Five stars Charlton Athletic 5 Franchise FC 1
Wow. What a way to answer the critics. What was becoming a nasty trend can now hopefully be consigned to the blip category after yesterday's terrific performance at home to Milton Keynes' imported football team. I was lucky to be able to watch most of the game on a very good internet feed, which wiped away the memory of last week's fuzzy one, representional of both the dismal performance and picture.

We have been poor recently as our early season stars' floundered and Parky searched for a Plan B. Parky with a small squad tried to tinker with it, he brought in three loan players and perservered with McLeod. None of these worked, but credit to the manager to change it again this week and rebuild belief and courage in our passing game which returned in sync with vastly improved performances from Nicky Bailey back in the middle, Semedo, Burton and Sam. When Lloyd Sam plays well, the team plays well such is his importance even if often he doesn't realise that himself.

Hopefully Richardson's injury will not prevent him from playing next week because his presence behind Sam I feel is vital. I do feel aggreived for Darren Randolph but the potential permanent signing of Akpo Sodje finally gives us a physical presence up front and I was never a lover of Kandol. Greenwich born like his brother, Akpo might turn out to be a smart move by Parkinson. Him and Mooney may well end up joining Burton, McKenzie and Tuna in a very different looking forward force in the new year as we say goodbye to Dickson, Fleetwood and McMuppet. Named due to his petulance rather than Gonzo the Showman.

My parents were at yesterday's game, up from Eastbourne for their first of the season and they witnessed a five goal display for the first time since August 1998. Like others I have highlighted our lack of goals from open play in recent league games but three of yesterday's five were very well constructed and both Mooney and Sodje finished with aplomb. I read that it is 46 years since 5 different Addick's scored in one game!

Despite yesterday's smile-inducing victory against our closest rivals for 2nd spot, I get the impression that faith amongst Addick's is still brittle but Parky and the boys get another opportunity next week at Yeovil to keep this red machine moving forward. Just like we brooded around in negativity last week, let us this enjoy a five-star week.

Reports: Stickleback; Charlton Casual; Charlton North Downs; The return of Addicks Diary; Drinking During the Game; And Nothing Else Matters; Charlton Athletic Online; Many Miles; Doctor Kish.  ¶ 14:40