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
Friday, January 04, 2008
Up for the Cup?
No, not really…after recent results, it is tough for anyone to lift Charlton and also for Charlton to lift anyone. I may have been sick with some of the performances over recent months, but now I just feel sick with the flu, or man-flu, or something that is making my head want to explode.However, this is the FA Cup, and unless you are Manchester United, you have to play in it, and the media expect you to do your best. What is your best though? Nobody really knows these days as it does seem more important to most clubs to perform well in the league, and if you get a Cup run it’s a bonus. Sure, our jaunt to the quarter finals a couple of years back proved much better financially than a run to the same stage of the league cup did last season, but how often have Charlton ever got to the last eight of this competition? Not many times…
Also putting a dampener on the game are the opposition. West Brom are top of the Championship, stuffed us 4-2 last month in a league game, and threaten to blast what remains of our defensive confidence to smithereens tomorrow. Let’s not forget that it was their reserve forwards who caused us major problems in that game at The Hawthorns too, so if they play an “under strength” team, it could be a similar side to the one we faced in December! No easy game this then!
However, would we prefer to raise expectation and go out with major disappointment (as at Boro two years ago), or roll over and play dead (as we did at Forest last season)? As always, I can take defeat (and as a Charlton fan, I’ve tasted plenty of that…), but the manner has to be right.
I think we can therefore assume that whoever Alan Pardew puts out in the red shirts will be trying, and bearing in mind some of the on-field problems the club has had recently one or two players could be playing for a regular starting place if they have good games.
In goal, this is one match where Pards may think about starting Darren Randolph rather than keeping first-choice Nicky Weaver. Weaver has done little wrong – although fans can be pernickety with his punching/catching and kicking – but should Randolph, who has been sitting quietly on the bench since his debut at Anfield late last season - bar one league cup outing - finally get the go ahead to start? Tough call this as it’s a no-win situation: Randolph plays, we lose, he’s out; Randolph plays, we win, he’s out. I kind of hope Darren gets the call but it wouldn’t surprise me if Pardew stuck with Weaver.
The Addicks hapless defence is due a shake up, for this game at least. Yassin Moutaouakil just has to start at right back; otherwise, what is the point of having him at the club? Kelly Youga, recalled from a season-long loan at Scunthorpe, is also very likely to start at left back and this would give Chris Powell a long overdue rest (which is needed at his age). Centrally, Pards will pick two starters between Fortune, Bougherra and McCarthy with the other on the bench.
Our midfield, so strong on paper but less so on the pitch, is looking a little tired, and I would think that Zheng Zhi must be given an afternoon off. He just looks knackered, and with the game not on TV, no pressure is on from Far East TV companies to start him in this match. Jose Semedo has four bookings to his name, so Pards may decide not to risk him from the outset. Therry Racon is therefore likely to get a game, alongside the evergreen but not ever-young Matt Holland, and we could possibly see either Harry Arter or Josh Wright on the bench, which would be a fillip to the younger players. On the wings, I expect Jerome Thomas to play, provided he is not ill, injured, or hung-over from his weeks clubbing, and Darren Ambrose will also start I believe in place of Lloyd Sam, who tried hard but was out of luck in front of goal on Tuesday.
As it’s the cup and as we are at home, we should be looking to play two strikers from the start (please note Mr Pardew!). League options always include Chris Iwelumo, but he has looked jaded recently, so a better option would be to give those stalwart substitutes a chance to play 90 minutes (or until Pards is fed up with them and subs them!). I think Luke Varney and Izale McLeod (top pic) will play, with Chris Dickson on the bench. Why Dickson didn’t get a chance to come on over Xmas is anyone’s guess, but it could have been due to him jetting off to a Ghanaian training camp next week. Again, you put him in, he does well, then he’s missing for three weeks, or you leave him out, as he will be missing for three weeks – another no win situation! Izzy did score aginst the Baggies last month, so maybe they are his anti-bogey team?
This is the side I think will carry Charlton’s cup dreams this year –
Nicky Weaver
Yassin Moutaouakil
Madjid Bougherra
Jonathan Fortune
Kelly Youga
Therry Racon
Matt Holland
Darren Ambrose
Jerome Thomas
Luke Varney
Izale McLeod
Subs from Randolph, Sankofa, McCarthy, Powell, Semedo, Zhi, Arter, Wright, Sam, Dickson, Iwelumo.
I don’t really have much confidence in a Charlton victory tomorrow, but of course I hope my prediction is wrong – Pedro45’s score forecast is a 4-0 defeat! If the Baggies get ahead, it will be very tough for Charlton to claw their way back into the game. A smaller crowd than normal (maybe only 12-14,ooo?) coud turn nasty if things don't go right, or maybe it will be the moaners who stay away? Our only hope, in my opinion, is if Albion play an even weaker team than expected, and some of our “reserves” play blinders. Step forward our French speakers Youga, Moutaouakil, and Racon! Maybe they will also be able to communicate with Bougherra, but I’m not sure what O’Level grade French Jon Fortune, Matt Holland, or Darren Ambrose got at school?!? (NB Jerome Thomas doesn’t communicate with anyone; he’s all “heads down, no-nonsense, mindless boogie”, so this doesn’t apply to him.)
My one-to-watch in this match is going to be our right full back Yassin Moutaouakil (left). He is almost guaranteed a start, and will hopefully snap the hand off that gives him his shirt. I haven’t seen much of the classy Frenchmen playing yet, as I missed those early season games when he was first choice. The return of Danny Mills to northern climes has now given him the chance to shine once more, and I hope that the predictions that Pards has unearthed a little gem are true.We can all be very pessimistic about Charlton‘s chances tomorrow, and predict big thrashings, but I do truthfully hope that we see a revitalised Addicks team tomorrow; one that tries to win, and win well. It will be tough, of course, but if they play as a team; if they shoot when given the opportunity; if they play with heart and passion; if they take their chances, then actually, we could cause an upset. And believe me, if we win tomorrow it will be an upset!
Come on you reds!
Labels: Charlton, FA Cup, WBA, Yassin Moutaouakil
Monday, August 13, 2007
Cup of Glory?
After missing Saturdays home league opener, the season starts properly for this blog-espondent with Tuesday's league cup encounter away at Swindon.After the home draw with Scunthorpe, Charlton will be looking to get their first win of the new season against the Division One newcomers at the County Ground.
Alan Pardew has plenty of players available to chose from, but the main issue is whether to give those who played on Saturday another run out - in the hope that they might gel quicker - or give a game to more of his squad - who might otherwise not play for a few weeks. The likelihood is that we will see a sort of combination of both options.
In goal, the choice is clear beteen Nicky Weaver - now confirmed as the season's number one - or Darren Randolph. Previous years competitions have seen the reserve goalie given a workout, and I would not be surprised if this was the case once more.
In midfield, the formation seemed right on Saturday by all accounts, but the players may be changed for this game. Dean Sinclair may get a start, as he is more accustomed to playing lower league teams, in place of Jose Semedo, while Darren Ambrose and Andy Reid should play too. Lloyd Sam may also get another start on the right, especially if Jerome Thomas is not to be risked after injury.
Up front, I expect all the fit choices to get some sort of run out, but Marcus Bent may not start the game. Chris Iwelumo could start with Izale McLeod, with Saturdays starters Bent and Todorov on the bench.
This is the team I think Pards may pick (but don't be surprised if I am totally wrong!) -
Darren Randolph
Yassin Moutaouakil
Paddy McCarthy
Madjid Bougherra
Chris Powell
Dean Sinclair
Darren Ambrose
Lloyd Sam
Andy Reid
Chris Iwelumo
Izale McLeod
Subs: Nicky Weaver, Jon Fortune, Amdy Faye, Marcus Bent, Svetoslav Todorov.
Other options are few and far between unless new signings Zheng Zhi and Therry Racon are given a chance to play.
Swindon will obviously be looking for a major scalp, and will prove tough opposition if taken lightly. Promoted last year, they will be organised and hard to break down, and no doubt cheered on by a vociferous home crowd. They could be as tough to score against as Scunthorpe proved on Saturday, but hopefully if the same number of chances are created, enough will be taken to confirm a match in the second round.
My one to watch in this game is right back, Yassin Moutaouakil. His name may be really tough to spit out, but his play seems to be as smooth as silk, both in attack and defence. Provided he settles during this early part of the season and is not bogged down when the pitches become heavier, I expect him to be a major factor in a successful Charlton season.
Pedro45's score forecast is an arrogant 3-0 victory. I know that it is dangerous to predict relatively easy Charlton wins, especially against lower league opposition in this cup competition, but I have a feeling that we will win fairly comfortably. The fact that we got to the quarter finals last year will count for nothing tomorrow. The players seem up for it though, and the manager is certainly saying the right things - all we need now is a kick-start and the campaign should start to look like a good one. If we do mess up, an away game at Stoke on Saturday will suddenly look like a very tough match, and the nerves of a poor start to the season will start to jangle. I just don't think that this team will worry about that though, and they will be looking to kill the game very early and hopefully cement a place in the side for themselves on Saturday when they will be TV showcased (and no doubt ZiZi will be in the starting line up!).
Up the Addicks!
Labels: Charlton, China Captain, Yassin Moutaouakil
