MATCH PREVIEW: Charlton Athletic vs. Portsmouth - Saturday 12th September 2026 - 3pm Kick-Off

I'd be happily surprised if Leaburn was fit to take any part today. 

TheHerminator said:

Simonsen said:

I'd be happily surprised if Leaburn was fit to take any part today. 

Yea it seems unlikely he’ll start for me too. Maybe on the bench 

If he's got any niggle, I don't think he'll be risked at all. They'll be doing everything not to provoke a usual Leaburn long lay-off. 

Simonsen said:

All very well Jones saying he'd like a packed Valley. He'll be lucky at £38 a pop. 

Sounds a bit expensive for a kids drink...

If Leaburn can’t start, and assuming Kelman can’t come straight in to the XI, is it Grant up front or will Mbick be given a chance?

So many of my family going today so please don't be rubbish today Charlton.
I will go with my son in the upper west today while the other 8 or so are in the lower North.

Really comes home to you the increase in price when you don't have a season ticket.

Because of the mandatory injuries that alway happens to Charlton (and other teams).
1-1, I will take as we are in limbo between the evolution and the low, low block which personally I feel is a too low block when poor Arthur have so many players in his way;
Lloyd will be behind Arthur if he defends any further back !

Check out some of the goals we concede, from West ham to Stoke. I understand when you are defending a corner but the inability to stop the opposition shooting from the edge of the area was painful especially in the Stoke game but we were lucky to get away with the draw at the Taxpayers stadium as Bowen didn't take responsibility to score the late penalty after we packed our area and should've conceded two late goals.

I desperately want the 4-2-3-1 to work and when/if Chalobah if fit, this system will work so much better as the link ups and partnerships just make CAFC look like a team.

Lloyd and Billy was looking so solid whereas Bindon looks a tad raw.
Get fit soon Ramsay, Kelman Chalobah, Koumetio and Leaburn( if injured ?) as we need all 5 to take part in the 16 players used in the duration of matches.

The 3 wins and last team with 100% record was always likely to end abruptly and we wouldn't be able to play the same team with the 3 games in 8 days and repeat.

I normally detest the international break but we so need it this time.

Would be absolutely amazed if Leaburn starts. He was obviously feeling it before he came off, you don't then start a game three days later. Hopefully on the bench at best. 

Would quite like Mwamba in the 10 but only if playing Grant up top. If we have to start Mbick then that's too much inexperience. 

Definitely keen for Bell to get a rest and in any case would quite like Mesik to be given a proper go bombing up and down the wing on his preferred side - have seen that he can put a great cross in.

Ever the optimist, I think we will win it but probably not the most comfortable. 1-0 TC

golfaddick said:

I'd like to see McNamara coming back in & Mesik goes to left back. 

Too soon for Mwamba to start but would like him to come on after 60 mins.

We really need to balance the team - fgs play Alli on the right & TC on the left. Grant can then play a slightly deeper role (as a 10) instead of Carey. 

If we play an unbalanced team like Wed we will get the same result.....or worse.

I don't think it is too soon for him to start but at least 30 minutes depending on the state of play.

I can’t see Miles being fit today. I think it would be a big ask for Micah Mbick to start, so I suspect that Grant will start as a central striker. The difficulty, of course, is that if we’re forced into going long, any high balls are likely to be gobbled up by Pompey’s central defenders.

Alli might also get a game today if Grant plays centrally, although he’s a useful player to introduce against tiring defenders.

Nathan and his staff will know how Amari Bell is faring physically, but he’s played every game so far and I wonder if it might make sense to start Ivan Mesík at left back.

With something like 9 injuries, there are not too many options for the manager but hopefully we can turn in a decent performance.

Alli played the 90 when they beat us 1-3 at the valley last season

Baldybonce said:

panther10 said:

2 -0  and surley a bigger turnout 

Will @Covered Ends toilet be able to cope. That's the important question  here.

DM him mate before he leave for the match 😉.

Not feeling very confident today. We look knackered and disjointed and Portsmouth have had a free week. And without Chalobah, our midfield looks way too similar to last season. I'd take a draw and hope we can drag ourselves through to the international break. 

NabySarr said:

Starinnaddick said:

I find the Knibbs situation puzzling. In view of the injury situation I can't understand why he has not got on the pitch since the Spurs debacle. 

I think Knibbs suits the way we are playing even less than Carey does. We need a player to drop in, get the ball on the turn and then feed the front 3. Costello is good at this, but not mobile enough. That’s why I’d love to see Mwamba get a go there as he might have both sides of what we need 

Only way I can see Knibbs getting a game is if Grant is up front. We might want a physical presence in the attacking line up which Knibbs would offer in the 10 

I still think Knibbs could do a job as a 9. He's not a playmaker 10, which is what we lack, but has physical presence, and can score. If Leaburn isn't in the squad, I'd rather start him up top then bring Mbick on as a sub, than starting with Mbick up front.

jimmymelrose said:

Simonsen said:

All very well Jones saying he'd like a packed Valley. He'll be lucky at £38 a pop. 

If he’d like a packed Valley then maybe he shouldn’t defend and play on the break at home, but I won’t get into that now.
35 quid to sit behind the goal! Wasn’t it about 25 quid only two or three years ago? I know that we’ve gone up a division but these prices are too high. I will be paying 97 quid to go with my three children (the eldest is 18 but isn’t earning an income). Why aren’t there any unemployment prices?

???

I’d give Knibbs a start today