Four More

Charlton 0 Manchester United 4

Once again, I type a scoreline which reflects the fact that, with two games left, Charlton have conceded four goals again - for the seventh time this season, and next up is at Stamford Bridge next weekend. Curbs is pretty upset and disappointed, and so are the rest of the fans. I mean I suppose you don't expect to beat Manchester United, or Chelsea as they are right now; or Arsenal, but it's the constant 4-0 and 4-1 scorelines that eventually get you down. As I mentioned before, the defence has to be seriously suspect, as the goal difference, now a massive -15, has been a negative number since 14 August when the season began. Yet the reserves have won their league for the second season in a row; there is great talent there, so why it is not being brought on, especially now, when there is nothing to play for, I do not understand - OK, Stephan Andersen, the reserve goalkeeper, got a game yesterday, but Dean Kiely has hardly been the reason for the negative goal difference. He saved it from being much worse, e.g. against Manchester City.

Another blogger about Charlton is a guy who lives in New York. I agree entirely with what he has to say, and also with the usual suspects; Mr Grant and the Inspector, and have little else to add on the subject.

For those of you who follow the exploits of the quiz team, we, unlike Charlton, finally got our long-awaited win last Monday, even without Sam. It was quite convincing, too.

No quiz this evening as here in Madrid we are enjoying a long weekend. This, in addition to Saturday, is made up of 1 May, a national holiday transferred to today; but we also get, here in the city, though not in the rest of the province, 2 May, a commemoration of the uprising on 2 May 1808, depicted by Goya, against the ruling French. As 2 May is hosting the holiday allotted to 1 May, we are getting tomorrow, 3 May (which Goya also commemorated), as well. I am taking this even further by claiming one of three days outstanding owed to me by the Centre, and shall not be walking into my classroom again until precisely 1840 hours on Thursday, from where it will be but a short step to the weekend, again. So there is something to shout about, but not, unfortunately where matters relating to London SE7 are concerned.