Stoke City v Charlton AthleticSaturday 8th February 2020 ... 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Jarred GillettIntroductionIt was on a late summers day when these two sides would last meet; 10th August would see Championship Football returning to our corner of South East London with Stoke City the visitors, carrying our our form from the previous week in Lancashire; Charlton would deservedly record a 3-1 win and so preserve a 100% record - This Saturday will see these two sides meeting for the reverse fixture, the Addicks this weekend travel to Staffordshire with their tails up, a first win of 2020 has been achieved, in what is month of relegation battles... Lets be greedy, lets get another!!
The OppositionName: Stoke City (21st) | Manager: Michael O'Neill
Ground: Bet365 Stadium
Previous Result: Charlton Athletic 3-1 Stoke City
Defeat in South East London would see the Potters pointless for their first two games (an opening day defeat against Queens Park Rangers coming the week before) - Nathan Jones had take over the hot seat with such high expectations, having all but guided Luton Town to the Championship it was felt that he too could revive Stoke City and return them to the top flight at the second attempt... Unfortunately though that aim was never close to being achieved, whilst they would achieve a draw in their next game it would take until the start of October before our opponents recorded their first win (a 2-1 at Swansea City).
With that sort of form it was no surprise that Nathan Jones would see his time at an end as Stoke Manager - Sacked on the 1st November he's a man who knows he has a reputation to rebuild... the work Gary Rowett (his predecssor) is sadly doing is a sign that the ex-Charlton coach has more than enough time on his hands to achieve just that!!
Back to our opponents, and it would take a week for Stoke to find their replacement; Michael O'Neill having built his reputation as Northern Ireland is known for someone who works miracles, certainly guiding the National Team to the 2nd Round of Euro 2016 is something I've felt he's never truly received recognition for - Yet Stoke are now benefiting from that defensive approach, they've gone from one of the worst statistically in the Division to one of the tightest, just the one defeat at home under his stewardship is a indication of how tough it'll be this Saturday!!... Whilst both teams remain in a relegation battle, we'll have to hope that O'Neill's attention will be distracted, as he temporarily returns to International duty in an attempt to take his country to a second successive European Championships.
Charlton Team NewsWith my previous Match Preview coming before the end of the transfer window it didnt really give me time to focus on the latest incomings - Aiden McGeady would be the sole player eligible for our game against Barnsley yet Bowyer would take the decision to preserve his lead meaning the Irishman must wait for his Charlton debut... He has been joined through the door by David Davis and Matt Smith... With one too many loan signings, you'd have to expect the youngster from Manchester City to miss out as he grows accustomed to our ways.
Elsewhere in the squad and it would be hard to argue that Adam Matthews isnt deserving of the Right-Back slot... With : Chris Solly being forced to bide his time you have to wonder when we'll see a player who has given so much back to the club, of course that time could be this week, whilst Matthews has proven his fitness there is certainly no need to risk it what with Nottingham Forest awaiting in midweek!!
Phillips
Matthews | Lockyer | Pearce | Purrington
Cullen | Pratley | Davis
Williams
Taylor | Green
Substitutes Bench: Amos | Sarr | Doughty | McGeady | Forster-Caskey | Field | Hemed
PredictionIts certainly a delight to see Bowyer having a selection headache again and will hopefully make us competitive like what we saw at the start of the season - As already mentioned; Michael O'Neill is a man used to digging deep to obtain the right result and see that happening once again this Saturday... Whilst the Addicks need wins to survive they also need to know when to take whatever they can... To return with two points back ahead of the Blackburn game next Saturday, wouldnt be a bad outcome by any means!!
Comments
Think I would be happy with a draw from this, but at least we will have some good attacking options on the bench.
About 12 of my lot going to this game and with a much stronger squad to pick from than of late I'm confident we will get three points.
3.1 Charlton
Not only that but in EVERY away game I've been to we've conceded exactly 2 goals, so we're certainly consistent in that respect...
I'll be a bit peeved if Bowyer rests anyone with mid week in mind.
I am going for a Desmond, before last weekend when was the last time we scored the opposition didn't score at least 2?
I was at the Valley for the home fixture and Stoke were very high quality but powder puff. Their new manager has put an end to that fault.
There is a chasm in quality and ESI can't keep relying on Bowyer and his management team to produce super-human levels of effort and commitment every week to scrape a result. We were extremely fortunate against a very average Barnsley side who could easily have scored four or five goals. Gallagher has not been replaced with anyone near his energy and quality. Neither have Bauer, Bielik or Aribo for that matter.
Let's hope we scrape something again but if Williams, Lyle or Cullen get injured, the rest of this season will be a tough slog and it's an unnecessary gamble in my view.
As much as getting players back, we're also going to need to see a change in mentality. We've spent the last 2-3 months sitting deep, generally battling in midfield, and trying to nick a goal from a set piece or counter. It has often resulted in us sitting deeper and deeper and conceding. But as we get better ball playing midfielders back, we really need to keep the ball better. Our best defensive performances last seasons were ones where we suffocated the opposition with our possession. Obviously it's a step up this year, but I still think we have players like Williams, Field, JFC, Cullen, Oz, and maybe Davis who can keep the ball and have a good range of passing.
That transition, from a sheerly counter-attacking side to one comfortable in possession, will be a huge factor in us staying up.
a big wake up call that this season is gonna go to the wire
We know it is going to be hard work. Everyone supports Bows as we know his team will give everything and we do have talent in the squad that can put away a chance. Win, lose or draw we will go again.
Grumpy said they were powder puff but have toughened up. Winning a game comfortably and then getting thrashed 4-0 suggests to me that the new found toughness is paper thin and they lack a true team mentality. Let’s see if they like it up em.
Stoke do have some very good players, but an average Derby side who had conceded goals in every home game before this, exploited weaknesses that no doubt we will now know.
Hopefully we still have a bit of luck left as well 🤞