The Football Addick

It's a topic that some of you have been waiting for, and it revolves by the name of a man called Fernando Torres. The issue started back in 2010, weeks before the World Cup was due to start. Fernando had been struggling with injury all season, and seemed a doubt for the Championships. However, in the end he was able to compete, but there was something wrong. Back then you could argue that he was out of form, simply taking time to re-adapt to professional football after a period away from the game due to injury. However, just less than 2 years have flown by and Torres still hasn't rekindled the spark which saw him score a countless number of goals for Liverpool for the 3 seasons he played in prior to the World Cup. That poses the question: Has Torres lost it? Since the World Cup, Torres has shown in glimpses what he was able to do, but only in glimpses. Time and time again has Torres failed to disappoint, which has seen both his confidence and performance plummet g...

 The King has not enjoyed a successful second stint as manager at the club....Yet  I've followed Liverpool for many years now and never have I seen a Liverpool team so frustrating to watch. Since the start or the 2009/2010 season Liverpool have rapidly fallen in stature, which has seen them plummet down the Premier League table. Liverpool enjoyed a successful 10 years prior to their recent downfall, regularly reaching the top 4 and occasionally contending for League titles. Before 2006 they also featured in many cup finals, which include famously achieving the treble in 2001, beating AC Milan in the best champions league final ever in 2005 and beating West Ham in debatably the most exciting FA Cup final in 2006. Despite narrowly losing out on the Premier league title to rivals Manchester United in the 2008/2009, Liverpool have achieved next to nothing in terms of success and now have to fight for a spot in the Europa League! So where...

 Chris Powell has guided his team to a 7 point lead with a game in hand after 26 games  Charlton vs Sheffield United - 21st January This was a match that held key significance, not just for the Charlton fans, but for League 1 as a whole. This is the game whereby Charlton could send out a message to the league that they are not bottlers, as well as proving that they have what it takes to secure the title come May. I eagerly awaited this clash, glancing at the clock every 10 minutes or so in anticipation of this important game. When 3:00 finally swung round, my waiting was over and the anticipation i felt quickly turned into nerves.  Jacko exquisitely curled in another free kick to earn his side 3 vital points vs Sheffield United I know Charlton have what it takes to win the league, but playing both Sheffield clubs in the space of 2 weeks was always going to be a tricky test. However, this was the better of the Sheffield clubs. First vs second. Charlton lose, blows...

Firstly, sorry for the lack of posts recently, I do have a good reason in that I’d been forced into extensive revision for my Geography exam or risk total failure. For anyone interested, it went quite well actually, think the revision paid off. Anyhow, a key topic revolving round the football world is the questionable job security of Arsenal manager - Arsene Wenger. Yes he's been at the helm for year after year, and yes he was a key figure in creating the 'invincibles' and marshalling the team to great effect, his current performance just simply isn't good enough. His signings have been dreadful, his team are suffering in the league and half the players simply aren't fit to wear the shirt. The club revolves around great past success in the past, and when you see players such as Chamakh, Arshavin, Djourou and Mertesacker in the starting line up, you can't contain your laughter! From legendary Tony Adams to the comical figure of Per Mertesacker, the decline in j...

Barclays Premier League 21/01/2012 Norwich vs Chelsea      Prediction 1-1 Norwich host a Chelsea side who have looked fairly unconvincing in recent weeks, with only 2 wins from their last 6 Barclays Premier League games. Even these wins have been narrow, needing Frank Lampard to come to Chelsea 's rescue on both occasions. However, Chelsea are still a side to be feared, who are unbeaten in their last 5 away games. Norwich on the other hand are enjoying a good season, with strikers Grant Holt and Steve Morrison spearheading their surge up the table. There is no doubt Norwich will provide a tough task for Chelsea and with the backing of the Norwich faithful, I expect them to match Chelsea man for man and get a well deserved point. Everton vs Blackburn      Prediction 2-0 Everton play Blackburn at Goodison Park and are looking to kick start their season. As we all know Blackburn have had more than their fair share of troubles and on...

 Charlton defender Chris Solly is celebrating his 21st birthday today  We’ve got Chris Solly, he’s ******* quality, we’ve got Chris Solly, he’s ******* quality! The tune rings out round the Valley every time Chris Solly steps out onto the pitch. Solly has been a key figure in a successful Charlton side this season, which has seen them propel to the top of the Npower League 1 after 25 games. He has also been able to establish himself as a fan favourite, so much so that the Charlton fans even devised a chant which saw ‘Solly’ rhyme with ‘Quality’ – Genius lyrics. The Addicks right back turned 21 today, and to mark this special occasion - I have decided to write about the most consistent man not only in the Charlton team this season; but in the whole of League 1. Before I go any further, happy birthday Chris Solly. He has been immense at the back for Charlton this term, making even the top wingers in the league look average. Chris broke into the team at the end of last season, a...

 Match Report Sheffield Wednesday hosted table topping Charlton in a high profile match which saw 1st play 3rd in the Npower League 1 standings. The match was destined to be an intense match, with Sheffield Wednesday’s formidable form at home matching Charlton's success on the road. It was also the small matter of Addicks legend Chris Powell marking his 1 year anniversary as manager of the club, and he was surely looking to celebrate this with an away win against a tough Wednesday side. It was Sheffield Wednesday who started off brighter, with Chris Lines' shot well saved by Addicks keeper Ben Hamer. Charlton responded with a goal, Captain fantastic Johnnie Jackson curling in a terrific free kick from 25 yards straight into the top corner, sparking Jubilance in the Charlton away end (and in the home end where my brother was sitting). That was Jackson 's 9th goal this term, an impressive tally considering he had to spend 6 weeks on the sidelines. The Owls respon...

There are many players in the Premier League that have caught the eye this year, but who will make it into my team of the year? I will announce the team I think have out performed their competition and will cover why they have deserved to be in the team. GK - Tim Krul ( Newcastle ) Appearances: 21 Clean Sheets: 8 Goals Conceded: 25 Tim Krul just edges out Michelle Vorm for the number 1 shirt. He is currently having a fantastic season for the toon this year, producing a number of incredible performances which has been rewarded with the amount of clean sheets he has collected. Including a noticeable performance against Man United in addition to an array of magnificent saves this year, he has formed a formidable partnership with his back 4, commanding and leading them to great effect. LB - Jose Enrique ( Liverpool ) Appearances: 21    Goals Conceded: 18    Assists: 2 Jose Enrique has been a stand out Performer in a mediocre Liverpoo...

It's the question that seems to dominant most of the back pages every single week; should Steve Kean get fired? Neil Warnock, a proven, respected manager gets sacked earlier in the week after the midst of some disappointing recent results, so if Warnock deserves to be sacked, surely Steve Kean, an inexperienced and unproven manager would too? I think the Blackburn fans need to stay loyal to their club and actually back their manager, instead of bombarding the coaching staff and owners, Venky's, with frequent flurry’s of abuse whenever their team walks out onto the pitch. The situation has even got to a state whereby Kean is afraid to leave his house in fear or being attacked by his own supporters, which is absurd, yet likely to happen after the circumstances already witnessed and publicised by the press. So here's the question - Sack or no sack? Personally, I think the way Kean has handled the situation has been brilliant, showing no sign of the pressure getting to him a...

Saturday 14th January West Brom 1-2 Norwich Norwich, who were enjoying somewhat of a miracle in their first season back in the premier league, travelled to the Hawthons to play an established West Brom, who similarly had been enjoying a good season under the guidance of current boss, Roy Hodgson. It was the home side who narrowly edged out early preceedings in the tie, but it was a Norwich player who managed to make the breakthrough. Andrew Surman showed composure to neatly caress his volley into the bottom left corner of the West Brom goal, giving Norwich the lead at the break. The second half sprung into life when on 68 minutes played, Jerome Thomas was taken out in the box unfairly By Daniel Ayala, who was lucky not to see red after an awfully times challenge on the English winger. Former Reading ace Shane Long cooly stepped up, and slotted the ball home, 1-1. However Norwich regained the lead thanks to great work by Grant Holt down the left hand side, who floated an inv...

The Etihad Stadium was the destination of a titanic struggle whereby the reward was being one step closer into competing for the carling cup; not the most prestigious of domestic rewards but one both sides wouldn’t mind having in their trophy cabinet. Mancini, who's  Manchester City  headed the Premier League table with an impressive 48 points out a possible 60, fielded a strong line-up, with the only question marks regarding David Silva, the influential playmaker who didn't even take up a position on the bench. Likewise, Dalglish fielded a Liverpool team that epitomised their seriousness in this competition, with the only changes being Kelly for Enrique, and Spearing for Adam. Right from the kick off Liverpool flew straight out the blocks, causing a lot of trouble in the opening 10 minutes. On 4 minutes, Downing played a neat ball through whereby Carroll used pace and power to shrug off Savic, his shot well saved by Hart, and shortly afterwards a precise 25 yard cur...

Was initially reluctant to get a blog, but after reading and being interested by a couple of my friends blogs: i decided to give it a shot. I am a Charlton fan (hench my blog name Addick) and will be covering their games aswell as Barclays Premier League games, English Cup games, The Champions league and the Europa league and the occasional foreign domestic league games. After this week i will be posting reguarly and offering my views on the football world, and all i can say is that i hope you enjoy my posts!