Would have been better at home, but that could yet happen as a draw looks a real possibility. Local derbies often flatten out difference in status, especially with them involved in a relegation battle and probably still in Europe. Satisfied with that draw. Should be an exciting game and if we do well over the next month our league position may allow CP to field our strongest, or almost strongest, team as Fulham are a real football team and won't try to kick us off the park. A chance to see how good (or otherwise) we really are.
I think its an okay draw for us, an opportunity to show what this team is capable of against good quality opposition (obviously we will start as underdogs), would have preferred a home tie but you can't always get what you want! Will CP field our strongest possible line up though? I hope so, but as Eddie suggests it may well depend on how we fare over xmas and if we pick up anymore injuries! I'm pretty sure this is one of my very few weekends where I'm free to attend a CAFC game, so I'm delighted even though its an away game its not in the north east or somewhere difficult to get to - but with Craven Cottage being one of the smaller premier league grounds it could be quite a difficult one to get tickets for (depending on our allocation!)
this is a brilliant draw for us -fulham be concentrating on europe and the league so i think their tactics will be else where dont need added games me thinks,so i wouldnt be to suprised if fulham drop at least 5 or 6 key first teamers and put some of the youth or reserves out to face us,so im going make a prediction now i go for a very tight 1-0 win for us with bwp scoring last 10 minutes that do me then bring on arsenal and i might attend this one! p.s the misses said she buy me one for xmas yippee
Agreed with most of the comments, if this had been at home I'd have said perfect draw. But it's not too far to go, should be a good day out. Chrissy will play the first team, no doubt, to give them a real shot at something special. If we win, wonderful, if we draw it's arguably even better as I'd fancy the tie at home and we'd get the extra gate receipts, if we lose it's no disgrace to go out to an established Premier side... Of course there is always the humiliation of being knocked out by a Palace reject... but we'll have to hope Mr Johnson is having an off day (or is he crocked at the moment?)
I think this is a very good draw. Fulham no doubt will give is a good allocation of tckets, and i believe we will prob take 5 thousand fans min. Fulham no doubt will play a weakened side and would not be surprised for a Charlton win - and a good gate thereby a good payout too.
Looking at the draw, aside from the ManC v ManU game there arent any real stand-out tv games - maybe Brum v Wolves. So, wondering if maybe we might be on tv again.?
think positive charlton going win against fulham when i go we never loose and guess what im going if get a ticket
Charlton are famously the only team ever to have lost an FA Cup match and still reached the Final. This was in 1946 when we lost to Fulham in the first match of what were then two-legged ties. However there was a notable incident in the 4th Round tie in 1958 which I witnessed at Craven Cottage. Fulham were leading 1-0 at 90 minutes. Buck Ryan "scored" for Charlton as the referee had the whistle to his lips to blow for time and fans were already rushing for the exits. I was a naive youth at the time (this was long before I trained as a referee) and spent a miserable journey home on the Underground because, after a brief conversation in the compartment, the Fulham fans convinced me that if it were a valid goal the referee would have ordered Charlton to kick off before blowing for time. There were no mobile phones or easily portable radios in those days. It wasn't until later in the evening that I learned we had earned a replay, which I attended and felt somewhat uncomfortable in a crowd of 46,000 plus (which I am guessing we have not exceeded since) swaying and sometimes toppling on the big terrace. I dread to think what it must have been like with 73,000 in the Valley. John Hewie had snuffed out Johnny Haynes in the first match but was injured for the replay and Haynes destroyed us. Fulham won 3-1.
Chelmsford/Macclesfield v Bolton MK Dons v QPR Gillingham v Stoke Swindon v Sunderland Sheff Wed v West Ham All matches in which the minnow is at home against the bigger club. Nice story, Eddie. The 73,000 at the Valley must've been very tightly packed.
Looking at that short list there IA, Pulis coming back to Priestfield surely must give us the edge over those ties, the media could roll and roll on this story with plenty of archive. Especially with the early climb and return of Manchester City involved in that time. Remembering also it was City that beat Stoke in last seasons final. Whatever tv decides, I will be at Priestfield for this one.
Fair call. And I think Di Canio at home to Sunderland also has the edge over our match. Not to worry, I plan on going down to this one
If you want exciting, then the East Midlands and West Midlands derbies are for you. Also Arsenal v Leeds was televised last year.
