(FOUR!!!)
We all learned something yesterday.
I learned I have a tipping point.
I reached it yesterday when Crispy and myself joined the thousands of glum looking faces, streaming onto Floyd Road while the game was still going on, (though of course, the game had been up for quite some time).
Until yesterday I didn't realise I could attach a number to my Charlton misery.
The number is 4.
As a general rule, I don't leave Charlton games early, preferring to hang on until the bitter end.
Back in December 2006, (is it really such a short time ago?) a Charlton team under the stewardship of Les Reed crashed to a 5-1 defeat at the Lane.
I headed back down Tottenham High Road soon after their 5th goal settled in our net.
Last season, I was part of the mass exodus, except we couldn't exit, at the home of our genteel neighbours Millwall.
It was the 4th goal that prompted me to move on.
I now know that I'm prepared to stay until there is a 4 goal deficit.
It hasn't always been like this.
I stayed until the final whistle when Leeds United hammered us 6-1 at home back in 2003 and also when Manchester United knocked 4 past us at the The Valley, without reply, in 2005.
Perhaps as I've got older I'm less inclined to put up with the crap?
I would say that something died inside me the day I found myself leaving Spurs early.
A point had been reached and I'd decided to cross it.
I could never go back.
So, I learned something personal but did Charlton Athletic learn anything from yesterday's debacle?
Probably not.
We learned we aren't good enough but we don't look like we know what to do about it.
I've slept on it after having a few pints of 'cheer up juice' in one of my favourite pubs but the sad fact remains.
We were outplayed and out thought.
Brighton weren't that great, they were just better at the simple things.
They stroked the ball about, looking comfortable, even on the edge of their own penalty area.
Why someone didn't pressure their goalkeeper when he had the ball at his feet I couldn't explain but time after time he was left with the ball, playing as a sweeper.
Through the first half, Charlton were more than in it.
We had enough chances to be in the lead at halftime but as the teams plodded back to their cup of tea we were 1-0 down.
A well worked corner had left an unmissable chance that looked so easy I felt it must be offside, though it probably wasn't at all.
The second half was:
i) A terrible defensive cock up give away goal.
ii) A fantastic free kick that was so well executed it had me clapping an opposition goal at The Valley.
iii) A goal that was the result of our team having already given up.
So, a 4-0 defeat.
At home.
Against Brighton.
Yes, BRIGHTON.
If I'd known what I know now, as I was walking back to Seven Sisters tube station in December 2006, would I have tried to enjoy the moment?
We were still a Premier League team, playing in a sold out 27,000 stadium for most home games with current and future international stars pulling on our team shirt.
On that day, I felt it couldn't get much worse.
Please tell me that in a few years, I won't be looking back on mid October 2010 as a period when I should have been taking the time to look about and smell the roses.
A Casual Rating.
Where to start?
I think Parky and his team should do the honourable thing and contact me to claim their own Primark novelty slogan tee-shirts.
What a load of cock.
The Lacoste polo is going to our Radostin Kishishev.
Whoever Kish plays for, he will always be ours. I feel he shares the sentiment.
It was good to see him at his spiritual home yesterday but it would have been better if he had been playing for us.
We more than need him.
