1-4 at QPR when we hadn't won on the road all season and most of the previous one.
My girlfriends' boss was a huge QPR fan and surprised us with tickets for the game. We sat with him in the upper main stand at Loftus Road. Charlton hadn't won away since the Armistice (well it seemed that long) so I wasn't looking forward to another beating. Well, of course we whipped them 4-1 - and no I didn't sit on my hands or politely applaud! Needless to say I wasn't invited back next season.
Blackpool usually play a mixture of two systems, 3-4-1-2 or 4-3-3. They usually play three at the back when they have Jay Spearing sitting right in front of the defence but he has been injured with a knee injury recently which has made Blackpool continue with the 4-3-3 formation, and it is serving them well. Since being knocked out of the cup by Arsenal in the third round, Blackpool are undefeated, having won 3 and drawn 3, scoring 7 and conceding 3. This goes in line with their excellent defensive record this season, being joint second having only conceded 28 goals all season. They do of course however, struggle to put the ball in the back of the net themselves, only scoring a lowly 34, only five teams have scored less this season. They do though have a striker who is in double figures this season, Armand Gnanduillet, having got his 10th goal of the season in their last game away at Sunderland, he also scored the opening goal in our 2-1 loss at Bloomfield Road back in December. They do of course have other players we will need to be cautious of going forward, some may say none more so than the player who scored the winning goal against us, Nathan Delfouneso, so it would be wise for the players to expect a tough game and not provide too many opportunities for Blackpool to build up attacks or give the ball away to them for counter attacks.
Focusing more on us, as we should being the home team, we need to impose our game onto Blackpool early and try to make it a difficult game for them. With Lyle Taylor back it gives the whole place a lift and no doubt the team too. They will know we have someone up front who can put the ball in the back of the net and able to win us games where we would otherwise be drawing for example. The other thing about Taylor is when he pulls out wide, he drags their defenders out with him due to his threat and quality, this leaves space for our other players to exploit and get into dangerous areas. Having Aribo back is a huge bonus for us, his ability to bring the ball forward, be a goal threat and covers so much ground as well as adding height in the team, it is massive for us. Losing Grant is a really tough blow, one that can still ruin our chances of promotion, but having Aribo out during January really was a blessing in disguise. I also expect Vetokele to start alongside Taylor up front as they have an understanding already and we can potentially get to see the best of Igor again with Taylor supporting him and doing a lot of the extra work.
When analysing our team who could play tomorrow against the team who played away at Blackpool, my opinion is the main difference will be up front. Not having Grant anymore is the biggest difference but overall I would say we could put out a stronger team than we did back in December. Bielik being suspended and Pearce still not ready from his injury yet are losses for us for sure, but we now have Cullen back who is more than a good enough replacement for Bielik and Sarr has come on so much recently that missing Pearce hasn't been such a big deal. Unfortunately, I can see Marshall being a player who is going to be dropped from the side completely, even with his assist last week and being better than Fosu.
I am going into tomorrow knowing it is going to be a tough game with Blackpool fans celebrating their ownership situation and being a side who keeps things very tight having only conceded more than two goals in a game only twice so far this season.
I actually fancy us to win this one. Their season has been good and news this week will have been more important than a play off place. After a tough match at Sunderland and with our returning players I think a 2-1 win could be coming our way.
Taylor back should of course make us much more dangerous in attack. I think only having one of Cullen and Bielik will also help, and I feel Parker will be more of a threat than Igor. Would be great to see Aribo in there but probably too early for him to start.
Bowyer will ring the changes from last week, Bauer, Taylor and Aribo back in. I have a good feeling that everything will go our way today and we will give our best performance of the season.
This game is a definite six pointer .. Blackpool are in decent form .. they don't score or concede many .. if we take the lead (big IF a t m ) they will be in trouble, so best we get off to a quick start and attack them from the go .. Our recent scoring drought has been put down to the departed Grant and banned Taylor .. the latter is back so we'll see how we go .. hope Aribo is selected to start, if he tires replace him rather than bring him on when it might be too late .. about time Parker got a start (Vetokele is a waste of space) .. they beat us at theirs with a very late goal (of which we still concede too many) and proved to be a tough (if not another dirty L1) outfit We need to win games such as these to prove our right to be in with a promotion chance .. we will win this .. JUST
CAFC 2 v Blackpool 1
Just how I feel about Aribo & Parker. Both better off starting & then subbing after 60/70 mins than bringing them on trying to chase the game.
I think we might nick this one. We badly need a win to get back on track. What concerns me is that we were starting to really become confident before losing Taylor for three games and Grant forever and it is criminal the part the owner has played in losing that. We do have to remind ourselves that we have good players though and we should certainly be good enough to easily make the play offs.
I think Bowyer saying we need to win 11 of 14 to have a chance of automatics is good management. It gives us something to aim for, even if it is impossible. It is always best to aim high.
On the way to the Valley Cafe I met two Blackpool fans. Very smart an old guy and a young guy. Over from the West of Ireland. The coincidence is I met the young guy when we played pre season in Limerick under Robinson, where he had come to watch old Blackpool player Billy Clarke . Very impressive Blackpool tattoos. They were in a good mood over their news this week. Great guys
Comments
My girlfriends' boss was a huge QPR fan and surprised us with tickets for the game. We sat with him in the upper main stand at Loftus Road. Charlton hadn't won away since the Armistice (well it seemed that long) so I wasn't looking forward to another beating. Well, of course we whipped them 4-1 - and no I didn't sit on my hands or politely applaud! Needless to say I wasn't invited back next season.
Solly Bauer Sarr Purrington
Cullen
Reeves Aribo
Williams
Taylor Parker
1-1
Focusing more on us, as we should being the home team, we need to impose our game onto Blackpool early and try to make it a difficult game for them. With Lyle Taylor back it gives the whole place a lift and no doubt the team too. They will know we have someone up front who can put the ball in the back of the net and able to win us games where we would otherwise be drawing for example. The other thing about Taylor is when he pulls out wide, he drags their defenders out with him due to his threat and quality, this leaves space for our other players to exploit and get into dangerous areas. Having Aribo back is a huge bonus for us, his ability to bring the ball forward, be a goal threat and covers so much ground as well as adding height in the team, it is massive for us. Losing Grant is a really tough blow, one that can still ruin our chances of promotion, but having Aribo out during January really was a blessing in disguise. I also expect Vetokele to start alongside Taylor up front as they have an understanding already and we can potentially get to see the best of Igor again with Taylor supporting him and doing a lot of the extra work.
When analysing our team who could play tomorrow against the team who played away at Blackpool, my opinion is the main difference will be up front. Not having Grant anymore is the biggest difference but overall I would say we could put out a stronger team than we did back in December. Bielik being suspended and Pearce still not ready from his injury yet are losses for us for sure, but we now have Cullen back who is more than a good enough replacement for Bielik and Sarr has come on so much recently that missing Pearce hasn't been such a big deal. Unfortunately, I can see Marshall being a player who is going to be dropped from the side completely, even with his assist last week and being better than Fosu.
I am going into tomorrow knowing it is going to be a tough game with Blackpool fans celebrating their ownership situation and being a side who keeps things very tight having only conceded more than two goals in a game only twice so far this season.
Maxwell, Dijksteel, Pratley, Lapslie, Fosu, Parker, Hackett-Fairchild
Charlton Athletic 2-0 Blackpool
Taylor picks up silly booking but otherwise a good day.
Aribo on the bench but scores after coming on.
One of my best friends and a Charlton fan, has had a new born son in the very early hours of this morning.
Who should I contact in order to get a half time congrats message across? (Used to be BDL)
Thanks! 🙂
Although does depend on the fitness of Taylor and Aribo. Those two could turn it into a home win.
Autos gone, reality check for the glass half full brigade and i predict 2-1 to keep us in the play-off spot for now.
RD has kicked us in the bollox again.
I think Bowyer saying we need to win 11 of 14 to have a chance of automatics is good management. It gives us something to aim for, even if it is impossible. It is always best to aim high.
Parker pounces on a fumble by the keeper.
Taylor header from a Reeves free kick.
(I’m never right)
Nervous 2-1 win.
So I expect nothing less than a 3-0 win
Coyr
The coincidence is I met the young guy when we played pre season in Limerick under Robinson, where he had come to watch old Blackpool player Billy Clarke . Very impressive Blackpool tattoos. They were in a good mood over their news this week. Great guys