English Premiership

[chelsea]

I know what you mean, what they have done was nothing short of a miracle. I remember going to the old Valley ground a few times and the place was an absolute dump before they closed it and redeveloped it.

I think one of the main reasons that the club did survive was because they ended up fixing the original ground up and not moving to another site. In doing so they have managed to retain all of their original supporter base and build that up with the sucess that they have had over the last few years.

It is interesting, because I bet that if you asked people to name the league teams that are in the South London area, Charlton would not be the 1st one named most of the time, and for that reason, you may be correct in what you are saying about not being able to attract a high profile manager.

On the other hand, that also may be a good thing, because after all of the good things that Curbishley and the club have achieved, it all can be very easily ruined in a very short space of time.

We only have to look at Leeds to see how quickly the mighty can fall.

Anyway good luck for this season and for you, hopefully my predictions are incorrect.

[Huahinian]

Chelsea - many thanks for your good luck wishes. Notice that you are located in Perth so assume you must have moved over from England. My first visit to the Valley was in 1946 (I WAS young then).

[chelsea]

I have been in Australia for 25 years and in Perth for the last 5. You have a few years on me by the sound of it.
Actually, you may remember one of Charlton's old goalkeepers (Sam Bartram). he used to live in Harpenden (the town in the UK where I was born). I remember my dad telling me about him when we used to see him around in the town.
My last visit would have been in the late 70's and I left to come to Australia at the begining of the 80's.
Have only just returned from HH on Monday, I must admit I am finding it very hard to adjust to the cold weather again after three weeks of 30° plus temperatures.

[Huahinian]

Remember Sam Bartram well. Charlton have erected a bronze statue of him in the Valley and named the new restaurant after him.

Haven't left Hua Hin for 10 years apart from occasional visits to Bangkok. When do you plan to come back again?

[chelsea]

Have got roped into going back to the UK for my brothers 50th at the begining of January so might try and get a few days in HH on the way back. Otherwise some time next year (the earlier the better).

[Huahinian]

Good luck with your UK visit. Give me a shout when you are in Hua Hin and perhaps we can meet for a beer.

[Guess]

In relation to relegation this year, in no particular order
Watford, Aston Villa & Charlton

Keep the Blue Flag Flying High,
Flying High Up in the Sky

Now that Martin O'Neil has taken over Villa my guess is that their fortunes will change.

[chelsea]

Guess, you could be right, but he still has the same players that were there when I made my choice, so in that respect nothing has changed. We will have to see if he can motivate them to play a lot better than they did last year. If he can, I have made the wrong choice, but will still stick with my original preditctions.

[Huahinian]

Unless Doug Ellis agrees to spend some money, the Villa will continue to struggle.

[Guess]

Guess, you could be right, but he still has the same players that were there when I made my choice, so in that respect nothing has changed. We will have to see if he can motivate them to play a lot better than they did last year. If he can, I have made the wrong choice, but will still stick with my original preditctions.

Now that a third of the season has passed it just goes to show how much difference a world class manager can make to a team.


Now it still looks very grim for Charlton and the rumors of movement of players must bring down morale at the club. They will be sad loss but I think there time is up.

As for the other two, it could be any 2 from the 12 above with only 3 wins separating Watford from Wigan. Tottenham, Newcastle and definitely Liverpool have the skills to end in the top half with at least one of them in Europe. So that makes it Charlton plus 2 out of nine possibles.

My favorites for the chop are those in the lowest position now,i.e. Sheffield and Watford. As for West Ham though it could be a case of smoke without fire. The recent interest in Sean Wright-Phillips would indicate that they are determined to get out of the shit for at least one more season or is West Ham being used yet again for a grazing ground for players until they get their act together.

[lomuamart]

Guess,
I reckon you've been looking at the stats again, rather than taking a close look at the stars - which are more reliable.

[Jockey]

What is it with Newcastle? Bad luck or bad training methods ... or a signing policy that overlooks player's susceptibility to injury? 15 players currently injured! N Solano groin 23rd Dec 06
Emre ankle 20th Dec 06
A Sibierski ankle no return date very doubtful
C N’Zogbia knee no return date
T Bramble calf 1st Jan 07
K Dyer gashed leg 16th Dec 06 slight doubt
S Harper sports hernia 26th Dec 06
S Parker back 16th Dec 06 slight doubt
D Duff knee 20th Dec 06
C Moore hamstring 1st Jan 07
O Bernard hip no return date
T Krul knee 1st Jan 07
S Carr bruised toe 26th Dec 06
S Ameobi hip Jun 07
M Owen knee (ACL) May 07

[JimmyGreaves]

Chesea will end up second. I reckon Man U will piss it!

[Bamboo Grove]

Headline in BBC World today

Man Utd gain work permit for Dong

If we could do the same, a lot of problems would be solved here in Thailand as well.

[Joni]

Bye bye Pool. Today Blackburn 1-0 Liverpool.