Are we nearly there yet?

They say a week is a long time in football. This is true, unless of course it's the start of the summer interlude when a week just seems like a long time full stop.

After a lovely summer holiday in Prague with my wife, the next 'light at the end of the tunnel' to get me through the working week will be the pre-season friendlies which start less than three weeks away at Welling. The past seven days have seen the Charlton machine gathering momentum with almost daily 'breaking news', I went to the Czech Republic blissfully unaware that every time I found a WiFi hotspot my phone would vibrate like the clappers, timelines more congested than border control at Gatwick.

Before departing we had the news of the St Mirren friendly in Spain, it was then announced that the Addicks would play a second match whilst abroad, this time facing a Gibraltar XI. As much as I cannot afford (or get time off work for) another European jaunt this summer, I'm a little saddened I cannot venture to Spain. How many of us can boast we've seen Gibraltar play football at their national stadium on Winston Churchill Avenue? These truly are little football 'bucket list' gems aren't they! And as for St Mirren, well I've a true soft spot for Scottish football as a whole and The Buddies side of the early 80's did of course contain the legendary Jimmy Bone. Need I say more?

picture courtesy of The Football Attic   

          

Charlton, as faithful a dealer as there ever was, are still going to give me a little injection of Scotland though as they announced that for the only home friendly we will be hosting Inverness Caledonian Thistle, a side I've followed with some interest since their inception and their Highland League days, an amalgamation of two teams far more successful than anything Robert Maxwell attempted a decade earlier.

Another game now confirmed is a League Cup fixture at home to Oxford United. Not something to get particularly excited about I know, given our record in the tournament and last season's poor showing against Leyton Orient. The ground will only be open in small areas, the atmosphere will be non-existent and it will, in fairness, feel like one more friendly but for me again another soft spot.

When I think of Oxford I always picture Paul Konchesky making his debut for the first team against a side featuring former Sutton United man Stuart 'yes I did eat all the pies' Massey. Then of course there was their old Manor Ground, a random collection of sheds and steps, possibly the allotment of all old football grounds..........

And so came Monday evening, I'm at Prague airport and looking for an internet connection. I was well aware of an event taking place at The Valley, the unveiling of the upcoming season's new home shirt, the second home offering from N**e.

New signing Mark Gower along with Under 21 captain Bradley Jordan sported the new attire complemented by two very meticulous haircuts. The fantastic free WiFi in Prague's impressive if somewhat disorganized airport meant I too could share the moment with them. The lighter shade of red is a traditionally more Charlton colour (it's not a variant of orange we are told), the trim is white but that is where my positivity ends. The collar/neck is, we are told, buttoned at the front although they are obviously invisible when done up, this to me just makes it look like a Velcro fastening. The thin white trim on the sleeves isn't overpowering and a nice touch but I don't think we'll ever go on to consider it to be a classic, not like this beauty!

The internet had been full of creations by amateur kit designers on possible new Charlton shirts, some of them ripping off old templates, others creative, fresh and intriguing. Maybe some of these big brands should take note of what's achieved on lap tops around the capital. Perhaps these ideas fuelled my anticipation and heightened my disappointment of the real thing.  As all the wise old heads on twitter are quick to point out though, it's the team that matters, not the shirt and, if truth be told I wouldn't be giving N**e any of my money for one no matter how lovely a design so who am I to  moan.

Tomorrow morning sees the announcement of the fixture list and the final piece to shape the landscape of the impending season. People supposedly 'in the know' have already tried to leak opening day fixtures, I expect to achieve more virtual followers or friends, I'm happy to sit it out and ponder the possibilities for another twelve or so hours. Then I'll start scribbling dates on the calendar and making travel and work plans. Are we nearly there yet? Almost.

Shhh!

Boo boys always get silenced. Fact. Jermaine Defoe is guaranteed a goal when lining up against Charlton. It's an unwritten rule.

How satisfying must it be from a players perspective, after listening to supporters boo your every touch, to then run up to the noisiest, ugliest of the bunch and hold your finger to your lips. Just ask Yann.
The only other thing he could of done was to sing 'over land and sea, and Leicester at them', but in French i believe that loses something in translation.

It all stems from a penalty miss during a shoot out against Cardiff in the play off semi's, although it must have really had a deep effect on one Leicester fan who had far too much time on his hands judging by this song.

Pundits are often heard saying the best way to answer critics is to do it on the field of play. Last night Kermorgant quietly said 'I'm better than you' to the 1600 in the Jimmy Seed stand. We booed their left sided full back a little in the safe knowledge he doesn't score many goals.

Although the good performance and the point at Birmingham had given us a confident start, we really didn't know what to expect on Tuesday evening against one of the bookmakers favourites for promotion, Leicester City. A match that Chris Powell would have been relishing when the fixtures were announced.

It wasn't just Kermorgant and the gaffer this stood out to though, Michael Morrison had a spell with the Foxes whilst Paul Konchesky (even though he's getting on a little, i still want to call him 'young Paul Konchesky') did the opposite and last night returned to where it all began.

Another footballer to make an appearance on The Valley turf was Ricardo Fuller, unveiled to the fans at half time, who we had learnt in the Rose of Denmark prior to the match had signed for the club yesterday.
An experienced head at this level, it's not just about the earrings but the strength he'll bring to the squad, he won't be content keeping the bench warm.
Signed on a one year deal, the 32 year old will insist on giving Powell some selection problems. Our strikers will see it as even more pressure to get their shooting boots on and find a rich vein of form.
If this was Chris Powell's intention, it was a masterstroke.

Leicester started well but Charlton got stronger and stronger as the minutes ticked by, spurred on by a great atmosphere from the home support. A disappointing crowd of under 17,000, that made the noise of double that.

Eighteen minutes in and what appeared to be a bit of a speculative shot from Bradley Wright-Phillips found the back of the net. Just under a quarter of an hour later Yann Kermorgant did the same with a similar kind of effort. Cue the big man's celebrations.

The Valley was rocking, it could have been more than two, as Leon Cort tried to emulate what he had done on Saturday but was thwarted by the keeper..........Kasper, you're a ghost, Kasper Kasper you're a ghost........

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson made a couple of changes at the interval after what i guess was a fierce dressing down to a shell shocked team. It worked.
We looked very stretched at times during the second half as Leicester played some lovely football. They passed the ball around with confidence and set up chance after chance.
Andy King, not the Everton legend but the Welsh lad, was one of the arrivals after the break. Less than ten minutes later he'd pulled one back.

Charlton weren't going to give this up without a fight though. We all sang 'we all dream of a team of Kermorgants' yet in reality we had eleven hero's on the pitch. Rhoys Wiggins showed great vision going forward, Hamer did what he needed to do comfortably and without unnecessary flapping, and Bradley Pritchard looked totally at home on the right. It's hard to believe this lad was playing for Hayes and Yeading just over a year ago.

Someone at the heart of our rear guard though was immense last night. Michael Morrison, was a tower of strength putting in a collection of challenges and breaking down wave after wave of attacks.

There was a time when only the nimblest of fancy footwork superstars could wear coloured boots. I appreciate these days you can only purchase black boots from a referee's outfitters, but to wear orange boots still makes a bold statement of courage in my eyes.
We saw at Brentford last season some of the magic footwork Morrison is capable of. Last night we saw some more as the centre half threw in a couple of delicate step overs as he brought the ball out of defence.
Near the end Morrison went in bravely and came away with blood on the face forcing the ref to restart with us down to ten as the defender was cleaned up on the sidelines. The second half, as a whole, saw the tackles getting harder and harder as a mixture of desperation and desire got the better of both sides.

I never thought anyone would challenge the great Eddie Youds in my own Charlton hall of fame. How that particular scouser must be clinging on to this mantle with just a little sweat starting to appear on the brow...........

As the clock ticked down, my compatriot Jim stood next to me finding it harder and harder to watch. It had the feeling of a cup tie or an end of season six pointer, even their keeper was coming up for a corner.............in August!

The relief at the final whistle was staggering, you couldn't do that week in week out, could you?
I'd predicted we'd get one point out of our first two games, we got four. And Palace are bottom.
You've just have to smile!

Hull Saturday......

Come on you reds!