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Match Report: Boro 0 - 3 CAFC

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As I have been on Holiday with Matteo, neither of us could be bothered to write a match report on this amazing match. But boy what a match it is. This article was written by Gary Haines for the official CAFC website at www.cafc.co.uk

A first-half sizzler from Dennis Rommedahl coupled with efforts from Chris Perry and Darren Bent after the break sealed a fully-deserved victory in the North East.

It also maintained the Addicks' perfect start to the Premiership campaign as they outplayed an ordinary Boro side in all departments.

Rommedahl and Jerome Thomas caused no end of problems on the flanks, the defensive unit was watertight and the midfield triangle of Radostin Kishishev, Alexei Smertin and Danny Murphy worked a treat once more.

Indeed, at times it must have appeared like the Bermuda Triangle for the home side, for whom several of their star performers went missing.

But while people will be critical of Steve McClaren's side, that is perhaps taking away how well Charlton played.

Sneering cynics had laughed off the wins against Sunderland and Wigan Athletic and pointed at this as the first big test for Curbishley's class of 2005/06.

What they had not noticed was how well the Addicks had played in their opening matches, and that form continued at the Riverside - and some.

It was an outstanding display from the SE7 side.

They were quite simply too good for their hosts and sit proudly in the upper echelons on merit.

There was no great surprise from the visiting camp at the Riverside with Charlton sending out an unchanged side.

Indeed the only change to the 16-man squad saw Jonathan Spector replace Jonatan Johansson on the bench and Curbishley continued with the 4-5-1 formation that has served him so well in the opening weeks of the campaign.

That meant, once again in-form striker Darren Bent was on his own up front some three-and-a-half years after breaking his Premiership duck against the same North-East opposition.

The big news from the home camp was the absence of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink with a complicated injury to his hamstring, thigh and back, and he was replaced up front by big-money summer signing from Portsmouth, Yakubu.

The Nigerian partnered Mark Viduka with controversial Austrian defender Emanuel Pogatetz on the bench after his multi-match ban for a leg-breaking challenge for former club Bayer Leverkusen was cut by a third, to eight games.

It was Boro who carved out the first chance of a bright afternoon when Stewart Downing's curling cross bounced beyond Chris Perry but Yakubu, perhaps surprised, headed over.

Interestingly, while fledgling frontman Bent was opening his top-flight account with Ipswich Town in April 2002, Downing was making his Boro debut.

The talented left-winger was hoping to force his way into the England reckoning for the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Northern Ireland.

Lining up in direct opposition was Luke Young, equally hopeful of being in Sven Goran Eriksson's plans, especially after the recent injury to Manchester United's Gary Neville.

But if Sven, or Tord Grip, were watching they could not have failed to be impressed at the contribution of Murphy.

The born-again midfielder pulled the strings much more as he continues to revel in the middle of the park.

An injury robbed him of a trip to the World Cup in 2002 and if he keeps performing to this standard he may well have a chance to make amends four years later.

As the action switched to the other end Rommedahl outpaced Franck Queudrue but his centre was just too high for Bent in the middle.

Michael Reiziger's surging run forward in the 19th minute set up a shooting chance for Downing but the youngster blasted high into the stands.

Charlton were looking menacing themselves, however, especially down the right-hand side.

Rommedahl, who was showing plenty of early enterprise, made more good ground two minutes later and Bent was a bootlace away from connecting with his neat clipped centre.

As another cross from the much-maligned Danish flanker drifted inches beyond Thomas moments later, it was perhaps a chance for him to adapt his angles.

Peter Crouch, meanwhile, must have been licking his lips if watching the televised contest.

Back to the action, and Charlton broke forward at pace again as Thomas outwitted Ray Parlour but Boro quickly got men back and Rommedahl's shot on the turn was blocked.

With the majority of the home supporters screaming at him to pick out an unchallenged James Morrison on the right, Downing selfishly chose to shift into space and balloon another effort over the bar.

While Rommedahl was perhaps guilty off a little bit too much elevation on his crosses, wing partner Thomas was causing plenty of problems to the home side on the left.

On the half hour the former Arsenal youngster skipped past Parlour on and sped away from Morrison but, not for the first time his pass-selection was poor and Boro again got back to clear.

Murphy beat Queudrue - yet again - on the right 10 minutes before the break but his pull-back could only find a red-shirted defender.

But, at last, everything fell in place for Charlton seven minutes before the interval as they seized the lead.

Bent picked out Murphy some 30 yards from goal and the midfielder threaded a sumptuous pass between three home defenders.

Rommedahl was on to it like a flash, seizing the ball and planting a first time shot beyond Schwarzer to send the visiting contingent behind the goal into delirium.

It was only the Dane's third goal for the club but the second in the North East following his goal at Newcastle United last term.

On enterprise alone, it was a deserved lead from the men from SE7 but they were almost breached immediately as the hosts sought a response.

Downing's corner from the right caused all sorts of problems and Yakubu eventually helped the ball back to Queudrue.

The Frenchman must have thought he'd scored as he drilled in an angled shot but had reckoned without Addicks skipper Luke Young, who was well-placed to athletically clear the ball off the line.

Stephan Andersen bravely smothered at the feet of Yakubu and the Dane, scarcely tested in his opening two matches this season, plunged to his right in stoppage time to tip away a Morrison piledriver from the edge of the box.

Yakubu then jinked into space before falling over his own feet and kicking thin air. It typified his and his side's first-half performance as the period came to a close.

A clearly unimpressed McClaren made two changes at the break, replacing the out-of-sorts Queudrue and Morrison, handing a debut to Pogatetz and also introducing Spanish star Gaizka Mendieta.

After Downing blasted hopelessly wide early on Murphy's curling free-kick drifted just wide of the right hand upright

Boos echoed round the Riverside after the natives bemoaned more wasteful play from their heroes and this was playing right into the hands of the visitors.

Indeed, they had the best chance of the half to date in the 55th minute when Murphy picked out the overlapping Chris Powell and his centre was met by a fine volley from Bent that flew straight into the grateful arms of Schwarzer.

McClaren's last roll of the dice saw the introduction of forgotten frontman Massimo Maccarone for the injury-plagued Mendieta, the Spaniard lasting just 12 minutes.

At last there was some urgency from the home side but Andersen got behind a volley from Viduka and then saw Smertin head the ball to safety at a corner moments later.

Rommedahl's clever shift of pace from the right set up Bent to curl just wide as the visitors continued to threaten and Gareth Southgate picked up a yellow card for tripping Smertin on 71 minutes.

McClaren stormed to the touchline to berate his backline as the seconds ticked down as still Charlton, with Young particularly outstanding, were preserving their advantage in some comfort.

And Murphy's pass sent the skipper scampering clear on the right 15 minutes from time but he elected to shoot with teammates better-placed in the middle and Schwarzer saved.

Andersen showed some basketball skills to keep out a stinging drive from Maccarone, eventually plunging on the ball low.

The impressive Thomas made way for Shaun Bartlett on 78 minutes as Reiziger was spared further torment.

But three thoroughly-deserved points were sewn up 10 minutes from time.

Murphy was upended by George Boateng's clumsy lunge on the right side of the box and what followed was a defensive horror show from the hosts.

At least three white shirts were all alone in the penalty area and the first of them, Perry, swept home Murphy's free-kick.

Like Rommedahl, it was the defender's third goal for the club and suggested it would definitely be the Valley men's day.

Off went a sizeable chunk of the Boro faithful in some disgust as their adversaries, who had made the long journey to the North East, chanted 'easy, easy'.

The departed fans missed a late header from Yakubu, which flew over the bar, but were spared the misery of watching Charlton's third goal three minutes into injury time.

Bryan Hughes, on as a late replacement for the impressive Smertin, filtered the ball through for Bent to race away from Ugo Ehiogu and there was little doubt in the outcome as the in-form striker netted with due aplomb.

My Man Of The Match:Danny Murphy

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Yes Romm, YES!


Simon Jordan "I'm Still A Tit"

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So Jordan has opened his bloody mouth yet again about us, this time calling us imbeciles. This guy is seriously gonna get his jaw broken one day:

Being a stiff in a suit just isn't me

Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan - in the second of his new Observer columns - believes fans in the boardroom are true 'football people'

Sunday August 21, 2005
The Observer

A couple of weeks ago I was asked about the reception Charlton fans gave Palace when they drew with us on the final day of last season, a result that relegated us. I said their fans - who revelled in it, abused us and even did the bloody conga - had behaved like morons. It was an 'astounding' comment for 'a chairman of an ex-Premiership club', said a spokesman for their fans group, who demanded an apology and added - really perceptively, I thought - 'there were 24,000-odd Charlton supporters at The Valley that day, including myself. That's an awful lot of morons.'

In retrospect, of course I regret calling them morons. Imbeciles would have been more appropriate. Quite apart from the fact that we gave Charlton a home in the 1980s when they were bust, I was objecting to the way they - and their chairman - celebrated the draw as if they'd won the Champions League. Rivalry is great, it's healthy, but this went beyond all that - they were like walking tabloids: lapping up misery and knocking people down. They lost their tiny minds, and they want me to apologise to them?

The way it works in football is this: things you can say as a fan, as a player, as a journalist, you can't say if you're the chairman. If you speak your mind as a chairman, you're 'astounding'. Ask any neutral who was at Charlton that day and they'd share my view - but as a club owner I'm supposed to sugar-coat my response or, better still, say nothing? This isn't international diplomacy, it's football.

I'm even attacked when I'm trying to be upbeat. I was asked about my hopes for the season last week, so I said I thought Palace had the best manager in the division, some of the best players and that we could win the title. The pundits beat me round the head for being optimistic. John Fashanu - remember him? - turned up in the papers saying I should shut my mouth and that I'm putting too much pressure on my manager and my team by urging success from them. He then accused me of not being 'a football person'. Because I wasn't a 'football person' I should keep quiet.

So what exactly is one of these 'football people'? Is it someone like Fashanu - one of the most disingenuous, superficial people I've ever come across, who, the only time we met, tried to borrow money from me to invest in a business backed by Ambrose Mendy, the convicted fraudster? Is it just players and ex-players who are 'football people' - often cheating, diving, spitting, conniving people who couldn't care less about their clubs or being role models? Is it agents, sucking money out of the game? Is it managers and ex-managers who take bungs and cut dodgy deals? Are they all 'football people'? If so, absolutely right, I'm not even close.

The first game I went to was Palace at home to Carlisle in 1973 - we lost 1-0. I was born 100 yards from the ground, and my father - who played for Palace in the 1950s - still lives there. I signed schoolboy forms for them, and I've supported the club ever since that first game - like my dad and his dad before him. When I was seven I used to bunk over the fence at Selhurst with my brother for a kick around - we'd climb up the pylons sometimes. And as an adult I've poured money into it because I still love it. All that and I - like fans across the country - am not a 'football person'.

When I first became a chairman five years ago I told myself I'd be a businessman Monday to Friday, and a fan on Saturday. I wasn't going to be starry eyed and give myself away or shout my mouth off - I'd be driven by success, but be calculating in how to achieve it. The first problem with that is that any calculating businessman putting this many millions into a football club would be a bloody lunatic. The second was that, as a fan, there's no point trying to keep a lid on your emotions. So I've found a halfway house, and achieved a balance. I take rational decisions, but they're driven by passion for the club. If Charlton fans upset me I'll say so. If I think we'll win the title, I'll big up my team. If we score at an away match I'll jump out of my chair and scream. I don't see why being a chairman needs to mean being a stiff in a suit.

But more than that, being a fan is actively positive for running a club, not something to be shy about. Look at Steve Gibson at Middlesbrough and Delia at Norwich - she's a fantastic, engaging woman, the board and staff at Norwich are the loveliest people you'll meet in football, and they're a brilliant club. And all of us share a motivation. We believe in what we're doing and recognise how important a successful club is to a community. When you see how it influences young people, the power that it has over them, that's when you feel the responsibility. And, if your decisions are motivated by that, the game can progress.

If they're not, it won't. There are two types of non-fan people in today's boardrooms: the really average businessmen - with respect to Peter Kenyon, a five-year-old could go into a room with Vodafone and come out with a big sponsorship for a brand like Man United or Chelsea - and the actively inert - people who'll do anything, say anything, to preserve the status quo. They love their FA blazers, their hospitality, their salaries, and they're so quiet because they're afraid to make enemies or alienate themselves. But why? What for? It's worth reminding them of the biggest truth among football businessmen: nobody helps nobody for nothing.

Twelve months ago I said I was considering getting out of football because the frustrations of the industry and the people in it were getting too much. And now? People like the Charlton fans, agents, Fashanu and the rest - well, they've got me going again. I still don't want to be in football for ever, and if someone comes along who I feel can run the club better I'll happily go back to where I came from: watching games in the stands with my dad. But for now, the desire to fight what's wrong in our system and to fulfil my ambitions for Palace's Premiership future in a new or improved stadium is strong.

I'd like to think that when the time does come to step down, the fans will welcome me back to the stands. There'll always be some who don't like me - even if I built a 50,000 seat stadium and bought Ronaldinho there'd still be complaints about crap hot dogs. But most have been brilliant to me, and I hope a few are even quite proud of me - proud they have one of their own representing their views in the game, and proud it's someone who has the bottle to be contrary, because that's what the game needs. They're the real 'football people' - and for as long as I'm part of it I'll be a real football person too.


Oh yeah, this is funny too - Jordan giving to Charity Simon Jordan's fee for his Observer articles will be given to the Christopher's Children's Hospice, Guildford, Surrey

Jordan, I think this picture applies to you big time you knob!

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Match Report: Charlton 1 - 0 Wigan

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My first premiership game as a Charlton season ticket holder in the Upper North was great! Atmosphere, view and the final result! So as I was bored, I could see Olly Addick from my seats (sad I know) and Charly from the Cafc Fans forum urging the lads on! On to the Match! Missing Ambrose from suspension we brought in Kishishev (why Curbs why?!). The match started of slow. We really didn't start as well as we did against Sunderland. But there you go. It went from slow to frustration for the Valley faithful. Powell hitting the post midway through. But call on Darren Bent in the 42nd, cross in from the right and a goal! Bent bringing his tally to 3. Ab Fab! Seconds later it looked as if we would double this lead when Bent caught the defenders sleeping and nearly replicated his second from last week, but this time going inches wide.

Half time great scoreline.

Second half was pretty slow again, a couple of scares from Wigan but nothing too dramatic. 10 minutes to go, we could have got another, Bent hit the post!

We finished the day in second position, behind Spuds on goal difference. I can't complain, we didn't lose, picked up important points, and yet again seen that Bent is effing amazing!

Oh yer I mustn't forget mentioning Powell doing his jumpy tunnel thingy magigy!

Man Of The Match:Chris Powell

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The enigmatic duo!?

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So Curbs tells us he's bid for two premiership players. "Who could they be?" is the question on every Charlton fan's lips. Well this Charlton fan thinks it could go one of three ways.
Scenario 1: All goes to plan and we get two top class premiership players. Strikers? We can only hope. One of the names being thrown around is Earnshaw. Now that Ellington has signed for WBA, this is all the more likely following Curbs' "it could depend on those clubs signing other players" comment. Lets call him 'Signing number 1.' Now for Number 2. Taking Curbs' comments into account we COULD put 2 and 2 together and come up a Tottenham number 10! Robbie Keane. Jermaine Jenas is the key to this possibilty. Should he go to White hart lane, you would think spurs would offload a player, and with the rumours being Robbie Keane to Charlton, we can only hope!

Scenario 2: What has been referred to as the 'Robbie Mustoe syndrom.' Two premiership players?! Great! The hopes are raised only to find out we've signed some Premiership deadwood. Colin Cooper from Boro Perhaps!? Fingers crossed that doesn't happen!

Scenario 3: September 1st comes around and ther's no new arrival, let alone two! It's 3months later and we're all sitting around in Floyd's when someone pipes up, "remember when Curbs mentioned those two premiership players? Whatever happened to that!?" When Alan is asked he replies "eh!? no. I don't remember saying that"

We've seen it before....think back to the start of the summer when we were promised "a new signing every week for the next four weeks." didn't happen, BUT the club came good and we got the signins in the end.
So come on Mr Curbishley, Mr Murray and the board. Lets sign a couple of Robbies!



CAFC Bois have signed a new player. Well, columnist! Please would our regular readers welcome Olly_Addick, a good mate of mine and a regular Valley Goer. He has great views on The Addicks and will be a great addition to the team.

So welcome to the site!


JDL on Charlton Plus!

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Wicked, so myself JDL was on Brian Cole's (legend) radio show Charlton Plus tonight after I sent an email in! Made my weekend as well as top of the league!

Listen every Sunday 8PM-10PM at http://www.offthechartradio.co.uk


Bent for England

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After two goals, on what can only be described as a dream debut, the £2.5m signing from Ipswich has been called up to the England senior squad to face Denmark on Wednesday. Recent performances from Bent, in both friendlies and league, have shown the talent that this young striker posesses; if he can continue his form throughout the season he will no doubt be a vital part in our drive for a European spot. What a class signing by Curbs, just what we needed.





Well what can I say. We're top of the league as I write this at 18:30 on Saturday! Amazing! So the first game of the season away at Sunderland was an affair I was looking forward to! But finishing the day at top is out of this world! Thanks to BBC Commentary, I was able to listen to Darren Bent score in about 10 minutes to make us 1-0 up! Unfortunately, after a very strong start and many attempts on goal, we threw our lead away and went in all even at half time.

The second half wasnt too good to start. Darren Ambrose sent off on his debut for a 2 footed challenge. Well I was not confident on us winning now, but about 5 minutes later, we had a free kick on the edge of the box and Murphy steps up "WHACK" into the back of the net! AMAZING! 2-1.

So that looked like we would win, but no, we weren't finished there. Bent steps up in the 90th minute and decides to make it 3-1 to us! Brilliant! Top of the league by alphibetical order (with West Ham 2nd) this is an amazing start!

Great lads, keep it up!

Man of the Match:Darren Bent

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Simon Jordan "Im A Tit"

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The Addick's official website today have responded after the following comments in Saturday's Guardian by Palarse Chairwoman Simon Jordan.
Jordan, Johnson and Dowie begin again today with the chairman "re-energised" by events at The Valley on May 15. "There were some incidents with the Charlton guys which I'm not going to go into, but they were very rude and quite happy we were relegated. And the Charlton fans were morons. Their time will come, as it will for their directors for the comments they made. They enjoyed our demise, but what goes around, comes around. I'm steely now, I want to beat the system, prove people wrong. I've no one in mind really but I like to feel that I'm fighting the establishment. People like me never reform, we just run out of wind. I will never be happy."

Crystal Palace travelled to The Valley on May 15th needing a win to give the Eagles any chance of avoiding relegation from the Premiership for a record fourth time, but Jonathan Fortune's header, that levelled the scores at 2-2, condemned them to Championship football this season.

Jordan was apparently upset that Addicks supporters chanted - to the tune of 'Show Me the Way to Amarillo' by Tony Christie - 'We sent the Palace Down'.

The head of the Charlton Supporters Club, Mick Gebbett, responded to the asshole's comment today via www.cafc.co.uk:
"It's astounding that the chairman of an ex-Premier League club should insult the supporters of another club, to call Charlton fans morons beggars belief. Everyone knows the two clubs are rivals, but it's hardly the most offensive thing I've come across in a football stadium, with all the problems accumulated by football over the years, responding to fairly good-natured banter with such an over-reaction is incredible. There were 24,000-odd Charlton supporters at The Valley that day, including myself. That's an awful lot of morons."

Well good on ya Gebbett! Now for the picture!

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HAHAHA!


Thomas Myhre signs on

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Goalkeeper Thomas Myhre has signed for The Addicks in a one year deal to cover from Dean Kiely's injury. The goalie is a Norwegian international with a wealth of experience in the premiership having previously played for Sunderland!


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Match Report: Charlton 1 - 3 AEK Athens

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After a great match on Wednesday night, I was expecting another exciting match today. But that was not to be! Shame really, my Dad hasn't been to the Valley for over a year and today he witnessed shite! Curbs had brought in Sorondo and Jeffers in to replace Hughes and Powell. Ok so I thought twice about the Jeffers change, but it would be good to see Sorondo in action. Bringing in Jeffers nearly paid off as he hit a volley that narrowly missed seconds after kick off.
The team played poor. Athens got a penalty after some sloppy defending and put it away, with Andersen diving the right way. A few minutes later, Rommedahl got on the end of a cross and neatly chipped the keeper to make it 1-1. That's what it stayed at until half time.
Literally minutes into the second half, Athens had taken the lead with our defence no where to be seen. Dissapointing. Well we still had the majority of the second half to go and equalise. We had that chance when we were awarded a penalty when double H was brought down in the area. Jeffers steps up, and its bloody saved, and he hits the rebound over the bar. GRRR! That was our only real chance in the second.
To make matters worse, Athens scored an easy tap in during injury time.

A poor match with no real credit due to anyone. Andersen making some good saves again.

Lets hope we don't take this to next seasons opener against Sunderland.

Till then


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Shall we do the Konga?!


Match Report: Charlton 2- 0 Feyenoord

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So CAFC Bois is back with our match reports and the first one - Friendly at Home - is a great one! Myself and Matteo went to The Valley tonight to watch the friendly vs Dutch giants Feyenoord! And a great feeling it was! The reminiscence of "shalalalalalala we sent the palace down" came back when Amarillo was played before the match when us lot in the covered end joined in! So Curbs fielded new signings Bent, Ambrose, Powell and Smertin for the match. No Holland, Bartlett or The Elk to be seen! A good attendance for a midweek friendly saw a new side start the first half very strongly and dominate most of the half with no score at half time. We deserved to be infront. The players fitness levels were up more than last season!
The second half started and a few minutes in, Bent hit a shot which rattled the underside of the crossbar, only to hit the keeper (who was on the ground) in the back and then trickle in! A great sound to hear the Valley Faithful cheering again! 1-0!
Mintues later, after a good run from Rommedahl, a cross in and a great header making Bent score his second and put us up 2-0. Great! This is more like it!
The second half fizzled out and a great result for us Addicks!

Of course, the match had to finish with new (old) signing Chris Powell's trademark run and jump out of the tunnel!

Promising signs coming from all three new signings as well as Murphy and Andersen!

Until AEK Athens on Saturday, Chow!


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Bent Scores his second of the game


Feynoord, Kits

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So the New Away Kit has been launched, as well as the new Goalkeeper kits!

I'm going to the Valley tonight to see the Feynoord match with Matteo, so the gossip here after!


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