Tuesday 3rd December 2013 8pm Kick-Off Referee: Darren Sheldrake The games come thick and fast now weâve entered December and before the Addicks can head to the West Country for the important match against Yeovil Town they first have to take the short trip down the M4 where theyâll face the last of the relegated clubs from the Premier League⦠Reading. Just like Ipswich on Saturday, Reading have strong links with Charlton with various players making appearances for both sides including ex-Addicks: Keith Jones, Steve Brown and current players Ben Hamer (who will miss the game through injury) and Simon Church. Although itâs not just playing front where there are links between these two sides as shown by Alan Pardew who has both been manager and player for the two clubs and Phil Parkinson once our Manager and once voted by Reading fans as one of their best ever Midfielders. The Opposition After promotion from the Championship two years ago under Brian McDermott, Reading struggled in the Premier League and suffered relegation in their first season back, that season also proved to be a bridge too far for McDermott who was sacked towards the end of the year and was replaced by Nigel Atkins, a man no stranger to getting clubs out of the Championship after guiding Southampton to promotion the very same year as Reading yet to suffer the same fate as McDermott in being sacked albeit earlier in the season. Since their return to the Championship Reading have had a strong start to the season with only three defeats (including a surprise 5-2 loss to Sheffield Wednesday) which leaves them in the final Play-Off spot, they would be higher yet their failure to see games through means theyâve drawn just as many matches as theyâve won. Key Men Since their relegation from the Premier League, Reading have been lucky in the fact they managed to keep the core of their squad together with Jimmy Kebe being the only major player out the door as he moved to South London rivals⦠Crystal Palace So in goal should be English youngster Alex McCarthy (legendary for Yeovil against Charlton a few seasons ago) whilst in Defence, Reading can rely on experience in likes of Wayne Bridge and Stephen Kelly⦠Surprise signing in the summer had to be Midfielder Roysten Drenthe (ex-Real Madrid) and the Charlton full-backs will certainly have to watch themselves against the experienced Reading Captain⦠Jobi McAnuff whilst the goals (Hopefully there wonât be from Reading) should be most expected from Adam Le Fondre a Lower League goal scoring machine who has six goals to his name so far this term. Previous Meetings 23.08.2011 â Charlton Athletic 2-1 Reading (Benson, Euell; S.Morrison) 10.03.2009 â Reading 2-2 Charlton Athletic (Long; Bailey, Hudson) 23.08.2008 â Charlton Athletic 4-2 Reading (Holland, Gray, Varney, Bouazza; Sonko, Hunt) 09.04.2007 â Charlton Athletic 0-0 Reading Charlton Team News Following on from the match against Ipswich Town it appears that Chris Powell has no new injury worries to contend with, Bradley Pritchard, Callum Harriott and Mark Gower all trained before Saturdays match which says none of them are injured so will be interesting to see if any of them return to the Bench⦠Ben Hamer remains out injured so Ben Alnwick will naturally replace him in Goal whilst it would be a surprise should Powell opt for a Strike force up front other than Yann Kermorgant and Simon Church, should either be dropped itâll be interesting to see if Marvin Sordell plays (whoâll be ineligible in a few weeks against Bolton anyway) or youngster Joe Pigott who wasnât involved in Mondays clash against Ipswich Town U21s Likely Team to Face Reading Alnwick Wilson â Morrison â Wood â Wiggins Stewart â Cousins â Stephens â Jackson Kermorgant â Church Substitutes Bench Pope â Evina â Dervite â Hughes â Pritchard â Sordell - Pigott The Referee Travelling From: Surrey Matches This Season: 8 (1 in the Championship) Yellow / Red Cards: 20 / 1 Penalties Awarded: 2 (Both @ Stevenage v Oldham) Last Charlton Match: 08.12.2012 (Charlton 2-2 Brighton) A4Lâs Prediction: 1-1 (Church)
Brilliant job again, A4L! First thing, I'm definitely going for Church to score. Just have that feeling, I remember him talking about not being given a fair crack of the whip at Reading so think he will have a point to prove. They play with 1 upfront usually say most pre match previews, so they must rely on the midfield to get forward in support, so this will be a massive game for Cousins. I hope Wood comes back in to the line up too. 2-1 to Reading is my prediction, though wouldn't be surprised to get something as we usually do better against the better teams.
Nice one, A4L. After being mugged by Mick McCarthy on Saturday it's time for Chris Powell to show his Mettle, one way or another. I'd like to see Sergeant-major Andy Hughes brought in for a start, to give the lads a bawling-out when they need it. It would be unfair to drop Cousins, so he can go on the right in a diamond, Stephens on the left, no wingers. Jackson at the tip, with Harriott to replace him after an hour or so. So... Alnwick; Wilson,Morro,Wood,Evina; Hughes Cousins,Stephens; Jackson; Church, Pigott. No chance of this team, I know Kermit &co are always going to play, but playing manager, it's my team!
Posting on the train to Reading. I must be mad. Wasn't going to bother tonight, but the Mug in me forced me into it. I am predicting a score line which will include the word "nil" after the word " Charlton". Call it a wild hunch I will try and post some comments from the Madjeski.
Nice one A4L. I'll go for a hopefull 1-1 draw though after saturday I can't for the life of me imagine where our share of the goals would come from! One small point. Why do you think Sordell can't play against Bolton? I'd have thought they'd have put it in the contract that he is oblidged to play the full ninety minutes.
Good luck with your blood pressure, V-a-V. How would you like to see CP assert himself again after Saturday?
lol! Good point... I dont know if its part of the law in regards to Loan agreements but I know Premiership players cant play against their parent clubs (i.e. Carson couldnt play against Liverpool for us / Lukaku couldnt play against Chelsea) so presume its the same in the Football League as well. The only case I've ever know where thats not happened was the Celtic Champions League game against AIK earlier this season and there were a little bit of an uproar that day. P.S. Have a good journey V-a-V
Hope he starts with Harriott wide and two up front. If he parks the bus we will lose. Seen a few Addicks at Paddington
That's a cracker, Ken! 5-0 to the Addicks. Morro, Dervite, Wilson, Sordell and Alnwick with the goals.
Hopefully Powell will play a team like this : Alnwick Wilson Morrison Wood Wiggins Harriott Cousins Stephens Jackson Kermorgant Church
Wow... Ponders (I think) has got his wish with Evina starting at Left-Mid it seems Team News: Alnwick Wilson - Morrison - Dervite - Wiggins Stewart - Cousins - Stephens - Evina Kermorgant - Church Bench: Pope - Wood - Hughes - Jackson - Pritchard - Green - Sordell So does this kinda mean that Jackson cant be expected to play three games in a week at the moment or is it Powell going Defensive with Evina as additional cover at the back if needed?
Posting from the terraces of Madjeski. What a souless ground this is !! Word is that Jacko dropped. Please God not for Pritchard, I can see him out there warming up FFS
Evening all Charlton: Alnwick; Wilson, Wiggins, Morrison (c), Dervite; Stewart, Cousins, Stephens, Evina; Church, Kermorgant Subs: Pope, Hughes, Jackson, Green, Sordell, Pritchard, Wood Reading: McCarthy; Kelly, Cummings, Gorkss, Pearce, Guthrie, Williams, McCleary, McAnuff (c), Pogrebnyak, Sharp Subs: Federici, Akpan, Obita, Drenthe, Robson-Kanu, Blackman, Le Fondre So Jacko is dropped, and Evina comes in for him. Not Pritchard. So Vol won't explode just yet COYA!
Didn't realise they had Sharp, what little confidence I did have has been diminished even further now
