Playing a newly promoted side away on the first game of the season is not what we want.
3-1 defeat
Brentford have been on a roll for the past two seasons, and as you quite rightly said about the promoted sides, worst game to have on the opening day. Stand by that even if we do win convincingly, I will be very happy with a draw.
Tough game this. They'll be so up for it having won promotion and their fans will be buzzing having not played in the second tier for two decades. I also get the feeling Bob could do with another week or two of pre season training. I'll go 1-1. Jackson for us.
6-8 victory! A quiet opening few mi diesel leads to both defences going crazy and defending from the oppositions penalty box!
Alternatively
The whose squad is affected by food poisoning the night before so we are forced to play nock Pope up front! Turns out to be an inspired move from big bob as they can't handle his height and he sticks in a hat trick! Who says we need a new strikee! 3-0
Impossible to predict. We don't know if we are any good or if they are any good. Glad pwopa footy is back though! 14-0 to Brentford, TBH sent off after five mins, Igor breaks his leg and JJ misses six pens. Nah, not really. Fancy us for at least a point. Always look on the bright side of life etc.
PS. If any if you betting boys follow my nonsense and lump on at 5000 to 1 that we lose 14 - 0 and we do, I'll expect commission.
There is more of a buzz this year with all the signings so its a bit like a new beginning with lots of players wanting to prove something so I think no complacency and a win and would love any new signing to score.
New signings take division by surprise? New signings don't adapt to English game? New team fails to gel? New team and manager bring fresh momentum? New team and manager result in too much disruption? Brentford on a promotion high? Brentford freeze on big occasion?
Whatever happens on the pitch on Saturday, we need to be that 12th man/woman from the first to last whistle. Let's show Big Bob that our fans are as important to this Club as our players ( well, almost)
This will be a team with 2 or 3 new partnerships, depending on how BB sets out the side, although the most recent pre season friendlies have given him & us some idea of the starting line up.
Let's make sure we keep our expectations realistic and give whoever wears the shirts our 100% backing. Fanny's arctic stare will hone in on anyone even thinking about a "boo" - well, in the seats anyway.
No prediction from me as ever but everything crossed for a good showing from our lads & may the best team win...
A tight team the core of who have played together for 2 seasons with some quality added against team of players who are just getting to know each other with a weak midfield, slow central defence and have trouble finding the back of the net. Brentford have played some good teams in the pre season with good results. They will be itching to prove themselves in their first championship fixture since 1993. Not a good opening fixture for Charlton.
Apologies to all for bringing some realism to this thread (not that it is likely to make much difference to the wildly optimistic predictions)
A superb analysis, weakened only by your apologies at the end. Stick to your guns, lad. Stubley's team and formation at the head of this thread is damn strong - is it too early to appoint him as our new manager?
We have a healthy mix of experienced pros, a mad dog, 'young guns', and strikers ravenous for the onion-bag. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't storm the play-offs next May. We'll beat Brentford on Saturday, 2-1.
A tight team the core of who have played together for 2 seasons with some quality added against team of players who are just getting to know each other with a weak midfield, slow central defence and have trouble finding the back of the net. Brentford have played some good teams in the pre season with good results. They will be itching to prove themselves in their first championship fixture since 1993. Not a good opening fixture for Charlton.
Apologies to all for bringing some realism to this thread (not that it is likely to make much difference to the wildly optimistic predictions)
A superb analysis, weakened only by your apologies at the end. Stick to your guns, lad. Stubley's team and formation at the head of this thread is damn strong - is it too early to appoint him as our new manager?
We have a healthy mix of experienced pros, a mad dog, 'young guns', and strikers ravenous for the onion-bag. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't storm the play-offs next May. We'll beat Brentford on Saturday, 2-1.
Not sure how there can be 'a superb analysis' and 'we have a healthy mix of experienced pros - 2-1 win. It is a bit contradictory.
There's nothing wrong with optimism though is there? Regarding your first post @vff the fact is you don't know if our midfield is weak, you don't know if we are going to score goals or not and I wouldn't reckon you know whether Bikey and Ben Haim are particularly slow. On top of that, what do we know about Brentford other than they'll have a bit of momentum? Are they definitely going to be stronger? Haven't they got new players to bed in? Didn't Donaldson leave for the might of Birmingham?
I'm not going to get too excited about Saturday but to say people being too optimistic is due to too much time in the sun is a bit condescending IMHO. Basically, neither you nor I have a clue what's going to happen so we may as well go for the wildly positive mightn't we?
A tight team the core of who have played together for 2 seasons with some quality added against team of players who are just getting to know each other with a weak midfield, slow central defence and have trouble finding the back of the net. Brentford have played some good teams in the pre season with good results. They will be itching to prove themselves in their first championship fixture since 1993. Not a good opening fixture for Charlton.
Apologies to all for bringing some realism to this thread (not that it is likely to make much difference to the wildly optimistic predictions)
A superb analysis, weakened only by your apologies at the end. Stick to your guns, lad. Stubley's team and formation at the head of this thread is damn strong - is it too early to appoint him as our new manager?
We have a healthy mix of experienced pros, a mad dog, 'young guns', and strikers ravenous for the onion-bag. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't storm the play-offs next May. We'll beat Brentford on Saturday, 2-1.
I take no pleasure in pointing out the realities as I see them. Everyone can be wildy happy and optimistic for the start of the season and for the fixture. I would be happy to be proved wrong. IMO, the optimism relates to everyone being out in the sun for a long period and happiness for the start of the football season. I am just concerned for the crash and burn when it goes all a bit pear shaped. All those with wild optimism will pay no attention in any case, so I probably shouldn't worry.
Your understanding of the reality - about the strengths of the opposition and the weakness of our squad - is absolutely spot-on, Vff. I agree with you, and thousands don't.
Yet, "crash and burn" is something the poor victims in war-zones suffer; nobody dies at football. You are right to be sceptical - about our midfield especially - and about whether we will play well this season.
Some of our supporters implore: "Get behind the boys, cheer them on! - and if you criticise any one of our players, you are disloyal." Their cries are daft because they abrogate the responsibility of the manager, coaches and players to play good football - and they treat us, the questioning fans, as recalcitrant sheep.
Do our opinions have any effect? Of course they do. Had we all hated Chris Powell, Duchatelet would have sacked him on the day of his takeover. He was well aware of our admiration and respect for Powell, expressed forcefully through Charlton Life, so he gave him - and us - a month.
I have been watching Charlton for 50 years. Every single player in our club plays to the very best of his ability; no professional player doesn't. It isn't the players themselves who decide whether they are good, nor their agents or the club's PR department; nor even the coaches, the managers and owners.
So hard to predict, although I think Brentford will get at least one goal, maybe we will score too/two...or more. Early season with rusty officials can be a bit hairy until things 'settle down', don't be surprised to see a sending off, if it is one of ours could be Bob is sent off too. Stab in the fence sitting dark 1-1.
1-1 draw or a 1-0 loss. Miracles aren't created overnight, think it may take us a bit of time to get scoring goals. Brentford will overrun us in midfield if Big Bob isn't careful. Not sure they're going to give us the space Bob will be hoping for for the likes of Vetokele to get some chances. Intrigued as ever, this will say alot about Bob as a manager, early doors but let's see the confidence of the man. He usually bigs up attacking formations and style of play holding the ball, but not so sure he will do here. COYR
Comments
Stand by that even if we do win convincingly, I will be very happy with a draw.
Alternatively
The whose squad is affected by food poisoning the night before so we are forced to play nock Pope up front! Turns out to be an inspired move from big bob as they can't handle his height and he sticks in a hat trick! Who says we need a new strikee!
PS. If any if you betting boys follow my nonsense and lump on at 5000 to 1 that we lose 14 - 0 and we do, I'll expect commission.
New signings don't adapt to English game?
New team fails to gel?
New team and manager bring fresh momentum?
New team and manager result in too much disruption?
Brentford on a promotion high?
Brentford freeze on big occasion?
I'll be happy with a draw.
or
3-0 to Brentford who injure ALL of our new signings so that Simon Church is our only strike option for the next 3 months.
(you maybe a bit dyslexic as well or delirium is affecting your typing)
This will be a team with 2 or 3 new partnerships, depending on how BB sets out the side, although the most recent pre season friendlies have given him & us some idea of the starting line up.
Let's make sure we keep our expectations realistic and give whoever wears the shirts our 100% backing. Fanny's arctic stare will hone in on anyone even thinking about a "boo" - well, in the seats anyway.
No prediction from me as ever but everything crossed for a good showing from our lads & may the best team win...
Yer, right !
COYA !!!!
COYR!! Bobby P's red and white army!
We have a healthy mix of experienced pros, a mad dog, 'young guns', and strikers ravenous for the onion-bag. There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't storm the play-offs next May. We'll beat Brentford on Saturday, 2-1.
I'm not going to get too excited about Saturday but to say people being too optimistic is due to too much time in the sun is a bit condescending IMHO. Basically, neither you nor I have a clue what's going to happen so we may as well go for the wildly positive mightn't we?
I predict a 1-1 draw.
Yet, "crash and burn" is something the poor victims in war-zones suffer; nobody dies at football. You are right to be sceptical - about our midfield especially - and about whether we will play well this season.
Some of our supporters implore: "Get behind the boys, cheer them on! - and if you criticise any one of our players, you are disloyal." Their cries are daft because they abrogate the responsibility of the manager, coaches and players to play good football - and they treat us, the questioning fans, as recalcitrant sheep.
Do our opinions have any effect? Of course they do. Had we all hated Chris Powell, Duchatelet would have sacked him on the day of his takeover. He was well aware of our admiration and respect for Powell, expressed forcefully through Charlton Life, so he gave him - and us - a month.
I have been watching Charlton for 50 years. Every single player in our club plays to the very best of his ability; no professional player doesn't. It isn't the players themselves who decide whether they are good, nor their agents or the club's PR department; nor even the coaches, the managers and owners.
It is us, the fans, who are the arbiters.
Early season with rusty officials can be a bit hairy until things 'settle down', don't be surprised to see a sending off, if it is one of ours could be Bob is sent off too.
Stab in the fence sitting dark 1-1.