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Friday, September 23, 2005

Expectations problem at the Baggies

Almost everyone in a predictions game I am involved in is predicting a win over the Baggies at The Hawthorns tomorrow. This early in the season, people are reading results off the table, which didn't help very much when the Baggies beat us 4-1 at home last season (although I think it would have been a different result if El Karkouri had not been sent off).

Charlton this season are a far more skilled team than the Baggies who are defensively suspect. Hence, we must leave Darren Bent thirty yards in front of everyone else as he waits for the long ball. Murphy and Thomas have to get forward in support which should be easier with Smertin back in the side. Thomas needs to be prepared to play the simple ball and not try to dazzle everyone with his magic.

Apart from the return of Smertin, the team will probably remain unchanged. Perry has been sparkling in defence and the Herminator has also done well at centre back (the reverse of his experience in Ipswich). There is a case for Sorondo (who got some rather unfair lukewarm comments after Tuesday) being brought in to take on the Baggies, but it is probably best to stay with a winning formula.

The one question mark might be about the error prone Kishishev, but I feel that his battling qualities are needed in an away game of this kind. Holland would be a safe replacement, but hardly an inspiring one.

On the bench I would like to see Myhre, Sorondo, Spector, Sam and Ambrose. That leaves us without a replacement striker, but that would depend on how bad Bothroyd's knock on Wednesday night was. He should certainly be ahead of the lacklustre Bartlett who, as Inspector Sands has noted, looked like he was suffering from the flu on Tuesday evening. JJ is JJ, but he may well turn up on the bench given that Curbs clearly thinks that he offers something.

Homeless dog named as match analyst



Since moving to Oxfordshire, Homer has become a supporter of FA vase winners Didcot Town

Homer the Cherry Hound had already been pencilled in as match analyst and Brian Cole was scheduled to take a momentary detour off the A34 at Chilton, Oxon to collect him. However, the vociferous labrador will now be picked up from Leamington having become homeless during the week, his owners' housing chain of fourteen having collapsed on moving day. Similarly, his homeless feline friend Tigger Candelent will be giving the Hiss of the Match, although as a consequence she has been the recipient of hisses from Juneau the Soccer Cat who has positioned herself outside the room in which she has been staying.

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