Winston Churchill once said this about Kirk “He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." I am still to this day angry that he got a chance to play for Charlton when so many of our talented youngsters ended up being released and not given the chance. A powderpuff of a footballer who lacked effort and shat himself if a somebody came near him.
Although not a goal scorer himself he was always first to chase and congratulate whoever scored. It was usually his only burst of pace seen during a game. A case of always the bridesmaid never the bride.
Charlie Kirk is a total luxury player, one that ripped us a new one when we played against Crewe with him in the team. He also had Pickering behind him who did all his defending for him, had the engine to get up and support him, drag a man away from him which gave him space. When he played for us he did not have that, he could have been an x factor match winner in tight games but was never going to be hammering into tackles, and being honest when I see a 50/50 involving most professional wingers I mever expect the winger to do more than make it look like they were going in with intent, its not really what they are there for. I don't like it but I get it.
I have said I don't think he did himself any favours at times and Sam Lavelle seemed to confirm that. Any argument about him seeing the money and running, thats not the case is it? Footballers get traded like commodities and if Crewe take a decent offer from a club in Venezuela, Charlie Kirk won't have too much say in that. I'm often reminded football is a shirt career and whenever I mention how I'm still not over Scott Parker leaving in January I'm reminded of that even if him bettering himself isnt what I was upset about.
Anyone who has lost a parent will have different experiences, he was a young man when he lost his dad. The bloke who might have spent hours driving him to games, supporting him, encouraging him, giving him advice. Or not, I don't know, what I do know is a couple of different sources I've now heard say Charlie Kirk was not given any support from the club at the time.
He is clearly capable oof doing things most of us can't dream of doing on a football pitch but the big difference is most of us wouldn't have our desire or effort level questioned when playing football. Nobody could have questioned mine or my commitment given the volume of cards I picked up or the amount of games I played. I was however, shit, in the grander scheme and would have maddened lots of people when I got a rush of blood and sight of goal from 35 yards had a meaty swing at the ball and the shot resembled something Johnny Wilkinson would have been proud of.
I'm not saying he was poor for us because he lost his father, it was a combination of us signing a player who would never have fitted as he didnt have a dynamic, defensively sound full back overlapping and supporting him, he was a long way from his support network, he didnt hit the ground running and was, let's not forget playing in a shit team
Charlie Kirk is a total luxury player, one that ripped us a new one when we played against Crewe with him in the team. He also had Pickering behind him who did all his defending for him, had the engine to get up and support him, drag a man away from him which gave him space. When he played for us he did not have that, he could have been an x factor match winner in tight games but was never going to be hammering into tackles, and being honest when I see a 50/50 involving most professional wingers I mever expect the winger to do more than make it look like they were going in with intent, its not really what they are there for. I don't like it but I get it.
I have said I don't think he did himself any favours at times and Sam Lavelle seemed to confirm that. Any argument about him seeing the money and running, thats not the case is it? Footballers get traded like commodities and if Crewe take a decent offer from a club in Venezuela, Charlie Kirk won't have too much say in that. I'm often reminded football is a shirt career and whenever I mention how I'm still not over Scott Parker leaving in January I'm reminded of that even if him bettering himself isnt what I was upset about.
Anyone who has lost a parent will have different experiences, he was a young man when he lost his dad. The bloke who might have spent hours driving him to games, supporting him, encouraging him, giving him advice. Or not, I don't know, what I do know is a couple of different sources I've now heard say Charlie Kirk was not given any support from the club at the time.
He is clearly capable oof doing things most of us can't dream of doing on a football pitch but the big difference is most of us wouldn't have our desire or effort level questioned when playing football. Nobody could have questioned mine or my commitment given the volume of cards I picked up or the amount of games I played. I was however, shit, in the grander scheme and would have maddened lots of people when I got a rush of blood and sight of goal from 35 yards had a meaty swing at the ball and the shot resembled something Johnny Wilkinson would have been proud of.
I'm not saying he was poor for us because he lost his father, it was a combination of us signing a player who would never have fitted as he didnt have a dynamic, defensively sound full back overlapping and supporting him, he was a long way from his support network, he didnt hit the ground running and was, let's not forget playing in a shit team
The excuse about the left back is like saying that we didn’t cross the ball in for Ahadme . Good players adapt- he didn’t . And his mate Lavelle did him no favours on that podcast
Charlie Kirk is a total luxury player, one that ripped us a new one when we played against Crewe with him in the team. He also had Pickering behind him who did all his defending for him, had the engine to get up and support him, drag a man away from him which gave him space. When he played for us he did not have that, he could have been an x factor match winner in tight games but was never going to be hammering into tackles, and being honest when I see a 50/50 involving most professional wingers I mever expect the winger to do more than make it look like they were going in with intent, its not really what they are there for. I don't like it but I get it.
I have said I don't think he did himself any favours at times and Sam Lavelle seemed to confirm that. Any argument about him seeing the money and running, thats not the case is it? Footballers get traded like commodities and if Crewe take a decent offer from a club in Venezuela, Charlie Kirk won't have too much say in that. I'm often reminded football is a shirt career and whenever I mention how I'm still not over Scott Parker leaving in January I'm reminded of that even if him bettering himself isnt what I was upset about.
Anyone who has lost a parent will have different experiences, he was a young man when he lost his dad. The bloke who might have spent hours driving him to games, supporting him, encouraging him, giving him advice. Or not, I don't know, what I do know is a couple of different sources I've now heard say Charlie Kirk was not given any support from the club at the time.
He is clearly capable oof doing things most of us can't dream of doing on a football pitch but the big difference is most of us wouldn't have our desire or effort level questioned when playing football. Nobody could have questioned mine or my commitment given the volume of cards I picked up or the amount of games I played. I was however, shit, in the grander scheme and would have maddened lots of people when I got a rush of blood and sight of goal from 35 yards had a meaty swing at the ball and the shot resembled something Johnny Wilkinson would have been proud of.
I'm not saying he was poor for us because he lost his father, it was a combination of us signing a player who would never have fitted as he didnt have a dynamic, defensively sound full back overlapping and supporting him, he was a long way from his support network, he didnt hit the ground running and was, let's not forget playing in a shit team
The excuse about the left back is like saying that we didn’t cross the ball in for Ahadme . Good players adapt- he didn’t . And his mate Lavelle did him no favours on that podcast
Its not an excuse, I didn’t understand why we signed him and paid what we did if we weren't going to try and get the best out of him as opposed to exposing him, thats on the club/management not him. If we were a marauding winning team then yes, the onus is on him to fight and find his place but we were not a marauding winning side
Lavelle's comments are damning. When a former teammate, who's still playing, effectively says he hates it when he is lumped in with Kirk, that's brutal.
I find it amazing the number of posts there are for those former players that didn't perform for us compared to the the little interest there is for those that gave their all but who weren't quite good enough and are now doing well at the level their find themselves at. It's the same with academy players - the ones released are comparative nobodies but those "stolen" become the subject of pages and pages of disdain and in the case of some for decades and decades too.
‘I didn’t really want to come here, because I don’t like London and the manager seems like a weirdo, but when I saw the wages they were offering me I couldn’t wait to sign.’
Then went Barrow
Although there's some lovely country around the town tbf
Tbf Barrow has quite a lot of night life due to the BAE shipyards
I know, I worked there for the last 3 years and its a hideous place, morning, noon and night.
£2 25 a pint in the King's though
Can confirm - Barrow is an absolute fucking shithole. One of the grimmest places I can remember visiting. If anything, it's even worse than some of the East Lancs dumps like Accrington, Burnley and Bacup
When Sam Lavelle starts digging you out you know there's no return! Sam fucking Lavelle!!!! Seriously? That guy was an absolute wet lettuce! Kirk was rubbish though too.
I find it amazing the number of posts there are for those former players that didn't perform for us compared to the the little interest there is for those that gave their all but who weren't quite good enough and are now doing well at the level their find themselves at. It's the same with academy players - the ones released are comparative nobodies but those "stolen" become the subject of pages and pages of disdain and in the case of some for decades and decades too.
I don't remember Defoe ever getting any stick from Charlton fans
‘I didn’t really want to come here, because I don’t like London and the manager seems like a weirdo, but when I saw the wages they were offering me I couldn’t wait to sign.’
Then went Barrow
Although there's some lovely country around the town tbf
Tbf Barrow has quite a lot of night life due to the BAE shipyards
I know, I worked there for the last 3 years and its a hideous place, morning, noon and night.
£2 25 a pint in the King's though
Can confirm - Barrow is an absolute fucking shithole. One of the grimmest places I can remember visiting. If anything, it's even worse than some of the East Lancs dumps like Accrington, Burnley and Bacup
Walney Island seems slightly better, and Ulverstone is lovely tbh. But yeah, Barrow itself is grim af
I completely lost the plot for years after my mum died and it’s still affecting me in a few ways 13 years later.
I just have a gut feeling that losing his dad hit him really hard - and that’s based on no knowledge just an opinion. Totally fell to bits on the pitch with us but the year before he joined he was a strong performer at league one level
Don't ever be afraid to ask for help bro. We all need it at times.
The biggest pretender I’ve ever seen step foot on a football pitch. He’ll continue to drop and wouldn’t be surprised if he goes without a club and has to call it a day once Altrincham see the real Kirk.
The player he most reminded me of...was Francis Jeffers. Another talented player who didn't quite have the desire or the ability to take a few hits in order to make the most of his talent or graft hard enough in training and then got found out in matches.
Like every Charlton player I wanted him to succeed but it was clear that he wasn't fast enough to play on the wing or robust enough to play either upfront or at number 8 (where he was tried for a few games) so he fell between a couple of stools.
Maybe if we'd had a stronger side and he was playing around a few players who could compensate for his weaknesses then it wouldn't have mattered. Instead we had a weak team, a succession of managers and a revolving door on the changing room.
The player he most reminded me of...was Francis Jeffers. Another talented player who didn't quite have the desire or the ability to take a few hits in order to make the most of his talent or graft hard enough in training and then got found out in matches.
Like every Charlton player I wanted him to succeed but it was clear that he wasn't fast enough to play on the wing or robust enough to play either upfront or at number 8 (where he was tried for a few games) so he fell between a couple of stools.
Maybe if we'd had a stronger side and he was playing around a few players who could compensate for his weaknesses then it wouldn't have mattered. Instead we had a weak team, a succession of managers and a revolving door on the changing room.
I remember after scoring 2 against Villa, I thought Jeffers would become a club legend, didn't do much after that
The player he most reminded me of...was Francis Jeffers. Another talented player who didn't quite have the desire or the ability to take a few hits in order to make the most of his talent or graft hard enough in training and then got found out in matches.
Like every Charlton player I wanted him to succeed but it was clear that he wasn't fast enough to play on the wing or robust enough to play either upfront or at number 8 (where he was tried for a few games) so he fell between a couple of stools.
Maybe if we'd had a stronger side and he was playing around a few players who could compensate for his weaknesses then it wouldn't have mattered. Instead we had a weak team, a succession of managers and a revolving door on the changing room.
I remember after scoring 2 against Villa, I thought Jeffers would become a club legend, didn't do much after that
I remembee this, he wasnt being played by Curbs. Made a bit of a fuss and got a chance scored 2, then never got a real run if games after.
Comments
A case of always the bridesmaid never the bride.
I have said I don't think he did himself any favours at times and Sam Lavelle seemed to confirm that. Any argument about him seeing the money and running, thats not the case is it? Footballers get traded like commodities and if Crewe take a decent offer from a club in Venezuela, Charlie Kirk won't have too much say in that. I'm often reminded football is a shirt career and whenever I mention how I'm still not over Scott Parker leaving in January I'm reminded of that even if him bettering himself isnt what I was upset about.
Anyone who has lost a parent will have different experiences, he was a young man when he lost his dad. The bloke who might have spent hours driving him to games, supporting him, encouraging him, giving him advice. Or not, I don't know, what I do know is a couple of different sources I've now heard say Charlie Kirk was not given any support from the club at the time.
He is clearly capable oof doing things most of us can't dream of doing on a football pitch but the big difference is most of us wouldn't have our desire or effort level questioned when playing football. Nobody could have questioned mine or my commitment given the volume of cards I picked up or the amount of games I played. I was however, shit, in the grander scheme and would have maddened lots of people when I got a rush of blood and sight of goal from 35 yards had a meaty swing at the ball and the shot resembled something Johnny Wilkinson would have been proud of.
I'm not saying he was poor for us because he lost his father, it was a combination of us signing a player who would never have fitted as he didnt have a dynamic, defensively sound full back overlapping and supporting him, he was a long way from his support network, he didnt hit the ground running and was, let's not forget playing in a shit team
So did Ajose in the 3-1 defeat at the Den but that didn't make him popular. Best to score in a 1-0 win!
Like every Charlton player I wanted him to succeed but it was clear that he wasn't fast enough to play on the wing or robust enough to play either upfront or at number 8 (where he was tried for a few games) so he fell between a couple of stools.
Maybe if we'd had a stronger side and he was playing around a few players who could compensate for his weaknesses then it wouldn't have mattered. Instead we had a weak team, a succession of managers and a revolving door on the changing room.