View attachment 27572 v Saturday 9th November 2013 3pm Kick Off Referee: Keith Stroud Over recent weeks Charlton seem to have started their season at long last and after the end of year last season it makes you wonder if our 10 game poor run has been moved to the beginning of the season now. Back to the present day though and this Saturday we welcome Leeds United to the Valley where we face a team who have failed to win on the road since the 14th September with a 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers, although they face a Charlton side who have struggled in front of goal at home this season only scoring three goals in the process. The Opposition Champions League semi-finals, England Internationals, £30m centre-backs... Those days seem a long time ago now for one of England's historic clubs although Brian McDermott brought in as Manager at the end of last season is trying to return Leeds to their glory days as they sit just outside the play-offs, McDermott is certainly no stranger to grinding out results after leading Reading from no where two years ago to the League Title and will be hoping to do the same with his current club. Key Men Leeds have always been a tough opposition to play against and that is shown with the strength of their playing squad, whilst not necessarily the biggest they can rely on Jamaican / Leeds Captain... Rudolph Austin as a rock in their Midfield and the likes of Jordan Cousins and Bradley Pritchard will need to keep him quiet, they'll certainly need to find a way to stop the ball getting through to Ross McCormack who is the Leeds top-scorer with eight goals Previous Meetings 06.04.2013 - Charlton Athletic 2-1 Leeds United (Jackson, Obika; Varney) 23.10.2012 - Leeds United 1-1 Charlton Athletic (Norris; Dervite) 01.05.2010 - Charlton Athletic 1-0 Leeds United (Naylor (OG)) 03.10.2009 - Leeds United 0-0 Charlton Athletic Charlton Team News Once against Chris Powell will be sweating on the fitness of Yann Kermorgant although with the International break once again after the Weekend's match, CP must be tempted to rest the Frenchman... Indeed after a strong performance against Birmingham City last time out could anyone see any changes in the starting eleven!! Likely Team to Face Wigan Athletic Hamer Wilson - Morrison - Dervite - Wiggins Pritchard - Cousins - Stephens - Stewart Jackson Church Substitutes Bench Alnwick - Evina - Lennon - Green - Gower - Harriott - Sordell A4L's Prediction: 1-0 (Jackson)
I can see a pattern developing here, FHB... Nice one, A4L - thanks for posting. I agree, Yann needs to be rested properly for this one. Also agree that Austin is the one to watch - keep him quiet and we've got a great chance of a good result here. OK, 2-0 to us (JJ and Church).
Cheers A4L - great job again!! Agree with you and tewkes about Austin - he's the kind of midfielder I love. All action and can strike a ball. Those midfielders are hard to find and make a difference to any teams that sign them. I have recently felt quietly confident against Leeds at home. Their recent away form is poor, and that will eventually have to give, but not today. We have to make sure we go in front, and if that's the case then I see us winning 2-1. If not, 0-0. Goals from morro and Stewart.
Nice one A4L. Are you Belv in disguise? I'll go for my usual 1-1 draw here, and another saturday chewing nails in front of the PC.
I can't decide whether it will be a high scoring goal fest, or 0-0. I will buck the trend and go for 0-0
Kermit limps off after an hour, Sordell replaces him and at 0-0 things look bleak, but Marvellous Marvin has other ideas.Just outside his own box, he slides into a crunching tackle and emerges with the ball. With no options available he sets off upfield, beats one man, beats two, and suddenly he is just outside the Leeds box. Although the victim of a scything tackle, he bravely stays on his feet, dances round another defender, chips it over the goalie, and deftly nods the ball int the empty net. 10 minutes later he races into the Leeds box and out-muscles the Leeds centre-backs to send a Wiggins cross into the net with a bullet-header. With the referee looking at his watch Marvin of the Rovers spots the Leeds goalie fractionally off his line, and from inside his own half he lobs the ball just over the goalie's despairing dive, and it kisses the underside of the crossbar on its way in, to complete the greatest hat-trick in the history of football. Just thought I'd explain!
Ermmm maybe you shouldnt go today FHB... You dont seem to be feeling too well I think having those sort of thoughts make you a danger to the public as well as to yourself lol! Either that or can I have some of what your having? ;-)
Game on. The pitch passes the inspection. I was beginning to think we had some sort of vendetta against Yorkshire...
Charlton: Hamer; Wilson, Wiggins, Morrison, Dervite; Harriott, Stephens, Jackson, Cousins, Stewart; Church Subs: Alnwick, Hughes, Evina, Lennon, Pritchard, Sordell, Kermorgant So Harriott's back, and Pritchard makes way. Assume that means Stewart on the right. Good to see Kermorgant back on the bench.
