Charlton have been simply 4 factors away from qualifying for a spot in Europe throughout the 2003/04 season, however the deparuture of Scott Parker halfway via the season derailed the Addicks’ hopes of an journey on the continent.
Previous to his transfer to Chelsea in January 2004 for £10m, Parker had began 20 of Charlton’s 21 matches within the Premier League , serving to them climb as excessive as fourth within the desk with 37 factors .
Following Parker’s departure, that kind did not proceed of their last 17 video games, with Charlton selecting up simply 16 factors as they ended the season in seventh, on 53 factors. They completed three factors behind each Newcastle in fifth and Aston Villa in sixth, each of whom additionally had superior objective variations. Liverpool , in the meantime, had 60 in fourth.
Parker moved to Stamford Bridge for £10m (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
Newcastle certified for the UEFA Cup consequently, whereas Middlesbrough’s League Cup victory additionally earned them a spot in Europe’s second-tier competitions the subsequent season.
For Jason Euell, an vital participant for Charlton that season due to his 10 Premier League targets, shedding Parker in the end proved a key turning factors of their European hopes.
“The sale of Scott Parker to Chelsea made the distinction,” Euell tells FourFourTwo . “We had a superb stability, particularly in midfield, the place Scott and I mixed effectively. With me dropping again, Claus Jensen and Matt Holland have been on the precise and left, and we might all rating targets.
Charlton ahead Jason Euell in 2004 (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
“It was a giant factor when Scott left. Curbs [Curbishley] didn’t need him to go; there was a little bit of a disagreement. However we had our probability to qualify and let ourselves down after he departed.”
Euell himself solely lasted two extra seasons at The Valley, with the Jamaica worldwide shifting north to affix Middlesbrough for the 2006/07 season, regardless of his Charlton facet having completed greater the marketing campaign earlier than.
‘I hadn’t performed a lot the season earlier than, and was near becoming a member of Birmingham in January,” Euell says. “Then Curbs left and Iain Dowie got here in. Dowie stated I wasn’t in his plans and wished me to go to Wigan .
“I wasn’t concerned within the first couple of video games and knew I’d be shifting on. Dowie advised me to play in a reserve recreation, however I didn’t wish to threat damage so requested to be excused. He fined me every week’s wages. He was making an attempt to point out energy over me, which I assumed was incorrect, and every week later I used to be off to signal for Middlesbrough.”
