By Jove! There’s a game! And it’s a pretty big one at that.
However depressing thinking about this being a run-of-the-mill league fixture four to five years ago is, Sunday’s third round FA Cup tie against the Hotspurs of Tottenham presents Charlton fans with a chance to forget about the likes of Walsall and Tranmere (no disrespect) and for 90 minutes we can at least pretend we’re back with the big boys.
That being said, with a new board comes new hope(?) and if all goes to plan/our dreams then we may see the glory days return on a weekly rather than blue moon basis. With the previously mentioned new board also comes a new manager for Sunday; with Phil Parkinson getting the boot after Tuesday’s performance against Swindon, Charlton living legend Keith Peacock takes charge of first team affairs (alongside Damian Matthew).
With over 530 appearances for Charlton, Keith is definitely part of the furniture at The Valley with plenty of right hand man experience yet has not been in the main seat of management since 1991 during a spell with the mighty Maidstone. After picking up a few disappointed and shocked players he and Damian will have to go about picking a team to stifle the Champions League team but with few options available I think many of us can guess what it will be.
Semi-injured Elliot is likely to start and after Matt Fry’s renewal of his loan until February 5th I can see him coming back in to left back allowing top scorer Johnnie Jackson to take his place once again on the left side of midfield accompanying Racon, Semedo and Wagstaff.
Will we have the balls to go two up front at White Hart Lane? If so, the unlucky Paul Benson will not be one of them after his appeal was surprisingly rejected by the suits at the FA so Pawel Abbott looks likely to start up top. Joe Anyinsah has declared himself fit but I’d be surprised if he gets any further than the bench after coming back from (another) niggle.
I can’t see us starting with a mouth-watering strike partnership of Abbott and Sodje so OXO Tower may come in and it could be five across the midfield.
No need to talk about the Spurs team, they have talent. Some first teamers will of course be rested and we are unlikely de see Gareth Bale or Rafael Van der Vaart after the injuries they picked up against Everton but there will be quality everywhere we look.
We can’t win after the week we’ve had can we? I just hope we can score a goal in a game where Tottenham will get three.
Come on You Reds!
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Comments
I've gone for a Spurs win, but you never know...
I expect us to get beaten and don't care either way if I am honest. We aren't going to win the competition so getting away with just a narrow defeat and keeping our pride is all that matters to me.
The league is where its at
"Somebody's got to win it...."
Ditto.
- Spurs have had their best season since Chas and Dave had paper rounds
- London Derby meaning they will be up for it and wont want a giant killing
- We are poor in the cup
- Our team is lacking confidence
- I know loads of spuds and hence losing will mean loads of michael taking from the N17 Geordies
However, and I dont for the life of me know why, I think we are going to nick it 1-0 and having managed to get a ticket at the 11th hour am looking forward to this game more than Vannessa Veltz looked forward to the courts ruling that Jaffa Cakes are indeed biscuits and therefore not subject to tax.
COYA!!!
Anything less than that constitutes success.
I just hope Keith Peacock is treated with respect by the ignorant element amongst our fans.
are you both going lads?....if so just enjoy the day out. a decent stadium for once, a bumper crowd. I agree the league is waaaay more important but take your thinking cap off for just this weekend, anything can happen!!
im going for a tottenham 8-0 win btw
Likely 4-4-2
Defoe available so likely to play after missing last 3 games.
Back Four picks itself from whoever is available. AE at LB, Hutton or Corluka RB, then 2 of 4 from Dawson, Gallas, Kaboul or Bassong.
Midfield concerns me most. I would have thought likely to start with Jenas for Modric in the advanced role, then either Sandro or Palacios holding. Right, Bentley if fit. If not, Lennon. Left, likely not Bale.
Prediction: sneaky feeling I think you'll get something out of the game. Whether it be a replay or god forbid, an upset....
...but then again, the year ends in 1 now ;-)
Spurs may only field 2nd stringers who whilst may be more technically gifted than our lads may not have the same desire unity or gel and may play like total strangers.
Stranger things have happened in cup football as we have proved when we were flying high in the top flight.
Have a really good feeling about this game and even if we got thumped as long as they give 100% ill be proudly clapping them off and remain glad that I'm an addick rather than a yid.
Had a feeling about this for the past few days so chuffed I'm getting hold of a ticket tonight.
thats still an outrageous line-up
We'll lose by at least 4
A proper walloping is on the cards, but it's an opportunity for a few to show they've got more balls than they ever showed under Parkinson. A decent performance without him on the touchline might persuade a few more that the new owners were right to get rid of him and help restore a bit of unity among supporters.
Other than that the best we can hope for is:
a) KP gets a roaring reception from the Charlton faithful
b) McOxo finds somewhere nice for an over-priced meal afterwards
Realistically, hope we don't concede early, build up a bit of momentum and create some atmosphere. In dreamland, maybe snatch a goal and defend for our lives. It is the Cup after all.
spurs score 1-5 is an 80.5% chance
spurs score 6-9 is an 18% chance
spurs get to double figures is a 1 % chance
oh how exciting we're playing a football team rather than a pub team but we all know we're gonna lose, so i can't wait for the opportunity to get to play nobody fc again whom we have more chance of beating in the league
i just hope the prawn sandwiches are nice
according to the hamilton hall website it doesn't open until 7am so will set my alarm for 3am and start on the tinnies.
Elliot
Francis Dailly Doherty Fry
Wagstaff Racon Semedo Jackson
Anyinsah Sodje
Worner
Fortune
Llera
Reid
McCormack
Abbott
Eccles Cakes?/loanee ST