Rochdale v Charlton Athletic
Saturday 27th October 2018 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Andy Haines (Tyne & Wear)
IntroductionOctober for results has been rather mixed… With just one point from the first three games (which could easily have been nine) Charlton would host Barnsley not expecting much, yet a win would follow and all of a sudden confidence was back amongst the stands. On Tuesday, lowly Oxford would visit the Valley and once again topsy turvy form returned with the Addicks only managing a less than impressive draw…
This weekend they travel to Lancashire to face Rochdale for what is the last game of the month, lets hope (like the clocks the next day) Lee Bowyer and his men can spring back into form as we enter November!!
The Opposition
Name: Rochdale |
Manager: Keith Hill
Ground: Spotland
For our opponents this Saturday you'd hope that Charlton Athletic are a side that live long in their memory, seldom do fairy tales happen in real life yet sometimes they do - In May; Charlton travelled to Rochdale for the last game of the regular season not really needing the points whereas Rochdale did, only a win would keep them up and it would be fitting that their winning goal in the 1-0 victory would come from cancer survivor: Joe Thompson; Rochdale would live to fight another day, Oldham would be relegated to League Two!!
Much of last season was spent in relegation trouble, that was mainly due to FA Cup commitments and a poor pitch - This season has seen a bit more consistently from Keith Hill's side and another victory at Spotland on Saturday could see a healthy gap opening between them and the relegation zone...
Some things never change and once again Ian Henderson will be the main danger man and with nine goals already this term will be eager to add to his tally; Joe Thompson hasn’t played much this season (just the sole appearance in the League), yet if he were to return, you'd hope there will be no repeat of the fairy tale from May
Sorry Rochdale but its us who need maximum points this time round!!
Charlton Team NewsWhen Charlton lined up against Barnsley last weekend there was one notable absentee from the bench; fresh from scoring twice against Stevenage in the Football League Trophy it was a surprise to hear of another injury befalling Igor Vetokele, post-match on Saturday; Lee Bowyer would confirm it was only a small issue and that the Angolan International should return for this Saturdays clash
Tuesday night saw Bowyer (unsurprisingly) rotating the team, firstly with Krystian Bielik dropping to the bench to avoid any repeat of his recent injury – You’d expect him to return to the heart of defence whilst Jamie Ward, who admitted cant play full matches anymore should return at the top of the diamond.
Steer
Dijksteel | Bielik | Pearce | Solly
Aribo | Cullen | Reeves
Ward
Grant | Taylor
Substitutes Bench: Phillips | Sarr | Pratley | Lapslie | Fosu | Vetokele | Ajose
PredictionWhen Lee Bowyer was nominated for the Manager of the Month award it was hoped that he’d lose out due to the managerial jinx that hangs over it – Instead it feels like he was jinxed anyway and I personally will be glad to see the back of October…
Rochdale are one of those nitty gritty teams at this level and wont be easy to beat, yet Charlton seem to be slipping back into the mid-table battle at the moment, its important we don’t let that gap back to the Play-Offs grow, regardless of any games in hand
Comments
Bielik back in defence (why did he not play on Tuesday ?) .. I am still concerned about Solly at left back (yes he's done a good makeshift job on the left and makeshift is the right word in this context) .. would like to see a back 3 with Solly on the right and Reeves on the left as wingbacks .. so ..
Steer .. Pratley, Bielik, Pearce, … Solly, Aribo, Dijksteel, Cullen, Reeves .. Taylor, Grant with Ward on the bench
There is a nice club/pub/bar next to the ground, very comfy and nice and friendly .. I am looking forward to this one
Rochdale 2 v CAFC 2
We just dont look the same when we dont have that creative outlet at the top
https://www.cafc.co.uk/news/view/5bd1a1b92a6ea/bowyer-on-the-fitness-of-bielik-and-vetokele-ahead-of-saturdays-visit-to-rochdale
It may be harsh on Grant, I do think, but he has played a lot of football, the most he has ever had in his career and has done fantastically well, the goal ratio going back from his loan last season has been phenomenal. But a rest to start on the bench this Saturday won’t do him any harm and his pace to come off the bench in the second half could be very important.
Reeves has been great for us this season I feel, and especially more recently too, but having came off the last two games in the second half, maybe Bowyer is thinking he is a player getting tired a bit, he does a lot of running, pressing and tracking back. Away from home I wouldn’t be surprised to see Pratley come in for Reeves either.
Ward has to start for me, his quality and experience can make the difference in a game like this. Fosu needs to find a bit of form but makes me wonder whether he has other things on his mind such as his contract situation.
Tough game but we have the better players so if we match them for effort, I can only see us winning this.
Rochdale 0-2 Charlton Athletic
Looking for Bows to pull out all the stops this weekend and brighten up my 5 o'clock but I think that we are too unstable to get promotion.
1) Bielik and Clarke to get to match fitness quickly
2) Bauer to get match fit within six weeks
3) Fosu to get back to last season's form
4) LB to pick up a competent left-back in the New Year, presumably a loan.
5) RD not to sell any first-team regulars in the New Year
Given all that we have a good chance, but that is a lot of "ifs".
And even if they all come true, we could be hit by new long-term injuries.
Taylor turns it on.
Grant grabs a goal.
Cullen creates a ward wonder goa
Bowyers boys are bouncing back !
still laugh at that game when Calvin Andrew wore a 'mask' to protect a facial injury .. my mate Keith yelled out 'here's Zorro' during the warm up, Andrew gave him a thumbs up and had a good laugh … didn't stop Andrew heading a goal though .. a good exciting game despite the loss of a
point.. EDIT .. 2 pointsUnlike the Oxford game I feel positive about this one 1-3
We try hard but nothing comes off as we look leggy and tired.