Pre season friendlies and the League Cup...are you going?

With the announcement on Monday of the League Cup draw against Oxford, I see the moans have already started about Charlton's lack of success in the competition, the likely weak team that will be fielded and the low attendances.  Within minutes of the announcement going up on the official Facebook page we had comments like:-

"10 quid we lose"

"Shall we give them the game now"

"Out on pens end opf cup run AGAIN"

"bye bye league cup"

Now admittedly some of them may have been in jest (especially given our last performance against Oxford) but it was good to see a few supporters sticking up for the team with retorts such as:-


"Yep-fully aware of our cup record thanks. Don't mean we should write the team off before they've even kicked a ball!"

"Give the under 21s a game rest some 1st team players .... Good draw"

I have to say that I for one am firmly in the second camp, booking my ticket for the fixture and ensuring that I also get to see a number of the friendlies taking place this summer.  With the stakes so high in the leagues, the first few rounds of the League Cup are the only places for the development squad to show they have the mettle to step up to the plate in a first team fixture atmosphere at the Valley.  Apart from the first chance to see some decent football over the summer the friendlies are also a chance to get a first glimpse of our new signings (we hope) and more likely a look at any trialist that Chris Powell may be running the rule over.

There are two moments in Charlton history that stick in my mind that sum this up.  The first was when Alan Pardew brought on Scott Wagstaff for his first full blown premiership game.  Despite his experience and captaincy of the reserves he was like a rabbit in headlights when faced with a full Valley crowd.  Pardew himself admitted that he had introduced Waggy too soon.  The full match day experience phases some people more than others.  I'm the same when it comes to public speaking.  I can go into a room of ten strangers and comfortably present my business with them in a professional manner but stand me up in an auditorium full of people and my eyes glaze over and I turn to putty.  It should be no surprise that is no different for football players who need easing in and the first few rounds of the League Cup are a perfect opportunity to give them a chance in an appropriate competitive environment.  I'm pleased to say that Scott got over this and produced some marvellous football for us down the wing in subsequent games.

Many of the development squad members will be well known to Charlton fans by name, from the match reports and their call ups to various youth squads for their country but I for one just don't get the opportunity to see them play much during the season.  For many of us the summer will be the first opportunity to see some of the younger squad in action as they mix with the first team in a competitive environment.  Yes, it may lead to disappointment for fans as we get knocked out of cup games but with Financial Fair Play kicking in it looks like Charlton will be relying more and more on its youth set up for the Championship so this may be a more important factor than revenue from ticket sales in the League Cup.

The other memorable moment is the look on fans' faces in a friendly at the Valley in 2009 when the match day announcer first mumbled the name of Christian Dailly over the tannoy.  There was no programme or team sheet available and most of us did not catch the full name.  As the Scotsman came on to the pitch you could here talk of

"He looks familiar",

"Didn't he play for....",

"I remember him being pretty decent"

and similar comments, rippling through the crowds as we racked our brains on the history of this iconic player (no smart phones for the majority of us in those days folks).  Dailly went on to be named Charlton's player of the year that season but the first glimpse the pitch that day was a special moment for me when we first witnessed him as a trialist.

I am sure other fans have nabbed the bragging rights of when they first saw another trialist, Bradley Pritchard first play in a friendly for Charlton.  Given the current lack of signings and the need for Charlton to be inventive in this transfer window I am sure we will see a few more surprises over the coming pre-season fixtures. 

Friendlies are therefore a breeding ground for the rumours that are the bread and butter of Charlton bloggers and diarists.  Miss a match and you miss the opportunity to report a first.  So enough with the negativity, lets get behind what will be the future of Charlton Athletic and hope that they have a decent kit to wear when the club unveils the new strip tonight!


Acknowlegements
League cup quotes are all from Charlton Athletic Football Club's official facebook page