Blues News

Five-a-side: Best of both! Charlton Athletic

|
Image for Five-a-side: Best of both! Charlton Athletic

Birmingham City resume their hunt for a play-off spot on Saturday as they head to the Valley, home of Charlton Athletic, after what has been a busy international break for the whole squad.

The likes of Jacques Maghoma, David Cotterill and Clayton Donaldson have all represented their respective countries over the past week whereas the rest of the squad have been on a warm weather training camp in Spain.

Blues haven’t done very well in the past against the Addicks on their own patch, winning just twice in the last 14 years in London, but the style of play that Gary Rowett has got his side playing away from home could potentially make that a third win.

It was difficult to pick this weeks five-a-side team because Charlton are having a torrid season both on and off the pitch and Blues haven’t really been in amazing form recently.

For this weeks team, I have opted to change it round a little meaning that I will be including two players from the home side rather than the usual three which means that there will be three players from the away side.

GK: Tomasz Kuszczak.

The 33 year old Polish goalkeeper has kept a phenomenal 15 clean sheets so far this season, the joint third best in the league, and what’s to say that he won’t pick up another one at the Valley this weekend.

Charlton have only managed to find the back of the net 20 times at home all season in the league which is just over one goal a game when you stretch them out over the entire campaign but I can’t see the causing us many problems so I think Kuszczak can take his tally to 16 this weekend.

DF: Rod Fanni.

No guys, I haven’t put him in this weeks five-a-side team because he has a funny second name (yes I am that immature) but I have put him in there because he is not shy of getting stuck in when he is required to.

When I watched him against Middlesbrough in their last home game he did have a few shaky moments on the ball but all in all he looked quite comfortable at the back and he dealt with Jordan Rhodes easily enough so he could be a tough nut to crack this weekend.

MF: Callum Harriott and Maikel Kieftenbeld.

I have opted to choose Kieftenbeld for this weeks five-a-side team because I think the international break will have done him the world of good.

Before the break he was looking tired and his energy levels weren’t the same but that might have been because he was cautious of getting his tenth booking of the season.

However, with the suspension deadline now passing, I think the Dutchman will be back to his usual energetic self and I would like to see him impact the game on Saturday like he did in the second half against Derby County in January.

Next to the Blues midfielder I have decided to choose Charlton’s top goal scorer in the league, Harriott.

The 22 year old currently has five goals to his name this season whilst wearing the Addicks shirt and he has been a shining light for them in what has been a truly awful season.

With the right service, the young Englishman can be a right handful on his day and I am sure that he will be one of the first people out the door if Charlton go down into League One.

ST: Kyle Lafferty.

I have chosen to go with Birmingham City’s new loan signing for this weeks striker because I think he has a point to prove and what better way to do it than on your debut for your new club.

Whether he starts the game remains to be seen but I have a feeling that he will come on and have an impact on how we play and he will change the game for us.

All Blues fans will be hoping that the Northern Ireland forward can score a few goals to help Rowett’s side push for that all important play-off spot that everyone is hankering after.

Blues and Addicks fans, do you think we have made the right choices for this weeks five-a-side team? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section down below!

Share this article

Currently, I've never felt more like singing the B