After the Lord Mayors show ...

Well the dust has settled but I'm still smarting from Saturdays match. A complete lack of direction is what I'm now feeling. But it was summed up in an email to the CAFC list by Richard Hunt. It actually captures most of what I was feeling, and I hope he doesn't mind if I reprint it here. I'm not going to try and pass the thoughts off as mine, but it's definately how I was feeling ...

" After 72 hours ... to recover from travelling all that way to see such a mauling, (Richard travels from the Czech Republic) I am more than ever convinced that we should seriously try to get Parker back.

When I compare Saturday to last Boxing Day the difference was that then we had three Charlton players who took to the field believing they were every bit as good as the Chelsea players: Parker, di Canio and Jensen. Those three inspired the rest. On Saturday I didnt see that from anyone (with the exception of the Elk in the first half, and Thomas before he was clattered by Terry, in a challenge every bit as bad as Koncheskys red card job against Chelsea two years ago ). Steve Brown said afterwards on GLR that after the third goal "the body language was dreadful". Danny Murphy is a good player whose confidence is shot to pieces. Matt Holland does a lot of good work that we rarely notice, but as somebody mentioned to me on Saturday, his nickname at Ipswich was Mr CleanShorts, and his disciplinary record is almost too good for a central midfielder. Parker got his shorts dirty, and drove at the Chelsea defence too. Neither Holland nor Murphy managed that at all.
We were noted for being the team that respected nobody and had a go at all. We have completely lost that. Somebody mentioned that we were in their faces for ten minutes. Were we hell. It took more than a minute before we even touched the ball. We lost that kind of self belief the moment we lost Parker. Of the new signings, what Murphy, Jeffers, Rommedahl and Hughes have in common is that none of them seem to believe they deserve a place in a top Premiership starting line up. In Hughes case, he is probably right, with the other three, I don't know.
Rommedahl did some deeply unimpressive things when he came on, but he also set off on a run which everyone else just stood still and admired.

We seem to have no idea what to do with him, what formation he fits into. That cannot be all his fault."

There you go. There's no point in dwelling on that ONE match but it did show the general direction we have gone in a year. Well in a little bit less than a year to be honest and it's not good.

I finally got the car jump started last night. If I was a car I wouldn't start on cold nights either. And I nearly got in and embarked on a 3 hour journey. I say nearly ... I mean nearly but I think I would have got in trouble.

I'm planning on doing about 3 hours of ironing tonight. The pile is getting bigger and bigger ... Oh I do live on the edge.

My tune of the day: Till I found U - Jasper Street Co

Party pics ...

Right I said that I would put them up on the site and I have. Now if they can view them in Brazil they'll hold another party. It was Isabelas 10th birthday party, and it rocked, as good as any tenth birthday party could.

Carla, Priscilla, Larissa, Isabela, Karinhe, Julliana, Anna ...

My guess is as good as yours ...

Priscilla, Larissa, Veeto, Karinhe, Julliana, Jason, Carla, Johhny, Marriana, Vitoria, Feeama, Anna, Fatima, Edson and Tom ... in no particular order

Run Wabbitt ...

So the Run London 10km run has come and gone. I got as far as moving off of the setee, holding up the illuminated top so see if it glowed and then lying back down. Sod that I though ...

So shall I talk about Charlton? Shall I try to be as optimistic as I was on Friday? Should I try to work out what Danny Murphy's role in the team is? Should I bollox ...

Yes, yes ... Charlton weren't good, Chelsea were ... but I could always say that Charlton would play with a bit of passion, even if they couldn't string three passes together. Passion never reared it's ugly head on Saturday. Forgive me if I'm wrong but I've seen some pretty dire Charlton performances over the years. This wasn't one of them but when you add up the collective wages/money paid for the individual against the team output must come right at the top for worst performances. The programme, whoops matchday magazine has been doing a top ten performance list match on match and on Saturday reminded us of the 4-3 victory at Villa back in 99, when Brown-eye went in goal and Dandy Mills scored that winner with a minute to go. That was the match when I was dressed as a Pearly King and Tim Chick buggered up his knee. Anyway what would we have given for that team performance on Saturday. Mark Kinsella in midfield, Clive Mendonca up front. What we got was Danny Murphy strolling around in the middle of the park, refusing to run or close down his man and Shaun Bartlett so isolated up front it wasn't funny. Yes, match report after match report tells us how good Chels were, even AQITES tell us how Chel will win the league, but what I don't get is how people have had the audacity to question Jason Euells ability, commitment when Murphy is still in the team. I say get him out now, I'll actually volunteer to drive his back up North, as long as he keeps his mouth shut, put Euell in the centre of midfield, get Rommadhal playing of the wing, get Franny up with Bartlett and go find a decent, pacy centre half. Now that's not too hard is it. It's lucky that Norwich and West Brom are so bad, otherwise we may be in trouble. A forty thousand capacity stadium my ass.

I watched "A Day after tomorrow" yesterday. It was a great Sunday morning film, big sweeping special effects shots and a good, basic plot. If you're looking for an easy going film then this is the one. Or you could go and see the new Bridget Jones flick. It may even make you propose to your gal, or even a random gal. Go on you know you want to.

Well, I've definitely got the holiday blues at the moment. It's all too dark for me ... dark in the morning, dark at night ... what's that all about??? I need another break, okay maybe not a break, I just need to chill ...

I've decided not to go to Palarse on Sunday. I'm going to keep my £35 firmly in my pocket. I'm going to watch on Sky, shout at the inept performance, moan when we lose and then feel better that I'm not out of pocket.

I'm thinking of shaving off my hair. Zip it off and start again ... come on

My tune of the day: Shifting gears - Johhny Hammond

Sunny Delight ...

No not that pseudo-orange/ vegetable oil drink but outside. It's sunny. It's the first time I've seen the sun in months. Well not totally true, but in this country at least.

It's football tomorrow. I actually can't wait. To see Fortune get the run around from Gudjonson, and Kishishev from Lampard, what more would I want. I may have to wear my lucky pants. Hang on, I actually don't own a pair ...

I was meant to be doing that Run London 10km thingy on Sunday. I entered and then forgot about it. But it's just dawned on me how serious this thing is meant to be. I've done no actual training either ... which is fun, so I think I could run about 6-7km before I hit the wall. Then what??? Wabbling all around Bermondsey, not a pretty sight. So sod it. I think i'll stay in the warmth of my front room and watch the Liverpool/ Arse match.

The Southend gal ... well Shoeburyness really is pregnant. She's just told me. Congratulations I say, and I mean it, but that would be the 3 or 4th time wouldn't it?? But what do I know!!!!

I'm not sure if I have said congratulations to Graeme and Nicky on the birth of Tabitha. I know it was a bit hairy, but it would be if you had a monkey ... boom, boom. No, seriously congratulations, and isn't it about time Kev sowed his seed, just to prove he ain't a jaffa!!!!!

I'm still trying to download some of the Brasil pics, and waiting on a few multimedia messages to arrive so I can post the pictures. The ones of Isabellas tenth bithday party are quality.

My tune of the day: It's great to be here - Jackson 5

Preparing for the party ... and when I say party I mean party. Tom and myself rock in the kitchen ...  

Well I finally downlaoded a pic ... it's the view from my bedroom window in Vigigal. Note the Sheraton Hotel on the right hand side, thats where UManU stayed when they played in the World Club Championship a few years back ... 

Return of the Prodigal Son ...

Well, I'm back in work mode, seriously pished at the cold weather and looking forward to his return on Saturday. Whether he'll play or be on the bench god only knows, well that what Jose calls himself ... but who am I to argue.

Charlton v Chelsea is always a fixture I look forward to. I have a few Chels mates and it was always good putting them in their place. But what now? Now they have all the benjamins, the moolah, louies, rubles ... what now??? Well we have JJ and Kish, come on you know they can do it.

Before I left to go to Brazil I complained one last time to three about the shite phone I had. And would you believe it they changed they model. They gave me an LG thingy, that bleeps every time you do something. But it works. I was on the phone for about 45 mins last night and it didn't drop the call once. Well I lie, but I dropped the phone so that don't count. So if you need to complain do it long and hard. Keep on complaining because eventually you will get what you want.

I'm considering getting a cleaner. I just can't be bothered to do it myself. Is that a bit extravagant? The flat is a tip, and I just sit down and do nothing. At least if I had someone coming round to do it I might make an effort, I wouldn't want them thinking I was a lazy, helpless git would I!!!!

Oh an Welling United are off the bottom of the league. They've actually won a couple of matches, whooopeeee. But they did lose to Dartford in the Kent Cup, somethings never change.

I'm trying to download some more pics of the Brazil trip. But I'm not too sure how many peeps would want to see me thonged up on the beach. They are great shots though.

It's a month to go before Christmas. I was speaking to someone yesterday who had just put their decorations up. Is that a bit too soon? Isn't it a bit tacky to do that? I usually do it a couple of weeks before the day, and take them down just in the new year. Seems about right to me. But then again ... who am I to complain. Northerners eh ...

Come on Charlton ... we gotta take those Russians to the cleaners this week. Make him eat his giant truffle ... come on lets stuff it up em' ...

My tune of the day: Love's on time - Barbara Tucker

Now this is what you call a bar !!!! Can you spot the fridge ... ?

Back in blighty ....

Mengo v Fogo ... and Curbo thinks he's got it hard!!!!!

Well that's it. Nearly three weeks to debauchery finished. No email, no blogging, no racist chanting ... blimey, what's that all about. I can totally understand Ronnie Biggs. It's all a bit weird really. Having spent a quality weekend at Southport then rushing home to pack and setting of to Brasil. I didn't have time to think about a 13 hour flight, or how wasted I actually was, or who I might miss ... well there were certain people of course. But now I'm back and it all seems like a thousand years ago.

I was staying on the outskirts of Vigigal. One of the flavelas close to Leblon and Ipanema. We actually walked into Vigigal and the truck load of Police to have breakfast each morning and where able to stand out on the balcony most evenings trying to place where the sound of the bullets where coming from. But it wasn't that bad.

We, being Timbo ... eventually Mushy and myself Hic, stayed in the White House overlooking the Sheraton.

It's quite mad how fitness conscious the Brazilians actually are, compared to the fat sods that were on my train this morning ... but maybe my holiday blues have kicked in.

My tune of the day: Wild Fire - John Holt

I'm back

Touched down ... Brasil, quality ... I'll be back on tomorrow.

Peace, love ...

My tune of the day: Betcha' wouldn't hurt me - Quincy Jones

Av it ...

Live and direct from Leblon, Rio. Four nil to the Addicks and I´m avin it large ...

Oh the wonders of the net ...

My tune of the day: Anything you damn well want

From the frying pan to the fire ...

Well Southport is safely filed away. Some great moments, 650 badges handed out ... some drink drunk ... a win for the boys at da LANE ...

Now onwards to South America ...

I'll see you in a few weeks.

My tune of the day: We had a thing - Abstract Truth

It's grim oop North ....

This is the third time Ive trid to load this ... so sod it.

My tune of the da: Sweet Tears - Roy Ayres

Four more years ...

No, they haven't given JJ an extended contract ... thank fcuk ... it's the bush that won it. Come on we all love bush.

Just took possession of my new MP3 player by Creative ... and it does what it says on the tin. Loads of music, loads of music. I doubt whether I'll be able to listen to all of them anyway.

I'm in holiday mode ... so I may be back on later, keep logging on.

My tune of the day: Weekend - Phreek

Addicked to your love ...

So the Addicks have done the right thing and let Michael Turner sign for Brentford. Now the lad can concentrate on carving out a career for himself. But they are still up in arms, some of the mailing list lot. We've let one of our best young lads just walk away, how can we let him go when we need a centre half. Oh please, Michael Turner wasn't the answer to our problems ... so just let the lad get a good contract at a club that he may be able to make an impression at.

I think my days of flirting with the Sun are at an end. Yes, I know I should never have have bought it in the start, just for what they did re the Hillsborough stuff. But today I think has taken the biscuit. And for once I'm stumped for words. It's the old Stan Collymore story. Yes, we all know what Stan is about, but I just don't get the utter contempt the Sun and the public have for him. I just don't get it. They continually go on about him being a woman beater. Yep, we'll tick that one off ... then there's the dogger issue, but that's all about consenting adults surely, then we have the Ireland fight. So Stan has a book out, his publicists wants maximum exposure ... Yes, we get that as well. But why the utter hate? Gazza, whoops sorry G8 wrote about his serial victimisation of his wife and he is a cheeky chappy. Those that know, know ... but I just don't get it.

Yep, I'm up North this weekend. It will be nice to see some of the people ... they know who they are, you get no name checks here.

I invested in the Soul Heaven presents Jazzy Jeff "In the House" CD yesterday. Quality. Starting with Papa was a Rollin Stone through to I got Rhythm, this has had me dancing around the office all day. Go get yourself some ... you know it makes sense.

My tune of the day: Let's start the dance - Hamilton Bohannon

Swing low ...

It was always on the cards wasn't it. Stan "The Van" and the Bath Rugby players. All out on the pish in Dublin, all slagging each other off. Do we really want to know, do we really care? It's the age old football vs rugby thingamy. You know Rugby, remember ... England won the World Cup last year, but nothing since. It's in all the papers ... Colly bragging about his exual conquests with Kirsty Gallacher ... you would though, wouldn't you?

This getting dark in the evenings thing really takes the buscuit. I left work last night, it was dark, it was raining and I didn't have a smile on my face. In fact it does put you on a right downer. Well, I've shaken out all the cobwebs, brushed myself down ... and I'm looking good. I might even be going on holiday.

The young reserves drew with Pompey last night. Word is that although we looked accomplished we had no cutting edge. I have heard that somewhere before ... cutting edge, don't make me laugh. One of the Tottenham boys I know will be out of rehab for Saturdays game ... I was going to suggest I meet him in the pub, unfortunately I am up north ... shame eh!!!!

Talking of going up North. I found a pair of trousers/ Jeans in the cupboard that I had forgotten I had. Pink and black stripes ... which I'll wear with a pair of winkle pickers, but what can I wear up top? A black shirt maybe, tuxedo jacket ... I'm not too sure at the moment.

I turned on GMTV this morning ... (Yes, I know) they were having a telephone poll re who do you want to win the American elections ... Bush or Kerry. I did sit there scratching my head. So who would be phoning a premium telephone line to register their preference. Not half the fools I say on "Britains Hardest Village" on Sky One last night. They would have had trouble using a phone.

Does anyone work at BP? Does anyone want to work at BP?

My tune of the day: Latin Lover - Maters at Work

Hair today .....

The receptionist has said my new haircut makes me look younger ... ya boo sucks ...

Everything comes to those that wait ...

That's my advise to the old shot shy Spurs forwards with their game coming up this weekend.

A piece of advise, take a look at Page 3 of the Sun today. Now you would, wouldn't you!!!!

So Bill Curbishley listens to Talk Sport, and he even phones it up. Well he did last night, when he called up defending his bro. He was banging on about trying to contain his anger. Charlton don't deserve him. Have I missed something here. Yes Curbs paid for things on his own credit card 10 years ago, but he now has a multi million pound contract. I wouldn't mind some of that ... and I wouldn't put Kishishev in midfield.

It was nice to hear from the Boustani last night. It seems like she has gone through the ringer, put dancing will be on the agenda come the weekend, you'd better get those dancing feet in gear.

I spent Sunday afternoon watching 3 episodes of Roots. Remember Roots ... if you don't I suggest you go watch it. If you do, well go watch it again. It's an unbelievable story, and although most of it isn't true ... well so what.

So, did anyone spend Saturday night watching Strictly Come dancing/ ballroom. I had a call from my Mum yesterday asking who had been voted out. She then went on to say that there was a lack of TV programmes for the older viewer, and she didn't want to watch Sex, drugs and rock n'roll. Fair point I thought, as I switched over to Men and Motors.

My cowboy boots arrived. They don't fit. So there we have the perils of ebay. Does anyone fit a size 8.5? Bern? Kev?

My tune of the day: Get another love - Chantel Curtis