The Intro Bit
As rumours persist of new owners and new grounds for the Addicks, fate would have it that we travel to the Madejski, to many the epitome of the soulless, modern, out of town, your future dream is a shopping scheme, indistinguishable from all the rest, bowl stadium.
Why all that may be true the 24,000 seater venue also houses an hotel and conference centre while the ground is also home to London Irish Rugger Club. Their earning potential is certainly greater than at Elm Park, they have been able to host top flight football and they had plans to expand the capacity until relegated last season.
To misquote Lincoln Steffens "I have seen the future and I'm not sure if it works"
But we have more mundane matters such as three points to concern us on Tuesday.
The Opposition
Just like last week v Doncaster we face a team that played and won on Friday night, is this case 3 - 2 at Forest. And just like last week our opponents will be missing a key player after Gunter was red carded.
Other than that enforced changed the Royals/Biscuitmen are likely to stick to the same side.
They score goals even when, as on Friday, they leave six goal top scorer Adam Le Fondre on the bench. But they let them in too. 20 goals conceded is the same as Charlton and that includes five against Massive Wednesday.
Player to Watch
19 year old Jordan Obita is starting to earn himself a reputation as a young, up and coming goal scoring winger
The Line Up.
Chris Powell's plea for loan players to bolster the squad going into the busy Christmas period fell on deaf or possibly distracted ears so we stick with what we have. When you exclude those out on loan, the injured Solly, Hamer and Cort and the untried kids that is just 21 players. That also includes the disappeared Gower and Pritchard, the latter of whom has normally been a part of Powell's squads.
That may not be great for Chrissy but it certainly makes writing these previews easier.
So same again because bar Harriot and Pritch there do not appear to be many other options.
Alnwick
Wilson Morrison Dervite Wiggins
Stewart Stephens Cousins Jackson
Kermorgant
Chruch
The Useless Fact
Youngster Dean Chandler played his only game for the Addicks v Reading and scored. He went on to have a long career in non-league football and also represented England's Learning Disability team.
The Prediction
The Reds get back on the road and back on track. 0 - 0
0
Comments
Away win 0-1, because this team is just so bloody confoundingly, infuriatingly inconsistent it would be just like them to bounce back from a no-show like today with a battling performance of heroic proportions..
Reading will score for fun but if Dale doesn't turn up we a haven't got a chance
3 or 4-0
4-0 Reading. Our toothless attack making another appearance, mixed with poor defending on this occasion.
Everyone then calls for two wingers and two strikers for our next home match which we promptly lose.
"Deja vu" as they say at Paris St Germain.
Alnwick
wood devite morrison
wilson stephens jackson cousins harriot
kermo church
first woods has been missed and needs to come back in.
second jackson cant play out wide[or in a 4 man midfield in middle so we have to have 5 in midfield and kermo is not fit enough to play up front on his own and church is not good enough to play upfront on his own.
third stewart is pants and shouldnt ever play for charlton again
3 - 5 - 2 might be a good option.
Could get us a clean sheet and so at least one point.
It depends what Charlton team turns up, if it is switched on and starts quickly or is half asleep at kick off and only wakes up when it is far too late.
I have a feeling that happy valley SE7 has become a poisoned valley, the players just do not like playing there anymore.
I think that we will put up a good performance ... BUT will lose this one
Alnwick .. Wilson Wood Morrison Wiggins .. Harriott/Jackson Stephens Cousins Stewart ... Church Kermorgant.
I am unsure who will do better, Harriott or Jackson. Whenever I've seen Jackson (away only) this season, he has played well. Perhaps another case of valleyitis. But we need to attack if we want any result at Reading, so it's Harriott for me.
Reading 3 v CAFC 2
If we go 3-5-2, we will have three centre backs against a lone centre forward, an extra man in central midfield, but vulnerable to two-against -one overloads on both flanks. Which is a big risk.
Ipswich stopped us playing by matching up to our 4-4-2 system and taking out our strongest players from the Doncaster game, Stephens & Stewart. They played a tight line to limit Church running in behind and tried to stop the full backs getting forward. The result was a combination of hoof-ball and frustration. We have to do the same to Reading and produce a similar performance to Blackburn & Birmingham away.
I've not seen Reading on telly this season but their home record is strong and they look as if they're coming into some form. I'd expect them to establish a reasonably high tempo from the start and pin us back for long periods, leaving our striker(s) isolated. Although we are a better proposition away from home, I fear that we'll lose this one by a couple of goals.
As ever, I live in hope that we may be able to nick something - especially if there is any complacency on their part - but the game that really matters is Yeovil next Saturday.
I wanna see a Wiggins/Evina left flank