We would all agree that supporting Charlton in the last four or five years has been a challenge. During this time I have always tried to remain optimistic, hoping that the next match would be the one that set us back on the right track, that Andy Gray would score 20 in a season, that Keith Gillespie would do wonders on the wing, that Alan McCormack would provide the steel and guile our midfield so desperately cried out for (well, maybe not that one) but you get my drift. When Powell was appointed I was firmly in the 'let him buy his own players and mould them into a proper footballing team' camp. And, so far this season I could not have asked for more. (By the way, a great article in the Independent about him..will bring a tear to your eye). Anyway, as an optimist I should be foreseeing promotion at a canter. A record points total. BWP hitting 25 goals this season. So, why now, just when we are doing well, does this sense of foreboding sweep across me? Why do I see the wheels coming off tomorrow? Why do I fear Garry Birtles saying during the game' 'Well, we all came here expecting to see a new dawn at The Valley but the Charlton players were not at the races today.' Any advice and/or medication suggestions welcome.
Experience. 2 years ago we won 4 on the bounce at the start of the season and thought we would run away with it, then got bogged down. Also in 2000, when promotion was all but secured at the end of March, only for the team which was by far the best in the division that year to bellyflop over the line without a win in April/May. We will have to lose some games this season, we have a poor record on Sky and the eyes of the nation will be upon us (kind of), plus Sheff Wed are a decent side. Just a few possible explanations.
I think its just a case of expecting the worst so that when / if it does come we're not as disappointed as we have been in the past. I go into every game thinking that it'll be the one where we finally lose and breath a heavy sigh of relief when we win or draw (plus it makes the result that little bit more sweeter)
CB yes I remember that bellyflop well, we only ended up just pipping Man City to the title that year after amassing a huge points total and winning at a lot of bogey grounds that year too, had it not been for that bellyflop we could have been well on for over 100 pts the way I see tomorrow is at present we are 3rd and should we lose tomorrow we can't drop down the table which makes taking defeat a little more easier knowing we are not frefalling down to 13th place again.
A loss tomorrow will not determine our season, it is very early on and you cant even expect our squad to be past 75% of their abilities yet. If we put in a shift and don't drop the ball altogether we are doing great. If we win with ease it would be fantastic and spur us into the coming fixtures before the Dons. Fully understandable though to be so pessimistic, the precedence is undeniable. but have faith as this season looks like the dawning of a new era for CAFC, an unearthed frontier for us all !
I like to remind myself of that Progress Chart some numbskull put in the Valley Review in our Championship season. Its profile unfortunately never resembled a Valley. It started at the top than descended precipitously to the riverbed floor and bumped along the bottom for the rest of the season trickling out into the League One ocean like the... (ok maybe this metaphor has gone far enough)
Like most football supporters who are true to their club we are pessimists always secretly wanting to be optimists. We have suffered throught the last few years false starts and plumetting fortunes. By the time Christmas came around last year the pessimist amongst us were all wating for the collapse that would come in the second half of the season. It had happened every year for the last eight or so, even under Curbs. It did come, but not for the reason we expected. (Now the optimist) The new owners brought in a new a management team that realised what was truly wrong with the squad (some of them really couldn't play that well) and put in place a plan to right the wrongs and build a squad that could play together, weren't afraid of the history of being out of the league cup in round one or not playing well in front of the TV cameras; put together a squad that would pass the ball and not get endless red cards through lack of ability or speed. The trouble is the schizophrenic in us doesn't know which way to turn. Maybe tonight will bring sanity one way or another.
