To Beale or not to Beale that is the question that our Prince of Demark has had to ask twice in the last year. With QPR literally taking the Michael, Thomas had to find another way to garner favour with the Addicks faithful. It ended up being the highly rated but as yet unproven Ben that ended up in the home dugout for Tuesday nights first cup action of the season.
In years gone by a midweek cup fixture, in the school holidays, against higher league opposition might have attracted a bumper crowd to SE7. Not this time it won’t. For approximately 85 of the 92 the league cup is now an unwanted distraction from the bread and butter of promotion chasing or staving off relegation. Both mangers will surely be focused on the former and think the latter is almost inevitable.
As the powers at be at Charlton Life Towers dithered and dallied through the summer transfer window and weren’t event able to secure a deal for Swindon Life’s match previewer, your stuck with me, the Papa Souare of panic signings. That will teach them!
It's far to early to comment on either of the managers starts to the season but both recorded their first competitive victories in their new jobs on Saturday. It is likely that both teams will employ some variation of 433/4231/4141 etc.
Former loan Addick, and now permeant Ranger, Sam Field (V880) and marksman Bonne (V879), who made their Charlton debuts in the same game, could return to the big time, under the bright lights of SE7. The latter has been a late sub in both of QPRs league games and might well be “needing minutes”.
As for the home side, I am loathed to even guess what sort of team we will field. Will it be similar to Saturday as we are so early into the GarnerBall revolution, an U23 team, the fringe players or a mix of all three?
The team selection might tell us a lot about the immediate futures of MacGilvery, Gilbey and JFC. It might not.
This is the team I would pick, not the one I think will be picked, because seriously I don’t have a clue!
Woolacott
Clare
Lavelle
O’Connell
Sessegnon
JFC
Payne
Gilbey
Leaburn
DJ
Stockley
As the back story of two extremely new managers is very hard to analyse, I thought it would be fun to look back at some past memories of games against QPR.
A season that started with home wins and away draws
And just for a certain someone, limbs in the away end.
Prediction? Absolutely no idea, but I will follow with interest. Especially the team composition.
COYR
https://youtu.be/XlhrJtWTHsk 
https://youtu.be/XVuhXxjQpA0
Comments
I expect Ness and Clayden etc to start this one.
Think Mac, Lavelle, DJ, JFC, Gilbert, Clayden, Payne, Leaburn and McGrandles all starting with a mix of youngsters (Henry, Harness, Ness, Williams, Kanu, Chin & Bakrin)
MacGillivray
Barker Lavelle Ness Clayden
Gilbey Henry JFC
Payne Leaburn DJ
1-2
MacG
Barker, Lavelle, Ness, Clayden
Gilbey, Henry, Payne
Leaburn, Gavin, Jaiyesimi
Prediction, don’t really care but it’s us and it’s the EFL cup so 0-1.
Either we're going to have a bumper attendance or there's a glitch...
The media reports of Gilbey potentially leaving have been zero and the Cawley story said that JFC wasn't transfer listed.
I think half of it had been a bit blown up because we aren't used to having the level of depth, especially before the window closes.
I can see one or other going but if both go we might bring a loan in. If we lose two your an injury or suspension away from Henry on the bench and a dip in competition.
We might get an idea once this afternoons u21 team is announced.
Henry, Chin and Kanu with the seniors tomorrow? Anyone else obviously missing?