Charlton Athletic v Watford Tuesday 29th April 2014 7:45pm Kick-Off Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire) And so after twenty-two league matches held at the Valley this season (or twenty-three if you want to include the Doncaster match) we not only come to the last home match of the season yet also the penultimate game of a long season that has seen a new Board take charge of the club, a cup run that saw us reach the Quarter-Finals of the FA Cup (for only the fourth time in twenty years) and of course a change of manager, yet we can’t forget the biggest cloud of all which has been the ever threat of Relegation although tonight the Addicks can finally push this cloud over the horizon with just the one victory required (out of two games) to ensure Championship Football for next season… Of course as mentioned above its sadly not been that straight forward for Charlton and am sure there will be a few more twists and turns to come. Briefly on to tonight’s opponents though; Watford… A side who have had a disappointing season compared to last (where they lost the Play-Off Final to our local rivals Crystal Palace), following the resignation of Gianfranco Zola, Watford have sat comfortably in mid-table and following defeat to Derby last weekend, only just missed out on the Play-Off positions once more… Of course that couldn’t be better for Charlton seeing they could be facing a side more interested in their summer holidays than trying to go for three meaningless points this evening. In terms of reunions there is just the one player coming up against his former side, that being Marvin Sordell who came through the Watford Youth Academy making just over 70 appearances whilst scoring 27-goals in a four year period. Of course had Chris Powell still be in charge then he’d have come up against a side where he spent just the one season back in 2006/2007 prior to re-joining Charlton as a player for the final time. Season Review – (Part One) Again something different for the Watford and Blackpool Match Previews as I want to do a mini-season review, being split into two parts will be concentrating on the first half of the season (August through to December) today whilst Saturday’s thread will of course cover the second half of the season AUGUST – Following a positive Pre-Season which saw the emergence of Joe Pigott (having scored a hat-trick against Welling United) and Jordan Cousins, the Addicks finished August with just the one victory (coming at home against eventual Champions Leicester City), in the League Cup, Charlton reached the 2nd Round only to be defeated by Huddersfield Town in 3-2 thriller. SEPTEMBER – Probably a theme of the season review… September wasn’t the greatest of months for Charlton, only a draw away at Watford saw the Addicks pick up any points with defeats against Huddersfield, Millwall and Burnley leaving Charlton in 20th place. OCTOBER – I turned 30 and there were improvements on the pitch as the Addicks went undefeated, although there was only the one victory (away at Blackburn), we still climbed briefly to 19th NOVEMBER – In one of the tougher months of the season (facing Leeds, QPR and Ipswich), Charlton still managed to pick up two victories again on the road against Birmingham City (which saw the Addicks climb to a seasons best so far of 17th) and for the second time of the season at home in the re-arranged match against Doncaster Rovers. DECEMBER – A month that saw the Addicks only lose twice out of six matches which saw them only win the once (on Boxing Day against Brighton and Hove Albion), the big news this month wasn’t on the pitch but developments off it… To be continued   Watford the Stats… (Away) Matches: 22 – Wins: 4 – Draws: – 10 – Defeats: - 8 Goals Scored: 34 – Goals Conceded: 36 – Clean Sheets: 3 Biggest Victory: 5-1 (Barnsley… September) Biggest Defeat: 2-4 (Nottingham Forest… January / Derby County... April) Top Goal Scorer: Troy Deeney (22-goals) Second: Lewis McGugan (10-goals) – Third: Fernando Forestieri (7-goals) Charlton Team News Having played the 90-minutes against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday there will obviously be question marks on whether Chris Solly makes an appearance tonight (or whether he is saved for Blackpool on Saturday), should he be rested the Lawrie Wilson is ready to step in at Right-Back… Of course there are always question marks over the Midfield and Strikers yet Marvin Sordell should keep his spot after scoring his fourth goal in two matches on the Weekend. Possible side to face Watford Hamer Wilson – Morrison – Dervite – Fox Cousins – Poyet Ghoochanneijad – Ajdarevic – Jackson Sordell Substitutes Bench Thuram – Wood – Nego – Petrucci – Harriott – Obika – Church A4L’s Prediction: 2-1 (Sordell, Jackson) Over to Captain Blackadder for the Proof Reading and Match Updates
Great work again, A4L. I'm hoping Watford have gone on holiday. If so it's all smiles tonight, if not doom n gloom!
Stupid of me to forget that one... thanks Fruitbat Part of me reckons it should be a 0-0 or a draw as well as my main prediction... We concede too many too and then too many on Saturday then Doncaster only need a draw (and Birmingham only need a win) to over take us so we cant go all out attack tonight and risk damaging our Goal Difference
Good stuff Nervous as hell about tonight. It's very difficult to predict what team Riga will play. 0-0 draw.
My team for tonight: Thuram Nego Cort Wood Evina AA Petrucci Gower Pritchard Cook Church We can't go wrong with this line up.
Solly will start if fit with Wilson at RM. Obika will start. Ghoochanneijad has kicked his last ball for Charlton first team. Prefer not to see Jackson and Ajdarevic on the pitch at the same time. Hamer Solly (or Wilson) â Morrison â Dervite â Fox Wilson (or Ajdarevic) - Cousins â Poyet - Harriott Obika - Sordell
Jackson has to start in my opinion... He's our big game player, the one who can get pumped up and get the rest of the players motivated during the match
I just wouldn't start Astrid. Better to bring him on with half an hour to go as a tactical substitute for whoever the manager thinks right. Otherwise he starts to fade after 30/40 minutes anyway and you've used one of your subs just as surely as if he was injured.
Why will it be the last time Reza kicks a ball for us? He was signed on a 2 1/2 year contract wasn't he?
Evening all Charlton: Hamer; Solly, Fox, Morrison, Dervite; Wilson, Cousins, Poyet, Jackson, Harriott; Sordell. Subs: Thuram-Ulienm Wood, Hughes, Petrucci, Ajdarevic, Pigott, Obika. Watford: Bond; Doyley, Hoban, Belkalem; Faraoni, Battocchio, Tozser, Murray, Riera; Deeney (c), Anya Subs: Woods, Angella, Merkel, Diakite, Pudil, Ranegie, Jakubiak It looks like we've got what we wanted as Wilson comes in and starts in front of Solly on the right. The Asteroid is on the bench. Sordell will be up front on his own in a 4-5-1 formation. COYA!
Free transfer in, free transfer out. Will never be suited to English soccer. The next manager won't want him even if he is another "yes man". Not even on the bench today, replaced by Pigott. Probably will go out on a long loan, and never come back.
Which looks strangely like a team CP would have picked from the players available. Many weeks wasted (and maybe the odd point here and there) with strange formations and loan clowns. At least Riga is not too proud to admit he didn't know better even if RD thought he did.
Good work down the right from Solly and he plays it in for Harriott, whose shot is deflected over the bar.
