Shrewsbury Town vs Charlton AthleticSaturday 27th November 2021 - 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Tom NieldIntroductionMuch was made about the Preview produced by the opposition in midweek, it means that I'm fully under pressure to produce something similar. That said I always choose to keep my Previews a bit shorter and sweeter so you shouldn't need too long to read through this latest edition - Tuesday night proved that you cant win every game, and if you're going to drop points, surely its better to do so against those your not competing with for end of season positions.
This Saturday our depleted squad travel to Shropshire; Shrewsbury Town our latest challenger.
The OppositionName: Shrewsbury Town (21st) | Manager: Steve CotterillGround: The New MeadowPrevious Meeting: Charlton Athletic 1-1 Shrewsbury TownFirst off, let me start of by stressing that last season was anything but straightforward for both Shrewsbury Town and Steve Cotterill - Its been four years since their romantic season, which saw them missing out on the Championship by a single game, and in those four years, Salop have never truly been able to mount a repeat of that historic season under Paul Hurst.
Last term saw them once again flirting with relegation, that was until Sam Ricketts got the boot in November. He was then replaced by Steve Cotterill, and had he not struggled with COVID, you could question if Shrewsbury could have gone on to better things. As it was they spent just six games (out of 28) in 17th place last term, so at least they managed to achieve consistency.
Thankfully Steve has been able to return to the dugout this season, and am sure we all wish him well with his health for the future - Unfortunately though, Salop have been unable to show much consistency this term. They find themselves in the relegation zone (albeit by just one point), on the other hand Salop did manage to hold Sunderland at the New Meadow on Tuesday evening, although is that much of an achievement, given the form of the latter?
Charlton Team NewsIt'll get to the point soon where we'll be forced to follow Oxford's lead in training, with some of the womens team involved in training to make up the numbers - Defenders like Ryan Inniss, Sam Lavelle and Adam Matthews remain absent from the squad, whilst we're a bit touch and go on whether Jason Pearce will be able to make this weekends trip to Shropshire.
Elsewhere and Jayden Stockley serves the last game of his three match suspension, he wont be travelling to the Midlands, and instead will be the latest guest on CharltonTV. On the positive front; Jonathan Leko should be amongst the squad having returned from injury, so could well be on the bench this weekend.
Otherwise I imagine we'll see much the same of late.
MacGillivray
Clare - Gunter - Famewo
Dobson
Jaiyesimi - Lee - Gilbey - Purrington
Washington - Davison
Substitutes Bench: Harness - Elerewe - Morgan - Watson - Blackett-Taylor - Kirk - Leko
PredictionThere have been endless calls in recent weeks, calling for Johnnie Jackson to rightfully be named as permanent Manager - Of course its easy to make that call when the squad is doing well, but there will equally be times when we go through a bad patch. Hopefully that wont happen too often, but you could argue that the better Managers are those who can respond to adversity when it happens.
I have no doubt that the squad will respond after a disappointing draw on Tuesday night
But there will be sterner tests to come for Johnnie and his new coaching staff.
Comments
If we are going to struggle for height once more, I'd play Elerewe instead of Gunter or Clare. We also have to manage tiredness, so please don't wait too long to make the subs for DJ and Josh this match Jacko! We have good bench resources now, so use them wisely!
Finally, Salop is the old name for Shropshire, not Shrewsbury, so please use it accordingly!
Fancy Lee to bag one
Shrewsbury Town 1 v CAFC 2
I might even go for a back four with Clare and Purrington as full backs. The defence is our weakpoint just now and until our CBs are fit. So
Mac
Clare Elerewe Famewo Purrington
DJ Gilbey Dobson Lee
Washington Leko
Solid defence and bags of skill going forward.
If Pearce is fit we could stick with a back three, but not otherwise.
COYA!
It was an embarrassing defeat on Tuesday which we need to put behind us. We just couldn't compete with their guest contributors, video clips and social media links.
Saturday will see that the short one touch comments and the classic route one approach still has its merits.
Hopefully Leco will be fit to start and I reckon another win for the mighty Addicks.
2.1 Charlton.
I hope I'm wrong and that I just have a case of the 'golfienegativitis'
Am glad Leko is back and would like him used as a forward. He's a Championship level player and need it to show.
Clare Famewo Souare
Leko Dobson Purrington
Gilbey Lee
Davidson Washington
Quote from here: https://www.cafc.co.uk/news/view/61a0cbc2c1475/jackson-were-optimistic-about-the-future