tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54993592024-03-13T10:56:35.503+00:00All Quiet In The East Stand"It's typical Charlton - it's all 'nicely, nicely' with the 'Red, Red Robin' and all that" Alan Pardew, 6 Jan 2008Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comBlogger1080125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-69674882752589127152010-03-16T01:07:00.003+00:002010-03-16T01:16:49.316+00:00Nightmare on Zampa RoadWhen you can't find the words, let someone else say them for you.She ain't wrong, though.What happened? Why can't we arrest a slump in the team? Why is the spirit in the side so seemingly non-existent? Why do things feel so bleak... even though we still seem fairly comfortable for play-offs? Did we expect too much? Or has the manager and team let us down again? And what can we change on a budget Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-43284513715700034932010-01-15T03:14:00.005+00:002010-01-15T03:24:48.755+00:00And after the break...Sorry for the huge gap in posts. And don't even ask what's happened to the comments. Actually, all will be explained about the comments soon.In the meantime, here's a man in the 1980s wisely preserving his moments of Liverpool being good. Will somebody please tell the media that Liverpool won't ever be in a crisis until the receivers' padlock is wrapped around the Shankly gates? Someone, please?Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-8503850576136754982009-12-17T19:08:00.003+00:002009-12-17T19:52:42.087+00:00From silence to a roarNot much to complain about over the past few weeks, eh? You know what? I'm actually enjoying this season. Football's become what it should be - something to help us escape from everyday life. We know we're financially secure for this season at least, and there's the hope we will be in future ones. Is it the fact that we're winning so much which is making League One enjoyable? Or is it being back Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-51450289894975616712009-11-08T21:06:00.004+00:002009-11-08T22:55:49.012+00:00Wheels come off up Victoria way"One day, he'll be able to say, 'I was there...'"The youngest of the All Quiet travelling party had just been dropped off and we were winding our way through the streets of Eltham, his uncle rediscovering his swearing muscles and telling us why he'd taken the youngster to the match. In football, it's best to get your disappointments out the way early. At five, it's unlikely he'll remember much ofInspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-41323009643375408102009-10-23T18:52:00.003+01:002009-10-23T19:30:04.875+01:00Of Parky, ethics and KentSorry for the lack of posting recently - the slow burn of the third tier doesn't do much to spark a desire to hold forth on this and that. And, to be honest, the Thrilling Big Match Action has spoken for itself.Firstly, there was the drudgery of the Oldham game. What did we do to deserve that? The Latics proudly parked a fleet of buses in front of our goal, and we struggled. A week later, Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-11927004888421748292009-09-30T00:33:00.002+01:002009-09-30T01:31:37.266+01:00The perils of fearing failureLadies, gentlemen, I return from Essex with news. We are mortal, my friends, and as liable to a deserved stuffing as the worst of them.If it wasn't for being in rollickingly good company, Tuesday's trip up the A12 would have been swiftly consigned to the bin marked "bad memories". We overcame dreadful traffic conditions to get to the Care In The Community Stadium on time... except there's no Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-42685141129845254062009-09-17T02:16:00.002+01:002009-09-17T02:44:39.668+01:00So, who's up for the Trust, then?A potentially significant moment in Charlton's history took place on Tuesday night - I nearly missed it, eyelids drooping due to jetlag (thanks to Stuart for holding the fort while I swanned around the US and Canada), but it definitely happened. The Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust has been given fans' backing.Well, I say that, but only about 20 people bothered to show up at the Charlton Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-81379793750108297362009-09-14T16:42:00.003+01:002009-09-14T17:05:18.109+01:00Put your Trust in Charlton sharesAs many will be aware, some people believe that an independent Trust should be set-up to deal with the uncertainty that surrounds Charlton's finances and long-term ownership. Personally I remain on the fence about the pros and cons. But the idea seems to have got a shot in the arm today, with the announcement that a mystery Charlton shareholder has 'donated' 524,894 shares. The press release Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107430374590874851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-59724389019497116832009-09-12T10:58:00.002+01:002009-09-12T11:47:57.504+01:00Pardew's welcome?Well, will you be booing? I personally don't know. He didn't do his job and deserved to go, but are we making him shoulder more than his fair share of blame? Either way, I'm wary of his return. His record against previous employers means no-one should expect a walkover against our fellow travellers from the Championship, Southampton. The thrashing of West Ham that arguably gave us false hope ofStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107430374590874851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-7526536466864359832009-08-29T19:35:00.004+01:002009-09-01T19:47:42.988+01:00Can I look yet?Is the deadline passed? Can I count our midfield and not see some conspicuous holes? Sad to see Yassin Moutaouakil leave. I always thought he looked quality. But good lord, players IN. Anyone care to comment on quality or otherwise? Have we bought another member of the walking wounded in Leon McKenzie? And of course I'm sure AQITES' large Rhyl-based readership will have a view on Luke Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03107430374590874851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-20200617981730395812009-08-27T10:40:00.002+01:002009-08-27T10:43:47.259+01:00On the road"You're too excited," the doctor said. "You're top of the league, and you can't cope with the change in emotion. You didn't even write anything after the Walsall match, for heaven's sake. I suggest you take a holiday. A long one."So Stuart gets the keys to the shop and the Twitter feed between now and, er, some time after the Southampton match. Let's hope things are still going well - and Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-15010762576418635832009-08-15T18:57:00.002+01:002009-08-15T19:43:30.689+01:00From Hereford to HartlepoolFree wi-fi on trains? Whatever next, Charlton winning away? Welcome aboard the Grand Central service to Kings Cross, where I'm slunk in an unsociable corner hunched over a tiny laptop. Every now and then, there's a sing-song - because Charlton won away. (in fact, as I type, two are being turfed off the train at York...I didn't go home after the Hereford match, instead opting to use our first two Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-79161739820916804432009-08-11T12:59:00.005+01:002009-08-11T13:10:56.070+01:00It's Takeover Tuesday! Or is it?It's a lovely sunny Tuesday in SE7, and can you feel a sense of anticipation in the air? A takeover announcement, perhaps?The Mail on Sunday carried a short story saying things were just about dusted and things were due to be announced early this week. Tuesday's been a date I've heard, but it strikes me as a bit daft to be adding further fuel to the rumour fire. Especially as it's just turned 1pmInspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-45788176832850942842009-08-08T12:40:00.003+01:002009-08-08T12:59:20.459+01:00Here we go againAs usual, I've completely failed in the task of writing a preview for the new season. Even got scooped to my own Charlton Pathe newsreels post that I didn't get around to writing. Times is hard.It's hard to say anything about the next season with much certainty, though. Off the pitch, we've turned into a mini-Newcastle, a basket case waiting to be rescued. But somewhere out of this, some money Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-80153857002636933632009-07-16T13:55:00.002+01:002009-07-16T14:22:50.810+01:00Supporters' Trust meeting - 4 AugustIn response to the current crisis, former supporters' director Ben Hayes has called a meeting to discuss setting up a supporters' trust for 7pm on 4 August at Charlton Conservative Club, Charlton Church Lane.More on this Charlton Life thread.If you want inspiration, look here. We've history to live up to.Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-12183995846628715842009-07-12T02:35:00.003+01:002009-07-12T02:55:29.288+01:00About that Mail on Sunday storyI stuck this response to the Mail on Sunday's claim we're close to administration on Charlton Life, and I should probably stick it here too.Here's how I see it. I've returned too late from the pub to add much new, but hopefully this brings some threads together.1. The Mail on Sunday has impeccable contacts within and around Charlton Athletic.2. Unattributed quotes *often* come from journalists' Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-34210505209180350222009-07-09T11:27:00.003+01:002009-07-09T12:17:19.559+01:00Cut the fancy talk and get to workWhile some of you were braving the elements at Park View Road last night, I braved the crush at the bar in the Lord John Russell in Bloomsbury, drinking in good company and plotting for the future.There are many, many better things to do at the moment than worry about Charlton Athletic. The reason I packed the blog in during February is that the last thing I needed was to depress myself, and Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-2913554248878341262009-06-17T12:03:00.002+01:002009-06-17T12:37:29.779+01:00The magic of fixture list dayThese kids are up for the new third division season - are you?It's good to be back - what have I missed? Relegation, you say? I dunno, all I see are the same old miserable faces I saw a few months back. Are you sure all that much has changed?Fixture list day remains, though, a day that can puncture the gloom of most miseryguts. Years back, it was the only reason to buy an evening paper. Now, for Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-2935578302363023042009-04-18T17:49:00.002+01:002009-04-18T17:51:32.662+01:00The moment the rebirth startedListen!Bring on the fixture list - and bring on a fresh start. Come on you reds!Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-85644860447120816492009-02-09T20:26:00.002+00:002009-02-09T20:32:17.502+00:00If you haven't got anything nice to say, don't say itYou might have noticed a drying-up of posts lately - as mentioned before, watching and thinking about Charlton Athletic haven't been experiences I've been in a hurry to revisit, the Palace victory aside.With relegation looking likely, I'm going to put this site on hold to regroup and reassess things, and to gather some strength for the climb out of League One. You'll still find some of my Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-90058641837932434462009-01-27T23:20:00.002+00:002009-01-27T23:32:31.759+00:00Charlton 1-0 Crystal PalaceBloody hell, how good was that? 1-0 against the Palace, and we were simply too strong for them, putting in the kind of performance that hasn't been seen at home since maybe the day we beat Reading. For me, it was two of our loan stars who shone the brightest - Matthew Spring's goal was of the kind we've been praying for all season, while I thought ex-Nigels star Tom Soares was terrific. Also Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-32955397454665109392009-01-26T22:17:00.002+00:002009-01-26T22:27:34.068+00:00Staggering alreadyI suppose the result of tomorrow's match against Palace will set the tone for the rest of the season - a surprise win could set up The Great Escape, another defeat will lead to more unhelpful recriminations. The dimwitted plan to have the match at 7.45pm on a Tuesday, colliding with the evening rush hour, isn't going to help matters - and won't win the club any friends among its neighbours.Still,Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-75101756633010625132009-01-19T21:27:00.002+00:002009-01-19T22:04:51.457+00:00Izale like a Lion at the Den*In an attempt to bypass my current inability to say anything sensible about Charlton's current plight, All Quiet In The East Stand is going to take a feed of stories from the official site, cafc.co.uk. Hope you enjoy them - here's the first.Charlton striker Izale McLeod enjoyed a winning start to life on loan at Millwall as the Lions snatched a 1-0 win over Tranmere Rovers on Saturday.After a Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-86124443833279610642009-01-19T00:54:00.002+00:002009-01-19T00:58:17.781+00:00There's more to life (etc)Normal Charlton service was resumed with a defeat at Sheffield Wednesday which was, by all accounts, abysmal. Did I go? Nope. I can't really add anything that hasn't been said already, and I just feel spent with the whole thing, really.So, in the meantime, here's an amusing video of some kittens.See, that made you smile a bit, didn't it? Oh...Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5499359.post-42210964779639131792009-01-13T21:48:00.003+00:002009-01-13T22:03:41.106+00:00Crikey! We won a match!We won! We beat a team! If only it was a league match... but you've got to take your bonuses where you can get them. And it does prove we can beat other Championship sides, even if it's one as crap as Norwich. Sheffield United beckon at Brammall Lane in the fourth round.Not had much time to digest the annual report and the Forest farrago, a gigantic huge thinky post may follow soon, if you're Inspector Sandshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12995788811195103429noreply@blogger.com