The Introduction
Part two of Charlton' s 1970s league champions once managed by Brian Clough now fallen on hard times mini-tour of the Midlands and the North hits Derby this Saturday.
The Opposition
Derby County (League Champions in 1972 and 1975) should be much more of test for Charlton than were Forest (League Champions 1978) . The Rams beat the Reds 5 - 0 last weekend but then went on to lose at Ipswich at the same time as Jordan Cousins was taking away three points from the City Ground.
That thrashing of Forest was in fact Derby's only win in the last six which includes a home reversal at the hands of Millwall.
Chris Martin (18 goals) Craig Bryson (15) and Chelsea Loanee Patrick Bamford (7) offer the goal threat but defensively the Rams have conceded one more goal than Charlton in the league this season. That they are 4th and we're 21st only confirms what we've all known all season - we defend well enough but we don't score enough goals.
The Line Up
The hugely encouraging win at Forest should mean few changes but Jose Riga may want to rest some players with the game at Leeds (Champions 1974) just around the corner.
Dervitte's exit at half time may have been tactical or due to injury but Wood has proved an able centre half whenever called upon.
The rest of the defence and midfield picks itself.
Upfront the gaffer will have to make a decision on Jon Obika. Is he better coming off the bench or does he deserve a start?
The rumoured loan signing of Chris Flying-Bird could see Reza or Sordell drop to the bench
Hamer
Wilson Morrison Wood Wiggins
Cousins Poyet Jackson
Sordell Ajdarevic Obika
The Prediction
The good times continue 0 - 1 to the Londoners
The useless but interesting fact.
According to the Football Encyclopedia (1934) in 217 AD the men of Derby drove a body of Roman soldiers out of town and then celebrated with a game of football. This event was celebrated by a carnival on Shrove Tuesday (Pancake day to you heathens) during which there were large fights cum football matches between men of the parishes of St Peters and All Saints. It is from this intense local rivalry, according to this version of the story at least, that we get the term "Derby match".
6
Comments
IMHO, I think Sordell should be "rested".
While we've rotated/picked random attackers, the defensive core of our team has been largely unchanged, and my worry is how long we can continue to keep playing Cousins, Poyet and JJ in every game without them running out of juice, but we don't seem to have any options - is Pritchard fit, as he's been missing from the bench these last 2 games, and is Danny Hollands an option?
2-1 derby
Don't forget this is a roller coaster we are on.
Was it?...
.......................Hamer
Wilson...Morrison...Dervite....Wiggins
.......Cousins....Poyet....Jackson
....Rezza.........................Astrit
......................Sordell
Having said that if I was offered the draw I would take it now .
0-1 to the binary bores and a step nearer Championship safety
585 delirious Addicks head back down the M1 flicked up
We need to win this one to keep our play-off hopes alive. ;-)
Wilson...Morrison...Dervite....Wiggins
.......Cousins....Poyet....Jackson
Eagles (hopefull).................Obika
......................Astrit
Every time I have predicted a 0 - 0 draw this season we have gone on to win 1 - 0. Expect us to grind out another 0 - 0.