The last hurrah?

By: Jim | April 4th, 2008

By this time (4.50 pm) tomorrow, it could all be over. Defeat, or even failure to win, against Charlton tomorrow will surely mean the end of our play-off challenge, and thus our season. While mathematically we wouldn’t be out of it, the games in hand - and the momentum - of some of our rivals will surely prove too much. Sooner or later, the rest are going to be getting their act together - and there are ominous signs from, for example, Wolves, that they are ready and able to find the run of from that would surely cement sixth spot. There may be twists and turns left in the five games that remain of 07-08, but to be in a position to take advantage of them, nothing less than a win tomorrow will do.

Last week cruelly exposed our lack of strength in depth in the squad. As against Scunthorpe, Hull and Sheffield United, too few players came to the party. Wotton has been rushed back - understandably - before being up to the pace of a CCC game, or at least the pace of several in succession. Nalis’s legs, and passing, have gone. MacLean still doesn’t seem sure exactly what is required of him. Teale is blowing hot and cold. If Fallon and Halmosi are not to feature tomorrow - and their injuries may well mean that they are not to - Paterson, Teale and Nalis will need to show a deal more creativity than they managed against Coventry. But then, creativity, along with clinicism in front of goal, has been our Achilles heel all season.

Were I Sturrock, I might be tempted to take a few risks. Gyorgy Sandor has now had several outings for the reserves. Surely it would be worth giving him even 45 minutes tomorrow in an attempt to unlock a notoriously leaky Addicks defence, especially if Halmosi is not fit. In the absence of Fallon, Lukas Jutkiewicz needs to be an option on the bench at least: he offers something different and in the handful of minutes I’ve seen him, he looks capable of opening teams up, given half a chance. Timar must return at CB, probably in place of the still-struggling Seip and despite his indifferent form and the witless castigations of some, MacLean’s experience and know-how will be essential. So Jim’s team selection would be:

McCormick

Connolly
Timar
Anderson
Sawyer

Teale
Sandor
Nalis
Paterson

MacLean
Easter
———————————
Wotton
Jutkiewicz
Mackie
Seip
Abdou

Hoping to podcast tomorrow with an instant reaction on the game. Here’s hoping our season is still alive then. COYG!