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Friday, September 28, 2007

Preview - Coventry (away)

So its back to the fizzies after a dismal showing full of 'missed opportunities' in the Cup-For-Everybodies-Reserves. However, we've forgotten all that now and back in the real world of competitions that matter two successive home 2-0 victories last week has taken Pards to 2nd spot in the table. All we have to do now is keep our nerve in what will undoubtedly by the Addicks toughest test of the season so far tomorrow against the team managed by our ex, Monica.
We've all have our troubles with ex's and Pardew is about to suffer the attempted comeuppance of one of our Boards rare mistakes.
So what about Coventry? After 34 years, a life-time in football, in the top-flight whatever it was called back then the inevitable happened in 2001 when Gordon Stachan took them down to Tier two. And there they've been ever since. They're now on their ninth manager since that relegation, 6 years ago, and he's someone we know all about, Iain Dowie.
History
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Not Again!
And another team we're sh** against, 8-10 down after spending just 14 seasons together.

The Opponents
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Oh, Dear - Manure 0 Skyblues 2
Forgetting what the hell happened on Wednesday, which highlights the maxim that fizzy teams can beat anyone on their day, what's their fizzy pop form like? After being top of the table at the beginning of the September and Monica winning the August Manager of the Month, as always with those awards things have all gone rather downhill since then. An unbeaten August was followed by two heavy defeats, at home to Bristol City 0-3 and away at Ipswich 1-4 and have only been relieved by a sexy 1-1 draw at Sainburys and they have now slipped to 8th win 11 points.
So who gets the goals? Super-Sub Michael Mosquito Mifsud from Malta is top goal-getter with 3 although to Monica's embarrassment he's achieved that without having started a fizzy pop game. And like all good teams they have nine players that have scored this season among them the experienced 32 year old Dele Adebola all the way from Nigeria, currently stuck on two goals and youngster Leon Best also with two.

Who Are Yorr?
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Beating your old employer=Better Than Sex..
Dowie's response after the 1-1 draw at Sainburys 10 days ago was very predictable and he described his side's late equaliser against the club who successfully sued him for breach of contract as "better than sex".
So he'll be up for another sexy afternoon and with home advantage he'll probably be out to hit us for 6 this time.
A settled midfield trio of ex-Addicks Stephen Hughes, Dublin-born Micheal Doyle, and Jay Tabb the irish-man from Tooting will try to swamp midfield. They're a strong outfit that may be tired after the exertions of beating Manure on Wednesday but will be equally encouraged by the 2-0 victory.
Up front we'll probably see Adebola partner the wee mosquito Mifsud after his two goals at Old Trafford.
Their last game against Ipswich saw a team made up of: Konstantopoulos; Borrowdale, De Zeeuw, Hall, Osbourne; Tabb, Hughes, Doyle, Cairo; Best, Adebola.
The Addicks
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Same Again?
The two home wins last week saw Pards play the same team each time and as we know he appreciates a settled team it would be no surprise if he decides to pick exactly the same team for tomorrow.

The three main contentions with that would mean Danny Mills remaining at full-back despite the return to fitness of Yassin Moutaouakil, the continuance of Lloyd Sam on the right although he seemed to fade badly last Saturday and keeping the same strike partnership of Iwelumo and Varney.
As far as right-back is concerned, Danny Mills seems tailor made for a visit to Coventry and Pards will not want to upset a defence that has kept two clean sheets in a row.

Iwelumo is looking good up front, lots of intelligence football and goals as well and Luke Varney does stretch defences with good running down the wide channels that, with apologies to little Bent, we haven't seen done so well since another little 'un, Paul Williams, back in the Division One days. So Pards will play them both and somehow keep Todorov happy with a place on the bench. McLeod, after missing his chance on Tuesday will be left out.

And the midfield. I think Lloyd Sam will be 'rested' and that we'll play Reid, Semedo, ZiZi and Ambrose.

So the team: Weaver; Mills, Bougherra, Fortune, Powell; Reid, Semedo, ZiZi, Ambrose; Iwelumo and Varney.

What Does Pards Say?
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No Izzy Then..
After Izale McLeod's disappointing game on Tuesday, which apparently extended his goal drought to eight matches, Pardew is reported to be far from happy with the striker, who on the plus-side has won a couple of penalties during some lively cameo appearances.
"He's the type of striker who misses chances. I've watched him enough to know that. But he takes on some very difficult chances. But it's not the chances he misses which bothered me. Some of his build-up play and touches are a bit sloppy but he will get better. He's come up two levels and he needs to adjust."

Predictions
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2-1 Home Win...
I never did going to Coventry and I can't see Monica allowing his players to lose tomorrow. A unfortunate 2-1 home win.

1 comment:

Wyn Grant said...

Gordon Strachan used to live in Stoneleigh Abbey which is effectively an up market apartment complex, although he had a house. My richer colleagues who live there were entertained by the sight of his morning warm up in the communal garden when he shouted at the flower beds.