Post by bluey69 on Oct 7, 2008 14:36:21 GMT -1
hey all, thought i may aswell do this as i always do when i go 2 a game.
went 2 butlins for the weekend with some friends, kinda to see sash, as he's my alltime favourite dj ! also to get messy n have fun!
so after fridays adventures at butlins,,, getting back at 5am, catching the train from bognor to charlton REALLY didnt appeal one bit to be honest. But as i had my train ticket already booked,,, felt i should go the game.
Anyway, scrolling forwards a bit of time, arrived at Charlton feeling a bit more awake and with it. The ground fortunately was a 2 minute walk from the trainstation, which is sensible for football fans. Arrived at 2pm, in time to purchase my ticket.
Now prior to the game, id rang Ipswich to book my ticket. I thought it was £20 for students, however there was no student price ! Tried pretending i was under 20 a couple of times on the phone, and couldn't get served to my annoyance. Managed to get one on the gate tho and save a tenner ! ( £30 in my eyes is daylight robbery for Championship football, let alone what them boys at QPR are trying to charge ! )
Got into the ground, and sat down. Was quite surprised at the lack of music also. With the away end slightly out of the way from the rest of the stadium, there wasn't too much pre game atmosphere either.
Onto the game - didn't mind us lining up with a 4-5-1 formation at all. However - if we're going to, Garvan MUST play. hasn't got every attribute ever, but his passing is often exemplary.
We started the game poorly. Couldn't argue with Charlton being 1 goal to the good, but to concede such a ridiculous goal really frustrated me. Now it WAS a well placed free kick. Also, we shouldn't have given Chalrton a promising free kick in the first place. But for me, Richy Wright has to do an awful lot better there. The wall positioning must have been off, and made the player just go for placement - it wasn't stuck with any venom. Wright has ALSO GOT to dive for it,,,, have a go at saving it.
Anyway.... it'd happened, and we were a goal down. Now i was hoping the Charlton fans may liven up after this - but apart from the slight murmour when they scored - they were in absolute silence the rest of the half. I really don't get how people can turn up to a game, and just watch it as though they are watching Casualty on television. Never mind ! feel sorry for the charlton fans having NOTHING to get them going.
About 20 minutes in, or whenever tommy miller went off injured to be replaced by Counago - we DID improve. Weren't looking fantastic by any means, but we were much the better side from that point. Infact, Pablo got us moving for the equaliser, 2nd visit to the Valley with a classy backheel.
Now at 1-1 we were quite rampant, in decent voice ( considering we had a lot of fans at an away game for a change ) i think we could have been better !!! Counago went over, with many town fans appealing for a penalty - Now id need to see it again, but personally i was embarrassed by Pablo - no need for diving mate !
Just before half time, Campo hit the crossbar with a lovely free kick - i was hoping alan quinn would have it, but fair play to
C A M P O, he struck it very well !
Half time came. Me and the lad sat next to me were chatting about the game, and were unsure how it would go. I said " if we play like we have the last 20, i can see us getting a positive result " . He shared my optimism. We had taken control, with half time coming at the perfect time for Pardew to rally his troops.
2nd half started how the 1st had finished. We were looking quite a slick side going forwards, but without creating an awful lot. Quinn sliced a cross at the start of the half, that came back off the crossbar, which made me wonder " are we going to have one of these days... "
The next 15 or so minutes passed with us in firm control, until out of the blue ( much like our goal in the first half ) Charlton went 2-1 up. Quite an undeserved lead, but when ur in the ascendancy u have to at least CREATE a couple of chances !
Much to my ( and the other town fans annoyance ) we were losing away from home. The last 20 / 25 went in a blur, neither side creating or troubling either keeper a great deal. Charlton ended the game generally the stronger, playing very well on the break.
Overall review, out of 10...
Ground - 7. The away end does need work, but the rest was very tidy and modern.
Stewards - 10. Excellent, very friendly !
food- 4 - £3.25.... for ur average nonsense( Wolves is £1 a burger, take note other grounds !!! )
Atmosphere - 5. Our fans generally tried, i think the 17000 charlton fans comprised 800 fans, 16000 cardboard cut outs, and 200 people thinking the football ground was something else
Had a good day out though, would recommend the Valley to any visiting fans
anyone else go ? any views !? this site seems generally quiet ( or is that ipswich fans !?
)
went 2 butlins for the weekend with some friends, kinda to see sash, as he's my alltime favourite dj ! also to get messy n have fun!
so after fridays adventures at butlins,,, getting back at 5am, catching the train from bognor to charlton REALLY didnt appeal one bit to be honest. But as i had my train ticket already booked,,, felt i should go the game.
Anyway, scrolling forwards a bit of time, arrived at Charlton feeling a bit more awake and with it. The ground fortunately was a 2 minute walk from the trainstation, which is sensible for football fans. Arrived at 2pm, in time to purchase my ticket.
Now prior to the game, id rang Ipswich to book my ticket. I thought it was £20 for students, however there was no student price ! Tried pretending i was under 20 a couple of times on the phone, and couldn't get served to my annoyance. Managed to get one on the gate tho and save a tenner ! ( £30 in my eyes is daylight robbery for Championship football, let alone what them boys at QPR are trying to charge ! )
Got into the ground, and sat down. Was quite surprised at the lack of music also. With the away end slightly out of the way from the rest of the stadium, there wasn't too much pre game atmosphere either.
Onto the game - didn't mind us lining up with a 4-5-1 formation at all. However - if we're going to, Garvan MUST play. hasn't got every attribute ever, but his passing is often exemplary.
We started the game poorly. Couldn't argue with Charlton being 1 goal to the good, but to concede such a ridiculous goal really frustrated me. Now it WAS a well placed free kick. Also, we shouldn't have given Chalrton a promising free kick in the first place. But for me, Richy Wright has to do an awful lot better there. The wall positioning must have been off, and made the player just go for placement - it wasn't stuck with any venom. Wright has ALSO GOT to dive for it,,,, have a go at saving it.
Anyway.... it'd happened, and we were a goal down. Now i was hoping the Charlton fans may liven up after this - but apart from the slight murmour when they scored - they were in absolute silence the rest of the half. I really don't get how people can turn up to a game, and just watch it as though they are watching Casualty on television. Never mind ! feel sorry for the charlton fans having NOTHING to get them going.
About 20 minutes in, or whenever tommy miller went off injured to be replaced by Counago - we DID improve. Weren't looking fantastic by any means, but we were much the better side from that point. Infact, Pablo got us moving for the equaliser, 2nd visit to the Valley with a classy backheel.
Now at 1-1 we were quite rampant, in decent voice ( considering we had a lot of fans at an away game for a change ) i think we could have been better !!! Counago went over, with many town fans appealing for a penalty - Now id need to see it again, but personally i was embarrassed by Pablo - no need for diving mate !
Just before half time, Campo hit the crossbar with a lovely free kick - i was hoping alan quinn would have it, but fair play to
C A M P O, he struck it very well !
Half time came. Me and the lad sat next to me were chatting about the game, and were unsure how it would go. I said " if we play like we have the last 20, i can see us getting a positive result " . He shared my optimism. We had taken control, with half time coming at the perfect time for Pardew to rally his troops.
2nd half started how the 1st had finished. We were looking quite a slick side going forwards, but without creating an awful lot. Quinn sliced a cross at the start of the half, that came back off the crossbar, which made me wonder " are we going to have one of these days... "
The next 15 or so minutes passed with us in firm control, until out of the blue ( much like our goal in the first half ) Charlton went 2-1 up. Quite an undeserved lead, but when ur in the ascendancy u have to at least CREATE a couple of chances !
Much to my ( and the other town fans annoyance ) we were losing away from home. The last 20 / 25 went in a blur, neither side creating or troubling either keeper a great deal. Charlton ended the game generally the stronger, playing very well on the break.
Overall review, out of 10...
Ground - 7. The away end does need work, but the rest was very tidy and modern.
Stewards - 10. Excellent, very friendly !
food- 4 - £3.25.... for ur average nonsense( Wolves is £1 a burger, take note other grounds !!! )
Atmosphere - 5. Our fans generally tried, i think the 17000 charlton fans comprised 800 fans, 16000 cardboard cut outs, and 200 people thinking the football ground was something else
Had a good day out though, would recommend the Valley to any visiting fans
anyone else go ? any views !? this site seems generally quiet ( or is that ipswich fans !?
)