Friday, April 30, 2010
White Riot
Well, probably not, but that presumes that our friends from down the road don’t come to the party as Leeds arrive at The Valley on Saturday. There are all sorts of scenarios and permutations depending on the result but, basically, if Leeds win and Millwall don’t, then Leeds will be all but promoted.But there is nothing like backing a certainty in football, and in this League One season we have seen a number of sides, no less than Charlton too, all throwing away the chance to cement the second automatic promotion spot when well placed. Should Charlton now beat Leeds, and should Millwall falter at desperate Tranmere, then the last week of the season could yet be one that many Addicks will remember with fondness. But, to my mind, that really is clutching at straws, as next weeks results (with Leeds losing again, and Millwall and Swindon drawing with each other) would also be required to fall correctly, and the odds on that a quite large.
So how do Charlton approach this game, which, if won, could have a large bearing on who the team will play having made it through to the play-offs? In a fairly laid back manner I would suggest. The opinion coming out of the club this week – which included the shirt-sponsors evening attended by the players – was that victory will be attempted the final two games, as this would have a positive feel going into the knock-out stages. A win would also build confidence, and hopefully the upper hand over Leeds should we have to meet again in May. Similarly, a loss to Leeds would knock confidence, though it would also make it unlikely we would play them again this year.
Manager Phil Parkinson has always talked the talk when it comes to positive attitude and trying to win games, but often this demeanour has fallen short when applied to decisions on the pitch – hence the last six games where only one goal has been scored (last week’s draw included our equaliser which didn’t go in, so I still think there was just one goal in the game!). I believe that he will stick with a 4-4-2 formation – especially after Jonjo Shelvey’s sale, more on that later – but a number of injuries may play a part in who actually takes the field.
At least Parky has shown over recent weeks that he knows the side he would like to be able to pick, but is now the time to rest some of those carrying knocks and have them ready in two weeks? From his perspective, I think not, because he has to still have the belief that Charlton can go straight up with two wins, and he must therefore play his preferred and best team. Players can be rested next week, if we are without that final chance.
That team will continue with Darren Randolph in goal, despite Rob Elliot being fit once more. Elliot intimated before the game last week at Exeter that he thought he was playing, but that turned out not to be the case. Randolph then produced two excellent saves (one in each half) to keep Charlton in the game and it is unthinkable to ponder that he might now be left out. We can forget contract situations and what might happen next season; let’s keep Randy in goal.
Similarly, Parky would love to play with the same back four, though Sam Sodje’s knee-knack may prevent that. Sodje lasted just over an hour in Devon, but had a decent game while he was on the pitch. The danger is that his knee goes at some stage, as it did last week, and that wastes one of the subs that Parky has at his disposal, or worse still, it happens after all the subs have been used. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see Miguel Llera start this game, with Sodje told to rest up for a week or two. Possibly unlike Sodje, Frazer Richardson will get a chance to play against his old club, and it was great that he was chosen in the League One team of the Season by his fellow pro’s, and on-loan Gary Borrowdale has another chance to score his first ever goal on the opposite flank. In the middle, Christian Dailly will once more roll back the years and put in another sterling performance I’m sure.
The midfield, so strong an area for Charlton earlier in the season, is now the place where Addicks fans are most unhappy. While Jose Semedo is nailed on to start in the holding role, Therry Racon has been off-colour over recent months and Charlton’s best play has been when he has left the field, with Nicky Bailey moving centrally. In a game that is likely to be fast and frenetic, now may be the time to leave the talented West Indian out of the side, in favour of more direct players? Moving Bailey in field would allow Kyel Reid, scorer of our goal last week, to start; it was only when Reid came on at St James’ Park that Charlton really looked dangerous and if he is on form then he has to play as he does offer major goal threat. Lloyd Sam meanwhile, limped off last weekend, so it will be interesting to see if he pulls on the jersey against the team from the city of his birth. He was in fine form at the sponsors evening apparently, though this may or may not have helped his injury (!). If he doesn’t make it, then the Leeds-supporting Scott Wagstaff will probably take his place on the right wing.
In attack, the one and a half game partnership of old-men Deon Burton and Nicky Forster is yet goalless, though they both have come close (not least last week). Burton has yet to score from open play in 2010, which is concerning and not what you need from your centre forward. Forster is lively, but lacks any real pace, but he does get into good positions, and if the midfield and wingers feed him, then he is more likely to score than not. He will be trying hard as he did miss a couple of gilt edged chances at Exeter, and maybe that means that those goals will come this week? The only other options, presuming that Akpo Sodje is still out injured, is a recall for Dave Mooney, or dare I say it, possible game time for fit-again Leon McKenzie. No, that won’t happen will it…
This is the side I expect Parky to send out in the last home League game of the season –
Darren Randolph
Frazer Richardson
Miguel Llera
Christian Dailly
Gary Borrowdale
Jose Semedo
Nicky Bailey
Lloyd Sam
Kyel Reid
Deon Burton
Nicky Forster
Subs from – Elliot, Warner, Solly, Sam Sodje, Spring, Racon, Wagstaff, Mooney, Akpo Sodje, McKenzie, Tuna.
Leeds will be approaching the game to win it, knowing that anything else could see them falter at the last hurdles as they have done on their previous two seasons in this division. Also struggling with a few injuries that have weakened their side (Kisnorbo out for the season, Parker doubtful, etc), they will rely on a solid display knowing that they have genuine goal-threat, even without 30-goals this season Beckford in the starting eleven. Striker Becchio has scored in the last four games and with Gradel alongside, they will be looking to put lots of pressure on Charlton’s central defensive pair. Where Leeds can come unstuck is at the back, and Charlton should remind themselves that they did concede three goals before half-time in their last away game.
My one-to-watch in this game is going to be Christian Dailly. The Scotsman has had a better season than I think any Addicks fan could have hoped for, and it is strange to think that Gary Doherty made the team of the season in his position ahead of him. Dailly may well be crowned Charlton’s player of the season on Sunday night (though my vote went to Semedo), and it would be well deserved. He was a little below par in the games after Xmas when he was carrying an injury, but now he is back near his best and playing very well. I’m sure his body will see him through the last few games, for to lose him would surely end any remote hopes Charlton have of going anywhere this season.Pedro45 really doesn’t mind what happens in this game, though it would be the Charlton way for us to win and keep the fans guessing until the last minute of the last day of the season. I do suspect that one team will want it that little bit more than the other, and I’m therefore going to forecast a 1-0 defeat, and much celebration in the Jimmy Seed Stand. I obviously hope that that is not the case, but with another tactical, cagey-game in the offing, it may well be until after the break that one or either team attempts to do something positive when they know the scores - no doubt relayed from the crowd - from other grounds.
Finally, the news that Charlton have sold Jonjo Shelvey is no surprise, though the timing is to many fans. Shelvey has had a peripheral part to play in the side since before Xmas, and it is a shame (in some respects) that he wasn’t allowed to boss this division in the way that many Charlton fans hoped he would last August. The management obviously had to play to Charlton’s early season midfield strength, and when it came down to the crux, they didn’t feel that he was good/strong/disciplined/experienced enough to play centrally in a two-man midfield. And that shows the difference between Shelvey and other good young ex-Charlton players like Bowyer and Parker (who was a lot older it should be noted when he broke into the first team). All we can do is be grateful for the cash coming in, hope that any strategic partnership with Liverpool does bear fruit, and wish Jonjo all the best for his future career, knowing he will always be welcomed back at The Valley. As for accusations that this sale shows a lack of ambition at the Club - maybe the sale was one way of ensuring that there is a Club next season, as ambition is nothing if we don't have a team to support.
Come on you reds!
Come on you reds!
Labels: Charlton, Christian Dailly, Jonjo Shelvey, Leeds United
Friday, October 09, 2009
Backing One 'Tic
Charlton return to league action at The Valley on Saturday, with the first of two consecutive home games – Oldham Athletic being the initial opposition. Hopefully, the midweek win in the JPT will have set Charlton back on the right path, though with injuries very much to the fore this week, this game may be quite tough.When you win your first six league games of the season, what comes next is bound to be a little disappointing, unless of course you win the next six games too! This author is far too realistic to expect Charlton to go through a season or, in most cases, a month winning every game, so the draws and single defeat recently experienced were not wholly unexpected or surprising. Taking a point from games against recent Premiership foe can only be good, and if looked at closely, the loss at Colchester did have an element of farce about it, with two ridiculous goals conceded. When mixed in with home wins in the last two matches (one of which was this midweek, and very comprehensive), there really isn’t too much wrong with Phil Parkinson’s team this season.
Parky’s problem seems to be simply down to having enough bodies to play, and fitting those players into a system that works. In that respect, the preferred starting eleven have done a great job working in the 4-5-1 formation, and on Tuesday we were able to see a lesser eleven use Plan B and win a game playing 4-4-2. That’s not to say that the players are only comfortable playing one way or the other, as Parky rightly said that he tried to get Tamer Tuna to replicate the Jonjo Shelvey role, and for Izale McLeod to try to hold the ball longer when it was played up to him, as per Deon Burton; but everyone could see it was still 4-4-2 and not 4-5-1.
The wholesale changes made way back in August for the Hereford League Cup tie worried a lot of people into thinking that our reserves were not up to the task; I agree that if we had to play nine of them, as we did that night, then they may not be winning too many league points, but the fact is that you would never (unless injuries and suspensions really hit home) have to play that many at any one time. When individually fed into the system, as we have had to do with Matt Spring, Chris Solly, Grant Basey, Scott Wagstaff, and others, they are all good players, and quite capable of maintaining Charlton’s push near the top of the league.
And this week, we may need a few more of the reserves than we have had to use previously, due to some worrying injuries.
Frazer Richardson is doubtful we are told and, with rib and hamstring injuries, less than a 50/50 chance to play; I seem to remember something similar being said about Jose Semedo just before he missed his first game, so I do not think our right back will be in show this weekend. With Sam Sodje away with Nigeria, Miguel Llera is certain to return, but will Parky go for a like-for-like replacement for Richardson in Solly, or will he veer toward experience and switch Kelly Youga to the right, and bring in Basey?
With Semedo only now returning to training after his pelvic problem, I doubt he will be risked, so the midfield is likely to be the usual triumvirate of a resurgent Nicky Bailey, Spring, and Therry Racon. Lloyd Sam went off at half-time last Saturday, and I do wonder if he will be fit after his groin tweak? These injuries can usually take around three weeks to heal, so I would not be at all surprised to see Tuesday goal-scorer Wagstaff come in for his first league start of the season in Sam’s place.
In attack, Parky has a simple choice really, albeit with three options: he could and probably will bring back Burton with Shelvey playing just behind him; or he could stick with Tuesday’s fresh legged combo of McLeod and Tuna; or he could play a combination of Burton and McLeod?
This is the team I think Parky will start on Saturday, though I would not be surprised to see the subs used a lot earlier than normal if the game is tight –
Rob Elliot
Chris Solly
Christian Dailly
Miguel Llera
Kelly Youga
Matt Spring
Therry Racon
Nicky Bailey
Scott Wagstaff
Jonjo Shelvey
Deon Burton
Subs from Randolph, Basey, Mambo, Clark, Semedo, Stavrinou, Holden, Sam, McKenzie, McLeod, Tuna.
Oldham come to The Valley on the back of a small unbeaten run of four games. They sit in eighth place, just outside the play-off zone, so should not be taken lightly. They have a successful fresh young manager, and a few players who are more than comfortable at this level, so Charlton need to be watchful. The little-and-large combination of Parker and Abbott up front has goals in it, and the tall winger Chris Taylor may give Solly (if he plays) problems in the air. Few of Oldham’s players will be well-known to Charlton fans, even those on loan from Blackburn (Alex Marrow, Nick Blackman) and Leeds (Alan Sheehan) are not well known outside this league. What we should expect though, is that they are organised, and play open attractive football, in much the same way that Exeter did.
Pedro45 is hoping that Charlton can get back to normal league service and is confident that this will happen; I am predicting a 2-0 victory. If we are at all struggling up front, then I can see the Tuna and McLeod partnership being given a run out again, as they do compliment each other so well. Shelvey knows now that he has competition for his place, in the form of both of the other players, and with Clinton McKenzie also now back in training and looking to get involved, competition is hotting up amongst the strikers. After his rest, Llera should be able to compete with Abbott in the air, and the midfield should have too much nous, skill, and ball retention for Oldham to pose too much of a threat.
My one-to-watch in this game is going to be Jonjo Shelvey; certain to return to the starting line up in my opinion, Shelvey showed during his cameo appearance on Tuesday how good a player he is when given time and space. The goal he almost scored was impudent, and full of youthful exuberance - if that flailing arm hadn’t kept it out we would have been gushing about that goal rather than Wagstaff and Bailey’s efforts! Jonjo has yet to score at The Valley this season, so now would be a pretty good time to open his home account.I really hope that I am not being too over-confident about this game, especially when a few players have injury worries. I do not see Oldham as any more of a threat than Brentford or others were, and we played well enough and had enough possession in those games to win all but one (which we would have won but for a blind linesman…). This game should see opportunities for Wagstaff, maybe Solly, McLeod, possibly Tuna, and maybe Basey, to really put their mark on their position in the Charlton squad, and a good performance here by any or all of them will comfort us all that, when we do have further injuries, we can cope admirably.
Come on you Reds!
Labels: Charlton, Jonjo Shelvey, Oldham
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
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Dark Days
It has come to this then – the official site hoping for Charlton to win all four remaining games, and for two of the four other teams directly above Charlton in the table to not get anything in their games left! Well, that ain’t gonna happen, is it?Charlton fans everywhere, and blogs like this, have long since recognised that Charlton are doomed to relegation to the third tier; it was just a matter of when, rather than if. And the when will probably happen this Saturday, at The Valley, during, or more probably after, the game against Blackpool.
I’ve attended two other games at The Valley that resulted in Charlton’s relegation – other seasons where we faced the drop came well before season’s end, and/or away from the Valley - and both left me with watery eyes but not really crying. The first relegation I witnessed was way back in the dark days of 1972, it was a final home defeat to Millwall that saw us drop between similar divisions. On that day, a massive crowd turned up for the floodlight game, and the gates were closed early in Valley Grove, such was the crowd numbers. Luckily, a turnstile door sprang open (possibly with the help of a hefty boot or two?), and I followed two guys quickly through, with the second only being let in by the policeman the other side as he said he had a kid (me) behind him… I doubt it will be that busy this coming Saturday, or will I have any trouble gaining access to the ground! Then in 1999, a last day home defeat to Southampton saw our initial Premiership season die at the very death; we clapped the players as they paraded around the ground afterwards, safe in the knowledge that they were quite capable of bouncing back. And that’s what they duly did, winning the Championship the following season.
And next season, in the third division, or league one, or whatever it will be called when we arrive there, we must hope that we can replicate that team of 2000, and bounce back by winning the league. We won’t have all the players that Phil Parkinson (left) has at his disposal this weekend, and we may not even have Parky in charge of picking the team, but the only contemplation at this stage is that Charlton are going to bounce back, are capable of getting back up into the Championship, and will in fact have a very good year after a few poor seasons. We must think like that!It is way too early to contemplate what sort of team may turn out for Charlton week in, week out, in 2009/10, but safe to say that it could be very different to that we have been used to. I’m sure we’ll have a crop of youngsters – Shelvey (hopefully), Wright, Solly, Yussuff, Clark, Stavrinou, and probably other homegrown talent like Basey, Wagstaff, Dickson, and Elliott. Along with that, there will be some more experienced players, maybe Youga, Fortune, Sam, Bailey, Racon, Spring and Semedo? Then we might sign the odd decent player on a free transfer (maybe Murty?), or even cough up a few quid if the right man comes along and is available (Rooney?); this will be coupled, no doubt, with various loan signings – probably not as many as we have seen this season, but a few will be required to fill gaps when and where we cannot sign anyone permanently. We have to expect and recognise this. This is our lot next year; we are where we are, and only the players and finances (which are directly connected) can change this fact.
I read two great pieces written about our fantastic club this week – the first was a piece on Doctor Kish’s mad-cap website and the other was on the Charlton Life forum.
Both articles put into words (much better than I can) what we feel for our club, Charlton, and ask what we can do for it; others very publicly go out of their way to support our team, financially, putting in long hours, publicising the good things, and making us all proud. Other so-called fans though, are just putting the boot in when the club is down; I’ve supported Charlton for over 40 years, seen those relegations mentioned and others, plus wondrous promotions – this club is a roller-coaster and has good weeks and bad. It hurts just as much to lose against Arsenal as it does Millwall; a win against Liverpool brings as much joy as one against Tranmere – think about it. It does. Three points are three points, and a win on a Saturday sends us all to work with a smile on Monday morning.
I’ll be there this weekend, supporting my team. It will hurt terribly when relegation is confirmed, but I will still come to the remaining games, still shout for my team, and still hope that next year will bring success.
This Saturday, I expect Parky will pick the same team again –
Rob Elliott
Danny Butterfield
Darren Ward
Mark Hudson
Kelly Youga
Therry Racon
Zheng Zhi
Nicky Bailey
Lloyd Sam
Jonjo Shelvey
Tresor Kandol
Subs from Randolph, Weaver, Moutaouakil, Solly, Holland, Basey, Spring, Ambrose, Dickson, Todorov, Burton, Tuna.
The reason I don’t expect it to change is because it is the best Charlton team of this moment. Parky is obliged to play his best team for the fans who paid out for season tickets this year, and it has the best chance of winning, and helping boost season ticket sales for next year. Once we are relegated, that thinking may change, but not by very much.
Blackpool travel to The Valley knowing that they are pretty safe from being dragged into the dog-fight that is taking shape above the Addicks in the league table. They are five points clear of trouble, with three games left for them. They have also suffered only one defeat in seven games, and have a forward in goal-scoring form (a rarity at The Valley these days!) in the shape of DJ Campbell.
Pedro45 thinks that the Blackpool rock will break on Valley shores, and that the Addicks will continue to be hard to beat, and predicts a 2-1 winning score-line. We have been unlucky over the last few games when hitting the woodwork, and all three recent goal-less draws could have resulted in wins with a little more luck and composure. If we can get in front, we are capable of hitting our opponents at pace, and simply ripping them apart.
My one-to-watch in this match is going to be Jonjo Shelvey. Our youngster is the key to success at the moment, and we all want him to stay at the club for many years to come. That will only happen if we are successful, and success will come if Shelvey (left) stays – it’s a double edged (Valiant) sword. Shelvey is playing just behind, and sometimes alongside and in front of – Kandol at the moment, allowing ZiZi to manage the middle of the park with Racon. He can run all day, and has a good shot in both feet; I think he could really cause some damage to a fragile Blackpool defence.We have three games left at The Valley this season - these three games could be our last chance to see Zheng Zhi play in the flesh for Charlton; our last chance to see Nicky Bailey in the red Addicks shirt; the time when you can say you saw Jonjo Shelvey win games for Charlton. Let’s make the most of it.
Come on you Reds!
Labels: Blackpool, Charlton, Jonjo Shelvey
