Tuesday 15 January 2008

The magic of the Cup

The lack of significance attached to tonight's cup replay at The Hawthorns is demonstrated by the fact that none of the Black Country papers have yet chosen to preview it, although we hope to bring you something later in the day.

From the Charlton perspective, the main interest is in the team that Pards will field. One option is already unavailable with the news that a loan berth is being sought for midfielder Racon.

Will Pards revert to 4-5-1 with Iwelumo up front or will he use the relatively rare combination of Iwelumo and Varney in a 4-4-2? Or will McLeod be deployed to use his energy running up and down the pitch to no great effect? Considering that the defenders may also be rotated, the number of possible combinations is considerable.

Should we win, it will be presented as a great triumph, albeit against what is likely to be a weakened West Brom side. A defeat will be shrugged off with the mantra that we can now concentrate on the league with a major fixture at faltering Watford on Saturday. So much for the magic of the cup.

I am uncertain who Pards will play. I think there are two likely outcomes to the match. Either we get soundly beaten 3-0 or 2-0. Or we will take it to extra time and penalties and might even win the prize of a trip to Peterborough.

If you are going, enjoy the game. Unfortunately, a combination of a minor bout of ill health, difficult train connections and work commitments are going to keep me from a game in my own backyard.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wyn
It will indeed be a very 'rare combination' should Iwelumo and Pardew start up front.

Burgundy Addick said...

Saw the comment about Racon, maybe also Sankofa, going out on loan. It's a little disappointing if it suggests Racon is that far away from challenging for a place, while I thought we would need Sankofa as cover at right-back now Mills has departed. I don't think Semedo looks comfortable playing there - and I hope we're not trying to turn him into a jack of all trades.

Wyn Grant said...

D'oh! Thanks for pointing the error out, I have corrected it. Blackheath, I agree with what you say about Sankofa and Semedo.

Anonymous said...

Give McLeod a break. Saying he runs around to 'no effect' is fundamentally wrong. His runs won two penalties, and consequently the match, against Norwich at home. He also won the corner for Bougherra's goal at the week-end from beating two players down the left-hand-side. He may be raw and low on confidence but I think his partnership with Varney looks very promising.

Wyn Grant said...

Fair points about McLeod, but it's a bit worrying that this late in season we are uncertain what our best partnership (or solo effort) up front is, even given that ringing the changes can sometimes be beneficial.

Anonymous said...

I agree. We need to establish a regular strikeforce sooner rather than later.