16th place Charlton take on the mighty Northampton Town who currently sit 6 places above us with a game in hand. The visitors have taken 10 points from their last 5 matches compared to our total of……………..1. Town arrive fresh at The Valley having seen their game called off on Saturday, as opposed to us who are knackered and down-hearted after a fifth defeat in the last 6 games. Still at least we have continuity now in our management set-up and some new players in during the first part of the window. Hoping Appleton gives both new defenders a start tomorrow which should see us more solid at the back with Freddie and Alfie knocking them in up front. Hopefully we’ll see CBT back after his minor injury.
Irony overload The Cobblers will need to have a very bad day for us to get anything other than a spanking Would be nice if one of the new lads scores a goal - before they all get thoroughly demoralised.
A fair few fans are so desperate to see the back of Apples that they would be happy to see us lose if this was achieved. These are the fans who follow home and away and they have every right to feel this way. I don't know any other manager who stands with his hands in his pockets not reacting to events on the pitch and I don't like it. He has made no effort to connect to the fans, ok fair enough if he produces a winning team, which is his job, but there's no sign of it happening.
And this is where a problem lies with teams in poor form. New players coming in does not mean they will fit in immediately, it's easier to slide into a team doing well.
I wonder if Appleton really appreciated how sour things are with the fans at Charlton. Doubt if he did. And even if he was aware of the disillusionment and mistrust, he probably though he could deal with it (or ignore it). All that isn't his fault, but he should have been aware he wouldn't get much of a honeymoon period. And if he does nothing to encourage or inspire fans that go to games, that only makes matters worse. If things go wrong tonight the atmosphere will surely go toxic.
That’s 20/1 at Bet365. Not a bad shout. I’m in at 3’s for any away win Edit - got a boost so now 4.35/1 for an away win
Gonna go for a 2-1 home win, although before we even get to the team sheet, our confidence is probably rock bottom. I hope we can bring in some of the new defenders we have signed as our defence really needs an overhaul. Northampton are an okay league 1 side so this isn't a game out of our reach, but we need to find a formation that works. And to back up @The Penguin, while Appleton can keep his hands in his pockets as long as he likes, he can also use his mouth if we are being overrun, and make changes when they are needed, not when the stopwatch says it's time. This could well be a long hard night if we go behind.
I'm going to put £10 each home game for an away win. That'll go a long way to pay for my next flight back home
At last. A starting lineup that actually inspires some confidence that we might win…. This is probably the first time that the team can be described as Appleton’s team. Could this be the start of an upturn for the club and MA ? Or is it 200% too late ?
2 defensive midfielders in front of a back 5. If that doesn't get us a clean sheet I don't know what will.
