MATCH THREAD : Bolton Wanderers Vs Charlton Athletic : Saturday 17th February 2024 : KO 15:00

This could go either way, with some important players reported as (hopefully) missing in Santos & Charles, we could be playing them at just the right time, we just need to be at the top of our game and we could well come home with desperately needed points on the board...
Charlton have gone toe-to-toe with Bolton on 96 previous occasions with the Addicks winning 29, Wanderers 47 and the remaining 20 meetings ending all square, agree, not a great return, but today could be a good day...
In the reverse fixture back in October, Bolton claimed a 2-0 victory at The Valley with Williams and Charles both scoring in the opening 21 minutes, high time we returned the favour...
Here we go...
Thierry Small will make his full debut this afternoon
Small joined the Addicks at the start of February and impressed for the club's U21s in midweek.
Conor Coventry and Tuesday’s goalscorer Freddie Ladapo also return to the line-up as Nathan Jones makes three changes from the team that drew with Lincoln City last time out.
Kayne Ramsay, who was substituted on Tuesday with a stiff hamstring, is not included in the squad and Tyreeq Bakinson misses out, while Alfie May moves to the bench.
It means the Addicks are expected to continue in a 3-5-2 formation with Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Lloyd Jones and Terell Thomas operating in a back three in front of goalkeeper Harry Isted.
Tennai Watson and Small will operate as wing-backs with skipper George Dobson, Coventry and Karoy Anderson playing as a midfield trio behind Daniel Kanu and Ladapo.
May is joined on the bench by Ashley Maynard Brewer, Macaulay Gillesphey, Tayo Edun, Panutche Camarà, Tyreece Campbell and Chuks Aneke.
Charlton: Isted; Edmonds-Green, Jones, Thomas; T.Watson, Dobson (c), Coventry, Anderson, Small; Kanu, Ladapo
Subs: Maynard-Brewer, Gillesphey, Edun, Camará, Campbell, May, Aneke
Lose today, and we will need Cheltenham & Port Vale to end up all square to keep us out of the bottom 4...what a state we are in...
Welcome Thierry Small for your first team debut this afternoon...✅
Comments
-
Baffling line-up, it really is6
-
Feels like we have a lot more depth all of a sudden which is good. If somehow we can nick 4 points from these next 3 games I’ll be happy - though I think our run in will be tough lots of away games against teams fighting to stay up.0
-
Thierry Small is a big call for a game of this toughness. No Bakinson at all, while L Watson misses out as well. That's THREE loan midfielders not in the 18
0 -
Just don’t see where the quality is going to come from, think far too much pressure is being put on Kanu, I think he’s a great prospect and I’m glad he’s here but can’t believe he’s starting ahead of May and Aneke3
-
May dropped to the bench, coming on to play alongside Aneke will be interesting.
Small in for his debut, he’s powerful and quick so will be interesting how he does. Says to me that Jones does not want Watson and Edun as wing backs starting together.
Bakinson drops out entirely with Coventry giving Dobson the extra support. Anderson as the 10.
Not saying he won’t contribute for the rest of the season, but it says a lot to me that Louie Watson has been left out again and struggled for game time under the coaching/management staff previously.
Sticking with my bold surprise prediction. The 3 points are coming back to London.8 -
No Bakinson in an Attacking Role makes us automatically stronger.May on the bench is harsh but let's see how it pans out. Pace from the start might work without Santos bullying us.2
-
Bench looks reasonably good, with Alfie joining the impact subs line up with Camara and Chuks..this could be a good game...0
-
Strange squad0
-
Happy enough with that team, Bakinson had been terrible for the last two matches.
Anderson was raw but played well on Tuesday so deserves to keep his place.
3 -
Only change I would have made is camara for Anderson but guess camara is being eased back1
-
Sponsored links:
-
Risky changes with May benched. Small is interesting and big game for a debut. Trust in NJ but can't say I am particularly confident. Hope Ladapo and Kanu strike up a quick understanding. Chuks to come on unless we are 4-0 up.0
-
Sage said:May dropped to the bench, coming on to play alongside Aneke will be interesting.
Small in for his debut, he’s powerful and quick so will be interesting how he does. Says to me that Jones does not want Watson and Edun as wing backs starting together.
Bakinson drops out entirely with Coventry giving Dobson the extra support. Anderson as the 10.
Not saying he won’t contribute for the rest of the season, but it says a lot to me that Louie Watson has been left out again and struggled for game time under the coaching/management staff previously.
Sticking with my bold surprise prediction. The 3 points are coming back to London.Overall personally I don’t really think he has been as good as people have made out, but then also don’t feel he has been so crap as to be completely binned off. But both Appleton and Jones have done that now.3 -
Wouldn't have benched May and don't think Anderson really deserves a starting place. But let's hope for the best.0
-
More strength on the bench than the starting 11.
The question still remains.....who's going to be creating the chances for the strikers to put away. And remember take the front 2 out (who have scored just 4) & the remaining players have 3 League goals between them this season.
2 -
DDOUBLEE said:Baffling line-up, it really is
Sensible decision not to start Aneke and Camara’s also working his way back.
Small got to be worth a go with Edun not impressing.
10 -
46 players used in all competitions so far this season for Charlton40 players is league games only24 players have made their debuts for Charlton this season (21 of those in the league)6
-
Canters is in the house. Waiting for the stream. Grapes at the ready (ocado grapes this time - hoping they might be the lucky grapes!).2
-
Certainly feels like we're hoping to keep them out before the subs can do some damage. Can't say I'm confident of that but 🤞
1 -
Scoham said:DDOUBLEE said:Baffling line-up, it really is
Sensible decision not to start Aneke and Camara’s also working his way back.
Small got to be worth a go with Edun not impressing.0 -
Glad Bakinson has been left out. Louie Watson not fancied by any manager now but now people are getting fitter you can’t pick everyone. Shame Ramsay misses out, not confident with Tennai playing there. Back three seems to be picking itself at the moment, after his performance against Derby I’m surprised Ness has missed out completely since. Midfield looks a bit ponderous with no creativity there. Aneke and May off the bench are good options to have.0
-
Sponsored links:
-
Timing of the subs could be crucial0
-
Happy with that also, Jones not afraid to make changes. Bakinson has been pants last two games.Anderson will do the running before Camara can come on, some decent options from the bench if we are STILL in it.0
-
Jones really doesn't like Edun does he? Another manager leaving Louie Watson out as well, they can't all be wrong I guess. The only one I am really not sure warrants a starting place is Anderson. I just don't and never have got the hype with him.0
-
No Charles or Santos for then...we have a chance... especially if we hold them until Alfie, Pan and Chuks come on2
-
Clem_Snide said:Jones really doesn't like Edun does he? Another manager leaving Louie Watson out as well, they can't all be wrong I guess. The only one I am really not sure warrants a starting place is Anderson. I just don't and never have got the hype with him.0
-
No one is a guaranteed starter in that team. Alfie will come on angry and that's what we need. Ballsy selection from Jones but I like it.6
-
I wouldn’t say there was a lot of hype surrounding Anderson and I’m certain Jones won’t be picking him for sentimental reasons.0
-
LargeAddick said:Glad Bakinson has been left out. Louie Watson not fancied by any manager now but now people are getting fitter you can’t pick everyone. Shame Ramsay misses out, not confident with Tennai playing there. Back three seems to be picking itself at the moment, after his performance against Derby I’m surprised Ness has missed out completely since. Midfield looks a bit ponderous with no creativity there. Aneke and May off the bench are good options to have.0
-
Anderson scrapped for everything on Tuesday, did not hide from any challenge or header unlike Bakinson.
We need fighters.9 -
Nathan is at it once again changing team around. Who would have thought he would drop top scorer A. May. One of the new full backs out and another been dropped right in it.
A&E on the bench and Ladapo starting.
Bolton 4-0 and no Charlton stars.2