Perhaps the future of football in England is to build a squad with few superstars and no real identity. Simply come out, play hard and let the chips fall where they may. It’s worked for Bolton and Everton so far and it appears to be working for our next opponent. Charlton do not play a “sexy” brand of football nor do they possess the superstars of the world. What they do present is a possible problem for the Gunners, who are not showing their true selves, and though a loss is not in the cards, a draw can not be ruled out.(Can you tell I’m watching the World Series of Poker?)
Charlton don’t move the ball particularly well and allow for a number of 50/50 opportunities. Their ability to keep possession is nearly non-existent. Take Monday nights match against Rovers. Charlton did not prove to be the better team on the pitch but did in the scoreline, and that’s truly all that matters. Though the game was not an epic, it was entertaining. Entertaining because Charlton, and even Rovers, played hard, ran hard and tried to make something out of every trip down the pitch. It’s an attitude that was groomed by their manager Alan Curbishley.
Last season Curbishley deserved Manager of the Year honors. Blasphemous you say! Well it is hard to argue with an undefeated manager in Wenger, so let’s agree that if Wenger was not the God of Football management than Curbishley deserved the honor. He has created a loyalty amongst his players that is hard to rival. He has established Charlton as a strong and worthy side with few resources at his disposal. He also creates a new side with every match that is hard to scout.
Charlton feels that their biggest need is in goalscoring. Is Francis Jeffers the answer? He has three goals thus far, but his influence seems hardly noticeable. He is not the fox in the box that Wenger spent 9 million on and he’s injured again. He is supposed to play this weekend but was forced out of the Rovers match with a hurt neck. Johanssen very well may take his place and be paired with Lisbie. Lisbie is a hard working and effective player but lacks severely near goal. His finishing is poor and if he were to improve in this area he could be a real threat for a Golden Boot.
Charlton’s strength may in fact be their weakness. Curbishley has played with four different midfields and not developed a solid chemistry as of yet. Euell has been moved into the middle to add some offense. Dennis Rommedahl was purchased from PSV and is a Wenger favorite. He adds a lot to the midfield but has not factored in the last two matches for Charlton. Danny Murphy has factored in and is the most solid player for Charlton. His grit and toughness, along with his threat to shoot is a huge plus for the Addicks. El Karkouri, the Moroccan international, has played in the last two matches and even scored against Rovers. His constant activity in the middle has probably won him a permanent spot. Finally, Bryan Hughes was a free move from Birmingham. He got his first action against Rovers, and though he did not factor in many of the chances on goal he worked harder than anyone to gain possession for the team.
Charlton are currently in 7th, where they finished last season. They lost to Bolton 4-1, and ManCity 4-0 but in turn beat Villa 3-0. They have yet to face the “meat” of the Prem. Arsenal is head and shoulders the better team but they have lacked in inspiration over the last 4 matches. Charlton is a club that will work has hard as they have to, for as long as they have to. It’s up to the boys to control this match and control the result.
ArseAm Predicts: Time for Arsenal to step it up, 3-1 to the Arsenal.
15 Responses to “Charlton Athletic Addicks”
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October 1st, 2004 at 1:09 pm
as always… good stuff KYG.
My Prediction: “Pain” (see: Mr.T / Clubber Lang)
Arsenal should take out some recent frustrations on some team… why not Charlton.
Henry and Vieira have splendid matches, as recent Arsenal America posts are put on the bulletin board in the Arsenal dressing room… and they are out to prove the critics ludicrously wrong.
October 1st, 2004 at 3:46 pm
Lately we’ve looked decidedly mid-table, so I say we see more of the same. Except for a few glimpses of inspiration, The Arsenal seem a little estranged from one another.
For the last three games I’ve predicted this shaking off the monkey and a return to early season form, but to be honest, I think two things can happen here: things click after having suffered a pretty reasonable and painless dip in form as dips go, or, the streak is finally broken. Just like the Liverpool game of last season after dropping out of the FA and CL, there’s nothing like some hardship to release the pressure. Hey, 1 loss and 1 win is more points than two draws, and we need to stop playing safe.
I may just be reacting to some seriously p*ss poor coffee that I’ve been drinking, but I see Charlton as just the kind of team, at just the right time, that could break our streak.
I HATE to even put this out there, but I’m saying, sadly, Charlton to beat us, 2-1.
Sux, I know. I’m still hoping its the crud java.
October 1st, 2004 at 3:47 pm
Your comments about the less than sexy nature of Charlton’s play are spot on. However, there is one big difference in the current Charlton side…no Scott Parker. Much as we rely on PV04 to control the middle with his amazing workrate and aggressive tackling, Scott Parker played a similar role as the engine of the Addick train.
Parker’s sale to Chelski for yet another outrageous sum (in relation ot his true value) was a trap that many mid-table, small market EPL have fallen victim to in the oast few years. They find and develop talent that could be become the center of the squad’s success for years to come (see also: Rooney, Wayne and Lampard, Frank Jr.) only to succumb to the eternal need for more cash.
Make no mistake about it - Charlton are stil a good side and Curbishley is one of the premier English coaches in the EPL. But their engine is gone for the quick buck and they will spend some time replacing his motor and tackiling in the midfield.
October 1st, 2004 at 5:44 pm
Making notes about this one Scotty… you are either a genius, or insane!
October 1st, 2004 at 5:55 pm
Laughed out loud! Pardon the crassness, but it would be a wet dream for me if Arsenal players noticed something I wrote - even to hate me!
October 1st, 2004 at 5:57 pm
Chalton is probably the club I wish them to do well apart from Arsenal. They are like the Arsenal side I first followed: they work hard as a team, and play out of their skin with sheer spirit.
Last season Charlton played well in two Premiership matches against us, and passed the ball very well.
They have come a long way. A decade ago they were forced out of the Valley with their financial problem, all credit to Curbishley who took them all the way from the wild land to a decent Premiership side.
Truely hope the Gunners can get their act together as this is by no mean an easy match. I surely hope Titi would ever get to read my recent “criticism” to him (I wish!), and shows us a bit of hunger to work harder for the team’s clause. Surely don’t mind he would prove wrong! As KYGunner put it: Time for Arsenal to step up!
The past experience tells me Arsenal often played better following a disappointing result. So I would tip for a 5-1 Arsenal win!
October 1st, 2004 at 5:59 pm
Excellent post. I don’t see your name often - but if this is the quality I can look forward to, I wish you’d post more.
October 1st, 2004 at 6:06 pm
I’m very happy to announce that you are today’s winner of the “You Are Wrong” award!!!
Seriously, I have no clue on the score for this one, but I do know that Manchester United is the team that is going to break the streak at 49. The score will be 2-1, so maybe you were intuiting the correct score of our first defeat, but the team got garbled by a bad cuppa joe.
October 1st, 2004 at 6:26 pm
Oh, IceOtter, NOT Man Utd definitely! if our streak is going to end, i would rather it ends against any other side but Man Utd… Never!
October 1st, 2004 at 7:43 pm
Ice!
Not only do I believe the streak is going to live on after ManUntd…. but I think we will win comfortably at OT.
We will play up to the level we need to… I think perhaps Rosenborg, and Bolton… are a bit boring for us!
October 1st, 2004 at 7:46 pm
Yes, Andez… we would win 5-1… and then there would be complaints because Charlton scored a goal in the 89th minute… and that will cost us dearly in future matches!!!
I’d take the 5-1 scoreline!
October 1st, 2004 at 8:18 pm
If I am wrong, I will accept it most humbly. ;^)
October 1st, 2004 at 8:26 pm
Certainly hope the optimism is rewarded. My foolishness needs a hiding. Part of me wants to predict dropping a close one so as to be pleasantly surprised. Its been too often the other way around. Why not see if the mojo needs to be tempted.
On the other hand, The Arsenal has played to the level of the competition and been quite lucky not to have been shocked yet. A quiet, lackluster interruption to our party is where our mental attitude is headed if there isn’t a dramatic turnaround.
Cesc and Vieira to start for the first time. Could this be the key to getting back our form?
October 1st, 2004 at 8:42 pm
Perhaps a line-up full of youth would help kick-start the squad… Cesc alongside Vieira, I’d be all for it, as Edu has done f-all.
Pennant a start… VanPersie a start
I would LOVE to see it happen, but I would take them all getting at LEAST 30 minutes, instead of garbage time footy.
October 2nd, 2004 at 9:10 am
I think Charlton is a perfect opponent to so something like that. Give ourselves a subtle wake-up call before someone else does.
I know Cesc is starting, but Reyes is sitting. When are we going to see JAR and RVP work together for 30? Give Henry a rest, too, for a half hour.