Charlton Athletic v. Manchester City [r]

[hartley]

This one is a ways away, but let's get the talk started anyway.

This should be televised live on FSC since it is the early game on 2 April.

Injuries -- only Kishishev has been injured as of late. Don't know his status. Jeffers and Lisbie were ill, but Lisbie played in the reserves match yesterday. Jeffers did not and wasn't on the bench.

Suspensions -- only El Karkouri. He will miss matches against Man City, at Portsmouth and against Bolton.

With El Karkouri out, it will be interesting to see whom Curbs puts on the back line. I would think Perry is definitely in the lineup. If I have to choose between Fish and Fortune, I choose Fortune. Jonathan has played more during the season and although not great did well with Talal during a good stretch for the team. Fish has not played much at all and to be honest looked awful against West Brom.

I expect to see the 4-5-1 again. But I would prefer to see Lisbie get a run out along with JJ on the right wing. JJ had a great game against the Baggies and if we had not lost Talal, JJ might have been the difference between a draw and a win. Plus, he plays defense and he gets forward to be a forward when we attack. He plain works his butt off. Too bad Rommedahl doesn't follow JJ's pattern. Dennis has the pace to get forward from a defensive position that could really cause problems for the opposition.

Here's my guess at a lineup:

Kiely
Young - Perry - Fortune - HH
JJ - Murphy - Holland - Konchesky - Thomas
Lisbie

Subs: Andersen, Fish, Rommedahl, Bartlett, Kishishev

[RobtheAggie]

I also agree that fortune is the likley replacement for the next three matches. Charlton has to get a win here. All the talk of a late season slide could come to a quick halt if the Addicks could reverse fortune with a win vs Man City.

I saw that Holland is not playing in the friendly vs China. I am not too sure if his injury will keep him out of the Man City match.

[hartley]

I saw that Holland is not playing in the friendly vs China. I am not too sure if his injury will keep him out of the Man City match.

If Holland can't play, then Kishishev gets the start. Then, I guesss, Hughes makes the bench. Though I would really love to see Sam on the bench and get a run out to replace JJ on the right.

[hartley]

This match becomes part of one of the busiest soccer days of the season for me.

Friday -- My men's over 30 team [New Belgium] plays at 8:30 pm.

Saturday --

1. Early EPL match -- Addicks v. Man City at 6:45 am CST.

2. My son's first game with his new U9 team [Comets] at 11:45 am.

3. MLS first kick -- Chivas USA v. DC United on ABC at 2 pm CST.

4. My daughter's U7 team's [Trailblazers] second game at 4:45 pm.

5. MLS season and home opener -- Wizards v. Rapids at 7 pm.

Sunday --

1. Son has second game at 1 pm.

2. Probably catching up on FSC broadcasts I record and re-watching the Addicks victory over Man City.

Go Addicks! Go Wizards! Go all my teams!

[doug001001]

This match becomes part of one of the busiest soccer days of the season for me.

Friday -- My men's over 30 team [New Belgium] plays at 8:30 pm.

Saturday --

1. Early EPL match -- Addicks v. Man City at 6:45 am CST.

2. My son's first game with his new U9 team [Comets] at 11:45 am.

3. MLS first kick -- Chivas USA v. DC United on ABC at 2 pm CST.

4. My daughter's U7 team's [Trailblazers] second game at 4:45 pm.

5. MLS season and home opener -- Wizards v. Rapids at 7 pm.

Sunday --

1. Son has second game at 1 pm.

2. Probably catching up on FSC broadcasts I record and re-watching the Addicks victory over Man City.

Go Addicks! Go Wizards! Go all my teams!


busy weekend! lucky that it all works out that you can get to everything. thats a schedule that an ironman triathlete would have trouble keeping up with.

will your son be up top in a 4-5-1? my u9 days were the best, the "lasers" were tough to beat.

Go addicks, I might be fsc-less this weekend so might not get to see it live.

[hartley]

will your son be up top in a 4-5-1? my u9 days were the best, the "lasers" were tough to beat.


No, he will be playing on the wing in a 3-2-2. He probably won't start, this being a new team for him.

At present, he plays in an 8 v. 8 division. And he will be playing with a cast on his arm. I was wondering if he might not be as agressive with the cast. But he came to my girls U7 practice and I let him get in on some of the scrimmage.

He even slid in a couple of times and went down a couple of times in open play. First time I saw him go down, I think we both were a little surprised -- all big eyes. But he popped up and went on. I just hope he can be that aggressive in his own practice on Thursday.

I wish I would have known about soccer when I was a kid. I tried baseball, but I couldn't hit. And I played basketball all the way into high school. I think soccer would have been a good thing to have around basketball and tennis. Oh, well, I'm playing now. I stink but I have fun.

[kevruth]

1. Early EPL match -- Addicks v. Man City at 6:45 am CST.


Actually, the match is one hour ealier than that. England and Europe started Daylight Savings Time last weekend. So for you it will be at 5:45AM CST. You better get to bed early on Friday night.

[hartley]

Actually, the match is one hour ealier than that. England and Europe started Daylight Savings Time last weekend. So for you it will be at 5:45AM CST. You better get to bed early on Friday night.

Kev,

Thanks for this update. I thought something was funny about the times posted on the ESPNsoccernet site.

It will be difficult to get to bed early Friday night since my game starts at 8:30 pm. I most likely won't get home until at least 10:45. And I will still need a little time to unwind and cool off.

But I will be up in time. I get up at 5:30 just about every morning no matter what. So, this should be no problem. Hopefully the Addicks won't be as sleepy as I will be when the match starts.

Would love to see 4-4-2 for this match. But I would also want to sit Matt Holland and have Kishishev as the defensive mid.

We will most likely see the 4-5-1 again.

[RobtheAggie]

We will most likely see the 4-5-1 again.

I am not sure if Holland will play. I said earlier that he was injured, I guess it was his wife who got injured in an accident.

[kevruth]

I am not sure if Holland will play. I said earlier that he was injured, I guess it was his wife who got injured in an accident.

I'm betting on Matty being in the lineup. He came for his wife because Ireland's midweek match was a friendly with China. I can't imagine him staying away considering the accident happened a week ago. I hope she's okay and getting better.

[hartley]

Predictions seem to be all over the place -- from a Man City victory, to a draw, to a farily easy Charlton victory.

After the last defeat, I would think an Addick bounce back is in order. At least this time we are on TV and not against the likes of Chelsea or Man U.

C'mon you Addicks, climb the table.

[hartley]

Well, my weekend got less busy last night. I hope you guys don't mind me venting a little here.

My son won't be playing soccer this spring. His new coach felt uncomfortable playing him with a cast on his arm. This although his doctor cleared him to play and the club secretary said it was okay as long as the cast was padded with bubblewrap or something and as long as he was not using the cast as a weapon. The coach said if it were his son that he wouldn't play him that way.

So, my son decided not to play at all this season. He most likely would miss the first half of the season due to the cast and time off after removal of the cast. He was disappointed and hurt by the coaches comments. I think he took it personally. But now that the decision has been made, I think I am more bummed than he is. I like watching my kids play -- even when I'm coaching them. Oh, well.

Go, you Addicks! Take some of my anger out on Man City! Let's fight for the right to be in the UEFA Cup!

[RobtheAggie]

Kishishev is out. Curbs is not too happy that he missed two matches due to injury, goes and plays for his country then gets hurt. It does not look like it is a bad one, just enough to keep him out of action this week.

[hartley]

With Kish out and the likelihood that Curbs goes with the 4-5-1, then I will keep my original starting 11 intact. Only need a sub for Kish on the bench.

Now, if Curbs goes 4-4-2, then I would almost go with this lineup:

Kiely
Young - Perry - Fortune - HH
Konchesky - Murphy - Holland - Thomas
JJ - Jeffers

Subs: Andersen, Fish, Rommedahl, Bartlett, Lisbie

I don't see that happening, but that is a good solid lineup for a 4-4-2. This could even morph to a 4-5-1 defensively with JJ tracking back. I would just be concerning about our defense up the middle. Holland or Murphy would have to stay back. I would pick Murphy to attack and Holland to lay back a little until we have really pushed up.

I'm excited at the possibilities and to see this one live on FSC. Go Addicks!

[hartley]

Well, I must say we didn't deserve to get the point after the way we played. But I am happy we got at least that.

I'm not sure it is good to call Perry a hero. His last minute goal got us a point, but his poor marking on Fowler is what gave Man City the lead. I would also like to blame Mr. Kiely for again not coming off his line. The ball Fowler got his foot on should have been at least punched out of the air by Kiely. He's got to come off the line at least within the six yard box. My goodness.

It was good to see Curbs go to the 4-4-2 and keep the defensively solid side on at the same time. We played better in the second half but didn't quite find our rhythmn. It started to come there at the last. And I think Curbs has got to go with that lineup to start against Pompey.

When Jeffers is on the pitch, things happen. His flick got to Perry for the unlikely score. He may not always play good defense. And he may go down too easy at times, but Francis does a lot of other little things that don't seem to be appreciated. With he and Shaun of the dead up top, things were started to gell. We actually looked like an attacking team!

We still have a chance, but Curbs is going to have to put out a squad that can make and take those chances. That second half lineup is the one that can do it and do it well in a 4-4-2.

[jimehr]

Agree on Jeffers. His addition in the second half seemed to create opportunities and some difficulty for City up front. I could not beleive the continued insistence on bypassing the midfield, though. I think about 30 long balls, and almost, if not, every one won by the City defenders.

That said, City still had way to much space to run and we should have been down one or two more by the time we got to Perry's goal.

A point is a point, and hopefully some more attacking football to finish the year.

[hartley]

Re-watched a portion of the second half again last night since it was on replay on FSC. Man City owned much of the game, but there was a 15 minute or so period there around the hour mark where the Addicks should have scored -- maybe even twice.

Jeffers made a sensational pass to an open Thomas. Jerome, wanting to play it off his stronger right foot, tried to be too cute and outside it over David James. It just flew out well wide. If Thomas lets the ball roll a little more and strikes with his left foot, he probably has Charlton's second goal and opens up the match for a late winner.

Also, Jeffers got fouled right at the edge of the 18. He jumps up to kick the ball and Man City's Richard Dunne ends up kicking him in the back of the right foot. The referee ignores what he takes to be a dive on the part of Franny. He doesn't even seem to inquire of the side judge. The replay showed it clearly. And Franny had not gone down at all up to that point. It should have been a penalty. That could have been the second goal, thus giving the Addicks another chance at victory.