Team for tonight, surprised to see Reza there. 6:49PM CHARLTON: Pope; Barnes, Bikey-Amougou, Lennon, Holmes-Dennis, Kennedy, Kashi, Jackson (c), Harriott, Ahearne-Grant, Pigott. #cafc #CAFCLive 6:49PM SUBS: Mitov, Nego, Lapslie, Muldoon, Charles-Cook, Ghoochannejhad.#cafc #CAFCLive
Looks like a "shop window" line-up. Should be a lot of scouts there. Seven of our own products to start (eight if you count Pope) and four more on the bench. Who is in charge, Luzon or Euell?
So, do we read that any outfield player included here is not in the first team? No huge surprises. but shows Kashi's position in GL's thoughts, I guess.
Not sure what you mean by that. If you mean "not prospective first-team" I am sure you are wrong. Kashi has only played 25 minutes. He probably wanted more playing time to show what he can do. Bauer, Makienok and Ba have already had good runouts, while it has come too early for Cabellos, Bergdich and Barr, who are still settling in. I am surprised they are risking Pope in a nothing match if he is our only senior keeper. Does that mean that another senior keeper (perhaps Taylor) is sure to sign? Also if Ghoochannejhad is playing, either to re-habilitate him for Charlton or to put him in the shop window, I am surprised he doesn't start. Not fully fit?
Maybe you're right... that is what I meant. Wonder whether he sees Diarra taking that role alongside Cousins, though.
Could be. Nice to have options. Would keep the average height up nicely! Are we taller than the Massive now?
certainly should be a threat at corners... provided we have someone good enough with their feet to take them, of course.
Bit of a nerve for Charlton to advertise this as a first team fixture rather than a Charlton XI. I am sorry for any Addicks who took the trouble to attend expecting to see the first team. 12 quid plus travel expenses and time.
This. And... have we ever fielded a starting XI in the first game of the season where between them they've managed 0 goals in pre-season... cos if we draw a blank on Friday and Jackson's not starting against QPR (both likely) then that'll be the case.
I should have qualified that statement by saying that Reza will not play a first team game in the League or Cup.
Sp Pope makes a mistake playing in front of a bunch of reserves....and the Usual Suspects including Reams and the quasi humans on CL, rush to bury the kid. FFS. All Pope needs is game time in the Championship, and then RD can achieve his target of selling him to a Premier League club at a vast profit, replacing him with another East European non entity. Jobs a good 'un. How do you think Pope feels when he hears a bunch of anorak clad morons in Gola trainers spitting their Bovril over him? Both Ben Roberts and Ben Hamer have said that Pope potentially will go right to the top. Sickening to hear morons who don't even go to the games digging him out.
Don't you know, that's what most of them do. I would love just to give them a pair of gloves and say, "There you go. You stand in goal and have balls hurl at you at super high speed, and see what the score is...." Bet they'll eat their own words, back down, etc. I like Pope, about two years ago at the player of the year awards, no-one was talking to him (sat on our table), so had a really long conversation with the guy. Super hard working and top bloke. To top it off, brought me a drink. Want to see him play more often for us.
The hypocrisy over Pope is amazing. When the lad is a great success in the Championship - which he will be with experience - the same "fans" will be calling him a Judas for leaving us for the Premier League (a la Diego Poyet)
I've been a long-time admirer of Pope, and it's a great pity that he seems to play better away from Charlton. I wonder why? A lot of them are saying he's only ready for L2 or L1, but whereas that applies to an outfield player, a goalie faces the same challenges at Championship level as he does at L1 or L2. I was surprised that he didn't go back to Bury for another season, his future will probably be away from Charlton unfortunately.