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MATCH PREVIEW: Charlton Athletic vs Stevenage | Tuesday 12th August 2025 - 7:45pm KO
Comments
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But it will be because we made changes if we do go with your thinking. It was clear to everyone that the game on Saturday against Watford that Championship football is a whole new level. We were all repeatedly warned, particularly so by the Millwall fans on here, but I suspect we had to see it for ourselves to really believe it. What saved us was we had and kept our shape. Nathan slotted in the newbies around the core from last season and it paid off, probably because we were fitter from a much later finishing season and more pre-season friendlies than our opponents. Keeping our shape is what will give us an edge at.Bristol at this stage of the season but we need to give that new core 11 from the Watford game another run out and in turn slot the subs on into it as the game goes on.Chris_from_Sidcup said:
Only playing one competitive game so far is exactly why we will make changes. Not because players are tired, but because other squad players need minutes. Knibbs isn't going to build up his fitness by playing 15 minutes as a sub once a week is he?letthegoodtimesroll said:
We’ve had one competitive game. Changing the line up tonight and changing it back again on Saturday is not consistency and the team will get its arses handed to them at Bristol City if we fuck about with changes tonight. Manage the minutes from the bench.Chris_from_Sidcup said:
It's real life, not Football Manager. Every single manager with a game tonight will make changes.letthegoodtimesroll said:
We tried that daft idea last season. It was only after we were dumped out of the EFL trophy and then beaten by Crawley in the league that we stopped fucking about with the line up in the league matches and we got our act together and turned the season around. Consistency in the line up is the number one priority. The subs bench is the way to then manage game time. This may be the Carabou cup and not the Championship but we’ve only had one competitive match so far so can’t afford to waste this opportunity for the starting eleven to get the minutes together.sam3110 said:I want a full XI change
Consistency in the lineup is the priority for league games, not the league cup. We have a squad and we will obviously give minutes to those who need them.
Bristol City i'm sure will also make a bunch of changes and if we do get our arse handed to us on Saturday it definitely won't be because we made changes for a league cup game in midweek.1 -
I don't disagree with your wider point, i just don't think it's practical to go with the same XI from the Watford game. I don't want to see the likes of Jones, Ramsay, Coventry out there and probably not Bell either given his injury issues in the last couple of years.letthegoodtimesroll said:
But it will be because we made changes. It was clear to everyone that the game on Saturday against Watford was a a whole new level. We were all repeatedly warned, particularly so by the Millwall fans on here, but I suspect we had to see it for ourselves to really believe it. What saved us was we had and kept our shape. Nathan slotted in the newbies around the core from last season and it paid off, probably because we were fitter from a much later finishing season and more pre-season friendlies than our opponents. Keeping our shape is what will give us an edge at.Bristol but we need to give that ew core 11 from the Watford game another run out and in turn slot the subs on into it as the game goes on.Chris_from_Sidcup said:
Only playing one competitive game so far is exactly why we will make changes. Not because players are tired, but because other squad players need minutes. Knibbs isn't going to build up his fitness by playing 15 minutes as a sub once a week is he?letthegoodtimesroll said:
We’ve had one competitive game. Changing the line up tonight and changing it back again on Saturday is not consistency and the team will get its arses handed to them at Bristol City if we fuck about with changes tonight. Manage the minutes from the bench.Chris_from_Sidcup said:
It's real life, not Football Manager. Every single manager with a game tonight will make changes.letthegoodtimesroll said:
We tried that daft idea last season. It was only after we were dumped out of the EFL trophy and then beaten by Crawley in the league that we stopped fucking about with the line up in the league matches and we got our act together and turned the season around. Consistency in the line up is the number one priority. The subs bench is the way to then manage game time. This may be the Carabou cup and not the Championship but we’ve only had one competitive match so far so can’t afford to waste this opportunity for the starting eleven to get the minutes together.sam3110 said:I want a full XI change
Consistency in the lineup is the priority for league games, not the league cup. We have a squad and we will obviously give minutes to those who need them.
Bristol City i'm sure will also make a bunch of changes and if we do get our arse handed to us on Saturday it definitely won't be because we made changes for a league cup game in midweek.
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Get the kids/back-ups in the team.
Not bothered about our performance in the cups this season, it's all about the league.3 -
This, 100%. And the way to achieve that is to create and keep a consistent core side. If we were 5 or 6 games into the season I’d agree that we should/could make changes but we are only one game into the season. Now is not the time to make changes.SELR_addicks said:
Not bothered about our performance in the cups this season, it's all about the league.0 -
We all know this is a glorified friendly, but also that Jones will want a win, regardless of the competition. This is why I feel he will make suitable changes, mainly at the back, but not be as many overall as expected. Certainly not a completely new starting 11, and, as I've said previously, perfect game to start Knibbs and have someone stronger up top with Kelman, either Olaofe and then Leaburn coming off the bench, or a combo or those three.0
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Despite 'keeping our shape' Watford had three gilt edge chances that were waiting for a touch in the 6 yard box but the ball evaded the forwards plus Baah was erratic from a few yards out down the Covered end.
Bristol city were clinical with scoring 4 and could've had more if the sub late on showed more composure.
We have a stronger squad now and they all need minutes to be ready for the marathon 46 match season when Injuries and knocks will occur over the 100 minutes of most matches now.
Sports science in 2025 is something that most managers under 60 believe in as they prefer not to give injections for the long term health of players.
Lloyd Jones did have to play with injections during '25' and Matty Golden played through pain possibly with injections at the business end before his operation recently.
We have a squad and we need to use it in the cup games.
Definitely no Ramsay or Jones for me tonight, Knibbs with 45 and Carey and Apter who have a really good understanding from their Blackpool days to maybe have 60.
Nathan after seeing the analysis from the data will pick a starting XL and have his impact game changers ready with trying to win this match but equally having the tough City away game in mind at the weekend.
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The only player I would prefer not to play is Lloyd Jones, we cannot afford for him to get injured and his fitness will not be harmed by missing one game2
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We have plenty of cover at the back to not have to rely on our starting 11 there.1
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League Cup not the Pizza Trophy so think Nathan will take more seriously. A few changes perhaps, wouldn’t be at all surprised if we see Rankin-Costello, Tanto and Gillesphy coming in but otherwise think he will go for it and try to put Stevenage to the sword by a few goals. At least I hope this is the case!4
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Losing tonight with a reserve team does not mean losing to Bristol City on Saturday . Those of longer in the tooth will recall dreadful cup games under Curbs and then wins against the premier league big boys on the Saturday . Our squad players need minutes and those that ran themselves into the ground on Saturday need a rest .letthegoodtimesroll said:
We’ve had one competitive game. Changing the line up tonight and changing it back again on Saturday is not consistency and the team will get its arses handed to them at Bristol City if we fuck about with changes tonight. Manage the minutes from the bench.Chris_from_Sidcup said:
It's real life, not Football Manager. Every single manager with a game tonight will make changes.letthegoodtimesroll said:
We tried that daft idea last season. It was only after we were dumped out of the EFL trophy and then beaten by Crawley in the league that we stopped fucking about with the line up in the league matches and we got our act together and turned the season around. Consistency in the line up is the number one priority. The subs bench is the way to then manage game time. This may be the Carabou cup and not the Championship but we’ve only had one competitive match so far so can’t afford to waste this opportunity for the starting eleven to get the minutes together.sam3110 said:I want a full XI change
Consistency in the lineup is the priority for league games, not the league cup. We have a squad and we will obviously give minutes to those who need them.6 - Sponsored links:
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No reason we can't take tonight seriously whilst not risking important players. Our 2nd string should have more than enough quality to beat Stevenage.5
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Make some changes use the subs and give Nathan a selction headache for saturday, make players fight for the shirt2
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i think it will be
Mannion
J Laq
Z Mitchell
A Mitchell
Gillesphey
Enslin
Anderson
JRC
Knibbs
Tanto
Leaburn
Would imagine we will see at least 30 mins of Kelman, Berry and Fullah1 -
Makes no sense, it's a different competition and as such you can play who you want and it won't affect "consistency"letthegoodtimesroll said:
We tried that daft idea last season. It was only after we were dumped out of the EFL trophy and then beaten by Crawley in the league that we stopped fucking about with the line up in the league matches and we got our act together and turned the season around. Consistency in the line up is the number one priority. The subs bench is the way to then manage game time. This may be the Carabou cup and not the Championship but we’ve only had one competitive match so far so can’t afford to waste this opportunity for the starting eleven to get the minutes together.sam3110 said:I want a full XI change
If this was a ressies game would you want the full fist XI playing "for consistency"
When we have no Tuesday games, and the players go from Saturday to Saturday, there's no change, I fail to see how that's any different to playing the same squad in the league games and a different one in the cup, it's not like they all think they've been "dropped" for one game is it.0 -
bertpalmer said:Make some changes use the subs and give Nathan a selction headache for saturday, make players fight for the shirt
That's my view.
Just because Kaminski was praised in the last two seasons, this is a new season and I want Mannion who had a really good 2nd half of 24/25 to push Thomas K to prove he's the number 1. I'm not judging Thomas after one match just like I don't judge Kelman after one match.
The days of players going through the motions and keeping the shirt or Jersey have gone. I don't mean being discarded after one quiet game which Charlie had on Saturday as that will happen but no one within our squad now should be an automatic choice if they lose form over a number of games.
This isn't mediocre League one, this is the competitive Championship and Nathan will make sure the players are prepared well. We will have some tough defeats but most CAFC fans will be aware of that and still support.
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Stevenage have had a good start to their season, with 2 wins from 2, so i don't think they'll be the pushover that many people expect. Plus we are notoriously shit in any cup competition.Pelling1993 said:No reason we can't take tonight seriously whilst not risking important players. Our 2nd string should have more than enough quality to beat Stevenage.10 -
I think there may be a slight disconnect between some fans and NJ in their balanced thoughts of playing time, risk, injuries, and bad luck.We finished with quite an "easy" preseason game, so we need to bring some players up to speed. Expect to see a strong team with just a handful of changes.
Addition (via an edit): Remember that Bristol City are also playing tonight against MK Dons.2 -
Do not risk our best players against a bunch of kicker/cloggers.
Use the squad4 -
Maybe I am one of them, but the bigger picture, in my humble opinion is to not risk our key players in a game like this.mendonca said:I think there may be a slight disconnect between some fans and NJ in their balanced thoughts of playing time, risk, injuries, and bad luck.We finished with quite an "easy" preseason game, so we need to bring some players up to speed. Expect to see a strong team with just a handful of changes.
Use the squad.1 -
Agree with this as long as those changes come via the playing bench from Saturday and not all from the start and as long as you haven’t got really big hands of course.mendonca said:I think there may be a slight disconnect between some fans and NJ in their balanced thoughts of playing time, risk, injuries, and bad luck.We finished with quite an "easy" preseason game, so we need to bring some players up to speed. Expect to see a strong team with just a handful of changes.
some posters clearly weren’t going to games when we were shit last season and staring at the relegation slots.I also wonder whether any of those that are so dismissive of playing the same side because it’s only the Carabou Cup are actually going to the game tonight.1 - Sponsored links:
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What does that have to do with anything? We all want Charlton to win, no matter what lineup or competition.letthegoodtimesroll said:
Agree with this as long as those changes come via the playing bench from Saturday and not all from the start and as long as you haven’t got really big hands of course.mendonca said:I think there may be a slight disconnect between some fans and NJ in their balanced thoughts of playing time, risk, injuries, and bad luck.We finished with quite an "easy" preseason game, so we need to bring some players up to speed. Expect to see a strong team with just a handful of changes.
some posters clearly weren’t going to games when we were shit last season and staring at the relegation slots.I also wonder whether any of those that are so dismissive of playing the same side because it’s only the Carabou Cup are actually going to the game tonight.2 -
Many going tonight?3
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For that reason they may choose to make wholesale changes and not risk first team playersChris_from_Sidcup said:
Stevenage have had a good start to their season, with 2 wins from 2, so i don't think they'll be the pushover that many people expect. Plus we are notoriously shit in any cup competition.Pelling1993 said:No reason we can't take tonight seriously whilst not risking important players. Our 2nd string should have more than enough quality to beat Stevenage.2 -
We shouldn't be afraid of them they are only a small League 1 team
As one manager said about his team against us ... we should be beating small clubs like this 😂2 -
No mention of Charlton TV. Assume its not being streamed?clive said:0 -
Still have high hopes for Mbick breaking into our first team at some pointRedJohn said:
Have very high hopes of him too.BR7_addick said:Hopefully Fullah plays genuinely believe he’s the next big one coming through.0 -
Surely Dixon will feature?0
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The thing to remember is that we have a very even squad now in terms of quality. We don't have 11 first teamers and 11 backups, it's more like 18 first teamers and 6 backups
Tanto, Miles, Knibbs, Gillesphey all came off the bench on Saturday, none of them would consider themselves backup players. Ditto Costello or the injured Burke and Godden. Mannion and Karoy Anderson were both regulars last season.
Thus we can rotate, and not actually reduce the quality. It's not like previous seasons where the backup players were kids or no hopers. It keeps the squad fresh, and maintains healthy competition.3 -
It's on SkyOh Eddie Youds... said:
No mention of Charlton TV. Assume its not being streamed?clive said:3
