retired_swmchick2006

Thanks guys.

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Champions Cup Qual. 3 Leg 1
Charlton 0 : Shakhtar 0
(Morgenstern sent off 90)

Charlton left ruing multiple missed chances in a one-sided game where Shakhtar barely bothered to leave their own end of the pitch. With an ‘impossible to believe it’s true’ 85% possession stat in the first half, Charlton was stymied by strong keeping from Andriy Stepanov but mostly were undone by poor finishing.

Khamis Abdulla was to blame for several of those missed chances. A sitter in the 19th was the worse offense. The striker did seem the most dangerous player to score (despite the miss) and he did actually hit the bar in the 73rd.

(Abdulla Rashid made a second-half substitute appearance, but lasted only 15 minutes before being injured, forcing Charlton to play a man short for the final 15 minutes of the game.)

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

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Charity Shield
Arsenal 2 : Charlton 1
(Powell 39, Sinkkonen 63 : Korhonen 5)

For reasons we aren’t particularly clear on, and can’t be bothered to find out why, Arsenal (not Man Utd) played Charlton in the pre-season Charity Shield. Despite Korhonen scoring in the 5th minute (off a loose ball after Abdulla forced a save with a strong header), Arsenal’s reserve - yes RESERVE side - was more than a match for a first-choice Charlton line-up, and stormed to victory.

Abdulla really couldn’t be faulted on the day, forcing 4 excellent saves on 5 shots, and setting up Michaelsen brilliantly for a chance (that was blazed over).

The finger of blame for this loss points directly at the Charlton manager.

Our rating: 8 of 10
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 9

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Liverpool 1 : Charlton 0
(Contini 88)

Last season’s number 2 and 3 clubs faced each other in the opening league match. An even game won late by a Contini header from a corner.

Abdulla turned in a fine all-around performance, contributing only one shot (off-target) but tracking back on defense and showing a surprising degree of playmaking ability (completely lacking from the rest of the squad on the day).

Our rating: 8
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 9

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Champions Cup Qual. 3 2nd leg
Shakhtar 2 : Charlton 1
(Velkov 23, Diaz 83 : Phelan 75)

Charlton’s Champions Vup appearance was over before it really started as Shakhtar scored late after Phelan briefly gave his club an away goals advantage. Humphreys hit the bar late after coming on as a sub.

Abdulla nearly opened the scoring with a flashing drive from 20-yards that the Shakhtar keeper did brilliantly to keep out, but was silent for the rest of the game.

Our rating: 8
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 9

retired_swmchick2006

Commentary

The new advertisement for the ‘can’t mention the name here’ mobile phone company is fairly simple. Khamis Abdulla and Abdulla Rashid, in training gear, are first shown on the bench, lacing up. The camera switches to a few shots of them warming up (Rashid rolling the ball quickly back and forth with the sole of his foot, Abdulla chesting and volleying the ball at an empty goal).

The two look similar, almost like brothers, but the elder in reality (Rashid) looks smaller, thinner, and quite a bit younger. Abdulla has a much larger frame, and has clearly put on muscle after his first year in the Premiership. Abdulla’s black hair is also quite a bit shaggier, and Rashid is vaguely trying to grow a goatee.

Then the camera focuses more on the two playing together. Rashid plays a cross in, Abdulla heads past an anonymous keeper. Rashid and Abdulla combine for a quick one-two that frees the winger for an easy shot on goal. Then in rapid succession, the ad goes into a sequence of shots showing the two combining in a variety of methods (all resulting in goals past a noticeably unfit and paunchy defense).

Voiceover: “Just like these two players know the importance of creating a good connection on the pitch, we know the importance of creating a good connection off it.”

Practice is over, Rashid walks to his bag on the sidelines, laughing as Abdulla jogs by and slaps him on the back. Rashid picks up his mobile, camera pans up and back overhead, zooming out to a satellite view, and then back into the Persian Gulf. An older man in a suit (the viewer must assume it is a relative) picks his phone out of his pocket, looks at who is calling, and smiles.

Logo, music, and end.

It is one of the most shown advertisements in most of the countries of the Persian Gulf, and we are certain that Abdulla and Rashid have made more money from that commercial than they will from their Charlton contracts over the next season.

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Man City 0 : Charlton 1
(Kipre 83, Potter sent off 50)

Charlton’s brilliantly unstable Matt Potter was sent off, but new signing Raoul Kipre scored his first ever club to get his side their first win of the season.

With Michaelsen again playing pitifully poor, Abdulla had no service and no shots on goal. The striker did play a part in the winning goal as his long solo run with the ball down the right side created the space for Kipre to sneak in unmarked.

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

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Coventry 0 : Charlton 3
(Dudnik 6, Humphreys 72, 76)

UEFA Cup 1st Round Leg 1
Charlton 1 : St Gallen 0
(Humphreys 83)

Charlton 2 : Leicester 0
(Korhonen 26, Humphreys 71)

Charlton 1 : Arsenal 1
(Humphreys 84 : Gardiner 21)

After starting the first 5 games of the season, Khamis Abdulla was given a stretch on the bench and Clayton Humphreys (of now-resolved-contract-dispute) was back in the starting line-up. Humphreys scored 5 goals in 4 games to get Charlton’s season started back up again, and will certainly be expected by many to be a natural first-choice now.

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Middlesbrough 2 : Charlton 4
(Pacheco 59, Shaw 75 : Abdulla 7, 13, 71, Crawford 58)

Abdulla’s return to the starting line-up was an impressive one as the striker scored his first hattrick of his young career.

Boro were caught completely flat-footed in the 7th minute when Korhonen flicked the ball out wide to Donaldson and the winger hit a first time cross in to the near post. Abdulla made an excellent slashing run and poked the ball past the keeper for his first goal of the season. Abdulla’s second goal came from Donaldson as well as the veteran winger chipped a beautiful ball into the box for Abdulla to head into the corner. The striker very nearly got a third with a well-taken half-volley from 25 yards out that beat the keeper but not the bar.

The rest of the 2nd half was a wide-open end-to-end match with Crawford scoring in the the 58th and Boro pulling one back seconds later. Abdulla completed his hattrick by heading home a Phelan freekick in the 71st.

All in all, a perfect day from Abdulla, who covered for a poor defensive day from his team.

Our rating: 10 of 10
Goals: 3
Total Goals: 12

retired_swmchick2006

UEFA Cup 1st Round Leg 2
St Gallen 2 : Charlton 1
(Aggregate 2 : 2, Charlton advances on away goals)
(Martinez pen 38, 83 : Abdulla 2, Phelan sent off 37)

Khamis Abdulla scored the vital away goal on the first attack of the game, freeing himself from his marker and blasting home a right-footed shot after Phelan chipped the ball into the box. The striker would have 3 other chances to ice the game, but could not put any of them on target with the St Gallen defense more attentive after the goal.

After midfielder Lee Phelan was sent off, St Gallen pulled back two goals to even the aggregate, but could not get the 3rd they needed to advance.

Our Rating: 8 of 10
Goals: 1
Total Goals: 13

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Charlton 1 : Newcastle 1
(Humphreys 90 : Brecklin)

A late goal from Clayton Humphreys saved a point for Charlton at home. Newcastle were arguably the better on the day and deserved their lead, but Charlton scored just before the whistle after a poor defensive clearance.

Abdulla played the first half, but was not really involved in play, failing to get a shot off during his time on the pitch.

Our rating: 7 of 10
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 13

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Charlton 1 : W.B.A. 0
(Humphreys 39)

Chelsea 1: Charlton 0
(Norkjaer 37)

UEFA Cup 2nd Round Leg 1
Charlton 2 : Olimpija 0
(Humphreys 18, Rashid 50)

Humphreys continued his good form as Khamis Abdulla was given a few games break. The loss to Chelsea was an ugly affair, with Charlton completely unable to produce anything resembling an attack or chance at goal.

(Abdulla Rashid scored his first ever goal for the club, a powerful header off of a cross in the 50th minute against Slovenia’s Olimpija. The winger has played well in his games with the club, but clearly is not quite ready for starting every game.)

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Charlton 0 : Man Utd 1
(O’Neill 73)

The defending champions muscled their way past the pretenders with an intimidating performance. Irish captain and club talisman O’Neill getting the only goal. United upended the Charlton squad with 16 fouls. Their main targets were striker Abdulla and star midfielder Matt Potter.

Abdulla was subbed in the 62nd having barely had a moment where he was being clipped or shoved to the turf. Overall, Abdulla ended up being fouled 6 times that the referee called, and was bullied out of the game completely.

Our rating: 6 of 10
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 13

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Southampton 0 : Charlton 3
(Abdulla 6, 13, 54)

Abdulla bounced back from an ineffective day against United by single-handedly trouncing an unprepared Southampton side. For his first goal of the day, Crawford and Job combined well down the left, and the fullback (Job) put in a solid near post cross that Abdulla met with a first-time left footed strike into the corner. After two ambitious (but admittedly well-taken) long-range attempts that flew near the frame, Abdulla headed home an Adams cross from the right side.

The striker completed his hattrick early in the 2nd half after Michaelsen laid the ball off brilliantly, and Abdulla smashed it through the defense into the net. He nearly could pick up a 4th goal, and probably should have won a penalty given for a clear trip in the box in the 77th, but really neither he nor Charlton could have much complaint with the result.

Our rating: 10 of 10
Goals: 3
Total Goals: 16

retired_lrenfroe

Congrats on your two hatricks :thup:

retired_swmchick2006

UEFA Cup 2nd Round Leg 2
Olimpija 0 : Charlton 2
(Aggregate 0:4)
(Abdulla 45, Crawford 65)

Abdulla was named man-of-the-match, as Charlton set up a 3rd Meeting with Arsenal in the UEFA Cup. The striker was a serious threat to score all day and finally got his goal in the 45th by heading home from 6 yards, after a nice team move.

Winger Crawford added a sensational solo goal to ice the game.

Our Rating: 8 of 10
Goals: 1
Total Goals: 17

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Charlton 1 : Everton 0
(Michaelsen 58)

Midfielder Michaelsen showed signs of improved form after playing in a more withdrawn position, and scored the only goal as Abdulla was locked up by a paranoid Everton defense.

The striker contributed little in a fairly dire match.

Our rating: 7 of 10
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 17

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League Cup 3rd Round
Charlton 3 : Notts County 0
(Humphreys 11, 57, Michaelsen 73 : Williams sent off 40)

A first-choice Charlton side showed no mercy to 2nd Division club Notts County.

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Tottenham 1 : Charlton 2
(Hudson 60 : Michaelsen 57, Abdulla 85)

Abdulla smashed home a loose ball to get the win at White Hart Lane, after the sides had exchanged goals around the hour mark.

The striker was excellent after coming on as a sub in the 57th, and hit the crossbar with his first attempt at goal (a volley from just inside the area). The striker also saw a late header saved that would have given him a brace.

Our rating: 8 of 10
Goals: 1
Total Goals: 18

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Charlton 3 : Leeds 0
(Kipre 8, Potter 30, Humphreys 40)

Charlton showed why their first choice midfield would include both Kipre and Potter in a completely one-sided match. Humphreys notched another goal and an assist in a man-of-the-match day.

Abdulla came on in the 77th when the game was well over.

Our rating: 7 of 10
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 18

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UEFA Cup 3rd Round Leg 1
Charlton 1 : Arsenal 2
(Thornley pen 50 : Morrison 60, Leroy 69)

Arsenal stormed back from a goal down to take an important lead in the UEFA Cup 3rd Round. Charlton's keeper was disappointing for the two goals, and Arsenal took advantage of a hobbled Matt Potter in the 2nd half.

A generally ineffective offense was not helped by the substitution of Abdulla for Humphreys in the 58th minute. The striker rarely touched the ball and didn’t get a shot off in his 30 plus minutes.

Our rating: 7 of 10
Goals: 0
Total Goals: 18

retired_swmchick2006

Charlton 1 : Ipswich 2
(Humphreys 59 : A. Hunter 59, J. Charles 75)

Humphreys opener went for naught as Ipswich equalized and went on to win.

Abdulla did not play.

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League Cup 4th Round
Charlton 4 : Blackburn 1
(Michaelsen 28, Milton 33, 82, Adams 77 : Connolly 40)

Blackburn’s 4-2-4 formation made for an entertaining match, but the first-choice selection for Blackburn were completely miserable from top to bottom. Charlton left it late to seal the win, but the outcome rarely looked in doubt.

Abdulla did not play.

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Charlton 2 : Bolton 0
(Abdulla 3, Humphreys 81)

Both strikers got goals to get the club a win in league play. Abdulla scored with his first touch on the ball in the game, a header into the corner from a Crawford cross. Humphreys came on late and sealed the win.

Our rating: 8 of 10
Goals: 1
Total Goals: 19

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Commentary

In Charlton’s typical 4-5-1 formation, the lone striker by necessity must carry much of the offensive responsibilities of the team. Among Charlton fans a passionate discourse (if such a thing is possible) has simmered lately about which option, Abdulla or Humphreys, is better for the season.

Naturally, we can’t resist adding our own thoughts.

Since neither is guaranteed of every game due to injuries or exhaustion, there is no doubt that some rotation will always occur, but generally the feeling is that each has certain strengths and weaknesses.

With an additional 11 years of experience, Humphreys shows what would be expected of a veteran, a better ability to help create goals as well as finish them. His vision and passing are clearly a notch above Abdulla, and against strong teams he can use his guile and cleverness to steal goals. He is also much better with the ball at his feet than Abdulla, but also seems more unwilling to take people on.

Abdulla’s prime advantages at the moment are purely physical. He’s much quicker than Humphreys, and as the type of goals he scores show, far better in the air. His unpredictability is both an asset and a fault, as he attempts shots he probably shouldn’t. Thanks to his age, Abdulla also has a significantly more noticeable drive for success since his career is still all in front of him, while Humphreys is clearly near the end of his.

So who would we pick? Both, since we wouldn’t play a 4-5-1, and the two could be much stronger players with a partner to compliment their strengths.

Otherwise, just due to his ability to get the simple goals, we’d stick with Humphreys and let Abdulla come off the bench or occasionally start against lesser teams.

(Plus we’d far prefer to have either of Arsenal’s French strikers: Arnaud Leroy or Fabrice Ettori.)

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UEFA Cup 3rd Round Leg 2
Arsenal 0 : Charlton 3
(Morgenstern 2, 88, Abdulla 86)

In a stunning reversal of the first leg, Highbury was left shell-shocked by a Gerhard Morgenstern led Charlton squad. Morgenstern opened the scoring getting on the end of a move that started with a long Phil Rogers run from the right-back position, and featured a brilliant one-touch pass from 18-year old midfielder Craig Oliverio in one of his first ever starts.

With many of the Charlton and Arsenal players in the match being only occasionally selected in the regular first team, both managers seemed to take for granted that Arsenal were likely to progress, even with the early Charlton goal. However, with 21 minutes remaining in the match, and with Arsenal unable to find the net, Charlton made three subs including bringing on Abdulla for Milton, and bringing on Crawford and Donaldson on the wings, clearly looking to steal a win.

As time ticked down and Arsenal seemed content to ride an away goals advantage into the next round, the three subs were involved in a move that will certainly feature in Charlton legend. Crawford took the ball down the left, and hit a lashing cross to the opposite corner which Donaldson had to stretch to keep in play. The latter then cut the ball back to the edge of the area for Abdulla. The striker took a touch, feinted and then chipped a beautiful lob into the far corner over the outstretched hands of Arsenal keeper Dave Gill.

In an instant, the entire complexion of the fixture had changed, and Arsenal were left desperate to find the net, but it was Charlton that found the net again as Phelan headed first against the bar and then Morgenstern sealed the victory by heading in his second from a Crawford cross.

Abdulla’s goal will probably be considered one of the best of the season, and certainly is one for his personal highlight reel: creative, skillful, and completely unexpected.

Our rating: 8 of 10
Goals: 1
Total Goals: 20