Charlton Athletic vs Stockport CountySaturday 19th October 2024 - 3pm Kick-OffReferee: Tom ReevesIntroductionCharlton return to League action this coming weekend, after taking a break from proceedings last time out, thanks to the second of three International Breaks before we say goodbye to 2024 - Its meant that we've not automatically been able to build on the impressive 1-0 victory over Birmingham City last time out, but it does mean that we've had two weeks rest to recover from a fast start to the season.
The trouble is... So have the opposition.
The OppositionName: Stockport County (7th) - Manager: Dave ChallinorGround: Edgeley ParkPrevious League Result: Stockport 0-0 WiganThe North of England is littered with ex-League clubs who are no struggled to keep their heads above water in the Wild West that is Non-League Football here in England - Many that have been relegated from the fourth tier of English Football, and so drop out of the Football League, have yet to return, with the National League in itself turning into something similar to the Championship, a Division where there will soon be more ex-League sides than there are those who have never graced the '92.
Stockport County are one of those sides who have pretty much hit rock bottom - Its been fourteen years since these two sides met at this very level, a year later and the Hatters (calm down Nathan, its not Luton we're talking about!!) were out of the Football League altogether. Roll on 2013 and they'd dropped to the National League North, the same level as the likes of Welling United - Stockport remained there until 2019, when their renaissance finally began, and they've not looked back since... Winning the League Two title last season, resulted in their third Domestic trophy in just five seasons... They almost returned to this level of English Football quicker than what they left it!!
The 2024-25 season for Dave Challinor (a brief Managerial target for the Addicks last season), was always going to be an optimistic one, having won promotion in quick succession in recent years... But they started this campaign brightly, with three wins from the opening three matches - The Hatters have won just once again since that impressive start... Like the Addicks tomorrow, they'll be wanting to use the International Break as an opportunity to return to that early season form, and restart another assault on promotion.
Charlton Team NewsIt'll certainly be a makeshift Charlton team this coming Saturday with a number of absent players since our last outing... Conor Coventry is the easy one, he's suspended having picked up his fifth booking of the campaign against Birmingham City; Daniel Kanu will also be absent having picked up an injury in that encounter, whilst Gassan Ahadme was absent for even that clash, and could still be missing come 3pm tomorrow afternoon.
It means that we'll see a new style to the Midfield, with an opportunity for someone to come in, and displace Conor Coventry from the starting eleven; Terry Taylor is the obvious candidate having impressed many fans in his EFL Trophy outing against Cambridge United, whilst Zach Mitchell could potentially be the dark horse for the role, given some murmurings after the Birmingham match.
Mannion
Ramsay - A.Mitchell - Jones - Edwards
Z.Mitchell - Docherty
Anderson - A.Campbell
Leaburn - Godden
Substitutes Bench: Maynard-Brewer - Gillesphey - Small - Taylor - T.Campbell - Ahadme - Aneke
Comments
Wont be surprised if we go back to a 3-5-2, as the Birmingham formation was very much designed to suffocate their playmakers. Question how it would work against other opposition - Going back to a three man midfield with Docherty - Anderson - A.Campbell would be an "easy" way to deal with Coventry's absence, but would be concerned to see that, as none have the passing of Coventry.
After losing both of their first two league games against Stockport County in 1997-98, Charlton Athletic have since won all four meetings between the sides (between 1999 and 2010).
Stockport have lost their last two league visits to the Valley to face Charlton by an aggregate score of 6-0, with this their first such trip since a 2-0 loss in March 2010.
Charlton have lost just one of their last 12 home league games (W5 D6), keeping five clean sheets in that time, three of which have come this season.
Stockport have lost just one of their last 13 away league games (W6 D6) and remain as one of just two sides who are unbeaten on the road so far during the 2024-25 League One season – alongside Lincoln City.
https://www.efl.com/news/2024/october/17/sky-bet-league-one--pre-match-stat-pack/
Coventry is going to be a big miss. I don’t know enough about how this Stockport side play, but if it’s not like Birmingham then we will need to set up differently - if not in formation, then in how we press and squeeze.
Whatever happens I hope we don’t go back to 3 at the back, unless Jones is more bolder, in pushing the full backs up, and has someone like Z.Mitchell stepping into midfield
Good team selection.
For me it is a must win.
Ain't got a Scooby to be honest, Stockport ain't lost away for a while.
I also notice we have successfully kick started Reading's season as well.
Bloody Charlton!!! We do international breaks like a three legged donkey running in the Grand National.
1-1
...Dennis "in the last minute" Rommedahl, the hero of Selhurst...👍
Afterall, it's Stockport, not Man City.
If we do I see another painful afternoon of huff & puff. If we happen to keep it as a 4222 & start Leaburn & Godden then we will win.
2-0 or 0-2. Your call Nathan.