The Introduction
It is too early to say the honeymoon is over. Love is still in the air and the relationship is still fresh, exciting and full of potential. He could be a keeper but tasting defeat for the first time could be akin to slowly discovering some of his irritating habits, like leaving the toilet seat up or farting in bed.
The Opposition
To misquote Dickens this could be the best of times or worst of times to be facing Nottingham (never Notts) Forest.
A 5 - 0 spanking from rivals Derby will leave them red raw and looking to take out their frustration on their next opponents. They haven't won in eight league and cup games and like us they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Sheffield Utd. Draws with Doncaster and Middlesborough and a defeat by Barnsley don't suggest a play-off side and the tricky trees have now slipped outside the top six.
With quarterback Andy Reid injured and manager Billy Davies yet again in trouble with the FA could the man who so nearly took over at the Valley miss out again? His managerial record of nearly getting teams promoted is remarkable.
But Davies and Forest will see a home game v struggling Charlton as just the tonic they need to get back to winning ways.
Former Addick Greg Halford could make his first return since getting Yann Kermorgant sent off by carelessly getting in the way of the Breton's swinging boot. But our former full back has been transformed into a centre forward since then and could well start in an attempt to change the fortunes of the goal shy Reds.
The Line Up
Having seen his charges lose at the fourth time of asking Jose Riga maybe tempted to tinker. Having preferred 4 - 2- 3- 1 in his early games he went 4-4-2 against Burnley but with no appreciable improvement in the goal threat.
Riga has said that the "sexy" loan players have already been snapped up and while not ruling out further loans he stated post match "The solution (to the lack of goals) is not outside the squad - they are inside the squad". He also said in his post match press conference that he might need to go more direct. Ho hum. What is the Flemish for "hoofball"?
Preview Towers has a feeling that Jose will go for it by pushing Wilson forward and slotting Nego in at right back. The early substitutions of Green and Church suggest that they will be "given a rest" to allow for a 4 - 3- 3 or 4 -2-3-1 along the lines of
Hamer
Nego Morrison Dervite Wiggins
Poyet Cousins
Wilson Jackson Reza
Obika
The Prediction
Charlton get a valuable away win. An early goal and we hang on for 82 minutes before a very late second wraps it up 2 - 0
3
Comments
This is probably Riga's chance to show he is different to SCP tactically. Under Powell we would go to try and keep it tight and see if we could nick anything in a smash and grab Reid
They are punch drunk after Ssturday's hammering so positive approach would be the one with the best chance of paying dividends
Forest 3-1 but at least our substitutions were attacking and early
2 - 0 win for the Mighty Addicks ;-) with the goals coming from Cousins & Wilson(playing RM please)
1-1
Paterson
Sordell
Forest, with the form they are in, are as good an opportunity as any to pick up at least one point towards my imaginary quota of six.
Still optimistic that we can do it. 1-1 And Powell is appointed at Forest.
I don't believe we are a bottom three side - fortunately the bottom three are finding it just as hard as us to find a win.
or leaving things in places where they shouldn't be like Church and Green in the 1st XI
2-0 Forest as we get the payback from them getting spanked by their rivals
I'd go with Henry's line up but swap AA for Reza
I'll be there and expect us to get a point from a Forest side which I suspect is just not playing for their manager who is picking some strange looking teams. I hope that this is the case.
My team: Hamer .. Morrison Wood Dervite Wiggins .. Wilson Cousins Poyet Jackson ) .. Obika Sordell ..
Nottingham Forest 1 v CAFC 1
Hamer no need to rotate here . I think Thuram is a reasonable keeper but perhaps not suited for the Championship
Wilson ,I'd like to see either Nego or a loanee come in for the run in.it has been reported that Luke Young's £30k a week wages have blocked any loans away from QPR .Could he be an option now it would only be for a couple of months?Wilson could then move to RM.
Wiggins.I notice Fox was on the bench again, Rhoys has been inconsistent since returning.
Jackson. Astrit is also a left footer ,could AA and JJ rotate? Harriott is a left footed option also
Morrison and Dervite , we have Wood and hopefully Cort as well as Lennon.
Green See above re Wilson. A loan here would be welcome if we didn't go for a RB. The left footed Harriott could play if Pritchard came in.
Poyet and Cousins.Play as much as possible.Maybe the bench needs to feature the likes of Gower ,Hollands and Hughes occasionally to facilitate an early substitution or get an experienced CM on loan.
Church . Sordell and Tudgay provide alternatives as well as Reza . Marvin needs to start Tuesday against Forest.
Obika. should be fresh for the run in, but an experienced target man would be useful.
Would not be surprised to see Fox or Lennon starting on Tuesday in place of Wiggins.
ps we could hardly get any worse up front. Please please start Polish Pete and Marvin up front. Or Tudgay is he looks bothered. There's a slight breeze forecast in Nottingham which will certainly blow Reza over, and Spongey is due a 2 season rest before his contract expires.
Hamer
Nego Morrison Dervite Wiggins
Wilson Poyet AA Jackson
Obika Reza
Subs - Thuram, Wood, Sordell, Cousins, Harriott, Fox, PP
AA needs to play as he creates things. 2 strikers up front please. Obika and Reza i think can form a good partnership if given a run as they have the right style about each other to click. Nego because i would like to see Wilson play RM again because he has so much more to his game than Green. Wilson is a good RM, gets crosses in and will also track back. Jackson is slow but he and Wiggins had a good understand before with Wiggins overlapping and getting forward. Plus Jackson is a goal threat. Poyet is a good and composed DM and breaks things up. I'd have PP on the bench (why not?).
We need to show creativity and look to attack rather than be too defensive. I think the above team gives balance. Cousins is only dropped to the bench because I had to pick one of the 2 to start and Poyet just has the edge for me.
Hamer
Nego Dervite Morrison Wiggins
WIlson JC DP AA
Obika Sordell
but were really choosing chuff from chuff