Charlton Athletic v Brentford
Saturday 24 October 2015 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)IntroductionWe may still be October, yet 22 November 2008 is a day still fresh in many Charlton fans minds, on that Saturday a poor Charlton side lost 5-2 at home against Sheffield United, afterwards, the Manager: Alan Pardew was sacked, and despite the writing being on the wall pretty much all season, the wheels were set in motion which saw the Addicks relegated to League One for the first time in a number of years (playing budget and the man brought in being other significant reasons for relegation.)
Fast forward almost seven years and things don’t look much different, the Addicks lost their last match (by three goals once more) in a match performance which many regard as one of the worst in our history, the fans have once again predicted a change in the hot seat, and should there be a change then we risk the same budget and experience issues as our last relegation… Yet unlike last time, the Head Coach hasn’t instantly been sacked, this Saturday he has a chance of redemption, against
Brentford.
The OppositionName: Brentford |
Head Coach: Lee Carsley
Ground: Griffin Park |
Formed: 1889 |
Nickname: The Bees
This Saturday is a match against a side who some could say have had a worse start than Charlton, some could say that after last season, Brentford have maybe come back down to earth with a bump after their impressive season last year… For now though the focus is based on where Brentford came from… Formed in 1889 (Once again a few years before Charlton had been thought of), Brentford have been playing at Griffin Park since 1904 and it is there that they have remained ever since.
Brentford can be considered a side that have constantly lived in the shadows of their rivals; Fulham and Chelsea, who despite grabbing all the headlines last season by winning the Premier League title, didn’t get all the talk of West London… Making a return to the second tier of English Football for the first time in a number of years, Brentford would through the predictions out the window, with many expecting instant relegation for the Bees; Brentford would go on and obtain a Play-Off spot in one of the hardest Championship seasons for a number of years.
Sadly promotion wouldn’t happen for the Bees and some would say it was much deserved… the shocking sacking of Mark Warburton (the man who engineered the current Brentford side) before the end of the season angered many and after a disastrous managerial appointment, ex-Everton Midfielder; Lee Carsley is now in charge… After winning his first match against Wolves midweek, many Charlton fans would look to Brentford as a perfect example as to when a Chairman should quit his experiment and revert back to the tried and tested English way, but let’s wait until the honeymoon period is over for Brentford at least first (Hopefully its over already).
Top Trumps
Key FigureOnce again you’ll notice that I’m changing the style of my Match Preview partly to keep it interesting, partly because this match could hold such importance… In past weeks I’ve concentrated on dangerous Strikers who could settle the match or up and coming youngsters that we should watch out for and who may possibly go on to greater and better things… Never though has this feature involved a member of the Charlton team, yet think that this week it’s time to change that approach.
When Bob Peeters was sacked as Manager of Charlton at the end of 2014, many expected the owners to announce the end of the experiment, they expected an English Manager with experience of the Championship and the first few hours after the sacking this looked to be happening… 24-hours later the Charlton fans realised that this wouldn’t be happening and
Guy Luzon was hired as Manager.
Things didn’t get off to a great start (with the work permit issues) yet over time Guy managed to get the fans on his side by steering them well away from relegation, whilst having the luxury of having an almost fully fit squad to choose from (Johnnie Jackson being one of the rare injured players)… After a busy summer, it looked as though the experiment may work, impressive wins came against Queens Park Rangers and Hull City, and things were looking up, sadly since that day nothing has gone right for the Management nor the players, with Luzon having an already depleted squad to deal with, one player after another succumbed to injury.
On Tuesday night it was the last straw for many a fan… With the club still dealing with injuries, many fans felt that the decision to play three Left-Backs (?) was a debatable decision and performances on the pitch certainly didn’t help that debate… Many fans now feel that Luzon is walking on egg shells, that the selection of his team on Saturday will be crucial if he wants to remain at the club, yet whoever comes in will have to deal with the same injuries so removing the Manager may plug the small leak that is flowing from the damn, it won’t stop the flood of issues that is also flowing.
Charlton Team NewsFollowing the match on Tuesday, the Charlton hierarchy decided that it was time to highlight just which players are struggling with injury… Many fans believe that we should take the risk and play those not fully fit this weekend yet what long term damage could that create on the pitch, injuries could flare up worse, these players could be out longer and we’d be in more trouble (All different possibilities but an example of the difficulties that a real Football Manager has).
With
Stephen Henderson having playing for the U21s on Monday, it would have been crazy to have played him twice within 24-hours… It’s now time for Stephen and the medical staff to decide whether another reserve match is required or whether it’s time for Nick Pope to take a rest, after his yellow card on Tuesday;
Alou Diarra will be suspended for the match, yet Patrick Bauer will return from his suspension so will line up alongside Naby Sarr.
Johann Gudmundsson (with three assists this season) took a knock against Reading so missed the last match with a dead leg so our creativity should hopefully return whilst Guy Luzon has already admitted that Simon Makienok will start from the bench this Saturday… Special mention should go to
Reza Ghoochanniejad, may believe that he isn’t the answer to the question, many have said that he doesn’t want to be here, but when a specialist says a player will be out for 12-weeks and they return within 9-weeks, well you do have to question, maybe he does want to be here (for the time being anyway)
Henderson
Solly … Bauer … Sarr … Fox
Gudmundsson … Jackson … Cousins … McAleny
Watt … Ghoochanniejad
Prediction
Charlton Athletic 2-0 BrentfordThanks for reading… Keep the faith; transmit that faith on to this pitch this Saturday
Comments
Unfortunately we are shit and have no squad left. 0-4
Nobody really happy.
Lets get behind the team, even if we do have justifiable doubts over ability and selection.
Leave the coach alone. He is probable on borrowed time and rightly so.
However until the issues are sorted higher up the problem on the playing side will persist. If you want to protest aim it in the right direction. Please
1-2 to them
Difficult to envisage anything other than more misery, although you would think there must be some sort of reaction to Tuesday's debacle. I reckon we'll come out fighting, but if Brentford score first it could be a long and uncomfortable afternoon.
Personally, I couldn't care less whether Guy goes or not, he isn't the main problem. If we're 2-0 down and you feel like venting your anger, just remember who sets and controls the budget, who's in charge of player recruitment and who recruited Guy (and his equally unsuccessful predecessor).
Any vitriol should be directly firmly towards the directors' box.
Judge is their player to look out for.
He destroyed us in the game where Notts County went 4 up at The Valley in our promotion season. We later made a bungled attempt to sign him.
Hendo
Solly
Bauer
Sarr
Fox
JBG
Cousins
Jackson
Moussa
Watt
Mak / Reza (just not KAG)
4-0 defeat. They are just far far too good for us.
Reckon Moussa will make a sub appearance
I hope the crowd get behind Charlton, but I fear it could get very nasty if Brentford score first.
Home to Huddersfield . must win...lost
Home to Fulham ..........must win ...tried to lose but managed a draw !
Home to Preston .........must win....lost
Home to Brentford ......must win............Oh dear!
Solly … Bauer … Sarr … Fox
Gudmundsson … Jackson … Cousins … Moussa
Watt … Makienok
Jackson can't play 90 mins so will be replaced by Ba on 60 mins or Moussa to drop into CM. McAleny isn't ready for 1st team football, KAG needs a rest. Start with Mak and try to get ahead otherwise we will bring him on with twenty to play and we are chasing the game. Otherwise agree with the OP predicted team.
After their good win last night then I predict a 0-2 defeat.
Got no idea who will be on the pitch. Really none. Doubt it will be the strongest team. Really don't want to see anyone other than Morgan Fox at LB as I think it is too early for THD and not convinced by Bergdych. Need JBG back so we get more than one shot on target. If Hendo is back he can be captain as Solly really shouldn't be. Or maybe JJ will start. Or maybe someone from the youth team will. Who really knows? Not even GL?
I will try and enjoy the gallows humour - really don't expect us to get anything here.