Charlton 1 Tranmere 1

Because of work, I cannot get to Charlton home games during the week. Yesterday, for me, was the first time I had seen the team play since Boxing Day, and a number of things struck me, not least that the crowd is beginning to turn against Parkinson, after a fourth poor display since the enforced winter break. It is some time since I have heard a chant of "You don't know what you're doing", but even before it came rolling off the Covered End, people around me were individually shouting it at the back of Parkinson's head, as he stoically ignored it some six rows in front of me.

The immediate cause of the ire was the double substitution of Reid and Sam, for McKenzie and Wagstaff. I don't understand this, and I know I am in the minority here, but Reid has been a bench warmer at Sheffield United this season, and almost certainly isn't match fit. Sam had battled with Bakayogo, the Tranmere left back, who was every bit as fast as himself, with limited success. Even when we were on fire at the start of the season, Sam usually got substituted with twenty minutes left on the clock, so as far as I am concerned, this was a like for like substitution, and in the time he was on, Wagstaff certainly had more joy against the understandably tiring Tranmere left back, who eventually got sent off for a lunging late tackle when Wagstaff had got away from him yet again. Unfortunately it was so late in the game, it had no meaningful bearing on the match.

As for the match itself, there was a curious desperation about the way we played, personified for me by Bailey, who had a very poor game, goal aside. His passing was overly ambitious, and easily intercepted on too many occasions by the Tranmere midfield. He wasn't the only one to forget the twin truths, that the game is best played when in simple form, and on the grass. Mooney also had a game to forget, but is it really helpful or necessary to boo him?

I am hoping that with the next three games being away from home, the team won't feel as pressurised as they seemed to yesterday, a situation not helped by the increasingly restless home crowd. As for automatic promotion, well yesterday was a blow, but not a fatal one, unless of course we all decide to self inflict it.

Kyel Be Back

This morning I have got up to be confronted with yet more snow. Fortunately it is light, but it has settled. If the white stuff were to put in an appearance every year in the way that it has both this year and last year, I know one thing for certain; I would never buy a heavy rear wheel drive car ever again. My car is beyond rubbish when there is snow on the roads.

All the weather forecasts I can find are telling me that Charlton did not get snow last night, so at least I can attend a game on a Saturday again. I am also hoping that the team will be smarting from their experience against Leyton Orient, and want to make amends for it, so hopefully a much improved performance is on the cards.

New boy Kyel Reid should at least make the bench for this one, although I am not sure if he will be used as anything other than an impact substitution, given that he only trained with the squad for the first time yesterday. I am curious as to the fitness of McKenzie though. A fully fit McKenzie would have been a shoo in for me in the troublesome left sided midfield role, but along with his questionable fitness, I suspect his attacking instincts compromise his ability to cover back for a vulnerable Basey. With Youga out for at least another week or three, a balanced left sided specialist was always a shortcoming in the team, so well done to Parkinson and the board for sorting it out.

I am just happy that I will be back to see the team in action again, as I have not been able to attend a home game since Swindon on Boxing Day. Work gets in the way of midweek games for me, so I am not going to let snow stop me today.......hopefully.

Crystal Palace In Administration

According to the BBC website, Crystal Palace have apparently gone into administration this afternoon. Living in the land of the stripey Nigels, as I do, I have never had the same level of antipathy towards Palace that most Addicks have. I don't like seeing any football club in trouble to the extent that their future is threatened. After all, we are the prime examples of what can almost happen. No doubt it will cheer up the Addickted still smarting from yesterdays woeful, but sadly predictable demise at the hands of Leyton Orient.

Darren Ambrose anyone? - I'll get me coat.

Finance or Football?

Personally, I would rather not see Norwich descend into administration. To win on the field of play is a far more honourable way of escaping this division at the first time of asking. Having said that, I suspect Norwich have the wherewithal on the playing side to continue a promotion push, albeit with a play off place looking more likely than automatic promotion, should they be deducted ten points for calling in the men in suits. I really don't see administration happening though.

Better to focus on our own somewhat hesitant return to competitive action, which has seen the collection of a maximum points haul for two essentially sub-standard displays. I am pleased to see Mooney back with us, but what of Sodje Jnr? Back on the blue side of Sheffield, he is warming the bench more often than not, so it is possible we may see him again before the end of the month. As I have said previously, I do not think he, or Dickson are the answer, but there is little doubt that we do need a striker who can be prolific for the second half of the season. A look at the goal differences of the top three sides, shows that we are effectively a further point down on the top two, courtesy of their goal scoring proclivity.

For all our recent focus on the fortunes of Norwich, it is looking more likely that Leeds are a more vulnerable, and likely target to overhaul. Helped once again by their love of cup competitions, Spurs will test the weary legs of the Yorkshire side once more when they go to Elland Road for the FA Cup replay. It is looking more and more likely that by the seasons conclusion, Leeds will have played sixty games. I don't believe their squad is strong enough to support such a schedule, well at least I hope not anyway.

I worked in Leeds for many years, and to a man, my Leeds supporting friends are growing increasingly pessimistic about their prospects in the League. History supports their collective view that the play offs beckon for them once again. For them, cup competitions are a curse they could do without, so maybe Hereford, Southampton, and Northwich Victoria did us a favour. Time will tell, but of more immediate importance, our game against Leyton Orient on Monday, will see the Addicks once again try to cling to the coat tails of Norwich. I suspect we will have to play somewhat better than we have done since the enforced break, and I rather fancy we will.

Whilst I appreciate that Charlton get paid for live televised games, it is yet another game I will be unable to make. I just wish the football was more important than the finances, but ultimately it is not. I genuinely hope Norwich don't find that out on Thursday.

Wycombe 1 Charlton 2

Phew! I don't know about you, but I was a bit nervous about that one. Not because I didn't think we were capable of winning, of course we were, but rather as the the first match of the year, my concern was more about how rusty would we be. We definitely did show signs of our enforced inactivity, but with Dailly, and Richardson back in the fold, the break has allowed us to get almost the entire first team back on the pitch. Just Kelly Youga to go, and we will be firing on all available cylinders once more.

And speaking of firing on all cylinders, our weakest area of the pitch remains our strikeforce. Whilst Parkinson is to be applauded for wanting to keep the same personnel involved in first team action, the reality is that Dickson is not good enough, and Mooney is not a predatory goalscorer. Whilst the mighty Burton is doing the best job he can, we do need more firepower upfront. McKenzie, with a run in the side, may be the answer, but I would rather see him on the left side of midfield. Bailey's excellent contribution is alleviating some of the shortfall, but if only we had the wherewithal to land a Lambert, Beckford, or a Holt lookalike. If we were able to do so, I believe it could make the difference between automatic promotion, or settling for the playoffs.

Is Sodje Jnr, now back at Sheffield Wednesday, the answer? Personally I don't think so, and given that Parkinson has been reported as saying he wanted to bring in one new face before the end of the month, fingers crossed that it is an additional striker who can make that crucial difference.

Half Term Update

With news that Omozusi has had his loan extended until 30th January, I thought it was about time I updated the player contract status table. Also pertinent, given that the transfer window is now open. I must confess that my thoughts are with hoped for imminent moves for Holt and Hoolahan from Norwich, and Beckford, Snodgrass, and Becchio from Leeds. Unlikely that they would all go, I know, but with both Norwich and Leeds showing relentless, and continued form in the league, unlike ourselves, any help is always welcome.

I know we have only lost twice in the league all season, but the stark reality is that we are drawing way too many games, and are still missing the key to unlock obdurate third division defences. Fingers crossed that it can be put right this month. In fairness, it can be argued that Leeds and Norwich must stumble at some stage, but I am not convinced that they will, in any meaningful manner. It also assumes that we are close enough, and have the wherewithal to take advantage of it

The rumour mill regarding our own players, other than McLeod is mercifully quiet, but there is little doubt that our hunt for a striker at the very least will need to see some activity this month. With Mooney injured, and back at Reading, and Sodje Jnr, not really looking to be the answer, my fingers are crossed that McLeod's alleged £8k a week can be removed from the wage bill, and in doing so, at least give Parkinson some head room to bring in one or two more players. Pericard as an option would be interesting, but I suspect Southampton could offer him more money. I also suspect they will make the play offs, and wouldn't a meeting between Parkinson and Pardew at Wembley be fun? Well not for me it wouldn't!

2010

Basey, Burton, Clark, Dailly, Dickson, McKenzie, Randolph, Sam, Sinclair, Sodje S, Solly, Spring, Stavrinou, Wagstaff

2011

Bailey, Fleetwood, Llera, McLeod, Moutaouakil, Racon, Richardson, Semedo, Youga

2012

Elliott, Shelvey

Academy

Davisson, Mambo, Perkins, Tuna

Loan

Omozusi 30/01/10, Sodje A 09/01/10