Thursday, October 20, 2005
Charlton aim for five on the bounce
Charlton will aim for their fifth consecutive away win in the Premiership early tomorrow evening, when they play Portsmouth at Fratton Park (Official club preview here). Sunderland, Middlesboro, Birmingham and West Brom have all been beaten away from home so far this season, and a fifth straight win would be a fantastic start to Charlton's season. It will also take a little pressure off the home results, which haven't been anywhere near as good - just one win from four matches played.
The players have all been together this week, since Monday night's home game against Fulham, with no international matches to upset training. A few injuries have cleared up and recent non-starters all had a good run out in the reserves midweek win, where Darren Ambrose and Matt Holland played very well according to reports. Those who have been injured recently are unlikely to force their way into the starting eleven, or even on the bench considering the size of the Charlton squad these days. Therefore, we can expect Lloyd Sam and Dean Kiely not to feature this weekend. Shaun Bartlett and Gonzalo Sorondo are also definitely out injured. This still leaves plenty of options for Alan Curbishley to consider.
Dennis Rommedahl (left) was interviewed by Sky Sports on Thursday and re-iterated the need for all the players to perform, not just in matches but in training too, in order to be in with a chance of playing each week. He also pointed out that the players were still tired from all the international match travelling in the week prior to the Fulham game.
Curbishley, who has been having initial contract extension talks with Chairman Richard Murray this week, will have a very experienced squad from which to pick the team.
Starting up front, (for a change); presuming that the 4-5-1 formation is to be continued (and there is no reason to pre-suppose that it will not be), Darren Bent will continue to plow the furrough on his own. Dazza didn't have the best of games against Fulham, and will be looking to get back to the goalscoring heroics of previous weeks. Jay Bothroyd is the only other option (and likely additonal starter should tactics switch to 4-4-2), although midweek reserves scorers Kevin Lisbie and Jonatan Johansson will no doubt travel south too.
Out wide, Rommedahl is in reasonable form and will continue to start, but Jerome Thomas had a poor game against Fulham and is under some pressure now that Darren Ambrose (left) is fit and raring to go again. I expect Thomas to get a chance once more but for Ambrose to come on from the subs bench at some stage later in the game.
The midfield continues to play fairly well, and looks to be unchanged once more - Smertin (playing against a former club), Kishishev, and Murphy should all start. Hughes will provide the back-up legs when necessary later in the game.
It is in defence that Curbs may decide to make changes. Young will captain the team from right back, but the rest of the defence could see a change from the Fulham game. It all depends on how Curbishley views Chris Powell's last few games; Chris has looked tired late on in matches (being subbed against WBA and Chelsea), and gave the ball away a few times during the second half versus Fulham.
I believe it is time for Curbs to rest Powell, and play someone else. If Powell is dropped, then there are two options available for Curbs; either play Jonathan Spector (left) at left back in a straight swap or push Hermann wide and play someone else at centre back alongside Chris Perry (Spector, El Karkouri or Fortune are all capable). I suspect that Chris Powell will have played his last game for a while and will be given a well earned rest for now, and that Spector will play at left back. This leaves Hermann playing at centre back alongside Perry, although Talal El Karkouri is pressing hard for inclusion.
In goal, Stephan Anderson will continue as he has done litttle wrong; Kiely was to blame for a goal conceded during the reserves win in midweek so expect Norwegian international Thomas Myrhe to be on the bench as Anderson's goalkeeping understudy.
My team to play Pompey on Saturday is therefore:
Anderson, Young, Perry, Hreidersson, Spector, Smertin, Kishishev, Murphy, Thomas, Rommedahl, Bent. Subs: Myrhe, El Karkouri, Ambrose, Hughes, Bothroyd.
Portsmouth have made this game part of their local Kick It Out campaign. Pompey Manager Alain Perrin has injury doubts over Diao, Todorov, and Hughes.
This game is quite important for the Addicks, coming as it does after two matches without victory. It is oh-so-easy to go on a long winless run in the Premiership, as Charlton and Curbs know very well from previous experience. Portsmouth are a team that Charlton would hope to beat after our excellent start to the season, but teams and games like this so often provide the stumbling blocks to a good season. Portsmouth have made their worst ever start to a Premiership season, have failed to win at home so far this season and in fact haven't won at Fratton Park for six months, so they will be dangerous fodder. It's potential banana-skin time. If Charlton can show that the recent less-than-favourable results are not akin to their form, then a result should be gained, but it may not be easy, and the first goal scored could be crucial.
My Charlton player who is the one to watch this week is Danny Murphy (left, scoring on Monday against Fulham), who will be making his 50th start for Charlton. Danny scored in this corresponding fixture last season, and is in superlative form at present. Four goals so far from midfield; I hope Danny-Boy can continue to remind Sven that he is currently the best attacking midfielder in the country (and not just English!).
Pedro45's score forecast is a very hard fought 1-1 draw, which should be enough to keep Charlton in the top six. I'd like to hope for a single goal victory but I think it may be just beyond us. Come on you Reds!
The players have all been together this week, since Monday night's home game against Fulham, with no international matches to upset training. A few injuries have cleared up and recent non-starters all had a good run out in the reserves midweek win, where Darren Ambrose and Matt Holland played very well according to reports. Those who have been injured recently are unlikely to force their way into the starting eleven, or even on the bench considering the size of the Charlton squad these days. Therefore, we can expect Lloyd Sam and Dean Kiely not to feature this weekend. Shaun Bartlett and Gonzalo Sorondo are also definitely out injured. This still leaves plenty of options for Alan Curbishley to consider.
Dennis Rommedahl (left) was interviewed by Sky Sports on Thursday and re-iterated the need for all the players to perform, not just in matches but in training too, in order to be in with a chance of playing each week. He also pointed out that the players were still tired from all the international match travelling in the week prior to the Fulham game.
Curbishley, who has been having initial contract extension talks with Chairman Richard Murray this week, will have a very experienced squad from which to pick the team.
Starting up front, (for a change); presuming that the 4-5-1 formation is to be continued (and there is no reason to pre-suppose that it will not be), Darren Bent will continue to plow the furrough on his own. Dazza didn't have the best of games against Fulham, and will be looking to get back to the goalscoring heroics of previous weeks. Jay Bothroyd is the only other option (and likely additonal starter should tactics switch to 4-4-2), although midweek reserves scorers Kevin Lisbie and Jonatan Johansson will no doubt travel south too.
Out wide, Rommedahl is in reasonable form and will continue to start, but Jerome Thomas had a poor game against Fulham and is under some pressure now that Darren Ambrose (left) is fit and raring to go again. I expect Thomas to get a chance once more but for Ambrose to come on from the subs bench at some stage later in the game.
The midfield continues to play fairly well, and looks to be unchanged once more - Smertin (playing against a former club), Kishishev, and Murphy should all start. Hughes will provide the back-up legs when necessary later in the game.
It is in defence that Curbs may decide to make changes. Young will captain the team from right back, but the rest of the defence could see a change from the Fulham game. It all depends on how Curbishley views Chris Powell's last few games; Chris has looked tired late on in matches (being subbed against WBA and Chelsea), and gave the ball away a few times during the second half versus Fulham.
I believe it is time for Curbs to rest Powell, and play someone else. If Powell is dropped, then there are two options available for Curbs; either play Jonathan Spector (left) at left back in a straight swap or push Hermann wide and play someone else at centre back alongside Chris Perry (Spector, El Karkouri or Fortune are all capable). I suspect that Chris Powell will have played his last game for a while and will be given a well earned rest for now, and that Spector will play at left back. This leaves Hermann playing at centre back alongside Perry, although Talal El Karkouri is pressing hard for inclusion. In goal, Stephan Anderson will continue as he has done litttle wrong; Kiely was to blame for a goal conceded during the reserves win in midweek so expect Norwegian international Thomas Myrhe to be on the bench as Anderson's goalkeeping understudy.
My team to play Pompey on Saturday is therefore:
Anderson, Young, Perry, Hreidersson, Spector, Smertin, Kishishev, Murphy, Thomas, Rommedahl, Bent. Subs: Myrhe, El Karkouri, Ambrose, Hughes, Bothroyd.
Portsmouth have made this game part of their local Kick It Out campaign. Pompey Manager Alain Perrin has injury doubts over Diao, Todorov, and Hughes.
This game is quite important for the Addicks, coming as it does after two matches without victory. It is oh-so-easy to go on a long winless run in the Premiership, as Charlton and Curbs know very well from previous experience. Portsmouth are a team that Charlton would hope to beat after our excellent start to the season, but teams and games like this so often provide the stumbling blocks to a good season. Portsmouth have made their worst ever start to a Premiership season, have failed to win at home so far this season and in fact haven't won at Fratton Park for six months, so they will be dangerous fodder. It's potential banana-skin time. If Charlton can show that the recent less-than-favourable results are not akin to their form, then a result should be gained, but it may not be easy, and the first goal scored could be crucial.
My Charlton player who is the one to watch this week is Danny Murphy (left, scoring on Monday against Fulham), who will be making his 50th start for Charlton. Danny scored in this corresponding fixture last season, and is in superlative form at present. Four goals so far from midfield; I hope Danny-Boy can continue to remind Sven that he is currently the best attacking midfielder in the country (and not just English!).
Pedro45's score forecast is a very hard fought 1-1 draw, which should be enough to keep Charlton in the top six. I'd like to hope for a single goal victory but I think it may be just beyond us. Come on you Reds!
