Blue noses
I’ve just about got over last Saturday and a Palace mate described the game as I heard and read many Charlton fans. Holloway tactically out-did Powell but only late in the game after he got everything right in the 1st half but stood and watched like everyone else us miss chance after chance that eventually cost us.
Birmingham come to The Valley tomorrow and it is hard to remember that they finished 9th in the Premier League as recent as 2010 but they are now one of many clubs in the Championship struggling to comes to terms with harsh financial realities despite another parachute cheque recently being cashed.
Birmingham’s story of ownership and long-overdue accounts like the Portsmouth takeover is a consistent news item on the sports pages and they sold future England ‘keeper Jack Butland to Stoke on transfer deadline day for £4m but he was immediately loaned back. The Blues turned down £6m from Southampton in the summer but the club were desparate for the money and it was all paid up front.
Lee Clark still carries a big squad which includes the likes of Darren Ambrose and Hayden Mullins plus plenty of previous fringe Premier League players, all on good money I would suspect.
Whilst Birmingham are unbeaten in four, we have come unstuck in the past two games and need to start looking up again and not down. The Valley pitch has come in for a lot of stick this week, notably from Ben Hamer and this too is probably a result of the board pushing limited funds towards other things.
The Valley pitch is normally like a bowling green and I feel for one of my all time heroes Paddy Powell because he has only the tools and budget available plus the last two winters must have taken it’s toll. Interestingly even the Birmingham Mail has picked up on the state of the pitch and suggests that Clark will play a more direct style tomorrow.
We ran the then early promotion favourites ragged at St Andrews on the opening day and is another game that we were ahead in but conceded late. Powell got his tactics all right that day, and The Valley faithful will be relying on him doing the same tomorrow. Come on you Addicks!
