Charlton Athletic v Milton Keynes v Charlton AthleticTuesday 22nd February 2022 | Kick-Off: 19.45pmLive on Valley PassReferee: Sam Purkiss - Previously officiated Charlton on three occasions, all on a Tuesday night. Last time was in our 6-0 win away at Plymouth Argyle, April 2021.IntroductionJackson's mentor gave him a schooling on Saturday as his pupils looked towards their summer holidays. I haven't seen a team down tools like that for 11 years and the club has the same feel about it now as it did before the famous Chris Powell summer overhaul. Safety first they say, well we have to get there first before big changes are needed. Everyone will have their own opinions on what is needed, but I think taking a trip down memory line to those 11 years ago could refocus the mind when we are all feeling negative and possibly quite apathetic towards our club right now. Continuity and clarity is needed, and if Jackson is to get the chance to rebuild the club to a level where he was such an integral part of, full autonomy is required. Unfortunately, we have another 14 games to 'look forward to' before we get there. Next up is a club where Jackson's mentor had his greatest success thus far, Milton Keynes.
OppositionManager: Liam Manning (48.7% win rate)Stadium: Stadium MKLeague Position: 3rd | Form: WWWDDWMilton Keynes played Sunderland away in their previous league game, winning 2-1, their last line-up was:
Cumming
O'Hora | Darling | Lewington
Watson | Coventry | McEachran | Harvie
Twine
Parrott | Eisa
A win away at Sunderland, wow I can barely remember what that feels like even considering the fact I made the trip to the North East for Jackson's first game in charge. Where has that spirit, desire, and determination gone? Milton Keynes seem to have it in abundance right now with an added sprinkle of quality on top. A team in fine form having lost just once this calendar year, incredibly at home to League Two destined Doncaster Rovers, Liam Manning's side have picked up an impressive 22 points in their last 11, conceding only 6 in that time - we have conceded 11 in our last 5...
A team that rarely changes and never deviates from their principles, the side that won at Sunderland differed by only 5 changes to the team that won the reverse fixture in August. That evening (we always seem to play Milton Keynes on a night game), the lively front two of Parrott and Eisa turned the game around and ran out comfortable winners albeit a scoreline that we have been on the wrong end of 8 times this season, 2-1.
Without fail, Scott Twine is Milton Keynes' danger man. 13 goals and 9 assists this season, only ex-Addick Michael Smith at table toppers Rotherham has a greater goal involvement than the man MK signed from Swindon last summer. Goals from outside the box is a bit of a speciality for the attacking midfielder and if afforded the same time and space that we provided Oxford and the likes of Brannagan on Saturday, he's likely to cause us more misery. Behind him are two mobile and comfortable ball players in Conor Coventry and Josh McEachran. Coventry, on loan from West Ham, spent the first half of this season at Peterborough and the 21 year-old will be looking to finish the season strong to get a move back to the Championship and become a regular fixture next term. McEachran seems to have been around forever. The former Chelsea youngster went through the system at the West London club including 5 loan spells before moving down the road to Brentford on a permanent basis. A player who represented England at all the under age levels is one who never really lived up to his potential but is certainly a good and technical player at this level.
Charlton Team NewsWith Clare suspended for 3 games, Inniss unable to play Saturday-Tuesday, and the 3 main strikers all out injured, we look weak and unable to pose any kind of threat. A team that changes as much as ours this season, and a defence that changes as often as ours is never going to succeed. When we won promotion in previous years you could name the starting eleven most weeks; you certainly knew who would be in defence such the importance of the position. Unfortunately, we are so far from that it's quite depressing.
A change of shape, and no doubt personnel will be required, and I think switching to the diamond that Jackson did in the second half against Bolton and on Saturday is the way we are likely to go. With Blackett-Taylor injured too, we ought to make the most of the amount of central midfielders we have in the squad.
One player who could potentially return to the squad is former Milton Keynes man, Scott Fraser. The Scot was in attendance on Saturday after recovering from COVID but whether this game comes a little too soon for the playmaker, we will find out Tuesday. If not, I anticipate he will be involved when we make the trip to Sheffield next weekend.
Subs: Henderson, Inniss, Pearce, John, Fraser, Jaiyesimi, Kanu
It can't be any worse than Saturday and Jackson is right that maybe a game just a few days later is what is best, go out and put it right, show a bit of fight and passion and attitude that they want to be part of the club moving forward. Milton Keynes are a good side though (how have we fallen so far behind them?) and a draw would be a good result.
Charlton Athletic 1-1 Milton Keynes
Burstow
Comments
When you sign injury prone players like Inniss and Aneke you have to accept that they will be missing a fair amount of games.
Our problem is that the squad is not good enough and when we pick up a few injuries the players coming in are not what is needed if we want to challenge at the top of the table.
I fully expect to get beaten on Tuesday so shall be saving myself for a day out in Sheffield Saturday.
Charlton 1 MK 3.
Gunter Lavelle Famewo Castillo
John Dobson Gilbey
Kanu
Let's do what we have to - drop Matthews, Purrington, Gilbey and Leko. Innis shouldn't have played the second half Saturday let alone this Tuesday! Play three centre halves, and two wingbacks. Two in the middle, plus two supporting a lone frontman.
MacG
Lavelle Pearce Famewo
Jayasemi Dobson Morgan Castillo
Kanu Campbell
Burstow
Subs: Harness, Matthews, Purrington, Gilbey, Leko, Lee, Fraser.
Yes, it's a young front line but we know they will try their hearts out, and we can bring on Leko, Fraser and Lee if they fade. Nothing to lose and good experience for them all!
Lavelle. Pearce. Famewo.
Kanu Burstow
At least we will have players playing in their own positions and the kids up front can hardly do any worse.
There needs to be a massive response after the terrible display on Saturday, but I can't see it happening. A tough evening I think and another defeat (and no goals scored).
Elewere Lavelle Pearce Famewo
Dobson
DJ Fraser John
Burstow Kanu
It's left field, but I'm going 4 centre halves, as we have loads of them - I'm assuming Inniss won't make it.. Them randomly chuck some midfielders in there, with a couple if teenagers up front. Can't be any worse than yesterday.
0-3 MK damage limitation, ultimately unsuccessful, but progress.
love it , I’ll be furious if we’re not 0-2 down in the first 20 mins and everyone is foaming at the mouth…..
i’m all over this , fuck happiness a complete load of fake of shit , this is real life hell and I can’t get enough of it
Think oohaah has finally lost his sh*t !
A draw would be nice, a win even better .. I'll settle for one point t b h ..
CAFC 1v Milton Keynes Dons 1
If Oxford can hit four easily, expect MKD to try and emmulate it.
0-3
4-1 to MK Dons and a lot of talk about why we didn’t go for Twine in the summer.