OK, there have been excuses. For example, one of my nefarious activities in the real world involves making recommendations for investments in financial stocks. That in itself would have been enough to leave me mired in depression through the close season (and beyond). But ultimately the sabbatical was down to two things: a perfectly understandable desire for a break, which soon turns into something more as you lose the habit of posting anything (I am reliably advised that I have not lost a life-long habit of verbosity), and a feeling that there wasn’t much to be gained from thinking about the composition of the team for the coming season when it was clear that more players would be leaving.
Whether its a feeling that the (apparent) sale of Bougherra might see the balance shift now to one or two being brought in (which is not to suggest that I have any idea whether the stream of departures has ended) , whether it is confirmation that Royal Bank of Scotland have passed my subtle acid test of their repaired capital position by being duped into a restructuring of my personal finances, or whether it’s just the feeling that when the going gets tough it’s time to do something daft, it was off to The Valley today to do something I haven’t done for a couple of years: buy a season ticket.
I don’t think I ever felt it was inappropriate to write one of these things without being a season ticket holder. I’ve done my time - and to the muppet who last season suggested I might be a newcomer bussed in from Kent (as if that would be something to be ashamed of) have the accumulated season ticket stubs (complete with never-needed cup ticket vouchers) to prove it. I dropped out as it were when Curbs left. I just felt like a break and didn’t want to think about renewing – and before I knew it the deadline had passed. What was a decent bloc in the Upper North was in any event dispersing, with a couple moving out of London and some moving to the family stand (well, that was what they told me anyway). I decided it would be an advantage to be flexible: to see games from different parts of the ground and to go to more away games by missing a few at home. Some chance. I ended up going to nearly all the home games (from different vantage points) and only managed the usual token gestures when it came to getting out of London, trips which invariably ended in tears (Sheff Utd and Scunthorpe).
There might also have been an element of a treat with the season ticket, as Saturday is my birthday. It is, apparently, a big one. Suffice to say the Romans had a letter for it. I knew my schoolboy algebra would come in handy one day, so in a couple of days I will indeed by 20x years old, with ‘x’ being a variable function of reality and self-deception.
So there it is. I’m not going to go out of my way to claim the moral high ground (although it is a place where I feel naturally at home) but there was an element of thinking this is the time to be showing some comm... comit... commnt ... (as previous girlfriends can confirm I seem to have problems with the ‘c’ word). Let’s just hope the season ahead proves more enjoyable than the last two; it would be hard for it to undercut them.
This doesn’t mean that I’ve adjusted to the possibility that we could be back in this division for the foreseeable. And I’m not ready, if I ever was, to just sit back and enjoy the game. Whatever the obstacles and whatever the limitations, there is still a batch of players which if they can be gelled into a coherent unit will be capable of being in the frame, especially if the fans can play their part in making The Valley a place to fear (for good reasons of course). And when it comes to enjoyment I’ve never walked away from a Charlton victory feeling depressed. Frustrated, exasperated, relieved, perplexed, even occasionally rather bored. But never depressed. So if there is a sure-fire way of ensuring that the season is enjoyable it is to run away with the league.
Now it’s time to do what all good season ticket holders should do. Get down to The Valley for a pre-season friendly assessment (whether this can morph into a coherent match report on what is likely to be a liquid day remains to be seen) and then bugger off on holiday and miss the start of the season proper. France still shuts down for August, so my vacation will be spent at the hottest point of the year, in Greece. As someone who turns blue after bright pink following five minutes of sun, I’m going to fry (we once went to a splendid Roman baths off the beaten track in Tuscany and literally everyone there stopped to look at my body; they had simply never considered the possibility that one could be so white). It just might be worth it if this time around the text from Blighty says something better than a 1-1 draw against a newly-promoted team.
Thursday, 31 July 2008
Monday, 14 July 2008
How The Mighty Fall
So Chris Iwelumo is off to Wolves, Marcus Bent is Cardiff-bound, and Scott Carson is leaving Liverpool for ... Stoke. They say all sporting careers end in failure, but Carson’s has barely started. It’s one thing to endure two seasons out on loan and to have to sit back and watch Liverpool and Villa struggle to agree on a price, quite another to see the devastating impact on standing and valuation of one howler for England. A nation’s fans may be extracting collective revenge, but even so the Potteries seems a little harsh. Maybe Scott is attracted by the prospect of going to a club where he will be the best ballplayer. At least the ball won’t get slippery as it won’t touch the turf.
To my mind Iwelumo goes with all best wishes. It isn’t just that he always gave of his best, whether asked to play alone up front or in a 4-4-2 or to come on as a sub in a hopeless cause. He tended to get blamed (by many fans at least) for the failings of others. A contribution of 10 goals (more if he had been first-choice all through the season) would have been OK (for a target man) if he had a strike partner (or partners) scoring 20 (the pairing with Luke Varney never really took off but was it Big Chris’ fault? I just hope – and expect – that we haven’t yet seen the best of Varney). And was it Iwelumo’s fault that, especially when playing alone up front, the other players seemed content to hump useless long balls in his direction?
Big Chris was nearly a success for us – and he did score what seemed at the time important goals. He knew his way around the division (better forwards used to playing against better defenders would for example never have thought to try to score the two he bagged against Sheff Wed). He won’t make Charlton’s hall of fame, but he wasn’t the worst we’ve had and I for one will be applauding him when he returns. Wolves? Well, at least we can say he’s capable of filling Jay Bothroyd’s shoes.
Marcus Bent? Of course it’s a different story. We seemed to pay over the odds for him, but there was a rationale if it was going to get the best out of Darren Bent (read also Jimmy Floyd). Quite rightly we have been looking to offload him to all and sundry, the only pity being Wigan would have paid more for him. Presumably Bent has chosen Cardiff because as a capital city he can still stand relatively tall in the Wagg-pulling league. But Marcus here too your best days are behind you.
My abiding memory of Bent will be that glorious interview when he arrived at The Valley. When asked whether it would be confusing to have two Bents at the club he replied to the effect that, yes it would be a bit of a problem as Darren’s nickname was ‘Benty’ and he liked to be called ‘Benty’. He seemed totally oblivious to the possibility of his strengthening the impression that at least most footballers are a little lacking in the grey cell department.
Episodes like that should serve as a reminder – as the practise of a Charlton open day seems to be being revived - that actually meeting players (nay, heroes as the club website likes to remind us) may not always be the uplifting experience we hope for. I remember as a callow youth walking around the rooms where the players were sitting and chatting among themselves, in between fag breaks. They presented a picture of total indifference as autograph books were pushed under their noses. I still have the autograph book, which does rather date me if nothing else (looking at it now I can make out the signatures of Eddie Firmani, Len Burns, Cliff Hall, A. Fagan, Lucio Masiello, Paul Gilchrist, Charlie Wright, Ian King, Len Glover, Peter Reeves, Theo Foley, Graham Moore, and a few others that are totally indecipherable). Charlton North Downs says that he even saw Len Glover thump one fan at such a gathering.
So please, Mr Pardew and Mr Murray, tell the current crop that it’s in their best interest to keep the fans, however young, on their side and to at least feign interest. After all, sooner or later for you it will be Cardiff, Wolves or Stoke (and at the risk of plagiarising the Eamon Dumphy quote for some truly unlucky sods even Palace or Millwall).
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Is It The Championship In Disguise?
I thought I was on a summer sabbatical. But I guess it still isn’t really summer; and one of the prerequisites for doing one of these things, as others are seldom reluctant to point out, is an inability to keep it shut for any length of time. So, here we go. What can we learn from Euro2008? There have to be some messages, given that the tournament itself is rapidly taking on the appearance of The Championship: no outstanding teams, competitive games but not of the highest quality, just about any team capable of winning on the day. I actually wanted a few weeks when I could forget about this sort of football.
It’s not because England aren’t there, or even attributable to the lamentable quality of the match analysis (with in my view some honourable exceptions), but I haven’t really warmed to Euro2008 (which is not to say I haven’t welcomed a ready-made excuse for slobbing out on the sofa watching hours of football or that I won’t miss it when it’s gone). People are generally critical of the last World Cup; but I found that a damn site more exciting. In Italy (then) there was a great side (I did choose them to win in a pre-tournament competition). Best goalkeeper in the world (Buffon), one of the best centre-backs marshalling a defence (Canavaro), an inspired defensive midfielder (Gattuso), and an ability to play 4-5-1 with a tall target man (Toni) because there was the necessary counterpart in a roving forward playing around him (Totti). The Italian team was not boring at all; it was inspired. And the tournament had a real classic (the Germany v Italy semi-final).
So far in Euro2008 only one game has held real interest from start to finish: the Holland v Russia upset. Others have provided drama, moments of excitement, great goals etc, but they have all fallen short, as have the teams (the only real quality so far has come from the referees, who have been outstanding). Nobody seems able to shoot from distance with the ball they are using, or to be able to get any dip for free kicks. No team seems able to defend while the ones that have provided the real entertainment (Holland and Portugal) failed once pressure was applied. Germany are in the semis thanks to a sneaky and cynical foul by Ballack, Russia are there because the Dutch underestimated them and thought they could stroll it, and Turkey are there because .... well god only knows the answer to that one.
Basically I don’t want Russia to win, given that such a success would be used to bolster an unwanted degree of nationalism in what is still a near-dictatorship. I don’t want Spain to win as the racism of their fans was (maybe still is) disgusting. I’d go for Italy, but the team is a shadow of what went before and would be unworthy winners. So I guess I’m going to join forces with a mate and belatedly support Turkey. Surely they can’t make it past Germany given the decimation of their team. Well, any chance they did have just went up in smoke anyway.
I’d like to think that there’s no future for a European national tournament (as opposed to the World Cup, which provides a delight of diversity and contrasting styles). The fact is that none of the national teams would make it past maybe the last eight of the Champions League. The best football is no longer played by national teams. This is all indicative of the (very welcome) drift towards near-irrelevance of national parliaments in Europe – provided of course that European federalism is accompanied by a strengthening of regional institutions. Maybe I’m just bitter at yet another phone-in on the European Union being hijacked by ardent and activist opponents of the entire concept. Just how they can present a ‘no’ vote in Ireland as a victory for democracy and national sovereignty is beyond me when the vote itself was heavily influenced by the electorate being inclined to vote against their domestic politicians.
Enough of the soapbox. What does it all mean for Charlton? Well, the team that reminded me most of us last season was France: disjointed, unable to get the best out of the best players or to find the right combination(s), lacking team spirit, and ultimately failing badly. I should add that I have no wish to suggest that Alan Pardew in any way reminds me of Domenech. Other than that both have of late been selecting two defensive central midfield players. In both cases there are excuses (the availability of alternatives), but please can it not be repeated next season. Message? Holland and Semedo: individually fine, even excellent; together insufficient.
Neither France nor Italy have been able to adapt to the loss of great players: Zidane for France (arguably Henry too), Totti and Canavaro for Italy. France were unable to come up with a new system that would get the best out of what are very good if disparate forwards. Starting a tournament with a front two who had never played together competitvely, then making changes for each of the next two games was just poor planning and management. Italy began against Holland with Toni on his own but nobody to play around him to provide the spark. Message? If the kids are to play a bigger role for us next season than last they need to be given the responsibility early – and the time to improve. Also, unless we sign a Totti, or Ambrose demonstrates he can play in the hole on a regular basis, it’s going to be 4-4-2 for us.
I think there’s less danger next season (compared to last) of us doing a Holland and failing to turn up against a ‘lesser’ team. Having seen off the last two World Cup finalists the Dutch thought they could get past Russia at half-pace. They started slowly and failed to score when the chances came their way. A team with more self-belief and better finishers than Russia would have really demolished them. As it was, one of Russia’s successes, highlighted by the analysts, was two attack-minded full backs. They were effective in pushing back the Dutch wide men and minimising their support for their forwards. Message? Yassin and Youga please, not Halford and Thatcher.
So, if we were most like France, with a smattering of Italy and Holland, and Euro2008 is The Championship in disguise, who were the rest? Well, Turkey are doing a passable imitation of Hull. It’s a little unfair on West Brom but they have to be Germany, ie probably the best team around. Greece were about as popular as Stoke, but obviously less successful; maybe they will resemble Stoke next season. Poland were the tournament’s Palace. Nobody wanted them there and nobody noticed that they were there. Romania were Scunthorpe or Colchester. Both worthy but ultimately not good enough – except when they played us. Sweden resembled Ipswich, while Austria and Switzerland were the tournament’s Coventry- basically pants.
It’s not because England aren’t there, or even attributable to the lamentable quality of the match analysis (with in my view some honourable exceptions), but I haven’t really warmed to Euro2008 (which is not to say I haven’t welcomed a ready-made excuse for slobbing out on the sofa watching hours of football or that I won’t miss it when it’s gone). People are generally critical of the last World Cup; but I found that a damn site more exciting. In Italy (then) there was a great side (I did choose them to win in a pre-tournament competition). Best goalkeeper in the world (Buffon), one of the best centre-backs marshalling a defence (Canavaro), an inspired defensive midfielder (Gattuso), and an ability to play 4-5-1 with a tall target man (Toni) because there was the necessary counterpart in a roving forward playing around him (Totti). The Italian team was not boring at all; it was inspired. And the tournament had a real classic (the Germany v Italy semi-final).
So far in Euro2008 only one game has held real interest from start to finish: the Holland v Russia upset. Others have provided drama, moments of excitement, great goals etc, but they have all fallen short, as have the teams (the only real quality so far has come from the referees, who have been outstanding). Nobody seems able to shoot from distance with the ball they are using, or to be able to get any dip for free kicks. No team seems able to defend while the ones that have provided the real entertainment (Holland and Portugal) failed once pressure was applied. Germany are in the semis thanks to a sneaky and cynical foul by Ballack, Russia are there because the Dutch underestimated them and thought they could stroll it, and Turkey are there because .... well god only knows the answer to that one.
Basically I don’t want Russia to win, given that such a success would be used to bolster an unwanted degree of nationalism in what is still a near-dictatorship. I don’t want Spain to win as the racism of their fans was (maybe still is) disgusting. I’d go for Italy, but the team is a shadow of what went before and would be unworthy winners. So I guess I’m going to join forces with a mate and belatedly support Turkey. Surely they can’t make it past Germany given the decimation of their team. Well, any chance they did have just went up in smoke anyway.
I’d like to think that there’s no future for a European national tournament (as opposed to the World Cup, which provides a delight of diversity and contrasting styles). The fact is that none of the national teams would make it past maybe the last eight of the Champions League. The best football is no longer played by national teams. This is all indicative of the (very welcome) drift towards near-irrelevance of national parliaments in Europe – provided of course that European federalism is accompanied by a strengthening of regional institutions. Maybe I’m just bitter at yet another phone-in on the European Union being hijacked by ardent and activist opponents of the entire concept. Just how they can present a ‘no’ vote in Ireland as a victory for democracy and national sovereignty is beyond me when the vote itself was heavily influenced by the electorate being inclined to vote against their domestic politicians.
Enough of the soapbox. What does it all mean for Charlton? Well, the team that reminded me most of us last season was France: disjointed, unable to get the best out of the best players or to find the right combination(s), lacking team spirit, and ultimately failing badly. I should add that I have no wish to suggest that Alan Pardew in any way reminds me of Domenech. Other than that both have of late been selecting two defensive central midfield players. In both cases there are excuses (the availability of alternatives), but please can it not be repeated next season. Message? Holland and Semedo: individually fine, even excellent; together insufficient.
Neither France nor Italy have been able to adapt to the loss of great players: Zidane for France (arguably Henry too), Totti and Canavaro for Italy. France were unable to come up with a new system that would get the best out of what are very good if disparate forwards. Starting a tournament with a front two who had never played together competitvely, then making changes for each of the next two games was just poor planning and management. Italy began against Holland with Toni on his own but nobody to play around him to provide the spark. Message? If the kids are to play a bigger role for us next season than last they need to be given the responsibility early – and the time to improve. Also, unless we sign a Totti, or Ambrose demonstrates he can play in the hole on a regular basis, it’s going to be 4-4-2 for us.
I think there’s less danger next season (compared to last) of us doing a Holland and failing to turn up against a ‘lesser’ team. Having seen off the last two World Cup finalists the Dutch thought they could get past Russia at half-pace. They started slowly and failed to score when the chances came their way. A team with more self-belief and better finishers than Russia would have really demolished them. As it was, one of Russia’s successes, highlighted by the analysts, was two attack-minded full backs. They were effective in pushing back the Dutch wide men and minimising their support for their forwards. Message? Yassin and Youga please, not Halford and Thatcher.
So, if we were most like France, with a smattering of Italy and Holland, and Euro2008 is The Championship in disguise, who were the rest? Well, Turkey are doing a passable imitation of Hull. It’s a little unfair on West Brom but they have to be Germany, ie probably the best team around. Greece were about as popular as Stoke, but obviously less successful; maybe they will resemble Stoke next season. Poland were the tournament’s Palace. Nobody wanted them there and nobody noticed that they were there. Romania were Scunthorpe or Colchester. Both worthy but ultimately not good enough – except when they played us. Sweden resembled Ipswich, while Austria and Switzerland were the tournament’s Coventry- basically pants.
Friday, 13 June 2008
No Scoops Here
A venerable Chinese sage once said (well, by the law of averages one of them must have said at some point) “beware not of the wine in the pub but of the cognac when you get home”. How right he was (or was the proverb meant to be allegorical?). As a result of not heeding this ancient advice any thought of trying to outscoop the other bloggers who attended last night’s meeting with Richard Murray went right out of the window. Suffice to say, as I’m sure others have already done, Murray impressed everyone with his candour and enthusiasm and a great time was had by all (especially given the added pleasure of putting more faces to names when it comes to other bloggers). Even though going to the ground out of season felt a little like sneaking into school during half-term.
The intention, as I understood it, was an embargo on what was said until midday today. That implies we would wish to impart to all and sundry what was said, to ‘scoop the rest’. Information is king? Personally, I prefer to say nothing and to filter through/plagerise what we learnt in future posts, to give the impression of blinding analysis and deep insight rather than being the first to report what somebody else said. If you’ve seen the gap between a journalist’s pay cheque and that of an analyst you’ll appreciate the difference. It’s all in the packaging.
So I’m going to say diddly about what was said last night. A clear head/steady hand and it might have been a different story. Aside that is from stressing if anyone feels that that the need to keep the club financially stable and cutting our cloth accordingly smacks of a lack of ambition on the part of the board let him/her put his/her hand in his/her pocket and provide the necessary readies. It’s an extra incentive for Pardew to ensure the team hits the ground running and for the fans to play their part in making The Valley a fortress next season.
There was one question/issue that was posed before the end but not really answered (by us), namely whether there could be any mutual benefit from ongoing/deeper contact between the club and the bloggers. It’s not that easy to answer, as ‘the bloggers’ are not ‘the fans’ (especially as a number of them can’t get to SE7 for a chat). I think the club is right to pursue a forum setting for feedback from the fans when the fans’ director role disappears and that this forum should not be bloggers (we already have the opportunity to vent our spleen when the mood takes). If there is an answer, from my perspective it has to be that making the gatherings a regular event should happen if they are enjoyable and informative for both parties, ie not just us. Clearly we appreciated and very much enjoyed last night.
For personal reasons (ie self-interest) as well as being a francophile, I am cheering for Les Bleus to win Euro2008. But they obviously didn’t learn anything from us last season about the drawbacks of having two essentially holding/ball-winning players in central midfield. The thinking might well have been that with Ribery, Malouda, Anelka and Benzema you only need to get the ball forward to them and let them get on with it. However, as Romania demonstrated it is much easier to contain a team when no-one is breaking from midfield. So, Holland and Semedo individually fine, just please not together in the centre next season. For France hopefully it will be different tonight with Henry and Vieira returning.
As this is a day for gripes, what is it with football pundits on TV? It’s bad enough having the odd game ruined by the BBC, for some reason totally unknown to me, using Lawrenson. But we had through the Switzerland v Turkey game the commentator and the panel consistently stressing the idea that ‘a point is no good to either team’. Well, as Switzerland lost their first game and had Germany in the final round of games a point was, for them, of limited value. But Turkey? A point would have left them only having to beat the Czech Republic in their last group game to qualify (assuming Switzerland did not beat Germany). If they had lost they would have been out of the tournament. So why do well-paid analysts of the game try to suggest that a point was no use to them? Of course, Turkey won and now to qualify ... have to beat the Czech Republic in the next match. The truth is it was their winner that was of little value. The results left Turkey and the Czech Republic on the same points and with the same number of goals scored and conceded. It would have been good to hear inform us how they are going to work this one out if they draw their final game.
It’s not exactly rocket science is it? But as the final group matches draw near no doubt we will have the pundits saying ‘you need a maths degree to work out the possible combinations for these teams ... ho, ho’. Sorry guys, you don’t. Just a brain cell would be sufficient.
The intention, as I understood it, was an embargo on what was said until midday today. That implies we would wish to impart to all and sundry what was said, to ‘scoop the rest’. Information is king? Personally, I prefer to say nothing and to filter through/plagerise what we learnt in future posts, to give the impression of blinding analysis and deep insight rather than being the first to report what somebody else said. If you’ve seen the gap between a journalist’s pay cheque and that of an analyst you’ll appreciate the difference. It’s all in the packaging.
So I’m going to say diddly about what was said last night. A clear head/steady hand and it might have been a different story. Aside that is from stressing if anyone feels that that the need to keep the club financially stable and cutting our cloth accordingly smacks of a lack of ambition on the part of the board let him/her put his/her hand in his/her pocket and provide the necessary readies. It’s an extra incentive for Pardew to ensure the team hits the ground running and for the fans to play their part in making The Valley a fortress next season.
There was one question/issue that was posed before the end but not really answered (by us), namely whether there could be any mutual benefit from ongoing/deeper contact between the club and the bloggers. It’s not that easy to answer, as ‘the bloggers’ are not ‘the fans’ (especially as a number of them can’t get to SE7 for a chat). I think the club is right to pursue a forum setting for feedback from the fans when the fans’ director role disappears and that this forum should not be bloggers (we already have the opportunity to vent our spleen when the mood takes). If there is an answer, from my perspective it has to be that making the gatherings a regular event should happen if they are enjoyable and informative for both parties, ie not just us. Clearly we appreciated and very much enjoyed last night.
For personal reasons (ie self-interest) as well as being a francophile, I am cheering for Les Bleus to win Euro2008. But they obviously didn’t learn anything from us last season about the drawbacks of having two essentially holding/ball-winning players in central midfield. The thinking might well have been that with Ribery, Malouda, Anelka and Benzema you only need to get the ball forward to them and let them get on with it. However, as Romania demonstrated it is much easier to contain a team when no-one is breaking from midfield. So, Holland and Semedo individually fine, just please not together in the centre next season. For France hopefully it will be different tonight with Henry and Vieira returning.
As this is a day for gripes, what is it with football pundits on TV? It’s bad enough having the odd game ruined by the BBC, for some reason totally unknown to me, using Lawrenson. But we had through the Switzerland v Turkey game the commentator and the panel consistently stressing the idea that ‘a point is no good to either team’. Well, as Switzerland lost their first game and had Germany in the final round of games a point was, for them, of limited value. But Turkey? A point would have left them only having to beat the Czech Republic in their last group game to qualify (assuming Switzerland did not beat Germany). If they had lost they would have been out of the tournament. So why do well-paid analysts of the game try to suggest that a point was no use to them? Of course, Turkey won and now to qualify ... have to beat the Czech Republic in the next match. The truth is it was their winner that was of little value. The results left Turkey and the Czech Republic on the same points and with the same number of goals scored and conceded. It would have been good to hear inform us how they are going to work this one out if they draw their final game.
It’s not exactly rocket science is it? But as the final group matches draw near no doubt we will have the pundits saying ‘you need a maths degree to work out the possible combinations for these teams ... ho, ho’. Sorry guys, you don’t. Just a brain cell would be sufficient.
Sunday, 25 May 2008
Saint Joseph Or Beaujolais?
So, was it a bottle of Saint Joseph to celebrate promotion with Lyon la Duchere, my adopted French team, or a bottle of Beaujolais to commiserate with them on their failure? I suppose the outcome was never really in doubt. I drank both, before the game started. And this proved to be the appropriate action – as to end any attempt at suspense Villefranche took the title but La Duch beat Marseilles reserves 1-0 to take second place and promotion with Villefranche from CFA2 Groupe C to CFA proper, the French equivalent of the fourth division. All’s well that ends well as they say – and with Olympique Lyonnais somehow robbing Paris Saint-Germain to win the French cup (and with it the league and cup double) the evening did indeed end well (and by the sound of it so has the weekend in general as we don’t have to contemplate going to Leeds).
First the facts. I managed to find out a little more by taking a stroll to check out the Stade Balmont (which in truth is a municipal stadium with one stand plus terracing opposite and nothing behind the goals) the day before the game and having a conversation outside the ground with someone I think turned out to be the manager of Lyon Duchere. It seemed that the team finishing top of the group was guaranteed promotion but that there were extra places from the eight regional CFA2 divisions for second-placed teams with the best record. It seemed that Lyon Duchere were confident of gaining promotion that way if they finished second – which meant it was in their own hands and that it was indeed a promotion play-off with Marseilles reserves.
Some 400 brave souls, including three wearing Charlton shirts (something that did require periodic explanation), shunned the town centre big screen to watch the cup final and to cheer on La Duch. Marseilles’ second-string were younger, fitter, stronger, and had in their ranks by far the best player on the pitch, an outstanding prospect called M’Bow (Pards please note, he plays in central defence and is tall, very mobile, and is going to be a star – provided his temperament doesn’t get the better of him, more of that later). However, La Duch had the heroes on the night.
The first half was a fairly even and open affair, but Lyon Duchere had made the breakthrough in the 14th minute, with Rachid Benayen dummying the Marseilles keeper and slotting the ball to his left. After that chances were few and far between, which seemed par for the course for Duchere through the season. After the break Marseilles took more of a grip on the game as Duchere not surprisingly tended to sit back and tried to see out the game and as fatigue played a part. And in the last 15 minutes it was the Duchere goalkeeper Daniel Jaccard (who apparently joined the club this season and who has been instrumental in their splendid defensive record) who stepped up. He pulled off one truly outstanding save, palming away a fierce drive headed for the top corner, and three or four pretty commendable ones as well.
Everyone was well aware of the consequences of a Marseilles equaliser and nerves were frayed as the minutes were counted down. Some controversial cries of ‘go back to your bouillabaisse’ were heard from the grandstand and as Lyon Duchere’s time-wasting tactics reached new heights there was the odd scuffle on the pitch. The referee seemed to add on at least five extra minutes. But finally it was over and Lyon Duchere had emerged triumphant. More contretemps followed after the final whistle, with M’Bow in particular not taking defeat well and having to be ushered off the pitch.
For the record Villefranche did what was necessary for them, securing a 1-0 away win at Gueugnon. It seems that the referee there disallowed a last-minute equaliser; if that had stood Lyon Duchere would have taken the title. I believe the final standings were as follows (if that sounds vague its because one of the Lyon Sunday papers has La Duche winning the league):
1. Villefranche P30 W16 D7 L7 F48 A35 D+13 Pts 85
2. Lyon Duchere P30 W16 D7 L7 F38 A24 D+14 Pts 85
3. Marseilles(B) P30 W15 D7 L8 F43 A27 D+17 Pts 82
And so it ends. Next season Lyon Duchere will have to step up a gear, but the season should be highly entertaining. There are four 18-team regional CFA divisions and I’m assuming La Duch will go into Groupe B. There will be the friendly fixtures against Villefranche (well, if they aren’t friendly yet I will do all in my power to make them so) and more important Duchere will come up against the reserves of Lyon. It promises to be something of a grudge match, given the disdain with which OL treats Duchere.
The Duchere area is in the north-west of Lyon, in hills overlooking the centre. It has been relatively depressed for decades (the keyword being relative: Lyon does not have the problems of Paris and is an affluent and extremely appealing city, being well-presented and the acknowledged food capital of France). But large housing developments are being demolished and fresh areas constructed with better planning and construction. The district has every chance of becoming a real growth area with a vibrant and diverse cultural mix. Looks like the same can be said of its football team.
I hope to provide regular updates on the progress of Lyon Duchere through the course of next season, attending matches when possible (now I have the scarf – they don’t sell the shirts yet). This does of course rely on my partner Suzanne not coming to her senses and disposing of her rather strange rosbif. But there are no signs of this being about to happen (that said we never do see them coming, do we? Better get her a decent birthday present just to be on the safe side).
First the facts. I managed to find out a little more by taking a stroll to check out the Stade Balmont (which in truth is a municipal stadium with one stand plus terracing opposite and nothing behind the goals) the day before the game and having a conversation outside the ground with someone I think turned out to be the manager of Lyon Duchere. It seemed that the team finishing top of the group was guaranteed promotion but that there were extra places from the eight regional CFA2 divisions for second-placed teams with the best record. It seemed that Lyon Duchere were confident of gaining promotion that way if they finished second – which meant it was in their own hands and that it was indeed a promotion play-off with Marseilles reserves.
Some 400 brave souls, including three wearing Charlton shirts (something that did require periodic explanation), shunned the town centre big screen to watch the cup final and to cheer on La Duch. Marseilles’ second-string were younger, fitter, stronger, and had in their ranks by far the best player on the pitch, an outstanding prospect called M’Bow (Pards please note, he plays in central defence and is tall, very mobile, and is going to be a star – provided his temperament doesn’t get the better of him, more of that later). However, La Duch had the heroes on the night.
The first half was a fairly even and open affair, but Lyon Duchere had made the breakthrough in the 14th minute, with Rachid Benayen dummying the Marseilles keeper and slotting the ball to his left. After that chances were few and far between, which seemed par for the course for Duchere through the season. After the break Marseilles took more of a grip on the game as Duchere not surprisingly tended to sit back and tried to see out the game and as fatigue played a part. And in the last 15 minutes it was the Duchere goalkeeper Daniel Jaccard (who apparently joined the club this season and who has been instrumental in their splendid defensive record) who stepped up. He pulled off one truly outstanding save, palming away a fierce drive headed for the top corner, and three or four pretty commendable ones as well.
Everyone was well aware of the consequences of a Marseilles equaliser and nerves were frayed as the minutes were counted down. Some controversial cries of ‘go back to your bouillabaisse’ were heard from the grandstand and as Lyon Duchere’s time-wasting tactics reached new heights there was the odd scuffle on the pitch. The referee seemed to add on at least five extra minutes. But finally it was over and Lyon Duchere had emerged triumphant. More contretemps followed after the final whistle, with M’Bow in particular not taking defeat well and having to be ushered off the pitch.
For the record Villefranche did what was necessary for them, securing a 1-0 away win at Gueugnon. It seems that the referee there disallowed a last-minute equaliser; if that had stood Lyon Duchere would have taken the title. I believe the final standings were as follows (if that sounds vague its because one of the Lyon Sunday papers has La Duche winning the league):
1. Villefranche P30 W16 D7 L7 F48 A35 D+13 Pts 85
2. Lyon Duchere P30 W16 D7 L7 F38 A24 D+14 Pts 85
3. Marseilles(B) P30 W15 D7 L8 F43 A27 D+17 Pts 82
And so it ends. Next season Lyon Duchere will have to step up a gear, but the season should be highly entertaining. There are four 18-team regional CFA divisions and I’m assuming La Duch will go into Groupe B. There will be the friendly fixtures against Villefranche (well, if they aren’t friendly yet I will do all in my power to make them so) and more important Duchere will come up against the reserves of Lyon. It promises to be something of a grudge match, given the disdain with which OL treats Duchere.
The Duchere area is in the north-west of Lyon, in hills overlooking the centre. It has been relatively depressed for decades (the keyword being relative: Lyon does not have the problems of Paris and is an affluent and extremely appealing city, being well-presented and the acknowledged food capital of France). But large housing developments are being demolished and fresh areas constructed with better planning and construction. The district has every chance of becoming a real growth area with a vibrant and diverse cultural mix. Looks like the same can be said of its football team.
I hope to provide regular updates on the progress of Lyon Duchere through the course of next season, attending matches when possible (now I have the scarf – they don’t sell the shirts yet). This does of course rely on my partner Suzanne not coming to her senses and disposing of her rather strange rosbif. But there are no signs of this being about to happen (that said we never do see them coming, do we? Better get her a decent birthday present just to be on the safe side).
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Jonah, Jonah Give Us A Song
Not long ago someone asked whether Lyon la Duchere was aware that it had acquired its very own Jonah in the form of my good self. I don’t think it was the vicar who sometimes comments on these pages; if it was there’s something spooky going on. I’m sorry Lyon, it seems that I am indeed that Jonah.
The previous post was about the CFA 2 Groupe C title going to the wire. With two games to go Lyon la Duchere, my adopted French team, topped the division by one point but with Marseille’s reserves just one behind – ahead of their last-day clash – and with Villefranche-sur-Saone having come from nowhere to be just three points back from La Duch – with these two to play each other last weekend. And with four points for a win (two for a draw, one for a defeat – but seemingly also the possibility of forfeiting points for disciplinary reasons) it was still anyone’s title to win.
It seems my lot had something of an off day. Villefranche 4 Lyon la Duchere 0. Meanwhile Marseille (B) rather surprisingly could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to fourth-placed Echirolles. The result is all three clubs tied on 81 points and with identical records (except for goal difference) with one game to go. However, for some reason unknown to me the league table as published on the web by France Football shows Marseille now topping the table followed by Villefranche, even though Duchere have a better goal difference than Villefranche at least. Maybe the placings are decided on results between the two clubs.
1. Marseilles(B) P29 W15 D7 L7 F43 A26 D+17 Pts 81
2. Villefranche P29 W15 D7 L7 F47 A35 D+12 Pts 81
3. Lyon Duchere P29 W15 D7 L7 F37 A24 D+13 Pts 81
This means of course that Lyon la Duchere need to beat Marseilles in their final game of the season if they are to take the title. It must be a little unsettling for them to know that I will indeed be there to witness the season’s denouement. The problem now is that even victory may not be enough – if Villefranche win their last game, away to the reserves of Gueugnon (who moved up to fourth over the weekend). Worse still, on Saturday night when the final whistle blows we might not know whether La Duch have indeed emerged triumphant. I don’t know what the jungle telegraph is like at this level. Hopefully someone in the crowd will have a relative or friend at the Gueugnon-Villefranche game and can let us know.
So it seems we are relying on a favour from Gueugnon. To the best of my knowledge I’ve never been there. Apparently it is a small town in the Saone-et-Loire department with a population of around 8,000, twinned with Otterberg in Germany(??), and famous for its steelworks. The club’s nickname is ‘forgerons’, which rather unimaginatively means blacksmiths. I know we need their help, but this all sounds rather like the glaziers from some armpit part of London.
I have been to Villefranche-sur-Saone (not to be confused with Villefranche-sur-Mer, which is on the Rivierra). Last Easter we decided my knowledge of the region needed to be improved with a round trip from Lyon up through the Beaujolais region to the Bourgogne and back. Very cultural it was too. My partner Suzanne enjoys driving, which is just as well as having passed my test some 20 years ago I haven’t been behind the wheel since (and have never owned a car). The navigational skills required for the trip were not that demanding, so I had to while away my time by sampling the local produce, which is red and comes in a bottle. Villefranche is a delightful town regarded as the economic centre of the Beaujolais. Personally I prefer the darker hues of the Bourgogne, but if your only acquaintance with the former is the nouveaux (which remarkably for the French was a marketing masterpiece) you are missing out. Chenas, Brouilly, Fleurie, Morgon etc all offer subtle delights.
Consequently I find it hard to think ill of Villefranche, even if they steal the title (and possibly promotion) from La Duch. This is as it should be. A noble contest between two champions of the area which both offer delights to the visitor. May the best team win – if it’s Villefranche it’ll be a Beaujolais to offer up our congratulations; if it’s La Duchere then a very good bottle of St Joseph just might see the light of day.
The previous post was about the CFA 2 Groupe C title going to the wire. With two games to go Lyon la Duchere, my adopted French team, topped the division by one point but with Marseille’s reserves just one behind – ahead of their last-day clash – and with Villefranche-sur-Saone having come from nowhere to be just three points back from La Duch – with these two to play each other last weekend. And with four points for a win (two for a draw, one for a defeat – but seemingly also the possibility of forfeiting points for disciplinary reasons) it was still anyone’s title to win.
It seems my lot had something of an off day. Villefranche 4 Lyon la Duchere 0. Meanwhile Marseille (B) rather surprisingly could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to fourth-placed Echirolles. The result is all three clubs tied on 81 points and with identical records (except for goal difference) with one game to go. However, for some reason unknown to me the league table as published on the web by France Football shows Marseille now topping the table followed by Villefranche, even though Duchere have a better goal difference than Villefranche at least. Maybe the placings are decided on results between the two clubs.
1. Marseilles(B) P29 W15 D7 L7 F43 A26 D+17 Pts 81
2. Villefranche P29 W15 D7 L7 F47 A35 D+12 Pts 81
3. Lyon Duchere P29 W15 D7 L7 F37 A24 D+13 Pts 81
This means of course that Lyon la Duchere need to beat Marseilles in their final game of the season if they are to take the title. It must be a little unsettling for them to know that I will indeed be there to witness the season’s denouement. The problem now is that even victory may not be enough – if Villefranche win their last game, away to the reserves of Gueugnon (who moved up to fourth over the weekend). Worse still, on Saturday night when the final whistle blows we might not know whether La Duch have indeed emerged triumphant. I don’t know what the jungle telegraph is like at this level. Hopefully someone in the crowd will have a relative or friend at the Gueugnon-Villefranche game and can let us know.
So it seems we are relying on a favour from Gueugnon. To the best of my knowledge I’ve never been there. Apparently it is a small town in the Saone-et-Loire department with a population of around 8,000, twinned with Otterberg in Germany(??), and famous for its steelworks. The club’s nickname is ‘forgerons’, which rather unimaginatively means blacksmiths. I know we need their help, but this all sounds rather like the glaziers from some armpit part of London.
I have been to Villefranche-sur-Saone (not to be confused with Villefranche-sur-Mer, which is on the Rivierra). Last Easter we decided my knowledge of the region needed to be improved with a round trip from Lyon up through the Beaujolais region to the Bourgogne and back. Very cultural it was too. My partner Suzanne enjoys driving, which is just as well as having passed my test some 20 years ago I haven’t been behind the wheel since (and have never owned a car). The navigational skills required for the trip were not that demanding, so I had to while away my time by sampling the local produce, which is red and comes in a bottle. Villefranche is a delightful town regarded as the economic centre of the Beaujolais. Personally I prefer the darker hues of the Bourgogne, but if your only acquaintance with the former is the nouveaux (which remarkably for the French was a marketing masterpiece) you are missing out. Chenas, Brouilly, Fleurie, Morgon etc all offer subtle delights.
Consequently I find it hard to think ill of Villefranche, even if they steal the title (and possibly promotion) from La Duch. This is as it should be. A noble contest between two champions of the area which both offer delights to the visitor. May the best team win – if it’s Villefranche it’ll be a Beaujolais to offer up our congratulations; if it’s La Duchere then a very good bottle of St Joseph just might see the light of day.
Thursday, 15 May 2008
Hold On ASD, I'm Coming
Now it gets serious. We may have declined the option of promotion this time around, Palace may have fallen by the wayside, but the season isn’t over yet. This isn’t due to the prospect of having to watch the unbearable heaviness of being Jimmy-Floyd on Saturday, or the clash of the bank balances that is Rocky XXX next Wednesday (as the US and Russia do battle by proxy). Rather it is as it goes to the wire for Lyon la Duchere. Glory awaits, lads. Just try not to be too confused by the strange behaviour of the rosbif in the corner. He is only seeking a little reflected glory.
There are two rounds of matches left, this Saturday and next weekend (schedules are not being adjusted for Sky but might be depending on when the crowd can turn up). And its far from a done deal that La Duch will win the title – or indeed secure promotion from CFA 2 Groupe C (to the giddy heights of CFA proper, the regional equivalent of the fourth division). I would have a better idea of the chances if it were possible to work out from the league table how the points system works. I’m sorry to say that repeated efforts, including trying a listed number for the club, have so far failed to produce any definitive information. And for those of you who may think it must be easy to work out, please explain to me how the team currently last in the 16-team division, Jura Dolois, can have played 28, won 4, drawn 5 and lost 19, with a goal difference of -33, and still have secured 45 points? Any advice gratefully received.
(I think I’ve worked it out. Seems the bottom club had 43 points after 26 games and lost the last two, so you must get a point for losing - or at least for turning up. It then seems to work if you get four points for a win and two for a draw.)
Anyway, last weekend Lyon Duchere secured the expected victory at home against said Jura Dolois, winning 4-0 (a much-needed boost to the goals scored column, which still only reads 37 scored in 28 games). However, Marseilles(B) didn’t slip up away at mid-table Corte, securing a 2-1 victory (of course your mind strays to what might have happened if not for the ref awarding a last-minute penalty or some other travesty of justice). The results leave La Duchere top of the table with 80 points but Marseilles’ reserves just one behind on 79. And somehow third-placed Villefranche-sur-Saone have come very much into the reckoning. Two consecutive wins (most recently 2-0 away at fourth-placed Echirolles) and 8 points have moved them up to 77 points in what is now a three-horse race.
On Saturday Lyon la Duchere have an away game – at Villefranche-sur-Saone. This is before the final match at home to Marseilles. Like a true Charlton proxy they are going to have to do it the hard way. Marseilles are at home to Echirolles in their penultimate fixture. No doubt gutted at having blown it against Villefranche and having since been on the sauce they aren’t likely to put up a strong showing. We have to assume a victory for Marseilles, which would take them on to 83 points (if my points calculations are correct). A draw for Lyon Duchere would put them on 82 points and ensure they are champions if they win the showdown on the final day. Of course a victory on Saturday means a draw against Marseilles would be enough, even if Villefranche win their last game (away to fifth-placed Gueugnon, who will want to end the season in style in front of their own supporters).
If Lyon lose to Villefranche both teams, given the strange points system, would be on 81 points. Would then goal difference or goals scored count? This is starting to get silly, I doubt they know themselves. Looking at the league table it would appear that goal difference is the deciding factor. In that case Lyon would remain above Villefranche, who can only take the title if they win their final two games (to go to 85 points), Marseilles do not win on Saturday, and Lyon and Marseilles draw their final game. So for Lyon there would seem to be no practical difference between a draw and a defeat on Saturday – in either event they would be champions with a last-day win.
Again, hold on guys, Ryanair permitting I’m on my way. And as has been pointed out, Lyon Duchere now have their very own Jonnah.
Here’s how it stands now with two games to go. Remember, win=4 points, draw=2 points, loss=1 point; goal difference probably counts over goals scored:
1. Lyon Duchere P28 W15 D7 L6 F37 A20 D+17 80
2. Marseilles(B) P28 W15 D6 L7 F42 A25 D+17 79
3. Villefranche P28 W14 D7 L7 F43 A35 D+8 77
For anyone who doubts the natural association between Charlton and Lyon Duchere just consider the following, taken/paraphrased from an article (in French) sent to me.
“Far from the lights of the OL (Olympique Lyonnais, the champions of France and the city’s other football team), Duchère was abruptly carved in the concrete. It was the collective dream of 5,000 pied-noir (French-Algerians given their marching orders at the end of the war for independence). The blood and gold colours of the shirt reflect the Spanish roots of many of the repatriates. The population (of the area of Lyon) changed thereafter with successive waves of immigration. The club reflected the energy of the district, moving up the football league until in 1992 it stood on the brink of promotion to National (France’s third division). The promotion is then denied the club, on the grounds of ‘economic insufficiencies’. With the chance to turn professional denied them, the club implodes, leading to bankruptcy and liquidation in 1996.
At the same time the Duchère area became in the eyes of the Lyoneses a disadvantaged city, a "cut-gorge", soured by unemployment. The club is reformed and begins the task of rebuilding in the shadow of OL (with OL regarding Lyon Duchere with a mixture of indifference and contempt). There are moments of success, with Eric Abidal moving from La Duchere to greater things, and victories in the French cup.
The objective that ASD (Duchere) has is to reconquer the hearts of its supporters and the people of the district, to set up a club of the supporters. According to the current owner, “more than to structure of the supporteurs, I would like to create footbridges between the club and the young people of the district. To incite them to come to take their licence here, rather than in the neighbouring communes. But also because a football club has a social mission, it makes it possible to constitute a network: there is always somebody in the association which knows an employer, who can indicate a housing… I hope that today, whereas the restoration of the district is finally launched, the image of Duchère will change.”
There are two rounds of matches left, this Saturday and next weekend (schedules are not being adjusted for Sky but might be depending on when the crowd can turn up). And its far from a done deal that La Duch will win the title – or indeed secure promotion from CFA 2 Groupe C (to the giddy heights of CFA proper, the regional equivalent of the fourth division). I would have a better idea of the chances if it were possible to work out from the league table how the points system works. I’m sorry to say that repeated efforts, including trying a listed number for the club, have so far failed to produce any definitive information. And for those of you who may think it must be easy to work out, please explain to me how the team currently last in the 16-team division, Jura Dolois, can have played 28, won 4, drawn 5 and lost 19, with a goal difference of -33, and still have secured 45 points? Any advice gratefully received.
(I think I’ve worked it out. Seems the bottom club had 43 points after 26 games and lost the last two, so you must get a point for losing - or at least for turning up. It then seems to work if you get four points for a win and two for a draw.)
Anyway, last weekend Lyon Duchere secured the expected victory at home against said Jura Dolois, winning 4-0 (a much-needed boost to the goals scored column, which still only reads 37 scored in 28 games). However, Marseilles(B) didn’t slip up away at mid-table Corte, securing a 2-1 victory (of course your mind strays to what might have happened if not for the ref awarding a last-minute penalty or some other travesty of justice). The results leave La Duchere top of the table with 80 points but Marseilles’ reserves just one behind on 79. And somehow third-placed Villefranche-sur-Saone have come very much into the reckoning. Two consecutive wins (most recently 2-0 away at fourth-placed Echirolles) and 8 points have moved them up to 77 points in what is now a three-horse race.
On Saturday Lyon la Duchere have an away game – at Villefranche-sur-Saone. This is before the final match at home to Marseilles. Like a true Charlton proxy they are going to have to do it the hard way. Marseilles are at home to Echirolles in their penultimate fixture. No doubt gutted at having blown it against Villefranche and having since been on the sauce they aren’t likely to put up a strong showing. We have to assume a victory for Marseilles, which would take them on to 83 points (if my points calculations are correct). A draw for Lyon Duchere would put them on 82 points and ensure they are champions if they win the showdown on the final day. Of course a victory on Saturday means a draw against Marseilles would be enough, even if Villefranche win their last game (away to fifth-placed Gueugnon, who will want to end the season in style in front of their own supporters).
If Lyon lose to Villefranche both teams, given the strange points system, would be on 81 points. Would then goal difference or goals scored count? This is starting to get silly, I doubt they know themselves. Looking at the league table it would appear that goal difference is the deciding factor. In that case Lyon would remain above Villefranche, who can only take the title if they win their final two games (to go to 85 points), Marseilles do not win on Saturday, and Lyon and Marseilles draw their final game. So for Lyon there would seem to be no practical difference between a draw and a defeat on Saturday – in either event they would be champions with a last-day win.
Again, hold on guys, Ryanair permitting I’m on my way. And as has been pointed out, Lyon Duchere now have their very own Jonnah.
Here’s how it stands now with two games to go. Remember, win=4 points, draw=2 points, loss=1 point; goal difference probably counts over goals scored:
1. Lyon Duchere P28 W15 D7 L6 F37 A20 D+17 80
2. Marseilles(B) P28 W15 D6 L7 F42 A25 D+17 79
3. Villefranche P28 W14 D7 L7 F43 A35 D+8 77
For anyone who doubts the natural association between Charlton and Lyon Duchere just consider the following, taken/paraphrased from an article (in French) sent to me.
“Far from the lights of the OL (Olympique Lyonnais, the champions of France and the city’s other football team), Duchère was abruptly carved in the concrete. It was the collective dream of 5,000 pied-noir (French-Algerians given their marching orders at the end of the war for independence). The blood and gold colours of the shirt reflect the Spanish roots of many of the repatriates. The population (of the area of Lyon) changed thereafter with successive waves of immigration. The club reflected the energy of the district, moving up the football league until in 1992 it stood on the brink of promotion to National (France’s third division). The promotion is then denied the club, on the grounds of ‘economic insufficiencies’. With the chance to turn professional denied them, the club implodes, leading to bankruptcy and liquidation in 1996.
At the same time the Duchère area became in the eyes of the Lyoneses a disadvantaged city, a "cut-gorge", soured by unemployment. The club is reformed and begins the task of rebuilding in the shadow of OL (with OL regarding Lyon Duchere with a mixture of indifference and contempt). There are moments of success, with Eric Abidal moving from La Duchere to greater things, and victories in the French cup.
The objective that ASD (Duchere) has is to reconquer the hearts of its supporters and the people of the district, to set up a club of the supporters. According to the current owner, “more than to structure of the supporteurs, I would like to create footbridges between the club and the young people of the district. To incite them to come to take their licence here, rather than in the neighbouring communes. But also because a football club has a social mission, it makes it possible to constitute a network: there is always somebody in the association which knows an employer, who can indicate a housing… I hope that today, whereas the restoration of the district is finally launched, the image of Duchère will change.”
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