Can Pride be Restored ?

Despite only three weeks ago saying he had a fully fit squad with players battling for places in the team for the run-in Curbs is now bemoaning an injury 'crises'. Three injuries a crises ? You can hardly call an injury to Mark Fish a crises, more a blessing. The injury to Shaun Bartlett has come at a bad time in that he is the only striker able to play the loan target man in the 4-5-1 formation and he is currently in a reasonable run both form and goal wise. The injury to Kish is, in my opinion, not one to be overly concerned about. He has hardly set the Premier League alight this season and in Konch we have a player who can play that role equally as well, if not better, and is available for the Bolton game as his suspension doesn't kick in until Villa on Wednesday, a game that, coincidentally, will see the return of the much missed Talal El-Karkouri. El-Karkouri's untimely, but justified, sending off against WBA not just ruined our chances of three points from that game but has also derailed our entire season and seriously threatened our dream of European qualification. This has also in my opinion scuppered any chance Talal had of winning the CASC Player of The Year Award, an award that should go to Luke Young who has had an outstanding season and to boot has won over his many detractors.
Don't forget to vote either this Saturday or against Manchester Utd.

So, a must win game if we have any chance of securing seventh spot. I expect to see another run out for 4-4-2 with Jeffers and Lisbie up-front. Elsewhere in the team it's hard to predict any change to the defensive personnel and likewise the midfield is likely to be that at Pompey after Kish's early departure.

What is sorely needed is an injection of pride and passion. Let's hope that Curbs can fully motivate them this week and with the crowd behind them there is no reason why we cannot return to winning ways. Up The Addicks !!!