Charlton Athletic v Leeds United
Saturday 28th September 2019 … 3pm
Kick-Off
Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire)
Introduction
Do you ever get the feeling your being watched?
Not that it matters of course, what does matter is
the fact that this Saturday we play host to “so called Champions” Leeds United,
we go into this game looking for our first points of the month and what will be
our last chance of the month to obtain any – In addition life in the
Championship is just about to begin, the honeymoon period will most surely be
over come this time next month!!
The Opposition
Name: Leeds United | Manager: Marcelo Bielsa
Ground: Elland Road
Despite all the governing issues its cases like
Leeds that make you feel proud of the English Football League – Billed as one
of the hardest Leagues in the world I imagine some must scoff at the claim but
last year the Championship proved what a bitch it can be… You can have one of
the best Managers in the world; you can sign Goalkeepers from Real Madrid, but
down here in the second tier, the word: respect just doesn’t exist!!
With the disappointment in the Play-Offs you’d have
thought that would have been it for Bielsa... The man might be a genius in the
game but he doesn’t last long in roles, you have to go back to 2011-13 to when
he lasted longer than a year at a club (Atletico Bilbao) – Failure to win
promotion though hurt the Argentinian and so along with his bucket, he’s back
for part two!!
For this will be our hardest league game at the
Valley this season… It doesn’t matter who else comes to SE7; Leeds will out run
you, they’ll keep possession and bide their time – With the likes of Pablo Hernandez
they’ve players who could easily transition into the Premier League, the fact
that Eddie Nketiah (on loan from Arsenal) cant get into the line up says it
all
Charlton Team News
Not going to lie I’ve been blessed with a source
this week… Met this charming bloke wearing a flat cap with a little dog (think it was a Terrier)
who wouldn’t stop talking about t’North and how much he loves PlusNet customer
service!!... Anyway he’d been walking near Sparrows Lane all this week so my
information is pretty sound!!
With two loses on the trot though it’s a question of
whether Bowyer changes the squad – As mentioned; Leeds will keep the ball so
its important we don’t give it back to them, we’ll need our fittest players out
on that pitch and most importantly we’ll need leaders… Both Jason Pearce and
Beram Kayal missed the game against Wigan with the former only making the bench;
Pearce will surely be back in contention to face another of his old clubs
whilst it’s questionable if we’ll see Kayal after suffering with a groin strain
last Friday!!
Comments
And please not Field or Hemed. They may well prove to be good assets given time but no evidence of it yet and can't afford any passengers in this one.
We are creating very little so why not give Aneke a run out. He has actually scored after all.
0.2
I know what your'e all going to say..I'm a pessimistic, bed-wetting old git with an inappropriate crush on Lyle Taylor .
If Field does start then I hope he can show us why we signed him.
Pearce has to start in a game where we are going to be put under pressure his experience will be vital.
Cullen and Williams must keep the ball better that of late and Hemed needs to come to the party.
A very hard fought 1.1 Draw.
A fraught game off the pitch and on the pitch too - 0-3.
The first of many days to come like the old premiership days, backs to the wall against teams with more class than us.
2-0 Leeds
Given that Leeds will likely have a lot of the ball and we'll be playing on the counter i think we need an outlet up front. That isn't Hemed as he's looked off the pace so far.
Hemed has done nothing over these last couple games to give me any confidence in him as a long striker.
I know LB said he doesn't see him in that position but I think Chuks deserves a shot at it. Looked lively last week from what I hear and in my opinion he hasn't been bad in any games he's featured in, plus like above has mentioned... he's already scored.
Anyhow I like the lineup, but I'd prefer Chuks in for Hemed and Pratley in for field.
Love Pearce as a defender, but hope his distribution under pressure holds out, because we don't want to be giving the ball away against this mob.
(PS There's a 'your' 'you're' situation, but wasn't sure if it was ok to mention that?)
Also predicting a lot of people on here after the game moaning about Leeds fans celebrating in the home areas.
The title is on x
Leeds are the best team in the division in my opinion. If a team finishes above them, they win the league. A side that has a manager renown for his famous 3-3-1-3 formation from his days at Athlétic Bilbao, Bielsa has adopted the 4-1-4-1 formation in his time at Leeds United. A system that he believes gives them the greatest chance statistically of winning the most games. Leeds play with lots of width, lots of the ball, and push their full backs high up the pitch, whilst Phillips will often drop back when the two centre backs split. Think Man City style. They have some excellent players and some on the bench who would walk into our team, no more so than Eddie Nketiah. The Arsenal striker has hit the ground running at his time at Elland Road, scoring 4 goals in all competitions so far, but still cannot dislodge Patrick Bamford from the starting XI. Usually I would talk about Pablo Hernández as their most dangerous player, their most influential player, arguably the best in the league. However, the aging Spaniard has a muscle injury and will not play at The Valley this weekend. Douglas Costa comes in for him instead.
Leeds do have weaknesses, they’re vulnerable at the back at times and their two central defenders are not the quickest. They also have had trouble at full back for a period of time now, often having to play Dallas and Alioski at right and left back respectively, both players are predominantly wingers. However, they have actually done a good job at full back, credit to themselves but also to Bielsa. The question is though, have they been tested enough going the other way because Leeds often have the vast majority of the ball? So much so in fact, Leeds average 67% possession - being patient and accepting we aren’t going to have the ball as much has to be part of the game plan. Even though Bowyer has said we aren’t going to sit back, we have to be careful because their passing and movement will pull us apart if we aren’t careful.
Leeds team will be:
Dallas White Cooper Alioski
Phillips
Costa Shackleton Klich Harrison
Bamford
Regarding us, with obviously Taylor still out injured, it makes things harder for us to enforce our own game, but I can see Bowyer being clever and mixing it up. Bielsa will prepare for us to play the diamond, I would hope Bowyer is wise enough to spring a surprise onto Leeds. With their ability to keep the ball, our midfield has to have the legs to keep up, so playing players who can win the ball back and move it well is important. They’re not a physical side, they’re a ball playing side so Solly will come back in. Interesting part would be whether Sarr keeps his place or if Pearce comes back in.
Going to be a real tough game, but one I am looking forward to, and one I think we can and will pick up a draw.
Solly Lockyer Pearce Purrington
Pratley Cullen
Leko Gallagher Williams
Hemed
Amos, Oshilaja, Sarr, Field, Oztumer, Aneke, Bonne
Charlton Athletic 1-1 Leeds United
Gallagher