Monkey hanged
Hartlepool United 2 Charlton Athletic 1
I tried very hard to ignore New York Addick’s unenthusiastic but veracious post after the win against Peterborough on Saturday. I have a tendency for my heart to rule my head, and I think a lot of us are in the same boat when it comes to Charlton at present. However tonight’s display- according to the radio anyhow – was nothing short of dismal.
It was painful listening to the Player commentary and for only a few minutes did we ever sound like we had any control of the game, and frustratingly it was at that point that Eccleston scored and a better team would have gone on to be easy winners, but we reverted back to type and continued to lack unison and ideas and it wasn’t a surprise that we fell behind again.
The radio commentator didn’t help my mood and I lost count of how many times he said that this was the 5th game on the trot that we had fallen behind! Mind you co-commentator Craig Hignett proffered some good observations but only helped to highlight our shortcomings.
BWP did hit the bar late on but we hardly piled on the pressure. Simon Francis sounded like another injury blow to Powell, and according to Hignett only Semedo came out of the game with any credit.
It’s only one defeat but it is now February we have had three different managers and yet to really put in a performance for 90 minutes. I know it’s a long term plan, but we will need a bit more than luck and ardour and promotion does look beyond us this season.
Nonetheless I am still looking forward to being at The Valley on Saturday, both my head and my heart. Come on you Addicks.
One of the 167 Addicks at Victoria Park: Addicks Diary.
CA fact: Tonight’s crowd of 2,289 is the lowest to have watched us this season.
Chicago Addick 
I still don’t necessarily agree with NYA’s comments, one bad result isn’t the end of the world, but I am concerned about the general performance.
NYA’s post certainly envoked opinion, didn’t it?
For me, the news of another poor performance is more worrying than a defeat: after all, we was hardly going to go the rest of the season undefeated. Thankfully other results around us fell kindly to keep us in the play-off positions (which, unless things change dramatically, is the best we could hope for at present)
In short, we desperately need a play-maker / passing central midfielder who can link the play. Not easy to find good available ones, of course, but having seen him numerous times over the last few years, I’ve always been impressed with Colchester’s Kemel Izzet. He’s got experience, his distribution is consistant and he looks to keep the ball moving and as a plus, his leadership qualities would aid us massively in the centre of the park. Not sure he’d leave Colly, but he’s not a young man anymore, and may jump at the chance.
There is nothing wrong with your heart ruling your head – life is a much better place if you do. I would hate to be as miserable as some Charlton fans.
I was strangely unmoved by this one CA. When they appointed Chrissy as manager I wrote off this season’s chances of promotion other than an outside chance of the play offs. Truth be told I now think of us as a third division side, and until we see changes in loans or summer signings its difficult to see an impact from the new owners.
I’m bringing 17 people to this Saturday’s game – quite a few of them first timers to any game. It would be good if the boys put on a show to encourage them to come back. But we’ll enjoy ourselves come what may.
Hope you and your son have a good time – is it a curry afterwards?
Pembury Addick
17 is a fantastic effort PA. Well done you.
Yep, my son, my brother and I will be tucking into a chicken bhuna later that evening 🙂
You can run but you can’t hide from my posts, CA.
This result worryingly has been coming….our performances throughout 90 minutes have been shoddy in patches and luck has, somehow, got us through on one or two occasions… we were always going to come unstuck sometime with a mentality that its Ok to perform in just one half of the match …CHRIS POWELL – THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH SIR… what’s worse is , athough im glad he’s at the helm , his interviews don’t inspire after a defeat! He hasnt said we played awful or we arent up to scratch…or quality is lacking and that he was going to address things expressly – just that we could almost stumble or scrape a win to hope to lift us into 2nd position – Chris , come on , we need some OOMPH! Or mid-table here we come….
Interesting comment Anthony.
Truly my heart dances when I hear Chris speak to the media, but at some point I will want a little less nice.
Powell’s programme notes for the Peterborough game were shocking in their banality.
I hope he was just in a rush.
Yet Pardew’s were often inspiration and emotive….
Yes, Newyorkaddick you have a point – It is absolutely critical, that, in order for Chris Powell to be ‘taken on’ by the Charlton public wholeheartedly….this man is going to have to be Assertive, No-nonsense, and powerful in his speeches, especially after defeat… we as fans want to hear that a ‘huge-kick-up-the-backside’ will occur and anything other than precise and first-to-the-ball play will result in changes… to often over the years i’ve sensed past CAFC managers have kept players in the side because of their friendly relationships together…(Old Powell’s Act?)
This is it Chris – we are in a truly great position with sufficient fixtures to make it to auto-promotion – but only if the manager and his staff are strong enough – Curbs didnt have THEE most skilful side but his team , as a unit, was VERY powerful… this i believe we can accomplish with the right attitude.
Sorry CA I’m off again – burying my head in the sand with my heart. These people are too awful. Enjoy the game Saturday – I’m going to.