‘Reserved for Nigel and grandad at 1:15’
I love being spoilt for choice. Was I angriest today at a) our 1st half ineptitude b) the refereeing ‘performance’ or c) the gamesmanship/outright cheating of Charlton Athletic under (Dirty) Lee(ds) Bowyer. Or d) the s*** pub I went to? Yes, on the whole, I think the Addicks win by a nose, from the ref, as he was the one bloke who could have done something about it. We saw all this last time we were at The Valley. So how comes the man in black can’t see it?
Charlton, two up at half time, fell down 5 times in the first 20 minutes of the second half, looking for free kicks and treatment to hold up play. It is the most INFURIATING thing, as your team is actively searching for a goal and all the opposition do is try to break up play illegally. Of course, the ref bought the lot, even managing to book Chaplin for pointing out Chorlton’s tactics. Funnily enough, this ruse stopped the moment the ref DIDN’T stop play for one of theirs being down, and you know what….said bloke jumped up and sprinted 50 yards to get into the action. Charlton, under Lee Bowyer, simply try and CHEAT their way to victory.
At least the ref didn’t buy the so-bad-it-was-good dive in our box, arched back and all with nobody near him. The ‘dive as an afterthought’ dive. Did the ref book him? Did the linesman call the ref back to issue the yellow? Do bears s*** on Mars? No, of course not. Lyall Taylor got in on the act (for it was an act), goading the Reds fans behind the goal. Listen, I’ve no qualms about that. Let him. He was so intent on winding us up he didn’t see his own corner had been taken at one point. So why Jonesy is trying to report him to the stewards for incitement, I don’t know. Fortunately, he’d already been beaten to it. Later, I took amusement in counting aloud the number of seconds the keeper held the ball. 13 seconds was his best effort, 11 his worst. Why is the 6 second rule simply NEVER enforced? (The ref ‘had a word’ with the keeper in the 90th minute and said keeper then took the best part of 30 seconds taking a deadball. My Lord.)
A proper fight broke out in the stands, where stewards and our hoi polloi had a square-off, while Pompey Ian and Loko had a 20 minute row/discussion with the bloke behind on our transfer policy, or lack thereof. Anyone would think we were losing for all the bad karma present. Oh, yeah, we were. Another ball into our box not won, another flick on, another static defence, another goal. We have a new man in at centre half, Sollbauer (yeah, I looked it up. SO?) and he blended in perfectly today. He’s just as s*** as the rest. Still, half-time is approaching, no worries. So we concede another from a high cross into our box as our defenders SIMPLY CANNOT CLEAR A BALL. When was the last time a centre half of ours headed a ball 20 odd yards from inside his own box? Problies the season before last, come to think of it (and we went down then as well). Charlton score from the loose ball. The more games Diaby misses, the better he looks.
I presume Strudel had a few things to say at half time, cos once we’d got to grips with Chorlton’s play antics, we absolutely murdered them. We hit the post, the bar, had one cleared off the line, and Brown cleared the bar with the easiest of the lot. That we lost was entirely of our own making, Halme also hitting the post off a rebound, 1st half, when it looked easier to score. At least we still have Woodrow, who lashed the ball in from wide right past a startled keeper into the far corner. Great hit, but reward for the 70 yard run upfield by Thomas. Later, as the keeper reacted smartly to clear a Mads effort with his arm, Cauley hit the rebound too true, off the floor, then the bar. He’s too good. Anyone else would’ve skied it.
So, there it is. I thought today was last chance saloon, not a game we could afford to lose, but we did. We’re now 7 points off safety…but with 2 home games against Washday (on a bad run, but perennial bogey side) and Brum (useless), we could…could…bag 6 points. We just need to find a centre half, any centre half. There must be one somewhere…mustn’t there? (Just don’t suggest to Loko that we get Paul McShane back.)
 |
| Welcome to .... |
 |
| Lions led by donkeys...or something. |
Charlton, two up at half time, fell down 5 times in the first 20 minutes of the second half, looking for free kicks and treatment to hold up play. It is the most INFURIATING thing, as your team is actively searching for a goal and all the opposition do is try to break up play illegally. Of course, the ref bought the lot, even managing to book Chaplin for pointing out Chorlton’s tactics. Funnily enough, this ruse stopped the moment the ref DIDN’T stop play for one of theirs being down, and you know what….said bloke jumped up and sprinted 50 yards to get into the action. Charlton, under Lee Bowyer, simply try and CHEAT their way to victory.
 |
| A proper player. |
At least the ref didn’t buy the so-bad-it-was-good dive in our box, arched back and all with nobody near him. The ‘dive as an afterthought’ dive. Did the ref book him? Did the linesman call the ref back to issue the yellow? Do bears s*** on Mars? No, of course not. Lyall Taylor got in on the act (for it was an act), goading the Reds fans behind the goal. Listen, I’ve no qualms about that. Let him. He was so intent on winding us up he didn’t see his own corner had been taken at one point. So why Jonesy is trying to report him to the stewards for incitement, I don’t know. Fortunately, he’d already been beaten to it. Later, I took amusement in counting aloud the number of seconds the keeper held the ball. 13 seconds was his best effort, 11 his worst. Why is the 6 second rule simply NEVER enforced? (The ref ‘had a word’ with the keeper in the 90th minute and said keeper then took the best part of 30 seconds taking a deadball. My Lord.)
 |
| No, it can't REALLY be called that...(yes it is). |
A proper fight broke out in the stands, where stewards and our hoi polloi had a square-off, while Pompey Ian and Loko had a 20 minute row/discussion with the bloke behind on our transfer policy, or lack thereof. Anyone would think we were losing for all the bad karma present. Oh, yeah, we were. Another ball into our box not won, another flick on, another static defence, another goal. We have a new man in at centre half, Sollbauer (yeah, I looked it up. SO?) and he blended in perfectly today. He’s just as s*** as the rest. Still, half-time is approaching, no worries. So we concede another from a high cross into our box as our defenders SIMPLY CANNOT CLEAR A BALL. When was the last time a centre half of ours headed a ball 20 odd yards from inside his own box? Problies the season before last, come to think of it (and we went down then as well). Charlton score from the loose ball. The more games Diaby misses, the better he looks.
 |
| Charlton celebrate scoring. |
I presume Strudel had a few things to say at half time, cos once we’d got to grips with Chorlton’s play antics, we absolutely murdered them. We hit the post, the bar, had one cleared off the line, and Brown cleared the bar with the easiest of the lot. That we lost was entirely of our own making, Halme also hitting the post off a rebound, 1st half, when it looked easier to score. At least we still have Woodrow, who lashed the ball in from wide right past a startled keeper into the far corner. Great hit, but reward for the 70 yard run upfield by Thomas. Later, as the keeper reacted smartly to clear a Mads effort with his arm, Cauley hit the rebound too true, off the floor, then the bar. He’s too good. Anyone else would’ve skied it.
 |
| Reds attack, 2nd half. |
So, there it is. I thought today was last chance saloon, not a game we could afford to lose, but we did. We’re now 7 points off safety…but with 2 home games against Washday (on a bad run, but perennial bogey side) and Brum (useless), we could…could…bag 6 points. We just need to find a centre half, any centre half. There must be one somewhere…mustn’t there? (Just don’t suggest to Loko that we get Paul McShane back.)
Onwards and upwards!
*** Thomas. Ran at them all day. If only he had a right foot…he wouldn’t be playing for us!
** Woodrow. Feed Cauley and he will score. Some good forward passes from midfield too.
* Simoes. Again looked promising when he came on in attack.
Londontykes' MOTM: TBA
Londontykes' MOTM: TBA
 |
| You Reds! |
Despatches:
Pre-match, I met up with fabled Oakwell historian Dave Wood in Plumstead to stare at a ‘field’ of concrete where Barnsley once upon a time played a few games at Woolwich Arsenal. Apparently, one reason for them moving was cos some banking (which covered a pipe used for fecal matter) offered an excellent view of the pitch for free. The banking is still there, nowadays offering a superb view of adjacent HMP Belmarsh. I need to get out more. Or less. We then met up with Nice Guy Chris to peruse the Charlton Athletic museum, which certainly beat drinking craft ales in Deptford with the rest of the Londontykes (!)
One highlight tho was meeting Jonesy and his Pa outside the ground, midday, there to pick up their tickets off Loko, who was making a detour cos the Reds Box Office hadn’t bothered actually posting his/our match tickets out. So you can imagine my mirth when I met Jonesy again at half 2, trying to pick the tickets up again. Charlton couldn’t/wouldn’t reprint them till 1pm, valuable drinking time for Loko. So one of them went back to the pub, the other went back to cook his family bacon sandwiches in Sidcup. Everything that can go wrong, etc
One highlight tho was meeting Jonesy and his Pa outside the ground, midday, there to pick up their tickets off Loko, who was making a detour cos the Reds Box Office hadn’t bothered actually posting his/our match tickets out. So you can imagine my mirth when I met Jonesy again at half 2, trying to pick the tickets up again. Charlton couldn’t/wouldn’t reprint them till 1pm, valuable drinking time for Loko. So one of them went back to the pub, the other went back to cook his family bacon sandwiches in Sidcup. Everything that can go wrong, etc
 |
| The Valley in its full glory. |
Woody, Chrissy and I decided to drink more locally – we walked to the Hope and Anchor on the Thames, 4.4 out of 5 on Google. I cannot remember when I last went to such a s*** pub. (Note to self: find a new word for s***. This report is far too liberally sprinkled with this term. But if one word summed up my day….) To be fair, the pub looked the part, all traditional like, but the choice of beers was a bit poor. So I pointed at some pumps and asked what was on them. ‘Nothing.’ Ok. I’ll…err….have an Estrella. No you won’t, off. Go on then, a fruit cider. I’m getting desperate. ‘Also off. But I can add some blackcurrant to the ordinary cider’ said a barman without a hint of humour. I passed on that, but took my pint of Aspinalls to an empty table…to find it was ‘booked from 1:15pm’, as were the other empty tables in there. This is one of the scourges of modern society. Booking tables in PUBS. Worse, at about 10 past, our barman comes over and tells us the geezer is now in. WELL, I COULD NOT GIVE A FLYING F***. The piece of paper on the table says ‘1:15’ and I would love it, absolutely love it, if anyone came over wanting the table before then. We supped up and were out by 1:14. It still managed to get worse though, as I took Chris to the Rose of Denmark (only 4.3 on Google, meaning it’s even worse) but they wouldn’t let us in cos we were northern. Fair enough. Solace came in the chance to try out that fish and chip shop outside the ground and stand around for 45 minutes in the wind waiting for my ticket to arrive. I felt sorry for the octogenarian serving. Anaemic chips, no mushy peas. Decent fish tho, I’ll give her that.
 |
| Pre-match chippy queue. |
The players?
Radlinger came and caught everything (if by ‘everything’ I mean ‘nothing’.) Oduor s*** himself (damn, that word again) every time he had possession and faced an opponent. Jordan Williams chased back 60 yards to make one tackle. Halme and Mads swapped positions at half time, with the result Halme looked a better centre half than Mads and Mads looked a half decent midfield player (I kid you not). Chaplin and Brown ran around causing havoc 2nd half, while Mowatt was strangely muted. Probably sulking no-one bought him in January.
ps, did I mentioned I biked it today? Not entirely on purpose, morning chores meant I'd miss my train from Peckham. Still, only half an hour from The Valley to home. There's one shining light on today.
Drink du jour: A lonely pint of cider.
Away: 1,084
The Damage:£12 ent (BOGOF on £24 tickets. Well done Charlton!)
£3 prog
£2 fanzine
= £17
Hippopotamus (Sparks)
Intro – the Gift Recordings (Pulp)
Claustrophobia (Scuba)
Con Todo El Mundo (Khruangbin)
Crystal Castles (Crystal Castles)
 |
| The Valley panorama. |
 |
| Behind the 'Covered End' |
 |
| League 1 play-off trophy in their museum. |
 |
| It was nice to see something worthwhile today.... |
 |
| Good use of empty seats. |
 |
| What used to be the biggest side of The Valley. |
 |
| Woolwich Arsenal v Barnsley, back in the day. |
No comments:
Post a Comment