Oxford v Charlton | Sat 24 Sept | 3pm KO | Match Preview, Predictions, News & Views

ForeverAddickted

Oxford United v Charlton Athletic
Saturday 24th September 2016 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Keith Stroud (Seriously!!)

Introduction
With the Football season well under way now the games are coming thick and fast… Fresh from a deserved draw against Scunthorpe United on Tuesday night, the Addicks (now level on matches played with the rest of the League) continue their season with a trip to Oxfordshire.

Once again this Weekend we find ourselves playing against a side who were two leagues below us last term yet as proven in our other two matches against ex-League Two opposition that means absolutely nothing when you’re in the same league… This Saturday sees us play Oxford United; it won’t be easy partly because of our referee selection yet there is a stark reality that the Addicks have faltered slightly, we’re still in September so there is a long way to go yet three points could push us right back into the mix.

The Opposition
Name: Oxford United | Manager: Michael Appleton
Ground: Kassam Stadium

As already mentioned our opposition were a League Two team last season and having finished second in the League, finally made a return to League One Football… Its not be an easy return though, Oxford were last in the third tier 15-years ago and that time wasn’t completely spent in League Two.

Relegation to the Conference for four long years followed yet the club managed to slam the breaks on a club going downhill fast and steadied the ship, Oxford were promoted back to League Two in 2010 and in 2014 the club hired Charlton Legend: Michael Appleton as Manager, the first year under his management wasn’t brilliant yet last season saw the U’s finally return to League One and reach the final of the Football League Trophy (which they ultimately lost to Barnsley).

Appleton constantly mocked after “brief” spells at Blackburn and Blackpool is slowly re-building his reputation and is doing it well, a point above Charlton they are and the fact they were a Non-League team only a little while ago means nothing, three points won’t be assured.

Charlton Team News
Of course the big news that came out prior to Scunthorpe was that Ricky Holmes was absent due to a back injury whilst Lee Novak was also missing due to illness, when the weekly press conference happens later today we may get an indication on whether either player is fit…

Having kept a clean sheet on Tuesday, it’ll be difficult to drop Patrick Bauer from the starting line up so Ezri Konsa may be consigned to the bench once more. We faced the league leader’s last time out so a cautious 4-5-1 formation was played yet up against opposition we should be beating this weekend, you’d expect to see a return to Slade’s favoured: 4-4-2 which may see Nick Ajose return to the starting eleven.

Rudd
Solly | Bauer | Pearce | Fox
Foley | Ulvestad | Crofts | Jackson
Lookman | Magennis

Substitutes Bench: Phillips | Lennon | Konsa | Botaka | Ajose | Chicksen | Hanlan

Prediction
Oxford have made a steady start to life back in League One and like Tuesdays opposition have begun with an impressive home record, the U’s are yet to lose at home (drawing just once) so three points won’t be easy but surely these are the games we need to win and be ruthless at if we want promotion?

happyvalley

Comfortable away win 4-0.

ForeverAddickted

happyvalley said:

Comfortable away win 4-0.

Bet you cant wait to say: Told you so can you?

Yellows

Bit early to be on the sauce mate?

Redhenry

Novak will start if fit

Northstandpieeater

With Bauer in the team we will become the League 1 version of George Grahams Arsenal. Win to Nil for Charlton

stonemuse

1-2 win for the Addicks, Lookman and Magennis

Addicted

Think we'll smash this 1-1

jonseventyfive

0-1, rare goal for big Josh.

Charlton_Stu

happyvalley said:

Comfortable away win 4-0.

Sure we beat them 4-0 at the old Manor ground, a week or two before we played Man Utd in cup match.

smudge7946

3-0 Addicts.
The world best university will be taken down by the addicts in association with Woolwich polly.

cabbles

if we don't win it will be a poor result. purely because we're now 8 games in and have only won twice. not good enough for promotion, it needs to start on Saturday without exception

kinveachyaddick

cabbles said:

if we don't win it will be a poor result. purely because we're now 8 games in and have only won twice. not good enough for promotion, it needs to start on Saturday without exception

Fair point!

killerandflash

I think RS will go for it on Saturday

It'll be interesting whether Holmes and Watson Novak are available, as with them back, we actually have quite a strong looking 1st 11 and bench

killerandflash

http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/charlton-athletic-football-club-russell-slade-oxford-united-3321688.aspx

Both could be available, but I doubt Novak will start

Macronate

0-0 and we go on a run of eight 0-0s in a row.

Will mirror the game at Selhurst in the 80s which also finished 0-0 and was the most boring game ever.

clb74

2-1 charlton as predicted by me Tuesday before the scunny game our season has started.

Lincsaddick

with Bauer back perhaps Slade will be a bit more adventurous .. BUT I doubt very much if he will be .. unchanged from Tuesday I would wager, though I would play Holmes, if fit, for Foley .. Oxford is another wannabe club with a lot of potential .. it won't be easy but I fancy a streaky win for us ..

Oxford United 0 v CAFC 1

Bedsaddick

Got a good feeling about this one.

3-2 win for The Addicks ( Jackson , Lookman & Pearce)

JamesSeed

1-1 (Ulvestad)

1967CAFC

If Holmes plays 1-2...without 1-1

CroydonAddick1

Imagine the only change will be Holmes if fit, don't know for who though. Got to play for a win not a draw, I'll say 2-0 to us, Lookman and Jackson. Hopefully be a good atmosphere.

soapy_jones

Jaw dropping spellbinding 1-1

Sage

Away fans sold out and first away one I've managed to get to this season. After a clean sheet at Scunthorpe, he'll leave the defence alone. Think Holmes is likely to come in for Foley, as long as he's fit. Otherwise I can't see much change. Ajose, Novak and Botaka are very good options coming on from the bench.

With the ball I think Lookman and Holmes will take it in turns to go and be the number 10, without I see them going out wide to make it 5 across the middle.

Rudd
Solly Bauer Pearce Fox
Holmes Crofts Ulvestad Jackson
Lookman
Magennis

Phillips, Konsa, Lennon, Foley, Botaka, Novak, Ajose

Another clean sheet, 2-0 Magennis and Holmes.

ricky_otto

2-4 away win. Jackson and Lookman with 2 each.

Holdkneebomb

0-1 magennis

Valley11

Would like to see Botaka start.
Rudd
Solly Pearce BFG Fox
Holmes Crofts Ulvestad JB
Magennis Lookman

ElfsborgAddick

ricky_otto said:

2-4 away win. Jackson and Lookman with 2 each.

You're on drugs.

Mark_West49

3-1 Bauer, Jackson, and Botaka with the last kick of the match on 97 minutes

Greenie

Oxford 0-3 Charlton, Janet Jackson, Kim Novak and Kelly Holmes.

Redmidland

I predicted a draw on Tuesday, albeit 1-1, I'm thinking we may get a 2-0 victory tomorrow, but in the hope that Holmes is back, if not maybe another draw. Match thread from 1.45.