So as our game was off rather than waste the train tickets myself , Rothko and inspector sands decided to see some premier league football and took in the man city match.
It was really nice to go to a match that didn't matter result wise to us. Was shocked at how big the players have got in the premier league. Ya ya toure is a beast but has a lot of pace and skill. Silva was different class as was tevez and Garyy Cahill looks like the sort of player who won't be at Bolton much longer.
City are a good side but need to kill games off as they dominated the match but Bolton almost got back in it at the end.
It was obvious that the premier has moved on hugely since we were a part of it
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Curbs used to mention this a fair bit In his last couple of seasons (talking about Chelsea and the likes of Essien in particular) but didn't seem to do much in the way of trying to sign physically bigger players for us.
Remember a quote from Dowie saying he thought we had to get more athletes in the team - and he was right - but sadly the players he signed to fit this bill (Diawara, Faye, Troareetc) were either donkeys or didn't fulfill their ability here
As it turned out, it was a game with decent goalmouth action and plenty of chances but not a lot of quality/techinal ability and some terrible defending. Set pieces were key and the reason Blackburn won was because the can take them well and Wolves could not defend. Paul Robinson impressed in goal whilst Matt Jarvis is certainly capable of playing for a higher side than Wolves. If Wolves can start to keep clean sheets and tighten up then they may be ok, going forward they create and their midfield is very decent. Blackburn are Blackburn.
Agree the players seem to have got huge, not really surprising with Allardyce as manager but Samba and Roberts are beasts whilst even Kevin Doyle who I always thought of as slight is actually quite strong and was not always outmuscled by Nelsen/Samba. Interesting how Spain won the world cup with two 5.6 inch tall players in midfield, not sure how they would cope with an away game at Ewood.
Btw the Chicken Ballti Pies at Blackburn are immense.
Good match, though. As Buckshee says, the Premier League has changed so much since we slipped out - size and athleticism really does count for more now. You really wouldn't want to meet Yaya Toure in a dark alley! For all the skill and strength of City, though, they have trouble letting the flair and confidence emerge from that - and it's not as if they're short of players who can do it (and show it individually in spells). Beyond the ridiculous over-scrutiny, City fans seem to be enjoying the ride, though - there was a guy on his own sat at the end of our row whose face lit up whenever Tevez or Silva showed off their skills; I haven't seen that delight on a grown man in a football ground for a long time!
I remember that now you say it. Shows how easy it is to take the Premier League, with all its faults for granted when you're in there...
I know there weren't many if any championship or lower league games available but let's face it as much as we all hate the hype and money orientated shit of the premiership , it really is the place to be to see a much much better level of football
One day maybe one day we'll return and won't have to talk shit about how great the league we're in is
and when we win a game you'll have a mate who supports the opposing team or at least you'll know someone who will have a passing interest in our results cos no matter how we get on atm no one apart from charlton fans I know really give 2 hoots about us
Remember when you used to be proud to follow Charlton
It is unconditional love for the few but unfortunately its not for the masses and that is what we need to be sustainable as a club
Maybe give two comparissons
Charlton at home where goals are limited
Charlton away playing well and scoring goals
I do believe that (Luton permitting) we can get a draw at Spurs - as they don't seem to kill off games they should win
Had a lovely time at Eastlands, you can see why City draw so many games, for all the possession they have in games, they can't kill teams off, hopefully for them Balotelli starts scoring the tap in's. Tevez is a dog of a player, chases everything, David Silva is a joy to watch, and YaYa Toure is a beast of a man. Worrying for England, Barry was utterly pointless in everything he did, and Joe Hart flapped and flapped, and nearly cost City a couple of goals
Bolton were only in it for patches, but Mark Davies looks a talent, and Gary Cahill should be at a top 4 club, excellent defender, pacey and strong, with a good football brain.
I commented to Rothko , Inspector and NSS on the train last night that I thought it was mad that you'd have train tickets yesterday and just let them go to waste , in the late 80's and early 90's I'd often go to see other matches not involving Charlton if we were away and I couldn't make it or our games were called off. Getting the chance to see the types of players we saw yesterday all from a seat with a great view that was only twelve quid more than the Rochdale ticket.
I am very proud to support charlton thank you very much, and there are loads of people I know who look out for our result who have nothing to do with us...
your a misery, you know that...
Without a doubt, we could give Blackburn or Wolves a game, the key would be defending set pieces against Blackburn as they were heavily reliant on these yesterday and handling Jason Roberts up top (who was impressive) holding the ball up and giving the Wolves defence the run around. If we could avoid being bullied then we certainly have the players who could cause their defence problems. Kyel Reid against the aging Salgado would be an interesting tussle for example whilst if we matched their 5 man midfield, Semedo and Racon imho would not be disgraced. In terms of actual ball on the ground football, Blackburn showed very little to suggest they would out pass or out play us. Imhoit would not matter if we played them home or away as their style does not alter too much away from Ewood, although maybe we would be better to play them at home and hope for a 1-0 type game. I think our best bet may be to try to match them in certain areas (Sodje against Samba) whilst also trying to pass the ball around them, get at the fullbacks and keep the ball on the ground as much as possible.
As for Wolves, attack would be the best form of defence as they were shocking at the back yet they have the attacking talent to suggest they will create chances against some of the best, so would create at will against us. We would struggle to contain Matt Jarvis (especially against Francis) whilst Kevin Doyle never stops running and could embarass the Doc and Dailly with his pace and movement. Players like Kyel Reid and Lee Martin would be key as the could unlock the Wolves defence on top of their game and we would need Jackson to be on his game with set pieces as they struggled every time the ball went in the box. Hennessy seemed scared to come off his line at times. Unlike Blackburn, I think if we played them tomorrow it could be a 3-2 kind of game and we would be better away from the Valley where we seem to be scoring more and creating more chances.
The only thing I'd go for would be to have a few beers with mates, and if that's the case why not just go to the local?
Understand people loving the football and seeing the world class players though, just not for me unless it means something. I struggle to watch 90 minutes on Sky sometimes really think half if my football experience is emotion.
But your not allowed to go out for beers with mates!
One interesting observation from Ewood yesterday was that at 3-0 with 10mins or so left. Blackburn got into positions where they could cross into the box or at least feed Benjani/Diouf but they resorted to playing it backwards, in one case 60 yards to Robinson. There were quite a few who not only groaned at this but booed, fairly loudly aswell and this was more than one or two. Astonishing.
Always good to watch other clubs, football without the nerves is good for the soul
I'm speechless at that to be honest mate . Seems a really blinkered view that you wouldn't want to go to watch other football than Charlton.
I used to watch loads of other matches up and down the leagues and you're right that sometimes it's a struggle to watch 90 minutes on sky but if you are at the match then it's a different thing altogether as you get to see all across the pitch not just what sky or BBC want you to see.
If you had have travelled up there and our game was off and you had to wait until 6.30 for your train home would you have just gone to the pub or have gone to another match?
Not the easiest to get to but that was because we missed the direct link to Blackburn from Man Vic so changed at Preston. From Blackburn Stn there was either the 10min bus journey or a half hour walk, got the bus to Ewood and walked back to the station. Got lucky as got on a direct train to Manchester straight away and back in Manchester Vic by 6.20ish.
I am with Bucks here, love watching live football full stop regardless of who is playing. Obviously Charlton are my team and the team I watch most weeks but you can't beat live football imho. Also can be interesting to sit with supporters of other teams and get their perspectives/fan cultures. For example went to Arsenal the other week, and they don't stop moaning either. One or two fans slating Wenger constantly.
For £32 I got to see a really good game of football, got to enjoy the talent that is David Silva, Tevez, Cahill and Mark Davies, few dirty tackles, and an afternoon at a nice ground.
So you gave the egg chasing at Twickers the swerve then?
These days any spare time I get I spend it with my family. But to be honest I don't think I would've done it back in the day either.
I don't get all this either. Train tickets were already paid for, Rochdale cash to be refunded, so it was a nice train ride up the country. Out of London, a chance to watch a decent match in good company, no pressure, and see how the other half is living these days. A quality day out in different surroundings, and no moaning on the way home. Rochdale away turned out to be a joker in the pack, and we took advantage of it.
Watching a group of athletes with six-figure salaries dominate a game but fail to really finish it off - underneath a banner reading THANK YOU SHEIKH MANSOOR - and thinking back to seeing a more humble squad dominate a match but lacking a killer touch, under our own Covered End banners, was a nice lesson in perspective.
Not digging out anyone that went or likes doing that, it's not just for me. It's not blinkered view, it's just a personal preference - I can appreciate good football from other teams but I just don't fancy going out of my way to spend money on it unless it was an occasion.
Glad those that did go had a good time.