Reed-Speak

Plenty of Charlton fans are desperate for the club to appoint a 'proper' manager before our fate is sealed. I think it's in the interests of Reed himself to acknowledge that coaching and management require entirely different skillsets, which explains why he's spent his career focused solely on the former.

One aspect of the management role which he looks particularly uncomfortable with is having to deal with the media. Thanks to 24-hour rolling sports news channels, separate football newspaper supplements and now bloggers, every word uttered by our new leader is picked up upon, digested and then spat back in his face.

Some managers (Mourinho, Strachan etc..) are consummate media professionals, treating the journos like putty in their hands. Others like Wenger have the intelligence to be likewise, but lack the coolness and self-assurance to pull it off in the same way. Unfortunately Les Reed is neither, and is thus completely unsuitable as the club's media frontman during this difficult time.

In recent weeks I have suggested that a new language called Charltonish is taking over in South-East London. If we are not careful, there will be an even newer language called 'Reed-Speak' which might well be a close relation of 'gibberish' because I'm completely unable to decipher it.

After the Everton game:

"Our form hasn't been that good recently but today has been a big step forward." (a big step forward? a home draw with Everton having been total cr*p for an hour?)

"We're not that far off; we believe we're a good team and we just need to get consistency." (yeah right Les, and other than the journey from the airport, President Kennedy thoroughly enjoyed his trip to Dallas)

"We have been chasing a lot of games this season. If we had gone ahead I'm sure we would have pushed on." (just like we did at Sheffield United, eh?)

After the Sheff Utd game:

"It was always going to be difficult and Sheffield United deserved their win." (oh that's a relief, at least the upcoming games with Liverpool and Spurs should be easier)

"We've come a long way since that game at Reading and although we've taken a step backwards, it's not a major step." (a long way? not a major step? you were quoted in the Daily Mail as saying, "We must not lose this game.")

"Our away record is bad but that's not necessarily been this team and these players." (oh so it wasn't Charlton after all? my fault, I apologise which has me feeling a bit like Basil Fawlty at this point, "Oh! Oh, I see! It's my fault, is it? Oh, of course! There I was thinking it was your fault because I left you in charge, or Manuel's fault for not waking you, when all the time it was my fault! Oh, it's so obvious now! I've seen the light! Ah well, I must be punished then, mustn't I? You're a naughty boy Fawlty! Don't do it again!")

"I still think we are moving forward but today is a big set-back.” (moving forward? how can a dire defeat away to Sheffield United possibly be a sign of moving forward? and hang on, you've just told us it was a step backwards, albeit not a major one thankfully)

And of course surely the most understated obituary of all time:

“Ferenc Puskas, who passed away recently, might have been the original Andy Reid!”

I don't take much pleasure from taking the mickey out of a decent guy, but it's a darn sight more pleasurable than watching Charlton right now. Whilst I happen to think the Board have made a mistake in sacking Dowie, that is now a 'sunk cost' and rather than make matters even worse, then Reed might be advised to knock on Richard Murray's door on Monday morning and admit he prefers it in the background after all.