Phillips
Matthews | Oshilaja | Pearce | Purrington
Cullen | Pratley | Lapslie
Williams
Green | Taylor
Substitutes Bench: Amos | Doughty | Oztumer |
Davis | McGeady | Bonne | Hemed
Charlton Athletic v Middlesbrough
Saturday 7th March 2020 … 3pm Kick-Off
Referee: Stephen Martin (prev. games: Derby |
Middlesbrough | Fulham)
Introduction
Charlton return to the Valley this weekend after a
harsh lesson on the road – Defeats against Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield
have once again proven how tough this league is yet it will be the manner of
the performances that’ll have disappointed Management, players and fans alike…
It means that the hard work from our recent three wins have been thrown away,
yet it’s also a sign that with still ten games left we shouldn’t start
preparing for League One just yet!!
The Opposition
Name: Middlesbrough (22nd) | Manager:
Jonathan Woodgate
Ground: Riverside Stadium
Previous Result: Middlesbrough 1-0 Charlton Athletic
Whilst our last two performances have been poor, I
think it’s safe to say that nothing has been as poor as the Charlton showing at
the Riverside Stadium in December!! – The Addicks would travel to North
Yorkshire well and truly in a run of poor form, winless in two months and playing
the kids it was the type of performance that didn’t see Charlton threaten until
the last five minutes of the game… Joe Ledley’s disastrous sole appearance the
biggest memory of that miserable day.
If we learnt anything from that fixture though it wasn’t
that Charlton were surely in a relegation battle yet confirmed that
Middlesbrough themselves would surely be involved in any battle to survive –
Their problem that day, and this season, is the fact they struggle to score
goals and thus struggle to kill teams off… Stats only tell half a story yet
with eight wins they’ve the joint lowest number in the league whilst only Derby
and Millwall have drawn more, proof of that inability to see out games was shown
on Monday night; Nottingham Forest earning a late draw and so preserving our
own status in 20th place.
A bit like when Barnsley and Luton visited the Valley…
this is a game where first goal scorer will be so important
Charlton Team News
November and December would see our form struggle
because of injuries to key players, kids would be forced into action (despite
being unready and inexperienced for this level) so there was always a
disadvantage for Charlton whenever we took to the pitch – Since our game
against Fulham though that has changed, we’ve been able to bring in more
experienced players yet it’s our form on the road that remains a heavy concern
with it being oh so important.
After all we can’t rely on five wins at the Valley
to preserve our status at this tier of English Football
So on to Saturday who do we pick? – Tom Lockyer will
see out the last of his two match ban whilst Darren Pratley could return in the
centre of midfield after missing through injury (It’ll be imperative that he doesn’t
earn a booking what with the yellow card count resetting for the final time
after this weekend). Finally you’d hope that Jonny Williams is ready to start,
his appearance against Huddersfield showed we win so many set pieces whenever
he’s on the pitch
Comments
Although just realised I'd left Lapslie out of the team
Difficult to see us picking up many more points on the road given those two performances so we're putting all our chips into the home games, which is far from ideal.
We managed to win the two previous 'six-pointers' so all the pressure is on making it three out of three.
First goal vital as ever. Not sure this team has the character to come back from behind and win
We are on a bad run of form I thought Luton was a turning point but it hasn't worked out. It's now imperative that we win our home games and try and just string a few results together. I am confident we can get out of this but we will need to see a return to the fight, committeemen and team spirit we expect to see under Bowyer.
Amongst all this we have to remember we are up against a team with significantly more resources than us and significantly more championship experience. They may not have spent so much this season ( a couple of Mill on 3 or 4 players including Dijksteel) but their wage budget is significantly higher than ours and they have the likes of Assombalonga who they paid £16m for a couple of years ago and earn almost ten times what Taylor does.
In terms of the side we should put out I think Bow will return to his favoured diamond formation. Without Sarr we simply cannot go 3 at the back, no way can Pearce play that Left of a 3 role and Pratley should only play in the middle of the 3. Pratley back is a boost and he has to start. A week off will no doubt have done Alfie a world of good so I would be tempted to start him at home (and rest him for away games). Williams back is also a huge boost and he has to start. Taylor to be captain - I dont care that Pearce and Pratley are on the pitch we need Lyle to be fired up and to lead by example. WHERE IS ANEKE??!! Bowyer spoke a couple of weeks ago about how his fitness drops very quickly if he isnt playing but then he hasnt appeared for the U23s or on the bench. He has to add more than McGeady from the bench.
As has been the case of late its much less about formations than it is about intent. We need to be agressive, brave, get high up the pitch and take the game to them. Bonne is a finisher and we need to give him some service - keep him on their CB's allow Taylor to roam as he does. For this to work the midfield needs to get high up the pitch and press well - Lappo is key to that working.
Taylor Bonne
Williams
Lapslie Cullen
Pratley
Doughty Pearce Oshilaja Matthews
Phillips
Amos Purrington Davis Smith Oztumer Aneke Green
If we start with Green I would like to see us go 4231
3-1 Charlton and the march for the playoffs is back on
Firstly why is Charlton station closed for engineering works when a home game is on.
We were away last Saturday and again next Saturday.
Why not one of them.
Wankers.
Anyway as this is another must win game and we are better at home I'm going
2.1 Charlton
Can't we organise a quick CL whip round to get her a cab ????
They have a good attack so our defence needs to be 100% better than of late. I would say that on paper they are much better than us .. all together now .. BUT games ain't played on paper.
Surprising that Boro are having such a bad season. There will be no old manager mates reunion when they arrive at the Valley for a REAL 6 pointer .. we'll win this
CAFC 2 v Middlebrough 1
A real shame if Sarr is out. Pearce makes me more nervous than Naby at this level. Also think it is time to rest Doughty and have him on the bench. If Pratley is back that is a big plus. Ever since the last month of last season we have seen what a positive influence he can have on this team. I wonder if he even might be an option next to Pearce instead of Oshilaja? Might save him from having to put as many miles in his legs for his first game back.
We are likely to bottle it.
0-2
Our season is cursed.
Another great preview FA, it's going to interesting to see who Bowyer leaves out after last Saturdays result and his comments. I'd go for
Taylor Bonne
Williams
Lapslie Cullen
Pratley
Purrington Pearce Oshilaja Matthews
Phillips
Substitutes Bench: Amos | Doughty | Oztumer | Davis | Smith | Green | Hemed
2 -1 Charlton , Taylor and Bonne with one each.
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6C1BC6
This would get you a free trip up to £12.
Philips
Matthews Deji Pearce Purrington
Williams Cullen Pratley Doughty
Taylor Bonne
Last i saw/heard he was banging them in for the reserves.
Sounds like they've got a few injuries, can only hope Fletcher is part of that list too. I hear he's touch and go.
At least that will slightly compensate our Oshilaja and Pearce partnership if he is absent.
1) Set up properly. Too many of our players seem unsure or exposed in their role.
2) Please, don't sit deep on our own 18 yard line, isolating the front 2 - and inviting relentless pressure on our defence.
3) Play our passing football in their half, not in and around our own box.
4) Clear the lines. Row Z if necessary. We gift too many silly goals.