Charlton Athletic Online

MK Dons 0 Charlton Athletic 1

Sometimes performances are not reflected in results, but it seems fair to say that Charlton’s narrow win yesterday was hard fought but well deserved. Nicky Forster’s first goal for the Addicks, from the penalty spot midway through the second half, was enough to split the two teams, though Darren Randolph had to be the man of the match for three tremendous saves that kept Charlton in the hunt.

It was a wholehearted all round performance, with everybody on the team contributing: the defence played well in patches and looked pretty solid; the midfield chased and harried and broke when able; and the forwards all ran and ran and closed down whenever they could. Even the three substitutes – Lloyd Sam for Scott Wagstaff, and Akpo Sodje and Jonjo Shelvey for Dave Mooney and Forster – played their part, with Sam and Shelvey both playing key roles in holding onto the ball in the closing stages and winding down the clock.

Although you could hardly claim that Charlton played exceptionally well during the game, it is fair to say that they did not play badly, so maybe the poor run of results and performances has been broken at last and things are on the up.

For a wonderfully written version of being at the game with MK Dons see this superb review.

Coupled with other results, the team now sit just two points off an automatic promotion place, and with certain other teams (who have yet to visit The Valley) in worse form than Charlton have been of late, the situation is certainly looking rosier than it did a couple of weeks ago. Parky even broke into a smile briefly after the game (see top pic!).

The key now is to build on this victory by backing it up with three more points at home tomorrow versus Carlisle. Easter is a tough time for all clubs, and though the Cumbrians had an extra days rest after their win on Friday, they have had to travel three hundred plus miles to the capital to fulfil their round of fixtures.

Carlisle’s latest win (over Bristol Rovers) has seen them past the magic 50 point mark for the season, and with no chance of making the play-offs either, their season is over bar playing for pride and next season’s contracts. While in some ways this makes them an easier team to play, it could also make them more positive and therefore more dangerous. Free kick and penalty expert Iain Harte will need to be denied a chance to swing his left boot, and on-loan striker and all round big boy Jason Price (Laura says “hi!”) will be hoping to finally make an impact after several substitute appearances in SE7.

Charlton will be hoping not to have incurred any injuries from Saturday’s game, and are unlikely to want to change the side too much. The defence will be retained I suspect, and with the forwards both given a rest toward the end of the MK Dons game they will also probably start together once more. If Nicky Bailey is still out injured (and there seems no point in rushing him back if there are any doubts bearing in mind the last two results when he failed to play) then Therry Racon and Jose Semedo will continue to patrol the centre midfield, and Kyel Reid is likely to play opposite Lloyd Sam I hope. Sam brought fresh life to the side when he arrived as a second half substitute on Saturday and he does offer more threat – when on form – than Scott Wagstaff.

This is the side I suspect Parky will send out to make Easter bunnies out of Carlisle –

Darren Randolph
Frazer Richardson
Sam Sodje
Christian Dailly
Gary Borrowdale
Jose Semedo
Therry Racon
Lloyd Sam
Kyel Reid
Dave Mooney
Nicky Forster

Subs from – Warner, Solly, Llera, Fry, Spring, Shelvey, Bailey, Wagstaff, Akpo Sodje, Burton.

Pedro45 was buoyed by the result from yesterday, and has to be confident that the players and management have finally got the idea and will attack the end of season games in an effort to get maximum points. If they can play with the same gusto and passion (back in small quantities…), then I forecast a 2-0 victory to keep up the pressure on the teams above.

My one-to-watch at The Valley is going to be Dave Mooney (left). The on-loan Reading striker has had plenty of adverse publicity and reaction following his ear-cupping celebration to the equaliser last time out at home, whether he or anyone else thought it justified. I am one of the few bloggers to have a good word for him it seems, and I do think that he offers the team something that no other striker on our books currently can – movement, intelligence, and whole-hearted effort. He also makes goals, and it was his pass that played in Forster against MK Dons that led to the penalty award. I don’t like to see him miss chances, but the goals he has scored have all been pretty important (three times he has scored the first goal of a game). Two or three more between now and the end of the season, and a burgeoning partnership with Forster will go a long way to deciding where Charlton finish the season, and I for one hope he is more than successful.

A win on Saturday is worthless if the Addicks throw away all that good work by being sloppy in another home game. It will not be easy I suspect, but then no game is to Charlton these days, but if we can gather some of that confidence recently gained and turn it into a further positive performance then I am sure we will win through once more.

Come on you reds!

Labels: Carlisle, Charlton, Dave Mooney, MK Dons

It is interesting to consider how important the next three home games for Charlton actually are? Some say they are vital, and that the nine points on offer will determine whether Charlton get promoted through an automatic position or have to fight it out in the play-offs; others say that calling them vital just adds pressure, and that although important, a place in the top two can still be won even if points are dropped. Then some other fans just see the first of these games – tonight, versus Hartlepool – as another game to be won, and on which just three points are at stake, with other forthcoming matches to also be taken one at a time. Whatever your position, it is vital, important, and key that Charlton make progress in these games, and what better way to start than to beat the Monkey Hangers tonight.

Hartlepool come into this match on the back of a 5-0 home thrashing by MK Dons, and plagued by defensive problems resulting from injury and suspension. If Charlton fail to take advantage of this then they only have themselves to blame. The ‘Pools will welcome back striker Behan, but will be considerably below full strength, especially at the back, where Hartley and Collins are likely to be missing. Prior to their home defeat on Saturday, ‘Pools beat Oldham early in the new year, but you have to go back to a 3-0 home win against Millwall at the start of December for their previous victory. They may well come with a very defensive outlook, hoping to scrape a result, but quite frankly, who can blame them?

Charlton, meanwhile, have benefited from the winter break by getting a couple of key players fit once more, and will go into tonights game with a strong squad. Frazer Richardson is now fit once more, and I expect him to play tonight at right back after his half hour cameo on Saturday at Wycombe where he looked back near his best. Christian Dailly also returned in that game after illness, and their experience will be crucial over coming months as the team look to keep clean sheets. With Deon Burton having served his suspension, and the loan situation (with Dave Mooney in and Izale McLeod out, plus Chris Dickson back) now settled for a while, things are looking good.

The issues that manager Phil Parkinson will have to deal with are the minor injuries picked up on Saturday that could influence his team selection tonight. Goalkeeper Rob Elliot was limping near the end of Saturdays match, and Grant Basey was named as having a groin issue (is this still a result of him being kicked there at Stockport over a month ago?), so they could both be doubtful. Nicky Bailey also received treatment on the field on Saturday, but that happens nearly every match and it does seem that it would take quite a lot for our skipper to miss a match.

If Basey is out, then the left back slot is open bearing in mind that Kelly Youga is still some way from fitness; with Jack Clark out on loan, I would not be surprised to see Elliot Omozusi switched to the left side, and Richardson brought in, with Chris Solly acting as cover from the bench. Darren Randolph will cover the goalkeeping position if need be.

Then it is just a choice of tactics to decide on, and that in itself is something Parky will reflect on I think. On Saturday, he chose to mirror Wycombe’s own diamond midfield formation by playing Jonjo Shelvey centrally, with Lloyd Sam, to be fair, and Bailey tucked in. This worked to some degree (as Shelvey scored the opening goal) but did leave Basey horribly exposed for the first twenty minutes while responsibility was agreed on who should mark the right back when he came forward. Once Bailey took this on, the team looked much better, but Parky still chose to switch back to a more orthodox 4-4-2 at half-time. Tonight, it will be interesting to see how Parky lines them up – will Shelvey retain his place over Scott Wagstaff, who offers more width? Will the diamond be back with Shelvey playing behind the front two, or will we see that 4-4-2 again? I would not be surprised to see the team experiment (a little) with Shelvey pushed right forwards, and with Sam, Bailey and Semedo controlling the middle of the park. I also think that if the match isn’t going to plan, then we may well see Semedo sacrificed at some stage to offer more attacking threat.

This is the side I expect Parky to pick to start tonight’s game –

Rob Elliot
Frazer Richardson
Miguel Llera
Christian Dailly
Elliot Omozusi
Jose Semedo
Nicky Bailey
Lloyd Sam
Jonjo Shelvey
Dave Mooney
Deon Burton

Subs from – Randolph, Solly, Basey, Mambo, Spring, Sinclair, Racon, Wagstaff, Dickson, McKenzie, Tuna.

Pedro45 is confident that the teams 10-game unbeaten run will continue tonight, and is forecasting a 2-0 win, but he does wish that we had the where-with-all and firepower to win games at a canter rather than apparently scrape home by the odd goal in every match. It would be lovely to see the board go up indicating the amount of injury time to be played not worrying that if the other team score then it will be points dropped. Hopefully, we will be in that position tonight.

My one-to-watch tonight is going to be Dave Mooney. The on-loan striker has his critics, but I have to say I am a fan. He runs all day, and Charlton lack any other channel runner that offers us something different. While he is not going to be the consistent goal-scorer that some crave, he does create a load of chances for others simply because of his work ethic and the fact that he offers an outlet when things are tight. When he gets the ball, he brings others into the game, and it is from them that the direct shots on goal or crosses generally come. His pace is good, and will get better as he recovers from his knee injury, and I fancy him to get back onto the score sheet tonight.

Is it key, important or vital that Charlton win tonight? Only time will tell, but if they do, and I expect them to, then that can only take some pressure off the Addicks for the next two games yet switch that pressure over to Norwich (who we could be level with tonight), and Leeds, who we could (dream on) conceivably overtake by Monday.

Come on you Reds!

Labels: Charlton, Dave Mooney, Hartlepool

Charlton will be hoping to maintain the recent positive momentum in tonight’s fixture versus Bristol Rovers at The Valley; a thumping of MK Dons in the last home match was replicated in effort if not the result on Saturday in Somerset, where, but for Sam Sodje’s sending off, three points would surely have been won.

Phil Parkinson will need to make at least one change to his side, due to Sodje’s sending off, but may make others after the exertions on the soggy Yeovil pitch, while a man short, which could have left some struggling for fitness.

Carl Ikeme did what he needed to on Saturday in goal, making one decent first half save, kicked like a mule (only to see the ball travel short distances) and then watched the second half from afar as the wind kept the ball away from him for prolonged periods. He is sure to retain his place, with Darren Randolph on the bench as understudy.

The mini-experiment of playing Kelly Youga at right back worked reasonably well on Saturday; Youga’s defending was as good as ever, and he did get forward at every opportunity – especially in the second half when a man down – but his inclination to dribble on that pitch wasn’t suited and the fact that he wanted to bring the ball onto his left foot in order to cross seemed to slow things down a little. On a better pitch, the ability to cut inside may suit Youga, so I would persevere with him at right back tonight. The only option is to play Elliot Omozusi from the start, but I believe that Grant Basey on the left offers a better all round option than Omozusi, so would keep him on the opposite side to Youga. Basey had a good game at Yeovil, defending well, and offering surging runs forward in the second half when Charlton attacked at will. Basey also possesses a great left peg and his corner taking was good, and importantly he learnt from each kick and ended up hitting the bar courtesy of the wind.

Christian Dailly used his experience to the full effect in Somerset and, up against young Spurs guns on loan, he did well. Miguel Llera also played well after coming on once Sodje was sent off, and Llera should keep his place while Sodje serves his suspension tonight. Llera also has a sweet left foot, and he is a dangerous option from free kicks, when Nicky Bailey allows him to shoot that is!

Providing Bailey is fit, I expect the midfield to be unchanged this evening, with Jose Semedo anchoring the three creative players that are Bailey, Therry Racon, and Lloyd Sam. Racon was sacrificed at half-time as Parky sent on an extra forward on Saturday, so he should be fit enough to run on a pitch that he doesn’t get bogged down on. Bailey got his usual whack that went unpunished by the referee in that game, but hopefully it’s just another bruise on top of his other bruises. Sam has showed glimpses of a return to form recently, and he put in an excellent second half showing in Somerset, so a continuation of that would be good. If anyone is unfit, Matt Spring and Scott Wagstaff will be ready to jump at the chance of a starting slot.

Parky’s biggest decision is going to be who plays up front; Leon McKenzie, Akpo Sodje, Deon Burton, and Dave Mooney have all scored inside the last three games, but only two can start tonight. Add to that the fact that Izale MacLeod has now served his three-game ban, and Tamer Tuna scored a hat-trick for the youth team last week and Parky has plenty off options. With still no news of Burton having his hernia operation, and the fact that Parky has said it takes him a few days to recover from a game due to this problem, I think Burton may be rested tonight, and he may well have now gone under the knife with no game to come on Saturday. That would leave Akpo Sodje to carry on where he left off on Saturday, and also bring Dave Mooney back (after he was sacrificed for Llera after Sam Sodje’s sending off). McKenzie didn’t make the subs bench on Saturday, rather surprisingly, so I hope he isn’t injured again, but if he is, and Burton has had his op, then McLeod could make a quick return to the squad but not the starting eleven.

This is the side I think Parky may send out tonight –

Carl Ikeme
Kelly Youga
Christian Dailly
Miguel Llera
Grant Basey
Jose Semedo
Nicky Bailey
Therry Racon
Lloyd Sam
Dave Mooney
Akpo Sodje

Subs from Randolph, Omozusi, Mambo, Jenkinson, Spring, Stavrinou, Wagstaff, Burton, McKenzie, McLeod, Tuna.

Our opponents, Bristol Rovers are having an up-and-down season. They started well and sat just behind us in third place in the table back in September, but have since slipped down again (losing all five league games in October), before returning to positive results over recent weeks with two homes wins. They have a goalkeeper on loan from Reading – as Yeovil did on Saturday! – and also our own Chris Dickson, though he isn’t allowed to play. The dangerman is the diminutive Jo Kuffour, who has six goals so far this season. They will be hoping to win again, but will settle for a point if offered I’m sure. One thing is obvious from their results - they concede goals (not having a clean sheet since mid-September), so the Addicks strikers could profit tonight?

Pedro45 has to be confident going into tonights game, based on the last two games, and predicts a 3-1 victory. With the power and goalscoring threat up front we now have coupled with a strength in midfield, and some (only some) fresh legs, we could have too much for Rovers to handle once more, provided we can keep eleven players on the park.

My one-to-watch tonight is going to be Dave Mooney. Our Reading striker will be one of the fresh ones, after playing just half an hour on Saturday. He broke his Charlton duck in the last home game with a crisp finish, and has got better as his fitness improved over recent weeks. With possibly a new partner to start with tonight (if Burton is not played from the start), I can see him forging a potent attacking force with Akpo Sodje that may be to hot to handle – I hope so!

With Rovers porous defence, and Charlton finding their goal-range recently, we could see a few hitting the back of the net tonight. We mustn’t be over-confident, but we should win games like this at The Valley.

I will leave with a thought for the man pictured at the top and returning to SE7 this evening; a man who led the club through all the dark days of the 1980’s – Lennie Lawrence. What Lennie did for Charlton should never be forgotten, even if his autobiography is (or has); the man is a star and should get a standing ovation as he arrives for his kind are few and far between. We may have had Kinsella, Parker, Di Canio, Bent, Rufus, Brown, and Robinson in recent times, but without Lennie, there may well have been no Charlton, and none of those players playing for the Addicks. Give it up for Lennie!

Come on you reds!

Labels: Bristol Rovers, Charlton, Dave Mooney