the thing that strikes me with Sunderland is the lack of goals they have been scoring of late, there last 10 results are, bar the coventry game that was a freakish game it is hardly great for a team that were chasing auto promotion and were realistically very much in contention.
I don't think Parker is the main issue. Rather, our most talented, flair players have to perform better than last Friday, by that I mean Sarr, Bielik, Cullen, Aribo and Taylor. the rest just have to do their job as normal.
Apropos of what LB said, it was obvious that the roar of a full house at the Valley put the players out of their stride....I just hope that they don't become even more wobbly playing in front of a crowd of 80k+......the performances in the semi-finals were like night and day to me.....I just hope that we play against Sunderland the way we did against Donny at their place!
I don't think Parker is the main issue. Rather, our most talented, flair players have to perform better than last Friday, by that I mean Sarr, Bielik, Cullen, Aribo and Taylor. the rest just have to do their job as normal.
this also easy to blame parker but last Friday we did get away with it just a tad - so many players played badly, equally john marquis is a cheating tosser and we by far outplayed them in 1st leg and really should of been 3-0 and job done.
Play-offs guru Richard Foster, author of The Agony and the Ecstasy, the definitive book of the competition, has discovered the remarkable curse befalling teams that usually wear red and white striped shirts and black shorts.
In the 13 play-off finals featuring Brentford, Exeter City, Lincoln City, Sheffield United or Sunderland - none of these sides have won.
Sunderland did earn promotion from a play-off match in 1990 but had actually lost the final before going up at Swindon Town's expense due to financial irregularities at the Robins. Could Sunday be the day that streak is broken?
We win with Igor, we don't win without him. Parker tries hard but we struggle to counter as effectively with him in the side.
I don't think its as clear cut as win or / lose, but I do agree to an extent our chances will be a lot better if Igor is playing. Parker does put in a shift, just not as much of a threat.
I’d rather have a fully fit Parker than a half fit Igor simply because we can’t afford Igor to start and be off the pace/break down in the first 15. Parker scores his only Charlton goal to win us the final has a certain ring to it. A fully fit Igor is another matter but he surely can’t be. Bowyer’s interview (see elsewhere in this site) suggests that it’s the same team as last week.
Charlie Wyke, Sunderland number 9, always looks the business: alert, lithe, predatory, dangerous. Yet, he did NOTHING against us at The Valley this season.
Clearly, Igor will not be fit, so our midfield must push up and get on the end of Taylor's drilled crosses.
Come on, come on, come on! Fight, fight, fight! Victory!
In the screeching words of the saintly Delia: "LET'S BE 'AVING YOU!"
the thing that strikes me with Sunderland is the lack of goals they have been scoring of late, there last 10 results are, bar the coventry game that was a freakish game it is hardly great for a team that were chasing auto promotion and were realistically very much in contention.
0-0 1-0 1-2 1-2 1-1 1-1 2-0 4-5 1-1 2-1
14 goals
where as we scored 24
Only failed to score in 1 though, not looking for a negative, just balancing it a bit.
Parker has yet to score a single goal for Charlton and is seen as being not very good. (With good reason). But I remember a certain striker who was looked upon similarly. Then one cold and snowy night he scored two goals at the old den beating millwall 2.0. We all know who he was . Come on Parker score a winning goal Sunday and become a Charlton legend.
So here it is, the 2019 play-off final. How many of us supporters would've thought or believed we would be in the position when we started the Football League season off away at the Stadium of Light back in August? I certainly didn't. Not because I didn't have faith or belief in Bowyer, Jackson, and the team, because I always have. But because of off-field issues that still hang over us to this day that made August a month that hurt us. With a depleted squad and unable to fill the bench, add in the mixture of losing a key player in Forster-Caskey only the day beforehand, things looked bleak. Fast forward 9 months, 3 weeks, and 1 day, and here we are. We can all proudly stand here and say what a fantastic season it has been, so far. What a joy it has been watching Taylor become the most all round and complete centre forward in the league, watching a young midfield blossom and develop into one that can dominate, create, and battle just as great as one another, watching a defence begin to find balance and consistency with so many clean sheets this calendar year. Of course, it hadn't always been that way with injuries, suspensions, and loss of form creating problems and unbalance through the earlier stages of the season, but Bowyer, and particularly Jackson with he defence, has done a fantastic job getting us disciplined and solid. But ultimately, the most credit for me has to go to Bowyer, Jackson, and the rest of the staff. They've created a culture that has had us supporters and the togetherness between player and fan at the core of their thinking. Everything has been about promotion of course, but everything has also been about getting our club back to a level where we can be proud of it again. In spite of what has happened and continued to happen outside of the pitch and training pitch.
To start with Sunderland, of course, our opponents for this crucial game on Sunday. Jack Ross has got them hard to beat and very well disciplined, a team that only conceded 7 more goals than we have throughout the course of the regular season and only losing 5 times in 46. They have drawn so many games which was their downfall, even winning 3 or 4 of them would have been enough to challenge top two. But all of that doesn't matter now and form goes almost out of the window in a game and an occasion like this. A game like this is about who wants it more, who can keep things disciplined and not lose their nerve. I have confidence that after the season we have had, the boys will be able to go out and express themselves, they will know this is the game that they've worked so hard towards all season, it is not about going out and finishing that job. Sunderland have mainly deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation throughout the course of the season, they have struggled to create many chances but do use the wide areas well, and with Wembley being a bigger pitch than we have played on all season, we must be cautious of the spaces out wide, no matter of the formation we play, we must have enough in us get out wide and stop those crosses coming into the box. Sunderland are a team in which we could really hit on the break, Taylor pulling wide and sitting in the space left by their full-back, it is definitely an area we can hurt them, in transition. If we are able to get our midfield on top during the game, I can see players like Cullen and Aribo showing their skill both technically and tactically, their mobility in the centre of midfield could really cause Sunderland some damage, especially if they go with Cattermole and Leadbitter as their sitting two.
Onto us, there will be one or two changes to the side that has played recently I would assume. Starting in defence, it could be argued that it would be very unfair to change anything in the defence, but in a game like this, I can see one of Solly or Pearce starting. Their experience and leadership could be so key in periods of the game where we are not on top. So for that, I have to lean towards the club captain coming in for the very unlucky Dijksteel. In midfield, I think we are likely to see one change. As great as Morgan has done for us recently, I do fear this could be a step too far for him to start. Jackson said on talksport the other night how the occasion and atmosphere was a little too much for him and that's why the change was made to bring on Pratley who done an excellent job. But for me, Williams must play on Sunday. He has the ability to get into the spaces that will be available, to pick up the ball and run at Sunderland. He has played at Wembley before and won, these little details can be the difference in a game like this. I am going to leave our Lapslie and Reeves from the squad, not for any reason other than I think Pratley's experience and Forster-Caskey's ability could be key in a game like this. I do however, expect to see Lapslie on the bench. I had it on good authority at the beginning of the week that Vetokele could be involved on Sunday, the issue was getting him to train, not getting him out on the grass. Interestingly, Bowyer's comments today could be a plan to put Sunderland off and he is okay to be in the squad, or he is being honest and Igor making it would look difficult. We shall see.
I cannot wait for Sunday and know it is going to be an unbelievable occasion. Win or lose, let's get behind the boys, behind Bowyer, Jackson and the rest of the staff, and let's make it a day we will never forget. This team has come such a long way and we know we can play our own part in getting us over that line. It's the least they deserve and the least we could do. Going to be a tough match, but with two positive performances against Sunderland this season with a half fit and available squad in both matches, Sunday could be the chance we have to show how great this team is with a full squad at our disposal.
Phillips Solly Bauer Sarr Purrington Bielik Cullen Aribo Williams Taylor Parker
Must admit I don't get the Williams for Morgan that everybody seems to call. It's not a straight swap as it means Aribo playing deeper. Personally I want Aribo in scoring positions, as after Taylor he is our most likely scorer. I also think Williams would, as he was against Doncaster, good from the bench. If Bowyer thinks the occasion is too much for Morgan then the experience of Pratley could be an option. the other option is playing a 3rd CH,but leaving Bielik in midfield.
Comments
0-0
1-0
1-2
1-2
1-1
1-1
2-0
4-5
1-1
2-1
14 goals
where as we scored 24
Play-offs guru Richard Foster, author of The Agony and the Ecstasy, the definitive book of the competition, has discovered the remarkable curse befalling teams that usually wear red and white striped shirts and black shorts.
In the 13 play-off finals featuring Brentford, Exeter City, Lincoln City, Sheffield United or Sunderland - none of these sides have won.
Sunderland did earn promotion from a play-off match in 1990 but had actually lost the final before going up at Swindon Town's expense due to financial irregularities at the Robins. Could Sunday be the day that streak is broken?
Williams praises Charlton 'faith and belief'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/48397378
They could be damned useful at helping out if the coach breaks down
Clearly, Igor will not be fit, so our midfield must push up and get on the end of Taylor's drilled crosses.
Come on, come on, come on! Fight, fight, fight! Victory!
In the screeching words of the saintly Delia: "LET'S BE 'AVING YOU!"
Taylor (23, 71, 103), Parker (85)
Penalties:
Taylor
Solly
Bielik
Cullen
Purrington
Aribo
Williams
But I remember a certain striker who was looked upon similarly.
Then one cold and snowy night he scored two goals at the old den beating millwall 2.0.
We all know who he was .
Come on Parker score a winning goal Sunday and become a Charlton legend.
To start with Sunderland, of course, our opponents for this crucial game on Sunday. Jack Ross has got them hard to beat and very well disciplined, a team that only conceded 7 more goals than we have throughout the course of the regular season and only losing 5 times in 46. They have drawn so many games which was their downfall, even winning 3 or 4 of them would have been enough to challenge top two. But all of that doesn't matter now and form goes almost out of the window in a game and an occasion like this. A game like this is about who wants it more, who can keep things disciplined and not lose their nerve. I have confidence that after the season we have had, the boys will be able to go out and express themselves, they will know this is the game that they've worked so hard towards all season, it is not about going out and finishing that job. Sunderland have mainly deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation throughout the course of the season, they have struggled to create many chances but do use the wide areas well, and with Wembley being a bigger pitch than we have played on all season, we must be cautious of the spaces out wide, no matter of the formation we play, we must have enough in us get out wide and stop those crosses coming into the box. Sunderland are a team in which we could really hit on the break, Taylor pulling wide and sitting in the space left by their full-back, it is definitely an area we can hurt them, in transition. If we are able to get our midfield on top during the game, I can see players like Cullen and Aribo showing their skill both technically and tactically, their mobility in the centre of midfield could really cause Sunderland some damage, especially if they go with Cattermole and Leadbitter as their sitting two.
Onto us, there will be one or two changes to the side that has played recently I would assume. Starting in defence, it could be argued that it would be very unfair to change anything in the defence, but in a game like this, I can see one of Solly or Pearce starting. Their experience and leadership could be so key in periods of the game where we are not on top. So for that, I have to lean towards the club captain coming in for the very unlucky Dijksteel. In midfield, I think we are likely to see one change. As great as Morgan has done for us recently, I do fear this could be a step too far for him to start. Jackson said on talksport the other night how the occasion and atmosphere was a little too much for him and that's why the change was made to bring on Pratley who done an excellent job. But for me, Williams must play on Sunday. He has the ability to get into the spaces that will be available, to pick up the ball and run at Sunderland. He has played at Wembley before and won, these little details can be the difference in a game like this. I am going to leave our Lapslie and Reeves from the squad, not for any reason other than I think Pratley's experience and Forster-Caskey's ability could be key in a game like this. I do however, expect to see Lapslie on the bench. I had it on good authority at the beginning of the week that Vetokele could be involved on Sunday, the issue was getting him to train, not getting him out on the grass. Interestingly, Bowyer's comments today could be a plan to put Sunderland off and he is okay to be in the squad, or he is being honest and Igor making it would look difficult. We shall see.
I cannot wait for Sunday and know it is going to be an unbelievable occasion. Win or lose, let's get behind the boys, behind Bowyer, Jackson and the rest of the staff, and let's make it a day we will never forget. This team has come such a long way and we know we can play our own part in getting us over that line. It's the least they deserve and the least we could do. Going to be a tough match, but with two positive performances against Sunderland this season with a half fit and available squad in both matches, Sunday could be the chance we have to show how great this team is with a full squad at our disposal.
Solly Bauer Sarr Purrington
Bielik
Cullen Aribo
Williams
Taylor Parker
Maxwell, Dijksteel, Pearce, Pratley, Forster-Caskey, Morgan, Vetokele
Charlton Athletic 2-0 Sunderland
Taylor
Williams
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48324840