IN THE ENDURING AFTER-HOURS soap opera that is Manchester City this was one of the happy episodes. For Alan Curbishley it was the polar opposite, a badly-plotted mess of mayhem, mistakes and fluffed lines as his Charlton Athletic side embraced mediocrity like a long-lost love. That City did not have to play particularly well to thrash a side that has generally been as durable as old oak in recent times showed how shambolic Charlton were. The visiting team wavered between dull and duller and left their manager literally scratching his head on the sidelines as he surveyed the wreckage. “We can’t be having it,” Curbishley said as he pondered the depressing defensive deficiencies. “We looked a soft touch.”
Charlton also looked a side in desperate need of fresh blood before the transfer window closes. At the very least they need Matt Holland back. City, meanwhile, are more concerned with shutting off any escape route for Nicolas Anelka. The Frenchman may appear to accept Woody Allen’s view of life as being divided between the miserable and horrible, but when he plays without a chip on his shoulders he can be the best finisher in the Premiership.
Kevin Keegan believes he will keep him. “We know other teams want him, but we do not want to let him go,” he said. “If somebody came in with £20 million, it might be different, as has been proved with Everton, but I don’t think that will happen.” Certainly, AS Monaco, the most committed of the suitors, are not in a position to pay big money for a forward Keegan described as “ almost unplayable”. Increasingly, that term might also apply to Shaun Wright-Phillips. One of the joys of football is watching a player who instils unbridled expectancy in supporters and palpable fear in defenders every time the ball lands at his feet. The blossoming of this uninhibited attacker has been one of the highlights of the early part of the season and the pint-pot’s coruscating scoring shot from some 30 yards provided the game with a fitting finale.
England must now hope a back injury does not keep him out of next month’s games. Keegan believes it will, but Wright-Phillips showed no obvious signs of distress during the match. “We’ll let the England physios decide,” Keegan said. With Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole in such sparkling form, Sven-Göran Eriksson has plenty of flair at his disposal should he decide to shed his conservatism for an adventurous approach. It would be poor luck, indeed, if Wright-Phillips has picked up a serious injury in a game that was little more than a light run-out. Charlton have now conceded eight goals on two away trips, prompting Curbishley to host a lengthy pitchside conference with his coaching staff as the players traipsed off. “We are still a little family and I just wanted to make sure I had seen it right before I started ranting and raving,” he said.
Anelka began the rout with a dextrous turn and shot and Charlton promptly imploded. Danny Murphy put a volley over from seven yards when the game was still undecided and Dean Kiely then matched such ineptitude by hammering a clearance against Trevor Sinclair after Luke Young had slipped. Wright-Phillips’s exquisite pass allowed Anelka to reveal his coolness for the third before his own fine effort.
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Charlton were ponderous at the back and confused in midfield. An apathetic effort from Francis Jeffers in attack left Curbishley with much to consider during the international break. A first win for City will ease the pressure. At least for a fortnight.