Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Easter Blank Holiday
Coventry City 0 Charlton Athletic 0So no goals over Easter at all, either for or against, and with that goes all hope (if there was any) that Charlton could pull off the miracle and save themselves from relegation.
With an unchanged team, Charlton played quite well again, but just didn’t get the breakthrough required; after Rob Elliott made one good point blank save in the first half, Tresor Kandol had a goal disallowed for offside. Some reports say it was Jonjo Shelvey’s effort but it looked like Kandol to me…In the second period, an effort from Nicky Bailey was deflected onto the post (after Sam's effort hit the bar on Saturday, we haven't been helped by the woodwork recently!), and a Coventry break saw the ball roll just wide.
With other teams fighting relegation picking up positive results, Charlton are now 12 points from safety, with four games left. Even if all those four games were won, it would take a miracle of results to enable the Addicks to survive, especially as Forest have yet to play Southampton…
It does seem that the management have acknowledged this, and though the last rites in this awful season will be written on Saturday at The Valley, I still expect Phil Parkinson to put out his best team, rather than muddle about with the players. Once any calculators can be put away, we may then see some changes with next year in mind – Chris Solly will probably get a game at right back either against Cardiff or more likely Derby, and Scott Wagstaff could be preferred on the bench to Darren Ambrose. Tamer Tuna made the squad over Easter, but not the bench, and if he continues his good recent form over the next couple of weeks, he could force his way ahead of other strikers into the final sixteen. I’m not sure we will see any other surprises, as other options - Josh Wright, Rashid Yussoff - are out on loan, gaining experience elsewhere, while Harry Arter appears not to have made the grade.
I also do not expect to see any of the loan players at the club sent back early, as there is still a requirement for Darren Ward, as we have no centre back cover bar Matt Holland, and no other forward who works as hard as Tresor Kandol (which is saying a lot!). If anyone is cut from the payroll early, it will be Danny Butterfield, as Solly needs to be given a break, and alternatives are available if necessary in Yassin Moutaouakil, Jose Semedo, and even Matt Holland.
We do still have three home games to play, so the team are going to be able to play with some attacking freedom, and not worry too much if we do fall behind or lose. Certainly the games against Blackpool and Norwich are winnable, as is the match at Derby if we play well; Cardiff next Tuesday may be another matter, as they are desperate for the points, and may be just too strong.
With the current four game unbeaten streak being the best of the season, I hope the players try to carry it on; if we could make it eight games, at least that run will follow us all through the summer and hopefully give us some sort of impetus next August.
Saturday's match against Blackpool will be a game for diehard fans; we know we are going down, having accepted that fact some time ago, but if the team play well, whatever the ultimate outcome, we should cheer them as much as we have down over previous seasons.
Monday, April 13, 2009
The Sky’s the Limit
This second game in an Easter weekend could see Charlton relegated; the inevitable is not a surprise, but if we do get another decent result, the dreaded drop could yet be delayed by another game. I hope so...And why shouldn’t we breath a sigh until the next game? Two factors: Firstly, Charlton are actually playing quite well! Last weekends first away victory since September at Southampton was very welcome, and probably a little more comprehensive than the 3-2 score line suggests, and this was followed up on Saturday with a getting-better-all-the-time match against promotion hopefuls Birmingham. Then we have to factor in Coventry’s form, which allowed them to succumb to a 4-0 half-time drubbing against an average Plymouth side on Saturday. Sure, they could bounce back, but do they have anything left to play for?
Another reason why I am overly optimistic is that Charlton still have a large squad from which to choose, whereas Coventry do not, unless they throw in some raw youngsters. Phil Parkinson would normally have options to replace pretty much anyone had the Brummie game been tough, but it does seem that on the face of it nobody picked up any sort of injury, and nobody had a ‘mare that would see them dropped.
In goal, Rob Elliott was called on to make a couple of smart saves on Saturday but was not required to be at full stretch; unless he has a concentration issue that may prevent him playing again so quickly, I fully expect him to start once more in goal.
Danny Butterfield had, by consensus, his best game for Charlton against the blue-shirts; he didn’t get forward very often, but patrolled the right back area well, and snuffed out any danger when it did arrive. With little other option, he will be the right back today. On the left, Kelly Youga also had a reasonable game, dealing with first Hameur Boooo-azza, and then James McFadden, albeit with help from Nicky Bailey. Grant Basey is standing by to step in and play against a team he scored against last season, but I suspect Youga will get the nod once more.
The central defence is also unlikely to change, though this time it’s due to not having any choice! Both Mark Hudson and Darren Ward had solid games on Saturday, and Ward has played pretty well and better than his team-mate over recent weeks. Matt Holland is the willing deputy, but unless either centre-back has a knock, Matt will have to wait his chance.
The midfield is where we might see some change, even if it is unforced. It is tough for the supporter to tell exactly how far players do run in 90 minutes, and the recovery time necessary may mean that one or two players here are not quite ready for another half-marathon quite yet…Matt Spring is sitting on the sidelines waiting his chance, and he even took part in the pre-game warm up on Saturday, as he didn’t make the bench. Therry Racon may be the one to drop out, but it could also be Jonjo Shelvey (if his seventeen year old legs are a bit tired?), or even Zheng Zhi if these two close games have come too soon after his foot injury. I’m sure it won’t be Bailey, who does seem capable of running and running, and is doing a decent job completely out of position on the left wing.
Lloyd Sam just got better and better on Saturday, as he found more and more space; it’s possible that Parky will start Darren Ambrose, simply to aim for fresh legs, but this would be harsh on Sam if he is still fit and able. Ambrose has played a couple of cameos in recent weeks after injury, and does still look a little off the pace…
Up front, Tresor Kandol had a very indifferent game on Saturday, much as he did at Southampton (where he won and missed a penalty); one thing cannot be doubted, and that is his commitment to the shirt. He does put himself about, try hard in every match, and do his best for the club. Whether Parky thinks he is OK to start again is open, and with Deon Burton not used on Saturday, I suspect that up front is where we may be most likely to see a change. Burton will get the nod whether Parky opts to stay at 4-5-1, with Shelvey (or ZiZi) in the hole, or if he switches to 4-4-2 from the beginning. Chris Dickson will be hoping for the latter as that gets him the best option of a longer stint on the pitch.
This is my total guess on the team Parky will send out today –
Rob Elliott
Danny Butterfield
Darren Ward
Mark Hudson
Kelly Youga
Zheng Zhi
Therry Racon
Nicky Bailey
Darren Ambrose
Jonjo Shelvey
Deon Burton
Subs from Randolph, Weaver, Moutaouakil, Basey, Holland, Spring, Wagstaff, Sam, Kandol, Dickson, Todorov, Tuna.
Pedro45 is really hoping that the team can continue their recent form, and is predicting a 3-1 victory. If we can survive the first ten minutes, when Coventry will have a flea in their ear about Saturday, but then get in front, I do think the game is there to be won, and won quite easily. With the midfield we have, and with Spring and Holland backing that up, we are right up there with the best in the division if given space, and the home team may just do that today. The goals Coventry conceded on Saturday seemed to be poor, and most came from crosses into the box; if Shelvey, Sam and/or Ambrose can knock in crosses to dangerous positions, the Addicks should be able to capitalise, and secure three more points.
My one-to-watch in this game is going to be Nicky Bailey. Quite frankly, he has been a great player in this dismal season at The Valley. I'll b amazed if he is not voted player of the season... He may make the odd-mistake, but his goals record does speak volumes for his effort and passion. Playing on the left side is so obviously not where he wants to be but he does his job every week nowadays (keeping his whingeing for the referee!) and helps the team in that way. His confidence is high, which is a big Bailey factor in whether he plays well, and I expect him to pull some strings today and cause Coventry plenty of problems.Sometimes in football, the winner comes down to which team wants it more; I suspect that it will be the away team today. The Sky Blues have nothing to play for, yet Charlton, playing in a very relaxed style, do still have something to prove, even if ultimately it will end in relegation. I just don’t think that the fat lady is going to be singing tonight…
Up the Addicks!
Labels: Charlton, Coventry, Nicky Bailey
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Smelly Bottom
Charlton Athletic 1 Coventry City 2Ooh that was a horrible game wasn't it? Poor play, injuries, yellow cards for silly fouls that may hurt later in the season, a small crowd, freezing cold weather, an awful ref and inept linesmen - what we go through as Charlton fans eh?
Not much happened early on, except Jay McEveley hurt his shoulder; what is it with full backs and shoulders? Crainie on Saturday, although he was declared fit enough to start last night, and then the left back tonight!?! Holland came on midfield and Semedo swithced to full back, thus weakening both areas. Charlton did have some posession, but not much, and the first real effort came on 35 minutes when Hudson headed a rare corner straight at the keeper. Late in the first half, Simpson volleyed home a left wing cross and the crowd took a collective deep breath. How many times have we come from behind this season? Not many, if at all!
At half time it was doom and gloom. But within five minutes, Izale McLeod, getting a rare start and only just performing better than his previous dire 45 minutes a month or so back, broke into the area, tmbled over, and the ref took an age to point to the spot. Burton (above) was the chosen taker, as Gray was still warming the bench at that time, and he just about got it in between the posts and under the bar, after a jittery nervous run forward.
Mucho celebration. Could this be the turning point? No of course not! Hudson fell to the grouond and akin to expert Jorge Costa, obstructed the forward while he writhed around a bit in the mud 35 yards out. The ref kept moving theball back and the blue shirts pushed it forward, so it took a while to take the kick. Then it was Fox who stepped up and stroked home in off the post with Weaver struggling still to get across the goal. Ouch. Not nice - less than a minute to wonder what might yet to come.
What happened afterwards was even worse play from the Addicks. Crainie's distribution continues to be attrocious; Fortune and Hudson were solid in defence but lacked respsonsiblity when trying to prompt attacks; Semedo tries, but isn't in form; Holland had an awful evening in midfield but he wasn't as bad as Bailey (left, whingeing again), who is simply not worth a place in the reserves on this form! McLeod replaced the anonymous Gillespie (I lifted that wording from Saturday's report - I'm a bit worried about repetition here with Dizzy...) on the right wing but improved little; Bouazza sulked out wide; and the forwards - Burton, McLeod, plus subs Gray and Todorov - all contributed very little, though I may be being a bit harsh on Burton. Burton is at least showing more skill and tenacity in two weeks than Gray has in the (almost) year he has been with Charlton - harsh but fair!Of course, the crowd showed their displeasure...It wasn't as bad as the Wycombe game two years ago, but it wasn't far off it!
So where to now? Parkinson has tried hard, but it wouldn't surprise me if that was his last game in charge. He has given players a chance, but hasn't had an ounce of luck. I don't know if the board can wait any longer or if they will persevere until January and then look for Parky to wheel and deal his way to a better team.
What is true, and this was overheard in several conversations in the bar too, is that if the loan players are not cutting it, why not give full time employees a chance for a go, including (where appropriate) the youngsters. Jonjo Shelvey is very young, but he is a winner, and he would try his hardest every game. So would Harry Arter (if fit and when back from his loan spell), and even Josh Wright could improve. Youga is likely to come back intot he team now McEveley is out for a while, though Basey is also an option.
Next Monday will be the last chance for Linvoy Primus before he goes back to Portsmouth (though I don't expect him to play), and we need to see Martyn Waghorn again soon or his month will have been a waste for all parties.
Wheter Parky is in charge, or someone else, they need to get rid of the bad smell about The Valley, and soon!
Monday, December 08, 2008
I Guess That Why They Call It The Blues
Just a quick preview today of our match against the Sky Blues of Coventry on Tuesday night. Bearing in mind we are bottom, without a win in over two months, and without hope it seems, my sense is that we shouldn’t hope for too much from this fixture. But it was against Coventry that Charlton put in one of their best all round games last season – a 4-1 thrashing on the last day of the season that cheered everybody up no end! Oh for a Chris Powell-type celebration at around 10pm Tuesday night!Phil Parkinson (left) has problems with injuries – Nicky Weaver fell heavily taking a cross on Saturday, and is undertaking intensive treatment. If he does not recover sufficiently, then Rob Elliott will take his place (with Callum Christie on the bench?); this is a tough call for Parky – if Weaves is anywhere near fit he will play, but if he does and then is shown to be injured, the repercussions don’t bear thinking about…
Also injured on Saturday was Martin Crainie – it is unlikely we will miss Crainie as much as we would Weaver, and actually this might just play into Parkinson’s hands, as it means that another of the loanees will get a chance. That could well be Martyn Waghorn as Andy Gray is still suffering a bit from a hamstring twinge.
This is the side I think Parkinson may have to start with –
Nicky Weaver
Yassin Moutaouakil
Mark Hudson
Jonathan Fortune
Jay McEveley
Jose Semedo
Matt Holland
Keith Gillespie
Hameur Bouazza
Deon Burton
Martyn Waghorn
Subs from Elliott, Christie, Basey, Youga, (Primus), Bailey, Wright, Shelvey, Dickson, Todorov, McLeod, Gray.
Pedro45 is desperately hoping for a change in Addicks fortunes, but the stars on the horizon and very pale. I’m plumping for a 1-1 draw in this match – not enough to take us very far off the bottom of the table.
My one-to-watch in this game is going to be our French full back Yassin Moutaouakil (left), who I presume must play, unless rumours that he doesn’t get on with Parky are true? Home games are when you need that extra cutting edge going forwards, and as long as Moots is motoring down the right wing, he gives Charlton an extra, different, option. I hope he plays, as the only other option at right back is Semedo (or Solly), but that would mean a deterioration in the midfield strength of the team.I am expecting this to be the game where the run of 20,000-plus crowds that the club has been so proud of for so long finally comes to an end; Coventry won’t have sold many tickets, and even Charlton will struggle to give away the 3,000-odd that they would need to take the nominal attendance figure above 20k…on a cold night, there could be as few as 13,000 actually in the ground at kick off?
Desperate times sometimes call s for desperate tactics; I hope Parky is ready for this as the crowd will not stand for another home defeat. If that happens, expect a new manager in situe by the Derby game.
Come on you reds!
Labels: Charlton, Coventry, Yassin Moutaouakil
Monday, May 05, 2008
We Are Not Worthy!
Charlton Athletic 4 Coventry City 1This game was a very nice way to finish a poor season, with a thumping score line over a very poor team threatened all afternoon by relegation fears.
With a full house away allocation turning one end of the ground light blue, complete with balloons and a full range of inflatable objects(balls, lilo's, dolls, crocodiles, etc, etc), the gaps in the home area seats were even more obvious. The announced crowd of over 26000 which includes tickets sold rather than bums on seats didn't reflect the many (possibly over 5000) season ticket holders who simply couldn't be bothered to attend this match.
They missed was probably the most entertaining game of the season, and one which turned into pure theatre...
It didn't take long for Coventry to settle, but Charlton scored with their first real attack, just four minutes into the game. Madjid Bougherra saw Luke Varney's run and promptly played the ball down the inside right channel. Varney didn't have a marker, and was behind the full back. For some reason, Kaspar Schmeichel in goal decided to rush out but was easily beaten to the ball by Varney, who coolly clipped the ball over the stranded keeper and into the net first bounce.
Back came the Sky Blues, but to no avail, and after 19 minutes, Charlton scored possibly their goal of the season (and one much better than Varney’s voted the best of the season…). Playing a relaxed style, with lots of knocking the ball around between defence, midfield, and the ever willing Andy Gray up front, Charlton finally put the string of passes to good effect as JonJo Shelvey played in another channel ball to Varney, this time inside the area; Varney's back heel fell beautifully for the onrushing Gray to sweep home. It was such a simple goal – passing, movement, skill, and control; terrific stuff.
Typically, a minute later, Charlton then conceded a soft shot by Mifsud from 25 yards. He was given time to pick his spot, as nobody seemed to think to close him down.
The game then went through one of those funny periods where either team could have scored, but both were trying to keep the game tight. The hard-working Shelvey lashed wide, but most of the better chances came to the team in blue, but were also off target.
Half time came with Charlton in control, but sitting back quite a lot with much space between the defence and midfield, and attack; on a warm afternoon, maybe this was tactical for the young Shelvey and twice as old Matt Holland?
The second half started much as per the first 45 minutes, with the Addicks scoring quickly – this time Halford's cross from the right eluded Gray and Varney, but Schmeichel's punch went straight up and down to Grant Basey. The youngster didn't mess around and capped an average overall game with a crisp shot that was deflected into the net. This was Basey's first league goal. He should have doubled his tally a few minutes later, but this time the similar deflection from a similar shot went just wide.
Varney and Gray pushed shots across goal and just wide, but then Coventry started to fight; possibly alerted by their own supporters to the fact that one goal from elsewhere would see them drop into the relegation zone. A couple of shots flew wide, as did headers, with Nicky Weaver merely watching the ball and keeping his fingers crossed. Weaver then made a good save, and stood back as the referee's whistle for an innocuous (and probaby non-existent) foul cancelled out a Best shot into the bottom corner.
Alan Pardew had already replaced Jerome Thomas with home debutant Scott Wagstaff, and scorer Basey with big Chirs Iwelumo, but now he made the change that the crowd had hoped for. 16-year-old Shelvey was the player to make was for 38-year-old Chris Powell, making his final appearance for Charlton.
He got a fantastic standing reception as he strode into central midfield, tasked with marking the annoying sub Thornton who looked like he might recoup something from the game for Coventry.
Powell made up half (with Holland) of what could have been Charlton's oldest ever midfield partnership and neither disappointed; Holland strode onto a bouncing corner clearance and crashed in a fantastic volley. Sadly, it thumped the crossbar and bounced away.
Powell then got into the area, and after a cross was missed by attackers and defenders, drove home only his third ever goal for Charlton, and the first he hadn't scored against his boyhood team (Spurs).As we all know, some players have celebratory routines all planned out, but Chrissie isn't one of those players, so rare have been his goals. He just carried on running toward the North Stand, only stopping when he got to the barrier. The rest of the layers caught up with him there and hoisted him high into the air, such is the esteem in which he is held. Slowly the noise died down and he and team-mates started to return to the waiting away team and referee. Powell made a detour across to Pardew for a high five, and it did take a couple of minutes for him to get back and allow the kick off. D'Urso should have booked him but in a sign of recognition and sensibility (not most referees strong points...) he didn't.
Chrissie actually had another half chance a couple of minutes later, but the game finished in a surreal mood, with Sky Blues fans jumping around once other scores came through and Addicks fans happily stunned by that Chris Powell goal.
At the final whistle, the players all shook hands and the players kids descended for the walk around the ground acknowledging the fans (it was no lap of honour!); actually, there weren't that many kids on the pitch, which probably shows how young the team is these days. Pardew waved to all sides from the middle, but didn't join the players wander.
There was a great mood in Bartram's afterwards, as fans relived the memory of Chrissie's goal. By 6pm, it had become a 25 yard thunderbolt rather than the ten yard drive...
Then the man himself appeared, getting a loud cheer and clap as he put his head into the bar to see who was there. Such a humble man, he did everything he should have before retreating with Martin Simon's words ringing in his ears saying that he'd had that reception eight times already since the end of the game! As I walked up Floyd Road, Powell, with family in tow, drove past in his 4x4. One last set of bowing and clapping was acknowledged by a toot on the horn from the great man.
Summer is here, the final game of the season is over, but the resounding memory that I will take forward to next August is of one of Charlton's great players – Chris Powell. What a hero! I guess that means I better fill in my season ticket forms...
Labels: Charlton, Chris Powell, Coventry
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Last Hurrah!
I really cannot get too excited about Charlton's last home game of the season against Coventry on Sunday - having been away on holiday while the Addicks played out a win, loss, and draw, the end of season slump continued last weekend with a crashing scoreline defeat at Barnsley. It seems the players bags are packed and their minds already on some Mediterranean beach somewhere.Of course, we should be looking forward to the chance to see youngsters JonJo Shelvey and Scott Wagstaff play - and I am, honest! - but Alan Pardew has already intimated that he will be wrapping them in cotton wool next season, save they get too tired or a kick on the leg... I bet Zheng Zhi wishes he was treated the with the same deference!
So, Coventry: Almost certain to save themselves from relegation - only a defeat at The Valley, plus three wins for the clubs around them (which is unlikely) will see them go down, though I expect they will play as if their collective lives depend on it. As the Addicks found during a 1-1 draw at The Rocoh earlier in the season, Coventry are a tough side to beat when they want to be, and hey could be just the sort of team that we really didn't want to be meeting at the end of this long season.
Since I last saw the Addicks live (the 3-2 rollercoaster home defeat to Wolves), a number of players here on loan have gone back to their clubs, probably never to be seen in an Addicks shirt again: Leroy Lita promised much but when he started to deliver it was too late; Lee Cook promised much and was never fit (or possibly good) enough to deliver. Sam Sodje remains (though he has had a toe injury and may not start) as does Greg Halford.
And alternatively, a number of Addicks players out on loan have returned to the club: Aswad Thomas is suspended, so Accrington let him go, and Therry Racon has been recalled from Brighton now they cannot make the play offs. Why bring back Racon? He must be due a game on Sunday it seems, though Pards may have other ideas?
This is the team that Pardew may send out to recover some pride amongst SE7 faithful -
Nicky Weaver
Greg Halford
Madjid Bougherra
Paddy McCarthy
Ben Thatcher
Matt Holland
JonJo Shelvey
Darren Ambrose
Lloyd Sam
Andy Gray
Luke Varney
Subs from Randolph, Semedo, Sodje, Basey, Racon, Zhi, Wagstaff, Thomas, Iwelumo.
Actually, as I typed the team, I thought that really I have no idea who will play - who is fit, injured, teachers pet, or recent villain. I'll find out like the rest of us on Sunday lunchtime I guess...
My one-to-watch in this game is going to be JonJo Shelvey - a future hero? Probably.
Pedro45's last score prediction of the season is a 1-1 draw; we seem to have had lots of them at home this year, and I cannot see anything other than another frustrating afternoon in store. Maybe it will be different - we did used to win the occasional last game of the season when there was nothing left to play for, but usually we got stuffed (Barnsley and Middlesboro 5-2's come to mind); hopefully the Pardew mouth has been directed toward the players rather than just the media this week...
A win will get the crowd staying behind for the end of season after game walkabout by the clubs staff; a defeat, and don't expect there to be many left clapping at the end of 90 minutes!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Feeling a Little Sky Blue
Coventry City 1 Charlton Athletic 1There isn't much I can add to other reports from those who attended the Ricoh (or Rioch as NYA calls it!) Arena; suffice to say that a draw, after leading for over an hour, was less then us Addickted hoped for.
Lloyd Sam (left) scored his first league goal for Charlton after just fifteen minutes of the match, latching on to a good pass from Danny Mills, and cooly scoring into the far corner of the net.
Thereafter, a blatant penalty went by, possibly due to the referee not wanting to upset the home locals; there can be no other explanation for the obvious taking out of Luke Varney, as he bore down on goal, going unpunished. It had all looked rosy for the visiting team, but eventually, some of the defensive errors that kept being handed to Coventry came back to haunt Charlton. In the first half, the first of several slips by Bougherra allowed Mifsud to hit the post, and later, when the pressure really started to tell just five minutes from time, another Boogie slip allowed the ball to ricochet off Chris Powell, and this time Mifsud buried the offering.
In injury time, Chris Iwelumo missed a great chance to win the game; Andy Reid hung up a cross from the left, and big Chris dived to meet it perfectly. Sadly, it went just wide, with the keeper a mere spectator. The big man had a good game, so it was a shame that he didn't produce the winner we hoped for.
Overall, playing with the league eleven that has started the last three games, the defence looked OK, apart from Boogie's mistakes, but it does tend to put pressure on itself through poor distribution. This may seem OK when Charlton are dangerous on the break, but there is a difference to being put under constant pressure by a Premiership team (for instance) and allowing yourself to be pinned back unnecessarily as Charlton seem to have done a few times this season. The midfield controlled the game for all the first half and some of the second, but struggles to join defence and attack when the game is stretched. Up front, Iwelumo won much ball in the air, and Varney got on the end of many flicks. McLeod, who replaced a tiring Varney twenty minutes from the end, also contributed but over-ran his one chance when almost through on goal.
In a long season, this could become a game where we dropped two points, or won one - it's too early to say yet. With West Brom winning today (and scoring at will it seems), Charlton's draw sees them slip to third when five minutes more solid defending would have seem them as league leaders - and that's what hurts the most.
There is plenty of time to hit the heights this season though, and when we see where we are in the table when we know, as does Pards, that we are not yet playing all that well, I don't believe that we have too much to worry about.
On Tuesday, we travel to Hull; whereas Coventry had a great midweek cup win, Hull got thumped in the same competition by Chelsea. Hull did bounce back this weekend with a 3-1 victory over poor travellers Ipswich, and this now sets up another tough fixture for the Addicks. A win prolongs the unbeaten league stretch, but a draw or defeat would bring a run of three games without a win.
Hopefully, no injuries came out of the Ricoh stalemate, but I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of changes by Mr Tinkerman Alan Pardew as he tries to find the right formula for winning maximum points on the road - it could well be a switch back to 4-5-1 on Tuesday evening...
Labels: Charlton, Coventry, Lloyd Sam
Friday, September 28, 2007
Sent To Coventry
A week of fluctuating fortunes, with one team losing their unbeaten run and the other pulling off a terrific away win at a major Premiership ground, sees Charlton visit Coventry. How the midweek antics effect this weekends league game at the Ricoh Arena, we will have to wait and see.
Coventry certainly pulled off the biggest League Cup coup of the week when they won at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Their two goals came from the small round Malteser who plays in sky blue, called Michael Mifsud. Young Mifsud has knocked in a few goals for the sky blues this season, and is a dangerous player that Alan Pardew’s charges will have to watch closely.
For the Addicks, it was the opposite League Cup emotion; after going ahead at Luton, a great goal and excellent goalkeeping pegged them back, and the legs were stronger for the home team who ran in two goals in extra time to win 3-1. Luckily, we all know that Pardew made ten changes for the cup game, and that this weekends league team will look very different.
So who will the Charlton boss (above) pick in an attempt to extend the unbeaten League run - Did anyone press for inclusion in the game against the Hatters? Are any of the “first team” in danger of losing their places?
The answers are no and probably not, and the same eleven that played in the home games against Norwich and Leicester will probably take the field on Saturday!
In goal, Nicky Weaver and Darren Randolph will switch places, with Weaver playing and Randolph sitting on the bench.
The defence, after two clean sheets, got into a bit of a mess at times on Tuesday, and maybe some of this is down to Paddy McCarthy’s inclusion. I expect Danny Mills to edge out Yassin Moutaouakil at right back; the hopefully rejuvenated Chris Powell is certain to displace Osei Sankofa at left back; Jon Fortune will come in for McCarthy; and Madjid Bougherra should retain his place despite his colossal error in the lead up to the third goal in midweek. Sam Sodje may be pushing for a starting role, but unless Pards wants to drop Magic, then he’ll have to settle for the bench once more.
The midfield has been bolstered by the availability of Matt Holland, Dean Sinclair, and Therry Racon, but I cannot see any of them getting the nod over Jose Semedo, Zheng Zhi, or Andy Reid, based on Tuesdays form. They are pretty good reserves to have though! Out wide, Lloyd Sam will feel extremely unlucky if he does not retain his place at the expense of Darren Ambrose, who will no doubt be on the bench.
In attack, Luke Varney had another good 50 minutes or so at Luton after his recent ankle injury, and he will come back into the starting eleven alongside Chris Iwelumo. The only other option is to include the more defensive looking Svetislav Todorov, or Izale McLeod; Toddy is playing well but was marked out of the game on Tuesday by ex-Addick Chris Perry, while McLeod missed numerous chances and desperately needs a goal to compliment his reasonable outfield play.
This is the side I expect Alan Pardew to start with at Coventry –
Nicky Weaver
Danny Mills
Madjid Bougherra
Jon Fortune
Chris Powell
Jose Semedo
Zheng Zhi
Andy Reid
Lloyd Sam
Chris Iwelumo
Luke Varney
Subs from – Randolph, Sodje, Moutaouakil, Sankofa, McCarthy, Holland, Sinclair, Racon, Ambrose, Todorov, McLeod, J Thomas.
The only players unlikely to be travelling are youngsters Harry Arter (who made a good debut as a substitute in the cup), and Aswad Thomas, who is pushing hard for a squad place. I do think that Jerome Thomas may have leant his lesson by now, but only Pards can answer that…
Coventry started the season well, and had a couple of thumping wins that took them to the top of the table in the early part of the season; they were exposed in their last home game against at-that-time league leaders Bristol City, and Charlton will be hoping to do the same. With the home team boosted by the Old Trafford win, and urged on by a big-ish crowd, Charlton may do well to weather the early storm though. There is, of course, also a little matter of who the Coventry manager is nowadays, but he is someone who I, as a Charlton fan, wish to forget about as quickly as I can. If I do think of Iain Dowie, it is of him as a loser - when manager of some Croydon-based team that Charlton relegated, and also a loser when spending Murray’s millions this time last year.
My one-to-watch in this game is going to be Nicky Weaver (left); our custodian is in good form (apart from maybe some of his distribution…), and has made crucial saves in recent games. He has not been busy though, and that may change this week, especially early on, as the home side seek to continue their form. Nicky is starting to show us, the fans, how good he really is, and it would be great if he could keep a few more clean sheets over coming weeks.Pedro45’s score forecast is going to be a 2-1 defeat. Having witnessed quite a few (40-odd) seasons of Addicks play, I think that you tend to get a few games when things don’t go quite right, and the odd series of defeats arrive – even when you are a good team in an average division (as we are). Hopefully it will be a short period of reverses, but the fact is we will lose some games during this season, and this, I think, may be one of them. Early in our 1999/2000 Championship season, we had a 4-2 defeat at Ipswich, where we played well, but they got the goals. This may be similar? We will bounce back though; we have to! But then again, what do I know about score forecasting…
Up the Addicks!
Labels: Charlton, Coventry, Nicky Weaver
