Monday, 11 August 2008
Addicks 2 Swansea City 0
"With Jerome Thomas giving Matthew Collins a royal runaround, the red-shirted kids exuded both menace and joie de vivre against a defence who persisted in playing too close together." The Times
A day or two to let victory sink in. How enjoyable it was to witness us get off to a winning start, despite being outplayed for large parts of the game and being outsung for all of it. If the players can perform better, then one would hope so can the fans!
It was a perfect start by captain Mark Hudson, who looked confident and reassuring at the back, even inspiring often maligned Jon Fortune into a good performance. The main thing for me was that we were not the better team but still won, rather comfortably in fact, Varney should even have got a 3rd in the final minute. That I don't believe happened at all last season, and I take that as an encouraging sign.
Although the signing of Hameur Bouazza took me by surprise, two more additions at centre-back and in midfield will give the squad a greater depth.
As has been said elsewhere the game was being played around Jonjo, and he knew it when he was substituted, but the reaction of the crowd was as it should be when he left the field, and he has plenty of time to go down as a Valley hero. Holland certainly changed the powerplay in midfield, and the sending off of Monk after a foul on him, certainly gave us some breathing space.
Swansea passed the ball around excellently but lacked a cutting edge with only a couple of spills by Weaver offering them goalscoring potential, but our own play was sometimes good, sometimes not so, but overall it was good to see a young team play with will and spirit, none other than Racon, who I was very impressed with.
Both Gray and Thomas looked bundles fitter and Thomas, who can frustrate and delight in equal measure at least looked like he felt proud to wear the new shirt. My son was too, as we made a quick detour to JD Sports in Bugsbys Way on the way to the pub to pick up a shirt, after the club shop had sold out of them.
So a gratifying way to start the season then in what could have been a tricky opening fixture, I hope Pardew doesn't make too many changes to the line up tomorrow as I would like the bulk of this team to play together again, particularly the front and back two.
I will be on a plane at kick-off time back to Bermuda. The Carling Cup could be a decent fillip to an exciting league season, lets hope we approach it in the right manner.
A word from Pards: "Endeavour"
Addick thoughts: New York Addick, Many Miles; Deepest Darkest; Charlton North Downs; Drinking During the Game; Addicks Championship Diary; A Red Divided.
Swansea thoughts: Roberto Martinez;
In the press: Independent; Telegraph; Times.
Next: Yeovil Tuesday night in the Carling Cup at home. ¶ 09:40
"With Jerome Thomas giving Matthew Collins a royal runaround, the red-shirted kids exuded both menace and joie de vivre against a defence who persisted in playing too close together." The TimesA day or two to let victory sink in. How enjoyable it was to witness us get off to a winning start, despite being outplayed for large parts of the game and being outsung for all of it. If the players can perform better, then one would hope so can the fans!
It was a perfect start by captain Mark Hudson, who looked confident and reassuring at the back, even inspiring often maligned Jon Fortune into a good performance. The main thing for me was that we were not the better team but still won, rather comfortably in fact, Varney should even have got a 3rd in the final minute. That I don't believe happened at all last season, and I take that as an encouraging sign.
Although the signing of Hameur Bouazza took me by surprise, two more additions at centre-back and in midfield will give the squad a greater depth.
As has been said elsewhere the game was being played around Jonjo, and he knew it when he was substituted, but the reaction of the crowd was as it should be when he left the field, and he has plenty of time to go down as a Valley hero. Holland certainly changed the powerplay in midfield, and the sending off of Monk after a foul on him, certainly gave us some breathing space.
Swansea passed the ball around excellently but lacked a cutting edge with only a couple of spills by Weaver offering them goalscoring potential, but our own play was sometimes good, sometimes not so, but overall it was good to see a young team play with will and spirit, none other than Racon, who I was very impressed with.
Both Gray and Thomas looked bundles fitter and Thomas, who can frustrate and delight in equal measure at least looked like he felt proud to wear the new shirt. My son was too, as we made a quick detour to JD Sports in Bugsbys Way on the way to the pub to pick up a shirt, after the club shop had sold out of them.
So a gratifying way to start the season then in what could have been a tricky opening fixture, I hope Pardew doesn't make too many changes to the line up tomorrow as I would like the bulk of this team to play together again, particularly the front and back two.
I will be on a plane at kick-off time back to Bermuda. The Carling Cup could be a decent fillip to an exciting league season, lets hope we approach it in the right manner.
A word from Pards: "Endeavour"
Addick thoughts: New York Addick, Many Miles; Deepest Darkest; Charlton North Downs; Drinking During the Game; Addicks Championship Diary; A Red Divided.
Swansea thoughts: Roberto Martinez;
In the press: Independent; Telegraph; Times.
Next: Yeovil Tuesday night in the Carling Cup at home. ¶ 09:40
