how important keeping the two-goal lead was until half-time; luckily for the Addicks, Iwelumo threaded a ball through to Todorov, and he did the rest, stroking home to beat the keeper at the near post. A 2-1 half-time score gave Charlton hope, but only if Pardew could shore up the defence.

His decision was to replace Jerome Thomas (who obviously left some of his energy behind during an eight hour stint in a Bournemouth police cell in midweek) with Andy Reid, who had been rested after flying around Europe with Ireland all last week.

Reid, who took over the captain's armband from Chrissy Powell when he came on, immediately started to run the game, and Colchester could do nothing as the little Oirish fella tried to pick out passes through the heart of their defence.

Lisbie did draw a great save from Weaver, as some penalty area pinball fell nicely for him, but then, finally, one of Reid's passes ripped through the U's defence to Iwelumo. As big Chris turned to run in on goal he was clipped by the last defender, and after the linesmans flag signalled the foul, it was inevitable that Connolly would be sent off.

Thereafter, it was all Charlton pressure; Reid had a free kick saved, and there was plenty of last ditch defending. Big Chris's bad day then got worse, when he limped off injured, to be replaced by the now fit again Luke Varney. Varney's debut soon showed what an asset he will be, as he challenged and won a ball in the air, followed it up bravely, and stood back and admired Zheng Zhi's swivel shot (top) that scorched into the back of the net bringing Charlton level. With twenty minutes left, there seemed only one winner.

Todorov was the next to be injured, and he too limped off - Lloyd Sam coming on to the wing with ZiZi pushing forward alongside Varney. And then Jon Fortune also took a knock, and was a passenger for the last fifteen minutes or so (moving from the back to midfield, and eventually up front, with first Semedo, then Zhi going backwards). This evened the game up in terms of active numbers and both teams settled for a draw, especially as the referee came under increasing pressure - from both teams and the crowd - which saw him make a series of fairly bizarre decisions.

Bearing in mind some of the (awful) defensive play from McCarthy, the nature of Danny Mills winding up everyone who was there (some of his challenges could have been deemed by a better referee as way OTT), and Andy Reid losing his rag a little with the ref too, it was a releif when the final whistle went.

I left Layer Road thinking that a point was a fair result, and that with all the refereeing shenanigans, at least we don't have any suspensions to worry about in the near future.

Worryingly though, with Iwelumo, Todorov, and Fortune all receiving knocks during the game, they may not be fit for Tuesday nights game agaunst Norwich. After standing for three hours on the terrace, and being sore and tired myself, I'm not sure I will be recovered enough either, so I'll be taking a seat in the stand this Tuesday if that's alright!

Alan Pardew at last got the chance today to right one of Iain Dowie's cardinal sins - he bought a couple of forwards. This thereby went some way to repairing the shortage that Dowie failed to address at the end of last season (when he let five strikers leave the club and only bought one as a replacement). First through the door was 28-year-old Chris Iwelumo (left), a big tall centre forward who has been playing for Colchester for the last couple of years. Chris has scored a few goals in recent seasons, and formed a prolific partnership at Colchester with Jamie Cureton that almost got Colchester into the Championship play offs.

I have seen Chris play, and being honest, I wasn't that impressed. It was on TV last season (05/06) when he had been out injured but returned to lead the line. He seemed slow and lumbering to me, but maybe he wasn't match fit; he did score though, and maybe that's the point! He joins the club on a Bosman, and is reunited with Phil Parkinson who was his boss and signed him for Colchester. Parky will know exactly what drives him on, and if he does play regularly, he could hopefully form another prolific partnership with our other new signing, Luke Varney.

Varney joins the club from the conveyor belt of Crewe, for a couple of million quid. Hopefully he will be better than those other £2m players that Frankie Valley identified as always being useless in a Charlton shirt.

Varney, who is 24, also got as potful of goals in the lower leagues last year, and has the attributes of Darren Bent (pace, an eye for goal, and a great work ethic).

Varney was also wanted by quit a few other teams it seems, so Charlton do still have some pulling power, even now we are a Championship club.

It does seem that the signings will signal the departure of Darren Bent, but none of us really think Dazza will be at The Valley next year, barring a miracle.

Both the new players will probably be on significantly lower wages than others have recently been earning at the club, but I expect the bonus clauses in the contracts to both be considerable should they and the team do well.

Now we just have to wait to see who is next through the revolving door that is swinging wildly at the bottom of Floyd Road...more in or more out?