Friday 31 October 2008

Dickson may be in with a chance

Alan Pardew may start Chris Dickson against Barnsley tomorrow as he continues his search for someone who can find the back of the net. That person is evidently not Luke Varney but that fact does not seem to have been assimilated at Pardew Towers.

Pardew stated, 'I do feel that we have impact strikers and it was good to see Dickson come on and make an impact because he has come on as sub before and not, so that was a good sign. I want somebody to score us goals. [Don't we all?] In training there is nothing between my strikers at the minute, Dickson included.' [Why do I find this worrying?]

Given that Andy Gray is likely to be unavailable, and may be for some weeks, because of a serious family illness, I would have thought that there was a case for Todorov starting with Dickson. Elsewhere, I would agree with Pedro that Bouazza should start rather than Ambrose and Basey should be preferred to Youga.

One of our problems at the moment is that is a case of 'Fortress Valley - not!' Any team can look at our record in the Championship and turn up thinking that they have every chance of going away with three points. Barnsley are on a little run at the moment and Jamal Campbell-Ryce will be eager to impress at the club for which he retains an affection. See here: Jamal

Like Pedro, I think that Charlton will continue their current mini run as draw specialists with a 1-1 result which will probably leave our position in the table unchanged. The Sub-Standard says: 'PARDS PONDERS POSITION.'

I have had to go to London twice this week for meetings - I'm off again today, hence the early posting - and I just hope it will be third time lucky.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am so excited this morning !!!!!!
The Turning Point has arrived , much more momentous than Zabeel .........wait for it , Darren is leaving in a swop deal for Campo . Yes, yes, yes, please let this be true . No more 10 men at away games , no more 10.5 at home games , we will be a fully functioning 11 man team again
salvation and a rapid climb up the table will ensue . Hurrah , hurrah, hurrah......... let there be dancing and joyous outpourings in the streets of SE7 tomorrow

Anonymous said...

Could it be that the problem is not entirely all with the strikers - who do not seem to have had problems scoring elsewhere. I'm more than a little fed up with only seeing three good crosses a season - I'm surprised Count Dracula hasn't joined Charlton.

Anonymous said...

Wyn, I don't quite understand your criticism of Varney. Apart from Hudson, he's among the first I'd have on the team sheet. He always gives 100%, he's got energy and can enthuse the crowd. He can also display some skill. He's by no means deadly in front of goal and his goalscoring record for us is pretty dire, but let's face it, what does £2m, or whatever he cost, buy you these days? With Toddy starting to get fit, I'd stick with that pairing for a few more games, and have Dickson on the bench.