Rickshaw Riders' Delight
Some of them had not been to The Valley for over fifty years. Others were Manchester United followers looking for a day out. But these Men of Kent (and some women) poured off the coaches of the new 'Rickshaw' service parked up in the Woolwich Road. One coach had even been joined by Charlton supremo Peter Varney to add to the 'On the Buses' flavour of the day. No doubt some of the new fans were uncertain what awaited them at The Valley. Perhaps some of the older ones wondered if Sam Bartram would still be between the sticks.
What they did not know was that they were going to see one of the best Charlton performances this season and a convincing 3-1 victory over Birmingham City. Talal El Karkouri put Charlton after nine minutes with an amazing long distance goal from a free kick. Unfortunately the Addicks were not able to take advantage of some good chances to go further ahead before the break. The Blues had a purple spell after half time, equalising with a header from a corner by Melchiot. The substitution of Rommedahl by Jeffers brought a new sparkle to Charlton's play and it was Jeffers who turned provider for Bartlett, giving the Springbok a simple tap in to make it 2-1 and the Addickted the unusual sight of a goal scored by a striker. The third Charlton goal was simply superb. Thomas played the ball brilliantly out of defence, released it to Jeffers who passed it to Murphy who advanced on goal and scored with an excellent angled ball.
The new announcer has the irritating habit of proclaiming 'It's showtime at The Valley!' which seems to me would be more appropriate for an end of the pier show from the 1950s rather than a Premiership football match. On this occasion the proclamation was made and no one appeared, possibly because the officials were having a final fix of methane.
Both teams seemed to be somewhat hesitantly testing each other out in the opening minutes, although Murphy blasted in a shot from distance that was not far over. Then on nine minutes El Karkouri took a free kick from forty yards out and it bounced past a bemused Taylor in the Blues goal.
Hughes put in a good ball to Bartlett in front of goal but he was just unable to connect with it. The Addicks were using quite a lot of the long ball, but presumably this had been researched in advance and it seemed to unsettle the Blues defence.
Jerome Thomas won the Addicks a corner and Rommedahl's effort was not far wide. Blues won a free kick on the edge of the area, but it came off the wall and was then kicked off the line when it came out again. A subsequent mix up in front of Deano's goal was the result of poor communication among the defenders. Good work by Murphy won Charlton a corner. A header from El Karkouri had to be tipped over the bar by Taylor. From the second corner a header from Bartlett was straight at the keeper.
Upson was perhaps a little harshly yellow carded for a foul on Bartlett and the free kick was saved. On 37 minutes Clinton Morrison put the ball in the net from a clearly offside position. However, Deano was then tested by a fierce shot from Anderton. A good build up ended with Bartlett putting the ball out of play. Fortune conceded Birmingham's first corner of the game. Somehow or other two minutes of time added on was found and Blues were given a weird free kick by referee Foy who had clearly not got his methane-oxygen mix right.
Half time: Addicks 1, Blues 0
Bartlett played in Rommedahl who delivered a good cross but Hughes was unable to take advantage of the situation. Birmingham no doubt been given a 'remember you are the second team from the second city' pep talk at half time and staged a break which led to a throw in and then a corner. They were then given a second corner which I and those around me thought was a goal kick. However, it enabled Melchiot to make it 1-1 on 55 minutes with a header that left Deano with no chance.
Forging forward, El Karkouri turned provider for Rommedahl but his effort went straight to Taylor. Thomas was fouled by Johnson who received a yellow card. Murphy put the ball just over the top of the bar. However then a dangerous cross went across the front of Deano's goal. Clearly it had to be changed around and it was with the 62nd minute substitution of Rommedahl by Jeffers.
Deano had to parry a cross by Anderton, but then Jeffers collected the ball on the East Stand side of the Birmingham box. Evading Cunningham he put in a low cross along the goal line and Bartlett arrived at just the right time to put the ball into the back of the net and make it 2-1.
Tebily had been one of the more impressive Birmingham players but he nearly scored a spectacular own goal when under pressure he put the ball inches wide of the post. Konchesky replaced Hughes on 72 minutes. Clinton Morrison made a meal of a foul on him, staggering to the touchline in a dramatic fashion. One might almost say he was a dying swan if he wasn't so ugly. However, chaos enused in front of goal after the free kick with Fortune providing a vital interception.
On 75 minutes Thomas got the ball just outside the Charlton penalty area and powered up field, passing to Jeffers. He laid it off neatly to Murphy who found himself one on one with Taylor. He outfoxed the keeper and drove the ball into the far corner of the net.
A good chase back by Jeffers showed that, like Bartlett, he could contribute in defence when needed. Thomas was withdrawn on 80 minutes in favour of Kishishev. A Birmingham corner provided a moment of danger, but the final effort was way over. Paul Konchesky made a great run. Luke Young put in a great tackle to stop an attack that could have ended in a Blues goal.
After three minutes of time added on, Charlton had convincingly won the points. Heskey was having one of his off days and Birmingham lack something without Savage, but that should not be allowed to detract from the quality of Charlton's play.
It was good to see in the programme that efforts are being made to link up with the builders of new developments in the home boroughs and that some thought is being given to existing fans by pursuing the idea of a park and ride from the Dome. This would also benefit fans from north of the river who use the Jubilee line to North Greenwich.
Match Analysis
Awarding the Silver Bone was not an easy choice for Hooch the Pooch as there were so many candidates from an excellent team performance. In the end it was awarded to Danny Murphy not just for his superb goal but for his energetic and skilled contributions throughout the match. Although Deano was not tested that much by the Blues attack, he did make some good saves. Fortune made some good defensive interventions, but also looked suspect more than once. El Karkouri scored a superb goal and was also solid in his contributions in defence. Young was once again in contention for the Silver Bone. His defensive contribution was faultless and he was a real threat going forward. Hreidarsson is the latest target of the Bloke Behind Me on the grounds that he shouts for the ball too much and is too inclined to hoof it away. But there is nothing wrong with being hungry for the ball and he forged forward impressively more than once. And sometimes hoofing the ball away is the best solution to impending danger. Hughes made some good contributions, but also was error prone at times. Holland displayed his usual quiet authority. His efficiency sometimes conceals the contribution he makes. Rommedahl made some good moves, but he still looks like a luxury player. Sometimes he shows insufficient energy in going for the ball. Thomas is also in the bad books of the Bloke Behind Me for trying to do too much, but I thought that his contribution to the game was impressive and generally well judged. Bartlett was as tireless as ever, popping up all over the place and it was good to see him get the reward of a goal. Jeffers made a real positive difference after he came on. Bartlett can achieve much more with a strike partner. Konchesky was really up for it and added value to Charlton's play. Kishishev was full of energy and enthusiasm when he came on.
Hiss of the Match It is rumoured that the Titan space probe has found a colony of referees and linesmen on Titan who spend their days misunderstanding the offside rule. Unfortunately, one member of the Titan colony has already escaped and infiltrated the Premiership: the hapless and inconsistent Mr Foy who has great difficulty in getting any decision right.
Crowd rating: The Addickted were in fine form. 8/10.
What they did not know was that they were going to see one of the best Charlton performances this season and a convincing 3-1 victory over Birmingham City. Talal El Karkouri put Charlton after nine minutes with an amazing long distance goal from a free kick. Unfortunately the Addicks were not able to take advantage of some good chances to go further ahead before the break. The Blues had a purple spell after half time, equalising with a header from a corner by Melchiot. The substitution of Rommedahl by Jeffers brought a new sparkle to Charlton's play and it was Jeffers who turned provider for Bartlett, giving the Springbok a simple tap in to make it 2-1 and the Addickted the unusual sight of a goal scored by a striker. The third Charlton goal was simply superb. Thomas played the ball brilliantly out of defence, released it to Jeffers who passed it to Murphy who advanced on goal and scored with an excellent angled ball.
The new announcer has the irritating habit of proclaiming 'It's showtime at The Valley!' which seems to me would be more appropriate for an end of the pier show from the 1950s rather than a Premiership football match. On this occasion the proclamation was made and no one appeared, possibly because the officials were having a final fix of methane.
Both teams seemed to be somewhat hesitantly testing each other out in the opening minutes, although Murphy blasted in a shot from distance that was not far over. Then on nine minutes El Karkouri took a free kick from forty yards out and it bounced past a bemused Taylor in the Blues goal.
Hughes put in a good ball to Bartlett in front of goal but he was just unable to connect with it. The Addicks were using quite a lot of the long ball, but presumably this had been researched in advance and it seemed to unsettle the Blues defence.
Jerome Thomas won the Addicks a corner and Rommedahl's effort was not far wide. Blues won a free kick on the edge of the area, but it came off the wall and was then kicked off the line when it came out again. A subsequent mix up in front of Deano's goal was the result of poor communication among the defenders. Good work by Murphy won Charlton a corner. A header from El Karkouri had to be tipped over the bar by Taylor. From the second corner a header from Bartlett was straight at the keeper.
Upson was perhaps a little harshly yellow carded for a foul on Bartlett and the free kick was saved. On 37 minutes Clinton Morrison put the ball in the net from a clearly offside position. However, Deano was then tested by a fierce shot from Anderton. A good build up ended with Bartlett putting the ball out of play. Fortune conceded Birmingham's first corner of the game. Somehow or other two minutes of time added on was found and Blues were given a weird free kick by referee Foy who had clearly not got his methane-oxygen mix right.
Half time: Addicks 1, Blues 0
Bartlett played in Rommedahl who delivered a good cross but Hughes was unable to take advantage of the situation. Birmingham no doubt been given a 'remember you are the second team from the second city' pep talk at half time and staged a break which led to a throw in and then a corner. They were then given a second corner which I and those around me thought was a goal kick. However, it enabled Melchiot to make it 1-1 on 55 minutes with a header that left Deano with no chance.
Forging forward, El Karkouri turned provider for Rommedahl but his effort went straight to Taylor. Thomas was fouled by Johnson who received a yellow card. Murphy put the ball just over the top of the bar. However then a dangerous cross went across the front of Deano's goal. Clearly it had to be changed around and it was with the 62nd minute substitution of Rommedahl by Jeffers.
Deano had to parry a cross by Anderton, but then Jeffers collected the ball on the East Stand side of the Birmingham box. Evading Cunningham he put in a low cross along the goal line and Bartlett arrived at just the right time to put the ball into the back of the net and make it 2-1.
Tebily had been one of the more impressive Birmingham players but he nearly scored a spectacular own goal when under pressure he put the ball inches wide of the post. Konchesky replaced Hughes on 72 minutes. Clinton Morrison made a meal of a foul on him, staggering to the touchline in a dramatic fashion. One might almost say he was a dying swan if he wasn't so ugly. However, chaos enused in front of goal after the free kick with Fortune providing a vital interception.
On 75 minutes Thomas got the ball just outside the Charlton penalty area and powered up field, passing to Jeffers. He laid it off neatly to Murphy who found himself one on one with Taylor. He outfoxed the keeper and drove the ball into the far corner of the net.
A good chase back by Jeffers showed that, like Bartlett, he could contribute in defence when needed. Thomas was withdrawn on 80 minutes in favour of Kishishev. A Birmingham corner provided a moment of danger, but the final effort was way over. Paul Konchesky made a great run. Luke Young put in a great tackle to stop an attack that could have ended in a Blues goal.
After three minutes of time added on, Charlton had convincingly won the points. Heskey was having one of his off days and Birmingham lack something without Savage, but that should not be allowed to detract from the quality of Charlton's play.
It was good to see in the programme that efforts are being made to link up with the builders of new developments in the home boroughs and that some thought is being given to existing fans by pursuing the idea of a park and ride from the Dome. This would also benefit fans from north of the river who use the Jubilee line to North Greenwich.
Match Analysis
Awarding the Silver Bone was not an easy choice for Hooch the Pooch as there were so many candidates from an excellent team performance. In the end it was awarded to Danny Murphy not just for his superb goal but for his energetic and skilled contributions throughout the match. Although Deano was not tested that much by the Blues attack, he did make some good saves. Fortune made some good defensive interventions, but also looked suspect more than once. El Karkouri scored a superb goal and was also solid in his contributions in defence. Young was once again in contention for the Silver Bone. His defensive contribution was faultless and he was a real threat going forward. Hreidarsson is the latest target of the Bloke Behind Me on the grounds that he shouts for the ball too much and is too inclined to hoof it away. But there is nothing wrong with being hungry for the ball and he forged forward impressively more than once. And sometimes hoofing the ball away is the best solution to impending danger. Hughes made some good contributions, but also was error prone at times. Holland displayed his usual quiet authority. His efficiency sometimes conceals the contribution he makes. Rommedahl made some good moves, but he still looks like a luxury player. Sometimes he shows insufficient energy in going for the ball. Thomas is also in the bad books of the Bloke Behind Me for trying to do too much, but I thought that his contribution to the game was impressive and generally well judged. Bartlett was as tireless as ever, popping up all over the place and it was good to see him get the reward of a goal. Jeffers made a real positive difference after he came on. Bartlett can achieve much more with a strike partner. Konchesky was really up for it and added value to Charlton's play. Kishishev was full of energy and enthusiasm when he came on.
Hiss of the Match It is rumoured that the Titan space probe has found a colony of referees and linesmen on Titan who spend their days misunderstanding the offside rule. Unfortunately, one member of the Titan colony has already escaped and infiltrated the Premiership: the hapless and inconsistent Mr Foy who has great difficulty in getting any decision right.
Crowd rating: The Addickted were in fine form. 8/10.
posted by Wyn Grant at 9:54 PM
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