MATCH THREAD : Carlisle Utd Vs Charlton Athletic : Saturday 25th November 2023 : KO 3:00 PM

eastterrace6168

Back to the good old Bread & Butter of league one today, with a trip up north to Brunton Park, where it has proved to be a good hunting ground for us in the past, our last meeting came at Brunton Park in April 2012, when Bradley Wright-Phillips fired us to a 1-0 triumph that sealed promotion back to the Championship
Carlisle United will be hoping for a bumper crowd to welcome their apparent saviour's, Castle Sports Group from over the pond, sounds familiar huh...🤔.., and the new owners will be in the crowd to watch their first match, looking at the league table, they sit third from bottom with a pretty poor scoring record of 13/20,,... I am sure  we will turn up and ruin the day for the lot of 'em, and send 'em home pointless...maybe an Alfie hat trick, now that would be nice...👍

anyway here we go...

Conor McGrandles and Scott Fraser will both start this afternoon's match at Brunton Park.

The duo come in for Louie Watson and Tyreece Campbell, who move to the bench, as Michael Appleton makes two changes from the Addicks' last league outing at Portsmouth a fortnight ago.

The Addicks are expected to line-up in a 4-3-3 formation with Tennai Watson, Michael Hector, Lloyd Jones and Tayo Edun starting in a back four in front of goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer.

McGrandles and Fraser join captain George Dobson in midfield, behind a front three of Alfie May, Miles Leaburn and Corey Blackett-Taylor.

Louie Watson and Tyreece Campbell are joined on the bench by Sam Walker, Nathan Asiimwe, Lucas Ness, Terell Thomas and Slobodan Tedić.

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer; T.Watson, Hector, Jones, Edun; Dobson (c), McGrandles, Fraser; May, Leaburn, Blackett-Taylor

Substitutes: Walker, Asiimwe, Ness, Thomas, L.Watson, T.Campbell, Tedić

cafcsinger

Decent team, would prefer L Watson instead of Fraser though 

ForeverAddickted

Would prefer to see Louie Watson over Fraser... But lets see how we get on first.

Callumcafc

Talal

No Louie Watson 😭 not sure why he's not a regular. Three defenders on the bench is maybe a bit much. 

seth plum

Hope Cory is at the races this afternoon, he looks like the key.

JaShea99

I doubt there’s anyone on here that would prefer Fraser…but presumably he’s done that for a reason.

Callumcafc

Carlisle: Holy, Armer, Moxon, Lavelle (c), Gibson, Whelan, McGeouch, Mellish, Barclay, Plange, Emmanuel

Subs: Breeze, Edmondson, Butterworth, Robinson, Maguire, Fitzpatrick, O’Brien

Alwaysneil

Too often minces around the park Fraser for me. 

charente addick

Feel for Louie Watson. Consistently one of our best players when he starts yet on the bench.

AndyG

I had forgotten that Lavelle was there and captain as well to boot

good to see what McGrandles can do in a league fixture I hope he can kick on. 

If CBT can put a shift in we should have miles too much for them 1-3 with another brace from our Alfie

golfaddick

Both L. Watson & T. Campbell should be in the line up imo. 

And Lavelle to score from a corner. 

eastterrace6168

golfaddick said:

Both L. Watson & T. Campbell should be in the line up imo. 

And Lavelle to score from a corner. 

Nice OG would be appreciated..👍

SDAddick

I thought he would bring in Fraser for more stability in midfield and switch May to the right. 

Didn't think he'd bring in McGrandles. Both McGrandles and Fraser have been in better form so I get it. 

Biggest surprise for me is if we're 4-3-3. Starting Fraser a little deeper makes sense, but we've been so staunchly 4-2-3-1 even with a third midfielder that's it would be surprising. I do think it's the way to go, I think it's something that needed to be tried at some point, but we'll see how it shakes out. 

Clem_Snide

No idea what Fraser has done in recent weeks to warrant a start. Very harsh on Louis Watson. Would much prefer to see Chem Campbell on the bench in place of Thomas as well.

fenaddick

Happy with May on the right, think it’s underestimated how hard it must be to prepare your defence for us. May can play 4 different positions and Leaburn can play a few too 

wmcf123

SDAddick said:

I thought he would bring in Fraser for more stability in midfield and switch May to the right. 

Didn't think he'd bring in McGrandles. Both McGrandles and Fraser have been in better form so I get it. 

Biggest surprise for me is if we're 4-3-3. Starting Fraser a little deeper makes sense, but we've been so staunchly 4-2-3-1 even with a third midfielder that's it would be surprising. I do think it's the way to go, I think it's something that needed to be tried at some point, but we'll see how it shakes out. 

I haven’t seen either Fraser’s better form, nor the solidity that he provides 

AndyG

I don’t get the C Campbell thing I think he has looked decent whenever he has played not to make the bench again he must have pissed Apples off surely 

killerandflash

Carlisle is virtually in Scotland, so the two Jocks in our midfield should feel at home 

I much prefer 3 midfielders for away games, rather than 2 plus May.

killerandflash

fenaddick said:

Happy with May on the right, think it’s underestimated how hard it must be to prepare your defence for us. May can play 4 different positions and Leaburn can play a few too 

May and Leaburn need to regularly rotate their positions. Natural for May, whereas Miles is still learning his trade

king addick

SDAddick said:

I thought he would bring in Fraser for more stability in midfield and switch May to the right. 

Didn't think he'd bring in McGrandles. Both McGrandles and Fraser have been in better form so I get it. 

Biggest surprise for me is if we're 4-3-3. Starting Fraser a little deeper makes sense, but we've been so staunchly 4-2-3-1 even with a third midfielder that's it would be surprising. I do think it's the way to go, I think it's something that needed to be tried at some point, but we'll see how it shakes out. 

Fraser goes missing as not the hardest of workers. Technically the best but won't be up and down the pitch. Would have preferred Watson to start. 

Gotta good feeling Leaburns form will start to improve from today.

cabbles

Clem_Snide said:

No idea what Fraser has done in recent weeks to warrant a start. Very harsh on Louis Watson. Would much prefer to see Chem Campbell on the bench in place of Thomas as well.

Agree.  He’s a flake of a player.  Managers seem to accept that he shies away from games in the hope he has something in his locker re: final ball/creativity etc. for me, he doesn’t even do that well 

He’s weaseled his way back in, and Louie Watson is much better in my opinion.  

Oh well, he’ll probably go and score the winner now and make this comment look stupid 

eastterrace6168

Can see Louis and TC coming on second half for Fraser and CBT, has to be a reason why Louis isn't starting...

eastterrace6168

Good to see Lisbie in the studio...

Chunes

There's a lot more tackles in midfield with McGrandles and Dobson both starting. Should be an interesting game. 

We always look a better team with Watson over Fraser but ho hum. 

Talal

AndyG said:

I don’t get the C Campbell thing I think he has looked decent whenever he has played not to make the bench again he must have pissed Apples off surely 

It's strange as he always seems to put the effort in when he does get a chance. Unless he doesn't do the same in training. 

drawnablank

Contracted 11.

Garrymanilow

Happy for McGrandles that he's earned his way into a league starting line-up but I do feel like Appleton has a bit of a blindspot with Watson. I know he's got some concerns about players running off him which I guess he'll feel is less likely to happen with McGrandles, and he'll want Fraser so it's a less workmanlike midfield against a lower down team but I think we always lose something without Watson. The reality is though that midfield should be enough to keep hold of the ball and create something, though Fraser is going to have to make sure he imposes himself a lot more on the game rather than letting it pass him by

NornIrishAddick

Callumcafc said:

With apologies in advance, I'm really hoping I'm going to be thinking "Holy('s) Shit!!!!" a lot this afternoon...

eastterrace6168

Bet Alfie will be hoping he can keep out of the refs book today with Tuesday's match against Cheltenham coming up, he wouldn't want to miss that one I am sure...

CafcWest

I like Fraser - our most creative player.  Has a certain calmness about him that balances the side better IMO - although Watson is a terrific player but we have another game Tuesday night so think Appleton is rotating a bit.