The cliched answer if you ask a football fan what they want for Christmas is "3 points" although this yuletide season sees Addicks yearning for something much bigger in the form of finding out who are new owners are (if any).
It however wouldn't be wise for us, the players or the management to take their eye off the ball and we simply have a massive games against Southampton on Boxing Day (if he goes ahead massive thanks to all those involved in clearing the areas around The Valley). With no game since sometime in Mid-August everyone seem to be a bit lost - I can't remember who is fit, who's suspended or who is just plain rubbish anymore...
A victory against Southampton (who haven't won in SE7 since our return in 1992) would provide a major fillip to Parky, the team and the crowd after a number of indifferent performances the last time we run out. Southampton always were (and probably still are) one of our major rivals in terms of the coveted promotion places but their form has been dodgy and the currently sit outside the top 6.
Teamwise, you can see the back five remaining the same as Brentford but with Simon Francis slotted back in a right back at the expense of assured debutant Carl Jenkinson. Against Southampton Parky will plump for the harrying (sp?) Scott Wagstaff over Lee Martin whilst Semedo, Racon and Jackson will make up the rest of the midfield.
Up top, Benno desperately needs a home goal to get his confidence back and hopefully Joe Anyinsah can shake off niggle and cramps and use his pace and power to annoy the Saints back line (probably including former right back Richardson).
Takeover or no takeover - 3 points is needed and is there a better team to finally put a performance in against? 2-0 Charlton.
Merry Christmas Previewers.
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4-3 thriller
Happy Christmas!
Anyway, Saints welcome back Jose Fonte who was suspended in our last game which is good news for us. Richardson, Chaplow and Barnard have all be training after missing the last match and I think they face late fitness tests.
If we manage to get a victory it'll be by the odd goal in my opinion.
current form puts us in the top 2 and league place well, we are still only fourth. but somehow it feels like we are stuttering along.hopefully a good result will kick start our season again and we'll turn the corner. maybe the takeover was a big distraction for everyone but hopefully parky can get them focused as we put the blip against walsall behind us.
i don't think i could take it on here if we lose, with the board awash wih mass wrist slashing hysteria. so i'll announce to everyone how i'll lay low for a few days if things don't go our way.
a tough game that we shouldn't really lose.
1-1
anyway ready made excuses if we fail to deliver cos the takeover talk and the "24th" has taken everyones eyes off the ball
If there is still no deal, I fear the uncertainty could prey upon the minds of players and manager and we could put in another shocking performance. Just look at how it has unsettled Charlton Lifers. If it has anything like the same effect upon the team tomorrow, we will lose.
If there is still no deal, I'd recommend a rare visit from Murray to the dressing room before the match to reassure everyone that there is no glitch and the deal is almost there.
1pm mate
Haha so so true.
Hoping for a 2-0 with new owners unveiled at kick off
I also think they carry more threat going forward.
1-2
Further rumours today that Wise will be Director of Football (Not sure what paper- info was texted to me). If true then maybe he will want his own man in or he will take parts of Parkies role away from him and Parkie will be given a "like it or lump it" option leading to uncertainty.
With regards to the players then I can understand if they feel that money is going to be made available a number could feel insecure. For instance Benson has only just started to find his feet at this level from a lower league existence, Reid is a confidence player who has not quite made it this season ....
We need the takeover to be completed so that stability can be enforced. At the moment everything including Wise is pure speculation and we need to kill that as soon as possible
well the games at Palace and L Orient have both just been called off....Hmmmm, what price ours ?
Got £25 cab booked...........
;-/