Wednesday, 7 January 2009
Murty move
I've been down in London for a few days, but I wasn't thrilled by the one month loan of Graeme Murty from Reading and even less so when I discover that the 34-year old is another player trying to work his way back to fitness at The Valley. Useful for him and for Reading, but for us? More here: Murty
Sunday, 4 January 2009
Not very inspiring cup draw
Should Charlton beat Norwich in the cup replay, which is not impossible as the margin between the two teams is a very thin one, they will be drawn away to either Orient or Sheffield United in the 4th round (their match was postponed yesterday because of a frozen pitch).
A tie away to Orient might be quite interesting, but the Blades are likely to beat them, even if it takes a replay. This means a match away at Bramall Lane. In other words, not much dosh (40 per cent of the gate) and a likely defeat.
A tie away to Orient might be quite interesting, but the Blades are likely to beat them, even if it takes a replay. This means a match away at Bramall Lane. In other words, not much dosh (40 per cent of the gate) and a likely defeat.
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Shelvey puts Charlton ahead - for a while
There was a start for Jonjo Shelvey in Charlton's cup game against Norwich at The Valley this afternoon, while fans' favourite Moutaoukil slotted in at right back, reports Tom Hobbes. With Hudson nursing an injury in the form of a swollen ankle, Matt Holland slotted in at centre back while Burton was up front with support from Bouazza and Shelvey in the hole behind the striker. Rob Elliott had overcome his injury worries to stay in goal while transfer speculation surrounded Weaver, one of the Charlton players still apparently on Premiership wages. There had had to be a pitch inspection earlier and one time it looked fifty-fifty whether the game would go ahead. It did and the attendance was 12,615.
The pitch announcer reminded us that 'This is The Valley' in case anyone thought we had already started ground sharing with Ebbsfleet. The two teams changed ends with Norwich playing towards the away fans in the Jimmy Seed Stand. Norwich were resplendent in the 1959 kit that saw them get to the semi-final of the FA Cup. The Charlton players wore black armbands in memory of Sailor Brown.
Basey took the first corner of the afternoon for Charlton, culminating in a left footed shot from Lloyd Sam which went over the crossbar. Norwich won their first corner in front of the large Norwich contingent. The ball was eventually cleared.
Charlton broke on the right and Marshall in the Norwich goal failed to gather, but the referee spotted an alleged infringement to the fury of Phil Parkinson. Bouazza put in a good ball, but it was deflected by Burton wide of the Norwich goal. Shelvey was showing some nice touches.
A Norwich corner was punched away by Elliott. Shelvey put Charlton ahead on 19 minutes, Bouazza having whipped the ball in from the left.
Elliott scuffed a ball badly to give Norwich an avoidable corner. Basey and Croft were engaged in quite a battle and the referee had a word.
Charlton broke with Shelvey prominent and won themselves a corner. The corner was taken by Shelvey. The ball was blocked, but Charlton kept up the pressure through Shelvey. The ball was eventually turned back to the keeper.
Fortune blocked the ball at the expense of a Norwich corner which was cleared by Fortune. Fortune was shoved and Elliott took the free kick.
Bouazza played a ball across the goal mouth. Shelvey and Sam were there, but could not make contact. Bouazza should have played it back to Shelvey who had Sam just behind it. Shelvey made his views clear to Bouazza. A header from Burton forced Marshall to tip the ball over the bar. The corner was unproductive and Norwich launched an attack. However, Fortune was able to clear and Sam made a racing run.
Fortune conceded a corner after Basey had been evaded. The corner was taken short.
Norwich kept up the pressure, but Semedo and Moutaoukil were eventually able to clear.
Norwich won a free kick about 30 yards out to the left hand side of the Charlton goal, but it was not taken well and was cleared by Fortune. Sam forged down the right, his effort went across the face of the goal and Bailey and Shelvey were only fractionally away from making it 2-0.
Half time: Addicks 1, Canaries 0
Norwich City made two substitutions at half time with Pattison making way for Hoolihan in midfield in what turned out to be a significant substitution. Drury brought down Burton and received a yellow card from the referee.
Marshall saved from Burton after a free kick by Holland had been turned goalwards by Bouazza. Bouazza tested Marshall again. Marshall saved from Burton after a superb pass by Fortune. Norwich broke from the Charlton corner, but Elliott was able to clear. A left footed ball from Hoolihan, once the object of Charlton interest, went not far wide.
A dubious corner was awarded by the referee against the decision of the linesman. The referee evened things up by awarding a free kick to Charlton. Bailey advanced, but the ball was well blocked. Russell tried a strike from distance which was not too far wide.
Moutaoukil won a corner for Charlton as the 60 minute mark approached, but Shelvey's effort was unproductive. Sam put in a powerful shot which went over the crossbar. Norwich made their third substitution with Russell being withdrawn.
Bouazza fed Burton but his shot was well wide. Holland challenged well in the penalty area. Norwich had a spell of possession with Hoolihan influential and the ball was practically walked into the net to make it 1-1, the substitute Lupoli scoring.
Burton was taken off and rather surprisingly replaced by Youga. Lupoli had another shot on goal. Norwich were awarded a free kick 25 yards out to the left of the D, but the ball went over the bar, leading to a corner. Elliott was able to collect at his near post and threw the ball out to Sam. Bertrand stopped Moutaoukil's run and went down injured. Shelvey went off to applause and was replaced by transfer listed Chris Dickson.
Charlton won a corner from a free kick. Basey took the corner, but it was unproductive. Hoolihan made a run. Dickson put a ball in from the left, but Bouazza was just in front of it. Sibierski fed Lupoli who put in a shot.
Three minutes of time were added on, but Charlton were unable to make any effective use of the time. Bouazza put a ball in, Drury blocked, but there was an appeal for a handball which was ignored by the referee.
Once again Charlton could not hold on to a lead.
The report from the Telegraph is here: Report
The pitch announcer reminded us that 'This is The Valley' in case anyone thought we had already started ground sharing with Ebbsfleet. The two teams changed ends with Norwich playing towards the away fans in the Jimmy Seed Stand. Norwich were resplendent in the 1959 kit that saw them get to the semi-final of the FA Cup. The Charlton players wore black armbands in memory of Sailor Brown.
Basey took the first corner of the afternoon for Charlton, culminating in a left footed shot from Lloyd Sam which went over the crossbar. Norwich won their first corner in front of the large Norwich contingent. The ball was eventually cleared.
Charlton broke on the right and Marshall in the Norwich goal failed to gather, but the referee spotted an alleged infringement to the fury of Phil Parkinson. Bouazza put in a good ball, but it was deflected by Burton wide of the Norwich goal. Shelvey was showing some nice touches.
A Norwich corner was punched away by Elliott. Shelvey put Charlton ahead on 19 minutes, Bouazza having whipped the ball in from the left.
Elliott scuffed a ball badly to give Norwich an avoidable corner. Basey and Croft were engaged in quite a battle and the referee had a word.
Charlton broke with Shelvey prominent and won themselves a corner. The corner was taken by Shelvey. The ball was blocked, but Charlton kept up the pressure through Shelvey. The ball was eventually turned back to the keeper.
Fortune blocked the ball at the expense of a Norwich corner which was cleared by Fortune. Fortune was shoved and Elliott took the free kick.
Bouazza played a ball across the goal mouth. Shelvey and Sam were there, but could not make contact. Bouazza should have played it back to Shelvey who had Sam just behind it. Shelvey made his views clear to Bouazza. A header from Burton forced Marshall to tip the ball over the bar. The corner was unproductive and Norwich launched an attack. However, Fortune was able to clear and Sam made a racing run.
Fortune conceded a corner after Basey had been evaded. The corner was taken short.
Norwich kept up the pressure, but Semedo and Moutaoukil were eventually able to clear.
Norwich won a free kick about 30 yards out to the left hand side of the Charlton goal, but it was not taken well and was cleared by Fortune. Sam forged down the right, his effort went across the face of the goal and Bailey and Shelvey were only fractionally away from making it 2-0.
Half time: Addicks 1, Canaries 0
Norwich City made two substitutions at half time with Pattison making way for Hoolihan in midfield in what turned out to be a significant substitution. Drury brought down Burton and received a yellow card from the referee.
Marshall saved from Burton after a free kick by Holland had been turned goalwards by Bouazza. Bouazza tested Marshall again. Marshall saved from Burton after a superb pass by Fortune. Norwich broke from the Charlton corner, but Elliott was able to clear. A left footed ball from Hoolihan, once the object of Charlton interest, went not far wide.
A dubious corner was awarded by the referee against the decision of the linesman. The referee evened things up by awarding a free kick to Charlton. Bailey advanced, but the ball was well blocked. Russell tried a strike from distance which was not too far wide.
Moutaoukil won a corner for Charlton as the 60 minute mark approached, but Shelvey's effort was unproductive. Sam put in a powerful shot which went over the crossbar. Norwich made their third substitution with Russell being withdrawn.
Bouazza fed Burton but his shot was well wide. Holland challenged well in the penalty area. Norwich had a spell of possession with Hoolihan influential and the ball was practically walked into the net to make it 1-1, the substitute Lupoli scoring.
Burton was taken off and rather surprisingly replaced by Youga. Lupoli had another shot on goal. Norwich were awarded a free kick 25 yards out to the left of the D, but the ball went over the bar, leading to a corner. Elliott was able to collect at his near post and threw the ball out to Sam. Bertrand stopped Moutaoukil's run and went down injured. Shelvey went off to applause and was replaced by transfer listed Chris Dickson.
Charlton won a corner from a free kick. Basey took the corner, but it was unproductive. Hoolihan made a run. Dickson put a ball in from the left, but Bouazza was just in front of it. Sibierski fed Lupoli who put in a shot.
Three minutes of time were added on, but Charlton were unable to make any effective use of the time. Bouazza put a ball in, Drury blocked, but there was an appeal for a handball which was ignored by the referee.
Once again Charlton could not hold on to a lead.
The report from the Telegraph is here: Report
Friday, 2 January 2009
Injury problems for cup tie
Charlton have some injury problems as Phil Parkinon seeks to make a good start to 2009. Rob Elliot, Andy Gray and Mark Hudson are all struggling, while Darren Ambrose - back from a loan spell at Ipswich Town - could also miss out through illness. So it looks like a return in goal for Nicky Weaver
'Ambrose trained on Friday but the doctor sent him home early as he was ill,' Parkinson told the club's E mail bulletin. 'We'll have a look at Darren on Saturday, but it doesn't look as if he will make the bench.' It's possible that Ambrose has caught relegation fever.
'We've got one or two injury problems. Robbie has a slight problem with his thigh and Huds has had a problem with his knee and his ankle and battled through the game against Sheffield United with an injection.' Given that Hudson is on four yellow cards, it might be best to drop him for the cup tie.
'Andy Gray has been playing with a nerve problem in his back which has affected his hamstring. He's also had an injection so we'll see how that settles. He didn't train on Friday but we'll know more on Saturday.' It looks certain that Burton will start up front, but whether the little seen Todorov will partner him remains to be seen, although he would be my preference ahead of McLeod and Dickson.
With Cranie returning to Portsmouth, Moutaoukil could start at right back, although Semedo has played (not too successfully) in that role. I would rather see him in midfield.
Parkinson can name seven substitutes for the game under FA rules. He has confirmed that he will have to sell players before bringing any in, but I have argued for some time that the size of the squad does us no favours.
Luke Varney's move to Derby County has been finalised, the Rams failing to realise that they had been sold a bill of goods.
I am forecasting a 1-0 win for Charlton and a solid start to Phil Parkinson's reign as supremo. Enjoy the game!
'Ambrose trained on Friday but the doctor sent him home early as he was ill,' Parkinson told the club's E mail bulletin. 'We'll have a look at Darren on Saturday, but it doesn't look as if he will make the bench.' It's possible that Ambrose has caught relegation fever.
'We've got one or two injury problems. Robbie has a slight problem with his thigh and Huds has had a problem with his knee and his ankle and battled through the game against Sheffield United with an injection.' Given that Hudson is on four yellow cards, it might be best to drop him for the cup tie.
'Andy Gray has been playing with a nerve problem in his back which has affected his hamstring. He's also had an injection so we'll see how that settles. He didn't train on Friday but we'll know more on Saturday.' It looks certain that Burton will start up front, but whether the little seen Todorov will partner him remains to be seen, although he would be my preference ahead of McLeod and Dickson.
With Cranie returning to Portsmouth, Moutaoukil could start at right back, although Semedo has played (not too successfully) in that role. I would rather see him in midfield.
Parkinson can name seven substitutes for the game under FA rules. He has confirmed that he will have to sell players before bringing any in, but I have argued for some time that the size of the squad does us no favours.
Luke Varney's move to Derby County has been finalised, the Rams failing to realise that they had been sold a bill of goods.
I am forecasting a 1-0 win for Charlton and a solid start to Phil Parkinson's reign as supremo. Enjoy the game!
Lita unlikely to be available for Norwich
Leroy Lita is unlikely to be available for Norwich in tomorrow's cup game, unlesss there is a last minute renewal of his loan deal, but the Canaries expect to field a strong side: Canaries
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Parkinson's law
The appointment of Phil Parkinson as permanent manager has predictably not been welcomed by most Charlton fans. There is no doubt that finances played a part in the decision. Why pay out a lot of money to compensate Parkinson and then have to fund a new manager (and there were very few serious candidates) and still get relegated? The arithmetic is against us as far as relegation is concerned.
When clubs under perform, fans tend to blame the manager and then the board. In my view a lot of the problems at Charlton are that the players are simply not good enough. Let's hope that the squad can be strengthened in the transfer window, using money that would otherwise have been spent on a new manager.
Now that Parkinson is permanent manager, hopefully he will be able to boost the confidence of the players which is one of the main factors stopping us turning improved performances into victories. Parkinson talks a lot more sense than his predecessors and this has been confirmed from inside the club by those who have watched him at close hand.
If I have a criticism of the board, it is that they should have got rid of Pardew in the summer and installed Parkinson as permanent manager then (which was always their Plan B anyway).
Parkinson has to turn round an oil tanker and the fight back has to start with victories against Norwich and Forest. I think that we will probably get relegated: I was talking to a Saint last night and he thought we would both go down.
But again the gloom and doom about the consequences has been overdone. Season ticket sales would have slumped next season anyway. Leeds, admittedly a far bigger club, get good attendances as a mid-table League 1 club. Fans have been talking about 5,000 attendances, but I think they will be nearer 10,000.
In the meanwhile, I will put my money where my mouth is and see if there are any kit sponsorships available for Phil.
When clubs under perform, fans tend to blame the manager and then the board. In my view a lot of the problems at Charlton are that the players are simply not good enough. Let's hope that the squad can be strengthened in the transfer window, using money that would otherwise have been spent on a new manager.
Now that Parkinson is permanent manager, hopefully he will be able to boost the confidence of the players which is one of the main factors stopping us turning improved performances into victories. Parkinson talks a lot more sense than his predecessors and this has been confirmed from inside the club by those who have watched him at close hand.
If I have a criticism of the board, it is that they should have got rid of Pardew in the summer and installed Parkinson as permanent manager then (which was always their Plan B anyway).
Parkinson has to turn round an oil tanker and the fight back has to start with victories against Norwich and Forest. I think that we will probably get relegated: I was talking to a Saint last night and he thought we would both go down.
But again the gloom and doom about the consequences has been overdone. Season ticket sales would have slumped next season anyway. Leeds, admittedly a far bigger club, get good attendances as a mid-table League 1 club. Fans have been talking about 5,000 attendances, but I think they will be nearer 10,000.
In the meanwhile, I will put my money where my mouth is and see if there are any kit sponsorships available for Phil.
Canaries look forward to easy win
Norwich City are looking forward to an easy victory in Saturday's cup game at The Valley: Canaries
Many regard the game as meaningless, but a win would be a significant morale boost and we would could also do with the money and the revenue a fourth round tie would bring. Remember next year we may be playing in the first round.
Many regard the game as meaningless, but a win would be a significant morale boost and we would could also do with the money and the revenue a fourth round tie would bring. Remember next year we may be playing in the first round.
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