Charlton Athletic v Accrington StanleyTuesday 19 October | Kick-Off: 19:45Live on Valley PassReferee: Sam Allison - Previously officiated a Charlton match away at Wigan back in March where the Addicks came out victorious, 0-1
Introduction
No identity. No structure or game plan with and without the ball. No clue. And that's just some of the things said about us by opposition supporters. Charlton's season for any kind of success, as has been so accurately said elsewhere, is dead in the water. More than a quarter of the season has passed and it's quite clear the longer this situation continues, the higher the chances are that we will indeed get out of League One, just falling through the dreaded trap door instead. As I write this, Adkins remains in charge. It seems as though our owner, who did unbelievably well to save us a year ago, is burying his head in the sand. As a whole, it's not like this group of players can't do it or get results, much of the team just missed out on the play-offs last season, others have played regularly at a higher level. But 20 minute spells or a good half here and there is not enough. We need to put it together consistently, and we have to do that now. In contrast, our opposition on Tuesday evening have an identity. They know their jobs on the pitch with and without the ball, and they have idea of how to play the game. For the famous saying,
"who are they?", it's now very much,
"who are we?". Up next you know
exactly who it is, Accrington Stanley travel to The Valley.
OppositionManager: John Coleman | Stadium: Crown GroundLeague Position: 13th | Nickname(s): Stanley, Accy, The 'Owd RedsForm: LWLDLL
Accrington Stanley travelled to Cheltenham Town on Saturday, losing 1-0, their line up was:
Savin
Sykes | Nottingham | Amankwah
McConville | Conneely | Morgan | Hamilton
Butcher | Pell
Bishop
One notable absentee from the Stanley squad is Dion Charles. The striker was prolific last season in his partnership with Colby Bishop, but he's currently in the midst of a stand-off with the club around his future. With his contract expiring in the summer of 2022, Stanley feel they deserve the right value for him, whilst Charles feels his career has been stagnated by not securing a move away. All of this is going on whilst results of late have slipped, they've been poor. Stanley's only wins this season have come against sides who are below them in the table, notably 3 of them against the other clubs who make up the relegation zone...
As we saw live on Sky Sports the last time Accy played in SE7, they can be a good footballing team, especially with the influence of Nottingham bringing the ball out of defence. They're a big side too and will make it tough for us, not giving us a moment's peace to settle on the ball. They'll get in our faces, make it difficult, and will look to pick up the second balls. Here, they'll give themselves a platform to go and play. It's going to be a challenge and if I were to pick a fixture at home after a poor performance and result on the road, this would be low down on my list.
Charlton Team News
We are likely to see a few enforced changes to the side who started the last two league fixtures. Elliot Lee came off in the first half ill on Saturday so could miss out. Harry Arter came off with a hamstring complaint so is likely to be in the stands, and Akin Famewo has a calf issue that could force him out too.
As Stanley are a big side who will play 3 at the back, I would've anticipated us to match them up. However, if Famewo misses out that is unlikely to happen. I am expecting a few changes, even though Adkins has said he'd like to keep a settled side - picking the team for this is still anyone's guess. For example, Stockley will be hoping to get his first start in the league for a few weeks, Purrington could come in for Souaré, whilst Blackett-Taylor and Washington will be pushing to be involved too.
As clean sheets are extremely hard to come by this season, we've put ourselves in a position where we have to score at least 2 goals a game to give ourselves a chance. This has to stop. In a game that's going to be a battle, I think we'll see as many experienced heads on the pitch as possible.
Subs: Henderson, Souaré, Dobson, Clare, Jaiyesimi, Washington, DavisonCharlton fans will turn up and give it their all in the hope that we can somehow push the team on to victory under the lights. Whether that pushes the players on and transpires into 3 points and a good performance, we will find out at 21:45.
Charlton Athletic 1-1 Accrington Stanley
Leko
Comments
With Nigel - 3-1 defeat
Without - 2-1 win
You are completely spot on by lack of identity. We seem to be able to press a team well for about 10/15 minutes and occasionally if we play through the lines and get Leko running at defenders we seem dangerous.
And to be honest both those things feel like they’ve been going on long before Adkins as well.
Worth remembering that its unlikely that Accrington will be here to 100% focus on the Football come Tuesday night... Its not pretty to watch, but it works for them, Sam Morsy for Ipswich bemoaned their style of time wasting when Ipswich played them recently and fully expect the same this coming midweek.
If I was John Coleman I would encourage it even more, there is going to be very little fluidity to this game, and can see Accrington doing more than usual to try and frustrate our fans and so make the players even more nervous than usual.
Its one reason why I'm never a fan of the negativity from the stands during a game (although can understand it), as think it only serves two things: (1) to make yourself feel better (2) to help the opposition
Teams know this at the moment
If I was an opposing Manager I'd be trying anything to create unrest amongs the Charlton fans.
Accrington will do it very well, none of our games against them have been remotely entertaining!!
Adkins puts Pearce and Watson back in and waffles on about experience in his pre match interview. Starting XI heavily criticised across all social media platforms and at the game.
We go 1-0 up early on, TS tweets “Boom 💥 great start lads”.
Accrington equalise through our former academy player Harry Pell.
They get a winner midway through the second half and the atmosphere and social media turns (even more) toxic.
Adkins somehow survives until Sunday in time for Sunderland to do a Bolton on us. TS eventually sacks Adkins due to fan pressure.
So much wrong with my club, so so depressing. Actually dreading Tuesday night. Will be there, but no longer in expectation.
Adkins not in charge - win 3-1.
Hopefully they'll play the latest single.
The manager is hanging on by his fingernails and I wouldn't be surprised if he is sacked. I feel sorry for Thomas in some ways, clearly something has gone wrong. Whether that is through the appoint of Ged Roddy who advised him poorly, or Nigel Adkins who is not the manager that he was once was, god only knows. But they are my team, unlucky just from where I was born I guess, and they will continue to be my team.
What will happen for the rest of the season? Again I haven't a clue, but on the downward spiral things are not looking good. Players are nervous, lack of movement, intensity, even still looking less fit than the opposition I'm pessimistic for the Accrington game. I still want to see the 4-4-2 formation, as it is simple for players to understand, and every player understands the structure of the team. I'm still of the opinion that it's better to have a team to support than no team at all.
I've waffled on, but my point is that I am a Charlton fan, I always will be, no matter what. If relegation happens, it will be a kick to the guts, but I will still be a Charlton fan and I will still have games to watch, to cheer on my team, looking for brighter days ahead!
We should never be in a position where we fear Accrington Stanley and that in itself, shows the decline on the pitch.
Unfortunately, I do not expect to see a sudden improvement on Tuesday so, I am already prepared for another loss.
The players seem to be all at sea and lacking confidence and direction. No natural captain on the pitch does not help and when we concede a goal we seem to fall apart and any plan seems to go out of the window.
I wish I could suggest a remedy, I can't. I don't think the players lack ability but where is their energy and determination to win? Surely it is the responsibility of the manager to motivate the players and demand that commitment from them at the very least.
If we lose, something must change otherwise I fear we will continue to struggle at the bottom end of this league and likely face the real prospect of relegation in May. Surely this must avoided at all costs.
Henderson ( MacGillvray is a liability)
Elewere Lavelle Pearce
Gunter Watson Gilbey Purrington
Leko Lee ( or Washington)
Stockley
We may be able to keep them out and get a draw
I imagine that Stockley will also start to give us more of an aerial presence in both boxes, especially as MacGillivray's command of his area on set-plays and crosses is pretty non-existent. As a well coached and organised side - the antithesis of Charlton - that is almost certainly something that Accy will be targeting. Maybe Washington will also get a run out but who knows.
I was travelling back from Norfolk on Saturday so was spared Saturday's debacle, although the dismal nature of the performance has been graphically described by many posters. With morale and confidence at rock bottom, it's hard to feel optimistic about our prospects on Tuesday, although you never know. One thing the sparse crowd will be demanding as an absolute minimum is a totally committed performance from whatever team Adkins puts out there; anything less will see things turning very toxic.
Two defeats this week will very probably see Adkins gone, although Thomas Sandgaard's problem is that the bloke apparently advising him - one Ged Roddy - has hardly covered himself in glory. Indeed, Roddy has a key role in the dysfunctional set up and, as such, bears a significant share of responsibility for the mess we currently find ourselves in.
Its my club, its your club, its not theirs, and that so obvious to see.
They show no pride and I really resent the high salaries this bunch of pretenders must be raking out of the owners bank account.
Everyone can see our frailties, and there are many, and I don't expect Stanley to be any different to all the other teams who have seen right through this one trick pony show.
We are exactly where we deserve to be at the moment rooted in the relegation zone.
A draw would at this stage be an achievement.
Whats it going to take for Thomas to put an end to this madness? A sub 8000 bums on seats crowd?
I will be at home crushing me b@llocks in a vice, it will be less painful.
1. Elerewe given his chance. Lavelle & Famewo simply aren't working as a unit.
2. Individual quality of all of our midfielders is questionable so we simply must have more strength in numbers in central midfield (Gilbey, [Arter or Dobson or Watson], Morgan), needed to enable us to keep the ball better, give the defence better protection and more options playing out.
Adkins is somehow still here, despite the massive regression in the performance after the int'l break.
The players will continue to show their own plan B of hit it long and we'll lose 2-1.