I think we stick with Arnie at right back. Can’t fault his performances since Solly’s suspension and he has the height to deal with Doncaster’s long balls
And hes better than Solly, not a finished article but better at this moment in their careers.
Not sure how you could possibly drop Dijksteel for Solly. Sorry but Sols is not the player he once was....Dijksteel is mustard and we shouldn’t be looking to contain....I really think we can take this lot to the cleaners!!
Everyone mentions Donny wanting payback but I remember a Tuesday evening game a few seasons ago in the championship where they sung ‘going down’ to us at there place when they beat us (2-0 I think). Riga completed our great escape and they went down! Will never forget them goading us!!
Should read what I put then - I've swapped them to keep the squad fresher
Solly is still a more than adequate player to come into the team should he be needed
I must say though I had my first nightmare leading up to the big game this Friday and it wasn't pleasant. All our Goalies were injured and they asked for a volunteer from the crowd, I figured I'm 6'1, long arms, why not. Gloved up and got on the pitch. First touch I undercooked it and had to run out to correct the mistake, a Donny player took it off me and scored. Second goal for them I just came charging out and completely missed the ball and they scored again. At this point everyone was yelling at me and my confidence was shot. One of theirs took a shot from about 40 yards out and I let it in.
Woke up in a genuine cold sweat.
If my nightmare comes true Donny win, Phillips in the sticks then it's a comfortable home win
Great pre-view FA, onto Friday. I have enough faith in Lee B to believe any side he puts out will be the right one. I hope that we can get our noses in front, early, settle nerves, and maybe Donny will fold. The support at the Keepmoat was sensational, its vital the we the fans play our part and support the boys, even if we have an early setback.... but to coin a phase.... "I have a dream!!" Hopefully NOT for the last time this season.
See that Donny are piping up on there forum "We'll beat that poor man's crystal Palace, no problem" "I struggle to place Charlton in the football pecking order, it just seems like a club that lacks identity. I forget they exist until we play them. Leyton orient have more relevance to me." "Charlton, for me, are like somewhere between not quite good enough to really push on in the Championship, but far too good for League One" Lets smash em!!
Charlton Athletic (2) v (1) Doncaster Rovers Friday 17th May 2019 ... 7:45pm Kick-Off Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey)
So how are your nerves after going through that roller coaster of emotions?
I imagine many like myself are still recovering from the emphatic win against Doncaster on Sunday, despite a slow start, goals from Lyle Taylor and Joe Aribo would give us an oh so important lead to take back to the Valley and so secure a win in the first leg of a Play-Off Semi-Final since the Ipswich Town victory in 1998 (for those desperately looking for inspiration)... Doncaster shouldnt be ruled out until the referee calls time on the match, they know what they must do, a single goal win can take it to extra-time and god forbid; penalties... a clear two goals and it is them that get to enjoy a trip to Wembley; the roller coaster of emotions that the Play-Offs evoke are only just getting warmed up, with an all but sold out Valley its a chance for the fans to truly become the twelfth man and so send us to a Play-Off Final for the first in twenty one years!!
Name: Doncaster Rovers | Manager: Grant McCann Ground: Keepmoat Stadium
Doncaster should take heart from their defeat on Sunday afternoon; there have been five occasions in League One (or the Second Division before the renaming) where the home side have lost the first leg yet have still advanced to the Final... You have to go back to 2008 to find that last occurrence though: Leeds United would lose 2-1 at Carlisle United before getting rescuing the fixture at Brunton Park - To help Addicks nerves another 1-2 scoreline was recovered from in 2002, this time it would be Stoke City who would turn the fixture on its head and so enjoy a day out at Wembley.
Its clear though that Lee Bowyer isnt the sort of man to reflect on the history books, as proven at the Keapmoat on Sunday it was the Addicks who surprised everyone by altering their formation - Keeping John Marquis contained again will be one of the priorities for the Charlton Manager whilst Mallik Wilks will once again be a threat on the flanks, the fact that Doncaster have been able to call upon veteran: James Coppinger in fifty of their matches this season is nothing less than impressive, the 38-year old could be key to keeping his team mates calm in what'll be a game our opponents must win.
Oh and to genuinely calm Addicks nerves; Swindon Town were the last team to win 2-1 away from home in the opening leg, they achieved that feat in 2015 before going on to lose unfortunately at Wembley - The fact though their fans had to endure a 5-5 second leg against Sheffield United could hint towards some goals under the Valley floodlights.
Charlton Team News In the first leg; Bowyer made the slightly surprising decision by naming Albie Morgan ahead of Jonny Williams (albeit justifying his decision prior to the match by wishing to stick with the team that had performed so admirably in recent weeks) - With so much on the cards its a change that you'd potentially expect to see happen this week, its a game when you want your best and experienced players, having played in the Semi-Final of a European Championships you'd expect a game like this to be simple for the calibre of a man like Williams (wry smile time)
Elsewhere; Chris Solly finally returns from his four match suspension (having earned his second red of the season against Oxford), Bowyer may well choose to stick with Anfernee Dijksteel who himself has performed to a high standard of late yet may choose to put Solly straight back into the team and freshen up the defence slightly - Josh Parker saved his best performance in a Charlton shirt for the encounter on Sunday lunchtime, despite pulling up midway through the second half with cramp its expected that the ex-Gillingham Striker will be fit to return to the line-up. Igor Vetokele remains a doubt with a thigh strain and is rumoured that his season is now well and truly over
Phillips Solly | Bauer | Sarr | Purrington Bielik | Cullen | Aribo Williams Taylor | Parker
Prediction I sincerely hope that I have one more Match Preview to write, if this is it then its a pleasure as always but am going to make this section very simple - There is one question that Lee Bowyer should now be asking his players: Who they want to be facing next season; Do they want to making trips to Fulham and Stoke City... Or do they want to stay here in League One, sacrificing any potential glory, forever thinking what may have been and so face trips to the potential likes of Newport or Tranmere, thankfully for the time being its in our hands, now isnt the time for any slip ups!!
I sincerely hope that Aribo isn’t shunted out to the left after 4 goals in 4 and MoM in most of them
A classic under the lights at The Valley. The ground will be rocking and the players will deliver. Doncaster will have to set up to have a go and try an attack, this will play straight into strengths.
Just remember it will be light when the match starts - that threw me a bit all those years ago v Ipswich. But we still got the atmosphere going and need to do the same again.
I'm all over the place at the moment with nerves and excitement!
Some of the issues will be that we appear to be forgetting seem to be that there is going to be a lot of ‘home’ fans that haven’t been on the journey with us this season and part of the incredible total support the team has benefited from. We don’t need anybody moaning if we are not winning 4-0 within 2 minutes of kick off or a pass or shot doesn’t come off. We should also bear in mind that this is Donny’s cup final. The Valley is impressive, particularly when full. We don’t want them stepping up as a result, we need to intimidate them, starting from the warm ups. And we should also remember that none of our own players will have experienced a packed Valley with fans on 4 sides. Each and every one of them will benefit early on from as much personalised support as we can give them.
Come on .... , would Charlton let me down the day after my birthday ?
4- 0 to us , @happyvalley shouldered around the pitch after the game by the Charlton players, Parker with a hat trick and a 35 yard screamer from Solly , after coming on from off the bench.
A man can dream can't he .... Come On You Addicks !!!!
My 30th Birthday on Thursday too! Glad to have a birthday brother on the site
I think we'll absolutely do them...3-0, so 5-1 on aggregate for my first ever Wembley trip (I was a little too long apparently in '98...)
See that Donny are piping up on there forum "We'll beat that poor man's crystal Palace, no problem" "I struggle to place Charlton in the football pecking order, it just seems like a club that lacks identity. I forget they exist until we play them. Leyton orient have more relevance to me." "Charlton, for me, are like somewhere between not quite good enough to really push on in the Championship, but far too good for League One"
Lets smash em!!
That’s the sort of stuff I am happy to hear ... give it to the players and job half done.
See that Donny are piping up on there forum "We'll beat that poor man's crystal Palace, no problem" "I struggle to place Charlton in the football pecking order, it just seems like a club that lacks identity. I forget they exist until we play them. Leyton orient have more relevance to me." "Charlton, for me, are like somewhere between not quite good enough to really push on in the Championship, but far too good for League One"
1-0 defeat Lose on penalties Massive queue to get in to Charlton station, and cram on the 4 car trains provided as Southeastern haven't adjusted the stock for 25000 fans leaving The Valley on a Friday evening
I confidently expect one of these predictions to come true!
Comments
Don't drop Ant for Solly, nor Morgan for Williams.
Let them both start and change if we need to.
Dijksteel did well on Sunday and I see no reason to change.
Solly is still a more than adequate player to come into the team should he be needed
I must say though I had my first nightmare leading up to the big game this Friday and it wasn't pleasant. All our Goalies were injured and they asked for a volunteer from the crowd, I figured I'm 6'1, long arms, why not. Gloved up and got on the pitch. First touch I undercooked it and had to run out to correct the mistake, a Donny player took it off me and scored. Second goal for them I just came charging out and completely missed the ball and they scored again. At this point everyone was yelling at me and my confidence was shot. One of theirs took a shot from about 40 yards out and I let it in.
Woke up in a genuine cold sweat.
If my nightmare comes true Donny win, Phillips in the sticks then it's a comfortable home win
I hope that we can get our noses in front, early, settle nerves, and maybe Donny will fold. The support at the Keepmoat was sensational, its vital the we the fans play our part and support the boys, even if we have an early setback.... but to coin a phase.... "I have a dream!!" Hopefully NOT for the last time this season.
COYRS!!!!!!
"We'll beat that poor man's crystal Palace, no problem"
"I struggle to place Charlton in the football pecking order, it just seems like a club that lacks identity. I forget they exist until we play them.
Leyton orient have more relevance to me."
"Charlton, for me, are like somewhere between not quite good enough to really push on in the Championship, but far too good for League One"
Lets smash em!!
Hoping for a convincing win, we should have too much for them 3-0.
The cautious side of me is saying this isn’t over and fears Marquis will pull something out the bag, but my gut feeling is convinced we will be ok.
Dont fold lads, you’ve got this
A 3-1 win with us dominating throughout.
Taylor, Aribo & Cullen
I'm all over the place at the moment with nerves and excitement!
Doncaster Rovers, the poor man's Rotherham United
Doncaster Rovers, the poor man's Doncaster Rovers
Then get the likes of Lyle Taylor off pronto
Lose on penalties
Massive queue to get in to Charlton station, and cram on the 4 car trains provided as Southeastern haven't adjusted the stock for 25000 fans leaving The Valley on a Friday evening
I confidently expect one of these predictions to come true!