At the end of November back in 2009 Charlton were sitting pretty in the automatic spots six points behind Leeds (who had a game in hand), fast forward 355 days or so and we are once again in second place, six points behind Brighton. Even the staunchest member of the RTB could not have thought we would win the past five games on the trot, amassing 13 goals and in turn managing to reinact the whole catalogue of Fifa 11 celebrations.
That being said our home form and performances (in league and cup) have been nothing to shout about. We have scored a miserly 7 goals at home with nothing better than a 1-0 victory. Of course all will say a win is a win but it would be nice for everyone concerned if we could turn on the style at the goal deprived Valley.
Saturday’s opponents Yeovil are currently sitting second bottom of the (past eight games) form table – just above Walsall. Their two maximum hauls away from home have come in the form of 1-0’s against Rochdale and the previously mentioned Walsall. It would be typical Charlton though if Yeovil managed to notch up another away win wouldn’t it?
Our home victories against MK Dons, Sheffield Wednesday (and even Barnet in the cup on Tuesday) have been dogged, hard fought victories showing a resilience that has been absent in recent seasons but I think the fans and players would like a little bit more breathing space. Of course opponents are going to come to The Valley and shut up shop more often than not, but the players on the pitch and Parky on the training ground need to have the desire and tactical nous to break them down and go for the jugular from the off.
The only decision with regards to the back 5 that needs to be made is whether the recently outstanding Robbie Elliot will wear pink or yellow – everyone has stepped up their game in defence recently and should be commended.
In midfield, unless Waggy’s injury is worse than expected we can expect the same across the middle of the park. Who would’ve thought a few weeks ago that when fit, Kyel Reid would not be going straight back into the team?
Benson will start upfront hoping to replicate recent away goalscoring form at home while everyone (including himself) will be hoping Loanee Lee can go on a consistent run of good form, that if happens, will make him one of the most dangerous players in the whole division.
Can we turn on the style and lift the crowd and continue this fantastic run? Maybe we’ll achieve 50% of that. 1-0. Again.
0
Comments
I will predict a win as we should do but got a funny feeling about this one!
we've managed just 7 goals in our thrillers so far at home so yeovil will come for the draw then and hope that some miracle can happen that they nick a goal. it won't happen though for them as they just have absolutely no quality at all.
3-0 at a minimum. we have a new confidence and yeovil don't have a -13 goal difference for nothing
Great post and i really agree. I actually do not feel any lucky win coming from Yeovil at all on Saturday. The Charlton players know that a bad result here will knock the confidence and maybe knock it for a few games (which would be terrible, considering all the hard work and the great results we have seen recently)
Going got a comfy 3-0....Can only see Yeovil just about getting a sniff at all once or tiwce at most.
However now that most of us will be confident of a win, that's exactly why we'll lose (well, more likely draw)
I've sadly gone for a draw. I susect a couple of injuries will mean we will have to tinker with the formation, and off the back of pretty relentless weekend / midweek programme, we'll struggle to piece it together effectively going forwards.
A very frustrating 0-0 this one, similar to the Oldham home game last season when they were struggling.
Martin in anything like his peterboro form will terrify the glovers but benson up front and jackson wide left have been key ingrediants to recent success.
Yeovil or any other team in this league are not pub teams. We can only beat one team on saturday and that is the one we are playing and we need to be fully focused and on our game to do that.
His commitment has been first class.
1 nil again, they all count!
4-1 win for Charlton.
There were a lot of yellows given to our players on Tuesday - is anybody suspended as a result?
Shades of that home game against Swindon when we had won a lot of games on the trot and then took on bottom of the table Swindon. Deano threw the ball into the back of the net and we lost 1-0. Football is just so predictable in its unpredictableness.
Keep on keeping on....
2-0 to us on our relentless march to a top 4 finishing spot ..... Will specify the finishing position around march time
2-0 to us on our relentless march to a top 4 finishing spot ..... Will specify the finishing position around march time
I think that might even top "Team X is consistently inconsistent".
Yeovil need the points and I expect them to park the bus and it could take a bit of breaking them down and patience, but we should do it.
Team:
Semedo back, Martin to start so something like 4-4-1-1.
However if the midfield plays as it did against Barnet we will be lucky to draw which is, sadly, my prediction as our booboys will get on the players' backs if we haven't scored in the first twenty minutes or so.
out for 6 weeks at least with injury.
Don't think there's been any news since?
With Semedo and Martin back we should be a lot stronger and with Benson starting much more of a threat.
2 - 0 but it will take a long time to break them down.