Charlton Athletic v Barnsley
Saturday 20th October 2018 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: James Linington (Newport)
IntroductionFootball returns to the Valley this weekend after a relatively enjoyable break for the International break last week – With the match against Walsall last Saturday being postponed, it’s given Lee Bowyer and his side a chance to rest and recover from what is already proving to be a demanding season on his players… This weekend it’s the turn of relegated Barnsley to visit the Valley, winless in October it’s imperative that the Addicks get points on the board this weekend in what will be a promotion chasing six pointer for both teams.
The OppositionName: Barnsley |
Ground: Oakwell
Manager: Daniel Stendel
Ever since Huddersfield appointed the German: David Wagner as Manager (with ultimately saw them reaching the Premier League) it’s become fashionable to have a German Manager in the Football League with Norwich and Barnsley following suit.
There would have been a few eyebrows raised when Stendel was appointed as Manager of the relegated side. His only previous appointment was a single season (2016/17) with Hannover 96 in the 2.Bundesliga – Hannover would win promotion that year, yet despite only losing five games Stendel wasn’t kept on and was replaced even before the season was done… Yet the ex-Striker from Eastern Germany has now popped up in Yorkshire and is certainly proving to be a good appointment losing just one game this season (away at Coventry).
On the player front; losing Tom Bradshaw would be a serious miss yet that doesn’t appear to be the case: Kiefer Moore who impressed at the start of last season on loan at Rotherham (whilst at Ipswich) was brought into save them from relegation, ultimately that failed yet with seven goals this term prove he’s lethal at League One level, whilst the midfield pair of Brad Potts and George Moncur will take some stopping.
Charlton Team NewsIs there honestly a better way to be making your debut? – For Toby Stevenson that almost certainly is no… the young defender would make his first appearance in a Charlton shirt against Stevenage in the Football League Trophy, coming away with the match ball after scoring a hat trick is the stuff that dreams are made of and could earn him a place on the bench this weekend
On the injury front; Jamie Ward made his starting return in the same game against Stevenage, the midfielder on loan from Nottingham Forest played 60-minutes that Tuesday night and could start on Saturday – Fellow Irish Midfielder: Billy Clarke is still some way from the match squad, having yet to appear for the U23’s you’d expect him to be absent from the First Team until possibly the New Year or December at the earliest!!
Steer
Solly | Bielik | Pearce | Sarr
Aribo | Cullen | Pratley
Ward
Grant | Taylor
Substitutes Bench: Phillips | Dijksteel | Reeves | Lapslie | Fosu | Vetokele | Ajose
PredictionQuite simply I have a feeling that this could be the hardest home game of the season regardless of the referee etc. Barnsley have lost just the one game this season and could be a side to challenge seriously for the title, the fact that they’ve only conceded nine goals this season proves that a win will be difficult yet Lee Bowyer proved last season that some big games, he can get his team to rise to the occasion!!
Comments
First home game I've not felt confident about. 2-0 to Barnsley
Vetokele for Grant is one I wouldnt be surprised about after the former got those two goals against Stevenage, especially with Karlan being a bit wasteful - Think the main issue is whether Taylor has recovered from jetlag after having to fly out to the Caribbean for the International Break, wouldnt be surprised in a way if he has a slightly off day on Saturday
Will go for a 2-1 home win but will be tough.
optimistic 2-0 charlton before the return of tarbuck on tuesday
Surely Fosu will start?
Our only approach is to say we start off even and it's 11v11. Then it will be up to the players to dig deep.
We won't win by fancy tactics or formations, Barnsley will suss that out easily enough, we will possibly win if the players have the nerve to play, and the resilience to keep on keeping on.
And if Barnsley drop a couple of levels.
Lose and we are bottom half.
Win and we are hanging in there.
I honestly don't know what to expect just hoping for the best.
2.1 Charlton.
I'd like a bench spot for young Toby Stephenson as a partial 'reward' for his Stevenage performance
I fancy us to win this one .. warning, Barnsley can cut up rough when under pressure .. we'll need the referee to be on his best form, i.e. unbiased
CAFC 2 v Barnsley 1
A week is a long time in football. 2 defeats in 5 days have really affected our league position, and the postponement has put us a further 3 points behind most of our rivals
3-2 to Barnsley as we concede two goals in injury time.
I feel if we play Sarr at left back and play a diamond midfield he could get exposed very quickly, which would not be fair.
I don’t know how you can leave Fosu out of the starting line up, if he is fit, which he ought to be, he has to start. Ward is a great player and would love for us to find a way of having both Ward and Fosu on the pitch together, but right now the only way that works is a 433 but leaves the left back position a little exposed again. Otherwise Ward up front with Taylor, but that’s harsh on Grant and Vetokele who both have a claim to start in that position first.
It would be incredibly harsh for Reeves to be left out in place of Pratley. For a game like this I can understand the move, Barnsley are a very good side for this division and we need to be more solid to allow our attacking players to flourish. But we are at home and Reeves has done very well recently, even if it is a change I could see happening.
Do we keep the diamond? Do we go 3 at the back with someone covering left wing back? Does Grant play and hope that he can find the net again and the partnership continues, or does Vetokele come in?
Barnsley are a good side, a side who scores and does not concede loads. They often have played a 4231 so the next two opponents we have play similar formations, the difference is Barnsley have good players and variations of play, we know what we will get on Tuesday.
Me personally, in a game like this, I’d go with a back 3 and have someone like Reeves(?) covering the left wing back position. Bielik can step into midfield with the ball, as can Sarr so that’s not much of a problem.
It’s going to be tough but a good performance and I am sure it will convert into a positive result.
Charlton Athletic 2-1 Barnsley
Luton looked quite good, yet on another day Barnsley could have won 6-2.
I couldn't believe how quick and slick their passing was. I was massively impressed.
If we play like we have recently & they play like that we will be comfortably beaten.
However, if we we're on top form and they are not, we could triumph.
Charlton 1 Barnsley 2.
Beilick with Cullen as a holding two. Reeves covering on left. Maybe Marshall on the right instead of Solly (tin hat on). Fosu behind Taylor and Grant.
2-0 the addicks....& the promo charge begins.
1-3