Seasons Greetings

Seasons Greetings (obviously not football season), to all, -or nearly all-, of the people who've stopped by here over the last year to glance at my missives.

The infrequent nature of my blogging is mainly down to my unwillingness to be a 100% moaner. 

It's very tough not to get on a roll and have a rant when thinking about the current plight of CAFC.

There are wonderful things happening in the world that fill me with joy and happiness. 

Charlton Athletic is no longer one of these things.

While there have been many changes in my life involving births, deaths, marriage breakdown, serious illness and all the other things that thread together to form 'being a grown up', the one constant has been the excitement and enjoyment of following Charlton, win or lose.

Unfortunately, the Charlton that we all remember from just over 2 years ago has gone and I am getting no pleasure from it at all.

The unity once experienced between the club and the supporters has been replaced by infighting, rumour, counter rumour, conspiracy theories and plain old lies.

We have the richest owner we've ever had, yet we are drip fed nuggets of being 'over budget' when it comes to the part of the business that laces up their boots, while extraordinary sums are being spent on the training ground and the Valley infrastructure.

A man who obviously is no fool when it comes to money and getting hold of it, has trusted the day to day management of a multimillion pound organisation with someone who has so little experience they've yet to prove they could manage a sweet shop.

The *one* part of the organisation most of us really care about, the playing staff, are now under the command of a 5th rate coach whose record is so poor, he should be embarrassed to get in his car and drive to work- yet he's kept on as he's a cheap option hiding behind a fake 'interim' label.

I so wish things could be different.

Despite what RD and KM think, it's not their club.

 It was here long before they'd even heard of Charlton and once they've packed up their failed experiment, there will still be people wanting to support the team in (as The Guardian wrote) this 'unfashionable' part of London.

With a change of heart Roland could be a hero but unfortunately, with the Christmas story in the back of my mind, I'm afraid to say RD is looking more and more like a Herod.

Happy Christmas to all Addicks and let's hope for a better 2016.

M

Season's Greetings

I've had a bit of a blogging hiatus over the last few weeks.

Since our game at Millwall, I've been ridiculously busy at work and home.
The prospect of spending time in front of the old MacBook, chucking out my platitudes connected to a draw against Brighton and two away defeats up North didn't figure too highly on my list of priorities.

Today is Christmas Eve and for the first time in a while I've had time to kick back and take it easy.

My main reason for writing something on here today is to say a big THANKS to all the Addicks (and followers of other clubs) who have taken the time to read my thoughts over the last year.

When I started this blog, I made a conscious decision not to include a counter recording how many hits I received.
I'm a fairly competitive person and I knew I'd end up writing stuff just to bump up my figures rather than because I had something to say.

I can of course, check up very easily on how many people have swung by, as well as whereabouts on planet Earth they were sitting but I don't have this information on general display.

Today, I was astounded to read that over 1,300 people had clicked onto Charlton Casualty between midnight and 2pm, even though I hadn't written anything for ages.

So again, thankyou everybody and roll on the 'Tractor Boys' on Boxing Day.

Happy Christmas.

It's ChristMaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas!

Swindon stroll into town on Boxing Day, hopefully without the same swagger as the muppets from Bermondsey last weekend.

Well done to any Swindonians who make it to the Valley as the transport system serving SE7 seems to have taken the obligatory break.
Perhaps there will be a fleet of Swindon based, factory fresh, Honda cars parked on the Woolwich Road due to the train 'service' being token at best.

My memories of recent encounters with Swindon are probably the same as everyone else.
I stood in the rain and got DRENCHED at the County Ground in our first successful promotion season to the Premier League but at least I could still see the game. Crispy, who was next to me, had his glasses steamed up so badly he may as well have stayed at home.
In our second promotion season I have memories of Charlton presenting Willie Carson with some cash to help out their club prior to the game, then Dean Kiely making a hash of a tame cross and pushing it into his goal.
I believe we lost 1-0 despite attacking for the rest of the game.

On Boxing Day I'd settle for a clean sheet as I feel we are likely to score.
Parky has to earn his corn after the exciting but ultimately disappointing draw with Millwall last week.
How he tweaks the team to cover for the suspended Sam will be interesting to see.
Along with local derbies, Boxing Day has a history of throwing up odd results - anyone else 'enjoy' Boxing Day at West Ham a few years ago?
I had more than enough excitement last week and hope a solid professional performance will be the Christmas present from the players to the supporters.

I'd like to thank everybody who has found the time to glance at my blog this year and to wish each and every one of you a fantastic Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.

I'm off to listen to my favourite Christmas music. here, here, here and here.
I'll probably watch Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation too, if only for his attempts at Christmas shopping.