Preston v Charlton | Sat 18 Jan | 3pm KO | Match Preview, Predictions, News & Views

MuttleyCAFC said:

I think there is one thing you shouldn't do - which is disrespect points when you are in our position. Tomorrow's point or points could be the ones that ultimately keep us up. We have had 18 days to mitigate our injury crisis to some extent. We have even brought forward the Fulham game which feels like incredible ineptitude. Why should we all be so joyful at this?

I'm not saying bring in superstars, but can we honestly not have loaned a couple of players more suited than Vennings and Dempsey responding to the situation as it is? Absolutely no disrespect to those players at all - it is just they are not ready yet. Even if we get a point or 3 from one or both of those games, the odds are against us and respecting the importance of the points would have seen us try to make the positive outcome at least a little more likely. 

If the season ended in 3 weeks I'd agree.
As the season ends in May, I'd rather have better quality players for @17 games, than worse quality for 19 games.
Yes, it's frustrating but what's the point getting in someone marginally better than Vennings & Dempsey ?

Personally, you must think Gallen & Bowyer are cretins if you think they don't realise the situation.
I don't understand why you think you know better than them ?
Any fool can sign up the wrong players quickly.
We had enough of that a few years ago.

The difference is they are existing in the real world, where there is no magic money tree and you can't force players to sign until they are ready to do so.

Ok we may well not get in who we want, but surely we have to try and get them. Rather than give up and get in lesser players ?
I would rather we don't disrespect the 51 points on offer possibly at the expense of the 6 points this week.

I think Gallen and Bowyer would have wanted players in. They can't have a moan about it in their positions, I can. You don't disrespect any points in our situation. That is my belief and If I'm wrong I'm wrong but I do feel strongly about it.

Great, so I don't think they are cretins obviously!

Surely the issue is we have made 3 offers according to Steve Gallen and one was knocked back because the player asks for another 1k. The Blackpool striker, we said forget it when his price had gone up by 100% according to Southall since the August Window. And last but not least Marcus Madison who despite buzzing about meeting Bowyer rejected the offer.

So I imagine no one thinks Bowyer and Gallen are cretins on CL and they will do their best to get a few players in but the point is the players they have earmarked are asking for too high wages or the transfer fee is too high. 
So the longer this goes on you go for your 2nd choice or 3rd choice, by the time say John Bostock comes in you are taking an enormous risk on a player who at 27 has had a very patchy career after leaving Palace. ( This is just an example of a player that various national papers have linked us with)

If I was a neutral I would go 2-1 to Preston if we play well. As a Charlton fan I'm going for 2-1 to Preston.
If Bonne,Taylor, Cullen, Williams and Field were 100% fit and starting tomorrow then I would go 2-1 Charlton. 

Nothing to do with negativism but all to do with Football knowledge when Charlton put out a weakened side away from home.

I know Fulham have lost the mighty Serb but what was the thinking of bringing the game forward to the 22nd if Taylor and Bonne aren't fit ?  I don't think Fulham will put out a reserve side for the League match because of the cup game on the 25th.
Baffling, if it really was our decision and not the EFL ?

MuttleyCAFC said:

You're assuming that and making it a choice. It isn't as if the squad couldn't take a couple of squad players in now who at this moment in time offer more than Vennings or Dempsey on top of Bale and Messi at the end of the window. If I was in their position I wouldn't be undermining the owner openly, but like I said, I have the advantage of being able to call something that doesn't look right as I see it. Let's agree to disagree. 

If I am seeing it wrong and we don't come out of our next two pointless and really deep in it, I will be as delighted as everybody else!

I think there's a high chance of coming out of our next two pointless and being really deep in it.
I thought we would be in a relegation battle back in October, when many were still talking about promotion.

But I do believe we have been doing our best to get in the players we want and as soapboxsam says, there becomes a point where you have to go for your second choices and finally your third or fourth choices, your Parker & Dodoos.

But with 2 weeks to go, I still think it's too early to give up and go for the 3rd rate players, just because they offer a bit more than Vennings or Dempsey.

I should imagine those level of players will still be available in 2 weeks if we haven't been able to get in our preferred options.

Yes, let's agree to differ.

At the moment, as in tomorrow’s game, we can pick an 18 man squad of:

Phillips, Amos, Maynard-Brewer
Matthews, Solly
Lockyer, Oshilaja, Sarr, Pearce
Purrington, Doughty
Pratley, Cullen, Forster-Caskey, Dempsey
Williams, Oztumer, Morgan, Vennings
Hemed, Green, Davison

With Page, Field, Aneke, and Taylor all close behind.

Compare that to the team we had at the end of November, or for the most part of last couple of months, and that’s miles better than it has been.

I honestly think people need to chill. Players will be coming in. That is a certainty. We just need to make sure the players coming in are better than what we have, or just as good as the senior pros. Otherwise there is absolutely no point in bringing just anyone in, and they just won’t do it either.

Now, let’s focus on the situation in hand, and that’s the 3 points tomorrow in Preston. We will do this. 

Is Amos fit now then? Didn't realise that. 

Covered End said:

Talal said:

Is Amos fit now then? Didn't realise that. 

Apparently so.

Been in training all this week so one could assume he is good to travel. Barely mentioned because he’s not outfield and Phillips has been doing well.

Sage said:

At the moment, as in tomorrow’s game, we can pick an 18 man squad of:

Phillips, Amos, Maynard-Brewer
Matthews, Solly
Lockyer, Oshilaja, Sarr, Pearce
Purrington, Doughty
Pratley, Cullen, Forster-Caskey, Dempsey
Williams, Oztumer, Morgan, Vennings
Hemed, Green, Davison

With Page, Field, Aneke, and Taylor all close behind.

Compare that to the team we had at the end of November, or for the most part of last couple of months, and that’s miles better than it has been.

I honestly think people need to chill. Players will be coming in. That is a certainty. We just need to make sure the players coming in are better than what we have, or just as good as the senior pros. Otherwise there is absolutely no point in bringing just anyone in, and they just won’t do it either.

Now, let’s focus on the situation in hand, and that’s the 3 points tomorrow in Preston. We will do this. 

I agree that the squad looks better and by Barnsley it will probably be better as the returning players get up to speed. And of course if we don't get new injuries. 

soapboxsam said:

clb74 said:

soapboxsam said:

I know Fulham have lost the mighty Serb but what was the thinking of bringing the game forward to the 22nd if Taylor and Bonne aren't fit ?  I don't think Fulham will put out a reserve side for the League match because of the cup game on the 25th.
Baffling, if it really was our decision and not the EFL ?

Were targeting the Barnsley game 

If we were only given the 22nd or the 28th to play the League game then that does make sense. Thanks @clb74 for pointing that out but did we just have those 2 dates to chose from ?

I thought I read that we went for the later date at first and then did a quick about turn in favour of the 22nd which both Fulham and the EFL agreed to.

RedChaser said:

soapboxsam said:

clb74 said:

soapboxsam said:

I know Fulham have lost the mighty Serb but what was the thinking of bringing the game forward to the 22nd if Taylor and Bonne aren't fit ?  I don't think Fulham will put out a reserve side for the League match because of the cup game on the 25th.
Baffling, if it really was our decision and not the EFL ?

Were targeting the Barnsley game 

If we were only given the 22nd or the 28th to play the League game then that does make sense. Thanks @clb74 for pointing that out but did we just have those 2 dates to chose from ?

I thought I read that we went for the later date at first and then did a quick about turn in favour of the 22nd which both Fulham and the EFL agreed to.

Unless I'm mistaken I don't think Fulham had a choice as we're the home team. 

RedChaser said:

Talal said:

RedChaser said:

soapboxsam said:

clb74 said:

soapboxsam said:

I know Fulham have lost the mighty Serb but what was the thinking of bringing the game forward to the 22nd if Taylor and Bonne aren't fit ?  I don't think Fulham will put out a reserve side for the League match because of the cup game on the 25th.
Baffling, if it really was our decision and not the EFL ?

Were targeting the Barnsley game 

If we were only given the 22nd or the 28th to play the League game then that does make sense. Thanks @clb74 for pointing that out but did we just have those 2 dates to chose from ?

I thought I read that we went for the later date at first and then did a quick about turn in favour of the 22nd which both Fulham and the EFL agreed to.

Unless I'm mistaken I don't think Fulham had a choice as we're the home team. 

Not aaare of that but my main point was we chose the later date which hasn't  gone down well with some fans and the quick about turn makes sense for the additional time it gives and opportunity for new signings if targeting the Barnsley game.

Sure, makes sense. 

ShootersHillGuru said:

Who’s turn is it to get injured tomorrow ?

When was the last time Cafc played a match and all 18 in the squad were fit for the next match ? I would imagine August if at all this season. 

Absolutely buzzing that Cullen might get minutes