Scene 1: Preview Towers
The Gaffer: "Right you miserable lot, preview allocations, Stubbers, you're on Saturdays until WSS gets over missing out on the Dr Who role. Irving, you can do the Capital One Cup."
Irving "The Capital One Cup, what's that when it's at home?.
The Gafffer: "It's the League Cup you stupid old duffer, keep up for fecks sake."
Irving: "The League Cup! thanks for nothing. How come Stubbers gets all the cushy numbers and I get the dross. Can't you ask Jashea99 to write some previews, he reckons he can even proofread his own copy"
The Gaffer: "You'll do what you're bloody told. If you get it right I might let you back on auctions but as Shirty5 is doing such a good job don't count on it"
The Introduction
It's the League Cup, it's a team from two divisions below and it's August. So we all know what happens, don't we?
Only Chris Powell is more than aware that a cup run of any sort is long overdue. Bradford's run to the final shows what is possible and the extra income may come in very handy.
The Opposition
The former Headington Utd once won the league/milk/beer/coke/whatever it was cup but then again they were once a top flight side. A lot of water has flown under the Bridge of Sighs since then though. After four years out of the football league they had first joined in 1962 The Us returned to League 2 in 2010 where they remain.
Both managers will be former Charlton full backs as United are managed by a former Addick Chris Wilder who made three unremarkable appearances just before the return to the Valley.
United were convincing winners at Fratton Park on Saturday which may convince Wilder to stick with a similar line up. Smalley and Potter both hit a brace in a 4 - 1 win. They will certainly be full of confidence although they are unlikely to have the backing of 2500 travelling fans as they did at Pompey
The Line Up.
This is really finger in the air stuff with the only certainty being that the suspended Bradley Pritchard won't play.
Chris Powell has a number of factors to consider as he picks his starting XI
1. Does he want to give his first team more time to "gel". Yann and Marvin could benefit from more time together.
2. Can he risk any injuries to what is a smaller first team squad than last year?
3. A strong side and a win would lift confidence and could be that start of a profitable cup run.
4. The likes of Wood, Cort and Church will be looking to start games and there are also a cluster of young academy products such as Cousins and Pigott who SCP will want to have a look at.
So with all that in mind expect to see a starting line up of
Pope
Wilson Cort Wood, Evina
Green Stephens Gower Harriot
Kermorgant Sordell
The Prediction
Major cup shock. Charlton win 3 - 1
0
Comments
You're well down the pecking order, Sir Henry.
CAFC 2-2 OUFC
(OUFC win 5-4 on pens).
Better not say too much in case he bans me again.
Looks like there's an issue with your hearing as well....
Current arguments on who will be representing the AFKA household at this one ("you go", "no, you go").
Wouldn't mind seeing that team, though i would drop Kermorgant for Church
More importantly, can anyone briefly explain what happened when we clashed with the Yardies in Oxford in the 80s?
Team
Hamer
Solly
Evina
Cort
Wood
Green
Harriott
Stephens
Hughes
Church
Sordell
Actually if the team is anything like that think we will win
3-0 to the Addicks, actually no I'll be sensible 1-3 to Oxford
Team as per another thread i would like to see,:
The Pope
Wilson, Cort, Wood, Evina
Green, Cousins, Stephens, Cook
Piggott, Church/Sordell
I'm popping along to this game tomorrow..hope to see a similar side to the one Henners has suggested, although I do expect to see Hamer in goal still.
Solly
Wood
Cort
Evina
Wilson
Stephens
Hollands
Gower
Cook
Sordell
2-1 Oxford
Hamer
Solly
Evina
Morro
Dervite
Wilson
Stephens
Gower
Harriot
Kermo
Sordell
Not sure whether to go to this, I've seen some shockers over the years in the Carling Cup, last year vs Orient was horrible.
Pope
Wilson, Cort, Wood, Evina
Green, Hollands, Stephens, Cook
Church, Pigott
However, I might suggest Cort starts and would like to see Cousins, Piggot and Hollands on the bench.
Another opportunity for the lads to gel.....
Pope
Wilson
Cort
Wood
Evina
Green
Hollands
Gower
Stephens
Cook
Church
With lots of good players on the bench; Hamer, Solly, Wiggins, Morrison, Poyet, Piggott, Sordell/Kermorgant.
That midfield should be able to gain enough control and keep enough supply going through to Cook, Green and the full-backs.