Wigan Athletic v Charlton Athletic Saturday 1st February 2014 3pm Kick-Off Referee: Michael Bull I’ve almost always seen a Football season like a horseshoe… the first part of the season (August through to November) sees you going up one side, Christmas and January are seen as the curve and then the final part of the season (February to May) is the race down the other side of the shoe. As we enter February we’re definitely on the homeward stretch and most certainly we’re into the business end of the season where three points will become more and more vital as the week’s progress, not just because the matches will begin to run dry yet also following defeat at Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday, Charlton found themselves back in the relegation zone two points adrift of Millwall (could the fixture at the Den in March be an more important time to have a rare win over our local rivals) yet with a game in hand. So on to this Saturdays fixture and after our two recent victories in the FA Cup it seems apt that we face the current FA Cup Champions as we travel North once more (albeit it to Lancashire rather than Yorkshire) where we face Wigan Athletic. 27.10.2013 – Charlton 0-0 Wigan Athletic The original fixture played out at the end of October was a typical Charlton performance this season, dogged in Defence and tough to breakdown stopped Wigan finding a way through yet Charlton’s inability to score goals once more shone through as the Football-For-A-Fiver Fixture this season saw a drab 0-0 fixture played out. Wigan Since Then… After being relegated from the Premier League, Wigan turned to Owen Coyle to see if he could guide them back to the Premier League at the first time of asking yet come December it was clear Coyle wasn’t the man (although a long season that included Europa League fixtures wouldn’t have helped) and was replaced by highly-rated Brentford Manager… Uwe Rosler. Since then Wigan have improved massively with only two defeats coming on the road against Doncaster and Millwall, six of those matches have been victories (including two FA Cup wins against Milton Keynes Dons and Crystal Palace) and Wigan find themselves comfortably in mid-table… Should Rosler manage to keep Wigan unbeaten at home (a hard task this weekend) then you can’t rule them out for a Play-Off position. Head to Head Meetings As I said in the Doncaster Thread most meetings between Charlton and their opponents see them lagging behind in the wins ratio… On this occasion the amount of victories are shared with two apiece Funnily Charlton have never won in Wigan, whilst Wigan have never won at Charlton… Only the one match (the 0-0 in October) has ended all square. Charlton Team News To be honest I decided to hold off on the Match Thread until after the Press Day this morning yet I’ve been left none the wiser… We all know Chris Solly has suffered a slight setback so wont feature whilst Full-Backs Lawrie Wilson completes his one match ban following his sending off against Doncaster on Tuesday night On the Striker front Yann Kermorgant could be heading to the South Coast and AFC Bournemouth yet is currently back training at the Valley and a deal remains to be seen… With the transfer window set to close tomorrow you can expect some activity with Iranian Striker Reza Ghoochannejhad having already signed this afternoon whilst Chris Powell has confirmed the club are also looking at Polish Striker Piotr Pazryszek (from Holland) who according to reports is having a medical tomorrow, French Striker Cedric Bakambu from FC Sochaux, whilst youngster Joe Pigott is set to move to Gillingham on loan Again the Midfield is quite confusing as well at the moment… Dale Stephens’ move to Brighton is also reported as a done deal so be surprised to see him line-up for the Addicks on the Weekend, new signing Loic Nego should be expected to replace Wilson at right-back whilst fellow Midfielders Bradley Pritchard, Jordan Cook and Mark Gower all look set to leave the Valley on loan deals Utter Guess at Team to face Wigan Athletic Thuram Nego – Morrison – Wood – Wiggins Green – Cousins – Jackson – Ghoochannejhad Church – Parzyszek Substitutes Bench Phillips – Lennon – Dervite – Hughes – Ajdarevic – Harriott - Sordell The Referee Looks like we’ve a new Referee this Weekend in Michael Bull who is in his first spell in the Football League this season following a number of years in the Conference, this Saturday will certainly be his first at Championship level Travelling From: Essex Matches This Season: 14 (5 in League One) Yellow / Red Cards: 44 / 1 Penalties: 2 A4L’s Prediction: 2-1 (Sordell, Jackson)
Just want to add the one note... I've not included Kermorgant in the line-up or on the bench, not because I think he'll go but equally because I'm not sure if he'll stay (Same with Stephens who looks like he's off) Should the Transfer Window close tomorrow with either (or both) still as Charlton players I'll be amending the Thread accordingly.
i think you would have more chance in winning the lottery than picking our team from the players we have / have signed / have loaned / have sold
Isnt Wiggins back from his ban? Or did he get a four game suspension? He has already missed Oxford, Huddersfield and Doncaster
God yeah completely forgot its been three matches now since Middlesbrough... Have amended the Thread (I'm a bit more optimistic now)
Why was it only a one game ban for a straight red? Does dangerous play get three matches and a professional foul only one? If so, that seems a fair arrangement. A sending-off and penalty conceded plus one-match ban is plenty for a "technical" foul (by which I mean one unlikely to injure an opponent).
Yeah wasnt sure myself (originally thought three too) but work next to an ex-Referee... Professional Fouls are one match / violent conduct etc... 3 matches
Cracking research A4L, would never have known that about the ref. Good luck to him. I can't see us winning this I'm afraid. 3-0 to Wigan.
So hard to call this without knowing who's there, which could define what kind of mentality they turn up with. I agree with you that this should be the back 5 Saturday, but can someone explain what Wood's done wrong that meant he was left out on Tuesday?
We need to put that we're Manchester United on the Clearance form (if there is one) else it will probably take a week being us lol! Team sheet updated though...
Why rush him or Ghoochannejhad into the team? Better to play Church with Kermit. Err, sorry, I meant Church with Smith. Umm, Church with Pigott? No? Church with Azeez? Church with Sho-Silva? What's that you say? Only Sordell left? I agree with Addick4Life. Put "Manchester United" on the form! (Or play 4-5-1).
I like "Morrison, Wood, Wiggins, Cousins" in your team. It's the other seven names which give me the goose-bumps. When was the last time Wigan scored eight in a league match?
I do like the thought of Reza on the wing as we've got his attacking / goal scoring threat along with Piotrs and Church's effort Hate to say it but its only Nego in that team that slightly worries me... and thats because of the level he's been playing at recently (no offence to the Hungarian Premier League) - Would be a little surprised to see Cousins at Right-Back unless the below could be the team (which I'm more confident of seeing to be honest)... Thuram Cousins - Morrison - Wood - Wiggins Green - Ajdarevic - Jackson - Reza Church - Parzyszek
That middle four would give Wigan the freedom of the park. Three cannot or won't tackle and Jackson is static these days. If Nego doesn't look up to it in training then maybe Morrison at right-back. He has played there before. With Devite or Lennon at CB. Would not move Cousins. He has been one of our few successes. Maybe time to play Poyet in the middle alongside him? Reza and Parzyszek to share a spot up front. I cannot imagine either lasting 90 minutes. It all looks a bit desperate. I fear the worst.
If he does I can tell you he won't let us down, but I can't see it, unless Sir Chris has suddenly seen something in his game that he didn't see before.
I believe they call it a "Hail Mary" in American Football. Thuram Four out of : [Nego] - Morrison - Wood - [Lennon] - Wiggins Cousins - Poyet - Jackson Adjarevic Church - Parzyszek/Ghoochannejhad The best I can come up, with but to quote a very great manager "Do I not like that!" 7 - 0
Afternoon all Charlton: Thuram, Nego, Wiggins, Morrison, Wood; Poyet, Cousins, Jackson (c), Ajdarevic; Sordell, Ghoochannejhad Subs: Phillips, Hughes, Dervite, Green, Church, Pritchard, Lennon So Poyet makes his full debut, as do Nego and Reza. No sign of Peter Pan just yet.
