Charlton Athletic Online

Charlton Athletic 1 Colchester United 0

Well that was certainly an exciting evening where so much happened that I may forget one or two things…

First things first; a headed goal by Nicky Forster after 28 minutes was enough to win the game (left), and then some resolute (if not always fair) defending allowed Charlton to hang on to the lead.

This was a game that Charlton dare not lose, and it was good to see Phil Parkinson – up against his former side – pick a positive formation for a change. Akpo Sodje came in up front to partner Forster, with Kyel Reid dropping down to the bench. Nicky Bailey was shifted out to the left wing once more after one game in the hole.

On a lovely clear evening, Charlton struggled to get the ball in the first ten minutes of the game. An early warning (where Vincent fluffed his shot when well placed) went unheeded and the ball was in the back of the net as early as the third minute. Randolph making a great save low to his left, before an offside striker stroked home the rebound. It was a wake up call for the crowd if not the team, but it still took time for the Addicks to get the ball down and start to play.

One Colchester sub had a bit of fun when the fourth official went to speak with the Charlton bench, stealing the officials chair rather than sit on a cool box that he was having to share. It brought an initial admonishment then a smile for the official which was nice to see.

Thankfully, a terrific run by Lloyd Sam brought Charlton to life, as Sam chose this evening to show that he does still have the passion and desire to play at full potential for Charlton. Picking the ball up on the half-way line, Sam jinked out wide and then cut inside across the face of the penalty box before unleashing as good left-footed shot that luckily for the visitors went straight at the ‘keeper.

Twice more Sam came close to breaking the deadlock as he gave visiting full back Tierney a torrid time. Ex-Addick Lisbie was also finding space, but he lacked early support, with Gillespie woeful all evening.

The goal, when it came, was the result of another twisting run by Sam, and this one left O’Toole in a crumpled heap (some said through embarrassment, though the fact he was carried off and spent most of the second half sitting with crutches and a heavily bandaged knee suggest otherwise). Sam had time, with O’Toole grounded, to pick his spot with the cross, and with Forster unmarked at the far post Sam chose well. Forster didn’t have to jump much, but buried his header past Williams with enough power to nullify the ‘keepers slight touch on the ball. It was a terrific goal and brought the ground to life.

With O’Toole off, and his team losing, Colchester boss Boothroyd brought on lumbering giant Platt to bolster his strike force, with Lisbie shifting wide. Sitting right behind the away dug-out as I do, you see the pressure that the away team excert on officials during games, and Boothroyd and his team were getting quite apoplectic over some decisions which went against them. Colchester were certainly putting it about themselves, and the referee to my mind only gave fouls where there was one. Akpo Sodje needed treatment after a clash of heads, and Jose Semedo and Nicky Bailey both risked kicks on the face when heading balls.

With half-time approaching, Charlton needlessly conceded a free-kick just outside the penalty box near the bye-line, and some desperate defending saw the team hold on to the lead. Christian Dailly is not the quickest any more, but his commitment is second to none, and he blocked several efforts in those dying moments of the first half. Bailey and Semedo were also very conspicuous in their effort, but it was still a relief when the half time whistle blew.

Charlton’s knack of making Parky’s half time talk irrelevant almost worked once more, but more good defending kept Charlton in front early in the second period. Colchester’s long ball tactics – a Boothroyd trademark – won plenty of fouls, corners, and attacking throw ins, but Sam Sodje (left, with younger brother Akpo behind) and Dailly dealt manfully with most of these, while any second balls were cleared up by others.
When Charlton did get out and attack, after several minutes of incessant pressure, Akpo Sodje rifled an angled shot just wide of the post, while Sam continued to do good work in holding up the ball, putting in telling crosses, or feeding his full back. Bailey had a couple of half chances, almost getting on the end of one Sam cross, and then just being beaten to a ball when well placed. Semedo was unluckily booked when Colchester broke, and then Dailly was rightly carded when Lisbie burst forward. Most free kicks were competently dealt with by Darren Randolph, who looked reasonably comfortable all evening, despite the pressure.

The referee was under increasing pressure too, as fouls rained in, and he struggled to control matters on the pitch, while of it, Boothroyd decided to take matters into his own hands and started an ugly bust up with Parkinson in front of the Charlton dug out. What he was whingeing about I am not sure - possibly just another bullying tactic - but it left Parky red faced with anger, and several others including the non-seated fourth official had to step in sharpish to keep the pair apart.

With subs Dave Mooney and Scott Wagstaff on (for Forster and the ineffective Therry Racon), Charlton shifted the formation slightly, with Bailey proving more combative in the centre and supplementing the immense Semedo. Wagstaff had a couple of runs but was smashed into touch by one rough challenge with the full back well beaten. Colchester just got more and more frustrated as the crowd bayed at them, their free kicks went harmlessly through to Randolph, and the referee continued to favour the home side. The one moment of worry was when a hand appeared to flick on a corner, but penalty appeals were waved away by the ref. Dissent was openly apparent now, and one player was booked and lucky to stay on the pitch, then Lisbie’s own mind broke after yet another fluffed attack and he was sent off. I’m not sure if he swore at the referee, or if he kicked or hit someone (possibly Bailey?), but it was an instant red that took the crowd by surprise.

The five minutes of injury time ticked down with Charlton hanging on to possession, and in relative control, and finally the points were won.

Parky and Boothroyd did not do the customary end-of-game handshake as far as I could see, and I suspect that there is little love lost between the pair.

This win, other results, and more importantly the performance suggest that Charlton do still have a chance of promotion this season, and that is the first time that has been able to be said for quite some time. If the team are coming into form it is at the right time, though it may not yet be enough to make it to second in the table. Currently, Charlton sit fourth, just three points behind Leeds, who have yet to visit The Valley. Now nine points clear of seventh placed Colchester, the Addicks would have to implode massively in order to miss out on at least the play-offs from here.

The spirit, passion, and belief all seemed to return to The Valley last night, and it was long overdue. The crowd sang and cheered, and the players effort and commitment was full and single-minded. Four more performances like that, and we could have a special end to the season.

Labels: Charlton, Colchester

There are crucial games, and then there are crucial games; tonight we have one of those. It’s not a must-win match (thankfully), but can easily be construed as a six-pointer – one of those matches that can see a swing of six points with one team moving well clear of the other or one team almost catching their opponents.

Colchester come to The Valley six points behind Charlton, with five games remaining in the season. Should Charlton prevail, then Colchester, nine points behind them, would have little chance of overtaking the Addicks in the play-off race with just four games left. But if the visitors take the points, that would see them only three points shy of Charlton, and with some tough games to come (not least against leaders Norwich on Saturday), the Essex team would think to themselves that they can finish above Charlton and secure themselves a chance of a Wembley trip.

Of course, Phil Parkinson and his managerial team will know all of this, as will the opposition; how to combat the circumstance and overcome the pressure that it brings will be foremost in their minds. In my opinion, the biggest obstacle could be The Valley crowd, which will become increasingly nervous I suspect should the game not be going in the right direction. I thought the fans ere very patient during the last home game – a 1-0 win over mid-table Carlisle – but the benefit of Sam Sodje’s first half goal may well have calmed nerves significantly. The last thing the team needs at present is for anyone to be boo-ing at half-time; the Charlton side play better when the fans are behind them, both individually and collectively, and support from the off in this vital game is of paramount importance.

Supporters must realize tonight though that Charlton do not have to win; a draw will maintain that six-point gap, and though it will be pressured over the coming fixtures that should be enough for the Addicks.

Colchester have to win it seems, and I am sure that they will set their side up to win all three points and turn the home crowd as early as they can. They were of course the first side to beat Charlton this season - in a game that Manuel Llera will want to forget - where an own goal and a loss of concentration saw Charlton two nil down before half-time, while one-time Addicks prodigy Kevin Lisbie made a third to rub salt into old wounds late in the second half. It was a poor performance from Charlton, who were out-muscled, out-fought, and outplayed for long periods of the match. It is just the sort of performance that Colchester will want to repeat tonight. At least the tactics employed will be no shock to Parky and his tactical team; Aidy Boothroyd has always been a long-ball merchant, and he will play the biggest and tallest of his squad at front (Platt) and back (Batth and Okuonghae) as usual complimented by some runners in-between. Lisbie is small and quick but very good in the air (don’t forget about covering his runs to the near post on corners!), while Wordsworth poetically writes the verses from dead ball kicks. Prutton runs all day, as does another ex-Addick Kemal Izzet, picking up loose balls and feeding others. Given the chance, the ball will consistently be booted high out of defence where Platt will try to head it on to make use of Lisbie’s pace. Lisbie will win as many throw-ins and corners as he can, whereby the defenders will trundle forward and hope to score. It’s a normal game plan for Boothroyd, so should come as no surprise to Parky or the Charlton team (hopefully).

For Charlton, there are no apparent new injury concerns though Sam Sodje did go down with his knee problem once more at the weekend. Sodje does have this recurring knee issue but after a minute or so’s treatment seems able to get up and complete the game. If he is not fit then Llera will come in at centre back (bar a complete re-shuffle). Now Jose Semedo has passed the last date for suspension for ten bookings, he will not have to worry about getting carded any more this season, so he will play. Once more the main issue that faces Parky is one of tactics, and whether to play with one or two forwards. Nicky Forster has done a sterling job as lone front man in three recent matches, but he has had few opportunities for glory himself, and until later on in games, neither has anyone else. I suggest that Parky may stick with just one up front tonight, though a much more positive outlook would be to get in front then switch back rather than have to chase the game later if it is all going pear-shaped. Should Parky choose two strikers, either Akpo Sodje or more likely Dave Mooney would partner Forster, and the midfielder left out would probably be either Lloyd Sam or Kyel Reid, both of whom had ineffective games at the weekend. This would allow Nicky Bailey to play on the left side of midfield, and return the central midfield of Therry Racon and Semedo which has done quite well recently.

This is the side I think Parky will start with tonight, though it’s not my choice…-

Darren Randolph
Frazer Richardson
Sam Sodje
Christian Dailly
Gary Borrowdale
Jose Semedo
Therry Racon
Nicky Bailey
Lloyd Sam
Kyel Reid
Nicky Forster

Subs from – Warner, Elliott, Solly, Llera, Fry, Spring, Wagstaff, Mooney, Akpo Sodje, Tuna, Burton, McKenzie.

This is one of those nights when it can all be so good or so bloody horrible. Pedro45 would love to be overly confident and predict a fine win, but that just doesn’t seem to be Charlton’s way (for ever and a day…). Too many (nine) of the Addicks (19) games since Xmas have been close affairs, with just one goal separating the sides, and that is discounting the seven draws in that time too! With that in mind, I am forecasting a 1-1 draw, and plenty of bitten fingernails too!

My one-to-watch tonight is going to be Lloyd Sam, who really owes the team a performance tonight. Sam had another abject game at Southampton by all accounts, and simply failed to get suitably involved. Wingers always receive stick from the crowd, simply because they are often close to the fans, but much of it is unwarranted. Sam has his critics (who complain of him cutting inside to often; his not taking on his man (!); his laid back style; and his yellow boots!), but he has oodles of skill, pace to burn when he chooses to use it, great crossing ability and a fine shot. What Lloyd doesn’t always have is self-confidence, and with the crowd on his back, his head simply drops. If Lloyd can get his head up, beat his man regularly and threaten the goal more often than he has since the turn of the year (his last goal was back in November for crying out loud!), then we will be fine and the crowd will warm to him – when Sam plays well, Charlton play well. His contract is up at the end of the season, and some discussions have apparently taken place about what might happen next year; being so laid back, Lloyd appears to not be bothered, but he should be, because he will get hurt on the pocket if his performances do not pick up mighty soon, and that might mean one less jacket or one less pair of shoes can be afforded on future shopping trips!

Charlton always do things the hard way, so it would be no surprise to see the team struggle tonight and make a complete pigs-ear of confirming the play-off place. A win takes them up to fourth place with dreams still intact. A defeat has us all looking over our shoulders and worried about the weekend – come on Charlton, make us smile tonight!

Come on you Reds!

Labels: Charlton, Colchester, Lloyd Sam

Colchester United 3 Charlton Athletic 0

Well that wasn’t very nice, was it? A bit of a bad evening all round, with the Addicks taking a rare thumping, and myself missing the first 16 minutes of the match. At least I wasn’t the only person who had trouble getting into the ground on time, with many others walking along the roadside to the stadium well after the match kicked off; it’s all very well having a brand spanking new stadium, but if you don’t have sufficient infrastructure to support it, then it is useless. Traffic congestion approaching the stadium was awful, and nowhere near enough suitable parking is available. I don’t know if this was the biggest crowd they have seen in this part of Essex for some time, but having to park on a roundabout – as we and many others ended up doing - cannot be the way forward.

I cannot therefore comment too much on the opening period, but at least I didn’t miss any of the goals. The first goal summed up my evening completely: although Charlton had looked bright once I’d taken my seat - slick passing had allowed several good crossing opportunities but there was little in the way of finishing – it was obvious that Aidy Boothroyd’s game plan owed much more to his old Watford up and over them style than to any more refined footballing theory. As soon as a Colchester player got the ball, it was hit high up and over the defence, for two muscular forwards to chase. Some passes from high up the pitch were quite deft, but there was also the usual fair amount of hoofing it forward from the back to see. With two big lumps up against an unsure Miguel Llera and an out-muscled Christian Dailly, it did seem just a matter of time before a chance came. Sadly, when it did, it was the Spaniard Llera, once more turning with the speed of a juggernaut, who headed past the advancing Rob Elliot and into the net. I did put this own goal down to just bad luck, but my friend said that it was probably due to the extra power and bounce that Llera got from wearing his headguard!

Sadly, Charlton conceded another goal almost immediately to leave themselves a mountain to climb. Fraser Richardson was beaten by a long pass down the wing, and when the ball came into the middle, the on-loan Odejayi beat Llera and slotted past a helpless Elliot again.

The two thousand Charlton fans in attendance were rightly stunned to silence, and I wasn’t helped by the fact that the kiosk ran out of sausage rolls either!

The second half was fifteen minutes old by the time Izale McLeod made his entrance, in place of Matt Spring, with Jonjo Shelvey dropping back into midfield. Spring had failed to offer much protection to his defence, and the hope must be that Jose Semedo is fit very soon. Shelvey was also having a nightmare game, and did little of use from what I saw until the very end.

By then though, Odejayi had pounced on another mistake, this time by Rob Elliot who came for a ball that Llera could have dealt with and was beaten to it by the big forward. At three nil, there was no way Charlton would come back, and Phil Parkinson had to put up with plenty of jibes reminding him of the score.

In a continuing carnival of errors from Llera, he tried to kick a ball he should have headed, and headed a ball that he should have kicked! It was no surprise then that Parky removed him when he thought that the Colchester crowd had got their monies worth, and brought on Sam Sodje in his place.

A fractious end saw a frustrated Deon Burton and Shelvey (left) both booked for being petulant.

Shelvey had Charlton’s only real effort on goal just before normal time elapsed, cutting in from the left wing, and curling a right-foot shot toward the far top corner, with the ‘keeper making a good save.

It was left to ex-Addick Kevin Lisbie to add one final memory of the match, just before full time, as he cut in from the right and with an open goal at his mercy scooped the ball over the bar from six yards. Some things never change, eh Kev?

It was a bad night for Charlton, and one that they need to bounce back from: Llera must get his confidence back (as Sodje is away with Nigeria soon, if the injury he picked up last night allows); Shelvey must learn to get more involved and play to his strengths; Racon must not be physically overpowered so easily; and Elliot should not let his heart rule his head. Only Lloyd Sam and Nicky Bailey came out of the game with any credit to my mind. And Parky needs to know what to do when the opposition can cope with Charlton's style!

As for Colchester, most of their problems seem to be outside the ground with stroppy police, insufficient parking, and stupid formalities.

To finish a bad evening, the A12 was closed for about ten miles necessitating a detour through sleepy Essex backwaters. I finally made it home OK, and I hope everyone else did too.

Labels: Charlton, Colchester

Although Charlton’s unbeaten run to the 2009-10 season continued on Saturday, it was not without a few scares, and Exeter may have thought that they had enough chances (and a goal disallowed for a tight offside) that they deserved a point. I simply don’t buy into that line of thought; the Addicks, in my opinion, were well on top for most of the game, even if the away team had more possession in the second half. It seems to me that Charlton are, whether deliberately or not, coasting in some situations, and against some teams.

Where Charlton have needed to up their collective game – away at Orient, and Norwich, plus at home to Southampton – they have pretty much come up with the goods, and won points during tough times. At home against the Saints, the half-time deficit was quickly turned around, and only the linesman’s (incorrect) flagging denied Charlton all of the points on offer; similarly, the away game at Orient saw the team battle back to snatch a win; and the Norwich game, possibly one of the hardest Charlton will face this season, saw a terrific early display take Charlton two up, and then some resolute defending all but saw the game out (though not quite). The ability to turn up the heat is certainly there, and in the next two games, starting on Tuesday night at Colchester, that ability will be put to the test once more.

I suppose that the game can be looked at in a couple of ways – one, that Colchester are just another team to beat and we can hope that Leeds fail to win at home so that we go back to the top of the table (or at least maintain the pressure on them if they win), or you could say that Colchester are a good team so it is an opportunity to put even more daylight (and points) between the two clubs, thereby squashing their play-off ambitions while promoting our own. My own opinion is somewhere between the two barrels; sure, it is good to keep as close as possible to the top, and sure, it is good to see off other teams promotion ambitions. So why not satisfy everyone and just win this match?

Well, Colchester will have their own views on the game, and parties on each side are working against their former employers, so there is plenty of spice in store.

Obviously, Phil Parkinson is returning to the club where he had his first taste of success, managing United to promotion from this same division four years ago. If matters had gone the way that Charlton chairman Richard Murray had wanted at that time, Parky could have been in charge of the Addicks in the Premiership, and all that managerial history of Dowie (spit!), Reed, and Pardew would have been destroyed and replaced by something else – who knows what? History does recall that Parky was refused permission to talk to Charlton, and then went to Hull instead, where he failed. We know what happened at The Valley at this time, and in a weird twist, it is Parky leading us now that seems to have turned the club’s fortunes around.

Kevin Lisbie on the other hand, had a similar troubled time about four years ago, starting with a nasal problem, and ending with him not having his contract renewed by incoming Valley managers. When Lisbie faced Charlton two years ago, before his transfer from Colchester to Ipswich, he made an immediate mark, scoring with a trademark near-post header in the Essex fixture, and then doubling that feat when he returned to The Valley on New Year’s Day (a match that saw the second-placed Addicks stumble, and ultimately fall embarassingly down the table). Suffice to say that Lisbie will be keen on doing the same (or better) in this forthcoming match.

Colchester themselves have lost the manager they had at the start of the season (Paul Lambert, to Norwich) and he has been replaced by Watford’s ex-manager Aidy Boothroyd. They are slowly rebuilding after their strange start to the campaign, and are unbeaten since Boothroyd took over. The manager has brought in long-term prospect John-Joe O’Toole – a previous scorer against the Addicks - on loan from Watford, but the rest of the squad is pretty much as Lambert left it. O’Toole could be joined in midfield by another former prospect, and graduate of the famed Charlton academy, Kemi Izzet, who has now served a three game ban after being sent off.

Phil Parkinson will be hoping that everyone came through the game on Saturday without any further injuries or worries, and there were few occasions (if any) when the trainer was involved, so that may well be the case. With Jose Semedo apparently able and willing to resume his midfield berth alongside Therry Racon, Charlton could once more return to their best starting eleven, for the ninth time so far this season.

This is the side I think Parky will send out to win in Essex –

Rob Elliot
Fraser Richardson
Kelly Youga
Christian Dailly
Miguel Llera
Jose Semedo
Terry Racon
Nicky Bailey
Lloyd Sam
Jonjo Shelvey
Deon Burton

Subs from Randolph, Solly, Basey, Sodje, Spring, Stavrinou, Holden, Wagstaff, McKenzie, Tuna, McLeod.

Pedro45 thinks that Charlton are in this for the long haul, and a win is a win, and is three points; it doesn’t matter if the game is dirty, or wide open, Charlton have the ability to play in any manner at this level. Parky will be itching to beat his old team, and the match being played under lights, with a large Charlton fan contingent, should be one with a great atmosphere. I am predicting a 2-1 victory that keeps the pressure on Leeds prior to the top two meeting on Saturday.

My one-to-watch this week is going to be defender Christian Dailly. A bit of an unsung hero so far this year, as the goals go in at the other end, Dailly was not my cup of tea in previous incarnations, but he has certainly used his experience and brain in this league for Charlton. He was key in maintaining a point late on at Carrow Road, and also did well on Saturday when Exeter were threatening to get back into the game. Dailly snuffed out any of those thoughts, and he will need to be on his toes once more to deal with a potent Colchester attack. If Lisbie plays out wide right, as he has been, Dailly will need to provide cover for Kelly Youga, and if Lisbie plays centrally, then he will need to be prepared to match Lisbie’s pace (especially when attacking corners at the near post!!!). Provided Charlton have the majority of possession, then Dailly has time to recover from the bursts of energy he expends; that could be key in the winning of all three points in this game.

After this match, the tenth of the season, Charlton will find themselves in the top two of the league. This stage is always a good pointer to how a season will progress, and to me, there is no reason why the club cannot go on and maintain or improve on this lofty perch. While it is true that the Addicks have played few of the current top half of the table, the simple fact is that some of those we have played would have been in the top half had they not lost to Charlton! We are not going to go through the season unbeaten, but I am quietly confident that Phil Parkinson will take that record up to Yorkshire on Saturday, in what is already being bigged up as the game of the last two unbeaten sides in English league football.

Up the Addicks!

Labels: Charlton, Christian Dailly, Colchester

Charlton Athletic 1 Colchester United 2

A New Year, but the same tired old team;
a New Year, but the same tired old tactics;
a New Year, but the same poor home results. Welcome to 2008!

This really wasn’t very good, and just about summed up all Charlton’s problems in one match -plenty of possession; plenty of effort; no little skill; but ultimately a lack of co-ordination, communication, and balance that all combined to commit Addicks fans to another sub-standard Valley match. There just is no plan-B…

Alan Pardew started out with the same eleven that played at Leicester, except Lloyd Sam replaced Luke Varney wide right in a 4-5-1 formation. Madjid Bougherra was at right back, and Jon Fortune at centre half alongside Paddy McCarthy, while Zheng Zhi played well advanced in midfield in an effort to give Chris Iwelumo some support.

It didn’t take long for Colchester to capitalise on Charlton’s cumbersome defending, the returning Kevin Lisbie turning McCarthy before being hauled down after Bougherra had been dispossessed in midfield. The penalty was obvious and McCarthy was lucky not to be trudging down the tunnel had the referee not been so lenient. The red card avoided, the goal was scored, Lisbie slotting bottom left as Weaver dived the wrong way (although I must admit he went the same way I predicted Lisbie would shoot).


Charlton did press forward; Lloyd Sam on the right, and Jerome Thomas (left) on the left both showed great skill to beat their marker and get in shots, but could not hit the target (one Sam shot actually went backwards for a throw in the other side!). Bougherra was rampaging down the right but was either not found, given little chance of getting the ball, or tried to be too clever in beating his man. Iwelumo was winning nearly everything in the air, though without a decent cross for him to threaten the goal with (bar one, where he headed wide).

After half an hour, another Colchester break saw the ball knocked high, and then Lisbie completed a horrible half hour for home fans by getting clear of McCarthy and performing a terrific overhead kick that saw the ball fly past Weaver (top). How Super Kevin celebrated!

The blokes behind me were in their element now; not only did they fawn over ex-Spur Teddy Sheringham as he sat on the bench, but they now had the red shirted targets to vent their inane comments upon. Sam was “a waste of space” apparently, while “the china-man” “did nothing all game”. When McCarthy was withdrawn for Varney soon after (getting to go down the tunnel before he planned without the referee’s intervention…), Pardew had apparently “lost it” and it was “wasted that Magic had to play in the centre now” (Semedo moved to right back).

What the substitution did provide was help for Iwelumo, for a while at least; however, it put more onus on the wingers to track back, which they both did, but also loosened any grip in midfield Charlton did have with three playing centrally. Sadly, Matt Holland had an average game, and Zheng Zhi was as anonymous for the last hour as he had been in the first thirty minutes when playing farther forward. The midfield battle was therefore lost…

Sam continued to cause problems, but he had left his shooting boots at home; he did get free on the bye-line in first half injury time to cross for Varney to knock home right footed and reduce the deficit, giving home fans some hope. Seconds later, the ball was crashed home again by Varney, but the linesmen correctly ruled he had used his hand to control the ball. At half time, Charlton were still in the game, and second half performances have tended to be better so far this season.

Colchester for their part, had caused lots of trouble in the first half, with Lisbie coming up against his dream defenders; time and again he was able to find space to collect and run, or turn the marker if they stuck close to him.

In the second half, Lisbie started to play more like Charlton fans remember, shooting wildly wide when well placed after beating a slow to come out Chris Powell. A hat-trick would elude him today... Sadly, Charlton failed to take much advantage of this and became more desperate as the half wore on. Iwelumo tired, and won fewer balls in the air. Moutaouakil came on for Semedo in an effort to provide a greater threat from full back, and he linked well with Sam down the right. Varney had by now drifted out to the left for some reason, well away from Iwelumo if ever big Chris did win a header. Lisbie finally gave way to a strain, giving Fortune and Bougherra some respite (though not much…), as Charlton pressure increased and Colchester just hoofed the ball clear at any and every opportunity.

With ten minutes left, and still no equaliser, Ambrose was sent on for Powell - Pardew’s last throw of the dice. A great run by Sam failed to win anything but yet another corner, until finally, after another long ball forward was flicked on by Iwelumo, the onrushing Ambrose volleyed spectacularly wide. The final whistle was greeted by yet more home fan booing.

If this is what 2008 has in store, then it will be another Annus Horribilis for Addicks fans…

I suppose any criticism of the team could be unfair; they did try hard all game, and had a lot more shots than other recent games, but certain players looked very tired or jaded (Zhi, Holland, Powell).

Why then is Pardew persisting with the same bunch of people who are unable to fit into a successful home game system? This, to me, is the problem, and Pards is not dealing with it very well. We have all seen how 4-5-1 works away from home, and little objection has come from fans or bloggers on seeing this team and formation utilised. But at The Valley, it has been obvious since October that we just do not have enough firepower to make it work consistently, bar the lucky Ipswich game where Ambrose was played in or out of position (depending on your perspective) and scored two goals.

Teams live and die by standing next to the manager’s ideals and ideas; Pardew has come clean on previous occasions and admitted picking the wrong team or taking the wrong players off at the wrong time. I did feel that he got it pretty wrong today – he should have started with two forwards. What would Geraint Williams have said to his team when he found out he would only have to face up to one striker? And then, after admitting that he was at error for taking off half time sub McLeod at the end of the game last weekend, he left himself with no option when Varney was not doing the business late in the second period.

Pardew has been honest in after match comments which I interpret as - we have a dodgy defence, so the midfield needs bolstering; the midfield is weak, and needs help for the wide players; that leaves room for just one up front. The answer is to sort out the defence and then the midfield will have less doubt over the team's capablility to survive any single attack, and can set about trying to score goals and support the front players. It was easier typing that than it will be for Pards to put it into practice!

Charlton do have a chance to redeem themselves and get some confidence back in this season, but Saturday’s cup game against West Brom could turn into a nightmare if the defence plays as loosely and the midfield is as weak as they were today.

The final words in todays blog has to be written about Kevin Lisbie. At times today, he looked like the good Premiership forward that he threatened to become four or five years ago. At other times (mainly in the second half), he resembled the player that Charlton fans jeered on a consistent basis. SKL is a nice guy, and Addicks should wish him well, but please do stop scoring goals against us Kev…or we might get really nasty and boo you again!

Labels: Charlton, Colchester, Kevin Lisbie

It seems strange writing this in 2007, when Charlton’s first game of 2008 is tomorrow, but it has to be done. Colchester provide the first Valley opposition of the New Year, just as they did once before many years ago. I seem to recall that in 1974/5, the Essex team came along after a night out celebrating and got thumped 4-1. That year ended in promotion for the Addicks and, hopefully, this will be the outcome from this 2007/2008 season too.

If that is to happen, games against the bottom teams, and Colchester are currently 24th and last, must be won. So must games against teams in the top half of the table, which is where Charlton have struggled a little so far this campaign.

Alan Pardew will see in his second new year as Charlton boss, and he must be hoping for an easier start than he had last year – a 4-0 thumping at Arsenal was following by a cup exit at Forest and a painful home defeat to Middlesboro. This year, we have three home games to look forward to – Colchester, then WBA in the cup on Saturday, and then Blackpool in another league game the following week. What Pards wouldn’t give for three wins!

So who can he pick for the first of the tri-series?

In goal, Nicky Weaver is starting to show the form we need from him, and he is making important saves at last. He tried desperately to keep out Clemence’s header on Saturday, but couldn’t quite get enough of a hand on it to prevent it creeping in. He did make other good saves, and while the front players are not scoring many, he needs to be at his best.

The defence is changing every game at the moment: With Danny Mills now gone back up north to swear at another games referee, we have just got Yassin Moutaouakil back from injury in time to replace him. In central defence, Sam Sodje is still suspended, and Jon Fortune (just back from suspension) went off injured in Saturday so may be doubtful. The only options therefore seems to be Paddy McCarthy and Madjid Bougherra rekindling the early season centre back pairing with hopefully better results. Chris Powell will plod on at left back, simply because he is fit, and there is nobody else to replace him, even though, at his age, he could do with a rest!

The midfield is just about coping with a lack of bodies, but then again, Pards has plenty of options to choose from normally. Matt Holland will continue to lead from the front and will be captain; Zheng Zhi seems to have played through the calf injury he picked up just before Xmas; and Jose Semedo has had his little rest and looks raring to go again. Therry Racon continues to wait for his chance. On the wings, Jerome Thomas is in good form at last, and Lloyd Sam is just about fit after a few batterings. Darren Ambrose is also close to fitness after his problems and could feature.

The forwards all seem fit – Chris Iwelumo will no doubt lead the line against his former club, and if Pards does go with a 4-4-2 formation, he could have any one of Luke Varney, Izale McLeod, or Chris Dickson starting alongside him.

This is the team I would like Alan Pardew to start 2008 with tomorrow –

Nicky Weaver
Yassin Moutaouakil
Madjid Bougherra
Paddy McCarthy
Chris Powell
Matt Holland
Zheng Zhi
Jerome Thomas
Lloyd Sam
Chris Iwelumo
Chris Dickson

Subs from Randolph, Sankofa, Semedo, Ambrose, Racon, Varney, McLeod.

This is pretty much a must win game, if ever there is one, for the Addicks, and as such, I really do believe that Pards will start with two forwards. Ambrose did the job during our last win against Ipswich, but now would be just about the right time to play Chris Dickson. Both Luke Varney and Izale McLeod have had chances this season - although both could claim not to have had much of a run – but both have yet to show the right sort of oomph and ruthlessness that the Addicks need right now. Dickson, desperate for his chance and buoyed by his 11-goal spell on loan at Gillingham, would be a bright and positive pick if chosen to start, and that would leave both Varney and McLeod as substitute options for later in the game when their pace can be lethal. Keeping Semedo back in reserve also provides cover across the defence.

Labels: Charlton, Chris Iwelumo, Colchester

Labels: Charlton, Chris Iwelumo, Colchester, Zheng Zhi