Note: Thought that I'd get this up early given that it's the last game of the season, we can use this thread to think back across the whole season. We welcome, "all but promoted" AFC Bournemouth to the Valley, this Saturday for the final fixture of the 2014/2015 season, our third season back in this level. It too has been a rocky couple of years for the Cherries, almost relegated out of the football league to the premier league in six years. Many clubs should take note what giving a manager time and backing could achieve. We have nothing much to play for at the end of the season, Bournemouth themselves could clinch the Championship title providing Watford slip up. Needless to say, we will be seeing a packed Jimmy Seed stand. For us we seen a return of only one win in our previous six games, albeit we are not struggling with relegation or promotion, it's something that Guy Luzon, should be worried about. The Opposition: Eddie Howe's men travel to South London, only needing to avoid a 19 - 0 defeat to secure themselves promotion to the Premier League. It has to be said that Bournemouth have been one of the outstanding teams this season, playing some decent football, scoring an impressive 95 goals in the league this season. Their team including a few former Addicks, Harry Arter, Simon Francis (fans will remember his own goal against Notts County, with the ball ricocheting off his bum, past Elliot) and the last, needing no introduction, Yann Kermorgant. They come into this match, in fine form and fine spirits after their win against Bolton Wanderers on Monday night. Quite possibly if they do clinch the title at the Valley, we could see thousands of Bournemouth fans invade our pitch. This team, I for one, will miss seeing in our league come next season. Current Form: Charlton Athletic | W W L W D W (Home) | L D D D W L (Combined) AFC Bournemouth | L W D D W W (Away) | D W W W D W (Combined) Head-To-Head: Our first league encounter with AFC Bournemouth for over 40 years occurred during the 2010/2011 season, which saw Charlton run our winners, on the first day of the season, with a goal from Akpo Sodje. Towards the end of that season, we went 13 games without a win under Chris Powell, but was lucky to even achieve a 2 - 2 draw, thanks to a stunning performance by Rob Elliot. The following season (2011/2012) our promotion campaign saw us do the double over Saturdays opponents, with another opening day encounter, and a goal of season contender from Scott Wagstaff. During our Championship days, the wins seem to be stacked in AFC Bournemouth favour (again with another opening day fixture, and again a goal of the season contender from Yann Kermorgant). Our last registered win at the Valley versus AFC Bournemouth, came under the Jose Riga regime, with a thumping header by Dorian Dervite. Line Up: please log in to view this image It is a shame that we do not have Yann the Man in our line up on Saturday, but I suspect that we will hear a few chants for him coming from the Covered End. I also think that we're probably going to name a strong line up, and go for the win, to at least give our fans something to cheer about. Odds: Courtesy of Coral, if you fancy a punt on the game, we have the following odds. Outcome: Whilst it would be nice for a 19 - 0 win, it is however very unlikely. I do believe this game has potential for a lot of goals, so for your gamblers out there, a tasty 5/1 odds for over 4.5 goals. With our current form, taking into consideration the goals that our opposition can score, and the fact that it is the last game of the season, I'm predicting a loss (2 - 3). Even though we'll have a strong starting 11, AFC Bournemouth this season, will be too much for us to handle. Charlton Althetic 2 - 3 AFC BournemouthCharlton Scorers: Watt | Guðmundsson AFC Bournemouth Scorers: Richie x2 | Pugh
I would love a 19 - 0 win... I am going to put £1 on it for a laugh. Still better odds than a lottery ticket. Something tells me it's going to be a seriously difficult game, judging by how Bournemouth played on Monday. Secretly I was hoping at Yann would get red carded, so he couldn't score against us.
Great Thread, Fan. I've put us down for a draw, though we might end up on the wrong end of a tonking. I'd like to see the following team- Henderson; Solly, Gomez; Ben Haim; Wiggins; Church; Cousins; Gudmundsson; Bulot; Eagles; Watt. Give KAG a run-out some time as well. Eagles has been poor on both wings, let's see what he can do as a striker. And let's see if Gudmundsson can be the creative attacking midfielder we need. We don't have a right-winger, but Church can play there. Igor is painful to watch these days, so give him a rest. With so many young players out on loan, or involved in their own U-18 final, we don't have too many options.
Agree that KAG needs a run in. He looks a hot prospect, and given our current strike force (rule Watt out of that), we might need some more goals come next season. We have got safety, why not give him a try in the second half? Needs to give him a run out in pre-season to. Hope that Vetokele finds his form next season, maybe his poor performances have been down injury.
Why's that, Dickp? Gudmundsson was fantastic in CM against Cardiff. Eagles can't be worse than Igor has been recently, and we don't have a RM anyway.
Church right wing, no thanks, Eagles up top, no thanks. I know Igor has not been good but Eagles and Watt can't head the ball. Have you seen the size of Bournemouth's central defenders? I have not got a problem with Gudmundsson in centre midfield in an attacking sense but defensively he is not strong enough.
I think there's something in Eagles up top or just off the main man. His runs are clever from deep and he can finish. So he's already a better striker than church.
After the Cardiff game I said that Gudmundsson's performance was the best midfield display I'd seen from a Charlton player for years, always involved and driving us forward, so give him 90 minutes there. So who plays on the right? Wilson's gone and we don't even have a young right winger coming through. Church might be a figure of fun, but I think he can play, he just isn't a striker, and he could do a job there, since it is a position which needs to be filled but hasn't been.
I think I was at that game, when he disgraced himself by shooting from an impossible angle instead of cutting the ball back to KAG for a tap-in. I see what you mean, but we are woefully short of cover on the right (both positions), and I wouldn't like to see KAG chucked in the team out of position.
Will Churchy even be here next season? I think he'd be in one of the bunch that goes, and he'll probably end up in League One, as I doubt he'll be fluky like Marvin Sordell.
Church - without doubt one of the worst footballers I have witnessed in 35 plus years following Charlton.
Church does run around a lot, though. Maybe if he doesn't play on Saturday Luzon will allow him to run round and round the outside of the pitch?
Seems that now, EA Sports is jumping on the bandwagon of Charlton's 19 - 0 victory tweet. They've only gone and created it as a challenge in FIFA 15
Does anyone have that "last game of the season" feeling? I'm more excited for the night out afterwards personally. Worried we might end up one goal short today too, putting a damper on the day. 18-0
Couldn't make it today due to the early kick off. So glad, 2-0 in 10 mins and they have already had 6 shots, absolutely pathetic.
