Sunday 5 December 2004
Palarse away. What was the score? 1-0
1-0 was also the tally of the Charlton versus Palarse fans watching the game in the pub I was at this morning. But my was that one person smiling at around about midday. I have been on a real high all afternoon and all because of that 93rd minute shot into the right hand corner of the net by unlikely hero Dennis Rommedahl. Oh how I envied those 1,600 or so Addicks in the Arthur Wait Stand at the final whistle. And even 4,000 miles away on a TV screen I could hear their songs.
The game itself was ordinary and had very few examples of Premiership qualities but as the away side with an appalling habit of conceding a shed load of goals I was more than satisfied with what I thought was a true battling peformance. As the game moved into injury time I, like I imagined other Addicks were just hoping we could close the game down to get a draw. But no football can be so kind sometimes, can't it?
I have to say, even though Rommedahl has showed very little in the games he has played for us, including today, I still get a little buzz of excitement when he receives the ball because I believe he does have that ability to do something out of the ordinary. I really hope that the goal he scored gives him a huge burst of confidence and Curbs gives him a bit more freedom to do what it says on the tin - quote Curbs: "Dennis has got tremendous pace and tremendous talent, I brought him in thinking that, at home especially, he would be able to get past people and fashion some chances. Away from home his speed would help us on the counter attack and he could be devastating."
Their main threat of course was Johnson and I think they will have a job on their hands to keep him through the transfer window but the penalty aside, which was a defo, I thought El Karkouri marshalled him very well. The Penalty save was of course crucial but was more than matched by their goalie from close range by Thomas at the close of the first half.
Kiely's penalty save was wonderful if not completely unexpected because unlike Bobby Bolder (and not forgetting Sasa of course!) I never give him a chance against penalties. Kiely will of course endear himself to us again although there were some other dodgy moments for the Irishman.
Young was excellent again today, both defensively and going forward and Murphy was much better as the other players get used to his strengths and weaknesses - lack of pace being an obvious one. Thomas was always a threat and had a good tustle with Routledge. Bartlett soldiered on all alone but if we are going to only play one up front then at least give them a chance when we hoof it anywhere into the final third.
Anyway, that's it for now. It's times like this that I'm really glad I am 6 hours behind you lot because it gives me more time to wallow in the glory of it all. Bliss.
Reports from those that were there: cafc.co.uk; Guardian; Addicks Diary.
¶ 20:41
1-0 was also the tally of the Charlton versus Palarse fans watching the game in the pub I was at this morning. But my was that one person smiling at around about midday. I have been on a real high all afternoon and all because of that 93rd minute shot into the right hand corner of the net by unlikely hero Dennis Rommedahl. Oh how I envied those 1,600 or so Addicks in the Arthur Wait Stand at the final whistle. And even 4,000 miles away on a TV screen I could hear their songs.
The game itself was ordinary and had very few examples of Premiership qualities but as the away side with an appalling habit of conceding a shed load of goals I was more than satisfied with what I thought was a true battling peformance. As the game moved into injury time I, like I imagined other Addicks were just hoping we could close the game down to get a draw. But no football can be so kind sometimes, can't it?
I have to say, even though Rommedahl has showed very little in the games he has played for us, including today, I still get a little buzz of excitement when he receives the ball because I believe he does have that ability to do something out of the ordinary. I really hope that the goal he scored gives him a huge burst of confidence and Curbs gives him a bit more freedom to do what it says on the tin - quote Curbs: "Dennis has got tremendous pace and tremendous talent, I brought him in thinking that, at home especially, he would be able to get past people and fashion some chances. Away from home his speed would help us on the counter attack and he could be devastating."
Their main threat of course was Johnson and I think they will have a job on their hands to keep him through the transfer window but the penalty aside, which was a defo, I thought El Karkouri marshalled him very well. The Penalty save was of course crucial but was more than matched by their goalie from close range by Thomas at the close of the first half.
Kiely's penalty save was wonderful if not completely unexpected because unlike Bobby Bolder (and not forgetting Sasa of course!) I never give him a chance against penalties. Kiely will of course endear himself to us again although there were some other dodgy moments for the Irishman.
Young was excellent again today, both defensively and going forward and Murphy was much better as the other players get used to his strengths and weaknesses - lack of pace being an obvious one. Thomas was always a threat and had a good tustle with Routledge. Bartlett soldiered on all alone but if we are going to only play one up front then at least give them a chance when we hoof it anywhere into the final third.
Anyway, that's it for now. It's times like this that I'm really glad I am 6 hours behind you lot because it gives me more time to wallow in the glory of it all. Bliss.
Reports from those that were there: cafc.co.uk; Guardian; Addicks Diary.
¶ 20:41
