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Sunderland v Charlton | Sat 04 Aug | 12:30pm KO | Match Preview, Predictions, News & Views

Sunderland v Charlton Athletic
Saturday 4th August 2018 … 12:30 Kick-Off
Referee: John Brooks (Melton Mowbray)

Introduction

Think we can all safely say that it’s happening. After a summer of sporting excellence the Football season returns to our lives – New opposition, new grounds… old foes, old memories – Everyone knows the drill now, forty six games played between now and May for some clubs the aim of the game will be survival, for others its all about getting promotion.

For Charlton fans it may have been an excellent summer of sport yet the grey clouds of uncertainty continue to hang over the Valley as fans make the long trip up to Sunderland for Saturdays fixture, many will feel that this could be the toughest season in our History!!

The Opposition
Name: Sunderland | Manager: Jack Ross
Ground: The Stadium of Light

To an extent the Footballing gods are cruel to announce this fixture at the start of the season… For obvious reasons; Charlton v Sunderland will be a matchup that’ll live long in the memory of both Addicks and Mackems, 20-years ago the two sides would play out one of the most memorable fixtures ever held at Wembley Stadium. In 2018, it’ll barely be a footnote in history.

In the present day though it’s been a few years that many Sunderland fans would like to forget. Mismanagement has seen the club relegated in successive seasons, yet with high earners like Jack Rodwell now off the books it’s a chance for the club to steady the decline and allows the chance to rebuild.

Jack Ross (appointed from St Mirren) has been tasked with getting back to the Championship and in his attempts to do so has built a squad familiar with this level; Jon McLaughlin is an experienced Goalkeeper and having achieved promotion with Burton will know how to get out of this Division, whilst Glenn Loovens from Sheffield Wednesday will add some much needed leadership in defence.

Charlton Team News
Where on earth to begin!!... Lee Bowyer remains in charge yet remains as caretaker manager in all but name – Having had an impressive run in charge at the end of last season, you’d hope that one of our famous sons could continue the good work into next season yet it’ll always be a difficult task when you have one hand tied behind your back.

With Lyle Taylor and Darren Pratley our only signings so far its easier to avoid mentioning the injury list (we all know who they are) and concentrate on who’ll start on Saturday… thankfully the lack of experience speaks for itself so the 4-4-2 formation that Bowyer prefers should be easy to name. It’s who goes on to the bench that could be the worry, despite the likes of George Lapslie and Albie Morgan impressing during pre-season!!

Phillips
Solly | Bauer | Pearce | Page
Marshall | Aribo | Forster-Caskey | Grant
Ajose | Hackett-Fairchild

Substitutes Bench: Maynard-Brewer | Sarr | Mascoll | Lapslie | Maloney | Pratley | Taylor

Prediction
The first few games will always be difficult to predict… Some teams will make a strong / unexpected start yet will eventually fade away, whilst others will start poorly and then get stronger as the season goes on – Pre-Season results are impossible to rely upon for form. In facing Sunderland we face one of the favourites for promotion this season… Anything other than a defeat will be a bonus in our current state
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Comments

  • Heart says 1-2, Head says 2-1. Many Sunderland new faces - makes it hard to call...
  • 2-1 to the mackems, seems a big task but will be the best time to play them. Still not enough unfortunately we need a few more signings to compete at the top.
  • Not going to score with Ajose and FHC up front.
  • Is that really our best team available :pensive:
  • Another Roland Record set to fall this weekend, albeit with some assistance from former Sunderland owner Ellis Short - our 77th competitive meeting will also be the first to take place in the third tier. A big "Well Done and Congratulations" to both of these incompetent c*%ts.

    Beaten Sunderland in our last 3 meetings, unbeaten in our last 6 meetings, a mere two defeats in our last 16 meetings. The Mackem's have more reason to be nervous about this than we do - lots of new faces still getting to know each other and the pressure of expectation brought by a new dawn under a new owner. Sadly don't have either of those issues to worry about, but it might work in our favour on Saturday.

    1-0 victory for Charlton.
  • We'll come away with a point from a club who's line up will be even less familiar with one another than ours .. both should be in with a shout for promotion towards the end of the season

    1-1
  • 1-0 Charlton...be a bang average game where we scrape over the line BUT a win is a win so dont care how we get it!
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  • Sunderland 4 Charlton 0!!!!
  • Surely, surely start with Pratley.

    Guys played two 45 mins now, and been with us in full training for weeks.

    He has to be able to play 60-75 mins by now.

    Get him in ffs.
  • Healthy 4-0 away defeat.

  • Where's HappyValley?

    I'm wondering what score he'll predict?

    #legend
  • Anybody’s guess so I’ll go. 1-1 .
  • edited August 2018
    Tough place to visit but almost unbelievably I think their squad is as much in turmoil as ours. Lots of new players with little experience at either The Stadium of Light or League One. A crowd with a twitchy trigger finger who will lose patience very quickly if things are not going well. Lot of pressure on them.

    We have injury and fitness problems but might just be more settled than them.

    A good defensive performance from us seeing us nick a 2 - 1 win against all the odds.
  • Did KAG play up top in a two for Crawley? Or out wide in a 3, or what?
  • edited August 2018

    Tough place to visit but almost unbelievably I think their squad is as in turmoil as ours. Lots of new players with little experience at either The Stadium of Light or League One. A crowd with a twitchy trigger finger who will lose patience very quickly if things are not going well. Lot of pressure on them.

    We have injury and fitness problems but might just be more settled than them.

    A good defensive performance from us seeing us nick a 2 - 1 win against all the odds.

    Five home wins in two seasons

    Only got two at the SoL last season with one coming on the final day against a Wolves side who probably didnt give a monkey's

    Seeing its on SKY it'll probably be a 3-0 win for Sunderland as they recover their bad home form whilst we continue the curse
  • I think we'll nick it 1-2......BFG and Taylor off the bench
  • BIG Loss.

    3-0 Welcome to the new season.
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  • 1 -1 ours from Pearce.
  • edited August 2018

    Did KAG play up top in a two for Crawley? Or out wide in a 3, or what?

    .
  • I quite fancy us to get something here 0-1 to the mighty Addicks, Grant with the goal
  • edited August 2018
    Phillips
    Solly | Bauer | Pearce | Page
    Marshall | Aribo | Forster-Caskey | Grant
    Ajose | Hackett-Fairchild

    Substitutes Bench: Maynard-Brewer | Sarr | Mascoll | Lapslie | Maloney | Pratley | Taylor

    If that's an accurate guess of the starting lineup, it will be down to Sunderland's inadequacy alone if they fail to register a comfortable victory.
    Defensively that's OK, so long as nobody else breaks down.
    Charlton's best hope will be for some generous officiating and a set-piece goal.
    Otherwise it will be 95 minutes of attack (stripes) v defence (yellow)
  • Shag said:

    Taylor will start up front with Grant

    Is that some intel? Great news if true
  • He's not going to play Ajose is he? He only got 15 mins last week.
  • Shag said:

    Taylor will start up front with Grant

    Hope so but then I'd question who plays out on the Left of the Midfield
  • One nil to the Addicks who, as tradition dictates, have a player sent off.
  • Shag said:

    Taylor will start up front with Grant

    Hope so but then I'd question who plays out on the Left of the Midfield
    Have a feeling it will be Tayor up top with Grant and someone like lapslie filling in at LM.
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Roland Out Forever!