Courtesy of Henry Irving
At the end of last year we seemed overloaded with games, playing every three days as we fought on two cup fronts as well as in the league.
Now with just the league to worry about and yet another cancellation last weekend we seem starved of actual football.
Thankfully, we've had the distraction of a takeover, a managerial sacking, a legend's return, some new signings, coaching appointments plus Sian Massey to keep us all occupied.
But now back to business. Including tomorrow's two games there is a full league 1 set of fixtures this mid-week.
The table is as cramped as ever. Only Brighton have any breathing space but for the rest one result can mean a three of four place move. Charlton are currently 8th but could move up to fourth with a win or drop in to the bottom half with a defeat.
The number of postponements also means that people up and down the land will be playing the old game of "if we win our games in hand then....". It is a tempting but dangerous strategy. The Addicks have 1, 2 even 3 games in hand on those above us. No one has played fewer than our 25 matches but games in hand still have to be won.
Charlton go into tonight's game with a much strengthened attack. Benson is back from his ban following his sending off against the same opponents but will be fortunate to make the bench, let alone start. The ever impressive Anyinsah plus new signings Bradley Wright-Phillips and Nathan Eccleston could all be preferred ahead of the ex-Dagger. Even Pawel Abbott maybe be considered for the bench having been chosen to close out the Plymouth game a fortnight ago.
And that's not even thinking about where Ooh Scotty Wagstaff plays. A scorer and willing runner behind the striker v Sheff Weds and Argyle, Waggy could retain his place up top but might be asked to drop back to right midfield. That would mean moving the improving McCormack into the middle or onto the bench.
Racon and Semedo have been the preferred centre pairing under all three managers so far this season. Powell may well leave them where they are but might consider Jose and Macca as the holding players and look for creativity from the wings with Jackson, Waggy, Reid or BWP taking the wide berths. Anyinsah and Eccles can also play wide.
At the back we can look forward to Fede Bassone joining the squad. Many fans were disappointed that we didn't add another, more mobile, centre half during the window while Matt Fry's future remains unclear. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Leeds loanee start with Fry moved into the middle but maybe not tonight.
Solly has played one reserve game so is unlikely to feature so Francis and Dailly on the right.
But all this is based on before. What we don't know yet is how much Powell wants to change things around and how much influence new Assistant boss Alex Dyer will have on not just the personnel but on the way we play. My guess is that is will be evolution not revolution.
Our opponents sit just one place and six less goals below us (albeit from one more game). From early front runners they have slipped away and have won 2, lost 2 and drawn 2 of there last six. Those six game do include us, Brighton, Peterboro, Bournemouth and Huddersfield so don't be fooled. Away from home they are solid with 5 draws and 3 wins from 11 games. They don't score many (11) but don't let too many in either (13).
Upfront will be top scorer David Mooney. His winner v Peterborough last time out was his 10th of the campaign in all competitions. No doubt a few will boo him as they did when he wore a red shirt and the ever so witty "Mooney, Mooney you're a ****" chant will be giggled along to by those who think it the height of sophisticated humour. Sad thing is that for them it is. Also sad as despite his limitations the Irishman scored some important goals for us and deserves better.
I expect a much tighter game with the Essex side then the 3 - 3 draw exactly one month ago. They will be much more in our faces than Plymouth, looking to close down and hary to try to catch us on the break while we look to use our pace up front and on the flanks to get behind them. Should be an interesting and fast game but not too exciting.
1 - 0 to the Londoners.
0
Comments
as henry said i also think it will be a tight affair with a draw or us sneaking it imo
colchester are a step up from the usual pub sides we come across in this league so i think it will be a reasonable game
to have any chance of automatic promotion we have to win these games
formation/player wise can't see many changes maybe waggy shuffled to midfield at the expense of mcoxo and BWP pushed up top with anyinsah
COYR
this left back is gonna shore us up...
BWP will smash one in from distance tonight and Benson will get on the end of something 2-0 ...
Really don't know what to expect from tonight. There was a time when i used to look forward to us playing ANYONE under the lights at The Valley. The atmosphere was great and we always seemed to win. Neither have happened recently.
Reality points to a tight game, which hopefully we will edge.
3-0
we have options...Only one thing for it an early meet at 4pm for prematch drinks.
However I feel that SCP's reign will continue with a win, albeit a narrow one, and so its 2-1 for me and 3 more points towards the auto places/play-offs.
Sadly will miss the entire match as I will be working tonight (for the penultimate time) as once again I face redundancy as from tomorrow.
I'll look forward to reading the match thread when get back home at about 1 am tomorrow, I hope all that are going or are listening enjoy the game. COYR's
I am expecting to see a tighter defence tonight (CP will have been working on this overtime) and I'm really excited with the different attacking options we now have. My only concern is the middle - Racon, Semedo, Mac - who to choose? Maybe Jackson will be moved inside?
Any news on ticket sales (Airman?), it would be good to see an increase on the Plymouth crowd and maybe creep into the 17,000+ tonight
Francis Dailly Doherty Fry
Waggy Racon Semedo Jackson
BWP Ayinsah
Francis Daily Fry Bessone
Waggy Racon Jackson Reid
Ayinsah BWP
wrong mooney will not score... unless its a penalty
Len ......behave!
;o)
Francis Dailly Fry Bessone
Waggy Semedo jackson Reid
BWP Anyinsah
Worner, Solly, Doherty, McCormack, Racon, Benson Ecclestone
Wont happen but really fancy Jackson in the middle.
As he's had very little training with the team (and said in his interview that he didn't know anybody's names yet), I'd be inclined to let him bed in with the squad first.
A specialist left back, attacking and comfortable on the ball playing a passing game - just what I'd love to see when he's ready.
I agree with you but is Jacko fit?
Like to see
[align=center]Elliott
Francis - - -Dailly - - -Fry - - - Bessone
Semedo
Wagstaff - - - - - Racon - - - - - Jackson
Anyinsah - - - BWP
Subs:
Worner
Doherty
Llera
Mambo
McCormack
Reid
Ecclestone
[/align]
I like the look of this team
It's about time we turned in a great home performance and even more importantly about time we sent a signal of our intent.
3-0 heart
(realistically a single goal victory would delight me 2-1 - BWP, Mooney, Benno with winner)
It's the same team as last time, except BWP replaces (in effect) Ally Mac.
Of course the major difference would be tactically with Waggy dropping wide, and BWP playing off Smoking Joe instead.
I'd like to think we would start the game by putting Colchester under the cosh, straightaway.
We need to start with intensity.
Yea I think we would be more direct and have extra pace and skill on the right to cause extra problems for their defence. At times against plymouth we looked like we lacked the cutting edge and waggy (as good as he was) isnt the best at holding up the ball and I think Joe looked a little isolated at times. With two out and out strikers on the pitch and waggy hopefully causing problems down the right, we should look more of a threat (especially with the passing game we seem to be adopting).
I just hope fans dont start booing when we play the ball back or sidewards to keep possesion (as our fans tend to do that, well they did before the arrival of chriss powell)