tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81216632012-05-24T06:10:18.210+01:00"A sentimentalist is simply one who desires to have the luxury of an emotion without paying for it." (Oscar Wilde)New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.comBlogger899125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-63612210786648955032012-04-13T17:54:00.007+01:002012-04-13T18:31:23.229+01:00

I appreciate that whilst most fans' attention is on Brunton Park, I’m perhaps alone in being fascinated instead by the realisation that the club’s accounts were quietly filed last month at Companies House.By way of a recap, since 23 Aug 2010, “the club” (Charlton Athletic Football Company Ltd) has been 100% owned by Baton 2010 Ltd (“Baton”) and on 31 Dec 2010, a British Virgin Islands entity CAFC

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-89455314364887801692012-03-08T17:46:00.004Z2012-03-08T18:08:02.477Z

Last night’s heroics by Barcelona forward Messi has ensured that the Argentinian is now categorically the 4th most revered Lionel after Lionel Blair, Lionel Ritchie and Rabbi Lionel Blue.However talk of him being the greatest footballer in the world is surely premature, when he may not even be the greatest left-footed midfielder in the world. I’m thinking of course about Charlton’s own Johnnie

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-8499355152340462722012-02-29T09:14:00.009Z2012-02-29T09:32:47.788Z

The need to buy a new family motor to accommodate three kids has forced me to endure some editions of What Car? magazine.Sadly the reality has dawned that a man cannot both transport his offspring in comfort and maintain any semblance of cool.To draw my focus away from this depressing state of affairs, I began to ask myself, "If Charlton players were cars, which ones would they be?"In other

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-72945577021916648422012-02-28T18:41:00.004Z2012-02-28T21:51:22.483Z

You can imagine Chris Powell’s teamtalks before the Bury, MK Dons and Rochdale games:”Now listen lads. It’s freezing cold out there and we’ll be lucky if there’s 10,000 fans in reality. There’s no point making a special effort to impress this lot because they will clearly come out to watch us regardless. It’s the 17,000 extra ones against Stevenage that we have to be conserving energy for. I’

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-15332647266896936722012-02-22T08:18:00.007Z2012-02-22T19:37:55.797Z

Last night was part two of a rare five consecutive home game run for me, and this time I invited a Dutch colleague who grew up watching the great Cruyff and Neeskens-inspired Ajax of the 1970s.Surprisingly he thought Charlton reminded him very much of that three-time European Cup winning side, "Yes you also play in red and white," he said dryly. Given that Charlton have 'only' taken six points

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-73410206166532532592012-02-15T19:03:00.011Z2012-02-16T13:59:57.750Z

“Why do weathermen say “it’s 40 degrees…. but with the wind chill factor it’s 2” Everyone walks around wondering is it 40 or is it 2? Tell me, do you feel two temperatures? I never heard a guy say I feel 40…but with the wind chill factor I feel 2. It’s like saying it’s raining, but without the rain…. it’s dry.” (Jackie Mason)An increasingly rare trip to The Valley was ruined somewhat by my

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-45860194648124156302012-01-11T21:14:00.005Z2012-01-11T21:42:30.196Z

"I didn’t have a clue about the winner. I’ve not seen him all year and I didn’t know anything about him or what he was capable of." (Mo Farah, Aug 2011)Some quotes from Chris Powell in the News Shopper piqued my interest this week.In particular, I have to take issue with his comment that, “I see the Hillsborough fixture as just another game in our season.”Now to be fair to Powell, he may be

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-53971802427412713212012-01-08T21:06:00.011Z2012-01-08T22:45:51.000Z

"There are known knowns, there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns, that is to say there are some things we know we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - there are things we do not know we don't know."(Donald Rumsfeld, Feb 2002)The relief that we didn't actually win at Fulham was palpable (enough indeed to encourage me to write a rare blog post), and now

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-77932550548024486722011-12-08T17:24:00.004Z2011-12-09T10:00:42.056Z

Peter Croker, the last surviving member of Charlton's victorious 1947 FA Cup winning side passed away today and with him a small part of the club died too.Football historians are well-aware that the advent of the Second World War explains why Charlton are relative 'also-rans' in domestic football.However back-to-back FA Cup final appearances straight after the end of war did maintain some of the

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-89652068195968718742011-11-30T18:06:00.006Z2011-11-30T18:25:44.475Z

The club website has quietly and briefly confirmed the departure of Jeff Vetere as technical director.His appointment had rightly generated a reasonable degree of excitement, given the stature of clubs where he had previously worked.Indeed a very well-connected football contact of mine described him as a 'genius'.In the brief period during which he was reconnected with the club, his role was so

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-73240374949966337832011-11-30T17:59:00.004Z2011-11-30T20:29:03.898Z

I believe Charlton are the only side in League One for whom I cannot make the following statement with at least 95% confidence: “They will not generate more than 100 points.” (New York Addick, 2 Aug 2011)Lest I be accused of being in a state of perma-negativity, I draw the attention of the jury to the above statement made before the season even started.Indeed with the team now on course for 111

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-55611517749717274122011-11-21T11:25:00.003Z2011-11-21T11:49:47.762Z

For the second time in the past three seasons, I made the relatively short trip to this often forgotten part of West London, wedged as it is between the M4 and the river.A couple of main stand tickets had fallen my way courtesy of a Brentford staff member, so I took up a terrific vantage point close to the directors’ box (indeed close enough to confirm that under no circumstances would I mess

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-66655838277220676522011-11-18T13:18:00.006Z2011-11-18T19:07:56.784Z

In life, it's sometimes important to simply accept that someone can do something much better than you can.Despite writing numerous posts that attempt to address issues relating to Charlton's finances, this outstanding blog is a must-read for anyone interested in the topic.Indeed his (or her) articles are always exceptionally well-researched, regardless of which club it relates to, and this one is

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-31921983580246023442011-11-03T20:42:00.009Z2011-11-04T09:12:36.501Z

'Intelligent footballer.' It's surely one of those modern oxymorons like 'non-iron shirt', 'pleasant flight' or 'underpaid banker'?Or maybe not it seems in Charlton's case. The current squad contains three players with degrees (Alonso, Hughes, Pritchard), as well as one more who certainly attended university (Taylor), although I cannot find firm evidence that he graduated.However I should begin

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-64368839262336347702011-10-16T09:05:00.008+01:002011-10-16T14:04:03.598+01:00

hubris ('hju:bris) n. 1. pride or arrogance; 2. an excess of ambition, pride etc., ultimately causing the transgressor's ruin.Perhaps it is too simple to mistake an extraordinary lack of urgency for hubris, but that was my overriding feeling after making the short trip across Hertfordshire.You could tell within five minutes that the home side were 'up for it', every ball was challenged for as if

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-37350142972643342492011-09-26T20:42:00.007+01:002011-09-26T21:00:15.742+01:00

As promised two blog posts ago, nine points from Charlton's next three games were assured and so it came to pass.A pleasant two weeks in New York took in the superb US Open mens singles semi-finals, as well as the more sombre tenth anniversary of 9/11.Sadly the club hasn't offered me a suitably attractive financial incentive not to attend MK Dons, although my effect on the team may be neutralised

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-45000200995503546912011-09-13T23:51:00.006+01:002011-09-14T14:06:12.209+01:00

Chris Powell has made his 19th signing of the season, bringing in much-needed striker cover in the shape of Yann Kermogant. The last ball kicked by the Frenchman in English football was a missed play-off penalty for Leicester at Cardiff in 2010. And it wasn't just any old penalty miss. Displaying typical French flair (surely arrogance? - Ed.), he chose to try a delicate chip which was saved

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-88459394848284793632011-09-08T02:15:00.002+01:002011-09-08T02:21:48.057+01:00

"But I'm a substitute for another guy,I look pretty tall but my heels are high." (The Who, 1966)I'm starting to think that I might be the problem.Whenever I get to watch the Addicks (whether live or on TV), we are usually mediocre, at least to my critical eye.  I'm now in New York for a fortnight so we should be good for the next nine available points, but I regret to report I've just bought

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-11131719600583538872011-08-19T17:40:00.006+01:002011-08-19T21:14:09.460+01:00

Three wins, seven goals, three solid performances, nine points, joyous fans returning home down the A12.....this is Charlton we're talking about isn't it? (pinches himself). Ever the realist, one could point out that the above paragraph might just as easily have referred to the start of season 2009/10. On that occasion we had followed up a slightly nervy home win over Wycombe, with two

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-17541929986448167522011-08-11T20:21:00.007+01:002011-08-12T08:05:19.083+01:00

The only positive thing to come out of this week's shameful events, is that Charlton are still in the Carling Cup. I read an interesting analogy this week which argued policing was akin to banking. Essentially both are built on a fundamental lie. In the banking case, if all depositors asked for their money back at once, they could not have it. In the policing case, if there is criminal

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-461594402403947982011-08-06T18:30:00.004+01:002011-08-08T21:30:51.887+01:00

When writing post-match blogs, I am consious that the vast majority of readers will have seen the game so I will keep this brief. In short it was a very positive afternoon, but not necessarily in the way you might imagine. The day began with a surprise with Elliot confirmed as keeper, and Hamer not even on the bench. It is hard to believe Powell wants three senior keepers, so something has to

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-72443277154517859732011-08-05T17:59:00.003+01:002011-08-06T07:28:57.849+01:00

The summer break from football usually drags on (especially in a year with no international competition), but this time Charlton fans were happy for some respite after the humiliating end to last season.However the general mood has rapidly evolved from pessimism to optimism (perhaps irrationally so), as fifteen new players agreed terms to wear the Addicks shirt. As I tried to explain last week,

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-68720716602882885422011-08-02T17:39:00.008+01:002011-08-02T21:19:12.763+01:00

Sporting Index have finally published their 2011/12 League One points total spreads.Interestingly, whilst Charlton are typically 4th favourites to win the League One title with the traditional ‘fixed odds’ bookmakers (behind Huddersfield, Sheff Weds and Preston), they are firmly placed 2nd in the Sporting Index hierarchy with a spread offered of 75-77.This may seem somewhat anomalous, although

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-9053075130113188122011-07-29T16:21:00.007+01:002011-07-30T08:12:37.024+01:00

In my last post, I sought to explain how the club might be financed and my thoughts on the likely strategy of the new owners.Since then there has been considerable transfer activity which I would argue (albeit less than impartially) has generally been consistent with these predictions, although I will elaborate further below.However amongst the understandable optimism at the direction in which

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8121663.post-70218896137441162802011-06-16T21:57:00.007+01:002011-06-17T06:40:50.301+01:00

Film makers are known to use the description, "..based on a true story..", permitting them a degree of artistic flexibility, whilst they fill in the gaps in their knowledge.As I explained in my last post, I received information about Charlton's takeover which greatly enhanced my understanding of how things might pan out from here.In addition I’m fortunate to be in regular communication with a

New York Addickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08557761313491796984noreply@blogger.com26