Ivor/shelf stacker of baked beans, has zipped his trap after selling his fat welsh bum to Charlie. SeriouslyRidiculous and Colin Sams(living in Spain) are wumming together. IntoTheApologists is falling apart in membership by truths. The apologists moderator was at the wrecksum v Barrow today supporting his team.
Thing is, for all the pessimism about our club, we should have got something from the game. Apples tried to be clever with the subs changing formation when it was obvious Anderson was struggling and Louie Watson was an obvious choice to replace him. Putting a left-footed CB at RB to protect the lead, just why? Bringing on Fraser who hxas been lazy and dire recently- why? Then bringing on 2 17-year-olds when you're chasing the game, presumably to make a point. All helped lose the game. There was no lack of effort from anyone today, it was a pretty even game. Another thing is that persisting with a lone striker is never working, it's just too difficult a role let alone for a youngster new to the men's game who has always played with a strike partner. And this was Casey's introduction to the first team.
There is no disgrace in losing 1-2 to Oxford United. Our best away result recently was also a draw against Barnsley. But not a single win (3 points in total) against the following; Lincoln City Carlisle United Cambridge United Burton Albion Leyton Orient is the problem. Most teams in mid-table would have hoped to collect around 8 or 9 points from those matches. Even if Charlton had achieved that we would currently be 9th in the table and 8 or 9 points below the play-off zone. And I suspect we as fans would not be very happy with that situation. And if I recall Charlton's performance most of those above matches was not the spirited one seen by fans at the Valley today. We have thrown away this season playing p*ss-poorly against teams that the top 7 or 8 are beating. And our next 5 opponents? Port Vale (away) ... below us in the table Peterborough (home) Burton (away) ... below us in the table Northampton (home) Blackpool (away) That's not a terrible run. Only one top 6 opponent. We haven't won against any of those teams yet this season. Have taken 2 points in total from 4 games. Charlton need to win 2 of these in my view, and look to take around 8 points in total. If we only scrape another 3 points, we will be on 32 after 29 played, and probably drop to around 17th. We are now in a situation where most of the top half teams will be coming to the Valley, and we have to travel to play most of the relegation strugglers on their home turf. With 1 away win all season, can Apples' youngsters grind out any victories on hostile soil?
To be honest, I can't remember the last time I watched a whole Charlton match, either live or on the tellybox. I look in on the forums come Saturday afternoon and Tuesday evening, and I read the match reports on various sites, but I just can't get my mojo for actually watching the team. Rewind twenty years - even ten years - and I'd be at every match both home and away. One thing I do still do is put all the fixtures in my diary, then input the results as they happen. How can I regain my passion for the Addicks? I mean, I still love the club. Many of my fondest memories were made from following Charlton. But my ardour has cooled in recent years. It is all rather sad.
I think many thousands of Charlton fans feels exactly the same. Around 12 years ago I was doing site work in Swansea. I knocked off a bit early one Tuesday afternoon and drove all the way back to London to watch Charlton play an evening match. Not a crucial one, just a league game. But I had to be there. We won I remember, which kept me cheerful as I drove all the way back to Swansea that night, grabbed a bit of sleep in the hotel and was back on site in the morning. Dozens of times I drove from West London (where I now live) to get to the Valley in time for a midweek evening kick-off. And not get home again until well after midnight. Last season I didn't bother to renew my ST. I hardly ever go now - at first because of ill health, but now because the Club and the team has had the beating heart sucked out of it. Disillusioned is a word that doesn't begin to cover it.
The atmosphere in the ground is pretty flat. I was outside the ground when Chem scored, and the cheer was so brief I thought it must have been for a good save by AM-B, or a tackle by Dobbo. I posted that I'd take the draw, the fans have zero confidence in this team, and apart from Dobbo and Alfie, maybe Lloyd Jones, no affection for the players. And Louie Watson.
