MATCH THREAD : Stoke City V Charlton Athletic : Saturday 5th September 2026 : KO 12:30
Hi everyone.
After Wednesday's encounter with WBA, we find ourselves away again today, this time it's a lunchtime kick off at the Bet365 Stadium where Stoke City provide the opposition. Stoke sit in 22nd spot after three defeats and one win, which came Tuesday with a 1-0 victory over Norwich which stopped the rot, temporarily we hope.
Ramsay, Chalobah, Godden, Mannion and Sichenje, all remain unavailable through injury, while Koumetio, Kelman and Edwards are all nearing a return to fitness, although not in time for today, new arrival Oliver Skipp could be in line for his first involvement.
Stoke, will be without Tchamadeu and Cresswell, while Cisse and Ampah are also likely to miss out, Ingelsson and Gibson will be assessed.
We've met on 68 previous occasions winning 26, the Potters 28 and the remaining 12 encounters ending all square. Stoke won the corresponding fixture last year 3-0, while we were 1-0 victors at The Valley in February thanks to a TC strike, our last league victory away came in the promotion-winning 1997/98 season as John Robinson and Anthony Barness netted in a 2-1 success.
Bobby Madley will take charge of Saturday's fixture, during the 2025/26 season he dished out 82 yellow and four reds. So far this season, he has officiated three games, producing 11 yellow cards.
The Addicks will be wearing their purple third strip today…
TEAM»»>Oliver Skipp will make his Charlton debut this afternoon…
Mesík joins Lloyd Jones, Tyler Bindon and Amari’i Bell in a back four in front of Arthur Okonkwo.
Skipp and Ouma are likely to hold in midfield with Karlan Grant, Rankin-Costello and Tyreece Campbell playing behind Miles Leaburn.
McNamara, Coventry, Mwamba and Alli are joined on the bench by Tiernan Brooks, Harvey Knibbs, Sonny Carey, Rob Apter and Micah Mbick.
Charlton: Okonkwo; Mesík, Jones (c), Bindon, Bell; Skipp, Ouma; Grant, Rankin-Costello, Campbell; Leaburn
Subs: Brooks, McNamara, Coventry, Mwamba, Knibbs, Carey, Alli, Apter, Mbick
Comments
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Cheers for the heads up @fenaddick2
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Okonkwo
Mesík Jones Bindon Bell
Ouma Skipp
Grant Rankin-Costello Campbell
Leaburn5 -
Bell aside, at least we are 'managing' the knocks rather than forcing them to play through.10
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Still only one fullback on the bench as defensive cover. Interesting team though and keen to see how Ouma gets on in his first 'proper' start1
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Hard to know who’s playing where in that team.
Could it be our first 3/5Atb of the season?1 -
New midfield combo is a bit scary for a tough away game but hopefully Skipp’s experience helps5
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I just can’t see JRC playing in that 10 role. The requirements to lead the press just do not fit in with his strengths.
Maybe he’s at RB?2 -
Grant is going to be busy.sam3110 said:Okonkwo
Mesík Jones Bindon Bell
Ouma Skipp
Grant Rankin-Costello Grant
Leaburn7 -
Laddick01 said:Hard to know who’s playing where in that team.
Could it be our first 3/5Atb of the season?
Looks to me like the team Sam has suggested but who knows!0 -
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Could be Bindon at right back and Mesik left, or it could be 3421 with JRC at wing back .1
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Nkeng injured already!?0
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I rate it.It was likely always the plan to rotate with two very tough away fixtures within 90 hours of each other.
Allowed the likes of Coventry and Mwamba to empty the tank on Wednesday and no doubt means Skipp and Ouma can do the same today.
Remember the game isn’t about “best eleven” anymore. The top sides have a strong 16-17 players that can rotate regularly without a dip in quality.14 -
Lots of players starting together for the 1st time, hope it isn’t too much disruption.6
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Mesik right back and JRC in the "10" I assume? Is Mesik left or right-footed? He seems very comfortable with both.1
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That is a decidedly unexpected lineup. Changing the entire midfield is a bold choice and we will have to see if it pays off. JRC will definitely tire as the game goes on so hopefully he'll do his damage early and get us an assist or two in the first half3
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Who's the right back is the question?Does feel like a bit of a throwaway game with so many changes, wonder if they've been forced.1
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3 at the back (Bell, Jones, Bindon), with Mesik and JRC as wingbacks?
Perhaps 343 or 34210 -
The biggest concern there is that Apter is preferred to Nkeng on the bench.
Doesn’t suggest that Nkeng will play much.1 -
How do we know he’s not a lot fitter than last season ? I’d hope it’s a more orthodox 433 anyway to give the extra body in the midfield . I’m not a huge fan of the “number 10” unless your two pivots are very mobile and very good on the ballGarrymanilow said:That is a decidedly unexpected lineup. Changing the entire midfield is a bold choice and we will have to see if it pays off. JRC will definitely tire as the game goes on so hopefully he'll do his damage early and get us an assist or two in the first half0 -
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I do wonder the extent of the Chalobah issue? The side is obviously being picked with the amount of fixtures upcoming.1
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Mesik, despite being left footed, played some of the game at Tottenham at right back. I suspect the line up will be what Sam posted above.1
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Mesík. It’ll be a more flat midfield 3 with Ouma doing the runningSELR_addicks said:Who's the right back is the question?Does feel like a bit of a throwaway game with so many changes, wonder if they've been forced.0 -
Has JRC ever played as the ‘10’ before?0
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Whenever he’s come off the bench this season. But that’s not a whole gameFishCostaFortune said:Has JRC ever played as the ‘10’ before?0 -
Risky line up. Hope it works 🤞0
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Seems a bit experimental….0
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Did feel like a game we could get something from due to Stoke's poor start to the season. So hope throwing a bunch of players in for their first game doesn't disrupt our performance too much.0
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Perhaps a diamond midfield with Leaburn and Campbell as a front two? Let’s hope it’s got Stoke guessing as much as we are!2
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Last experimental line up I remember was Boro away…2
