Further congratulations due today, as Bradford go back to Wembley for the second time this season - they must have really turned on the afterburners today. After 63 games this season, I'm surprised they can even break into a trot. Off to Waddon Road in a while to see if Cheltenham can overhaul Northampton, I have my doubts they can but it should be a lively game - mind you, whoever wins it I don't think will have enough to get past Bradford.
Wonderful performance to win 3-1 away today. I thought the number of matches they had played had finally caught up with them after the first leg defeat but they dug deep again today. And now they have almost two weeks rest after playing two games a week for months on end so I have to fancy Bradford in the Final. With their gates they ought to be in Div One at least and they have cash to spend from their cup runs and play-off matches so it might not be the end of their ascent. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Real football man. How did he ever get mixed up with Pardew?
Just back from Whaddon Road - wonderful atmosphere which deserved a better game, which was largely skill-free but graced with a tremendous strike from distance by Luke Gutteridge. Clark Carlisle and Cameron were as solid a CB pairing as I've seen all season, with Carlisle absolutely outstanding and there was a fine performance by the Northampton keeper Nicholls, who's on a long loan from Wigan. Sell-out 6000 crowd with the away supporters in fine voice as were two helium-voiced harpies behind me who were giving Benno solid stick all game. Hope they enjoy their day out at Wembley, but Bradford will have this one.
I had completely forgotten Benson was there. How did he play? Two years are a long time in football. It seems only yesterday that we were hoping that Green & Benson could reproduce their Daggers scoring exploits for us. That idea never got off first base. As soon as Green came into the team. Benson was left out. Another irony is that we were delighted to have signed Scunthorpe goal-machine Clarke in exchange for Benson. Soon after, we were all feeling conned. Now we know that one is rubbish and the other past it. We really have come a long way under CP in a short time.
Well, I thought he played well but I'd be in a tiny minority. Physically, Northampton are the biggest side I've ever seen. Given that the Cheltenham midfield's sole tactic was to hoof it up the middle and hope Benno laid it off, he was always on to a loser as Carlisle and Cameron cut out ball after ball. When he did get the ball at his feet, or at chest height he did his usual job of holding the play up while the midfield pushed up field - his lay-offs created several chances in the dying minutes. Your point about he and Green is well made - John Still flagged to us how well they played together but it never happened, but I don't think the delay in signing Green helped either, as our pattern of play was well established by the time he finally arrived. The three times I saw him play for Swindon, he was brilliant including a thumping volley to win the top of the table clash with Cheltenham. Signing combinations of players doesn't always work though, remember us signing Ronnie Moore and Tony Towner the season after they'd destroyed us playing for Rotherham at The Valley?
Completely dominant all game - major mistake by Boothroyd not to play Akinfenwa from the start IMO. I said after the Cheltenham game that I didn't think Northampton would have enough to beat Bradford, but I didn't expect this - they obviously did their homework and kept the ball away from Cameron and Carlisle in the middle of the defence and instead attacked the full backs. Well done Parky, well done Bradford.
Surely there cant be a single charlton fan that doesnt wish parky well.i am really pleased for him[and kyle reid]
Erm...there is one... No well done parky, still would like to know where he buys his shirts/who does his ironing.
From 20th in the league the previous two seasons to promotion and the League Cup Final. beating Wigan, Arsenal and Villa and earning over 2 million quid. Why can't we ever seem to get managers of that quality at the Valley? We should have signed him instead of Powell to replace that useless twit we had.
yep, rosler couldnt get them promoted with a £3m striker budget. crap or what. glad yeovil got promoted
Lots of managers are given big budgets. Nine out of ten still fail. Parky not only succeeded but showed a profit. That is very rare. I think they are in with a good chance of at least the play-offs next season. Well done Yeovil but I have to say they look like six easy points for us next season. Very ponderous outfit.
thats what i was thinking - plus, with brentford full of ex players i know they'd bloody score against us
Agreed Eddie, well done Yeovil - looking forward to the trip there next season and hope it'll be in August or May! Huish Park virgins should note that this is one of the coldest places on Earth - there's a wind turbine behind the away end, which is uncovered, and it's placed there for a reason... One memorable game, at which I have never been as cold and wet in my life, saw Alex McCarthy take a goal kick, which flew back over his head for a corner! You have been warned. Rosler looked as if he'd sucked on a lemon at the end - one of the more satisfying moments of this season.
