The IntroductionAfter the glory of a cup run rarely equalled in the Club's long history thoughts turn to a "crunch" league game. It is too early to say this is a "must-win" when we are still in January but having slipped into the bottom three while otherwise engaged at Huddersfield there is no doubt that this is a "relegation six-pointer" (this weeks preview is sponsored by the excellent
http://footballcliches.spreadshirt.co.uk/ @FootballCliches)Coming away from the Keepmoat with at least a point will be a huge boast given that we'll still have two games in hand over the Vikings.
Staying up in the wilds of Yorkshire since Saturday rather than enduring long trip home and then back, the players should be well rested and Powell will have the opportunity to integrate the new squad players including those academy players, such as Lennon and Poyet, pushing for a start. It is also perhaps a sign that the penny pinching days are over.
The OppositionHaving rescued a point v Blackpool, Rovers have taken four points from their last two having previously only won once since losing two - zero at the Valley at the tail end of November.
Billy Sharp, who seems to have a revolving door transfer arrangement with Donny, scored a late equaliser on Saturday but Macheda and Robinson, their usual goal threats, were missing.
Player to WatchVeteran Richie Wellens keeps Rovers ticking over but he was effectively snuffed out during the Valley win. Whoever plays in midfield will have to do a destroyer job first before allowing us to play.
The Line UpDecisions, Decisions.
Having "rested" Yann and with Sordell failing to spark it seems inevitable that, if fit, the big Breton will be leading the line alongside goal machine Simon Church.
In the midfield Cousins is likely to start alongside Stephens but Astrit Ajdarević staked a strong claim to also start. Solly's continued absence means the the strongest wide right player we have is forced to drop back. Wilson's assist for Church shows the attacking option we lose playing him at RB. Unless the pocket rocket returns that right side midfield slot is still a problem.
At the back Wiggins will be sitting out the last game of his ban so the choice is an injured and ineffective Evina (how much the two are linked is disputed) or Harry Lennon. The new boy is left footed for sure but really a centre half. Dervite could also move over to full back allowing Wood to come back into the middle but this is not an option that CP has taken in recent times.
In goal man of the match Alnwick would seem a shoe-in if it were not for "rumours" that Thuram has to start. That wasn't the case v Hudds but that was a cup game. We should know how much truth that theory holds at about 7.00 pm on Tuesday night.
Alnwick
Wilson Morrison Wood Dervite
Harriot Cousins Stephens Ajdarevic
Kemorgant Church
The PredictionHaving played them off the park at the Valley we shall see our first double of the season
1 - 0 to the Addicks (Church 61)
Comments
Can't see it tho and can't see us scoring
Payback for Donny
We lose 2-0
And all the fucktards who've not said a word since we beat Hudders will be slagging SCP off again zzzzzzz
Unlike Dervite, Wood is left footed and has played some games as a left back. Fox is a natural left back and had a run of games in League One, while it sounds like Lennon did well there yesterday.
It's the choice between an experienced but slower CB out of position, a young centre back that did a job for an hour in a cup game, or a young left back that didn't even make the squad yesterday but is slightly older and more experienced. Not sure what I'd go with.
In midfield I'm not sure Harriott or Green deserve a start, but we have little choice. Jackson shouldn't really be playing out wide and Ajdarevic sounds just as slow.
Up front good to have Sordell back as an option but following his goal has surely got to be Church alongside Yann in a 4-4-2.
Unlike Dervite, Wood is left footed and has played some games as a left back. Fox is a natural left back and had a run of games in League One, while it sounds like Lennon did well there yesterday.
It's the choice between an experienced but slower CB out of position, a young centre back that did a job for an hour in a cup game, or a young left back that didn't even make the squad yesterday but is slightly older and more experienced. Not sure what I'd go with.
In midfield I'm not sure Harriott or Green deserve a start, but we have little choice. Jackson shouldn't really be playing out wide and Ajdarevic sounds just as slow.
Up front good to have Sordell back as an option but following his goal has surely got to be Church alongside Yann in a 4-4-2.
The right back and right midfield position depends on Solly's fitness. I think that he will be fit and that Wilson will play right midfield.
Adjarevic has no way done enough to justify selection in front of Jackson (though he does show signs of promise and will hopefully come good) and if Thuram is preferred in goal to Alnwick then the new owner is picking the team and we all might as well start collecting for Chris Powell's leaving present.
Doncaster has a good variety of strikers and the team is both dangerous and coming into form. The defence is vulnerable though, and the midfield is merely serviceable.
A VERY hard one to call. Given the win on Saturday and the great spirit that the team seems to be in right now, I am going for a narrow win, but would be happy(ish) with a point
Doncaster Rovers 0 v CAFC 1
Alnwick .. Solly, Morrison, Dervite, Lennon ...... Wilson, Cousins, Stephens, Jackson .... Kermorgant, Church
Wood comes in at CB, Dervite moves to left back.
I wonder if Fox is coming up on the train?
We need a proper LB, at the very least on the bench.
When was the last time you did a preview anyway?
Could be worse, you could be AFKA who just farms his out to celebs
: - )
Coming up over the next month Charlton v Birmingham,Charlton v Barnsley.Sheff Wed vBarnsley,Yeovil v Millwall.Doncaster v Barnsley,Millwall v Bolton,Barnsley v Millwall and Yeovil v Doncaster all before we play Barnsley at home.
Something has too give,look forward to the ride and trust Charlton can come out on top of this little lot of teams.
When the strugglers play each other, they can't both win - and often a draw can be a satisfactory result from our perspective, providing we've won a point or 3 ourselves.
CP, being the son of Curbs, will perhaps give priority that we don't lose when we ourselves play another struggling side, especially away from home.
It's all to play for - and in our own hands.
I hope your right this week more than any other week.
COYA !!!!!!
Just one of my funny quirks....
A win would be orgasmic.
(I live a sad life:-) )
Good analysis , personally I do not like playing with inverted (wrong footed) full backs , so I this this as a choice between Fox , Lennon or Wood.
Morgan Fox has been close to playing before and was an unused sub twice last season. On the few occasions I have seen him play he has impressed me and crucially it is his natural position and he is effective going forward in the same way that Wiggins is .Harry Lennon is also a great prospect and is left footed but he is a centre back. Clearly he has become our 4th choice following Cort's injury which is why he has made the bench recently and got his chance in front of Fox yesterday.
Wood is better in the centre in my view and I hope he is recalled as well, but I would not want him shoe horned into the left back slot for which I think he would be too slow for, we would never have considered his fellow left footer Llera for that role and I always felt that 2 of our other recent left sided defenders Grant Basey and Matt Fry were better playing in the centre than at left back .Thirty years ago we might have got away with it as Andy Nelson was fond of playing the likes of Lawrie Madden and Peter Shaw at full back in the modern day it is not tenable in my view.