Charlton Athletic vs Cambridge UnitedSaturday 9th December 2023 - 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Thomas KirkIntroductionI thought about asking Charlton to look after my finest China recently, I'm glad I didnt because they've proven this last week that they don't really do too well with Cups - Saturday saw the Addicks exit the FA Cup with a lacklustre performance against League Two: Gillingham - Charlton then followed that up on Wednesday night with a much improved performance, in the EFL Trophy, however it was penalties that saw us depart that competition, not too many tears were shed to be fair. Now its all focus on the League campaign, is this to be another season that we'll slowly see shattering before our eyes.
The OppositionName: Cambridge United (18th) - Manager: Neil HarrisGround: Abbey StadiumPrevious League Result: Cambridge 0-3 LincolnIt was to the surprise of many non-Cambridge fans, when the news was confirmed that Mark Bonner had been relieved of duties in Cambridgeshire, he had after all been at the club for 12-years prior in various roles - When you look at the position of our opponents, you have to wonder what they'd expect...
This is their second season back at this level, and lost both their main Striker (Sam Smith > Reading), and main Defender (Lloyd Jones) in the summer, so replacing two figures was always going to be a tough ask for the club, especially when you consider the budgets they're up against - As a result Cambridge sit in 18th spot, four points from the drop zone, so is clearly the reason for the owners removing Bonner - Nor has it helped that they've picked up just one win since the start of September, their form in the first six games (W4 - L2) is no doubt the reason for them being outside of the relegation zone in the first place.
So it leaves the incoming Neil Harris with a lot of work to do... the ex-Gillingham Manager left his previous role early in the season, once again a harsh decision.
Cambridge themselves come to the Valley with just one win on the road all season, and a further two points away from the Abbey Stadium to boot - This is another of those occasions where the Addicks really need to "Kick 'em, whilst they're down" and put their own disappointing week behind them.
Charlton Team NewsThere will be fears over Michael Appleton's team sheet come 3pm on Saturday afternoon, as yet another injury crisis could be hitting the club - Ironic really, given how recently we've appointed a new Head of Performance - Its fair to suggest that Miles Leaburn cant be called upon for the rest of the season, having picked up an injury against Cheltenham, he could be joined on the injury table by George Dobson, and Lloyd Jones given their early departures at Reading on Wednesday... Lets hope it was as a precaution.
So who comes into the team against Cambridge...? Slobodan Tedic failed to make the squad against Reading, so could well remain out of favour, with Daniel Kanu once again an option in attack, having been recalled from his loan with Southend - Henry Rylah meanwhile showed glimpses of his potential, with Corey Blackett-Taylor missing due to a groin injury - Lets hope he too was another precautionary absence.
Maynard-Brewer
T.Watson - Hector - Jones - Edun
Dobson - L.Watson
Fraser
T.Campbell - May - Blackett-Taylor
Substitutes Bench: Walker - Thomas - Asiimwe - Anderson - Rylah - Kanu - Tedic
Comments
I wouldn't be surprised if we win but my head says Harris will come with a plan and will recognise how weak we are atm physically and mentally. The Cambridge players will be looking to impress a no-nonsense manager.
I am going 2-1 Cambridge
a performance tomorrow to kick on again against a Cambridge side with a new manager in tow
Not a give me 3 points this one
The bookies have us best priced at 8/13. This should be a home win.
We have a very good record at home and I expect us to keep it rolling. 2-1 to the Addicks.
Appleton needs to find a solution to the striker problem because I don’t think playing May up top on his own against Michael Morrison and co. is going to yield particularly good results.
1-1
Harris will know this does not suit us.
Hope I am wrong but a draw is on the cards
1-2.
The number of injuries is concerning though. Leaburn, Aneke, Taylor, Camara, McGrandles definitely out. Jones, Dobson, Edun and CBT with issues.
Yeah, what others have said, I hate that it comes against a team with a potential new manager bounce, and Neil Harris at that.
That said, the league, and especially the home league, form of late has been good. We weren't great against Cheltenham but we won. We were good against Carlisle and we didn't. Leaburn and Aneke are obviously big misses. I'm probably in the minority in that I would start Tedic. Bennett and Morro will give him a hard time, but if you play it to his feet he can link up play, plus his movement seems clever in the box and he has shown some ability to create space there. It also allows Alfie May to play in the 10 and potentially run at and in behind their two CBs.
We weren't terrible with May up front on his own on Wednesday, we did pretty well at keeping it on the deck, but I just feel when May is up front on his own he spends a lot of time occupying their CBs and trying to get in behind them, and we lose some of his ability to get on the ball in deeper areas, or to make runs into the box from deeper. I cannot imagine Cambridge will play as high of a line as Reading did (which they can do because Abbey is rapid), so that will negate the balls over the top.
I don't predict scorelines and I'm not going to start now. But I am expecting a better performance than what we've seen in the Cups over the last week, even though we weren't terrible on Wednesday. Fraser in the other midfield role, hopefully Dobbo, Jones, and Edun fit to start.
With a tough game at Barnsley next week, we really need the 3 points, although I can see this one ending up all square.
going for a tight 2-1 win
Our next 3 dull as fuck home fixtures for the dull as fuck club we love are against the boat race mobs with a Burton in between , let’s hope the filling is not where our season is going .
Happy Saturday people :-)