Brentford v Charlton Athletic Saturday 9th August 2014 3pm Kick-Off Referee: James Adcock And so here we are again⦠With the new season looming its time for the matches that matter to begin, for the past two months; Managers have had the opportunity to tinker with line-ups, try new tactics and brings in new faces in attempt to either win the Championship title, reach the play-offs, fight for mid-table or even just stave off Relegation - Yet pre-season is over now ladies and gents⦠46 League games, home and away⦠23 teams stand between Charlton Athletic and their destiny⦠It all begins away at newly promoted Brentford. The summer of 2014 has been that of transition for the Addicks this year⦠with a late start to proceedings the first change was to bring in highly rated Belgian Manager: Bob Peeters, since then the likes of Stephen Henderson, Tal Ben-Haim, Andre Bikey, Johann Gudmundsson, Yoni Buyens, Frank Moussa, Igor Vetokele and George Tucudean have all arrived at the Valley... Of course there have been outgoings from the Valley as well most notably Dorian Dervite, Ben Hamer and Diego Poyet all moving to pastures new after turning down Contract offers from the club. Of course this wonât be Charltonâs first opening day match against Promoted or Relegated opposition with matches against Sc**thorpe United, Swansea City and Birmingham City along with AFC Bournemouth last season providing new opposition for the season ahead, even rarer is it for Charlton to play away on the first day of the season with this only being the fourth time since 2005 that it has happened. (Unfortunately for Charlton fans this is also the last time we won away on the opening day⦠a 2-0 victory up at Sunderland), with one draw and two defeats since then. The Opposition â Brentford One of the strongest teams in League One for the past two years, most fans wouldnât begrudge Brentford their place in the Championship at long last, outside of Englandâs 2nd Tier since 1994, Brentford should have been promoted last season after a strong showing which led them to Wembley and the Play-Off Finals (where they lost 1-0 to Yeovil Town)⦠Last season though they werenât to be denied and were in a three way fight for promotion with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leyton Orient all the way to the end before comfortably securing second place (Even after the departure of Manager: Uwe Rosler to Wigan Athletic). Brentford have strengthened this summer with the likes of highly rated Midfielder: Alex Pritchard signing on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, Lower-League Strikers; Scott Hogan (from Rochdale) and Andre Gray (from Luton Town) and speedy winger Moses Odubajo from Leyton Orient â In terms of reunions.. David Button and Alan McCormack could appear against their old club Charlton, whilst now departed Striker Bradley Wright-Phillips also has connections with both clubs after spending time on loan at Brentford in 2013. Last Charlton Victory at Brentford Thankfully the last time the Addicks won at Brentford was the last time the two teams lined up against each other⦠In 2013, the Addicks visited Griffin Park well on their way to the League One title with nothing stopping them on their way⦠a 1-0 win courtesy of a Bradley Wright-Phillips tap in ensured all three points travelled back across to the South East London. Charlton Team News With so many new faces in the Addicks Squad this season its hard to see which team Bob Peeters could pick⦠With Chris Solly forever having injury concerns it remains to be seen whether he appears at Right-Back or whether Lawrie Wilson deputises⦠Goalkeeper: Stephen Henderson should occupy the number one spot this Weekend but will be pushed all season by highly rated youngster Nick Pope⦠In Defence is the other questionable position as it also remains to be seen who will occupy the Centre-Back slot alongside Michael Morrison or whether Tal Ben-Haim and Andre Bikey will take both slots, up front Igor Vetokele should make his League debut with Frank Moussa (Midfield) the only injury worry at present.   Possible Line-Up Against Brentford Henderson Solly â Morrison â Ben-Haim â Wiggins Gudmundsson â Cousins â Jackson â Harriott Tucudean â Vetokele Substitutes Bench Pope â Fox â Bikey â Gomez â Buyens â Church â Pigott A4Lâs Prediction: 1-1 (Vetokele) Over to Captain Blackadder for the Match Updates (If able to do them this season)
Always had a soft spot for Brentford - my dad's company sponsored their shirts for a few years in the late 90's and still have the kits to this day. Definitely won't begrudge them their place in the Championship, the only sour note was when Rosler cried about us spending millions, which was factually incorrect. I saw on SSN the other day that their preparation for the match has been disrupted, with Adam Foreshaw being given a few days off to clear his head after the bee's rejected a move to Wigan (which he wanted to push through). Hogan looked good in the FA cup third round last season, and kept an eye on him for the remainder of the season. However, you would hope our centre backs could contain two players who were plying their trade in League Two and the Conference last season. I put my team up in a separate thread, but it was a 4-3-3 switching with a 4-5-1. Henderson Wilson - Morro - ? - Wiggins Cousins - Buyens - JJ Gudmundson - Vetokele - Harriott I'm not sure who I'd partner with Morro. My head says Gomez, but my heart tells me Bikey. My gut feeling tells me Ben-Haim shouldn't wear the famous red shirt. Ever. I'm going to be optimistic seeming it's the first game of the season, and reckon we will take it 1-2. Bikey and Harriott with the goals. And great start with the match thread, A4L EDIT - they have signed Tommy Smith today from Cardiff, so expect to see him in the squad. Despite his age, he is still a threat at this level. Decent move.
I'm going to say 0-0 draw, it might take them a bit to get used to this level and I'd like to think our defense will keep them quite, but we'll struggle to put any chances away. No idea who the team will line up!
Great thread as ever A4L but I would question whether 'Two Bob' was ever that highly rated either in Belgium or outside? I too can not name the starting line up or even the starting formation 4-4-2, 3-5-2, 4-1-4-1 or 5-3-2???? The score.... I'm not at all looking forward to this one ..... 3-0 to Brentford.
Some noises coming out of the Press Day going on at the moment: BP: We have names in our head to start at Brentford. Callum Harriot trained today but is not 100% so we'll have to see how it goes #cafc So in that case can you see... Henderson Solly - Morrison - Ben-Haim - Fox Buyens - Cousins Gudmundsson - Jackson - Wiggins Vetokele Or more likely Henderson Solly - Morrison - Ben-Haim - Fox Gudmundsson - Cousins - Jackson - Wiggins Tucudean - Vetokele (i.e. with Fox and Wiggins both down that left hand side it'll hopefully nullify the threat from Moses Odebaju)
Not adverse to the Fox/Wiggins partnership. The only negative being that a team who struggles to score goals will have lost a goal threat and replaced it with a defender.
Wiggins does like getting forward though and is probably our best crosser at the club (Until I see how good Gudmundsson is)... Almost a bit like a younger Johnnie Jackson (without the goals)
Here are some of the odds currently up on Betfair for the score predictions given: A4L - 6/1 Haysey - 17/2 AH - 16/1 Super - 12/1
For every £2 you put on, you'd get £17 back. By the odds, AH's is the least favourite, A4L being the most likely in their eyes.
Good work, A4L, and enlivened by some humour, such as: By whom? Brentford 2 Charlton 1 Watch Alan Judge do the damage. We should have signed him instead of some of the eurotrash. He is exactly what we need. He would be like another Wilson on the left, but a better goalscorer. And this from someone who is normally prejudiced against vertically challenged footballers.
3-1 to us with Simon Church making his sole appearance of the season. Morro, Gundmundson and Wilson/Wiggins with the goals Buzzing for this game... COYR
The wiggins fox left wing partnership didnt work against peterborough in the. "more likely" line up from A4L. I do not think we will see this line up again. I would hope that we start with: Henderson solly,ben haim, morrison, wiggins Wilson, cousins, Buyens Harriot Tucudean, Ventekole Bench: Pope gomez for either Ben Haim or Solly Fox for wiggins jackson piggot gudmunssen Bikey if we want to severely injure the opposition by hitting them witha brick wall Probable result. 1.0 Brentford
Yes, in lieu of anyone better, Harriott has done well enough at the end of last season and pre-season to deserve a chance, and with three defensive midfielders we can afford a second "luxury" player besides Tucudean. I would prefer Bikey to Ben Haim though (and Dervite to both of them put together).
Ben haim played well when i saw him at peterborough, read the game well and was in position to defend. He also isnt a hoof merchant and played some excellent cross field passes as well. Playing on the right with Morro on the left did seem unusual but it worked unlike some of the other pairings Peeters tried that night. Bikey looked big and cumbersome and he needs to get fit for this division where he could be exposed. I didnt see him play so cant say that he would be better than BenHaim but it looked as though that should be the case whilst he was warming up.
Our record at Brentford in the league has, historically, been pretty even-steven so no "bogey team" situation here. As a newly promoted club, Brentford will be up for it and looking to get off to a flyer. I think that often a pretty telling factor in the early games of any season. We can talk about player selections and formations and who's going to wear their lucky pants on the day, but if the opposition really wants to make an impression to their fans and they come out fired up, then we're going to have a hard time of it. I'll go for a shaky draw, but it might be a difficult last twenty minutes if they decide to really go for it.
You was up early/home late BR! One more sleep to go. Just have to ensure I stay in tonight so am nice and fresh for the trip tomorrow! Looking at the predictions it's pretty much a 50/50 split between whether we win or lose, with a few draw predictions thrown in.
There should be a lively and raucous atmosphere tomorrow, not only a sell out but the old style terracing down below normally guarantees a bit of good old fashioned pushin n'shovin when we score
