Charlton Athletic v Stoke City
Saturday 10th August 2019 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire)
Introduction
Well that wasn’t a bad return to the Championship
was it? – After entering our first game of the season with a depleted squad,
many felt that it would be a harsh lesson for Lee Bowyer and his men yet come
5pm it was Charlton that had taught the opposition that we’re not just here to
make up the numbers – Tomorrow will see the Valley play host to its first
Championship game in three years, with Stoke City the visitors it’s going to be
another stern test, yet under this team put together, you just feel that
nothing is impossible!!
The Opposition
Name: Stoke City | Manager: Nathan Jones
Ground: Bet365 Stadium
I honestly feel under a bit of pressure to get this
section right what with a certain poster on here – Yet as someone on the
outside it looks rather grim within Stoke at the moment and I don’t mean the
area itself; Nathan Jones (after all but guiding Luton Town to the League One
title) was hired to do similar wonders at Stoke yet with far than impressive
results you have to wonder how much longer he’ll be given!!
The stark reality is that Stoke have just three wins
under his reign – Despite investing heavily over the summer, it appeared the
same old story last weekend, a 2-1 defeat coming against a Queens Park Rangers
team who will more than likely be challenging to avoid relegation than
promotion – Those in Staffordshire certainly will be hoping its nothing more
than a slow start to what will yet be a rewarding campaign.
Because Stoke are still a dangerous team filled with
Premier League experience - With the fourth best defence in the Division last
season their issue is scoring goals, not keeping them out – Jack Butland with
England experience will be tough to get past, whilst Nick Powell has surely be
brought in for the creativity that the Potters have so dearly missed; Sam Vokes
and Scott Hogan (signed on deadline day from Aston Villa) will no doubt be one
of the biggest challenges for what has been a solid Charlton defence in 2019!!
Charlton Team News
Well thanks Lee!!... Due to your shenanigans over
the past few days I’ve had to re-write this section!!...
What an end to the Transfer Window it was!!... Four
players signed (with more incoming) and we kept Lyle Taylor away from the
clutches of Brentford – Unfortunately we lost Anfernee Dijksteel to
Middlesbrough yet with cover at Right-Back it’s not the end of the world… The
headache now though is who gets selected, who gets put on the bench and who
gets left out completed?
Comments
Not buying the hype around Stoke. I reckon we will go 2-0 up and we will hear plenty of booing from them.
3-1. Taylor x2 & Aneke.
Hopefully not though!
2-1
Purrington with the equaliser (obviously)
Cousins to score for them and Taylor for us.
Taylor with a deliberate own goal and celebrating by taking his shirt off to reveal a Brentford Tattoo covering the whole of his chest.
Taylor then feels guilty, equalises and celebrates by punching Bowyer in the face.
Tough first couple of games and I'd have bit your hand off for 4 points a month ago.
The next small batch of games now look winnable.
As said previously I don't care if we lose any game this season as it won't be for the lack of effort or trying to win.
No time to work with the new players so only Gallagher and Cullen should start or in Gallagher's case get on. Leko may have to be thrown in from bench.
Are all the new boys at 100% fitness and had a full pre season ?
We will get a lot of silly scorelines (happy valley is allowed) but yesterday the roller coaster finished at the top.
Shawcross has a bad injury but Sam Vokes and Nick Powell have given Cafc grief in the past at the valley, and Jordan Cousins returns. Joe Allen can say hello to Williams. Lee Gregory and James McClean will gets dogs abuse for being Millwall and High profile Catholic respectively.
Hard call but the experience of Stoke to nick it for me 1-0, with Jack Butland MOM after his clanger last week.
Got the score wrong last week so will be delighted to carry on in that vein.
COYR
Nathan Jones has proved to be a damp squib manager in the potteries. Stoke got of to a bad start last week, the club seems to be in turmoil. All good for us
CAFC 2 v Stoke City 0
We've got a lot of Goalkeepers in the Premier League now
Depending on fitness, Aneke may only be on the bench, similarly Leko. It wouldn't surprise me if Pratley starts and we go with a more defensive formation
It will be interesting to see how close you are with the team selection.
Bowyer probably doesn't know his best team yet but at least he has plenty of options for once.
As for the match itself I'll go 2.1
Charlton to keep the feel good factor going.
Oshilaja, Lockyer, Pearce, Purrington
Gallagher
Cullen, JFC
Williams
Taylor, Aneke
Amos, Solly, Sarr, Lapslie, Kayal, Morgan, Leko
Actually hard picking a bench never mind the XI.
Man for man they beat us, as a unit and with the crowd, we beat them, I think we’ll just have enough with that in mind, 2-1 (Pearce, Taylor)
Looking at the website looks like just over 16,000 sold in home areas. Be great if we could push that nearer 20,000