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MATCH PREVIEW: Stoke City vs Charlton Athletic - Tuesday 25th November 2025 - 7:45pm Kick-Off

ForeverAddickted
ForeverAddickted Posts: 95,647
edited November 23 in General Charlton

Stoke City vs Charlton Athletic
Tuesday 25th November 2025 - 7:45pm Kick-Off
Referee: Tom Nield

Introduction
Was it a blip, a one off performance... Was it a long awaited rude awakening, a reality check to life in the Championship... Or like this time twelve months ago, it is in part because we suffered from absentees, whether it be ineligibility or injury? - Either way, the performance on Saturday mirrored in some ways, the performance against the likes of Crawley this time last year. Of course the blow is softened slightly with the standard of opposition this season, even if its little consolidation after the result. All that matter is the reaction and the recovery.

The Opposition
Name: Stoke City (3rd) - Manager: Mark Robins
Ground: Bet365 Stadium
Previous League Result: Leicester 2-1 Stoke

The Computer that schedules the fixture lists each summer must have a secondary gig as a Comedian (I mean its got nothing else to do the rest of the year), given that we have back to back games against Nathan Jones' old Employer - Yet its a Tuesday night trip to perhaps the one real surprise package this campaign.

I mean this is the Championship, we be used to the fact by now that a team can lose 7-1 one weekend, and then win 3-1 the next. But this particular Championship season is even stranger than normal, what with none of the relegated Premier League sides within the top six. But with regards to Stoke City, they're a team that sit pretty in third place, with the best defensive record in the League, and know that a win against the Addicks could see them elevated to second place. This a stark improvement for a side who finished last campaign in 18th place, just two points above the drop, and lost 6-0 at Leeds United in their penultimate away game.

However when you take Mark Robins into consideration, and perhaps you start to understand why there is a marked improvement compared to last season... Robins for starters only took charge of the Potters on 1st January, and after a run of four games, resulting in a single draw, they picked up and earned enough wins to steer themselves to safety - This a Manager who took Coventry from the League Two Play-Offs in 2018, to the Championship in three seasons, and almost to the Premier League, only to miss out in 2023, thanks to a narrow, heart-breaking penalty shootout defeat against Luton Town at Wembley.

Perhaps its with Stoke City, where he'll finally become a Premier League Manager, however like the Addicks, Stoke come into this game having lost their last two games, yet have equally only dropped a total of seven points at home this season... Even still... I wouldn't be a betting man going into this midweek fixture.

Charlton Team News
I don't think any of us were overly surprised when Rob Apter and Onel Hernandez were picked as our Wing-Backs on Saturday. I don't think anyone was surprised when it didn't work either, certainly not against a team that were being outplayed every week in the Premier League last season. We as fans will no doubt have our fingers crossed that James Bree will be available on Tuesday evening after being ineligible against his parent club, however potential groin complaints against Wrexham could still keep him out. If that's the case then we'll surely rely on Joe Rankin-Costello who appeared midway through the First Half against Southampton in an attempt to stem the tide.

Elsewhere and I'm sure that differing fan opinion would happily see the majority of the eleven replaced from Saturdays defeat. The bad news for those extremists is that we don't have the depth to make such changes, especially with such a depleted squad, and unless they have a humiliation fetish, wouldn't be wise either to turn to the serious fringes of the squad - However we may still see opportunities given to the likes of Karoy Anderson and Tanto Olaofe who got minutes, whilst it may even tempt Nathan Jones into involving Matty Godden who remained absent from Saturday's line-up.

Kaminski
Ramsay - Jones - Gillesphey
Bree - Coventry - Anderson - Hernandez
Carey
Olaofe - Campbell

Substitutes: Mannion - Costello - Gough - Fullah - Knibbs - Docherty - Berry - Leaburn - Godden

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Comments

  • KettsJohn
    KettsJohn Posts: 1,245
    Good preview as always. Horrible week ahead. Pretty sure Bree will be available and fit to play. Some decisions for NJ after yesterday in terms of selection and shape. I am not confident we come out of the next two with any points.
  • oohaahmortimer
    oohaahmortimer Posts: 34,325
    edited November 23
    This is re mortgage the house time and put your dough on Stoke at better than evens 
    A gallant defeat at best .
    Mrs and petrol head up there for this one , fuck that nutbags 
  • I-SAW-POUSO-PLAY
    I-SAW-POUSO-PLAY Posts: 4,617
    Gough will most likely start. 
  • I-SAW-POUSO-PLAY
    I-SAW-POUSO-PLAY Posts: 4,617
    Also Knibbs, Anderson and Fullah.
  • fenaddick
    fenaddick Posts: 12,536
    Even less of an idea how we line up on Tuesday. Bree will certainly be back if fit. JRC would logically be an option somewhere now but he was clearly unfit and shattered after playing 70 mins of football. I guess the same back 3 with Bree and Hernandez as WB’s. Wouldn’t mind seeing Berry start, maybe Carey dropping back into Doc’s role. Tanto and Leaburn up top could be fun, TC took a bit of a battering so might need a rest 
  • Bangkokaddick
    Bangkokaddick Posts: 4,316
    I can't see Hernandez starting, after playing a full 90 minutes yesterday and Rankin-C (is that his reggae name? Should he join our Jamaican contingent?) will also probably be knackered so no real idea who will start if Jones sticks with his usual formation.
  • Southendaddick
    Southendaddick Posts: 5,341
    I’d have Fuller instead of Hernandez in that team but either way this is gonna be a really tough week potentially playing 3 sides that will be in the top 6 come the end of the season

    Just hope heads don’t drop like they did on Saturday if we let early goals in these games, first half yesterday was like watching kids football when they give up when they know the game has gone, painful. 
  • SELR_addicks
    SELR_addicks Posts: 15,581
    If Jones puts it down as a freak result and starts a similar 11, we get hammered again. 

    Hopefully we change either the formation, or the make-up of players to keep it tight at the back. 
  • Talal
    Talal Posts: 11,551
    Hernandez can't start at wing back again surely. Rather see Campbell there and Fullah further forward. To be honest rather see anything else happen than that.

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  • Sword65pf
    Sword65pf Posts: 345
    Talal said:
    Hernandez can't start at wing back again surely. Rather see Campbell there and Fullah further forward. To be honest rather see anything else happen than that.
    Campbell would be no different in the same role as Hernandez, both are nothing other than wingers.
  • mendonca
    mendonca Posts: 9,447
    Both teams have lost their last two games. 

    I'm starting to think that an enforced decision not to use wingbacks (as we don't posses one for each side) simply means not playing them. It's the most demanding position in the team, and you'll be punished if you try to throw forwards into that role. 
  • Garrymanilow
    Garrymanilow Posts: 13,371
    Hernandez can't start at LWB again. He was actually alright when he switched to the right yesterday but that was because everything was a mess and he basically just sat back and tried to tackle people. He isn't capable of reading the play well enough to know when to get up and down the pitch and he gets caught out of position so easily. With Gillesphey's pace getting exposed there as well we need a better option. Not many around though so it might just have to be Campbell because at least his positioning is better. JRC looked dead on his feet even before the cramp and the real killer with him was his passing radar and decision-making went completely to hell when he was tired so he's the last player I'd start if there were concerns about his fitness. Pray for Bree. Olaofe looked awful yesterday but stick him up front with Leaburn and tell him to pull wide so he can bully their fullback, and when he cuts in with the ball Campbell can hopefully overlap and stretch the play.
  • Talal
    Talal Posts: 11,551
    Sword65pf said:
    Talal said:
    Hernandez can't start at wing back again surely. Rather see Campbell there and Fullah further forward. To be honest rather see anything else happen than that.
    Campbell would be no different in the same role as Hernandez, both are nothing other than wingers.
    The last game Campbell was at wing back he did well enough actually. Not saying I want him there but I'd have more confidence than with Hernandez.
  • msomerton
    msomerton Posts: 3,060
    Given the injury crises the team once again is going through. As so many of our teams in past seasons have had at this point. I think we will not win this game or the next, just hope the defeats are not heavy .
    This is a period of lets get through  the crises and players fit for second half of the season.
  • Leuth
    Leuth Posts: 23,456
    Getting my eardrums shredded for two hours by a deranged Irishman will be preferable to watching this. Luckily that's exactly what I'll be doing
  • Crispywood
    Crispywood Posts: 817
    Who’s the LB/LWB for the U21’s they may not be ready but they can’t put in any worse of a performance than other players that are getting shoehorned there. 
  • SheedyCAFC
    SheedyCAFC Posts: 1,268
    Crispywood said:
    Who’s the LB/LWB for the U21’s they may not be ready but they can’t put in any worse of a performance than other players that are getting shoehorned there. 
    Was thinking this yesterday too, although you don’t want to throw players in too early we’re probably better off giving them 45/60 mins and then bringing on Hernandez for the remainder
  • cabbles
    cabbles Posts: 15,294
    Jones’ availability is key.  If he can play, play a back 4 of Bree, Jones, Gillesphey and Ramsay.  I know he’s right footed, but I feel he’ll offer a better option that trying to shoe horn one of TC or Hernandez in at LWB

    holding midfield two of Coventry and Anderson, then 3 in behind either Leaburn or Tanto.  Carey, Docherty and Campbell 

    If we can nick a point I’ll be ecstatic - hope and expect a bit of a response, but appreciate options are limited 
  • DDOUBLEE
    DDOUBLEE Posts: 1,616
    5-0 to Stoke and Jones gets humiliated by a club he failed at two games in a row.

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  • hoof_it_up_to_benty
    hoof_it_up_to_benty Posts: 22,527
    4-1 Stoke.
  • thetomahawkkid
    thetomahawkkid Posts: 770
    I hope we don't see Hernandez, but our options are limited.

    Luke Berry looked sharp so hoping he plays a bigger role.
  • MarcusH26
    MarcusH26 Posts: 8,246
    SheedyCAFC said:
    Crispywood said:
    Who’s the LB/LWB for the U21’s they may not be ready but they can’t put in any worse of a performance than other players that are getting shoehorned there. 
    Was thinking this yesterday too, although you don’t want to throw players in too early we’re probably better off giving them 45/60 mins and then bringing on Hernandez for the remainder
    Would be Kai Enslin probably. Can't see NJ going to Kai yet 
  • bolloxbolder
    bolloxbolder Posts: 8,013
    If you know your history,  over the years we traditionally do bad in November. 

    4 defeats in a row incoming. 
  • Bedsaddick
    Bedsaddick Posts: 24,917
    What with our injuries and the way we played on Saturday I’d say Stoke to win at even money is like printing money . 

    2-0 defeat . 
  • MrBurns
    MrBurns Posts: 1,349
    3-0 defeat 
  • usetobunkin
    usetobunkin Posts: 2,248
    Travel up to Stoke expecting a defeat. If we get anything I will be overjoyed.
    Head has had a wake call, 3-1 Stoke, Heart as always is optimistic, 1-1.

  • jonseventyfive
    jonseventyfive Posts: 3,392
    This is a game I targeted as I'd never seen us play stoke away,  potentially a horror show but also a gutsy backs to the wall performance to justify the trip , I'm a little nuts but my tenner is going on a late winner,  0-1.
  • aso914
    aso914 Posts: 168
    Think this will be a defeat as will coventry and I hope the fans can stick with the boys through this rough patch. Playing the top 3 teams back to back after a massive defeat is very unlucky. 
  • panther10
    panther10 Posts: 87
    Do not play docherty 

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