Charlton Athletic Online

A belated preview of tomorrow’s game, mainly due to not being back in the groove after holiday, but also as transfer news was coming in and will help shape the team for tomorrow.

With the news that Tuesday’s long awaited Charlton win came at a cost – Jon Fortune and Andy Gray out for the season, and Mark Hudson and Graeme Murty doubtful for the Burnley – it will be tough to carry on the positive impetus that the three points may have garnered. At least two new recruits have been assembled for battle – Tresor Kandol, a striker on Leeds books who played for Millwall during the first half of the season, and Darren Ward, another ex-Millwall player who will fill an obvious gap at centre half. Both players have joined for the season on loan, which I know this is not some fans signing of choice, but needs must etc…Stuart Fleetwood has also been recalled from his loan spell at Brighton, in an effort to bolster the squad.

The AGM on Wednesday also threw up a couple of other pointers regarding the squad – Nicky Weaver may leave the club this weekend, if he can prove his fitness. It seems that as he is out of contract at the end of the season, the club will blood both Rob Elliott and Darren Randolph and look for them to compete for the starting berth each week from now on (as they have done since Xmas). Darren Ambrose has had a groin injury, but he should be fit for the next run of games, and may get a subs berth tomorrow. Josh Wright is not expected to be given a game ahead of the many other midfield players the club has, and Chris Dickson is likely to be brought on as a sub rather than given a starting slot as he doesn’t always follow tactical instructions.

Burnley have had a good-ish season, especially in the cups, but have lost ground following five straight league defeats. However, their form is not bad, despite the results, and they will be looking to get back to chasing the play-off spot they seek with a win tomorrow. Although the manager – Owen Coyle – threatened to play his youngsters in defence in an effort to cut out the basic mistakes which have led to recent goals, I doubt he will follow through with his threat, and I expect him to play his four fit defenders.

This is the side I expect Phil Parkinson to put out tomorrow –

Rob Elliott
Yassin Moutaouakil
Darren Ward
Matt Holland
Kelly Youga
Tom Soares
Nicky Bailey
Matt Spring
Lloyd Sam
Jonjo Shelvey
Deon Burton

Subs from Randolph, Basey, Mambo, Racon, Ambrose, Todorov, Kandol, Dickson, Fleetwood.

The above is presuming that Parky switches back to a more orthodox 4-5-1 formation, with Shelvey pushed forward, although JonJo may end up on the bench if Ambrose is preferred as a starter?

Pedro45 thinks of himself as a realist, so any premature thoughts of matching the 18-game run without a win with a similar 18-game streak unbeaten have to be dismissed, much as I’d love that to be the case. However, realistic points calculations about what might be sufficient to stay up this season do allow for some defeats (and have to, as Reading and Wolves away are two likely reverses…), and this should not be forgotten. Tuesday win was massive, not only for the fans, but in getting that club record off the monkey’s backs. I would love the team to win points in consecutive matches for only the third time this season, even if we haven’t yet managed consecutive wins, but sadly I fear that a make-shift defence and a Burnley team fresh from a managerial rocket may do for us – I’m predicting a 3-1 defeat.

My one-to-watch tomorrow has to be old hand Matt Holland; playing out of position, as he has had to three times this season, he has had reasonable games each time. If Charlton are to get anything from this match, then Matty will need to have a (very) good game. He has the skills to be a good centre back – good in the air, can pass, runs all day, doesn’t jump into tackles, but then Burnley will know all that and may aim to expose his suspect positioning and failure to tackle.

As long as the team get close to matching the standard that they set on Tuesday, I’ll be happy even if they lose; what we, the fans, and Parky will not accept is heads dropping if we fall behind, and any lack of effort - we need all eleven, whoever they are, so put in undoubted effort all the match. Parky has (slowly) built a team that looks like it will battle for every point; we may not be very good still, but if we get some luck, and Burnley do have an off day, then we could pick up something after all.

Up the Addicks.

Labels: Burnley, Charlton, Matt Holland

Sadly, personal issues will prevent me from attending tomorrow’s game at Portman Road, as Charlton take on Ipswich. The game is a real six-pointer, one of several similar key matches that are coming along at the moment.

I expect Alan Pardew to stick pretty much with the side which valiantly lost at Burnley on Tuesday. Hopefully we can get a better result.

My one-to-watch in this match is Matt Holland – returning to his old stamping ground, Matt is one player who still seems to want to get back up to the Premiership. If Ipswich do so and Charlton don’t, then Matt may end up back in Suffolk for a last hurrah! He will not be boo-ed by the Tractor Boys fans (unlike Darren Ambrose?), and it would be great for him to get the goal his all round play deserves this season.

Pedro45’s score prediction is a 3-0 loss. Go on, prove me wrong!

Up the Addicks.

Labels: Charlton, Ipswich, Matt Holland

A cheerful start to a preview that doesn’t really know where to go; such is the apathy that consecutive home defeats have brought on. I’m not goingt to the game, and I won’t even be listening on the radio, as I’m going to watch Squeeze at Hammersmith instead. If we had won recently, I may have turned down the chance of a spare ticket, but it might be too painful, and I haven’t seen Squeeze play live for 20 years or more.

It wasn’t just the fact that Charlton lost; it was more how we lost that peeved me last week. The heart seemed to be ripped out of the team by more committed, intelligent opposition, and that should just not be the case when playing Charlton.

Tonight, we have the chance of redemption once more. Saturday should and maybe could have seen the Addicks back on track, but it didn’t. Cardiff away looked a lot harder on paper at the start of the season than it does now, but it may still prove to be too much for us.

So what should Alan Pardew do? The first thing he should do is ignore all those who are starting to question his management; a few weeks ago, he was iconic. Now he is lambasted. It’s the expectation you see…

Next, he really needs to make up his mind quickly about his best eleven. We can probably see who the best players are, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they make up the best team. I think a switch back to 4-5-1 is imperative tonight (as is 4-4-2 at home!), with two wide players supporting Iwelumo, and a midfield solidity.

Nicky Weaver may have been unwell on Saturday morning, but I bet he felt sicker later that day. He really hasn’t been tested much shot-wise recently, yet has conceded six times. As another blogger so rightly said, the goals were from two penalties, three free kicks, and a break-away. Sadly, Andy Reid’s volley was our only reply. There really isn’t a case for dropping Weaver, as he hasn’t made any mistakes recently, bar having an AWOL defence in front of him!

That missing defence is where we could see change, but how should Pards look at events? Sodje played poorly on Saturday, but he hasn’t made the errors that Bougherra did previously. Maybe it’s time for Sodje and Bougherra to be given a go together, as the other options of keeping Fortune plus one have been exhausted. Mills or Moutaouakil? Danny every time for me, but then I didn’t see much of our French full back early in the season, and if Mills continues to be stupid (giving away needless penalties and arguing with officials which will inevitably lead to a red card) then maybe he should be rested? What is it about left backs and injuries? Gibbs, Thatcher, Powell, Basey – who hates you? Chrissy is now back in possession of the shirt, but we know he doesn’t handle many games in a week well at his age (38), and hopefully he will be OK for tonight and Saturday. If not, maybe Mills will be switched across.

The midfield also needs shaking up - there is simply too much standing still waiting for the ball. They need to be confident in possession, and pass and move for team-mates. Semedo was unlucky to be left out on Saturday, but maybe could have done with the rest, and I would bring him back tonight. Matt Holland played well, so I would keep him in, but both Zheng Zhi and Andy Reid look exhausted. I would rest one, but which one? Pards loves ZiZi, but Reidy is the captain. Tough call…

That leaves three places left, or two if you concede that Chris Iwelumo is a must have option up front. If they are fit, I would play both Lloyd Sam and Jerome Thomas. However, I am not sure Pards will do that and I think Darren Ambrose will start, alongside Luke Varney, with Varney being asked to play wide right, with Ambie on the left. This at least leaves options for a switch to 4-4-2 at any time without making substitutions.

This is the side I expect Pards to start with –

Nicky Weaver
Danny Mills
Chris Powell
Sam Sodje
Jonathan Fortune
Jose Semedo
Matt Holland
Andy Reid
Darren Ambrose
Luke Varney
Chris Iwelumo

Subs from Randolph, Moutaouakil, Bougherra, Racon, Zheng, Sam, Thomas, McLeod.

Being so inconsistent – three defeats, followed by four wins, followed by two defeats – is unbearable. Pardew must feel the same way! Knowing that two home victories would have seen Charlton sit proudly on top of the league must be galling to him. As it is, we are still only five points behind the joint leaders and well placed with a squad that should be able to compete until May.

My one-to-watch tonight is going to be Matt Holland. Matty is the team skipper really, even though Reidy has the armband. He needs to show that big level of commitment that we are used to and push this young team onwards; he is quite capable of doing that and we know he will run and run.

Pedro45’s body may be in Hammersmith, but his mind will be in Cardiff up until 9.30 or so. I really hope that a result can be gained, and I’m plumping for a 1-1 draw. At least a single point will end our run of defeats at two, and allow the team to feel something has been won. It will be tough, as Cardiff have been on a good run since Charlton beat them a few weeks back (gosh that seems like a long time ago). They may also be without their “superstars” Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, which may help.

I’m tempted to run into a paragraph of Squeeze song titles, telling how difficult tonight may be, but will not apart from to say that I hope we are not “Up the Junction” at the end of the game.

Up the Addicks.

Labels: Cardiff, Charlton, Matt Holland

Is...Matt Holland.

Reports indicate that Matty has agreed to stay at Charlton for at least another year; whether this is either the club or the player exercising a contract extension clause, or Matt being offered and signing a new contract is unclear.

It doesn't matter too much though, as the important thing is he will be pulling on an Addicks shirt again in August.

Matt's displays for the second half of the season were generaly excellent. Always committed, he ran his socks off in much every game.

The fans were a little dismayed when he was rested over Easter (when he was playing well), but it is unlikely that this had too much impact on Charlton's relegation this season.

The 2006/2007 season statistics will show a first for Matt - he was booked more times this season than he scored goals (2 to 1). Bearing in mind that he has rarely been booked in his whole career, I guess that he won't be too proud of this fact!

If Darren Bent and Luke Young both leave The Valley this summer, as looks likely, then Matty may well find himself back as the club and team captain once more.

Labels: Charlton, Matt Holland