We've had a few results and signings in August for the pro-RD/anti-CARD groups to get excited about. This is a play-off squad at best though so we're now going to have a few more poor results after Saturday. Scunthorpe 3 Charlton 1. Talk of gelling, protesting and luck to follow.
Real hard working performance called for here, and yes it could easily get ugly, Jackson will play if fit and hopefully lift a few around him, being positive I'll plump for a draw, 1-1.
Prediction - Scunthorpe 3-1 CAFC If we do not set out with attacking intent and score at least 4 goals in the first half, I fear we could still lose. (Said purely for dramatic effect) As such, I'd go with the following:
3-0 scunny reminiscent of Donny Rovers evening game. Was thinking of going but need to leave at half-time to get to work. Could it possibly be worth it? Anyone know if tickets on sale on gate and cost?
Phoned the ticket office to book tickets for Oxford and Port Vale, and at the end of the transaction I told the accommodating ticket office lady that I was considering going to Scunthorpe at short notice, and asked if they were selling tickets on the gate. She said hold the line, and a short time later came back to me to say that no one knows, but the club will ring back.
About 2 or 3 mins later the phone rang and she said that they had phoned Scunny and that, yes, away tickets are available on the night. Not everything is broken at The Valley! Booked train and hotel, as I can't get back to Manchester after the game. See you all there.
Phoned the ticket office to book tickets for Oxford and Port Vale, and at the end of the transaction I told the accommodating ticket office lady that I was considering going to Scunthorpe at short notice, and asked if they were selling tickets on the gate. She said hold the line, and a short time later came back to me to say that no one knows, but the club will ring back.
About 2 or 3 mins later the phone rang and she said that they had phoned Scunny and that, yes, away tickets are available on the night. Not everything is broken at The Valley! Booked train and hotel, as I can't get back to Manchester after the game. See you all there.
About 2 or 3 mins later the phone rang, it was the club Doctor wanting to check your sanity
There"s a similar feel to this one as that midweek trip to Leeds a while back when we won 1-0 with a Reza worldy and a penalty save. I expected to lose that night and I'm confident Russel woll put out a team to sit back and invite them onto us resulting in a 3-0 defeat. But we've had these write-off midweek trips before (a 3-1 win against Newcastle back in 1990 was another) so if we do lose, my hope will also be squashed again.
I suspect that Slade will make one or two changes, perhaps giving Konsa and Lookman a breather by naming them on the bench. The difficulty, however, is that our midfielders looked cream crackered on Saturday and the only alternatives we have are Jacko, who's returning from a hamstring injury, and Foley, who is really a full back. We're very short in this critical area and - as people have been repeatedly saying since the pre-season friendlies in Austria - it will inevitably cost us over the course of the season.
I suspect that Slade will make one or two changes, perhaps giving Konsa and Lookman a breather by naming them on the bench. The difficulty, however, is that our midfielders looked cream crackered on Saturday and the only alternatives we have are Jacko, who's returning from a hamstring injury, and Foley, who is really a full back. We're very short in this critical area and - as people have been repeatedly saying since the pre-season friendlies in Austria - it will inevitably cost us over the course of the season.
I think he might play Foley, stats show that he runs further during a game than any other player. I know he has limitations as a midfielder, but its this sort of game that is going to demand work rate against a hard working team.
comments from Graham Alexander .. brief mention of CAFC from 2.30 in .. 'it'll be a tough game .. Graham we all hope so, VERY tough ((:>) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0486kzj
I suspect that Slade will make one or two changes, perhaps giving Konsa and Lookman a breather by naming them on the bench. The difficulty, however, is that our midfielders looked cream crackered on Saturday and the only alternatives we have are Jacko, who's returning from a hamstring injury, and Foley, who is really a full back. We're very short in this critical area and - as people have been repeatedly saying since the pre-season friendlies in Austria - it will inevitably cost us over the course of the season.
I think he might play Foley, stats show that he runs further during a game than any other player. I know he has limitations as a midfielder, but its this sort of game that is going to demand work rate against a hard working team.
Yes, you may well be right. Foley's a hard worker and will try and close down the space. I wouldn't be surprised if the manager goes with three across central midfield.
Sage Don't think we have the nous to play anything other than 4-4-2. Complicate team formation at your peril especially against potential high flyers.
To be fair to Slade from the sounds of things we've played variations on the 4-4-2 theme, including starting 4-5-1/4-3-3 with Mcgennis on the right against Fleetwood.
That said, I largely agree with your statement, which to me is incredibly damning on the players and manager.
The personnel wouldn't require anything complicated. They're professional footballers, if the team isn't able to adjust between Lookman floating from the left to more centrally to mix things up every now and then, and when he is more central, Jackson drifting slightly more to the left to cover that position, then that's embarrassing.
Things are only as complicated as you make it, nothing complicated between a smooth transition from a 442 to 433 or the other way around.
We seem to concede a lot for a club with nine centre backs in the squad.
3.0 and relegation zone by Christmas
First off, where do you get 9 CBs from? Pearce, Konsa, Tex, Bauer, Lennon, Rojo.
Second, I was thinking earlier, what would you say, as a team, is our biggest strength? On paper we have a very good defence, though we've only kept one clean sheet in the league (to be fair we've had 3 CBs returning from injury). It's not midfield. Up front we've scored in all but one league game, but we seem to be far from clinical and at time struggle to create chances.
I suspect that Slade will make one or two changes, perhaps giving Konsa and Lookman a breather by naming them on the bench. The difficulty, however, is that our midfielders looked cream crackered on Saturday and the only alternatives we have are Jacko, who's returning from a hamstring injury, and Foley, who is really a full back. We're very short in this critical area and - as people have been repeatedly saying since the pre-season friendlies in Austria - it will inevitably cost us over the course of the season.
I think he might play Foley, stats show that he runs further during a game than any other player. I know he has limitations as a midfielder, but its this sort of game that is going to demand work rate against a hard working team.
Our results have been pretty poor since Ulvestad replaced Foley in the team, we only nicked a draw at Fleetwood after Foley came on, and lost against Wimbledon
If there's a game on which we need a more "negative" midfielder, it's tomorrow
I suspect that Slade will make one or two changes, perhaps giving Konsa and Lookman a breather by naming them on the bench. The difficulty, however, is that our midfielders looked cream crackered on Saturday and the only alternatives we have are Jacko, who's returning from a hamstring injury, and Foley, who is really a full back. We're very short in this critical area and - as people have been repeatedly saying since the pre-season friendlies in Austria - it will inevitably cost us over the course of the season.
I think he might play Foley, stats show that he runs further during a game than any other player. I know he has limitations as a midfielder, but its this sort of game that is going to demand work rate against a hard working team.
Our results have been pretty poor since Ulvestad replaced Foley in the team, we only nicked a draw at Fleetwood after Foley came on, and lost against Wimbledon
If there's a game on which we need a more "negative" midfielder, it's tomorrow
To be fair he showed a range of passing in the build-up to the goal that no other midfielder has this year. Slade also claimed he was one of the best athletes he'd seen.
That said I do agree that having two holding midfielders for this game wouldn't be terrible. a 4-3-3/4-1-4-1 with a midfielld of Ulvestad, Crofts, and Foley with Lookman and Holmes wide and Mcgennis up front on his own.
That said, I trust RedHenry when he says Novak will start to it might be Mcgennis or Novak on one flank and Holmes on the other.
Comments
If we do not set out with attacking intent and score at least 4 goals in the first half, I fear we could still lose.
(Said purely for dramatic effect)
As such, I'd go with the following:
Rudd
Solly | Bauer | Pearce | Fox
Holmes | Ulvestad | Crofts | Botaka
Lookman | Magennis
Substitutes Bench: Phillips | Lennon | Konsa | Foley | Jackson| Ajose | Novak
(too easy to google)
Botham ,Keegan and Clemence
Anyone know if tickets on sale on gate and cost?
3-0 to the Irons
3.0 and relegation zone by Christmas
About 2 or 3 mins later the phone rang and she said that they had phoned Scunny and that, yes, away tickets are available on the night. Not everything is broken at The Valley!
Booked train and hotel, as I can't get back to Manchester after the game. See you all there.
I suspect that Slade will make one or two changes, perhaps giving Konsa and Lookman a breather by naming them on the bench. The difficulty, however, is that our midfielders looked cream crackered on Saturday and the only alternatives we have are Jacko, who's returning from a hamstring injury, and Foley, who is really a full back. We're very short in this critical area and - as people have been repeatedly saying since the pre-season friendlies in Austria - it will inevitably cost us over the course of the season.
Without going into panic mode, 3 consecutive defeats would make for a disasterous start to the season.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0486kzj
Things are only as complicated as you make it, nothing complicated between a smooth transition from a 442 to 433 or the other way around.
Second, I was thinking earlier, what would you say, as a team, is our biggest strength? On paper we have a very good defence, though we've only kept one clean sheet in the league (to be fair we've had 3 CBs returning from injury). It's not midfield. Up front we've scored in all but one league game, but we seem to be far from clinical and at time struggle to create chances.
If there's a game on which we need a more "negative" midfielder, it's tomorrow
Sound the alarm
That said I do agree that having two holding midfielders for this game wouldn't be terrible. a 4-3-3/4-1-4-1 with a midfielld of Ulvestad, Crofts, and Foley with Lookman and Holmes wide and Mcgennis up front on his own.
That said, I trust RedHenry when he says Novak will start to it might be Mcgennis or Novak on one flank and Holmes on the other.
Yeah I know that prediction won't happen, Charlton won't score 2, but I genuinely have no idea what will happen.