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Charlton A vs Cardiff City | Boxing Day| 1pm KICK-OFF | Match Preview, Predictions, News & Views

edited December 2014 in General Charlton
Charlton Athletic vs Cardiff City
1pm Kick-Off
Referee – MICK RUSSELL

INTRODUCTION

Firstly, I would like to wish a very Merry Christmas to all Lifers ahead of the Boxing Day clash between Charlton and Cardiff.

It may be the festive period, but Bob Peeters and Addicks fans have had little to cheer about in recent weeks as Charlton have yet to win in December, but with any luck, hopefully three points will be in the red Christmas stockings on Friday.

Cardiff on the other hand, are progressing smoothly under Russell Slade, who was appointed in October, and will be looking to the future now, as he has only just begun.

THE OPPOSITION

Like Charlton, Cardiff have found December difficult and have not won in any of the three games in the month.

However, two of those games, were defeats against high-flying Brentford and Bournemouth, so The Bluebirds will be hoping to bounce back against an out-of-form Charlton side.

Slade’s men sit in 11th place, with exactly the same goal difference and points tally as the hosts, so Yule not be surprised to see this one end up a draw.

As they were only relegated from the Premier League last season, Cardiff have a number of talented players within their disposal.

The likes of Adam Le Fondre, Craig Noone and Aron Gunnarsson are brilliant Championship players and on their day, can cause any team a number of problems.

ONE TO WATCH – PETER WHITTINGHAM

My player to watch this week is: Peter Whittingham.

The midfielder has been a regular in a Cardiff shirt since 2007 and he has made over 300 appearances for the Welsh club.

In those 300+ games, he has managed to score over 70 goals, an impressive tally for a midfielder.

The former Aston Villa player has a fantastic left-foot and as his scoring record tells you, he certainly can pop up with a few goals.

The 30-year-old will be hoping to add to this season’s tally of five, at The Valley on Boxing Day.

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LINE-UP

Peeters’ experiment of having Chris Solly in midfield has not really worked, so Noël doubt, there should be some changes this week.

Despite a difficult couple of games, Nick Pope may be kept in goal as Stephen Henderson is still injured and Neil Etheridge, is perhaps, not the most suitable of replacements.

Solly could return to right-back, while Tal Ben Haim and Andre Bikey should keep their spots despite some slack defending in recent weeks.

At left-back, Morgan Fox may be given another chance to show what he can do following a tough time of late. If not, Solly might move to left-back, with Joe Gomez on the right side of defence.

In midfield, Johnnie Jackson is still a doubt, so Jordan Cousins may fill his spot in centre midfield with Yoni Buyens. Johann B Gudmundsson should occupy one of the wing-spots and Callum Harriott may be selected on the left to allow two strikers upfront.

Igor Vetokele appears to prefer having a striker partner to play with, so I can see either George Tucudean or Simon Church getting the nod to start alongside the Angola international.

CAFC - Football tactics and formations

PREDICTION

Will Santa bring us joy or despair?

Well you may think I’m crackers, but, I’m going for a surprising 2-1 Charlton win.
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Comments

  • To be honest I haven't a clue what BP is going to do on boxing day.
    If it's that poxy diamond with Solly in Midfield then I can't see us getting anything. If it's a more traditional formation with Igor and George up front in fancy our chances but what I do know is, that a defeat will put is in a bad place and the kindness to BP that he has had up to now from most fans will quickly disapear.
  • Boxing Day thriller at The Valley 1-1 and the road to nowhere continuezzzzzzz
  • 2-0 to BP's Red and too much White Army
  • First off I like your wittiness with the Christmas puns. And I said this on another thread but I'm convinced Bob just picks his lineups randomly from a hat. I'm still puzzled as to what he's done the last two weeks, but as long as Solly is at RB on Friday, i can forgive him if George or Joe aren't in the lineup. If we are to get a win in December, itl have to be Friday, unless we do something spectacular at Portman road. I can see us winning this one, but only if Bob plays everyone in their natural position, so no more Right backs patrolling the mid. 1-0 Charlton, Igor to break his drought
  • To be honest I haven't a clue what BP is going to do on boxing day.
    If it's that poxy diamond with Solly in Midfield then I can't see us getting anything. If it's a more traditional formation with Igor and George up front in fancy our chances but what I do know is, that a defeat will put is in a bad place and the kindness to BP that he has had up to now from most fans will quickly disapear.

    Spot on
  • edited December 2014
    I'm thinking he might go 4-2-3-1 for these two fixtures. Cousins needed to stay left of the defensive midfield to help out Fox at full back. Gomez to play the home game against Cardiff, Solly to play at Portman Road.

    ---------Vetokele
    ---Bulot-Harriott-Johann
    -----Cousins-Buyens
    Fox-Ben Haim-Bikey-Gomez
    ----------Pope


    Not going to predict a result but it'll be just like Charlton to go three or four wins in a row to get everyone believing again (before Tony Watt joins and causes a dressing room bust up from which point our season implodes).
  • Goals goals goals. Sadly more for the red birds.

    3-1 Cardiff.
  • Can only see one result, whatever formation we play. 2-0 to Cardiff.
  • Good review Stubbers but the dates Boxing Day
  • colin1961 said:

    Think your find the USA defender may play left back and Pigot up front with Vetokele ...... Bulot and Gudmunsson wide

    Gawd no... He has absolutely no pace so we'd be sitting ducks down that flank
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  • I predict that this will be the "Marmite" game of the season.

    Our punters will either leave The Valley saying "That's what I love about Charlton".......or

    "I don't know why I bother"
  • We are a busted flush. Can only see us struggle in this one. 0-2

    Bah humbug!
  • Two scenarios for me:
    Wilson and Tucudean start - 2-1 Addicks victory.
    Bob keeps same personnel and formation - slump continues with a 2-1 defeat.
  • edited December 2014
    I see Solly being rested, he dont play midweek matches so see him being back for Tuesday's match against Ipswich Town

    Pope
    Gomez - Ben-Haim - Bikey - Fox
    Wilson - Gudmundsson - Buyens - Cousins
    Vetokele - Harriott
  • Can see us getting beat tbh. Confidence low, not scoring goals, 3-0 to Cardiff
  • I was worried you put 26th Novemeber thought i missed it....another hapless performance and another 0-2 away win.
  • I see Solly being rested, he dont play midweek matches so see him being back for Sunday's match against Ipswich Town

    Pope
    Gomez - Ben-Haim - Bikey - Fox
    Wilson - Gudmundsson - Buyens - Cousins
    Vetokele - Harriott

    Ipswich is actually Tuesday, could Solly play Friday then Tuesday (assuming he is then rested for the FA Cup game on Saturday?)
  • I see Solly being rested, he dont play midweek matches so see him being back for Sunday's match against Ipswich Town

    Pope
    Gomez - Ben-Haim - Bikey - Fox
    Wilson - Gudmundsson - Buyens - Cousins
    Vetokele - Harriott

    Ipswich is actually Tuesday, could Solly play Friday then Tuesday (assuming he is then rested for the FA Cup game on Saturday?)
    Yeah only realised just before you posted... thought they were much closer but it makes sense to have it on the Tuesday
  • Really don't have a clue on this one - but SO looking forward to being at the Valley with friends and family on Boxing Day, being noisy, eating crap, having a bitch about the ref, freezing my rollocks off. A good old traditional christmas in SE7, JUST LOVE IT!
  • Wont be there on Friday, its Boxing day, never understood why anyone would put football before family this time of year, as much as I love Charlton, its only football.
    Right now I have come down from the moral high ground, I don't hold out for much better that yet another draw, 1-1, but if you want a straw to clutch, this is only my second absence of the season, the first? Wigan. Here's to a repeat of that afternoon.
    Happy Christmas to one and all.
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  • edited December 2014
    We really need to win this one. I can't see Peeters suddenly going all attack, attack, attack as Stubley suggests, though I would like to think that he will.
    Fox should not be in the team, Solly at emergency left back with Wilson on the right, though Gomez will probably get the nod, Harriott 'rested' with Ahearne-Grant given a start up front and Bulot in midfield.
    The squad will need very careful handling and selection will be vital during this busy period.
    We can't get Jackson and Henderson back quickly enough, we are struggling through a lack of quality and experience.
    But we are due a win and Cardiff are in almost as bad form as we are.

    CAFC 2 v Cardiff City 1
  • Just checked the weather, highs of 4 degrees celcius on Friday in SE7, yuk!

    Bob - it's gone from boring to just plain poor the last couple of weeks. Not your fault that our squad is paper thin, but you're not helping matters by playing Solly in central midfield. Give Wilson a start as well, ideally playing in front of Solly - he scored twice on Boxing Day last year from this position.

    Also, I think at least one of Bikey and Ben Haim needs a rest/kick up the jacksy - I would suggest that you bring Michael Morrison in to the side, but unfortunately we've given him away for nothing just as he is entering his peak years.

    Cardiff have let in 8 goals in their last 2 games, let's try and capitalise on their fragile defence, perhaps we could attempt to score more than once for a change.
  • Wont be there on Friday, its Boxing day, never understood why anyone would put football before family this time of year, as much as I love Charlton, its only football.
    Right now I have come down from the moral high ground, I don't hold out for much better that yet another draw, 1-1, but if you want a straw to clutch, this is only my second absence of the season, the first? Wigan. Here's to a repeat of that afternoon.
    Happy Christmas to one and all.

    I am not putting Football before Family. I am going to the Football, then when that is finished I am going to my Sisters. You can combine the two.

  • Just seen our last two Boxing Day victories have resulted in us winning 3-2...

    Cardiff seem to have a habit of drawing two... winning two... have lost the last one... Lets keep both patterns going
  • Can't score and our previously difficult to unlock defence has hit the buffers. 0 - 2 To Cardiff
  • Just seen our last two Boxing Day victories have resulted in us winning 3-2...

    Cardiff seem to have a habit of drawing two... winning two... have lost the last one... Lets keep both patterns going

    Think they've lost the last two - 3-2 at home to Brentford, 5-3 at Bournemouth. We're doomed.
  • MrLargo said:

    Just seen our last two Boxing Day victories have resulted in us winning 3-2...

    Cardiff seem to have a habit of drawing two... winning two... have lost the last one... Lets keep both patterns going

    Think they've lost the last two - 3-2 at home to Brentford, 5-3 at Bournemouth. We're doomed.
    Sorry my post was simply in regards to Boxing Day matches over the last few years
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