A two week wait

It’s been a long weekend without football hasn’t it.

I found myself refreshing over and over the Charlton Women’s score earlier, and thrashed the air with delight after they hung on with 10 women, to beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in the WSL2 season opener at The Valley.

I avoided the England WC Qualifier, I tend always avoid England games until tournaments. A long time habit that has kept my indignation in check.

I did sit through Saturday Soccer and then watched the Bromley v Gillingham game as I did stuff around the house. That penalty decision was dreadful.

Meanwhile we are all going to have a full two weeks to ready ourselves for the next one, and Nathan Jones will have had the same time on the training ground.

I feel the fitness excuses should end now, those that signed and didn’t have the benefit of a pre-season should now be up to speed. No excuses. Matt Godden, Luke Berry and certainly Reece Burke should all be closer or better still, ready.

Only new loan signing James Bree will be a work in progress after picking up an injury in Southampton’s final pre-season game against Brighton. I noticed that Amari Bell didn’t make the journey with Jamaica to Bermuda despite being named in the squad. I hope that is nothing to worry about.

Deep breath then, Millwall next up. Every Addick has a Millwall story to tell, nearly all of which are not pretty. Forgetting where I parked the car in August 1989 after being 2-0 up at The Den is up there. Those of us older have many more tales of woe than the youth as we’ve only played each other six times in the past ten seasons, the last game at The Valley in 2020 played in front of an empty stadium.

A near capacity Valley crowd is expected for another early kick-off on Saturday, and I will be in Bermuda hopefully in the buxom of other Addicks.

I fly there on Wednesday for work, and don’t fly home until later Saturday afternoon. COYR.