Friday, 18 February 2005
Cup fever
I've seen Charlton play Leicester a number of times over the years but unfortunately I won't be adding to it tomorrow and with the TV companies not impressed with the draw I will be left to follow our continued quest for Cup success on the radio and internet.
A couple of Leicester games stick in my mind. Away in January 1984 on TV when Sweaty Balmer equalised after a long period of severe pressure only for them to take the lead again from the kick off and we had hardly finished screaming the first chorus of "You're not singing anymore." A real high followed with a swift low for all Addicks at Filbert Street that day.
Then there was the end of season game at Upton Park when the Foxes came in their droves expecting their side to beat us and sweep to automatic promotion. There were thousands of confident and cocky Leicester fans there that day, many more than will be at the Valley tomorrow but they didn't get a sniff as we won 2-0 and very enjoyable it was too.
It doesn't seem long ago that Leicester (and Derby) were the two sides that teams like us hoped to emulate as they spent 5 seasons in the Premiership before dropping out in 2001/02. They came back of course but with massive financial implications. We all know now which team others want to follow but the lesson and the dangers are there for us all to see.
Tomorrow's a game that gives me pangs of home-sickness. It's huge, and it sounds like Cup fever has finally caught on in SE7 as the club are estimating a crowd of over 25,000, the capacity reduced due to Leicester having part of the East Stand.
Curbs has a full squad to choose from, with only the suspended Lisbie missing. Will he revert to the previously trusted FA Cup formation and play 4-4-2 with Hughes in for Kish, and Jeffers joining Bartlett up front? Will he start Rommedahl after his excellent performance at Newcastle with Thomas trussed to the bench? I for one hope he keeps Perry in with El Camel at the back.
It's Saturday, it's 3pm, it's the FA Cup, it's what I miss, Come on you Addicks. ¶ 19:00
A couple of Leicester games stick in my mind. Away in January 1984 on TV when Sweaty Balmer equalised after a long period of severe pressure only for them to take the lead again from the kick off and we had hardly finished screaming the first chorus of "You're not singing anymore." A real high followed with a swift low for all Addicks at Filbert Street that day.
Then there was the end of season game at Upton Park when the Foxes came in their droves expecting their side to beat us and sweep to automatic promotion. There were thousands of confident and cocky Leicester fans there that day, many more than will be at the Valley tomorrow but they didn't get a sniff as we won 2-0 and very enjoyable it was too.
It doesn't seem long ago that Leicester (and Derby) were the two sides that teams like us hoped to emulate as they spent 5 seasons in the Premiership before dropping out in 2001/02. They came back of course but with massive financial implications. We all know now which team others want to follow but the lesson and the dangers are there for us all to see.
Tomorrow's a game that gives me pangs of home-sickness. It's huge, and it sounds like Cup fever has finally caught on in SE7 as the club are estimating a crowd of over 25,000, the capacity reduced due to Leicester having part of the East Stand.
Curbs has a full squad to choose from, with only the suspended Lisbie missing. Will he revert to the previously trusted FA Cup formation and play 4-4-2 with Hughes in for Kish, and Jeffers joining Bartlett up front? Will he start Rommedahl after his excellent performance at Newcastle with Thomas trussed to the bench? I for one hope he keeps Perry in with El Camel at the back.
It's Saturday, it's 3pm, it's the FA Cup, it's what I miss, Come on you Addicks. ¶ 19:00
