Charlton Athletic v Queens Park Rangers Saturday 22nd February 2014 3pm Kick-Off Referee: Eddie Ilderton So after yet another Saturday off due to the turbulent weather weâve been suffering in England this season, Charlton return to league action this Saturday with the visit of high flying Queens Park Rangers. Relegated from the Premier League last season even their big spending that year couldnât save them from the drop zone and after two years in the top Division, Queens Park Rangers found themselves back in the Championship⦠Many have voiced this side as favourites for the League title yet theyâve struggled for form of late (especially after recent injury to top scorer Charlie Austin) meaning theyâre now twelve points behind league leaders Leicester City. 23.11.2013 â QPR 1-0 Charlton In the original fixture Charlton certainly held their own against a side that had yet to lose or barely conceded at home in the League this season⦠Unfortunately the Addicks could quite hold out until half-time (despite some great stops from Ben Hamer) and usual Charlton nemesis; Charlie Austin scored a screamer of a finish from over 30-yards to settle the tie Queens Park Rangers since then⦠Since their victory over the Addicks in November, QPR have remained in promotion contention despite defeats to rivals Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, Derby County and Reading along with a surprise defeat (meaning the Hoops are there for the taking) at Doncaster Rovers Harry Redknappâs side have certainly wobbled of late (not winning once in February) which must give Chris Powell and his side a slight bit of hope⦠their three top scorers; Charlie Austinâ¦15-goals and Matt Phillipsâ¦3-goals are both out injured whilst Joey Bartonâ¦2-goals is unsurprisingly suspended for the trip across London. Although missing those key players⦠Queens Park Rangers still have huge resources to rely on (putting the Financial Fair Play rules to doubt) as theyâre able to field the likes of Richard Dunne, Aaron Hughes, Niko Kranjcar and Kevin Doyle who all have Premier League experience⦠whilst recent loan signing Ravel Morrison is one of Englandâs most highly rated prospects and prior to injury in December was tipped to go to the World Cup as part of the England squad. Head to Head Meetings A London Derby that has been a tight affair over the years with Charlton having 16 victories to the 19 victories that Queens Park Rangers hold⦠(18 matches have been drawn) You have to go back to 2000 when Charlton last won this tie when they twice won that season (once in the League (2-1 thanks to goals from Shaun Newton and Scott Parker) and once in the FA Cup (1-0 thanks to a rare Charlton goal from Charlie MacDonald)) both victories though coming at the Valley. Charlton Team News In his press conference yesterday Roland Duchatelet confirmed that it is indeed Chris Powell who picks the team each weekend so itâll be interesting to see whether Yohann Thuram remains in Goal or whether Ben Hamer makes a return (after making his comeback against Ipswich Town for the U21s earlier this week)⦠Cedric Evina is 50/50 for the match yet Rhoys Wiggins has been put on standby for the Wales squad so could he be fit to return this Saturday⦠Other than Chris Solly and Leon Cort there are no other real injury concerns.   Possible Line Up against Queens Park Rangers Thuram Wilson â Morrison â Wood â Lennon Cousins â Poyet â Jackson â Ajdarevic Sordell â Ghoochannejhad Substitutes Bench Hamer â Dervite â Nego â Green â Harriott â Church â Parzyszek The Referee â Eddie Ilderton Travelling From: Tyne and Wear Matches This Season: 15 (4 in the Championship) Yellow / Red Cards: 23 / 2 Penalties: 5 Last Charlton Match: N/A A4Lâs Prediction: 2-1 (Ajdarevic, Jackson)
This will be my first game since Brighton (clearly when I'm not there the team doesnt perform) All I hope is that Hamer and Polise Pete start ahead of Thuram and Sodell, I think we should take the game to QPR, I'd rather lose this 4-3 throwing everything at them from the off than lose 2-1 after going 1 up and trying to defend. Nice thread again BTW
No Austin, Phillips and Barton makes this winnable. Watched them against Reading last weekend, didn't think they were all that. Expect Thuram to start unfortunately. Anyone know the rules in regards to financial fair play, will QPR be docked points next season if they don't go up? They've spent so much. Good work a4l
Great Thread A4L, Wiggins being fit will be key for us between now and the end of the season. A better defender than Evina which he will need to be as Adjarevic seems to leave his full back horribly exposed at times, and a far better attacker than either Evina or Lennon (not that I expect anything going forward from Lennon, he is a square peg in a round hole at left back) In midfield, I do not want to see Cousins shifted out to the right hand side to accomodate Jackson who's legs have gone, as much as it breaks my heart to say. Cousins and Poyet may be a young and very inexperienced pairing, but they are probably the best we have in there and the most athletic on what will be a bog of a pitch. I would give the Harriotts a run out and get him interchanging with Adjarevic which would at least give us a pacey threat from out wide. It goes without saying I would rather see Polish Pete, or Martin Pringle on one leg up front than Sordell.
QPR are wobbling a bit, so this may be a good time to play them. Let's hope we can give a similar performance to the one on Boxing Day against Brighton. 1-1 draw. I won't be around to give updates, I'm afraid. I'm off to Hartlepool to buy some exploding trousers.
Great thread again A4L. I want to see a couple of newbies for the first time, Nego and Pete, which means Wilson moving to midfield Jacko dropping to the bench and Pete replacing Sordell. If Sordell really is better than Pete we really are in trouble. I'm sure it would help Nego settle in to have Wilson in front of him, I don't want Cousins playing wide right he's a defensive player.
I sincerely hope not! :NO to Thuram in goal, Wilson at RB, Lennon at LB, Cousins at RM, Jackson and Ajdarevic on th pitch at the same time, and Sordell withion 100 miles of the Valley. Hamer Nego, Morrison, Wood, Wiggins (or Fox) Wilson, Poyet, Cousins Adjarevic (or Hariott) Parsyszek (or Church), Ghoochannejhad
Brilliant job as ever A4L! @CAFCofficial: TEAM NEWS - CHARLTON: Thuram-Ulien; Wilson, Wiggins, Morrison, Dervite; Poyet, Cousins, Jackson, Green; Ghoochannejhad, Church. #CAFCLive
The balance is better, but the team looks weak. No Polish Pete - I thought CP may have been tempted to start him to get a buzz going around the ground. I held off on my predictions/bets till I saw the line up. I think we'll go down 1-3.
I'm here now. My trip to Hartlepool was shorter than I expected. Expect my usual stream of inane updates.
QPR like to go down easily in the box, very soft bunch. For anyone else not at the game today, here is a stream of the game http://peaktv.me/?GSPTV
