Hold on, hold on. Usually I would say Charlton to bounce back. But it is Seb's 1,000th consecutive game since he last missed one. And were we not playing Doncaster on his 500th and 750th when we lost both times. (According to his twitter). Bound to go wrong ain't it?
We look like a team that's drifting with a young, inexperienced manager and only one (also young and inexperienced) assistant. One of the hardest things to do in football is reverse a slide. Bowyer managed it last year with the Pompey/Blackburn performances, which were gutsy, gritty, and a little lucky. It was always bound to happen this season, and the way that things are we were always going to be going on this journey with Bowyer at the helm learning on the go.
Tactically I don't think we need to change things in terms of shape. It's more about approach. Getting back to basics and looking to play through our midfield. They were completely nullified against Rochdale, we just went back to front, and as a result we looked poor for large stretches.
I'd be tempted to bring Sarr back in to the side. His distribution from the back is a major help in us playing out. I'd be tempted to bring him in at CB and move Bielik into midfield but Cullen just looks so much better at the base of the diamond than he does on the right of it. He looked absolutely lost in the first half on Saturday, and in the first half against Scunny.
Taylor would be a big miss, but perhaps without him it will force us to play shorter. Unless Bowyer wants to go 4-3-3 with Fosu and Ward either side of Grant--whose hold up play isn't great--I think Igor deserves a run out. Whenever he's come on he's looked a nuisance but desperately short of service. So if we can get playing through our midfield and get him some decent service he should do well at this level.
Again, it's little things, tweaks, that we need right now. A bit of nous, a bit of patience, a bit more solidity in defense, take that extra touch to play out in possession.
It took a long time for Curbishley to get going , 6 seasons of mediocrity. We should be patient with Bowyerr, even if for no reason more than fear of something worse.
It is time for a proper run now - not narrowly winning tight games - that flatters to deceive. A few games where we impose ourselves on teams - starting from tomorrow.
Charlton have doubts over striker Lyle Taylor, who had a scan on an injury on Thursday. Lewis Page and Jake Forster-Caskey remain sidelined. Patrick Bauer is now running again, but is out, and Billy Clarke is set to feature again for Charlton’s U23s on Monday.
Believe Taylor will be fit to play. I think that we will continue to see Pratley at center back, personally would bring in Bielik but that’s for tomorrow to find out.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a little shake up though and have Sarr at left back, Bielik in the team and one or two others changed, like Fosu starting, Aribo on the bench too. That means the team could look something like:
Steer Solly Pratley Pearce Sarr Bielik Cullen Reeves Fosu Taylor Grant
This team could work better, maybe swap Fosu for Ward. Pratley in midfield for Bielik, don’t like the way round we went last week. Cullen is also better at the base. But Reeves could support Sarr quite well in this way. However, I don’t think that will happen and believe we continue with the main of the team, even if I think we could do better.
Steer Dijksteel Pratley Pearce Solly Cullen Reeves Aribo Ward Taylor Grant
Difficult to see where a goal is coming from with no Taylor and next to no service from the midfield. The defence will have at least one lapse of concentration so at best 0-0 at worst a 1-0 or 2-0 defeat.
We'll start off ok with lots of possession and pressure but no end product. Doncaster will then grow into the game (a la Coventry and Oxford).
Just pray we can hang on to the 0-0.
Should be a real thriller to watch and, mug that I am, I will God willing.
I have decided to go, at the last minute, despite being very angry at the owners comments. I think Sarr has to play because he is indirectly/directly a goal threat and Bowyer needs to start working on the statistics a bit. I would favour Sarr at left back as it gives us an extra tall player for set pieces. He won't, but I'd also bring Lapslie in for Cullen.
I have an open message to Aribo and Fosu. You are both potentially players for a higher level - so get your fingers out and start scoring goals against the crap you face in this league. Or do you want to stay at this level?
My daughter had a ticket for today. She sees us 3-4 times a year these days and hasn't seen us lose for 5 years. Unfortunately, she had to cancel at the last minute so slightly less confident now. 2-1 to us.
Comments
O.2
For Doncaster, Andy Butler and Niall Mason are available following suspension. Doncaster boss Grant McCann said at his pre-match press briefing that he has injury doubts over two players but did not name them.
https://www.cafc.co.uk/news/view/5bdc48b8f147a/match-preview-charlton-v-doncaster-rovers
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a little shake up though and have Sarr at left back, Bielik in the team and one or two others changed, like Fosu starting, Aribo on the bench too. That means the team could look something like:
Solly Pratley Pearce Sarr
Bielik
Cullen Reeves
Fosu
Taylor Grant
Phillips, Dijksteel, Lapslie, Aribo, Ward, Vetokele, Ajose
This team could work better, maybe swap Fosu for Ward. Pratley in midfield for Bielik, don’t like the way round we went last week. Cullen is also better at the base. But Reeves could support Sarr quite well in this way. However, I don’t think that will happen and believe we continue with the main of the team, even if I think we could do better.
Dijksteel Pratley Pearce Solly
Cullen
Reeves Aribo
Ward
Taylor Grant
Phillips, Sarr, Bielik, Lapslie, Fosu, Vetokele, Ajose
Charlton Athletic 2-0 Doncaster Rovers
We'll start off ok with lots of possession and pressure but no end product. Doncaster will then grow into the game (a la Coventry and Oxford).
Just pray we can hang on to the 0-0.
Should be a real thriller to watch and, mug that I am, I will God willing.
No correlation between one match to the next.
Sunny and fresh and no precipitation.
2-1, so the usual tense finish. Grant and Igor with the goals
Steer
Dijkstil Pratley Pearce
Cullen Bielik Aribo Reeves
Grant Fosu
Taylor
An interesting experiment,