A look ahead to.....the rest of the season

With no Addicks game this weekend - fully due to our own ineptitude of course - I thought I would take the time to investigate how prepared we are for the rest of the 2009-2010 campaign.

The knockout competitions have come and gone and while extended runs would have hauled some much-needed spondulix into the kitty, there is now nothing to distract us from the promotion assault.

Tuesday's clash with Bristol Rovers was a perfect example of where we are as a team - too good for most in League One when we have our brains in gear, but still not great at standing up to the rigours of pressure.

Defensive Sodje's absence was a blow but considering Basey, Llera and Omozusi would not be in our first eleven, rearguard lapses should not come as too much of a surprise. Football is of course a squad game but if we can get a regular back five of Elliot, Richardson, Dailly, Sodje and Youga - while lacking a little pace - should be a pretty solid defensive unit. Another centre-half in January would be nice, though, just to give us some depth.

I have no real worries about the midfield, where we appear to have a good mix of grace and guts. The first-team five - Sam, Bailey, Semedo, Shelvey and Racon - are about as good as you get at this level, even though there is still a quandary as to where to best position them and which one will have to warm the bench alongside super-sub Wagstaff and the dependable Spring. For me, it's Racon on the left and Shelvey in the dugout. Sorry Jonjo, but them's the breaks.

And finally the strikers. At the start of the term we were heavily reliant on Burton, but with Mooney and attacking Sodje breaking the typical Charlton rule and proving to be shrewd loan acquisitions, we now have options. We'll have even more if McKenzie gets fit and McLeod gets good - an unlikely scenario I grant you.

The noises coming out of the Valley suggest Mooney and Akpo are likely to extend their stays in SE7 - the latter possibly even permanently - and if we can keep a talented array of strikers for the whole season, the arduous task of promotion will be made slightly easier.

It's alright analysing the Addicks but we must not ignore the teams chomping at the bit to overtake us. Colchester are pesky and don't seem likely to go away - a footballing equivalent of Jedward if you like - rejuvenated Norwich are our most likely challengers and despite their inconsistencies, we must not discount MK Dons and Huddersfield. Even efficient Swindon could have a say.

But - while trying not to render my last paragraph pointless - the most important thing is for Parky and the boys to focus on themselves. Forget the fun going on around us, win our home games, draw our away ones and hey presto, we will probably be a Championship team once again. Simples.