With the time difference we put the box on when we woke up, correction when our daughter woke us up (around 6am) and Nadal had just won the first set. We then sat transfixed and I was honoured to watch two great men contest an historic final.

I was cheering on Rafa, because I just love his charm and relentless athleticism but Djoker is on a phenomenal run of form.

An enduring image was that of the the two exhausted men stood stone-faced side by side (they are said to not be close) sucking on bottles of water, as the presentation speeches droned on, especially the Japanese bloke from Kia. Finally they were given seats as the suits threatened to ruin the memories of what had just preceded.

Rafa wished everyone “good morning” as he stepped up to collect his runners up prize. It was 2am Monday morning local time and the match had lasted five hours and 53 minutes, longer by almost an hour than the previous longest match in a grand slam final – four hours and 54 minutes when Mats Wilander beat Ivan Lendl at the 1988 US Open.

The final was probably more a dogfight than one of refinement but it was full of pulsating moments and shifting advantages and it is often said but rarely meant but it was a shame there was only one winner.

Danny Green’s goal sounded fortunate and I can assure you (I haven’t looked) the Sheffield forums will be proclaiming that we are the luckiest side alive. A bit like Birmingham City I guess.

We were the main game on BBC Radio London with ex-Chelsea striker Colin Lee as co-commentator. They concluded that we were worth the 3 points and as we have seen numerous times on the road this season, from the 2nd half restart we showed vitality and initiative and Green’s goal was a quick result of Powell’s team talk.

In between the goal and Kermie missing a good chance from a BWP cross, Hamer had another case of the flaps but from where me and the little ‘un were sitting with one eye on her lego and another on my FA Cup accumulator (poxy Millwall let me down) we eased to victory and another precious 3 points.

Our first win at St James Park, Exeter for 83 years and to help celebrate rumour has it, that Johnnie Jackson bought the drinks for some fans on the train on the way home. I have a man crush, there is no doubt!

Addick Bloggers at St James Park: Doctor Kish;
Powell-ometer: Great to see Dale Stephens get on and I have an inkling Powell may start him on Tuesday night.
Elsewhere: Huddersfield drew at Tranmere, Jordan Rhodes scoring his 28th goal of the season. Hartlepool thrashed Carlisle 4-0, Preston came a cropper at Yeovil and Rochdale won their first game under ex-Accrington boss John Coleman. Charm merchant Gary Alexander scored a hat trick for Brentford as they beat bottom club Wycombe 5-2.

Powell talked highly of Dale Stephens, a player I was very impressed with early season. “He’s a creative player, a player I do like and I just want him to be right and ready so that when he is called upon he does himself justice and adds to what we already have.” said Powell.

He was less gushing over Mikel Alonso. “We’ve got a long list of midfielders and there are plenty in front of him.” Alonso has been the forgotten man and he may now be fit but he still didn’t feature in the Kent Senior Cup tie the other night when Stephens, Waggy, Hayes and Ruben Bover did.

Powell talked about possible moves outwards in the remaining days of the January transfer window, which on the whole has been lifeless, and I have to think Alonso leaving either permanently or temporary would be on the list. Gary Doherty too and maybe even someone like Paul Hayes on loan somewhere to keep his fitness and get a goal or two ready for the run in.

I mentioned the Kent Senior Cup and our reserves squeaked through to the semi-finals after beating Margate 4-3 in front of 929 people (twice as many as Margate’s previous highest gate of the season). Leon Clarke scored twice, Paul Hayes once and the late winner came from Adebayo Azeez.

The Addicks will play either Tonbridge Angels or Dartford in the semi at the end of March. In the other game Ebbsfleet or Hythe Town will face Dover Athletic.

I’m a little wary of Exeter Saturday. Following the two Sheffield games, and for the record Megson, Wilson and their respective team’s fans are still banging on about the injustices of it all (!?), I hope Powell has them nicely focused for Saturday’s tricky trip.

Keep an eye on BWP though. No doubt the Grecians will give him a warm welcome and I think he will have little extra skip in his step after signing an extended contract this week.

There will probably be around 1,000 Addicks down in Devon. Enjoy the scrumpy and the game.

Apparently this pleasant collection of racist simpletons are part of what is known as ‘our youth’ although those arrested from homes in Bexley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Bromley were as old as 30!

Frankly we don’t need these thick chavs following the club. They are an embarrassment to the club and us real supporters and I hope they and their hangers on piss off somewhere else and the club take a firm stand, which I know they will as should the rest of us.

Maybe I’m getting old but the ‘Addams Family’ song and the ‘Kevin Lisbie chant’ not only annoys me because they hardly inspire the team on the pitch but they embarrass me as a Charlton fan too.

As I said to Dave, I would love to have seen some of those brainless twats being dragged around with the real boys back in the 80′s like those of a certain age. They wouldn’t have been so brave with their mindless chants.

Anyone with information about the incident should call 0800 40 50 40 quoting incident B11/LSA of 23/01/2012, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

He’s also scored 14 more goals than his step brother too. Good news that he is staying, we don’t want to start dismantling the squad now and the varied talents of Haynes, Hayes and Clarke have yet to prove they can be as dangerous as BWP in front of goal at this level.

I personally wasn’t aware the 25-appearance trigger, and I am sure accompanied by a further medical, was actually in his contract when we signed him a year ago. There were many worried, particularly, when he was banging them in pre-December that he would see out his contract and be allowed to leave on a free in July, but he has shown loyalty and so have we.

Let’s continue to get the job done. Come on you reds.

Oh Bradley Wright Phillips is better than Shaun….

The trip will be typical of many, i.e. airport, office, bar, restaurant, hotel, office, airport but I’m looking forward to being away from my desk which has been a bit mental since the new year.

I write this before the result of the NFC Championship game between New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. The winners of that will have a significant impact on the mood of the Big Apple tomorrow, although my boss is a Jets fan, who haven’t won a Superbowl since the 60′s.

The winners will play AFC Champs New England Patriots who have just edged Baltimore Ravens 23-20 in Superbowl XLVI in Indianapolis on Sunday 5th February. I’ll be in Orlando with some mates that weekend to watch the game.

Two massive games and six points. What a week. What a team.

Today in front of a crackling atmosphere it sounded an excellent game but although we conceded a lot of possession in the 2nd half we just seemed to have too much for our nearest rivals and once again our back four were awesome.

Hamer did appear to have a case of the flaps once too often, which gave me and Peter Finch on the commentary a little heartburn. Ben’s young but I do wonder if we’ll need to upgrade our no.1 if we move up a level?

My mate gave me a full report afterwards and he was purring over Bradley Pritchard, who has been a real find. The Blades appeared to treat him and Olympic 2012 hopeful Chris Solly as our weak links but Powell’s team simply doesn’t have one and if they do, the players work so hard for each other to cover any fine cracks.

Danny Green should have put the game away early in the second, but despite a slew of corners Sheffield United could not breach us, although Ched Evans missed a glorious opportunity.

I haven’t seen the sending off, but in the current climate if Russell was two footed then he was always going to go and it was fortunate that James Beattie struggles for brain cells and joined him for trying to strangle Yann.

I think the sending offs helped us and it disrupted the play and in particular United’s rhythm. New boy Danny Haynes then came on and did an excellent job of helping us retain the ball.

Sheffield United had won 11 of their previous 12 matches, and then of course they meet little Charlton Athletic.

This team, this squad, the squad that Chris Powell built, has so much steel and character. There’s a real determination, and this could become an era we will be talking about for a long time.

Addick Bloggers at The Valley: Ramblings of a Football Fan; Stickleback; Blackheath Addicted; Drinking During the Game; Kings Hill Addick;
Powell-ometer: That was another massive win and Chris will sleep well tonight. I wonder at what point he might consider dropping BWP?
Elsewhere: Huddersfield came from 2-down to beat Brentford although one of their goals sounded like it was right out of the 50′s! Sheffield Wednesday were held at Hillsborough by a spirited Hartlepools. MK Doms drew at Notts County and Stevenage pulled a late equalizer out of the bag at Scunny. Carlisle drew with Walsall and Bournemouth beat Tranmere. Leyton Orient handed Graham Westley a defeat in his first game in charge of Preston and Chesterfield won for the first time in 4 months defeating Colchester 2-1.

Sheffield United have gone about their business slightly quieter than their north-city rivals. Danny Wilson slowly garnering support amongst Blades’ fans.

I will have to once again do with the radio commentary tomorrow but as I write this (sat on a ferry) I can vividly picture the Charlton team and their proud gaffer embracing in the middle of the Bramall Lane pitch after our victory there in October. Another collective team effort tomorrow cheered on by three sides of a packed Valley will be essential to us carrying on our incredible run.

A couple of Charlton snippets gave me pleasure today, one was Chris Solly signing an extension to his contract and the other being Celtic’s rebuffed enquiry into Big Yann, who I hear may also be penning a contract extension soon.

In other Charlton related news Kelly Youga has signed a short term contract for Yeovil. It will be nice to see Kelly back at The Valley, where the club have been very good to him in his recuperation from injury. I was amazed to read that he spent six seasons with us, although how many of those he was actually available for I can’t remember.

This week, this month in fact has flown by and I even had a touch of the immedicable disease Man Flu earlier this week, but as my calendar starts to fill with work commitments I am starting to think about getting home to see some games so I can well and truly jump on this incredible journey.

1. Chris Powell appointed as manager, January 14th
This is what I wrote on the day he was unveiled: “My heart aches with undying joy but also trepidation but I know more than anything else that Chris Powell’s heart has Charlton Athletic Football Club running through it like a stick of rock. Welcome home Chris. Make us proud again.”

2. The first signings of the summer, May 26th
In what was the start of things to come on this day Chris Powell signed Danny Hollands, Bradley Pritchard and young keeper Nick Pope. I stuck my neck out and wrote that I anticipated another 9 or 10 signings. Danny Haynes was Powell’s 20th permanent transfer.

3. Bournemouth at home, August 8th
Of course nothing is won on the first day of the season but the 3-0 victory, the way it was achieved and the buzz around The Valley told of better days ahead. Dale Stephens led the way with a sparkling performance, Waggy scored a cracking volley and we had two of Bournemouth’s best players now playing for us.

4. Huddersfield at home, November 28th
Huddersfield came to The Valley unbeaten since 1988 and with the media in their pockets. Sky decided to show the game and we all shivered with dread but we were immense and fully deserved the 2-0 win to cement our lead at the top of the table, even if no one else had noticed.

5. Carl Jenkinson signs for Arsenal, June 8th
We were aware long before it was announced by Arsenal that the 19-year old was leaving us for The Emirates and I think many of us have been surprised by the amount of games he was selected for by Wenger before he got injured. Nonetheless this Top 5 is about us and not Arsenal and I wrote (in March) that I was a lot less disappointed to see Carl Jenkinson turn down a new contract than Chris Solly.

Solly has turned into a superstar and the estimated £1m we received for Jenkinson went a very long way to funding Chris Powell’s rebuild.

1. Smother by Wild Beasts
I hadn’t listened to their earlier stuff before I got a heads up on this album and I’m glad I did. This is a smoldering, slinky analogue of tunes and it takes the crown as my favourite from last year.
Favourite track – Loop the Loop

2. 21 by Adele
When I read about Adele’s vocal cord problems I was as distressed as I would’ve been if Yann Kermorgant’s head had dropped off because Adele’s voice is a thing of wonder and it went straight to my heart. An album for the ages.
Favourite track – Rolling in the Deep

3. The Big Roar by The Joy Formidable
A brave debut especially the 7-minute opening number but there are some excellent brash and reckless tracks on this led by the bracing voice of Welsh lioness Ritzy Bryan.
favourite track – Whirring

4. Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay
A little alternative to some of Coldplay’s previous 4 albums, and it might lack some of the shameless goosebumps ballads like Fix You or The Scientist, yet it is still obviously a Coldplay album, if you know what I mean, and eminently listenable.
favourite track – Charlie Brown

5. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
This is awfully nostalgic for the good old Oasis days but after all these years who cares? More easy listening with headphones on than jumping around like a crazy in a stadium but a nice collection of songs by Noel and his new buddies.
Favourite track – Everybody’s On the Run

1. St Regis, Atlanta
Buckhead in Atlanta has a ridiculous amount of quality hotels, but this one would not look out of place in Paris. The majestic hotel has a southern charm with Roman accents like it’s pool piazza (photo)
Hotel website

2. The Biltmore, Coral Gables
The Biltmore has a spectacular history of filmstars, politics, royalty, gangsters, ghosts and even Tarzan! Pre-fame Johnny Weissmuller was a Biltmore swimming instructor, and later after finding fame in the jungle he broke a few world records in the hotel pool.
Hotel website

3. Hotel Granduca, Houston
This tranquil oasis in the middle of the Galleria district resembles a 16th century Tuscan villa with plenty of old world Renaissance charm. A strange addition to this oil town but I loved it.
Hotel website

4. Four Seasons, Denver
I nearly called my shippers to move my stuff here. This was a cool place. Beautiful rooms, loads of amenities and superb service. Not a lot to see nearby but I wouldn’t see a need to leave this place after I moved in!
Hotel website

5. Little Nell, Aspen
The renowned Little Nell sits right at the foot of the Colorado mountain and our massive room (we got upgraded) was so well appointed it was like looking out of the window at a gigantic snowball.
Hotel website

For a change I listened to the Wednesday commentary on Player, which was as expected horribly biased but occasionally it’s nice to get an opposition view. However I lost count of how many times a smile crossed my face as the two Wednesday-ites urged the long ball or long throw forward and blamed the referee for everything. Mind you the co-commentator, who I later found out was a certain John Pearson, did say we were the best team to come to Hillsborough this season and was complimentary about a number of our players, namely Green, Hamer and BWP.

As the board went up for 4 minutes of injury time I thought dear old John was going to have a kitten as he was incredulous it wasn’t 7 or 8 due to our “time wasting tactics” and all the substitutions.

Johnnie Jackson’s wonder free-kick was the difference but it was a surprise we didn’t punish them again on the break. In fact a few more injury time minutes might well have seen us grab a second after Weaver thwarted Darel Russell right at the whistle.

In injury time we did have to rely on Wiggins to clear off the line as a huge cheer went up and then the two Wednesday commentators frothed at the mouth over whether it crossed the line. I blame the referee!

The Sheffield commentators were surprised to see Gary I am better than some Premier League managers Megson replace width with brute force as the game reached the last 15 minutes, but it summed up Megson’s philosophy. Meanwhile Powell reacted by packing his midfield with the goalscoring threat of Pritchard, Hollands, Russell and Jackson.

Tempers clearly ran high, and I heard of some trouble after but this it was Chris Powell had to say of his opposite number.

It was another performance to be proud off and my heart was thumping as I listened to the travelling Addicks serenade the boys at the end although sadly many (maybe up to a couple of hundred) didn’t make it due to train problems.

So a significant victory over a promotion rival on their turf, where they were previously unbeaten. Proud to be an Addick.

Addick Bloggers at Hillsborough: Addicks Third Division Diary; And Nothing Else Matters; Kings Hill Addick; Doctor Kish
Powell-ometer: Calmness personified.
Elsewhere: Sheffield United won comfortably at Bury to stay in our tracks, Huddersfield left it late to beat Oldham at home and Jordan Rhodes didn’t score. Manager-less Stevenage marched into the top 6 scoring five at poor old Rochdale. Graham Westley watched from the stands as his new club PNE beat a plucky Wycombe 3-2. Bournemouth beat County 2-1 and Dave Mooney scored for the O’s as they drew at home to Chesterfield.

Not unexpectedly both Sheffield sides find themselves competing for automatic promotion at the halfway point. What will be a surprise to them both though is that a little club from south of the River Thames lead them in the chase.

United fans have made their feelings about Danny Wilson pretty clear, and the ex-Wednesday player and manager has trod a thin line this season but any drop down the table is sure to be met with a large chunk of negativity and odium.

Wednesday fans mind are in shock and awe that they aren’t already promoted. As Queens Park know very well a big ground doesn’t on it’s own make you a big club.

Word has it that Danny Haynes might be a Charlton player by the weekend. The ex-Addicks youth product’s game is more akin to BWP – pace and touch if not the goals – and he maybe a useful sub on Saturday as Wednesday will no doubt prefer it if we resort to the longer ball than run them around on the ground. In that context Powell will have to decide between Pritchard and either Russell or Hughes in the middle.

Meanwhile Leon Cort, as expected, signed an 18 month contract for the Addicks this afternoon and will feature on Saturday’s bench I suspect.

The next fortnight then, two (fooking) massive games in a league that frankly doesn’t turn up many massive games. I am slightly nervous writing this as it happens and I would do anything to be there on Saturday. Yes there is a long way to go but our rivals are looking for the slightest chink in our armour and I really hope we go to Hillsborough Saturday, backed by another voiceferous away following, and show then what that little club from south of the river is all about.

Come on you reds.

Euell was a trainee at the original Dons and scored 47 goals in a 177 games between 1995 and 2001. He was then sold to us for a then club record £4.75m in the summer of 2001.

Dons fans will be estatic that Euell has gone back to his roots and according to manager Terry Brown
“will come straight into the side for the first of two tricky away fixtures at Port Vale and Gillingham.”

Meanwhile at The Valley, Euell was still loved but was showing signs of age in recent sub appearances although he did score in the FA Cup at home to Carlisle.

I wonder if this opens up a space for Powell to sign a loan striker himself? Leicester’s Jeffrey Schlupp was again linked before he got injured last weekend.

In central defensive news. Leon Cort has left Burnley and is expected to sign with us permanently. Yado Mambo (No.5) has extended his stay at Ebbsfleet. Jon Fortune is training with Leyton Orient and Miguel Llera has signed for Sheffield Wednesday on a free.

The highest profile so far has been Neil Warnock (the man with the best anagram in football), who was relieved of his duties, with the League Championship trophy still without dust on it in the Loftus Road trophy cabinet. Mark Hughes is Tony Fernandes first choice and it is now left to Hughes to weigh up whether QPR will pay him more represent a bigger challenge than Fulham.

But in our own division Yeovil made a surprise announcement this week by returning ex-manager Gary Johnson to the hot seat and demoting boss of almost 3-years Terry Skiverton.

Skiverton understandably didn’t sound too impressed but agreed that it “was the best way forward.” Remember Skiverton was the guy who asked his Twitter followers to suggest new signings last summer. Johnson, who was fancied by many for the Addicks job, meanwhile has had a tough time of it in his last two jobs at Peterborough and Northampton.

The Glovers sit in the bottom four and if I look at the teams above them I reckon it might be hard for those that already sit in the relegation zone to break out. Yeovil go to Sheffield United tonight in Johnson’s first game back in charge.

Preston have been without a boss since the tanned one left and caretaker bosses Graham Alexander and David Unsworth have been in charge at Deepdale since 14th December. Yesterday Stevenage confirmed that PNE have asked to permission to speak to Graham Westley.

An interesting move which may derail Boro’s impressive season and a change in direction perhaps by the dreaded Peter Risdale as to what kind of football will be served up in the future at Deepdale.

Meanwhile West Ham will up their £4m offer for 25-goal Jordan Rhodes.