Introduction
This weekend sees the games played column in the league table tick over to double figures, a much heralded barometer of where you can expect to be competing for the rest of the season. Of course there is no science behind this assumption but after 900 minutes of football, clubs should have a ‘gelled team’; experienced different styles of play in the league and be able to judge the level they are at. A lowly 20th position for Charlton suggests a difficult season ahead especially with the long-term injuries of key personnel in the form of Rhoys Wiggins and Yann Kermorgant, yet does this tell the whole story? Have we simply not had the rub of the green or are we lacking ’something’ to have a semi-comfortable season? On paper Blackpool away looks to be the biggest test of the season so far – a defeat going into a run of difficult fixtures will retain the gloom and a victory will raise the hope going into the final three quarters of the season.
The Team
Despite encouraging and improved performances from marquee signing Lawrie Wilson, the imbalance and lack of drive by playing Chris Solly on the left remains, although you can’t see Chris Powell introducing Cedric Evina against a team with the best attack in the league (averaging 3.25 goals at home). Expect the defence to remain the same. Expect the midfield to change.
Johnnie Jackson is hoping to be fit for the game up at Bloomfield Road and could return to the fold. Whether this is on the left at the expense of the noticeably tiring Kerkar, or in the centre should Chris Powell decide to play five across the middle a la Blackburn remains to be seen but expect the captain to start if fit. Of course, adopting a 4-5-1 formation means dropping a striker – Bradley Wright-Phillips is working incredibly hard for the team at the moment yet is not scoring the goals required of him whilst the hugely talented Ricardo Fuller may struggle to lead the line alone having played a full 90 minutes on Tuesday night.
There are also two loan factors to consider, a few days extra training could see Abdul Rasak debut in the centre of the park – most likely at the expense of Danny Hollands and Rob Hulse has stated he wants to play and is probably best suited to the ‘holding-up’ role up front. Chris Powell doesn’t come across as a wholesale changes type-of-guy though, so if any changes occur there won’t be more than two.
The Opposition
As mentioned, Blackpool are not afraid to score a bucket load of goals yet they are conceding at home on a regular basis so taking chances is going to be important for the Addicks. The Tangerines have quality throughout the team: Ince and Dicko have 9 goals between them already but still have attacking threats in abundance with Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Matty Phillips and Nathan Delfouneso all on their books. Oh, and old friend Nathan Eccleston is also milling about up there. Having conceded eight goals in their last three games (including a 3-1 home loss to Huddersfield), Ian Holloway will be hoping for a tighter ship yet his teams seem to be only able to play one way and that is attacking.
Prediction
You’d hope Chris Powell will have looked at the defensive frailties of Blackpool and set the team up in such a way to get a couple of goals, although the demonstrated cautious approach of Curbs-Lite will most likely see us keeping it tight rather than being expansive. Any kind of result would be a surprise to the travelling Addicks (and probably secondary to the reasons for going up there…) but football, and especially this league can surprise you – but not this week. 3-1 to Blackpool.
Come on you reds!
(A message from Stu in China: "I hope everyone travelling up there has a whale of a time - like I did last time - literally")
0
Comments
Hamer
Solly Cortr Morrison Evina
Waggo Razak Stephens Jacko Kerkar
Fuller
on the bench
Button,Hulse, Dervite, Wilson, Pritchard, BWP, Hollands
Forecast 1-1
I would prefer to see a 4-5-1.
Hamer
Solly rb
Evina lb
Morrison
Cort
Green rw
Jackson lw I think Jackson may do better on the left in a 5 man midfield
Rasak cm
Prichard cm
Stephens am
Fuller
I think Rasak and Prichard will be a bit more mobile then Hollands and can do all the dirty work, leaving Stephens to concentrate on attacking and playing more killer passes.
If thats the team I can see us getting a point or nicking it by the odd goal
1-1
and @WSS goes missing in some seedy nightclub
I think CP really likes to play 4-4-2, meaning Fuller and BWP to start. As the preview says, he's not one to make wholesale changes, so I would expect the rest of the team to be fairly predictable, apart from Jackson returning if fit.
I remember that game, at the time we were the big cheeses, and Blackpool were the minnows; nobody would have dreamed that we would be the ones soon playing in L1, while Blackpool got promoted to the PL!
Personally can't see us getting anything up there at all. I'd like to see Powell revert to a 4-5-1, similar to the Blackburn formation, which in reality operated more like a 4-2-3-1. The extra man in midfield really does make a difference, although its difficult to see who that might be without Jackson.
We missed Jackson against Watford and I hope he returns soon. Hollands has been pretty inconsistent so far this season so I'd bring Razak in to add a bit of strength to that midfield. I'd persist with Kerkar until Jackson returns and bring Wagstaff in to play just behind Fuller. This would also add so much needed pace to the team. BWP works hard and will always get himself into those positions, it's just not falling for him at the moment. I still rate him though.
I'd go for the following team and stick with it for the next few weeks if possible:
4-2-3-1:
Hamer - Wilson, Morrison, Cort Solly - Stephens, Razak - Green, Wagstaff, Kerkar - Fuller.
Hoping the lads won't miss me tooooo much and hoping for a nice point to bring back to SE7.
Onwards & upwards !!!!
I can't see anyting but a home win for one of the most tenacious and ruthless, as well as skilful teams in the division. The Huddersfield loss was a wake up call for them, they will not be in the mood for anything but a win. I hope that I am wrong
Charlton, to me, lack real conviction and confidence at the moment. Blackpool would be the place to relight the fire. I have no idea what team Powell will select. Obviously a lacklustre midfield and attack will be plenty of food for thought.
Blackpool 2 or 3 v CAFC 0
If we play 4-5-1 a little something like this...
Hamer
Wilson Morrison Cort Solly
Green Razak Stephens Jackson (if fit...Pritchard if not) Kerkar
Fuller
...we might get away with something.
Hamer
Wilson Cort Morrison Solly
Green Razak Stephens Jacko Kerkar
Fuller
We could sneak a point.
The team selection/formation will be more important than the result in many ways.
As many have already said, we need 5 in midfield to have even half a chance here but will SCP be prepared drop BWP?
I fear 4-4-2 and a major humiliating, blood-curdling, cringe-inducing disaster that may shock us to our Nike boots.
PS Don't care who our full backs are as long as A.neither of them are me and B. one of them is called Solly because it will make little difference to the end result
PPS If all goes really pear-shaped at least we can all hide our shame in the gloomy shadows of the Valley superstore.
Hope we play 4-4-1-1 like we did v Blackburn. I'd go for Wagstaff behind Fuller, playing the role he did when Keith Peacock was caretaker manager. Will add pace to the midfield, a goal threat and has the energy and fitness to support the midfield and striker wherever the ball is. Pritchard is an another option but less of a goal threat.
In the middle would go for Rasak and Stephens. Other than that would stick with the same team. It's not the right game to start Evina.
Blackpool set-up with 3 Central Midfielders, 2 wide attackers & a Centre Forward. They push both full backs on at every opportunity, often in advance of the ball, and commit numbers forward very quickly. To counter that Simon Grayson played a lop-sided 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 system, pulling the right midfielder in to match up man-for-man with Blackpool's central three. They left Novak and Vaughan up front to play one-against-one against the Blackpool centre backs. When Blackpool had the ball, they stifled the play very effectively and denied Ince possession in particular. Huddersfield's tactics worked really well, they won a good share of possession, attacked Blackpool's weaknesses at the back and fully deserved the 3-1 win.
How will CP play it? 4-5-1 will help to cover the full backs moving forward but with only one forward, will we be able to capitalise on the space Blackpool allow at the back? Will he try to replicate Graysons game-plan? Matching up in midfield is a must whatever system we use. I hope he is positive in his team selection and goes for it and freshens up the central midfield in particular.