Maybe i should start by saying: Bye Bye Bye Thierry. He has gone now and good luck to him. I hope he has a very successful end to his career with Barca but not too successful. It would be just too good if Arsenal went on to win the Champions League without Henry, possibly beating Barcelona along the way. It would be a shame though, if he didn't win anything there, but he made his decision and i'm sure he feels it was the right one. I on the other hand, disagree.
Had former Vice-Chairman David Dein not left, things would probrably be very different, and had Stan Kroenke's proposed take-over had gone through then none of this would be happening, i'm almost certain of that, but you can't change the past. At Arsenal, Thierry Henry was worshiped like a God, he was the King of Highbury and was seemingly ready to make his mark on the Emirates Stadium, and having said, only a year ago: "This is my last contract. It is where I belong," it may come as a suprise that he has now left. It is certainly a shock to me, i never though that Henry would go back on his word.
There are many reasons in my view for him to stay at Arsenal. It looks like Stan Kroenke is going to work with the Hill-Wood family to achieve the best for Arsenal, which is what Dein wanted. I believe this is a reason for his departure, because he though this was not going to happen. I also believe that if this does happen in the near future, then the door is still open for Dein's return. Had Dein come back a week ago, Theirry Henry would almost certainly have remained at the club. There are many young and learining stars of the future at Arsenal, and had he stayed at the club, Henry may have found himself a title winner come next may. With players improving with every game like Eboue, Clichy, Fabregas, Walcott and Bendtner, Arsenal would certainly have been a force to reckon with next season. They still can be, but they will have to do it without their leader on the pitch. Hopefully Gilberto Silva will fill that vacancy.
Had Henry remained at the club, then Arsene Wenger's future would not be in doubt. It is just like a Domino-effect at Arsenal at the moment, and it needs to stop now. If Wenger is the next Domino to fall, then he will take Cesc Fabregas with him. Then who knows where Arsenal will be then. I don't want to say it but all this is down to the one man who wanted to do best by this club. He turned down foreign investors because he wanted to keep the clubs best interests at heart, and all of this has now dramatically back-fired. Peter Hill-Wood, Arsenal's club Chairman, could have stopped this crisis from forming, but he didn't, and now i can only hope that Arsene Wenger will still be at the Club for the start of the next season, with some new additions, and will go in with the Arsenal fighting spirit.
Arsenal are already being linked with a replacement for Henry, with Carlos Teves, Nicolas Anelka, Fernando Torres, and the rumour that the rediculous £16million transfer fee for the best player in the world, has a twist, it includes Samuel Eto'o going the other way. Whatever Arsene Wenger decides on, it just cannot afford to be another youngster who will be ready in two or three years time. They must be ready now. Darren Bent? Worth the same as Thierry Henry?? I DON'T THINK SO!
Saturday, 23 June 2007
Thursday, 26 April 2007
This weeks football
For some it has been an exellent week but for others, such as the family and friends of Alan Ball, a true footballing legend, it has not and i send my condolences to them. He really was a magnificent player and was many peoples man of the match in the World Cup Final, 1966. Although i never got to see him live, i have seen the World Cup Final many times, and he was definately one of the best, and at such an early age. His one touch movement, was extraordinarily like that we see today and his passing was excellent. He will be missed in the football world.
I'd like to think that an all english final is approaching in the Champions League but i'm not so sure. Manchester united have got a hard task of beating or at least scoring at the San Siro and im not sure they can do it. Milan are bound to score one which means united will have to score as well but i don't see it happening. Even with the likes of Ronaldo and Rooney.
As far as the other semi goes, i think it will be tight but i believe Chelsea will get their revenge this time and knock Liverpool out. They have one of the strongest defences in the league and will go to anfield, undoubtedly for a 0-0 and will probrably get it. The first leg was boring as it was always going to be, two very strong, defensive sides.
I apologise to anyone who wanted to read a report from Charltons match at home to Sheffield United, i have been literally, snowed under with coursework, i'd much rather do this but i can't. I won't be doing a report on that game, however, i am going to Ewood, so i will have 6hours on the way back with nothing better to do but to write a football report, so i can guarantee that one will be on here, if not sunday then monday at the latest. As far as the game goes, it is a crucial, must win for Charlton, and with Blackburn having nothing but pride to play for, and a very probable half-empty staduim, exept the Charlton fans, i think Charlton can win this. They have the desire and passion that Alan Pardew has injected into the team and i think they can stay up. Fulham being my prediction to suffer as a result.
I'd like to think that an all english final is approaching in the Champions League but i'm not so sure. Manchester united have got a hard task of beating or at least scoring at the San Siro and im not sure they can do it. Milan are bound to score one which means united will have to score as well but i don't see it happening. Even with the likes of Ronaldo and Rooney.
As far as the other semi goes, i think it will be tight but i believe Chelsea will get their revenge this time and knock Liverpool out. They have one of the strongest defences in the league and will go to anfield, undoubtedly for a 0-0 and will probrably get it. The first leg was boring as it was always going to be, two very strong, defensive sides.
I apologise to anyone who wanted to read a report from Charltons match at home to Sheffield United, i have been literally, snowed under with coursework, i'd much rather do this but i can't. I won't be doing a report on that game, however, i am going to Ewood, so i will have 6hours on the way back with nothing better to do but to write a football report, so i can guarantee that one will be on here, if not sunday then monday at the latest. As far as the game goes, it is a crucial, must win for Charlton, and with Blackburn having nothing but pride to play for, and a very probable half-empty staduim, exept the Charlton fans, i think Charlton can win this. They have the desire and passion that Alan Pardew has injected into the team and i think they can stay up. Fulham being my prediction to suffer as a result.
Monday, 23 April 2007
Watch this space....
I will be posting again very shortly, i have been very busy with school work as you can imagine, so i havn't had the chance yet, i will also be posting my match report from saturdays game at charlton, so keep looking i should have something on within the next couple of days...
Thursday, 19 April 2007
The Modern American Revolution
The number of foreign owners in the Premiership is now at six and counting, three being American, and now i see that it is hugely likely that another billionaire buisiness tycoon Stan Kroenke is going to invest in Arsenal, making the number seven from twenty, almost half.
Roman Abramovich set the ball rolling back in 2003 when he became the owner of Chelsea, and now it seems that within 10 years of that, all clubs will be under foreign, if not billionaire ownership. I myself can see the attraction, if i had that money i would love to invest in my own club, but as a fan, not as a hobby or a buisiness arangement. Football is there for fun and to provide entertainment, the players should be playing because they enjoy it, and not because of how much they will make out of it. Soon football will not be seen as a proper sport, it will just be an entertainment, like the WWE and wrestling is now.
However i am not saying that this is an entirely bad thing and i am not saying that all foreign owners are investing as a buisiness opertunity, i am merely saying that if we carry on like this, football will lose all of it's competetiveness, and it will be just about the making money.
It could be a good thing but what i do know is that, as a result of the latest take-over bid, a man had quit or lost his job. A man who is extremely powerfull in English football and who is very good at his job, David Dein. It is just pure madness how a club like Arsenal, who are in need of rebuilding and Dein's guidance through this, that they should give him his marching
orders or let him quit like that. Dein is the best thing that Arsenal had going for them off the pitch, he was instrumental in bringing Arsene Wenger to the club in 1996 and also the appointment of Sven Goran Errikson into the England job in 2001. Losing someone so powerfull in the game can only be bad for Arsenal. Not only this but he held a very strong relationship with Arsene Wenger and there has already been speculation that he will follow Dein out of the exit, although i don't think he will. It's a massive blow to Arsenal, and maybe now fans can look forward to a take-over bid, to improve things on the pitch, and then surely will improve off it.
*Picture: They've gone and Dein it now havn't they!
Roman Abramovich set the ball rolling back in 2003 when he became the owner of Chelsea, and now it seems that within 10 years of that, all clubs will be under foreign, if not billionaire ownership. I myself can see the attraction, if i had that money i would love to invest in my own club, but as a fan, not as a hobby or a buisiness arangement. Football is there for fun and to provide entertainment, the players should be playing because they enjoy it, and not because of how much they will make out of it. Soon football will not be seen as a proper sport, it will just be an entertainment, like the WWE and wrestling is now.
However i am not saying that this is an entirely bad thing and i am not saying that all foreign owners are investing as a buisiness opertunity, i am merely saying that if we carry on like this, football will lose all of it's competetiveness, and it will be just about the making money.
It could be a good thing but what i do know is that, as a result of the latest take-over bid, a man had quit or lost his job. A man who is extremely powerfull in English football and who is very good at his job, David Dein. It is just pure madness how a club like Arsenal, who are in need of rebuilding and Dein's guidance through this, that they should give him his marching
orders or let him quit like that. Dein is the best thing that Arsenal had going for them off the pitch, he was instrumental in bringing Arsene Wenger to the club in 1996 and also the appointment of Sven Goran Errikson into the England job in 2001. Losing someone so powerfull in the game can only be bad for Arsenal. Not only this but he held a very strong relationship with Arsene Wenger and there has already been speculation that he will follow Dein out of the exit, although i don't think he will. It's a massive blow to Arsenal, and maybe now fans can look forward to a take-over bid, to improve things on the pitch, and then surely will improve off it.*Picture: They've gone and Dein it now havn't they!
Tuesday, 17 April 2007
The Weekends football
So it'll be a United Chelsea FA cup final. Im not sure this is good news or bad. I was kind of hoping that it would be Watford Blackburn so that everyone would say it was an insignificant final, being the first at the new Wembley and next years would be the proper one, like a dress rehearsal. Not to be though, and i suppose it is a good thing, the first final at Wembley being a showcase event, although of course i'd rather it was Arsenal or Charlton.
The Premiership was exiting as usual this weekend, and i think now that the relegation battle has been cut down again - to four teams - only one going down. In my opinion West Ham and Watford are already down and its between Charlton, Sheffield Utd, Wigan and Fulham for the last spot, and i think, although they have the most points from their games out of all those teams, that Fulham will be the team that goes down. Their remaining fixtures are about the hardest they could have at this time of the season, they don't have any 6 pointers and they have tough away games with Arsenal and Blackburn, while they polay host to Liverpool and Middlesborough. I can see them maybe picking up one or three points form the Boro game, and none anywhere else. Its going to be tight but i think the other teams will pick up points elsewhere, Charlton are in form and i think will beat Sheffield United on saturday, and Wigan are looking good, form wise, and i can't see Sheffield going down after their excellent display against West Ham.
As far as Europe is concerned, i think Arsenal have now bagged fourth and could go on to take third although it really makes no difference. And i think Tottenham are looking good for the UEFA Cup spot created by two teams already in Europe being in the FA Cup final. They will join Bolton and Everton, who diserve their places, after two seasons of nearly there or failure as far as Everton are concerned.
To end i'd just like to mention the C-word. Cricket. As i am writing this, England are being destroyed by South Africa in the World Cup and Sajid Mahmood is officially the WORST bowler in the world, EVER!! Two overs at a cost of 28 runs!!! It really is abismal and i'd like to make a protest, kick him out please, why is he in the England squad when we have people like Matthew Hoggard who could do ten times better. The build up to this game had been quite promising, with the whole squad standing up to be counted for once in their careers, bu
t i was a fool to believe it would ever happen. We have all been let down by some very average England cricketers. Although, i did expect better from Kevin Pietersen, out for 3?? Whats going on? He has the England bug thats what. Its like in football. Put Cristiano Ronaldo and Drogba in England shirts and they'd be like two kids having a kick-about at the park. I don't know what it is about England but everyone who plays for them, no matter how good they are, they never seem to be able to gel or get the consistancy they do for club or county. Its the same in all sports. The rugby was an exeption for a year or two, they must have thought they were Australian or something, then they all realised that they aren't meant to play well for England and turned into the shite we all know and see from England teams week in, week out.
*Picture: Mahmood trying to do the YMCA, i'm sure he'd be better at it that Cricket.
The Premiership was exiting as usual this weekend, and i think now that the relegation battle has been cut down again - to four teams - only one going down. In my opinion West Ham and Watford are already down and its between Charlton, Sheffield Utd, Wigan and Fulham for the last spot, and i think, although they have the most points from their games out of all those teams, that Fulham will be the team that goes down. Their remaining fixtures are about the hardest they could have at this time of the season, they don't have any 6 pointers and they have tough away games with Arsenal and Blackburn, while they polay host to Liverpool and Middlesborough. I can see them maybe picking up one or three points form the Boro game, and none anywhere else. Its going to be tight but i think the other teams will pick up points elsewhere, Charlton are in form and i think will beat Sheffield United on saturday, and Wigan are looking good, form wise, and i can't see Sheffield going down after their excellent display against West Ham.
As far as Europe is concerned, i think Arsenal have now bagged fourth and could go on to take third although it really makes no difference. And i think Tottenham are looking good for the UEFA Cup spot created by two teams already in Europe being in the FA Cup final. They will join Bolton and Everton, who diserve their places, after two seasons of nearly there or failure as far as Everton are concerned.
To end i'd just like to mention the C-word. Cricket. As i am writing this, England are being destroyed by South Africa in the World Cup and Sajid Mahmood is officially the WORST bowler in the world, EVER!! Two overs at a cost of 28 runs!!! It really is abismal and i'd like to make a protest, kick him out please, why is he in the England squad when we have people like Matthew Hoggard who could do ten times better. The build up to this game had been quite promising, with the whole squad standing up to be counted for once in their careers, bu
t i was a fool to believe it would ever happen. We have all been let down by some very average England cricketers. Although, i did expect better from Kevin Pietersen, out for 3?? Whats going on? He has the England bug thats what. Its like in football. Put Cristiano Ronaldo and Drogba in England shirts and they'd be like two kids having a kick-about at the park. I don't know what it is about England but everyone who plays for them, no matter how good they are, they never seem to be able to gel or get the consistancy they do for club or county. Its the same in all sports. The rugby was an exeption for a year or two, they must have thought they were Australian or something, then they all realised that they aren't meant to play well for England and turned into the shite we all know and see from England teams week in, week out.*Picture: Mahmood trying to do the YMCA, i'm sure he'd be better at it that Cricket.
Monday, 16 April 2007
Thanet Blog list
Hello everyone, i'd just like to point out that i have now been added to The Thanet Blog List. So you can find me on there, i believe im top of the Home page at the moment.
And to let you know that i will be adding a review of the weekends football shortly, i have been busy this weekend so i hav'nt had a chance yet.
And to let you know that i will be adding a review of the weekends football shortly, i have been busy this weekend so i hav'nt had a chance yet.
Thursday, 12 April 2007
UEFA Cup and Operation Ewood
Firstly i would just like to say that Totenham put up a very brave performance agianst an excellent and tactically astute Sevilla side. They fell apart in the first ten minutes, which cost them, big time. Had they not conceded so early on, i think they would have definately gone on to win the tie. However Sevilla did deserve to win in the end i think, Juande Ramos, the Sevilla boss, getting his tactics spot on. These being to go out all guns blazing, snatch one or two goals and then sit back. It worked perfectly. Its a shame Totenham are out, and i do genuinely mean that, despite having such a keen dislike to them, considering Arsenal are my family team. They played excellently during this years competition and deserved to get this far, I have enjoyed watching them.
Moving on to some good news that i found out on Saturday in the Charlton programme, they have announced Operation Ewood! Its brilliant news considering the success of last years Operation Riverside. It will be great to see so many travelling Charlton fans there, and who knows there will probrably be more of us than them. Ill certainly be going. Balckburn will be shocked at the turnout.
It strikes me that in a few years time, the Premiership will be entirely foreign owned. The next target of corse being Arsenal and Kroenke Sports Enterprises buying further into the club. They are thought to be close to securing one of the club's majority shareholders Danny Fiszman's shares, in excess of 25%, which would take them well over the 30% threshold needed to make a formal bid. I dont know whether this is good or bad news. It means more oney and therefore better players in the Premiership so its probrably a good thing but im not convinced.
Moving on to some good news that i found out on Saturday in the Charlton programme, they have announced Operation Ewood! Its brilliant news considering the success of last years Operation Riverside. It will be great to see so many travelling Charlton fans there, and who knows there will probrably be more of us than them. Ill certainly be going. Balckburn will be shocked at the turnout.
It strikes me that in a few years time, the Premiership will be entirely foreign owned. The next target of corse being Arsenal and Kroenke Sports Enterprises buying further into the club. They are thought to be close to securing one of the club's majority shareholders Danny Fiszman's shares, in excess of 25%, which would take them well over the 30% threshold needed to make a formal bid. I dont know whether this is good or bad news. It means more oney and therefore better players in the Premiership so its probrably a good thing but im not convinced.
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
Champions League football
A good weeks football for English clubs as far as the Champions League. Well i say good, when really i should be saying magnificent, three of our clubs in the semi-finals of the Champions League is absoulutely brilliant for English football and proves that our league is the best in Europe.
It is easy to say that Manchester United didn't need to play well against Roma to win like that because they had an absolute shocker but to be fair to the Roma team as well as the Manchester United team, this really wasn't the case. Although, defensively Roma looked scarily like Charlton earlier in the season, the rest of the team put up a good fight with one player in particular standing out for me, Francesco Totti. Even as Roma were made to look like little boys, Totti still managed to look world class. Roma had 55% of the possesion and they has 15 shots on goal. Not bad for a team beaten 7-1! Them aside though, United were another class, anything that came their way, they seemed to put away, and with ease too. The way they created the chances too were superb, showed perfectly in Alan Smith's goal on 20 minutes. Every pass in the move was one-touch, orchestrated by the danger trio, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo in particular had a stormer of a game, and its the best i think i've ever seen United play in my short life. He for me is by far the best player in the world right now.
Chelsea, for me played their tactics almost to the opposite of United. They came our with a very cautious approach that for me had trouble written all over it. And this was proven in the first half when Fernando Morientes hit the post with a powerfull effort then soon after he scored, leaving the Chelsea team in dissaray. The turning point came in the second half when Jose Mourinho's men were sent out with a much more positive attitude for me, won them the game. Their play in the second half was much more attacking and this helped them through, Michael Essien was the key.
Then after a good night last night, Liverpool rounded it off, seeing of a luckless PSV side, who really only turned up to restore pride, Ronald Koeman said after the first leg that he would be stupid to think they could go through after their display, i agree but i also think that it was stupid of him to say so. It automatically puts a negative perspective in his players minds, after all anything can and does happen in football. Arsenals 6-3 win at Anfield would have been enough to put them through after a 3-0 defeat at home, and if they can do it, PSV can, but it wasnt to be, not that Koeman can be blamed, he was after all right, they did have no chance. More than anything because Liverpool are in the form of the season at the moment and they are not going to give up their last chance at a trophy that easily.
So really, overall an excellent week for English football and really sticks it to Guilleme Balague who said that the Spanish League is still the best in the World. Lets hope Totenham go through in the UEFA Cup, on Thursday, Englands last hope there.
It is easy to say that Manchester United didn't need to play well against Roma to win like that because they had an absolute shocker but to be fair to the Roma team as well as the Manchester United team, this really wasn't the case. Although, defensively Roma looked scarily like Charlton earlier in the season, the rest of the team put up a good fight with one player in particular standing out for me, Francesco Totti. Even as Roma were made to look like little boys, Totti still managed to look world class. Roma had 55% of the possesion and they has 15 shots on goal. Not bad for a team beaten 7-1! Them aside though, United were another class, anything that came their way, they seemed to put away, and with ease too. The way they created the chances too were superb, showed perfectly in Alan Smith's goal on 20 minutes. Every pass in the move was one-touch, orchestrated by the danger trio, Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo in particular had a stormer of a game, and its the best i think i've ever seen United play in my short life. He for me is by far the best player in the world right now.
Chelsea, for me played their tactics almost to the opposite of United. They came our with a very cautious approach that for me had trouble written all over it. And this was proven in the first half when Fernando Morientes hit the post with a powerfull effort then soon after he scored, leaving the Chelsea team in dissaray. The turning point came in the second half when Jose Mourinho's men were sent out with a much more positive attitude for me, won them the game. Their play in the second half was much more attacking and this helped them through, Michael Essien was the key.
Then after a good night last night, Liverpool rounded it off, seeing of a luckless PSV side, who really only turned up to restore pride, Ronald Koeman said after the first leg that he would be stupid to think they could go through after their display, i agree but i also think that it was stupid of him to say so. It automatically puts a negative perspective in his players minds, after all anything can and does happen in football. Arsenals 6-3 win at Anfield would have been enough to put them through after a 3-0 defeat at home, and if they can do it, PSV can, but it wasnt to be, not that Koeman can be blamed, he was after all right, they did have no chance. More than anything because Liverpool are in the form of the season at the moment and they are not going to give up their last chance at a trophy that easily.
So really, overall an excellent week for English football and really sticks it to Guilleme Balague who said that the Spanish League is still the best in the World. Lets hope Totenham go through in the UEFA Cup, on Thursday, Englands last hope there.
Charlton versus Reading match report
As promised, here is my match report from the Charlton v Reading game... have a read, let me know what you think...
NO HAIR RAISER!
Nervy affair causes Pardew to reflect on some “Grey Matters”
By James Warner
“This job is reflected in our hair colour” – wise words from one grey haired Alan Pardew after his side failed to capitalise on fellow relegation strugglers having dropped points. His side had the chance to pull clear of Sheffield United who now have, what could prove to be, a very valuable game in hand, but they showed promise throughout the game without never looking like scoring, they had the build up, most of it coming from counter-attacking movements, but they could not find the clinical finish.
This really was a crunch tie for both these teams, Reading wanting to push for Europe in their first ever season in the top flight and for Charlton, battling to avoid the drop.
The Charlton fans seemed up for the game even before the teams set to the field with cries of “We are staying up” echoing around a packed Valley. They have been Charlton’s twelfth man through out this campaign and even when things where looking beyond repair, they kept their team going. The term is used a lot but they really have been superb.
Right from the word go the players looked to be responding in kind to the fans support, winning an early corner, from which Talal El Karkouri was inches from tucking away, the ball smashing the crossbar and rebounding agonisingly close to the goal line.
The players had previously been on the back foot for the first few minutes but this was a spur for the next ten minutes of Charlton pressure, in which Darren Bent nearly found Ambrose after a break was made by the other Bent, Marcus. With Reading clearly on the back foot, Coppell looked disjointed.
He must have scared the players into a reaction because by this time Reading where swinging the pendulum right back the other way, and by the time Alex Song received and early booking, Charlton where looking rattled. Reading came close with a dazzling run by their speedy Korean, Seol, forcing Scott Carson into a decent save. By the time the half time whistle went, you could almost feel the frustrating outcome of this game as if it had already happened, Graham Poll not helping matters, giving needless free kicks, and slowing down the tempo and flow of the game.
As the second half kicked of, Charlton fans where not at their usual selves, becoming drowned out by a newly awaken set of Reading fans in the corner of the Jimmy Seed stand.
The increasing frustration was beginning to tell on the players as Song was pulled up for one or two niggling fouls. He had to be careful. Alan Pardew had to do something but with two substitutes already having been used, and a player about to be sent off for persistent fouling, he replaced Alex Song with Matt Holland. This seemed to lift the fans spirits a bit and the players too, tackles flying around and players committing themselves to the job in hand. Souleymane Diawara was having an absolute stormer at the back for Charlton and that didn’t change as he continued to make last ditch tackles and clearances.
Twenty minutes to go and at last some action, Darren Bent down the Charlton right, tries to win a corner from Bikey, only to have the ball rebound and hit him in the face and go behind for a goal kick. The game was really starting to become a bore. And it really did seem like it was going to be a famous bore-draw. Or rather not so famous.
The game sprung to life again with a fierce effort from Nicky Shorey which saw Carson scrambling across his goaline, followed by a chorus of “Shorey for England” from the Reading fans. Then a minute or two later, Hunt was found unmarked at the back post, but the Irishman failed to capitalise, summing up an evening of missed or even uncreated chances for both sides.
The frustration began to tell on all the fans faces as both teams seemed to be settling for the draw, one last chance to snatch the points perhaps, as Luke Young comes bursting down the right flank, only Zheng in the box but he managed to find him with an inch perfect cross, only for the China captain to blow his moment of glory with a tame effort straight into the hands of Marcus Hahnemann. I could see looks of disappointment on the faces of every Chinaman in the ground.
Towards the end El Karkouri suffered a rare rush of blood to his usual cool and collected head, as the Moroccan shoved Shane Long in the box, causing rushes of blood elsewhere with Charlton hearts in mouths. Graham Poll, unusually, giving nothing on this occasion.
In the end, both sides will probably settle for a point though in truth, three would have been better all round. If Charlton’s season ends like this, Pardew will have no hair left to turn a different colour. Not exactly what you would call “hair raising”.
On the other hand it was another well earned point on the way to Charltons Premiership survival.
©James Warner 2007
NO HAIR RAISER!
Nervy affair causes Pardew to reflect on some “Grey Matters”
By James Warner
“This job is reflected in our hair colour” – wise words from one grey haired Alan Pardew after his side failed to capitalise on fellow relegation strugglers having dropped points. His side had the chance to pull clear of Sheffield United who now have, what could prove to be, a very valuable game in hand, but they showed promise throughout the game without never looking like scoring, they had the build up, most of it coming from counter-attacking movements, but they could not find the clinical finish.
This really was a crunch tie for both these teams, Reading wanting to push for Europe in their first ever season in the top flight and for Charlton, battling to avoid the drop.
The Charlton fans seemed up for the game even before the teams set to the field with cries of “We are staying up” echoing around a packed Valley. They have been Charlton’s twelfth man through out this campaign and even when things where looking beyond repair, they kept their team going. The term is used a lot but they really have been superb.
Right from the word go the players looked to be responding in kind to the fans support, winning an early corner, from which Talal El Karkouri was inches from tucking away, the ball smashing the crossbar and rebounding agonisingly close to the goal line.
The players had previously been on the back foot for the first few minutes but this was a spur for the next ten minutes of Charlton pressure, in which Darren Bent nearly found Ambrose after a break was made by the other Bent, Marcus. With Reading clearly on the back foot, Coppell looked disjointed.
He must have scared the players into a reaction because by this time Reading where swinging the pendulum right back the other way, and by the time Alex Song received and early booking, Charlton where looking rattled. Reading came close with a dazzling run by their speedy Korean, Seol, forcing Scott Carson into a decent save. By the time the half time whistle went, you could almost feel the frustrating outcome of this game as if it had already happened, Graham Poll not helping matters, giving needless free kicks, and slowing down the tempo and flow of the game.
As the second half kicked of, Charlton fans where not at their usual selves, becoming drowned out by a newly awaken set of Reading fans in the corner of the Jimmy Seed stand.
The increasing frustration was beginning to tell on the players as Song was pulled up for one or two niggling fouls. He had to be careful. Alan Pardew had to do something but with two substitutes already having been used, and a player about to be sent off for persistent fouling, he replaced Alex Song with Matt Holland. This seemed to lift the fans spirits a bit and the players too, tackles flying around and players committing themselves to the job in hand. Souleymane Diawara was having an absolute stormer at the back for Charlton and that didn’t change as he continued to make last ditch tackles and clearances.
Twenty minutes to go and at last some action, Darren Bent down the Charlton right, tries to win a corner from Bikey, only to have the ball rebound and hit him in the face and go behind for a goal kick. The game was really starting to become a bore. And it really did seem like it was going to be a famous bore-draw. Or rather not so famous.
The game sprung to life again with a fierce effort from Nicky Shorey which saw Carson scrambling across his goaline, followed by a chorus of “Shorey for England” from the Reading fans. Then a minute or two later, Hunt was found unmarked at the back post, but the Irishman failed to capitalise, summing up an evening of missed or even uncreated chances for both sides.
The frustration began to tell on all the fans faces as both teams seemed to be settling for the draw, one last chance to snatch the points perhaps, as Luke Young comes bursting down the right flank, only Zheng in the box but he managed to find him with an inch perfect cross, only for the China captain to blow his moment of glory with a tame effort straight into the hands of Marcus Hahnemann. I could see looks of disappointment on the faces of every Chinaman in the ground.
Towards the end El Karkouri suffered a rare rush of blood to his usual cool and collected head, as the Moroccan shoved Shane Long in the box, causing rushes of blood elsewhere with Charlton hearts in mouths. Graham Poll, unusually, giving nothing on this occasion.
In the end, both sides will probably settle for a point though in truth, three would have been better all round. If Charlton’s season ends like this, Pardew will have no hair left to turn a different colour. Not exactly what you would call “hair raising”.
On the other hand it was another well earned point on the way to Charltons Premiership survival.
©James Warner 2007
Tuesday, 10 April 2007
Welcome
Hello, Welcome to my blogging page. My name is James Warner and i would like to hope i can become a Sports journalist in the future, this is kind of why i have decided to set this up now. I have already written one match report which i will post on here in 1 or 2 days time for everyone to have a look at. My mum works for the PA (Press Association) which may help me to add various contacts and it was suggested to me that i have a go at blogging, so i thought, why not?
A bit more about me, i live in Ramsgate kent but am from nearer south London and i spend most of or a lot of my free time at football matches. I have to admit that i probrably should cut back a bit but why? I enjoy it.
The weekend just gone was another football packed few days, starting with my first visist to manchester and the City of Manchester Stadium or what is now known as Eastlands. Of course this was to see Charlton play, a game which had nil-nil written all over it and i knew it, nearly everyone knew it but we were all determined not to show it. We had some belief, not much mind you. Of course, it did disappoint, with the highlight of the game coming when a Manchester City fan had to be woken up after the final whistle, which just about summed up the whole day, boring tiresome and not really worth it. The only other time i was smiling was when a steward kept repeatedly saying "could you take your seats pleeeeease?" in a highly amusing Manc accent, only for Charlton fans to reply "stand up if you love Charlton" or "if your staying up", or "yeh o'corse mate, where'd you wan' it takin'?"
The next day was not a very succesfull but eventfull day. Being woken by my phone and a friend on the other end asking me if i wanted to go and invade the pitch at Dagenham and Redbridge, and so being the hooligan that i am i of course obliged and we made our way up to Dagenham. We worked out that we would be around 20mins late after kick off but this was not the case, due to unforseen train hiccups (bloody London transport) and an unlicenced taxi driver trying his hardest to charge us 20 quid for a 10 minute drive, we turned up at the ground 15 minutes before the end, then we discover that the game was a sell out, well who would have thought it, the first time Dagenham are going to get promoted to the football league, a sell out??? NEVER!!! I could have killed my mate. We found a side gate and slipped in but nothing much happened until the final whistle. Then i found myself covered in champaigne and being bundled left, right and centre as we invaded the pitch. Good fun it was.
Monday and another football match, a good game, Charlton v Reading, but obviously after the weekend i'd had i could have put my house (if i had one) on it being nil-nil! How could i not see it?? Oh well. There's always next time, as they say. The highlight has got to be after the game when i ran into Alex Song, and Souleymane Diawara! Got their autographs and then saw the Reading team bus leave, minus Steve Coppel who left on his own in his Bentley.
Match report of this game will follow shortly...
A bit more about me, i live in Ramsgate kent but am from nearer south London and i spend most of or a lot of my free time at football matches. I have to admit that i probrably should cut back a bit but why? I enjoy it.
The weekend just gone was another football packed few days, starting with my first visist to manchester and the City of Manchester Stadium or what is now known as Eastlands. Of course this was to see Charlton play, a game which had nil-nil written all over it and i knew it, nearly everyone knew it but we were all determined not to show it. We had some belief, not much mind you. Of course, it did disappoint, with the highlight of the game coming when a Manchester City fan had to be woken up after the final whistle, which just about summed up the whole day, boring tiresome and not really worth it. The only other time i was smiling was when a steward kept repeatedly saying "could you take your seats pleeeeease?" in a highly amusing Manc accent, only for Charlton fans to reply "stand up if you love Charlton" or "if your staying up", or "yeh o'corse mate, where'd you wan' it takin'?"
The next day was not a very succesfull but eventfull day. Being woken by my phone and a friend on the other end asking me if i wanted to go and invade the pitch at Dagenham and Redbridge, and so being the hooligan that i am i of course obliged and we made our way up to Dagenham. We worked out that we would be around 20mins late after kick off but this was not the case, due to unforseen train hiccups (bloody London transport) and an unlicenced taxi driver trying his hardest to charge us 20 quid for a 10 minute drive, we turned up at the ground 15 minutes before the end, then we discover that the game was a sell out, well who would have thought it, the first time Dagenham are going to get promoted to the football league, a sell out??? NEVER!!! I could have killed my mate. We found a side gate and slipped in but nothing much happened until the final whistle. Then i found myself covered in champaigne and being bundled left, right and centre as we invaded the pitch. Good fun it was.
Monday and another football match, a good game, Charlton v Reading, but obviously after the weekend i'd had i could have put my house (if i had one) on it being nil-nil! How could i not see it?? Oh well. There's always next time, as they say. The highlight has got to be after the game when i ran into Alex Song, and Souleymane Diawara! Got their autographs and then saw the Reading team bus leave, minus Steve Coppel who left on his own in his Bentley.
Match report of this game will follow shortly...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)