Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Drawn Out
Brentford 1 Charlton Athletic 1A third consecutive draw for Charlton, after a frustrating day at Griffin Park saw Nicky Bailey equalise from the penalty spot midway through the second half (left). The push for a winning goal failed to bring any reward, and the Addicks had to settle for a share of the spoils on a cold afternoon.
The Charlton fans packed into the away stand were hoping to see a return to winning ways, but though Phil Parkinson shuffled his pack once more - three changes for this match – the continuity seemed to suffer a little, and Charlton rarely looked like a top two side. With Deon Burton and Sam Sodje suspended, plus with Christian Dailly still ill, both first choice full backs (Frazer Richardson and Kelly Youga) out injured, as was striker Dave Mooney, it was a make-shift looking team on paper. From Saturdays game, Jonjo Shelvey was dropped to the bench, while Lloyd Sam, Scott Wagstaff, and Chris Dickson came into the team.
Dickson did look lively early in the game, but failed to capitalise on one good chance before the game had settled. With Jose Semedo playing in central defence, the virtually reserve Addicks rearguard played much better than it looked like it might on paper, but moving the Portu-geezer back did take something from the midfield. Matt Spring got somewhat stuck in the mud that made up most of the soft west London pitch. In attack, Akpo Sodje won plenty of aerial stuff, but seemed to play too far apart from Dickson to create much.
Brentford saw plenty of possession, especially through on-loan Spurs man John Bostock, but failed to get a decent shot on target until the 40th minute, when Rob Elliot was forced into a low save. By then, Lloyd Sam, to be fair, had come closest to opening the scoring when his rasping drive took a deflection and drew a good save from Price. As half time approached, Dickson broke free but his lob drifted wide of the goal with Price well out of position; it was an important miss.
One time ten-million pound man Carl Cort came on for the home team at the break, and he opened the scoring after a corner was turned goalwards by the dread-locked Bean. The Addicks rearguard looked very static as the ball was played in, and it was disappointing that Cort had so much time to pick his spot from six yards out.
The goal did serve to galvanise the Charlton side, and all of a sudden, Nicky Bailey became much more involved. Shelvey came on for the subdued Wagstaff, and he played a roving role just behind the forwards and looked to be available for a pass at every opportunity, linking play when he could. Lloyd Sam, to be fair, had a good shout for a penalty turned down after he was pushed to the ground as he burst inside the penalty area, but seconds later, a through ball found Dickson and his touch took him past Price. The goalkeepers momentum carried him into the Addicks forward (left) and this time a penalty was awarded. Bailey smashed it home, despite Price getting a solid hand to the ball, and you hoped the Addicks might go on to win.The pitch became increasingly sticky, and some players struggled to keep their footing, notably Sodje and Spring. Whichever side had the ball seemed to keep it for quite long periods, and the game shifted with one side having prolonged attacks and then the other.
Brentford won a free kick in the edge of the Charlton box, and the shot smashed against the cross-bar and came out, but neither side made the goalies work too hard. Leon McKenzie tried hard when he came on for a tiring Dickson, but with Sodje also looking drained after his exertions at the weekend, Charlton offered little goal threat as the match came to the end.
The effort of the team cannot be faulted, but with so many reserves in the side, and with the tactics neccessarily being amended each match to suit those available, the team has become disjointed and lost some focus.
Hopefully some of the ill or injured players may be available this weekend, but at least we can welcome back top scorer Deon Burton, as his leadership of the front line is required as a fulcrum.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Higher than Cloud Nine
In some ways, I’m really upset that I missed such a dramatic Charlton game at The Valley on Saturday, and I wish it had been postponed so I could have attended. I bet Phil Parkinson wishes the game hadn’t happened either, though for different reasons…Parky will certainly earn his corn over the next few matches, as he has done over the first half of the season, but possibly more so as he tries to pull together enough available players starting with the game at
When you look at the squad, and who is available, about the only player guaranteed to be playing in a easily determined position is goalkeeper Rob Elliot; I’ve probably put the mockers on him by saying as much, but he should be OK to line up between the posts.
The defence will consist of any and all of the senior players who are fit; providing there were no unseen injuries from the Swindon game, Elliot Omozusi will line up at right back, Grant Basey at left back, and Saturday’s hero Miguel Llera in central defence. With Christian Dailly still ill, Sam Sodje suspended, Kelly Youga still out injured, and Basey required elsewhere, the only option is to play Jose Semedo alongside Llera. Communication may be an issue, but Charlton have no alternative other than bringing in youngster Yado Mambo, and I doubt that will happen.
The shifting of Semedo leaves a gap in midfield, and it was a shame that Parky’s tactic of playing a narrow diamond shape on Saturday did not get the chance to work, given that the team played 90 minutes (81 minutes of normal time taking into account the ten minutes Sodje was off being stitched up, plus the nine minutes of additional time allowed for by the referee) with less than eleven men. With Lloyd Sam back after suspension, and with Semedo moved back, I doubt that Parky will want to try that formation with the personnel he has available in this match, but he could decide to switch back to 4-5-1 bearing in mind that Jonjo Shelvey made a goal scoring return to the team. The alternative of maintaining a 4-4-2 is to play an unbalanced side, and I’m not sure Parky will want that.
Up front, Akpo Sodje put in a sterling effort for over an hour on his own, but hopefully his tired legs have recovered enough to do something similar in this match, with squad strikers Leon McKenzie, Chris Dickson, and Izale McLeod (if he is still around) able to bring relief or add additional firepower later in the game as is required.
This is the team I suspect Parky may have to suit up at
Rob Elliot
Elliot Omozusi
Miguel Llera
Jose Semedo
Grant Basey
Nicky Bailey
Scott Wagstaff
Lloyd Sam
Jonjo Shelvey
Akpo Sodje
Subs from
It’s horrible to contemplate that four of the potential subs above have yet to start a league game for the Addicks, and three other have just a handful of league games under their collective belts, but such is the availability situation for this match.
Brentford are on little roll themselves, but sadly, for them, ex-Addick Charlie McDonald will be missing after being a referee victim on Saturday when he was unlucky to pick up a red card. The bees gave Charlton a tough game at The Valley (where Charlton won 2-1) earlier in the season, and played some good football, but since then they have settled into a middle of the league team, who are unlikely to get in either the play-off or relegation zones this season. The main danger on paper is on-loan Spurs man and future “star” John Bostock, though he was left out of the side at
Pedro45 is travelling up form
My one-to-watch is going to be Jose Semedo. With a stop-gap defence for this match, our Portu-geezer will need to show us that he can play in the position that he was originally bought for, and he hasn’t forgotten all he knows about playing centre half while he’s been stuck in midfield. He will have to be careful and understand that he cannot foul his man if they get past him, as that could lead to a red card (as it did at Cardiff a couple of years back), but if he remains confident that his covering defenders will help him he should be OK.
I think it is eleven games since defeat in the league for the Addicks currently, and it would be great to carry the round dozen into 2010. Charlton started this year with a draw, but they can go one better here; the first game of the second half of the season needs to be won, and I think we can do it!
Up the Addicks!
Labels: Brentford, Charlton, Jose Semedo
Monday, September 07, 2009
Sixth Step Toward the Honey-Pot
Charlton Athletic 2 Brentford 0Did Charlton cruise past the Brentford Bees on Saturday or was I dreaming? Another fine performance, though not without it’s moments of concern, but another three points that keeps Charlton top of the table, and a step nearer to ultimate aim for the season.
Two first half goals were enough to beat a good Brentford side; the first, just 11 minutes into the match, after a long cross-field pass from Miguel Llera behind the full-back was woefully headed short back toward the ‘keeper and Lloyd Sam nipped in to pull the ball back for Deon Burton to score from ten yards (above). Twenty minutes later Sam then finished a sublime passing move, which had lasted quite some time and maybe over twenty passes, taking the ball from Burton’s flick in the penalty arc, and beating the two centre backs before slotting home into the far corner. Lloyd has certainly been practising his after-goal celebrations (getting ready to rumble, pic below), and his effort at The Valley was far superior to his two efforts at Prenton Park last week!
Other chances came and went, most notably when Burton, Jonjo Shelvey, Nicky Bailey, and substitute Izale McLeod all spurned opportunities to hit the target. Brentford themselves had good efforts; Rob Elliot was forced to make an excellent save from Carl Cort’s second half header, and the Bees also hit the bar with a free-kick, though that never looked like going in. Other half-chances for the visitors went either high or wide, with ex-Addick Myles Weston often involved. Brentford were by far, in my opinion, the best team Charlton have faced this season so far, and I suspect that they had by far more possession than the home side, and probably more shots and corners overall. However, the Addicks looked a class above their opponents, and ultimately simply cruised the second half, taking the opportunity to give game time to Scott Wagstaff (on for Sam), and McLeod (for Shelvey). Therry Racon picked up what looked like a back injury (though other reports suggest it was a hamstring strain) and had treatment on the sideline while the first half goal celebrations went on, but hopefully he will be fit for next week after completing this match.The League One table is starting to become clearer after half a dozen games and show how other teams are likely to fare this season; Leeds maintained their own 100% record to keep pace with the Addicks at the top of the table, and Huddersfield’s fine away win at MK Dons moves them into third place, but five points back on the leaders. Bristol Rovers moved up to fourth after beating Millwall, while Swindon creep into the last play-off spot after winning at Yeovil. Next week’s opponents, Southampton, remain bottom of the table, without a win, and already 24 points behind the Addicks.
It is a long season, and no chickens are being counted just six games into the 46-game marathon, but the Charlton start is superb and even when results do drop off (as they have to invariably when you are running at 100%!), the Addicks look like they have plenty of what is required to maintain a promotion push.
The confidence is oozing out of the club at the moment, and with injuries being kept to a minimum, back up players being given game time whenever possible, and the squad looking strong, it’s a pretty good time to be a Charlton fan.
In other news, Jonjo Shelvey has signed a one-year extension to his current contract, which ties him to the club until 2012; it is unlikely that Jonjo will see out this contract in my opinion, but at least this move probably gives him a deserved pay-rise, and also increases his future transfer value given that it could be based on his current terms if any fee is necessarily settled by a tribunal.
In Charlton’s first ever Johnstone Paint Trophy cup tie, the Addicks have been drawn against Barnet, with the game likely to be played at The Valley on 6th October. This was by far the easiest tie that Charlton could have been given, and the only chance to meet a tier four team at this stage. However, with Charlton’s recent cup record, we should not take this game lightly!
Up the Addicks!
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Buzzin' the Bees
It’s been a pretty good week for Addicks fans – a 4-0 thrashing away at Tranmere keeping us top of the table, followed up by some positive moves on transfer deadline day. Charlton manager Phil Parkinson (left) told us fans what we needed (a centre back, a left sided midfielder, and a striker), and then he fulfilled that mantra by gaining the services of Leon McKenzie, Sam Sodje, and Luke Holden (without spending a penny). By managing expectation Parky did a great job, and he was also successful in holding on to all the team’s better players, though much gratitude should no doubt go to the current Board for their help on this. Yes, it’s been a pretty good week.Standing in the way of making it a fantastic week are Saturday’s opponents Brentford. Also unbeaten in the league this season (with two wins and three draws), and currently sitting in sixth place, the Bees should provide a stern test to Charlton’s league-leader credentials, and give yet another firm indicator as to how this season may pan out. Last year’s tier four Champions, Brentford are still riding that positive crest, and though suffering from a mini-injury crisis, they should give the Addicks a better game than recent opposition Tranmere and Walsall.
Brentford’s strength seems, on paper, to be their attacking options: While last years top scorer and former Addick Charlie McDonald is still out injured, the visitors can include another Addicks youth team player in Myles Weston, who has recently had his signing fee agreed by the Tribunal. Weston will no doubt be out to show The Valley what they missed out on, and he will be hoping to supply better-known forwards Carl Cort and Steve Kabba with enough ammunition to cause an upset. The Bee’s defence is in turmoil, mainly through those injury problems, and this has led to a number of youngsters being thrown in and some players having to play out of position. That’s not to say that they haven’t been doing OK, and with Welsh international Lewis Price in goal as a last resort, they could be a tough nut to crack.
Brentford also have a decent manager in Andy Scott, who has re-built his side after promotion; Scott took over the managers reins from Terry Butcher early in 2008.
Charlton’s own manager, Phil Parkinson, will have no such injury worries to contend with, and happy with a 100% win record in the league any changes to the starting side are unlikely for the sixth game running. It is possible, but by no means certain, that one or two of the new signings will make it onto the substitutes bench, especially as Stuart Fleetwood has gone back to Exeter on loan and that does lave a gap to be filled.
In goal, Rob Elliot will be hoping for a hat-trick of consecutive clean sheets, and the defence of Fraser Richardson, Christian Dailly, Miguel Llera and Kelly Youga in front of him have a settled look and some solidity. They also pose a goal threat from set pieces, and have three goals between them so far this season. The returning Sam Sodje is short of games, and may need a week or two to get fully match-fit; he can also score goals, and will put pressure on the centre of defence to perform, but may have to bide his time in getting into the side while everyone else is fit.
The midfield remains intact, thankfully, and it will be a pleasure to see Lloyd Sam, Jose Semedo, Nicky Bailey (all goalscorers last week at Tranmere) and Therry Racon (who must be due a first goal of his season soon?) winning the midfield battle week in week out. They are by far the strongest quartet of any league one club on paper, and it is to their collective credit that they are showing this on match days too. With Scott Wagstaff and Matt Spring providing good reserve, and with youngsters Alex Stavrinou and now Luke Holden we are blessed, and shouldn’t have too many issues if anyone gets injured or suspended.In front of the midfield, but behind the forward line will be Jonjo Shelvey, and his link play is getting better as each game goes by. Leading the line for Charlton will be Deon Burton (left), who has come back to the club this summer extremely fit and, quite frankly, is playing some of the best football of his long career. Without an obvious squad replacement, Burton is another key player for the Addicks while the scores are close. Only when Charlton have a reasonable lead (as against Wycombe) will Parky be inclined to give him a rest, and try out other attacking options. New signing Leon McKenzie may not be fully match fit for another couple of weeks, so we may have to wait awhile for the Deon/Leon show.
This is the team I expect Parky to send out in front of the cameras on Saturday –
Rob Elliot
Fraser Richardson
Miguel Llera
Christian Dailly
Kelly Youga
Jose Semedo
Therry Racon
Nicky Bailey
Lloyd Sam
Jonjo Shelvey
Deon Burton
Subs from – Randolph, Solly, Basey, Sodje, Spring, Wagstaff, Stavrinou, Holden, Dickson, Tuna, McKenzie, McLeod.
Pedro45 is a realist, and at some stage, the 100% winning streak in league games has to come to an end; I just don’t think it will be this week (I hope I’m not wrong!). My prediction is for another comfortable 2-0 home win that will see the end of Brentford’s own unbeaten start, and a realisation that Charlton are good enough to compete with in-form teams in this league. With the knowledge that we are getting stronger and better ourselves as the season kicks into gear, we might be good enough to go on an even longer winning run…
My one-to-watch this Saturday is Jonjo Shelvey (left), who has had an interesting start to the season, and seems to have brought a bit of an edge to his game. Whereas last year, in his first full season in and around the first team, Shelvey seemed happy to be playing - making and scoring goals - he now has some pressure on his young shoulders. That pressure is mainly built from expectation, and it cannot be easy to have so many hopes thrust upon you at such tender years. Jonjo needs to accept this load, but try to get back to playing with a smile; too many times this year we have seen him get into small confrontations, either brought about by his own naivety in the tackle, or from older pro’s trying to wind him up and getting a reaction. It just takes one dodgy refereeing decision to go against him and he could be out for three games! He will also have the weight of the transfer window behind him now for at least another four months, so he can concentrate on doing what he does best, and that is playing football. Shelvey holds a key role at The Valley, where his work-rate, vision, and dead-ball prowess need to be at their best in order to create chances for others. He has been unlucky to only score once this season so far, and in front of the Sky TV cameras on Saturday, he could increase his potential transfer value (for one day, it will ultimately come…) with a goal or two.Playing in front of the TV cameras always brings a special atmosphere to games at The Valley, and this Saturday will be no exception. With crowds down on recent years, the onus is on the Addicks to show everyone, including lapsed fans, what Phil Parkinson’s team are now about: Gone is the worrying; gone is the nervousness; gone is the desperation. We now have supreme confidence, fantastic skills and ability, untold application and a willingness to graft. The team also have the full backing of those fans who did renew their season tickets, and those who queue each week to get in, and there is a healthy respect for the management, and Board, for what they have done over recent months. I don’t know if there will be a take-over in the near future, but we should all thank our lucky stars that we have guys like Derek Chappell and Richard Murray at the helm because without them, we may not have been able to see Charlton aiming upwards for very much longer.
Come on you reds!
Labels: Brentford, Charlton, Jonjo Shelvey
