IntroductionSaturday sees the return of the beloved Football League celebrating its 125th year anniversary since the very first match back in 1888. Unsurprisingly, Charlton’s first league match of the season is against Bournemouth which has been the occurrence in two out of the last three years. However, this season the first game will be played at Dean Court.
Pre-season has been average for the Addicks with decent performances against Welling and Portsmouth been overshadowed with last Saturday’s loss against Inverness. Now while Charlton’s transfer budget has been the biggest myth since the Loch Ness monster, Bournemouth have also struggled in the transfer window by only bringing in three players since their promotion from League One. However, the visit by Real Madrid in July (which ended in a 6-0 defeat) would have been a decent warm-up as they prepared to feel the wrath of the Addicks!
The OppositionLike Charlton, Bournemouth have a few concerns of their own heading into Saturday’s match against the Addicks with a number of players potentially missing out due to injury. Key players such as ex-Addick Harry Arter, striker Lewis Grabban, instrumental midfielder Matt Ritchie and key striker Brett Pitman all have injuries and are doubts for Saturday’s game.
Additionally, again similarly to Charlton, Bournemouth will be hoping to add to their squad before the weekend and especially up-front where West Thomas might be their only available forward if Grabban and Josh McQuoid miss out.
Ex-Addick Simon Francis is expected to start, so many will be hoping that Francis can repeat his Charlton form this weekend especially with Callum Harriott lining up against the ex-Southend man.
What the Bournemouth Fans Think (from @SamStapleton_ on Twitter) Looking quite injury-ridden at this point. Arter, Grabban, Ritchie and Pitman all have injuries, with the latter two more likely to miss out. Charlie Daniels could miss out after limping off at Bristol City too. If so Ian Harte will play. If our luck is really bad (this weekend) then Wes Thomas will start and then there's no way we'll score as I don't have faith in us scoring without Brett Pitman.
Predicted starting line-up (4231): Allsop, Francis, Elphick, Ward, Daniels, Arter, MacDonald, Fraser, Coulibaly, Pugh, Grabban.
Predicted result: 1-2 to Charlton.
The Line –Up-Charlton. I would imagine that Chris Powell will select a similar line-up to the one that faced Inverness last Saturday with Yann Kermorgant up-front in a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation.
The main dilemma for Powell will be who in selected within the middle of midfield. Against Inverness, Powell chose Mark Gower, Dale Stephens and Johnnie Jackson as his midfield three. Despite a poor performance from Stephens in the Inverness match, I would be surprised if Sir Chris decides to swap him for one of Danny Hollands or Jordan Cousins. The game will probably be too soon for Andy Hughes who is still recovering from a training injury despite playing mid-week against Dartford.
The back-five of Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Dervite and Wiggins will probably follow on from last season with Richard Wood and Leon Cort competing for Dervite’s spot.
Harriott and Pritchard will probably play on the wings although Danny Green will be pushing for a place on the right hand side after a decent pre-season.
The PredictionA 0-0 draw to open the season.
Comments
My hunch is that it will be a score draw.
2-0 to Charlton. Yann and Harriott.
5-0 Charlton in the clubs afterwards.
i like charlton 3-0. Kermorgant 15' and 42', Jackson 75' pk
preferred lineup 4/5/1 = hamer, solly, morro, devrite, wiggins, green, pritchard, hollands, jackson, harriot, kermy
like the preview Stubley