Charlton Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday Sunday 29th December 2013 3pm Kick-Off Referee: Frederick Graham So with Christmas being a massive time of the year, Charlton enter the second match of their festive schedule with a massive six-pointer against a truly massive (well according to their fans anyway) club Sheffield Wednesday, and after gaining 3 massive points (sorry Iâll stop now) against Brighton on Boxing Day, Charlton can really move away from the drop zone with another victory this Sunday. Matches against the Owls always seem to take on extra meaning, especially when you include the last day of the 98/99 season when a victory for Wednesday relegated Charlton from the Premier League in their first attempt and not to mention the âSheffield weekâ in January 2012 when a victory (courtesy of a Johnnie Jackson free-kick) edged Charlton closer to the League One Title. The Manager â TBC As Sheffield Wednesday are owned by Milan Mandaric there will never be a shortage Managerial changes and after a poor start to the season where the Owls failed to pick single victory, Dave Jones was sacked at the beginning of December⦠Still to be replaced, Wednesday are currently being led by Caretaker boss: Stuart Gray who in his current spell at Hillsbrough has led Wednesday to three victories in six matches. Key Men Chris Kirkland: Experienced Goalkeeper who has played at the highest level earning League Cup and Champions League medals whilst at Liverpool, unfortunately injuries have plagued this âkeeper and many will believe he should have added more caps to his sole England appearance against Greece in 2006. Miguel Llera: Ex-Charlton defender, one of two possible players lining up for Sheffield Wednesday against their former club this Weekend⦠Signed from the MK Dons in 2009, Llera would go on to make over 40 appearances for the Addicks scoring on six occasions (including an impressive last minute equaliser v Swindon one Boxing Day when Charlton had two players sent off in the first half) Jose Semedo: Ex-Charlton midfielder who am sure needs no introduction⦠Signed by Alan Pardew in 2007 after our relegation from the Premier League, Jose would go on to become a firm fans favourite and won Player of the Year in 2011, after appearing over 135 times for the Addicks, he left the Valley at the end of the 2011 season after failing to agree a new contract. Connor Wickham: Striker⦠On loan from Sunderland and is regarded one of Englandâs hottest one talents following his debut for Ipswich Town at just 17, currently in his second spell with Sheffield Wednesday on loan (after spending time with them last season), Wickham has five goals to his name this term in just seven appearances. Previous Meetings Once again the head to head stats are firmly in the favour of the opposing side⦠Wednesday have been victorious in this fixture on 20 occasions, whilst Charlton have 14 wins to their name (three of these in the FA Cup)⦠12 matches in this fixture have ended as a draw. 26.01.2013 â Charlton 1-2 Sheff Wed (Jackson; Reda Johnson, Lita) 22.12.2012 â Sheff Wed 2-0 Charlton (McCabe, Helan) 14.01.2012 â Sheff Wed 0-1 Charlton (Jackson) 05.09.2011 â Charlton 1-1 Sheff Wed (Wright-Phillips; C. Morrison) Last Victory at the Valley over Sheff Wed 30.10.2010 â Charlton 1-0 Sheff Wed (Wagstaff) Charlton Team News After picking up four points from the last two games, it would be a huge surprise to see Chris Powell making any type of changes for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday⦠Johnnie Jackson becomes available after his three match ban so should return to side whilst it seems as though Ben Hamer and Leon Cort remain our sole injuries at present. Possible Team to face Sheff Wed Alnwick Solly â Morrison â Wood â Wiggins Wilson â Cousins â Stephens â Stewart Kermorgant â Church Substitutes Bench Pope â Evina â Dervite â Green â Jackson â Pritchard â Sordell The Referee Travelling From: Essex Matches this Season: 10 (3 in the Championship) Yellow / Red Cards: 31 / 0 Penalties: 1 (Cheltenham v Burton) Last Charlton Fixture: 01.10.2013 (Charlton 1-1 Nottm Forest) A4Lâs Prediction: 2-0 (Stephens, Kermorgant)
Brilliant as ever A4L. Can I be the first to say if we lose against Wednesday we should all be calling for Powell's head and if we win he won't deserve any of the credit and any celebration from him will be cynically trying to milk the sentimental nature of all the fans who are more naive than Vol. Just to save him from doing it all over again. My prediction: 6-0 Charlton, Wilson double hat-trick; but I'd take a scrappy 1-0.
Nice one Despite yesterday I have a bad feeling about this one, just because I don't like Sheffield Wednesday and fear the prospect of losing to them more than I do for other clubs. Also, they are getting slightly better after an awful start. 0-1, Wickham with their goal.
Wont lie am a little apprehensive about this one myself... Brighton are a team that like to pass the ball around and I feel as though we can handle that sort of side - Sheffield Wednesday on the other side are a team who like to rough up the opposition (get in their faces etc...) and that is something we've often struggled with. I've just read on SkySports though that Giles Coke and Connor Wickham are both facing late fitness tests so will be very good news for us should they both fail those
Hate Sheffield Wednesday with a passion, much rather they went down than Millwall to be honest, Soooooo....we're going to lose.... 0-2
Great work, A4L. I think you've got the team correct. I wouldn't mind seeing Jackson back, replacing Stephens in the middle. Wilson showed the value of having midfielders who get into the box, and Jacko does that. And I'd like to see Evina get a run of games wide left. I feel strangely optimistic about this one, must check my medication.
Will be missing this one as away on holiday. Probably better for my nerves & blood pressure that I'm missing it. Will do my best to block it out of my mind & get the 1-0 winning scoreline as an afterthought
Looking forward to this one after a Sunday roast and a couple of pints in Wetherspoons. New owner Hercule Poirot tiptoes onto the pitch before the game, and in pigeon English announces his first beeg decision is to appoint club legend Alex Dyer as the new manager on a five year deal. Dyer instantly celebrates by doing a pre match tunnel jump, sending Leaburns Legs into raptures
Brilliant again A4L! I don't know why, but playing Wednesday has always had me a bit apprehensive since the promotion season. Might be the two rubbish defeats last season!! Same team definitely. JJ to return to the bench. And I'm going for an ambitious 2-1 win with kermo and Stewart scoring.
I expect this lot to turn up and play a spoilers match (so much for being massive) and given our season, that'll probably be enough for three points. Still, we're unbeaten in two so maybe we'll score firts and hold on for a cracking 1-1 draw. Excellent work A4L. Now do a preview about a takeover ;-)
As I understand it.... and I have inside knowledge ... new owners will complete the deal at 12:00 today and then Chris Powell will sign a new 5 year contract (on the pitch) prior to KO..... in shock, Nick will declare his man love for little Lloyd Sam and outline his plans to fly to New York so he can celebrate the New Year with the object of his desire.
Charlton Athletic TakeOver Date Unknown Time Unknown Referee⦠Why would there be one?? Christmas is certainly the time for giving and after Charlton picked up three important points against Brighton and Hove Albion, many fans felt that it couldnât get any better yet riding over the horizon it appears there is a new saviour in town⦠Yes it appears as though Charlton Athletic are due to be taken over by some new poor harmless soul who doesnât know what heâs let himself in for!! Who is this new man I hear you ask⦠Well after the Daily Mail reported that Josh Harris had arrived on the scene many fans thought this would be the saviour yet even though this Yank worth over £500m and owns two American Sports teams passed the Due Diligence he surprisingly pulled out of the deal and left the Addicks in despair once more (an investigation to find out which not606 is to blame is currently underway) So along comes our new saviour and those âin the knowâ are saying that our new owner is none other than Richard Murray⦠I mean Roland Duchatelet (sorry thought I was back in the 90s for a second with Joe Cole and Nicolas Anelka scoring yesterday) an unknown Belgian, is this the man to lead us back to the Promised Land. Roland Duchatelet Honestly I hope this bloke doesnât cause too many problems as it just took me three attempts to spell his surname properly so from now on Iâm just going to call him Roland⦠So who is our new leader!! Apparently he is an ex-Senator who entered politics in 1994 with the party BANAAN (Donât worry I donât think itâs a fan group of Pal-arse midfielder Barry Bannan) which translates into âBetter seeking for alternatives than doing nothing in apathyâ yet after a poor election blah blah blah founded his own party called Vivant. Footballing wise it wonât unfortunately be all about Charlton as Roland owns a number of Football clubs including K. Sint-Truidense V.V, FC Carl Zeiss Jena, Ãjpest FC (Yup Iâve not got a Scooby either) and Standard Liege a side regularly in the Champions League, apparently those âin the knowâ fear that Charlton are about to become a Feeder club for one of these esteemed clubs so as Charlton fans itâs time to do your bit⦠Email / Go on Forums / Write⦠Anything to claim Marvin Sordell is the next Messi itâs the only way!!! Yet for those with blank faces (like myself) about Rolandâs other clubs here is a little run down. K. Sint-Truidense V.V League: Belgian Second Division Current Position: 4th Ground Capacity: 11,250 Kit: Yellow and Blue Nickname: The Canaries Notable Player: Lauri Dalla Valle â A striker who spent time with Liverpool and Fulham making no appearances for either club yet played on-loan with AFC Bournemouth, Exeter City and Crewe Alexandra FC Carl Zeiss Jena League: Regionalliga Nordost (4th tier Germany) Current Position: 3rd Ground Capacity: 12,990 Kit: White Nickname: FCC Notable Player: Erm⦠No one springs to mind   Ujpest FC League: OTP Bank Liga (Hungary) Current Position: 10th Ground Capacity: 13,501 Kit: Purple and White Stripes Nickname: Lilák (Purples) Notable Player: Nope sorry at a loss again, quite proud I recognised a K. Sint-Whatever player now Standard Liege League: Belgian Pro League Current Position: 1st Ground Capacity: 30,023 Kit: Red and White Nickname: Les Rouches (The Reds) Notable Player: Tal Ben-Haim â Ex-Bolton, Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers Defender, capped many times by Israel, reputed to be a bit of a mercenary going wherever there is money. So there you have it⦠As requested by Ken Shabby and SuperChrissy your takeover preview, for those in the know he could be at the game today (I hope he isnât there for the Oxford game as the ground will be deserted) which means following Josh Harris being at the Leeds game⦠We donât stand a bloody chance Oh and V-a-V... Chris Powell out in Flemish is errr âChris Powell Outâ
Great stuff again, A4L. It will be interesting to hear Roland tell us why he wants to buy Charlton, because with that lot already under his belt, I don't have a clue.
Its partly what Im wondering as well FHB... I've read in some instances that he likes to sell club players for the money (Liege fans hate him for it), someone people here might not like that but I dont see a difference, unless we're one of the Manchester clubs we'll always be a selling club anyway and surely if he doesnt want to lose club assets for nothing, surely thats a good sign as it means we'll see new Contracts for Wiggins, Stephens and Kermorgant soon?
Half hour gone and the standard of entertainment level seems to have sunk to a new low. I cannot see us offering much threat with Solly and Wiggins both out. Most of our best efforts usually come via our full-backs attacking. Sheff Wed looking more likely. We need a second half rally like against Brighton. More interesting at Leicester. 3-3 at half-time from only 6 shots on target.
Stephens scores in 47th minute. Massive dozed off at a throw-in. Undeserved lead. Tap-in for Wickham in 56th after Wed pressure. 1-1. Wed battering the Addicks. Green and Devite on for Stewart and Jackson. Hanging on for a point at home against a team in the bottom three. Time for V-au-V to stop pulling his punches about Powell's managemental abilities. 1-1. Undeserved point. Hope for better with Solly and Wiggins back.
