It was announced today that Sven Goran Eriksson has given Darren Bent his first England start tomorrow partnering Wayne Rooney upfront against Uruguay. Great news for young Darren and also Charlton. Sven has seen sense and dropped Crouch! Wayhay!

Unfortunately Gary Neville is in at Right-Back but I hope and reckon Luke Young will show what Sven is missing!

Yes, more recalls for the Charlton pair. Sven was at Saturday's match against Villa and thought both of the Addicks were strong enough to warrant a place in the squad that takes on Uruguay on Wednesday. This is a good chance for them to show why Sven should choose them for the World Cup.

The drummers were back, the Addicks were set for revenge of our defeat back in November up in Birmingham. A few changes in the side but we seemed to start off strong. A couple of chances from Bent and Kishishev should have maybe gone in but it was 0-0 at the break.
Jay Bothroyd came on in the second and had a couple of decent shots. With half an hour left to go, Jason Euell made his Valley return and was greeted with out adapted chant of 'Gold'. The sub nearly created a goal from Charlton as Euell was really close to scoring in the box but it was saved. A frustrating second half didn't really create much, but we were all over them and should have secured the 3 points but it wasn't to be.
Up next is Liverpool, lets hope we can do the double!

Taken from Premierleague.com

Injury-hit Newcastle United were denied a fourth successive victory under caretaker boss Glenn Roeder as Charlton Athletic scrapped their way to a valuable point.

The Magpies dominated much of the game despite having to do without skipper Alan Shearer and FA Cup hero Kieron Dyer, but could not make the breakthrough as the visitors defended stubbornly.

Shola Ameobi passed up a glorious opportunity to win it 14 minutes from time when he powered a free header over, but, with defender Titus Bramble having limped off as Darren Bent belatedly started to make an impression, Roeder’s men were forced to make do with a draw.

It was a frustrating night for the temporary boss as his side enjoyed enough possession to have won the game, but without a genuine cutting edge they sent a crowd of 50,451 home unable to complain about the amount of effort and commitment, but ruing the absence of their most potent finisher.

Even without Shearer and Dyer, two men who have done much to lift the gloom over St James’ Park in recent weeks following Graeme Souness' departure, there was a belief that the Magpies could win a third successive Barclays Premiership and a fourth in all competitions.

That feeling was largely reinforced by a first-half display which promised much, although delivered little in terms of tangible results.

Roeder was forced to field a makeshift strike-force - £9.5million summer signing Albert Luque was again consigned to the bench - with Turkey midfielder Emre asked to help link a midfield quartet in which Lee Bowyer was recalled with lone striker Ameobi.

The former Inter Milan star’s infectious enthusiasm was matched by the endeavour of Bowyer, Nolberto Solano, Charles N’Zogbia and the hugely impressive Charlton old boy Scott Parker.

But perhaps more significantly, despite the enforced changes, the home side looked compact and organised with Bramble rock-solid and even Jean-Alain Boumsong largely untroubled as 17-goal striker Bent saw little of the ball.

Former Magpie Darren Ambrose went closest for the Londoners before the break with a curling free-kick and a late drive which was blocked by Boumsong, but the traffic was mostly one way.

Ameobi and Bowyer forced good, if regulation, saves from Thomas Myhre inside the opening quarter of an hour, while Emre dropped a free-kick onto the crossbar and then called upon the goalkeeper twice with well-struck shots.

Local boy Ameobi had a 37th-minute strike correctly ruled out for offside, but it was to defender Boumsong that the best chance had fallen seven minutes earlier when Solano picked him out unmarked with a long free-kick, but he directed his header straight at Myhre.

Myhre once again came to his side’s rescue within two minutes of the restart when he had to dive bravely at the feet of Ameobi after Bowyer had dispossessed Radostin Kishishev and poked the ball into his path.

Once again, Newcastle were dominating, although struggling to convert pressure into clear-cut chances, a failing which they knew could prove costly.

Their warning came as Darren Bent finally started to make an impression.

Three times he found the space to run at the home defence, the first time being denied by Boumsong, and then by Robbie Elliott and Peter Ramage.

But to their credit, Newcastle continued the search for the opening goal and Ameobi had appeals for a penalty waved away on 68 minutes after being felled by Chris Perry.

Shay Given needed two attempts to collect a skidding Matt Holland drive 16 minutes from time, but Ameobi headed over from Emre’s back-post corner two minutes later as time started to run out.

The Irishman had to save from Darren Bent again on 79 minutes and only a last-ditch challenge by Boumsong denied substitute Jason Euell five minutes later.

If anything, Charlton finished the game the stronger as Newcastle ran out of steam and ideas, but Given and his patched-up defence managed to hold out to at least preserve Roeder’s unbeaten run.

WOW WOW WOW! Yes so Charlton have had the lucky of the draw again. Out of the remaining clubs in the FA Cup we have drawn Middlesborough, a club suffering from relegation worries. An amazing draw for me, especially we are at home and also have a huge chance to make the Semi Finals! Yes Yes Yes! I can't wait. The match will be played on either the 20th, 21st, 22nd or 23rd of March (Weekdays).

COME ON YOU ADDICKS

Wicked Wicked Wicked! Charlton are through to the quarter finals of the FA Cup, something they haven't done for a long time! A match where yet again the away team filled their 6000 allocation at The Valley.

We couldn't have got off to a better start with Darren Bent latching onto a pass from Kishishev and whacked it into the back of the net to put us 1-0 up! Excellent! The half continued in a boring style but with Charlton obtaining a free kick in the 45th, none other than Jay Bothroyd stepped up and scored with one of his trademark free kicks!

Sadly in the first half, Brentford fans decided to start a mini riot and many got ejected. It was really uneccessary especialy a fan from the east jumping the boards and joining in the fight in the south, with made fans in the east start an uproar.

Bartlett came on for Bothroyd in the 60th minute and his first touch of the ball was a through pass to set up Bryan Hughes to score a third for the Addicks and surely secure a quarter final place.

Brentford got a consolation in the 83rd a scrappy goal which put my bets completely out of the window but who cares, we were in the quarters.

Now where were we? Que cera cera, whatever will be will be, we're off to Wembley, que cera cera!

Taken from Premierleague.com

Joey Barton rasped home a brilliant 30-yard strike to put Manchester City on their way to a thrilling Barclays Premiership win over Charlton Athletic.

Richard Dunne gave City a half-time lead and the hosts were able to hold onto their advantage despite conceding twice in a four-goal spell at the start of the second period which saw both Darren and Marcus Bent convert for the visitors and £6million new-boy Georgios Samaras nod home his first City goal before Barton's thunderous winner.

It is only two weeks since Barton stunned City officials by slapping in a transfer request, but with the midfielder admitting he may have acted hastily, the Blues fans were chanting his name in glee when he latched onto Kiki Musampa’s lay-off and sent a brutal 30-yard strike flashing past Charlton keeper Thomas Myhre.

The first half could best be described as cagey, with City supplying most of the sporadic attacking threat.

A trawl through the record books takes you back to April 2005 for the last of Richard Dunne’s three previous strikes for City.

But none of the Irishman’s other efforts could have been better hit than the one he rasped home midway through the half.

Barton, beginning an inspirational man-of-the-match performance, was the supplier, swinging over an excellent cross which Hermann Hreidarsson half cleared straight to Dunne, who promptly smashed a volley into the net through a crowded area.

Aside from a curling Musampa free-kick which flew over the area and almost crept in at the far post, Dunne’s effort was about the only thing worth talking about during the opening period.

How things changed after the break though, with four goals in 21 spellbinding minutes, each one a story of its own.

First there was Darren Bent clinically dispatching his 16th goal of the season to enhance his World Cup claims after defender Talal El Karkouri had found him 12 yards out with a superb defence-splitting pass.

Almost immediately, City regained the initiative through Georgios Samaras, who became the second most expensive player in the club’s history behind Nicolas Anelka when Pearce spent £6million luring him from Heerenveen last month.

Just 20, the Greek-born youngster still has much to learn and judging by the woeful effort to finish when put clean through by Barton later on, could do with plenty of shooting practice.

But at 6ft 3in, Samaras’ height is an clear advantage and when Barton chipped over an excellent cross, the striker easily outjumped Hreidarsson to nod home his first City goal.

Then came the Barton piledriver which ultimately proved to be the match-winner.

It should have been game over for the hosts. Instead, Marcus Bent nodded Charlton back into the contest with a firm header from a Radostin Kishishev cross.

Charlton would have snatched a draw had David James not produced a superb low save in stoppage time to deny El Karkouri but City were able to hold on.

A match where I, as well as many other Charlton fans, didn't think we would have any chance of getting anything against the European Champions and the team that is currently third in the league. But the boys from SE7 had different ideas.

Changes from Sundays disapointing defeat against Spurs included Perry for Fortune, Thomas for Ambrose and Spector for Powell. Jason Euell had his first chance for action since May 2005, as he was placed on the bench. Luckily for us, Steven Gerrard was out injured for Liverpool.

The first half was a scrappy affair with mixed posession but Charlton coming out with the top chances. The occasional 'chance' from the threat that is Peter Crouch didn't do enough to trouble Myhre.

Three minuted before the second half, Darren Bent had a through pass from Kishishev and was tripped by Dudek in the Liverpool goal. Charlton had a penalty! Yes a penalty. The 2nd of the season! Up steps Darren Bent against Dudek, who saved numerous penalties against AC Milan in 2005's Champions League Final, and cooly slots it home in the bottom left hand corner, Dudek no where near! The crowd was exstatic.

But they were to get even more extatic when about 1 minute into the added on time in the first half when Smertin's low cross was deflected clear into the path of Luke Young (YES! Luke Young) who drove the ball into the back of the net! An amazing goal to keep the crowd going as well as putting us in a 2-0 lead going into half time!

The second half we took charge, and throughout the next 45, Darren Bent shot an amazing volley onto Dudek's crossbar, so unlucky and an amazing attempt. But a few minutes later, Marcus Bent latched onto a cross, which everyone thought had gone in, but unfortunately for the ex-Evertonian, it hit the post and came out. Could this have been 4-0? I very much think it would have as Liverpool had hardly any attempts, their clearest when Myhre had to compose a point blank save at the death of the match by Morientes.

An amazing night at The Valley and one to remember for a long time.

Man Of The Match:Radostin Kishishev (YES! HE PLAYED A BLINDER)

....From International Football. Don't worry, not Charlton, but Ireland. Matty Holland has decided his time has come to pack in the travelling to Lansdown Road for every friendly/competitive match and concentrate on his career at Charlton!

After Danny Murphy's departure to Spurs on the final day of the window, all Charlton Fans were psyched up for this match, and the chants during the match proved this.

All match Charlton were on the back foot, Spurs brought the game to us and they succeeded in scoring with a shot from ex Addick Defoe in the 14th. A dreadful start and something we really didn't need. Under half an hour later, the pressure was too great for Charlton and Spurs scored again, this time Jenas with a shot Powell should have stopped. Just before the interval, Marcus Bent hit the crossbar which was so unlucky and would have completely changed the match but it wasn't to be.

We seemed to come out in the second with passion, well it seemed that for thirty seconds until the amazing Kishishev decided to give the ball away which let Defoe through to chip Myhre and put Spurs 3-0 up. That was it game over, we surely couldn't get back.

Jerome Thomas was brought on for Kishishev (THANK GOD) and made an instant impact resulting in him scoring a great goal in the 70th minute. This put a bit of worry in the Spurs fans and left us thinking we could get something out of it. No way! Oh well points dropped and a poor performance! Another great day! NOT!

Oh yer and Spurs, get White Hart Lane station sorted out, waiting nearly and hour for a train then only having a 4 carriage train turning up with thousands of fans trying to get on isn't really a good idea is it?!

"Spurs has always been a club that has attracted me, but whereas previously things didn’t work out, this time they have and I am absolutely delighted. I am looking forward to playing my part in the team Martin Jol is building."



Coming from the man himself. Good old "Family Problems" Danny Murphy. As rumour had been throughout the transfer window that Murphy would be leaving us, Curbs responded by constantly denying it and then the club added that he was having 'Troubles'. Bollocks.

Sorry to be harsh but this is ridiculous, a man who rejected Spurs in 2004 to join Charlton saying that it had always been a club he was attracted to, I do not see why he left. In theory good riddance.

An amazing start to this campaign from The Addicks was key to Murphy's playing skills and even England call ups were on the card.

The grumpy scouser has now sadly left the building!

Oh Sunday at White Hart Lane will be fun!!

Stalemates are something I aren't a fan of, especially a nil nil one. West Brom are one of those teams that when you rue your teams chances of not getting into Europe at the end of the season, you regret not taking the 3 points. 1 point is OK but a goaless draw does kind of feel like a loss. The home debut of Marcus Bent was a good one with the player impressing The Valley crowds. Most of the North kept on singing throughout and it was that good atmosphere that we thought would bring us to victory. Unfortunately it wasn't to be our night, with chances missed from Darren Bent in particular.

I thought the team did play well, but a strong West Brom defence meant it would finish at a draw.

Unlucky Charlton