Preston play a 4-2-3-1 formation, and to be fair to them, especially at home this season, it has worked a treat. They're excellent going forward, particularly down their right hand side where Fisher, the right back, gets forward well, and you will often find Daniel Johnson drifting out wide right to even triple up down that side, but he will cut in on his favoured left foot. Johnson is by far their most influential player, and not only because he has scored the most goals for them this season. However, as good as a team they are going forward, they don't like team running at them at all. There will often be a big gap between the centre of midfield and the centre of defence, this is a perfect opportunity for someone like Gallagher to cause them all sorts of problems. If we do that, I can see us making Bauer not know whether to drop off or come out and leave the space in behind him. It's actually a perfect game and set up for someone like Leko to exploit that space throughout. We know that Bauer is not comfortable being dragged out wide, and where they push on so far, we could be clever and have someone sit between the centre backs and where the full-backs would normally be. This will allow us to put them into areas quickly on the counter attack that they are not happy to go into. Further to this, what is actually surprising is that they're very weak in defending set-pieces, conceding a vast majority of their goals from free-kicks or corners. It could be the difference on Sunday and one where I can see Jackson and Marshall putting a training ground routine to good use. We are relatively strong in this area. Other factors to consider is that when they attack, they attack in numbers, they're often not short of getting men into the box and this is something we must be careful of. We have to win the first and second ball, we have to make sure that our clearances are clear, because otherwise with the way they play, they have the potential to put a few periods of sustained pressure on us. Preston play a different style to most teams who adopt the 4-2-3-1 formation as they are quite direct, they like to get the ball into the opposition half quickly, and play further up the pitch as much as they can. This isn't a team who is often going to play through the thirds, they want to get the ball as close to the opposition goal as they can. It's here that they will begin to get the ball out wide and look to play their football. At home it seems to work, it's the away form which lets them down. Maybe, they haven't quite figured out a way of being more counter-attacking yet.
Regarding us, as the official site says, this game comes slightly too early for some so we are probably only looking at introducing Leko back into the squad. However, I wouldn't bet against Taylor making the squad either... With the amount of players still unavailable or injured, we just have to do as best as we can. I don't want our players to treat this game any differently with Millwall the week after in the back of their minds, and I don't think Bowyer will allow that to happen. We can also hope that players like Lockyer, Pratley, and Gallagher, don't pick up another caution as that will put them out of next week, and with their importance to the side, as well as the lack of players we have fit at the moment, we can't risk that. So if we are in a good position in the game, I think we could see a couple of them taken off with the following game in mind. I think we will see Oztumer start on Sunday but Kayal will come into the side against Millwall, same with Sarr will start on Sunday but Pearce will come into the side next week.
Tough one to call this Sunday, but Preston seem to like a 1-1 draw away from home. However, with the resolve we showed last week and the fact that our home form is still very impressive, I think we could cause them some problems. Leko to stretch Bauer and do him for pace.
Maynard-Brewer, Pearce, Oshilaja, Kayal, Aneke, Davison, Taylor
Charlton Athletic 2-1 Preston North End Gallagher Leko
Given their 4-2-3-1, would you not be tempted into moving Pratley into a central back three and push the full backs further forward to engage with their midfield?
Preston play a 4-2-3-1 formation, and to be fair to them, especially at home this season, it has worked a treat. They're excellent going forward, particularly down their right hand side where Fisher, the right back, gets forward well, and you will often find Daniel Johnson drifting out wide right to even triple up down that side, but he will cut in on his favoured left foot. Johnson is by far their most influential player, and not only because he has scored the most goals for them this season. However, as good as a team they are going forward, they don't like team running at them at all. There will often be a big gap between the centre of midfield and the centre of defence, this is a perfect opportunity for someone like Gallagher to cause them all sorts of problems. If we do that, I can see us making Bauer not know whether to drop off or come out and leave the space in behind him. It's actually a perfect game and set up for someone like Leko to exploit that space throughout. We know that Bauer is not comfortable being dragged out wide, and where they push on so far, we could be clever and have someone sit between the centre backs and where the full-backs would normally be. This will allow us to put them into areas quickly on the counter attack that they are not happy to go into. Further to this, what is actually surprising is that they're very weak in defending set-pieces, conceding a vast majority of their goals from free-kicks or corners. It could be the difference on Sunday and one where I can see Jackson and Marshall putting a training ground routine to good use. We are relatively strong in this area. Other factors to consider is that when they attack, they attack in numbers, they're often not short of getting men into the box and this is something we must be careful of. We have to win the first and second ball, we have to make sure that our clearances are clear, because otherwise with the way they play, they have the potential to put a few periods of sustained pressure on us. Preston play a different style to most teams who adopt the 4-2-3-1 formation as they are quite direct, they like to get the ball into the opposition half quickly, and play further up the pitch as much as they can. This isn't a team who is often going to play through the thirds, they want to get the ball as close to the opposition goal as they can. It's here that they will begin to get the ball out wide and look to play their football. At home it seems to work, it's the away form which lets them down. Maybe, they haven't quite figured out a way of being more counter-attacking yet.
Regarding us, as the official site says, this game comes slightly too early for some so we are probably only looking at introducing Leko back into the squad. However, I wouldn't bet against Taylor making the squad either... With the amount of players still unavailable or injured, we just have to do as best as we can. I don't want our players to treat this game any differently with Millwall the week after in the back of their minds, and I don't think Bowyer will allow that to happen. We can also hope that players like Lockyer, Pratley, and Gallagher, don't pick up another caution as that will put them out of next week, and with their importance to the side, as well as the lack of players we have fit at the moment, we can't risk that. So if we are in a good position in the game, I think we could see a couple of them taken off with the following game in mind. I think we will see Oztumer start on Sunday but Kayal will come into the side against Millwall, same with Sarr will start on Sunday but Pearce will come into the side next week.
Tough one to call this Sunday, but Preston seem to like a 1-1 draw away from home. However, with the resolve we showed last week and the fact that our home form is still very impressive, I think we could cause them some problems. Leko to stretch Bauer and do him for pace.
Maynard-Brewer, Pearce, Oshilaja, Kayal, Aneke, Davison, Taylor
Charlton Athletic 2-1 Preston North End Gallagher Leko
Given their 4-2-3-1, would you not be tempted into moving Pratley into a central back three and push the full backs further forward to engage with their midfield?
No. Given their directness, I think it would be important for us to be able to have Pratley sitting in front of the back four to mop up the second balls and break up attacks further up the pitch. They only have one up front so for us to have a back three at home and leave Cullen and Gallagher to scrap it out what could be a congested midfield would not be ideal in my opinion. With Sarr in defence, it allows us to add another dimension to our side and we can play through the midfield far better. If we start to play it long, we will just play it into their hands. Further to this, Solly and Purrington would really struggle when pushed further up the pitch due to us playing with a back three against this Preston side. They like to attack down the wings and push their full back's high, with us playing wing-backs due to a back 3/5, it will expose Lockyer and Sarr far too much and that's where it can create too much space for someone like Johnson to hurt us. I'd be happy with Pratley sitting in front of the back four and do a job on Johnson instead of allowing him that space to hurt us in front of our defence.
Thais is one that could genuinely go either way and something like a Desmond is quite possible. I’ll reserve judgement till I see what team we put out. Looking forward to it. Should be entertaining.
Never ever predicted correctly. Never wrongly too, its reality that messes things up for me as usual. Take my first marriage for example. Who would have predicted that? Not even Happy Valley...
Bang in form P N E will be difficult opponents .. they are a typically aggressive team with possibly the dirtiest player in the Championship, Number 4 Ben Pearson in midfield .. be good to see Paddy the Farmer back at the Valley, be even better to see him and his teammates leaving pointless.
Going for a 2-2 in normal time,Gallagher,Aneke(some day surely) then we have a 94th min corner towards Covered End, Bauer puts a foot out to defend & it sends into past their keeper into the back of the net...in amongst all the celebrations, he looks up & gives a Ronaldo style wink...
I feel if we win this match then there is no way we get relegated (barring losing everyone in the January transfer window.) I feel PNE might be automatic promotion candidates and this will be very a difficult match to get a result from. Would take one point. My guess is 0-1. Would love to see Lockyer have a better match than Bauer.
I know noon Sunday kick offs are designed for TV viewers in Asia not real fans but 8pm Hong Kong time with the five quid live stream is extremely convenient.
Commentary excellent too.
Got tear gassed last night so looking forward to a quiet night in and a 2.0 Charlton win. (Cullen and Bonne)
Mrs Grumpy warching just in case Lyle gets a run out.
I’m bringing my Spanner brother; he’s never seen us lose when coming to support Charlton in the second division and was even sat with me in the West when we won 2-0 v Millwall (obviously he’s seen us lose multiple times when in the Millwall end) so I’m hopeful for at least a draw.
I’m bringing my Spanner brother; he’s never seen us lose when coming to support Charlton in the second division and was even sat with me in the West when we won 2-0 v Millwall (obviously he’s seen us lose multiple times when in the Millwall end) so I’m hopeful for at least a draw.
Comments
Never wrongly too, its reality that messes things up for me as usual.
Take my first marriage for example.
Who would have predicted that?
Not even Happy Valley...
CAFC 1 v Preston North End 0
Going to be goals, i'm going for 3-2 to the might reds!
LB’s Red N White Army...!!!
Commentary excellent too.
Got tear gassed last night so looking forward to a quiet night in and a 2.0 Charlton win. (Cullen and Bonne)
Mrs Grumpy warching just in case Lyle gets a run out.
Broken Britain right there!