And so we start another season in League One on Saturday. Of course it’s not where any of us want to be, but strangely it seems there is a lot more optimism around the 2010/11 season than there was last year.
The loss of Bailey, Burton, Richardson and Sam from the starting XI is of course a blow and combined with the departures of Shelvey, Mooney and Randolph leaves our squad desperately threadbare. At the time of writing, we still need another 2 strikers, a right winger and a goalkeeper at the very least.
On to Saturday, and what seems like the 38th year running we entertain a newly promoted team at The Valley in the form of Bournemouth. A club that has done fantastically well over the past couple of years dealing with financial pressures off the pitch but still producing a competitive team on it. Something that is essential for Charlton this year if we want to ensure the future of the club.
Due to the lack of personnel around Sparrows Lane, Parky’s team pretty much picks itself with the only decision left is to go 1 or 2 up front. Going by Saturday’s line up against Watford, it will be 1 (despite us looking better with 2 up top in the second half). Solly is likely to fill in at right back while Francis increases his levels of fitness with JJ at left back. With a combined age of 193, Dailly and Doherty add a hell of a lot of experience in front of Robbie – if not a lot a lot of pace.
Waggy and Reid on the wings scoring and assisting a decent amount of goals will be paramount to us having a good season this year and they both need to get us to a good start. The trio of McCormack, Semedo and Racon will be in the middle of the park. I expect new signing Pawel Abbot to start up front.
With new players arriving (and more to arrive in the next couple of weeks) I can’t see us reeling off 6 straight wins like last season, the players, the management and the fans will need to be patient. But I have a strange feeling things will come good come May 2011.
We’ll start well enough as well on Saturday with a 2-0 win.
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Comments
Come on you reds!!
50% will feel good start, 3 points in the bag
30% will feel ok start but it is only Bournemouth.
15% will feel - should be demolishing teams like this.
5% will feel aint getting out of this league, Parky out.
I'm going for a 3-1 win, Bournemouth getting a late consolation after a dominant Charlton display.
COYR get out of this shameful position as sarf londons no.3
COYR get out of this shameful position as sarf londons no.3
Team:
Elliott
Mambo Dailly Docherty Jackson
Wagstaff Semedo McCormack Reid
Sodje Abbot
If we draw or loose it wil be the other way around next game!.....
I actually think we are going to go on and have a decent season, but this game has come to early for us i reckon. We appear too unbalanced and underprepared at present, and Bournemouth will be going into this game like a cup final for them. They will be on a high from promotion, have apparently had a good pre-season, and will see this as a big game.
We've got away with it in the openers against newly promoted sides in recent years, but i think this is one which may prove disappointing.
Hope i'm wrong.
Elliott
Mambo
Dailly
Doherty
Jackson
Racon
McCormack
Semedo
Reid
Waggy (in the hole)
Abbott
For me, last season there were too many square pegs in round holes and the team was unbalanced. I think the TEAM will benefit from the departed players, time will tell. Hopefully Racon will shine this season without Bailey in the team, alongside the ever-dependable Jose Semedo.
I'm tipping Kyel Reid to be one of the best players/signings in this league this year and I think we'll see that starting this coming saturday: 1 assist and 1 goal - Charlton to win 2-0! The word on the street is he's looking fit, fresh and up-for-it!
Once Dailly and Docherty get an understanding together, I don't think the 'issue' of pace will overcome their combined professionalism and experience.
Up front, I expect A. Sodje to improve and get more goals than we are all, in honesty, expecting from him. The key this year is we have some better crossers of a ball (Jackson, Francis, Reid) in the team now to deliver the killer ball for Sodje headers, loads of em, and tap ins. We never score many scrappy goals and they're the ones that add up that most other teams seem to pile in.
Haven't got a clue about ABBOTT, but a mate who supports Oldham is gutted he's gone and says we got a v. good player there at this level, fingers crossed! A few messages from Oldham fans on this board seem to add weight to that theory too!
can definitely see where you're coming from so might have a bit of the 5/1 on Bournemouth to soften the blow if it does all go pear-shaped on Saturday
Agreed!
I'm going to jump on the band wagon of Germany and Spain's perfromances at the World Cup and go for a 4-2-3-1:
Elliot
Francis
Doc
Dailly
Jackson
Semedo
McCormack
Wagstaff
Racon (in the hole)
Reid
Abbott
1-1
Solly
Doc
Dailly
Fry
Racon
Semedo
Jackson
Wagstaff
Abbott
Reid
Can confirm that the locals are well up for this one and I've gone for the away win too. I'm sure it's a bit of the heart ruling the head but I think AFCB are going to be one of the surprise packages of this season but will run out of steam at the death. In Howe I think they have the brightest young manager around and he will have them playing decent football too.
Going to get slaughtered on Monday if we don't put a performance in...
I think we are desperately short up front but we are looking good defensively .
I hope im wrong .
Abbott with the 1st
3-1 home win.
Akpo, Waggy and Daily
Our squad isnt finished but the players we do have should have enough. 1-0 win.
I hope your right............ about the defensively side, still worry although Doc and Dailly due to there pace so think its essential Semedo is as good as he was last season and covering them well. I'm assuming Dailly will be the sweeper of the two
Hopefully their combined experience and will to win will overcome the 'lack of pace' debate X (fingers crossed)