The Introduction
The rough draft for this preview just went in the bin.
What was going to be a "pick yourself up off the canvas and go in fighting for the remaining 16 rounds" is now, well what exactly? The end of a legend , a dawning of a new era, the shortest suicide note in history or all or some of the above.
With Chris Powell having been "relieved of his duties" what would otherwise be yet another game v Huddersfield takes on huge importance not just for what happens on the pitch but what happens off it.
Charlton fans don't do riots but they do do organising and campaigns. Anyone know where you can buy 10,000 black arm bands?
The Opposition
We've played them so many times there is little left to say. They lost a local derby to Doncaster on Saturday and so helped put another bullet in the gun pointed at SCP's head but they appear to have been on a bizarre win/lose/win/lose run since we knocked them out of the competition that we no longer mention on Charlton Life.
There will be eleven of them in blue and white strips. Beyond that who cares right now?
The Line Up
It will the irony of ironies if new players arrive now but if Jose Riga is the manager coach then he is hardly likely to know the most suitable premiership reserve to pluck out of semi-obscurity to boost the flagging squad.
If, and it is hardly in doubt, Powell went, at least in part, for not picking the likes of Thuram and Nego then we must expect to see both start on Wednesday perhaps along with Koc, Polish Pete, Reza and Astrid. Whatever the rights and wrongs of what has happened those players are not to blame and they deserve to be given a fair chance by the fans. Once they pull on the shirt I wish them only well. Nego plays right back, a position we desperately need to fill while Solly is out so as to allow our best right sided player (Wilson) to play further up the pitch and so influence the game in the attacking third and balance the midfield.
So Jose's Roland's team could be
Thuram
Nego Morrison Dervite Wiggins
Wilson Cousins Poyet Ajdarevic
Reza Parzyszek
I doubt it will but who knows
The Prediction
A poor attendance, a lot of unhappy fans before and during the game and a lot of "I told you so'" afterwards whether we win or lose.
Welcome to Roland's brave new world. Pass the Soma.
5
Comments
6-1 Charlton, delirium in the stands and the masses queue at the box office for hours to snap up the last 750 odd Millwall tickets at the end of the game
Going to be really interesting to see what happens on and off pitch. I imagine if Huddersfield score first there would be a rather poisonous atmosphere.
I'll be there, though with a heavy heart. Will be surprised if Riga can rouse the troops so quickly to get a win, but maybe, hopefully, somehow a draw - not enough of course, but another loss is hard to contemplate.
Walking down Floyd Road after the game knowing that we're definitely going down and we're about to get hammered at Millwall. Realising that very few of the things that made you start watching Charlton in the first place are still there or still relevant. Knowing that we'll be in League 1 next season playing in front of about 8,000 people. Wishing that I'd been more interested in music/art/cooking/theatre/dogging/origami/anything instead of football.
So if you're expecting a full Standard team to boo, you'll be disappointed.
At least, from a neutral's point of view it will be interesting to witness what a football team plays like when you refuse to offer new contracts to most of the squad, sell the best two players, sack a popular manager and let the team be selected by an electronics tycoon.
From a Charlton point of view, very painful to witness the sabotage of your own football club.
Expect: 4-5-1 with Thuram,Nego,Morro,Wood,Wiggins,Wilson,Cousins,Poyet,Astrit,Jackson,Reza
Shock 2-1 win for Charlton and Roland seen with a big grin at the end of the game.
Hamer
Nego
Morrison
Dervite
Wiggins
Wilson
Cousins
Poyet
Harriott
AA
Reza
To be fair the only change I'd imagine from that is Thuram for Hamer.
We beat the Terriers last time out in the cup (away) and will do the same on Wednesday.
My team would be Hamer.. Morrison Dervite Wood Wiggins .. Wilson Cousins Jackson Ajdarevic ... Reza & Church .. I doubt very much if the line up will be anything like this:
CAFC 2 v Huddersfield Town 0
A comprehensive and utterly exhilarating win, probably 2 or 3-0.
Walking down Floyd Road after the game knowing that we're definitely staying up and we're about to win at Millwall for the first time in years. Still realising that very few of the things that made you start watching Charlton in the first place are still there but you will continue to support the team and your club, come what may. Sure that we'll still be in the Championship next season playing in front of about 18,000 people. Pleased that I hadn't been more interested in music/art/cooking/theatre/dogging/origami/ or anything else.
Who really knows whats going to happen! Really sorry to see Powell go - but life and the team goes on. Got to try and be optimistic and keep up the support!
Seriously though - who knows whats going to happen? If we sneaked a win tomorrow and a draw Saturday - suddenly things wouldn't look quite so bad. My main point though is that we have to support Charlton as a team and move on. Not sure what else we can do - the Charlton I support now bears little resemblance to the one I first bought an S/T for in 2000 - only the badge and the stadium remain. Things change - not always for the best (although we've all got opinions on what's best - as is obvious on here) so we have to adapt and support.