Friday 13 March 2015

Toughest test since Derby?

Many Charlton fans are now focusing on the Good Friday match at the New Den, but the Addicks could face their biggest test since Derby when they face Blackburn Rovers at The Valley tomorrow. Having held Liverpool to a draw at Anfield at the weekend, Jordan Rhodes popped up to give Rovers a 94th minute 1-0 win over Bolton midweek. Rhodes will be starting tomorrow, despite being linked with a loan move to 'Boro. Blackburn are now three points ahead of Charlton in the mid-table league.

Charlton have no particular injury worries, apart from the long-term injuries to Johnnie Jackson, Rhoys Wiggins and Franck Moussa [who he, ed?] The Sparrows Lane tea lady reports that Stephen Henderson will be fit after having to withdraw at half time against Cardiff. Talk of a late fitness test can be taken with a pinch of salt.

Our recent record against Blackburn is not too impressive. Blackburn won the last meeting 2-1 at The Valley in the FA Cup in January. Rovers also won the earlier league meeting this season 2-0 at Ewood Park in December. Blackburn have won the last three meetings in all competitions. Charlton's last win was 1-0 at Ewood Park in the Championship in October 2013. Blackburn are unbeaten in the last three meetings at The Valley in all competitions, winning the last two. Charlton's last win at home was 1-0 in the Premier League in December 2006.

A party of Addicks visited Sparrows Lane yesterday and reported that morale was very high, with players speaking with great enthusiasm about Guy Luzon as a coach. One well-regarded player said that he was the best manager he had ever had. Another young player said that Luzon analysed each match with him one on one and then phoned him at home to go through it again.

Roland made one of his rare visits to Sparrows Lane yesterday, but Guy Luzon was tight lipped about whether there had been any discussion of summer transfer targets: Flying visit

Odds: Charlton 9/5, Draw 11/5, Blackburn 8/5.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Blackburn will have minds elsewhere on the fa cup and also stopping an unsettled player in Jordan rhoades joining Middlesboro on loan with a view to a 12m transfer.Talking to a boro fan in the week he said boro have a lot of cash to play with!.
I think its going be a high scoring game I think we go 2-0 down at the break through a rhoades and Charlton will equalise through watt double after the break.I have a hunch on a 4-3 score line.

Brian G said...

JA, could you let me know what tablets you're on? I'd very much like to try some. Blackburn are one of our bogey teams, going back to that famous last match of the season in 1958, and I'd be happy with a point from this one. Then again, I said that about the Cardiff game last week. Hence the need for some happy pills: I need to be more positive, just like JA. COYR!

Anonymous said...

"Luzon was then pressed on whether the main reason for Duchatelet’s presence was to get the ball rolling on summer transfer targets.

He replied: “We don’t deal now about next year, we want to focus now only about the game against Blackburn.

“When we finish this season we will start to work on next season."

I sincerely hope this is not true. Our season is over, we've done what we need to do in not getting relegated, and we can't go up, so why are we not using the extra couple of months to get a head-start on our rivals for promotion next year while they actually do still have to focus this year?

I suspect it isn't true, and football people just thing it's the right thing to say, but still.

For instance, I'd be more likely to buy a season ticket for next year if i could get excited about next year knowing that the club is already planning for it and isn't just going to be hurriedly scraping together a team in August.

Confidential Rick said...

Isn't it about time to stop this constant carping and misery about what's happened in the past and what might happen in the future?
The players now seem to actually like playing for Luzon, Charlton are playing decent football again and Katrien continues to ride the train to games despite being subjected to whinging fans.
So if Roland wants to hide away and let others deal with the day-to-day stuff so what? He won't be the first or last football club owner who keeps a low profile. It's his club,his money and things are looking up so what's wrong with some optimism..?

Anonymous said...

Brian G - Blackburn may be a bogey team - but who could forget the 2004 game?

Friedel came up for the corner (90th minute) and equalised for them (2-2) - and pretty much straight from the kick-off Claus Jensen hit the winner from outside the box. Bl**dy fantastic goal.

And another unforgettable roller-coaster of an afternoon at The Valley.

Anonymous said...

Wynn - as an expert on such things, do you know if RD has a problem with Sint Truiden getting promoted, surely that means two of his teams in the same league?

WattO said...

Well said, I totally agree with you.

WattO said...

Poor old Brad he thought he had won a point! Remember it well

Anonymous said...

Go away!

Unknown said...

I said 2-0 down by ht didn't i