retired_shaneltolbert

Shouldn't that be Charlton???

retired_swmchick2006

bah... yes...

retired_swmchick2006

Charlton 3 : Tottenham 0
(Nolan og 3, Milton 70 , 72)
An own goal and 2 goals from on-form substitute Carl Milton left Tottenham completely in tatters.

Abdulla did not play.

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Commentary:

In early February, rumors began to circulate that Charlton was pursuing a 21-year-old right midfielder named Abdulla Rashid from his club Al Ain in the U.A.E. Additional reports suggested that the actual target player was central defender Abdulla Salem of Al Jazeera, and that rumor led to others suggesting that the ‘real’ target player was defender Husein Salem of Al Ahli. Of course, a few in the press pointed out that the original report was quite old and probably was only in reference to Khamis Abdulla, signed by Charlton, as we know, prior to the season start.

Speculation, however, was rampant within some sections of the British media that further signing’s of Arabic players signaled either: a) a takeover of Charlton Athletic by a Saudi Arabian oil conglomerate, b) a high-value marketing deal with an Arabic speaking television station, c) a complete breakdown of the Charlton scouting organization, resulting in wasted funds for travel and agent fees, or d) that the player in question was actually quite good.

For our purposes, we generally felt that the approach was made to give Khamis Abdulla a pal at the club who spoke the same language (although, it was later pointed out that Abdulla is in fact, quite fluent in English and also French, our mistake), or simply that the loopy Charlton manager was off pursuing some new flight-of-fancy player. At any rate, the rumors did not sit well with the loyal fans, and manager Jenkins issued a ‘non-denial’ denial saying, and we quote:

“We are only interested in signing immediate impact players.”

Naturally, nothing ever came of the rumors, and Charlton would not sign any new players in February or March.

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Fulham 1: Charlton 0
(Shaw 56)

Fulham again beat their rivals in a London derby, much to the chagrin of the Charlton board.

Abdulla did not play.

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FA Cup 5th Round
Charlton 3 : Norwich 0
(Milton 28 , 53, Humpreys 58)

League Cup Semi-Final Leg 2
Charlton 2 : Middlesbrough 0
(Aggregate 3:0)
(Morgenstern 36, Humphreys 80)

Formerly forgotten men Milton and Humphreys continued to make a fool out of their manager, as Abdulla continued to do… well… nothing.

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Charlton 1 : Liverpool 0
(Donaldson 58)

After the League Cup Semi-Finals, the two teams who had advanced to the final faced each other in the next league match, and Charlton always looked the likely winners. Defender Anthony Hughes had a flawless day in the center of Charlton’s back-line, and midfielder Donaldson reacted first to a spilled shot for the only goal.

Abdulla came on moments after the goal, but Charlton completely stopped pressing on the attack, and Liverpool were completely clueless and unable to find a gap to exploit to find an equalizer. Frankly, we’re not sure why they bothered to bring Abdulla into the game.

Our Rating: 6 of 10
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 7

retired_swmchick2006

Birmingham 1 : Charlton 3
(Keane 35 : Humphreys 13, Kipre og 21, Abdulla 90)

A poorly played match from both teams, but Charlton was simply the luckier on the day. After Humphreys well-taken opening goal, Michaelsen’s shot took a huge deflection off of a defender for 2-0. Birminham pulled one back before Charlton iced the game.

Coming on in the 68th minute, Abdulla had a good stretch in the closing minuts. In the 89th he got to the end of a Humphreys through ball and rifled a shot that Verlinden did very well to tip away for a corner. The resulting set play, however, was a well taken corner by Julien Da Silva that floated up perfectly for Abdulla to powerfully head into the net.

For his time on the pitch, it was a very promising game from Abdulla.

Our rating: 8 of 10
Goals:1
Total Goals: 8

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FA Cup Qtr Final
Charlton 3 : West Ham 1
(Da Silva pen 21, Humphreys 26, Michaelsen 43 : Ranieri pen 4)

Poor positioning from the West Ham keeper gifted Charlton 2 goals from set pieces after the teams exchanged early penalties.

Abdulla came on as a sub and did nothing more than pass the ball around as his team killed off the game. If only we all could have it so easy.

Our rating: 7
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 8

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Charlton 3 : Sunderland 2
(Crawford 9, Humphreys 29, Hughes 90 : Gleeson 3, McDonagh 43)

With Humphreys and Crawford giving Sunderland nightmares, the game was far closer than it needed to be. Hughes headed home a corner in the dying minutes to finally get the 3 points.

Abdulla made a late appearance and contributed 3 offside flags. Yawn.

Our Rating: 7 of 10
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 8

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League Cup Final
Liverpool 1 : Charlton 1
Penalties 2 : 4
(Antoniadis 49 : Donaldson 33)

Liverpool controlled the midfield for long stretches of the game, but rarely troubled Charlton keeper Peter O’Brien. Nearly every counter-attack from Charlton looked dangerous. With nothing settled in regular time, Charlton would go on to win on penalties.

Abdulla came on in the 63rd, clipped the bar with a header in the 85th from a Michaelsen set-piece, and then converted Charlton’s 4th penalty to give his side a 3-2 lead in the shootout. A very solid contribution by the youngster for his first ever trophy, but was made more impressive by his willingness to track back on defense to help his tired midfielders. He broke up at least 8 Liverpool attacks, and had a significant role in creating two opportunities for Michaelsen to win the game prior to the penalties. (The midfielder shot just over from one, and hit woodwork with the other.)

Our rating: 7 of 10
Goals: 0 (Converted his penalty)
Total Goals: 8

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Commentary – League Cup Final

It was a Liverpool team clearly not very interested in the trophy with their manager selecting several players who rarely were chosen for first team play including a 17-year-old keeper making his first ever appearance, a 24-year-old defender making his first ever appearance, and a 17-year old striker who has managed only 3 goals in 23 non-competitive reserve matches. True, there were a few high quality players in the game for Liverpool, but Charlton fielded pretty much a first-team line-up that has played together all season.

Yet Liverpool still controlled the match and had chances to win.

So what’s the real story?

Charlton’s manager and his negative tactics didn’t win this match, they nearly lost it. Although we concede that his 4-5-1 formation is built for cup runs, and that Charlton’s counter-attacks were effective (though not converted), this was a Liverpool team ripe for the picking. And of all the chances Charlton could create (12), they could only put 6 of them on target to test the young Liverpool keeper. Their defense still had to rely on Anthony Hughes making 11 clearing headers in the back line. Their midfield still had to have a Man-of-the-Match caliber game from Matt Potter. And they still need heroics from their keeper O’Brien (who both saved and converted a penalty ) to finally lift the trophy.

And Liverpool, what was their level of commitment to winning the game? Let us just point out that their 5 options on the substitute bench have a grand total of 0 league appearances this season.

So yes, congratulations to Charlton – you have done only what you should have.

And shame, shame, on Liverpool for disgracing themselves and undermining this historic and meaningful competition.

retired_swmchick2006

Charlton 1 : Southampton 0
(Phelan 45)

A dull workmanlike performance from Charlton, and a ‘why did they bother to show up’ performance from Southampton.

Abdulla did not play.

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FA Cup Semi Final
Man Utd 0 : Charlton 1
(Humphreys 44)

Charlton’s 4-5-1 confounded league leaders Man Utd, and Humphreys stole a counter-attacking goal against the run of play. Manchester held a 62% to 38% possession advantage in the fist half, and a similar advantage in the 2nd, but only managed to test Charlton keeper O’Brien twice in 90 minutes.

Since Charlton closed up shop after getting the goal, Abdulla stayed on the bench yet again.

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Man City 3 : Charlton 1
(Njanke pen 7, Carroll 27, Weber 66 : Job pen 90, Potter sent off 7)

Defensive midfielder Matt Potter was sent off early and Man City fully dominated the match from that point forward. Only 17-year-old Icelandic international Jonas Eiriksson performed well for Charlton.

Abdulla kept himself firmly planted on the bench for the full 90.

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Middlesbrough 0 : Charlton 0

A middling match, from two middling sides. Charlton shows little interest in attempting to finish any higher than third.

Abdulla played the full 90 and had an average game. He forced two saves with headers, but attempted to volleys that sailed well over the crossbar.

Our Rating: 7 of 10
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 8

retired_swmchick2006

Commentary

By the middle of April, Manchester United seemed to be on track for another double of trophies. In the league, they held an advantage over Liverpool and Charlton that neither of the chasing teams seemed to be able to narrow., and were mowing down opposition in the Champions League (defeating Liverpool 4-1 in the last game of the group stage, and beating Juventus 4-1 on aggregate in the quarters).

Led by Dutch striker Michel Spronck, they were clearly the classiest side that the English Premier league had seen in a long time, and their only blip was the loss to Charlton in the FA Cup semis.

Liverpool, on the other hand, after embarrassing themselves in the League Cup final, were middling around in the league, and failing to really challenge the leaders and only barely staying above Charlton. The 4-1 loss to Manchester United in the Champions League had only emphasized the gulf in quality between the two rivals, and although the English striking pair of Justin Webb and Phil Black had been impressive enough, Liverpool’s overly defensive approach had been right ridiculed in the major press.

But even Liverpool’s indifferent form was miles better than Chelsea’s (in 15th), Tottenham’s (12th), or Arsenal (6th).

In fact it was Blackburn and Newcastle that seemed to be the most exciting clubs besides Manchester United in the premiership. Paul Stewart’s attacking 3-5-2 had re-invigorated Blackburn’s offense, and Newcastle were riding high after a 5-0 crushing of soon-to-be-relegated Birmingham.

Naturally, the less said about Charlton, the better.

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Charlton 2: Arsenal 2
(Humphreys 59, Job 80 : Leroy 12, Ettori 69)

Aston Villa 1 : Charlton 0
(Hamilton 64)

Charlton 2 : Everton 0
(Humphreys 59, Donaldson 67)

Charlton did just enough to cling to 2nd place in the league in the run up to the FA Cup final against Ipswich.. Humphreys continued to prove his manager wrong, wronger, and wrongest, by single-handedly carrying the spluttering 4-5-1 offense with him.

Abdulla was a notable non-factor in any of these matches, appearing only once as a substitute in the loss against Aston Villa. (Where his only shot was a 20-yard attempt that rolled wide.)

Our rating: 6 of 10
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 8

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Commentary

"Is Khamis Abdulla actually any good?"

That is the question being asked by Charlton supporters as their manager continued to leave the striker on the bench during the final few games of the season.

After an early season where the supporters were repeatedly told that Abdulla "was key to the offense" and "the future face of Charlton football", the reality and day-to-day impact of the player seemed rather un-impressive. Early season form (and two monthly awards) had suggested great promise, but were they just installing false hopes among the masses?

Abdulla himself seemed amiable enough. Although a Muslim, he did not portray the sense of being a fervent believer (even, some reports say, causing some degree of outrage in his home country). He was seemingly fully integrated into his club in only a few months time, open with the press - and not particularly interesting to most of them, and was living quietly in his London flat, shared with a distant relative.

He was by most accounts and scouting reports, clearly a hard-working, somewhat strong in the air, team-oriented sort of player. Yet, that hardly seems enough for a player to be in a single-striker formation. Was the "desert stallion" really nothing more than a "desert pony" and with only one-trick at that?

Could a foreign player, in a glamour position, just be 'okay' and still satisfy?

At 18, he really had his entire career ahead of him. And Charlton fans were wondering if that career would be enough for the club.

retired_swmchick2006

West Ham 0 : Charlton 1
(Abdulla 85)

Abdulla played the full 90 and had one of his better days on the pitch. He was unlucky to hit the post with a left-footed volley in the 23rd minute, but did very well to escape his marker and finished confidently (after a Potter ball over the defense) that won the game late.

West Ham now certain of relegation.

Our rating: 8 of 10
Goals: 1
Total Goals: 9

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FA Cup Final
Charlton 1 : Ipswich 0
(Crawford 45)

In what will surely be remembered as one of the worst FA Cup finals ever, Charlton winger Tim Crawford scored on the only fluid attack Charlton had all day, heading past Ipswich keeper Ian Cartwright.

Division One champions Ipswich were arguably the better of two mediocre sides on the day, but could not produce the necessary shot to beat Peter O’Brien.

Abdulla came on at half time and had two attempts at goal, both flying over… well, you know the rest.

Our rating: 7 of 10
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 9

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UEFA Cup Final
Feyenoord 0 : Inter 0
(van der Gun sent off 22)
Penalties 6 : 5

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Chelsea 0 : Charlton 0

Charlton ended their season with a dull draw, and coupled with Liverpool’s win, finished in 3rd place in the Premiership.

Abdulla started and played 78 minutes before being subbed. He forced a good save just before he was replaced; the only shot on target Charlton had all day.

Our rating: 7 of 10
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 9

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Champions Cup Final
PSV 0 : Roma 2
(Andre 2, Ambrosio 43)

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FIFA World Player of the Year
Kevin Vogler (FC Bayern)

World Footballer of the Year
Fabio Pinola (FC Bayern)

English Player’s Player of the Year
Michel Spronck (Man Utd)

Manager of the Year
Stuart Caldwell (Man Utd)

End of Season 1

Khamis Abdulla
2001/2002 Charlton Season (Club won FA Cup, League Cup, finished 3rd in English Premier)
League: 20(6) Apps, 8 Goals, 1 Assist, 3 MOM, AvR 7.38
Cup: 0(5), 0 Goals, 0 Assists, 0 MOM, AvR 7.00
Season Total: 20(11) 9 Goals, 1 Assist, 3 MOM, AvR 7.32
Career Total: 20(11) 9 Goals, 1 Assist, 3 MOM, AvR 7.32

retired_swmchick2006

Commentary – Charlton

After winning two cups, Charlton manager Jenkins spent the off-season in pursuit of players to shore up a squad that had clearly over-achieved. His scouts spent most of the summer in Eastern Europe attempting to come up with various deals for proven players from the Ukrainian and Czech leagues, but to no avail. Those that were interested in a move to England were left waiting for work permit decisions.

Others targeted by Charlton were stuck in similar binds. Nigerian midfielder Lawrence Ekoku was unable to move despite being a regular international, as was Chul-Woo Choi of South Korea, Charlton’s target for left-back.

United Arab Emirates winger Abdulla Rashid turned out to have no problems getting a work permit, and it was generally agreed by Premiership scouts that Rashid was a raw talent that could be molded into a solid player as long as he was given enough time. Like 10 years or so.

(Naturally, rumors about sponsorships or takeover bids continued because of the signing. In fact, just prior to the season beginning, Arabian TV station Al Jazeera announced that they would have special coverage of all Charlton games, and both Khamis Abdulla and Rashid appeared in several advertising spots for the station, and a Qatari car dealership, but nothing more important than that occurred.)

Charlton continued to target young English defenders, signing Matthew Benn and Nick Osbourne. Then the club added depth to the defense with Swedish prospect Christoffer Agren (tipped to start at the troublesome right-back position), and 22-year-old Irish keeper Paul Mooney.

Just prior to the season, Charlton went on a flurry of signings for midfield, with the key signings seeming to be a trio of defensive midfielders: Finland international Tero Korhonen, Ivory Coast international Raoul Kipre, and Ukrainian international Andriy Dudnik. English winger George Adams, and forward Craig Bird also joined the club.

A few players did leave the club, including unhappy Massimo Sabatini for 1.4 million to Brescia, and several unimportant reserve players.

In contracts, it was no surprise to see Khamis Abdulla improve on his meager salary of 550 pounds per week, but whether or not he deserved the 200% raise he received remains to be seen. It appeared to be completely necessary, at least to most of the press, as Clayton Humphreys (the only proven striker at the club) seemed unhappy with his contract that expired mid-season, and which the board seemed unwilling to increase.

So all signs seemed to indicate that Charlton were content to continue to play the same ugly 4-5-1 style that had wormed them to two cups in the previous season, and with no truly star players, and no playmakers other than the under-performing Michaelsen, the offensive capabilities of the side looked bleak at best.

Even the board downplayed Charlton’s chances for the season, claiming that staying up another year would be a solid success.

We dreaded to see what would transpire.

(As for Abdulla, with a preseason that featured him scoring 3 out of Charlton’s 5 goals in games against M’gladbach, Barnsley, and Dynamo Kiev, he was certainly giving hope to the fans that he would produce the good on the pitch all year round. We doubted he would.)

retired_brianrt

I like this Attjen, interesting take on a season and love the style of your work. Keep it up

retired_jgirl87

Nicely done, looking forward to the second season. :thup: