MATCH PREVIEW: Charlton Athletic vs Birmingham City | Saturday 5th October 2024 - 3pm Kick-Off

ForeverAddickted

Charlton Athletic vs Birmingham City
Saturday 5th October 2024 - 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Benjamin Speedie

Introduction
Right lets get it over then... Birmingham travelled to the Valley this Saturday in glorious fashion, fans / managers / players wilted before their eyes, swooning at the sight they beheld as they recorded a victory that even had the home fans clapping with tears in their eyes - Now we've got that bit out of the way, we can get serious... Our result at Bristol Rovers, along with recent performances of late have been nothing special, thankfully those are consigned to the history books now, results dont dictate the future, meaning we go into this clash on Saturday with as much chance of winning as any other Saturday!!

The Opposition
Name: Birmingham City (1st) - Manager: Chris Davies
Ground: St. Andrews
Last League Result: Birmingham 1-0 Huddersfield

Visiting the Valley this Saturday are the League One Champions: Birmingham City... Their season is already well documented, and given their spending this season, it'll be nothing short of disastrous if they dont win promotion. That is something that is still not guaranteed, despite the words of Krystian Bielik. Who despite being no stranger to getting promotion from this level, having achieved it with Charlton Athletic back in 2019, has put his foot in it of late, by claiming at this early stage of the season that Birmingham are too good for this level, well that May be true... But its not something you say by October, and their fans will be praying that it doesnt come back to bite them.

Its Birmingham's strike force that May well be too good for the Addicks this coming Saturday, with all eyes on... Jay Stansfield, having joined the Blues for 10m on deadline day, a price tag that they May feel was worth paying come the end of the season, the Striker currently has three goals, in his four League One appearances - Its in defence though, that Birmingham can be hurt having conceded eight goals this season, even then they still seem to just roll on like some machine... Eating up the points.

Well that first defeat has to happen somewhere... I wonder where.

Charlton Team News
All eyes will naturally be on the team sheet come 2pm on Saturday afternoon, and of late we've seen tinkering from Nathan Jones as he doesnt just try to find a temporary fix, but a solution that results in us playing a more attractive brand of Football over the course of the season - However its simple, we need to get back to basics, and find a way to press the opposition when we're out of possession, just like when Birmingham visited in the League Cup at the start of the season.

In terms of individuals, and it was a welcome return to the side for Miles Leaburn on Tuesday night, however its unlikely he's ready to start a full match just yet, as he continues to build full match fitness - Elsewhere and Kayne Ramsay was surprisingly dropped to the bench, its the hope that he'll return this Saturday and was simply rested with this upcoming encounter in mind.

Mannion
A.Mitchell - Jones - Gillesphey
Ramsay - Coventry - Docherty - Edwards
Berry
Ahadme - Godden

Substitutes Bench: Maynard-Brewer - Potts - A.Campbell - Anderson - Aneke - Leaburn - T.Campbell

Dazzler21

I feel a bit confused about this one. Not sure I give a shit right now.

@ForeverAddickted
thanks for the write up though!

Hartleypete

Start Aneke and bring Leaburn on for him, don’t let Ahadme anywhere near the team.

ForeverAddickted

Hartleypete said:

Start Aneke and bring Leaburn on for him, don’t let Ahadme anywhere near the team.

I'd probably do it the other way around... Leaburn must be good for about 50-60mins now?

daveroan

Surely Taylor and Small must be around somewhere if they are fit...they are still contracted and paid members of the squad and deserve at least the odd chance to impress

Ronnietheghost

hope that’s not going to be the team , that has a familiar look which when i look at it , i am immediately depressed😱

Milan

We are going to get such a mauling, I'm not sure I can be arsed to go to this game.

NabySarr

ForeverAddickted said:

Hartleypete said:

Start Aneke and bring Leaburn on for him, don’t let Ahadme anywhere near the team.

I'd probably do it the other way around... Leaburn must be good for about 50-60mins now?

He’s only played 30 minutes! U21 games are a completely different intensity. Why on earth are we even considering starting him? His fitness is not worth gambling on a game we aren’t going to win anyway. We need to be careful with him and ease him back in, should just be another 30mins on Saturday

Imo we shouldn’t start Aneke either. So it’s got to be Godden with one of Kanu, Ahadme or Campbell. I’d go with Kanu, give him a chance in his actual position 

ross1

You May be right FA, but I hope he rests Ahadme from starting 11. Starting with Godden and possibly Campbell May be better. Let us hope, whoever starts improves on the last few games. We May even get at least one point🥴

fenaddick

Didn’t Ahadme come off supposedly injured on Tuesday or have I made that up?

Pedro45

I think we have to start Chuks with Godden and TC out wide (not at 10); we can bring on Miles or Kanu or the Gas-man if and when Chuks runs out of steam just after half time...

Docherty for Anderson, and Ramsey and Edwards as full backs. I'm easy whether he plays Potts or Gillesphey as left CB.

Still think we'll lose, but do think this will be our best team over coming weeks.

ForeverAddickted

fenaddick said:

Didn’t Ahadme come off supposedly injured on Tuesday or have I made that up?

Forgot about that, but then again tried to erase Tuesday night from my entire memory

Callumcafc

2-0 Charlton - dumbfounding both fanbases in the process

sam3110

Mannion
Mitchell Jones Gillesphey 
Ramsay Coventry Docherty Taylor Edwards 
Godden Leaburn

Maynard-Brewer Edmonds-Green Small Anderson Berry T.Campbell Aneke

Is how I'd line up

Again, no chance of it happening 

Talal

Really feel we need to ditch the 3 at the back (unless we play Zach to bring the ball out).

Wheresmeticket

May to demonstrate his underlying love of CAFC by scoring 3 own goals, all from goal kicks.

fenaddick

I actually think a game like this suits us a bit more as we won’t be playing against a low block. If we press high and unsettle them we could be ok but that’s a big if. Wouldn’t be surprised to see a draw or to lose based on a bit of quality 

MrBurns

4-0 to Birmingham with May getting 2 (maybe 3) 

Gisappointed

We have yet to play 3-5-2 but revert to 5-3-2.  Unless the WBs are specifically told to get forward, we need Ramsay Mitchell Jones Edwards/Small in a four. Time for TT to get game time also.

fenaddick

https://www.charltonafc.com/video/player/0_0ynl12q9

soapy_jones

0-9  Alfie May triple hattrick.

jacob_CAFC

i'm going with a 0-0

Hal1x

jacob_CAFC said:

i'm going with a 0-0

I'm gonna stay home!

king addick

This is the kind of game where we play okay and win but then head (to the now called off) Burton and have a stinker! 

That said, after Bristol 1st half, it cant get any worse....Stupidly, I think we will do okay and be more at it. 

What I am certain of though is that we need to score the first goal or heads will drop!

eaststandmike

Callumcafc said:

2-0 Charlton - dumbfounding both fanbases in the process

This would not surprise me at all 

soapy_jones

They're considerably richer than yow!

Garrymanilow

I think we'll probably turtle up, go back to the caution that characterised our first few games and look to stop the bleeding as well as stopping Birmingham from opening up more of a gap. Doubt it'll be a fun watch but if we can go back to the levels of defending and chance minimisation we saw against Wigan and Bolton we might be able to get a point. I think I'd like the grown-ups to come back in, the standard back three with Ramsay and Edwards, Coventry, Docherty and Berry in the middle and Godden up front with Ahadme. TC, Leaburn and Chuks being able to come on if we've kept it tight is great and not something Brum would relish dealing with, especially if we've frustrated them into sending more forward in search of a goal. This was always going to be a tough one regardless of form so any kind of result would be great

ElliotCAFC

Heart says we somehow shithouse a win, head says Alfie May scores 6.

charltonman2016

Be interested to see the team. As NJ said when he come over to us fans at the end. I messed up with the team selection, I know where I've gone wrong were his words. 

Nicholas

This game now becomes a free hit for Jones, his shit football, shit signings and shit formation wont be questioned. We will however hold out for 60-70 minutes without creating or doing anything to then concede around the 75th minute. Jones will say he was pleased going back to basics, however we wasnt front footed enough wasn't aggressive enough blah blah blah you know the rest. He will also forget to mention we didnt create a single chance in the game.

Alwaysneil

Nicholas said:

This game now becomes a free hit for Jones, his shit football, shit signings and shit formation wont be questioned. We will however hold out for 60-70 minutes without creating or doing anything to then concede around the 75th minute. Jones will say he was pleased going back to basics, however we wasnt front footed enough wasn't aggressive enough blah blah blah you know the rest. He will also forget to mention we didnt create a single chance in the game.

We will have created a lot of (shit) situations though so that's ok.