Charlton Athletic v Fleetwood Town
Saturday 25th August 2018 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Antony Coggins (Oxfordshire)
IntroductionOnce again the dark cloud descends on the Valley… This week has been marred by the fact that Charlton staff will not be paid the bonuses they deserve, which if possible paints Roland Duchatalet in an even worse light. Naturally it means that there will be protests this weekend as efforts to remove the poison from the club rises again.
On the pitch it’s not much different. Regardless of their best efforts, the players just cannot keep a clean sheet and were unfortunate to be robbed of any points on Tuesday night due to dubious decisions from the officials – This Saturday football will return again to the Valley as we place hosts to Fleetwood Town
The Opposition
Name: Fleetwood Town |
Manager: Joey Barton
Ground: Highbury Stadium
Prior to the new Football season there were twenty one managers who would take charge of a new club – For two of those sides Derby and Fleetwood there was much fan fare as two ex-players took their first foray into the Management game… For Derby the jury is still out as to whether their choice was correct, yet for our opponents on Saturday, their decision (albeit questionable) seems inspired.
A man who has created controversy wherever he’s gone; Joey Barton’s playing career would end in 2017, not by choice yet given an 18-month ban (later reduced by five months) for betting. When that ban ended, everyone expected Barton to return to Football yet when he was appointed Manager by Fleetwood Town more than a few eyebrows were raised, especially as previous Manager: John Sheridan had done so well to keep the Cod Army in this Division.
Results wise this season though is why Barton seems a good choice and four points prior after last weekend was a good return for a side who many expect to be relegation strugglers… Yet their performance against Scunthorpe last night will surely make teams wary of Barton and his side, 4-0 up after 30mins; Fleetwood blew their opponents (Semi-Finalists in the Play-Offs last season) away, and with Ched Evans finding his goal scoring touch on loan from Sheffield United, this wont be a walk in the park for a Charlton side who have never lost to Fleetwood.
Charlton Team NewsFor Charlton fans this season, the major focus has been around the lack of depth within the squad – Fans know that there is quality there yet with injury problems hindering pre-season the opening games would always be a struggle, that’s why the news that Igor Vetokele, Jason Pearce, Tariqe Fosu and Ben Reeves will be returning to training was so warmly welcomed… If Charlton want to challenge this season those players returning will need to hit the ground running.
Indeed with Igor Vetokele returning on Monday, we could see a first appearance (albeit on the bench) from the Angolan since 2016 and if he can find the form he showed when he first joined the club, some much needed fire power will be added in attack!!
Phillips
Bauer | Bielik | Sarr
Solly | Aribo | Pratley | Page
Grant | Ajose | Taylor
Substitutes Bench: Steer | Dijksteel | Marshall | Morgan | Maloney | Lapslie | Vetokele
PredictionFrustratingly there has only been the one game where Charlton havent played to the standards expected by Lee Bowyer (Accrington), for there to be only four points on the board means that we need a bit more luck to go our way, hopefully that can begin on Saturday yet overall really unsure of how this one might play out, despite Charlton having the extra days rest.
Comments
1-1
If Fleetwood reflect the personality of their new manager, look out for skill and filth combined with sheer bloody mindedness
I am an eternal optimist but have a bad feeling about this one against cod army west .. a draw at best
CAFC 2 v Fleetwood Town 2
Shat.
1-3. Ched Evans hat trick. Don't like the sex offender but he scores goals.
Its refreshing really because as per his comments with Fosu (and as we saw last season with Page / Dasilva) - Bowyer isnt the sort to mess around throwing a player into the action so soon after injury if they're not ready yet
After a rich father in law paid for 'justice' still two timed his fiancee and is a total
scumbag. Ideal match for a Joey Barton team!
Did he get compensation for the 'wrongly imprisonment'?
ps Evans a sex offender? Thought he was cleared?
If we escape 1-1 I'll be happy. If not we'll be outdone by a club who's population is less than the amount of people who work at Bluewater.
Exciting times.
Ajose and Lapslie in.
Grant (or Vetokele) to come off the bench to give us a draw from a late equalizer.
2-2