Charlton Athletic v Birmingham City Saturday 8th February 2014 3pm Kick-Off Referee: James Adcock The date: 1st January always symbolises the end of many things⦠for example it marks the end of the festive period in English Football as New Yearâs Day witnesses the last of what can be up to three or four matches played within just a week period, whilst at the same time January also marks the beginnings of many new things such as resolutions that start and end within a couple of days (well mine do anyway), it also marks the return to normality of League Football involving fans travelling up and down the country battling adverse weather conditions as they watch their heroes play, although most of those fans are lucky as with Away Days they also get something called a Home Match as well⦠Am sure if I was to picture many readers faces right now some would be looking at me blankly, some would be shrugging their shoulders (yet am sure Captain will still be proof-reading⦠Sorry couldnât resist) as the words âHome Matchâ havenât appeared in an active Match Thread for some time now⦠Because of the adverse weather conditions (and cup commitments) Charlton have yet to play a League match at home since the 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday way back on the 29th December, since this date matches have been scheduled yet a late pitch inspection resulted in the Barnsley game being postponed late in the day and the tie against AFC Bournemouth was cancelled due to both teams still being in the FA Cup so to this date Charlton have only played one match at the Valley in 2014⦠against Oxford United in the FA Cup (which also had to be re-arranged on two occasions) So my fellow Charlton fans⦠Itâs time to dust off the cobwebs from the Charlton shirts, get out your scarfs, get out your bobble hats⦠and make those prawn sandwiches with Bovril (note I did write this before seeing the created Thread for it) because this Saturday we find ourselves at home once more (well I suppose there is a chance the game will be called off again) as we play hosts to fellow strugglers Birmingham City. 02.11.2014 â Birmingham City 0-1 Charlton Athletic A great performance against a poor Birmingham City side saw Charlton win their second away match of the season with a Dale Stephens goal early in the second half, Charlton were fully deserved of their win and it was only the gallant efforts of ex-Addicks Goalkeeper Darren Randolph that stopped Charlton from adding to their one goal advantage. Birmingham Since Then Usually when I write this piece Iâm used to saying that the opposition have since parted with their Manager yet Lee Clark has remained at the Birmingham helm⦠Charlton fans should also be wary as although Birmingham have a poor Home record they do know how to win on the road with five victories on their travels this season⦠In fact their last match against Brighton (a 1-0 defeat on the 11th) was their first loss away from home since October so the Addicks are definitely going to have to be on their best to win on Saturday in which will be a vital three points for either side. Charlton Team News Once again itâs going to be interesting to see which side plays this Weekend although Chris Powell has confirmed that Ben Hamer is still unavailable (Until Sheffield Wednesday at the earliest) so Yohann Thuram should continue in Goal⦠Lawrie Wilson will return to the side after his one match ban following a red card against Doncaster Rovers whilst it remains to be seen whether Rhoys Wiggins is fit after pulling up with a hamstring strain last time out against Wigan⦠Youngsters Diego Poyet and Harry Lennon were two of the stand out performers from that match so could retain their places whilst new Polish Striker⦠Piotr Parzyszek may be available should International Clearance have arrived for this match.   Possible Side to face Birmingham City (Diamond 4-4-2) Thuram Wilson â Morrison â Wood â Lennon Poyet Cousins â Jackson Ajdarevic Sordell â Ghoochannejhad Substitutes Bench Phillips â Nego â Dervite â Pritchard â Green â Church â Parzyszek The Referee â James Adcock Following promotion to the list of Football League Refereeâs in 2011/2012; Mr Adcockâs matches this season have been in the Championship with a handful of FA Cup and League One / Two ties⦠His visit to the Valley will be his first time on the hallowed mud having never taken charge of a Charlton tie Home or Away⦠Whilst he is a man who is certainly not afraid of dishing out a Yellow Card having handed out 5 or more Yellow cards in a match on over five occasions this season. Travelling From: Nottinghamshire Matches This Season: 16 (8 in the Championship) Yellow / Red Cards: 57 / 3 Penalties: 3 Last Charlton Match: N/A
Interesting game. I was just reading how lee Clark fielded 6 players under 22 against Derby - gaining a very credible draw in the process. Within A4L's predicted line up, we will have 3 players under 20 in our starting line up, so you get an idea what restrictions both managers have been on (though B'ham do still have a few players from the Premiership days, most noteably Zigic). I think we will have to wait to see our new Polish striker in action, as agree it will probably be Sordell and ''Gucci'' retaining both striker positions. The midfield becomes a bit of a problem. Do we go with a flat 4 - bringing Wilson back in to the fold there with Nego at RB (who seemed to have a steady game against Wigan)? Do we push JJ or Ajdarevic wide left, where both don't have the pace to really cause their full back problems? This is where I knew we'd miss Stewart. Thuram Nego - Morro - Wood - Fox (on the advice of those who've seen him) Wilson - Cousins - Poyet - JJ Sordell - Gucci It's a big ask to play two youngsters together in the middle and because of that I don't see CP going that way. It's just the team I'd prefer. I don't envy him having to select a team from our current band of misfits. 1-1 (Sordell)
I've got a feeling Powell wont want to risk having two inexperienced full-backs again so reckon it'll either be Wilson / Lennon or Nego / Evina... Would be really surprised to see Fox make an appearance yet do like the look of that Central Midfield you've picked Chrissy. I'd like to see the Polish kid given a game alongside Gucci yet think he'll be introduced into English Football with some 15-20min cameos Sordell didnt really do much wrong against Wigan so cant really be dropped Prediction: 1-0 (Sordell)
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5e9nnAKyz3w&app=m Video has been put on YouTube of Reza and Piotr training together... Not gonna change my Thread Line-Up but wouldnt be surprised if they start (P.S. Love the smile on Powell's face... Hope its not just for the cameras)
Supoib, A4L We simply have to win this. I imagine Sordell and Reza will start up front again, with Peter Pan as an impact sub if necessary. I hope Wiggins is back, as our attacking threat down the left is much reduced when he's not there (no disrespect at all to Lennon, who it seems has acquitted himself well so far). Poyet and Cousins in the midfield for me, too, though if both play deep who's going to get forward to support the strikers? This won't be a pretty game. 1-0 to Charlton, Morrison heading in from a corner.
I go with this line up and as we know Fox has played a run of 7 league games over Christmas period for League 1 Notts County a team also fighting in relegation zone so he probably has more experience knows what to expect, I still want to see Lennon in squad and deservedly so, but getting games on a rotational basis in his natural position as CB and moving forwards lets see us use our strengths of players in their correct positions. Across the back we have squad options immediately available LB Fox Evina CBs Morro Wood Lennon Dervite RBs Wilson Nego.
sorry to double up but posted before finishing…Re Nego, obviously haven't seen him play but reading his profile he is 23 yrs old and has been with Nantes and Roma so would expect him to be half decent. re midfield Cousins and Diego for me with a bit of pace up the sides and why not put it right out there and try Piotr and Gucci up front could be very exciting
Wonderful thread again, A4L. Assuming for the sake of argument that the game's on: Dying to see the new players, still annoyed about Alnwick, hoping that the shake-up has got rid of the losing mentality which was settling over the team. My holiday in Cornwall has been washed away so I'll be there. No prediction, just fingers crossed.
Cornwall...hope you weren't going to 'let train take the strain' FHB…it would have been a complete washout keep the dome up, game on Charlton, CP bites the bullet and goes on thew attack for the full 90 mins and Charlton new look line up repays The Gaffer with a positive result COYR
Cheers FHB... Sorry to hear about your ruined holiday to Cornwall Saw this article on the News Shopper earlier in regards to Yohann Thuram / Ben Alnwick http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/sport/10992290.Powell_denies_he_has_to_play_Standard_Liege_loan_keeper/
Not very reassuring. Very clear he has no say in what is going on and was shocked to lose both Kermit and Alnwick on top of Stephens.
His position has been not-so-subtly downgraded. One result of this will be plenty of support from the fans on Saturday; let's hope it works in our favour.
Looking at that line up makes you realise that we have just undergone drastic surgery..with a very rusty scalpel. Impossible what to predict from tomorrow. Iranian strikers have an indifferent track record on muddy Championship pitches. If the French keeper is as bad as everyone who has seen him says he is, the legendary Charlton boo boys (copywrite a2c) could be clearing their throats tomorrow. Is this the long awaited return of our strike partners Bile N' Vitriol
Thought they played for the Daily Malice Volly! Like you, I think it's impossible to call this onewith so many imponderables, but I would dearly like to see us go out with the intention of playing neat attacking football, not score a goal early and spend the second half on car-crash defence on the edge of our own box. As the Italians say, Better to live one day as a Lion than a lifetime as a sheep. (And thats not a reference to the neighbours)
Chris is now obviously 'First Team Coach' and we should await a Director of Football..... I guess the Witch is doing the job on a temp basis?
I was pleasantly surprised this morning to open a hand-written letter from Chris Powell. It was in response to the Christmas card I sent him, and he goes on to write some very kind sentiments, including how he still remembers meeting my family and me at the Barnet friendly. A great gesture, methinks.
