Semedo returns trophy

Jose Semedo has returned his Player of the Year trophy to Charlton which means that it will now be presented to the runner up, Chris Solly, on the pitch before the game against Huddersfield on Saturday.

Andy Hunt once pointed out that most players will play for several clubs during the course of their careers and it is unreasonable to expect them to have a special attachment to any one of them. Indeed, most players support other clubs, e.g., Chris Powell and Spurs.

Nevertheless, returning a trophy you won through the votes of fans is a little unusual, although no doubt many such trophies are hidden away in bottom drawers. Semedo told the Sun, 'I was very happy at Charlton but this one is the true happiness, I’m a 100 million times more happy here.'

Semedo has, of course, become very popular at Sheffield Wednesday, forging a special bond with their fans. At Nottingham Forest on Saturday Owls fans staged a special Semedo Day or Portugal Day complete with Semedo masks: Semedo. Nothing wrong with that: indeed, living in a town with a large Portuguese speaking population, I have asked for a course to improve my very limited Portuguese for Christmas.

Of course, it could serve as a distraction from Wednesday's current position just above the relegation zone. However, Dave Jones said after Saturday's match, 'There's no one in this division who's any better than us.' Admittedly, former Addick Miguel Llera deciding the match with a own goal was unluckly, but there's a limit to how much can be put down to bad luck or biased referees.

Owls supremo plays waiting game

Sheffield Wednesday boss Gary Megson is biding his time to complete the acquisition of Charlton player of the year Jose Semedo: Semedo

The Addicks are looking for a new friendly opponent after the pre-season game against Reading was called off when the two teams were drawn against each other in the Carling Cup.

Mandaric's millions to secure Semedo

It looks as if out-of-contract Jose Semedo might be going to join Sheffield Wednesday: Semedo

Such a move is not unexpected, but we shall certainly miss the Portugeezer who will be remembered as one of the more inspiring players in a bleak spell for the Addicks. At least hatred of Millwall may now find its place in Sheffield.

There have also been suggestions that Bristol City may be interested and possibly even Pards at Newcastle.

Semedo thanks the fans

Jose Semedo talks about his pleasure at being made player of the year, his special song and his contract situation: Semedo

A Dale fan writes

As Charlton prepare for the bank holiday fixture with Rochdale without captain Jose Semedo, our friendly Rochadle fan writes:

'After today's disappointing 3-2 defeat at Spotland to Carlisle in what was a superb advert for league 1 football, we find ourselves three points behind Bournemouth in the last play off spot with an inferior goal difference with three to play. So nothing less than three wins will do it for us, bearing in mind that the last game is at Bournemouth. And we also require them to drop points. So it is looking unlikely that we will make it.

Ten days ago we recorded a fantastic 2-0 win at home to Southampton, but that, as well as playing twice a week for about five weeks, has taken a lot out of the players and they are running more or less on empty now. They need to raise their game one last time for a finish that involves games with Charlton, Peterborough and Bournemouth but, if the play offs prove out of reach, we can still hopefully equal or better our best ever performance, which was to finish 9th at this level in 1969-70

For Rochdale this has been a wonderful season.' (Which is more than we can say)

Chris Powell was serenaded with a chant of 'Chris Powell's red and white army' as he made his way round to the main stand after being sent off yesterday. Semedo was sent off after player-manager Stuart Campbell fell to the ground clutching is face and angry supremo Powell commented, 'When you see a player-manager wink at the fans and clap his bench, having got an opponent sent off, something is wrong.'

Rochdale have lost three of their last four home games and manager Keith Hill admits that they have wilted in the pressure cooker of the run. I am going for a 3-1 win for the Addicks tomorrow.

We are staying up!

That was the truimphant chant of the Covered End as Charlton beat Leyton Orient 3-1 at The Valley today. Relegation gloomsters hurried to re-write their stories as the Addicks recovered from a first half deficit.

It was very much a game of two halves with Charlton playing poorly in the first half. However, they were much more dominant in the second half with Benson's equaliser followed by a goal gifted to Bradley Wright-Phillips by Orient keeper Jamie Jones. Semedo then scored Charlton's third with a well-taken header.

Charlton actually started the first half well, but it was more about possession than penetration. Orient were going in for a curious back passing game. As Steve from Petts Wood commented, it was like Brighton without the quality. We thought that we should be putting their keeper, who looked like a potential comedy turn, under more pressure.

Instead it was Orient who provided the first real pressure with three corners in succession, the first given away softly by Solly. Fortunately, Charlton were eventually awarded a free kick to ease the pressure.

Then the midfield gave the ball away unnecessarily and Orient were given a chance they took advantage of. While the Charlton defence stood still, Scott McGleish was given the opportunity to slot the ball in the net to score his 200th career goal. All credit to McGleish for the way in which has perservered with his career. Some thought that there was a hint of offside, but I thought the goal should stand.

Racon and then Parrett won corners for Charlton, but they were unproductive. At the end of the half, Orient stormed through again but the shot went over the bar.

Half time: Addicks 0, Orient 1

Five minutes into the half Racon put in a great shot Jones parried the volley from Wright-Phillips, but Benson scored. Parrett then put in a good free kick and we thought that Benson was sure to put the ball in the net, but Jones pulled off a great save. Racon then put in a great shot, but the keeper was able to tip the ball over the bar.

On 70 minutes, against the run of play, Smith put a header in the net and East London went delerious. Fortunately the referee had put his contact lenses in and disallowed the goal for a shove on Llera, although the Orient manager claims it never happened.

Jones then threw the ball straight out to Wrighgt-Phllips who took advantage of the one on one to make it 2-1. The referee then made a strange decision in awarding a free kick on the goalline for an alleged back pass, but fortunately it was cleared. Smith picked up a yellow card for a foul. Wright-Phillips picked up an injury and Eccleston came on.

For once a Charlton corner led to a goal. The impressive Stewart set up Semedo to head the ball into the net to make it 3-1. It was the Portugeezer's first goal at The Valley.

In the four minutes added on, Charlton lived dangerously with both Dean Cox and Stephen Dawson hitting the bar. Orient won a free kick in front of the 'D', but Nouble went on a one man run all the way up the pitch. Wagstaff picked up a late and foolish yellow card.

On the train an Orient supporting couple had an argument about who was more miserable, ending with one of them calling the other a rude name.

Match analysis

Ivy the Terrible had some difficulty in awarding the Silver Bone as there was no player who was consistently good across the match as a whole. However, she decided that a popular choice would be Jose Semedo whose song was sung outside the ground after the match. He and his team mates showed real delight at his goal as he saluted the Covered End. Elliot had some moments of poor judgement, but he wasn't tested that much by Orient. Dailly forged forward well, often running a considerable distance with the ball and he also did his job in defence. Not all the long distance balls by Llera worked but he certainly tried his best.
Solly had his moments, combining well with Wagstaff and there was little to fault in his performance. Bessone was not very prominent and we sometimes seemed to lack cover on the left but that was probably more to do with the absence of a natural left winger. Wagstaff made some good runs down the right, but he did not create that much. In the first half Racon often looked as if he was not interested but he improved considerably in the second half and provided an excellent cross for the equaliser. Parrett was energetic and committed. Benson tried to put himself about, but he is still sometimes too static for my taste, but he did score the equaliser. Wright-Phillips did what he does well.
Stewart impressed Steve from Petts Woods who thought he was a calming influence and he set up Semedo's goal. Eccleston had limited time to impress and Nouble even less.

Hiss of the Match Juneau the Soccer Cat thought that referee S Hooper did not take command of the match and was far too tolerant of time-wasting by Orient in the first half.

'You're better than this Charlton'

That was the despairing cry of a fan in front of me as Charlton lumbered through their dismal first half performance against Tranmere Rovers this afternoon. The problem is: they're not better than that. The squad is going to need serious reconstruction before we can challenge for promotion from League 1. We need a team that can challenge for 90+ minutes rather than put on a performance for one half as happened today.

Of course we have been beset with injuries. Practically everyone in the squad who was not in the starting sixteen today was injured including some key players. Hopefully we can have better luck soon in bringing in loans to cover the gaps.

Charlton started the game in desultory fashion and it was no great surprise when Tranmere seized on an error by Francis and broke down the middle to go 1-0 ahead which remained the score at half time.

The Addicks came out with renewed determination in the second half which relieved the pressure on substitute keeper Ross Worner after Elliot had gone off injured at half time. The equaliser came through a free kick from Miguel Llera but despite maintaining almost relentless pressure and creating a few chances, the winning goal never came.

Llera had to make an early key block in the game. Elliot punched a free kick out. Dailly was resolute in defence. Semedo may a good intervention and Racon shot just over. Jenkinson conceded a corner. Racon put in a good cross but no one was available to connect with it. Wagstaff made a good run.

A mistake by Francis, which was typical of a somewhat casual attitude on the part of some members of the team allowed Showunmi to storm down the middle of the pitch and Elliot was unable to prevent him putting the ball in the back of the net to make it 0-1.

Welsh received a yellow card for a foul. Wagstaff put in a good shot but it was straight at the keeper. Elliot had to make a save at the expense of a Tranmere corner. Elliot went down with what appeared to be a thigh injury.

Half time: Addicks 0, Tranmere 1

Worner came on in place of the injured Elliot. Semedo provided good defensive cover. Charlton won a free kick and Llera put it in the net, although it may have taken a deflection.

There was a push on McCormack in the area which the referee saw but he blithely waved play on. Wright-Phillips won Charlton a corner but the keeper caught it. After another Charlton corner, the keeper was at last given a yellow card for his antics.

Racon was tackled behind from Labadie in a typical example of Tranmere tactics and the charm merchant received a yellow card. Worner made a good save, although it led to two Tranmere corners in succession. McCormack put in a good tackle. Wagstaff won a free kick.

Once again carelessness in the middle led to the ball being given away and Tranmere won a free kick as an attempt was made to retrieve the situation. Charlton made a double substitution with Wright-Phillips and McCormack going off and Eccleston and Reid coming on.

Wagstaff put in a good cross and the ball was cleared off the line for a Charlton corner. Dailly's header went wide. A good ball was put in by Francis which went at an angle across the goal. This was the golden chance to go ahead, but three Charlton players advanced and none of them was able to make contact.

Semedo received a yellow card, I'm not sure why, perhaps because he is Portuguese. Four minutes were added on. Eccleston was cynically brought down as he advanced down the wing. McChrystal received a yellow card, but it was a cheap price for what could have become a goal scoring opportunity.

Charlton remain 7th but they are seven points behind MK Dons where they play on Tuesday. There are rumours that Worner is injured as well as Elliot. The play offs look like an increasingly distant prospect.

My day was made complete by encountering returning Millwall fans at Euston. 'Are they Stoke?' asked a police officer.

Match analysis

The coveted Silver Bone has been awarded by Ivy the Terrible to Miguel Llera who not only scored but provided some good balls forward and defended well. Elliot was one-on-one for the goal and it would have been a high quality goalkeeper who stopped it. Apart from that he had to made one save before he was injured. Dailly was scrupulous in defence and actually powered forward at times. Apart from gifting Tranmere their goal, Francis made some other errors, but he did put in some good crosses. Jenkinson is playing out of position at left back, but performed his role well. Semedo made some good and important defensive interventions. McCormack was more involved than is often the case and made some good interventions. Racon was lively and had a shot on goal and put in one very good cross. Wagstaff made some good runs and was particularly impressive in the second half. Benson contributed very little in my view.
Wright-Phillips failed to maintain his scoring run and often did not seem that involved. Worner made one good save at the post, but showed a worrying tendency to drop the ball. Reid made very little impression when he came on Eccleston was cynically fouled as he made excellent progress down the wing.

Hiss of the Match The time wasting Tranmere goalkeeper, former Spanner Tony Warner was one candidate, but Juneau the Soccer Cat selected the referee, the appropriately named D Coote. Tranmere had come to play for the draw as exemplified by their fans singing 'Tranmere are staying up' after the match. They set out to achieve this by a mixture of spectacular diving agonies (no surprise that they have a physio as a manager), blatant time wasting and cynical fouling. The referee simply failed to get a grip on the game although he was fussy enough about exactly where a spot kick was taken from.

The time wasting was aided by two balls often appearing on the pitch and in the end the Charlton bench asked for all the spare balls to be gathered in.

The crowd was announced at just over 14,000, but I doubt whether there were 12,000 in the ground.

Posh aim to be a constant threat

Peterborough aim to be a constant attacking threat in the game against Charlton tomorrow. They have carefully analysed the Addicks' weaknesses and may adopt a 5-2-1-2 formation which is unfamiliar to me: Posh

As the local newspaper points out, both sides have failed to get anything out of Izale McLeod. 'Portuguese enforcer' Jose Semedo is portrayed as the Mr Nasty of the Charlton side. Read their assessment of Charlton's players here: Addicks

Three wins against top clubs

This weekend saw all three teams I support win against top clubs (and Rushden and Diamonds, whom I still keep an eye on, beat rivals Kettering away in the FA Cup). Now, admittedly, Carlisle weren't exactly a top club, but the last two times we won there, we got promoted.

Last night Coventry Blaze faced Belfast Giants, unbeaten all season, at the Skydome. With a disciplined performance, Blaze came away 2-0 winners.

Leamington put the brakes on Truro's title bid. Expectations at the New Windmill Ground are realistic, as we know that it will be two of the three City clubs that will be promoted: Cambridge, Salisbury or Truro. (I leave aside Oxford who are at the other end of the table as they live in the shadow of Oxford United).

Which leaves Charlton. I have some sympathy with the view put forward in the Hill to the Valley blog that there is so much negativity surrounding the club that it almost becomes an argument for getting rid of Parky. But it is still a very open league.

We are starting to score goals and reports from those who were at Carlisle suggested that Semedo and Racon actually looked effectively together. The worry now is in central defence with Doherty looking a liability and Dailly possibly fading a little. With seven goals conceded in two matches, there must also be some questions about Elliot. He does make some good saves, but he is also inclined to hesitate and lacks confidence in commanding his area.

Sheffield Wednesday are facing a winding up order later this month and a £2m lifeline cheque has not arrived. Centre forward Neil Mellor noted that when the money situation concerned the team 'we went on a bad run. And ever since we got the news that the money was coming, we seemed to have picked up as well.' The money has not come in and manager Alan Irvine said, 'I don't see too many teams who have fantastic runs when there are problems off the pitch.'

The Owls are nor claiming that a takeover deal with a Dubai-based company may be concluded this week - or not as the case may be.

If we can tighten up defensively, we might just be able to beat Wednesday. Unfortunately, I have to attend meetings in Madrid at the weekend. But then given the negative atmosphere at The Valley, that is probably not too bad a place to be.

Charlton to finish 2nd

Charlton will finish 2nd this season according to the season preview in 4-4-2 magazine. Southampton will come 1st, the Owls 3rd and dark horses Brighton in 4th place. Phil Parkinson is seen as the key ingredient in securing success while Jose Semedo is named as the player to watch.

Dean Kiely is a little less optimistic, saying that 'They really need promotion, but I'm worried.'

Reading after two Charlton players?

Reports have been received from somewhat unreliable sources that Reading have offered £800,000 + David Mooney for Bailey and Semedo. I don't treat these reports too seriously, but what would think of such an offer?

Bailey: I would be prepared to sell him, but I would hope for more than £800,000, but perhaps that is unrealistic in today's market.
Semedo: In my view one of our key players, any offer would have to reflect his worth.
Mooney: Not as bad as some fans make out, but he is a bit of a 'headless chicken' player, racing round the pitch after the ball to no great effect much of the time. Commitment is fine, but is there enough skill?