Nottingham Forest (a), The City Ground, 20/09/08

"I have a feeling that we will see a gritty Charlton performance to put the season back on track and a welcome clean sheet!"

When it comes to predictions, that was a pretty good one the other night from North London Addick! Despite being under the cosh for long spells, the boys dug in to collect a priceless three points, to get the season very much back on track.

But on Saturday, we face another tricky away fixture- and for the first time this season- against a club that is totally out of form. Three straight league defeats have plunged Forest into the relegation zone, and in that time they've conceded 9 goals.

So is this a good time to be playing them? They will be viewing this as a "must win" game, and I've a feeling Pards may want to make a couple of changes for what will be our 3rd game in 7 days. This is the line up I expect him to name.....

Weaver, Crainie, Hudson, Fortune, Basey, Sam, Bailey, Semedo, Bouazza, Varney, Gray.
SUBS: Eliot, Mouatouakil, Holland, Dickson, Ambrose.

With Pards stating at his weekly press conference that Zheng will not be fit until next week, I see Semedo being given the opportunity in midfield, allowing Bailey licence to attack, and Holland to be given a breather.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 1 (Earnshaw 72') Charlton 1 (Gray 26') Att: 22,019
It will be a tough game, but I see Charlton having enough about them to earn a share of the spoils.

Doncaster Rovers (a) 16/09/08

Well, it all started so well didn't it? Ahead through what will surely win goal of the season from Nicky Bailey, Wolves slowly but surely took control and in the end- despite being aided by a controversial penalty decision- ran out worthy winners.

So, we're now 16th- doesn't sound great does it? And we must arrest this alarming slide- which reads three defeats in four games. And take it from me, tomorrow's game will be far from easy. Just as we met Preston and Wolves when they were in form, the same is true of Tuesday night's opponents. Despite losing at Birmingham, the considered opinion is that they played one of the promotion favourites off the park away from home.

Yes, I know they were playing 10 men for a lot of the game, but they are a team to be respected.

As regards team news, with Zheng likely to be missing through a slight groin injury and Svetoslav Todorov and Linvoy Primus not quite fit, this is the team I expect Pards to send out....

Weaver

Cranie Hudson Fortune Basey

Sam Shelvey Bailey Bouazza

Varney Gray

Subs: Eliot, Holland, Dickson, Ambrose, Primus.

I think the Shelvey/Bailey midfield partnership is called for in what could well be a physical battle, especially as Holland cannot be expected to play 3 games a week anymore and I think Basey must play given Youga's hothead reputation. In what will be a relatively small but vociferous crowd. I can't think many Addicks will make the trip but if you do, I salute you!

Prediction: Doncaster 0 Charlton 2 (Varney 18', Gray (pen) 78')

I have a feeling that we will see a gritty Charlton performance to put the season back on track and a welcome clean sheet!

Wolverhampton Wanderers (h), The Valley, 13/09/08

It seems a long time ago that Charlton put in that stunning performance against Reading...

And let's hope our leader is smiling again come 5pm on Friday because we are in for what will without question be our toughest examination so far. Make no mistake, Wolves are flying. With wide men Jarvis and Kightly providing fantastic service top Ebanks-Blake and Charlton boy Iwelumo up front, they carry a massive threat going forwards.

But it's not all doom and gloom. If you factor in the fact that Iwelumo will definitely score- BECAUSE ALL OUR FORMER PLAYERS SEEM TO AGAINST US- then we have the quality to give them quite a game. Because when teams come to attack us- a la Reading a few weeks back- we tend to be at our best. And if we can get great vocal backing from the crowd, which should be the biggest of the season, given that Wolves have sold their entire allocation, we can inflict a first league defeat this season on our in form opponents.

And another reason to be optimistic: Mick Mc Carthy has just been named August Manager of the Month.

NLA predicts: Charlton 3 (Varney 12, Gray (pen) 57, Zheng 81)
Wolves 2 (Iwelumo 25, Kightly 77) Att: 23,109

Pardew or Curbishley?

This article appeared in the Daily Star this morning...

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/49832/Pardew-in-frame-for-return-to-West-Ham/

Now without wishing to be too disrespectful to the aforementioned publication, they really ought to realise that Darren Bent never played for West Ham, but that is for another day.

So would you relish the return of Curbs in place of Pards. Let's take a look at the merits of the two gentlemen....

ALAN CURBISHLEY
Nobody can question the job Alan C did for the club. Two promotions, seven successive Premiership seasons, FA cup quarter finals- he is without doubt the most successful manager Charlton ever had.

But could he do it all again? They say never go back- and if he did return and didn't succeed- would all his good work be undone? Does he have the hunger to rebuild this club again? Only he knows the answer to that one.

ALAN PARDEW
After narrowly failing to save the Addicks from relegation, last season was without doubt a huge disappointment. But there are signs this season that he has finally got the squad playing the way we all want, and there is no reason for him to lose his job- he surely has to be given one more chance this season.

Added to which, could the board really afford to fire him?

My own personal opinion is that Pards would be crazy to go back to West Ham.
Interfering owners, bad previous with them and unrealistic expectations from the supporters. In my opinion, it's a poisoned chalice second only to the only other current managerial vacancy in the Premier League!

However, the Hammers would offer a financial package well in excess of what Charlton could offer. So will Pards repeat what happened at Reading, and is Curbs tempted by a return, despite saying he was only interested in a top flight position.

The next few months should be interesting.