Peterborough United vs Charlton AthleticSaturday 12th August 2023 - 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Lee SwabeyIntroductionThe Addicks opened their account for the season in the best way possible last Saturday. Unlikely scorer: George Dobson provided the difference between one point or three, against Leyton Orient last time out - It can take 10-15 games, before any realistic predictions can be made, however our clash this coming Saturday could well be an early six pointer, and the type we certainly wont want to lose, if we have any ambition come next April.
The OppositionName: Peterborough United (7th) | Manager: Darren FergusonGround: London RoadLast League Result: Reading 0-1 Peterborough UnitedCould the League One season have ended in more dramatic fashion last year? - The Football League Play-Offs, regardless of the Division are infamous, yet for our opponents this Saturday, its something I'm sure they'll be happy to forget... An impressive 4-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in the first leg, and the Posh fans could dream of Wembley, after all, that type of lead had NEVER been overhauled... Records though are meant to be broken, and Hillsborough will forever bring haunting memories for the Cambridgeshire outfit.
So how do you recover from such a setback? - Well I guess the aim is you go one better, and Peterborough should be challengers come the business end of the season... Players need replacing though, important individuals (Jack Taylor | Frankie Kent) have been lost to Ipswich and Hearts retrospectively, whilst Centre-Back: Ronnie Edwards (my recommendation to watch on Saturday), who represented England at the U20 World Cup in the summer, could well end up leaving before the end of the Transfer Window.
Darren Ferguson, back in Peterborough for his Holidays usually opts for a 4-2-3-1 with this current Posh team, with Jonsson Clarke-Harris leading the line, so you'd expect both sides to be well matched come 3pm.
Charlton Team NewsInjuries... Injuries... Why is it always injuries... If Charlton want to have a successful campaign then its imperative that we have a consistent team that we're able to put out - Six players are in doubt this coming Saturday, maybe its a ploy from Dean Holden, in an attempt to throw off his opponent. It won't be long before reinforcements are desperately needed.
Our customary early exit from the League Cup showed that our squad players can be nothing more than that, and certainly shouldn't be played en-mass, so I'd expect to see wholesale changes to the starting line up from what we saw against Clwb Pêl-droed Cymdeithas Sir Casnewydd - The bonus was that both Tayo Edun and Terry Taylor earned vital minutes, so should be part of the matchday squad this weekend.
Maynard-Brewer
Jones - Ness - Thomas
Asiimwe - Dobson - Anderson - Blackett-Taylor
Fraser
May - Kirk
Substitutes Bench: Isted - Edun - Hector - Taylor - Camara - Payne - Kanu
Comments
I also would put Hector in for Ness (or Jones if he’s not fit). He’s looked a bit rusty but he’s far better on the ball than Ness
Up front I’d probably stick Payne up there, he will actually stay central unlike Kirk who will probably just get in Blackett-Taylor’s way. Payne has shown previously he’s got an eye for goal and at least works hard off the ball
Case of dealing the hand we are dealt with. If you look at it this way, last 3 games (I am including Aberdeen) Kanu is our top goalscorer on 2. Worth a shot where we are gonna have more space up top, Peterborough won't be setting up shop like Newport and Leyton Orient as much
Camara for Anderson, Payne for Kirk, and Hector for Ness.
4-0 Peterborough
Reckon Taylor will get the nod then, looked like he's ready to play fitness wise, just sharpness issues I would say was his main issue. Poor timing and awareness, got a good feeling about him if he gets a run in the team
I’d genuinely rather something more radical like Thomas upfront with May to help hold the ball up for him than Kirk. At least he’ll add some physicality.
loss .
While we’re playing catch up with fitness of new players and shaping the squad, 20 points from the opening 11 matches, given the fixtures we have is realistically achievable.
“PLAYING” KIRK IS A WASTE OF EVERYBODIES TIME
Jones Hector Thomas
Asiimwe Camara Dobson Fraser CBT
May Kirk
Ness needs a rest and I think Kirk is honestly the better choice over Kanu at this moment in time. If Fraser is unfit as rumoured then I think Anderson gets the nod - it probably comes too soon for Taylor and I am not overly confident in Payne starting there.