... And What A Day!

No, the dust hasn’t settled yet, the heart and the mind will still be at Wembley for a while to come. But the body is back in France, after another wonderful, triumphant weekend. Everyone will have their stories and in a nutshell this is mine – come on, there’s surely no point in a match report, although I think we would all join in wishing Leyton Orient well for next season. Their fans were splendid, their manager gracious in defeat. And I think he summed it all up by saying Charlton were ready for promotion, Orient perhaps not. My thought before the game was that they would love to go up, we need to go up. That sense of destiny for me hung over the game, only reinforced by Gillesphey’s free-kick.

The day began with a dilemma. Should I make the early dash from Welling to get to The Green Man to join up with other International Addicks, or meet up with fellow Addicks congregating at Waterloo for breakfast and an early glass or two? In the event the alarm clock made the decision for me (basically got up too late) and it would be the latter. The trains into town were already full of Addicks and by the time breakfast was concluded so were the tubes.

By the time we emerged at Wembley the plan of walking to The Green Man had gone out of the window and the queue for the Fan Zone was just too long. So we opted for going into the ground fairly early, around 12.00, where it was possible to sit and enjoy a glass (OK, it was a plastic tumbler full to the brim with red wine). Good chance to gather one’s thoughts and catch up with others, compare notes on expectations, and to take seats with the time to take it all in, even if we missed out on the atmosphere of the other venues.

After the game and having drained every last drop possible of the celebrations, we were trying to decide on where to get a glass when we walked by an Ibis hotel. I asked guys on the door if the bar was open – and that afforded us the opportunity for another pause for breath while drinking more truly challenging red wine. A couple later and it was train, tube, train and then we piled into Panas in Blackheath Village for a quick ruby. Well, it was intended to be a quick ruby but the staff had other ideas. The food when it came was exquisite – but it came far too late, we had waited ages and lost valuable time (apparently because it was a ‘long order’). The rating went back up a notch when we were offered a free brandy each to compensate for the delay, only for it to fall back again when said ‘brandy’ proved to be brandy-flavoured water.

We did make it into The Crown with enough time for a few more glasses, although we had again missed the chance to meet and greet others. Then with still very satisfied grins we went our separate ways, me back to Welling (and so pleased I managed to avoid falling asleep), the next day back to Lyon.

So not all went perfectly – off the pitch. On it, the only thing that prevented perfection was the absence of a second to enable us to truly enjoy a few minutes before a final whistle, which would have been a welcome change.

Massive congratulations to Jones and the team/squad, rounded off by his excellent post-match comments. Anticipation of next season, who will stay and who will go/get brought in is all for the future. Perhaps when the fixture list comes out in a few weeks. For now we can just remember, reflect, swap photos/videos – and each time we do conclude with WE BLOODY DID IT!!!!!!

Oh, What A Night

Oh what a night!! And no, I can't get that song out of my head this morning. I will never be able to say I way there (just as I was in Hong Kong for the second leg against Ipswich and in Lyon for the one against Doncaster). But like before I’ll be at Wembley, flights booked. Just watching the scenes at The Valley on the CATV stream was enough to make the spine tingle, especially with a large glass of celebratory cognac in hand.

Let’s tip a hat to Wycombe. They never wilted, their supporters made noise, but for two outstanding blocks by Ramsay might well have won the game; and in defeat their manager was gracious. They played their part in making the context a two-part classic as one of the worst exhibitions of football you might want to watch – and that is meant as a complement, not an insult. They took the lesson from the 0-4 and adapted, ensured there would be no repeat of that. That we kept them out over the two legs was down to superb, disciplined defending (aside from the early shot at their place I can’t remember Mannion having to make an actual save) as a team, while they protected ther goal very well too, managing in particular to snuff out the threat from Campbell.

The game last night consequently came down to very fine margins in a few key moments. Aside from a low cross from Godden which Campbell couldn’t reach our one real chance of the first half saw Jones miscue a header from close range when he seemed set to score (and probably should have done). In the second Small’s effort having cut in from the right went inches wide – and Godden came about as close to getting a decisive contact on the effort to divert it into the net. At the other end, as the game opened up Ramsay’s blocks will live long in our memories (and will haunt them for years), but you also have to add an exceptionally well-timed shove by Gillesphey on Kone as he was about to pull the trigger. If instead of shooting into the side-netting Kone had gone down under the challenge I don’t think the ref would have had any alternative but to give a penalty (and perhaps a red card).

Then we come to the goal. Jones did superbly to get his leg to the ball and keep the threat alive. But watching in real time I thought there’s no way he can get to the second ball before their keeper. That he did was down to fatal hesitation on the keeper’s part. If he’d reacted immediately and dashed out to claim the ball he surely would have got there first. Instead Jones nicked it and Godden did what he does so well – be in the right place at just the right time.

The game wasn’t about who deserved to win, the balance of play etc. It was all about whether one side or the other could get the ball into the net, by whatever means. We did. Cue glorious celebrations.

Jones deserves all the plaudits that will come his way, especially if we overcome Leyton Orient at Wembley. He hasn’t fashioned a pretty team but a very effective one - and if I’ll allow myself a pat on the back its for arguing late last year that Jones had to find a way to accommodate Small (clearly he did) and had to start with Godden (incredible as it seems now he was for much of the first half of the season not first choice). Most important, for me, is that he’s instilled in the players just what is needed to win at this level – and they’ve bought into it, with success breeding success. Whatever happens at Wembley, we have good reason to look forward to next season.

As for Wembley, the bookies have already made us (slightly) odds-on favourites. That’s fair enough to any neutral, given the results this season and the final standings. We know how difficult it’s going to be, we haven’t forgotten we were 1-0 down at their place until two headers right at the death, even though I’d guess most Addicks are like me in being pleased that we will face Orient and not Stockport. Orient are there on merit, just as we are. It’s going to be a great day. Bring it on.

All Set Up For Thursday

We’d gone through ad infinitum the pros and cons of facing Wycombe for a Wembley final, what would be needed, what was and was not relevant from the previous games (there’s always a very nagging feeling when everything went so well last time you just think ‘do the same again’ while the opposition must be thinking ‘nothing worked last time, we need to change something’). Basically we just wanted a rerun of the 0-4 win and not surprisingly that didn’t happen. But what we got was in many respects positive, in some respects a magnificent display of resolve and resolution.

It was an ugly game, combative but nervy, marked by poor refereeing and very few chances. They edged the first half, even though Kone could easily have been given a red card for his double challenge on Ramsay (and how he avoided a second yellow during the game is a mystery, not least for leading with his elbow in an arial challenge). They had a shot or two, some dangerous moments, while we struggled to create anything. But through the second half we steadily gained the ascendency, nullifying their threat, and ended by far the stronger side, with their keeper having to pull off two late saves to keep it goalless. It may not have been the result we secretly hoped for, but it’s an outcome that we probably would have taken before the game – and the way in which we overcame them, despite a homer ref, must give us optimism for the second leg. Jones has to be the happier of the two bosses.

We all also knew the team if everyone was available, the only question being whether they all were. Mannion, Jones and Berry did indeed return, while Small was back but only among the subs. Whether that was tactical on the part of Jones the Boss or the thought that he might not be ready yet for 90 minutes would be a point to clear up later. So it would be 3-5-2 with Ramsay, Jones and Gillesphey in central defence, Watson and Edwards the wing-backs, Coventry and Docherty the midfield anchors and Berry the more forward midfield option, and Godden and Campbell up front. Maynard-Brewer was the back-up keeper, Small and Mitchell (getting the nod again over McIntyre) the defensive options (although Small can be considered more an attacking one), Anderson and Gilbert for midfield, and Mbick and Hylton the reserve forwards, with Kanu (and of course Ahadme) missing out.

In the first half, without Small the onus was on Campbell to be the out ball and main attacking threat, but he was well marshalled, generally crowded out before being able to get set, often fouled with nothing given. The ball was in the air most of the time, but Wycombe had the greater cohesion and threat going forward, requiring some very good defending to keep them at bay. They had I’d say two real chances. The first was in the fifth minute when a ball found a guy in space outside the box and he hit a wicked shot, fortunately close enough to Mannion for him to get enough behind the ball to keep it out. The second came on 14 minutes from a free kick on the left side. The ball was sent in to the far post and really two Wycombe players got in each other’s way, with one heading over from a good position.

The incident of note came on 35 minutes when Ramsey was seeing a ball out and Kone came sliding in. His first contact with studs showing caught Ramsey around the ankle, his follow through saw his studs hit higher up the leg. It was a poor challenge, one he acknowledged; only he can say what was going through his mind. Would VAR have resulted in a red card? I’d say probably. A little bit of handbags at the end of the half saw the usual yellow for each time, Docherty for us. Here too a replay would probably have seen more cards for them as some of their players got involved when there was no need.

The stats at the break showed possession almost even with Wycombe having four attempts on goal, two on target, against one and none for us. But we’d kept them out.

Not much changed during the second half except that we just seemed to get stronger, they probably tired and became frustrated. We still weren’t creating anything in the final third, but that changed late on following the introduction of Small and Anderson, for Watson and Berry, on 71 minutes. They were clearly wilting and my impression was that if anyone was going to nick a winner it would be us. The two chances came late on as first Godden was denied by their keeper, who went on to produce a more instinctive save from Docherty from close range.

You’d say on balance over the full game a draw was a reasonable outcome. But if the game had gone on for another 10 minutes there was only going to be one winner. We ended up having seven attempts on goal, three on target, against seven and two for them (ie none on target in the second half).

We have to wait to see if anyone picked up a bad enough knock to rule them out of the return at The Valley. We will have Aneke back available and presumably he will be in the squad (Jones’ lack of forward options from the bench having been a notable constraint), while Jones will have to decide whether at home Small is the better wing-back option (for all his qualities Watson cannot provide the same threat going forward). It’s going to be some night, bring it on.

Plans Being Laid As Best I Can

So there we have it, Wycombe twice then Wembley. The weekend kind of went as planned, although there was a smack of Heath Robinson about it for me. Months ago, when the play-offs (never mind top two) were but a distant dream, my nieces planned a surprise birthday party for my sister and my partner Suzanne and I said we’d be there. How was I to know they would choose the final Saturday of the regular season?

There was no way I was going to risk not being there if we were going to be promoted automatically, so before the Wrexham game I bought a ticket for Burton. Thought perhaps I might just ‘nip out for some fresh air’ and hope nobody noticed my absence for a few hours. The pressure eased, for an obvious reason, so in the event I was able to party with the rest of the family for a while then head off to The Valley to get in for the final 20 minutes of the game, before post-match drinks and a ruby with fellow Addicks (having been given a pass for good behaviour, or something, by Suzanne). I didn’t get to see a goal, but that’s no problem, more are coming at Wembley.

The game itself was notable only for the fact that we secured the win and with it (and the Wycombe v Stockport result) fourth place, the blooding of youngsters (including the debut for Fullah), the resting of those who needed it, and Godden’s two superb goals, which meant he ended the regular season as the league’s joint-third top scorer and a minutes-per-goal stat (140) bettered only by Barry. Jones was for sure a worthy winner of the Player of the Year award (my vote went to Coventry), but Godden would also have been (with Campbell, Edwards and Gillesphey getting mentions in dispatches).

The rest of the season really should be straightforward – but seems it isn’t, yet. I watched the two Doncaster games in a bar in Old Lyon (before the trip to Wembley) and assumed I’d be able to do the same this time around. Apparently not. It seems no broadcaster in France is showing the game and CATV isn’t allowed. So much for my plans. I’m still investigating ways and means and more than fingers are crossed.

Then there’s the question of Wembley, if it happens of course. It’s tempting fate to book a London trip for the weekend, but each day you wait the price goes up. Sure, when push comes to shove I will pay the cost whatever (and may end up like last time sleeping at Heathrow for an early flight back to Lyon), but perhaps there is the possibility to book flights with the option of rescheduling if the unthinkable happens. If I do that it is sending the message (to whoever may be listening) that I don’t believe it’s guaranteed we will get there – but it’s guaranteed that if we do get there I will be there too. (One small aside, I’m never ITK but seems one of the other International Addicks post-Burton chatted with Thierry Small on the train home and was told that he, Lloyd Jones and Luke Berry would all be fit for the first leg against Wycombe.)