Beneath the Valley of the Super Optimists

All credit to those Addicks who made the journey to Plymouth yesterday. It must have been well worth it. As we suggested in our preview, Charlton often win when they are least expected to, particularly when the opposition regard us as an out of form team presenting them with an easy three points.

It must have been a really difficult challenge for Rob Elliot coming on for nearly the full game away from home in his first appearance for the Addicks at the top level. A difficult decision now will be whether to recall Randolph for the game that Weaver will miss because of his red card.

I have not seen the incident, but red cards are not necessarily given for handling outside the area. I remember Deano doing it in a difficult away game (Manchester City?) and getting away with a yellow. A lot in practice depends on the referee's reading of intent and in Deano's case the offence was more a case of his own momentum carrying him just outside the area.

It looks as if Leroy Lita has regained his sharpness at last. Does this justify the policy of loan signings? Not really because I think there were too many of them and they unbalanced the team. But Lita was one that could make a positive difference, although I don't think we could afford him for next season.

It was also interesting to learn that one of his goals came from link up play with the much criticised Iwelumo. Another positive was the return of Bougherra from a long spell out injured.

The super pessimists have been having a field day for the last few weeks, wallowing in the club's lack of success. The atmosphere at The Valley has become very negative (and that may have been a positive factor yesterday). I myself think that a lot of avoidable mistakes have been made by Pards. However, sometimes expectation levels get out of control.

Is it now the turn of the super optimists? Charlton are now one point off the (effectively) one remaining available play off place, barring a complete collapse by the Baggies which can't be completely ruled out but probably won't happen. However, Wolves have two games in hand over the Addicks and the Tractors have one.

As for the pack behind us, I think they are now are less of a threat. Palace's next match is away at Stoke which will be a clash of the gobby and the ugly. I think that a lot of the not very substantial wind has now gone out of Plymouth's sails. Burnley's 'challenge' is losing momentum. Cardiff may well be distracted by the cup, particularly if they beat Barnsley.

Charlton, of course, have to beat relegation threatend Southampton next Saturday (they beat 'league leaders' Bristol City yesterday). They then have difficult away games against the relegation threatened Tykes and 'well up themselves' Queen's Park Rangers (the fact that they beat us at The Valley is irrelevant, bearing in mind the Plymouth result).

Could it all come down to the final match of the season against Coventry? The first time we got into the play offs we all thought that 1-1 draw at home to Wolves was not enough, until an odd set of results elsewhere which relegated Millwall (remember them, they have just borrowed £3m to keep afloat) meant that we qualified.

To me it looks as if the final play off place could go to one of Ipswich, Wolves and Charlton and it may be that Wolves have the big mo (and the luck). If we got in the play offs, football at this level being what it is, we could go and win.

But would we want that? As one Watford fan said of his team yesterday, 'we don't deserve to go up.' Too true, given what the Financial Times castigated as their 'functional' football. I would find it really odd to go up after the football we have played last season. And, although we would probably better Derby's performance as the worst Premiership side ever, I wouldn't fancy our chances even with some strengthening. But then just think of the readies ...

Elsewhere, Ben Mackie came back from holiday looking podgier than ever and after coming off the bench scored Leamington's winning goal in their 1-0 victory over on form Rushall Olympic to consolidate their 2nd place in the BGB Midlands League.

Ian Dowie has reached an out of court settlement with the Orange One:
Dowie