Charlton Athletic v Southampton U23s
Tuesday 30th August 2016 … 7:45pm Kick-Off
Football League Trophy
IntroductionWhen the referee blew his full time whistle on the 7th May he didn’t just bring an end to an end, our match against Burnley. He also signalled the end of our stay in the Championship and thus relegating us back to the third tier of English Football, back to League One and back into a competition we’d hope that we’d never have to face again: the Football League Trophy. I could say that much has changed since our last outing in this competition (a 3-0 loss to Brentford) yet I’d be lying as any changes come into effect from right now:
As with our first opponents, Academy sides from category one clubs have entered the competition (many top Premier League sides refused the invitation so a handful of Championship sides have been included)… There are now sixteen groups of regionalised (I say that word loosely) teams, the top two will qualify for the knockout stage which unlike the old format, won’t be regionalised and if that doesn’t get you excited, any match that ends in a draw will go to a penalty shootout with the winners being awarded an extra point.
In the coming months we’ll find ourselves up against Colchester and Crawley, and just like the World Cup… Fail to lose your first game and you run the risk of having to endure more games in the competition later in the season.
The OppositionName: Southampton U23s
Division: U21 Premier League, Division One
When you look at your academy you have to ask the question:
What makes it a successful one? – Is it Chelsea that have the best, hoarding all the young players, winning all the youth competitions yet never creating a star for their first team… Or is it Southampton, they don’t win much but when you look at their recent history of creating not just first team players, but stars (Bale / Shaw / Chamberlain / Lallana to name a few) then you have to consider that our first game back in this competition is against one of the hardest youth teams in the tournament!!
Of course under new rules, Southampton must play at least six players under U21 yet are also allowed to play a number of first-team players and with a handful of players not going on International Duty this could be an opportunity for the likes of Charlie Austin or Jay Rodriguez to get some much needed playing time… From the academy: Jake Hesketh and Ryan Seager are two names who have each made their debuts for the First Team.
Charlton Team NewsOf course, Southampton must play six U21 players, whilst Charlton on the other hand must play a minimum of five first team players and with Russell Slade announcing that Dillon Phillips will be making his debut, which technically means five players from the Bolton team on Saturday will have to appear this evening.
Naturally: Josh Magennis / Ademola Lookman and Jordan Botaka are all now on International Duty so we shouldn’t expect to see them whilst Chris Solly / Johnnie Jackson and Ezri Konsa will no doubt be given a rest… Nicky Ajose is still struggling to find the net so may well be given a run out for his confidence, Patrick Bauer will surely be given more minutes as he steps up his fitness from long term injury whilst expect to see fan favourite: Roger Johnson back on the pitch!!
Phillips
Foley … Bauer … Johnson … Fox
Charles-Cook … Muldoon … Crofts … Holmes
Ajose … Hanlan
Substitutes Bench: I’m not even going to try and guess (No this isn’t this new creative midfielder)
PredictionTonight’s result will completely depend on how seriously Russell Slade wants to take the competition, if you go by the League Cup result, you’d expect us to exit at this round so that we can concentrate on more important matters like the League.
As Charlton have found out in the Kent Senior Cup, (i.e. Dartford) isn’t as straight forward as it sounds so Southampton shouldn’t expect an easy run out… I’d be surprised if it isn’t a draw with someone winning on penalties.
Cheer up… We’re off to Wember-ley lads!!
Comments
There is no way Holmes or Fox should be anywhere near this fixture. One is our only credible creative threat and the other our only credible (depending on your view) left back. It would be madness to risk them here regardless of the rules. If they are still under contract by tonight this is one for the Ba's, Johnsons, Texeiras and other nominal first teamers and the yoof. Play Archie for experience. We may be needing him soon.
There's been some games and competitions over the years that have made me a bit cynical. This one just makes me angry. I don't want us to win as I don't want to go any further in this joke. I don't want to lose as in principle I don't want the premier kiddies teams to progress and devalue it even further. Rock and a hard place. What an utter and contemptible waste of time.
Other than that I have no more interest than for a reserve game other than will the attendance be a record low ie under 817?
I say no, it won't. 1031 there.
This was the rules last time as well, so if you play 11 youth players you back yourself into a corner
They started with their five first teamers but three of them were subbed for an U21 player within five minutes of the start... No rules to stop us from doing that and not getting a fine is there?
Foley Johnson Konsa Fox
Charles-Cook Muldoon Crofts
Hanlan Ajose KAG
Rudd, Bauer, Lennon, Solly, Holmes, Umerah, Novak
If Chicksen signs in time, perhaps he will play. It will give him some match time at least
The kids can go back to there youth leagues a dream of pursueing a career with Waterlooville, Poole or some other south coast non league team.
The crowd will be about 700, but it turns ugly as people get bored of the game and remember that tear up in the train station in the mid 90's between Charlton and Southampton fans.
Southampton U23s at 7/2, will be having a slice
Foley Johnson Bauer Fox
RCC Crofts Muldoon Holmes
Ajose Hanlan
Sub out Crofts, Holmes, Ajose in the first five minutes.
If it whets the appetite, sounds as if #saints set to have entirely U23 squad at #cafc tonight - can play five over-age players.
Richard Cawley @RichCawleySLP 3h3 hours ago England, United Kingdom
Pool dwindled further by Josh Magennis away on international duty and Jackson injured. Likely Ajose + Crofts both have to play.
I know Southampton are leagues above us now, but it's a bit degrading.
Southampton U23 played just Sunday and lost 3-0 up at Sunderland, same squad so will be tired.