Football League One - Week OneCrewe Alexandra v Charlton AthleticSaturday 12th September 2020 ... 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire)IntroductionFresh from victory in the League Cup against Swindon Town, Lee Bowyer and his depleted squad remain on the road as they travel to Cheshire for what'll be the start of yet another campaign, once again back in League One... After the disappointed at Leeds just two months ago its time to concentrate on rebuilding a squad not just for this season yet one that could also compete properly in the English second tier provided that we get there.
Our League One campaign this year begins at Crewe Alexandra - Another disappointment for fans, with Gresty Road playing host to the CAFC Derby for just the third time in the history of these two clubs!!
The OppositionName: Crewe Alexandra |
Manager: David Artell
Ground: Gresty Road
Last Season: 2nd Place (League Two)
This season marks a first return to the third tier in four years for the side named after a Princess... Their own days of enjoying Championship Football havent been experienced since 2006 with their time since spent switching between League One and League Two - After three years of mid-table obscurity; David Artell was finally able to put together a team that could earn promotion from the fourth tier, a second place finish would see them missing out on the title purely thanks to the points per game method!!
As a personal note I'm pleased to see Crewe back on the up, they're a team that I've always admired for their approach to promoting Youth players (despite recent scandals) and have had great success in this method; Dean Ashton along with ex-Charlton player: Danny Murphy each coming through the Category Two academy, whilst former Addicks: Madgid Bougherra and Luke Varney have also had spells with the club... Its impressive when Crewe have twice been able to field a starting line up (2013 and 2018) in the last decade that consisted solely of academy graduates, they would go on to win both games!!
Its an academy that continues to produce even now: Percy Ng the Singaporian Right-Back was briefly (albeit how truthly?) linked with a move to SE7 in January, he'll be one to watch this Saturday - Luke Murphy in Midfield the other, he's returned to his former club this September, after spells at Leeds United and Bolton Wanderers
Unfortunate proof with Murphy that not all players tipped for the Premier League will reach their full potential.
Charlton Team NewsWho would have thought that a young Marcus Rashford would make such an impact in his opening game, especially when you take into account that he was only drafted into the starting eleven due to injury... there have even been views that Manchester United stumbled across a star when there were other players with greater potential.
Fast forward to this season and have Charlton Athletic done similar? - Of course I'm not comparing the talent but Charlie Barker, drafted into the squad as a Scholar to avoid embargo restrictions... In his two appearances now he's certainly shown maturity beyond his 17-years, yet this Saturday will Bowyer tip towards a youth prospect who has shown promise or at the other end of the spectrum will Darren Pratley deputise at the back with new loan signing: Dylan Levitt slotting straight into the Midfield?
Elsewhere and you'd expect Alex Gilbey to start ahead of youngster: James Vennings whilst Chuks Aneke will surely have to made do with another cameo appearance after missing another large chunk of pre-season!! - Both Jonny Williams and Conor Washington will be available for selection following International Duty.
Amos
Lapslie | Oshilaja | Pratley | Purrington
Gilbey | Levitt | Forster-Caskey
Washington | Bonne | Doughty
Substitutes Bench: Maynard-Brewer | Barker | Vennings | Williams | Oztumer | Davison | Aneke
PredictionSo the bit I've been looking forward to writing, these two sides have only met on four occasions... In 97/98 and 99/00
Both seasons would see the Addicks earn promotion.. Play-Offs, followed by relegation, followed by a League title (sound familiar so far?) - Crewe themselves have yet to earn even a point against their South East London opponents and Charlton will travel to Gresty Road without ever having conceded at this venue... Yet such stats are meaningless, Crewe will be looking to utilise the confidence that promotion brings, for Lee Bowyer its about carrying on the bounce from Swindon and rebuilding our own much needed confidence!!
Comments
Great preview as always FA, but I never knew there was a Princess Crewe..
2-1 Charlton
With our squad not yet decimated by injuries I'm pretty confident we can get our league campaign of to a flying start.
3.1 Charlton and the takeover goes through.
Happy days.
Equally wont be surprised if Morgan gets on the bench ahead of him
0-2 Bonne 17", Morgan 38"
I fucking hate league one
shit house league and we’re not going up
3% Automatic promotion
35% Play offs
2% 13th-20th
0% Relegation
They'll undoubtedly sit quite a few men behind the ball so it will be interesting to see if we can break them down. This team just played a full 46+ season being the underdog in every game, so it will be interesting to see if they can transition to being favourites.
Lapslie | Oshilaja | Pratley | Purrington
Forster-Caskey
Gilbey | Williams
Oztumer | Bonne | Doughty
Crewe 0-2 Charlton
Oztumer & Bonne
The defensive aspect was certainly more important last year in Division Two when we were more likely to be on the back foot but will Lord Bowyer be quite so strict with Albie in Division Three when we should really be attacking a bit more?
At the very least I'd like to see Albie on the bench, possibly coming on for the last half-hour. His range of passing, now that we're shorn of the majestic BeckenSarr, is just what we need to open Third Tier defences.
CAFC 0 CAFC 3
I'll settle for a draw but these are games we need to win if we are to have a successful season.
Barker, Pratley, Oshilaja
Lapslie, Gilbey, JFC, Doughty
Oztumer
Washington, Bonne.
I'd play Morgan personally, his range of passing should make him an automatic choice, but Bow doesn't reckon he works hard enough, so expect the Utd kid to get in ahead of him!
I'd go with @Dazzler21 prediction above, although I'd like to give Barker the chance at centre half.
Reckon we'll win this one quite comfortably actually. 1-3 CAFC, Bonne, Washington, Gilbey
Amos
Lapslie, Oshilaja, Pratley, Purrington
Morgan, Gilbey, Foster-Caskey, Doughty
Aneke, Bonne
Think he won’t start the internationals, and as the defence is still ropey I think he’ll have a midfield that can stick a foot in hence why no Oztumer.
0-1 Gilbey
1-2 or 1-3 never in doubt
Am I underestimating how much the physios will be saying he needs rest?
Football returns thank goodness for that ,Bowyer can begin to pull the strings again with the limited amount of first team players he has at hand.
Feel for once this is going to start well this first game 2-0 for Charlton and a happy return home for Bowyer and the players that evening.
Stay safe guys we are going to need every one of you in the coming months.
CAFC to come away with the points. But which one ??