Swindon Town v Charlton Athletic
Saturday 12th November 2016 … 12noon Kick-Off
Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex)
IntroductionSo four cup matches played, we advance in three of them and we exit the last… Not the worst week for Charlton in terms of cup results especially as there were celebrations on CharltonLife after Ezri Konsa missed his penalty on Tuesday night to send us out of the Football League Trophy. Yet for another month that’s the end of cup talk… It’s time to return to League action as we are joined by the SKY cameras as we make the trip along the M4 to Swindon Town.
Having been relegated to League One it was always going to be a rare occasion when Charlton would get on the box, yet with it being another International break, the TV companies are forced to tip their toes into the lower leagues. In terms of recent coverage this will be our first away tie on television since a 3-0 defeat away at Fulham in October 2014… Swindon on the other hand have already been televised twice this season, a 2-2 League draw in September against Peterborough and a 1-1 draw with Eastleigh in the FA Cup showed just what League One teams can offer.
The OppositionName: Swindon Town |
Manager: Luke Williams
Ground: County Ground
As already mentioned; Swindon have already been televised this season and it was last Friday that we got to see the potential dangers of our opponents… To be honest from my viewings they were poor, despite being the FA Cup, they were two leagues higher than Eastleigh and required a penalty to earn a replay that saw little action. The interesting point of the match saw key Defender: Nathan Thompson limping off with a suspected hamstring issue so three points for the Addicks will be helped if he is still side-lined.
In terms of this season though; Swindon haven’t been in the greatest of form… Just four victories with their last coming in October see them occupying the last relegation place (although only on Goal Difference) and its clear their issues stem not from finding the goal (after losing top-scorer Nicky Ajose in the summer) yet from keeping the ball out of their net having conceded on 23-occasions whilst having kept just four clean sheets.
Charlton Team NewsThe main talking point ahead of this match is the fact that it falls on an International weekend which means Charlton are missing three of their key players yet with Josh Magennis and Jordan Botaka signed after this match was confirmed for SKY; there is little we can complain about.
With Nicky Ajose scoring against Colchester on Tuesday night he’ll surely start tomorrow and will be surely joined by Lee Novak who’ll replace Magennis up front… Brandon Hanlan continues to impress with his cameos so could even be a surprise start… Ademola Lookman is the other player on International duty so the Left of Midfield is a slot that will require cover; Adam Chicksen a left-back by trade yet like Paul Konchesky of old, can play in Midfield, otherwise Joe Aribo who also impressed on Tuesday night could earn his league debut…
Other than Ahmed Kashi who is struggle to get out of a black-hole (otherwise known as France) our physio room is pretty clear although, Ricky Holmes was injured in our cup match during the weekend which saw him require stiches in his foot… Should he miss out you’d expect him to be replaced by Kevin Foley.
Rudd
Solly | Bauer | Pearce | Fox
Aribo | Ulvestad | Crofts | Jackson
Novak | Ajose
Substitutes Bench: Phillips | Konsa | Teixeira | Lennon | Chicksen | Foley | Hanlan
PredictionWith three (possibly four) key players missing from the squad it’s difficult to see what the performance will be like, having built up a run of form though you’d hope Charlton can bring all three points back to London… We just need to try to avoid stage fright in front of a whole country potentially watching and turn it to our advantage in a (magic) roundabout sort of way.
Comments
I've also left Ricky Holmes out of the line-up... Russell Slade says he's 50/50 in his Press Conference so went for the safe option of leaving him out, of course if he starts I'd put him in ahead of Aribo with the latter dropping to the bench.
Konsa can also cover Centre-Back and Centre-Midfield
To be honest I'd be surprised if Slade's bench was as Defensive as mine but its the most experienced available
Swindon Town 0 v CAFC 3
Lee Power said Sherwood will "head up all aspects, including transfers, the way we play, the formations and the picking of the team", so he's basically been appointed manager, regardless of his official job title.
Bound to end in tears, but not before we've been on the end of his inevitable "new
managerDirector of Football bounce".Lucky 2-1 win for Swindon, Slade responds by playing a formation of 10-0-Magennis against Port Vale next week.
Quite excited that we're on telly, a rare treat these days. To commemorate this special occasion, I will be watching the game wearing absolutely nothing except my Guinness slippers and the CAFC flat cap I bought at my first ever game. Haven't yet made my mind up whether to watch it at home or at the pub.
Magennis out isn't great, but Novak and Ajose should be potent enough in attack. The main problem is wings, Holmes, Lookman and Botaka all potentially missing could see us start with 4 full backs or 4 central midfielders, or even 3 centre backs and pushing Fox and Solly to wing backs.
Rudd
Solly Bauer Pearce Fox
Holmes Ulvestad Crofts Jackson
Ajose Novak
Phillips Chicksen Lennon Konsa Foley Hanlan Aribo
2-1 both Ajose
Rudd
Solly Bauer Pearce Fox
Holmes Ulvestad Crofts Aribo
Hanlan Ajose
I really like the look of Hanlan and I think he offers more than Novak. If holmes is out then play aribo on the right and Jacko on the left.
This international break really does show our lack of attacking depth!
Russell Slade masterclass in stopping at a KFC on the coach ride home for a Family Bargain Bucket!
2-1 to Swindon
1-2 win after reverting to 442 in the second half
I'm currently looking for a stream for this. It doesn't seem to be on US TV, as the channel who normally shows Champo games has decided to show South American WCQ instead. Ridiculous, who wants to see that?!?!
"In terms of recent coverage this will be our first away tie on television since a 3-0 defeat away at Fulham in October 2014"
But your both wrong in terms of our last actual game on the box... Our last televised game was last game of last season against Burnley, we also played Middlesbrough on the TV
Solly Bauer Lennon Fox
Holmes Ulvestad Crofts Jackson
Novak Ajose
I expect Holmes to be risked but Pearce not to be.
Expect Ajose to score and us to win.
3-1 to the rip roaring, goal scoring Addicks.
2-0 Swindon.
Slade and Sherwood come to blows in the technical area when Slade mutters a comment about Sherwood's jumper being from Matalan.