Watford v Charlton Athletic
3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire)INTRODUCTIONHaving spent the last couple of days contemplating this week’s Match Preview there were a few topics that I felt I could begin with… I think though it would be rather amiss of myself not to cover the fact that the managerial merry-go-round has struck at the Valley once more, and defeat at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion seemed to be the last straw for Belgian: Bob Peeters, announced late on Sunday, the Addicks owners would spend just two days looking for a successor in Israeli (and ex-Standard Liege; Head Coach): Guy Luzon.
It was an appointment that Bob Peeters feared would happen, yet now we must look to the future… Guy Luzon comes into the Valley as our 31st Manager (including Caretakers) with fans looking on in trepidation, with the majority wondering what the coming months may hold we must remember as Charlton fans to stick together, however we feel about this appointment we must get behind the eleven players picked for our forthcoming match at Watford.
THE OPPOSITIONSaturday 13th September 2014 was the last time the Addicks won a Home game on a Saturday (almost certainly one of the defining factors for Peeters to be replaced)… that match on that day was the last time Charlton played Watford and as per the majority of the early matches a real Alamo defence, the Addicks would take the lead through a Yoni Buyens penalty after Igor Vetokele was tripped and that’s the way it would stay, all three points would remain in South East London, Charlton would climb a place to 5th sharing points with Watford who would be just one place ahead in the table.
Fast forward to Saturday 18th January 2015 though and Watford have continued to be steady this season, on to their fourth Manager now (Slaviša Jokanović), Watford have kept up their promotion chase by constantly remaining in the Play-Off spots… Despite losing to Crystal Palace in the Play-Off Final two years ago now, could this be the season that the Hornets return to the top-flight?
KEY PLAYER – IKECHI ANYA
My main player to watch this week is Scottish Winger: Ikechi Anya… quick, nippy and very difficult to play against, whoever has the honour of being our Full-Back this weekend certainly has a job on their hands… Having notched up just over 50-apperances in Hertfordshire, many would be surprised to know that Anya is in his late 20s now after his career to the English Championship took a very different path.
Highly rated at Wycombe Wanders at a youngster; Anya would fail to make the break making just 18-apperances in three years and he would go on to spend time in Non-League with Oxford City and Halesowen Town… Anya would go on to leave the English shores in 2008 for the famed Glen Hoddle Academy where he would be noticed by Spanish side Celta Vigo (although making just the one appearance) before going on to join fellow Spanish side: Grenada
It was with Grenada (the club not the country) where Anya would become part of the Watford setup; with Grenada and Watford owned by the same man (sound familiar?), Anya would initially come back to England on loan before making his move permanent in 2013.
Ikechi Anya’s stock is rising and having made 11-appearances for the Scottish National Side (including a goal this season against World Cup Winners: Germany), how long will it be before he makes the move to the Premier League…
LINE-UPThe worst part of a new Manager coming in is never knowing what the line-up could possibly be or whether Luzon will be leaving this selection for Damien Matthew and Ben Roberts to make, the fight for the No.1 spot will be between Marko Dmitrovic and Neil Etheridge whilst Rhoys Wiggins made a surprise return last time out… Igor Vetokele is clearly struggling with his Achilles so could be rested in favour of George Tucudean and / or Tony Watt – Both Callum Harriott and Yoni Buyens can be selected once more following respective suspensions.
Dmitrovic
Solly – Ben-Haim – Bikey – Wiggins
Gudmunsson – Jackson – Buyens – Cousins
Watt – Tucudean
PREDICTIONI’ll never predict us to lose… Watford 1-1 Charlton Athletic (Jackson)
Comments
COYA!
Dmitovic
Solly
Wiggins
Ben Haim
Bikey
Gudmundson
Buyens
Cousins
Harriot
Vetokele
Watt
2-1 win
Luzon'sRoland's line-up will beDmitrovic
Solly
Ben Haim
Bikey
Wiggins
JBG
Buyens
Cousins
JBG
Vetokele
Watt
dictated by the fact he has hardly any options. Jackson or Harriott maybe, everything else is dross.
I jest. 3-0 loss.
Solid defence; two of the midfield rested; Watt and Vetokele - who knows?!
Udinese 1 - 1 Standard
Henderson
Solly TBH BIkey Wiggins
Wilson (MoM) Buyens Cousins Harriot
Watt Tuchedean
Powell - Right Mid... Riga - Centre... Peeters - Left
Can imagine the conversation he's had with Luzon already:
GL: I understand your a bit of a utility player Jordan, but that you like to play in the middle
JC: God yeah boss, am tired of being out on the wings, would much rather be in the centre
GL: Good lad, knew you wouldnt let me down... Your our Goalkeeper for the rest of the year
If Luzon has a grain of sense, then he first needs to take a back seat and assess.
Gomez
Tbh
Bikey
Wiggins
Solly
Buyens
Cousins
JBG
Watt
Vetokele
Looking forward to this, Watford have some of the best attacking players in the league and we have at least one of the best defenders in TBH. Really hope Gomez starts because he is improving so fast that we may not have him for long. 1-1
Only joking of course - I love Guy and will back him 1000%.
We'll bring Vetokele on in the 2nd half, 2 mins later switch him to left back and sling Church on upfront.
Oh sorry, scrub that, forgot, Bob's gone.