Therry Racon, out of contract at The Valley, has accepted a two year contract at Millwall: Racon
The move to a rival club will leave a sour taste in the mouths of many of the Addickted. How he will perform there remains to be seen. For Charlton he showed flashes of real quality but was very inconsistent.
Showing posts with label Racon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Racon. Show all posts
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Monday, 25 October 2010
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.
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.
Monday, 17 May 2010
The 12th man
It's not been the best of mornings: at last civil servants have come officially out of purdah (or at least I didn't get informed until this morning). That's meant I am going to York at short notice (at least from Coventry rather than being sent to it). You would think that organising things online would be quick, but it's not.
As always, Pedro on Charlton Athletic Online has done a first rate match preview. He is right that Racon may have to be sacrificed to give us more of an attacking edge with Reid. I know that Racon has admirers who think he is the best thing in midfield since Mark Kinsella, but I am not convinced.
Sodje apparently made some great blocks on Friday despite being injured, but if his knee problems are serious we have to bring in Llera, even if he lacks pace. The only other question mark in my mind is Randolph. Don't get me wrong, I think he has been a revelation since he has come in, but how is he with penalties? Because it might come to that.
The general mood among the Addickted seems to be that we will lose (or rather fail to overcome the deficit), but I am genuinely uncertain. I do not believe that Swindon are invincible. Their keeper seems to have a bit of a Dracula problem and their defence can be wobbly. Unfortunately, although we won at least 12 corners on Friday, we weren't able to make productive use of any of them. It's been a failing for much of the season: when the opposition gets corners, I get worried.
The rocking Robins clearly have an attacking threat through the former brickie Austin who played at a lower level than Leamington and Paynter, if he gets fit. The second goal on Friday was conceded through poor defending by the Addicks.
So the gloomy scenario works like this: we lose tonight; club declared insolvent tomorrow; club disappears. All complete nonsense, of course, but there are people who seem to get a perverse pleasure from believing that sort of thing. My best guess is that we win the 90 minutes 2-1, it will be 3-2 after extra time. Penalties, like the play off themselves, will be a lottery.
This is where the crowd comes in. Debate rages about whether the crowd really is a 12th man. Players have to say they are in interviews: they can hardly say 'the fans are a bunch of mugs who fund our generous salaries.'
What is clear is that a negative crowd reaction does not help the players or particular individuals. Leamington's goal machine Mark Bellingham has now revealed in yesterday's Non-League Paper that he left the Brakes because of remarks made about him on a fans' message board during the controversy over the sacking of popular manager Jason Cadden. I should think he hears worse when he is on duty with the boys in blue, but he felt the fans should have been big enough to retract their comments when they were shown to be wrong.
Harbury Lane and the Sheepside and Burger Side stands are hardly The Valley or the East and West Stands. My appeal to all the Addickted tonight would be to create a wall of positive noise to support the team. It may not make any difference. We may be doomed. But it is what we can do as Charlton fans to try and make a difference. Come on you reds!
As always, Pedro on Charlton Athletic Online has done a first rate match preview. He is right that Racon may have to be sacrificed to give us more of an attacking edge with Reid. I know that Racon has admirers who think he is the best thing in midfield since Mark Kinsella, but I am not convinced.
Sodje apparently made some great blocks on Friday despite being injured, but if his knee problems are serious we have to bring in Llera, even if he lacks pace. The only other question mark in my mind is Randolph. Don't get me wrong, I think he has been a revelation since he has come in, but how is he with penalties? Because it might come to that.
The general mood among the Addickted seems to be that we will lose (or rather fail to overcome the deficit), but I am genuinely uncertain. I do not believe that Swindon are invincible. Their keeper seems to have a bit of a Dracula problem and their defence can be wobbly. Unfortunately, although we won at least 12 corners on Friday, we weren't able to make productive use of any of them. It's been a failing for much of the season: when the opposition gets corners, I get worried.
The rocking Robins clearly have an attacking threat through the former brickie Austin who played at a lower level than Leamington and Paynter, if he gets fit. The second goal on Friday was conceded through poor defending by the Addicks.
So the gloomy scenario works like this: we lose tonight; club declared insolvent tomorrow; club disappears. All complete nonsense, of course, but there are people who seem to get a perverse pleasure from believing that sort of thing. My best guess is that we win the 90 minutes 2-1, it will be 3-2 after extra time. Penalties, like the play off themselves, will be a lottery.
This is where the crowd comes in. Debate rages about whether the crowd really is a 12th man. Players have to say they are in interviews: they can hardly say 'the fans are a bunch of mugs who fund our generous salaries.'
What is clear is that a negative crowd reaction does not help the players or particular individuals. Leamington's goal machine Mark Bellingham has now revealed in yesterday's Non-League Paper that he left the Brakes because of remarks made about him on a fans' message board during the controversy over the sacking of popular manager Jason Cadden. I should think he hears worse when he is on duty with the boys in blue, but he felt the fans should have been big enough to retract their comments when they were shown to be wrong.
Harbury Lane and the Sheepside and Burger Side stands are hardly The Valley or the East and West Stands. My appeal to all the Addickted tonight would be to create a wall of positive noise to support the team. It may not make any difference. We may be doomed. But it is what we can do as Charlton fans to try and make a difference. Come on you reds!
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Half full or half empty?
Yesterday's draw at Exeter secured Charlton a place in the play offs, but securing an automatic promotion place would now depend on a very unlikely combination of results. I had given up on an automatic promotion place some time ago and at the beginning of the season I thought we might just make the play offs. So, on the whole, I am reasonably satisfied with what we have achieved.
As for the play offs themselves, I think that we could see off Swindon who showed once again yesterday against relegation strugglers Wycombe that they are not invincible. Huddersfield are a physical side with some very big cloggers and can tear apart lesser sides, but I think that we are solid enough to deal with them.
Getting to the final would at least help with the club's financial problems. But who would we prefer to meet there? We have conceded eight goals against the Spanners this year and there would be a particular humiliation in being denied promotion by them.
Leeds United are also a very unpleasant side, but they might fall apart if they once again found themselves in the play offs. We will, of course, have a dress rehearsal for any final against them next week.
As for the match against Exeter, the home side had more of the possession with a 54-46 split. We had seven shots on target to four. We had nine corners to three, but once again they were unproductive.
One Devonian Addick who was there commented, 'Pretty even match, probably fair result. We hit the woodwork twice, Llera did well with one of them from a free kick just outside the box, they hit it once. Reid made a big impact on opening their defence to create chances.'
'Their fans were poor and spent most of the time slagging off the ref. but we were abysmal in our support, simply no getting behind the team. Although I think the result was about right, we were also robbed of a goal about 5 from the end, how the ref and lino failed to see the handball on the line I have no idea.'
Another Addick commented, 'Reid certainly made a big impact. And one does have to ask why Parky insists on playing the largely anonymous (and that's being generous) Racon in the centre and pushing Bailey out left. When Racon was finally, mercifully, pulled off (just after his awful gaffe led to the series of events which led to their goal) and Bailey moved into the centre and Reid was playing out wide left we suddenly had urgency and punch. I find it unbelievable that Parky can't see that Semedo and Racon in centre midfield means that we have absolute no attacks emanating from there.'
Steve from Sidcup is always very doubtful about Racon. I can never make my mind up whether he is just a showboater or whether he really does add something to the side.
As for the play offs themselves, I think that we could see off Swindon who showed once again yesterday against relegation strugglers Wycombe that they are not invincible. Huddersfield are a physical side with some very big cloggers and can tear apart lesser sides, but I think that we are solid enough to deal with them.
Getting to the final would at least help with the club's financial problems. But who would we prefer to meet there? We have conceded eight goals against the Spanners this year and there would be a particular humiliation in being denied promotion by them.
Leeds United are also a very unpleasant side, but they might fall apart if they once again found themselves in the play offs. We will, of course, have a dress rehearsal for any final against them next week.
As for the match against Exeter, the home side had more of the possession with a 54-46 split. We had seven shots on target to four. We had nine corners to three, but once again they were unproductive.
One Devonian Addick who was there commented, 'Pretty even match, probably fair result. We hit the woodwork twice, Llera did well with one of them from a free kick just outside the box, they hit it once. Reid made a big impact on opening their defence to create chances.'
'Their fans were poor and spent most of the time slagging off the ref. but we were abysmal in our support, simply no getting behind the team. Although I think the result was about right, we were also robbed of a goal about 5 from the end, how the ref and lino failed to see the handball on the line I have no idea.'
Another Addick commented, 'Reid certainly made a big impact. And one does have to ask why Parky insists on playing the largely anonymous (and that's being generous) Racon in the centre and pushing Bailey out left. When Racon was finally, mercifully, pulled off (just after his awful gaffe led to the series of events which led to their goal) and Bailey moved into the centre and Reid was playing out wide left we suddenly had urgency and punch. I find it unbelievable that Parky can't see that Semedo and Racon in centre midfield means that we have absolute no attacks emanating from there.'
Steve from Sidcup is always very doubtful about Racon. I can never make my mind up whether he is just a showboater or whether he really does add something to the side.
Friday, 16 April 2010
Norwich out to ease the pain
Norwich are seeking to ease the pain of their 4-2 end-of-season defeat at Charlton by taking three points tomorrow. Although on paper it is a more difficult match that the one that produced a midweek defeat Orient, they remain confident of victory: Canaries
Phil Parkinson is viewed in Norfolk as having turned up the heat on Norwich: Parky
Holt is still suspended while Wes Hoolihan is doubtful because of a thigh injury so Norwich's attack may be blunted. Deon Burton could be back for the Addicks and it would be interesting to see him in partnership with Forster. Burton's ability to hold the ball up might be useful.
Charlton's defence has been looking very solid. The midfield has been playing well. My one question mark on Tuesday was about Racon. There might be a case for moving Bailey to the centre and using Reid on the left. His pace could unhinge the Norwich defence.
As to the result, I really have no idea, although I fear a 1-2 Norwich victory. However, this is a game where the crowd has to play its part and not start moaning the first time there is a misplaced pass or a panic header from the defence.
Phil Parkinson is viewed in Norfolk as having turned up the heat on Norwich: Parky
Holt is still suspended while Wes Hoolihan is doubtful because of a thigh injury so Norwich's attack may be blunted. Deon Burton could be back for the Addicks and it would be interesting to see him in partnership with Forster. Burton's ability to hold the ball up might be useful.
Charlton's defence has been looking very solid. The midfield has been playing well. My one question mark on Tuesday was about Racon. There might be a case for moving Bailey to the centre and using Reid on the left. His pace could unhinge the Norwich defence.
As to the result, I really have no idea, although I fear a 1-2 Norwich victory. However, this is a game where the crowd has to play its part and not start moaning the first time there is a misplaced pass or a panic header from the defence.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Semedo is staying insists Parky
Phil Parkinson has insisted that he has no knowledge of rumours that Millwall hater Semedo is going to Bristol City, while conspiracy theorists who drew attention to Racon's absence from the bench last night now have their answer: he has gone to France because of a family bereavement. More here: Rumours
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