HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday's game by delving into their forums.

"Our dwindling attendances are due to a poor brand of football put in place by the manager", "Our defending is solid enough, but our attacking play is absolutely woeful", "I must be a masochist because I will go regardless of what style of football we play."

"One of the main tactics in recent games seems to have been to hit long balls which our forward(s) can't win, but then to pressure the opposition before they can get it fully under control. Sometimes it pays dividends, but it is ugly to watch", "Entertainment does not come into it."

Charlton secured a hugely welcomed 2-0 win over a poor Doncaster team on Tuesday night. This victory lifted them five places in the league to 17th, but their 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road last Saturday, featuring just one late shot on goal, was more typical of their recent performances.

"We go in to games to defend. We have zero attacking ability. It's frustrating to watch a team which is just frightened to lose all the time", "It's all perspiration and no inspiration", "The team is lacking in quality, and attempting to shift the various pieces around into a winning jigsaw is not easy"

"One of the major contributing factors for the QPR loss was the high intensity pressing game employed by them high up the pitch. It allowed no space and inevitably ended up with a back pass to the keeper. When you are playing with a lone striker who is not renowned for his heading ability, what do you expect when the keeper smashes it long?"

Chris Powell

"Powell deserves the chance until the end of the season. By winning League One and finishing ninth last season, you cannot say he has not been a success. His football has to improve, but maybe better players will help that."

While a small but vocal minority would welcome a change of manager, the majority respect the job which Powell is doing with limited resources.

"If you asked me to rate him, I would give Powell around six or seven out of ten, with a proviso being that his learning curve seems to be flat lining. I can't see anyone we could afford doing a better job with the squad we have got."

"We released players who had a major part in last season's success such as [Ricardo] Fuller and [Danny] Haynes. They were replaced by no investment other than a couple of loans and free transfers this season. I do rate Chris Powell. He's the right man in the right job for us."

"Powell has [Alan] Curbishley's cautious mentality. He doesn't want to be caught on the break and watch it all crumble. We are generally tight at the back, but we pay too much respect to teams. This has happened too frequently at home."

Being Too Defensive

"Our 4-5-1 system does not work when [Simon] Church is the sole striker, and this tactic is inexorably leading us into the brown stuff", "Saturday's defeat was a surrender job and a waste of everyone's time", "The manner of the defeat to QPR was hard to stomach."

"Being content with slim defeats is a recipe for disaster." Many Addicks felt that their team completely lacked ambition in last Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road, aiming to keep the score respectable rather than taking any attacking risks.

"Perhaps Powell could see the confidence draining when we were getting outplayed in the short passing game. The players did seem nervous playing this at the start of the season, especially in our own half."

Defence

"Credit must go to Chris Powell for the way he organises our defence so brilliantly", "You cannot criticise a defence that keeps four consecutive clean sheets."

Regular starting goalkeeper Ben Hamer injured his ankle in Tuesday's pre-match warm up against Doncaster and 26-year-old former Barnsley keeper Ben Alnwick replaced him. "Alnwick looked assured and confident", "Excellent debut, he pulled off two great saves."

Ben Alnwick

"It might be interesting to see how Alnwick does against Ipswich, who will be tougher opposition on Saturday." Many Addicks felt that he was not really tested by Doncaster's attack: "It was the quietest debut ever", "His distribution by hand was superb, but some if his kicks were dodgy."

"Wiggins has great pace and determination", "He is always available when we are in possession." At left-back, 26-year-old Rhoys Wiggins "is slowly getting back to his best, but is not there yet", "He defends well and has a nice touch. His crossing isn't great, but we have no-one to head the ball."

The former Bournemouth player "made some good forays going forward" against Doncaster, but was inconsistent. "Sometimes Wiggins seemed confused about pushing on", "He needs to be more productive with his crosses."

There is little criticism of the Addicks centre-backs. "Michael Morrison is strong in the air, and does his job with a minimum of fuss." The 25-year-old former Owls player "plays really well and concentrates hard", "I never notice him much, which is a good thing for a defender."

Frenchman Dorian Dervite has partnered Morrison in recent games with former Coventry player Richard Wood injured. "Dervite's pretty sound", "He never misses a header and makes good runs forward." The 25-year-old "makes a few excellent passes and uses the ball well."

Former Stevenage player Lawrie Wilson is the Addicks regular right-back. Wilson is a wholehearted player, but makes some silly passes as loses possession. It could easily cost us clean sheets against better opponents than Doncaster."

"Wilson's crossing and distribution are awful", "He lets himself down with his final ball", "He is an average right-back who needs protecting", "He makes come great runs, but can take an age getting back."

Central Midfield

"I really believe we lack creativity and pace in midfield", "Our midfield was run ragged by QPR's, even though we had five there", "We struggled to create against QPR, and gave their midfield too much respect. This gave them an impetus to run the game."

"Jackson went on a 50-yard one-on-one sprint with a Birmingham defender. It was not a pretty sight. If his yardage is kept to a minimum, our captain is one of the best midfielders in the league", "Jackson works hard, but can't run anymore and keep up with play."

Team captain Johnnie Jackson has been deployed as an attacking midfielder when Charlton have played with five in midfield, but he switched to the left flank when they played 4-4-2 against Doncaster on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old former Notts County player "showed he can do a job at left midfield in the right game", "Jackson played his part, but doesn't quite have the legs anymore" "I was glad when he was subbed, as he began to drop passes a bit in his last ten minutes", "He is lacking in pace out wide."

"Dale Stephens is becoming an almighty player", "He never stays still, and kept bothering Doncaster in midfield. His goal was unexpected and shockingly good", "He is always available, and did his defensive duties well late in the Doncaster game when his midfield colleagues tired."

Several Addicks commented on the former Oldham player's occasional lapses in concentration: "Stephens had a little walkabout tonight", "There are always a few moments of madness, but a massive improvement on last season", "When he is engaged in the game he is very effective."

Jordan Cousins

"Cousins with Stephens are our best midfield pairing since Parker and Jensen." Nineteen-year-old Jordan Cousins "presses well off the ball and plays very effective cross-field balls", "The kid is something special."

"Cousins must be a certainty to start", The Addicks Academy product is "a hugely reassuring figure for us. He shows tremendous maturity and positional sense for a lad of his age. He hunts the opposition down."

"The kid just keeps it simple as if he has been doing the job for ages", "He sits in front of the defence and allows Stephens to do his thing, and is also not afraid to get forward."

"Cousins seems to find it hard going when faced with some of the higher class opponents this season." The consensus was that he found the going a lot tougher against QPR last Saturday when denied time and space by more streetwise opponents.

Wide Midfield

"I have never been a fan of playing a right-footed winger on the left flank and vice versa. What we get from Stewart on the left and Harriott on the right is questionable. They are both very fast, but I would love to see them go down their natural wings."

Cameron Stewart

"I know that he played a crucial role in our survival last season, but Harriott is too predictable and has been found out. He now has two players on him most of the time and does not know how to combat it."

"A big thank you to Chris Powell for putting Cameron Stewart in the correct position (on the right wing on Tuesday)", "It helped playing him on his correct flank. He gave the Doncaster left-back a torrid time", "He gives the ball away from time to time and wastes possession, but he is a talent."

The 22-year-old former Manchester United Academy player was loaned last season to Burnley before joining Charlton this summer. "His first touch is sublime. He can kill the ball stone dead", "His passing isn't always great, but he is a real threat running at defenders."

"Why was Pritchard playing on the right again (against QPR)? It was like playing with ten men. Every time he drifted inside he gave the ball away. When will Powell realise that Pritchard is not a winger and is not good enough?" "He cannot cross and has neither skill nor pace."

Former Hayes and Tamworth player Bradley Pritchard has been heavily criticised by fans. "Pritchard will never make a Championship standard right midfielder", "He is consistently our worst player under Powell. He is so out of his depth, a pair of water wings couldn't save him."

Strikers

"Playing up front for Charlton is a very lonely place, rarely inhabited by footballs", "We are a desperate side in the final third. The supply is awful, and the quality up front is sub-standard when the ball does get through."

Only Yeovil have scored fewer than Charlton's 14 league goals this season. Addicks believe that there is a lack of depth and quality with their strikers coupled with a lack of support from midfield.

There is also a willingness to give opponents too much time to build from the back. "We don't pressure defences. I'm sick of away keepers having the quietest games at The Valley."

"This team badly needs a goal threat or we are going down", "We need a striker who knows where the back of the net is, and quickly", "We can't complain too much with the QPR defeat. We just haven't got the goals in this team to make us a threat."

"Please, Bolton, take Sordell back, Have pity on us!" "Sordell is a waste of space. One goal in about a dozen appearances and he is palpably not interested. What a poorly researched loan that was. Freedman must be laughing."

Marvin Sordell

"Sordell, to put it politely, looks less than interested." Former Watford striker Marvin Sordell is playing with Charlton on loan from Bolton. The 22-year-old has been slated mercilessly by supporters. "He is a disgrace. The minimum requirement you expect is effort and he shows none."

Yann Kermogant

"Yann is slowly getting back to match fitness. He is an excellent strike partner for Simon Church", The 32-year-old former Leicester front man often "dropped deep and wide to help the midfield" against Doncaster. "He does most of his good work outside the box."

"Yann links play brilliantly", "He is a tireless worker, and plays some great through balls with his nut", "He really keeps opponents busy. He could be a bit quicker, but he had some covering to do",

"Yann is not the same player this season. As early season injury which you struggle to overcome can become a season-long injury because you never get fully up to speed."

Kermogant has been playing with a recurring ankle injury which flared up in their draw against Wigan in late October.

"After an hour, he looked like he was playing in a deep sea diving suit", "He is off the pace, but his flick-ons are the best service Church has got in most games this season",

Simon Church

"Church is fast becoming a fans' favourite with his tireless work rate", "He really does not know a lost cause. I would love to know where he gets his energy from", "The timing of his runs is superb", "Church runs and runs and runs, but he cannot head a ball."

"Church's huff and puff are admirable enough, but the house isn't going to come down because he's not clinical enough", "He's not the world's sharpest finisher, but his hard work earns him chances others would not get a sniff at."

The 24-year-old former Reading striker has struggled to play the lone striker role. "Very often, Simon Church didn't have another Charlton player within 20 yards of him (against QPR). It is absolutely pitiable to play this way."

Against Doncaster, he benefitted from having a strike partner and some service from the flanks. "This is what a decent channel runner can do when he has decent service and a man up front to take some of the pressure off", "He was giving the defence headaches all through the game."

Addicks' Views on ITFC and the Game

"That thoroughly deserved win set us up nicely for Mick the Mouth and the Tractor Boys on Saturday", "Ipswich are hardly a force to fear on Saturday. Beat them and suddenly things look a bit more comfortable."

"Ipswich will be a sterner test", "We gave the ball away far too freely at times. Ipswich might well punish this if we do it on Saturday", "If Ipswich play open expansive football then I expect we could sneak it, if they come tight, pressing and organised then I expect a defeat."

The win over Doncaster has greatly increased Addicks' sense of optimism: "The Tractor Boys aren't a bad team, and I rate Mick quite a lot, but if Charlton play like they did on Tuesday then they have a solid chance at getting the three points."

"It depends which Ipswich turns up", "I suspect it will be their good one and another step backwards for us", "Ipswich are hot and cold this season with just one away win at Blackpool the other week. Another good Charlton showing could see them off."

Websites

There are a number of active Charlton message boards, but by far the most informed is Charlton Life.

Photo: Action Images

Steve_M added 11:33 - Nov 29 Is that title about us or them?
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TimmyH added 13:10 - Nov 29 I think it's them but it could be us :) doesn't bode for a good game.
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tractorintheloft added 13:33 - Nov 29 "If Ipswich play open expansive football then I expect we could sneak it, if they come tight, pressing and organised then I expect a defeat." It won't be the former so if this view is correct then it will be 3 points. The Headline could apply to 90% of the teams in this division - that's why it's always so congested in mid table. We need a good run going into Christmas if we are able to get into the mix come April.

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Bluetone added 16:28 - Nov 29 Reading that and knowing MM's chosen tactics it could be a dour dire day.
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JCBLUE added 22:14 - Nov 29 Thank you Harry. Optimistic following last weeks loss, 2-1 Town.
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