MATCHWATCH : Charlton Athletic (h)

[Sutekh]

When : Saturday August 31, 2024
Where : Madejski Stadium, Reading, RG2 0FL
Capacity : 24,161

Charlton are the next big test in this opening run of league games "from hell" that has come Reading's way so far. Charlton are not just unbeaten in the league but one of the three remaining clubs in the division with a 100% winning start to the season so this one is going to be difficult.

This is 3rd v 12th on league placings with Charlton only just third on GD behind both Huddersfield and Stockport. Reading could climb up to 4th with a good win while Charlton obviously have the chance to make top spot their own with a win and results elsewhere being in their favour.

The Addicks have been fairly active over the summer with 4 players arriving before the end of June then another 3 at the beginning of July while Reading are still unable to do a ******* thing due to FL restrictions and the never ****** ending takeover saga. Certainly those transfer dealings have improved what was a fairly decent Charlton side last season as not only have they won all their league games so far they also have not conceded a goal since losing 1-0 at Wycombe on the final day of last season, so there are a couple of records that Reading need to dent going on here.

Terell Thomas left Charlton over the summer which leaves Tennai Watson as their remaining Reading connection, though he'll probably only make the bench if he's involved at all. The forwards Gassan Ahadme, Chuks Aneke and Tyreece Campbell are possibly the key players to watch for Reading but overall it's going to be another big challenge and one that hopefully Reading can rise to successfully.

Injuries have robbed Reading of Camara, Ryan, Knibbs and Yiadom while go knows what has robbed Reading of a sale completion thus far. Really hope something positive happens on that front before 3pm on Saturday but we shall see.

Referee

Thomas "captain" Kirk

Previously

04 Nov 23 > Reading 3-2 MK Dons (FA Cup)

Historically

This is the 22nd season shared with the once great name of Charlton Athletic with the first games stretching back to the 1920s before disappearing in the 1930s for pretty much the next 60 years or so while Charlton built their "great" name. In the previous 21 league visits from the South East Londoners Reading have won 11 and lost 4 but note that Charlton have won 2 of the last 4 league games played at the Mad Stad/SCL including a comfortable 2-0 win on this very date in 2019.

How to follow the game

1. Get a ticket and travel
2. Listen to Radio 5 Live and/or a myriad of other radio stations for score flashes
3. Ring/text a mate for updates
4. Use a RoyalTV subscription
5. BBC Radio Berkshire (FM : 104.4, 104.1 or 95.4 depending where you are in the area)

[Snowflake Royal]

I fancy something here. We all know from the Record Watch threads that very few teams go on prolonged winning streaks at the start of a season, and Charlton were no great shakes last season, despite strengthening over the summer and under performing a bit last year.

We're good at home.

But the squad is a worry. Fullback is a big concern. Last year we relied heavily on scoring a lot of worldies rather than creating lots of good opportunities, and now the players who scored most of them are gone or playing deep. Smith is getting almost no service and Knibbs is injured, Ehibhatiomhan is still trying to do a bit too much and take a bit too long over it.

It's hard to see where a goal comes from against a mean defence. And we know ours is prone to the odd lapse.

0-0 would seem a pretty good result right now.

[Hound]

I think we’ll do very well to get something out of this one. Expecting a similar type of game to the Wrexham one - us looking the more composed but without a cutting edge and Charlton being more clinical with less possession and winning by a couple

Knibbs is a massive miss. I think he’s our most impt player. Kelvin is our biggest threat and he’s going to need to play very well and a lot better than he did last time out

I’m hoping Dorsett just had a bad game last time out as I’ve generally been impressed with him. Craig is fine at RB but for me time to start Abrefa - and I’d start Craig ahead of Savage I think

JP
Abrefa Mbengue Bindon Dorsett
Wing
Akande/Tuma Elliott Craig Kelv E
Smith

CBC, Rushesha, savage, Tuma, Senga, Dean, Wareham

[Clyde1998]

I agree we need to start looking at getting Abrefa in at RB, with Craig being freed up for central midfield.

JP
Abrefa Mbengue Bindon Dorsett
Wing
Akande/Tuma Elliott Craig Kelv E
Smith

CBC, Rushesha, savage, Tuma, Senga, Dean, Wareham

I think a team like this is what I'd consider, albeit with Craig at DM and Wing at CM. Otherwise, I'd expect us to line up as we did at Wrexham.

IIRC, Yiadom's out until the end of September; Knibbs and Camara until mid-September, so unless I'm forgetting someone we shouldn't have anyone back from injury.

[Snowflake Royal]

If I was bringing Craig into midfield, and I think it's a good idea, it would be for Elliott, and as the deeper midfielder to push Wing forward so he has more shooting opportunities.

I think we need Savage's engine in midfield and Wing/Craig/Elliott lacks a bit of energy, running and bite.

Elliott could a good impact player off the bench to try to create a goal... more so than Savage, I think. He's the least reliably impactful.

[Clyde1998]

Charlton supposedly up to 2,620 tickets sold.

[Royals and Racers]

Charlton supposedly up to 2,620 tickets sold.

Must be near their allocation ?

[Clyde1998]

Charlton supposedly up to 2,620 tickets sold.

Must be near their allocation ?

2,986 was the allocation, so mostly sold out. Seems a small amount of tickets are available for away fans at the ground.

[blythspartan]

I think we’ll do really well to get a draw from this one. I am thinking ahead to the international break now and hoping that Yids and Knibbs might be back afterwards. That’s as good as it gets atm.

[Clyde1998]

I think we’ll do really well to get a draw from this one. I am thinking ahead to the international break now and hoping that Yids and Knibbs might be back afterwards. That’s as good as it gets atm.

Yeah, anything here would probably be a bonus. The squad should be stronger after the international break, with Knibbs, Camara, Yiadom and Campbell all either being available or very close to it; Button supposedly available today (although I'm not sure if it's worth putting him back on the bench ahead of CBC, as CBC would benefit from the experience of being involved in the matchday squad).

If we take the side that started against Wrexham:

Pereira
Craig - Mbengue - Bindon - Dorsett
Elliott - Wing - Savage
Akande - Smith - Ehib

Subs: CBC; Dean; Abrefa; Rushesha; Garcia; Tuma; Wareham

Once those players are in the squad, we're probably looking at:

Pereira
Yiadom - Mbengue - Bindon - Dorsett
Elliott - Wing - Knibbs
Campbell - Smith - Ehib

Subs: Button/CBC; Dean; Abrefa; Craig; Savage; Camara; Wareham

The squad suddenly looks a lot stronger, with options to change things and us not being forced to simply play the eleven players who are available.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I think we’ll do really well to get a draw from this one. I am thinking ahead to the international break now and hoping that Yids and Knibbs might be back afterwards. That’s as good as it gets atm.

This. Expecting a loss and anything better is a bonus. Still been a solid first 4 games.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

The problem is though picking up further injuries will likely happen and the squad is still very thin on experience.....we had a good run last season injury wise but doesn't mean we will this season and the squad is much smaller.

Still think releasing both Mola and Carson was a mistake with NGW also out of the door.

[mikey_1871]

The problem is though picking up further injuries will likely happen and the squad is still very thin on experience.....we had a good run last season injury wise but doesn't mean we will this season and the squad is much smaller.

Still think releasing both Mola and Carson was a mistake with NGW also out of the door.

Think Mola turned down a deal and left of his own accord.
But yeah, agree that we should have kept one of Carson or NGW

[Snowflake Royal]

The problem is though picking up further injuries will likely happen and the squad is still very thin on experience.....we had a good run last season injury wise but doesn't mean we will this season and the squad is much smaller.

Still think releasing both Mola and Carson was a mistake with NGW also out of the door.

Think Mola turned down a deal and left of his own accord.
But yeah, agree that we should have kept one of Carson or NGW

We can still bring NGW back at any point because he doesn't have a club. Doubt he'd come as he never really seemed to get a fair crack.

[Clyde1998]

The problem is though picking up further injuries will likely happen and the squad is still very thin on experience.....we had a good run last season injury wise but doesn't mean we will this season and the squad is much smaller.

Still think releasing both Mola and Carson was a mistake with NGW also out of the door.

Think Mola turned down a deal and left of his own accord.
But yeah, agree that we should have kept one of Carson or NGW

We can still bring NGW back at any point because he doesn't have a club. Doubt he'd come as he never really seemed to get a fair crack.

I'm guessing NGW fell out of the team due to his 'personality differences' with Selles. I also don't think either NGW nor Carson were very good defensively and would arguably be better left midfielders than left-backs.

I think the back-up LB was expected to be John Ryan this season, but he did his ACL in the Woking friendly (and probably won't be an option until January at the earliest).

[Snowflake Royal]

Think Mola turned down a deal and left of his own accord.
But yeah, agree that we should have kept one of Carson or NGW

We can still bring NGW back at any point because he doesn't have a club. Doubt he'd come as he never really seemed to get a fair crack.

I'm guessing NGW fell out of the team due to his 'personality differences' with Selles. I also don't think either NGW nor Carson were very good defensively and would arguably be better left midfielders than left-backs.

I think the back-up LB was expected to be John Ryan this season, but he did his ACL in the Woking friendly (and probably won't be an option until January at the earliest).

Given we're also short at left wing, still not a lot of sense in letting three players to have played LB last season go

[Brogue]

[Snowflake Royal]

As expected then

[Royals and Racers]

New owners out in force again today- in the old Les Ambassaeurs casino box.

[Snowflake Royal]

Interesting interview for Wing with Williams.

Came across very well. Said money is great, but not everything. He's settled here, likes it and wants to see out his career here if possible.

Which is very promising.

And that the lack of experience in the squad is making the takeover issues easier, because the young players don’t realise quite how bad it could really get, so haven't got as unsettled by it as old hands might have done.